Class _£HJ^^
Book '^la
GoEyDglit}!?
CDFSRIGHT DEPOSm
Scanned from the collections of
The Library of Congress
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at The LIBRARY .«/" CONGRESS
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for Audio Visual Conservation
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www.loc.gov/rr/record
fm0
EXHIBITOM
]ohn Gilbert and Renee
Adoree together agam
for the first time since
"'The Big Parade."
WEEK!
LEO
NOW
ON
WORLD'S
TOUR!
Tremendous business at CapitoU N* Y*
while other houses hit by the heat —
WHEN you ve got
THE pictures
YOU'VE got the business!
WHILE others are
TALKING pictures
M-G-M keeps delivering!
THE dependable outfit—
YOU said it!
METRO-GOLDWYN-
,oIe Vol. 92, No. 1 (Vol. 34. No. 4) ^iT^'^^^/XTtS T'^ i:T^^ht: ^c^ "^c^^l^o '!!ye^''A %!^. '^^cLL July 7, 1928
1
,i|iii.:;i'iiii)::.;ii.iiii.i;iii]„,;iiii
CORTELLAPHONE
Perfect Synchronizcction.^
and ^^t-^^
Perfect Tone Qualities
jITHOUT ballyhoo or blare of trumpets we wish to announce that we have perfected
a synchronizing device that will prove a boon to exhibitors throughout the world.
Our method will speak for itself and we feel no need to crash cymbals or talk fasi
to prove our product. ^ We have developed a combination device, using both the
disc and film incision. The incision scoring is done by hairline on the film between the pic-
ture and sprocket holes, yet does not reduce the size of the picture. There is absolutely no
mechanical or scratching noise witli this method and the operation is so simple that it can be
handled perfectly by any projectionist using any standard projection machine. ^Non-syn-
chronous music may be played on CORTELLAPHONE discs. No adjustment is necessary and
films not scored therefor may have suitable accompaniments by making a selection of any
standard make records from Thematic Cue sheets. ^ The volume of sound can be regulated
to fill the Roxy Theatre or a small projection room. Just turn the dial. CORIELLA DISC
method is interchangeable with other leading disc methods and is leased, not sold, to exhib-
itors. ^ The equipment can be installed for less than $500. The fact tliat the machine
weighs less than 300 pounds and can be installed within three hours' time, shows its advan-
tage for road showing. ^ There are being established branch offices of CORTELLA
SYNCHRONIC PICTURES CORPORATION in each film center. ^We are prepared to
furnish two standard short subject presentations weekly at small rental charges which will
prove box-office builders for any theatre. We have expended more than a million dollars
in perfecting our product and we are equipped to install 2,000 CORTELLAPHONES be-
tween now and December 31st, 1928. We are in a position to synchronize pictures NOW,
and in New York City, with all sound effects, such as airplanes, firing, street sounds, etc.,
to pictures already made.
A TIP FOR EXHIBITORS!
BUCK JONES chose CORTELLAPHONE because he wanted the best. No expense
is being spared in putting the finest scores possible to his pictures.
THEYTL GIVE NEW LIFE TO THE INDUSTRY
Cortella oyncnronic Pictures Corporation
ED. D. TURNER, Distribution Manager
1776 Broadway - Suite 1111
New York, N. Y.
CIRCLE 1997
.'v:':' -i ii::'illliii;iiilliiJ!iii:lllili«iiiiiiil
YOUR
WHOLE SHOW
IN
l^jflOT*^
SOUND
Paramount
Pictures 1928-9
SOt!^
Features, Paramount News, One-
and Two- Reel Novelties, Stage
Presentations, etc.
A history -making statement by
Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation
Paramount Announces
The Coming of Quality
I^OUND Jr ICTURES Backed by the one
and only Paramount guarantee of perfection, not only
in feature productions but in every other branch of
screen and stage presentation as well, ^p •!* .^ 4-
X aramOllllt S piflnS for sound and synchronization in
all phases including talking pictures, nearing completion.
1 Ills COmpflliy S Hollywood studios are fully equipped
with sound devices. Our splendid production organiza-
tion has many Paramount sound pictures actively in work.
i SramOUllt S Long Island studio has been reopened and is
rapidly being made ready, under a large staflF of engineers
and technical experts, for the production of those sound
pictures which can be most advantageously filmed in the
East. Located only a few minutes from Broadway, center
of the world's finest speaking, dancing and singing talent,
this studio offers Paramount facilities for production in
sound that no other company possesses. ^^ + •!* •!*
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25 OR More Paramount Feature
Pictures in Sound Paramount wm produce I
and release during the 1928-9 season between 25 and 30
feature productions in sound. These will be the cream
of Paramount's new product synchronized with music
score and the most advanced and complete sound effects,
most of them with talking sequences. They include:
▼ ▼ J. 1 1 \y O No need to review its amazing success as a road show. Now
coming to picture houses with the same tremendous sound presentation
that has enthralled $2 audiences. See and hear it for yourself! Hear the
thrilling drone of the propellers and the zooming of the 'planes. Hear the
stabbing rat-tat-tat of the machine guns as they spit death from Allied
and German cockpits. The explosion of the bombs; destruction of bal-
loons. Sound at its most startling best! A William Wellman production.
With the screen's most popular girl, Clara Bow. The great coming star,
Charles Rogers. Richard Arlen, Gary Cooper and others. Hh *i* 4'
THE WEDDING MARCH" ehch on st«.hew. «„,
geous masterpiece. Even without sound it would be one of the finest
money pictures ever produced by Paramount. With sound — with the wed-
ding music, bells and ceremonial trumpetings in the world's most luxu-
rious cathedral — with its heart-throb bin g scenes heard as well as seen — it
is incomparable! Not to speak of its dazzling Technicolor sequences and its
mighty cast, which includes von Stroheim himself and adorable Fay Wray.
AolJli l5 11x115x1 KOI^lli Anne Nichols' great piece of screen
entertainment. Soon to go to picture theatres. Synchronized with one of ||
the finest music scores ever written, plus other thrilling sound effects. In
addition to the best performance of Jean Hersholt's career, and Hersholt
talking in many scenes, you hear Charles Rogers and Nancy Carroll, musi-
cal comedy star, singing the lovely theme songs of the play. Directed by
Victor Fleming. 4'4-'i'Hh4* + *Hh + 4- + 4-
X Ml WTj X a. 1 Jtvlv/ JL Ernst Lubitsch's wonder-picture starring Emil
Jannings. With Florence Vidor, Lewis Stone and Neil Hamilton. By far
the greatest work of Lubitsch. By far the outstanding role for Jannings.
Hear the wild, thunderous Russian marches. Hear the charge of the yell-
ing Cossack riders as they terrorize the streets of Moscow. Hear the pistol
shots — and see the innocents mowed down at the whim of a mad but fas-
cinating Czar. Hear the incomparable Jannings and others in the cast
talking in the climatic scenes !i^»J[«»{«^>{<»J*^>{<^
THE CANARY MURDER CASE"
Famous detec-
ff
LOVES OF AN ACTRESS"
A gorgeous special starring
Pola Negri and directed by Rowland V. Lee, who made "Barbed Wire". With
Nils Asther and all-star cast. A spectacular love story of the Parisian stage
and boulevards. With music score and sound effects. ^"1**1**1*
^^WARMING UP"
Starring Richard Dix in his most important pic-
ture in years. A lavishly produced comedy-drama of love, laughs and'Big
League Baseball. For' the first time, a crucial World's Series game on the
screen, in sound. At the most critical moment of the game, with Dix's
career and love depending on fanning the batter, you hear the umpire
shout, "Strike One I", "Ball One I", "Ball Two I", "Ball Three!", "Strike TwoT
and then— I The swish of the ball; the crack of the bat. Fred Newmeyer
production. With the new find, beautiful Jean Arthur, as the girl, t^ 4*
Just a tew of the new Paramount Quality Sound Pictures in
work! There will be a total of 25 to 30 productions in
the 1928-9 program filmed in sound with the same show-
manship and care. Watch for further announcements!
tive mystery -melodrama that sold over 200,000 copies as a novel. One hun-
dred times more gripping as a Paramount picture in sound! With William
Powell (as the famous "Philo Vance"), Louise Brooks, Ruth Taylor, James
Hall and others featured in the real all-star Paramount cast. Directed by
Malcolm St. Clair. Mystery is the vogue of the hour. Paramount, as usual, ',4i?^||
first with the season's greatest mystery picture, enhanced by sound and
music. With sensational talking sequences, sj^ »^ *p *J* *J« i^
.V.-'r'VVff
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Paramount News in Sound The m.
dustry knows how Paramount News, in one short year, has
leaped into unquestioned leadership of the news reel field.
Nowcomes its next mighty development! Paramount News
will soon rise to even greater heights as a box office
attraction by presenting a large portion of its service in
sound. ^ World events, epic-making happenings, scoops,
special stunts, as only Paramount News can give them to
you — heard as well as seen! The world's greatest news
reel — on the screen in sound! ►{* •!* 4- 4* 4« ►}• 4*
Paramount Short Features in
Sound* Christie Comedies in
Sound* Stage Shows on the
»3v>4lVx!i-l!iii Paramount announces new and startling develop-
ments in one- and two-reel short features that will mean
big money to exhibitors. ^ Plans are completed for the
introduction of sound effects in the famous Christie
Comedies, released by Paramount. The class two-reel
comedy product of the screen. Nationally advertised for
years. 32 in Paramount's 1928-9 program. ^The first
five Christies synchronized with sound in all its phases are:
"CONFESSIONS OF A CHORUS
girl." "Skating Home." With
Frances Lee and Christie beauties.
BILLY DOOLEY. In "The Dizzy
Diver." The goofy gob on a roaring
submarine.
BOBBY VERNON. In "Stop Kid-
ding." The little comedian with the
Big Noise.
"SANDY MacDUFF" Comedy. "Hot
Scotch." With Jack Duffy, bagpipes
and all.
BILLY DOOLEY. "Oriental Hugs." Fun and love with sound accompaniment
Startling new developments in Christie Comedies. Two i
big special sound short features coming and more to be
announced! •^►f>^Hh'i*'^^4*4**f''l'Hh4'
Paramount stage unit productions—big names— Wg
time acts — lavish novelties featuring popular acting,
singing and dancing stars. The pick of the world's stage
and screen talent presented in special de luxe short
reels, with sound, in the quality Paramount style. In-
cluding the cream of the famous Publix stage units on
the screen in sound. An innovation that will pack all
classes of houses, first run and otherwise, by offering to
the smallest theatres the same luxurious presentation
units and surrounding bills that Broadway enjoys. Hh ^
A Hint of the Marvelous Future
IN Paramount Sound Pictures
' Paramount, leader of the silent drama for 17 years, will
in 1928-9 prove its undisputed leadership in sound. The
sound pictures outlined in this announcement are but a
sample of what are to come from Paramount. Q Soon this
company will reveal important affiliations that will give
you the masterpieces of Broadway's leading stage pro-
ducers on the screen in sound— productions for which New
York is now eagerly paying $15 a seat, i^* Hh "i* 4* •i'
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Paramount has alreadyacquired the rights to^^^Burlesque," )?^^
^
*«**♦,
the Broadway comedy-drama smash that has run nearly a ^ {|
year in New York and is still playing to capacity. This will ^J& "^""^
be produced on a spectacular scale as a Paramount Sound '-f'!^
■■'■'■ ^w
Picture of the future. Other choice stage properties h
will be bought as they prove their tremendous drawing /
power and filmed by this company with all the distinctive
qualities that make them prominent behind the footlights.
Only Paramount could Be The
Logical Leader in This New
^*i'-^l-'i'JJW. Only Paramount has the background, the re-
sources and the man power to make a history -making
announcement like this come true, ►t* "^ •I* *{- •^ Hh
Paramount with its established reputation for quality.
With its world-wide organization, mighty resources an*^^
superior production department. With the public firmly
sold on its trade -mark by years of fine pictures an<
national advertising, which will now be placed behind its
program of sound. With its affiliation with the unexcelled
Publix stage presentation units. With its ownership of
the Charles Frohman Company, under the leadership ipf
Gilbert Miller, producer of an unbroken line of stage
successes. With its tie-ups with such well known stage
wizards as Arthur Hopkins, producer of ^^ Burlesque.'
With many more to be announced. •{* 4* •!• 4- •{•
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I Backed by Paramount^ there can be no doubt in the
mind of any exhibitor that all we promise here— and more
— will be seen and heard upon your screen. We believe
the greatest days this industry has ever seen are just ahead.
We are confident box office receipts beyond the dreams of
even the most optimistic showman will reward Paramount
exhibitors this year. 'i**p'^-^Hh'i*4*'i''^«^
As last as tneatreS are equipped with sound, Paramount
will keep pace with the one Quality Sound Whole Show
Program of this business. ^ Make sure that your theatre
shares this prosperity. Be ready to guarantee this New
Era of Quality Sound Pictures to your patrons. ^ ^j- ^j.
^et Aboard the Paramount
Band Wagon for the big-
gest and best Money Ride
in Film History.
i
ngn for PARAMOUNT'S
Vhole Show Program Today! ^«|
roX^^ives You
'^
William Fox
presents
The Ced Dance
6th of a series
for release
beginning in August
Charles Farrell
"No doubt that Charles Farrell has It, especially in
those Russian uniforms. In 'The Red Dance', sup-
porting Dolores Del Rio, he's the answer to many a
maiden's prayer." —Variety
Dolores Del Rio
"One realizes that beauty is not Senorita Del Rio's
only outstanding screen quality. Her fidelity to char-
acterization, the facile changes of expression and her
ability to catch the fleeting mood of a scene prove her
to be a real actress."
New York Evening Graphic
Ivan Llnoifv
"First acting honors go to Ivan Linow, who plays a
vulgarian in the rough, and who suddenly finds him-
self a general in the Red army. Linow is sincere, con-
vincing and entertaining. He even plays his unpleasant
moments humanly." —New York American
<••—••>
Raoul Walsh
"Raoul Walsh, remembered lor his direction of the film
version of 'What Price Glory' and the more recent
starring vehicle for Gloria Swanson, 'Sadie Thompson,'
had done a piece of work that is superior even to those
^^°-" —New York Evening World
'"The Red Dance' is one of the most magnificent things
of its kind which I have ever seen on any screen."
— Quinn Martin in New York World
Broad^vay
Specials
Sold to the public
Twice Daily
at «2.00
or
Silent Print§
Now Ready
for Screening
Street Angel— Four Sons— Fazil
Sunrise — Mother Machree
reserved'
I-^^^_ only producer of ^^ a««^«^^«. ^.T^^mmv
f^QI^^ seat specials ... only actual \^S\V
^^^^^^ producer of Movietone 4 4 4-%-%^^ ^^ ▼ ▼
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
- - 150
120 - -
- - 110
100 -
80
- - 90
- - 70
60 - -
40 - -
EG -
0
20 - -
AO -
- 10
- - 10
30
- - 50
Outcall the outdoors
■%nth. tixeae sparkling, refresluii^
SHORT FEATURES
LUPINO LANE COMEDIES
BIG BOY-JUVENILE COMEDIES
HAMILTON COMEDIES
DOROTHY DEVORE COMEDIES
LARRY SEMON COMEDIES
MERMAID COMEDIES
(Jack. White Productions)
TUXEDO COMEDIES
with JOHNNY ARTHUR
BOW^ERS COMEDIES
KINOGRAMS
The Ne^vs Reel That Tops the Field
CAMEO COMEDIES
FELIX THE CAT Cartoons
by Pat Sullivan
Lyman H, Howe's
HODGE-PODGE
OUTDOOR SKETCHES
hy Rohert C. Bruce
CURIOSITIES
The Movie Side-Shotv
Produced by Walter. Futter
CARTER DeHAVEN
in CHARACTER STUDIES
McCALL COLOUR FASHION NEWS
HOPE HAMPTON
in
"The Call of the Sea"
and
**L,ove's Springtime"
in Technicolor
a
mr
u
EDUCATIONAL
FILM EXCHANGES, Inc.
President ■ —
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
|^«^g-^v.-;--r
malce it snappy
Miotber j^ave yoit snlpbtur andL molasses in the aprhkg
l»ecaitse^«raxmL^«reatker calls for a tonic — a stinmilaitt. And
a n&ental stimulus is just ajs necessaxry as a pKysical tonic*
Winter is tke tinte for fhe *1ieavy stuHJ' But irKen
tke niLercary is sixjslin^ your pro-am skonld l>e spar-
Uin^y cool.
As **Roxy" sayss **Style, color, cKan;ge» li^t» Brevity,
contrast. TKese are tKe tltings tl&at stimulate people's
minds — and speed is lar^dly a matter of mental stimulus."
Yon can ontcall tl&e outdoors if you put tltat stimu"
latin^ style and punck into your pro^an& ^tritli plenty
of the hest Sltort Features. And tbat means plenty of
Educational Pictures. For tkey are the hest.
For ei^t years tkey've dominated tl&e field.
* * * *
EDUCATIONAE is tlie world's Neatest producer*
distributor of Sliort Features.
lember. Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., Will H. Ifays, President.
i
PROGRAM OF EVENTS!
That Began Leo's World Tour
JUNE 27
12 NOON — LEO'S BANQUET at National Press Club,
Washington. Leo appears in person. Addresses by prom-
inent Army and Navy Officials. Broadcast over WRC.
1 P. M. — Ceremonies in front of National Press Club
transferring Leo to his palatial car.
1:30 P. M. — Ceremonies at Caravan Post in rear
of White House.
2 P. M. — Presentation of replica of Leo,
M-G-M trade-mark.
JUNE 28
12 NOON— Leo's parade through WasWngfon.
2 P. M. — Leo's banquet to the jungle beasts at
Washington National Zoo
3 P. M. — Leo visits and stages exhibition in front of lead-
ing Washington theatres.
5 P. M. — Leo starts on World Tour.
Leo's palatial car mil be preceded by one of tKc lafgest calliope's manufacturedl
LEO IS
WAY!
the greatest hallyhoo of history starts:
j^msi^i^om Washington, D* Q, launching
M'-Q-'M^s hion on world-wide tour
and M^Q^Ms '28 ^'29 product on
year of greatest prosperity!
Below is Leo with travelling compan-
ion Captain Phillips, world's youngest
lion trainer.
Above is Advertisirxg Advance
Car No. 2 for newspapermen
ahd exhibitors, equipped as trav-
elling office in advance of Leo.
Washington newspapers carry big daily stor-
ies on Leo's activities. The greatest news-
paper stunt ever conceived. T'ney love it!
-G-M THE
TALK OF
THE WORLD!
After a memorable season in which M^G'M
gave the public pictures like "Ben^Hur^^^Big
Parade'^ etc*, following through with "The
Cossacks'' (Qilhert), "Telling the World''
{Haines) and many more big ones,nowM-G'M
commands public attention for its '28 ''29
product with the most sensational stunt of
history!
MEC^^JGOLDWYN - MAYER
^^^ST...nn^v^ THE COMPANY THAT DOES THINGS
3 SPECIALS — Show
People (Davies, Hair.es)
Carnival of Life (Gilbert,
Oarbo) The LovCi of
Casatiova
4 CHANEY
2 GILBERT
THE PUBLIC WILL LOOK FOR
M-G-M'S BIG STARS IN '28-'29
3 COSMOPOLl.
TAN — Our Dancing
Daughters; Breakers
Ahead; Mothers and
Sons
3ELECTR1C
LIGHT HITS— The
Bellamy Trial; Wonder
of Women; Bridge of
San Luis Rey
40 HAL ROACH
COMEDIES
10 Our Gang
10 Laurel-Hardv
10 Chase
10 Roach All Sur
104 M-G-M NEWS
(twice weekly)
6 GREAT EVENTS
(Tecknicolor)
HAINES
DAVIES
GARBO
NOVARRO
SHEARER
1 GISH
4 DANE-ARTHUR
2 KEATON
3 CODY-PRINGLE
6 McCOY
2 FLASH (dog star)
26 M-G-M ODDI-
TIES (UFA)
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Jo Exhibitors
EVERYWHERE
Rumors to the contrary notwithstanding
1.
2.
3.
RCA Photophone is in quantity production. All the facili-
ties of the manufacturing plants of RCA, General Electric
Company and Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing
Company are being worked day and night to meet the nation-
wide demand for this revolutionary sound reproducing
apparatus.
As a result of the vast manufacturing facilities of these great
organizations, millions of dollars worth ofPhotophone equip-
ment will be delivered during the remainder of 1928.
Plans have been perfected whereby there will soon be a
plentiful supply of synchronized and other type sound pic-
tures made by the Photophone process.
The question of the interchangeability of sound films made
by the Photophone process with those made by other proc-
esses of sound recording on film, is settled.
RCA Photophone films can be run on existing licensed
sound picture machines with perfect satisfaction, and recip-
rocally, films made by other than the Photophone process
can be reproduced on Photophone machines with the ut-
most effectiveness. The only change required on either
Photophone or other like machines to play sound films in-
terchangeably, is in the aperture plate which requires but
a few seconds to carry out.
The unparalleled tone quality of RCA Photophone apparatus
is the sensation of the industry.
You can afford to wait!
CCA PH€T€l31i€NE, INC
411 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK
A Subsidiary of the Radio Corporation of America
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
WILL REVOLUTIONIZE
"ftii
''all-talking''
PICTURE
YOU CAN HAVE
WITH AN ALL-STAR CAST
STORY BY
HUGH HERBERT«^MURRAYROTH
Direcfed bij
BRYAN FOY
A thrill-crammed, hair-raising melo-
drama !
^No Titles! No Suhtitles! 100% Vita-
phone all the way through!
^ So good that previews in California
and in Chicago convince experts it's
the cleanup picture of the year!
^Available for you now!
Coming/
W
NOAH'S ARK"
Made to top any picture ever made/
*J
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
THE industry/
MOE MARK SAW IT —
^nd Booked if on fhe spof/
OPENING MARK STRAND THEATRE
NEW YORK, JULY 7— PRECEDED
BY GALA MID-NIGHT SHOW AT
ADVANCE PRICES
Also Available Nomt !
"THEiioif.TMOIJSEl
Abank-book.
"GlOmOUS BETSY
SmaL^h-md all
record.^ /
"TENDERLOIN
Piauin^ to lineup
bu^ine^S /
WILIIAM BOYD
The Idol of
I
Boyd achieved new
hei(^it8 of popularity
in "Dress Parade".
"BILL" BOYD
scores a triumph
as the ironworker
in "Skyscraper".
jBi// Boyd has struck a note on the popu-
larity scale that is music to the box-office.
BIG, he-man, human roles,
that's Bill's meat. Bill gets
his clothes soiled, his hands
and face greasy — looks licked,
sometimes — but they love him
out front. Boyd typifies the
worker, labor, industry, pro-
gress, as does no other star,
and that's one mighty good
reason why his acting and
personality tug at the heart
of Americans, builders,
Boyd is a sure bet today — and
he's gaining new legions of friends.
They'd walk a mile to see Bill smile.
Keep your eye on this Pa the star
for the new season — watch him as the
rookie cop, the hard-boiled leather-
neck, the telephone linesman, the
construction worker, the aviation me-
chanic. You'll be sitting pretty for a
clean-up if you book the new product
with Boyd in these two-fisted roles.
^;
You'll be an set for a clean-up with this combination
Millions
( tj
">i
'^^se
'^ Sj
^^^iao
^^ith
All that the
title implies
II
'-;P^
with JACQUELINE
LOGAN and
ALAN HALE
A Ralph Block Pro-
duction. Story and
Continuity by Tay
Garnett. Directed by
Howard Higgin.
A love-drama of industry, with scenes at
a great dam where the forces of nature
are harnessed for power.
'^^^^ /•o;''j!:«'/i
fy Ga" ""J.
^ ^^^
^-r
-3
^i«i**
u^^
t^^-^
by
Eto«*
itio^
that tie' "* •^-"-<'^*
beiii^.S
icitH
the
^^';r«Se£f..c--'=
jliers-
tool"
to
trons-
eft
From the story
"The Trouble
Shooter" by Tay
Garnett.
Ralph Block
Associate Producer
OITAOE
A big exploitation feat-
ure built around the
men who keep clear
the silver threads of
communication.
xi
With the Marines in Nicaragua
in a story of international
intrigue and
adventure.
with
THE
L'CATHERNtCK
UNA BASQUETTE, ROBERT ARMSTRONG
and ALAN HALE
Directed by Howard Higgin. Ralph Block, Associate
Producer. From original story by Elliott Clawson.
■ I
Note
I Watch for amazing new R. C. A. PHOTOPHONE musical
r and effect accompaniment on certain forthcoming
effect accomp
PATHE FEATURE
PRODUCTIONS
fc
Season
1928-1929
FBO
DELIVERS FIRST
REAL HIT
OF 28-29
A
i^
> m
TV
J
Jj
■r
1
m
■■
Astounded the Critics
With its
Uncanny Perfection!
PERFECT Cast.'
PERFECT Direction!
PERFECT Story.'
PERFECT Suspense!
PERFECT Box Office!
PERFECT UNANIMITY OF
PRAISE FROM EVERY
CRITIC •
and . . . BACKED BY THE
MOST PERFECT
EXPLOITATION
ACCESSORIES
THE TRADE HAS
EVER SEEN!
14
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
inning
UNIVERSAL
The First Ten of Which Will Be
"UNCLE TOM'S "THE MAN
CABIN" WHO LAUGHS"
"THE COHENS & KELLYS
IN ATLANTIC CITY"
Laura LaPlante
in "THAT BLONDE"
Glenn Tryon in
"THE LIFE OF THE
PARTY"
Reginald Denny
in "RED HOT SPEED"
Laura LaPlante in
"THE LAST WARNING"
Charles Rogers & Marian Nixon
in "RED LIPS"
Jean Hersholt & Sally O'Neil in
"THE GIRL ON THE
BARGE"
Norman Kerry & Pauline Starke
in
"MAN, WOMAN and WIFE"
, ,W.v. Xi. ■■!■*'>**
July 7, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 15
Inunedjatejii///
SYNCHRONIZE
"UNCLE TOM'S CABIN"
and
"THE MAN WHO LAUGHS"
will be made with
MOVIETONE
"UNCLE TOM'S CABIN" WILL HAVE THE WORLD FAMOUS
Dixie Jubilee Singers
Also Erno Rapee's Augmented Symphonic Orchestra — and All the Other
EfEects Made Possible by the Extraordinary Drama of This Great Production.
u
UNCLE TOM'S CABIN"— Ready July 20
Universal will also synchronize all short pro-
duct that lends itself to synchronization.
'TT''^^^^ I ^t% /^ Universal will also synchronize all short pro-
Watch for Further Sensational Announcements by UNIVERSAL
^|^M^0^,
.i
%. '/■ '? ^'''^
3irAt
national
PicturGA
summer/j
studded with Tuntmy Laughs and'
titillating titles. Gauged to beat
the best figures you've ever shown
with a Hines hit !~ Presented by C.
C. Burr. Story by Jack Townley.
Directed by Charles Hines.
i
"
Y^
The
Independent
Film Trade
Paper
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
&i MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Home
Office:
407 So. Dearborn Su
Chicago
IN THIS ISSUE
Musicians are called to map fight as use of synchronism rapidly grows; Exhibitors expect climax at
salary parleys in September; St. Louis owners propose lower scale for musicians and projectionists;
Detroit keeps ear to ground for new developments; Serious dispute is doubted at Kansas City; Or-
chestra is taken out of McVickers in Chicago; Same policy at Roosevelt is expected.
COMPLETE INDEX TO CONTENTS
NEWS
Joseph P. Kennedy — and Progress; Outstanding figure in indus-
try divulges his plans for four great enterprises he heads, in ex-
clusive interview.
Report of apathy in exhibitor units brings zone plan appeal;
organization need greater than ever before, says N. L. Royster.
Herald- World Readers' big time makes convention annual event;
Three pages of pictures and complete story of gathering. Pages
23 to 26.
Kansas-Missouri M. P. T. O. convention attacks protection plan,
re-elects Biechele — M. P. Club members gobble up bonds.
FEATURES
Service Talks by T. O. Service 52
Los Angeles by Douglas Hodges 40
Pictorial Section 31
Letters from Readers 58
Broadway 22
DEPARTMENTS
Synchronized Pictures 35
The Studio 39
Short Features 43
Presentation Acts 44
The Theatre 50
New Pictures 65
Classified Advertising 57
What the Picture Did for Me 59
Chicago Personalities by Whit 66
ADVERTISEMENTS
FILM AND EQUIPMENT— M G M, Cortellaphone, Paramount,
Fox, RCA Photophone, Warner Brothers, Pathe, F B O, Univer-
sal, First National, Buck Jones, Victor Schertzinger, Maria Corda,
Excellent Pictures, Automatic Ticket Register, Eastman Kodak,
National Program and Printing Company, Sentry Safety Control.
PRESENTATIONS— Jean Anthony, Milton Slosser, Bob Bill-
ings, Brooks Costumes, Lassiter Brothers, Maxwell and Lee,
Ransley Studios, Don Galvan, Jack Martin, Murray and Alan,
Ulderico Marcelli, McNeil Smith, Sunshine Sammy.
CHICAGO
407 Sauth Dearborn St. Telephones Harriaon 0036-37-38
Cable Address : Qnigpubco
EDWIN S. CLIFFORD, General Manager
JAY M. SHRECK, Managing Editor
GEORGE CLIFFORD, Easiness Manager
ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD, Netes Editor
LOS A\GELES
5617 Hollywood Blvd. Telephone Gladstone 3754
DOUGLAS HODGES
West Coast Manager
EDITORIAL
AND
ADVERTISING
OFFICES
yEJF YORK
365 Fifth Avenue Telephones Vanderbilt 3612-3613
JAMES BEECROFT, Netv York Advertising Manager
PETER VISCHER, New York Editor
LONDON
THE BIOSCOPE
(J. Cabonm, Editor)
Faraday House
S-IO Charing Cross Rd., W. C. 2
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: United States and possessions— $3.00 per year, Canada — $4.30 per year. Other points of the world — -$6.00 per year.
Advertising rate cards and Audit Bureau of Circulations statements furnished upon application.
Single copies, 25 cents.
18
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
asi MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Martin J. Quigley, Publisher 6^ Editor
Incorporating Exhibitors Herald, founded in 191S; Moving Pic-
ture World, founded in 1907; Motography, founded in 1909; and
The Film Index, founded in 1909
Published Every Wednesday by
QuiGLEY Publishing Company
Publication Office: 407 So. Dearborn St., CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Martin J. Quigley, President
Edwin S. Clifford, Secretary George Clifford, Asst. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other Publications: The Chicagoan and Polo, class journals; and the follow-
ing motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exhibitors
Herald and Moving Picture World: Better Theatres, every fourth week, and
The Buyers Index, published semi-annually.
Whole Vol. 92. No. 1 (Vol. 34, No. 4) July 7, 1928
Mr. Hays Reports
AN interesting account of the present state of the indus-
. try was recently given by Mr. Will H. Hays to the di-
rectors of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of
America, Inc., who are representatives of the member-
companies of the organization.
Industry Investment — Mr. Hays declared that invest-
ments in the field now total in excess of two billion dollars.
In connection with the feature of man-power he cited the
graphic example that the business is now employing a
greater nmnber of men and women than are employed by
the Ford Motor Company and the General Motors Com-
pany, combined.
Studio Economy — In this connection it was pointed out
that from reports being issued by a nationally-known firm
of accountants it is revealed that the business is getting "a
dollar in value for every dollar spent." Further advance
toward stabilization is reflected in the economic saving ef-
fected through the adjustment of trade disputes by the
boards of arbitration and the healthy market which exists
for motion picture company securities.
Sound Pictures — In his statement, Mr. Hays made formal
acknowledgment of the sound picture as having arrived at
the stage of commercial significance and characterized the
development as a scientific contribution toward the ad-
vancement of the business. The weight of Mr. Hays' opin-
ion that the introduction of the sound picture would re-
sult in no material confusion in the business also was
recorded.
"Foreign Invitation" — With the use of this effective
phrase Mr. Hays endeavored to depict the new order of
affairs in connection with the industry's overseas business.
"Ours is not a foreign invasion, at all," said Mr. Hays.
"Our pictures go abroad by invitation. The people of the
world want them, despite the activities of foreign govern-
ments to lessen the effectiveness of the American industry
by practically subsidizing indigenous film production.
However, amicable adjustments are being effected."
In these references to a number of basic conditions Mr.
Hays succeeds in presenting both an interesting and an
encouraging picture of the present state of the industry.
With these basic conditions in their present flourishing
condition, there is every reason for viewing the coming
season with confidence — and with enthusiasm.
« » »
Shaw Movietoned
THE Movietone production of George Bernard Shaw,
consisting of both an optical and an audible appear-
ance of the celebrated British author, which was presented
last week in New York in connection with the premiere of
"The Red Dance," was an impressive demonstration of one
of the finest uses of the synchronized picture.
This subject is of interest and importance in many re-
spects in addition to the fact that the celebrity recorded
was enabled to present a fine bit of entertainment. Mr.
Shaw either in recognition of one of his long list of
prejudices or for some other reason has never come to the
United States. As a colorful personality of the day there
is naturally great interest in seeing him and in hearing
him, so great in fact that lecturers' bureaus are under-
stood to have offered Mr. Shaw repeatedly huge sums of
money for a series of appearances in this country. But
the author has repeatedly declined these offers.
Now, however, comes the synchronized picture making
it unimportant that these offers have been refused, because
the picture realistically presents Mr. Shaw in form and in
voice, satisfying the great public curiosity that has long
existed.
Coming at this time the Shaw picture is a graphic in-
dication of what the sound picture is enabled to accom-
plish.
• ♦ *
The Sound Market
THE practical aspects of the synchronized picture are
now absorbing a great deal of thought and study
throughout the business. According to announcements
from the various leading producers there will be some-
thing in the neighborhood of 300 synchronized pictures
available during the coming season. This represents a
huge volume of product and if a reasonable degree of
quality is maintained the supply should be quite adequate
to the requirements of the year.
Approximately 500 theatres are now equipped or being
equipped with sound devices. The demand greatly ex-
ceeds the possibilities of rapid installation. Persons close
to the developments report that 700 theatres will be
equipped by September 1 and that by the first of next year
there will be 1,000 theatres presenting sound pictures.
While even the figure of 1,000 theatres equipped with
sound devices, alongside of the 14,500 theatres in the coun-
try, may not look like an imposing total, still it may be
noted that included within these 1,000 theatres will be
virtually all of the leading houses and the total capacities
will be such as to accommodate a substantial percentage
of the theatregoing public.
» * »
THE Pathe Rooster, which has long crowed in silence,
will soon be heard in the conventional paean of the
barnyard as the result of the application of the synchroni-
zation principle to this famous trade mark. However ef-
fective this trade mark has been in the past, there is no
doubt that it will now carry a tremendously greater effec-
tiveness— so great, in fact, that the timid theatregoer may
look to a future of crowing roosters, roaring lions and
stampeding elephants with some trepidation.
« « #
WHILE the removal of the admission tax on tickets
costing 75 cents and over, to $3.00, does not affect
many theatres, still the new law may be hailed as another
step in the return to normalcy, bringing substantial advan-
tages to the industry at large.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
19
Musicians Called to Map Fight
As Synchronism Rapidly Grows
Exhibitors Expect Climax at
Salary Parleys in September
How Musicians
Are Lining Up
On Sound Film
NEW YORK. — Weber calls meet-
ing of musicians' leaders; protests
sound Blms "debase musical art."
CHICAGO. — Musicians' action de-
pends on results of New York con-
ference.
ST. LOUIS. — Theatre owners pro-
pose reduction of musicians' salaries.
D E T R O I T. — Musicians are ex-
pected to present new demands Sep-
tember 1, when wage negotiations
will come up.
KANSAS CITY. — Serious con-
troversies doubted; only two thea-
tres have sound Blms, but two others
prepare for them.
Lankford Measure
Target of Attack
At Rabbi Conclave
The Lankford bill before the last Con-
gress and expected to be introduced at the
next, was denounced by Jewish rabbis meet-
ing in Chicago last week, at the 39th annual
meeting of the Central Conference of Amer-
ican Rabbis. The resolution passed to that
effect endorsed opposition to the measure
against Sunday amusements in the District
of Columbia, previously declared by the
Synagogue Council of America.
The stand taken by the rabbis and the
council is that the use of the phrase "Lord's
Day" in the bill is in exclusion of the
Jewish religion.
"We feel the use of the phrase is un-
constitutional, inasmuch as the law would
establish a form of religion," said Dr. Solo-
mon Foster of New Jersey.
Hays Starts West for
Semiannual Coast Trip
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— Will H. Hays,
head of the M. P. P. D. A., left New York
last night on a semiannual visit to the West
Coast. He will be gone for a month and
will stop off in Indiana to see his son and
namesake at the Culver Military Academy.
F BO Home Office Goes
On 5-Day Week Saturday
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— F B O's home
office force will go on a five-day-week
schedule for two months, starting Satur-
day. The plan was inaugurated by Presi-
dent Joseph P. Kennedy last year.
St. Louis Owners Propose Lower Scale — Detroit Keeps
Ear to Ground — Clash Doubted at K, C.
Calling of a nationw^ide conference of leaders of organized musicians in New
York the end of this week is expected to bring to a head the entire issue of
the union's plan of action in the face of rapid increase in the use of sychro-
nism in theatres.
Lines Drawn All Over U. S.
All over the country the lines are being drawn tightly over the problem,
reports from correspondents of the Herald- World show, with the real fight
to come in September, when new wage contracts are drawn. In some sections
there have been definite clashes, notably at St. Louis, where the American
Federation of Musicians in national convention voted a $10,000,000 defense
fund, and in the Far Northwest, where one theatre was closed directly as a
result of the union's demands for retention of musicians. At St. Louis the
exhibitors are proposing lower wages for musicians and projectionists.
In Detroit, where heated discussions re-
garding the effects of synchronized pictures
on the orchestra pit were conducted secret-
ly at the convention of the International
Alliance of Theatrical Employes and Mo-
tion Picture Operators, theatre owners are
watching for new developments.
Biechele Doubts Kansas City Tilt
R. R. Biechele, re-elected head of the
M. P. T. O. of Kansas-Missouri, doubts
there will be any serious controversies,
though some exhibitors attribute the ab-
sence of any difficulties thus far to the fact
that only two theatres in the Kansas City
territory to date have installed the sound
devices. In Chicago, any action awaits de-
cision of the New York conference.
While one protest of the musicians is
that synchronism will "debase the art of
music," Arthur Brisbane, Hearst editorial
writer, stated Sunday that synchronized
music in reality "will create an unheard of
demand for good music and really able
musicians, and will pay them better than
they were ever paid before," Brisbane says:
"What the musicians mean, and should
say, is that they fear the musical film's
competition. It will compete with inferior
music and wipe out a lot of it. Heaven be
praised. . . .
"Good New Idea Never Hurts"
"Musicians will play in one place and be
heard by millions, and they, if they reach
the top, will earn accordingly.
"No good new idea ever hurt anything
or anybody, except rank incompetence."
Joseph N. Weber, president of the
.\merican Federation of Musicians, who
called the meeting of the president of lo-
cals in a dozen key cities, declared to the
Associated Press that his organization
would oppose synchronization as a substi-
tute for personal appearances, holding that
the sound devices "threaten the art of
music with debasement."
"We are not opposed to talking movies
because we realize that synchronization of
words with actions on the screen is a scien-
tific accomplishment of value," Weber de-
clared. "But if the machines are used as a
substitute for vocal and orchestral music
in the theatres they will become a serious
menace to our cultural growth, and just
at a time when America has achieved rank
as the world center of music.
"Music at its best reflects the mood of
the artist. You cannot mechanize an art.
"If machine-made music displaces thou-
sands of players and singers the individual's
incentive to perfect himself will be mini-
mized and music will no longer have the
cultural value it now possesses. Any art
is dependent upon the number of its enthu-
siastic executants, and if their activity is
restricted by competition with machine pro-
ductions in time their number will be great-
ly reduced."
A survey of patrons' reactions is to be
made by the musicians.
Use Spreads in Kcinsas City
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, July 3.— Although the
use of synchronized pictures steadily is
spreading among theatres in the Kansas
City territory that fact is no signal of an
(Continued on page 34)
Fire Destroys Theatre
(Special to the Herald-World)
CHARLOTTE, N. C, July 3.— The Vic-
tory theatre in Salisbury, N. C, owned by
the Piedmont Amusement Company of
Winston-Salem, was destroyed by fire last
week.
Stockholders Consider Court Fight On
Naming of Receiver for Cooney Chain
Stockholders of National Playhouses, Inc. (Cooney Brothers), Chicago theatre
circuit, are contemplating a move to fight a receivership which was effected last
week.
The Chicago Title and Trust Company was appointed receiver last week by
Federal Judge George A. Carpenter following the £ling of foreclosure proceed-
ings on behalf of the Guaranty Trust Company of New York, holder of mortgage
notes against the company.
When Barret & Co. and Frederick Peirce & Co., bankers, took over the circuit
early in June the arrangement was that the stockholders might regain control by
raising $250,000 by July 1 to meet obligations. That agreement was not held to
by the bankers, the foreclosure action being based on some judgments of com-
paratively small sums, according to M. J. Ahern of Nash & Ahern, attorneys for
the stockholders.
201
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
J. P. Kennedy -and Progress
^ Outstanding Figure Who Has Sped to Directing Head of Four Great En-
j| tcrprises in Tivo Years Tells Industry His Plans in Exclusive Interview
for the "Herald-World." The facts regarding Mr. Kennedy are revealed in
the follozifinff article!
Joseph P. Kennedy
By PETER VISCHER
NEW YORK, July 3. — As the directing head of four great amusement
enterprises, a position achieved with startling suddenness in recent
months as the result of one of the most remarkable spurts in the film
industry, Joseph P. Kennedy stands today as a figure of commanding interest
and importance.
W. Brown in direct charge, Pathe expects a
progressive, energetic year. If any detail
could testify to the spirit of an organization,
it might be found in the fact that Pathe has
just made a sound strip of its trademark —
the crowing cock.
Proceeding Slowly on K A O
For the K A O circuit, the Kennedy plans
are apparently coming into maturity slowly.
Here again there are no radical changes in
contemplation, the first idea being to make
a successful business-house of the organiza-
tion, beginning on the inside.
The report that Mr. Kennedy has started
negotiations with the Aaron Sapiro group
of independents was denied. The report had
it that Kennedy was seeking an agreement
whereby the 79 houses of the Sapiro group
would co-operate with the Keith circuit in
buying film, preferably film made by the Ken-
nedy companies : First National, F B O, and
Pathe.
No Negotiations With Sapiro
"I have had no negotiations with anybody
in the Sapiro group," said Mr. Kennedy.
"That does not mean, however, that I am
unwilling to have negotiations with Sapiro or
anybody else. I am anxious to sell film at a
fair price to anybody who wants it and Sapiro
is as welcome as the next one. Furthermore,
I am anxious that KAO shall have the op-
portunity to bu3' at advantageous prices, but
I have not had any negotiations as reported."
Considers RCA Photophone
Regarding his studies of synchronization,
Kennedy said that they have not yet been
brought to a conclusion. The contract drawn
up for use between First National and West-
ern Electric before Kennedy entered that
film organization is lying around unsigned,
and Kennedy is at present considering the
General Electric system, R C A's Photo-
phone. Robert T. Kane recently became
affiliated with R C A on behalf of Kennedy.
"No contracts have as yet been signed with
anybody. We are making our first First
National picture by the General Electric sys-
tem, by Photophone, but we have not yet de-
cided to use their method of recording and
reproducing exclusively or even regularly."
Wv. Kennedy hoped to get away from New
York tonight, for he has pressing engage-
ments on the West Coast. His various works
did not clear up in time for him to leave,
however, and he is now hopeful of getting
av\-ay at the earliest possible moment within
■ the next two weeks.
A LTHOUGH working more than fifteen
■^ hours a day in an effort to straighten
out the New York affairs of his various
companies, prepar-
atory to starting
for. the coast at
the earliest pos-
sible moment to
delve "into further
details, ' Kennedy
paused -briefly to
report progress to
the industry
through the Ex-
hibitors Her.'\ld
AND Moving Pic-
ture World.
What is he plan-
ning for First
National ? What
will he do with
FBO? How about Pathe? What are his
plans for the Keith-Albee-Orpheum circuit,
of which he is now chairman of the board?
W^hat conclusions has he reached in regard
to the synchronization of pictures for his
three film companies?
"I am trying to make each one of these
companies as good an outfit as it can be
made," he said, dismissing it as obvious that
he is only in the midst of his work at the
present time.
Sweeping Changes Not Planned
"I ha\e no plans for sweeping changes in
any of the companies. For instance, in First
National I am going ahead slowly. We have
a big program mapped out and I am seeing
to it that this program shall be carried out
as thoroughly and as efficiently as possible.
"I wish to emphasize that I have no in-
tention of making radical changes all at once.
If any changes come about, then they will
be dictated by the progress of the work I
am trying to do. I have no preconceived
notions as to just what must be done to make
any of the companies with which I am associ-
ated effective.
Pathe Stays in First Class Field
"As to Pathe, it is ridiculous to say that
I am planning to withdraw this company from
the first-class feature field to make room for
anybody, not even First National. We have
written more first-run business to date than
ever before in the history of F B O and this
is a striking tribute to the merits of our new
productions. Our six Special Attractions, the
Tom Mix Series, and the 24 Gold Bonds
will all be pictures of the highest grade made
for first-run theatres. Sanity and practical
showmanship are the watchword of the FBO
studios and we are sparing no expense to
give exhibitors the finest product ever made
by FBO."
Regarding Pathe, Mr. Kennedy made it
plain some time ago that this company would
continue its present progress. With Colvin
Robert B. Mantell Dies
(Stccial to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— Robert B. Mantell,
stage tragedian, died Wednesday at his
country home at Atlantic Highlands, N. J.
Mantell spent 52 years before the footlights.
U, 5. Films Nearly Equal
To Domestic as German
Renters Start Season
(Washington Bureau of The Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, July 3.— German film
renters are beginning to open the coming
film season, it is reported from Berlin to
the department of commerce. According
to figures at the present time there will
be about 400 program films in Germany
during the next season, roughly in the pro-
portion of 50 German to 50 foreign films.
To be exact, 366 feature films have been
announced, of which 181 are German, 147
American and 38 from other countries. This
list of films does not include any from
several firms which were operating in for-
mer years, Phoebus, Deutsch-Nordische
Pantomim, etc.
The fact that more foreign films are in-
cluded in this list than would be allowed
under the contingent of 170, is accounted
for by the fact that several firms include
in their list films held over from the last
season.
Hot Politics, Weather
Keep Customers Away
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, July 3. — Broadcasting of the
Democratic national convention at Houston,
coupled with warm, muggy weather, played
havoc with the theatres of Albany and Troy
during the week. It was the first really
warm weather of the summer.
Most of Albany, as well as New York as
a whole, was interested in Governor Smith's
chances of landing the nomination. Each
night, while the convention was in prog-
ress, radios could be heard going full blast,
and in many cases neighbors had been in-
vited in.
Thugs Bind Manager,
Take $200 from. Safe
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, July 3. — Two unarmed thugs
overpowered John Lamont, assistant man-
ager of the Strand theatre last week and
forced him to give them the combination of
the safe. Then they bound and gagged
him and obtained $200 from the safe.
Lamont said he left the front door un-
locked while he went nearby to a restau-
rant and when he returned the two men
were at the safe in the box office. Before
he could run out, the men overpowered him.
It took Lamont a half hour to free himself.
Leo Ditrichstein, Stage
Star, Dies in Austria
(Special to the Herald-World)
VIENNA, July 3. — Leo Ditrichstein, actor
long well known on the American stage,
died of heart disease in a sanitarium at
Auersperg last Friday.
Among Ditrichstein's greatest successes
in America were "Trilby," "The Business
Widow," "Are You a Mason" and "The
Great Lover," in which latter he probably
scored his biggest hit. The title later was
often associated with the name of the late
Rudolph Valentino.
Somes Joins Netoco
(Special to the Herald-World)
BOSTON, July 3.— James R. Somes has
joined the Netoco theatre circuit as special
representative in New England.
,
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
21
Report of Apathy in Exhibitor
Units Brings Zone Plan Appeal
Need of Working Organization
Held Greater Than Ever Before
North Carolina and Missouri-Illinois Meetings Delayed
— No Announcement of M. P, T, O. A. Plans
Pathe Rooster to Crow
As Picture Starts
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.—Pathe's
familiar trade mark is going to make
himself heard. Synchronization will
be used to make the rooster crow at
the beginning of each Pathe picture.
It certainly will be a novelty in the
line of trade marks, for as yet even
the Smith Brothers have not been
heard to cough. But although the
bird is more than likely to ballyhoo
Pathe successfully, one wonders just
what the effect will be when his
crowing comes as a prologue to
heavy drama. However, it is be-
lieved that the rooster will not prove
disturbing, inasmuch as he will not
make his public appearances early in
the morning, while patrons who fall
asleep are generally thought out of
order anyway. Even though the in-
novation grows in favor, it is pointed
out, synchronization of trade marks
will always present a considerable
problem to M G M.
$3,233,388, Greatest of
All the Eastman Wage
Dividends, Paid to 17,000
(Special to the Herald-World)
ROCHESTER, N. Y., July 3.— A wage
dividend of $3,233,388 was paid Monday to
17,042 employes of the Eastman Kodak
Company. It is the largest in the 17 years
that the company has shared its earnings.
In addition, employes received their divi-
dend on the stock they hold in the com-
pany.
Jury Holds "Contribution
And Refund" System at
Dog Track Is Gambling
(Special to the Herald-World}
WAUKESHA, Wis., July 3.— The "con-
tribution and refund" system employed by
the Mound Kennel Club, operators of a dog
racing track near here, was held by a jury
to be gambling and therefore illegal. Last
year a jury decided the system was not
gambling.
Avery Hopwood, Writer
For Stage, Dies Suddenly
(Special to the Herald-World)
PARIS, July 3. — Avery Hopwood, Ameri-
can playwright, died at Juan-les-Pins on the
French Riveria, after being taken suddenly
ill while bathing in the sea.
Hopwood was one of the most prolific
of stage writers and a millionaire as the
result of his unique ability to measure pub-
lic tastes. One of his most successful
farces, "Ladies Night in a Turkish Bath,"
was recently turned into a motion picture
by First National.
Censors Elect Officers
(Special to the Herald-World)
SEATTLE, July 3.— Seattle's new board
of theatre censors have elected Dave Himel-
hoch, temporary president, and Mrs. J.
Henry Robinson, temporary secretary.
Is interest in state and national exhibitor organizations declining as a whole?
If that is true, is the establishment of a zone system the solution? Under the
zone system, there would be an exhibitor association for the territory taken in
by the exchanges of a particular key city. If those exchanges serve more
than one state all exhibitors in those states would be sought as members of
the zone organization. The plan is not new but the question of decreased ac-
tivity in at least some of the present associations makes the proposal doubly
pertinent now.
Need Greatest Now, Sayg Royster
The need of exhibitor organization never was more urgent than it is today,
says N. L. Royster, secretary-treasurer of the. Theatre Owners Association of
North Carolina, in a letter to the Herald-World. The North Carolina body's
midsummer convention was postponed when only 17 of 126 questionnaires
regarding the meeting were returned by theatre owners and but 11 of the 17
promised to attend.
The M. P. T. O. of Eastern Missouri and
Southern Illinois postponed until the end of
July the meeting which usually is held in May.
The M. P. T. O. A. has made no announce-
ment as yet regarding an annual convention.
Offers Prizes for Members
Charles W. Picquet, president of the North
Carolina association, is personally conducting
a prize contest for paid-up membership before
the annual meeting in December. The prizes
are $50, $30 and $20 in gold.
Courageous, active exhibitors are needed to
make any state or national organization func-
tion smoothly, says Royster in his letter, which
follows :
"For some reason, unknown to the majority
of us, there seems to be less interest in state
and national theatre organizations than at any
time in their existence. Not only should there
be a state and national theatre owners asso-
ciation, but there is a crying need of both,
more so now than at any other time in their
history. We, of the North Carolina Theatre
Owners Association, have postponed our mid-
summer convention this year, for the main rea-
son that not enough exhibitor members would
pledge themselves to attend a convention which
was to their best interests. The great need of a
theatre organization is to protect the theatre
owners before the various state legislatures,
to cooperate in all arbitration matters relative
to the contracts, and to take an active part in
fair protection, as it relates to the theatre
owners.
Decries Petty Jealousies
"The exhibitors should awaken to their con-
dition, should take an active part in their asso-
ciations, and should not bicker over petty
'nothirtgs,' as most of them do at times. There
are more petty jealousies among the theatre;
owners and farmers, than any other class who
belong to and constitute organizations.
"Some years ago, I advocated the establish-,
ing of zone organizations for theatre men, to
wit : Say that Charlotte, N. C, exchanges are
serving as they do. North and South Carolina
territories, then there should be the Theatre
Owners Association of the Carolinas. If At-
lanta, Ga., serves four states as it does, com-
prising Georgia, Florida, Alabama and
Tennessee, then there should be a zone organi-
zation for theatre owners taking in those four
states. These theatre owners associations
should be divided into what we will call
"zones." Each zone organization would en-
list as members those theatres located in those
states served by the exchanges in each zone.
Each zone organization should have a presi-
dent, first and second vice-president, a secre-
tary-treasurer and a board of directors as
they now have.
Would Give 26 Zone Units
"This zoning plan of theatre owners organi-
zations would give us in the United States 26
zone organizations of theatre owners. Each
zone should pay into their treasury a fixed per-
centage of their dues which should go to the
'apkeep of a national organization. The offi-
cers of the national organization should be
elected by the majority of votes cast by the
membersi ' of each individual zone organiza-
tion, and the delegates are so instructed to
(Continued on page 58)
Lightning Ignites One Screen Theatre,
Threatens Another; Patrons Remain Calm
(Special to the Herald-World)
OTTAWA, June 3. — Lightning caused a £re in B. F. Keith's theatre and almost
simultaneously struck a building adjacent to the Imperial theatre, half a mile
away, during a storm here last Thursday evening.
Fire started in the basement of Keith's, smoke entering the auditorium through
the cooling system and putting the house in darkness. Manager J. M. Franklin
threw the lighting system over to another service and, entering the building
through a side entrance, Bremen extinguished the blaze and no panic resulted.
Patrons kept their seats until it was found that the projection machines had been
put out of commission.
Meanwhile other fire trucks stopped near the Imperial and the staff prepared
for emergencies, but the audience remained calm.
22
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
mm
NEW YORK. — You never saw them
loosen up with quite as much willingness
as they did the other night when the Motion
Picture Club started its bond-selling act. . . .
There wasn't a man there who wasn't willing
to yell "One Thousand !" — for the guy on his
right. . . . Sol Brill took the prize. . . . He
didn't want any at all (his words) and ended
by topping the list. . . . But there are other
counties still to be heard from. . . . That
thumping heard in Tin Pan Alley is caused by
great tears of gratitude falling on weary
pianos. . . . The finger-and-ivory boys have
struck gold — in pictures. . . . "Ramona" has
broken all records. . . . Irving Berlin has been
signed to write for the screen. . . . Roxy wants
George Gershwin to play his new symphonic
piece first for the films. . . . It's called "An
American in Paris" and sounds swell. . . .
The Philharmonic? . . . Pfooey! ... In
a few more weeks all the big music boys will
be signed by the pictures. . . . Which recalls
Jimmy Hiissey's explanation why he isn't
going to Holh^vood : "I don't scream well."
. . . King Vidor is back from Europe, on his
way to the Coast. . . . Wonder how Fox
missed "The Bridge of San Luis Rey," or
maybe he's got another picture for the Peru-
vians. . . . His newest, "The Red Dance,"
was for the Russians ; "Fazil," for the Ara-
bians ; "Four Sons" for the Germans ; "Mother
Machree" for the Irish ; "Street Angel" for
the Italians; Al Smith at Governor's Island
for the Democrats. . . . Agnes George de
Mille, daughter of William- de Mille and
granddaughter of Henry George, is the fea-
tured dancer of the week at Roxy's. . . . The
Motion Picture Artists League of America is
giving its first exhibition of motion picture
advertising art at the Hotel McAlpin, and
there may be plenty to say about this just a
little later. . . . John Monk Smtnders and
Fay Wray, newh'weds, stopped in the Big
City on their way from Washington to the
West Coast. . . . "Dawn" having excited the
generally imperturbable British public, what
about the filming of "The Burgomaster of
Stilemonde" now going on in Belgium with
actors in German uniforms and all that sort
of thing and not a sign of approval from
Otto Jyahu? . . . Johnnie Semler is the latest
inventor to enter the sound picture division.
His machine is to be known as the Semotone.
Johnnie is a man of many parts but his ma-
chine, it is said, has less than any on the
market. . . . Pat Powers is still testing out
the Cinephone and he may yet have it playing
the Anvil Chorus. . . . Ben Grimm is still
at the Universal office but he gets down
town pretty seldom. . . . George Harvey
of the Pathe company leaves a week from
today on his well earned vacation. And we
wish him a dandy time. George is one of the
regulars, both on the job and off. . . . The
A. M. P. A. held its regular weekly meeting
for the first time at the Hotel Lincoln, which
is to be the regular place of meeting from
now on. There was a good sized gathering
of the clan at the meeting and the guests of
honor were George Jessel and R. H. Burnside,
one the actor and the other the producer.
Everyihing that Bruce Gallup tackles seems
to run off with a swing and a bang but not
the same bang as is often heard from an
auto tire. . . . What are the wild waves
saying? They are calling the old reliable Si
Seadler to the shore at Sea Cliff, L. I., that
he may forget for a short time, trackless
trains, flying lions and advising technique.
. . . Warren Lewis, scribe and advertising
manager of the Vitaphone company, is brown-
ing up, down on the sands of Long Island
on the South Shore.
PETER VISCHER.
With Janet Gaynor at Coney
ULEASURE bent was Janet Gaynor when a brief period ago she quit the picture
■^ precincts for a vacation in other parts. The Fox star, whose brightness increases
by several light years with each of her new pictures, has had an active season, so she
went East to rest as strenuously as possible for the work she's got to do during the
coining months. Naturally, the secluded quiet of Coney Island proved alluring. And
there she is —
Ready, it would seem, to purvey tickets
for a wild west show to the masses. And of
course it is well for a player to get
acquainted with the box office.
Above is Miss Gaynor with her mother on
that lively day at Coney, and at left, the
star ready to open activities at Fox's new
Brooklyn theatre.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
Democracy's nominee for the presidency
of the United States, Al Smith, dons a
ten-gallon hat presented him by Tom
Mix. Two stars, and both shining bright-
ly in their firmaments, politics and pic-
tures. Mix is starting with F B O.
Hoover and Smith Running
Strong in U's Straw Vote
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— Herbert Hoover
and Governor Al Smith both are drawing
heavy support in the national straw vote
which Universal Chain Theatres is taking
in its houses. Early returns are:
Granada, Norfolk, Neb., Hoover 546; Smith, 432.
RivoH, Beatrice, Neb., Hoover 86, Smith 53;
Capitol, Grand Island, Neb., Hoover 582; Smith
378; Granada and Rivoli, Indianapolis, Hoover 214,
Smith 204; Casino, Marshalltown, Iowa, S.mith 260,
Hoover 228; Plant City, Fla., Hoover 590, Smith
377; Star, Arcadia, Fla., Hoover 69, Smith 6;
Capitol, Atlanta, Smith 190, Hoover 130; Virginian,
Charleston, W. Va., Smith 332, Hoover 230; Kenosha,
Kenosha, Wis., Smith 4110, Hoover 940; Venetian,
Racine, Wis., Hoover 763, Smith 499; Sheboygan,
Sheboygan, Wis., Smith 1,500; Hoover 500; Baby
Grand, Winter Park, Fla., Hoover 56, Smith 6.
42 Films Will Be Shown
At Munich Festivities
(Washington Bureau of the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, July 3.— Film festivities
are planned next month at Munich,
Germany, according to advices to the
Department of Commerce from Trade Com-
missioner George R. Canty at Paris. Ex-
hibitions will be under the direction of the
Bavarian organization, Landesfilmbuhne,
with the cooperation of Ufa.
Superfilms of German, Russian, Ameri-
can and Northern European production and
the best educational films will be exhibited
at the Munich exhibition. The program
comprises a new superfilm for every day;
these films will be shown three times on
each working day and four times on Sun-
days. In all, 42 films will be exhibited.
Signs 20 Seattle First-Runs
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— Twenty first-runs
have been signed in Seattle in 13 weeks
by L. O. Lukan, First National's manager.
Seattle stood first in the billing drive at the
end of the third week.
Herald- World Fans' Big Time
Makes Gathering Annual Event
Andy Anderson and Detroit Lakes, Minn., Will Entertain Readers
and Their Fish Yarns Next Summer — Pike and Bass
Fry Winds Up Week of Whoopee
By WILL WHITMORE
Such a rip-roarin' success was the Herald-World Readers Convention at
Alexandria last week that this most remarkable gathering ever held by peo-
ple of the motion picture industry is now an annual event. Detroit Lakes,
Minn., and Andy Anderson will be hosts of the 1929 conclave, by unanimous
decision of the exhibitors, who closed their chinfest with a luscious fish dinner
Friday night.
Anderson Heads '29 Program Committee
The motion to meet at Detroit Lakes was made by B. J. Benfield of Morris,
Minnesota, and seconded by Frank O'Hara of Elgin, Nebraska. Andy Ander-
son of Detroit Lakes was named as chairman of the program committee for
next year's convention to serve with the following committeemen : William
Tragsdorf, Wisconsin ; Phil Rand, Idaho ; P. G. Estee, South Dakota ; John
Filler, North Dakota; Claud Hanson, South Dakota; E. C. Potter New Hamp-
ton, Iowa ; Frank O'Hara, Nebraska, and Sam Blair, Kansas. Each com^-
mitteeman will be held responsible for interesting the exhibitors of his state
to attend next year's convention.
This first convention just ended at Alex-
andria began with a lying contest between
Old J. C. Jenkins and Frank O'Hara and
ended with the big fish fry on Friday at
which everybody lied about the fish, they
caught during the week. And before I go
any farther with this report of the happen-
ings at the convention, I want to say that
I was the only one who did not tell a single
lie during the entire week. It was evident
at once that I wouldn't have a chance keep-
ing up. with these old Master Liars who
have had years of experience.
J. C. Is M. L. of Them All
J. C. claims he is around 70 years old, but
no one would believe it by the way he goes
fishing, plays golf and cavorts around in
general like a two year colt, but when you
hear him lie, you know he must be that
old, for it takes at least 70 years of practice
to lie like he does.
But what a time these fellows had at
Alexandria! The town is almost sur-
rounded by water and there are so many
lakes they ran out of names for them. The
country looks like a big Swiss cheese. And
it seems that the lakes specialize in differ-
ent kinds of fish. When you go fishing,
you row out in one lake and catch a nice
string of bass; then you just toss your line
over in another lake and pull out a mess
Buys Chesterfield Rights
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3. — Chesterfield has
added Film De Luxe, Ltd., Toronto and
Montreal, to its list of distributors. This
firm bought th-e-rights for Canada.
Hats Off to Thompson;
Exhibitor Turns Author
Theatre owners, hats off to your
fellow-exhibitor, Charles H. Thomp-
son, author. We are in receipt of
a complimentary copy of "Byzantine
Love," by Mr. Thompson, operating
the Opera House at Plattsburg, Mo.
Just how an exhibitor finds time to
be an author might be a mystery in
itself, but Thompson demonstrates
also that a good exhibitor can be a
good author as well.
Exhibitors will concur in the com-
ment of O. O. Mclntyre, Hearst
Syndicate writer, who says:
"My native town, Plattsburg, Mo.,
has gone literary. Charles H.
Thompson has written a brochure
called 'Byzantine Love — A Love
Narrative of the Fifth Century' — and
has done a good job."
of croppies; when croppies begin to boi'e
you, you simply turn around in your boat,
throw your line over in another lake and
pull out wall-eyed pike to your heart's con-
tent. You can sit in your boat and fish in
a half dozen lakes and catch that many
different kinds of fish.
Besides lying, fishing was the most popu-
lar sport with golf and swimming claiming
a good share of attention. Elmer Gailey
of Wayne, Nebraska, probably did more
fishing than anyone else. He never took of):
his rubber hip-boots all the time he was in
Alexandria, and he was always either com-
ing or going fishing. One morning Rabbi
Frank O'Hara from Elgin, Nebraska, re-
ported seeing a huge fish out in the lake
feeding on three-pound bass. Elmer tore
down three saplings trying to get down to
the lake to catch him.
Rabbi'll Never Be the Same
Tragsdorf went out one morning and
came back with the biggest fish caught dur-
ing the week. It was an eight pound wall-
eyed pike. Of course Trags will be mad
when he reads this- for he claims the fish
weighed at least eleven pounds. The rabbi
went out another morning and caught a
string of bass, and now the doctors are
wagging their heads and saying that poor
old Frank will never be the same again.
And about that big fish, O'Hara claims to
have seen. According to Frank the waves
made by the fish when he flashed by almost
tipped his boat over. "I just saw his head
and a little of his body, and that much was
this long," said Frank, holding his hands
about two feet apart, and all out of breath
from running up to the cottage. "His fins
were as big as my hand and his head was
so big it wouldn't go in a lard barrel."
Fish Too Long for Camera
By the time Frank had described him a
few more times, the fins were bigger than
his two hands and he spread his arms
wide open to describe his length. Before
next year's convention, Frank's fish will be
as long as a sail boat and his head as big
as a bass drum. It's too bad he didn't
catch him with his moving picture camera.
Frank shot 60 feet of film which every ex-
hibitor will show in his theatre. The only
fish I snagged was a dog fish that towed
me at a sixty mile an hour gait through
five lakes before the line broke. Ask J. C.
(Continued on page 28)
24
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
The Herald-World Family Holds First Party
Gosh, but those Herald-Worlds sent especially to the conven-
tioners, were a treat to the boys. And of course each one
looked for his reports in W. T. P. D. F. M. right away.
A fish fibbing session, with Mae Godkin and Mrs. Walt Brad-
ley tuning in. Frank O'Hara, Bill Tragsdorf, Jaysee, Elmer
Galley and Cliff Carlson are the others.
In the front yard of J. C. Jenkins' Herald-World cottage,
which served as convention headquarters. In picking a place
to hang his hat, Jaysee knows his domiciles!
^:•f-'^^•i1: 1
^.■:Ji^a
t^'^m M s .
^mMt
HR|i'l 1 # 1
iS^^^*^-,. '-'^^ ^"^^.
■','"1 '•'■
Waiting for chow. Front row: Frank O'Hara, Jaysee, J. F.
Fitzgerald, Elmer Gailey and J. Perlman. Rear: BiH Bowker,
Mickey Larson, H. J. Longaker, Nels Benson and P. G. Estee.
The big fish dinner Friday afternoon, which proved a grand
and glorious climax to several days of real pleasure. (The fish
tasted much better than the stories.)
Every evening the gang "deadheaded" into Longaker's
charming State theatre, which is a model small town house.
Longaker says the conventioners helped the box office.
(Herald- World Photos)
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
Bass and Pike Co-star in Alexandria ^^Meller
yy
A lakeside gathering featuring Geraldine Scofield and May
Godkin of Neligh, Neb.; Mr. and Mrs. William Tragsdorf,
Neillsville, Wis., and Will Whitmore of the Herald-World.
No studio bass here — No, sir, they're fresh from the lake.
Jaysee, O'Hara, Longaker and his son, Chet, will boast long
and loudly of this catch.
"We'll round up those exhibs at Detroit
Lakes next year if we have to do it on
bicycles," declare Bonnie Benfield and
Andy Anderson.
J. C. Jenkins, the world's greatest
"on paper" bass fisherman, pre-
pares for a big haul. But the bass
should worry!
Golfers in every sense of the word,
from the first to the nineteenth hole —
Andy Anderson of Detroit Lakes, and
Bonnie Benfield.
There's bass in them there waters, and if you rise at 4 a. m.,
as Frank O'Hara, Longaker and his son, Chet, did, you'll
get 'em — and how!
Returning after a morning's catch. Chet Longaker is running
the boat, while his dad and Frank O'Hara ^splay the bass,
and Jaysee complacently smokes his weed burner.
(Herald-World Photos)
26
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
''Why Care What the Picture Did for Me?"
Mrs. H. J. Longaker and daughter, Flora, who entertained the
women with a delightful afternoon tea; and H. J., himself,
who entertained everyone at his State theatre.
The inseparable Swedes from Oakland, Neb. — Nels Benson
and Mickey Larson, regular fellows who fished and slept and
enjoyed life every minute of the meet.
Mr. and Mrs. William Bowker of Ta-
camah, la., who made the convention
a part of a Summer's automobile tour
of the North country.
Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Bender motored
over from New York Mills, Minn.,
for the big fish dinner and a chat
with the conventioners.
H. J. Longaker and P. H. Unumb, sec-
retary of Alexandria's chamber of com-
merce— the men who did the real con-
vention work.
The Rune stone, the pride of everyone in Alexandria. It
seems to prove that a boatload of Norwegians discovered the
American continent in 1362.
The swimming beach at the city park, of which Alexandria is
justly proud. This was the scene of Friday's fish dinner,
confab and general get-together.
(Hcrald-Wnrlcl Thntns)
Julv 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
27
At the New York
Theatres
NEW FILMS
STRAND— "The Wheel of Chance,"' a First Na-
tional picture starring Richard Barthelmess, directed
by Alfred Santell.
ROXY — "The Michigan Kid," a Universal produc-
tion starring Renee Adoree and Conrad Nagel, direct-
ed by Irvin Willat.
PARAMOUNT— "The Big Killing," a Paramount
comedy featuring Wallace Beery and Raymond Hat-
ton, directed by F. Richard Jones.
FIFTH AVENUE PLAYHOUSE — "The City
Without Jews," a German film directed by Karl von
Santer.
55th STREET PLAYHOUSE— "Love Is a Lie," a
German production starring Harry Leidtke and Lee
Parry, directed by Erich Waschneck, revived for an-
other week.
CAMEO — "Potemkin," and "The Last Laugh," re-
vived for another week.
HELD OVER
"Wings," Paramount, opened
Metro-Gold wyn-
presented by Arch
End of St.
Hammerstein,
Peters-
opened
CRITERION -
August 12, 1927.
ASTOR— "The Trail of '98
Mayer, opened February 13, 1928.
CENTRAI^-"The Man Who Laughs," Universal,
opened April 27.
EMBASSY— "Tempest," United Artists, opened
May 17.
TIMES SQUARE— "Dawn,^
Selwyn, opened May 28.
HAMMERSTEIN S— "The
burg," presented by Arthur
May 29.
GAIETY — "Fazil," Fox, opened June 5.
WARNERS — "The Lion and the Mouse," Warner
Brothers film with Lionel Barrymore, May McAvoy
and Vitaphone. Opened June 15.
RIALTO — "The Drag Net," Paramount, opened
June 16.
GLOBE — "The Red Dance," Fox, opened June 25.
CAPITOL — -"The Cossacks," Metro-Goldviryn-Mayer,
opened June 23.
RIVOLI — "Uncle Tom's Cabin," Universal, opened
June 23.
"Steamboat Bill, Jr." Is
First on Release List of
19 United Artists Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— "Steamboat Bill,
Jr.," Keaton-Torrence production, out this
month, heads the tentative release schedule
of United Artists' 19 pictures. National
selling started yesterday. The other release
dates are: August, "Two Lovers" (Col-
man-Banky) and "Tempest" (John Barry-
more); September: "The Woman Disputed"
(Norma Talmadge) and "The Battle of the
Sexes" (D. W. Griffith); October; "Re-
venge" (Dolores del Rio) and "The Awak-
ening" (Vilma Banky); November: "The
Love Song" (William Boyd and Lupe
Velez) and "The Rescue" (Ronald Colman).
November: (roadshow) "Hell's Angels";
December: "Nightstick," (Roland West
Production) and "Lummox" (Herbert Bren-
on Production); January: "The Swamp"
(Gloria Swanson — Erich von Stroheim), "The
Man With the Iron Mask" (Douglas Fair-
banks) and a Mary Pickford Production;
February: "City Lights" (Charlie Chaplin)
and "Conquest" (John Barrymore — Ernest
Lubitsch); March: "Three Passions" (Rex
Ingram), "She Goes to War" (Henry King).
Herrmann Joins Brill to
Sell 52 Ufa Productions
Third of U. 5. Territory
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— William C. Herr-
mann has joined with Dave Brill in selling
Ufa productions in the East under the new
name of Ufa-Eastern Division Distribution,
Inc. Brill and Herrmann will have entire
distribution in 3714 per cent of the United
States, with 26 features and 26 single reels,
all completed.
Headquarters will be at 729 Seventh Avenue.
Branches will be maintained in Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, Boston and Buffalo.
K-M Exhibitors Attack Zoning;
Elect Biechele for Fifth Term
Protection Situation Can Be Handled Only by Letting Distributor
and Exhibitor Continue to Barter for Terms, Says
President, Opposing Film Board Proposal
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
KANSAS CITY, July 3.— For the fifth consecutive year R. R. Biechele,
owner of the Osage theatre, Kansas City, Kan., was elected president of the
M. P. T. O. Kansas-Missouri at the tenth annual convention of that organiza-
tion Tuesday and Wednesday at the Broadview hotel, Wichita. A resolution,
expressing a vote of confidence and approval of Biechele's policies, was adopted
unanimously. With Biechele was re-elected his entire board of directors.
Zoning Plan Opposed
The convention was not all harmony, however, as the meeting had not been
in progress long before a resolution was adopted, opposing the newly inaugu-
rated protection zoning plan of the Kansas City Film Board of Trade. The-
atre owners had looked forward to the convention as a factor which would
determine the attitude of exhibitors towards the zoning plan. The contention
of the M. P. T. O. Kansas-Missouri delegates was that no zoning plan could
be arranged to have equal bearing upon all exhibitors. The resolution made
it plain that no zoning plan at all was desired by exhibitors.
"No plan for zoning favors protection can sion price, should be made to concede an ad-
vantage to a competitor which is unfair. It
is not what an exhibitor charges at the box
office, but the net profit he is able to make and
the amount he is able to pay for pictures."
Nontheatricals on Carpet
Nontheatrical enterprises also were pulled
upon the carpet for inspection, but, after
lengthy discussion, it was decided to leave ac-
tion on that matter to the M. P. T. O. K-M
directors.
Then there was the golf tournament in
which Lawrence Bruenninger of the Cozy the-
atre, Topeka, Kan., won first prize. The con-
vention, in most respects, was among the best
arranged meetings of the organization, there
being no delay in the program wh'atever.
Various legislative problems were discussed,
but those matters, also, were left for the dis-
position of the legislative committee.
be arranged, based upon the admission prices,
seating capacity or anvthing else," Biechele
said. "Although the
plan adopted by the .
Kansas City Film
Board of Trade was
not presumably based
upon admission
prices, it amounted to
that, nothing more or
less.
"For instance I
know of a theatre in
a certain neighbor-
hood which charges
ten cents admission.
Another theatre about
five blocks from that
theatre charges 15
cents. Under the zon-
ing plan adopted, the 15 cent house gets
prior rights over the 10 cent house, but the
10 cent house pays more for films, advertises
more in newspapers and, as a matter of fact, is
entitled to priority over the 15 cent theatre.
"There is only one way the protection situa-
tion can be handled. That is by allowing ex-
hibitor and distributor to continue to barter
for terms. No theatre which pays more for
films than another house, regardless of admis-
R. R. Biechele
Columbia's New Branches
Busy in Buffalo, Albany
(Special to the Herald-World)
BUFFALO, July 3.— Joe Miller is man-
aging Columbia's new branch here, while
Austin Interrante covers the Syracuse ter-
ritory and Walter Foster the Rochester
area. C. R. Halligan is covering the Albany
territory through the new exchange there.
Nine Counsel Engaged in Marks Trade
Battle; Sound Films Extend Rivalry
The list of attorneys as now completed in the suit of Marks Brothers, Chicago
circuit, against Publix, affiliated parties and five producer-distributors now num-
bers nine counsel of Chicago and New York, according to information from the
latter city. They are as follows:
Publix, Balaban & Katz and their individual defendants — Sonnenschein, Berk-
son, Lautnam & Levinson; Orpheum, W. V. M. A., Pathe and First National —
Trude & Kahane; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Henry J. Darby; Paramount, Winston
& Shaw; Universal, Mayer, Meyer, Austrian & Piatt; Great States, Morris G.
Leonard; William Morris, Lowenthal & Munns; Leo Spitz, representing himself;
Marks Brothers, Tenney, Harding & Sherman, and Joseph and Benjamin Rosen-
berg.
With the suit, in which Marks Brothers seek a temporary and permanent injunc-
tion, charging certain illegal trade practices, awaiting its first battle July 6, Marks
Brothers and Balaban & Katz opposed each other on fresh grounds last Friday,
when the latter inaugurated Movietone and Vitaphone at McVickers theatre. Loop
house. B. & K.'s Roosevelt will also begin sound pictures in two weeks. Marks
Brothers has been presenting sound pictures for nearly two years at its two neigh-
borhood houses.
Marks Brothers, in a lengthy trailer, point to the installation of sound-pictures
by others at this time as a tribute to Marks Brothers' foresight, "other theatres"
being readily identified as the rival circuit. Marks Brothers have also included
in their trailer a reference to bad parking conditions downtown and the "dusty"
Loop. (Pictures of ads appear on page 64.)
28
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
M* P* Club Members Qobble Bonds
At Peppy Complimentary Dinner
Income When 500 Have Signed Will Permit Reducing Dues to $125, Says
Lichtman- — All Ready But Decorating
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— When the new Motion Picture Club of New York
issued invitations to its 200 charter members for a complimentary din-
ner at the Park Central Hotel last Friday, exactly 80 of the group for-
got all about the hot weather and the tough week to be on deck for a shore
dinner with trimmings. The dinner proved to be an enthusiastic affair with
all present quite delighted at the prospective opening of the club next month.
THE broadside that announced the dinner
promised no speeches. Instead there were
about eighty, perhaps even a few more, for
some of the boys present spoke two and
three times. It all came about when Al
Lichtman, president of the club, informally
reviewed the progress of the new organiza-
tion, which seems to be thoroughly on the
up and up.
Virtually Ready for Opening
The club is virtually ready for the open-
ing, said Lichtman. Carpenters and plas-
terers are on their way out and all that
remains to be done will be done by
decorators. The club, in the opinion of
many experts, will be one of the finest in
the Metropolitan District, one of which the
film industry may well be proud. Every-
thing— including the all-important chef —
will be of the best.
Not only that, said Lichtman, but the
finances of the club are shaping up in such
a manner that when all 500 members have
been signed, the income of the club will be
sufficient to permit the dues to be set at
$125 a year, instead of the previously an-
nounced $150.
However —
In order to put the club on its feet as
soon as possible, without skimping and
worrying until all the 500 members are
signed, Lichtman said the club's financial
powers had decided upon a bond issue of
$100,000, paying 5 per cent interest, with a
certain percentage to be retired every
year beginning 1931. The club would like
to have every member of the club a bond-
holder, but there will be no attempt to
coerce any who didn't feel they could afford
a bond into buying.
And How They Sign!
Well — and this will surprise you — bids
began to be made. And before the meeting
was over (and don't forget it was a very
hot evening and the band played loud in-
stead of well) the neat little total of $26,200
had been raised. Every man present signed
Maybe He Wanted to Help
'Em Out by Buying a Tag
(Special to the Herald-World)
DBS MOINES, July 3.— This gag
was pulled in the crowd waiting to
get in the Capitol theatre here one
evening last week: A man who
looked to be from the so-called effete
regions East turned to another man
who looked to be from the so-called
oppressed Corn Belt and said, "You
know, I was surprised when I ar-
rived in Des Moines to find that it
wasn't tag day. Why, I was told that
every day in Iowa is tag day — for
farm relief, you know." It proved
to be popular with the waiting pa-
trons, even though it wouldn't have
gone so well with Eastern politicians.
something and the average was over $300,
despite the fact that the socalled money men
of the club weren't present.
Among those who dug down deep for
bonds were the following:
E. W. Hammons, Arthur W. Stebbins,
Jack Alicoate, Al Lichtman, Walter Camp,
Jr., Alfred Gottesman, Sol Brill, Lou
Blumenthal, Moe Mark, William Brandt,
Lee Ochs, Felix Feist, S. H. Fabian, Ben
Amsterdam, Joe Brandt, Jack Cohn, D. J.
Chatkin, Harold Franklin, Walter Moore
and Joseph Pollack.
Al Lichtman announced that every man in
the club would be given an opportunity to
sign for some of the bonds — and how — and
that if the issue was oversubscribed, as he
anticipated it would be, then the bonds
would be prorated. The club knew just
how much it needed to get on its feet, and
had no intention of signing up any more.
Herald-World Chinfest
Is Made Annual Event
{Continued from page 23)
about that dog fish, but then you wouldn't
believe him anyway.
Jenkins made Elmer Gailey believe that
dog fish really have four legs and that on
moonlight nights they crawl up on the
shore and bark like dogs. That's the sort
of fellow Jenkins is.
Herald-World Cottage Filled
During most of the day and night when
the gang was just loafing, most of the men
could be found at Jenkins' Herald-World
cottage. The special interest was the cook-
ing of J. C.'s daughter, Mrs. Walt Bradley,
whose husband runs the theatre at Neligh,
Nebraska, Miss Mae Godkin and Miss
Geraldine Scofield also of Neligh. These
three young ladies fed every hungry fisher-
man at the convention about four times a
day and contributed much more than their
share in making the convention a success.
And to show you what all around girls they
are, they can fish and swim just as well as
they can cook.
On the golf course, Bonnie Benfield of
Morris, Minnesota, and Andy Anderson of
Detroit Lakes did the real golfing. Andy
shoots a mean 42 with maddening non-
chalance, and Benfield made a 50 foot and
a 30 foot putt as easily as George Benson
of Minneota, Minnesota, drank — well you
know what a big Swede usually drinks.
George and Mickey Inseparable
George Benson — what a great fellow he
is. He owns the theatre at Oakland, Nebraska,
and Mickey Larson operates it. They were in-
separable and all they did was sleep, fish
and — . If I ever go near Minneota, I'm
surely going to drop in on those two birds.
Their cellar is said to — .
Bill Bowker and his wife of Tacamah,
Iowa, entertained royally at their place on
Lake Mary and showed many of the fellows
the right place to catch croppies. One
Men Use Theatre for
Sunday Bible Class
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, July S.—Skouras
Brothers' Missouri theatre is used
every Sunday morning by the Agoga
Bible class of the Third Baptist
church, which adjoins the theatre on
the south. This class is composed
of 300 men and was organized about
22 years ago. At that time a men's
Bible class was something unique,
but the idea spread quickly, and to-
day there are 1,300 other Baptist
churches in this country with similar
classes.
afternoon all the ladies of the convention
were entertained in a very charming man-
ner by Mrs. H. J. LongaKcr and her daugh-
ter, Flora, at their lakeside summer cottage.
Longaker Theatre Beauty
And H. J. entertained the whole crew
every evening at his theatre. He didn't
seem to mind all the deadheads at all, and
he put on some fine shows every evening.
You really ought to see that 700-seat house
of Longaker's. It is a beauty and far ahead
of the average small town theatre. His pro-
jection is better than you will see in most
city deluxe houses. After the evening show
some of the fellows treked up to the hotel
to listen to a lot of whoopee coming over
the radio from Houston. You couldn't drag
Crockett Brown of Nashwauk, Minnesota,
away from that loud speaker with a twelve
mule team.
The real occasion of the convention came
Friday afternoon when a fish dinner was
held at the City Park. What a red letter
day that will be in the memories of every-
one there. F. J. Fitzgerald, mayor of
Alexandria, acted as master of ceremonies
and the high school band added pep to the
dinner with its good music.
All Alexandria Plays Host
The convention was made altogether at
home the entire week by the charming hos-
pitality of the entire town of Alexandria,
but especial thanks should be given H. J.
Longaker and P. H. Unumb, secretary of
the Chamber of Commerce of Alexandria,
and his stafif. These two men worked end-
lessly to make the convention the wonderful
success it undoubtedly was, and they re-
ceived the thanks and appreciation of every
person who attended.
Those of us who were there have many
pleasant memories to look back on and
many more pleasant things to look forward
to when we all meet at Detroit Lakes next
year. Andy Anderson and Bonnie Benfield
are already offering many inducements to
us to come to Detroit Lakes next year.
They have already announced that they will
give a fine trophy for the lowest medal
score for 18 holes of golf at next year's
Herald-World Readers' convention, and
that's just one of the many things they are
planning. Those of you who were unable
to attend do not know what a wonderful
time you missed, but there'll be no excuse
for anyone missing the second annual con-
vention.
Pathe Family Together
Under Same Roof Soon
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— Pathe's home
office family soon will be under one roof.
Alterations now are being made at 35 West
45th street so that the sales force and execu-
tive officials can move their offices from
1560 Broadway.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
Glenn Expands Tieups
For Warners on Radio;
Covering Most of U. S,
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— Allen S. Glenn,
who is traveling for Warner Brothers with
the objective of making radio hookups
and serializations in
newspapers, is ex-
panding the chain of
broadcasting s t a -
tions that exploit
Vitaphone produc-
tions. Glenn is now
in the East, but his
itinerary calls for
the covering of a
large part of the
United States. A
tieup of particular
importance is that
with the Crosley
WLW broadcasts.
Following are the „ ^ , ,
, ■ ° , J p. Crosley, Jr.
hookups already ar-
ranged: KFWB, Hollywood; WRNY,
New York City; WOR, Buffalo; WLW,
Cincinnati; KOIL, Council Bluffs; KOIN,
Portland, and KOMO, Seattle.
First Division Will Stay
In Business, Says Wells;
Furst Now Owns Control
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— First Division Dis-
tributors will continue in the field, accord-
ing to Raymond Wells, vice-president and
production manager, who arrived last week
from the coast to reorganize distribution
following the resignation of Jesse J. Gold-
burg. Robert S. Furst is the new presi-
dent and he owns the controlling interest.
French Film Exports
Drop in First Quarter
(Washington Bureau of the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, July 3.— Drop is shown
in French exports of both positive and
negative motion picture film the first quar-
ter of this year, according to a report from
Trade Commissioner George R. Canty,
Paris, to the Department of Commerce.
Quarterly exports of film totaled 555 and 350
metric quintals of positive and negative compared
with 780 and 481 quintals the same period last year.
They were valued at 6,746,000 and 3,697,000 francs,
against 9,396,000 and 5,349,000 francs last year.
Quarterly imports of motion picture film into France,
however, gained over last year. Negative stock dur-
ing the 1928 period showed a gain of 127 metric
quintals to 358 quintals valued at 2,362,000 francs
and imports of positive stock a gain of 116 metric
quintals to 214 quintals valued at 3,360,000 francs.
New Weiss Novelty Reel
From Ideas of Audience
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— Weiss Brothers'
Artclass Pictures Corporation will release
a series of 26 one-reel novelties under the
title of "Embarrassing Moments" next sea-
son. Embarrassing Moments Pictures Cor-
poration^^will produce the series to be made
from ideas provided by the audiences, $50
being paid for each idea filmed.
Lusty Aids Jensen
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— Louis Lusty has
been named assistant to Emil Jensen, sales
manager for Art Cinema Corporation, dis-
tributing through United Artists.
Talking Sequences in Big Part
of Paramount's 25 Sound Films
Large Share of Newsreel and Short Product Also Will Be Synchro-
nized, Likewise Publix Unit Shows, Opening These
Presentations to Small Theatres
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3. — Of 71 Paramount feature pictures to be released
next year beginning August 1, a minimum of 25 to 30 will have sound accom-
paniment, most of them v^^ith talking sequences, according to an official state-
ment made last week.
Paramount News will present a large part of its service in sound, and the
one and two-reel short features, including the Christie Comedies, will have
sound accompaniment. In addition, the company will sell a new type product,
which will be synchronized pictures of stage unit productions such as appear
on the stage of the Paramount theatre and other big theatres operated by
Publix.
Smaller theatres of the country thus will
have an opportunity to book big stage shows
that are now featured in deluxe houses in the
larger cities. Lavish novelties, featuring act-
ing, singing, and dancing stars, the pick of
the world's stage and screen talent, will be
presented in these special short reels, Para-
mount stated.
Production on Both Coasts
The major part of Paramount's sound ac-
tivities will be centered in the company's studio
at Hollywood, but reconstruction of the Para-
mount Long Island studio for sound produc-
tions is progressing rapidly. Adolph Zukor,
president, said that those sound pictures which
can be advantageously filmed in the East be-
cause of the proximity of speaking stage talent
will be made at the Astoria plant.
Among feature length productions with
sound which either are in work or have been
completed are: "Wings," William Wellman
production with Charles Rogers, Clara Bow,
Richard Arlen and Gary Cooper featured,
which had a long run at the Criterion, New
York, and at every other big city played thus
far this year; Von Stroheim's '"The Wedding
March," in which all great highlights such
as the wedding music, bells, ceremonial
trumpetings, will be heard as well as seen.
Featured in the cast are Von Stroheim, also
directing, and Fay Wray. Anne Nichols'
"Abie's Irish Rose" will have, in addition to
a music score, other sound effects, such as
singing of the theme song by Charles Rogers
and Nancy Carroll, who with Jean Hersholt
are featured.
Sound in Russian Picture
"The Patriot," Ernst Lubitsch's greatest
work, starring Emil Jannings, will have sound
reproduction incorporated in the thunderous
Russian marches, the charge of yelling Cos-
sacks, the pistol shots as innocents are shot
down, and in the dialogue of members of the
Films in Industrial Show
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., July 3.— Motion
picture exhibits will be part of the Eastern
States Exposition here September 16 to 22.
Want New Theatre —
Ask Wesco — Get It
(Special to the Herald-World)
VISALIA, CAL., July S.—A peti-
tion circulated by the Visalia Cham-
ber of Commerce and signed by
many local business men was pre-
sented recently to West Coast Thea-
tres, Inc., asking that a new moving
picture house be erected. Within a
few days after the petition had been
presented Howard Sheehan, vice-
president and executive manager of
West Coast, announced that con-
struction work would be started in
three months on a 1,500-seat house
to cost $200,000.
cast in climactic scenes. Featured in support
of Jannings are Florence Vidor, Lewis Stone
and Neil Hamilton.
"The Canary Murder Case," detective mys-
tery melodrama with William Powell, Louise
Brooks, Ruth Taylor and James Hall featured
under direction of Malcolm St. Clair, will
have in addition to music and sound effects
a number of talking sequences.
Music Score for Negri Film
"Loves of an Actress," starring Pola Negri,
directed by Rowland V. Lee, with Nils Asther
and an all-star cast supporting Miss Negri,
will have sound accompaniment in the form of
the music score and sound effects for dramatic
sequences. In "Warming Up," a newly-pro-
duced comedy drama starring Richard Dix,
the sound accompaniment combines sound at-
mosphere of a baseball game, the singing of
the theme song, and music score. Jean Ar-
thur has the leading female role; Fred New-
meyer is director.
Paramount as announced, has acquired the
rights to "Burlesque," Broadway comedy
drama which has run nearly a year in New
York. This will be produced on a spectacular
scale as a synchronized picture. Paramount
announced.
Christie Shorts Synchronized
Sound effects in voice and music score will
be heard in the Christie series of short fea-
tures to be released next season by Para-
mount. The first five Christies synchronized
with sound in all phases are "Skating Home,"
of the series, "Confessions of a Chorus Girl,"
with Frances Lee and the Christie beauties;
"The Dizzy Diver," and "Oriental Hugs," of
the Bill Dooley series ; "Stop Kidding," Bobby
Vernon comedy, and "Hot Scotch," of the
Sandy MacDuff series starring Jack Duffy.
While in New York Charles Christie stated
that in addition to the foregoing his company
will produce two special sound short features.
Three Foreign Actors
Signed by Paramount
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— Three foreign
actors added to Paramount's forces for the
coming season as a result of Jesse L.
Lasky's trip abroad are Maurice Chevalier,
Paris light comedian; Paul Guertzman, 15-
year-old Russian refugee, and John Loder,
former British cavalry officer.
*Funny Fix* Judges Picked
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— R. F. (Pete)
Woodhull, president of the M. P. T. O. A.,
Ned E. Depinet, First National's general
sales manager, and Harry Hershfield, car-
toonist, will judge the "Funny Fix" contest
for Walter F. Eberhardt, editor of First
National News.
30
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
^^Meph^^ Satan Was First Film Star^
Visual Educationist Declares
Industry Might Have Arrived Sooner If Such Trick Names As Zoopraxi-
nographoscope Had Been Avoided, Conference Is Told
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald- World]
DES MOINES, July 3. — In this day of "star" exploitation, with the glit-
tering- signs above the theatre entrances blazing forth the names we
know so well, it is hard to realize that the first motion picture star
about whom we have definite information was old man Devil himself. One
advantage in this will occur to the average manager at once — the star could
furnish his own "blazing forth" and his own hot advertising methods, and how !
WELL, this is how! Once upon a time
there was a Jesuit from Geiss whose
name was Athanasius Kircher. He had
invented a sort of a magic lantern by means
of which he entertained the nobles by pro-
jecting crude handpainted pictures of the
Devil on the wall of a darkened room by
means of a smoky lamp. Satan was the
star performer in these early religious
dramas of the time. All this happened in
Rome about 1640. At least that is what
Dr. Ellsworth C. Dent of the University of
Kansas told his listeners at a visual educa-
tion conference held at Drake University in
Des Moines all last week.
As Will Rogers said about the Demo-
cratic party, "At the time Noah founded it
they had two courses to follow. Right and
Wrong, so they chose the right." This
Kircher must have had leanings toward the
party when he showed the wayward nobles
his friend, Pluto, at his worst.
And the Chinese —
And then Edison, it was learned at the
sessions, would have had to look to his
laurels had he lived in China about 1,000
B. C. because the Chinese had a magic
picture box which gave in primitive form
the same effect the animated cartoon pic-
tures give with the modern apparatus. The
old Chinese would pay a few grains of
rice for a chance to look into the peep hole.
Another Chinese would pull the ribbon
through a slot at the other end of the box.
On this ribbon would be 30 or 40 pictures,
each differing a little, and the whole series
forming an act.
There is nothing so new after all, about
the business when one considers all Dr.
Dent had to tell about the history of mov-
ing pictures. He told how one of the
Ptolemies of Egypt as early as 130 A. D.
operated an apparatus with revolving discs
which produced the impression of motion.
And so on came the improvements until
Edison entered the field, and here we are!
What About the Zoopraxinographoscope?
Motion pictures, however, might have
arrived sooner if some of the early experi-
menters had known enough about human
beings to avoid difficult and high sound-
ing names for their discoveries. Wouldn't
it be fun to have to teach patrons how to
pronounce phenaketoscope, or phasmatrope,
or zoopraxinographoscope, as some of the
oldtimers christened their machines? The
latter named device, we understand, came
into existence as the result of a wager be-
tween Leland Stanford and James R. Keen
in the middle 70's. They argued as to
whether a horse lifted all four feet off the
ground at any point in its stride.
First Public Shows on Prizefights
Life really began for the modern picture
house manager, it seems, with the arrival
of the first "story" picture. Edwin S.
Porter, a camera man employed in the Edi-
son studios, had long observed the audience
value of thrill scenes such as fire engine
runs, rescues and the like. It occurred to
him that he could string some of these to-
gether and make a new excuse for repho-
tographing some of the wornout subjects.
He did this and produced the melodramatic
picture, "Life of the American Fireman."
The plot was perfect. It showed the
sleeping fire chief dreaming of home, wife
and baby. He was awakened by the mid-
night alarm, raced to the fire only to rescue
his own small baby from the flames. This
was a great success.
Another early story picture followed.
This was "The Great Train Robbery." This
was a whole reel in length and created a
sensation in picture circles.
It might be well to remember, in this
day of interstate transportation laws, that
the first films made for public exhibition
were of prizefights. The scenes had to be
arranged in front of the camera. No one
had ever heard of taking the big cameras to
the scene of the action.
Managers aren't having such a hard time
nowadays after all, considering all that has
gone before. At any rate they don't have
to wait until the undertaker gets through
with a funeral before they can borrow the
chairs to seat their patrons and it seems
that such really did happen away back in
the good old days.
FBO Exhibition of
Film Art Is Given
By Artists League
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— F B O is holding
an exhibition of motion picture art this
week in the East room of the Hotel Mc-
Alpin under auspices of the Motion Picture
Artists League of America. The paintings,
done in oil by eight American artists, were
used originally as art illustrations in F B O's
announcement of its 1928-29 product. The
arrangement for the exhibit followed praise
for their conception and technique by such
artists as Abel Warshawsky, Raymond
Thayer and Robert Phillips.
In the exhibit the following artists are
represented:
Ralph Illigan, with "The Perfect Crime,"
"The Circus Kid," "Blockade," "Gang War"
and "The Record Run;" Lew Kennerly with
"Charge of the Gauchos;" George Giguere
with "Singapore Mutiny" and "Lest We
Forget;" Frederic Madan with "The Yel-
lowback" and "The Air Legion;" P. J.
Monaghan with "Hey, Rube;" Clinton
Pettee with "His Last Haul" and "The Con-
vict's Son;" David Strumpf with "Voice of
the Storm" and Paul Stahr with "King of
the Klondike."
O.
the
Tattle at Charlotte
(Special to the Herald-World)
CHARLOTTE, N. C, July 3.— T
Tuttle, formerly branch manager of
Universal exchange in Charleston, W. Va.,
.has succeeded E. F. Dardine as branch man-
ager of the Universal office in Charlotte.
Dardine has been with the Universal ex-
change for the past 19 years.
U Florida Circuit
Going to Sparks;
9 Cities Affected
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, July 3.— Universal's circuit
of Florida theatres is passing to the control
of" E. J. Sparks, according to authentic ad-
vice, confirming reports current two weeks
ago. According to the news from New
York, the deal will not involve the theatres
in Leesburg and Lake City nor the Capitol
in Miami.
The houses involved are in Orlando,
Plant City, DeLand, St. Augustine, Braden-
ton, Sarasota, Arcadia, Kissimmee and Fort
Myers, the original Sparks circuit. It is
not unlikely that these will become a part
of the Publix-Saenger-Sparks chain. It _ is
understood that the Universal theatres dis-
trict office in Atlanta will be abolished.
Rumors are that Universal is negotiating
for sale of the Capitol, its deluxe house in
Atlanta, and is dickering for disposal of its
three suburban theatres in the Atlanta dis-
trict— the Ponce de Leon, the Madison and
the Fairfax.
Theatre Changes
Heavy Past Week
Eaves Theatres lias taken over the Majestic at
Mebane, N. C; Rivoli, Columbia, S. C. ; Imperial,
Newberry, S. C, and Palace, Chester S. C. . . .
Ray V. Powell is managing the new Saenger Tudor
at New Orleans. . . . O. K. Mason and Myron
Lehman have bought the Majestic and the Ashland
at Wellington, Kan. . . . The Monroe City at
Monroe City, Ind., has reopened with a two-a-week
change. . . . The Dream at Indianapolis has been
remodeled. . . . Architects are drawing plans for
a new Moon theatre to be built at Vincennes, Ind,,
for Theodore Charles. . . . The new Mishawaka,
opened by O. J. Lambiotte at Mishawaka, Ind., has
a Spanish garden motif interior, and a Moorish
design exterior.
Arthur F. Perry, Jr., has been given the contract
for the new Saenger at Biloxi, Miss. . . . Contracts
have been awarded for a $50,000 house for H. E.
Clifton, Circleville, Ohio. . . . The Anthony Wayne
has been opened at Wayne, Pa., by Harry Fried.
. . . Douglas Methodist Church in Montreal is giving
way to a $165,000 United Amusements theatre. . . .
The old Royal at New Westminster, B. C, is to be
remodeled. . . . The $1,000,000 Mayflower in
Seattle is to open August 15. . . . Donald Nease
will build a Spanish type theatre at Waitsburg, Wash.
, , , The United Artists theatre is now open again
at Seattle, . . . T & D has bought the Redding
and Market Street theatres at Redding, Cal.
Raymond Shrock Resigns
As Associate Producer
At Tiffany-Stahl Studio
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Raymond L.
Schrock, who for the past six months has
been associated with Tiffany-Stahl as asso-
ciate producer with John Stahl, has severed
connections with the company.
It has been rumored that Schrock is con-
cerned in several changes which have taken
place at Hollywood studios. Last week
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer purchased from
Schrock an original story to be used for
William Haines.
During the past six months Schrock has
produced eight pictures for Stahl.
Zellner Goes to Coast
For Pickford, Fairbanks;
Makes 2 Appointments
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— Arthur Zellner,
for several years Eastern publicity repre-
sentative for Mary Pickford and Douglas
Fairbanks, has been transferred to the West
Coast as director in chief of their adver-
tising and publicity department. Before
leaving, he announced appointments of
Louis William Smith as Eastern publicity
representative for Miss Pickford, and S.
Barrett McCormick for Fairbanks.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
^e^
Film News
in Pictures
PICTORIAL SECTION
Stories Told
by the Camera
Paul Burger, who has
been appointed assistant
to AI Lichtman, general
sales manager of United
Artists. Burger will now
specialize in organization,
co-operating with Cresson
E. Smith. He has been
on M G M's sales staff
eight years.
An ingratiating picture from Warner Brothers presenting one of
the beautiful and talented sisters Costello. This, as doubtless you've
noted, is Helene, whom the brothers Warner (to speak consistent-
ently) are featuring on more and more frequent occasions. One
new occasion is "Noah's Ark," in which she has an important role
in support of Dolores, while another is "The Lights of New York,"
which will be the first feature to have speech throughout. It is
now in production.
A new portrait of Alberta
Vaughn, whose sense of
humor has been a very
definite asset to the screen
for quite some time. She
has been selected to star
in F B O's new series of
H. C. Witwer's Cosmo-
politan stories, "Racing
Blood."
How it's done or is not done. We confess rather complete ignorance
in the processes involved in getting a picture cued. However, D. W.
Griffith, United Artists director, is shown with Hugo Reisenfeld, who
cues United Artists productions, and believe it or not, there's an organ
between them. Reisenfeld, who is also director of all United Artists
theatres, is scoring Griffith's latest picture, which has the extremely
interesting title of "The Battle of the Sexes." The premiere thereof
is expected shortly.
The Beery clan at Wallace's Beverly Hills home. The occasion
was the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Noah Beery,
Sr., parents of the Paramount star and his brother screen player,
Noah. Now to tell you which is who — Standing are Noah, Wallace,
Noah, Sr., and William Beery, while seated are Mrs. Wallace Beery,
Mrs. Noah Beery, Sr., and Mrs. William Beery. Down in front
are Noah the third, Charlotte, daughter of William; and Burton,
William's son.
32
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
ja^/ng IT h,asy
Above: One way to take
it easy! It's difficult to slip
a card under the table,
but that's against the rules,
anyway. They are Dorothy
Sebastian and Anita Page,
two of M G M's "Our
Dancing Daughters," at
Santa Monica.
Left: Time off for Fay
Wray and Gary Cooper
on Chesapeake bay, where
they've been working in
sequences for Paramount's
"The First Kiss." And so
they take a holiday excur-
sion on and among the
clutter of fishing craft.
Chester Conklin, Paramount player, presenting the per-
petual Chester Conklin Cup signifying the tennis
championship of Hollywood, to Martin Cornica, film
developer (left) and William Welhnan, director, both
of Paramount, who won the recent tournament. Pretty
easy to take, eh?
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Waiting for something to happen? Nope — they're too sure of that. Just taking
it easy between scenes for First National's picture of carnival life, "The Barker."
This is the screen version of the 1927 stage play, which critic and public thought
uncommonly good. Shown above in a study in lassitude, are several principals of
the picture, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., George Cooper, Dorothy Mackaill, who is fea-
tured; Milton Sills, the star; and "One-Eyed" Connolly.
Hard job washing the ol' bus? Ask the man who
does it! Big Boy does it. But he uses horse-sense
around his car. Same way with his Educational
comedies. No use over-working. Acting or wash-
ing your car, sometimes you gotta take it easy. (And
it's the same thinking up captions!)
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
33
Y^idures about new T^idures
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Slippery money — a scene from "Danger Street," F B O melodrama
telling the story of a rich young man who finds relief from boredom
and also love among those hardboiled. Martha Sleeper and Warner
Baxter, featured players, are shown above.
In Russia before their migration to America, Schmulka and Nickolai,
twins of divergent destinies, with their family. This is a scene from
"The Wheel of Chance," an emotional piece produced by First
National as a vehicle for Richard Barthelmess. Alfred Santell directed.
Noah hailed by the people in an episode
from Warner Brothers' pretentious ac-
count of the Deluge, "Noah's Ark," now
filming. Dolores Costello has the star-
ring role. Paul McAllister portrays Noah.
Four who are participating prominently in the prep-
aration of Pathe's 1928-29 program. At left is
Phyllis Haver, so striking as the star of "Chicago,"
who will have three pictures, "Sal of Singapore,"
"The Shady Lady" and "The Office Scandal." Next
to her is the lesser known but promising Eddie
Quinlan, who will appear in "The Godless Girl,"
"Show Folks" and "Listen, Baby." Then comes
the busy, busy scenario editor, Carl Hovey, who is
directing 12 scenarists and continuity writers. And
at right is the popular star, William Boyd, whose
1928-29 pictures are "The Cop," "High Voltage,"
"The Leatherneck" and "The Flying Fool."
^*^-
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Politics in its more farcical aspects (and there
are plenty of them!) is the theme of First
National's "The Head Man." Shown in this
scene are Charles Murray, the star, and Sylvia
Ashton.
Three is a company, but it need not mat-
ter, as it docs not in this love chat between
Gladys McConnell and Ken Maynard, the
star, in First National's "Code of the
Scarlet."
34
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
South Opens Drive for Summer
Attendance with Novel Ideas
Twenty-Four Sheets in Five Colors Have Right and Left Six-Sheets
in Stock on Cooling Plant and Bargain Matinee —
Tieups with Forecaster and Ice Company
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
SAN ANTONIO, June 26. — The theatre is your best friend in the hot sum-
mer months, the Texas exhibitors are telling their regular and prospective
patrons, and how they're telling them!
Innumerable Devices Used
Summer exploitation — and equipment — has a large role to play in the South,
with its mild winters and scorching summer months. Besides installation of
high-powered cooling plants the campaign is on with inviting lobby displays,
trick newspaper ads, billboards atmospheric of the North Pole, trailers exuding
the spirit of mountain coolness and dripping with icicles, tackcards flooding
towns with descriptions of the refrigerated conditions.
In the past two years — and especially "Despite the trouble in St. Louis, I can-
this season — managers and operators have not see where there will be any serious con-
been pushing their cooling plants for all
they are worth. For example, under a new
policy regarding billboards of the Publix
theatres in Texas, John T. Friedl, district
manager, devised a 24-sheet in five colors,
with the right and left six sheets in stock
on the cooling plant and the bargain mati-
nee. A four-sheet spot in the center plugs
the weekly picture attraction, and a seven-
sheet streamer at the bottom of the stand
announces the stage attraction. This paper
is institutionalizing the cooling plant and
the bargain matinee. The cost of the paper
for a year about equals the cost of stock
pictorial 24s over a period of three months
— so there is a material saving.
Tieup With Forecaster
The San Antonio weather forecaster was
taken through the refrigeration plant of the
Texas theatre and the operation explained
in detail to him. A picture was made of
him at the huge switchboard, and this pic-
ture, together with a feature story, ran in
the local evening paper, to the effect that
the weather man was safe in predicting a
standard cool temperature for the Texas
throughout the season.
A tieup was made with a Dallas ice com-
pany, by the Palace theatre there and a dish
of quarters were frozen in ten 300-pound
blocks of ice, together with a card saying
that those estimating correctly the amount
of quarters in the plate would receive
passes. Newspaper ads were run by the ice
company to the effect that there were two
ways of keepinpr cool — with their ice, and
at the Palace. Each of their 50 delivery
trucks carried banners on the stunt, which
lasted a week. The blocks of ice were
exhibited in big downtown windows, and
added interest was created with awards to
those best estimating the length of time it
would take the ice to melt.
Musicians Are Called
to Prepare Fight as
Synchronism Spreads
{Continued from page 19)
approaching labor storm, in the opinion of
R. R. Biechele, head of the M. P. T. O. Kan-
sas-Missouri. The Globe theatre, a down-
town house seating 2,000, and the Palace,
Wichita, Kan., seating 1,400, are the only
theatres using synchronized pictures just
now, but the Madrid new suburban of Kan-
sas City and the new Uptown in Wichita
are making preparations for synchronism.
Thus far there has been no evidence of
labor trouble from the musicians' unions,
although some theatre owners believe this
due to the fact that use of synchronized
music has not progressed sufficiently yet.
troversies in the Kansas City territory,"
Mr. Biechele said. "Frankly, I believe the
situation will be self-adjusting when the
proper time arrives. When the safety razor
was invented there was an awful howl on
the part of the barbers, but I don't remem-
ber of any barbers starving to death.
Synchronism, quite naturally, represents a
move of economy on the part of the thea-
tre owner, just the same as previous inven-
tions have been of economic value to the
world in general. All inventions have in-
jured some class of persons temporarily,
but the world today would have a difficult
time in remembering who opposed the in-
vention of the cotton gin or the steam en-
gine.
"There are liable to be petty squabbles
here and there which will not amount to
much, but no invention can be held back by
the minority of people."
Detroit Sees Demands
On Contract Renewals
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, July 3.— Now that talking
pictures are gaining more and more of a
hold on Detroit's picture going public, thea-
tre managers have their ears to the ground
for the first rumblings of complaint from
musicians and projectionists.
Heated discussions of sound pictures were
held behind locked doors at the biennial
convention of the International Alliance of
Theatrical Employes and Motion Picture
Operators, held here recently. What took
place in those meetings has not, as yet,
come to the attention of theatre owners
here.
The John H. Kunsky theatrical interests
are the only ones employing sound pic-
Free Circus Brings Crowd
To F B O Lot in Filming
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Free cir-
cus! That phrase, sounded through
newspaper, radio stations, hotels and
tourist information, brought several
thousand to the F B O studio one
day last week during the Glming of
"The Circus Kid," being directed by
George B. Seitz. F B O says several
hundred paid extras were given their
checks and released for the day to
make additional room for the visit-
ors. Poodles Hanneford headlined
the performers' part of the entertain-
ment, and there were free popcorn,
peanuts and balloons for the young-
sters.
tures. The State has been turned into a
sound film theatre, but the symphony or-
chestra has been retained for the overtures.
Kunsky officials are of the opinion that
no trouble will develop until September 1,
when contracts must be renewed. It is ex-
pected that some demands will be made on
that date.
Orchestra Taken Out
of McVickers in Chicago
Decision of the Chicago musicians' union
regarding its policy on synchronized pro-
ductions awaits the results of the confer-
ence in New York. James C. Petrillo, head
of the Chicago union, pointed out that the
meeting is for formulating some practicable
plan for the protection of members' interests
and that this does not necessarily mean
the launching of an irreconcilable fight on
talking pictures. B & K opened with
Movietone and Vitaphone last Friday at
McVickers, and the Roosevelt starts show-
ing synchronized film July 14. The orches-
tra has been taken out at the McVickers
and similar action is expected at the Roose-
velt.
Pay Cut for Musicians
Projectionists Sought
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, July 3.— With the most un-
seasonable summer weather since 1873 and
April showers in June; unemployment wide-
spread and box office receipts far from what
they should be, the theatre owners of St.
Louis have taken the initiative in request-
ing substantial reductions in wages from
the musicians and projectionists. The
wage contracts expire August 31.
Relief has been sought, in preliminary
discussion, for the small theatres, employ-
ing from one to three musicians. The pres-
ent scale provides that where but one
musician is employed he shall be paid $63
a week for three hours of playing. In two-
men orchestras the leader is now paid $63
and the second musician $48 and in three-
men orchestras the leader is paid $63, the
others $48. In the scale proposed by the
theatre owners the one-man house would
pay $53; in two-men houses the leader's
salary would be reduced to $55.50 and in
three-men houses the leader would be paid
$58. The wages of the other players would
continue at $48.
Ask Drop for Projectionists
The projectionists have been requested
to accept a straight 10 per cent reduction.
The scale now ranges from $54 for 20-cent
houses, $62 for 25-cent houses, and up to
about $80 for the large first run houses.
It is probable that both the musicians and
projectionists will reject the proposals.
The musicians and projectionists have
been quick to realize that Movietone, Vita-
phone and other synchronized pictures
eventually will supplant many orchestras.
Under the leadership of Stephen Butler,
business agent, the St. Louis musicians' or-
ganization was perhaps the first to take a
firm stand. When the Vitaphone was in-
stalled in the Capitol the St. Louis musi-
cians insisted the theatre employ a regular
orchestra. At Skouras Brothers' Grand
Central the musicians are paid the full union
scale for playing two minutes a perform-
ance.
Use Pickets and Trucks
The St. Louis musicians also have opened
a determined drive against use of mechani-
cal organs, phonographs and other substi-
tutes at theatres. Pickets have been placed
and automobile trucks have spread propa-
ganda.
Butler was also the first union leader to
utilize the radio to work up public senti-
ment against mechanical music and regu-
larly speaks over WIL. The St. Louis
musicians were also among the first to raise
a special fund to combat mechanical music
and 1 per cent of wages are contributed by
members of the union.
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July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
35
Y^
SYNCHRONIZED PICTURES
The Pathe rooster crows lustily into the
microphone of the RCA Photophone re-
cording instruments. The rooster has
been known and seen for a quarter of
a century; now his voice will be heard
in Pathe synchronized pictures just pre-
ceding the titles of Pathe Pictures.
Sound Films Revive
2 Indiana Houses
from Sure Death
(Special to the Herald-World)
INDIANAPOLIS, July 3.— With the out-
standing success of the Apollo theatre here
in the realm of synchronized pictures, after
having opened with them only a short time
ago, more and more interest is being gener-
ated throughout the central section of Indiana
in this new form of amusement. The case of
the Apollo appears to be indicative of the gen-
eral situation.
Here is a theatre in the heart of the down-
town district for some years that was just
about making the grade in motion pictures
alone. Bands were tried with only indifferent
success insofar as the box office was con-
cerned. And all the time the seating capacity
in the downtown section was being increased
and more money was being spent on presen-
tations, bands and what not in an effort to
draw crowds. The seating capacity of the
Apollo is limited to about 800 and toward the
last it was virtually impossible to draw the
crowds with motion pictures. Competition be-
came even more fierce.
Then the house was closed and equipped
with Movietone and Vitaphone and reopened.
Business picked up from the start, and has
continued to pick up since and the house now
is making money. James Kennedy, manager
of the house during both eras, is a firm be-
liever in the synchronized picture as a drawing
card. News reels are particularly appealing.
Another example is that of the Grand thea-
tre in Terre Haute. For years a legitimate
house it finally became a part time picture
theatre. At last it became virtually impossible
to draw picture patrons to the house. Then
synchronization was tried and the house now is
playing to large crouds.
Ten Pathe Specials for 1928-29
to Have Photophone Synchronism
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— Ten of Pathe's specials on the 1928-29 program, in-
cluding the '"The King of Kings" and "The Godless Girl" will be synchronized
through the new RCA Photophone process, according to announcements from
the company.
Magazine story by Elsie Janis and Gene
Markey.
The premiere of "The Godless Girl" at the
Gaiety theatre in New York and the Biltmore
theatre, Los Angeles, in August, will be the
first demonstration of RCA Photophone, the
organization created by the combined engi-
neering staffs of General Electric, Westing-
house and Radio Corporation of America.
In addition to "The Godless Girl" and "The
King of Kings," Pathe has selected the follow-
ing specials and features which lend themselves
to the new entertainment factors introduced
by RCA Photophone :
"Show Folks," with Lina Basquette, Eddie
Quillan and Robert Armstrong. "Show
Folks" will be adapted from the original story
by Philip Dunning, co-author of "Broadway,"
with Ralph Block as associate producer. "The
Spieler," with Jacqueline Logan and Alan
Hale. The adaptation is to be from an origi-
nal story by Elliott Clawson. Ralph Block is
to be associate producer of this special also.
"Annapolis," with Jeanette Loff and John
Mack Brown. This special will be made from
an original story by F. McGrew Willis. It is
now in production at Annapolis under the
direction of W. Christy Cabanne. "Ned
McCobb's Daughter," with Anna Q. Nilsson
and Robert Armstrong. Adaptation is to be
by Beulah Marie Dix from the Theatre Guild
hit by Sidney Howard.
"Noisy Neighbors," with Eddie Quillan and
the famous Quillan family of eight. "Noisy
Neighbors" is an original story by George
Dromgold and Sanford Hewitt, to be pro-
duced by Hector Turnbull. "The Leather-
neck," starring William Boyd, with Lina Bas-
quette, Robert Armstrong and Alan Hale.
This special, with a Nicaragua setting, is from
an original story by Elliott Clawson. Direc-
tion will be by Howard Higgin, with Ralph
Block the associate producer.
"Square Shoulders," with Junior Coghlan
and George Duryea. The feature is to be
made from an original story by Beulah Marie
Dix. Direction is by Frank Urson.
"listen Baby," with Lina Basquette and
Eddie Quillan. It is based on the Red Book
Stage Producer Gives
His Actors Screen Tests
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— Edward
Sargent Brown, in order to antici-
pate the possible future of players
in his productions, has arranged to
make talking-film screen tests of
everyone in the cast of "The In-
truder," a drama by Paul Eldridge,
which opens late in July at the Bilt-
more theatre.
He is one of the £rst Broadway
producers to so recognize the grow-
ing importance of the talking films.
He feels that many future produc-
tions will be transferred direct to
the talking screen with the original
New York casts intact.
Report All First Run
Houses in St. Louis to
Install Equipment
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, July 3.— With Vitaphone
playing the Grand Central theatre and build-
ing up a bigger following for sound pictures
daily it is reported along the Picture Rialto
in St. Louis that every first run picture palace
in St. Louis and its immediate vicinity will
install the equipment needed for the presen-
tation of synchronized pictures.
The new William Fox theatre on which
brick work is now being placed is having
Movietone equipment built in and will be the
St. Louis first run house for the Fox sound
pictures next season. This house will prob-
ably open about Christmas Day and it is be-
lieved "Four A. M." will be the initial offer-
ing on its screen.
The Missouri and Ambassador, the Skouras
Brothers first run houses, will be equipped be-
fore Fall with sound reproducing devices,
while it is said Loew's State theatre will be
included among the Loew Circuit houses that
are to get sound picture equipment. Harry
Redmond of East St. Louis, Illinois, is said
to have placed an order for Vitaphoae equip-
ment for his new theatre recently opened. A
number of the leading neighborhood houses
of St. Louis are also considering reproduc-
tion devices.
F. N. Gives Sound
to '' Good-Bye Kiss ''
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— "The Good-Bye
Kiss," the Mack Sennett feature production
being distributed by First National Pictures,
will be the second of the specials handled
by this company to be accompanied by
sound effects, according to an announce-
ment just made by Richard A. Rowland,
general and production manager. The first
picture with sound synchronization is "Lilac
Time," a special with Collee Moore as the
star, which opens for a run at the Carthay
Circle, Los Angeles, July 12.
36
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
George Bernard Shaw has for many years refused to come to America, but now he will be
seen and heard all over the country via Movietone. Notice the sound track of Shatv's voice
at the left side of the film. The Movietone picture of Shaw is being shown now at the Globe
theatre, New York.
Universal Will Synchronize 18
Films with Movietone This Year
■ - (Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3. — Eighteen pictures on the Universal program for 1928-29
will be given Movietone synchronization, according to an announcement made
by Carl Laemmle. In addition, it is announced that all short product lending
itself to sound will be synchronized. Furthermore, a contract has been signed
with Joseph Cherniavsky, former musical director at the Colony theatre, for
the production of 52 musical novelties a year.
Cherniavsky has also been signed as Cabin," "The Man Who Laughs," "The
musical advisor to Universal in any of the Cohens and Kellys in Atlantic City," "The
Life of the Party," starring Glenn Tryon;
"The Last Warning," starring Laura La-
Plante; "Red Hot Speed," starring Reginald
Denny; "The Girl on the Barge," with Jean
Hersholt and Sally O'Neil; "Red Lips,"
with Charles Rogers and Marion Nixon;
"Man, Woman and Wife," with Norman
Kerry and Pauline Starke, and "That
Blonde," starring Laura LaPlante.
Tudor Theatre in
New Orleans Scores
Hit with Vitaphone
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, July 3.^Without special
editions, tieups and extravagant advertising,
Vitaphone scored immediate success at
Saenger's Tudor theatre, with "Glorious
Betsy" last Friday, and ushered in for New
Orleans this new development in amusement.
New Orleans is a trifle behind in accepting
innovations, being practically six months after
the date that Fort Worth, Texas, placed its
stamp of approval on synchronized pictures.
The people of the Crescent City gingerly
ventured into the Tudor in search of some-
thing new and entertaining and they found
it.
The Saenger company through its organiza-
tion ran a series of displays in the different
newspapers, averaging seventy lines single
column until about four days before the open-
ing; then spread to 105 lines across three
columns — 115 in all. The layout was simple
but attractive and told the story in a few
words. In addition to this newspaper adver-
tising three and one sheets were used, notably
in the outskirts supplemented by announce-
ments on the various screens of the company's
theatres.
synchronization plans which it now has un-
der consideration. It is expected that he
will do a large portion of the scoring of
Universal pictures.
Ten of the 18 pictures to be given
Movietone synchronization have already
been announced and are "Uncle Tom's
JS X A NEW ERA IN ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL
•■^ ^ IT STARTS
TODAY
:o:
.<s
jo:
SS THE
^ of the Age
:o:
:o;
s>;
S J^ake up a Vi-
33 taphone party. At
w tetid in a group ot
iCE come alone, but you
^ must beat and see the
C< piemier p
0. -
a
iS
cntalion ot —
VITAPHO"
LORIOUS BETSY" Vitaphone
WITH WARINC'S PE
/// be g
ystified and so ^
win your family. '0
But you'll all be more g
than satisfied — You'll SE
■a
"GLORIOUS BETSY"
WITH
DOLORES COSTELLO and I
CONRAD NAGEL L
Vitaphone Vaudeville
RING'S PENNfiVLVA>
BIARV LEWIS
Buck Jones ' ''Big Hop "
to B Synchroniz d
( special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Synchroniza-
tion of music and sound effects will be an
added feature of "The Big Hop," the forth-
coming special production starring Buck
Jones. The picture is now in production
at Universal City and will be the first to
be made under Buck's own trade mark as
an independent producer. The sound-on-
film method of recording will be used.
Christies to Equip
2 Stages for Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— It is expected
that two stages of the Metropolitan studios
will be equipped for sound at once by Al
and Charles Christie, owners of the studios,
and apparatus has been ordered from West-
ern Electric for recording.
It is likely that part of Christie's own
product will be filmed in the Metropolitan
Studios, since it has been arranged for the
entire group of Paramount-Christie Com-
edies and Douglas MacLean pictures to be
produced this season with sound. And it
is also probable that other producing units
will be able to use the Metropolitan stages
when making synchronized productions.
Metropolitan is called the largest studio
in California w.hich is devoted entirely to
unit producers on a leasing basis, there
being 85,000 feet of stage space in the four
existing stages; and with the addition of
the sound-stage eqitipment facilities will be
available for the most advanced of the com-
ing sj'nchronized and talking pictures.
A NAPOI.K'JIIC ROMA^rE OF ^^*i
I/)VEB3 WnO DEFIED COSV'ENTIOV. I
^ r
8aHjza»j2ic?:<sz!.>
Ad used by Saenger's Tudor theatre. New
Orleans, with the opening of Vitaphone.
The ad has a note of sincerity; is modest
in its claims and succeeds in creating in-
terest and a desire to see the performance.
State to Play "All-Talkie"
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, July 3.— The State theatre,
which opened three weeks' ago as the first
mo ion picture house devoted exclusively to
tallcing pictures, is to run the first all talking
pic ure, "The Lights of New York," to open
al out August 1. Preliminary publicity from
the State sets forth that try as you may, you
will not be able to find a single written sub-
title in the film. "When the players talk they
talk, and there are no silent moments in the
auditorium once the film is under way," was
he announcement of the publicity men.
Here Is Good Trailer for
Inaugural Movietone News
Opening in Your Theatre
In a former issue of the Herald- World,
this department presented the outline of
the campaign used by Marks Brothers in
Chicago to put over Movietone News in
the Granada and Marbro theatres. Here-
with is the trailer copy used during the in-
augural week of Movietone News in these
theatres.
"Marks Brothers take great pleasure in
presenting the first Movietone news reel to
be given at this theatre. It is well to note
that each week will see different subjects
brought from the four comers of the earth
with fidelity of sight and sound.
"The fascination of Movietone is that it
combines educational and entertainment
qualities. We feel sure that you will not
want to miss any Movietone program."
The trailers used in the Marks Brothers
theatres are made by National Screen
Service.
Julv 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
Y^
ABC
CI A thorough, accurate, and authoritative explanation of
synchronized pictures, written so that any man, woman,
or child can understand it.
^ By Peter Vischer, New York Editor, in the next issue of
EXHIBITORS HERALD AND MOVING PICTURE
WORLD.
C| Explains to you in simple, untechnical language, the
difference between the various systems of sound record-
ing and sound reproducing.
C][ Who is using what? Why? How important is it? How
much will it cost?
C| Done in A B C, so that even the author could under-
stand it.
q DON'T MISS THE NEXT ISSUE IF YOU ARE WON-
DERING WHAT IN THE WORLD TO DO ABOUT
SYNCHRONIZED MOTION PICTURES IN YOUR
TOWN.
38
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
SAMUEL ZIERUR
bvesents.
An ultra-modern
story of life as r
lived by girls of \
the richer classes
A step apart from
a conventional
path into realms
of Bohemia., v^rith
tragedy and the
dominant human
note of triumph-
ant love.
V/^ PICTURES CORPORATION
SAMUEL ZIERLEPv- president
Advertising the Sound Picture
By DAN ROCHE
(Mr. Roche has been engaged in Chicago for many years in motion picture advertising and
exploitation, and is considered one of the best publicity men throughout the Middle West.)
WITH the big producing organizations
either engaged in making or prepar-
ing to make so-called "talking pictures"
and with exhibitors all over the country busily
engaged in a mad scramble to secure in-
stallations of equipment for showing this
product it would appear that a radical
change in moving picture entertainment is
imminent. This radical departure from
present methods of entertainment will call
for a radical departure from present meth-
ods of advertising and publicity on the part
of the exhibitor.
An analysis of the situation confronting
the exhibitor may be of value at this time.
The initial cost of an installation is no
small item of expense and the exhibitor
finds himself in the situation of a merchant
who has made extensive alterations in his
place of business or is about to open a new
department for the convenience of the pub-
lic. Obviously it then becomes the ex-
hibitor's duty to realize on his investment.
The only way in which he can do this
is by attracting additional patrons to his
house just as a merchant must attract ad-
ditional cutsomers to his place of business
in order to meet the additional outlay made.
This can be done only by advertising to the
world just what changes are taking place.
No exhibitor can expect the public to know
what he is doing unless he tells the public
what he is doing. That is how a merchant
operates. As to the most advantageous
manner of advertising this new and novel
form of entertainment exhibitors may, and
undoubtedly will, differ in their ideas.
Exhibitors who have been most success-
ful in exploiting their "talking pictures" are
those who have laid out a definite plan
and stuck to it. As success is what every
exhibitor desires, it might be well to fol-
low the lead of these successful ones.
These exhibitors have, immediately on con-
tracting for an installation, started their
advertising campaign in order to familiarize
their public with this new form of enter-
tainment. This has been done far in ad-
vance of the opening show. Their adver-
tising copy announced the advent of "The
World's Greatest Invention" and empha-
sized the fact that the public would "SEE
AND HEAR" the world's greatest artists in
grand opera, concert, drama, vaudeville and
musical comedy. Nor did they spare ad-
jectives in their copy using such words
as "Marvelous — Astounding — Great — Mag-
nificent— Inconceivable" — etc. At no time
did any of these exhibitors fail to use the
words "SEE AND HEAR" as a means of
impressing on the minds of the public just
what this new form of entertainment
meant.
The combination of words "SEE AND
HEAR" have become closely identified
with the presentation of synchronized pic-
tures. The phrase "LOOK AND LIS-
TEN" has been used to advantage. Others
have advertised "EYE AND EAR EN-
TERTAINMENT." The palm, however,
must be awarded to the words "SEE AND
HEAR" as best describing this new enter-
tainment.
With the vast number of well-known
artists constantly turning to the talking pic-
tures and registering their talents on the
screen and "talkies," any exhibitor would
be lax indeed did he not take advantage of
these names in this advertising and play
them up to the fullest extent. He should
impress on the public mind the outstand-
ing fact that it can "SEE AND HEAR"
wonderful artists who have been but a
name to his patrons heretofore. When an
exhibitor stops to consider that he is bring-
ing to his town the greatest artists the
world has known and that they will appear
in a lifelike, realistic manner on his screen
then he will begin to realize what marvel-
ous form of entertainment he is providing
for his patrons and he will also realize that
he must acquaint them with this fact and
"sell" them just as strongly as he himself
is "sold" on this new entertainment.
"Greater than the Radio — greater than the
Airplane — Greater than the Wireless —
Greater than the Automobile — Greater than
the Phonograph — -Greater than any Other
Invention known to Man — The Greatest of
Them AH" — is the way to advertise this
new entertainment and if an exhibitor does
this he will find that the public will slowly
but surely desert these other inventions,
for one or two evenings a week at least,
and attend his "SEE AND HEAR" shows.
Series of Articles on
Advertising Sound Films
This article on "Advertising the
Sound Picture" by Dan Roche marks
the first of a series of articles on this
important subject. Next week SYN-
CHRONIZED PICTURES will pre-
sent the second article. It has been
written by J. S. O'Connell, who has
had more than two years' experience
with synchronized pictures as man-
aging director of the Vita-Temple
theatre, Toledo, Ohio. It is of vital
importance to every theatreman pre-
senting synchronized pictures. Watch
for it in next week's issue of the
HERALD-WORLD.
Sound Films Take
Detroit by Storm;
House Records Fall
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, July 3. — Talking pictures have
taken Detroit by storm.
All house records at the State theatre
here were broken during the first week that
theatre operated under its new policy of all
talking pictures. Officials of the John H.
Kunsky Corporation, owners of the house,
reported that more than 50,000 persons saw
and heard "Glorious Betsy" during the first
three days of its showing.
This is considered a record here for a
3,500 seat house. Throughout the, entire
first week of the showing, the crowds con-
tinued coming and the audiences for the
week were about twice as large as the usual
week's total during the time that silent pic-
tures and presentations played there, the
officials said.
In its first program, the State adhered
to its policy of all talking pictures. Every-
thing shown, right down to the trailers ad-
vertising the next attraction, were sound
films.
Over at the Madison theatre, another
talking picture, "Tenderloin," is in its sixth
week and has played to more than 400,000
persons. Its record has been exceeded at
that house only by "The Jazz Singer"
which played for nine weeks last winter.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
Y^
THE STUDIO
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department^
"Hollywood."
ON A LOT
OF THE LOTS
HOLLYWOOD.— Frank Roderick, assist-
ant casting director of the William Fox
Studios, under Joe Egli, is convalescing at
the Osteopathic hospital, after an operation
for appendicitis. Jimmy Townsend is pinch
hitting until he returns.
Muriel DeLacy, ingenue, has completed the
lead opposite Buddy Duncan in "So Tired" for
Weiss Brothers. W. T. Lackey, on the "meg."
*
Edmund Lowe has been making weekly trips
to the mountains to practice on scaling the
peaks, for this will be part of his work in
Al Green's current picture, "Making the
Grade." He is making slow progress, but is
improving each trip, according to reports.
BoDiL Rosing will be featured opposite Far-
RELL MacDonald in his next starring picture,
entitled, "The Cop" (temporary), which John
Ford will direct for Fox. This is; the seventh
screen story for Miss Rosing this year, who
has had more engagements than time to fill
them, but is always in demand. She is being
considered for "Lummox," written by Fannie
Hurst, which is now being prepared for United
Artists.
Upon completion of "The Fleet's In," which
is being directed by Mal St. Clair, for Para-
mount, James Hall will start on his seventh
starring feature, with Ruth Taylor breaking
even honors, in "The Canary Murder," a deep
mystery story. William Powell and Louise
Brooks will be in the supporting roles. St.
Clair will handle the megaphone.
Arthur Rosson, Fox director, is cutting and
titling his latest vehicle, "The Farmer's Daugh-
ter,"' featuring Marjorie Beebe and Author
Stone.
"It Can Be Done" will be Glenn Tryon's
next starring vehicle, according to announce-
ment this week. The story written by Mann
Page and Eddie Montagne, will show the in-
sight that started Universal City. "It Can
Be Done" has always been the Laemmle slo-
gan, saying it with a smile. Many of the
feats responsible in the building of this or-
ganization will be dramatized in the picture.
Fred Newmeyer will direct. Incidentally, this
epic will mark the beginning of Joseph
Franklin Poland's career as a supervisor.
Poland has gained the reputation as Univer-
sal's right hand man.
Keeping together several members of
Princeton's "Triangle Club," is no easy mat-
ter, according to Frank Tuttle, who is di-
recting Charlie Rogers' first starring picture
for Paramount, with Mary Brian and Chester
Conklin in the supporting roles.
FRAZIER.
13 Directors Begin Production;
Many of Them Are Trying Out
Neilan Begins Direction of Bebe Daniels' Picture for Paramount;
He Is the Only One of the "13" Known West of Mojave;
Six Completed by Universal
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3. — An interesting list of pictures went into produc-
tion last week. Among the 13 directors who began work, Marshall Neilan
is perhaps the only one whose name is known West of Mojave.
Two or three have become known in the trade for this and that reason, but
Neilan is the one who has become known by the public because of a depend-
able calibre of product.
It happens that the players are people of
more or less note. Dorothy Sebastian be-
gan work in "Morgan's Last Raid' opposite
Tim McCoy. It is an M-G-M picture.
H. B. Warner began work in a production
being made at the Tec Art studios. It is
named "Romance of a Rogue." Patsy Ruth
Miller began in "Beautiful But Dumb" for
Tiffany-Stahl. James Murray and George
Fawcett began in a Warner Brothers pic-
ture called "The Little Wildcat." Charles
Delaney is in a big role of "Show Girl"
with Alice White and Gwen Lee at First
National.
The stars are well known, at least far
better known than the men who direct them.
A legion of new directors are being tried
out and the old ones are resting up.
Fox Retains Skilled Directors
It is largely a question of "studio policy."
There are lots where it is an apparent
policy to assure themselves of efficient pro-
duction quality by employing the best talent
in the directorial field. Fox has a great
group of skilled directors. That company's
list of directors now at work or preparing
to shoot includes William K. Howard, J. G.
Blystone, Alfred E. Green, David Butler,
Raoul Walsh, H. D'Arrast, Frank Borzage,
Albert Ray, R. Lee Hough and Jack Ford.
Most of them are shooting at present.
Six Universals Completed
Among the 16 pictures completed last
week, six are Universals. Arthur Lake is
in "Hollywood or Bust." Ted Wells is in
"The Border Wildcat." Bill Cody is in
"Phantom Fingers." Bob Curwood is in
"Days of Daring." Edmund Cobb is in "Be-
Well, One Good Place
Deserves Another
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Holly-
wood cinema celebrities have just
added another rendezvous to their
social life by taking over the Mad-
rid Room of the Roosevelt hotel on
Saturday afternoons.
yond the Smoke." Frank Merrill is in
"Tarzan the Mighty."
Fay Wray and Gary Cooper are in the
featured roles of "The First Kiss," a Para-
mount picture directed by Roland V. Lee.
Wallace Beery is starred in "Beggars of
Life" at the same lot. Louise Brooks adds
pulchritude to the cast and William Well-
man directed.
Two big Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer pictures
completed last week are "The Cameraman,"
starring Buster Keaton, and "Tide of an
Empire." The latter was directed by Allan
Dwan and features Renee Adoree and Bus-
ter Collier.
Henabery Completes Gotham Film
Joseph Henabery completed the direction
thisi week of a special made by Gotham.
It is titled "The River Woman." Three big
names are in the cast, Lionel Barrymore,
Jacqueline Logan and Charles Delaney.
Another picture completed by the same
company was "The Man Higher Up," di-
rected by Scott Dunlap and featuring Fran-
cis X. Bushman and Gertrude Olmstead.
Bebe Daniels in Hospital
After Collapse on a Set
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Bebe Daniels
was taken last week to the Hollywood hos-
pital, where Dr. Philip Ayer diagnosed her
case as intestinal influenza. Miss Daniels
collapsed while working on the Paramount
lot. Paramount officials have telegraphed
Dr. H. J. Strathearn, consulting surgeon of
tjie studio, who is in the East, asking him
to return as soon as possible.
Arrest Brings $75,000
Suit Citing Holt, Others
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Jack Holt, his
wife, Peggy Holt, and four other persons
are named defendants in a suit for $75,000
brought by P. W. Smyley, local business
man. Smyley charges Holt with false ar-
rest and imprisonment, declaring the de-
fendant caused his arrest in August last
year on a charge of embezzlement.
%
40
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
Sills Provides Silver Tongue for
Fox Films^ Corner Stone Laying
Press Surprises Dempseys with Supper — Howard Green to Do Film with
Sound Scenes — Martell Exhibits 2-Reel Drama
By DOUGLAS HODGES
HOLLYWOOD, July 3. — Milton Sills was the principal speaker at the cor-
ner stone laying of the Fox laboratory Friday. Sills emoted on the
same spot in the first feature Fox produced or fhe West Coast, "The
Honor System."
THERE were other speakers but none of
them held a candle to Milt. Although he
had worked all night in Eddie Cline's picture
at First National, Bob Yost was able to get
him up at 10 o'clock in the morning, in time
for the noontime ceremonies.
His speech was recorded by movietone. It
was the only speech that was voluminous
enough to combat the outdoor noises of the
studio. A lot of fan magazine writers (who
ought to be extras) and a lot of extras (who
ought to be fan magazine writers) stood be-
hind me and did their vocal best to keep me
from hearing anything except this and that
about prominent Hollywoodians. All of which
would be deleted from this very public press.
Inside the cornerstone was sealed many
things : One was a strip of film from "The
Honor System," and another was a strip of
Movietone film of the famed horned toad that
recently emerged from another cornerstone in
Texas.
* * *
Jack Wiggins Gets
Fox Post by Promotion
Jack Wiggins, who was formerly a member
of George Marshall's staff at Fox Film studios,
has been put in charge of the research bureau
in the comedy department. It is his business
to chart, catalogue and compile gags, situa-
tions and other data regarding comedies. He
works in the department supervised by Chand-
ler Sprague. Sprague presently will become
an executive in the movietone department, in-
cidentall}'.
* * *
A Surprise Party We
Gave Estelle and Jack
Estelle Taylor and Jack Dempsey were
honored guests Saturday night. Newspaper-
men and a few sob sisters got together what
money they had and pulled a buffet supper —
surprise on 'Stell and Jack. The motive be-
hind it was the wish to show the two that
their past behavior has been darn fine and
that they merit feting and feeding — even
though they neither need it nor want it.
^ ^ Hi
Edna May signed with M G M to play a
role in "The Single Man," which Lew Cody
is making for M G M.
A Genius Arrives
with a Roll of Film
I saw Alphonse Martel's drama, "Hearts of
Romany," at the Filmarte theatre last week,
after every newspaper in town had lauded the
picture to the skies. Martel is a European
who was not expected to turn out master-
pieces when he came to Hollywood ; he has
had much technical experience but no produc-
ing experience. He has, therefore, surprised
us all. He is probably 1928's prodigy. His
picture is worthy of a DeMille.
It is a complete love drama — menace, plot,
comedy and all — in two reels. No place in
it for wasted action. No time to lose. He
has struck directly at the plot and told a long
story quickly. The story is of gypsy bands
in France. The scenery is especially beauti-
ful. Characters in it who are unknown have
been selected by Martel wisely and have been
directed by him expertly.
He is selling the picture to state right
markets, but while he sells it, I predict, he
himself will be purchased by an enterprising
producer on the Coast, who knows produc-
tion genius when he sees it.
Howard Green to Write
Story with Sound Scenes
Howard J. Green will probably settle down
to work on a sound scenario soon. When his
talents are put at rest on "Marked Money,"
DeMille-Pathe feature, his plans call for an-
other picture at the same studio.
Plans Announced for
Synchronization of All
Roach-M G M Comedies
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Plans for the
synchronization of all Roach-M G M com-
edies were announced at a dinner given
last week by Hal Roach and attended by
35 players, directors, executives and de-
partment heads of the Roach studios.
Laura LaPlante in Five;
Given "Show Boat" Role
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Laura La-
Plante will be Magnolia in "Show Boat,"
which Harry Pollard will direct for Uni-
versal, it was definitely decided today. La-
Plante is now working in "Last Warning,"
but will go immediately into the other pic-
ture July 16. This in no way cancels Uni-
versal's previous announcement of four La-
Plantes, but actually adds an extra LaPlante
picture to the year's schedule. "Show
Boat" will be a roadshow of great propor-
tions because the importance of the picture
interest has been extraordinary.
Jacqueline Logan and
Alan Hale Costarred
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3. — Jacqueline
Logan and Alan Hale have been assigned
the co-starring roles in "The Spieler," a
carnival story which will go into production
at the De Mille studios next week. Tay
Garnet, who recently completed "Sky-
scraper," will direct.
Luncheon Held to Honor
Women in Jewish Drive
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— A luncheon in
honor of the women's division of the United
Jewish Appeal to raise $200,000 for the re-
lief and reconstruction of numerous national
and international Jewish institutions, was
held last week at Paulais.
Charges Building Fraud
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Fritzie Ridge-
way appeared in court last week in a suit
she brought against Anthony Miller, whom
she accuses of defrauding her in the build-
ing of her home.
BUCK JONES
In the first of his own special attractions
THE BIG HOP
the romance of the West plus the perils of the air
with
^^■H^^hhI ^b
JOBYNA RALSTON
and a cast of stars
Directed by
JAMES W. HORNE
for remaining territories address
Buck Jones Corporation
489 Fifth Avenue, New York City
Julv 7. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
Howard Dietz (right), director of adver-
tising, exploitation and publicity, of
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, gives Trainer Phil-
lips his final instructions as Leo, the
M-G-M lion, embarks upon his tour
Leo Gets Off to
Rousing Start on
MGM World Tour
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— Leo has started
his five-year tour around the world for
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Whether the Lions
of the world are
greeting him with
their familiar "Roar,
Lion, Roar" was not
stated, but certain it
is that Leo had
every reason to put
out a roar or two of
triumph on his own
account because of
the crowd that his
start in Washington
attracted.
The start was
made from the Zero
Mile Stone in Wash-
ington Wednesday
following a luncheon
Frank W. PhilUps
and reception at the National Press Club,
when Army and Navy representatives and
Government officials were invited guests.
Miss Hester Ann Lefever christened the
lion wagon.
Thursday Leo was host to the inmates
of the National Zoological Park with meat
as gifts. Then he was escorted by Frank
W. Phillips, his trainer, to Baltimore, Phila-
delphia and New York, with Broadway
viewing him yesterday. Next he goes to
New England, thence to the Middlewest,
with a year and a half of traveling in this
country before he boards a boat in his spe-
cial cage. Besides Phillips, four men are
on the staff for the tour.
Al Green's Ade Story
To Have Sound Feature
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— The first Fox
feature-length production to have talking
sequences will probably be "Making the
Grade," with Edmund Lowe and Lois
Moran in the leading roles. Al Green is
directing. "Mother Knows Best," starring
Madge Bellamy, is also being made with
Movietone, but "Making the Grade" will be
released first.
New England is having its peek this week at Leo, the globetrotting lion, after which the
living trademark of M G M goes through the Middlewest in a year and a half circling of
the United States preparatory to sailing for Europe. The world tour got underway last .
Wednesday with a banquet at the National Pes Club in Washington.
Name Barrymore's Next
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— "Conquest,"
tentative title of an original story by Ernst
Lubitsch, will be John Barrymore's next
picture for United Artists. Production will
start early in the fall, with Lubitsch direct-
ing.
Taylor Writing Script
(Special to the Hcratd-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Sam Taylor, di-
rector of John Barrymore's "Tempest" and
Mary Pickford's "My Best Girl," is writing
the script for "The Love Song," which he
will direct for United Artists.
Buck Jones Films Feast
in Color to Start With
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Buck Jones
started work last week on "The Big Hop,"
his first independent production at Uni-
versal City, by filming an elaborate banquet
scene in color. Eight giant passenger
planes, representing a valuation of $100,000,
were used Sunday, when shots were taken
of a trans-Pacific flight take-off at the
American Airport.
"The Big Hop" is being directed by
James Home with Jobyna Ralston playing
opposite Jones.
MARIA
CORDA
has returned
to this
country
to resume
her work in
American
Pictures
42
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
Butler Will Leave Soon
For Fox European Epic
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Dave Butler,
director, will leave next Monday for New
York to sail for London to begin produc-
tion of "Chasing Through Europe," his next
directorial efiort under the Fox banner.
Work on the story has already started,
Butler having sent Russell Muth, Fox
Newsreel cameraman, over to pick loca-
tions. Muth, who has been with Fox ijiore
than five years, was the first operator to
film Vesuvius while in action. He was in-
jured in the attempt, his plane going dead
when high above the crater. He was com-
pelled to make a forced landing in the hills,
where the plane crashed and was com-
pletely demolished. Although injured, Muth
saved the film, which was later shown in
a Fox newsreel.
Butler also signed Douglas Doty to assist
him on the script, and Sid Wagner to be
at the camera. Together with his techni-
cians and players, he will join Harry Brand
and Muth in London July 23.
Gloria Swanson to Begin
Her New Picture Aug. 15
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— "The Swamp,"
Gloria Swanson's third independently pro-
duced production for United Artists, will
go into actual production around August
15. Eric Von Stroheim, who will direct
the picture, is the author of the original
story and is now writing the continuity.
Fej
ios to Direct Veidt
In Laemmle, Jr.'s Next
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Dr. Paul Fejos,
director of "Lonesome," has been selected
to wield the megaphone for Carl Laemmle,
Jr., in his next supervising vehicle, "The
Play Goes On." This is an original by
James Creelman and will star Conrad Veidt.
To Wed on July 30
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Jeanne Vachon,
screen player, and Nate Watt, unit produc-
tion manager of the Caddo Company, will
be married July 30. The couple will sail
for Honolulu on a two-weeks' honeymoon.
Old Pathe Plant in
N. Y. Remodeled as
Manhattan Studio
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3. — Following extensive
remodeling and the installation of much new
equipment, the Old Pathe studio at 134th street
and Park avenue, is now in full operation
under the name of the Manhattan Studios.
Benny Berk, who is well known in production
circles, is manager of the plant.
Two serials will soon be put under way at
Manhattan Studios. John L. McCutcheon has
just finished shooting "Where Am I" in which
Natacha Rambova is starred.
The Manhattan Studios is equipped with
one dozen stock sets and, according to Berk,
is complete in ever>' respect for production
of any kind of story. The studio is prepared
to offer a complete architectural and contract-
ing department for the design and building
of all studio sets.
Manhattan Studios provides 14,000 square
feet of floor space. Included in the new
equipment installed are a modern lighting sys-
tem and new scenery. Adequate dressing
rooms have been provided for large casts. Ac-
cording to Berk, $25,000 has been spent in
thoroughly modernizing and equipping the
studio in every department.
Sam Sax Signs Dunlap
to Direct Gotham Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
- HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Scott R. Dun-
lap has been signed by Sam Sax, president
of Gotham, to direct "The Man Higher
Up," with a cast which will include Francis
X. IBushman, Gertrude Olmstead, Eddie Buz-
zell, Carlton King and others. Sax recently
went to a preview of "Smoke Bellew,"
which Dunlap had just finished directing,
and after the first few reels, it is said, left
the theatre and called Dunlap for an ap-
pointment, which resulted in the signing
of a contract.
Sound in DeMille Playlet
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.--William de
Mille's first experience in making a talking
picture will be with "The Man Higher Up,"
a playlet written by himself in which Theo-
dore Roberts has appeared in vaudeville
during the past five years. Roberts will
star.
Bess Meredyth Injured
in Vampire Auto Crash
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Bess Meredyth
is in the hospital today as a result of an
automobile accident Saturday night. She
was accompanied by her maid and chauf-
feur, but neither was injured. The scena-
rist's face is badly cut from a splinter of
glass that pierced her lip and made several
stitches necessary.
Her chauffeur saw an auto approaching
and attempting to swerve to the side, was
side-swiped. The offending motorist did
not stop.
Rogers to Seek a New
Feminine Star Abroad
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Charles R.
Rogers, producer of features for First Na-
tional and the Reed Howes airplane fea-
turettes for Educational, will make a trip
this month to Europe. Rogers will be gone
at least three months and will visit the
First National exchanges in Germany,
France and England. He expects to return
to Hollywood with the contract of a femi-
nine player to star in a series of three
special productions for next year's program.
Griffith, Nazimova Films
on Art Theatre Screen
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— The attractions
at the Filmarte theatre are "Salome," with
Alia Nazimova, and "The Battle of Elder-
bush Gulch," which D. W. Griffith made
years ago with Lillian Gish and Mae Marsh.
Denny Picture May Be
U's First Talking Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Universal's
debut in the talking picture field will prob-
ably be Reginald Denny's next picture.
Denny is said to possess one of the finest
stage voices of any actor on the screen.
Griffith Makes 'Love Song'
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— David Wark
Griffith, not Sam Taylor, will direct the
Boyd-Velez picture "The Love Song" for
LTnited Artists.
^■^
Made for Your Box Office
" 'The Showdown' Is a Darn Good Picture!"
Directed by VICTOR SCHERTZINGER for
Paramount Famous Lasky and starring George
Bancroft.
THE SHOWDOWN : George Bancroft— Plenty of action. Well staged
and well directed. Eight reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun Theatre, Kansas
City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
THE SHOWDOWN : George Bancroft— March 26-27. Very good pic-
ture, that will stand exploitation. — B. V. McDougall, Amuse-U Theatre,
Alonticello, Ark. — General patronage.
Schertzinger's Latest
"The Perfumed Trap"
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
Y^
THE SHORT FEATURE
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
"Little Pictures with the Big Punch," which has presented news, reviews and exploitation on
short features and serials.
Releases
WEEK OF JULY 8
EDUCATIONAI^— "Ladies Preferred," Jerry Drew,
Mermaid, two; "Felix the Cat in Astronomeeous,
one; Hodge-Podge, one. ^-r , a -ki
F B O— "Standing Pat," Standard, two; Newslafi No.
23, one. . , ,.t j
FOX— "Daisies Won't Yell," Imperial, two; Land
of the Storks," Varieties, one.
M-G-M — "Cleopatra," Events. ^, . .
PARAMOUNT — "Slick Slickers," Burns, Christie,
two; "Koko's Catch," Inkwell Imps, one.
PATHE — "The Yellow Cameo," Chap. 6, two; "The
Huntsman," Aesop Fable, one; "A Fair Affair,
Sportlight, one; Pathe Review No. 28, one; Topics
of the Day No. 28, one.
UNIVERSAL — "Tall Timber," Oswald, Snappy, one;
"Scarlet Arrow," Chap 6, two; "Cash Customers,"
Mike and Ike, Stern Bros., two; "The Card of
Destiny," Western.
WEEK OF JULY IS
EDUCATIONAI^"Wild Wool-Night Clouds," Out-
door Sketches, one; "The Lost Laugh," Cameo,
Wallace Lupino, one; "Blondes Beware," Tuxedo,
Arthur, two.
M-G-M — "A Happy Omen," Oddities.
PARAMOUNT — "Sea Food," Dooley, Christie, two;
"The Companionate Mirage," Krazy Kat, one.
PATHE— "The Yellow Cameo," Chap. 7, two; "The
Baby Show," Aesop Fable, one; Pathe Review No.
29, one; Topics of the Day, one.
UNIVERSAI^"Sandwiches and Tea," Snappy, one;
"Scarlet Arrow," Chap. 7, two; "Big Game George,"
Stern Bros., two; "The Gold Claim," Western, two.
WEEK OF JULY 22
EDUCATIONAI^-"Listen Children," Hamilton, two;
"Felix the Cat in Jungle Bungles," one.
F B O — Newslaff No. 24, one.
FOX — "His Favorite Wife," Van Bibber, two; "Ore-
gon— The Trail's End," Varieties, one.
PARAMOUNT— Novelty, two; "Baby Phases," Ink-
well Imps, one.
PATHE— "The Yellow Cameo," Chap. 8, two; Aesop
Fable, one; "Bunker Battlers," Sportlight, one;
Pathe Review No. 30, one; Topics of the Day, No.
30, one.
UNIVERSAL— 'Sleigh Bells," Oswald, Snappy, one;
"Scarlet Arrow," Chap. 8, two; "Good Scout Bus-
ter," Stern Bros., two; "Yukon Gold," two.
WEEK OF JULT 29
EDUCATIONAI.^-"Leaping Luck," Davis-Collins,
Mermaid, two; "Roaming Romeo," Lupino Lane,
two; Curiosities, one; "Hard Work," Wallace Lu-
pino, Cameo, one.
M G M — "Nature's Wizardry," Oddities.
PATHE — "The Yellow Cameo," Chap. 9, two; Aesop
Fable, one; Pathe Review No. 31, one; Topics of
the Day No. 31, one.
UNIVERSAL— "Off His Trolley," Snappy, one;
"Scarlet Arrow," Chap. 9, two; "Broke Out," Mike
and Ike, Stern Bros., two; "Ropin' Romance,"
Western, Newton House, two.
Our Gang Talent Contest
in Loew Chain Opens July 2
Eighty-nine theatres and 25 newspapers
have been enlisted in an Our Gang talent
contest tieup with Loew theatres, starting
July 12 and extending to August 4. On
each of six nights in, the fifth week all
aspirants for an Our Gang role will appear
on the theatre stages, with the audiences to
act as judges.
Topics, Fables Rebooked
Topics of the Day and Aesop's Film
Fables have been booked for another year
to play all Orpheum theatres. This is the
tenth year of the arrangement, according to
Amedee J. Van Beuren, president of Van
Beuren Enterprises.
Shorts Get Business^ Build It^
Says Hoffman^ and He Proves It
All-Short-Feature Program Grosses More Than Some Specials, Kansas
Exhibitor Declares — Gives One to Three Reelers
Space in Ads, Heralds and Slides
There's many a real story hiding behind the more or less succinct reports
by exhibitors in "What the Picture Did for Me." Such is the case in an all-
short-feature campaign put on by Paul B. Hoflfman, of the Legion theatre
at Holyrood, Kan.
Finds Short Feature Vital to Bill
But more important even than the detail of the drive by which Hofifman
"built a program of short subjects and grossed more than on some of the
so-called specials we have bought," is the fact that his creed reflects an
abiding faith in short features as vital to the makeup of a successful program.
Short features are business getters and busi-
ness builders. That is Hoffman's conviction.
It is a conviction which he is willing to back
up with action, and that is the only kind of
conviction that amounts to anything.
Space in Ads, Heralds, Slides
Give your short features space — in your
newspaper advertisements, in your heralds, in
slides on your screen. .That policy, stated and
restated by this department as a progressive
route to better B. 0., is supported emphatically
by Hoffman.
More than that, this exhibitor believes in
allotting to short product even more than
one-third as much advertising space as the
long feature. Here again the instance fits
closely into the subject of granting short prod-
uct its merited proportion of the advertising
budget of the theatre owner, a subject which
was the basis of a survey conducted through
this department among exhibitors in a number
of _ states.
Produces Real Program
When Hoffman, in his report to "What the
Picture Did for Me," wrote that with a group
of short features he produced "a real pro-
gram that pleased them all," this department
asked him for further details. Hoffman re-
plied as follows :
"We built a seven-reel program around
this short feature ('40,000 Miles with Lind-
bergh'), consisting of a two-reel Our Gang
comedy, 'The Old Wallop,' and two of
M-G-M's Oddities.
"Advertising accessories not being obtain-
able we got a cut on the Lindbergh picture and
had a number of heralds printed, and which
we had distributed in all surrounding territory.
In addition to this, we had the same printed
as an ad in the local newspaper. The pictures
were also advertised with slides on our screen.
The result was a good house on both nights.
"Short features are very essential to any
program and deserve space in your ad along
with your feature. They are business getters
and business builders. We give them space
on our printed heralds and in our regular
newspaper ads and also with slides on the
screen. I should judge that they receive bet-
ter than a third of the space that the regular
feature does.
"•i am sorrj^ that I do not have any of the
heralds or ads used on this program and so
cannot send any along with this letter."
What Did You Do?
Short features, for Hoffman, have justified
the confidence he has placed in them. The fact
of giving a complete program of nothing but
short product is an emphatic proof of that,
but it is rather the week-by-week return on
this investment in publicizing short features
that tells the bigger story of the effective role
they play in the all-around program that brings
all-around good business.
Other exhibitors are welcome to use the
columns of this department to comment on
the short feature as a factor in their business,
to describe methods they have used to put
over short productions, to give detail of their
outstanding campaigns, to make suggestions
based on their experiences.
Newspictures
FOX NEWS NO. 79 — Bobby Jones loses open title
play-off to Johnny Farrell — French throng sees
grand steeplechase run on Auteuil turf — Girls' danc-
in(? class frolics outdoors on Jersey's soft grass.
M-G-M NEWS NO. 91 — Children greet President
Coolidge as he arrives in quarters at school house —
President Doumergue wins grand steeplechase at
Auteuil, France — Leo, M-G-M news lion, on tour
of world. „
M-G-M NEWS NO. 92— Johnny Farrell wins open
golf crown in sensational victory over Bobby Jones
— ^Motorcyclists thrill in daring hill climbing at
Washington — British acclaim brave Miss Earhart.
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. 97— Farrell wins open
golf crown from Bobby Jones — Dutch family walks
11,000 miles in 2^4 years — Byrd antarctic plane flies
with six-ton load.
PATHE NEWS NO. 55 — Alfred E. Smith is nomi-
nated for President — Grand steeplechase draws huge
throngs at Auteuil track — John Coolidge plays golf
with Governor Trumbull.
INTERNATIONAL NEWSREEL NO. 52— 480-mile
marathon ends amid gorgeous settings — Governor
Al Smith is nominated for President — Huge French
throng thrilled by speedy grand steeplechase.
44
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 192fj
Y^
PRESENTATION ACTS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World Department,
"btir'o (iiK
I nr
Stage Presentations to Live Forever
STAGE SHOWS
Chicago Chicago
Week Ending July 1
H. Leopold Spitalny, conceived and conducted a
splendid ovei-ture entitled "Gypsy Melodies" featuring
Luella Frietag, soprano, and Raymond Koch, tenor.
The music and vocal rendition received the greatest
reception of the entire program, again proving, that
this house has sufficient of the highbrow element left
who really appreciate the better class music.
The stagehand presentation was called "Hey Hey"
with a cast featuring Jack Powell, Frank Devoe and
the Gibson Sisters. Although it had some clever
talent it seemed that there was something wrong
with the entire show for the various routines did
not click. The opening especially was very weak and
one of the poorest seen in a Publix Unit.
Eddie Perry who conducted last week also con-
ducted this week and put the band through an' ar-
rangement of "Happy Go Lucky Lane" accompanied
by a male singer.
After this number followed the Gibson Sisters, one
doing acrobatic and exceptionally good high kicks
while the other gave a specialty of a mechanical doll
tap dancer on a little box platform. Both girls were
clever and won a very fine hand for their efforts.
The next specialty was offered by the Ballet with
Frank Devoe who sang special lyrics that enabled the
girls to do a specialty in double. It seemed rather un-
necessary to keep Frank on the stage all through this
routine, as there was hardly anything for him to do,
but to look on. However, the girls displayed their
versatility not only as good specialty dancers, but
as a singing chorus.
Jack Powell, the blackface drumming fool, was
next with his usual drum stick tricks and foolish
antics that walked away with the entire honoi-s of
this bill. Of course. Jack stopped this show and
gave an encore.
The ballet came on again, this time with little dolls
which almost danced like humans from the manner
in which they were handled by the girls. A good
novelty that seemed to be appreciated.
Following this, Frank Devoe came on again with
his own accompanist, and offered his regular standard
routine of comedy songs and smart chatter, he
offered "You Have No Idea," "My Mammy" and
"Mama's Getting Younger." At this ijerformance,
he went over very well and took two encores.
The Finale came on next with the ballet assembled
around stagehand as the background was decorated
with the cast all doing some little stunt as revolving
mirrows reflecting varied colored lights into the audi-
ence.
This isn't what one would call really a bad show,
for we have seen worse and we have seen much
better.
New York Capitol
Week Ending July 6
"Blue Melodies," a new Boris Petroff stage revue,
is a mellifluent and melodious musical presentation
of rhythm and mirth. Walt Roesner sang "Blue
Melodies," while the Capitolians played the medly
of blue songs to open the show.
(Continued on page 4C>)
What a smile! whoever composed that song called
"Way Down South in Heaven," sure knew his notes
— this pretty bobbed hair girl looking right at you
with her Irish smiling eyes is Irene Taylor now
making a second tour of Publix — Irene comes from
way down South — honest she does — if you don't be-
lieve us listen to her lonesome ballads sometime —
Oh, boy! she sure does warble some mean blues.
Hanson Writes Songs
Milton W^eil Music Company of Chicago has just
published a new song called "Will You Always Call
Me Sweetheart." composed by Eddie Hanson, popular
featured organist of the Uptown and Tivoli theatres,
Chicago.
Another number called "The Song of the Chimes,"
also written by Hanson, was just placed with Harold
Rossiter, another Chicago publisher.
Chain Signs White
Through an announcement made by the executives
of the National Broadcasting Company, it is learned
that Lew White, chief organist at the Roxy theatre.
New York, and head of the White Institute of Organ,
has been signed to broadcast a series of recitals from
his studio.
These recitals will be given over WJZ and affiliated
stations of the National chain every Saturday evening
at 9 P. M., Eastern Standard time.
Tabs and Plots
Latest Vogue in
Picture Houses
Talking Films Help Rather Thau
Hurt Acts and Stage
Offerings
By A. RAYMOND GALLO
There is considerable talk going on
about the stagehand policy. Accord-
ing to these rumors which are be-
ing published by various theatrical
sheets that class themselves as mouth-
pieces of the amusement business, one
would almost believe that the Presen-
tation policy is about done for. There
is no cause for alarm, for what was
considered as a fad nearly four years
ago, is today a very strong and essen-
tial part of the show business. And
Presentation, whether in stagehand
form or otherwise, as long as it is be-
ing presented in picture houses is a
great part of the show business.
Of course, a few theatres scattered all
over the country, may deem it advisable to
cut down on their overhead and by trans-
ferring their band from the stage to the pit,
it saves the theatres a worthwhile sum.
However, this happens only in cases where
there may be more than one theatre in the
same locality offering a stageband show
policy. It is doubted if every deluxe house
will eliminate a stageband for in reality, it
was this very novelty that placed the high
class motion theatres on a sound paying
basis a little less than four years ago.
Many exhibitors are under the impres-
sion that talking shoi-t subjects in film
form will substitute for actual stage enter-
tainment. This is not so. For no matter how
many times a good film subject with a
talking device is presented to the public,
they are always ready and anxious to see
the original and there is nothing more con-
vincing than in the flesh. Talking films are
a great novelty and a wonderful help to
large and small theatres alike, more so, to
the smaller theatres, who cannot afford
to book acts and artists in person, but it
does not necessarily mean that they will
absolutely do away with the present sys-
i^^^T^eAM Amthonv
MARK'S BROs.
CHICAGO
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
45
LOSAYi
Sorneihins
about
Everyone
Well, boys, it won't be long now! Pretty ioon
we'll be grabbing- ourselves a hook 'n 'line and go
afishing in the 'ole swimming hole — of course we can
never be as good as our friend J. C. Jenkins (the
Herald-World man), but we'll do our best — I might
say that Sid Herman will supply the "line" and
Larry Spier will supply the "hook" and I'll be com-
pelled to dig up my own date, I mean "bait." . . .
H. J. Longaker of Alexandria, Minn., sends word
that I should try a hand there for some real wall-
eyed pike and other kinds of pikes. . . . Anyhow,
when July 21 arrives I'll bet anyone a new paper
weight that they have never seen a faster runner
than yours truly. ... It will be a relief to get
away from stage bandshows and organ solos and the
likes of all things Presentation. . . . Before we run
out of space let's dish out some scandal. . . . The
fii-st topic on the program is the marriage of Ben-
jamin MuUer, manager of the California and Cline
theatres in Santa Rosa to Ruth Johnson, also of the
same city. . . . Willard C. Patterson, district man-
ager of Publix Atlanta theatres, announces that
Ernest Morrison has been transferred from the How-
ard to the Palace in Dallas as manager. . . . Word
is also received that James A. Carrier replaces Martin
L. Semens as manager of Universal's Capitol in
Atlanta. . . . Carrier is also in charge of all the "U"
houses in the Southeast. . . . George E. Brown, for-
mer manager of the Carolina in Greensboro, N. C,
and his wife are motoring to New York for a few
weeks. . . . Roland G. Hill has taken his place at
the theatre. . . . Terrj- McDaniel is the district man-
ager, who also takes charge of the Publix National,
Imperial and Alamo of the same city. . . . Theodore
Kosloff, of the stage and screen as actor and ballet
master, is in Chicago and has oi>ened a dancing school
to teach Russian ballet. . . . M. F. Concannon, for-
merly manager of the Uptown theatre, Chicago, has
been made manager of the Chicago. . . . O. F.
Knight will act as first assistant and R. L. Kalver
as second assistant . . . J. L. Lake has been made
treasurer. . . . C. F. Strode!, formerly manager at
the Oriental, Chicago, has been transferred to the
Michigan in South Chicago. . . . Other B & K changes
are R. C. Bruder, former manager of McVickers to
the Oriental and R. L. Davis to the Tivoli in place
of N. M. Piatt, who has been made manager of the
Uptown. , . . G lu Brandt, former first assistant of
the Chicago, has been made manager of McVickers.
. . . Al Morey, band leader at the Worth theatre in
Fort Worth, is to spend a four weeks' vacation in
Chicago, his home. . . . Al will replace Jack Stanley
at Howard in Atlanta next month. . . . Preston Sel-
lers and family are back on the organ job at the
Senate, Chicago, after three weeks' rest. . . . Henry
B. Murtagh is playing at the Metropolitan, Boston, as
guest organist. . . . Art Kahn completed his engage-
ment at the Senate and Harding last week. ... He
was replacing Mark Fisher while away on a vacation.
. . . Ulderico Marcelli, musical conductor of the Up-
town and Tivoli theatres, Chicago, both B & K houses,
is spending a few weeks in Frisco visiting his family.
. . . Irene Taylor writes that Publix' new house in
Seattle is just beautiful. . . . And so are you, Irene.
. . . Paul Small is still with Paul Ash at the Para-
mount in New York. . . . Mose Gamble paid Chicago
a visit last week and selected our own master of
ceremonies, Willie Horwitz, as his Western representa-
tive for the firm of Donaldson-Douglas & Gumble. . . .
Lang & Voelk are now playing their fifth return en-
gagement for Publix. . . . Bob Hope is doing the
M. C. honors at the Stratford, Chicago, where Ted
Leary became famous. . . . George Givot is back with
Publix and is filling a few Western dates for the
Chicago William Morris Agency. . . . Edward Gilmar-
tin, manager of the popular Merry Gardens ballroom,
is also managing the affairs of Miss Universe (Ella
Van Hueson), a Chicago girl who won the Galveston
Beauty Contest. . . . Harry (Dream Daddy) Davis,
formerly manager for several music publishers and
well known on the radio, has established a kennel
farm called the Clare-Dav Kennel. ... He will breed
Old English Shepherd Bob Tails. . . . Louis MeDer-
mott, production manager of the Oriental theatre,
Chicago, is back from his West coast trip. . . .
tern of stage entertainment and presenta-
tion units.
Film Houses Need Stage Acts
Every motion picture theatre may not
run a stagehand policy but you can bet
your bottom dollar that they will run some
sort of a combination film and stage pro-
gram which can be classed under the head-
ing of presentation. In order to offer your
patrons a presentation policy it does not
necessarily mean you are compelled to
place your orchestra on the stage. Good
musical results and selections can also be
given by a pit orchestra as well as a :tage
band, depending entirely upon the theatre
and the class of people who patronize it.
Picture house policies whether in Chi-
cago, New York or Los Angeles or some
place in Iowa, need not necessarily be of
a stagehand nature. The principles of any
entertainment policies are always the same,
but the manner in which they are presented
can be quite different from your neighbor,
or competitor as you like it.
For quite some time, we have tried to
convince every theatre manager through
the channels of this publication that sooner
or later some change would be made so
that in case a circuit operating two or
more theatres in one community would not
conflict with a similar policy. In order to
overcome this confliction which later would
result in boring the public, we offered
many suggestions among which one_ of
them was the plan of injecting plots into
bandshows.
Plots Are Coming Into Style
It seems that condensed versions of musi-
cal comedies or tabloids with original plots,
would be the logical thing to offer in place
of the weekly stagehand show. By staging
a miniature musical comedy, one week with
pit music and a stagehand show another
week, or miniature operetta alternating
along the lines of a film prologue, you will
not only please your audience, hut would
actually keep them satisfied and looking
forward to the new offering at your thea-
tre each week.
Presentation whether it is in specialty
acts form, as a film prologue, musical or
tabloid style, is a policy that is here _ to
stay as a very important part of the motion
picture theatre business. It is no longer
a fad, it is a necessity and theatre man-
agers of large capacity houses have found
this out for themselves in the past four
years.
Public Demands Stageshows
Radio was termed a fad at one time and
today ranks as one of the most enterprising
industries in the world. There never will
he the day when a motion picture theatre
can depend entirely upon a motion picture
to draw a crowd unless, they are super-
specials or have some form of high-class
musical offering that accompanies the silent
program.
We all know there are not enough super-
specials produced to keep the thousands of
huge motion picture theatres all over the
country open and paying off their tremen-
dous overhead with just a program picture.
The public is accustomed to extra enter-
tainment. Picture houses have supplied it,
and from now on, they will always demand
it. That's the reason why vaudeville has
been on the decline and picture houses have
flourished. At one time, motion pictures
were a novelty, the novelty part has now
worn off. It represents real life and dis-
penses education and like the proverbial
saying, you can always draw a bunch of
bees wherever there is a lot of honey, let
your "theatre" be the honey and train your
audience to be the "bees."
Presentation
LETTERS
In this open forum those interested in presen-
tation may discuss important matters bearing
upon this phase of theatre entertainment. Only
signed letters will be published.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: I have
your letter of June 25th regarding the Keates article.
You are entirely welcome to use this article with my
name over it. I would like to talk to you sometime
at the theatre or at my office regarding the exchange
of advertising. I am usually at my oflSee between
4 :30 and 7 :00 on Wednesday and Thursday and from
11 until I on' Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Saturday. Tbe balance of the time I can be found at
the United Artists Theatre wher-e I am solo organist.
Perhaps it would be a good idea for you to drop
over to the theatre and I will make you acquainted
with Mr. Bloom and Dr. Riesenfeld, if he is in town.
This would be of advantage and benefit to you all the
way around.
Sincerely yours, — The Aesthete Magazine, Henry
Francis Parks, Editor, Chicago, 111.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: Certainly
glad that you could use my article on "No Surprises
Now." Also to see my solo reported.
This week I am using the set called "Mock Wed-
ding." The songs used are "In My Bouquet of
Memories," "Laugh, Clown, Laugh," "Will You Be
Sorry," "I Told Them All About You," and "Happy
Go Lucky Lane."
I want to say this is the best set of slides I
have ever used, no exceptions. The applause con-
tinued well into the feature picture, something which
has never happened before. Any organist who wants
to go over big should try to get a hold of this
novelty. A series of German slides on the old Ger-
man Schnitzel Bank song broke the ice and then
there was no holding the house down for everybody
sang. A great stunt.
Sincerely, — ^Mclvin Peacock, Organist, Sheboygan
theatre, Sheboygan, Wis.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: I will
very much appreciate having you send me the de-
tails, etc., of the Bathing Beauty Contest as directed
by Sam Herman.
Thanking you in advance, I am. — W. H. Gelling, res-
ident manager. East Texas Theatres, Inc., Nacog-
doches, Tex.
K-A-O Circuit Installs
New Booking Rules
Since taking over the control of the Keith-Albee-
Orpheum Circuit, Joseph P. Kennedy, its new head,
has ordered many changes made. One of the most
important changes is the regulating of business con-
tact between an artist representative and the cir-
cuit bookers. In the future, agents will have to con-
duct their business transaction over railings in place
of the usual warm seats and will have to take their
turns in line, as one of the new rules Vidll not allow
more than one agent from each agency at a time.
As stated before in this department, there have
been many changes made in the executive booking
staff, and now that the organization has been put on
a clean-cut business basis, it is expected that the
circuit can look forward to a very prosperous season.
Ben Piazza in charge of the Western Office, and C. S.
("Tink") Himiphrey, now in charge of the Eastern
Office, are responsible for many of the changes.
DON GALVAN
<t
The Spanish Banjo Boy''
Directing Publix Stage Band
TEXAS Theatre, SAN ANTONIO
Organists Contesting
The WTMJ radio station of Milwaukee, Wis., is
featuring a contest at the present time to find the
best organist in Milwaukee. The station has invited
all the theatre organists in the city to participate.
46
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
STAGE SHOWS
(Continued from page 44)
A special adaptation of "My Heart Stood Still"
from "The Connecticut Yankee" is next played by
Walt and his boys, followed by the current feature
"That's My Weakness Now."
Freddie and Eddie, from the play "Gay Paree,"
are unusual dancers of exceptional merit, and put
over a clog, buck and wing, and eccentric routine
to good returns.
Kitty O'Connor, the attractive girl with a deep
man's voice, is indeed a novelty, but it must be said
that her two songs were very inappropriate — two
slow, draggy ballads that had no kick behind thera.
This girl, lately featured with "Take the Air," could
do much better with another retinue.
The Chester Hale Girls, who are improving, oflfer
an unique dancing "blue" number, and costumed
briefly, but cutely.
The hit of the program was an adagio dancing
combination, billed as Howell, Hager and Theodore —
also late features of "Merry-Go-Round." This act
puts over some very beautiful artistic dancing, and
etopped the show Saturday afternoon. Two boys
and a girl.
Chicago Avalon
Week Ending June 30
The Avalon theatre brought back the memories
of the good old minstrel shows with their presenta-
tion this week called "Minsti-el Days." The entire
show was cast in a fine manner.
The show opened with the orchestra and cast
coming through the audience playing and singing
an old time favorite. Dell Lampe appeared on the
stage and led the orchestra through "Keep on Smil-
ing."
Toots Novelle, acrobatic dancer and trick artist
gave the patrons a treat with his original tricks.
His act was short but received considerable applause.
Lampe inti-oduced McKenzie and Bishop who sang
their first number a collection of Southern Songs.
They followed with "Four Walls" and went over big.
The boys have fine voices and harmonize well to-
gether.
Sonny and Eddie, eccentric tap dancers w^ere given
a nice hand for their dancing although not as much
as they were entitled too.
Lampe then joked with a couple of boys whose
names were not given. One of the boys played a
mean harmonica while the other sang. Their act
was rather long and a bit tiresome.
The Abbott Girls led a parade around the stage
with the entire cast singing. The show was different
from the rest and the people liked the change it
seemed.
Texas Exhibitor Stages
Indian Legend
Wm. C. O'Hare, manager of the Texas, San
Antonio, is producing an All-San Antonio
stagcshow, based on the dance rituals of the
Montezuman Indians, at their sacrificial cere-
monies. The show is called "Children of Mon-
tezuma," and has a cast of twenty-five. The
love affair of the Indian chief, Montezuma,
and the captured slave, Melinche, is the theme
of plot. Twenty-three girls from a local danc-
ing school, and three men singers make up
the cast.
Costumes for the show, the first appearance
of which will be made at a midnight frolic at
the Texas next week, are loin cloths and breast
plates, made of chamois, handpainted with oils.
Elaborate head dresses of feathers are worn
by the principals. Settings for the show in-
clude a drop depicting the outer wall of Mon-
tezuma's city, a huge sacrificial block, and a
practical moon, together with atmospheric
place pieces.
After its appearance at the midnight show,
"Children of Montezuma" will be put on by the
Texas for one week as an orchestral produc-
tion, in addition to the regular Publix stage-
show, and then will be referred to production
heads of Publix as the basic idea for a new
Publix show.
Exploitation of "Children of Montezuma" in-
clude newspaper stories and cuts, special
stunts, one sheets, window cards, ads, heralds,
double trucks, trailers, and lobby displays.
O'Hare and the Texas advertising department
are going after the show for all it is worth
to the box office.
New Orleans Saenger
Week Ending June 22
"Hands Up," the Publix entertainment, staged in a
riot of color, greeted an appreciative audience at the
Saenger theatre this week, being one of the few
excellent bills presented in the past month. The cur-
tain rises on an exterior which proclaims that it is
"The Studio of Ideas," with practical doors, win-
dows and all that goes to carry out the deception
that it is a well regulated college instead of a mere
stage erection.
However, there is a tall dark man lurking in the
shadows who boldly announces that he is a holdup
man, lying in wait with tha avowed intention of
sticking up Art Landry when he appears and robbing
him of the many ideas that has made the name of
Landry synonymous with up-to-date productions. The
LASSITER BROS.
The ORIGINAL BOYS From
"OLD IRONSIDES"
Cleancut Comedy and
Acrobatic Dancing
Now Featured in "ROMAN NIGHTS"
Touring PUBLIX THEATRES
Direction Wm. Morris Agency
Franc & Warren
Max Turner
Chicago
Harry Lenetska
New York
ULDERICO MARCELLI
A
MUSICAL CONDUCTOR
^
BALABAN & KATZ
Uptown and Tivoli Theatres, Chicago
clock in the steeple is running on airplane schedule
and Landry enters center door, only to be robbed in
the most approved style by Jimmie Dunn, who disap-
pears with one of those dirty little laughs which puts
a spectator in mind of the lurid meller-dramas of
bygone days in which the white-livered villain robbed
the poor little heroine of the coveted p-a-p-e-r-s.
Jimmy Dunn is the life of the party and tells sev-
eral jokes that are actually fresh, and sings in good
voice.
After the holdup, and not a policeman In sight,
although eight appeared after the dark deed was
done, the drop ascended, disclosing the stagehand
attired in tuxedos with a background of huge vol-
umes supposed to contain ideas of real value.
Marguerite Richard opened the bill with a selection
of vocal selections ; she has a sweet voice, but the
volume was lacking, possibly due to the capacity of
the Saenger.
Jack and Kay Spengler, both excellent singers and
hoofers received several encores, which despite hot
weather, were acknowledged gracefully.
Deszo Retter, "The American Prince of Wales,"
with his wrestling act in which he secured several
strangle holds on his opponent, which was himself,
finally won a decisive victory and solo wrestling re-
ceived its premiere on the Saenger stage, as far as
New Orleans was concerned.
The Eight Gould Girls, the chorus, ranks with the
performers on the bill and presented an act worthy
of the name. Their first appearance was as police-
men, bare legged, with night stick, helmet and blouse
which made many a male patron wish he could vio-
late the law and be arrested by one of the ensemble.
Their second appearance was a treat, when with
Hawaiian guitars several haunting tunes were ren-
dered, closing with a dance in which trick lighting
effects was an asset.
A special attraction was the singing and dancing
of Mildred Smith, a local young lady, who after
pledging her undying affection to the leader in "Good
Night," accompanied by the stage band, allowed each
and every one of the orchestra to cut in on the "man
of her choice."
Castro Carazo with his orchestra of thirty-five
pieces rendered selections from "The Student Prince,"
"My Maryland," "Rose Marie," and other popular
and operatic music.
John and Betty Hammond, as usual, presided at
the giant organ.
New York Roxy
Week Ending June 30
The first half of the program at the world's most
beautiful theatre this week was their usual "Diver-
tissements" opening with
"Valse Bleu De Lune," an elaborate ballet concep-
tion featuring Nicholas Daks and Patricia Bowra«n,
assisted by the Ballet Corps. Renee and Laura,
adagio dancers, formerly with Fokine and the New
York Symphony, offer a conibination of acrobatic
dancing with the classical.
"Just a Night for Meditation" is a new song in-
troduced by Harold Van Duzce. The number was
written by Lew Pollack.
Russell Markter's 32 Roxyettes are back in their
full strength, having been but 16 for a few weeks
it is good to see them all again. Their precision
routine is excellent.
The second half of the program is called "Scene
Arable" — and their opening set in full stage takes
in the Roxy Chorus and ballet corps, the 32 Roxyettes,
Jose Santiago, Ben Hamid's Aralbian Tumblers, and
the orchestra in the pit. "Far Across the Desert
Siands," by Amy Woodforde Finden, is offered by
Adelaide De Loca. This extravagant scene is authen-
tic in costume and settings, and the dances and
choral numbers are absolutely characteristic of the
desert.
Jose Santiago, Philipine baritone, has been pro-
moted from the Ensemble, and is good as a soloist.
The modern version of a Nautch dance, staged by
Adslina Rotti, is executed by the Roxyettes.
Portland Portland
Week Ending June 28
Lena Malena, in person held the limelight, ap-
pearing four times daily at the big house and brought
some California "pep."
"Roman Nights" was the Publix stageshow -which
included Lassitcr Brothers styled as the Roman
soldiers ; Elsa Greenwell does good work and merits
her title "Queen of the Dance ;" Frank J. Corbett
proved a great favorite, the bill ending with the
Roman Imperial Ballet, which were not hard to look
at.
The Portland Grand orchestra under the direction
of Harry Linden, who is an accomplished violinist,
was most acceptable, and Phil Lampkin put over
some stirring numbers in his usual snappy manner.
UNIFORMS
FOR HOUSE
ATTACHES
COSTUMES
FOR STAGE
PRESENTATIONS
BROOKS
1437 B'waj
N. Y. City
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
Los Angeles State
Week Ending June 23
"Spangles," as presented by Fanchon and Marco,
featuring the 16 Pyramid girls completely captivated
the audience with their clever dances and beautiful
gowns. They did a dance number with Muriel
Gardner, finishing up with an acrobatic toe dance
specialty which took a big hand.
The transparent curtain was then raised, reveal-
ing the orchestra, amid a wonderful setting of black
drapee, with large marble pillars on the sides. Next
Don Rose and Marion Stadler gave their impression
of a varsity drag, mingled with an acrobatic dance
number. . This was well received.
Ted Marks, billed ae the master of ceremonies,
appeared, but was not in reality an M. C, but a
specialty. He gave several selections, accompanied
by the orchestra, of whistling in various forms, teeth,
tongue, and finger style. He was well liked and was
deserving of his applause.
Edith and Evelyn, two of the Fanchon girls, offered
a special in acrobatic turns, assisted by the orches-
tra, following which, entered Stanley and Birnes,
who doubled in dance and wise cracks. These two
boys had the patrons on their side from the start,
making it necessary to do an encore. They then gave
their impression of a classical dance, but it was any-
thing but the name given. They had the audience in
such an uproar after they sang a song entitled, "I'll
Go Home to Your Wife, and You Go Home to Mine,"
that they were too weak to applaud. Took a great
hand after their close.
The finale was an elaborate display of gowns, the
girls were dressed in beautiful colors, with large
plumes in their hats, shiny "spangles" reflecting
from the stage, and with the aid of wonderful light-
ing effects, the spectacle was marvelous. The entire
cast appeared in the closing, each sharing honors
with others, from an api>reciating audience. One of
the best shows in many weeks for this playhouse.
Kansas City Mainstreet
Week Ending June 30
The first anniversary week program at the Main-
street in honor of Walter Davidson and His Louis-
ville Loons, who came back to Kansas City for a
return engagement after an unprecedented run of one'
year at the Mainstreet, was a pompous affair.
The return engagement resulted in much exploita-
tion and additional newspaper advertising, as well
as a good week's attendance. It was an enthusiastic
greeting experienced by the Loons when they opened
with popular selections as an overture on the open-
ing night.
Then there was Harlan Christie, that unique master
of ceremonies, who had more than a hand in every
act. The return of Peter Higgins, whose vocal num-
bers previously proved popular, also was warmly
irreeted. Barto and Mann are a couple of acrobatic
dancers in an act titled "The Laugh Kings." The
Hungarian Troupe, acrobats, have an unusually clever
assortment of feats. Will Aubrey's act consists of
comedy and vocal numbers.
Philadelphia Carman
Week Ending June 23
John Stewart and his Temple University Orchestra
of 15 Collegians provided unusual local appeal in the
miniature revue "Campus Capers" at the Carman this
w^eek.
Rita Bell in a costume of rhinestones, with a white
evening wrap of ostrich plumes, introduced the bill
by singing "Je t'aime" and a second number in
imitation of Irene Bordoni, "I'm Head Over Heels
in Love," accompanying herself on the piano.
Reynolds and White, the vagabond musicians,
entered dressed in disreputable old uniforms playing
on saxophones. After some capers and dance steps
they discarded the saxophones for violins, one of
which was made of a coffee pot with strings stretched
across, which exploded after a few tunes had been
played on it. At the close of the act, the smaller
of the two musicians to the surprise of the audience
cast aside the uniform and proved to be a beautiful
girl in evening dress.
Contrary to the usual custom John Stewart and
his Temple University Boys did not appear until the
entertainment was more than half over. The Temple
College yell was given with a vim as the curtains
parted disclosing the boys in black coats and white
trousers. The stage setting was particularly strik-
ing, consisting of golden pillars and draperies againfet
a background of deep blue with lighted lanterns
swinging between the arches.
In the first number two of the boys looking as
stupid as it is possible for a human being to look
dragged themselves on to the stage and sang in a
drawling monotone "We're the Personality Boys,"
followed by another song "Stay Out of the South."
Margaret White, in green silk tights wae a marvel
of grace and flexibility as she turned handsprings
backwards and forwards, bent double and, lying flat
on her back, lifted her feet until she turned com-
pletely over.
Ann Allison, direct from Earl Carroll's "Vanities,"
a dazzling blonde in a costume of rhinestones, con-
tributed some more dancing that was out of the
ordinary and received a good hand.
The Dobbs Sisters, dressed as little girls in white,
sang a song about "Constantinople" and did a rou-
tine tap dance.
Harry Burks, Temple University dancer, could give
the professionals points on how to shake a leg and
he brought down the house.
For the final number the orchestra played "Wobbly
Walk" and all of the entertainers appeared on the
stage in a fast dance.
and the girls climbed into it, keeping exact time
with their legs and bodies as they climbed and
crawled upwards. It wae a big flash, and the audi-
ences liked it.
St. Louis Missouri
Week Ending June 22
Frank Fay offered "Broadway Bits" as the stage-
show, with Mildred Melrose, dancer, featured in a
return engagement. "Jazz Lips" Richardson and
Kclo Brothers were also prominent in the entertain-
ing.
Leonid Leonardi conducted the Missouri Concert
orchestra in selections from "Katinka," as the over-
ture.
Milton Slosser at the organ offered a songfest,
"Sing and Be Beautiful."
Detroit Michigan
Week Ending June 22
An appropriate and beautiful stage setting is pro-
vided for "Cameos," the Publix stage show at the
Michigan this week, the beauty of which is enhanced
by skillful lighting.
To say nothing of the fact that Publix goes
Ziegfeldian and uses a spider web dance for clos-
ing which would do justice to any one of the
"Follies."
Tommy Wonder, that amazing little dancer who
apparently is no more than 12 years old, was the hit
of the show. His eccentric dancing was sensational,
and he made a big hit with his closing number in
which he danced with a doll, fully as large as him-
self. The audience, as a rule, didn't realize at first
that Tommy's partner was not alive, and always gave
him a big hand for his work when they discovered
the supposed partner was only a doll.
The Lett Sisters and Louise sang syncopated songs
prettily, the numbers getting the biggest hand being
"Morning Glories" and "I Want to Go Right Where
You Are."
Verdi, the nut violinist, appeared with a partner,
Coscia, whom he did not have with him when he ap-
peared at the State recently. The act is a funny one
from the time that Verdi opens it by firing a shot
to wake up the sleepers in the audience. Both men
then prove they are more than humorists by their
playing of the violin and the violoncello.
The closing act, the spider web dance with the
16 Foster Girls, was a darb. A gigantic rope spider-
web reaching to the proscenium arch was let down.
Pittsburgh Penn
Week Ending June 23
The stage presentation, a Loew-Publix unit show
entitled "Seeing Things," was the most diversified
and novel seen here in some time. The feature of
the offering ie Les Klicks billed ae "An European
Mystical Novelty." This consists of large-sized
marionettes, electrically lighted, dancing on a dark
stage to the accompaniment of the stage band. The
lighted dancing figures of grotesque animals are a
knockout novelty, and caused a sensation.
John Maxwell, the half and half man, who sings
both soprano and baritone, was a big hit. One half
of his body is made up as a woman, and the other
half, he is garbed as a man. His offering was also
a big success.
Castleton and Mack, soft shoe dancers, were a.bove
the ordinary, and their burlesque acrobatic act went
over in big style.
Allan Raymond, baritone, also scored with two
solos. Teddy Joyce, master of ceremonies at the
Penn, gave another of his loose-jointed dance demon-
strations which the patrons here have begun to
clamor for.
The Felicia Sorel Girls, twelve in number, did three
beautifully gowned and drilled dance ensembles.
The organlogue by Dick Leibert, entitled "Con-
stantinople," was a decided success. AH in all, the
best entertainment Pittsburgh has had in some time.
St. Louis State
Week Ending June 22
On the stage Nat Nazzaro, Jr., presented
Frolic" with the Williams Sisters, Karavieff,
dancer ; Franklyn D'Armore and company in
nastic offering were featured.
Kirk Frederick and his orchestra had a
overture and Tom Terry at the organ gave
"Terry Entertainment." Edith Wright
pianist, offered Rachmaninoff's Prelude to
companiment of Frederick's overture
Rhapsody.
"Flying
Russian
a gym-
snapper
another
Gordon,
the ae-
'Russian
San Francisco Granada
Week Ending June 28
Following an absence of several months, Frank
Jenks returned this week as master of ceremonies at
the Granada and found an audience warm in' its
welcome for his funny antics and clever stories. The
stage act was "Steps and Steppers," a Jack Parting-
ton production, but interest seemed to center largely
on the popular band leader and announcer.
The act commenced with the appearance of the Ten
Manhattan Steppers, five girls and five boys, who
were in full action in a lively dance when the curtain
went up. Frank Jenks was introduced by a member
DICK MARJORIE
MAXWELL and LEE
^IgMy
"The Most Versatile Dance Team of the Age"
. WKHt-
SAILING FOR EUROPE
i^wF%. ■
AUGUST FIRST
■ ■ \%
on the
S. S. AQUITANIA
Direction
WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY
New York — Chicago — Los Angeles
MILTON SLOSSER
Solo Organist
Fifth Year at the
MISSOURI THEATflE, ST. LOUIS
48
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
of the orchestra and led the orchestra through a
novel musical description of the famous Demiwey-
Tunney bout, commencing with the signing- of the
papers, the comment of the pi-^ss, and ending with
the combat iteelf and the "Hallelujah" chorus of pro-
moter Tex Rickard.
Ilomay Bailey, possessed of much beauty and a
delightful voice, offered "Without You, Sweetheart"
and "A Shady Tree." The Ten Manhattan Steppers
presented another dance and the band played "You
Have No Idea," a hot number in which Frank Jenks
had a trombone solo. The number was brought to a
close with the master of ceremonies singing the song.
Charles Hucy, offered a couple of whistling num-
bers, one of which was the usual "Mocking Bird,"
and received a good hand. Glenn and Jenkins,
blackface funsters, did their old-time sweeping act,
with a modern dialogue, ending with a harmonica
and guitar duet and a dance.
The Ten Manhattan Steppers brought the act to a
close with a rendition of "The Wobbly Walk" and a
novel clog up and down a wide set of steps. This
offering was out of the ordinary and the precision
with which it was executed won the approval of the
audience.
Chicago Sheridan
Week Ending June 30
The stageshow last week was entitled "A Night
Like This" — and it opened just like that. The setting
is that of an exterior to a swell home, with an
elevated promenade against the back drop, which
presents a cute little pool in an arbor of trees,
and looking down on all this i.s a moon looking
just like a big round piece of American cheese.
(And that, after all, is just what the moon does look
like.) Naturally, the opening number is the song,
"On a Night Like This," which Tina Tweedie, mus-
ing on the balcony, sings effectively. Coming front
after the song. Miss Tweedie sings "Too Busy" and
dances, earning a round of applause.
Johnson and Baker follow with a set of tricks
featured by the straw-hat-throwing stunt, which took
fairly well despite its age, largely through efforts
at comedy on the part of Johnson,
Verne Buck and his band perform next, presenting
"When You're Smiling," Buck blowing his saxohorn
and later, with two from the band, singing a chorus.
This is very well liked.
Faber and Wales follow with a song or two and
a lot of patter, which the engaging personality of
the feminine half helps out a lot. They take an
encore, whereupon' arrives the hit of the evening,
the band with Frank Wilson, one of its members.
Roxy Features De-
Mille's Daughter
Agnes George de Mille, daughter of William
de Mille, motion picture director and grand-
daughter of Henry George, famous economist,
has been engaged by S. L. Rothafel as the fea-
tured dancer of this week's stage presentation
at the Roxy theatre. Miss de Mille has given
several recitals in New York, at which she
has depicted the themes in the works of mas-
ter painters, particularly the canvases of
Edgar Degas, the greatest painter of ballet
subjects. She specializes in applying ballet to
pantomimic characterizations of dancers behind
the scenes. At the Roxy theatre this week
she will participate in a number called "A
Ballet Class," a composition suggested by one
of Degas' paintings. Miss de Mille will por-
tray the part of a ballet girl, with Patricia
Bowman as the Ballerina, and Anthony Nelle
as the Ballet Master. The academic back-
ground T^-ill be supplied by the Roxy Ballet
Corps.
singing. The song is "You're a Real Sweetheart,"
and what with this exceptionally brilliant orchestra.
Buck's conducting and stage business, and Frank
Wilson's sweet tenor voice, it seems as though the
customers would like to have this sort of thing go
on forever. They demand three or four or five en-
cores, want more, and are noticeably disappointed
when they don't get it. But of course there must
be an end to all things.
The College Four, quartette, follow, and though
working in a hard spot, are successful. The band
brings on the close, playing "My Hero" from
"Chocolate Soldier" in stirring fashion.
Milwaukee Wisconsin
Week Ending June 30
This week the Playboys give a farewell party to
Dave Schooler. The setting is the back of an ob-
servation car, decorated quite profusely.
First on the scene are Al and Jack Rand, dancing
parsons. These boys are good and they never fail
to get the applause. The Milwaukee crowd always
likes clever dancing.
Bebi Barri's Rockets then come on and dance
cleverly. They have lots of snap and get lots of
MURRAY and ALAN
"Jesters of 3,000 Years Ago"
Playing Return Engagement for Publix
Back at All B & K Chicago Houses
Direction WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY
McNEIL SMITH
Featured Orgsuiist
MARQUETTE Theatre, CHICAGO
Photoplay and Solo Specialties
RAY TURNER
Featured Organist
Original Organ Novelties That Are Different
CORONADO THEATRE, ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS
Solos and Community Sings
BOB BILLINGS
Solo Organist
CRYSTAL THEATRE, CHICAGO
applause for their work. Then come the Klein
Brothers. These boys have a lot of jokes and wise-
cracks that they put over in good shape. They do
their work quick which adds a lot to the entertain-
ment.
The next is "Reminiscences." Schooler plays a
number of pieces among which are "Rhapsody in
Blue," "Doll Dance" and "Three Trees," and Jack
Richmond, tenor, sings. The crowd likes this.
Paul Sydell and Spottie then come on. Spottie is
a little dog that Paul makes do lots of tricks. And
how he does them ! He even stands on one paw !
The Playboys do a little stuff themselves this week.
Playing "That's My Weakness Now" they all get up,
one by one, and chime in on the words. It's clever
and humorous. The finale consists of the observation
car leaving the stage with Jack Richmond singing
"Goodbye" to Schooler. Bebi Barri's Rockets also
come in on the scene with a snappy dance to help
wind up a successful program.
Atlanta Howard
Week Ending June 30
"Russian Revels" proved to be one of the most
colorful and enjoyable presentations oRered by the
Howard in several weeks.
Topping the bill in dancing were Louis and Frieda
Berkoff, expert in the art of Russian dancers. Eight
Berkoff girls showed careful training. They executed
several difficult numbers and drew encores. Their
costumes were attractive and they, themselves, young
and good to look at.
Stella StepanofE and Matthew Vodnoy, comedy sing-
ers and dancers were liked. Miss Anton Icero closed
the act with the "Rose of the Volga," all actors en-
semble and donned in exquisite costumes.
Jack Stanley and the Howard stage orchestra
secured a good hand for their special number.
Julia Dawn, Howard's guest organist drew well
with her offering, "The Story of a Rose."
New York Paramount
Week Ending July 6
Paul Ash, and the stage orchestra, are both placed
in the regular orchestra pit this week, which we
regret to say is decidedly detracting from the enter-
tainment value of the show. It is not pleasant to
see Ash introducing his numbers from this position,
where the audience has to crane its necks to even
see him.
"Pagodaland" played by the Orchestra with Ash
conducting, is a very appropriate number to introduce
the stageshow. The orchestra platform rises for the
selection, then lowers for the rest of the show.
"The Chinese Maidens" present "In Chinatown"
which is a singing-dancing routine of costumed effects
and scenery. Two little singers, Bemee Ahi and
Kee Kee Lowe put over a couple of lovely little
Chinese melodies. Two little dancers, Lowe Lai Oy,
and Ami Fong are very cute and do an excellent
number.
"In the Sacred Temple" with the Honorable Mr.
Wu, is a scenic effect, enlisting the entire company —
and for beauty and atmosphere, is very well executed.
Just group singing, and solo by Mr. Wu.
Mr. Yip Lai, gives a bit of ancient Chinese melody,
in native language, which probably was not appre-
ciated by many. It went over fair.
An old-fashioned song and dance offering is put
over by six couples, executing the essence dance,
and singing the standard "It Might As Well Be
You."
"In a Bamboo Garden" is sung by Mr. Wu, Miss
Kee Kee Lowe and the ensemble. This catchy num-
ber is the musical theme throughout the play.
Mr. Wu gives his "correct impersonation" of Al
Jolson and Eddie Cantor. For a Chinaman imitating
a Jewish "mammy" singer, this artist clicks with
unusual applause. He also does a "Frisco" dance,
at least I think it was him — they look so much alike
— and it was very good.
The Chinese Sextette with girls from the ensemble,
offer an Oriental conception of the Varsity Drag —
which is exceptionally entertaining.
Nee Wong does a talking song. Another Chinese
marvel. Darn clever people, — these Chinese. We
don't appreciate their talents, until some one like
Nee comes along, then we're surprised, and we
wonder.
Nell Keller, puts over a snappy song called "He's
Tall, Dark, and Handsome," referring to some per-
sonage from San Francisco presumably. However,
Paul Small, does a dance with her, and the Chinese
atmosphere is blown away. This was the hit of the
show, and stopped the first performance last Satur-
day.
"The Land of Lanterns" closes the presentation,
which is a large scene with lanterns everywhere.
"In a Bamboo Garden" — the theme song, is sung by
the ensemble.
Paul Ash wouldn't have had much room on the
stage, but we don't like him in the pit anyway, so
come up on earth, Paul.
Julv 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
49
Nat Chaiken, formerly in charge of the B. & O.
department of Irving Berlin, Inc., and well known
to orcheetra leaders all over the country, has just
taken up a similar poet with the firm of Spier and
Coslow, Inc.
« * «
There are quite a few changes these days along
the White Way among the various orchestras. Some
of Broadway's mainstays are leaving for summer
jobs in cooler spots, and new orchestras are taking
their places. The most likely looking of the new
outfits are: Ted Bartell at Joe Young's, who will
become a daily feature on the WJZ network ; Jimmy
Carr, the doctor of melody replaces Tommy Gott at
the famed "Silver Slipjjer ;" Leo Reisman the Boston
idol now at the Waldorf-Astoria Roof, and Van and
his orchestra who replaced B. A. Rolfe for the
summer at the Palais D'Or Restaurant.
« 4 «
The entire country now has an opportunity to hear
one of New York's favorite organists — Lew White,
the head organist at the Roxy theatre who has just
started broadcasting a weekly half hour on the
WJZ chain, direct from his school for organists.
Lew's solos at the Roxy are a weekly delight to
the patrons of the theatre, and will be eagerly looked
forward to by his multitude of admirers, who can
now listen in to his joyous programs.
* # *
HINTS FOR SHEET MUSIC SALESMEN
My partner, Sam Coslow, has just returned from
a road trip and submits the following observations
which are guaranteed to land a heavy order for any
salesman working for a music publishing house. By
using the following instructions, you can't go wrong:
Tony Ransperger (International Music Store, Mon-
treal) =tell him you like Pilsener. . . . Marion Healy
(Kresge's Buffalo) ^land the Watson Sisters on your
song. . . . Larry Norett (McCrory's Cleveland)^
mention' Philadelphia. . . . Mr. Schermerhorn
(Kresge's Baltimore)^ just say you are a music
salesman. . . . Jerry Vogel (Plaza Music Co. New
York City)=bring along your photo. . . . Dora
Alexander (Richmond Music Supply, New York City)
=bring a hami sandwich. . . . Mr. Schoonover
(Kresge's Philadelphia) =bring letter from the Pope.
. . . Gertrude Heinmiller (Kresge's Albany) =wTite
song with her. . . . Sam Braverman (Neisner Bros.
Rochester) ^take him to a 5 & 10c Store gi-and open-
ing. . . . Harry Golby (Song Shop Toronto) =tell
him Gene Austin is recording your song. . . .
Eleanor Behrens (Wieboldt, Chicago) ^eat h^vy meal
first. . . . Any music counter in Buffalo, dress up in
green.
« » »
And boys just breaking into the business should
clip this out and use it as a handy reference guide,
as it will undoubtedly "make" them as salesmen.
* « *
Harold Emerson Yorke, the dapper young record-
ing manager for Brunswick and Solita Birdenia
Palmer are now throwing loving glances at each
other across the breakfast table, their marriage last
Friday, June 29 coming as a complete surprise to
their many friends on Tin Pan Alley. May all
their children be recording managers.
* * *
One of the most unusual and effective dance com-
binations we have heard recently is that of Van
Surdam and his bunch at the Hotel Statler, Buffalo.
There is no brass in this orchestra at all, all reeds
and strings, somewhat on the order of Jack Denny's
in Montreal. Needless to say this new style of
dance music is an unusual treat to the Statler
patrons, being quite a pleasant contrast to the usual
blare and hot music played by the other bands.
* * #
P. S. — I hear that my neighbor friend across the
column here is going on his vacation this week.
Well lots of real sport to you, Sid Berman. and make
sure you don't buy music through the mail. We'll
all look for the news through your song column.
Presentation Built
'Our Gang"
on
iit
A presentation built around a short feature
was the novel achievement of the Rex theatre
at Spartanburg, S. C, when a "gang" of high
school tumblers appeared on the same bill as
Hal Roach's Rascals in "Edison-Marconi &
Co." The Spartanburg Herald linked the two
entertainment features in an unusual news-
paper story.
ORGAN SOLOS
Arthur Richter (Milwaukee Wisconsin) at the or-
gan this week offers something different. He has
made up a song all of his own about the ways of
women'. There's lots of humor in it, too, and every-
body seems to like it.
Milton Charles (Chicago Chicago) offered a very
entertaining novelty this week entitled "It's up to
You." Lyrics were flashed on the scrim curtain
while Charles played operatic tunes appropriate for
the woi-ds. He proved to this audience that he was
worthy of the title of "America's Versatile Organ-
ist" for he played everything from opera to jazz and
how ! His finish was very clever and played opera
with his left hand and jazz with his right hand and
all at the same time.
Bob Mitchell (Dallas Palace, Tex) offered a novel
tie-up of his own specialty presented on the first
half of the week, last Saturday when he broadcast an
organ recital on WJAX. His special number was
"That's My Weakness," and as he played for the
radio, four new Dodge sedans equipped with loud
speakers paraded the streets, with the radio music en-
tertaining the crowds that collected whenever the
cars stopped.
Al Sather May Become
Feist Coast Manager
AI. Sather, for the past two and a half years
assistant manager of the Pacific Coast branch of
Leo Feist, Inc., 'with offices in the Kress Building, is
acting as manager, pending the appointment of a
successor to Harvey C. Johnston, who passed away
recently.
Mr. Sather has been connected with the San Fran-
cisco office for two and a half years and for three
years was manager of the Los Angeles branch. In
between these connections he operated moving picture
houses of his own, was manager of houses for West
Oiast Theatres and filled some vaudeville engage-
ments. He is personally acquainted with every
orchestra leader of note in the Far West,
SUNSHINE
SAMMY
"OUR GANG"
Star and his
little brother
CHARLEY
Now Featured
over
Marcus Loew
Circuit
Direction — Abe
Feinberg
BEST SELLERS
"Raniona" — (Leo Feist).
"Laugh, Clozvn, Laugh" — (Remick
Corp.)
"Last Night I Dreamed You Kissed
Me" — (Leo Feist).
"Beloved" — (Irving Berlin).
"Girl of My Dreams" — (Jack Mills).
"Constantinople" — (DeSylva, Brown
& Henderson).
"Was It a Dream" — (Harms).
"Too Busy" — (Leo Feist).
"Together" — (DeSylva, Brown &
Henderson).
"Get Out and Get Under the Moon"
(Irving Berlin).
"Chlo-e"— (Villa Moret).
"Rosette"— (Milton Weil).
"Back in Your Own Back Yard" —
(Irving Berlin).
"Sweet Sue Just You" — (Shapiro-
Bernstein).
"That's My Weakness" — (Shapiro-
Bernstein).
TALKING TO MYSELF— (Joe Morris)— Love will
make one do anything. It's a mild form of insanity.
Later he may become violent. However, at present
he confines himself to talking to himself. Wish we
knew this girl's address as we might try 'to save this
fellow. Well written' and looks like it should sell.
By Nelson Ingham and Chas. Smith.
UTTLE MISS OKEECHOBEE (Oh Be Mine)—
(Donaldson-Douglas and Gumble) — A tropical song
by the famous Walter Donaldson. With a name like
she has she should be glad to change it and with the
proper coaxing no doubt will. A song that reminds
one of the old "Oh By Jingo."
WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?— (Irving
Berlin) — As the title denotes it's a proposal. Every-
thing is ready, the ring, the bungalow, etc., but with-
out the girl it means nothing. However, with per-
severance he must win out. One of the writers is
well known as a recording pianist for the Q. R. S.
piano rolls. Words by Ray Klages, music by Max
Kastlander.
SUPPOSE NOBODY CARED— (Milton Weil)— A
sob fox trot ballad with a very good tune. It looks
commercial and with the boosters this popular
Chicago publisher has will no doubt be well exploited
in this section. By Walter Hirsch and Charlie Davis.
PICKIN' COTTON— (DeSylva, Brown & Hender-
son)— Another of the hit songs from the new Scandal
show. Is on the order of "Black Bottom" and should
sell big in this vicinity. These 'writers need no intro-
duction. Are at the head of their class. Music arid
lyrics by DeSylva, Brown & Henderson.
SOMEBODY SWEET IS SWEET ON ME— (Irving
Berlin) — A song that has all the ear marks of a
hit. Has a great lyric and as good a tune. Can be
used as a cute song and also as a comedy song on ac-
count of extra choruses that are really funny. By
Gus Kahn and Walter Donovan.
DON'T CRY BABY (Cry Baby Don't Cry)— (Leo
Feist) — These two writers who are as good as any,
are writing a lot of songs together. A cute little fox
trot ballad that will add to their fame. More power to
them as they deserve success. Lyric by Gus Kahn,
music by Ted Fiorito.
CHIQUITA (Come Back)— (Leo Feist)— A new
waltz song by the writers of Ramona. The melody
writer is also known as having written Spanish Town.
These writers know their business and this song
should click. Lyric by L. Wolfe Gilbert, music by
Mabel Wayne.
THAT STOLEN MELODY— (Empire Music Co.) —
Fred Fisher the writer of the famous "Dardanella"
and also "Dance of the Blue Danube" has a very
interesting idea with a good melody. A new firm
that will probably start this song for a turn over to
one of the big publishers. Words and music by
Fred Fisher.
NOTE: — Will be away for two weeks rest but shall
supply you with the latest song notes while on my
trip east.
,jtci^ /3>
50
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
Y^
THE THEATRE
Incorporated in this department of practical showmanship of Exhibitors Herald are the Moving
Picture World departments, "Selling the picture to the Public," and "Better Business Builders."
Horwitz of Houston Cashed in
on the Democratic Convention
^ iU Horwitz, pre-eminent in the ranks of showmen, has handed out a new
and amazing thrill in a publicity campaign for the local Horwitz theatres in
Houston, during the National Democratic Convention. While other showmen
contented themselves with dusting off the front a bit and hanging out a few
"Welcome, Delegates" signs and one-sheets, the Horwitz organization perfected
and put over an extensive campaign of newspaper, outdoor and word-of-mouth
publicity that resulted not only in a great deal of local comment but several
reams of national recognition through various press association wires and shots
in all major newsreels.
The big feature of the campaign was the
purchase and importation of 4S regulation
burros, emblematic of the Democratic hordes
which swarmed the Texas city. The donkeys
made their appearance in Houston several
days in advance of the convention's opening
and were paraded through the streets and
about the convention hall by members of the
local Boy Scout organization.
Each donkey was covered with a white
blanket on which the words, "Welcome, Demoi-
crats," the name of a state and the number
of its electoral votes and the closing line,
"Courtesy Horwitz Theatres," was imprinted
in blue.
Everyone Wanted the Donkeys
So favorable was the city's reaction to
the donkeys that the committee in charge
of convention affairs granted the showman
right to parade his donkeys with all political
demonstrations and to promenade them
about the convention hall grounds at all
times. Police of the city were instructed
not to interfere with the more or less un-
wieldy movements of the beasts and natives
and visitors were able to see the "Donkey
Delegation" on the principal thoroughfares
of Convention City at almost any reason-
able hour of the day or night.
The arrival, during the Convention, of an
unexpected addition to the herd, resulted
in "Page One" mention in the newspapers
and brought on a great deal of additional
comment from the assembled thousands.
The donkeys participated in practically
every parade and demonstration of the
Convention and were generally sought for
by those staging festivities.
Following closing of the big political
circus, it is the intention of Horwitz to
turn over a number of the gentle animals to
the municipal park for a donkey path and
which, incidentally, will represent a per-
petual advertisement of the Horwitz thea-
tres as donors of the desert canaries.
In addition to the donkey stunt, the Hor-
witz theatres placed about the city more
than 10,000 red cardboard arrows bearing
the legend, "Follow the Horwitz Theatres
Arrow to the Convention Coliseum" and
also the names, Texan, Iris, Isis, Ritz, the
four theatres forming the Will Horwitz
interests in the city.
Horwitz Originates Many Ideas
Pursuant to this idea, postcard size guide-
cards were placed in each room of each
local hotel — one side of the card bearing a
short description of places of interest and
the other side calling attention to the out-
door arrows and carrying a miniature re-
print of one of the street markers.
Horwitz is generally conceded to have
originated some of the most startling stunts
ever attempted in tiie show business in re-
cent years. His Iris was the first theatre
in the country to be equipped with a full
power radio station and his "Country Store
Night" affair has developed into the "Hor-
witz Theatres Saveway Store," a complete
grocery and drug sundry concern which
sells only to patrons of his theatres and to
which admittance is goined only through
coupons given at the box offices of his
theatres on the purchase of an adult ticket.
The store is centrally located and carries
a complete line of groceries and drug sun-
dries as well as auto tires and small acces-
sories. It is arranged in the popular self-
serving, cash and carry style and its big
feature of selling only to Horwitz Theatre
patrons at the absolute wholesale cost has
given it a wonderful impetus as well as an
unlimited amount of publicity in having the
store and the theatres discussed over the
dining tables of thousands of homes.
Wrecked Car Used
with "Walking Back^'
A novel exploitation stunt is being used
by the New York Hippodrome in connec-
tion with the showing of the Pathe picture,
"Walking Back."
A wrecked automobile has been placed
upside down on a small truck. Decorated
with banners announcing the showing of
the picture, the truck traverses the busiest
streets and between trips is parked in front
of the theatre. The stunt attracts much
attention and ties up with the automobile
duel in the picture, which ends with
wrecked cars.
Leave It to Brock
for Putting Over
Shows with a Bang
Frank Brock, special exploitation man for
the Tri-State Theatre Corporation, Mem-
phis, Tennessee, sends in some ideas for
putting over shows and gaining the co-
operation of local organizations. And from
what Brock has to say, he surely knows
how to do it. W e believe you agree with
use when you read his letter here:
"It has been some two or three years
since I have made any contributions to your
magazine though it has been seldom that
I have missed a copy. I feel lost without
the Herald.
"At present the Tri-State Theatre Cor-
poration is playing Miss Joan Meredith, a
Wampas Baby Star, over the circuit. Here
is how I put her over in one of our small-
est towns, Ashdown, Arkansas.
"First I started a welcome page in the
local weekly. This paper came out the
afternoon before her appearance there and,
therefore, gave me a very good break. I
am enclosing copy of same. We made up
a dummy and easily sold space to various
business houses. This gave us a full page
ad and incidentally wemade a few dollars
on it.
"Then I sold the idea to three women's
clubs that it would be quite an honor to
them to have a little tea at their clubhouse
after the matinee and have Miss Meredith
over. They fell for this like a ton of brick
and almost every lady in town was there.
Of course, they all came to the show that
evening and we played to capacity.
"Please note that on the 'Welcome' page
we have the American R. R. Express Com-
pany and the Kansas City Southern R. R.,
two companies that seldom advertise that
way.
While in Ashdown I pulled a Merchants'
Free Matinee. You will note that on spe-
cial herald we distributed we got the "post
office gang." Did you ever hear of the post
office coming in on anything like this be-
fore?
We sold the merchants the idea that a
free matinee would draw a good many peo-
ple to town. We then sold them space on
the herald at a price that would bring us
about as much as we had been grossing on
the day. That left us the night on which we
ran an entire change of program. It rained
that day but even at that it brought a good
many people to town and a few merchants
said that they equalled their Saturday busi-
ness of the week before by five o'clock and
by closing time had gone considerable above
the Saturday before. We did about the
usual rainy Saturday night business.
I hope these two little tricks will help
someone else.
Julv 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
Let s Give Thacker
Credit for His Fine
Lobby Display Work
"The Theatre's" M. B. I. Club is especiallx-
proud of one of its members, H. J. Thacker,
manager of the Hippodrome and Temple the-
atres, Newport, Kentucky, and M. B. I. Num-
ber. 20.
Thacker became an M. B. I. by making an
imusually attractive animated lobby display.
Since then he has sent in pictures of another
display, and now he sends in another. And
this one is a knockout. It is pictured on thi.>
page. Here's what Thacker says about it.
"For our run on Chaplin's 'The Circus',
wc used a six sheet for our cutout. We
mounted the figure of Chaplin; built an imi-
tation tight-rope as shown in the picture.
"The mounted figure of Chaplin was then
braced and counterweighted with window
weights, and the figure placed on the rope.
This permitted the figure of Chaplin to sway
to and fro, as it was balanced in such a man-
ner that it could be operated by a small black
wire from the ticket booth, or any little gust of
wind blowing against the wind paddle at the
lK)ttom would compel Chaplin to sway, giving
a very realistic effect."
It doesn't take much mechanical ingenuity
to produce such mechanical lobby displays, and
the results at the box ofiice surely pay for all
the effort and time required in their making.
It is just such displays as this one which show-
patrons that the theatre and its manager are
alive, and people like to patronize such the-
atres.
House Organ
Exchange
R. H. Zerbel, Delft theatre, Marquette,
Mich.
Albert Sindlinger, Majestic theatre,
Athens, Ohio.
L. W. Carroll, Majestic theatre, Bur-
lington, Vermont.
Montague Salmon, Boulevard theatre,
Los Angeles.
Publix News, Riviera theatre, Omaha,
Nebraska.
H. M. Addison, Great Lakes theatre,
Buffalo, N. Y.
John Goldstone, Empire Picture House,
Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England.
Wener & Green, Russell theatre. Glace
Bay, Nova Scotia.
Charles P. Gilmore, Orpheum theatre,
Oswego, N. Y.
Verner Hicks, Arcadia theatre, Olney,
III.
Kenneth Tallmadge, Temple theatre,
Saginaw, Mich.
Wally Nordby, Indiana theatre, Indi-
ana, Pa.
The Lark Tales, Lark theatre, McMinn-
ville. Ore.
L. D. Everett, Saenger theatre. Mobile,
Ala.
Hal D. Neides. Grauman's Egyptian
theatre, Hollywood, Cal.
William T. Meeks, Shorewood theatre,
1535 Oakland Ave., Milwaukee, Wis.
Reinhold W'aUach. Sheboygan theatre,
Sheboygnn, JFis.
L. O. Gardner, Neptune theatre, 39th
and Bell, Kansas City.
Vic Walker, West Coast-Walker, Santa
Ana. Cal.
• O. M. Linn, Y. M. C. A., Coatesville,
Pa.
#
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People chuckle at such clever animated cutouts as this one. and a chuckling patron is a
valuable asset to any theatre. H. ]. Thacker, M. B. I. No. 20, and manager of the Hippo-
drome and Temple theatres. Newport, Ky., deserves the credit for making it. Notice how
the window weights balance it. A small wire running to the cashier in the box office enables
it to be kept in motion continuously.
Teaser Ads, Huge
Sign Put Across
"Telling the World''
A unique stunt was pulled by the Texas,
San Antonio, on William Haines' new picture,
"Telling the World." The Milan building, a
21 story structure, is located one block back
of the theatre, and the immense height of this
building was used to a good advantage. A
thin piece of piano wire was stretched from
the top of the theatre building to the topmost
point of a flagpole on the Milan building.
On this wire, midway between the two
buildings, was hung a huge silk star, mounted
on a wire frame, with ribbon streamers blow-
ing in the wind. For four days before the
star was put out on the opening of the pic-
ture, a series of teaser ads was run in the
local papers, heralding the coming of a new
"comet." Immense, amount of comment was
aroused Ijy this star up in the air, seemingly
floating without support, especially at night,
when a red spot light was focused on it. The
regular advertising of the Texas, after the
opening, carried the line, that Haines was no
longer a mere star, but a sensational comet
in the constellation of film celebrities.
Indorsements of newspaper editors and
staff writers were obtained by the Texas, for
ads "Telling the World." A special newspa-
per preview was held on Wednesday night
preceding the opening on Saturday, and 237
newspaper men and women turned out — set-
ting a record for attendance at newspaper
previews for any theatre in Texas, it is be-
lieved. Enthusiasm was the keynote of all in-
dorsements by the editors and their staffs, and
the preview was resultant of a lot of good
publicity.
Receives Benefits
from Exchange Says
a Saenger Manager
"I have already received many benefits
from the House Organ exchange and wish
the best of success to the growth of the
organization," says L. D. Everett of the
Saenger theatre. Mobile, Alabama, and that
is the expression of other members of the
exchange.
This week we are pleased to enroll four
new members: Vic Walker, West Coast-
Walker theatre, Santa Ana, California;
L. O. Gardner, Neptune theatte, 39th and
Bell, Kansas City; Reinhold Wallach, She-
boygan theatre, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and
O. M. Linn, Y. M. C. A., Coatesville, Penn-
sylvania.
If you are publishing a theatre house or-
gan, you can be helped by 'joining the
House Organ Exchange, which in reality is
an organization for the exchange of ideas.
Just sign the coupon below and send it to
"Tlie Theatre" department.
Exhibitors Herald
and
Moving
Picture
World,
407 S. Dearborn St.
Chicago, III.
"The Theatre":
Please enroll me
as a
member
of The
House Organ Exchange.
I will exchange 1
house organs with other members
Name
Theatre
Address
52
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
^^
SERVICE TALKS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald, which is a department containing news, in-
formation and gossip on current productions, is the Moving Picture World department, "Through
the Box Office Window."
N
'LADIES OF THE MOB'
^. O. Service
OW let"s get it \vritten in letters of fire
and upon imperishable tablets that Clara Bow
can act. "Clara Bow can octT
Is that clear? If it is, let us forget it and
restore Miss Bow to the type of assignment
which was hers in "Red Hair" and in "It."
(Who wants her to act, anyway?)
I suppose a demonstration of her acting
ability had to be given. There were those who
believed she couldn't, that she was a freak per-
sonality, a product of circumstances, etc., and
seemingly there was a disposition on the part
of her employers to correct this belief. It is
completely corrected by "Ladies of the Mob"
and I urge that she has done enough acting
in this picture to last the remainder of her
natural life.
"Ladies of the Mob" is good. It's a story
about a gangster's sweetie. Richard Arlen is
the gangster. He isn't a very good one, but
good enough. Miss Bow is the gal who tries
to make him see the error of his ways. They
disagree about this for six or seven reels and
then reach an understanding. Some of the
things happening in between are interesting,
others are not. and some are merely things
concocted to happen in between. From begin-
ning to end Miss Bow acts, however, and that's
the point. Let us consider it made.
I do not believe that we need Miss Bow
as an actress. There are too many actresses,
already. There are very few Clara Bows. One
Clara Bow is worth a gross of actresses. Let's
restore her to the light, logical little pieces
wherein she has only to bring forth the per-
sonality and let it sparkle. Today's people
are in the market for this.
"STEAMBOAT BILL. JR."
yj PENING night of "Ramona" at the
United Artists theatre in this man's town saw
peasant and patrician battling for entrance.
Opening night of "Steamboat Bill, Jr." wasn't
so congested. This is because everybody had
read "Ramona" and felt they had to see it.
Which shows plainly enough that everybody
is crazy — for one Buster Keaton comedy is bet-
ter picture entertainment than all the historical
dramas in all the world placed end to end
and multiplied by a coon's age. Especially
when the Buster Keaton comedy is divided
equally between Buster Keaton and Ern;'st
Torrence.
"Steamboat Bill, Jr." is a gag about steam-
boats on what seems to be the Mississippi.
(Do they have them on other rivers?) The
younger Bill is Buster. Torrence is his Dad.
There are some other folks in the picture, too.
Buster is in love with a girl, whose father
owns a better boat. Buster and his Dad don't
get along so well, either. The action is a
series of gags for the typewritten narration of
which a reporter should be hung to the star-
board bow (if that's what I think it is but
fear it isn't) until dead, dead and a couple
more deads. The final section, wherein the
Keaton record for sustained laughter is broken
and surpassed, contains a windstorm. Further
than that you shall hear nothing at all from
me about the picture.
''THE MICHIGAN KID"
V V OULD you believe that Conrad Nagel
could get away with a great big he-man Rob-
ert W. Service-Rex Beach-Klondike type of
hero? Well, believe it or not, he does. He's
the Michigan Kid in "The Michigan Kid" and
the yarn is by Rex Beach and the place is
Alaska and the time is just after everybody
went up there to get rich or something. The
Kid is one of the ones that got rich.
I feel it is of no importance that I think
these Klondike things are a dead language.
As far as I'm concerned, Chaplin finished the
subject with his "Gold Rush." Since then,
evei-y time I see a drink-dance-gamble joint I
expect to see Chaplin walk in and Mack Swain
to bob up from somewhere with blood in his
eye. Try as I may — and, for that matter, do
— I can't take the things seriously. I sincerely
trust that 1 am alone in my difficulty.
In this treatise on the subject of how to
be a noble gambler and get the gal the other
guy brought in, Mr. Nagel performs, as I
have intimated, prodigiously. I didn't think
he could do it, but he does. I gather the
concluding evidence supporting my recently
incipient theory that Mr. Nagel is a first rate
actor and, therefore, can do just about any-
thing that needs doing at a given moment.
Tliere is a comfort in this knowledge.
"STREET ANGEL"
JL WILL write very little about "Street Angel"
because if I should write what is in my mind
the present volume would not contain it. And
what is in my mind has to do with "Street
Angel" only becatise that happens to be the
first Movietone subject I have seen after the
local board of censorship had had its way
with the print. And no doubt my remarks
in that connection would be unduly bitter,
for I have long since exhausted my supply or
polite phrases descriptive of censors and the
language I have left at my disposal would not
look well in this punctiliously polite page.
I shall say of "Street Angel" only that it
seems to contain the elements — as well as the
stars — that were contained in "Seventh Heaven,"
adding that a good many of those around
me in the theatre seemed to consider it about
as good as that picture and of course that is
good enough. And I shall add that a majority
of those present did not audibly protest when
captions substituted by the censors threw great
gaps of silence into the musical accompaniment
nor when eliminations jerked the orchestra
instanter from a legato passage into something
quite else again. I must add, too, that one of
two things must be done: A way of conceal-
ing censor marks must be devised, or censors
must be eliminated. All those in favor of the
second (and on the basis of property damage
it ought not to be difficult of accomplishment)
say "eye" and keep right on saying it until
the last remaining censor in these United States
has gone back to work on the roadgang.
"THE COSSACKS"
J_ J. ERE, boys and girls, is ripe, red meat.
Here is blood, thunder, wine, woman and song.
Here are men of horse and sword, women of
no particular importance, wars and rumors of
wars. And here is entertainment!
Here is John Gilbert astride a horse and'
smeared with the blood of battle. Here is
Ernest Torrence shaven of head and reeking
of the road. Here is Renee Adoree a romantic
if foreign factor in a setting where wooing was
conducted differently than it must be done for
the camera. And here are cossacks (no doubt
Tartar wouldn't have been comprehensible any-
way) and Turks and knives and guns and tor-
tures and rides and battles and— well, it's a
great picture.
Wlien one of these things happens — -when-
blood is spilled all over the nice white picture
sheet, when scene sweeps upon scene with re-
gard for nothing at all save full speed ahead
— there is joy in the picture houses, jingles
in the box office and renewed hope in the
breasts of exhibitors and those who, like my-
self, foolishly try to write about pictures for
them.
Wlio-o-o-opee !
Julv 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
5S
Y^
QUICK REFERENCE PICTURE CHART
Incorporated in this department of Moving Picture World is the Exhibitors Herald department,
"Available Attractions."
The key to abbreviations used in denoting the type of pictures
C Comedy F Farce
D Drama
R^— Romance
M Melodrama
W Western
My^— Mystery
Where the picture is a comedy-drama, comedy melodrama, etc.,
there is a combination of these abbreviations. Stars denote
reissues.
That dates prior to January 7 published under the "Comment"
column are those of the issues of Moving Picture World in which
the pictures were reported. The January 7 and subsequent dates
are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOV-
ING PICTURE WORLD in which "Service Talks" have been
published on pictures. ■
The dates prior to January 7 published under the "New Pic-
tures" column are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD
in which "New Pictures" information was printed. The January
7 and subsequent dates are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD in which this in-
formation will be printed.
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Chesterfield
1928
5400 Adorable Cheat. The, Irila Lee-Mclntosh June 1
5450 Below the Deadline ...Feb. 28
5500 Campus Knights Aug. 15
Circumstantial Evidence - Oct. 30
House of Shame, The June 30
Roaring Forties. The Apr. 15
1928
5300
6000
6000
5900 South of Panama. Dee. 15
1927
5831
6843
5432
5628
5513
5645
5750
5524
5569
5892
1000
5996
5435
5054
6108
5357
5426
5791
Columbia
1927
.Tan. 7
Dec. 3
Dec. 31
Oct. 1
.Tuly 23
Jan. 14
Dec. 3
Jan. 14
Alias the Lone Wolf (D). Lytell-Wilscn. Aug. 22
Blood Ship, The (M), Bosworth-Logan Aug, 10
By Whose Hand (MyD), Cortez-GUbert Sept. 15
College Hero. The (CD), Agnew-Garon.. Oct. 9
Fashion Madness, Windsor-Howes _ _...Dec. 8
Isle of Forgotten Women (D), Tearle-Sebastian..Sept. 27
Lone Wolf Returns (M), Ljtell-WUson _ July 31
Opening Night, The (D), Windsor-J. Bowers....NoT. 14
Pleasure Before Business (F), Davidson. ...._ May 14
Sally in Our Alley (M), Mason-Allen...- Sept. 3 Jan. 14
Screen Snapshots Aug. 28
Siren, The, T. Moore-Revier _ Dec. 20 Jan. 21 Jan. 21
Stage Kisses (D). Harlan-Chadwick -...Nov. 2 Jan. 7
Stolen Pleasures (CD), Eevier _
Sweet Rosie O'Grady (CD), Mason - Oct. 2
Tigress, The (M), Holt-Revier - _ Oct. 21 _ -
Wandering Girls (CD), Bevier-Agnew _ -
Warning, The (M), Holt-Bevier Nov. 26 Dec. 3
-.52.72%
1928
5459 After the Storm, Hobart-Bosworth _
5537 Broadway Daddies, Jacqueline Logan.
Golf Widows (CD), Reynolds-Ford - May 26
5928 Desert Bride, The (MD), Betty Compson _...Mar. 26 Apr. 14
........ Lady Raffles, Taylor-Drew Jan. 25 Feb. 25
5925 Matinee Idol, The (MD), Lo.e-Walker Mar. 14 Apr. 7
Modern Mothers (CD), Helene Chadwick Jime 9
Name the Woman (D), Stewart-Gordon _ June 19
5440 So This Is Love, Mason-Collier Feb. 6 Feb. 23
5464 Sporting Age, The, Bennett-Herbert Mar. 2
6047 That Certain Thing. Dana-Graves Jan. 1 Jan. 28
5350 Wife's Relations, The, Mason-Glass Jan. 13 Feb. 11
5472 Woman's Way, A, Baxter-Livingston Feb. IS Mar. 31
1928
Cranfield & Clarke, Inc.
1927
2000 Angelus, The (D) May 15
2000 Real Charleston, Lesson Novelt.v ^p^- 24
Wooden Shoes, International ^lay S
1927 Emblem Films
6250 Husbands or Lovers, Jannings Dec. 3
1927
1927
1927
Excellent
1927
Back to Liberty (D), Walsh-Hall Nov. 15
Bowery Cinderella, A (D), O'Malley-Hulette May 1
Broadway Drifter (D), Walsh-Hall Nov. 1
Broadway Madness (D), De la Motte-Keith Apr. 14
His Rise to Fame (D), Walsh-Shaw Feb. 13
Kick-off, The (D), Hyams-Amann Mar. 17
7393 Nest, The (D), Frederick-Herbert Aug. 1
5337 Striving for Fortune (D), Walsh-Roberts Ian. 13 Mar. 3
5912
6645
5792
5750
5867
Winning Oar, The (D), Walsh-Hall June 1
Your Wife and Mine (F). Haver-Holmes Sept. 1
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Ticker'
1928
6400
0536
6600
A Bit of Heaven (0), Washburn-Lw Apr. 25
Into No Man's Land, Tom Santschi-J. Norman_
Making the Varsity. Ecx Lease-Mildred Harris. .June SO
Manhattan Knights, Barbara Bedford July 15
Speed Classic, The, Rex Lease-Mildred Harris-...July 23
Satan and the Woman (D). Windsor- Keefe Jan. 20
Stronger Will, The (D), Marmont-Carewe .Feb. 20
Women Who Dare (D), Cliadwicl;-Delaney Mar. 30
You're in the Army (D).. - May 25
1928
Feb. 25
Feb. 25
1927
FBO
4765
4S5S
4910
4S37
3701
5U93
4734
4913
6300
6507
7014
5240
5663
5186
6481
6515
5181
4924
6680
6140
4941
6004
48SG
6388
4892
1928
5872
4893
5583
4869
6267
6375
6320
5311
5984
5063
4770
4804
4758
6148
Aflame in the Sky (M), Luden-Lynn. Dec. 18
Bandit's Son. The (W). Bob Steele Nov. 20
Boy Rider, The (W), Buzz Barton Oct. 23
Breed of Courage (D), Ranger Aug. 7
Cherokee Kid, The (W), T.vler-Lynn -Oct. 30
Clancy's Kosher Wedding (CD), Geo. Sidney Sept. 17
Coward, The (D), Warner Baxter Aug. 21
Desert Pirate (W), Tom Tyler Deo. 25
Flying U Ranch. The (W), Tom Tyler Sept. 4
Gingham Girl, The (C), Lois Wilson Oct. 2
Great Mail Robbery. The (M), Von Eltz-Nelson..Aug. 15
Harvester, The (D). Orville Caldwell Nov. 23
Hook and Ladder No. 9 (D), Ed Hearne Nor. 13
In a Moment of Temptation (M), Kit Guard....Sept. IS
Jake the Plumber (C), Jesse De Vorska Oct. 16
Judgment of the Hills (D), Darro-Valli Nov. 6
Little Mickey Grogan (D), Frankie Darro -Dec. 27
Loves of Ricardo (D), Beban June 17
Mojave Kid, The (W), Bob Steele -Sept. 25
Moon of Israel (D), Maria Corda -
Not for Publication (M), Ralph Ince Aug. 31
Racing Romeo (D), Red Grange
Ranger of the North (D), Ranger Oct. 9
Shanghaied (M), Ralph Ince Oct. 19
Slingshot Kid, The (M). Buzz Barton Dec. 4
South Sea Love (D), Patsy Miller Dec. 10
Swift Shadow, The (D), Ranger Dec. 11
Dec. 10
Dec. 10
Dec. 3 Oct. 8
192/
Dec. 24
..Sept. 10
..Sept. 10
Nov. 26 July 30
.July 2
Nov. 19 Nov. 19
Dec. 3 Nov. 26
Dec. 10
Dec. 3
Nov. 12
Dec. 17
Dec. 31
54.90%
Aug. 20
.Dec. 10
Dec. 3
Dec. 3
Dec. 10
Nov. 12
Dec. 10
5144
4769
5771
4S01
6424
4785
4781
48S4
6419
4729
6039
5967
4793
4760
6329
4898
4S03
Alex the Great (M), Skeets Gallagher -May 13
Bantam Cowboy (W), Buzz Barton Aug. 12
Beyond London's Lights (M), Lee Shumway.„.-Mar. 18
Breed of the Sunsets (W), Bob Steele Apr. 1
Chicago After Midnight (M), Ince-Mendez Mar. 4
Coney Island (0), Lois Wilson Jan. 13
Crooks Can't Win (D), Ralph Lewis -May 11
Dead Man's Curve (D). Fairbanks, Jr Jan. 15
Devil's Trademark, The (D), Belle Bennett Apr. 7
Dog Justice (M), Ranger June 10
Driftin' Sands (W), Bob Steele Jan. 1
Fangs of the Wild (D), Ranger Feb. 5
Fightin' Redhead (W). Buzz Barton .Tuly 1
Freckles (D). Str,itton-Fox, ,Tr Mar. 21
Headin' for Danger (MD), Bob Steele
Her Summer Hero (CD), Blane-Trevor Feb, 12
Law of Fear (D). Banger Apr. 8
Legionnaires in Paris (C), Cooke-Guard _Jan. 31
Little Buckaroo. The (W), Buzz Barton Mar. 11
Little Yellow House, The (D), On-ille Caldwell.. May 28
Man in the Rough (W), Bob Steele May 20
Phantom of the Range (W), Tom Tyler Apr. 22
Pinto Kid. The (W), Buzz Barton Apr. 29
Red Riders of Canada (M), P. R. Miller Apr. 15
Riding Renegade (W), Bob Steele -Feb. 19
Sally of the Scandals (M), Bessie Love July 13
Skinner's Big Idea (M), Bryant Washburn Apr. 24
Texas Tornado. The (W), Tom T.vler Feb. 26
Trail of Courage, The (W), Bob Steele July S
Wallflowers (D), Trevor-Scott Feb. 16
When the Law Rides (W), Tom Tyler June 24
Wizard of the Saddle (W), Buzz Barton. Jan. 22
Feb.
May
Feb.
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Feb.
Dec.
Mar.
June
Dec.
Jan.
Feb,
Feb,
-June
Jan.
Feb.
Dec.
Jan.
June
Feb.
Jan.
Feb.
Jan.
Apr. 28
Apr. 14
192'
3400
3960
5600
5900
3S00
3700
5750
6700
6700
5700
5000
5700
First Division
Comrades. Costello-Hughes Jan. 1
Death Valley (W), Carroll Nye Sept. 1
Eager Lips, Garon Oct. 1
Finnegan's Ball (C), Mack Swain Sept. 15
Ladies at Ease (CD), Garon-Short Nov. 13
Ladybird, Compson -Aug. 1
Naughty, Garon .-..Nov. 1
Polly of the Movies, Short-Robards Oct. 15
Ragtime (D), De La Motte Sept. 1
Return of Boston Blackie (D), Glenn-Palmer....Aug. 1
Say It with Diamonds, Betty Compson -Aug. 13
Temptations of a Shop Girl, Compson Nov. 1
1928
5500 Fagasa, Raymond Wells Apr. 1
630U Masked Angel, Betty Compson -Mar. 1
6200 Souls Aflame, Raymond Wells Mar, 15
Jan, 7
Nov. 26
Apr. 7
Apr. 21
..Aug. 6
..,Tuly 9
..July 23
1928
Feb. 18
Mar. 17
1927
Sept. 3
1928
54
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
First National
1927
6300
6333
0433
0222
6705
S73rt
7724
G3S6
0588
0802
5400
5282
7133
6288
6118
6190
6524
6400
6721)
571S
5550
5255
7388
5521
5542
5434
7846
6520
6040
6431
6734
11414
5982
6897
0400
6210
6477
560ii
5800
054S
7179
5000
7400
7419
5774
5668
7833
6330
6324
6409
1928
7404
6500
5800
5744
6374
All Aboard (C), Hines-Murpliy May 8
American Beauty (CD). Dove-Hughes Oct. 9
An Affair of the Follies (D), Dove-Hughes Feb. 13
Breakfast at Sunrise (CD), v.. Talmadge... Oct. 23
Broadway Nights (D). Wilson-Hardy May 15
Camille (D). X. Talmadge-Roland Sept. 4
Convoy (D). Shennan-Mackaill Apr. 24
Crystal Cup, The (D), Mackaill-Mulhall Oct. 16
Dance Magic (D). Lyon-Starke June 12
Drop Kick. The (D), Barthelniess-Revier Sept. 25
Easy Pickings (MyM). Nilsson-Harlan. Fell. 20
Framed (D). Sills-Kingston -.Tune 19
Gorilla, The (My), Murray Kelsey -Nov. 13
Gun Gospel (W). Maynard-Faire Nov. 6
Her Wild Oat (C). Moore-Kent Dec. 25
High Hat (CD). Lyon-Brian Mar. 13
Home Made (C), Hines-Daw Nov. 20
Lady in Ermine, The (D), C. Grifnth-Bushman.jan. 9
Life of Riley, The (C). Murray-Sidney Sept. 18
Lonesome Ladies (CD), Nilsson-Stoue juiy 3
Long Pants (C), I.an;;don-Bonner Apr. 10
Lost at the Front (C). Murray-Sidney May 29
Love Mart. The (D). Dove-Koland Dec. 18
Lunatic at Large, The (C). Errol-Mackaill ,jan. 2
Man Cra^y (CD), Ma<;kaill-MulhaU Nov. 27
Masked Women, The (D). Nilsson-Blinn-H'nsen.,jan. 23
McFadden's Flats (C), Murray-Conlilin peb. 0
Naughty But Nice (C), Moore-Keed June 26
Notorious Lady. The (D). Bedford-Stone Mar. 27
No Place to Go (C). Hughes-Asfor Oct. 30
Orchids and Ermine, Miwre-Mulliall Mar. 6
Patent Leather Kid, The (D). Barflmess-O'Day..
Perfect Sap. The (CD). Lyon-Starke Ijan. 16
Poor Nut. The (C). Murray-Mulhall Aug. 7
Prince of Head Waiters (D). Stone-Tashman —
Red Raiders. The (W). Maynard-Drew July 17
Rose of the Golden West (D), Astor-Koland...._Sept. 4
Sea Tiger. The (D). Sills-Astor Oct. 2
See You in Jail (C). JIuUiall-Day Feb. 27
Smile. Brother, Smile (C). Mulhall-Mackaill Apr. 17
Stolen Bride. The (D). Huglies-Dove Sept. 11
Sunset Derby (D). Astor-CoUier Aug. 14
Tender Hour, The (D). Dove-I<yon June 5
Texas Steer, A (CD), liogers-Fazenda May 1
Three Hours (D), Grilfith-Bowers Dec. 4
Three's a Crowd (C), I.,angdon-McConnell Apr. 3
Twinkletoes, Moore-Harlau -Aug. 28
Valley of the Giants (D). Sills-Kenyon. Dec. 11
Venus of Venice (CD). Xalmadge-Moreno Mar. 20
White Pants Willie (C). Hines-Hyams July 24
Nov. 19
Nov. 12
Apr. 2
Oct. 22
Mar. 5
Nov. 26
..May 21
..May 2
..May 21
Oct. 29
Aug. 13
Dec. 17
Dec. 3
Feb. 26
..July 9
.Jan. 7
..Mar. 19
Oct. 29
..Jan. 8
..Oct. 1
..Sept. 24
..Apr. 9
..June 25
..Feb. 5
..Jan. 22
...Feb. 12
...July 16
May 14
..Dec. 10
..Apr. 9
._Aug. 20
...Jan. 22
...Sept. 10
...July 23
...Oct. 15
Oct. 8
..May 14
..Apr. 23
...Sept. 17
...Sept. 3
...Tuly 2
...May 28
Apr. 16
.. Jan. 1
...Dec. 3
Jan. 7
...Aug. 6
...Apr. 16
6172
6344
7100
7433
7541
6957
7694
6592
0608
8967
7700
6625
7129
5485
8188
5827
6212
6874
5087
7187
192'
4665
4777
4556
5425
6078
533:;
4810
4300
6381
8154
5524
4545
5617
5515
498:;
4851
6940
616^
5599
5507
8538
5415
5440
5500
7734
5327
6898
.5870
5893
5480
5870
10720
5107
Big Noise, The (CD). Conklin-White Mar.
Burning Daylight (M). Sills-Kenyoni) Feb.
Canyon of Adventure (W), Maynard Apr.
Chaser, The (C), I^angdon _. -Feb.
Chinatown Charlie (C), Hines-lK>rraine Apr.
Code of the Scarlet (W), Ken Maynard
Flying Romeos (C). MuiTay-Sidney Feb.
French Dressing (CD). Warner- Wilson. Jan.
Happiness Ahead (D). Colleen-Moore-Lowe June
Hawk's Nest, The (M). Milton SUls May
Harold Teen (CD). Lake-Brian Apr.
Heart of a Follies Girl (D). Dove-Kent-
Shermari Mar.
Helen of Troy (CD), Stone-Corda-Cortez Jan.
Ladies Night (CD), Macliaill-Mulhall Apr.
Lady Be Good (CD), JIulhall-Mackaill May
Lilac Time (D), Moiire-Cooper Apr.
Little Shepherd of Kingdom Dome (D), Bar-
thelmess-O'Day Apr.
Mad Hour (D), O'Neil-Kent-Slierman Mar.
Noose. The (D), Barthelmess-.To.vce Jan.
Sailors' Wives (CD). Huglies-Astor .Ian.
Shepherd of the Hills (D), Francis-O'Day -Tan.
Three Ring Marriage (M), Hughes-Astor May
Wagon Show, The (W1, Maynard Mar.
Wheel of Chance, The (D), Richard Barthelmess
Whip Woman. The (D), Ta.vlor-Moreno Feb.
Yellow Lily, The (D). Dove-Brooks May
Mar. 10 Apr. 7
Peb. 11
Feb. 18
...Tune 23
Apr. 7
Deo. 10
May 26
May 26
Apr. 21
Mar. 10
Dec. 24
Dec. 17
June 16
June 2
Apr. 7
Mar. 17
Dec. 10
Dec. 24
Dec. 8
Apr. 28
-Mar. 17
..June 2
Feb. 11
Apr. 28
Fox
Arizona Wildcat, The (W), Tom Mix _-.Nov. 20
Blackjack (W). Buck .Tones Sept. 25
Blood Will Tell (W), Buck Jones Nov. 13
Broncho Twister (W), IVUx Mar. 13
•Cameo Kirby (D). .Tohn Gilbert Aug. 28
Chain Lightning (W), Buck Jones -Aug. 14
Circus Ace, The. .Mix —Tune 26
Come to My House (CD), Olive Borden Dec. 25
Cradle Snatchers (FC), Fazenda June 5
East Side, West Side (D), O'Erien-A'alli Oct. 9
Gay Retreat, The (C), Cohen-McNamara Sept. 25
Good as Gold (W). Jones -Tune 12
Heart of Salame (My), Kubens May 8
High School Hero (C). Phipps-Stuart Oct. 16
Hills of Peril (W), Jones May 1
•Honor First (D), Jolin Gilbert Sept. 18
Is Zat So? (CD), (J'lJrien-Lowe May 15
Joy Girl, The (CD), Olive Borden Sept. 18
Ladies Must Dress (CD), Virginia Valli -Nov. 20
Love Makes 'Em Wild (D), Harron Mar. 6
Loves of Carmen (D). .\liLaglen-Del Rio Sept. 4
Madam Wants No Children. Cordia Apr. 3
Marriage (D), Aalli Feb. 20
Monkey Talks (D), Lerner Feb. 20
Music Master (D), A. B. Francis .Tan. 23
One Increasing Purpose (D). Lowe Jan. 2
Outlaws of Red River (W). Mix
Paid to Love (D), O'Brien-Valli Aug. 14
Pajamas (CD), Jiordirj-Gray Oct. 23
Publicity Madness (CD), Moran-Lowc Oct. 2
Rich But Honest (CD), licebe May 22
Secret Studio, The (CD), Jiordcn, June 19
Seventh Heaven. The (R), J'arrell-CJaynor Oct. 30
'Shame (M), Jolin Gilbert.... Nov. 27
..Nov. 12
..Apr. 2
Jan. '
Jan.
..June 4
Oct. 22
..Tune 11
-.May 9
..O'ct. 29
..May 14
..May 21
..Sept. 24
Dec. 17
..Oct. 8
..Apr. 10
..Feb. 20
..Mar. 5
..Jan. 22
..Jan. 15
..Ai)r. 23
..Aug. ()
..Dec. 10
..June 4
..June 25
..May 28
..Nov. 26
1927
56.10%
48.00%
65.00%
61.54%
54.81%
67.90%
70.47%
61.88%
47.00%
38.90%
47.72%
69.92%
68.66%
45.80%
1928
1927
63.00%
48.60%
61.58%
77.10%
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Comment
5440
5009
5792
5412
5020
4943
41175
4299
6293
5510
5620
4953
11109
5783
5629
5531
1928
4612
Silk Legs (CD). Madge BeUamy Dec. 18
Silver Valley (W). Tom Mix _Oct. 2
Singed (D). Baxter-Sweet Aug. 21
Slaves of Beauty (D). Herbert-Tell June 5
Stage Madness (D). Valli Jan. 9
St. Elmo (M). .tohn Gilbert _Oct. 9
Tumbling River (W), Tom Mix-Dawn Aug. 21
Truxton King, Gilbert Oct. 30
Two Girls Wanted (CD). Janet Gaynor -Sept. 11
Upstream (D), Foxe Jan. 30
Very Confidential (CD), Madge Bellamy Nov. 6
War Horse (W), Jones Feb. 0
What Price Glory (CD). McLaglen-Lowe Aug. 28
Whispering Sage (W). .Tones -...Mar. 20
Wizard. The (MyD). Lowe-Hyam.s Dec. 11
Wolf Fangs (D). Thunder (Dog) Nov. 27
Deo. 31
Dec. 17
Oct. 29
...Tuly 10
..June 11
..Jan. 29
Aug. 27
..Feb. 12
-Nov. 12
..ITeb. 19
-Apr. 9
Dec. 3
4987
5708
0500
5109
5«)3S
5882
6430
4018
0188
4399
5782
0679
5071
5260
5380
5629
5355
5937
4921
5030
548(1
1927
Branded Sombrero. The (W), Buck Jones Jan
Chicken a la King (CD), Carrol-Francis Lee
Daredevil's Reward (W), Tom Mix Jan
Don't Marry, Moran-HamUton June
Dressed to Kill, Lowe-Astor Mar.
Escape, The (D), HusseU-Valli Apr.
Gateway of the Moon, The (D), Del Kio Jan.
Girl in Every Port. A (CD), Victor McLaglen....Jan.
Hangman's House. McLaglen-CoUyer May
Hello Cheyenne, Tom Mix May
Honor Bound. O'Brien -Taylor May
Horseman of the Plains (W). Tom Mix Mar.
Love Hungry (CD). Moran-Gray Apr.
News Parade. Stuart-Phillips
No Other Woman (D). Dolores Del Rio...- June
Play Girl. The, Madge Bellamy Apr.
Sharp Shooters (CD), O'Brien-Moran Jan.
Soft Living (CD). Bellamy-Brown Feb.
Square Crooks, Brown-Dwan Mar.
Thief In the Dark, A, Meeker-Hill-Beebe May
Wild West Romance (W), Bex King June
Why Sailors Go Wrong, I'liipps-McNamara Mar,
Woman Wise (C), Russiell-Coll.ver Jan.
.Tan. 21
-June 23
Feb. 11
June 9
Apr. 14
Apr. 14
Jan. 28
Apr. 14
Jan. 21
May 12
Apr. 21
Apr. 7
Mar. 10
..May 26
.Tune 23
..May S6
May 19
Feb. 4
.Tune 23
Feb. 4
Feb. 18
May 19 June 2
Gotham
6987
5800
6000
02IM)
5950
6500
67110
6750
1928
5208
Blondes by Choice (C), Claire Windsor Oct. 1
Cheer Leader, The (CD), Graves-Olmstead Nov. 15
Final Extra (M), De la Motte
'Frisco Nights (D), Peix-y Marmont Dec. 1
Girl from Rio. The (D), Carmel Myers Sept. 1
Heroes of the Night (M). Landis-Nixon
Rose of Kildare. The (D), Helene Chadwick Aug. 15
Satin Woman, The (D). Mi-s. Wallace Reid Aug. 1
Bare Knees (D). Corbine Feb. 1
Branded Man, The (D), Delaney-Marlowe May
Chorus Kid, The (D), All Star Apr. 1
Danger Patrol. The (D), All Star Apr.
Devil's Tower. The (W), Buddy Roosevelt May
Hell Ship Bronson, Mrs. Wallace Reid-Beery June 2
Lightnin' Shot, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt May
Midnight Adventure, A (D), Landis-Murpliy May
Mystery Valley (W), Buddy Roosevelt July
Trail Riders (W), Buddy Roosevelt Apr.
Trailin' Back (W), Buddy Roosevelt Mar.
Turn Back the Hours (M), Myrna Loy Mar. 1
Dec. 31
Feb. 19
Dec. 10
Nov. 26 Sept. 24
Feb. 5
Nov. 19
Nov. 19 Aug. 13
1927 Krelbar Productions
6199 Broadway After Midnight, Betz Oct. 29
1927
6667
4709
0312
8730
6439
12000
12550
5002
5821
6050
6120
7395
6408
4058
0909
- S156
6646
6088
5687
0110
5291
6280
595T
7603
7027
6337
0581
6640
6309
7865
0280
0705
6273
5252
6160
7899
6657
5517
1928
0998
0805
5010
0838
6344
5482
5001
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Adam and Evil (CD). Cody-Pringle Aug. 27
Adventurer. The (W), Tim McCoy „..
After Midnight (D), Shearer-Gray Aug. 20
Annie Laurie (D), Lillian Gish Sept. 17
Becky (CD), Sally O'Neil Nov. 12
Ben Hur (M), Ramon Novarro Oct. 8
Big Parade, The (M), Gilbert-Adoree Sept. 10
Body and Soul (D), L. Barrymore Oct. 1
Bugle Call. The (D), .Tackle Coogan Aug. 6
Buttons (CD). .Taclde Coogan Dec. 24
Callahans and Murphys (CD). Dressler-Moran.....Tune 18
Captain Salvation (M). Hanson May 14
Fair Co-ed, The (CD), Marion Davies Oct. 15
Foreign Devils (W), Tim McCo.v Sept. 3
Frisco Sally Levy (C), O'Neil Apr. 2
Garden of Allah. The (D). Terry-Petrovitcli. Nov. 5
In Old Kentucky (D). H. CosteUo Oct. 29
Little Journey (CD), All Star -Tan. 1
London After Midnight (D). Lon Chaney Dec. 3
Lovelorn, The. Sally O'Neil - Dec. 17
Lovers (D), Xdvarvo-Terry Apr. 9
Man, Woman and Sin (D), John Gilbert Nov. 19
Mockery (M), Lon Chaney Aug. 13
Mr. Wu (M). Lon Chaney Mar. 26
Quality Street, Davies-Nagel Dec. 31
Red Mill (C). Davies -Tan. 29
Road to Romance, The (D), Novarro-Day Sept. 24
Rookies (C). Dane-Arthm- Apr. 30
Show, The (M). Gilbert-Adoree .Tan. 22
Slide, Kelly, Slide (CD), Haines-O'Neil Mar. 12
Spoilers of the West (W). McCoy-Daw Deo. 10
Spring Fever (C). William Haines : Oct. 22
Tea for Three (C). Cody-Pringle Dec. 10
Thirteenth Hour, The (D), Lionel Barrymore Nov. 20
Tillie the Toiler (C), Davies May 21
Twelve Miles Out (M). Gilbert .Tuly 9
Understanding Heart (D), Crawford Feb. 26
Unknown. The (M), Chaney .Tune 4
Actress. The, Norma Shearer-Forl)es Apr. 28
Across to Singapore (MD), Novarro-Crawford....Apr. 7
Baby Mine, Arlhur-Dane .Tan. 21
Big City, The, (^haney-Compson-Day Feb. 18
Bringing Up Father, FaiTeU-Moran-Olmstead Mar. 17
Certain Young Man, A, Novarro-Day May 19
Circus Rookies (CD). Dane-Arthur Mar. 31
Cossacks, The, Adorw.-Gilbert-Torrence May 12
..Aug. 13
...Aug. 27
..May 21
Nov. 26
7.93%
50.61%
1928
1927
1928
1927
1927
52.61%
50.31%
45.63%
....Nov. 12
95.25%
- 81.50%
Nov. 26
Nov. 19
. 51.38%
Dec. 31
.. July 16
Nov. 10
....July 2
Oct. 29
48.09%
. 51.50%
Nov. 19
...Apr. 23
Sept. 10
Dec. 3
....Tan. 15
Dec. 17
61.41%
Nov. 26
Dec 17
43.46%
Dec. 31
Dec. 3
...May 2
Dec. 17
...Sept. 10
39.20%
39.50%
66.83%
Nov. 19
...Feb. 19
56.04%
May 9
70.55%
...Mar. 19
...Apr. 2
...Dec. 24
Dec. 10
Nov. 12
Dec. 3
.Tune 11
66.43%
Nov. 12
Dec. 24
Dec. 3
43.61%
69.63%
65.16%
56.93%
.Tuly 30
...May 14
...June 13
..May 26
63.25%
1928
Apr. 28
.Tan. 28
Feb. 11
Apr. 7
Feb. 25
Mar 31
.Tune 2
.Tune 23
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
SMS
5482
WIS"
7300
8340
4987
7743
7045
5402
5760
5395
73(i5
7289
5014
7745
0476
9560
5901
8134
5011
4435
1927
6199
6951
9879
5597
587S
7175
0040
6536
6662
540S
7447
6287
6296
5399
6376
6017
5SS9
5415
7091
5862
6452
8656
7656
6430
7080
6940
6052
6007
5617
8039
7180
6258
6877
5798
4551
5599
6187
6680
530fi
6247
5952
9443
5614
6368
6634
5209
6170
5515
G015
5179
6838
5524
4934
6200
6124
6006
6497
4926
5319
7643
8486
5869
5935
5866
Crowd. The. Boardman-Miirray-Koach Mar. 3
Detectives. Dane-Artliur June 9
Diamond Handcuffs, Boardman-Nagel May 5
Divine Woman. Garbo-Haii.son-Sherman .Tan. 14
Enemy. The. Gish-Dane-Forbes _ Feb. 18
Excess Baggage (D), William Haines —
Forbidden Hours (D). Novarro-Adoree .Tune 16
Latest from Paris. The, Shearer- Forbes Feb. 4
Laugh. Clown, Laugh, Chaney-Murphy-Hisle Apr. 14
Mademoiselle from Armentieres, Estelle Brody-
.lulin .Stuart _ _ June 2
Skirts. Syd Chaplin
Law of the Range, McCoy-Crawford .Tan. 21
Love. Giirbo-Gilbeit Jan. 2
Patsy. The, Davies-CaldweU-Gray Mar. 10
Riders of the Dark Apr. 28
Rose Marie, CraH'ford-Murray Feb. 11
Smart Set. Haines-Day-Holt-Bosworth Feb. 25
Student Prince. The (R). Novarro-Shearer Jan. 30
Under the Black Eagle, Forbes-Dop Flash Mar. 24
West Point (CD), Haines-Crawford Jan. 7
Wickedness Preferred (CD). Cody-Pringle Jan. 28
Wyoming, McCoy-Sebastian Mar. 24
Mar. 10
June 9
Paramount
5960
1928
5897
6536
5930
5665
7866
5364
5889
6402
5852
6871
6263
Afraid to Love (C). A'idor Apr. 9
Barbed Wire (D), Iv'tKri-Brook Sept. 10
Beau Geste (M), Colman-N. Beery Aug. 1
Blind Alleys (M), Meighan Mar. 12
Blende or Brunette? (C), Menjou Jan. 24
Cabaret (CD). Gilda Gray Mar. 26
Casey at the Bat (C), W. BeeiT Mar. 5
Chang (D), Siieojal fast Sept. 3
Children of Divorce (D). Bow Apr. 2
City Gone Wild (M). Meiglian-Millner Nov. 12
'Covered Wagon, The (M). Kerrigan-Wilson. Aug. 6
Evening Clothes (C). Mi-njou Mar. 19
Fashions for Women (CD). Ralston Mar. 26
Fireman Save My Child (C), Beery-Hatton Aug. 1
Gay Defender. The (CD). liirtiard Di.\- Dec. 10
Gentleman of Paris. A (CD), Meniou-0'Hara.....Oct. 15
Get Your Man (CD). Clara Bow Dec. 10
Honeymoon Hate (CD). Florence Vidor Dec. 3
Hotel Imperial (D), Negri Feb. 26
Hula (CD), Bow-Brook Aug. 27
It (C), Clara Bow Feb. 19
Jesse James (D), Fred Thomson C'rt. 22
•Kid Brother (C), Lloyi Oct. 4
Kiss in a Taxi (C), Daniels ■. Feb. 26
Knockout Reilly (CD), Dix Apr. 16
Last Waltz. The (D), Special ea.st - Nov. 26
Let It Rain (C). MacLean .Tan. 3
Love's Greatest Mistake (CD), Brent Feb. 12
Man Power (D), Dix .Tuly 9
Metropolis (D). Special cast Aug. 13
Mme. Pompadour (D), Moreno-D. Gish Aug. 13
Nevada (W). Cooper-Todd _ Sept. 10
New York (M). Coilez-Wilson Feb. 5
Now We're in the Air (C). Beery-Hatton Oct. 22
One Woman to Another (CD), Yidor-Shotwell-Sept. 24
Open Range (W). Lane-Chandler Nov. 5
Paradise for Two (C), Dix-Bronson ,Tan. 17
Potters (CD), W. C. Fields Jan. 31
Ritzy (CD). Bronson Apr. 9
Rolled Stockings (CD). Hall-Brook .Tune 18
Rough House Rosie (C), Bow I.tay 14
Rough Riders. The (D), Astflr-Farrell _ Oct. 1
Rubber Heels (FC), Ed. Wynn. .Tune 11
Running Wild (C), Fields-Brian Aug. 20
Senorita (F), Daniels...- Aug. 30
Serenade (D). Menjou- Wray Dec. 24
Service for Ladies (C), Menjou-Carver Aug. 6
Shanghai Bound (D), Dix-Brian _. Oct. 15
She's a Sheik (C), Bebe Daniels Nov. 12
Shootin' Irons (W), Luden-BIane Oct. 8
Soft Cushions (C), MacJ^ean-Carol Aug. 27
Special Delivery (C), Eddie Cantor Apr. 16
Spotlight, The (CD), Balsfon-Hamilton Nov. 19
Stark Love (D), Special cast Sept. 17
Swim. Girl, Swim (CM), Daniels-Hall Sept. 17
Tell It to Sweeney (C). Conklin-Bancroft Sept. 24
Ten Modern Commandments (CD). Ralstoa .Tuly 2
Time to Love (FC), Haymond Griffith Jtine 18
Two Flaming Youths (C). Fields-Conklin Dec. 17
Underworld (M). Bancroft-Brent Oct. 29
Way of All Flesh, The (D), Jannings-Bennett.Oct. 1
Wedding Bills (F). Kaymond Griffith May 7
Were's All Gamblers (D), Meighan-Mlllner. Sept. 3
Whirlwind of Youth (D), Lois Moran Apr. 30
Wings (M), Charles Eogcrs Oct. 29
Woman on Trial (D), Pola Negri
Jan. 21
Mar. 10
..June 23
Mar, 17
Feh. IS
Apr. 21
May 26
..Tune 2
Feb. 4
Jan. 7
Apr. 7
May 5
Feb. 18
Mar. 10
Feb. 25
Jan. 21
Feb. 11
Apr. 14
Apr. 28
-.June 2
Jan. 21
May 5
Mar. 10
May 12
Jan. 14
Apr. 14
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
Mar. 3
..Apr. 23
..Aug. 3
..Mar. 5
..Jan. 15
..May 9
..Apr. 16
..May 2
..May 2
..Dec. 10
Apr. 9
Apr. 9
Dec. 10
Nov. 12
Oct. 8
Jan. 7
Dec. 31 Dec. 17
Tan, 8
Sept. 10
Feb. 12
Oct. 22
Jan. 29
Apr. 2
Apr. 23
Nov. 19
Mar. 12
Feb. 26
Aug. 6
.Mar. 12
Nov. 26 Aug. 6
..Feb. 5
..Dec. 17
..Sept. 24
.Tan. 29
Jan. 22
June 25
July 30
lune 4
Mar. 19
July 16
.Tune 18
-May 14
Jan, 14
Sept. 3
Dec. 31 Nov. 12
Jan. 21 Nov. 26
Aug. 27
May 9
Deo. 3
Mar. 19
Sept, 17
Jan. 7 Oct. 22
.Tuly 23
.Tuly 9
Adventure Mad (M). TjFA Mar. 31 Jan. 14
Beau Sabreur (M), Cooper-Brent Jan. 7 Jan. 7
Big Killing (CD). Beery-Hatton. May 19
Doomsday, Yidor-Cooper Feb. 18 .Tan. 21
Drag Net. The (MD), Bancroft-Brent-Powell May 26
Easy Come. Easy Go, Richard Dix ... Apr. 21 May 19
Feel My Pulse, Daniels- Arlen Feb. 25 Feb. 25
Fifty-Fifty Girl. The, Daniels-Hall May 12 Mar. 31
Fools for Luck (CD), Fields-Conklin May 7 Apr. 7
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (C), Taylor-Wliite....,Tan. 28 Dec. 10
Half a Bride (D), Kalston-Cooper .Tune 16
Hot News. Bebe Daniels -
5038 His Tiger Lady, Menjou-Brent June 9
Kit Carson (MD), Fred Thomson
6792 Ladies of the Mob. Clara Bow June 30
8234 Last Command. The (D), Emil .Tannings Jan. 21
7415 Legion of the Condemned, Wray-(.'ooper Mar. 10
5837 Love and Learn, Ealston-Chandler Jan. 14
Loves of an Actress (D), I'ola Negri
5741 Night of Mystery (D), Menjou ,.,Apr. 7
7910 Old Ironsides (D). Beery-Bancroft Mar. 17 Feb. 18
6600 Partners in Crime (C), Beery-Hatton Mar. 3 Feb. 25
5582 Peaks of Destiny _ Jan. 28 Jan. 7
611S Pioneer Scout. The (W). Ficd Tliomson Jan. 21 Dec. 10
7646 Racket, The (D), Thomas jMeiglian June 30
.June 9
Mar. 31
..Tune 23
May 26
Jan. 28
..Sept. 3
..July 2
-July 23
June 16
Mar. 10
Mar. 19
Mar. 19
Feb. IS
Feb. 4
Apr. 21
Jan. 21 Feb. 25
June 23
Feb. 18
June 11
Aug. 20
..Dec. 24 Oct. 1
70.10%
1927
57.21%
63.66%
50.84%
41.30%
63.66%
51.86%
68.60%
67.00%
65.85%
66.77%
65.91%
38.61%
55.64%
55.59%
51.18%
73.90?
70.25?
Length Title and Players
48.36%
48.30%
54.72%
57.64%
44.08%
66.27%
57.46%
47.36%
45.90%
1928
New
Pictures
6631
7194
7616
4720
7960
5951
6218
6763
7fl'60
5733
5991
5834
6509
5435
Red Hair (CD). Bow-Chandler Mar. 10
Sawdust Paradise, The, Esther Halston Aug. 23
Secret Hour, The (D), Negii-Hersholt Feb. 4
Showdown, The, Bancroft Feb. 25
Something Always Happens, Ralston-Hamilton... Mar. 24
Speedy (C), Harold Lloyd Apr. 7
Sporting Goods. Dix-Olmstead Feb. 11
Street of Sin (D), Jannings-Wray May 26
Sunset Legion (W), Fred Thomson Apr. 21
Three Sinners (D), Negri-Ba.xter Apr. 14
Tillie's Punetured Romance, Fields-Conlslin Feb. 18
Under the Tonto Rim, Arlen-Brian Feb. 4
Vanishing Pioneer, The (W), .Tad; Holt June 23
Warming Up, Richard Dix Aug. 11
Wife Savers (C), Beery-Hatton ■_ Jan. 7
Woman From Moscow, The (D), Negri-Kerry
Apr. 7
Feb. 25
May 26
Path(
1927
5596
6555
4335
5326
4S75
4312
5100
7500
4933
5478
S5S6
5804
6599
B22S
8002
7107
6403
656S
685!)
3303
5867
496S
7913
47311
5990
6563
6035
4620
67S8
4700
4S90
4076
4S64
5324
135011
4131
4752
6472
5865
4576
5750
5736
6421
6903
4573
4692
4497
6000
4828
5844
4542
4375
6303
5880
4362
4546
433S
5397
5670
5921
6198
4485
5610
6447
7820
1928
3996
5755
4805
5927
6589
4833
540S
45,30
7996
4526
4480
539S
7056
4155
6650
5888
4600
5659 ■
5954
5494
5626
6902
7040
5423
4520
5035
4000
1927
6089 Cruise of the Helion (D), All star
5076 Heroes in Blue (M), Bowers-Hand _ Nov.
5916 Law and the Man, The (D). Saiitscbi-ltuc:kwi'll..Dec.
Almost Human (CD), Reynolds Dec. 26
Angel of Broadway, The (D), Leatrice .Toy Oct. 3
Avenging Fangs (M) June 5
Border Blackbirds (WD), Maloney _.,Aug. 28
Born to Battle (W), Bill Cody Sept. 11
Code of the Cow Country (W). Roosevelt June 19
Combat (D), Walsli Oct. 23
Country Doctor. The (D), Schildkraut Aug, 22
Desert of the Lost, The (W), Wally Wales Dec. 18
Devil's Twin, The (W), Leo Maloney Dec. 11
Discord (D). Dagover-Ekman Nov. 20
Don Desperado (W). Maloney May 8
Dress Parade (D), Boyd Nov. 11
Eyes of the Totem (M). Hawley May 15
Fighting Eagle. The (M). La Rocque-Haver Aug. 29
Fighting Love (D). (imidal
Flying Luck (C). iMonty Hanks Dec. 4
Forbidden Woman. The (M). Jetta Goudal Nov. 7
Getting Gertie's Garter (F). Prevost
Girl from Everywhere (C). Pollard Dec. 11
Girl in the Pullman. The (C), Prevost Oct. 31
Gold from Weepah (W), Bill Cody Nov. 20
Golden Clown. The (D), Gosta-Ekman Dec. 18
♦Grandma's Boy (C). Harold Lloyd Dec. 11
Harp in Hock. A (D). Schildkraut-Coghlan Oct, 10
Heart of the Yukon (M), Bowers-Cornwall May 29
Heart Thief (D). Sibildkraut-De Putti
Hidden Aces (M), Hutchison Aug, 7
His Dog (D), Schildkraut July 21
His First Flame (C), Langdon May 8
His Foreign Wife (D), MacDonald-Murphv Nov, 27
Hoof Marks (W). Jack Donovan Nov. 13
Interferin' Gent. The (W), Buffalo Bill. Jr Aug, 21
Jim, the Conqueror (W), Bo.vd-Faire
King of Kings (D). All Star
Land of the Lawless. The (W), Jack Padjan Dec. 25
Little Firebrand (C). Thornton .Tuly 3
Main Event. The (D). Reynolds Nov. 21
Man Bait (CD), Prevost .Tan. 29
Meddlin' Stranger (W), Wales June 12
My Friend from India (F), Pangbom-Fair Dec. 19
Night Bride (FC), Prevost
Nobody's Widow (FC), .Toy-Ray-Haver
No Man's Law (W), Rex May 1
Obligin' Buckaroo, The (W), Buffalo Bill, .Tr Oct. 16
Pals In Peril (W). Buffalo Bill. .Tr .Tune 26
Phantom BUster, The (W), Roosevelt Aug. 14
Pieces of China (Travel) Aug. 7
Pirates of the Sky (M). Hutchison May 22
Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary (C), Robson
Ride 'Em High (W), Buddy Roosevelt Oct. 9
Roarin' Broncs. Buffalo Bill. Jr Nov. 27
Rubber Tires (C), Ford-Jjove
Rush Hour, The (C), Prevost Dec. 12
Skeedaddle Gold (W), Wales .Tuly 31
Soda-Water Cowboy, The (W). Wally Wales Sept. 25
Trunk Mystery (M). Hutchison lune 12
Turkish Delight. ScljiltUiraut-Faye.. Nov. 11
Two-Gun of Tumbleweed (W). Leo Maloney July 17
Vanity ( M ) , Joy
White Gold (D). Goudal
White Pebbles (WD). Wally Wales Aug. 7
Wise Wife. The (C). Haver Oct. 24
Wreck of the Hesperus. The (M), Bradford Oct, 31
Yankee Clipper (M). Boyd
Dec. 24
Nov. 19 Nov. 5
Jtuie 4
Sept. 10
..June 17
..Oct. 15
Jan. 14
..Dec. 10
Nov. 19
..May 9
Nov. 5
..May 14
..Sept, 17
,.June 4
Nov. 12 Nov. 5
Feb. 19
Nov. 5
Nov. 19 Nov. 5
Nov. 5
..May 21
..May 21
..Sept. 3
...Tuly 24
..May 9
..Aug. 27
..Jan. 1
..Mar. 10
Jan. 14
Nov. 19
...Tuly 2
Nov. 5
..Jan. 29
..June 12
..May 9
. Jan. 15
..May 2
. Oct. 8
. June 25
. Aug. 211
.May 21
..Aug. 6
..Oct. 8
..Apr. 9
..Aug. 6
. Oct. 1
..June 11
..July 17
...Tune 18
..Apr. 9
..Aug. 20
Nov. 5
.., May 14
Alice Through a Looking Glass Feb. 12
Apache Raider, The, Leo Maloney Feb. 12
Ballyhoo Buster (W). Buffalo Bill. .Tr ,Tan. 8
Blomde for a Night. Prevost Feb. 27
Blue Danube. Leatrice .Toy Mar. 12
Boss of Rustlers Roost. The. Don Coleman. Jan. 22
Bronc' Stomper, The, Don Coleman Feb. 26
Bullet Mark. The. Jack Donovan Mar. 25
Chicago (M). IMiyllis Haver Mar. 5
Cowboy Cavalier (W). Buddy Roosevelt Jan. 29
Crashing Through. Jack Padjan „...Feb. 5
Desperate Courage (W). Wales Jan. 15
Hold 'Em Yale. Rod La RocQue May 15
Laddie Be Gcod (W). Bill Cody Jan. 1
Leopard Lady. The (M). Logan Jan. 23
Let 'Er Go. Gallagher! (M). .Junior C'oghlan Jan. 16
Marlie. the Killer, KlondU^e Mar. 4
Midnight Madness. Logan May 26
Night Flyer. The, Wni. Boyd Feb. 5
On to Reno (D), Prevost-Landis Jan. 2
Perfect Gentleman, A (C). Monty Banks Jan. 15
Ship Comes In, A, Rudolph Schildkraut June 4
Skyscraper, Boyd. Apr. 9
Stand and Deliver, Rod La Rocciue Feb. 20
Valley of Hunted Men, Buffalo Bill. Jr Feb. 19
Walking Back (M). Sue Carol May 20
What Price Beauty (CD). Nita Naldi .Tan. 22
May 12
Mar. 3
Feb. IS
May 12
Mar. 17
May 19
Dec. 24
Feb. 4
May 19 May 26
Jan.
Jan.
28
28
Mar
17 -
Jan.
28
June
16
Mar. 3
Mar. 17
Feb 18
Fell IS
Mar, 3
Apr. 28
Feb 18
Apr. 21 „
Feb IS
Apr. 28
Mav 26
1927
72.70%
51.72%
1928
Jan. 2S
Dec. 31
Rayart
1927
..Sept. 24
36
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Smo Liglit in ttie Window, A (D). Walthal Nov. 12
5970 On ttie Stroke of Twelve (M), D. Torrence Nov.
5502 Silent Hero (M). Bonaparte _ Aug. 29
4200 Wanderer of tlie West, A (W), Tex Maynard... Dec.
1928
6673
1928
5971;
5853
560S
4571
5906
549a
5260
Casey Jones (CD), Price-Lewis -. _ Jan.
Danger Patrol. The (D). Russell-Fair .Tan.
Gypsy of the North (D). Gordon-Hale Apr.
Heart of Broadway. The (D), Garon-Agnew....Mar.
My Home Town (D). BrockweU-Glass Jan.
Painted Trail. The (W). Buddy Koosevelt. Mar.
Phantom of the Turf, The (D), CosteUo-Lease-Feb.
Wild Born (W), Tex Maynard. Mar.
You Can't Beat the Law, Lee Keete... .-Jan. _ _...
Sterling
1927
Burning Up Broadway (D), H. Costello ,Tan. 30 Dec. 3
5563 Closed Gates (IH), Harron-Novak. ...May 28
5400 Outcast Souls (D). Lewis-Bonner. _ Dec. 15 Nov. 12
5500 Pretty Clothes (D), .L Ealston-Walker.._ Oct. 15 Dec. 31
- Stranded (D). Mason Aug. 15 Jan. 7 Sept. 10
1928
Mai-ry the Girl (CD) _
1927
1928
1927
5754
5669
53fHl
6024
7300
4S87
5500
6482
5233
4732
5600
5800
6049
6235
5629
6100
5182
5276
Tiffanv-Stahl
Backstage (CD), Bedford _
Beauty Shoppe (CD), Busch _.
Broken Gate (D), Collier.
Cheaters (M), O'Malley _
College Days (CD), M. Day
Enchanted Island (D) _ _
First Night. The (FC). LyteU-Devore
Fools of Fashion (CD). Busch..._
Girl from Gay Paree, The (F), Sherman
Haunted Ship, The (M), Sebastian-IL Love..
..Feb. 4
-July 9
..July 16
..Jan. 15
..Mar. 24
..Nov. 6
...Tune 25
-Feb. 19
..Oct. 9
1927
..Sept. 15
..Dec. 1
6448
5614
1928
6147
5209
5510
Husband Hunters (C), Marsh Feb. 26
Josselyn's Wife (D), Frederict. _NoT. 2T
Lightning (W), J. Ralston _ Sept. 1
Night Life (CD), Day-Harron Nov. 1
Once and Forever (D). Patsy Ruth MUler- Oct. 15
Sin Cargo (D), Mason Dec. 11
Snowbound (FC), Blythe July 30
Streets of Shanghai (RD), Starke-Harlan. Dec. 15 Mar. 10
Tired Business Man (C) _
Wild Geese (D), Belle Bennett _...Nov. 15 Dec. 24 Dec. 10
Women's Wares (D), Brent-LyteU Oct. 1
5297
6553
5708
5102
5735
5652
5361
5283
1927
9264
5000
7500
7311
8550
Bachelor's Paradise (R). Sally O'Neil Mar. 15
Clothes Make the Woman (R), Southern-
Pidgeon _ May 1
Devil's Skipper, The, Bennett _ Feb. 1
Grain of Dust, The (D), Cortez-Windsor .July 10
Green Grass Widows (CD), Walter Hageu .Tune 10
House of Scandal (D), Sebastian-O'Malley Apr. 1
Ladies of the Night Club (CD), Cortez-Moran....May 15
Lingerie (CD), White-McGregor. __ .Tuly 1
Nameless Men, Moreno _ Feb. 15
Prowlers of the Sea (D), Cortez-Myers .Tune 20
Scarlet Dove, The (D), Margaret Livingston Apr. 15
Stormy Waters (D), Southern-McGregor. .Tune 1
Their Hour (D), Sebastian-Harron. _ Mar. 1
Tragedy of Youth, MiUer-CoUier Jan. 15
Woman Against the World. A Tan. 1
1928
Mar. 31
United Artists
7440
9120
9000
7456
8250
8000
Beloved Rogue (M), .T. Barrymore
College (C), Keaton-Cornwall Sept. 10
General, The (C). Koaton , _ _.
Loves of Sonya (D), .Swanson
Magic Flame. The (M), Colman-Banky Sept. 24
My Best Girl (M), .Mary Pickford Nov.
Night of Love (M), Banl^-Colman
Resurrection (M), La Eocaue _ _
Sorrell and Son (D), Wamer-Nilsson. Nov.
Topsy and Eva (C). Duncan Sisters..
Two Arabian Knights (CD), Boyd-Wolheim
Winning of Barbara Worth (D). Bauky-Cohnan...
1928
640O Circus. The (C), Charlie Chaplin _
7000— Devil Dancer, The, Gilda Gray _ _
9358
9100
8350
7300
- Apr. 2
Sept. 17
_ Feb. 12
- .Mar. 19
— Sept. 24
Apr. 7
Tan. 29
Apr. 16
Nov. 19
—Aug. 13
Oct. 29
Dec. 4
1927
45.90%
.Mar. 3
73.65%
1928
7650
8600
Douglas Fairbanks as the Gaucho (M)..._ .Tune 1
Dove, The (M), Norma Talmadge .Tan. 7
Drums of Love (D), Mary PliUbin. „...Mar. 31
Garden of Eden, The (D), C. Grifflth-Eay. Feb. 4
Two Lovers. Banky-Colman „ _ .\ug.
Ramona (D). Del Rio _...Feb. 1
Sadie Thompson (D), Gloria Swanson. Jan. 7
Tempe-st (M), John Barrymore _ _ Aug, 11
..Apr. 28
..Nov. 26
„Jan. 7
..June 16
..May 26
1927
.5751
5777
4427
7319
7190
5623
7304
5252
5292
4349
3910
4293
4167
6863
7828
5503
6929
57U
5378
6958
7713
11000
Universal
Back to God's Country (D), Adoree-Frazier.... Sept. 4
Beware of Widows (FC), La Plante _ .Tune 19
Border Cavalier. The (W), Humes-Pierce-.„ Sept. 18
Butterflies in the Rain (D), La Plante Feb. 6
Cat and Canary, The (My), La Plante _ Sept. 11
Cheating Cheaters (C), Compson-HarlaiL Oct. 9
Chinese Parrot, The (MyD), Nixon-Turner Oct. 23
Claw, The (D), Windsor, _ _ June 12
Denver Dude (W), Gibson Feb. 13
Desert Dust (W). Ted Wells Dec, 18
Down the Stretch (M), Agnew May 29
Fangs of Destiny (W), Dynamite „ Dec. 4
Fighting Three (W). Hoxie .Tuly 3
Fourth Commandment (D), Bennett .Mar. 20
Foreign Legion (D), Kerry-Stone. _
Galloping Fury (W), Hoot Gibson Nov. 20
Held by the Law (M). Lewis .\i)r, 10
Hero for the Night, A, Tryon-MlUer. Dc'c, 18
Hey! Hey! Cowboy (W), Gibson. _ Apr. 3
Irresistible Lover. The (CD), Kerry-Moran Dec. 4
Leu Miscrables (M). Gabrio-ToulonL Oct. 30
Le« Miserable* (M), (Loan Version) _ Oct. 30
Aug. 6
...May 9
1927
50.81%
44.10%
Jan. 1
Dec. 17 May 14
Nov. 26
Nov. 26
May 28
Feb. 26
Dec. 17
May 2
46.18%
68.50%
, 56.00%
39.70%
..May 21
..Apr. 28
Dec. 24
.Apr. 2
Nov. 26
Dec. 17 Nov. 19
Aug. 27
42.00%
54.84%
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Ticker
603S
6135
6159
5918
6170
5416
6045
6807
4409
7015
6166
4393
6218
4251
7173
5598
4136
5192
6459
4167
1928
4259
6869
4076
6171
4345
4232
7481
6279
4173
G081
4426
5645
4094
6598
5064
4095
6813
6832
4120
5689
4253
4200
4472
5382
5424
6172
5109
53S9
8249
6179
6073
4353
6274
5495
4348
9151
5254
1927
3453
5803
6330
5901
6281
6631
5897
640S
5003
6972
6767
6639
6284
5390
5978
Lone Eagle. The. Kent-Keane Sept. 18
Love Thrill (FC), La Plante May 8
Man's Past, A (D), Veidt-KenL Dec. 25
Men of Daring (W), Hoxie June 5
On Your Toes (C), Denny-Worth Nov. 27
Out All Night (C), Denny-Nixon Sept. 4
Painted Ponies (W), Hoot Gibson. Sept. 23
Painting the Town (FC), Tryon _ Aug. 7
Perch of the Devil (M), Busch Mar. 6
Rough and Ready (W), Hoxie Jan. 9
Sensation Seekers (D), Dove Mar. 20
Silk Stockings, Laura La Plante Oct. 2
Sky High Saunders, Al Wilson Nov. 6
Small Bachelor. The (C), Beranger-Kent Nov. 6
Straight Shootin' (W), WeUs Oct. 16
Taxi! Taxi! (FC), Horton Apr. 24
Thirteenth Juror, The (D), Busliman-Nilsson...Nov. 13
Three Miles Up, Al Wilson Sept. 4
Wild Beauty (CD), Rex Nov. 27
Wrong Mr. Wright. The (F), Hersholt Feb. 27
Wolf's Trail, Dsnamlte. the dog Oct. 2
Air Patrol. The (W), Al Wilson. .Tan. 1
Alias the Deacon (CD), Hersholt-Marlowe -Tan. 22
Arizona Cyclone (W), Humes Jilay 6
Buck Privates, de Putti .Tune 3
Call of the Heart, The (W), Dynamite .Tan. 29
Clean-Up Man, The (W). Wells Feb. 12
Cohens and Kellys in Paris (C), Sidney .Tan. 15
Count of Ten, The, Ray-Ealston-Gleason June 6
Fearless Rider, The (W), Fred Humes Jan. 15
Finders Keepers (CD), Laura La Plante Feb. 5
Four Footed Rangers, The (W), Dynamite Mar. 25
Good Morning Judge _ _..Apr. 29
Greased Lightning (W) July 29
Grip of the Yukon, The, AU star...„ Aug. 30
Hot Heels, Glen Tryon. May 13
Hound of Silver Creek, The (W), Dynamitc.May 20
Love Me and the World Is Mine, Kerry-Philbin. Feb. 23
Jazz Mad, Hersholt-Nixon-Lewis June 3
Made-to-Order Hero (W), WeUs June 3
Midnight Rose, de Putti-Harian. Feb. 26
Phantom Flyer, The (W), Wilson....- _ Feb. 26
Put 'Em Up (W), Humes Mar. 11
Quick Triggers (W), Humes. July 15
Rawhide Kid (W), Hoot Gibson. Jan. 29
Riding for Fame, Hoot Gibson Aug. 19
Shield of Honor, The, All star _ Feb. 19
Society Cowboy, A, Hoot Gibson July 8
Stop That Man, AU star _Mar. 11
Surrender, Philbin-Mosiukine Mar. 4
Thanks for the Buggy Ride, La Plante-Tryon... Apr. 1
That's My Daddy (C), Denny-Kent Feb. 5
Thunder Riders. The, Wells Apr. 8
13 Washington Square, All star _ Apr. 8
Trick of Hearts, A, Hoot Gibson. .Mar. 18
Won in the Clouds, (W), Wilson. Apr. 22
We Americans, All star _ _ May 16
Wild West Show, Hoot Gibson. _ -May 20
Nov. 12
May 21
Dec. 17 Sept. 27
Apr. 9
.Tan. 14
_ Oct. 1
Nov. 19 July 23
June 25
_ _ Feb. 5
Jan. 8
Jan. 29
Nov. 19 Aug. 20
Feb. 4
Dec. 3
40.14%
!.55%
i.87%
Dec. 3
...Feb. 19
44.70%
Dec. 24
...Mar. 5
1928
.Tune 16
Mar. 10
Apr. 21
Apr. 28
„Apr. 21
Apr. 28
May 26
June 23
Feb. 31
May 19
Mar. 17
Mar. 17
Jan. 28
Feb. 25
Jan. 14
Apr. 28
Mar. 17
May 5
Apr. 21
Warner Brothers
..Feb. 5
-July 9
-Mar. 12
6302
5613
596S
6271
5200
6230
5397
5569
6352
6310
6485
7961
6357
5492
6295
5685
6124
6218
6412
7647
5813
6281
5567
lOOSl
6820
7068
1928
Bitter Apples (M), Blue - May 9
Black Diamond Express (M), Blue - .July 23
Brass Knuckles (D), Blue-Bronson. - Dee. 3
Brute, The (D), Blue. _ - _ May 2
Bush Leaguer, The (CD), Monte Blue. Aug. 20
Climbers. The (D), Rich. - May 28
Dearest (D), Rich June 18
Desired Woman, The (M), Irene Rich _ Aug. 27 _
Dog of the Regiment, A (M), Rln-Tin-Tin. Oct. 29
Don't Tell the Wife (C), Rich — _
First Auto, The, Oldfleld-Miller Sept. 18
Fortune Hunter, The (0). Syd Chaplin.— Nov. 7
Gay Old Bird (FC), Fazenda. —
Ginsberg the Great (C), Jessel „..- - Nov. 26
Girl from Chicago, The (M), Nagel-Loy. Nov. 5
Glorious Betsy (CD), Dolores Costello.
Good Time Charley (D), Oland-H. Costello Nov. 12
Ham and Eggs at the Front (C), Wilson-H.
Conlclin Dec. 24 - -
Heart of Maryland (M), D. Costello _ _ July 30
Hills of Kentucky (M), Rin-Tiu-Tin _ _ Feb. 26
Husbands for Rent, AH star - _ Dec. 31
If I Were Single, McAvoy-Nagel Dec. 17
Irish Hearts (CD), McAvoy _.
Jaws of Steel (D), Rln-Tiu-Tin _ Sept. 17
Matinee Ladies (C), McAvoy _ _.
Mill Bid. A (M), D. Costello _.
1927
50.20%
Dec. 31
Dec. 31
May 26
Nov. 26
70.47%
Apr. 28
- June 11
Oct. 1
- Apr. 23
- June 4
- May 14
- June 25
- Oct. 8
- Oct. 29
Dec. 10
- -Oct. 15
Missing Link, The (C), Syd Chaplin Aug. 7
Old San Francisco (M), D. Costello-Oland Sept. 4
One Round Hogan (M), Monte Blue Sept. 17
Reno Divorce, A (D), May AcAvoy Oct. 22
Sailor Izzy Murphy (F), George .Tessell Oct. 8
Sailor's Sweetheart, A (C), Fazeuda-C. Cook....Sept. 24
Silver Slave, The (D), Rich-Ferris _ Nov. 9
Simple Sis (M), Fazenda _ June 11
Slightly Used, McAvoy-Nagel Sept. 3
Third Degree (M), D. Costello _ _ Jan. 8
Tracked by the Police (M), Rin-Tin-Tin _ _ _ May 21
What Every Girl Should Know (CD), MUler. _ Mar. 19
What Happened to Father (C). Oland _ .Tuly 9
When a Man Loves (R), Barrj'more Aug. 21 Feb. 12
White Flannels (M), Dresser - Apt. 2
Wolf's Clothing (M), Blue-MiUer _ Ian. 29
..Feb. IS
44.00%
60.30%
Across the Atlantic. Bluo-Murpb.v Feb. 25
Beware of Married Men, Irene Rich _ .Tan. 14 Feb. 11
City of Sin. The, Loy-Miljan-Wong _
Domestic Trouble (CD), Cook-Fazenda .\pr. 14
Jazz Singer, The, Al Jolson
Lion and the Mouse, The, L. Barrymore
Little Snob. The, May McAvoy Feb. 11
Powder My Back (C), Rich-Ferris Mar. 10 M:iy 19
Race for Life. Rin-Tin-Tin. Jan. 28 Feb. 18
Rinty of the Desert, Rln-Tin-Tin May 19
Tenderloin, Dolores Costello _ .\pr. 28
1928
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
57
CLASSIFIED
Advertising
it
Ten cents per word, payable in advance. Minimum charge,
$1.00. Copy and checks should be addressed Classified Ad
Dept. Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, 407 So.
Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
The Recognized National Classified Advertising Medium
Theatre for Sale
tirick theatre, 32x70, completely equipped — two motor
driven Powers, player piano, fans. Stage and scenery.
New living rooms at rear. Rice farming district.
Good show town — good business. Must sell. Seven
thousand dollars. Four thousand cash, balance small
payments, or will take six thousand cash for complete
outfit. Cost nine thousand. Paying proposition. Ma-
jestic Theatre, Weiner, Ark.
Theatre Wanted
Wanted to buy or lease theatre in Denver terri-
tory, or adjoining. Address Box 422, Terre Haute,
Indiana.
We want large or small moving picture houses and
theatres in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Write Box 283, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture
World. 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
Position Wanted
ORGANIST — Competent, desires change of city.
Complete library. Union, experienced. Address Box
284, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World,
407 S Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
EXPERIENCED OPERATOR on Powers and Sim-
plex machines, wishes steady job, sober, reliable, will
go anywhere. Address O. Dupree, 1433 Raynor St.,
Detroit. Michigan.
ATTENTION, THEATRE MANAGER— Are you
looking for a Female Organist? One who will work
for a fair salary to begin in order to prove worth.
If you are, do not overlook this opportunity. Union,
best of references, will go anywhere. Address Box
257, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago. 111.
AT LIBERTY — Female Organist, working at pres-
ent, but will be_ free in a week. Can work on any
make organ. Union, pood references, will go any-
where. Address Box 258. Exhibitors Herald and Mov-
ing Picture World. 407 S. Dearborn St.. Chicago. 111.
ORGANISTS thoroughly trained and experienced in
theatre work. Men and women now ready for good
positions. Union or non-union. Write salary and
other data. Address Chicago Musical College, 61 E.
Van Buren. Chicago.
ORGANIST — Experts thoroughly trained in show-
manship available at all times for first-class positions.
Men and women. No service charge. Write full in-
formation concerning salary, organ, hours, etc. Ad-
dress Vermond Knauss School of Theatre Organ
Playing. 210 N. 7th St., Allentown. Pa.
Engagements Wanted
AT LIBERTY— D. C. Nelson Organize Dance Or-
chestra Versatile Musicians. Red Hot with up-to-
date Dance Rhythm. Will go anywhere. Write or
wire 455 East 42nd Place, Chicago, 111., Phone Oak-
land 4669.
Equipment Wanted
BEST PRICES paid for projection machines, all
types. Address Guercio & Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave.,
Chicago. 111.
Films for Sale
"The Dungeon" (7); — "Deceit" (6); — "Birthright"
(10); — three all star Negro productions; — also — "Truth
About Women" (6); — "Temptation" (7); — "Marriage
Morals" (7); — Other miscellaneous productions. Come-
dies, Serials, Travel, Educational, etc. Guaranteed
pictures, 729 Seventh Ave., New York City.
Buy at bargain prices Westerns, Comedies, Car-
toons, Serials, Special Roadshows. Allow examination.
Address Lone Star Films Corp., Dallas, Texas.
Equipment for Sale
FOR SALE: Strong Reflector Arc Lamp and
accessories. Best prices. Write Joseph Sp.ratler, 12-14
E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
GET OUR PRICES first on complete Theatre
Equipment and Pipe Organ before buying elsewhere.
You save, we satisfy. Address Southern Theatre
Service, 643 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, La.
FOR SALE^Motion Picture Projectors, parts and
supplies for all type machines. Special: 3 G. E.
Mazda reducers, 110-25 cycle— like new— $35.00 each.
2 Fort Wayne Compensarcs, 33 cycle — $25.00 each.
Address Guercio & Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chi-
cago. III.
CHICAGO CLEARING HOUSE— Our bargain list
on rebuilt Projectors, Powers 6-A Motor driven ma-
chines, including 12 rebuilt Simplex motor driven
machines with latest Simplex type S lamp houses.
Prices ranging from $175.00 and up. Peerless arc
controls $35.00 per pair. Compensarcs all makes,
$20.00 and up. Rebuilt Generators at reasonable
prices. AC and DC Electric fans rebuilt, just like
new. Write for complete list of your needs and
prices. No obligation. Address Illinois Theatre
Equipment Co., 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Chairs for Sale
LARGE STOCK — Used veneered theatre chairs in
5 and 7 ply veneer guaranteed condition, also 1600 up-
holstered chairs newly recovered in brown imitation
Spanish leather, just like new. 500 portable assembly
chairs. Chair prices very reasonable. Write for com-
plete list of your needs and prices. No obligation.
Address Illinois Theatre Equipment Co., 12-14 E.
Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
FOR SALE — Used Theatre chairs, always a stock
on hand, also veneer seats, write your requirements.
Address Theatre Seating Co., 845 S. State St., Chi-
cago, 111.
Stationery
SPECIAL! 250 each business letterheads— en-
velopes $3.75 (cash postpaid). "Neargravure" proc-
ess printed. Samples, see difference. Stamp appre-
ciated. Address SoUidays, XH-124, Knox, Ind.
Banners and Posters
CLOTH BANNERS— $1.40, 3x10, 3 feet, colors,
any copy up to 10 words; one day service; sent any-
where; also Bargain Paper Banners. Associated
Advertisers, 111 West 18th St., Kansas City, Mo.
For Sale
2 Peerless Lamps, complete with Stereopticon,
Rheostats, $385.00. Address Box 485, Rochester, N. Y.
OPERA CHAIRS, seats and backs for all makes,
five ply, at prices that save you half. Address
Redington & Co., Scranton, Pa.
FOR SALE — Posters, Photos, Slides, Banners, In-
sert Cards, and other Accessories. Save 50 per cent;
write for order blanks. Theatre Poster Supply Com-
pany and Sign Exchange, Theatre Poster Supply
Building. Cincinnati. O.
Organs for Sale
MAY 1st list of rebuilt organs ready. Includes
seven rebuilt Wurlitzer Organs one and two cabinets
with rolls. Prices from $950 to $2,500. Includes
nine Fotoplayers all styles, rebuilt guarantee, priced
from $1,500 to $3,500. Welte Mignon Reproducing
Piano with large library music $750. Eight stop
Moeller organ. Seeburgs most all makes. Terms, 10
per cent cash with order, balance two years. Shipped
any place U. S. A., installed free. Write for com-
plete list with prices. No obligation. Address Robert
Morton Organ Co., 624 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. 111.
FOR SALE: Bartola Pipe Organ. Used Wurlitzer
Pipe Organ, model U, very reasonable. Cremona
Pipe Organ, used or new Reproduce Pipe Organs.
Address S. B. McFadden, Havana, 111.
Gift Night Souvenirs
GIFT NIGHT MERCHANDISE: Over 300 fine
novelties in our large free catalog at genuine whole-
sale prices. Write today. No obligation. Address
Fair Trading Co., Inc., 140 W. 21st St., New York.
Projector Repairing
Our Twentieth Century Repair Shop, with skilled
expert mechanics, specialized tools, precision machin-
ery, assure the very best REPAIR JOBS. Relief
Equipment furnished FREE. Prompt service. Rea-
sonable prices. Progressive Exhibitors over entire
country send their work to "THE OLD RELIABLE."
Monarch Theatre Supply Co., Memphis, Tenn. Estab-
lished 20 years.
SKILLED MECHANICS, specialized tools, and a
shop equipped for but one purpose can offer you
nothing but the best in repair work. That is what I
have, and I can offer you the best in the overhauling
of your motion picture machinery equipment. One
of the oldest repair men in the territory, and serving
some of the largest houses. Relief equipment fur-
nished free. For results bring your work to Joseph
Spratler. 12-14 E. Ninth St.. Chicago. 111.
BEST GRADE repair work. Prices right. Free
relief heads. Prompt service. Address Guercio &
Barthel. 1018 Wabash Ave.. Chicago, 111.
Miscellaneous
BEAUTIFUL registered Bull Pups, $15.
Address 501 Rockwood, Dallas, Texas.
Bulldogs.
Wanted to Buy
Wanted used Calliaphone for advertising purposes.
Address Majestic Theatre, Refugio, Texas.
YOU WANT RESULTS !
H.erald'World Classified Ads Bring Them
Let u,s advise you that we have always found your classified columns to bring results and expect to use the same as much
as we possibly can.
Mr. N. Bertistein, Mgr., Monarch Theatre Supply Co,
395 South Second St. Memphis, Tenn.
58
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
LETTERS
From Readers
A forum at which the exhibitor is
invited to express his opinion on
matters of current interest. Brevity
adds forcefulness to any statement.
Unsigned letters will not be printed.
You Missed a Good Time
MASON, MICH.— To the Editor: I hope
tlie boys had a good time at Alexandria this last
week but if the weather up there was like
what we were getting, the\- didn't do much but
sit around and swap fish stories. It rained 40
days and 40 nights here this last week.
I'm building a new marquee and installing
a magnificent new popcorn machine in the
lobby this week, so I couldn't attend the
meeting.
I thought the printer in a neighboring town
had reached ihe height of something or other
a year or two ago when he mishandled my
ad as follows : "Fred Thomson, Gink of
Western Stars and his wonder horse. Sliver
King," but he outdid himself this week w'ith
this : "Coming Next Week, Douglas Fair-
banks as 'The Groucho.' "
I think that caps the wellknown climax. —
Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich.
Keep Up the Good Work
GURDON, ARK.,— To the Editor: This
being my first letter to Exhiibitors Herald
AND Moving Picture World, also a new sub-
scriber, I want to fall in line and be a booster
like all the rest of the fellows.
The picture enclosed is of especial interest
to all exhibitors. The young lady on the
left is Miss Joan Meredith, a movie star.
Her name in private life is Miss Catherine
Jelks of Hot Spring, .^rk. She recendy ap-
peared at the Imperial theatre here in Gurdon,
Ark., in person. The Tri-State Theatres
Corporation of Memphis, Tenn., a chain
theatre organization, having secured her ap-
pearance at each theatre on the entire circuit,
of 19 theatres in all. The man on the right
is myself, R. V. McGinnis, manager.
I feel that you might give us the story on
account of its being out of the ordinary to
have a real movie star's personal appearance
in a small town. Also, doing capacity busi-
ness at both performances, matinee and night.
Hoping you will do us this favor and assur-
ing you of our fullest cooperation, with best
wishes, I am — R. V. McGinnis, Imperial thea-
tre, Gurdcm, Ark.
Buys Sales Company
(Special to the Hcrald-World)
SEATTLE, July 3.— C. M. Dunn, who
formerly operated houses at Renton, Clc-
elum and Roslyn, Wash., has purchased the
controlling stock in the Northwestern Film
Corporation here and announces a variety
of relea.ses, which includes product from
Rayart, Chesterfield and Sterling.
Report of Apathy in
Exhibitor Units Brings
Appeal for Zone Plan
(Continued from page 21)
vote when they attend the national organiza-
tion convention.
"In this manner and along this line, there
could be organized and projected, a positive
and thorough organization, and each individual
zone organization would constitute a solid,
live, active bod^' which would work hand in
hand wdth the various film boards of trade
for the best interests of everyone. If each
individual territory were organized into zones,
each -,tate and zone organization would then
have a voice that would be heard in all formu-
lating of all rules governing arbitration, as
well as the drafting of new contracts, should
the occasion arise, and other matters which
affect the exhibitors of e\"ery state, who now
have but very little voice in these matters, all
things to the contrary.
All Must Take Part
"There can never be a well organized, and
a smooth running national organization, until
the majority of exhibitors in the state organi-
zations take an active part in them, and there
can never be a smooth running state organi-
zation until the exhibitors take an acti\e part,
and either attend the con-\-entions in person or
by proxy. What we need in national, as well
as state organizations, are members with 'guts'
and men who will take a real, active part, and
I say this with no thought of casting any re-
flection whatever on any person, but with a
desire to have both a state and national or-
ganization working hand in hand for not only
the theatre owners, but for the motion picture
industry as a whole.
"Exhibitors as a whole will join a state or-
ganization, pay their dues, sometimes write a
nice letter about how they think an organiza-
tion should function, and then when the time
comes for attending a meeting, or a conven-
tion, they will stay at home and claim that
they were too busy to attend. A theatre
owner, or manager, no matter how big he is,
or how much he has to attend to, can, and
should always lay aside his work for one or
two days to attend a convention of his state
organization, and there have a voice in af-
fairs, meet and talk with his brother exhibi-
tor, exchange ideas, and give a little thought
to the industrj- in common with other theatre
owners.
"This plan can be worked out, should be
worked out, and I believe some day will be
worked out, and God knows the industry
needs working on from many angles, not-
withstanding the progress and advances we
are making from year to year. Who will be
the first man to start it?"
Missouri-Illinois Meeting
Is Postponed Two Months
(Special to the Hcrald-World)
ST. LOUIS, July 3. — The annual conven-
tion of the M. P. T. O. of Eastern Missouri
and Southern Illinois has been delayed until
the latter part of July, because of unsettled
conditions. Usually the meeting takes place in
May. LInder the new plan the members will
have the advantage of being fully informed
concerning every situation affecting their busi-
ness before the actual buying season gets un-
derway. Most exhibitors in the territory have
(lelaved signing contracts.
He Chooses Not to Run
(Special to the Herald-World)
TORONTO, July 3.— Aid H. E. Wilton
of Hamilton, Ont., manager of the Strand
theatre there, has decided not to stand as
a candidate for the East Hamilton seat in
the Ontario parliament.
Advances Schedule
To Beat New Time
(Special to the Herald-World)
TORONTO, June 3.— Another Ca-
nadian exhibitor to change his pro-
gram schedule in an effort to over-
come loss of patronage due to
daylight saving is Charles Querrie,
manager of the Palace theatre, To-
ronto. The summer schedule at the
Palace now calls for the opening of
the doors at 7 o'clock, a half hour
later than at other seasons of the
year. The pictures are started at
7:30, which means that the last
showing of the feature is after 9:30.
"The patrons seem to like it," is the
comment from 0'^^'^'''6. Manager
A. E. Cauley of the Capitol at Co-
bourg reports that he has lost out
in his fight against daylight saving
at Cobourg.
Owner Body Votes
Down Percentages
And Block Booking
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., July 3.— The entire
membership of the Northwest Independent
Exhibitors Association at the regular
monthly meeting here, went on record as
strictly opposed to block booking and per-
centages. There are now about 130 mem-
bers.
Drive Boosts Size of
M. P. T. O.; Only Ten in
Philadelphia Remain Out
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, July 3.--Membership
in the M. P. T. O. of Eastern Pennsylvania,
Southern New Jersey and Delaw-are, has
been considerably increased by the drive
just ended. Of the 186 theatres in Phila-
delphia, only ten are not in the organiza-
tion.
Prizes for securing the most new mem-
bers in the drive, which started April 15,
have been distributed to William Bethel of
the Success Exchange; George Schwartz,
M G M; Ed Whaley, United Artists; Wil-
liam Mansell, First National; M. Fishman,
Success exchange; George Marks, Liberty
exchange; M. Katz, Liberty exchange.
Seven salesmen tied for the final prize.
Rembusch Drops W. Baden
Call to Join Steffes Parley
(Special to the Herald-World)
INDIANAPOLIS, July 3.— Frank Rem-
busch has abandoned his plan to call a
meeting of unaffiliated exhibitors at West
Baden this month and instead will attend
the July 10-12 session called by Al Steffes
of the Northwest Theatre Owners' Associa-
tion at w-hich it is expected that a move to
revive the Allied States organization will
be made.
British Distributor and
Bride Have Church Rite
(Special to the Hcrald-World)
NEW YORK, July 3.— Maurice Silver-
stone, managing director of Allied Artists,
distributors of United .'Artists product in
England, and his bride arrived here from
London, where they were married a month
ago in a civil ceremony, for a religious
ceremony, which took place at the home
of the bride's parents in Brooklyn last week.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
59
1
Y^
WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Verdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor
Copyrlgbl, 1928
Incorporated in this original exhibitors report department of Exhibitors Herald, which was estab-
lished October 14, 1916, is the Moving Picture World department, ''Straight from the Shoulder
Reports."
Columbia
STAGE KISSES: S|)ecial cast— 25%. June 19.
This is a srilendid program picture. Story Rood, star
and whole cast fine. — Bert Silver, Silver Family
theatre. Creenville, Mich. — General patronage.
Excellent
YOUR WIFE AND MINE: Special eajst— June
32-13. This is a -good one. Don't mies it as it
should please any place. Six reels. — H. W. Batch-
elder, Gait theatre. Gait, Cal. — Small town patronage.
STRONGER WILL: Percy Marmont— May 29-30.
Pair picture to poor business. Seven reels. — H. W.
Batchelder, Gait theatre. Gait, Cal. — Small town
patronage.
F B 0
CHICAGO AFTER MIDNIGHT: Ralph Ince— A
knockout from every angle. It is the greatest under-
world picture ever produced. There are places in
the picture that actually raise you right out of your
seat. Ralph Ince's performance wat- way up at the
top. Hiis pal was also there with the goodt. Don't
be afraid to play this up big. If you don't, you Avill
be sorry, just as I was for it will stand every boost
you can give it. Seven reels. — W. H. Brenner, Cozy
theatre, Winchester, Ind. — General patronage.
BREED OF COURAGE: Ranger— May 22-23. Very
good dog picture. They like dog pictures and I had
better than the average Tuesday- Wednesday crowd.
Five reels.— H. W. Batchelder. Gait theatre. Gait, Cal.
— Small town patronage.
WHEN A DOG LOVES: Special cast— This did not
take at all and I call it just fair. Five reels. — Julius
W. Schmidt. Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General pat-
ronage.
RED HOT HOOFS: Tom Tyler— A very nice
Western. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese,
III. — General patronage.
THE BANDIT'S SON: Bob Steelc^June 5-fi.
Good Western with fair action. Five reels. — H. W.
Batchelder, Gait theatre. Gait, Cal. — Small town pat-
ronage.
THE GORILLA HUNT: Special cast— June 14-1.5.
An entertaining picture of its kind. The actual
views of the Gorilla episode was the poorest part
of the picture, due to the climatic difficulties under
which the cameraman labored. Seven reel.s. — Wrm. E.
Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small
town patronage.
THE MAGIC GARDEN: Special cast— If you want
a real nice picture, try this one. About the best
of the Porter books. Seven reels. — Julius W. Smith,
Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — ^General patronage.
FRECKLES: Special east— 53%. Gene Stratton
Porter's .stories always go across. Good action
although rather slow. Seven reels. — C. E. Mallory,
Liberty theatre, Brew.ster, Kan. — General patronage.
FRECKLES: Special cast— June 15-16. A very good
picture. The star plays his part well. Very many
thrilling scenes and some touching love scenes. It
pleased the people and did a good business at the
box office. Just -a little above the average show.
Editor's Note
Percentage ratings given by ex-
hibitors in reports to this depart-
ment are obtained in the following
manner: Average daily gross of
picture reported is divided by
average daily gross of picture hold-
ing house record to determine
relative box office value in terms
of percentage.
EXAMPLE: $75 (average daily
gross of picture reported) divided
by $100 (average daily gross of
picture holding house record)
equals .75 (percentage rating given
picture in report).
When a picture has received
percentage ratings in 10 reports it
is entered in THE BOX OFFICE
TICKER column of "Quick Ref-
erence Picture Chart."
Play it. Seven reels. — E. H. Vetter, Majestic theatre.
Homer, Mich. — ^Small town patronage.
ARIZONA NIGHTS: Fred Thomson— 25%. June 9.
Over and over same thing. Thomson did at the box
office here. Seven reels. — D. G. Copeling, Temple
theatre, Ubly, Mich. — General patronage.
SHANGHAIED: Ince-Miller— 64%. March 26.
E!xcellent jpicture. Not as much fighting as one would
expect from this type of sea story. Seven reels. —
H. B. Grice. Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C— General
patronage.
SPLITTING THE BREEZE: Tom Tyler— 92%.
March 12. This star led our group of money makers
in the last canvass for the ten pictures that made
the most money, and this percentage shows he hasn't
lost his pulling power. — H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills
theatre, Bath, S. C. — General patronage.
LEGIONNAIRES IN PARIS: Cook-Guard— 48%.
April 2. Full of good hearty laughs. Seven reels. —
H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C— General
patronage.
CLANCY'S KOSHER WEDDING: George Sidney—
64%. March 19. Just a good comedy of this type,
of which we seem to be getting plenty. Seven reels.
— H. B. Grice, Aiken Milks theatre, Bath, S. C—
General patronage.
THE GREAT MAIL ROBBERY: Special cast—
50%. May 12. Very good picture but didn't drav?
them in. Seven reelsi — D. G. Copeling, Temple thea-
tre, Ubly, Mich. — ^General patronage.
First National
CANYON OF ADVENTURE: Ken Maynard— 60%.
June 16. Fine program. Action, comedy and all that
makes a great entertainment for small towns. — Bei't
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — Gen-
eral patronage.
CANYON OF ADVENTURE: Ken Maynard— 30%.
Favorable Western star. Excellent action, good set-
ting and cast. Ken Maynard never fails to draw.
Six reels. — 'C. E. Mallory, Liberty theatre, Brewster,
Kan. — General patronage.
THE LITTLE SHEPHERD OF KINGDOM COME:
Richard Barthelmess — 100%. Score another one for
Dick. Overheard several good comments on this one,
and what I saw of it looked good. It's produced
on a big scale. Nothing cheap looking about it.
Played this with vaudeville and broke my Tuesday
house record. JE)ight reels. — P. G. Vaughan, S^n
theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — ^Neighborhood patronage.
THE NOOSE: Richard Barthelmess— 36%. Heavy
d]'ama. The last is drawn out a little too much but
taken as a whole, it is a very good show. No kickei'S.
Seven reels. — C. E. Mallory, Liberty theatre, Brew.ster,
Kan. — General patronage.
THE HEART OF A FOLLIES: Billie Dove — 30%.
June 20. A good picture but too slow. Star fine,
story good. About 50 per cent satisfaction. Only
complaint, too slow. — ^Bert Silver, Silver Family
theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
THE HEART OF A FOLLIES GIRL: Billie Dove
— Played this on a double bill with "Horseman of
the Plains." Everybody slept peacefully until Tom
Mix hit the screen. Out of the six thousand feet of
film, two thousand feet of it is subtitles. The other
four thousand feet is pretty weak. However, I've
played worse ones at that. Six reels. — P. G. Vaughan,
Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood pat-
ronage.
HARD BOILED HAGGERTY: Milton Sills— 82%.
March 15. A little rough, maybe patterned after
"What Price Glory," in that respect. As a whole a
very good picture. — H. B. Grice. Aiken Mills theatre,
Bath, S. C. — General patronage.
THE CHASER: Harry Langdon— 29%. Not up
to Harry Langdon's u.sual standard. AVould have
been better if shorter and snapipier. Six reels. — C. E.
Mallory, Liberty theatre, Brewster, Kan. — General
patronage.
SAILORS' WIVES: Special cast— 25%. June 13.
A good clean program picture. — Bert Silver, Silver
Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
AN AFFAIR OF THE FOLLIES: Stone-Dove—
57%. March 29. An interesting enough picture, but
not the type to please our people. — H. B. Grice, Aiken
Mills theatre, Bath, S'. C. — General patronage
ALL ABOARD: Johnny Hines— 68%. March 22.
Not the best comedy in the w^orld, but is fair ente^'-
tainment. — H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath.
S. C. — General patronage.
LOST AT THE FRONT: Special cast— 40%.
60
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
Anotlier First National I took a loss on. Only a
program but to me it's a si>ecial price. — G. Carey,
Strand theatre, Paris, Ark. — General patronage.
THE TENDER HOUR: Billie Dove— 30%. June 14.
This is a very fine entertainment. Not strong enough
for a special but an extra good program picture. —
Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
THE OVERLAND STAGE: Ken Maynard— 64%.
April 5. The usual Maynaixl picture, which means it
v^as good. — ^H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath,
S. C. — General patronage.
THE UPLAND RIDER: Ken Maynard— June 8-9.
Equal to all of Ken Maynard's pictures. Tarzan
does some good work. It pleased the children and
brought good applause. Some parts were a little
too extreme to make the picture seem real. Just
an average Western. Seven reels. — E. H. Vetter,
Majestic theatre, Homer, Mich. — Small town pat-
ronage.
THE YELLOW LILY: Billie Dov(^-Another box
office offering from First National. The thing is un-
usual and thereby it is interesting but just what
makes it such a good box office bet I am unable to
say unless it is Billie. We had better than average
business with "The Gaucho" as opposition. — W. H.
Brenner, Cozy theatre, Winchester, Ind. — General
patronage.
HAROLD TEEN: Special cast— This would please
children between the ages of 2 and 5 years but for
others it's about the worst yet. Tiresome, and when
you play it watch them walk out before it's over, and
still to make it boresome they had to make it in 8
reels and 5 reels would have been plenty long. Eight
reels. — A. Mitchell, Dixie theatre. Russellville, Ky. —
General patronage.
THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS: Special cast—
This one will get you the money and please them. —
A. Mitchell, Dixie theatre, Russellville, Ky. — General
patronage.
THE PATENT LEATHER KID: Richard Barthel-
mess— May 27-28-29. Splendid. Drew well and liked
by those who saw it. Twelve reels. — M. W. Matte-
check, Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore. — General pat-
ronage.
CHINATOWN CHARLIE: Johnny Hines— This is
€asily the best one of the Hines pictures this season.
Everybody seemed to enjoy it immensely. Of course
it's hokum like all of Johnnie's pictures, but well
photographed and well produced. Six reels. — P. G.
Vaughan. Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighbor-
hood patronage.
VAMPING VENUS: Charlie Murray— If First
National doesn't quit trying to put Charlie Murray
through eight reels of funny faces, they are going
to put us all out of business, setting as I do, in on
the management of a small town house. It has not
taken me all these years to find out that Charlie
Murray is not a star. He is a wonderful character
actor as a principal but should not be forced down
our throats for seven or eight reels in the star part.
— W. H. Brenner, Cozy theatre, Winchester, Ind. —
General patronage.
PUPPETS: Milton SUIs— Very good. Eight reels.
— Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — •
General patronage.
HER WILD OAT: Colleen Moore— Colleen used to
mean extra money for us but she doesn't mean an
extra dime any more. Don't dare advance prices on
her pictures in our town any more. This is not a
bad picture by any means but we have all been feil
up with the idea we should expect something better
from Colleen. This is very light stuff and there are
lots of stars that could have put it over better than
she did in our town. Make them give you some-
thing better. Colleen, or you are not going to be
picked as the best draw another year or so. Eight
reels. — Crosby & Schwierske, Rex theatre, Colby, Wis.
— Small town patronage.
HER WILD OAT: Colleen Moore— June 9. Some
exhibitors have knocked this. I don't -see why as it
pleased our customers, like all of Colleen's pictures.
Had the biggest Saturday night crowd that we have
had for months. Would like to have a photo, please.
Colleen. Seven reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny,
theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage.
LADIES AT PLAY: Special cast— Good for adults.
Loud but no smut. Seven reels. — Julius W. Schmidt
Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage.
THE LAND BEYOND THE LAW: Ken Maynard
— This is good. Seven reels. — Julius W. Schmidt,
Grand theatre. Breese, 111. — General patronage.
THE LAND BEYOND THE LAW: Ken Maynard
— June 16. Another good Maynard. They are all good
and please. He is the most popular Western star
here and draws a good crowd. Seven reels. — Robert
K. Yancey, Bonny theatre, Mansfield. Mo. — Cfeneral
patronage.
TWINKLETOES: Colleen Moore— It's good. Eight
reek. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111.
— General patronage.
Fox
SEVENTH HEAVEN: Gaynor-Farrell^O%, June
4-5-6. Excellent production and Fox doesn't ask a
fortune for it. Made money for me in very warm
weather. The acting of Miss Gaynor and Mr. Farrell
is perfect. It is so natural and no mugging. Their
love scenes have youth and nothing suggestive. My
thanks to all concerned. Twelve reels. — S. B.
Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. —
Small town patronage.
DAREDEVIL'S REWARD: Tom Mix— 7.5%. June
23. A regular Tom Mix picture that gave 100 per
cent satisfaction to my Satui-day audience. — Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
THE JOY GIRL: Olive Borden— 50%. June 2.
Not a special, just a fair picture. Story rather weak.
Seven reels. — Minnie M. Schnoor, Paramount theatre,
Stapleton, Neb. — Small town patronage.
WOLF FANGS: Thunder— 60%. June 16. As fine
a picture as you'd wish to see. Our patrons liked
this one. Scenery good and the dog is very clever.
Six reels. — Minnie M. Schnoor, Paramount theatre,
Stapleton, Neb. — Small town patronage.
SILVER VALLEY: Tom Mix— 70%. May 9. A
good picture but five reels is too short. Five reels. —
Minnie M. Schnoor, Paramount theatre, Stapleton,
Neb. — Small town patronage.
HORSEMAN OF THE PLAINS: Tom Mix— This is
a slapstick comedy with a Western :itmosphere, and
a race in the tail end that gets them all worked up.
Chester Conklin and some big fat gal do a lot of
comedy in black face. It's pure hokum, but they
seemed to like it. Especially the "apple knockers."
Five reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City,
Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
SILK LEGS: Madge Bellamy — Snapp.v entertain-
ment but not any smut. Six reels. — Julius W.
Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General pat-
ronage.
THE CIRCUS AGE: Tom Mix— Good picture but no
Western. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese,
111. — General patronage.
GOOD AS GOLD: Buck Jones— Very good. Six
reels. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111.
— General patronage.
CHAIN LIGHTNING: Buck Jones— Buck is some
rider and some acrobat. The way he went through
a window from his horse and then licked the villain
was remarkable, even if impossible. Six reels. —
Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. —
General patronage.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
SKIRTS: Syd Chaplin — 42%. June 11. A very
punk picture. Nothing to it but a few silly titles by
Ralph Spence. Just another film wasted away. Seven
reels. — Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellin-
wood, Kan. — ^General patronage.
THE PATSY: Marion Davies— 60%. June 24-25.
This is fine entertainment. Star and cast extra good.
Lots of good clean comedy. Gave 100 per cent satis-
faction.— Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre. Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
THE PATSY: Marion Davies— One of the best
things Miss Davies ever did, in our estimation, and
for us we wish they would keep her in these kind
of parts as "Quality Street" sure seemed a dud after
seeing "The Fair Co-Ed" but this sui'e put her back
in our town. It isn't anything wonderful as a story,
but it's real entertainment. We are for you 100 per
cent, Marion, keep it up. Seven reels. — Crosby &
Schwierske, Ilex theatre, Colby, Wis. — Small town
patronage.
THE PATSY: Marion Davies— June 10-11. Just
one fine show. Well played and a scream through
the picture. Sub titles are extra good. This picture
did not draw good. Nothing in the title to suggest
what the picture is like. This picture will stand lots
of advertising. Eight reels. — E. H. Vetter, Majestic
theatre. Homer, Mich. — Small town patronage.
WEST POINT: William Haines— 65%. June 18-19.
A big revival on, my competitor closed down, but
I figured that there were enough sinners left in the
community to get by, especially with the good stuff
I have for the next two weeks. I advertised on my
one sheet boards "Revival at school gym — one of the
Ten Best Shows of the year at the Joyland. Let
your conscience be your guide !" Everyone had a
good laugh and I had a very fair crowd considering.
The picture? Just okay. However, personally, I
consider it a good ^picture gone wrong in the last
three reels. Metro had some especially good news-
reels of the Army-Navy football game and they
were like a nickel in a small toy's pocket — just had
to be used. And they wished them off on this
picture. The first of the picture intensely interesting
and every bit as funny as "Rookies" but the football
angle sidetracked thi? interest at tha last and made
the picture seem loo long. The picture is excep-
tionally good anyhow. Play it. Nine reels. — .lohfl W.
Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark. — General
patronage.
WEST POINT: William Haines— Another white
mark for Haines. He cannot be beat for these smart
aleck parts and this is built up around the West
Point Academy with a story that will appeal to all.
Class it with "Tell It to the Marines" and guarantee
your patrons a real show. It will back you up.
Nine reels. — Crosby & Schwierske, Rex theatre, Colby.
Wis. — Small town patronage.
WEST POINT: William Haines— 43%. June 10-11.
An excellent picture, no less! And anyone who
doesn't like Haines in this picture is too durned par-
ticular. The boy fits his assumed character to aa
eyelash which is the aim of good casting. Not? Our
compliments to all concerned in this picture, clear
down to the film inspectors. Nine reels. — Tiveilan
& Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O.^Small town
patronage.
IN OLD KENTUCKY: Special cast— 45%. June
5-6. A very exciting racing drama that should please
any crowd. The race in the rain was something a
little different. Play it. Seven reels. — Warren L.
Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — General
patronage.
THE DIVINE WOMAN: Greta Garbo— 23%.
June 17-18. Unable to make a full report on this
picture. We paid a good price, so doubtless it is
good, but we could not see enough of it to determine.
Stygian darkness reigned on our screen most of the
time and since few persons have cat eyes the show
was a distinct flop. Many walkouts. Second night
practically nil. We lost jack, our tempers, and our
patrons' confidence. Bah ! ! ! Eight reels. — Tivenan
& Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town
patronage.
THE DIVINE WOMAN: Greta Garbo— 20%. June
11-12-13. Well produced and acted but not a small
town picture. Failed to draw for me in ideal weather-
Eight reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk,
Man., Canada. — Small town patronage.
THE ACTRESS: Norma Shearer— May 20-21. Very
disappointed in this picture. Too long and draggy.
No acting, no drawing power. Nine reels. — Warren
L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — Gen-
eral patronage.
LAUGH, CLOWN, LAUGH: Lon Chaney— June
3-4. Chaney's acting is great but the picture failed
to pack much of a wallop. Pleased about 60 per cent.
Eight reels. — Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre.
Ellinwood, Kan. — General patronage.
BRINGING UP FATHER: Special cast— Despite
the fact that this picture doesn't register the laughs
like you would naturally expect it to after watching
it four times, really believe it's as clever a picturiza-
tion of this comic strip as could be made and the
characters are ideal for their parts. Outside of a
couple little off color scenes it's clean. — P. O.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighbor-
hood patronage.
ACROSS TO SINGAPORE: Ramon Novarro—
Pleased a good house. — R. H. Hall, Swan theatre,
Pocahontas, Ark. — General patronage.
THE FAIR CO-ED: Marion Davies— June 9. Just
fine. Pleased every single patron and that's our
ambition, is it not? — F. E. Sabin, Majestic theatre.
Eureka, Mont. — Small town patronage.
THE FAIR CO-ED: Marion Davies— June 19-20.
George Ade's tale of college life. Well done. Con-
tains plenty of comedy. Seemed to plea-se everyone.
Seven reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre.
Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage.
THE STUDENT PRINCE: Special cast— June 2-3.
Not as big as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer think it is, but
of course they spent a lot of money to make it
and also spent lots of money telling us in advance how
great it was going to be, so we all had to help pay
for that advance cost when we bought it. But, it's
a good picture and went over big with a few but for
the majority, especially the roughnecks, it was the
"blah." Acting by Novarro great as well as the
supporting cast including Norma. Have seen lots
of knocks on her in this but she looked and acted
Ho Losses in the Box Office
ICKET REGISTEI^
Automatic Ticket
Register Corp.
723 SEVENTH Ave.New York
TiGKGTS_^ Every Porpose^f Lowest Market Prices
''^Mmmmiw iiiiimi
""""""i""i""""i"i"""i"i'ii"iM"'
m
July 7. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
61
as well as she could and thought she did fine but will
admit that it was not the vehicle for her an she is
another one of those clothes horses and has to be
dressed to kill to look nice. It's a good picture
though and if you only paid about the same you
do for a poor one of Marion Davies. it will do.
Eleven reels. — Crosby & Schwiereke, Rex theatre,
Colby. Wis. — Small town patronage.
ROSE MARIE: Joan Crawford— About the best
thing we ever saw Miss Crawford do. It's a wonder-
ful story of the Canadian North with good acting
by entire cast, but we have one very strong kick to
make about it and that is the very brutal ending.
It went over big with our crowd and especially with
the ladies up until the last reel or so. Acting was
fine and the music played properly with the picture
gives it a great punch but in the last reel or so they
kill off the entire cast with the exception of the two
stars and in such a brutal way it left bad taste with'
a great many. Seven reels.- — Crosby & Schwierske,
Rex theatre, Colby, Wis. — Small town patronage.
CIRCUS ROOKIES: Dane-Arthur— June 9-10.
Another bang-up good comedy from this pair. Went
over good for us and although majority said not as
good as "Rookies" it is our opinion that if this had
been first from this pair, it would have registered
just as big as "Rookies" but the public has been
fed up with this brand of comedy ever since
"Rookies" knocked 'em dead, that there isn't the
wallop iu this kind any more. Don't be afraid of
this one though, it's good. Seven reels. — Crosby &
Schwierske, Rex theatre, Colby, Wis. — Small town
patronage.
SUDE, KELLY, SLIDE: William Haines— June
17-18. Good baseball picture for this time of the year.
Metro sureinell makes their pictures long enough. If
they added on a few more reels on mo.st of their
stuff we would have to have them shipped in freight.
Nine reels. — iWm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neills-
ville. Wis. — Small town' patronage.
THE RED MILL: Marion Davies— 30%. Lost
money for me. Not what my patrons want to see
this one-time good star in. Second night a total
flop. Metro asking too much money. — G. Carey,
Strand theatre, Paris, Ark. — General patronage.
BEN HUR: Special ca.st — It is a wonderful picture.
Thirteen reels. — Julius W. Schmidt. Grand theatre,
Breese, Ell. — General patronage.
QUALITY STREET: Marion Davies— May 22-23.
A very good program picture that drew an average
crowd. Will please everyone but Western fans.
Seven reels. — Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre,
Ellinwood, Kan. — General patronage.
BUTTONS: Jackie Coogan— June 17-18. The com-
edy part of this picture is good. The star is not
doing impossible things for a boy. Not any mushy
love scenes. Just a real good picture. Had many
comments on this by our patrons. Failed to get the
business. Seven reels. — E. H. Vetter, Majestic thea-
tre, Homer, Mich. — Small town patronage.
ANNIE LAURIE: Lillian Gish— Lillian was excel-
lent but the battle of the clans was too much. Too
much bunk and too much in length, all the rest was
great. Audience got a great kick out of the battle
scene because it actually became a comedy. Well,
anyway, Lillian and Norman Kerry were worth the
money. Nine reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre.
Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage.
SPRING FEVER: William Haines— Here was a
good comedy but where do they get such a name? Cer-
tainly the action was too fast for any "spring fever"
stuff, while we have very few golf fans here the
crowd seemed to enjoy this very much. Laugh after
laugh followed in an avalanche of mirth produced
by the odd situations that developed right along.
There was one scene that made .some of the more
easily shocked people hold their breath but as the
scene turned out to be clean and wholesome it but
shows that people are looking for the suggestive
side of a situation the minute it begins to develop on
the screen. In this instance, it was a bedroom scene
that looked pretty suggestive for a couple of minutes
but which righted itself in a good comedy situation.
We saw this picture knocked in many managers'
reports which cost us several dollars, because we did
not boost it as we would have, had we not accepted
the reports in "What the Picture Did for Me."
Seven reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tomb-
stone, Ariz. — General patronage.
BODY AND SOUL: Special cast— Too many other
good programs to fool with this. Pass it up. — ^G.
Carey, Strand theatre, Paris, Ark. — General patronage.
Paramount
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— 65%. June 11-12-13.
Lloyd's best to date, I believe. A good clean comedy
that old and young will like. Seven reels. — Warren
L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. —
General patronage.
SUNSET LEGION: Fred Thompson— 20%. June
7-8-9. This is an excellent Western. The first
Thomson I have run and it will not be the la.st.
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
First Row: Bass, pickerel, wall-eyed pike, crappies, dog fish and
trout. The other fish are Tragsdorf, Carlson, J. C. Jenkins, Rabbi
O'Hara and Gailey.
DEAR HERALD- WORLD:
CONVENTION HEADQUARTERS,
ALEXANDRIA, MINN., June 28, 1928.
The convention is on. The Great Unwashed have assembled, the wheels of industry have
ceased to turn, Alexandria is decked out like a Fourth of July celebration and Crocket
Brown arrived yesterday with the Minnesota colors flying at the masthead. It looks like a
great event. But speaking of Crocket, he was interviewed on arrival by many as to why he
failed to bring his Bullfoundland pup and he said he left him at home to guard his wife
and six children from the film hounds. Only Crocket isn't married.
The whole town was thrown into a quiver of excitement when Trag of Neillsville, Wis.,
drove up in front of the State theatre and honked his horn. We don't know whether it was
Trag that caused the excitement or the little lady that sat beside him and who is known on
the marriage records as Mrs. Trag. Boys, you have no doubt all seen Billy Dove. Well,
"You hain't seen nuthin' yet." Just you wait.
Trap jumped out of his Rolls-Royce and waving a punctured inner tube shouted, "The
old guard dies, it never surrenders," thereupon the gang shouted, "Hurrah for Trag."
Then he inquired for the nearest bass lake.
We have got to hand it to the Bullhead Fisher from Wayne, Neb., he hasn't caught a
bullhead yet but has landed some prize bass and pike and has theatened this scrivener
with prosecution for defamation of character unless we tell the truth ( a thing he says
is foreign to our nature), and coming as he does from our home state we are willing to
give him the benefit of the doubt although we have made inquiry as to the whereabouts
of that kid with a willow pole that he found somewhere around the lake.
P. G. Estee of Parker is here with that smile that has made South Dakota the envy
of all nationalities where film hounds and press agents are not known. P. G. doesn't
play golf nor fish but says he will challenge any exhibitor on earth to a game of ping
pong or croquet. He just circulates around among the boys and spreads good cheer
wherever he goes. He insists that South Dakota is still a part of the Union in spite of her
going Republican.
Micky Larson and Nels Benson are here from Oakland, Neb., and when we say "are
here" we don't stutter. They are here and everybody knows they are here. You will
remember that these are the two boys whoi are the "Piano movers." Nels said to us last
night, "Aye tank. Mister Yenkins, that Yake Valstead yust raised hale, when he upset our
constitution mil a lot of monkeydoodle business, and Yake was a Dutchman too. Aye
never did like dos Dutch anyhow." Then he said something in Swede that went over our
head. Gailey went over and shook his hand and said, "Thanks, Nels, you have expressed
my sentiments exactly."
Frank O'Hara has become proficient in three languages and is now taking lessons in Swede
from Nels and Micky. Whenever he makes a cast and gets a back-lash he starts out in
English, then switches to Gaelic and winds up with Yiddish and we presume the next thing
it will be Swede. If Frank could talk as loud as he can snore every religious denomination
in town would call a special session and wire for Billy Sunday. Just because he caught more
bass yesterday than we did he threatens to send the HERALD-WORLD a full account of it,
but we want to warn the readers in advance not to believe a word he says.
H. J. Longaker of the State theatre, has had the nightmare every night for two weeks and
his wife says that one more convention would put him in the bughouse. He has certainly had
a job on his hands trying to arrange matters for the comfort and enjoyment of the exhibi-
tors and every exhibitor on the ground will testify that he has made a huge success and
will vote him the host royal.
The Chamber of Commerce has arranged for a big fish fry dinner for Friday evening
and this will be the "get-to-gether" meeting of the convention at which time it may be
planned to make this an annual event and an association may be formed and commitees
named to outline plans to make it a success. The people of Alexandria, and especially the
Chamber of Commerce, have done everything possible for the enjoyment of their guests and
everyone present is highly pleased with their reception.
Mr. Brummond of Thief River Falls, Minn., was here for one day but was called to Min-
neapolis on business but promised to return in time for the big fish feed on Friday.
Bill Bowker of Tekamah, Neb., ought to be ashamed of himself. He has located his
tepee on a lake about five miles out and we can't drag him away with a freight engine. He
(Continued on next page)
62
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
(Continued from preceding page)
hasn't showed up at the HERALD-WORLD headquarters yet. Clif Carlson of Elgin, Neb.,
is here chaperoning Elmer Gailey and we are glad of it. He needs someone to look after
him. Elmer is the hig noise of the Northwoods and Clif makes him close his cutout when-
ever people want to sleep.
Mrs. Marjorie Bradley, Miss Geraldine Scofield and Miss May Godkin of Neligh, Neb., are
the kitchen mechanics at the 0"Hara-Jenkins cabin which has been designated HERALD-
WORLD headquarters for all exhibitors, and they say they would rather fry fish for exhibi-
tors than dance with Richard Dix or Buddy Rogers (yes they would), but they all say,
'"Bring on Dick and Buddy."
There is a general feeling of disappointment that Bill Weaver and Eagle Eye Joe have
failed to attend the convention. They were expecting both of them to attend, and we hear
many expressions of disappointment when they learned that they would not be here. The
same is true of "Fishy" Phil Rand of Salmon, Idaho. The boys were all in hopes he could
be present and all express regrets that his health has prevented and are anxious for news that
he is on the road to recover^'. They were all expecting Phil to be the life of the party,
which we can assure them he would have have been.
We are just in receipt of the following telegram:
CHICAGO. ILLINOIS, June 26.
J. C. Jenkins. State theatre, Alexandria, Minnesota.
Martin J. Quigley ivired me from New York today asking me to convey his best wishes'
to the theatre oivners a.'isembled at Alexandria. Minn., for the most unique and undoubtedly
the most enjoyable gathering in the history of the motion picture industry. Mr. Quigley re-
grets that his being in New York nuikes it impossible for him to be present with you. It
was his hope to luive been able to so plan his time that he could be there to personally thank
his manv friends who bv their contributions to '^JFhat the Picture Did for Me" and other
departments of EXHIBITORS HERALD have made it possible for the HERALD to absorb
the MOVING PICTURE WORLD and for the HERALDWORLD to become the one great
outstanding paper in the field. For myself, if you think it is fun to be chained down to a
desk here in Chicago while you fellows are golfing, fishing and gassing up there in Alexandria
you are mistaken. Permit me to add my best wishes and those of every one in the Chicago,
New York and Los Angeles office of the HERALD-WORLD. Sincerely.
EDWIN CLIFFORD, General Manager.
How's that, boys? Guess that's stepping right up front and handing us the glad hand, isn't
it? Its just as we have told you all along that the HERALD-WORLD is for you and anxious
for your success and is lending every aid possible. You can always depend upon us to tell
you the truth unless it is about fishing. Then here are two telegrams, read them and rejoice:
LOS ANGELES. CAL., June 27.
J. C. Jenkins, Care H. J. Longaker. Exhibitors Convention, Alexandria, Minn.
Accept my best wishes for a successful convention. Regret very much that production has
prevented my personal attendance at your convention but expect you to answer for me by
proxy. If YOU fail Fishy Phil Rand will make a good substitute.
JACQUELINE LOGAN.
LOS ANGELES. CAL., June 28.
J. C. Jenkins. Care Henry Longaker, Alexander, Minn.
Best wishes and congratulations to you all for a happy session. Regret that production
plans prevent our attendance.
MARIE PREVOST.
Thanks, Miss Logan and Miss Prevost, for your expressions of good will. We won't need
a substitute, we will answer for you in person. Your messages so far are the only ones
from Hollywood showing any interest whatever in the exhibitors, and we can assure you
that they are most highly appreciated.
We have read these messages to a great many of the boys and they are highly pleased that
you remember them. One exhibitor remarked. "Well, b'gosh, I'm for those two gals and
the rest of 'em can go jump in the lake." We don't feel that way about it ourself but we
do feel that the exhibitors are entitled to some little recognition from those who have been
dependent in no small degree for whatever success they have attained. We may hear from
other stars but up to this writing they are as silent as a clam, which silence is no doubt a
correct indication of their feelings.
When Will Whitmore of the HERALD-WORLD and BETTER THEATRES staff stepped
off the train in Alexandria Tuesday there was a general stampede for the beauty parlors
and rouge and lipstick counters. Never has Alexandria done such a rushing business in
cosmetics. The feminine hearts throughout this territory have been set in such a flutter
that even black bass are getting chunnny with walleyed pike and bullheads cast a scornful
look on Galley's hook and will not consider anything that does not bear a Chicago trade-
mark.
We overheard a bunch of Alexandria's fair damsels talking in the lobby of the State
theatre last evening and one of them inquired, "Who is that handsome young man over
there by the door?" and another replied, "Oh, don't you know him, I met him yesterday,
that is Mr. Whitmore from Chicago, he is the editor of the Chicago Tribune, he's coming
out to our house for dinner tomorrow evening, come over and I'll present you." They all
went over.
We had Whit out fishing yesterday and he got hooked onto a dog fish as long as a sled
tongue. He wrestled with him for about 10 minutes and finally dragged him around to our
end of the boat for us to take him and just as we lifted him up he gave a flop and broke
the line and got away. We looked around and Whit had fainted and we had to splash water
on him to bring him to, but be became somewhat reconciled when we told him he could
no more eat a dogfish than he could an alligator.
In conclusion, while the attendance is not as large as we hoped for, yet the convention is a
grand success and it is just too bad for those fellows who stayed at home and have to be
shown. They have our sympathy. They have missed a grand opportunity to have a royal
time.
J. C. JENKINS,
The HERALD-WORLD Man.
He acts, I said, ads, something that no other
Western etar today is doing. They all have their
trick horeee and funny heavies but Thomson holdrt
the spectators' eyes on himself through hin clever acl>
jng. Seven reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre,
Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town patronage.
UNDERWORLD: Special cast— 3.5%. June 13.
Dreadfully real, unsatisfactory ae a special and Para-
mount afikfi too much for it. "The City Gone Wild"
a better show at half the price. Eight reels. — O. A.
Foese, Community theatre, Ridgeway, la. — Small town
patronage.
DOOMSDAY: Florence Vidor— 25%. Jane 22. A
very good program jiicture. Good story, star and ca.-i:
fine. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
FEEL MY PULSE: Bebe Daniels— 2.5%. June
14-15-16. Excellent program picture. Bebe pleases
when most of the so-called big stars fall down. This
one sure drew the laughs and it has plenty of action.
Six reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk,
Man.. Canada. — Small town patronage.
KNOCKOUT RILEY: Richard Di.x— 55%. A good
program for us. Now Paramount needn't think this
means a raise in prices. — G. Carey, Strand theatre,
Paris, Ark. — General patronage.
OLD IRONSIDES: Special cast —A wonderful
picture that was a flop at the box office. Beery,
Ralston and Parrell should draw them but they didn't
Twelve reels. — ^Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre^,
Ellinwood. Kan. — General patronage.
OLD IRONSIDES: Special cast — Patriotic pictu.c
that did not draw and which only pleased in part.
Eight reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tomb-
stone. Ariz. — General patronage.
THE FIFTY-FIFTY GIRL: Bebe Daniels— May
27-28. An excellent comedy melodrama with Bebe
and James Hall at their best. Play it. Seven reels.
— (Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre. Ellinwood,
Kan. — General patronage.
JESSE JAMES: Fred Thomson— May 25-26. A
very good Western picture that was sold a*s a special.
Drew fairly well and pleased generally. Seven reels.
— Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood.
Kan. — General patronage.
RED HAIR : Clara Bow — Here is a comedy diama
that went over big. Everybody laughed and every-
body pleased with the plot, cast, photography and
the charming Clara. Seven reels. — Giacoma Bros.,
Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General pat-
ronage.
TWO FLAMING YOUTHS: Fields-Conklin- June
20-21. This is a u'ood comedy from this pair. It
certainly did please and does not have a slow or
draggy place in it. I believe this pair are better than
Beery and Hatton. Not much of a story but plenty
of laughs and action. Six reels. — Paul B. Hoffman,
L/fgion theatre, Holyiood, Kan. — Small town pat-
ronage.
SHANGHAI BOUND: Richard Dix— 100 per cent
good, and they will like it. — ^Russell C. Dey, Reed-
ville theatre, Reedville, Va. — General patronage.
BEAU SABREUR: Gary Cooper— June 11-12.
Good picture. Some said it wasn't as good as "Beau
Ge.ste" and some liked it better. Had rain again and
just made expenses. Seven reels. — Robert K.
Yancey. Bonny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General
patrona5?e.
WE'RE ALL GAMBLERS: Thomas Meighan— June
19. This is a good picture and Tommy is ixipular
with a few but we just made expenseu^. Never do
make anything on Tuesday night. — Robert K.
Yancey, Bonny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General pat-
ronage.
WILD HORSE MESA: Jack Holt— Very good.
Seven reels. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre,
Breese. 111. — General patronage.
SERVICE FOR LADIES: Adolphe Menjou— The
best we have had with this star. Good drawing
power, all liked it. — Russell C. Dey, Reedville theatre,
Reedville, Va. — General patronage.
THE SONG AND DANCE MAN: Special east-
Good. Si-x reels. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre,
Breese, 111. — General patronage.
Pathe-P D C
CHICAGO: Phyllis Haver— 50%. June 16-17-18.
Well, all I can say about this picture is the salesman
sold it to me V>etter than I sold it to the public. He
said it was Pathe's best picture this year. If so, I'd
hate to play the rest. I only bought one — the best
— but lay ofl: it in a small town. The story is too
true for the small town critic. Nine reels. — D. G.
Copeling, Temple theatre, Ubly, Mich. — General pat-
ronage.
CHICAGO: Phyllis Haver— May 24-25. This is a
good underworld picture if it could be called that,
but did not pull for me. Eight reels. — H. W. Batch-
elder, Gait theatre. Gait, Cal. — Small town patronage.
CHICAGO: Phyllis Haver — As I see it, this pic-
July 7. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
63
ture could be improved at lea^t twenty-five per c'ent,
by eliminating a couple of sceneK. Which are so
ridiculous and untrue to life that they are silly.
Namely, the jail scene, where they are dressed like
uueens and u.-inpr hip reducini; machines, etc, the
other where two pun Rosie kills her man and Roxie
it- on top of the table with the gang around her
after the acciuittal, as it now stands it is not the
knockout rpetial they try to make you believe it is.
Eight reelt. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas
City. Mo. — Neighborhood patronase.
GETTING GERTIE'S GARTER: Marie Prevost—
23%. June 15-16. Marie has been with us often of
late, but somehow we don't seem to get fed up with
her. This one was a good little gloom chaser. And
friend Ray, while hardly out for a lawyer, suited us
much better in this picture than in "Nobody's
Widow." Our compliments to the rest of the cast,
also. Physical condition not so good. Lousy with
splices and some were bad. Print off center in one
reel. Othei-wise good shape. Seven reels. — Tivenan
& Wolfe, Scieenland theatre. Nevada, O. — Small town
patronage.
DRESS PARADE: William Boyd— May 30-31. Very
fine picture and drew well. Scenes of West Point
splendid. — M. W. Mattecheck. Lark theatre. McMinn-
ville. Ore. — General patronage.
KING OF THE SADDLE: Special cast— Cody is
suiuKjsed to be the star of this picture, but for me
Joan Meredith was, for I had a personal appearance
of the little "Wampus Baby Star" and boy, how she
did draw. Just like mustard plaster. Picture please<i
and is very muchly Western. I understand this little
star is making a personal appearance in the smaller
towTis under her own management. If any ex-
hibitors need a summer stimulant better try and get
her for the appearance. — R. H. Hall. Swan theatre.
Walnut Ridge, Ark. — General patronage.
SKEDADDLE GOLD: Wally Wales— June IG.
Nice little Western for Saturday night. Five reels. —
Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. —
Small town patronage.
Tiffany
STREETS OF SHANGHAI: Special cast — A very
good picture that pleased a full house. Played this
with Tiffany Classic technicolor "Marchetta" and per-
sonal appearance of Joan Meredith. Miss Meredith
hai5 a very pleasing appearance and sure can talk.
If the talkies are a success I imagine that's where
she will land. — R. H. Hall, Swan theatre, Pocahontas,
Ark. — General patronage.
LOST AT SEA: Si>ecial cast— Here was a knock-
out. That is the audience was knocked out and
never came to life again, and went home wondering
w^hy this melodrama was so mellow. Most people
said it was past the mellow stage, that it was rotten.
Seven reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tomb-
stone, Ariz. — General patronage.
United Artists
RAMONA: Dolores Del Rio— 100%. June 2-3.
Wonderful. Made more money than any iiicture I
ever played except Tunney-Demiwey fight pictures.
Played it with Detroit and mopped up. Nine reels.
— D. G. Copeling, Temple theatre, Ubiy, Mich. — Gen-
eral patronage.
MY BEST GIRL: Mary Pickford— 56%. A very
good story. Everyone well plea-sed, in fact, drew
many repeaters at second showing. Mary Pickford
is well supr>oi-ted and good cast. Charles Rogers
deserves nearly as much credit as the star. Eight
reels. — ^C. E. Mallory, Liberty theatre, Brewster, Kan.
— Genera! patronage.
MY BEST GIRL: Mary Pickford— 50%. May 19.
Many favorable comments but not much power at the
box office. Not worth, the money I paid. Nine reels.
— D. G. Copeling, Temple theatre, Ubly, Mich. — ^Gen-
eral patronage.
TOPSY AND EVA: Duncan SLsters— 47%. Comedy
with a touch of sadness. Topsy always relieves the
tension. Only complaints were that a white person
cannot take a negro's part and carry it off well. Ten
reels. — C. E. Mallory, Liberty theatre, Brewster, Kan.
— General patronage.
THE GAUCHO: Dougla.s Fairbanks— June 3-4-5.
Very good picture but not as good at the box office.
Price asked entirely too high. Ten reels. — M. W.
Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore. — General
patronage.
Universal
become a drawing card in time if they keep her in
pictures like the last two or three. Six reels. — P. G.
Vaughn, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighbor-
hood patronage.
13 WASINGTON SQUARE: Special cast— 30%.
June 21. An extra good program picture. — Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
A HERO ON HORSEBACK: Hoot Gibson— 24%.
June 13-14. Nice little picture. These Hoot Gibsons
are the "happy medium" in We.sterns. They are
drawing patronage for us. Paper very good on this
one, too. We get good service from Universal, except
on advertising. Six reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screen-
land theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
ON YOUR TOES: Reginald Denny— June 9-10.
This is a very good Denny picture with boxing that
is fair. Six reels. — H. W. Batchelder, Gait theatre.
Gait, Cal. — Small town patronage.
THE CHINES PARROT: Special cast— June 16-17.
Very good mystery picture. A little draggy in spot«.
Those that came liked it. Seven reels. — ^H. W. Batch-
elder, Gait theatre. Gait, Cal. — Small town patronage.
GRINNING GUNS: Jack Hoxi(^Good Western.
Six reels. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese,
111. — General patronage.
THE LONE EAGLE: Special cast— June 16. Most
of the folks liked it. I can't say. I was impressed
with Raymond Keane's work. The "Royal Flying
Coriw" stole the picture. I'd like to see him more
often. Six reels. — F. E. Sabin, Majestic theatre.
Eureka, Mont. — Small town patronage.
MEN OF DARING: Special cast— June 2-3. A
good Western with lots of action. Six reels. — H. W.
Batchelder. Gait theatre. Gait, Cal. — ^Small town pat-
ronage.
PERCH OF THE DEVIL: Special cast— Not much
to this one. Six reels. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand
theatre, Breese, III. — General iiatronage.
PRISONERS OF THE STORM: House Peters—
Not much to this one. Your patrons will forgec
aboMt it ten minutes later. Six reels. — Julius W.
Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General pat-
ronage.
Warner Bros.
FINDERS KEEPERS: Laura LaPlant^30%,
June 15. An extra good program picture. Story
funny, star and cast good. Pleased thera all. — Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
FINDERS KEEPERS: Laura La Plante— A very,
very entertaining picture of the training camps, with
Laura ju.'it a little bit cuter than ever. She may
DOG OF THE REGIMENT: Rin Tin Tin— S5%.
May 26. Fairly good but just a dog picture. Same
old .stuff. Six reels. — D. G. Copeling, Temple theatre,
Ubly, Mich. — General patronage.
DOG OF THE REGIMENT: Rin Tin Tin— 50%.
June 17-18. One of the best dog luctures we have
played. The dog great and he had splendid support
in this picture. Gave satisfaction to all. — Bert Silver,
Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General
pj'tronage.
A RACE FOR LIFE: Rin Tin Tin— 51%. June
8-9. Below the average for the dog. Warners should
put a few real players with Rinty, not a bunch of
dubs who don't know what it's all about. Five reels.
— ^Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, EUinwood,
Kan. — General patronage.
THE BRUTE: Monte Bluf^58%. June 16. Not
an outstanding picture. It pleased the majority pos-
sibly, but it is just an ordinai-y program picture.
Seven reels. — Paul B. Hoffman, Legion theatre. Holy-
rood, K.an. — Small town patronage.
THE BETTER 'OLE: Syd Chaplin— 45%. Excellent
comedy which goes across. Fairly good box office
attraction. Nine reels. — C. E. Mallory, Liberty thea-
tre, Brewster, Kan. — General patronage.
THE BUSH LEAGUER: Monte Blue— A fair pro-
gram picture. Interest drags terribly in fourth and
fifth reels. Seven reels. — Warren L. Weber, Ellin-
wood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — General patronage.
AFTER SIX DAYS: Special cast— May 20.— Noth-
ing but a newsreel nearly 2,000 years old. Poor
enough to make a preacher swear. Leave it alone.
— M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore.
— General patronage.
THE THIRD DEGREE: Dolores Costello — June 16.
Had them substitute this instead of "Ginsberg the
Great." It proved to be a good switch, nice crook
play. — F. E. Sabin, Majestic theatre. Eureka, Mont.—
Small town patronage.
State Rights
BATTLING BURKE: Al Hoxie— 60%. June 15.
Under average for a Western. Not enough rough
stuff in it for my crowd. The plot is so old from
usage that your crowd can shut their eyes and tell
you what's next. Five reels. — John W. Crabtree, Joy-
land theatre, Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
GALLOPING LOVER: Tex Lyons— 80%. June 16.
Supposed to be a Western but you'll have to take it
and name it — I can't. Came in four and one-half
reels, the half reel would have been plenty. The
whole mess could have been boiled down to half a
reel and shown as an "Oddity" (apologies to MGM).
Absolutely the most absurd senseless plot that could
be conceived and is an insult to the intelligence of
your audience and a disgrace to the actors that have
1u> play in such. In other words, it's strictly N. G.
— John W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning, Aik.
— General patronage.
WESTWARD WHOA: A really good comedy.
Went over extra good. In fact, it saved a program
from being an absolute zero for entertainment. —
John W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark. —
fieneral patronage.
Short Subjects
COLUMBIA
FAT AND CANARY: A funny kid comedy. Two
reels. — ^Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
EDUCATIONAL
MAIDEN VOYAGE: A very funny comedy. Two
reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
NAUGHTY BOY: A fine comedy. Keeps the r>eople
laughing most of the time. Two reels. — E. H. Vetter,
Majestic theatre. Homer, Mich. — Small town pat-
ronage.
OFF BALANCE, COUNT ME OUT: Cameo com-
edies— Both darn good laugh provokers. One reel
each. — P. G. Vaughn, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo.
— Neighborhood patronage.
SHE'S A BOY: Big Boy— This is a real comedy.
Two reels. — ^Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
SHE'S A BOY: Big Boy— See no reason for the
title, but nevertheless it's a very funny, exciting
comedy. Big Boy is growing up and beginning to
do a little real acting. Kids will like this one.
Two reels. — P. G. Vaughn, Sun theatre, Kansas City,
Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
SWORDS POINTS: Extra fine comedy. Two reels.
— Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
ZOOLOGIC: Felix— Just a cartoon. One reel.—
S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Can-
ada.— Small town patronage.
FBO
THE PERMANENT RAVE: Nothing to brag
about. Seen lots of others I liked a lot better. Two
reels. — E. H. Vetter, Majestic theatre. Homer, Mich.
— Small town patronage.
THE WISECARCKERS: Cooke-Guard— The second
chapter of this series and it is good. I believe these
boys make the best two reelers on the market. We
find they draw for us. Plenty of good comedy.
Two reels. — Paul B. Hoffman, Legion theatre. Holy-
rood, Kan. — ^Small town patronage.
FOX
KISS DOCTOR: Just a wrinkle. Two reels.—
Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
FIGHT OF THE CENTURY: Laurel-Hardy— This
is about the best fx'om this pair that we have had.
We ran it with "West Point" and it made us about
the best show we have had this year. This pair are
really good and although they pull the old pie throw-
ing gag in this, the situations and story built up
around it put it over big. It got more than the
average laughs from our gang. Two reels. — Crosby
& Schwierske, Rex theatre, Colby, Wis. — ^Small town'
patronage.
FIGHT PEST: Charlie Cha.se^— Another excellent
Chase comedy. Charlie sure has them howling when
he takes on the champ. Two reels. — S. B. Kennedy,
Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
PRIMITIVE HOUSEKEEPING: Oddity— Fair to
middling. Instructive — but a bit slow. Good pho-
tography. One reel. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland
theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
RAINY DAYS: Our Gang— .A.nother knockout for
Our Gang. This is as good as they ever made. We
have found these 1927-28 Our Gangs about the best
they have ever made and we have run most of them
the last few years. Two reels. — Crosby & Schwierske,
Rex theatre, Colby, Wis. — ^Small town patronage.
SANCTUARY: Oddity— Bird life in the North Sea.
Educational but not interesting. One reel. — Tivenan
& Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada O. — Small town
patronage.
STING OF STINGS: Something different in the
comedy line. Fine for ehildi'en. Both young and
old liked it. Two reels. — E. H. Vetter, Majestic
theatre. Homer, Mich. — Small town patronage.
US : Charlie Chase — Bah Jove ! A good Chase
comedy ! WTiat's gonna happen ? ? ? Chase's work is
usually a bit too rare for the average yokel but they
64
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
AAA
m
_D CLO sr
DON'T BE VICTIMIZED
"GLORIOUS BETSY," that comes to the GRANADA to-
morrow and "THE LION AND THE MOUSE" are the
ONLY fall length motion fnctures playing in CMcago in
which the characters in the story SPEAK their pUfts.
We gave our p&trons perfected taJtoag pictures two y««rs
ago, and tke entire North and Wes t Sides are aware of it. That com-
petitors sre dcspcfstely fotlomn^ oar lead ta a fact 8o well recosnizcd that it
needs no fcerther fttetma. Tbc poblic b am iops reaK»ad that Mark* Broa.* eqter-
taimnent has become the staodard that othars are fractica&y tryinc to bmtate.
The wii<^ scurry tp infitall an y %iad of talking iMcturea does
not alter the fact that the weB plan aad, expensive and aeotutically per-
fect equipment of the GRANADA asd MARBRO are unique is dtetr pcrfeeSoa.
When these theatres were bcnlt, they w ere ptonoed for frriilfigig lactqres. Older
types of aodiioriums cansot rtepreduce VrfAPHONE and MOVIETONE mc-
cessf idy. That is why they were ahan dooed after a abort triaL
Anrd <(■ hcc<t« nanti l«r Imp pstUrtg tpsss sad Irantpsrlslhii d!f*nttl«s by ntmiH ftw nf*-
dsd^sfl Is ynr own oqigtoflrlwsd.
''610RI0US BETSY*"
The VITAPHONE triumph in tehich Conrad Nagel and Doloret Cot-
teRo REALLY TALK comes to I he GRANADA tomorrow.
ra*«»?™»«*%,
;4
1 ^
GQANADA MAQBRO
I SHBHIDAN at- DEVON | MADISON at: CHAWFOR^^ I
.^iMEROFFSl
ERROL
TODAY 9:30 A. M.
McVickers Screen Introduces to the
World the First Perfected
VH^
\4
^
•f
^ ^^g^^^_ L.A3 I U^\^f\lJt,. ^^
VilUam Fox Bup^r-protjaetion, with
J <ET GAYNOR CHARLES FARRELL
he gnat stars of "Seventh Hca-rn"
*» thiM Neapolitan love lytic. It
U move every mcther*s son and
aaughter to love, to laugh and to
sorrow^-
Jso^
WOaSJp'S CHAMPSON
MARATHON DANCERS
First TrtKe monm A uo I] scum rbirt««t
Duore Oi»«Ti 1 :30 F. M.
'SALLY of Tm\
iVITAPHONE^MOVIETOiyf
Sntcrt I Sm and Hmt
nd I BoQW VoalBafio*
^*" I «Bd Otkcn
IN PER.SON
hi CSARLES KALEY'S There It Goes'
DOOBS OPEN 1:80 P. M.
-SALLY OF THt SCANDALS"
VITAPHONE & MOVIETONE
"f?^° WMUi.U HoovCT NqtoiojuJo,
TOMORROW
I
fir
\ world the Mrst fertected ^ i- T
MOVIETONE and VITAPHONE '%
TODAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU WILL
HEAR VOICES SPEAKING, CLEARLY— DIS-
TINCTLY — You will hear music, beautiful, mellow,
as though sung or played by real, talented humans,
right before your eyes.
You Will Be Amazed! You Will Be Startled!
Every Feature of McVickers Screen Will Sing or
Speak with a Quality of Tone Never Before
Obtained Anywhere
i NEW ERA IN MOTION PICTURE ENTER-
>(MENT BEGINS WITH THE MOST OUT-
VDING SCREEN ACHIEVEMENT IN THE
LAST DECADE
An Antil.lis Trirlt Starred Bull
fMARLOTTE LANSING
IN PPRSON
JAOC OSTERMAN
W PBBSON
CBAmON HASATUON DANCQtS
sine Prte* Xnnam ot CoUaeon Cvntot
IN PERSON
Sow.— -MAME THE WOMAW
WWi ASrrA STEWART
vrrAPHOWE * MoviETora:
These advertisemenls appeared simultaneously in the Chicago
newspapers Friday. Above is the one announcing the debut
of Movietone and Vitaphone at Balaban & Katz's McVickers
theatre. The other advertisement is of Movietone and Vita-
phone at Marks Brothers' Granada and Marbro theatres. The
Marks ad calls attention to the fact that "Glorious Betsy" and
"The Lion and the Mouse" are the only Chicago features in
which the characters in the story speak their parts.
did laugh at this one. Hope you do it some more,
Charlie. Two reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Sereenland
theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
WHAT EVERY ICEMAN KNOWS: This one is a
bearcat. The people were laughing all the time.
No evil suggestions. They are talking about killing
the dog and the old man thinks they mean him. Play
it. Two reels. — E. H. Vetter, Majestic theatre. Homer
Mich. — Small town patronage.
PARAMOUNT
HORSE SHY: Edward Horton— This very funny.
Two reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
OCEAN BLUES: A very good comedy. Two reels.
—Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
SCARED PINK: Good comedy. Two reels.— Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — Gen-
patronage.
PATHE
THE COW'S KIMONO: Glenn Tryon— Not so
funny, Tryon makes better stuff. Two reels. — F. E.
Sabin, Majestic theatre, Eureka, Mont. — Small town
patronage.
THE HONORABLE MR. BUGGS: Not so bad.
Better than the title would indicate. Two reels. —
P. G. Vaughn, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neigh-
borhood patronage.
PATHE NEWS: Gee, we're getting lucky! We
drew a good newereel from Pathe at the same time
we had a good feature. Good items- good photog-
raphy— plenty of light. Three cheers! One reel. —
Tivenan & Wolfe, Sereenland theatre, Nevada, O.—
Small town patronage.
SHOULD SECOND HUSBANDS COME FIRST:
Max Davidson — This is an extra funny comedy. Two
reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
SMILE WINS: Our Gang— Not a good Gang.
There is too much pathos and the comedy is too
scattered and not enough of it. Two reek. — S. B.
Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. —
Small town patronage.
WHISPERING WHISKERS: Silly but quite funny
in spots. Two reels. — F. E. Sabin, Majestic theatre,
Euieka, Mont. — Small town patronage.
TIFFANY
MARCHETTA: Tiffany one reel color classic star-
ring Joan Meredith. A beautiful picture played in
connection with Miss Meredith's appearance. — R. H.
Hall, Swan theatre. Walnut Ridge, Ark. — General
patronage.
UNIVERSAL
HUNGARY HOBOES: Oswald the Rabbit- The
Oswald Cartoons are even funnier than "Aesops
Fables." Try some' of them. One reel. — P. G.
Vaughn, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighbor-
hood patronage.
ONE MAN SHOW: Neely Edwards— Very ordinary
single reel. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk,
Man., Canada. — Small town patronage.
RUSHING BUSINESS: A good funny comedy.
Two reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
A TOTAL LOSS: Gumps — No sir, this one was
not a total loss ! It was a very pleasant surprise for
a Gump picture, for it got across and drew many
a laugh from our audience. Okay as a comedy, but
too dark. Two reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Sereenland
theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
MISCELLANEOUS
AT IT AGAIN: Oh— zero— nothin' ! Whew! The
last few feet that says "The End" is the only good
thing about it. Two reels. — John W. Crabtree, Joy-
land theatre. Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
Educational Changes
Title of Air Thrillers
(Special to the Herald-Wor]d)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Educational's
new series of six two-reel aviation thrill sub-
jects, which had been tentatively titled as
"Russ Farrell Sky Rider" pictures, will be
known as the "Russ Farrell Aviator" group.
Russ Farrell, principal character, will be
played by Reed Howes. Thomson Burtis, the
author, is now on the West Coast preparing
the scenarios.
45,000 Attend Olympic
Trials in Los Angeles
(Special to the Hcrald-lVorld)
LOS ANGELES, July 3.— More than 45,-
000 attended the Olympic try-outs here last
week. The trials were in charge of a com-
mittee headed by Harold B. Franklin, presi-
dent of West Coast Theatres, Inc. Because
of Franklin's absence, Jeff Lazarus, who
headed the exploitation committee, acted as
vice-chairman.
Directs State Art Activities
SAN FRANCISCO. — Samuel James Hume, former
director of the Greek theatre. University of Cali-
fornia, has been appointed director of avocational
activities of California, with authority over drama,
music and art as educational influences.
Fire Damages Theatre
(Special to the Herald-World)
WINNIPEG, July 3.— Fire which broke
out in the operating room of the Capitol
theatre at Brandon, Man., caused consider-
;ible damage, but the situation was kept welT
in hand bv Manager C. S. Ferguson.
Ji.lv 7. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
65
Y^
NEW PICTURES
In "New Pictures" the EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE
WORLD presents in concise form infor-
mation on current and forthcoming attrac-
tions.
The facts as presented will serve exhib-
itors in booking and in the preparation of
their advertising campaign.
BEGGARS OF LIFE: Paramount melodrama, with
Wallace Beery. Louiee Brooks. Richard Arlen,
Edgar Blue Washington. H. A. Morgan, Andy
Clark, Mike Donlin. Roscoe Karns, Robert Perry,
Johnnie Morris, George Kotsonaroe, Jacque Chapin.
Robert Brower and Frank Brownlee. Directed
by William Wellman. Released Length
TYPE AND THEME: An uncommon story.
It's of hoboes, from beginning to end, and is by
Jim TuUy, who was one. Nancy, adopted by a
farmer, shoots him jrhen he attacks her. Jim,
young 'bo, discovers the murder, and getting the
girl into men's clothes, talces her with him. They
meet up with Oklahoma Red and Arkansas Snake,
other tramps. Snakr discovers Nancy's sex and
wants her. Jim shoos him off. But Red wants her
too. They're in a box car. Red is going to throve
Jim off. Nancy tells him she'd go only to Snake.
Red throws Snake off. Then Jim gets the best of
Red. But Red's a good guy. He likes both kids.
Meanwhile, of course, the police are after NancV
for murder. . . . On a siding, Jim is nursing a
sick buddy. Red gets a Ford and girl's clothes for
Nancy. The kids escape in the auto. The sick
tramp dies. Red puts Nancy's discarded male at-
tire on him. sets fire to a box car and throws the
tramp in the flames. Later detectives find the
clothes. The farmer's slayer has burned to death!
. . . Jim and Nancy are on top of a Pullman, riding
to happiness.
« « «
GOODBYE KISS, THE: First National comedy-
drama, with Johnny Burke, Sally Eilers, Matty
Kemp, Wheeler Oakman, Irving Bacon, Lionel Bel-
more. Alma Bennett, Carmelita Geraghty and Jean
Laverty. Directed by Mack Sennett. Releated
Length 8,030.
TYPE AND THEME: Mack Sennett, maker of
two-reel comedies of the pie-throtving, one-piece-
bathing suit variety, produced this full-length serio-
comic of a fellow and a girl and a war. The war
is the late and unlamented one. Sally is Bill's girl,
so much so that when he enlists and pushes off
for France, she hides herself on the transport and
is taken across. She is discovered, and General
Pershing or somebody puts her in the Salvation
Army — to ■work out her boat fare, maybe. As a
lassie she gets a chance to see how Bill takes to
war. He doesn't. She is stationed in the same
town where his regiment is billeted. And plainly
Bill shoios that he is something of a cotvard.
Well, she works with him, tries to rouse his man-
hood, so to speak — even taking his place in battle.
That, of course, is serious stuff. But the antics of
Burke and other sources inject considerable relief.
* * *
GREASED LIGHTNING: Universal Western, with
Ted Wells, Betty Caldwell, Walter Shumway, Lon
Poff. George Dunning, Myrtis Crinley and Victor
A poignant scene from "The Red Dance."
Fox production of revolutionary Russia
starring Dolores Del Rio. In this scene
are shown Charles Farrell, Miss Del Rio
and Ivan Linow. Raoul Walsh directed
the picture.
Allen. Directed by Ray Taylor. Released July 29.
Length 4,294.
TYPE AND THEME: City girl inherits ranch
and falls in love with foreman. Diana takes over
the ranch she has inherited from her wealthy
father and accepts the courtship of Merrihcw, a
crooked laivyer, not knowing that her foreman,.
Parker, has been kept busy chasing off a gang of
thieves -icho are in the employ of Merrihcw. While-
Parker and his men are in the mountains, Merri-
hew calls on Diana for her answer. Loving Parker,
she refuses him. Merrihew threatens to raid the
ranch. Diana goes after Parker. The gancr
catches her and takes her to Merriheiv's cabin.
From her escort, Parker learns u'here Diana is,
and going to the cabin, rescues her. She now
frankly tells him he is engaged as foreman ■ and
husband for life.
4 * *
HEART TO HEART: First National comery-drama,
with Mary Astor, Lloyd Hughes, Louise Fazenda,
Lucien Littlefield, Thelma Todd, Raymond McKee,
Eileen Manning and Virginia Gray. Directed by
William Bcaudine. Released Length
of coarse, 'to come in royal style. So when there
arrives a girl of usual aspect, except that she is
very beautiful, the town does not know she is the
princess. And her girlhood sweetheart, Philip, a
window washer, renews his suit. . . . Then she goes
away to return officially as the princess. And as
the princess, she marries Philip, and they go back
to Italy.
» » *
PAINTED POST: Fox Weetern, with Tom Mix,
Natalie Kingston, Philo McCullough, Al St. John
and Fred Gamble. Directed by Gene Forde. Re-
leased Length
TYPE AND THEME: Mix in the role of sheriff.
Painted Post is a town gone bankrupt. Blake, the
sheriff, is pretty busy serving attachments on the
bus-iness places, including a hotel. Barbara Lane,
young and pretty, comes to town, seeking types
for magazine drawings. She chooses Tuttle, local
bad man much to Blake's dissatisfaction, for he
fancies the girl. When Tuttle invites her for a
ride, he locks her up on a fake charge. Tuttle
demands a showdown. Blake gives it. Knowing
the gang is after a payroll, Blake substitutes paper
for the money. Foiled, the gang puts Blake in his
own jail. But ivith Tony's help, Blake escapes,
chases the gang, licks Tuttle, and wins Miss
Barbara Lane for his tvife.
WHITE SHADOWS OF THE SOUTH SEAS: Uebm^
Goldwyn-Mayer melodrama, with Monte BJne,-
Ranjuel Torres and Robert Anderson. Directfeij; by
W. S. Van Dyke. Released Length'
TYPE AND THEME: Another Astor-Hughes
vehicle of the romantic type. In this one. Miss
Astor is a princes of Ainerican birth who returns
to her home town for a visit. She is expected.
TYPE AND THEME: A grim sort of story,,
laid in the islands of the South Seas. Ai ffikuevo'
is a lucrative pearl fishing industry, %vith the wftite
traders in command and the natives in virtual en-
slavement under them. Also there is a degenerate
■white man, a doctor, Matthew Lloyd, whom drink
has sunk to the level of a beachcomber. But Lloyd
ran still be decent and he rises against Sebastian,
an important trader, to protect a disabled native
diver. In revenge, Sebastian has Lloyd lured to a
plague ship where the doctor is lashed to a wheel
and set adrift. The boat grounds on a reef, but
Lloyd swims to shore. There he is feted by the
natives and wins the "village virgin." Then Sebas-
tian lands and attempts to attack Lloyd's woman.
They battle. Lloyd is killed. And life resumes its
old mean tuay.
WRIGHT IDEA, THE: First National comedy, with
Johnny Hines, Louise Lorraine, Edmund Breese,
Charles Giblyn, Fred Kelsey, Henry Hebert, Walter
James, Betty Egan and Blanche Craig. Directed
by Charles Hines. Released Length
TYPE AND THEME: A neiv comedy for Hines.
Briefly, the plot is this: Johnny invents an ink
that is luminoiis. The invention comes in hamdy.
For Johnny gets mixed up with a pretty girl,
lunatics, bond thieves and rum runners — quite
enough for one young fellow — and when he and
the girl are prisoners on a rum-running vessel,
Johnny slips over the side and paints "Help" on
the hull with the luminous ink. As a result, the
government ship is able to folloiv the rum-runner.
The smugglers are captured, Johnny praised and
the girl won.
This Week's Press Sheet
WARMING UP (Paramount comedy-drama) : A survey
of your town will reveal many baseball players or men who
boast that they are. If among this group are nine former pro-
fessional players and nine amateur players, try to arrange
formation of the two teams for a series of twilight baseball
games. The sport department of your newspaper will help
you promote this tournament, and a tie-up with sporting goods
stores should provide the awards. The older the players are
the better, and if some of them have mustaches and beards
or play with their glasses on, the idea should get plenty of
space in the paper on its own merits. Tie the tournarnent up
with the picture by calling it the "Warming Over Series," or
some such name, and entertain both teams at the showing of
the Richard Dix picture at your theatre.
The newspaper and many individuals in your town have
pictures of old-time baseball teams which will furnish plenty
.
of interesting art in connection with your publicity on the
picture and the stories on the baseball contest. A collection
of those pictures which include local men will add to your
lobby display and any window displays you may happen to
arrange around the city. Find the oldest baseball player in
your city or town and get him to give a short talk from the
stage of your theatre before the showing of the picture.
In the cast of "Warming Up" is Mike Ready believed to be
the oldest living professional baseball player. Perhaps your
"oldest player" can recall some personal experiences in con-
nection with Ready or with Mike Donlin, the former Giant star
who is also a member of the cast. In connection with your
stage presentation of the oldest baseball player, the youngest
member of any of your local teams might also be introduced
from the stage. He also can be asked to say a few words. Get
the kids working for you with the old-timers.
66
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
Y^
CHICAGO PERSONALITIES
^ ='- By Whit
BALABAN & KATZ last week inaugurated synchronized pictures at Mc-
Vickers, the first B & K house to go in for the innovation which, after
a rather calm start, has suddenly caused palpitation of the heart of Mr.
M. P. Fillum. Although the audios are not new hereabouts, having enjoyed
the patronage of Chicagoans for a year or two, McVickers on the first day
gave the more innocent of observers the impression that sound-pictures were
being offered the local public for the very first time. The theatre opened at 9
o'clock in the morning, and by 11 o'clock there was a sizeable hold-out line.
Advertising, it is thought, did the trick.
The Mc Vickers ads refer to synchroniza-
tion at that theatre as "Perfected Movietone
and Vitaphone." The opening attraction
is Fox's "Street Angel," Janet Gaynor-
Charles Farrell picture for which audibility
has been confined to an orchestral accom-
paniment. Fox's Alovietone newsreel is
also being shown.
* ^ i}c
Before continuing in this informal review
of film matters and people in Chicago, let
it be said that the "By Whit" at the top
of the page is totally erroneous, not to say
an absolute falsehood, inasmuch as Whit
was sojourning last week at Alexandria,
Minn., where readers of the Herald- World
had a family party under the hospitable
auspices of H. M. Longaker, exhibitor of
that city. Therefore, to all whom it may
concern, let it be known that the said Whit
is not to be held responsible for any word
or punctuation mark appearing in the said
review.
* * *
Which brings us, for some reason, to
Hoot Gibson and that Western star's cur-
rent activities in this region. Hoot, to be-
come familiar at once, is to make a picture
here in which he will play the role of a
cowboy who comes to our quiet little city
for a rodeo. In fact, there is to be a rodeo
here, beginning late this month — and hence
the picture. Gibson left Monday for the
Coast and will return in two weeks with
proper aid for the making of the film.
* * t-
The wedding of Ernest J. Krug, manager
of the Shore theatre and brother-in-law of
Ashton Stevens, dramatic critic of the
Herald and Examiner, and Miss Anna
Florence, was celebrated last Wednesday.
* * *
Summer is here, Notwithstanding much
Programs
prepared by us
get the public
interested in
your shows.
Let lis send you
some samples.
THE NATIONAL
PROGRAM & PRINTING CO.
729 So. Wabash Avt. - Chicago
evidence to the contrary. F. Fricke and
T. Lynch, well known exhibitors, left last
week for a spell of angling in the North
woods. There is reason to believe that
similar reports will appear on this page
quite consistently the next few months.
^ ^ ^
Mrs. L Siskin, who has been operating
the Janet theatre at 617 North Avenue since
the death last summer of her husband, has
sold the house to H. Krause and Joe Kop-
pel, who thus come into possession of their
first theatre.
* * *
Speaking of firsts, Rita Marcia Gorelick
celebrated her very first birthday Tuesday,
in honor of which the Herald-World, in-
cluding Jaysee Jenkins and Eagle-Eye Joe,
olifer congratulations. And in case you have
not met Mistress Rita, be informed that
she is the daughter of Sam Gorelick, the
genial (not to say handsome) salesman at
FBO.
Bill Sweeney is still having a little diffi-
culty restoring his health and missed a
couple more days at his office last week.
>K * ^
Red Johnson, jokester and touring film
salesman of F B O, reports that Oscar Lam-
brotte opened his new theatre at Mishawaka
Ind., last week, and adds that it is one
of the finest little houses he has seen.
* * *
The Capitol at Morrison, 111., is now
under construction. It is being built by
Smith & Potter of that place.
* * *
We dropped in on Tom Gilliam last
week, and demanding to know at once how's
business, learned that his office had closed
the Lynch group of suburban theatres for
the entire First National program.
* * *
Stanley Hatch, First National's Western
sales manager, came last week to be here
for a few days working on what is known
in the trade as "big contracts."
* * *
It has been learned that James Flinn,
manager of accessories for Pathe at the
home office, has resigned his position and
is to become connected with an interior
decorating concern in Evanston. .He has
been with Pathe for a year, having been
with P D C the three years previously. He
and Mrs. Flinn are, motoring to Glencoe.
* * *
William Roche, manager of the Selwyn
and Harris, lost his wife in death last week.
Mrs. Roche died after confinement for six
weeks to Garfield Park hospital with pneu-
monia. She was 33 years old.
— G. S. Batting for Whit.
Film Gunplay Called
Bad for Unhealthy Mind
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., July 3.~
Protest against gunplay in motion
pictures shown here was voiced by
Paul T. Shaw of the Portland school
board, after viewing "The Drag
Net." In his letter to the censor
board he stated, "An otherwise de-
lightful program of music and color
effects was ruined by this hideous
picture depicting gunmen and women
of the underworld. To the healthy
child mind little damage may be
done by witnessing such an exhibi-
tion. But what about the hundreds
who are not surrounded by safe-
guards of wholesome family life!'"
Jury Votes Death for
Killer in Holdup; Girl
Shot by Policeman Dies
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, July 3.— A verdict of
guilty of first degree murder, with the death
penalty recommended was returned last
Thursday by the jury trying Charles F.
Mellor for killing Max T. Harrison, assist-
ant manager, in the Cross Keys theatre
holdup on the night of March 23. Five
minutes afterwards Orville J. Barclay, 21,
charged with being Mellor's partner in the
crime, was placed on trial and later sen-
tenced to life imprisonment. Both men had
entered pleas of not guilty, although the
police hold statements made by them after
their arrest in which they told in detail
how the shooting occurred.
Martha Yetter, 17-year-old girl bystander,
who was shot in the holdup, died in the
Philadelphia General hospital last Wednes-
day. Miss Yetter was shot in the neck by
John A. Clark, a policeman, who was escort-
ing Harrison to a bank with the theatre^
box office receipts.
N. Y. Exchanges Seek
No Actual Sales Now
(Sfecial to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, July 3. — According to ex-
change managers here, there is little buy-
ing of new product in this section at pres-
ent. The managers are apparently content
with a preliminary campaign, explaining to
exhibitors the new product, but without go-
ing so far as to quote any prices. Exhib-
itors say that they have not been called on
as yet by salesmen seeking to place new
product.
T-S Distributor in India
Fetes Fifth Anniversary
Faulty projector aperture tension adjust-
ment is probably responsible for more
vital film damage than any other one thing,
except possibly wrong rewinding pro-
cedure, says G. R. Gvalani of Gvalani
Brothers, distributors at Karachi, India,
for Tiffany-Stahl, in a 20-page pressbook
in five colors. The pressbook marks the
fifth anniversary of the Gvalani organiza-
tion.
Illness Delays Opening
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, July 3.— William Smalley of
Cooperstown, N. Y., one of the best known
exhibitors in central New York state and
head of a chain of 15 houses, has been seri-
ously ill, and as a result, the opening of
his new theatre in Johnstown has been de-
layed until later this month.
For your
Protection
To insure exhibitors the high-
est possible screen quality,
Eastman Positive Film is made
identifiable. The words "Eastman
Kodak" are stencilled in black
letters at short intervals in the
transparent film margin.
Specify prints on Eastman Film
—look for the identifying words
in the margin— and get the film
that always carries quality
through to the screen.
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
4FETY
Every public safety official recognizes the dread
hazard of FIRE in theatres.
Fire and its awful ally, PANIC, are ogres that
haunt every theatre.
Public officials v^ho are charged w^ith the safety of
the public and of property, realize the need of using
every good preventive device.
That is vs^hy they are urging everywhere the use
of SENTRY SAFETY CONTROL, a device, which
when attached to any standard motion picture pro-
jector makes impossible a fire from motion -picture
film in use.
m^\F ITT t ED Mir[a[5][L
CORPORATION
latn and Cherry Sto., PHILADELPHIA 1 560 Broadway. NEW YORK
And All Branches of
NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY
.r-r^
The positive fire preventer. Can be attached to any projector. Costs only a few cents a day.
I rftaik^^ta*Mfliii*a*ifc
SlwfcJbJi^fcdhiifcdfc^Jhi*.Jfa*iifcii*iAidbi^^
EXMienTOM
TWO
t m » a *iAa*«*i
■^^'-^*''*--'"-^^* *' ■ - ---- -- ■
« g 1.
MOVIETONE EQUIPPED
MEANS
SIMPLEX EQUIPPED
IN AMERICA'S LEADING THEATRES
ECIAL MODEL M
SIMPLEX
Mi O'V^IETOISII
Will be supplied when specified
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTOR CORPORATION
90 GOLD STREET, NEW YORK
■^^Pinm^w^r*"
■ r t I jwvT'T^^^P^'^n^^^^^^^^'^t^TT* ^ n i^.n. * ' g_jr!.A_a_t_«'_«_i_iii_a_i w ..w^T^^^v^r^T'^^^im'mfm'iif
'hole Vol. 92, No. 1 (Vol. 34, No. 4)
July 7, 1928
Jjo exkiadms...
WURLITZER
Organs
Factories, North Tonawanda, N. Y»
NEW YORK
CLEVELAND
PHlLADELPHLfV
ST. LOUIS
CHICAGO
PITTSBURGH
BUFFALO
SAN FRANCISCO
CINCINNATI
DETROIT
KANSAS CITY
LOS ANGELES
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Experienced showmen
select
C-H Simplicity Dimmers
BEAUTY is demanded by movie goers
everywhere, today. Hence experienced
showmen invest millions in decorative art and
insure the effectiveness of their investment
by scientific lighting controlled with C-H
"Simplicity" Dimmers.
Their experience has proved to them that
the Cutler-Hammer name assures dependable
dimmer performance — that velvet-smooth
control, beautiful color blends, adaptability to
both present and future requirements, low main-
tenance and operating expense can best be se-
cured by specifying C-H "Simplicity" Dimmers.
Regardless of the seating capacity, decora-
tive scheme, or location of your house, there are
many advantages of C-H "Simplicity" Dim-
mers, all worthy of your serious consideration.
Discuss C-H Dimmers with your electrician
or architect and write for "Illumination
Control for the Modern Theater" — a book-
let giving complete facts.
The CUTLER-HAMMER Mfg, Co,
Pioneer Manufacturers of Electrical Control Apparatus
1254 St. Paul Avenue
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
Loew's and United Artists Theater,
Pittsburgh, Pa., equipped n/ithC-H'*Sim-
plicity" Dimmers — the bank of which
is shown below
•««i!-,().<
CUTLER^HAMMER
Perfect IllzirninatioTi Cordroljor the 'Modern ^Theater
.
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
THE country over ... in 2.0 of
America's largest cities ... an offi-
cial census discloses that 75% of all
theatres are "American" equipped. And
a roll call of the acknowledged large-
scale exhibitors "would show an even
higher percentage. For it never has
been disputed that the preeminent
operators . . . those at the very top in
the field are exclusive users of "Ameri-
can" chairs. These figures speak for
themselves. They tell a story of built-
in quality, beauty and comfort that
theatre owners and managers are daily
turning into a profit.
Theatre Qhair n^uilders to the
Illustrated above is Chair
No. 6146, of which 2610
were installed in the
Universal Theatre, Brook-
lyn, John Eberson, Arch-
itect. A beautiful chair
with dark walnut finish
wood parts, red uphol-
stered Moroccoline seat
and two-tone Jacquard
Velour upholstered back.
Two-tone metal finish on
standardswith aislelights
built in. Easy and silent
seat movement is made
certain by the use of noise-
less ball bearing hinge.
(^American Tublic for Over 50 Tears
American Seating Company
121 W. 40th St., New York City
12 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Illinois
1211-H Chestnut St., Philadelphia
65-D Canal .St., Boston
Julv 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
The Air Washer
The Supreme Turbo Air Washer,
a wonderful new feature of the
Supreme Cooling System. No sensa-
tion of dampness, no humidity in the
Auditorium — ^just the added Cooling
Power of washed air.
The 6'iu
Supreme Cooling Blower
— that delivers the Washed and
Cooled air to the Auditorium at
high velocity creating a decidedly
noticeable, cool refreshing breeze
felt in every seat. No noise, no
drafts, just lots of cool fresh air
that will keep your theatre cool
and comfortable in spite of the
heat.
The Variable Speed Pulley
At a very moderate cost the Su-
preme Cooling Blower can be
equipped with the reliable Horcon
Variable Speed Pulley, instead of
the standard single speed pulley.
Gee^ hut it^s nice
and cool in hereV^
That^s What They'll Say If You Have The
UPREME
Washed Air Cooling System
In Your Theatre*
And that*s what brings them back for more*
Fill those vacant seats this summer — you can do it —
simply by making your theatre Cool and Comfortable.
The Supreme Cooling System makes this condition
possible even in the hottest kind of weather.
Remember — the Supreme Cooling System gives you
the added Cooling power of Washed Air. It's the only
System of its kind that does give you that extra Cooling
effect — yet the cost of a complete Supreme Cooling
System is moderate. Its box office value far outweighs
its cost.
(jCt X. lie r clCtS* Write for complete information and
convenient payment plan. Use the coupon below — today.
Heater and Ventilating Corp*
ST. LOUIS, U. S. A.
Supreme Heater ii Ventilating Corp.
1915-17-19 Pine St., St. Louis, Mo.
Send complete information and convenient payment plan on the Supreme Cooling System.
"Hjim e ; E
Address..
City
..State.
Seating capacity of theatre..
Theatre Acoustics and Synchronism
CHARLES B. O'NEILL
Advertising Manager
Betl&lbmfm
A monthly supplement of Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, pub-
lished for information and guidance of theatre owners in matters of theatre
construction, operation and equipment and to promote the ideal of finer theatres
HARRY E. HOLQUIST
Easlsrn Kepretentatiwe
BETTER THEATRES
EDITORIAL AND
ADVERTISING OFFICES
CHICAGO
407 So. Dearborn St. Telephone
Harrison 0036. Cable Address:
Quigpubco.
Jay M. Shreck, Managing Editor
Charles B. O'Neill, Advertising
Manager
George ClifTord, Business Manager
NEW YORK
565 Fifth Ave. Telephone Vander-
bilt 3612-3613
Harry E. Holquist
Eastern Representative
LOS ANGELES
5617 Hollywood Blvd. Telephone
Gladstone 3754
Douglas Hodges
West Coast Manager
LONDON
The Bioscope (J. Cabourn, Editor)
Faraday House, 8-10 Charing Cross
Rd., W. C. 2
The successful theatre today is the
one that pays strictest attention to
its physical features. Cinema pa-
trons demand more than pictures.
They must be given every degree of
comfort, convenience and atmos-
phere.
To the enterprising exhibitor Better
Theatres each issue presents numer-
ous ideas and suggestions for in-
creasing profit through better pub-
lic service and management.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
United State and possessions —
$3 per year
Canada — $4.50 per year
Other points of the world —
$9 per year
Single copies, 25 cents
Advertising rate cards and Audit
Bureau of Circulations statements
furnished upon application.
In This Issue
THIS ISSUE marks the inception of Better Theatres' school of
s3mchronization — This forward step is taken to assist projectionists
and exhibitors who are confronted by new problems as a result
of the installation of sound pictures — F. H. Richardson will con-
duct the school.
ART MODERNE is a phreise that is becoming, in the decorative
sense, more popular each day — George Schutz, this month,
reviews the growing popularity of this new motif in furniture —
Modernistic furniture offers to the theatre a refreshing atmos-
phere— It is in harmony with a modem art.
'T LEARN ABOUT ORGANS" is the first of an interesting series
of articles on organ building, placement in the theatre and installa-
tion— Hawley M. Leisher this month continues his instructive
comment on theatre decoration — In this issue he discusses the use
of the "All-Over" stencil process.
0. F. SPAHR this month announces the new model of motiograph
which, the company states, eliminates the heating, drying and
warping of film — The new instrument has been months in prep-
aration and represents the labors of many skilled technicians —
Brenkert announces new universal effect projector.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
HE public's eye today is caught and held by the unusual,
spectacular, in the matter of theatre electric advertising.
It's a specialist's job to design the "S.R.O.
type" of theatre electric — whether small or
large. With 16 years' experience to draw
upon, we can put that unusual, spectacular
"punch" into one for you.
Exposed-lamp, Neon-tube, Raised Glass-
Letter electrics or combinations of these for
roof or building-front installations; inter-
changeable letter signs for marquee or cur-
rent attraction boards; and interior electric
directional signs — Flexlume can take care of
all your sign needs.
the
Write us about your
requirements and let us
submit, without obliga-
tion, color sketch of a
sign or signs to fit your
needs. Address Flex-
lume Corporation,
1834 Military Road,
Buffalo, N. Y. — or
mail the coupon.
FLEXLUME
factories also at detroit, los angeles, oakland and toronto
Flexlume Corporation
1834 Military Road, Buffalo, N. Y.
Please send, without obligation, a copy of the booklet "Theatre Electric
Displays".
Also, submit free color sketch of a sign for our theatre.
Name -
Theatre
Address...
SALES AND SERVICE OFFICES IN CHIEF CITIES OF U. S. AND CANADA
ELECTRIC DISPLAYS
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF July 7, 1928
'Tou KNOW the
Herald-World"
Perhaps you think of it as "the paper with the
What the Picture Did for Me' department" — per-
haps as "the paper that puts out ^Better Theatres' "
—or for one of a dozen other features — but you
KNOW the Herald-World.
The Herald-World is a DEFINITE PAPER.
It is the one and only motion picture trade
journal that goes to original sources for such an-
nual features as "The 104 Biggest Money Makers
of the Year," "The 60 Best Box Office Names" and
other fundamentally important trade services.
You KNOW the Herald-World for what it is—
the biggest, best and most successful publication
in the motion picture field.
And you know the Herald-World KNOWS.
_ EXHIBITORS
HERALD
«s3 MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
4-'
Julv 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
METROPOLITAN
THEATRE
LOS ANGELES
CAL.
Photogra-^h by courtesy of
William Lee Woollett, the
-pioneer of decoration di-
rectly on concrete. In this
instance the sound absorb-
ing material was a^^hed
back of the 'plaster grille
work on the main ceiling,
the work being executed
during the course of the
building construction.
^» i9» J^^^ H
w
ITH the advent of the
synchronized picture and its
adoption by motion picture
houses generally, an acute acousti-
cal problem will develop in many
theatres which is not at present
apparent, due to the difference in
the generally accepted standards
which exist between what is known
as good acoustics for music and
speech, and acceptable acoustics for
incidental music only.
In the average theatre devoted to
motion pictures, acoustical condi-
tions have been found acceptable
providing orchestral and organ
music could be heard without too much con-
fusion and in a form that could be appre-
ciated. On the other hand, even with the
present well developed reproduction of speech
it is very essential that each syllable of re-
produced speech s'hould stand out clean-cut
and distinct. A theatre is said to possess
good acoustical qualities when speech and
music may be heard comfortably in all parts
of the auditorium and hearing with comfort
means hearing without strain and under re-
laxed conditions.
Fortunately, the subject of architectural
acoustics has been reduced to an exact and
practical science through the researches of the
late Wallace Clement Sabine, formerly Hollis
professor of mathematics and natural phi-
losophy. Harvard university; and the sound-
ness of the science has been established be-
yond all question of a doubt by 17 years of
practical work in acoustical design and acous-
tical corrective work in auditoriums of every
conceivable nature.
Today, it is possible not only to correct the
acoustical properties of almost any existing
theatre or auditorium, but the precise acous-
tical qualities of any room may be anticipated
in the course of design and satisfactory acous-
tics "built in" the theatre in its construction.
ACOUSTICS
and the
TALKINQ mCTURE
By RAYMOND V. PARSONS*
The acoustics of any room depend upon
three factors, and three factors only, the size,
shape and materials used in the interior finish,
which would include the furnishings and the
average number of people in attendance.
Sound produced by any source in a confined
space such as a theatre auditorium spreads in
a spherical wave in all directions, and its loud-
ness or intensity decreases as the square of
the distance from the source.
The modern theatre may be thought of as
a fine and most approved form for providing
comfortable hearing conditions' for large
groups of people, as a study of the evolution
of auditorium design will indicate. Assum-
ing as the first step in this evolution, an open
plain with a speaker addressing an audience
seated or standing on the same level, it is evi-
dent that the major portion of the sound energy
produced by the speaker is rapidly dissi-
pated in the open air overhead, and ab-
sorbed by the clothing of the surrounding
auditors.
The next step in the evolution might have
been the elevation of the speaker some-
*Acoustical Engineer — Johns-Manville Corporation,
New York, N. Y.
due to
phones
what above the heads of the audi-
ence so that more of the direct
sound energy would reach auditors
in the rear. Then, if the auditors
were to be somewhat elevated or
seated on an inclined plane and a
screen were to be placed back of the
speaker, we would have in effect,
the old Greek theatre, which was
certainly a step forward although
by no means ideal acoustically. The
principal acoustical difficulty in the
Greek theatre was lack of loudness.
This is evidenced by the fact that in
many of the masks worn by the
actors to accentuate their features,
the poor lighting conditions, mega-
were built in to amplify, and in a
measure, to direct the original sound.
Later, roofs were added and although this
was probably done to provide protection
from the elements, it at the same time
provided a very definite increase in the
average intensity or loudness of sound
throughout the room, as the sound energy
which was originally lost in the open air
was reflected from the ceiling down into the
auditorium, reinforcing and giving "carrying
power" to the original sound.
Introduction of galleries had the effect
of bringing the rear of the audience into
closer proximity with the speaker, and in
this form the modern theatre represents
almost an ideal arrangement for providing
a well distributed and even degree of loud-
ness for even a huge audience.
Step by step with this evolution in de-
sign, however, there has been an equally
important evolution in the materials used
as interior finishes. The demand for fire-
proofness and sanitation has been met by
interior finishes of a hard, dense nature,
which are excellent reflectors but very poor
absorbers of sound. Sound is absorbed by
the qualities of porosity and flexibility in
10
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
NATIONAL THEATRE, WASHINGTON, D. C.
The acoustics of this theatre were corrected some time after the building had been completed and was
in use. Acoustic felt was a^^lied to all of the side and rear wall surfaces and finished with a dyed
fabric of silk brocade. As the ^hotogra^^h. indicates, the sound absorbing treatment adds greatly to
the attractiveness of the theatre. (Underwood & Underwood ■^hoto.)
a material — the porosity of the mass and
yielding of the mass as a whole. Even a
casual inspection of most materials used for
int&rior finishes reveals that their sound
absorbing eiificiency is very low.
Concrete Boors for example ab-
sorb only lYx per cent of sound;
hard wall plaster on metal lath 2^4
per cent; linoleum 3 per cent; glass
2^ per cent; marble 1 per cent.
It is evident that in any room finished
entirely in materials of this hard sound-
reflecting character where the interior
finish absorbs only from 1 per cent to 3
per cent of sound, that 97 per cent to 99 per
cent of the sound energy striking any por-
tion of the interior finish is reflected to
some other portion of the interior finish
where it will again be partially absorbed
and in a greater measure reflected. This
continued reflection of sound from surface
to surface, walls to ceiling, ceiling to floor,
floor to walls, etc., many times requires
the element of time and very often con-
tinues so long that the first syllable of a
sentence may still be audible while several
succeeding syllables of speech are being
produced, with the result that there is a
running together or blurring of the
syllables of speech through which it is
difficult to follow the speaker with any
degree of comfort.
This phenomenon has been given the
technical name of reverberation, or sound
that continues to exist after the source of
sound has ceased, and it is particularly
noticeable in an empty room of any kind.
In the majority of instances it disappears
as an audience is brought into the room,
due to the soft porous quality of the cloth-
ing of people, which absorbs sound to a
high degree.
The hollow, reverberant quality of an
empty house is similarly supplanted by a
soft, quiet, livable quality as furnishings
in the form of rugs, carpets, draperies and
upholstered furniture are introduced. All
of these materials are porous and flexible,
and are efficient sound absorbers.
One thought immediately presents itself.
Why not furnish reverberant rooms with
all manner of rugs, carpets, draperies and
absorbent furnishings to overcome this
difficulty. It has been done successfully in
many instances, but there are four reasons
why it is not always the most desirable
thing to do.
In the first place, these materials
are not sanitary and capable of eco-
nomical cleaning. In the second
place, they are £re hazards. In the
third place, they are very expensive
as a general rule. And in the fourth
place, they possess the unfortunate
quality of absorbing much more
sound in the upper register of the
musical scale than in the lower
register.
A musical tone is more or less complex
in form and consists not only of the funda-
mental tone produced, but of many over-
tones and partials which give color and
character to the music. They are in fact,
the characteristics which distinguish one
musical tone from another, or even one
instrument from another, and in the case
of music particularly, it is desirable that
these various components of complex
sounds should retain their original relative
intensities if music is to be heard and appre-
ciated to the best advantage.
Consequently, it is desirable that anything
that may be utilized in the interior finish
or furnishings of a room to absorb sound
should have the qualities of absorbing as
nearly as possible the same amount of
sound over the entire scale of pitch.
The development of sound absorbing
interior finishes has also been in the state
of evolution for nearly 18 years. The
original materials used by Professor Sabine
in correcting acoustical difficulties were
forms of hair felt and jute felt which had
the quality of absorbing from two to three
times as much sound between C4 (512
vibrations) and Ce (2048 vibrations) as they
did between C2 (128 vibrations) and C4
(512 vibrations). The average pitch of
speech and music is considered to be C4
(512 vibrations). Then these materials were
originally unattractive in form and neces-
sarily had to be covered with dyed fabrics
such as burlaps or tapestries to retain the
sound absorbing efficiency of the felt to an
appreciable degree.
However, there is today available, an
acoustic felt composed of hair and asbestos
fibre which is so capable of manipulation
in thickness, density and finish, that it is
as competent for use as an interior finish
as any of the materials that it covers or
replaces. Increasing the thickness of the
felt, increases its sound absorbing capacity
in the lower frequencies. The use of
finishes for the exposed surface of the felt
which are porous, retains the original
sound absorbing efficiency of the felt in
the upper register, whereas the use of more
impervious finishes cuts down its efficiency
at these pitches, so it is a thoroughly
practical matter to design an acoustical
material to meet almost any reasonable
demand.
Furthermore, this acoustical felt may be
finished to provide almost any desired
finished texture or finished effect. It may
be treated to represent smooth or hand
modeled plaster; or the finish surface may
consist of fine silk brocades or dyed reps
and burlaps which are cemented directly
to the surface of the felt. The felt may
be cemented to any kind of a structural
(Continued on page 25)
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
11
THE NEW WARNER THEATRE
This new and gorgeous home of Warner pictures stands in Los Angeles, the
'production center of the universe.
12
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
a striking example of architectural charm
The architectural design is one of beauty, yet in this beauty there is sim-
plicity. This theatre o-ftened recently.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
13
A room furnished and decorated in the modernistic style. This furniture is becoming extremely {lobular
and offers to the motion ^cture theatre a new and refreshing decorative scheme, (Photo, courtesy of
J ohnson-H andl ey-J ohnson. Grand Rapids, J^ich.)
Modernizing the Interior
"A
^LL things pass, only art endures," and
that is a true observation made by a
very wise man. The man was wise
because he did not say that only art does
not change — for it does — and how ! And
when it does, many of us look, gaze, frown,
turn away — and maybe swear at it, for it takes
a little time to get used to the new. Cer-
tainly, if anything need change in this world,
that thing is art, since art is the medium
through which we express ourselves spiritu-
ally, and from period to period, generation to
generation, we have vastly different things to
express.
* * *
Noticeable of late in shops and other places
is the growing display of things in the so-
called Art Moderne. In furnishings and their
arrangement in a room, the new type of de-
sign seems to he taking hold. Occasionally the
architect has dabbled with it, while the theatri-
cal scene designer often has found it effective.
But except in the special field of the stage,
it is the home and office which have been
most hospitable to modern art, and it must be
said that here a few decorators have been able
to demonstrate it with increasing sucess. This,
then, may be the time to suggest that they be
allowed to turn their hand to the most modern
class of buildings, the motion picture theatre.
And, by the way, just what is modern art —
or, as the term goes. Art Moderne? For
those who like their definitions short and
snappy. Art Moderne may be called design
based on the simple line. Immoderate embel-
lishment— ornate figures, scrolls, floral excres-
cences, what is popularly referred to as
"lovely," what we have been used to associat-
ing with the feminine — are ruled out, the
.more completely as the treatment is more
severe, more purely Art Moderne.
That, of course, is putting the thing rather
simply. Different exponents of the style have
different attitudes toward it. There is, as
By GEORGE SCHUTZ
there should be, a restricted amount of room
for the designer to work in without abjuring
the older conceptions of beauty or rejecting
the new. A sensible decorator can insist on
sensible adaptation.
Art Moderne is, however, essentially severe
— that is, relatively severe. In contrast to the
Victorian mode, it is utterly grim. In con-
trast to the Colonial, it is plain. And of course
it is a bitter enemy to the luxury that has
swept into motion picture theatresi with the
Simoonian wave of Orientalism. Obviously,
the theatre that applies modern art to any of
its chambers, must adopt at least simplicity as
its general architectural and decorative char-
acter.
The place of color in Art Moderne is low-
ered not at all by the dictate of severity.
Severity should not imply coldness. Modern
art takes the simple line, bends it into angles,
twists it into curves, sets it with other lines
on different planes, thus making it serve,
without further embellishment, the primary
aesthetic purpose. But in this geometry lies
for an increasing number of people, the ele-
ments of an inviting, comfortable room, which
certainly is not incongruous to color.
Indeed, the color itself is worked into the
environment in the severe manner. The walls,
for example, are of a solid color, rather than
figured, and if having borders, the border is
solid and merely in contrast to the middle
color, rather than ornate. Artists in the mod-
ern style have found as many color schemes
and designs of severe or simple character as
the wallpaper people have concocted in the
grand manner. Of course, one might like to
have a row of doodads where mouldings are
put. But must they be roses or apples? In
Art Moderne, properly not. More likely (to
make a try at satire) the doodads would
be — er — bolts, each with a nut !
Another characteristic feature of color in
the modern room is its unity throughout walls
and furnishings. This unity is not one of
mere harmony, however. Mere harmony is
something that Art Moderne generally frowns
upon. The unity is rather one of uniformity
— that is, when walls are dominantly grey, the
floor, the furniture, even the lighting equip-
ment would quite properly be dominantly grey.
Or — and this an important point of this uni-
formity feature — some things in the room
might be colored in direct contrast to the
dominant shade. The colors also should ex-
press in one's psychology the purpose of the
room.
* * *
Of such, briefly and too simply, is Art
Moderne. To say why it is, is to describe it
considerably more.
Art Moderne is to interior decorating what
jazz is to music. It is doing something that
we've always done but doing it according to
the definitely different way we feel about it.
The music that the masters wrote for the
minuet and polka are beautiful, yet obviously
those works fall rather short of making mast
people nowadays want to dance. Few of us
dance the minuet and polka, not even in our
hearts, where dancing begins. We don't feel
them. We feel the fox trot, or something
similar to it — something rapid, regularly rhyth-
mic, a steady beat-beat-beat, like the rat-tat-
tat of the riveting machine. At least the
youngsters do and they're swiftly growing up.
Art Moderne is the child of the Alachine.
It is an expression of the Modern Realism.
To the Modern, speech that isn't plain talk is
bunk, and frills are not plain talk. We're
hard — or getting hard — like the steel every-
where about us. Everywhere is some steel
machine, rhythmically, mechanically doing
some work for us that we once had to do. The
block signal sees and hears. The adding ma-
chine counts. In fact, we're told more and
{Continued on page 27)
14
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
ART
MODERNE
Two rooms decorated after
the modermstic style. This
treatment of interiors may
well he a^'^lied to the mo-
tion picture theatre, which
presents the newest of the
arts. This neiv decorative
scheme is particularly a^-
■phcahle to foyers, lounges,
smoking rooms and ladies
rest rooms. (Photos, cour-
tesy of J ohnson-H andl ey-
Johnson.)
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
15
Above and at left: Two views of the
auditorium, that above being of a
side wall at the ■proscenium arch.
Above and at right: The foyer and a
charming corner therein.
A Theatre Distinguished by Colonial Design
AN interesting departure from the current vogue in theatre styles
• is represented by the Colonial theatre, a new neighborhood house
in Milwaukee. Not that its designers, Dick and Bauer, resorted to
innovations, but because they used a tasteful treatment of the American
Colonial motif, which has been neglected of late in our screen theatres.
The result is a house of clean-cut beauty, of native sources, and a
distinct home-like atmosphere.
Into the general design of the house, which emphasizes simplicity,
has been worked a delicate color scheme of light blue and gold. It
must not be omitted that just above the proscenium arch is a mural
of Betsy Ross fashioning the first American flag.
Equipment throughout, of course, is complete and modern. There
are men's and women's lounges, a spacious mezzanine floor arranged
as a parlor in the Louis XIV mode, a large stage and other accessories
to service and comfort.
The lighting scheme provides for the control of illumination of
stage and auditorium from one point. Ventilation is by the Bayley
washed-air system. In the booth are two Motiograph projectors and
several types of "spots." _
The policy calls for pictures and presentations.
William F. Maertz heads the Colonial Amusement Company, while
the theatre is under the direction of Ernest A. Langemack.
An unusual feature is that a woman, Erma Donges Dernehl, is in
charge of the stage shows.
16
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
Published Every Fourth Week by
QuiGLEY Publishing Company
Publication office: 407 So. Dearborn St, CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Maktin J. QuiGLEY, President
Edwin S. Clifford, Secretary George Clifford, Asst. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other publications: The Chicagoan and Polo, class journals; and the follow-
ing motion picture trade publication in addition to Better Theatres, published
as a supplement to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World: The
Buyers Index, Semiannual.
Whole Vol. 92, No. 1 (Vol. 34, No. 4)
July 7, 1928
Acoustics and the Talking Picture
THE sjTichronized picture, in its many ramifications,
has presented new problems to the motion picture in-
dustry— and the exhibitors and the projectionists
are not the only factors concerned.
To assist and cooperate with the exhibitors and projec-
tionists, the Herald- World and Better Theatres are con-
ducting regularly the department, "Synchronized Pic-
tures," and a School of Synchronized Pictures. This school
is under the tutelage of F. H. Richardson, editor of the
Better Theatres department, "Better Projection," and
nationally recognized as an authority on this subject.
Another problem, however, which does not aflfect the
projectionist, and should give the theatre owner little con-
cern if he is properly fortified, is that of acoustics.
In this issue another authority, Raymond V. Parsons,
discusses the important topic of acoustics which, with the
growing popularity of sound pictures, is of vital impor-
tance.
Mr. Parsons has been a student of acoustical research,
and for years he has been an advisor on sound projection
in the construction of buildings.
Undoubtedly there has been an impression that once a
theatre was built it would be impossible to improve the
acoustics without heav>' expense, or without partial re-
construction of the building. Mr. Parsons' article sets at
rest this general idea.
The motion picture theatre before the days of presenta-
tion required no more than ordinary acoustical properties.
With the inception of presentation this constructional
property became more and more important, until today,
with the synchronized picture, it is a factor which cannot
be overlooked or slighted.
To those who are contemplating the installation of
sound pictures and to those who are now presenting this
new form of motion picture entertainment, Mr. Parsons'
discussion is of exceptional value. To those who are con-
templating the erection of a new theatre, there is informa-
tion of importance.
It is of importance to the entire industry.
The Modern Small-Town Theatre
EVERYONE has heard exhibitors say that they can-
not afford to buy new equipment, remodel and re-
decorate their theatres. But is this ever true? It is
more nearly true to say the opposite — that no exhibitor
can afford not to keep his theatre modern, comfortable and
pleasing to the eye.
Out in the little Minnesota town of Alexandria can be
found one of the most modem and beautiful small town
theatres in the length and breadth of this land. It is the
State theatre owned and operated by Henry J. Longaker.
Alexandria is an average small town, except that it does get
a large tourist trade in the summer months. It has a popu-
lation of not more than 3,000, yet Longaker 's 700 seat
house is usually filled, and a packed house is just an inci-
dent, not an accident.
Why is Longaker able to fill his house consistently, and
jam it often? How is he able to play five acts of vaudeville
each Thursday and charge 50 cents admission for both the
matinee and evening performances?
The answers to these questions are many, but they may
be summed up by saying that Longaker knew the value of a
modem, comfortable and beautiful house and proceeded
to give such a house to his patrons.
He has given them the best that money could bu)^ He
knew that people would rather sit on leather covered
cushioned seats. He knew that a fine pipe organ, played
by a competent musician will draw patrons like a sugar
barrel draws flies. He knew that only by giving his patrons
the best in projection — and Longaker has projection as
good as you will find any place — could he expect those
patrons to sit through his shows more than one or twice a
week. He knew that a large electric sign helps the looks of
a theatre front, brightens the town and attracts the tran-
sient and home towners alike.
He knew that good lighting fixtures, harmonious decora-
tions, charming furniture, well kept rest rooms and neat
ushers have as much influence on the box office as the pic-
tures flashed on the screen.
Longaker knew all these things and he made them all a
part of his beautiful little State theatre. He has increased
his patronage radius by many miles. He advertises in every
town in a radius of 50 miles of his theatre. Is Longaker
successful? Well, you should see the crowds that jam that
700 seat house in a town of 3,000.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
17
Exterior of the ^lant of George Kilgen & Son
I Learn About Organs
The first of a series of articles on theatre organs
MOTION picture audiences today demand
more than just entertaining pictures.
They have become "music conscious"
and expect and appreciate good music along
with artistic and entertaining pictures. Theatre
managers recognize this trend of the times and
are making e\ery effort to provide their audi-
ences with the best of musical entertainment.
Consequently, with this increased desire for
music, the organ — the orchestral organ — has
come to occupy a highly important place in the
modern moving picture theatre.
Whenever a group of exhibitors get together
the discussion eventually arrives at the subject
of organs. Which ones give the most effects
for cueing pictures? Which ones seem to in-
terest audiences? And hundreds of other ques-
tions bearing on the important phase of organ
music in theatres.
Yet because of the great maze of intricate
mechanical detail and the thousand-and-one
elements that must be taken into consideration
in their manufacture orchestral organs are re-
garded by most people as a mechanical mystery
from which flows beautiful music. It is the
purpose of these articles to tell in language as
non-technical as possible the various processes
and methods that enter into the construction of
a fine pipe organ and to give to readers of the
Herald-Wokld a more complete knowledge of
theatre organs.
I will give you my own account of a con-
ducted trip through the plant of the Kilgen
Organ Company in St. Louis, and attempt to
explain the various processes as they were ex-
plained to me.
Upon entering the plant I was surprised at
the quiet orderliness and system with which
these master craftsmen went about their work.
In the drafting room were artists and archi-
tects devoting their skill, knowledge and expe-
rience to the designing of organs. Stepping
By JAY M. SHRECK
from the drafting room we encountered a
group working on the case work and exterior
woodwork of the consoles. These were being
finished in harmony with the decorations of the
different theatres for which they had been
ordered. Some were finished in beautiful hard-
wood ; others in polychrome; still others in
period designs. I learned that designs are
originated by this company and submitted to
the exhibitor so that he may select one in per-
fect harmony with the theatre decorations.
The actual making of a Tuba Pi^e
in the Kilgen ^lant.
Next we came upon workmen finishing the
interior woodwork of an organ. To merely
stain the wood is not sufficient. Instead the
wood is covered with the best orange shellac
or hard oil finish, as the different purposes de-
mand. This provides against evil effects of
atmospheric moisture. It is one of the reasons
why an organ lasts so long. While examining
the interior of these organs it was explained
to me why expert advice is so valuable in
choosing an organ.
Suitable room must be allowed in arrange-
ment of passageways, provided inside the or-
gan, for tuning and regulating purposes. This
assures a certain convenience and is of ines-
timable value in keeping the organ alwarys at
maximum efficiency.
The section devoted to vital mechanical,
electrical and pneumatic parts of the organ
was especially interesting to me. The contacts,
it was explained, are of the rubbing type,
necessitating the use of solid silver instead of
some baser metal. The life of an organ is
directly dependent upon its contacts and by
using silver contacts with a special high resist-
ance magnet long life is assured.
The little magnets which actuate the individ-
ual mechanism of each key next commanded
our attention. These are made in their en-
tirety in the Kilgen plant, this work requires
the dexterous, sensitive fingers and quick eyes
of highly trained young women who wind and
assemble the magnets, each am individual work
of greatest precision. These magnets consume
a small amount of current which is a decided
advantage. Even in the largest Kilgen organs
there is no danger of the amperage, or volume
of current, exceeding that allowed by fire un-
derwriters. This is a point of importance to
those responsible for the installation of an
organ. The bases and sh'ells of the magnets
are made of cold-rolled brass, a feature whicli
18
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
PICTURES, TOP TO BOTTOM
A four manual console showing how
manuals open like leaves in a hook,
for easy accessibility in making ad-
justments.
The assembling and erecting room
of the Kilgen factory showing
twelve large organs in the course of
construction.
The interior of a Kilgen relay show-
ing over 2,000 pure silver contacts.
they tell me is exclusive with Kilgen magnets.
These magnets are impervious to atmospheric
changes. They are machined dovra, so the
workmen told me, to one-thousandth of an
inch. With this standard of accuracy they are
interchangeable, so no adjustment is ever nec-
esssary.
We next came to the wind chests, upon
which a great deal of the efficiency of an or-
gan depends. The wind chests of Kilgen
organs are made with a special bellows cham-
ber, which provides a perfect supply of air in
unvarying pressure to each organ pipe under
any and all conditions of use. Each pipe has
a separate valve and motor, unaffected by the
use of any other valve or motor. This makes
possible the playing of rapid staccato passages
to chords on one manual, with a slow melody
movement on another manual without any va-
riation of wind pressure affecting the melody
movement. An individual bellows for each
wind chest is made with ribs and folds. These
are double leathered, with three-ply comer
leathers. These are so arranged that each has
a capacity sufficient to supply all demands of
the organ.
In the section where consoles (or key-
boards) are made I found father and son
working side by side; some families having
been with the organization for more than 40
years. The console is small, compact and dur-
able. The framework is solid and completely
independent of the action within. All parts are
accessible and interchangeable. The music
rack is large and roomy.
Under each keyboard are little buttons ar-
ranged so the organist may group any instru-
ments by simply pressing a button instead of
reaching for one stop tablet. This push button
arrangement facilitates the cueing of a picture
by permitting lightning-like changes of effects.
* * *
These consoles are of the approved "circular
type" so widely used in theatre playing. The
framework is solid and completely free from
action within. The different keyboards fold
back like leaves of a book, affording easy ac-
cessibility to any part. A double touch on
these keyboards gives double the number of
orchestral effects, enabling the organist to play
a solo on one group of instruments and accom-
paniment on another group, all with one hand.
The other hand is free to play an obligato or
counter melody on another keyboard with a
completely separate group of instruments.
In the wood-pipe building room I learned
that an organ must be made of specially kiln-
dried lumber if it is to stand up under years
of use where atmospheric changes, moisture
and other causes might produce deterioration.
It never occurred to me, until I saw it done,
that the way to make a good metal pipe for a
pipe organ is to commence with the raw ma-
terial, melt it, combine it, roll it and form and
finish it for its own special purpose. This is
exactly what happens in the Kilgen plant. A
foundry is maintained for this specific purpose.
The metals used in construction of pipes are
cast from base metal, mixed in such propor-
tions as to afford the best timber for the par-
ticular stops for which they are to be used.
One special alloy known as "frosted tin" con-
tains 90 per cent pure tin and is used in the
{Continued on page 31)
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
19
DETTEC PROJECTION
MM«0M«tf«M«
By F. H. RICHARDSON
^ Mr. Richardson, this month, presents the initial chapter in his "school" of Synchro-
^ nized Pictures. The Synchronized Picture presents many new problems to the projec-
tionist and to the exhibitor and, mindful of this situation. Better Theatres and Mr.
Richardson are presenting this instructional course, which is supplementary to the weekly
Herald-World department, "Synchronized Pictures."
The Fundamental Principle
of Sound Pictures
IN the last issue I announced a series of
articles upon the above topic, of which
this is the first. In these articles it is
my purpose to attempt to supply a ground-
ing in fundamentals, and by so doing en-
able you to have some real understanding
as to just what it is all about.
This seems very necessary because a few
questions put to projectionists in their pro-
jection rooms have rather astonished me.
I have found many of the men who have
learned to handle the apparatus very well
merely in the routine of its operation, to
have very little real understanding of it.
This is not said in criticism, because I don't
think these men have as yet been afforded
the opportunity to know anything more
than the routine.
Movietone Bulletin has done a splendid
work, but just the same it has' not gone
down far enough into details of fundament-
als. Many of its articles prepared with the
best of intent, were written by engineers,
and engineers' language is not always easy
for the layman to understand. In these
articles I shall talk your language and have
faith to believe when I have done you will
all agree that at least you've learned some-
thing.
It is not my intention to provide actual
operating instructions. This is for the rea-
son that equipment is still being changed
continually in some of its details, hence such
instructions would very quickly be out of
date, misleading and therefore harmful in-
stead of helpful. I shall stick pretty closely
to fundamentals, which never change. Once
you have a thorough understanding of them
the rest is comparatively easy. The equip-
ment will be described in close detail later,
but only with the warning that minor
changes are taking place at frequent in-
tervals.
Please do not infer from what I have said
about frequent changes that the apparatus
is not now, everything considered, in a lit-
erally marvelous state of perfection. The
various changes taking place are for the
most part in the form of minor alterations
designed to secure higher efficiency and to
simplify the apparatus and render it still
more "fool proof." However, the fact re-
mains that when it comes to handling it
one comparatively minor change may alter
several things, and thus make necessary a
considerable alteration in operating direc-
tions.
The first difficulty encountered in such a
work is to decide just where to begin. Did
I start where I really should, the work
would, in its earlier stages, I fear, be very
"dry," and thus, for a time at least, fail to
hold your interest.
On the whole I believe that, first of all,
I will talk with you concerning a few of the
great array of difficulties encountered when
it was proposed to "pick up" sound in pre-
cise synchronization with moving objects
from which the said sounds emanated, to
"can" it, either in a film or a record, and
then to reproduce and amplify it in pre-
cise synchronization with the same moving
object or objects from which it originally
came, but with that object or those objects
transformed into photographs projected to
a distant screen with such rapidity as to
simulate motion.
Understand, please, that when I say "in
precise synchronization," the term is used
pretty nearly literally. There is only a pos-
tf][ Note: This is the first of a
^ series of articles to be pub-
lished in this department. I in-
tend to carry you through until
you have a really competent un-
derstanding of not only the basic
principles involved in sound am-
plification and synchronization,
but also of the apparatus used in
the work, insofar as applies to mo-
tion pictures.
siBle tolerance of from one to one and a
half frames of film either way, or a maxi-
mum of three frames in all at the very most,
before the observer becomes aware of the
fact that something is wrong. Since there
is 90 feet of film projected per minute, and
there are 16 frames per foot of film, each
frame passes the aperture of the projector
in l/24th of a second. It therefore follows
that the maximum possible tolerance in syn-
chronism error cannot exceed J^ of a second,
if we are to secure perfection in results.
(Note: This very close tolerance, of
course, applies only to sound emanating
from some object, such as the lips of a
singer or speaker, upon which the eyes of
observers are centered, or where visible
movements of some inanimate object, such
as, for example, drum sticks, enables the
observer to know precisely when the sound
should issue. Any appreciable of?-phase in
synchronization is then, of course, instantly
apparent.
With moving or other objects in which
the observer is unable to detect just at what
instant the sound is presumed to issue, as,
for example, the noises emanating from a
crowd, street noises, et cetera, exact syn-
chronization is not so imperative. In fact
the projectionist himself can have no means
for gauging it exactly.)
Touching briefly upon the recording end
of things, few know of the years of toil
and the almost innumerable experiments, some
of them very costly, which preceded the
bringing of synchronization of sound with
motion pictures to the stage where it be-
came possible to present it to the public
as a part of theatre programs. Nor does
the average person have any adequate idea
of the vast amount of work done since then,
or of the great sums of money poured out
since that time in the improvement of the
first rather crude effort, and the bringing of
it up to its present state of really marv-elous
perfection. * * *
The present stage of excellence is indeed
such that provided the projection of the
picture and :the reproduction of the accom-
panying sound be competently handled by
the projectionist, the effect is measurably
superior to what the actuality would be.
This is because of the fact that, whereas
those seated at the rear of large theatre
auditoriums may have difficulty both in the
matter of seeing and hearing a speaker or
singer clearly when he or she is personally
present on the stage, if he or she be "pres-
ent" as a speaking or singing screen image,
because of the fact that in modern practice
the screen image is not only brilliantly
illuminated, but also usually magnified to
more than life size, it may be seen clearly
from any part of even the largest audito-
rium ; also because of the possibility for
sound amplification to almost any desired
volume, there will be no dif^culty in hear-
ing, even from the most distant seats.
In the opinion of the writer, as soon as
a color process is found by means of which
all the hues may be brought out clearly —
and that, too, will come, mind you — we shall
have a decided improvement upon the actu-
ality in every way. It is not at all impos-
sible, nor do I believe it to be even im-
probable, that colored motion pictures with
sound recorded upon the film in synchro-
nism therewith will, in a comparatively short
while, almost entirely displace the spoken
drama.
For many years I have warned motion
picture projectionists to study their busi-
Corres^ondence for F. H. Richardson, editor of this dej>art-
ment, should he addressed to South Lyme, Conn., Box 100.
20
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
ness, and to treat it in the nature of a pro-
fession. By many my warnings have been
almost totally disregarded. I now again
issue them. The time is now actually ap-
proaching when exhibitors must, in their
own protection, demand high grade com-
petency in their projection rooms. The
time is rapidly approaching when the pro-
jectionist can no longer get by with a
mere smattering of knowledge picked up
through the medium of practical experience.
The successful projection of sound in syn-
chronism with motion pictures is no hap-
hazard thing. It is a very exact thing,
and I believe the end is yet far from being
in sight. Color projection will, when it be-
comes the general practice, add new and
serious projection problems, and they will
not be easy to solve or to handle either.
Not only is the foregoing literally true,
but also projection with sound and color
will require much closer application to the
work. No longer may the projectionist per-
mit the motor to run the show while he re-
winds or does other work. He will be
obliged to remain constantly at his post of
duty, watch- his work (the picture) closely
and be right on the job every moment of
the time. Errors cannot be slurred or
glossed over as they too frequently were
with the silent picture. They will be too
glaring and too instantly apparent to the
audience.
However, on the other hand there will be
a vastly added interest to the work of
projection; also probably an added re-
muneration as well, which, of course, will
compensate for the greater amount of work
involved.
And now just a few lines concerning the
recording of sound in synchronization with
motion pictures. In this, one of the vastly
difficult problems encountered was the ex-
clusion of all extraneous sound. The micro-
phone, of course, would pick up and send
forward to the recording apparatus any and
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every sound reaching it. To it the rumble
of a truck along the street beside the studio,
or the honk of an automobile horn were
the same as any other sound. It gleefully
grabbed them out of the air, shot them
along to the recording apparatus to be
"canned" and later retailed to any who
cared to stop, look and listen. It there-
fore became imperatively necessary to
soundproof the walls and roof of the studios
where scenes were made in which only the
sounds made by design were to be re-
corded.
* * *
In recording sound upon the film itself
the difficulty was added for the reason that
the cameras themselves made considerable
noise, hence a camera had to be evolved in
which such noises would not be recorded
on the film, which was in itself some con-
siderable job. After heart-breaking trials
and failures even this was finally accom-
plished.
Insofar as concerns the successful record-
ing of sound synchronization with motion,
now in daily use in hundreds of theatres
under the name Movietone, the preliminary
development work was done in the Case
Research laboratories. In his paper titled,
"Some Technical Aspects of the Movie-
tone," read before the Society of Motion
Picture Engineers last year, Earl I. Spon-
able says: "The preliminary development
of the Movietone system was done at the
Case Research Laboratory. It was there,
during a period when 'talking pictures' were
considered more or less folly, that Mr.
Theodore W. Case financed, and through
his inventive genius was instrumental in
making the system practical. Later, in the
face of many complexities, Mr, William Fox
undertook its commercialism, and now,
through the affiliation and co-operation of
the Western Electric Company, this system
of sound motion pictures seems destined to
fill a field of public usefulness,"
To that I would like to add, in plain jus-
tice, that Courtland Smith, who has gen-
eral charge of Movietone, and Earl I. Spon-
able, its technical director, have themselves
been very large factors in ironing out the
rough spots and perfecting the details of
film sound recording and reproduction to
the front where it now is so marvelously
perfect.
I think it may fairly be said that few pro-
jectionists appreciate the grave responsi-
bility they will assume when they undertake
to place motion pictures synchronized with
sound before the public. In the very nature
of things they can hardly realize the vast
sums of capital and the enormous labor
which have been poured into the thing they
now are called upon, or soon will be called
upon, to handle and make eflfective.
-t * *
Gentlemen, when you assume charge of
such apparatus you should clearly under-
stand that upon your shoulders very laregly
rests the responsibility of placing before the
public the truly marvelous effects now made
possible, since after all the effect of it as
seen by audiences will depend very largely
upon your knowledge, skill and faithful care.
If you are careless or unskillful; if you fail
to do your full duty, then the sound syn-
chronized productions entrusted to your
care for display before the buying public
will not appear at their best, and you will
have injured your employer, the producer
and the public. Surely you will agree that
you cannot afford to do that.
AND WHILE I AM ON THIS SUBJECT,
LET ME EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT
EXHIBITORS AND THEATRE MANA-
GERS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO RIGHT
TO EXPECT, AND MUST NOT EXPECT,
THEIR PROJECTIONISTS TO PRODUCE
MAXIMUM RESULTS WITH OLD. OUT
OF DATE PROJECTION EQUIPMENT.
OR WITH EQUIPMENT IN ANY BUT
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
21
Tf^E VERY BEST STATE OE REPAIR.
IT CAN'T BE DONE. NO MATTER HOW
COMPETENT THE PROJECTIONIST
MAY BE.
Exhibitors and theatre managers, how-
ever have the unquestioned right to demand
of the projectionist to whom high grade
equipment in a good state of repair is sup-
plied, 100 per cent results upon their screens,
always presuming them to be paying a wage
for which they have a reasonable right to
expect to secure a really competent motion
picture projectionist. It is not my purpose
to enter into any discussion of visages, ex-
cept to say that you cannot reasonably ex-
pect to purchase silk for the price of cotton,
and the fact that you pay the union scale
means little in this matter. The union scale
is merely the minimum you must pay any
projectionist for a theatre of your class in
your territory. It is what all the union men
in that territory receive in your class of
theatre, BUT did it never strike you as
just plain common sense to presume that
among any number of men there is always
one or more having superior ability? It is
just plam common sense to suppose so, is
it not-" Well, one of the very best invest-
m.ents you can possibly make is to pay a
reasonable advance and GET THE BEST.
You may expend a few 'dollars a week that
way, and in the end get many dollars back
at the box office.
With this preliminary, let us now proceed
to examine somewhat into the why and
wherefore of the action of the vital parts
of sound amplificating and synchronizing
equipment, without at this time making any
attempt to link them together as to their
combined action.
Electric current is now generally accepted
as consisting of what are termed "elec-
trons," the same being minute particles of
negative electricity. What we term "flow
of current" is, according to present accepted
theory, the flow of these electrons. Please
bear this in mind, since when hereinafter I
shall speak of flow of electrons it really
means the same thing as what we have been
accustomed to term the flow of current.
When a current-conducting filament is
placed in an air tight receptacle, such as a
glass tube, the air exhausted therefrom and
a sufficient electric current sent through to
heat the filament, it throws off, or has
"boiled out of it," electrons, which travel at
high velocity and in straight lines.
It is this condition which makes sound
amplification possible, because means have
been found, as will be hereinafter explained,
to control the action of the electrons in a
vacuum tube, and compel them to do as we
wish.
The vacuum tube is the one most im-
portant element in sound amplification, be-
cause of the fact that up to this time no
substitute for it has been discovered. We
therefore will go straight to the "heart"
of the whole thing, and examine into its
action first of all.
IMPORTANT: Let it be clearly under-
stood that I am telling you non-technical
men what happens in language I believe
you can understand. In so doing it almost
always is necessary to make some sacrifice
to strict technical correctness, and technical
men may feel inclined to land on me when
they read what follows. However, were
they to tell you the same thing in their own
"language," you, or most of you anyhow,
would merely read it, scratch your craniums
and inquire of the surrounding atmosphere:
"What in **** are they talking about any-
how?" So there you are! I shall have
this checked over by some of the best en-
gineers in the business, so I guess after
all, while I may have some arguments with
them to get things by, there won't be any-
TC INPUT
TO OUTPUT
FIGURE 1
thing very much wrong. Just try to get
anything really wrong past these birds.
Try it, that's all! And when you get
through with this series I think you will
all agree that you have at least a fairly
good idea of how the old thing works.
In Figure 1 you see a glass tube, from
which the air has, as nearly as possible,
been exhausted, and a fairly perfect vacuum
therein thus formed. Since the tube is
sealed air tight, it is maintained.
In this tube is Filament F, the same con-
nected to two wires carried through the
base of the tube, which same is sealed to
them so that air may not enter. These
wires connect as shown. In the tube also
are Plate P and Grid G, connected as indi-
cated.
Note: It is of course understood that
these wires do not run direct in actual prac-
tice, but connect through a lot of gadgets,
the purpose of each of which will be ex-
plained in due time. However, for our
present purpose we connect them as shown.
Now if we send a current from the "A
battery" through Filament F, it will of
course become heated, and will throw off
electrons as already set forth, each of which
is a tiny negative charge. Remember that
positive attracts negative, repels positive,
and vice versa.
Plate P is, as you will see in Figure 1
(in which the long lines represent positive
and the shorter ones negative battery
plates), positively charged by Battery B, or
as it is usually termed, the "B battery." We
thus have Plate P positive and Filament F
negatively charged, and it is this condition,
taken in connection with Grid G, also nega-
tively charged, which makes sound ampli-
fication possible.
Above all things, in considering such mat-
ters remember that you are dealing with
action inconceivably rapid — rapid utterly
beyond the possibility of human comprehen-
sion, except by those trained to the con-
sideration of such things. An electric im-
pulse will travel many thousands of miles
in one second of time. Electric changes
occur with tremendous rapidity; with a
speed far, far in excess of any possible
variation in sound. Get that fact fixed
clearly in your mind and you will have
gone far toward comprehension of what
follows.
Returning to our diagram, the three parts
within the tube are called "elements," or
"electrodes." Usually the latter term is
used by engineers. The parts and the glass
container (bulb) shown in Figure 1 con-
stitute a complete audion, or sound amplify-
ing tube. It is that because by means of
the combination thus effected the action of
the electrons may be controlled, made to
work for us and to do our will.
An ordinary electric light globe filament
throws off electrons the same as does our
sound amplifying tube, but there is »o
means provided for their control, hence the
globe is valuable only for its light produc-
ing power.
The filament of our audion tube is heated
by what is called the "A battery," usually
a storage battery very similar to those used
in automobiles. In Figure 1, as already
noted, the long lines represent positive and
the shorter ones negative plates. As you
will note by examining Figure 1, a positive
potential with respect to Filament F is
applied to Plate P by the B battery; also
Grid G is negatively biased or charged with
respect to the Filament F by Battery C.
Grid G is really the secret of the whole
business. It is the key which unlocks the
door and enables us to control the action
of the electrons.
The action is as follows: Filament F is
heated by current from the A battery, as
shown. This causes electrons to be "boiled
out" or thrown, off, as already described.
These electrons from the filament bear a
negative charge, hence have an affinity for
positively charged Plate P, which of course
attracts them, and we thus have a current
flow established between Filament F and
Plate P, but it is uncontrolled, hence of no
practical value in sound amplification. The
number or percentage of the electrons thus
attracted to Plate P will be dependent upon
the strength of the potential, up to the
point where all that are liberated from
Filament F are attracted.
And we now arrive at the crux of the
whole matter. Grid G is interposed be-
tween Filament F and Plate P and is nega-
tively charged by the "C" battery.
The flow of negatively charged electrons
is from Filament F, toward positively
charged Plate P, and since Grid G is nega-
tively charged, and negative repels negative,
it acts as a valve which opens and closes
to permit the passage of more or less elec^
trons according as the potential rises or
falls in the grid. In other words THE
AMOUNT OF FLOW OF ELECTRONS
FROM FILAMENT F TO PLATE P
WILL DEPEND UPON THE RISE AND
FALL OF THE NEGATIVE POTEN-
TIAL IN GRID G. As it rises less will
flow; as it falls, more will flow.
Since the grid absorbs practically no
power, and we can put a relatively large
amount of power into the plate, this means
that we are using a small amount of power to
control a large amount, and that is what
constitutes amplification. A child may, by
opening the steam valve, start the engines
of an Atlantic liner, and the principle here
is just the same — in fact, in Europe these
tubes are called valves. All that now re-
mains is to bring to the grid the weak elec-
tric current obtained from the Movietone
film, by means of the input circuit shown
in the diagram, and then take off from the
plate through the output circuit the power-
ful current that is to operate the apparatus
I
22
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
for reproducing the sound (in practice more
than one tube is required to get the neces-
sary amplification).
Sound is a vibration of the air, of course,
and it is worthwhile remarking here that
the currents which the vacuum tube has to
deal with are also vibratory, which is
natural since they represent the sounds that
are being reproduced. So that although
we have a steady negative voltage applied
to the grid by the "C" battery, the current
coming from the input circuit is vibratory,
and this, of course, has the effect of causing
the grid voltage to be of a fluctuating char-
acter. But the action is just as already
described — the plate turns out a similar
but magnified fluctuating current, and so
the vibratory effect goes on to the sound
reproducers.
That, roughly, is how sound amplification
is accomplished by vacuum tubes, either in
your projection apparatus or in your radio
Advanced Action
by Loew, Inc.
I have been officially advised that in
all future Loew installations the Blue-
book of Projection will be installed as a
regular part of the projection equipment.
This action was taken by supervisor of
projection, Lester Isaac, without solicita-
tion. It was felt by him to be a neces-
sary addition to Loew theatre projection
room equipm.ent.
tube. The modulations of sound which
cause a voice to be reproduced are in either
the film itself, or in the record, in case the
record method is used. In this article we
deal only with amplification. I would very
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See your nearest dealer or write to us direct.
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Remember:
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much like to hear from you as to whether
or not I have succeeded in making it clear
to you. If I have helped you in under-
standing I will feel encouraged to proceed.
(To be continued)
As to Radio
Interl
erence
William McWirther, of West Warren,
Mass., presumably a motion picture projection-
ist, offers this on motor generator radio inter-
ference :
"With regard to the article entitled 'Radio Inter-
ference' in the Better Projection department of the
Herald-World I cannot agree with Mr. Hertner that
the method outlined will prove of any considerable
value.
"There is but one thing that can cause radio inter-
ference from a motor generator set (barring loose
connections) and that is sparking at commutator. The
interference will always be in proportion to the
amount of arcing at the commutator, so the real solu-
tion of the problem lies in eliminating this evil. A
good motor generator set, with the commutator kept
in decent condition, and properly adjusted as to brush
tension and brush LEAD, will cause little if any in-
terference.
"Mr. Hertner's method will eliminate only a very
small percentage of the total interference, as shielding,
to be of any value at radio frequency, must be prac-
tically air tight, which is of course an impossible con-
dition for our work. Assuming that a shield has been ■
installed as suggested by Mr. Hertner, the larger part
of the interference will travel out on the D.C. leads
and unless every inch of the leads from the generator
to the projection room are incased in metalic conduit,
and the conduit securely grounded, the interference
from this source will be very much greater than from
the generator itself. The D.C. leads will act as an
antenna for the interference, unless they be shielded
and grounded.
"It is possible to install a filter in the D.C. leads,
that would do more than any other device to minimize
interference, but for large machines their cost prohib-
its their use.
"I will agree with Mr. Hertner that the synchronous
rectifer is a greater source of interference than a
motor generator set, and the interference more diffi-
cult to remedy.
"Please do not think that this letter is intended to
criticize Mr. Hertner as I have a lot of respect for the
gentleman's product and cannot question his high
ability as an engineer. The foregoing is, however,
the result of considerable experience along these
lines."
John Hertner is altogether too big a man
and too just a man to feel resentment at con-
structive criticism. If you will read the arti-
cle referred to, "Radio Interference," you will
see that he himself did not regard the wire
cage as anything more than the best thing he
at that time knew of.
Personally, I don't pretend to know one
darned thing about it. I will publish any plan
presented which seems to have any possible
merit. I have before me a plan presented by
the Liberty Electric Corporation, manufacturers
of radio electric equipment and formerly
manufacturers of a synchronous converter now
being marketed by another concern.
T
eevauT'H
oiiTpyT
M[THOII FOR ELIMJMV/^i^ RW/O
You will see that it consists merely of the
installation of two 2 M.F.D. condensers con-
nected to the service lines and a ground be-
tween generator and light source. In making
this experiment, it will be well to be sure that
you have a good ground. Connect to a water
pipe if possible. Seems to me this, with care
to reduce the commutator sparking to its min-
imum, which will include a careful setting of
the brushes as to proper circumferencial loca-
tion, ought to come pretty near doing the trick.
Viewing
the Picture
I am in receipt of a request from Local
Union 655, Sheboygan, Wis., for an article to
be supplied to the local paper. The letter
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
says : "This is to advise you that we have
adopted your plan of supplying the general
public of our city with matter of interest to
them along projection lines. We ask that you
send to us an article such as you think would
be suitable, and to supply us such articles from
time to time. We aie to supply our local
paper with one article each month. Any charge
there may be for your work will be gladly
paid.
"Attached find an article copied from the
Herald- World. The local editor was much
pleased with it and asked for more. Even
the public have fallen all over it and have
asked us to keep it up."
The letter is signed by Orrin F. Kuether,
secretary of the local, who encloses a photo-
graph of his projection room. Some classy
equipment, what?
* * iK
As to an article each month, I don't think
I can do it. Right now I am doing some tall
figuring as to how I can get away with all
the work I see piling up before me. However,
possibly I can publish one once in a while,
because then not only can Local 655 use it,
but other locals can do so as well, and it's a
big stunt, let me advise you, to get the public
really interested in projection. I've told you
that many times, and I now tell you again. If
other locals advise that they can and will use
the articles I will endeavor to publish a series
calculated to be used in the local press of
various cities and towns. Here is the first.
It is for Local 655, primarily, but ought to be
handed by other locals to their local editors,
who I think would be really glad to have it.
We will head it —
Viewing the Picture.
If the general public understood more about
motion pictures and the enormously important
part the projectionist and his work play in
the perfection, or lack of it, in what they see
upon the theatre screen, there would quickly
be a demand for increased skill and knowledge
in theatre projection rooms. As it is, they
imagine the projection of motion pictures to be
merely the matter of "running a machine."
They do not understand matters sufficiently
well to differentiate between faults which are
inherent in the film itself and faults which are
caused by carelessness or lack of knowledge
on the part of the projectionist, or which occur
because the exhibitor refuses to keep his pro-
jection equipment up-to-date or in a proper
state of repair.
However, those are matters which will be
dealt with in future articles. What I have in
mind is instructing you in the matter of view-
ing the picture and giving you information by
means of which you may determine just what
are some of the things which make the picture
uncomfortable to your eyes.
First of all, unless you are troubled with
near sightedness, never go further "down
front" than you have to. With ordinary thea-
tre-size motion pictures, the view is improved
by distance up to 50 or 75 feet. If you get too
close to the screen, not only will the picture
appear "fuzzj'," instead of sharp and clean-cut
as it would further back, but also your eye
has to cover a much greater viewing angle,
and since the eye invariably follows some one
object, it must roll constantly from side to side
and up and down, which naturally is very try-
ing on muscles unaccustomed to such effort.
Fifty feet is an excellent viewing distance
and 75 is equally as good for ordinary eyes.
Many find it better back as far as 100 feet,
beyond which there will be no improvement
for any one, and it will be a bit harder than
the 50 or 75 foot distance for most. Ease in
viewing at extreme distance is dependent
largely upon picture size and intensity of il-
lumination. The larger and brighter the pic-
ture the easier it will be to see it with comfort
at great viewing distance — say in excess of 100
feet. However, beyond a certain point excess
in size and brightness of illumination makes
for eye strain for those seated nearer the
Kuether's Projection Room
screen. So the exhibitor and projectionist
having a very deep house have their troubles.
A very large picture — say in excess of 18
feet wide — is bad for those in the front part
of the theatre. In ordinary theatres in which
the viewing distance is not in excess of 125
feet, the 18 foot picture is plenty large. It is
better, for many reasons, than a larger one.
Also in small theatres where the maximum
viewing distance is not to exceed say 75 feet,
a 12 to 14 foot picture is plenty large, and is
much better than a greater size. This for
several reasons, chief of which is that it is
easier for those seated relatively close to the
screen and imposes no undue strain on the
eyes of those in the rear seats.
Abuses in picture size and illumination are
responsible for much very unnecessary eye
strain. It is the duty of the motion picture
projectionist to study and understand these
things. He must be able to advise his man-
ager intelligently concerning them.
Another thing which makes for eye strain
and slight possible headache is what is called
"glare spots." By this is meant any bright
point of light which meets the eyes when look-
ing at the screen. It may be a wrongly made
or illuminated exit sign. It maye be an im-
properly guarded, too bright light on a piano
or musician's music rack. Be it noted that the
light reflected from white sheet music consti-
tutes a glare spot, just as much as does the
light itself, though it is true it may not be
such an intense one. Such glare spots hurt
your eyes, and may even give you slight head-
ache. They are unnecessary and should by
all means be abolished wherever they exist.
The projectionist who knows his business in-
variably protects against their presence, but
not infrequently the theatre manager refuses
to act and the prenicious spots remain.
Then, too, there are many projection faults
which make for discomfort to the audience.
Flicker is of course well known, and known
to be unnecessary. Oil smeared film causes a
sort of constantly changing mottled effect on
the screen. Movement and jumps in the film
may be due to the films themselves having been
ATTENTION PROJECTIONISTS !
New Intermittent Sprocket and Pin Press
Patented Nov. 16, 1926, No. 1606830
You can project a perfectly steady picture on
the screen by replacing worn intermittent sprock-
ets with this unexcelled new press.
THIS INSTRUMENT CAN BE USED ON
POWER'S PROJECTORS AND ON ANY
OTHER PROJECTOR PRICE, $8.50
Illustrated booldets with instnictions sent free to all
projectionists on request. ,\
Projection Improvement Co.
Drifton, Pa.
abused by some projectionist who had them
before and, through carelessness, ignorance or
because his manager refused to replace worn
sprockets or keep the projectors in repair.
They may also be due to the same things in
the projection room of the local theatre.
Of course if the theatre in which such move-
ment or jumps occur uses very old film, noth-
ing else may be expected, because the delicate
edges of sprocket holes have become worn,
hence a steady picture can no longer be had
when using those films. With films in good
condition, with projections in good condition
and with normal projection speed and a pro-
jectionist who knows his business, save for a
perhaps occasional slight movement, the screen
image should be literally as "steady as a rock."
Of course you must understand that you
cannot expect very much if you are paying a
10 cent admission. A competent motion pic-
ture projectionist, films in perfect mechanical
condition and projection equipment up-to-date
and in perfect repair cost real money. The
show such a combination puts on, however, is
far better worth a quarter than the shaky,
jumpy thing you view where these conditions
do not obtain is worth a lower price. There is
an old "saw" which reads: "You can't make
a silk purse out of a sows ear," and that holds
good in motion picture theatres. Very cheap
things seldom are things of high excellence.
Alternating Current
and Carbon Set
Harold Porter, Princeton, Me., says : "Can-
not find anything about correct carbon set when
using A. C. at the arc. You show the D. C.
set very well indeed on Page 404, Vol. 1, but
how should the carbons be angled for AC?
I offered no instruction for setting carbons
where A C is used at the arc for the simple
reason that A C at the arc is out of date, very,
very inefficient and is now used in but very
few theatres. It should not be used at all.
If, however, the projectionist is obliged to
use it, I advise him to use the same set as for
D C, see Page 404, Vol. 1, of Bluebook of
Projection, it will be necessary to exercise care
to adjust the carbon tips accurately, and to
keep them that way. I differ from some
authorities who advise angling the lower car-
bon forward and bringing the upper not to
meet it. Just what the best angle i3 when
this is done is a matter upon which few pro-
jectionists agree. If you propose to use it you
will just have to experiment for yourself.
Friend Porter. Better let it alone though I
think.
When using the D C set for A C the
crater formed on the lower carbon is of
course thrown into the discard, but to com-
pensate you get a better formed, better angled
upper crater, and a consistently better screen il-
lumination. At least I always could when I was
shooting pictures at the screen. We used
A C a lot in those days.
It is granted that by angling the carbons
you may be able to get a higher screen il-
lumination at times than you can get with the
D C set. The trouble is that no man I ever
knew was able to maintain that higher il-
lumination. It would fluctuate. It is natural,
and I think inevitable that it would. With the
D C set and careful work one may get both
good and steady screen illumination, but noth-
ing less than 50 to 60 amperes A C should be
used at the arc.
The Matter
of Allegiance
From an eastern city comes this letter. For
obvious reasons I do not quote the name or
address. I had grave doubts as to the advisa-
bility of publication, but after all it seems to
me no possible harm can come from publicity
because it is a sure thing that an official with
such absurd ideas does NOT represent the
opinion of his union, or of unions in general.
24
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
Such men do great harm to the union cause.
Here is the letter :
I have just had a red-hot argument with the busi-
ness representative of our union. The argument arose
over talking pictures. I said we all ought to study
more, and that some of our members would be a
lot better union men if they knew a little more about
the business of projection.
He said that was the bunk — just a lot of Richard-
son bunk, and didn't mean a thing.
1 said Movietone and Vitaphone were coming
and we would no* be able to handle it, and that
anyhow we owed it to the employer to study and be
able to give the best possible service.
"Bunk" was his only answer, so I said: "Don't
we owe something to the boss? Don't you honestly
think we, as union men, owe allegiance to the boss
to the extent of giving the highest possible grade of
service?
His answer was, almost word for word: "You
don't owe allegiance to anybody but the union. You're
holding your job ain't you? All the boys are too
ain't they? And if the boss kicks does it do him any
good? And when them talking pictures come in if
our men can't handle them they won't come."
Now I call myself as good a union man as any
man in the I. A. I even think I am a whole lot
better union man that our business representative
when he talks like that. What do you think about it,
Mr. Richardson. I'm writing this letter myself, but
there are seven members here, all of whom express
the opinion that a business representative who talks
that way has no right to hold office. Several more
with whom I have talked think the same way.
That is absolute^ the correct view, brother.
All good union men will most certainly agree
with that. The I. A. as a whole, of course,
cannot prevent such men from getting into
office, but they do NOT truly represent either
the union or unionism.
It is an unfortunate fact that an occasional
loud mounted man will be found in unions
who really, when pinned right down to brass
tacks will be found to have only the most hazy,
nebulous idea of what is really is all about.
To them it is all absolutely one sided. To
them it is a case of get all you can, and it
matters absolutely nothing at all what is re-
turned in the matter of service value.
Such men probably really mean well enough,
but they nevertheless do a great amount of
harm and provide the employer with his best
argument against high wages. Whatever their
Important
Notice
The Hertner Electric Company has just
issued an excellent book of instructions
pertaining to their Transverter. It will
be mailed to any projectionist who may
request it who supplies the name of the
theatre in which he is employed.
I advise you and all of you to add
this booklet to your library. If you are
not using a Transverter now, you may be
soon and the booklet is a good piece of
property for the projectionist or machine
operator to own. Just address, Hertner
Electric Company, Cleveland, O., giving
the name of the theatre in which you
work, and the booklet will be mailed to
you free of charge. It contains 65 pages
and 20 illustrations, wiring, diagrams,
et cetera.
intent ; no matter how vociferously they may
declaim their "unionism," they are not really
good union men. The reason they get into
office is because they are good talkers and good
politicians. Once in office, however, almost
without exception their chief ambition is to
perpetuate themselves therein.
Fortunately, however, their number is rela-
tively small. Unions are very largely com-
posed of earnest men who, while they may not
always reason things out quite as well as they
might, are honest, faithful and desirous of do-
ing the right thing all around. More and more,
too, unions are beginning to realize that work
and wages are a mutual proposition; that
whereas the employer OWES to the projec-
tionist something more than a hand-to-mouth
wage and that if he does not understand that
simple, obvious thing, he must be made to
Stage Equipment
ORCHESTRA -:- CONSOLE -.-PIANO
AND
STAQE LIFTS
COUNTERWEIGHT SYSTEM
Loews State Theatre
LOUISVILLE, KY.
JOHN EBERSON, INC., Architects
PETER CLARK
INC.
544 West 30th Street, New York
Orchestra - Console - Stage Lifts
Counterweight Systems - Fire Curtains
understand it, still in return for a fair wage
union men owe the employer high grade, effi-
cient service. In the great preponderance of
cases they are giving it too.
The type of union officer described by this
brother is fast disappearmg. I was in fact a
bit surprised to know that any of the type
were left at all. Better place a different man
in his place as soon as you can. Certainly
everj' union man owes staunch allegiance and
staunch loyalty to the union. ALSO, certainly
every employe, union or otherwise, owes alle-
giance and loyalty to the employer to the ex-
tent of giving the best service of which he is
capable, and of seeking in all reasonable ways
to improve his capability. It would be utterly
absurd to think otherwise.
In closing I might add that the man who does
not seek to give the best possible service in re-
turn for the scale his union has secured for
him, IS NOT A REALLY GOOD UNION
MAN, in that he is not making proper effort
to do credit to the union. Dispute that if you
can.
Something
You Need
Gentlemen, I receive letters every week of the
year complimenting the excellence and value
of the Bluebook of Projection. I don't publish
them because you've had the books before you
for 17 years and ought to know just what they
are. You may believe or disbelieve, but the
plain fact is that I am very, very much more
interested in having you have the Bluebook for
your own good and the good of projection,
than I am in. the small sum I make on each
sale.
Here is a letter from Noil Myers, 14 Poplar
street, Van Buren, Ark. I will let you read it
because the man is a small town projectionist,
apparently, and has had the books a sufficient
time to judge of their worth to him in his
work. The letter was forwarded to me by the
Erker Brothers Optical Company, St. Louis,
who sold him the Bluebook. It reads :
Erker Brothers, St. Louis, Mo.: In August, 1927,
I bought from you the book entitled, "F. H. Richard-
son Handbook of Projection, the Fifth Edition."
They are the greatest books ever published on mo-
tion picture projection. I don't see how you can
charge so small a sum for your book where other
companies get a lot more for similar books on other
subjects. They are the greatest books ever written
and are indeed the projectionists' friend.
Such letters, gentlemen, are what I consider
as a real endorsement of my books. An en-
dorsement by some one to whom you have sent
a free copy, and who is not a real working
projectionist, amounts to less than nothing in
value. It is the man who allies the knowledge
gained in his daily work who knows what a
book really is worth.
From an
Old Timer
From Rufus Leighty, Washington, Ind.,
oomes this letter: "Am a projectionist in lliis
city of 12,000 people. Have been reading your
department for eight years. Not having seen
anything from this immediate vicinity I be-
lieve I am the first to place Washington, Ind.,
on the projection map.
"Washington has two theatres, each seating
about 1,000. The one where I 'shoot 'em at
the screen' is two years old. It is owned by a
circuit controlling 15 houses in this neck o' the
woods.
"We have an excellent projection room, 25
feet wide, 10 deep and 10 high. Two windows
to the open air supply ample ventilation. There
is a motor room at one end of the projection
room.
"We use latest type Motiograph projectors,
reflector type arcs at 20 amperes from double
35 Roth generator. Use Ross lenses. Screen
results are, I am told, the best on fhe circuit.
"Have had every edition of your books as
they came out. Get the Herald-World and
read the department."
(Continued on page 43)
Julv 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
Acoustics and the
Talking Picture
(Continued from payc 10)
backing such as concrete, hoHow-^tile or
plaster, with a waterproof and heat-resist-
ing cement and it is highly fire resisting.
It will not soil any more rapidly than a
painted plaster surface and it may be
decorated to an unlimited degree.
The sound absorbing power of all ma-
terials used in modern interior finishes is
known and it is evident that the area of
the interior finish of a theatre may be
measured either from the plans of the
building or by actual physical measure-
ment. The matter of determining the
sound absorbing qualities of any room is,
then, purely a mathematical problem and as
such, is precise and exact.
* * *
The sound absorbing power of an audi-
ence is equally well known and so it is
possible to determine the effect that an
audience has in reducing the time of re-
verberation so that the acoustical condition
of a theatre may be calculated for all de-
grees of attendance. It is an excellent idea
to provide good acoustics for audiences of
all sizes by using upholstered chairs
throughout, with the idea that the uphol-
stering compensates to a large degree for
an audience when only small audiences are
anticipated. Outside of this one valuable
factor, it is desirable to provide a condi-
tion wherein speech and music will receive
adequate reinforcement to secure an even
distribution of loudness throughout a thea-
tre without being so prolonged that there
will be an overlapping of the syllables of
speech or the notes of music.
Literally thousands of auditoriums have
been built er successfully treated to pro-
vide this ideal degree of absorption for
average degrees of attendance so that a
very definite standard has been set up as
to what this permissible period of rever-
beration should be. If an auditorium is
going to be too reverberant or too "bright"
when finished in the materials which would
ordinarily be used, it becomes necessary
to compensate for this hard finish by the
introduction into the interior finish of a
certain amount of sound absorbing material.
In simple rectangular rooms with flat
ceilings the location of this sound absorb-
ing material is of little moment. In large
complicated theatres containing warped
walls and ceilings, the location of the sound
absorbing material is of great importance,
for if an average degree of intensity is to
be maintained throughout the theatre, the
concentration or focusing of sound at cer-
tain points to the detriment of others should
be carefully guarded against, and the of-
fending surfaces changed from almost per-
fect reflectors into fairly good absorbers
of sound.
* * *
The contour of certain wall and ceiling
surfaces, too, is apt to cause echo or the
distinct repetition of a sound once or many
times due to reflection from distant sur-
faces. The remedy is, of course, many
times the same, the introduction of sound
absorbing material, although in the case of
echo it is often necessary to slightly alter
the shape of the offending surfaces as well.
A competent acoustical engineer can to-
day anticipate all of these acoustical diffi-
culties in advance of construction and can
almost invariably remedy defective acous-
tical conditions in existing theatres without
noticeably affecting the architectural or
decorative effects. Voice reproduction has
not yet reached the stage where it possesses
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99
with Kohler Electricity
You can't prevent the storms, fires,
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But you can "save the show" with
Kohler Electricity. You can install a
Kohler Electric Plant to ''cut in'
automatically, without your lifting a
finger, the instant the regular current
fails, and supply ample current for
your projector and for
lighting lobby, aisles,
ticket booth, exits, etc.
The Kohler Electric
Plant generates stand-
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Kohler Electric Plants are clean,
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might follow a single interruption of
the regular service would
pay part or all of the
cost of this equipment.
In addition to their
auxiliary use, Kohler
Electric Plants are installed
in many rural theatres
as the sole source of elec-
tric current for everyday
use. There are models for
large theatres and small.
The coupon below will
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26
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
You re paying
for a cooling system
Why not have it?
You'll lose enough business in hot weather
this summer to pay for a good-cooling system.
And this price you'll lose every summer —
year after year.
Why not instead get Typhoon Cooling — pay
for it just ONCE — and then have it pay
YOU. It will pull enough in extra admis-
sions to pay back its cost in one or two sum-
mers. (Proved in over 2,500 theatres.)
Isn't that better than going without it and
yet paying for it anyway — every year or two?
Think it over — Install Typhoons
Get our Booklet W-4
TYPHOON FAN COMPANY
345 West 39th Street
New York
Offices in Principal Cities
WARNING
RAVEN HA
SCREEN
is covered by
United States and Canadian Patents
Suit under U. S. Patent No. 1,315,743 has been entered in the United States Court,
Southern District of New York against a New^ York distributor
and
Legal action will be taken against all persons violating this patent.
RAVEN SCREEN CORPORATION
1476 Broadway
New York, N. Y.
the vibrant, living quality of the human
voice, and in a lesser degree the same thing
can be said of even musical reproduction.
The acoustics of theatres employing syn-
chronized pictures must be adjusted to a
more precise degree of perfection and free-
dom from disturbing factors if talking pic-
tures are to receive a favorable impression
from the ever critical public.
More attention will have to be paid to
the elimination or suppression of any ex-
traneous noise that will present any sort
of competition to the talking picture. These
extraneous noises may originate in the
mechanical equipment or even the rush of
air through ventilating ducts and grilles.
It may enter the theatre from outside
sources such as street traffic, railways, or
be caused by groups of people in the
lobbies and foyers awaiting admittance.
* * *
Then, too, there is a general hum of
restlessness and movement in any theatre
which considerably raises the noise level
through which the talking movie must
penetrate. It may in rare instances be
necessary to apply a certain amount of
sound absorbing treatment to an otherwise
excellent theatre to absorb this disturbing
noise. Certainly it is practical and logical
to utilize the noise absorbing qualities of
acoustical felt in lobbies and vestibules to
absorb extraneous noise at its source and
prevent its entrance into the theatre.
Theatre owners who are even remotely
considering the installation of talking pic-
ture equipment should take stock of this all
important question of good acoustics in
their theatres, and if there is any question
about their theatres being good acoustically
for speech as well as music, they should
take immediate steps to remedy conditions
before the installation of the talking movie
equipment. Otherwise, there is the possi-
bility of building up a reputation for
difficult hearing conditions that experience
has shown is very hard to live down.
In general, where conditions warrant the
installation of sound absorbing material, it
can be installed without closing the theatre
or stopping the revenue. In rare instances,
it may be found necessary to remove exist-
ing furnishings in the form of flimsy cur-
tains and draperies in order to eliminate
excessive deadness, or provide in their place
a degree of'tfeadness in the form of stand-
ard acoustical materials that will not be so
destructive of musical quality.
* * *
The acoustical engineer who has spe-
cialized in this line of work from the in-
ception of the science and whose experience
has brought him into contact with a great
variety of acoustical problems will, of
course, be most competent to handle the
problems of the talking movie theatre.
Theatre owners should be on their guard
against charlatans who advocate such
archaic measures as the stringing of wires,
which never had any scientific foundation
in fact or reason, or the use of so-called
sound absorbing materials which have not
been thoroughly tested in competent labora-
tories and tried out under practical condi-
tions of use. Sound absorbing materials
have no place in auditoriums unless they
are capable of decoration, redecoration and
cleaning without harm to their sound ab-
sorbing capabilities. And in theatres, par-
ticularly, materials should not be used as
an interior finish which present, even in
the slightest degree, a fire hazard.
CORONA — Corona Security Corporation has plans
by Boiler Brothers, 340 Douglas Building, Los An-
geles, for two-story theatre and store building, 150
by 150 feet, to be located at Sixth and Romona
streets. Estimated cost, $150,000.
HUNTINGTON PARK— N. Williams hae plans by
A. G. Bailey, Hillstreet Building, Los Angeles, for
four-story brick theatre, hotel and store building to
be located on Pacific Boulevard. Estimated cost,
$175,000.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
•27
Modernizing the
Interior
(Continued from page 13)
more every day that we are machines ourselves,
a part, like the steel machines, of another,
merely bigger machine.
That is partly symbolism and may sound
what we of this blunt-speaking age call hooey.
However, one need only to point to the nat-
ural phenomenon of association to show how
it is that the matter-of-fact, business-like,
steel-sinewed machine is influencing us. And
that it has already influenced us deeply _ is
obvious at every point of life today, with
the mechanistic cities in advance of the rural
regions to teach them. For it is law that life
adapts itself to its environment, psychically as
well as physically.
An interesting consideration in this connec-
tion is Russia. Russians adore the Machine.
Their new plays, their new books, their new
poetry exists almost exclusively to express
that adoration. This has been since the
Revolution, which wiped out the frills, the
luxury, the elaborate concealments of the
Czars. The Russian idea now is to be plain.
The frivolous (because it is associated with
the exquisite idler) has been discarded. The
laborer and his plain ways are exalted. Even
art must have a purpose there and it must
hew severely to the line. Thus is the Ma-
chine a symbol of the Russian philosophy.
* * *
The connection between the new Russia
and this discussion lies in the fact that modern
art bears more of the characteristics of Soviet
Russian decoration than of that developed in
any other country, and perhaps the reference
will help to bring forth further the motivating
forces of Art Moderne.
Red Russia, however, hasn't any lien on
modern art. It is the product of things going
on in recent years throughout the more or
less civilized world. England, Germany and
particularly France are scenes of considerable
activity in the development and application
of the new style, while there are a number of
workers in this field in America. Modern
art is likely to have an appeal wherever peo-
ple are subject to the influence of the Machine,
which, according to those regarded as authori-
ties in such matters, has already brought about
the general simplifications in women's clothes.
It seems plausible that in the next few years,
Art Moderne may find a vogue.
Naturally this discussion is entirely general,
a mere presentation of the idea itself. It is
conceivable that a theatre may be built in the
not far distant future in which the whole
decorative motif may be Modern. Even the
architecture could adopt the new style, espe-
cially if the theatre were located in a sky-
scraper of the new tower or "block-house"
type. But in the meantime, what?
* * *
There are picture houses being erected to-
day in which the lounges, certain corridors
and perhaps other chambers outside the audi-
torium could be decorated and furnished in
modern art. Indeed, those who contemplate
building a theatre might do well to consider
a type of architecture in which modern in-
teriors, as well as exteriors, at least in a modi-
fied form, would be suitable. One may here
recall the recent criticism of Thomas E. Tall-
madge, noted Chicago architect and Fellow of
the American Institute of Architects, who in
his book, "The Story of Architecture in
America," and in Better Theatres, deplored
what he called the gaudy motion pictiire the-
atres of today and their conglomerations of
Spanish, Oriental, Roman and other period
designs. He also asked how long it would
be before such theatres proved so monotonous
that they would cease to attract patrons and
declared that the screen theatre, housing as it
does the most modern of the arts, should be
the leader in the formation and development
of a modern architectural design.
oee-"
~*'^iO
Cover removed,
showing electro-
magnets and mech-
anism that permits
remote-control oper-
ation of the color
frames.
ANNOUNCING A
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/T NEW SPOTLIGHT with electro - magnetic
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tion, as this new Kliegl Spotlight — that allows its entire service,
including white lighting, color lighting, and dimming, all to be con-
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Already in successful operation in sev-
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(names on request), it promises to
revolutionize present-day practice of
color - lighting. One spotlight or a
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produce most unusual effects. Fewer
spotlights are needed — one group
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several groups heretofore. More light
can be obtained from any given num-
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Kliegl Spotlight No. 72 with electro-
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Write for an interesting folder, Bulletin No. 3, which
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UNIVERSAt EUCTRIC STAGE UGHTING Cxy.,m&
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NEW yoRii.t^.^
28
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
S m HISTOKY
rom one Exhibitor
io Another
THE matter of choosing an organ for
a theatre is of prime importance. It
is something that should not be done in
haste, to be repented at leisure.
In their deliberations before a choice,
an ever-growing number of exhibitors
are turning to Page architects — are turn-
ing to the Page Unit Organ.
This is only natural, seeing that the
performance of the Page is so truly re-
markable, that theatre owners speak of
it with pride.
And from one exhibitor to another
there often goes out the word, as in the
case of the letter reproduced here :
"The general work all through their
organ is the best I have ever seen and
the tonal quality surely is wonderful
. . . We feel satisfied that Page will
more than meet our demands."
You want to be satisfied, too. We in-
vite you to investigate Page ability to
serve you more than acceptably.
THE PAGE ORGAN COMPANY
523 North Jackson Street
Lima, Ohio
'!•!
I'' 'A
JiUiiidJ
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
HUftC IN THE THEATRE
Why
Be
ALARMED/
By ALBERT F. BROWN
Feature organist at the Granada and
J^arhro theatres in Chicago.
WHAT does the coming of talking
pictures quite generally throughout
the country, mean to the theatre
organist?
It is a pretty live question among organists
right now. And although some organists with
whom I have talked are a little too much
alarmed for this stage of the innovation, it is
certainly natural that the console artist should
consider his position in the situation.
It seems to me that the talking pictures will
be well established within a comparatively
short time. They will bring brand new con-
ditions for most organists. For me, they are
somewhat an old story, for Marks Brothers
has been presenting Vitaphone for over a
year and a half, and Movietone for several
months. And I know of several organists
who are in about the same position. As a
result, perhaps I am able to view the rela-
tionship of talking pictures to the organist
better than the average theatre organist.
Anyone can think back and see how new
processes have come into well established ways
of doing things and remember how much
alarm was felt by some who feared a com-
plete change. It is true that the automobile
has just about put old Dobbin out of business,
but on the other hand it is practically certain
that the airplane will never make the auto-
mobile a thing of the past. When new things
come, one must see exactly what their pur-
poses are in order to see what their conse-
quences may be. I have tried to do that in
connection with my job as an organist in
theatres having talking pictures — and in con-
sideration of this sudden widespread interest
in synchronized films.
I do not think that the talking pictures will
make any material difference to the organists
in the more prosperous -theatres or in the
Designing — Painting — Draperies
Creators of Scenic Effects
SCENIC
STUDIOS
Serving representative presentation
houses throughout the country
307 West 47th St.
New York City
Your Goodbye Ki:
tfFilTn
s-=^
3 m
lL
i
|j-"
trt
=1=^ —
ri=
•J ?
^. — '
j.
Moonlight on the Danube
And still screen dramas -proceed to insjiire "Tin Pan Alley." Here are a
cowrie examples of the current vogue, both from the publishing house of
Villa J^oret. "Moonlight on the Danube' was written as a theme song for
"The Blue Danube," Pathe production starring Leatnce Joy. "Your Goodbye
K.iss" serves the same ^ur^ose for "The Goodbye Kiss," tuhich J^ack Sennett
•produced for First National release.
deluxe houses. The theatre organist is far
in advance of his position of a few years ago.
Then most organs were of comparatively in-
different type, while those who played it for
the most part had nothing else to do but follow
a picture, and doing that in an indifferent
sort of way. But that is no longer the
organist's main job. He is now a feature, a
definite attraction, drawing people into the
theatre to the same extent that some of the
other attractions do^even as talking pictures
themselves do, or will do when they cease
to be a novelty and must rest on their own
merits as entertainment.
The organ solo is considered by thousands
of patrons of motion picture theatres all over
Just 0 $11^
Snap RECO Color Hoods — half or
full liuoils — on to clear lamps of
standard sizes, and you instantly
^t rich, brilliant color that
won't taOe or wash out like
dippe.1 bulbs do. Choice of
seven brilliant colors.
Write for bulletin describing
^^^e^CoIor
Hoods
i^e
;-»n«:ox-:
ss
2651 W. Congress St.
CHICAGO
Mauufacturers also ot
Motors. Flashers. Trafflu
Controls, Signboaid He-
Hectors. Food Mixers,
Vegetable Peelers, etc.
ZD
the country as something very much worth
listening to. Thousands of theatres are very
successful with community sings, while in
many of those same theatres and in a lot of
others besides, the organ, especially as it can
be aided by the effects of the theatre, is re-
garded as one of the finest instruments for
classical and semi-classical music. ■ Witness,
for example, the solo hours in many theatres,
and also the success of the organ solo
hours over the radio. Therefore, can it be
thought that exhibitors will throw away the
opportunity this instrument provides for
pleasing patrons?
As for the reproducing of organ music
mechanically, I do not think that even this
would supplant the flesh-and-blood organist in
the theatre. In many cases, the personal
contact, the followers that many soloists have,
LOU SAMMS
Radium Effects and Novelties
Samples on Request
177 North State Street
CHICAGO, ILL.
i
50
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
WWtlNBOOKS
Let Us Quote on Your
Fall Ticket Requirements
You have much to gain by placing
your ticket order for completion during
the dull summer months.
We will quote especially attractive
prices on work which we can complete
in the next six weeks — in order to re-
lieve our plant as much as possible from
the hectic annual autumn rush.
Also — Let us figure on all your ticket needs
Ask for the booklet illustrated above. It is free.
The Arcus Ticket Co., 346 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, 111.
Mention Exhibitors Herald
G7/i'ARCus Ticket Co.
548 KAshland Ave. Chicajo.lll.
THE
REPRODUCO
PIPE
ORGAN
RECENT INSTALLATIONS:
Franklin Theatre, Syracuse, N. Y.
Grand Theatre, McCamey, Tex.
Midland Theatre, Newark, Ohio.
Auditorium Theatre, Marietta, Ohio.
Grand Theatre, Greenfield, Iowa.
Utopia Theatre, Sheffield, Pa.
G. M. Johns, Morgantown, W. Va.
Maple Heights Theatre, Maple Heights,
Ohio.
E. F.J'enny, St. Louis, Mo.
IN BUYING A PIPE ORGAN
Consider First
SIMPLICITY OF CONSTRUCTION
Fewer parts — Better parts — mean Longer Life, Less to
get out of order, and more dependable service.
The Reproduce gives better music yet only uses about
half as many parts as most organs. Reduces possibility
of trouble 50%, increases satisfaction 100%. Insures
better music at more reasonable cost per year.
There's a Reproduco suitable for every house. Every
style has Reproduco Simplicity and Service that Satisfies.
1700 Daily Users
The Reproduco Pipe Organ Co.
715 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, 111.
Reproduco Pipe Organ Co.,
715 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, III.
Send me descriptive booklet and names of users of the
Reproduco Theatre Organs.
Name
City..
State..
]S one of the most important factors in the
success of the theatre. Then too, in com-
munity sings the mechanical organ solo is
entirely out of the question for it would be
merely a stiff routine and not flexible and
adaptable enough to be successful.
* * *
Another important point in the consideration
of the organist and his relation to talking
pictures is this : No theatre could long endure
with mechanical music playing hour after
hour. There seems to me considerable dif-
ference between the so-called "canned" music
and the real thing. Even when the mechanical
kind is very well done and is truly beautiful,
shutting it off and letting the real musicians
play still brings a lot of difference.
Most of us remember the days when one
watched pictures while someone played a piano
in the pit, continuously, as long as one was
in the theatre. As competent as it sometimes
Albert F. Brown
was, how monotonous even in those days !
Variety is the spice of motion picture en-
tertainment, as it is of most everything. The
good showman knows that he must have a
"combination of contrasts." There must be
enough different parts to a program, and each
one must be timed wisely enough, to keep
the patron interested, alert and sensitive to
what is going on for his entertainment.
Monotony is the death of appreciation — and
of a theatre that permits it.
* * *
And for these reasons I do not think that
motion picture theatres for the most part will
give up their organists. I do not know how
well or completely I have expressed my feeling
in this matter, but I do know that I can see
no reason for the alarm some organists are
showing. There will have to be adjustments
to this new condition, as there were to many
others before. But in the end there will be
the console artist seated at his instrument, in
personal, human touch with his patrons.
FARMINGDALE. N. Y. — Extensive improvements
having been completed, the Dale theatre, formerly the
Unique, has reopened under the management of W.
T. Bainbridge.
BUFFALO, N. Y. — Liberty theatre, with seating
capacity of 600, located on Jefferson avenue, recently
purchased by David Kreiger of Batavia, N. Y., is
being redecorated.
CLEVELAND, C— Majestic theatre, C. L. Nyerges,
manager, 1783 West Twenty-fifth street, has plans by
Henry Hradilek, 902 Park Building, for alterations to
Majestic theatre, located at 1783 West Twenty-fifth
street.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.— A new lighting sys-
tem has been installed in the Victory theatre.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.— The Jewel theatre,
recently badly damaged by fire, has been remodeled,
redecorated and reopened under the management of
W. D. Harrison. House was formerly known as the
Photoplay.
WHEELING, W. VA. — Extensive improvements are
being made to the Lyric theatre.
Expedition — promptness — that's what counts when
you need service. "No show" means no "gate" and no
theatre manager can laugh that off.
But there's a National branch near you where ex-
perts are ready to answer your S. O. S. — day and night;
and where complete service and repair equipment is in-
stantly available.
Only a far-reaching organization like National Thea-
tre Supply Company could offer you, at a moment's
notice, service that's swift, sure, and economical. And
this service is maintained for your convenience and pro-
tection.
Dont wait till trouble comes. Get acquainted with
National now. We serve in every capacity wherein the
furnishing and maintaining of theatre equipment is con-
cerned . . . from stage screw to pipe organ.
There's a National Theatre Supply branch near you.
^]Vational^heatre Suppl^'^omtJan)^
(«;|#frfr|r|
Palace Theatre
Canton, Ohio
Equipped with
KILGEN
Wonder Organl^^
To the theatre-owner this phrase means the possession of an asset ■which
enhances the reputation of his house, and whose musical perfection is per-
manently built-in by its master-makers . . . And to the patron it means a
never-failing attraction, the speaking, living, thrilling Voice of the Silent
Drama. Kilgen Wonder Organs are individually designed in styles and sizes
for the largest or smallest theatres. Only one quality; Kilgen standard.
Send for Catalog, or write National Theatre Supply Company, Distributors
BRENOGSAPn
Projects Everything But the P i c t u r
The Master Brenograph is the latest
Brenkert creation for pepping up those
lagging motion picture programs. It is an
absolutely new device in the form of a
universal effect projector which gives to
the exhibitor unlimited opportimities for
dressing up his programs in an entirely
original fashion.
Something radically new — yet tried and
tested, day after day, for a period of
mm
months in Detroit's largest and most beau-
tiful theatre to the intense delight of the
theatre's owner and its patrons. An in-
stantaneous success, the Master Breno-
graph opens up a wealth of entertainment
to all theatres, regardless of size. Special
literature, completely illustrating and de-
scribing this ace of all projectors, may be
had by filling in and mailing the coupon
below.
.#>%•
>7
'i'/..
Vl*V
'/•t*v
>s
BRENKERT LIGHT PROJECTION CO.
ST. AUBIN AT E. GRAND BLVD.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Write for the
Brenkert
Catalog
It's FREE
V
^*
wa
M
BETTER THEATRES
Information and
Catalog Bureau
"Better Theatres" offers on this page an individual service to
its readers. Detailed information and catalogs concerning any
product listed herewith will be sent to any theatre owner, man-
ager, architect or projectionist. Just fill in the coupon below
and mail to "Better Theatres" Division of Exhibitors Herald
and Moving Picture World. Many of the products listed by
this Bureau are advertised in this issue of "Better Theatres."
See Advertisers Index.
1 Accounting lyttems.
2 Acouttical installation!.
3 Adapters, carbon.
4 Adding, calculating maotilnei.
5 Admiiilon signs.
( Addressing mactilnes,
7 Advertising novelties, materials.
t Advertising projects.
9 Air conditioning equipment.
10 Air dome tents.
11 Aisle lights.
12 Aisle rope.
13 Alarm signals.
14 Are lamps, reflecting.
15 Architectural service.
IS Arc regulators.
17 Artificial plants, flowers.
18 Art titles.
19 Automatic curtain control.
20 Automatic projection cutouts.
21 Automatic sprinklers.
21 Automatio sprinklers.
B
22 Balloons, advertising.
23 Banners.
24 Baskets, decorative.
25 Bell-buzzer signal systems.
2S Blocks, pulleys, stage-rigging.
27 Blowers, hand.
28 Booking agencies for musicians.
29 Booking agencies (state kind).
30 Boilers.
31 Bolts, Chair anchor.
32 Booths, projection.
33 Booths, ticket.
34 Box, logo chair*.
35 Brass grills.
3S Brass rails.
37 Brokers-Theatre promotion.
38 Bulletin boards, changeable.
C
39 Cable.
40 Cabinets.
41 Calcium lights.
42 Cameras.
43 Canopies for fronts.
44 Carbons.
45 Carbon sharpeners.
46 Carbon wrenches.
47 Carpets.
48 Carpet cushion.
49 Carpet Cleaning compound.
50 Carpet covering.
51 Cases, film shipping.
52 Cement, film.
53 Chair covers.
84 Chairs, wicker.
65 Chairs, theatre.
56 Change makers.
57 Changer overs.
68 Color hoods,
59 Color wheels.
GO Condensers,
D
61 Date strips.
62 Decorations (stats kind).
63 Decorators, theatrs.
64 Dimmers.
65 Disinfectants — perfumed.
66 Doors, fireproof.
67 Draperies.
68 Drinking fountains.
69 Duplicating machines.
E
70 Electric circuit testing Instru-
ments.
71 Electric fans.
72 Electrical flowers.
73 Eieotrlo power generating
plants.
74 Electric signs.
75 Electric signal and control sys-
tems.
78 Emergency lighting plants.
77 Exit light signs.
F
78 Film cleaners.
79 FlimspMcing machine.
80 Film tools (state kind).
81 Film waxing machin*.
82 Fire alarms.
83 Firs escapes.
84 Fire extinguishers.
85 Fire hoss.
86 Fire hose reels, carts.
87 Fire proof curtains.
88 Fire proof doors.
89 Fire proofing materials.
90 Fixtures, lighting.
91 Flashlights.
92 Flashers, Electrlo sign.
93 Flood lighting.
94 Floorilghts.
95 Floor ceverlni,
96 Floor runners.
97 Flowers, artificial.
98 Footlights.
99 Fountains, decorative.
100 Fountains, drinking.
101 Frames-poster, lobby display.
102 Fronts, metal theatre,
103 Furnaces, coal burning.
104 Furnaces, oil burning.
105 Furnlturs, theatr*.
106 Fuses.
G
107 Generators.
108 Grilles, brass.
109 Gummed labels.
110 Gypsum products.
H
111 Hardware, stage.
112 Heating system, coal.
113 Heating system, oil.
114 Ink, pencils for slides.
115 Insurance, Fire.
116 Insurance, Rain.
117 Interior decorating service.
118 Interior Illuminated signs.
J
119 Janitors' supplies.
120 Labels, film oautloD.
121 Lamps, decorative.
122 Lamp dip coloring.
123 Lamps, general lighting.
124 Lamps, incandescent projection.
125 Lamps, high Intensity.
126 Lamps, reflecting arc.
127 Lavatory equipment furnish-
ings.
128 Lavatory fixtures.
129 Ledgers, theatre.
130 Lenses.
131 Lights, exit.
132 Lights, spot.
133 Lighting fixtures.
134 Lighting Installations.
135 Lighting systems, complete.
136 Linoleum.
137 Liquid soap.
138 Liquid soap containers.
139 Lithographers.
140 Lobby display frames,
141 Lobby gazing balls.
142 Lobby furniture.
143 Lobby decorations.
144 Lubricants (state kind).
145 Luminous numbers.
146 Luminous signs, interior,
exterior.
M
147 Machines, ticket.
148 Machines, pop corn.
149 Machines, sanitary vending.
150 Make up, boxes, theatrical,
151 Marble.
152 Marquise.
153 Mats, leather.
164 Mats and ninners.
155 Mazda projection adapters.
156 Metal lath,
157 Metal polish.
158 Mirror, shades,
159 Motor generators.
160 Motion picture cable.
Itl Musical Instruments (stats
kind).
162 Music publisher*.
163 Music roils.
164 Muslo stands.
166 Napkins.
166 Novelties, advertising.
167 Nursery furnlshints and
equipment.
0
168 oil burners.
169 Orchestral pieces.
170 Orchestra pit fittings, furnish-
ings.
171 Organs.
172 Organ novelty slide*.
173 Organ lifts.
174 Organ chamber heaters.
176 Ornamental fountains.
176 Ornamental metal work.
177 Ornamental metal theatr*
fronts.
P
178 Paint screen.
179 Paper drinking cups.
180 Paper towel*.
181 Perfumer*.
182 Photo frame*.
183 Pianos.
184 Picture sets.
185 Player pianos.
186 Plastic fixtures and decorations.
187 Plumbing fixtures.
188 Positive film.
189 Posters.
190 Poster frames.
191 Poster lights.
192 Poster paste.
193 Portable projector*.
194 Pottery decorative.
195 Power generating plant*.
196 Printing, theatre.
197 Program*.
198 Program covers.
199 Program signs, illuminated.
200 Projection lamps.
201 Projection machine*.
202 Projection machine parts.
203 Projection room equipment.
R
204 Radiators.
206 Radiator covers.
206 Ralls, brass.
207 Rails, rop*.
208 Rain insuranc*.
209 Rectifiers.
210 Reconstruction service.
211 Redecorating servioe.
212 Reflectors (stats kind).
213 Refurnishing service.
214 Regulators, Mazda.
215 Reels.
216 Reel end signals.
217 Reel packing, carrying eases.
218 Resonant orchestra platform.
219 Reseating service.
220 Rewinding film.
221 Rheostats,
222 Rigging, stage.
223 Roofing materials.
8
224 Safe*, film.
225 Scenery, *tag*.
22C Scenic artists' service.
227 Soreen*.
228 Soreen paint.
229 Seat coven.
230 Seat Indicators, vacant
231 Seats, theatres.
232 Sign* (state kind).
233 Signs, parking.
234 Signals, reel end.
235 Sign flashers.
236 Sign-cloth.
237 Sign lettering service.
238 Sidewalk machines, corn pop-
per*.
239 Slide*.
240 Slide ink, pencils.
241 Slide lantern*.
242 Slide making outfit*.
243 Slide mat*.
244 Shutters, metal fir*.
245 Soap containers, liquid.
246 Speed indicators.
247 Spotlights.
248 Stage doors-valances, eto.
249 Stage lighting equipment.
250 Stags iishtlng systems.
251 Stage rigging-blocks, pulleys,
252 Stage scenery.
253 Stair treads.
254 Statuary.
255 Steel lockers.
256 Stereopticons.
257 Sweeping compounds.
258 Switchboards.
259 Switches, automatle.
T
260 Talley counters.
261 Tapestries.
262 Tax free music.
263 Telephone*, inter-eommunlcat-
Ing.
264 Temperature regulation system.
265 Terra Cotta.
266 Terminals.
267 Theatre accounting systems.
268 Theatre dimmere.
269 Theatre seat*.
270 Ticket*.
271 Ticket booth*.
272 Ticket chopper*.
273 Ticket holder*.
274 Ticket rack*.
275 Ticket eelllng machine*.
276 Tile.
277 Tile stands.
278 Tool cases, operator's.
279 Towel*, paper.
280 Towels, oletti.
281 Trailers.
282 Transformer*.
283 Tripods.
284 Turnstiles, reolsterlng.
285 Typewriters.
U
286 Uniforms.
V
287 Valances, for boxes.
288 Vases, stone.
289 Vacuum cleaner*.
290 Ventilating fan*.
291 Ventilating, cooling tystem.
292 Ventilating systems, complete.
293 Vending machines, toap, tow-
els, napkins, eto.
294 Vltrellt*.
W
295 Wall burlap.
296 Wall leather.
297 Watchman's olscks.
298 Water cooler*.
299 Wheels, color.
USE THIS COUPON
"BETTER THEATRES" DIVISION
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
407 South Dearborn Street, Chicago
Gentlemen :
I should like to receive reliable information on the following items:
(Refer to Items by Number)
Remarks :
Name....
State.-..
Theatre...
„ Seating Capacity..
, City....
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
1 Learn About
Organs
{Continued from page 18)
construction of small-scaled orchestral strings.
There are special mixtures for the Diapasons.
The metal is cast in extra heavy sheets and
this, it was explained to me, is why Diapasons
in a Kilgen organ always produce ample power
and volume. The string bases are made of the
best annealed zinc with inserted soft metal
mouths, reinforced languids and toes for voic-
ing and tone regulating. The orchestral reeds,
such as the tuba, saxophone, etc., are made
with brass resonators when practical, duplicat-
ing actual orchestral instruments. All this
work is done within the Kilgen plant.
An interesting feature of the organ is the
swell action of expression shutters. These
must be of sufficient thickness and in exact
proportion to the size of the instrument. More-
over, they must be instantaneous in response,
and noiseless. They are made of laminated
construction for durability and are soundproof.
In the Voicing Department are interna-
tionally known specialists working on the vari-
ous instruments and voicing them to perfec-
tion. These "voicers" are super-musicians in
the accuracy of their sense of tone and pitch,
and add to that quality a special craftsmanship
of the highest order.
Many factors enter into the work of voicing.
For example, a special study is made of the
building where the organ is to be installed.
Accoustics, hard or soft plaster, cushioned
seats, size, construction, climatic conditions — •
all must be taken into acount and a skillful
adaptation of the voicing of the organ brought
about to assure a perfect result.
In the Trap and Percussion Department are
all kinds of drums, a harp, cymbal chimes,
xj-lophone and even a grand piano — all for use
in the Wonder Organ. So perfect is the Kilgen
organ piano-control that it is possible to ac-
tually transfer the touch of the organist at the
console to the piano many feet away and give
the effect of the artist actually at the piano.
As we reached the great erecting room
where an entire organ was set up and being
tested the magnificence and beauty of the as-
sembled product was revealed. Every organ
is given an operative test before it gets the
final approval. With many years experience in
building high-grade pipe organs, and with high
ideals as to quality which have been main-
tained for over a century the Kilgen company
exercises great care in testing every organ it
builds.
In the Installation and Service Department
is kept a card index record of every Kilgen
organ. In this department are men whose duty
is to travel, often to foreign countries, and in-
stall and finish organs in the auditoriums for
which they were built. There is also a corps
of service men whose duty it is to service and
adjust old Kilgen organs.
This completes my inspection of the various
departments of this great organ factory. In
my next article I will tell about the importance
of proper placing of an organ in the theatre.
"Little Wildcae' to Be
Next Warner '"Talkie"
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— "The Little
Wildcat" will be the next Warner picture
with sound and voice accompaniment to go
into production. Audrey Ferris, James
Murray, Doris Dawson, George Fawcett,
Claude Gillingwater and Hallam Cooley
have already been cast for important parts.
Jolson's "The Singing Fool," "Noah's Ark"
and "The Terror" are now in production.
CHANNON STAGE EQUIPMENT
Used Exclusively in
EDWARDS THEATRE, EAST HAMPTON, N. Y.
WW »: I* "^^ ^^
-« ^8 sa it gg
SB tt tt m
Sn B8 Si
IS^ SES SS
■i^ff iff' is s
New United Artists Theatre, Detroit uses 2 BRANDTS
%e Outward Sign of Supreme Service
It is no mere coincidence that the Brandt Automatic Cashier is
almost invariably seen in the box office of theatres famous for
their service. For the Brandt has over and over again proved itself
indispensable in handling crowds smoothly, quietly and quickly.
TTie ticket seller presses one-key only corresponding to the ticket
price. Instantly auto-matically the Brandt delivers the correct
change direct to the patron. That's why theatre goers alvkrays asso-
ciate the Brandt w^ith de luxe service.
THEATRE MODEL
(jS&S^M^
Cr Q / With the Subtracting Kef board
Sold Direct
not through dealers
Use the
coupon
Over
40,000
Users
Bramdt
Automatic
Cashier Co.,
Department A,
Watertown, Wis.
Please place with us
on Thirty Days' Free
Tria.1 your Brandt Auto-
matic Cashier. It is, of
course, understood that we
can return it as we accept the
trial without obligation or ex-
pense. Please check whether used
on □ right or □ left side of the
Box Office.
Firm Name _ -
Individual
City State
32
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
BUILT on MERIT
Stage Settings — Draperies
Built and Painted Scenery
Asbestos Curtains
Rigging
FOR THEATRES
HALLS
PUBLIC AUDITORIUMS - SCHOOLS
INDUSTRIAL EXPOSITIONS
NOVELTY SCENIC STUDIOS
340 West 41st St., New York City
A GOOD PICTURE-
GOOD MUSIC—
AND OF COURSE THE
BLIZZARD
SYSTEM OF VENTILATION
combined with the new and guaranteed
(MADE TO FIT ANY FAN)
BLIZZARD SALES CO.
Omaha, U. S. A.
Dear Sirs:
Please send details of the
n Oilectric Speed Chan<Te Pulley
□ Blizzard System of Ventilation
(check which)
To
Name-
City..
. Theat^.-..
.State
GUARANTEES
GOOD
BUSINESS
The Biggest Buy for the Money
the World Over!
DISTRIBUTORS — Few Open Territories Available for Commercial Trade
The Helth-Dri, a product of the
jyiilwauhee Engineering & lu.anu-
facturing Company, is described as
an efficient, electrically operated,
bloiver ty^e drier for the wash-
rooms of the theatre. The basis of
its method of drying is evaporation,
and through this means it elimi-
nates the possibility of transmitting
diseases. The Helth-Dn is 34
inches high, 10 by 16 inches at ths
base, and is built of cast iron with
heavy white enamel finish, with the
metal ^arts of tri'^le nickel ^late.
Saxes in Wisconsin Field
Again; Buy Madison House
(Special to the Herald-World)
MADISON, WIS., July 3.— Thomas and
John Saxe have re-entered the theatre field
in Wisconsin by taking over the New
Capitol theatre, Madison. Art Desormeaux,
manager of the Capitol, has resigned and
will take over the management of the
Strand of which he is secretary and treas-
urer. Len Brown, manager of the Parkway,
has succeeded Desormeaux as the manager
of the Capitol.
Trade O.K., Says Young
H. C. Young of the Chicago office of
National Screen Service, reports that busi-
ness in his section is holding its own.
"People don't fall for that 'presidential year'
scare anymore," he declares.
Joins National Screen
C. W. Vidor has joined the sales force of
National Screen Service. He will cover the
Illinois territory.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
33
Panel ■prejiared by thr:
author demonstrating
the use of the all-over
stencil. Not only the
general outlines of
the design and the
borders were got with
the stencil, but the
interior figures as
tuell.
The ''AllOver'' Stencil
in Wall Decoration
gir The process described in this issue may be
^ used in decorating the spacious sections of
the theatre — the foyer, auditorium, etc.
By HAWLEY M. LASHER
Instructor in Interior Decoration, Illinois College of Painting
and Decorating
MANY are the effects to be got with
paint — and in that statement I do not
mean to depart from the serious sub-
ject of economically decorating a theatre.
The art of making a girl look like something
she ain't, as the jingle of our childhood put
it, is an interesting subject but one which [
ha\'e not got around to consider as yet.
I do not think it necessary to argue for the
truth of my statement about the ability of
paint to achieve many effects, for the illustra-
tions and my descriptions, I think, have shown
that to those who have followed this series.
However, a surprisingly large number of
people think that painting is far more lirnited
than it really is, and that for some of the
more pretentious types of work, as usually
found in public buildings, plastic decoration
must be resorted to. Fortunately, that is not
true, for plastic decoration is expensive and
quite out of the reach of the small and in-
expensive theatre to which I refer in these
articles.
* * *
It is true that the calibre of decorator avail-
able for many jobs of this kind is not high.
Many decorators, particularly many of those
in small places, have not any special talent
for their work and furthermore, they are too
often content to go on without making an
effort to improve themselves. On the other
hand, a large number of the decorators I
have become acquainted with have a very
definite talent but have not developed it. The
type of work I have been presenting in these
pages does not call for the fine artist. The
decorator of average talent can do it if he
has enough training. And such a decorator
is the one most likely to be called m to do
the small, inexpensive theatre.
In this article I present two wall designs and
the methods to obtain them, with accompany-
ing illustrations to help make the process
clear. The designs I have prepared, purely
for illustrative purposes here, also indicate
the type of work that can be done in the
more spacious sections of the theatre— the
foyer or the auditorium. And they also are
examples of a process I have not mentioned
before in these articles— application of the
all-over stencil.
* * *
In my last article I offered a simplified
method for obtaining marble effects, which
may be used to very impressive advantage on
a plain wall where the decorator wishes to
give the impression of a pilaster. The s'ame
general method may be used to get the effect
presented in this article. Before proceeding
with this account, please indulge me long
Another ■^anel design achieved with
an all-over stencil. The fainting
was not finished off, yet the silki-
ness" of the surface is readily no-
ticeable even in this re^ftroduction.
enough to let me repeat once more that, I
am at all times taking it for granted that
the decorator I am addressing has a
thorough knowledge of color, and especially of
the colors to be used in graduating the tones
and shades harmoniously.
I will consider the design shown in the
larger illustration. The surface, of course, has
been prepared and painted to a smooth, semi-
ifat finish. For the vertical lines, first lay out
the space where the panel is to be produced.
At this point in the process the decorator us'es
vinegar and dry colors, and it is advisable to
prepare separately a quantity of each color
selected, making it a very thin liquid. The
vinegar is applied over the entire space, and
this step is followed by the application of the
colors. In applying the colors, the decorator
places the deeper shape preferably on the
outer edge, brushing along a vertical strip of
predetermined width. Two or three colors
may be used alternately until the field of the
panel is covered.
This done, a stippler, or the flat side of a
calcimine brush, is applied downward through
the colors until the decorator gets the exact
corded or ribbed eftect that he is after. It
should be remembered that it is absolutely
essential that the colors' not be permitted to
set or dry before the final brush operation is
completed.
In using a stencil for the over-all pattern,
the decorator should be sure that the stencil
has sufficient resistance. Added resistance may
be given the paper by coating both sides of
it with shellac or varnish. In laying on the
stencil, the utmost care should be taken that
the pattern is uniform on both sides. The
decorator should hold the stencil firmly in
place, then take a sponge from which all
water has been squeezed out, and then rub
it over the surface of the stencil with sufficient
pressure to remove the colors exposed
through the open spaces.
For the borders, the decorator selects a
harmonizing color. This may be mottled or
stippled for the background. If the decorator
is unable to construct his own border design,
he perhaps can secure a suitable stencil from
34
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
Smooth Out Your Projection Problems
with a
TRANSVERTER
Makes clear, steady and artistic projection possible. Changes
alternating current into direct current, greatly increasing the can-
dle power of an alternating current arc of the same amperage.
"IF YOU SHOW PICTURES YOU NEED THE TRANSVERTER"
Diatribiited in U. S. A. by The
National TheaU-* Supply Company
HAVE YOU SECURED YOUR NEW HERTNER HAND
BOOK?
If not, write us today and this book will be sent to you
FREE. Contains 64 pages of instructions and illustrations
on all types of Transverters, their construction and opera-
tion. Also contains suggestions for the proper installa-
tion, operation and maintenance of your Transverter.
THE HERTNER ELECTRIC COMPANY
1900 W. 114th Street
CLEVELAND, O., U. S. A.
IN ADDITION TO YOUR PICTURES
—GET THIS ADDED PROFIT—
READ WHAT THESE LIVE THEATRE OWNERS ARE
DOING WITH A CRETORS' POPCORN MACHINE
Eacle River, Wis.
I can trutMully say tlia.t It has not only paid for itself, but
paid me a good profit besides. EAGLE THEATEE.
ROSE THEATRE Troy, .N. Y.
I find It a big money maker and also a great convenience to my
patrons. I feel that if Motion Picture Theatres would look Into
this end of the business, they would find their bank accounts
would show a bdg increase. Jacob C. RosenthaL
THE OPERA HOUSE MiUersburg, Ohio.
During a thirty-day period, we sold a great deal more corn
than I had any idea we could and my net profit far exceeded my
expectations. Hoy L. RusseU.
The Cretors' Way Is Easy To Pay
C. CRETORS & COMPANY
612 W. 22nd St. CHICAGO
the stock designs sold by most of the paint
dealers. In some cases, in which the owner
of the theatre wants to have a job done some-
what finer than in the average theatre of this
class, a decorator of originality or even some
artist may be procured to design the stencils.
This latter stencil may be wiped out in the
s'ame manner that the over-all stencil was
wiped out, or it may be worked out in dry
colors and viijegar, with the addition of
molasses to insure adhesive strength.
For the style or outer space around the
panel, the dry colors may be used as in the
panel, except that the colors are spotted in,
then mingled to a soft blend and finally mot-
tled with a damp sponge. This will leave a
beautiful tiffany mottled effect.
* * *
When the wall is completed and is thor-
oughly dry, an oil glaze may be applied over
the entire surface. This immediately turns the
decoration into a durable oil finish.
The method used in getting the effect shown
in the smaller illustration is also that of the
over-all stencil, as just described. The back-
ground is produced by the tiffany mottled
method, with the over-all stencil brushed in
with colors to harmonize, and the whole
treated with an oil glaze finishing. As will
be seen in the illustration, although the design
was not finished off, there is something of
the efi^ect of silk in this decoration, and it is
therefore very suitable for large spaces, such
as those to be found usually in theatre audi-
toriums. It is also well adapted to use in
corridors, particularly those just outside the
auditorium.
AC Announces New
Speed Indicator
ANEW precision film speed indicator,
which can be installed on all motion
picture projecting machines, is an-
nounced by AC Spark Plug Company of
Flint, Mich., a subsidiary of General Motors
Corporation.
A film speed calculator which is furnished
with the speed indicator enables the oper-
ator, according to the company, to deter-
mine, regardless of the length of the film,
the correct speed to maintain for any de-
sired performance schedule. The manufac-
turers of the film speed indicator have long
been engaged in making precision instru-
ments for the automotive industry, their
speedometers, ammeters, tachometers and
other instruments being in use on millions
of automobiles throughout the world.
The AC instrument indicates film speed
in feet per minute, so performances can be
kept exactly on schedule time. Feature
films and accompanying musical scores can
be synchronized through use of this device,
there being no conflicts between screen and
stage performance.
Julv 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
35
Is this burglar
spending your
money?
He has made another successful
raid upon a moving picture
theatre. The money he is spend-
ing upon Wine, Women and
Automobiles belongs to the
owner of a theatre in a town a
hundred miles away.
Will he be spending your money
next week? Not if you install a
York Burglary Chest.
York Safe
and Lock
Company
York, Pa,
AHRACTIVE ADS
FILL YOUR SEATS
The original ad mat service for theatres
supplying you with a monthly shipment
of borders, slugs, ideas in mat form. All
illustrations in this ad ■were made from
mats in our July issue.
Theatre Ad Mat Service, Inc.
Gen. Offices and Studios Penn Theatre Bldg.
UNIONTOWN PA.
in M,
1,668,589. LAMP-HOUSE AND FILM-GATE CON-
STRUCTION FOR MOTION-PICTURE PROJEC-
TORS. Clarence B. Hall, Winthrop, Mass. Filed
May 7, 1923. Serial No. 637,162. 7 Claims. (CI. 88
—24.)
6. In a lig-ht projector for motion picture machines,
the combination of a light source, a housing therefor,
a fixed support, and a gate secured to said housing
hinged to said support and presenting a projecting
stop to limit swinging movement of said gate toward
said support.
Modern
Installations
The tendency among theatres, both
large and small throughout the
country is to modernize. Evidence
of this encouraging situation is
found in the many installations
of equi'^ment re^^orted by leading
manufacturers.
Maier-Lavaty Company
Uniforms
Midwesco theatre, Milwaukee, Wis., uni-
form orders on the cutting tables for this
theatre described as very neat and attrac-
tively designed apparel for attaches in light
colored styles appropriately braided.
Orpheum Circuit, new outfits for a num-
ber of their theatres.
Jefferson theatre, Beaumont, Tex., entire
new apparel for their staff.
Knickerbocker theatre, Nashville, Tenn.,
beautiful new uniforms.
Capitol and Granada theatres, Racine,
Wis., completed deliveries a short time ago
for these theatres.
Marr 8C Colttm Company
Organs
Queen Anne theatre, Bogota, N. J., three
manual.
Shore Road theatre, Brooklyn, two man-
ual.
Vilma theatre, Baltimore, Md., two man-
ual.
Academy theatre, Nunda, N. Y., two man-
ual.
Park theatre, Williamsport, Pa., three
manual.
State theatre, Fargo, N. D., two manual.
Majestic theatre, Racine, Wis., three
manual.
Paul Forster Studio, Syracuse, N. Y., two
manual.
Reg. Webb Studio, Detroit, Mich., three
manual.
Reg. Wedd Studio, Detroit, Mich., two
manual.
Majestic theatre, Wyandotte, Mich., two
manual.
Emar theatre, Duquesne, Pa., three man-
ual.
Rialto theatre, Beaver Falls., Pa., three
manual.
New Ambridge theatre, Ambridge, Pa.,
three manual.
Peter Clark, Inc.
Stage Equipment
Forrest theatre, Philadelphia, Pa., com-
plete stage equipment, counterweight sys-
tem and steel and asbestos curtains.
(Continued on page 37)
The
Neck
of the
Bottle
Consider for a moment the bottle, gentle-
men. It may contain soothing syrup for the
baby or his old man; drugs that may save
a life; the concentrated essence of nectar
or what have you. But so long as they are
bottled, are they of use to anyone? Not any.
The neck of the bottle must do its stuff before
anyone can benefit by the contents.
Moving pictures are bottled goods in a
way. The artist, scenarios, directors, cameras,
studios the whole producing industry are
bottled up in a roll of film which doesn't
mean a thing to the dollar spenders. All of
this work and equipment and artistry must
trickle out through the projection lens to be
made available to the ultimate consumer.
The projection lens is the neck of the
motion picture bottle. How well the pictures
come through the lens determines largely
how well the dollars come through the box
office.
The lens is a poor place to economize. It
is a small item and will pour a lot of pictures
in a life time. It would seem to be the best
part of wisdom to get the BEST POSSIBLE
LENS.
Right there you are paging the Cinephor.
"AS good as a Cinephor" is the way they cJI
try to express the superlative qualities of
their products. Try one out and you w^ill
know v/hy.
Bausch & Lomb
Optical Company
Rochester, N. Y.
National Theater Supply Company Distributors
36
BETTER THEATRES SECTIOIN OF
July 7, 1928
Wisconsin Nursery Means Qrowing
Business for Theatre
WHEN mothers bring their children
along with them to the Wisconsin thea-
tre, Milwaukee, they can leave them at
the theatre's nursery on the third floor, and go
in and enjoy the show, knowing that the
children will be well taken care of.
The Wisconsin nursery, ever since its in-
ception over a year ago, has proved very
popular with Milwaukee mothers. Here they
can bring their children and leave them in
LEFT : J^iss Ethel Banks in a cor-
ner of the nursery of the Wiscon-
sin theatre in J^ilwaukee,
charge of a competent nurse. It means that
the mothers need not worry about the chil-
dren beginning to cry in the theatre and dis-
turbing every one else, or trying to squirm
away under the seats and become lost. No,
these troubles are all avoided by putting the
children in the nursery.
Miss Ethel Banks, nurse in charge, has a
room full of toys, etc., which should make
any child's heart leap with joy. The room is
about 15 feet wide and 20 feet long and has
plenty of light. The walls are decorated with
an imitation frieze of children playing various
games. One feature of the room is the large
sandbox which measures 3 by 8 feet. This
is filled with "choice" sand and here the chil-
dren can play to their hearts content. Many
sand castles, palaces, and yea, even mud pies
are made in this sand box. Sometimes the
children even climb into it and sit in the sand,
there being so many of them in it at one time
that one can hardly see any sand.
For the conservative child who does not
wish to play with sand, there are other toys
such as boats, movable elephants, tigers, dogs
and cats. There are also jumping jacks,
clowns, ships, railway systems, etc. ; in fast
anything that a child might desire. Needless
to say the children do not mind staying in
the nursery while their parents are enjoying
the show.
According to Miss Banks the number of
regular patrons at the nursery increases each
week. Once parents know that their children
are taken care of and made to enjoy their
surroundings, then they bring them here each
week. They find such a procedure is much to
be preferred to holding the children on their
laps in the show.
The number of children accommodated in
this nursery over the period of a week runs
about 250. The nursery is kept open from 1
in the afternoon until 10 p. m. at night. This
means that many mothers who are downtown
shopping can come into the show on the mati-
nee price and leare their children and bundles
in the nurser}'. Good advertising, featuring
the playroom and nursery has given Miss
Banks plenty to do to entertain and make all
the youngsters happy. But when the children
go home they continue to tell "Mother" and
"Dad" all about the fine time they had at the
Wisconsin theatre playroom, which, you can
realize, means more business for the theatre.
Declares Sound Films
Need a Voice Fadeout
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— The invention
of a "fadeout" for the human voice is one
of the big opportunities beckoning the in-
ventor, with the new development of the
talking picture, according to Douglas
Shearer, technician in recording experiments
now under way at the Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer studios.
"One of the first things we are going to
need," said Shearer, "is sonse method of
'fading out' in a vocal record just as a film
'fadeout' is effected in pictures. This will
be necessary or at any rate very useful so
that we can have a character speaking, then
fade his voice out and into a written title to
take up footage where a narrative spoken
title might be too long. If we can find
some convincing way to work this change
it will make the talking picture very flexi-
ble."
Three Houses Close; Two for Summer
The Metro theatre at Harvard, near Chicago, h^s
been closed. The Villard at Villa Park will run
Saturday.s and Sundays only during the Summer.
The Apollo theatre at Belvidere is also closing for
the Summer.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
Modern
Installations
The tendency among theatres, both
large and small, throughout the
country is to modernize. Evidence
of this encouraging situation is
found in the many installations
of equipment reported by leading
manufacturers.
(Continued on page 35)
Craig theatre, New York City, complete
stage equipment, counterweight system and
steel and asbestos curtains.
Kenmore theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y., com-
plete stage equipment, counterweight sys-
tem and steel and asbestos curtain, orches-
tra, piano and organ console lifts.
Loew's East Trement theatre, Bronx,
New York City, complete stage equipment,
counterweight system and steel and asbes-
tos curtain.
Loew's Syracuse theatre, Syracuse, N. Y.,
complete stage equipment, counterweight
system, and asbestos curtain rigging, or-
chestra, piano and organ console lifts.
Loew's Ohio theatre, Columbus, O., com-
plete stage equipment, counterweight sys-
tem, and asbestos curtain rigging, orches-
tra, piano and organ console lifts.
Loew's Louisville theatre, Louisville, Ky.,
complete stage equipment, counterweight
system and asbestos curtain rigging, orches-
tra, piano and organ console lifts.
J. H. Channon Corporation
Stage Rigging
Edwards theatre. East Hampton, N. Y.
Miller theatre, Woodstock, 111.
Neenah High School, Neenah, Wis.
Colfax theatre. South Bend, Ind.
Trainor theatre, Greenville, O., installed
by Novelty Scenic Studios.
Colonel Drake theatre, Oil City, Pa., in-
stalled by Twin City Scenic Company.
Robert Morton Organ Company
Organs
Victoria theatre, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Missouri theatre, Columbus, Mo.
Princess theatre, Minneapolis, Minn.
Loew's United Artists theatre, Colum-
bus, O.
Loew's Midland theatre, Kansas City, Mo.
Universal Uptown theatre, Kansas City,
Mo.
Bungalow theatre, Weatherford, Okla.
Mazda theatre, Aurora, Neb.
Wellington Theatre Company, Welling-
ton, Kan.
Capitol theatre, Steubenville, O.
Garrick theatre, Indianapolis, Ind.
Ogden theatre, Columbus, O.
Empress theatre, Columbus, O.
Circle theatre, Tulsa, Okla.
University theatre, Minneapolis, Minn.
Columbia Heights theatre, Minneapolis,
Minn.
LaSalle Garden theatre, Detroit, Mich.
Tuxedo theatre, Detroit, Mich.
Senate theatre, Detroit, Mich.
Fine Arts theatre, Detroit, Mich.
Plaza theatre, Lansing, Mich.
Family theatre, Gary Ind.
Star theatre Elgin, 111.
Oriental theatre, Denver, Col.
Highlands theatre, Denver, Col.
Robert Morton Organ School, Chicago.
Capitol theatre, Marshalltown, la.
Claude Ball Organ School, Chicago.
Folly theatre, Denver, Col.
Yates theatre, Denver, Col.
KSTP Broadcasting Station, Minneapolis,
Minn.
Robert Morton Organ Studio, Denver,
Col.
SUPERIOR PROJECTOR
The Best There Is — There Is None Better
RAJSKS FIRST IN
Design
Simplicity in Construc-
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Low cost of mainte-
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Screen Results.
Adaptability to various
lamp equipments and
other devices now being
introduced.
To know the Superior is
to buy it.
Our circular.
Features," tells
for it today.
"Facts and
why. Send
Type "R"
Superior Projector
Manufactured by
Coxsackie Holding
Corporation
Coxsackie, N. Y., U. S. A.
Distributor Territories Available.
DRAW THE
CROWDS
WITH AN
ARNOLD
SIGN!
Thousands of theatre owners and managers throughout the United States
are enthusiastically praising Arnold Electric Sign installations. Arnold signs
are especially constructed to meet the requirements and possibilities of each
individual theatre.
Arnold Electric signs are constructed of Galva-Annealed iron, stretcher
leveled, with corrugated faces, giving the sign unusual strength, beauty, and
endurance.
Wiring and construction approved by the National Board of Underwriters.
Coated with genuine DUPONT DUCO finish, guaranteed not to scale or
become discolored.
Staff designers will be glad to prepare sketches in color without charge or
obligation for responsible theatre owners or managers. Any color combina-
tion or letter design.
Write for Complete Information and Estim.ates
ARNOLD ELECTRIC SIGNS, INC
KOKOMO - - - INDIANA
38
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
The New Model Motiograph
FIGURE 3 Closeup of cone, shutter and mechanism.
riGURE 5 — Gears of new type construction
FIGURE 7 New projector with cone collapsed and mechan-
ism open.
FIGURE 6 Closeup of rapid tilting device.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
New Spahr Projector
ELIMINATES
Heating
Drying
Warping
Buckling
OF FILM
Declares Enterprise President
RUMORS have persisted for sometime
that Enterprise Optical Manufacturing
Company of Chicago, builder of the
Motiograph de luxe projector, was perfecting
a new machine radically different in principles
and construction.
Detailed announcement of this new projec-
tor is made this week by O. F. Spahr, presi-
dent of the company.
The new principle, as described by Enter-
prise, is one which operates to eliminate the
heating, drying, warping and buckling of film.
The following description of the new prod-
uct is offered by the company:
"The New Model H Motiograph De Luxe
Projector is radically different in principles
involved and construction than the present
types of projectors employing the outside ro-
tating disc type of shutter. It depends upon a
new type of shutter of peculiar design for
its important function of eliminating the heat
from the film.
* ^ *
"The new shutter is of a horizontal or
cylindrical type. It is mounted on the film
gate of the mechanism and operates between
the film and the light source. It differs in
construction from the rotating disc type of
shutter in that it has two circular vanes and
is rotated on a horizontal axis. By these
two vanes, the light beam is cut off in a hori-
zontal plane from top and bottom simultane-
ously. This being across the narrow dimen-
sion of the aperture, results in what may be
termed a "quick cut-off." Thus, a gain in
illumination over the old type front shutter
is accomplished. The action of the two vanes
cutting the light beam simultaneously also is
an advantage in that a cleaner cut-off is ob-
tained, a more uniform distribution of the
intervals of light and darkness and a smoother
shutter action with entire absence of back-
lash travel ghost is the result.
"In the second purpose, the vanes of the
shutter cutting off the light and incidentally
the heat between the film and the light source,
it is easy to reason that since the light is cut
off during the whole interval of film motion
before the aperture, there can be no heating
or rather pre-heating of the film before it comes
to a stop before the aperture, as is the case
in the old type front shutter where the full
action of the light beam is operating to heat
the film both during the full film movement
as well as during the whole time the film is at
rest before the aperture. A further cutting
of the light beam during that portion of time
when the film is stationary before the aper-
ture, is accomplished at that period known as
the flicker interception. Thus, it will be seen
with our new shutter that the entire
action of the light beam and its in-
cident heat is cut off from reaching
the film while the film is in travel
before the aperture, and once while
it is stationary before the aperture.
The heat of the light beam is only
allowed to reach the film at two short
intervals, once when the film comes
to a stop before the aperture and
again after the flicker interception has
passed and until the film starts in
motion again.
"An idea of the conistruction of the
new type shutter may be gained from the
close-up view in Figure 2 in which the shutter
vanes, and construction is clearly indicated.
"So efficiently has this worked out to re-
duce the heat at the film that actual tests
conducted in our laboratory show a reduc-
tion in temperature of the film heat at the
aperture as follows:
Comparative Temperature Tests on Mcdel
H Motiograph De Luxe Projector —
in Comparison with Regular Pro-
jector with Old Type Outside
Revolving Disc Shutter:
Heat at Aperture
Model H Old Type
Film Speed— 80 ft. per min 565° 1486°
O. F. S^ahr
FIGURE 1—New 1002H Model Motiograph
Film Speed — 90 ft. per min 570° Temperature
Film Speed — 100 ft. per min 564° the same at
Film Speed — 110 ft. per min 555° all speds.
Average Temperature 564°
"Thus, in the Model H Motiograph De
Luxe the temperature at the aperture is 922°
less than the old type projector, or 62^4 %.
"Tests were taken in each case over a
period of thirty minutes or more of operation
of each projector with a reflecting arc type of
lamp as illuminant operated at 25 amperes.
"The heat at the point just between the
cooling plate and gate door taken after thirty
minutes operation to determine the compara-
tive heating of the metal surrounding the
aperture opening in gate door showed that
with the Model H Motiodgraph De Luxe the
temperature at this point remained constant
at 100° as against a temperature of 270° on
the old type projector. All temperature read-
ings in degrees Fahrenheit.
* * *
"This actual comparison of heat of film
temperatures at the aperture is really aston-
ishing, and film runs cooler in the Model H
even when the new highpowered illuminants
are used, than it used to in the old projectors
where the regular arc lamp and only 35 to 40
amperes at the arc were employed.
"So evident is the result, that it is not neces-
sary to have the testing engineer's report of
aperture temperatures to prove it. Anyone
may be convinced by an actual demonstration
of the Model H Motiograph De Luxe against
any proj.ector having the old type front shut-
ter, by feeling the film in operation as it
leaves the take-up sprocket. In the old type
front shutter projector, the film will feel de-
cidedly hot and it will be extremely uncom-
fortable to leave the fingers on the film for
any length of time. In our Model H, the film
will leave the lower feed sprocket practic-
ally as cool as when it was taken from the
film can it was shipped from the exchange in.
Moreover, the film will be absolutely flat, un-
warped, buckled or embossed.
"Its third purpose directly bears on the fore-
going and benefits the entire industry in that
40
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
EXPERTLY developed colortones, meeting
the needs of any projection lamp, are
built into every Silversheet surface. Their
secret is in the scientific mixing and applica-
tion of the bronzes. Their advantages need
merely to be seen to be appreciated . . . and
Silversheet alone has them.
Now you can have perfect screen results with
any of the commonly used types of pro-
jection lamps. Silversheet's Colortone sur-
face so adapts the light that a clear, sharp,
deep and brilliant picture is seen by every
patron in your house. Genuine Silversheets
are made only by the American Silversheet
Company, St. Louis and distributed through
the National Theatre Supply Company.
BESIDES showing the
picture with uniform
brilliancy to every part of
thetheatre, the Silversheet
Specification Surfaci al-
lows an AVERAGE CUR-
RENT SAVING OF 30%
over cloth screens, which
will many times pay back
the initial cost of your
Silvershee t , while giving
far better results.
SlLVERSHEEl
Knohel Specification-Built Screen
NOT A BATTERY
CHARGER
Strong full wave rectifiers
Built solely for motion picture
arcs. Not adapted to the applica-
tion. The lasting results are
proven.
Over 500 in Daily Use
Made and guaranteed by
The Strong Electric Company
2501 Lagrange Street
Toledo, Ohio
t<
You can't go wrong with a Strong"
because of eliminating the heat, the film has
longer life, it reaches the theatre in better con-
dition, it does away with dried out patches
which result in stops, create fire hazard, and
annoy the patrons of the theatre. Aside from
abolishing these annoyances, however, we di-
rectly improve projection and enhance the
definition of the picture. The film being flat
and unwarped and relieved of the intense heat
at the aperture, there is no tendency for the
film to iDuckle during projection. As a con-
sequence, the projection lens is able to func-
tion to deliver to the screen a true projected
image from a fiat focal plane. So important
is this point that all the advantages of high
corrections of the really excellent modem
motion picture lenses are fully realized. All
of the fine detail and gradations of the pres-
ent excellent examples of motion picture
photography are transmitted to the screen in
a beautifully defined and sharply focused im-
age. This cannot be accomplished where the
intense heat of the light beam is allowed to
reach the film, since under that condition the
heat invariably buckles the film during pro-
jection and absolute true focus is impossible.
* * *
"In the fourth purpose, we find the new
type shutter serves to reduce the fire hazard at
least sixty per cent. First, because of the
fact that the heat being removed from the film
almost entirely, combustion would be retarded.
Second, being positioned between the film
and light source and having two vanes or
blades there is a fifty-fifty chance that the
vanes of the shutter would act as a fire shut-
ter in the event that the mechanism or film
should stop motion. Then there is the entire
elimination of a fire hazard due to the drying
out of patches and the dried condition of the
film itself.
"The fifth purpose is one also distinctly
worthy and important. By a peculiar and
carefully worked out design of the shutter
construction wherein its ends are angled simi-
lar to the blades of a fan, but each end of
different pitch, and by the addition of air
disseminating vanes, we produce a circulation
of air which draws the radiated heat away
from the film tracks, tension shoes and
springs, gate slide and cooling plates, so effec-
tively that these important parts of the
mechanism are always cool and in a condition
to function perfectly at all times.
"The shutter and its housing are construc-
ted of cast aluminum. Its bearings are of the
ball bearing type and due to the absence of
friction, the entire mechanism operates more
freely. We estimate there is a 25% less pull
on the motor.
* * *
"A novel method of manually setting the
shutter in time has been worked out so that
this operation when necessary can be speedily
and simply accomplished and in a way that
does not in the least affect the ready removal
of the intermittent movement. A locking de-
vice and a shutter setting knob conveniently
located on the operating side of the projector
is provided for securing fine limit timing of
the shutter while the mechanism is in opera-
tion. In fact, all the advantages of the old
outside front rotating shutter have been re-
tained with none of its disadvantages. The com-
plete enclosure of the new shutter and its
operating parts as well, lessens the danger of
injury to the projectionist.
"A point readily realized by the projectionist
is the fact that the new type shutter also
eliminates the heating of the projection lens
and in these days when it is customary to
purchase high grade and expensive projection
lenses, this is a point to be considered. Tiie
construction of the new dowser is clearly
shown in Figure 2.
"The manifold advantages of our new shut-
ter are sufficient in themselves to warrant the
introduction of a new model of the Motio-
graph De Luxe projector. However, we have
not stopped at this point in the new Model H
Motiograph De Luxe since in it are incorpo-
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
rated many other improvements and innova-
tions.
"A long sought for and wanted improvement
of convenience to the projectionist is the new
design of lamphouse cone which completely
encloses the light beam from the lamphouse
to the new shutter assembly, allowing no stray
rays of light to seep out into the projection
room or cause eye trouble or annoyance to the
projectionist. A built-in observation glass in
the top of the new type shutter housing allows
full observation of the light spot at the cooling
plate as well as affording opportunity to ob-
serve the operation of the shutter itself. In
Figure 3 we have a close-up view of the new
cone, shutter and mechanism.
"The light cone is of cast aluminum con-
struction and so designed of a number of
concentric rings telescoping one within an-
other that the cone may be collapsed for open-
ing the film gate or adjusted for different po-
sitions of the lamphouse. Because of its spe-
cial design for cool operation, the cone does
not become heated and remains cool even after
15 to 20 minutes of operation of the projector.
* * *
"An innovation in the dowser construc-
tion is that this is no longer assembled on the
lamphouse or cone but is built in as a part of
the new shutter housing. It operates on a new
principle and is more accessible than the old
type dowser assembled on the lamphouse cone.
Two operating handles are provided so that
the dowser may be conveniently operated from
either side of the projector.
"In the mechanism itself many improve-
ments have been made. By a new method of
manufacture, a number of gears which were
formerly made of two piece construction are
now made in single or unit construction. This
type construction adds greater strength to the
gear and affords more free-running mechan-
isms. An example of this will be seen in
Figure 4 in which is pictured the old type con-
struction and in Figure 5 in which is seen the
new unit type.
"An improvement consisting of link bracing
of the toggle gear shaft and casting renders
this important part of the mechanism extremely
rigid and promotes longer wear of the gearing
by holding it in absolute alignment at all
times.
"Improvements have also been made in the
idler and film guide rollers, tension) springs
and film tracks. A new type one-piece con-
struction intermittent sprocket shoe is used
which not only provides longer wear for this
part but as well eliminates all danger of dam-
aging the film when not carefully watched or
renewed when necessary.
"All silk covered wire for the mechanism
pilot lamp assembly has been replaced with
metal covered flexible wire and a new connec-
tion position for the service line provided.
* * *
"The familiar base, lower magazine and
lamphouse support rods of the previous model
F Motiograph De Luxe have not been changed
since these were originally designed to secure
a sturdy foundation for the Motiograph De
Luxe and we feel no improvement has been
needed. The IMotiograph De Luxe has al-
ways enjoyed the reputation for rock-steady
projection and much of its success in this di-
rection has been due to the careful design of
its floor base and lower magazine assembly in
which proper distribution of weight and cor-
rect balance has adequately supplied strength
and rigidity sufficient for the projector itself
and the heaviest types of lamphouses.
"The new type Rapid Tilting Device which
is a recent development to permit rapid tilting
of the projector and which is provided with
limit stops for pre-determining the angle at
either the up or down position is included in
the New Model H Motiograph De Luxe as
regular equipment. This is pictured as Fig-
ure 6.
"This device operates through gearing and
ball bearings so easily that the hand wheel
may be spun freely with one hand and the en-
tire projector easily tilted without effort.
"A new type motor control switch is pro-
For more than ten years
the @ Major System has been Supreme
Theatre history has been made since the nrst @ Major Sys-
tem was installed ten years ago. The roll call of Theatres
equipped would be the Blue Book of the country — and the
general directory also, for the
has not only been installed in the finest but in the greatest
number as welL
Send for details and estimates
Srank iSidam
ELECTRIC COMPANY
ST. LOUIS
DISTRICT OFFICES
Atlanta. Oa.
BaAtinijore, Md.
Boston, Mass.
Buffalo. N. Y.
Charlotte, N. C.
Chicago, III.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Dallas, Texaa
Denver, Colo.
Detroit. Mich.
JaclcsonvUle, Fla.
Kansas City. Mo.
Los Antreles, Caljf .
Memphis. Tenn.
Minneapolis, Minn.
Muskogee. Okla.
New Orleans. La,
New York City
Omaha, Nebr.
Philadelphia, Pa.
PittsbTirgh. Pa.
San Francisco, Calif.
Seattle, Wash.
Tampa.. Fla.
Montreal, Quebe<5
Toronto, Ontario
VancouveJ", B. C.
WaLkerviUe. Ontario
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Check up on your Music
— and its cost
You may be
Find out am
beautiful music avai
reasonably ^
Duplex Org;
The
Famous
Selector-
Dupl
Organ
Nelson-Wiggen Piano Co
1731-45 Belmont Ave.
Chicago
^o<v'
Plays a ten tune roll
continuously without re-
wind. Classic on one side,
Jazz on the other if desired.
Compact in size — low in cost. Get
details now.
42
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
Here's one of the many tieu{>s ar-
ranged hy J. A. Decatur and hester
Santley, both in charge of the ■pic-
ture house exploitation department
of Leo Feist, Inc., publishers of
^'Ramona,'' the song hit that has
gone over the million mark in
copies. This window display fea-
tures the song and photoplay of the
same name. Piano rolls and rec-
ords of this song are also selling
fast from the demand created by
the flm and song. Any music store
in your town will be glad to cooper-
ate with a window display, and the
music publishers will gladly fur-
nish the theatre or the store with
title page displays if the tieup can
be arranged. This is always live
exploitation, and offers the Possi-
bility also of a prologue with a local
man and woman singing the song.
vided, operated by convenient foot pedals, one
on either side of the projector base so that
the projector may be stopped or started from
either side.
"The speed control has been equipped with a
graduated dial plate and adjustable pointer to
enable the projectionist to set the speed con-
trol to predetermined speeds. The projection-
ist once having determined that a certain point
on the dial corresponds to a certain film speed
per minute, may always set the speed control
adjustment to that definite point.
"For those theatres using the electric type
of speed indicator, a new type speed indicator
generator bracket has been developed and a
driving pulley. The generator bracket attaches
to the side of the mechanism near the base in
such a maner that the generator is driven
from the pulley on the gripping disc unit of
the mechanism.
"A new type of Lower Magazine door
handle of convenient shape and self-locking
design has been developed, and there are
many other minor improvements included as
regular equipment in the Model H Motio-
graph De Luxe.
"In Figure 7 we have a view of the new
projector with the cone collapsed, lamp open
and mechanism doors open.
"The regular high-grade, baked-on enamel
finish with gold striping which has earned the
Motiograph De Luxe ttie reputation as the
most beautiful of projectors will be retained
but will be enhanced by the full bright nickel
finish of all steel parts including lamphouse
support rods and all trimmings."
REISINQ'S
True To Nature
Ruscus or Boxwood Trees and
Hedges are excellent for Lobbies
and Foyers.
We specialize in Decorative Arti-
ficial Flowers, Shrubs, Plants and
Vines for Theatres.
sHO
Let us estimate your needs,
G* Reising & Co^
227 West Austin Avenue
Chicago, 111.
Telephone: Superior 2425
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
The I. A.
Convention
There is small need to say much about
the convention. Delegates were present
from every local union and have made
report to the locals, so printing a lot of
stuff now would be merely a waste of
space.
However, I do want to cojnpliment the
I. A.T. S. E. & M. P. M. O. of the U. S.
& C, upon its wisdom in re-electing
William Canavan as its chief executive
officer — its president — and in returning
the entire roster of officials to the posi-
tions they held.
These men are all faithful, honest men
and officials. They have had some battles
with exhibitors, true, but that is, it seems
to me, inevitable. Opposing forces will
inevitably occasionally come into contact
and try to overcome each other. That is
the way things in this vale of sin and
sorrow work, is it not.
President Canavan and his staff have
m,erely done their duty, insofar as con-
cerns the exhibitors. They stood for
what they believed to be right, just as
the exhibitor stood for what he, from his
viewpoint, thought was right. That there
were very few actual conflicts speaks
well for the ability of President Canavan
and his staff.
Canavan is my friend. I have visited
his home and he mine. I know him to
be honest and able. I know that, because
I knoiv the man. In my opinion both the
I. A. membership and the exhibitors are
to be congratulated upon his re-election.
And that statement goes for the whole
executive board, too.
Better
Projection
(Continued from page 24)
Now that is what I like to hear a man be
able to say. Best results on the circuit ! Never
be satisfied with mediocrity. The man who
finally "gets somewhere" is the one who has
the best. If I still projected motion pictures
and was in a chain theatre I would strive
hard to produce the best results of any dad
binged man on that circuit.
Can't be done sometimes, true, because an-
other theatre may have better equipment, or a
manager who is more willing to add a few
dollars in projection expense to get the best,
but I would then concentrate upon the attempt
to convince my manager that "Better Projec-
tion Pays" and thus sell him the idea of ex-
pending some money to get it.
Possibly I am not making myself very clear,
but what I'm trying to say is that the real
projectionist is the one who strives hard to
give the best possible results with what is
provided him, and is just plain proud of doing
that very thing.
The chap who has no pride in his work and
the results he produces isn't worth a tinker's
dam. He will never in this world, get any-
where worth while. He is not a climber of
mountains. That is "too much work." He
remains down low. In finance he takes what
a union is able to force out of an unwilling
exhibitor who knows he is a mere time server,
never expecting to advance beyond that point.
He usually sneers at progressive men and at
men who have pride in their work, utterly
imable to understand that those men are. in-
finitely above them and better than they.
Let us hope your circuit contains no such
{Continued on page 47)
Give your place a care-
ful "once-over." Ask your-
self where more and better
light could be used — not
whether your present system
can "get by" for another
season.
Send for our bulletins on:
Flood Lights, Spot Lights
Foot Lights, Cove Lights
etc., etc.
"Light-Up"
This Summer For A
Brilliant
Fall Opening
Now is the time to bring your
lighting equipment up-to-
date — exterior and interior.
It's the brilliantly flood-lighted
theatre exterior that brings in the
crowds. And interior lighting is a
close second in importance.
We'll Save You Money
Let us help you figure out the
cheapest way of making a first-
class job of lighting — inside and
out. Our engineering staff will
gladly study your problems, and
make up drawings and specifica-
tions for your local contractors to
figure on.
Belson Mfg* Co*
804 Sibley St.
CHICAGO
Signs That Sell!
'T^ HE brilliantly lighted Milne Made
-'- Electric Signs are the signs that sell.
They shout your show message to the
crowds that fill your theatre. They attract
attention for they are built by men who
know and understand "showmanship."
The best TTieatres in the country are
using MILNE Signs because they are con-
vinced that this "showmanship" is built
right in.
Send UM the name •/ your theatre mnd let
u» submit a colored sketch to you— — )•• »b-
iigation on your part.
MILNE ELECTRIC SIGN COMPANY
614-618 Cherry St.
Milwaukee, Wis.
The Palace Or-
pheum, Milwaukee,
the brightest spot
on "The White
Way."
Long Distance Phone Grand 76tftf
Chicago Branch: 4352 Broadway
Craeeland 4289
MILNE
SIGNS
Changeable Letter Marquise or Canopies
44
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
Electrograph Is Perfected After
Three Years Experimentation
A SYNCHRONIZING musical instru-
ment, perfected after three years of
experimental work, is announced by H.
C. Gates of the Gates Radio and Supply
Company of Quincy, 111.
This Wonder Electrograph, as it is called,
is not an over-night assembled instrument,
says Mr. Gates.
"The impedance of every unit of this
machine," he says, "is so closely matched
that the human voice is reproduced as a
real voice rather than the emanation of
some mechanical force.
"The most delicate tones of symphonic
orchestras reach the hearers with all the
tonal fidelity of the original orchestration.
There is absolutely no overloading, no dis-
tortion or unnatural volume.
"It is an instrument that is made for the
picture industry, and not merelj' to sell
to the picture industry. They are now in
use in over eight stat&s in the union, and
our distribution is made through the Movie
Supply Houses. We are making an effort
to place a dealer in every territory."
A description of the Electrograph fol-
lows:
"The cabinet housing of the producing
unit is made of the best grade of plywood
finished in Walnut, and built for a life time
of service. The illustration shows an open
front to illustrate Power Plant installation.
This front is enclosed with a ventilating
grill. A removable cover is also furnished
to close when not in use.
"Tubes used are standard UX240, UX250
and UX281, assuring long life and a very
low cost of upkeep.
"Size: Length, 32 inches; Width, 19^
inches; Height, 27 inches.
"The reproducer is a nine foot air column
sound chamber housed in a beautiful walnut
cabinet with an artistic grill that will har-
monize with the settings of any theatre.
"Size: Length, 31 inches; Width 20
inches; Height, 32 inches.
"The Wonder Electrograph does not con-
sume any more electric current than an
ordinary one hundred watt lamp, and gives
you a musical set-up that cannot be obtained
on an individual organ or piano."
Managing 5 Houses
George Aylesworth, formerly associated
with Ascher Brothers, Chicago, as manager
of the Portage Park theatre, has become
manager of the York, Elmhurst, Villard,
Villa Park and the new DePage at Lombard,
Chicago Suburban houses.
INCORPORATIONS
ALBANY, July 3. — Tkree companies incorporated
in the motion picture business in N"ew York state
last week. They are; Brill Distributing Corp.,
David Brill, William C. Herrmann and Milton B.
Kolb as directors. Erlanjfer Birmingham Theatre
Corporation, Leonard E. Berg-man, Mil^ndo Fratt,
Jr., and Saul J. Baron, of New York; Picrites Cor-
poration, $1,000, Clinton M. White, Glenr'd-'e. N. J.;
Richard M. Sauzale and Nora Y. Jarrett, New Ycrk
city.
Umpire Appointed
To Settle Fire Loss
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, July 3.— In an effort to
adjust the £re loss of the Platts-
buTgh theatre at Plattsburgb, N. Y.,
application was made last week to
County Judge Collins seeking the
appointment of an umpire to deter-
mine the insurance loss. The two
appraisers could not agree upon an
umpire. Hugh McClelland of Cham-
plam, N. Y., was named by Judge
Collins as umpire, and his decision
will be £nal.
Jacksen, Fox Movietone
Manager, Names Aids
for Sound Production
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Ben Jasksen,
executive manager in charge of Movietone
production for Fox Films, has gone to New
York to confer with William Fox and
Winfield Sheehan on the Fox sound picture
production program for next season.
Jacksen has announced names of several
members of his immediate staff who are
active in talking picture production. Harry
Delf has been made supervising director of
Movietone. He is an author, playwright,
stage director and producer. He wrote
"The Family Upstairs" which Fox made
into a picture some time ago.
Hugh Herbert and Andy Rice were se-
lected by Jacksen to become special writ-
ers of the Movietone short subjects. Harry
Bailey has been named Movietone casting
director and George Schneiderman, dean of
Fox Films cameramen, has been made
Movietone technical director.
"Sound pictures- will never replace the
silent drama," says Jacksen. "Each form
has certain characteristics that make for
artistic expression. However, Movietone
will strike the happy medium between the
stage and screen. The event of the voice
in silent drama will make for entertainment
of greater reality.
"I think it behooves every popular player
on the screen to take stock of voice ex-
pression and diction. Stage experience is
not necessary for Movietone work, but
voice culture, intonation and diction must
be mastered to be successful in talking pic-
tures."
Lynch Opens Theatre Saturday
Vincent T. Lynch announces that his new theatre
at Lombard, 111., v/iil open on July 7. It seats about
1,200.
GRIFFIN FILM
CEMENT
A new Film Cement for Studios,
Motion Picture Theatres and
Film Exchanges
Gives better service than any
other cemeat
Write for descriptive circular and special
introductory price
Manufactured by
F. B. GRIFFIN
Oshkosh, Wis.
JHEATRJ^l^
Catalogue
Send for
J.RX:langy>,
Syracuse NY
EVENHEETTERS
For perfect organ service
and longer organ life; for a
decreased maintenance ex-
pense and better organ wel-
fare, install Evenheeters in
your organ chamber.
EVENHEETERS
Cramblet Engineering Corp.
286 Milwaukee St. Milwaukee, Wis.
Julv 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
45
TF
Jlll_L
1
_
Above are the new Brenkert Brenogra^h (left) an d a graph showing placement of the device in the projectio n booth.
New Universal Effect Projector
Introduced by Brenkert
Through directional mirrors flexihle control is obtained
THE Brenkert Light Projection Com-
pany, Detroit, has added to its ex-
tensive line of projection room equip-
ment an outstanding piece of apparatus in
the form of a universal effect projector. This
device will be known as the Model F-7
Master Brenograph and was exhibited for
the first time at the 29t,h convention of
the I. A. T. S. E., where, according to
reports, it proved to be a center of attrac-
tion and aroused considerable interest.
The new F-7 Master Brenograph, after
being placed in the projection room, is
never moved, but is merely placed behind
the proper porthole in a permanent fashion.
In spite of the fact that the machine re-
mains stationary, any object, or surface,
at the front of the theatre which can be
seen from the port opening, can be in-
stantly covered by either of the projecting
systems.
* * *
This flexible control is obtained by means
of flat directional mirrors, a set of three
being placed in front of the projection lens
in each system. (See Fig. 1.) These mir-
rors are of the highest grade, optically.
One mirror in each set is rigidly fixed in
position before the projection lens and is
used only to divert the light beam onto
one or the other of the remaining two mir-
rors. Two. mirrors in each set are mounted
side by side on a sliding cross rod which
permits eifher to be instantly placed in the
path of the light beam. Both of them are
adjustable vertically and horizontally so
that the beam received upon the surface
of each can be reflected to any part of
the house merely by turning two small
knobs.
Both of the movable mirrors in each
system can be locked in position after they
are adjusted so that it is possible, in this
manner, to preset each system for either
slides or effects without in any way disturb-
ing any of the other settings. Since two
Figure 5 The new
Brenograph a'so has
this adjustable star
shutter for use in
special masking and
in effect work in ihs
theatre.
Figure 3 Pre-set
framing shutter each
blade of whieh can
be adjusted separate-
ly and then locked
into position. Easily
corrects distortion.
Figure 2 — Pre-set
iris shutter which is
adjusted to size while
in the projector, then
locked into position
and removed for fu-
ture use.
Figure 4 This shows
the photographic plate
holder for the pro-
jection of effect de-
signs over the stage
opening by new
Brenkert device.
duplicate projecting systems are available,
it is possible to show a total of four preset
effects, changing from one to the other at
will, instantly.
Immediately behind the directional mir-
rors are mounted four projection lenses,
each four inches in diameter and graded
in focal length from 10 inches to 40 inches
which gives the projectionist a wide range
over which to work. These lenses are
mounted in a swivel assembly to facilitate
rapid selection for meeting the conditions
at hand.
In front of the respective lens assemblies
is mounted an iris shutter controlled by
a rapid operating change-over handle for
showing dissolving lantern slides. An effect
holder in each system completes the equip-
ment at the front end of the machine, all
this being mounted rigidly in place as it
is not required to move the lens assemblies
back and forth to obtain a focus.
* * *
For focusing purposes, the lamphouse in
each system, together with its related parts
such as the holders, shutters, slide carriers,
etc., is moved back and forth along the
supporting base rods by means of a rack
and pinion arrangement. Preset focussing
indicators are supported along the path of
each lamphouse, one for each projection
lens, so that focussing can be accomplished
without actually observing the screen.
Instead of building the various framing
and iris shutters into a fixed assembly as
was done in the old Brenkert F-3 models,
the much simpler method has been adopted
of constructing each shutter as a separate
device which can be locked for any desired
adjustment and then removed from the ma-
chine to be laid aside until it is used. Thus,
the iris shutter (Fig. 2.) is a separate device
which can be adjusted for size, locked in
position and then removed until the time
comes when it will be used. So also with
the single unit framing shutter (Fig. 3.)
which has four blades (two for horizontal
and two for vertical framing) each of which
can be separately adjusted and locked into
position.
Additional accessories of this nature in-
clude a removable photographic plate hold-
er (Fig. 4.) for the use of 4 by 5 inch
plates on which are printed various effects;
46
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
Decoration and Equipment
To
Insure a Successful House
Must
— be designed to harmonize with the architectural scheme
— be carefully selected to secure pleasing comfort and rest-
ful relaxation.
Midwest Unified Service Covers Every Requirement of Building — Dec-
orating— Equipment — Furnishings.
A Scientific Service Harmonizing the Work of Architect — Engineer —
Contractor — Decorator and Equipment Men.
Ornamental plaster — Painting — Draperies — Rugs — Lighting Effects —
Equipment from the ticket booth to the pipe organ.
One Contract — Speedier Progress — Co-Operative Work
Write for Estimates
MIDWEST
ENGINEERING
&
CONSTRUCTION
CORPORATION
209 S. Third Street
COLUMBUS, OHIO
Main 2033
THE
HIGH INTENSITY
REFLECTOR ARC
For Motion Picture Projection
Type
HJ.R.
The latest and greatest step forward in the development of High Intensity
projection.
Snow White High Intensity Light. 60 Amperes equal in screen illumination to
120 amperes with the older High Intensity Lamps. Gives more and better light for
current expended.
HALL & CONNOLLY, INC.
129 Grand Street New York City
plates are all especially moulded to order
and contain distinctive patterns.
A hinged slide carrier is mounted on the
holder assembly so that it can be swung
■out of the way when slides are not being
projected. All plate and effect holders are
provided with swivel adjustments to cor-
rect distortion when the beam is projected
to one side of the machine.
The entire idea of this new effect pro-
jector centers around the point of presetting
all effects in advance of their showing. All
adjustments for slides and effects, in-
cluding framing, focussing, directing the
beam, matching, etc., are performed in ad-
vance so that it is not necessary to disturb i
any adjustment when changing from slides
to effects or from one effect to another.
* » 4:
Both projecting systems are absolutely in-
dependent of each other which makes it
possible to show a small picture with one
system while the other is projecting a large
one. What is more important, the two in-
dependent light beams can be directed to
different parts of the theatre so that it is
possible to "spot" the organist at the same
time that an effect is being thrown upon
the screen; or, two effects can be projected
to opposite sides of the theatre. The angles
over which the beams may be thrown are as
follows: 16 degrees above horizontal, 40 de-
grees below horizontal, and 26 degrees to
the left or right of the machine. (See Fig.
6.) The machine is never tilted and at all
times remains level on the floor.
While the Master Brenograph has the
same over-all dimensions as the old Model
F-3 machine, it actually requires less space
in the projection room because no space is
required, as with the old model, for side
swiveling and tilting to make the beams
cover the stage.
In point of light efficiency, too, the
Master Brenograph is far superior even
though additional losses of light are en-
countered by using the directional mirrors.
A highly efficient condenser set together
with large diameter projection lenses, give
the brilliant light that is required to project
rich color effects. The current necessary
to obtain this light is moderate; in fact,
60 amperes represent the maximum which
can be used to good advantage but it is
expected that 40 to 50 amperes will suffice
for all ordinary work even in the large
theatres.
* * '*
The practicability of the Master Breno-
graph has been amply demonstrated by
thorough laboratory tests supplemented by
daily operation over a period of months in
one of Detroit's large theatres, the Holly-
wood. The extreme flexibility of the ma-
chine and it's precise registration of every
effect immediately won for it the admiration
of the owners and projectionists alike with
the result that the trial installation was
made permanent.
Brenkert has available a complete line
of animated scenic and color effects which
are adaptable to the Master Brenograph in
addition to special stationary scenic effects
which were devised for making quick
changes of stage scenes by the projection
method. All of these effects have been
priced especially low in order to make it
possible for the theatres to purchase them
outright.
Simplicity of operation is a feature of
the Master Brenograph. Each lamp is equip-
ped with an automatic arc control to re-
lieve work in this respect and enables the
projectionist to devote all of his time to
projecting effects.
Standard equipment on the Master Breno-
graph includes arc controls for each lamp,
one spring driven color wheel, a set of
special glass effect plates, and two framing
and two iris shutters, each of the present
type. The standard finish will be black
enamel, baked on, with nickel trimmings.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
Better
Projection
(Continued from page 43)
projection incubuses, Brother Leightj', but that
the men are all progressive. A friendly
rivalry between projectionists on a circuit of
theatres is fine. It is good for projection,
for the men and for every one concerned.
It
Flutters
Manager, Grand theatre, Coalport, Pa., says :
"We have a Powers 6B projector. So far as
we know no parts are worn nor is anything
loose, yet there seems to be a flutter up and
down and sometimes to one side; also it seems
to be greater by far* in some reels than in
others ; also more in one portion of some
reels than in other parts. Will you please
advise us as to the cause of it."
This is typical of many letters which still
reach my desk, and the writers therof evi-
dently believe I can by some mysterious fifth
or sixth sense analyze their troubles, bing,
just hke that I suppose I should feel highly
complimented at such a display of confi-
dence, but really I'd much prefer informa-
tion to confidence.
Well, let's see what we can make out of
friend manager's trouble. By "flutter" he
might mean a movement of the picture up and
down and side wise, or he might mean travel
ghost. Guess not the latter, though, as travel
ghost doesn't work sidewise. Yes, I think
the picture jumps up and down with a short,
jerky motion and once in a while it moves
sidewise. Just a guess, but probably not far
from right.
As to the sidewise movement, examine the
two rollers on top of the projector gate. See
to it that they set snugly against the film, but
lAathout sufficient pressure upon it to "cup"
the film. That may be allright, though, and
you may be using what we call junk film,
which means very old film. In such film there
may be badly made splices, which would cause
the film to move sidewise, as they went be-
tween these rollers, or when it went over the
intermittent sprocket.
In fact, it is not at all impossible that old
film with badly worn, strained sprocket holes
is responsible for the whole thing. — The jump-
ing (flutter) as well as the side movement.
Then, too, your intermittent movement may
be badly worn or in need of adjustment, or
the intermittent sprocket teeth may be worn
hooked, or it may be a combination of all
these various things and some more. It would
require at least one whole page of this de-
partment to deal with such a trouble fully.
Set your projector flywheel so that the inter-
mittent is on the lock. By that I mean turn it
until the intermittent movement has acted and
the intermittent sprocket has come to rest.
Then turn the flywheel a little more, but stop
before the sprocket moves again. The move-
ment now is "on the lock." Now see if the
sprocket can be moved either endwise or cir-
cumferentially appreciably. If it can it should
be adjusted to eliminate or very nearly elmi-
nate all that motion. I can't spare space to
tell you how. Get you a Bluebook of Pro-
jection for that. It contains complete direc-
tions and a great mass of other things that you
very evidently can use to good advantage. See
to it that the idlers which hold the film to the
sprocket are set about two thicknesses of film
away from the sprocket.
There, if you want further help you must
giveme much more detailed information. Tell
me just what that "flutter" consists of, how
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For Anchoring Opera Chairs to Concrete Floors
IVill not come loose when properly set
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48
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
Automatic Devices Co.
737 Hamilton Street
ALLENTOWN, PA.
The Proper Control of Light
On Your Screen
Picture Blms vary as well as current eonditions.
Your projectieoist can adjust hli arc enrrent to
always give yon a clear, bright picture If you
•quip with PERFECTION. Current saTing ■!«• Is
a result of PERFECTION equipment, for b« naacl
not us* full enrrent till the actual projection la
started.
PERFBcnON
REMOTE CONTROL RHEOSTATS
An Ever Groieing List of Satisfied Vt»r$:
Boxy Theatre — New York
City
Paramount Tlieatre — New
York City
Elalto Theatre — New York
City
BiTOli Theatre— New York
City
LoeWs State Theatre— New
York City
loew's State Theatre — New-
ark, N. J.
I/)ew's Teiaa Theatre—
Houston, Texas
Loew*! 86th St. — Brooklyn.
N. Y.
Loew'i State — Columbus. O.
Astor Tkeatre— New York
City
Proctor's 86th St. — New
York City
Cohan Theatre — New York
City
Publlx Theatre — Buffalo,
N. Y.
New Capitol — ^Binghamton,
N. Y.
Keith's Theatre— Philadel-
phia
Carman Theatre — Philadel-
phia
P r o 0 t 0 r's Theatre — New
Bochelle. N. Y.
Proctor's Theatre — W h 1 1 e
Plains, N. Y.
Fox's Washington — Wash-
ington, D. C.
—and mony •thars
Sold by Theatr* Supply Dealer*
HOFFMANN & SOONS
Mfg. DivisiiMi
387 First Avenue Nrw Tork City
Contracting Electrical Engineers — Moving Pic-
ture Theatre Electrical Specialists
old the projectors are and what repairs have
they had and W'hen.
Big Things
Coming
It is pretty certain now that before another
year has rolled around, sound synchronization
will be an established fact in THOUSANDS
of theatres in this countrj- and Canada. New
installations are going in as fast as they can
be produced. Big things are in the projec-
tion pot and boiling merrily.
Movietone itself has just closed deals in-
volving a thousand theatres. It expects within
a year to have Movietone in at least 3,000
theatres if the apparatus can be produced that
fast.
William Fox has been a potent factor in
bringing about the rapid adoption of sound
synchronization with motion in our theatres
and in that William Fox has performed a
real service to the motion picture industry and
to the public. This would be true if for only
one reason — and there are more than one. Just
imagine what it means for the smallest village
theatre to screen the productions with ac-
companiment by the best orchestras in all the
world, or to actually in effect have the presi-
dent of the United States, to say nothing of
great opera singers pay a personal visit to the
little village and speak to the people of the
community.
As I have already intimated, sound synchon-
ized with motion is going to add to the pro-
jectionist's work somewhat, but it also will
give him a vastly added interest in it. It is
going to give him a sort of personal interest
in the show. That is the verdict of projec-
tionists now using projecting sound. It will
put the projectionist on his metal and give him
the chance to really show what he can do.
Sound projection is no longer an experiment.
It is an established fact.
New Inventions for
Picture Industry
,S7
^.aI
¥^
,m
Kw.5
^"isl W}
^p^
21 T'8^
a^
4
1,671,805. PROJECTOR LAMP. Preston R. Bas-
sett, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to The Sperry Gyro-
scope Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., a Corporation of
New York. Filed Nov. 25, 1922. Serial No. 603,288.
29 Claims. (CI. 176—66.)
26. In a projector lamp, an electrode, a hub, a
brush-holder rotatably mounted on said hub, a plural-
ity of brushes, slidable in said holder and resiliently
engaging said electrode, a cam on said hub, a pin
fixed to each of said brushes and engaging said cam,
and means for rotating said holder to cause move-
ment of said brushes in feeding direction.
1,669,027. MACHINE FOR PRINTING PHOTO-
GRAPHS. Frances Seymour, Newark, N. J. Filed
July 16, 1926. Serial No. 122,760. 2 Claims. (CI.
88—24.)
1. A machine for printing photographs from a de-
veloped negative having twin pictures comprising a
holder for the negative, a source of light behind the
negative to project rays to and through the negative
and a positive in front of the negative, and a biprism
mounted in front of the film to cause the rays from
the negative to be bent and be superimposed on the
positive surface, and a means for distorting said pro-
jected rays so as to produce a grotesque, positive.
'«>«>^
GOING TO RENOVATE
THIS SUMMER?
DULL Summer days suggest renovations
. . . new chairs . . . perhaps carpet for
the foyer . . . maybe your lighting is poor,
if new lighting fixtures are part of your
plan it is well to think before choosing. They
should be decorative and ornamental . . .
that for beauty. They should be practical
. . . for illumination is certainly the pur-
pose of lighting equipment They should be
"Distinctively Theatrical" ... to further
amplify the illusive quality of the play
house . . .
Fixtures by VOIGT have all these quali'
fications " and many others ! Prices are
reasonable toO"With convenient terms if
desired.
Write for booklet, "Lighting Fixtures
for Theatres"
VOIGT COMPANY
Designers and Manufacturers
Decorative Lighting Equipment for TheatrCj
1743-49 NORTH 12th STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Reserved Seat Tickets: for Theatres and all amuse-
ment enterprises. Folded Machine Tickets: for all
machines. Roll and Book Strip Tickets: for every
pnrpose. We supply the leading theatres and amuse-
ment enterprises all over the country. Write for
samples and prices.
'W^ILLlANfS
& LICK.
FORT SMITH, ARK.
Specialists in Numbered Printing Since 1898
Julv 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
49
/. B. Tdunjar and S. E. Rose, of the
Robert l^orton Organ Company,
Chicago. T^unjar s 12 years of ac-
tive service in the organization have
brought him a recent •promotion
which places him in charge of sales
in 21 7^id-W estern states and also
including the export department ex-
ploitation.
New Fro]ects
CALIFORNIA
ALTADENA — W. A. Ha£S and associates, care
Altadena Chamber of Commerce, plan to erect brick
and concrete theatre and store building. Architect
not selected. Estimated cost, $150,000.
BERKELEY — Pantages Theatre, Marshall Square
Building, San Francieco, plans to erect Clase "A"
theatre. Cost estimated to exceed $150,000.
CALEXICO— S. Lesser. 621 South Hope street, Los
Angeles, has plans by C. J. Weyl, 6536 Sunset Boule-
vard, Los Angeles, for brick theatre and store build-
ing. Estimated cost, $150,000.
OAKLAND— Pantages Theatre, Marshall Square
Bxiilding, San Francieco, plans to erect Class "A"
theatre. Cost estimated to exceed $150,000.
PORTERSVILLE— S. Leseer, 621 South Hope street,
Los Angeles, has plans by C. J. Weyl, 6536 Sunset
Boulevard, Los Angeles, for brick theatre and store
building. Estimated cost, $150,000.
SAN JOSE— Pantages Theatre, Marshall Square
Building, San Francisco, plans to erect Class "A"
theatre. Coet estimated to exceed $150,000.
CONNECTICUT
GREENWICH — Lincoln Theatrical Enterprises, Inc.,
S. Brotter, president, 972 Broad street, Newark, N. J.,
ha£ plans by W. E. Lehman, 972 Broad street, Newark,
N. J., for one-story brick theatre, with seating capac-
ity of 2,500, to be located on Boston Post road, near
Greenwich avenue. Estimated cost, $150,000.
TORRINGTON — L. Longhl, 42 Calhoun street, has
plans by L. J. Thompson, 521 Corbin avenue. New
Britain, Conn., for two-story brick theatre, 75 by
250 feet, to be located on North Main street. Esti-
mated cost, $200,000.
ILLINOIS
MONMOUTH— Community Theatre, Chamber of
Commerce Building, has plans by F. J. Klein, 301
Main street, Peoria, III., for replacing burned theatre
with new brick structure on Public Square. Estimated
cost, $75,000.
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FOR FULL
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HUB ELECTRIC CO^ toledo. ohio
1220 Madison Ave.
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1510 DAYTON ST. CHICAGO, ILL.
Dept. B-1
50
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
The foyer, called the
foyer-'^romenoir in the
Seattle. It is 40 feet
high and extends the
full width of the theatre,
a chamber of magnifi-
cent ■pro'^ortions as vuell
as furni shings. The
grand staircase is a fea-
ture of the theatre ,
uuhile one foyer rug is a
Gobelin measuring 25
by 30 feet.
The auditorium, show-
ing particularly the dec-
orative work at the
■proscenium arch. This
entire ceiling is wrought
in this elegant manner,
'with a great dome at the
center. Concealed
throughout these carv-
ings are lights capable
of bathing the audito-
rium in a gradation or
colors. The entire audi-
torium seats 4,000.
The Seattle— New $3,000,000 Wesco House
One of the Pacific Coast s outstanding motion ■picture theatres is this theatre erected
hy L. "N.. Rosenbaum from designs hy W. S. Hammons of New York. The above 'pic-
tures indicate its elegance.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
Can You Answer
These Questions?
1/ you can% read the recent court
decisions compiled —
By LEO T. PARKER
Cf Must a censor see a picture?
CJ Have you protection against ejection?
O Are you liable for injury to patrons?
^ Are you liable for employes' injuries?
C[ Does delay in filing suit bar recovery?
CI Is landlord liable for failure to give lease ?
SELDOM have the higher Courts rendered
decisions so important to theatre owners
as those which are digested in this month's
article on theatre law.
Be sure to keep the citations of the follow-
ing cases. Since all of these litigations have
been decided by the higher Courts during the
past few weeks, you may use them to advan-
tage should you become involved in legal con-
troversy.
* * *
Board of Censors
Bound to Review Films
Some few months ago, an important de-
cision was rendered pertaining to the require-
ments of a state board of censors to examine
and censor all films before refusing to permit
the films to be publicly exhibited.
In this case State Midwestern Film
Exchange v. Clifton, director, 160 N. E. 625,
the director of censors refused to accept the
films of the Dempsey v. Tunney Boxing Ex-
hibition because, he said, the title of such film
and of his own general knowledge of the
event portrayed "it was and is unnecessary
for him to actually examine said film in order
to exercise his judgment and discretion to
determine whether or not such film was of a
moral, educational, or amusing and harmless
character so as to entitle it."
In holding the director not lawfully em-
powered to refuse to view and examine the
picture, before rejecting it for exhibition, this
higher Court said :
"While the Court would not disturb the
exercise of a sound discretion upon the part
of the board, in its approval or disapproval
of a film, yet the order of the director bas-
ing his disapproval upon what he terms his
'general knowledge" of the film and its title,
and not upon examination, was not made in
compliance with the aforesaid sections of our
law relating to film censorship. It therefore
follows that the order of the director, made
under such circumstances, was unlawful and
unreasonable."
* * *
Lease Contract
Construed
Proprietors who lease buildings should be
certain that the following clause is inserted
in the lease contract :
"In any action brought to recover the
possession of premises for the non-pay-
ment of rent, the tenant m-ay before
judgment is given in such action, pay
or tender the rent due and the costs of
the action, and all further proceedings
in such action shall cease."
In the recent case of Coleman v. Carohna
Theatres, 143 S. E. 7, a lease contract con-
tained substantially the above clause. The
theatre proprietor failed to pay the agreed
rental for the months of January and Feb-
ruary, 1928. The owner of the building sued
to regain possession of the property. How-
ever, the theatre proprietor tendered to the
landlord, before judgment was rendered by
the Court, all the rents due, together with all
costs which the landlord had incurred in filing
the suit. The court immediately rendered a
verdict permitting the theatre owner to retain
possession of the premises.
However, the case of Midimis v. Murrell,
128 N. E. 150, is distinguishable for the reason
that the lease contract therein provides that
upon failure to pay the rent the landlord should
have the option to declare the contract null
and void. In this case the proprietor failed
to pay the rent when due and it was held
that this failure automatically terminated the
lease contract, thus ousting the proprietor, al-
though he tendered the rent due after the
suit was filed.
* * *
Amusement Proprietor
Held Not Liable
for Injury to Patron
The case of Berberet v. Electric Park
Amusement Co., 3 S. W. (2d) 1025, decided
during the past few weeks, imparts unusually
important and valuable information of the
duties of theatre proprietors to maintain the
premises safe for patrons. Also, the kind of
New Process for
Treating Films
1,669,394. PROCESS FOR TREATING FILMS.
Carleton Ellis, Montclair, and Harry M. Weber,
Bloomfield, N. J., assignors to Ellis-Foster Company,
a Corporation of New Jersey. Filed Dec. 16, 1921.
Serial No. 522,915. 9 Claims. (CI. 87—5.)
1. The process of recovering moving picture film
which comprises passing the film through a moistening
zone whereby it is exposed to the action of hot slight-
ly alkaline aqueous medium, stripping the softened
gelatin from its celluloid support, washing the
stripped film free from alkaline substances and pass-
ing said film through a drying chamber, the foregoing
steps being carried out in a continuous manner.
testimony which the injured patron must in-
troduce to obtain a favorable verdict for
damages is clearly explained.
The facts of this case are that at the time
of the alleged injuries a woman of about 57
years, with her husband and her grandson,
a boy of 9 years, visited a park paying the
customary entrance fee. While in the park,
they went to a merry-go-round. A board
walk extended from the merry-go-round to
a concrete walk. The boy rode in the merry-
go-round, after which they walked from the
merry-go-round along this board walk, which
inclined somewhat toward the concrete walk.
When they were close to where the board
walk joined the concrete walk, the woman
fell sustaining severe injuries. She sued the
park owners for damages contending that the
board which caused her to fall was loose and
unfastened and was likely to move and swerve
when stepped on, whereby the former were
guilty of careless and negligent acts in per-
mitting and leaving a board in the sidewalk
unsafe and dangerous.
During the trial the injured patron intro-
duced testimony proving that her injuries re-
sulted when she stepped upon the loose board,
but she did not prove that the board walk
was defective before she walked upon it.
The lower Court held the patron entitled to
damages for the injuries, but the higher
Court reversed this verdict and in holding
the proprietor not liable, explained the law on
this subject in the concise language as follows:
"The defendant operated the park for profit, and,
to these persons who paid the entrance fee and en-
tered, owed the duty to use reasonable care to make
every part of it safe. The rule is that the proprietor
of a place of public amusement owes to his patrons
that duty which, under the particular circumstances,
is ordinary care or reasonable care for their safety.
. . . However, one who invites another to come
upon his premises is not an insurer of the safety of
such other person. The rulings in the cases show
that the care required of the proprietor of a place of
public amusement is that which is reasonably adapted
to the character of the exhibitions given, the amuse-
ment offered, the places to which patrons resort,
and also, in some cases, the customary conduct of
spectators of such exhibitions. It is a case com-
mensurate with the particular conditions and cir-
cumstances involved in the given case. In the case at
bar, the particular place involved is a board walk,
for the use of patrons visiting a merry-go-round and
returning thence to a concrete walk. It is an in-
stance under the general rule which charges an owner
of property with a duty toward those he invites the
corresponding duty, a duty appropriate to the nature
of the object, and of its use by the plaintiff ^he duty
to keep the walk in reasonable safe condition, for
persons walking thereon . . . The plaintiff's (injured
patron's) case is founded upon the claim that the
board had become unfastened and loose, and was un-
fastened and loose before she stepped upon it, and
that when she stepped upon it it slipped or gave way,
and that defendant, in the exercise of ordinary care
would have discovered its unsafe and dangerous
condition. There is nothing to show the condition
of the board, one hour, or one day, before plaintiff's
injury, except the fact that when she stepped upon
it it slipped or gave way, and, after she arose, one
end of it was out of place, leaving a space of two
inches or more. It was not shown that the board
was originally defective, or thai the board or the
52
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
stringer upon which it lay had decayed, or that it
had not bee-n nailed, or that, if nailed, the nails had
come out . . . Since, as the cases hold, the defendant
(proprietor) was bound to use ordinary care, and
was not an insurer of the safety of the plaintiff
(injured person) it was necessary to show that the
condition which existed should have been known to
the defendant."
On the other hand, a theatre owner is liable
in damages for injuries sustained by a patron
as a result of the former's negligence in fail-
ing to properly safeguard the patron against
an apparent danger.
For illustration, in Painesville Utopia
Theatre Co. v. Lautermilch, 160 N. E. 683, it
■was disclosed that a theatre consisted of an
entrance inclosed from the street by glass
doors, a foyer separated from the lobby by
glass doors, and the auditorium separated
from the foyer by curtains. The foyer was
the space immediately back of the rear row
of seats. For matinees the curtains were
closed on the doors leading from the lobby,
and between the foyer and the auditorium.
One afternoon a patron purchased a ticket
for a matinee entertainment and entered the
theatre. After viewing the pictures she left
the auditorium room, which was semidark,
and entered the foyer, which was also semi-
dark, and there sought a toilet room. Ob-
ser\-ing an ordinary door at the end of the
foyer, she opened it and fell through an open
space to the basement suffering severe in-
juries.
In this case the theatre owner was held
liable in damages, because he was negligent in
permitting the dangerous doorway to remain
unlocked.
* * *
Employer Bound to Keep
Premises Reasonably Safe
for Employes
The law is well established that it is the
legal duty of a theatre owner to provide a
reasonably safe place, as the circumstances
will permit, for his employes to work. Fur-
thermore, he is legally bound to know that the
theatre equipment and premises are free from
apparent defects which are likely to cause
injury to the employes.
For example, in a leading case (140 S. E.
76) the Court quoted :
"It is elementary learning that it is the duty
of the master to furnish his servant a reason-
ably safe place, as far as practical, for doing
his work."
On the other hand, an employer is not an
"insurer" against injuries sustained by his em-
ployes. If it can be proved to the satisfaction
of the Court that an injured employe was
grossly negligent in not taking the proper pre-
cautions to protect himself against injury, or
that the defect causing the injury was not
discoverable by a reasonably careful em-
ployer, the latter is not liable in damages.
It is important to remember that an injury
sustained wdthout negligence on the part of an
employe is an evitable happening, and the
theatre owner cannot avoid liability on the
contention that the manager's negligence
which caused the injury was unintentional.
The law expects the theatre owner to keep
the premises reasonably safe to avoid injuries
to the workman and his failure to do so
renders him liable, irrespective whether the
neglect was intentional or unintentional. The
important question is : Did the employer ex-
ercise ordinary care to maintain the premises
in a safe condition?
Therefore the theatre owner is not per-
mitted to avoid liability on the grounds that
the injury occurred as a result of negligence
or disobedience of an employe such as the
manager, foreman or other person who had
control over the employe previous to the
accident.
For instance, in Reynolds v. Al. G. Barnes
Amusement Co. 300 S. W. 1062, it was shown
that an employe, while attending to his reg-
ular duties stepped into a hole, and was seri-
ously injured.
The employe filed suit contending that the
proprietor negligently and carelessly failed
to provide and maintain at the place reason-
ably sufBcient light, and negligently permitted
the premises and the hole to be dark and
unlighted.
The proprietor contended that he was not
liable because the foreman, on duty at the
time of the accident, had disobeyed instruc-
tions to keep the premises well lighted.
However, the Court held the emplove en-
titled to recover $7,500 damages, and said:
"In this situation it was defendant's (pro-
prietor) diity to exercise ordinary care to see
that plaintiff's place of work was reasonably
safe. This was a continuing, nondelegable
duty. It was defendant's duty to make the
place reasonably safe for plaintiff's (employe)
labor. It follows that if the lights were not
furnished by defendant, or if furnished and
the foreman failed to use them, there was
still the negligent act of defendant. ... It
was defendant's (proprietor) duty, under the
circumstances in evidence, to use reasonable
care to see that the lights in question were so
placed as to render plaintiff's (employer)
place of labor reasonably safe, and a failure
to do so was negligence. The fact that the
omission ^ may have occurred through the
fault of its servants and agents charged with
said duty will not release defendant (pro-
prietor) from liability."
Delay in Filing
Suit Bars Recovery
(Generally speaking, a signed contract by
which a theatre owner is released from dam-
ages for injuries sustained by a patron is
valid, providing the theatre owner or his
authorized agent does not fraudulently induce
the patron to sign the contract. Moreover,
contracts of this nature cannot, under any
circumstances, be set aside after an unreason-
able delay on the part of the patron.
For illustration, in Swan v. Rivoli Theatre
Co., 219 N. W. 85, a woman patron, who was
injured through fault of the theatre employe,
filed suit against the theatre owner to recover
damages.
The latter compromised the claim for $1,500
and obtained a written contract signed by the
woman and her husband stating that they for-
ever released the theatre owner "from any
and all actions, causes of action, claims and
demands accrued and to accrue on account
of any and all known and unknown injury, loss
and damage whatsoever sustained by us on or
about the 13th day of April, 1922."
Four years after signing this agreement and
release, the woman filed suit contending that
she had been induced to sign the release be-
cause the theatre owner had fraudulently
concealed from her the nature, character and
extent of her injuries.
However, the Court held the woman not
entitled to reopen the case, saying :
"There was very considerable delay. The
injuries occurred and the settlement was
made more than four years before the mo-
tion to open the judgment and more than
two and one-half years before the judgment.
We do not fail to note that the attorney who
brought suit was guilty of gross neglect. . . ."
Landlord Liable for Failure
to Give Promised Lease
It is well established that the owner of prop-
erty is liable in damages for failure to fulfill
a written lease contract, or a verbal promise
to enter into a written lease.
For instance, in Machaelis v. Freddy, 295
S. W. 305, it was disclosed that a person
named Machaelis desired to enter into the
business of conducting a motion picture theatre.
He approached a man named Miller who was
conducting a theatre in a leased building and
arranged to purchase the equipment at $7,500,
with the understanding that he should obtain
a . lease on the building from the landlord.
Machaelis then explained to the landlord the
contemplated contract of purchase of the
moving picture show from Miller. Machaelis
asked the landlord if he would give an option
on the building at the expiration of Miller's
lease on January 1, 1926. Machaelis informed
the landlord at the same time that he could
not afford to buy the moving picture business
and pay out the amount of $7,500 unless he
was sure of obtaining the building. The land-
lord promised that he would give Machaelis
a written lease at a stipulated rental upon
t'op expiration of Miller's lease. Machaelis
tiie.-. paid Miller $3,900, the first payment on
his theatre equipment, in anticipation of ob-
taining the lease contract promised by the
owner of the theatre building.
However, at about the time Miller's lease
expired, another person approached the land-
lord and offered a rental for the lease con-
siderably higher than that amount which
Machaelis had agreed to pay. In view of
receiving the larger rental, the landlord pro-
ceeded to lease the theatre building to the
person making the offer, whereby Machaelis
was prevented from entering into the theatre
business with the equipment he had purchased
from Miller.
Machaelis then sued the landlord for dam-
ages. The Court held the landlord liable in
damages to Machaelis for the amount of
$1,000, and explained that the landlord should
be held accountable for failure to fulfill the
verbal agreement to lease the theatre building
to Machaelis.
(Editor's Note: The following summary of
legal decisions are a continuance of those pre-
sented last month.)
Illegal Object
Of the Lease
Of course, if the object of the lease con-
tract is not legal, neither party is liable in
damages to the other for breaking the con-
tract. For instance, where a lease provided
for the erection of a frame building in viola-
tion of the city ordinance, the lease would be
held void.
Also, in New Chester Theatre Corporation
V. Bischoff, 205 N. Y. S. 641, it was disclosed
that the New Chester Theatre Corporation
entered into a contract with the man named
Bischoff by which the latter agreed to build
a theatre according to certain plans and spe-
cifications, and lease it to the former for a
term of 15 years. By the agreement, the lease
was not to be made until the building was
fully completed. The agreement required the
building to comply with all the local and state
laws regarding such buildings. After the
building was ready for occupancy and the two
parties had entered into the lease, the new
operator having obtained a license, began the
operation of the theatre. Not long after, the
operator was notified that the building did
not conform in certain respects with the re-
quirements of the law and regulations of the
various departments of the city. This in-
formation was at once conveyed to the owner
who agreed to attend to all the items. He,
however, did not do the things required by the
notice thereby causing the license of the
theatre operator to be suspended and the thea-
tre business closed.
The theatre operator sued the owner to re-
cover for the damages sustained, as well as
the deposit which was paid upon the lease.
The Court held the theatre operator entitled
to these damages, and said:
"No fraud was shown, but in equity, a re-
cission may be had where a contract was en-
tered into upon a misrepresentation of a
material fact, although there was no fraud.
Had the plaintiff (theatre owner) known that
the building was not constructed in accord-
ance with the requirements, it could have
refused to have taken possession, and could
have sued to recover the deposit. Having
entered into possession without knowledge of
the fact, the plaintiff (theatre owner) had the
right to surrender possession as it did, and
to recover the deposit and any damages it had
sustained."
On the other hand, while the theatre owner
who takes possession and uses a building can-
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
53
not avoid payment
tion that the landlo
contract violated a
may avoid liabiHty
is not constructed
laws, providing he
the building when
of the rent on the conten-
rd was aware that the lease
law, yet the lessee always
on leased property which
in accordance with definite
does not take possession of
informed of the defect.
For illustration, in Hart v. City Theatres
Company, 109 N. E. 479, it was disclosed that
a theatre operator leased a building for the
purpose of using the same as a passageway
to and from his theatre. Later, he discovered
that the passageway violated the New York
City Building Code. The higher Court
promptly held this lease void and unenforce-
able. However, in order that the operator of
a theatre may rescind a lease contract, it must
be shown that the carrying out of the lease
actually \iolated a valid law. For example,
in Kierman v. Bush Temple, 82 N. E. 410,
it was shown that a theatre operator leased
a building. The lease contract specified that
the landlord agreed to furnish the theatre
operator with a building which would justify
issual of a first class amusement license.
Later, it was discovered that a city ordinance
restricted the use of movable scenery in
theatres, constructed as was the building con-
templated in the lease contract. The theatre
operator contended that in view of this fact,
he was privileged to rescind the lease. How-
ever, the Court held the lease contract valid
and enforceable because the defect was im-
material.
^ ^ 3t:
Cancellation
Of Lease
Under certain circumstances, either the
lessor or lessee may cancel a lease. For in-
stance, where a landlord fails to perform part
of the lease contract, the lessee may cancel or
rescind the lease. (124 N. Y. S. 936.)
In a recent case (101 Pac. 678), it was dis-
closed that a lease contract contained a stipu-
lation by which it was agreed that if the
building was destroyed by fire, the lessee
should be relieved of payment of a portion of
the rental, and if the building was completely
destroyed by fire, the lease contract would be
automatically cancelled.
Fire destroyed about 15 per cent of the
building. In fact, the entire brick wall on
the side, and the greater part of the wall on
the other side, as well as almost all of the
tile partitions, plaster, and woodwork were
destroyed. After a hard fought case, the
Court held the building was practically totally
destroyed, which entitled the theatre operator
to cancel the lease.
Also, the outcome of the case of Dalls
Opera House Association v. Dallas Enterprise,
288 S. W. 650, decided during the past few
weeks, is important to theatre owners for the
reason that the higher Court had occasion to
interpret the legal meaning of a clause com-
monly inserted in theatre lease contracts.
It was agreed between the theatre pro-
prietor and the owner of the building that
in the event the building was destroyed by fire
the latter had the privilege of reconstructing
the building if the proceeds from the insur-
ance ivas sufficient to cover the cost. And if
the amount of the insurance money was not
sufficient to pay the total expense of the recon-
struction of the building, the theatre operator
was privileged to make the necessary repairs
and take in full payment the money from the
insurance.
To guarantee fulfillment of the terms of the
lease contract, the theatre owner deposited in
a bank $20,000 in Liberty Bonds. The lease
contract covered what was once known as the
Dallas Opera House, and more recently known
as the Capitol theatre. It began June 1, 1921,
and was for a term of five years, ending May
31, 1926, and provided for monthly rent of
$2,250, or an aggregate rent during the five
years of $135,000, besides taxes and premium
on as much as $50,000 of fire insurance, which
the theatre owner was also to pay. The build-
A New Camera
Case
75,367. MOTION-PICTURE-CAMERA CASE. Al-
bert S. Howell, Chicago, III., assigmor to The Bell &
Howell Company, Chicago, III., a Corporation of Illi-
nois. Filed Feb. 27, 1928. Serial No. 25,604. Term
of patent 14 years.
The ornamental design for a motion picture cam-
era case, as shown.
ing was insured for $77,500 at the time of the
fire. The occurrence of a fire on December
27, 1921, completely destroying the building on
the lease property, and the theatre owner im-
mediately notified the building owner of the
fire. The owner of the building proceeded to
obtain bids from contractors relative to the
expense of reconstructing the building. In
the meantime the owner had some difficulty in
collecting the insurance. On January 1, the
theatre owner paid the monthly rental of
$2,250, and taxes of $3,000. When February
1 rent became due the theatre owner, not hav-
ing received response from the building owner
as to whether he intended to repair the build-
ing, refused to pay the rent on the contention
that the owner of the building had breached
the contract by failing to give information
whether the insurance money was sufficient to
reconstruct the building. Then the theatre
owner instituted legal proceedings to obtain
possession of the $20,000 in Liberty Bonds, on
the grounds that the building owner had
breached the lease contract. The owner of the
building also sued to receive the $20,000 be-
cause of the theatre owner's failure to pay
the rent on February 1. The owner contended
that he was doing everything within his power
to obtain information from contractors of the
reconstruction cost.
The Court held the theatre owner entitled
to recover the $20,000 and that the owner of
the building was not liable in damages to the
former because the period from December 27
to February 2 was deemed a reasonable period
in which the owner may determine whether
he would reconstruct the building without cost
to the theatre owner.
* * *
Validity of
Lease Contract
Sometimes a lease contract is partly written
and partly printed. The rule is established
that the pen-written portions of the lease con-
tract prevail over the printed or typewritten
portions, and that the typewritten portions
prevail over the printed portions. (92 Pac.
652.)
After the validity of a lease is established,
and the lessee sues the landlord for damages
on the contention that the latter has breached
certain terms of the lease, the lessee may re-
cover damages equal to the difference between
the rent agreed to be paid and the actual
value of the use of the premises. (80 S. E.
668.)
The measure of damages for which the
lessee is liable to the landlord, where the
former repudiates a lease contract, is the dif-
ference between what the property may be
rented for during the balance of the term and
the rent specified in the lease contract. (123
Pac. 795.)
* * *
Renewal
Of Lease
It is well settled that a stipulation to renew
a lease contract is importantly distinguished
from one to extend a lease, in that a new
lease must be made to renew a lease, whereas
a new lease contract is not required where the
old lease merely is extended. (197 Mass. 267.)
However, where the term "renew" is speci-
fied in a lease contract, it is implied that the
landlord will execute a new lease containing
exactly the same clauses as the old one. (203
Mass. 506.)
On the other hand, a stipulation in a lease
contract which provides that the owner agrees
to renew the lease must be clear and not in
any sense ambiguous. For illustration, in
LaSalle theatre v. Taft, 156 111. App. 356, it
was disclosed that a theatre operator obtained
a _ lease contract containing the following
stipulation: "If the lessee (theatre operator)
is desirous of renewing the lease, six months
prior notice shall be given to the lessor for
his consideration." The Court held that this
clause did not entitle the theatre owner to a
renewal of the lease.
In another case, 145 N. Y. S. 1004, the
lease contract provided that the lease should
be renewed on the same terms from year to
year, unless cancellation was made in writing,
three months prior to the end of the year.
The Court held this lease was automatically
renewed at the end of the year where neither
party gave notice of cancellation three months
previous to the termination of the lease.
In still another case the lease contract gave
the tenant the first privilege of renewal.
At the end of the term, the landlord refused
to renew the lease. The Court held that the
lease containing the above stipulation did not
obligate the landlord to renew the lease where
it was shown that the landlord decided to
use the property for his own purposes.
Also, the law is well established that a
theatre operator is liable where he fails to
comply with the terms of the lease.
For instance, in Rouse v. Dalche, 104 So.
637, it was disclosed that a landlord leased to
a theatre operator certain premises from July
12 to Dec. 31, with privilege of renewal for
two years providin? the theatre operator paid
the landlord for rent one-half of the receipts.
The theatre operator failed to make settle-
ments as agreed upon and the landlord noti-
fied him to vacate the premises which he re-
fused to do. The theatre operator contended
that the agreement was not a lease, hence he
was not required to make settlements in ac-
cordance with the lease contract. Neverthe-
less, the Court held that the contract consti-
54
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
tuted a A'alid lease for which both parties
were Hable, saying:
"Rent (by whatever name called) is a cer-
tain profit in money, provision, chattels or
labor, issuing out of lands and tenements in
retribution for the use."
Holding
Over
Contrary to the opinion of the majority of
persons, where a lease contract does not
specifically require a landlord to renew or
extend the lease, a theatre owner who retains
possession of the property, even one day after
the lease has expired is liable for payment of
the rent for a period equal to the full term
of the expired lease.
For instance, in a recent case (135 N. Y. S.
633), a tenant who had rented property 12
months, was notified bj- the landlord that the
rent would be increased. The tenant held the
property and paid the first month's rent. In
the later litigations he was held liable for pay-
ment of the balance 11 months rent whether
or not he retained the building.
However, where a tenant, under a lease
terminating on a particular day, vacates the
premises at any time before midnight of that
day he is not liable for rent during the follow-
ing term. Yet mere notification given to the
landlord by a theatre owner that intends to
vacate, does not relieve the latter for pay-
ment of rent for the complete following term,
providing he holds over and retains possession
of the premises after midnight of the day on
which the lease term terminates. (33 Pa.
Super. Ct. 283.)
Right of Landlord
To Cancel Lease
Any act on the part of a theatre owner
which is in violation of the terms of the lease
automatically gives legal right to the land-
lord _ to terminate the lease. For example,
wilful failure of a tenant to pay rent, taxes,
or the like, at the periods specified in the lease,
automatically gives the landlord privilege to
cancel the lease. (87 N. E. 662.)
However, where a tenant makes an honest
effort to carry out the terms of the lease con-
tract and is prevented by the landlord from
doing so, the latter may not terminate the
lease. (Ill N. E. 204.)
Also, it has been held that lease is not for-
feited for non-payment of rent unless demand
is made by the landlord for its payment.
1.668,952. APPARATUS FOR TREATING FILMS.
Carleton Ellis and Harry M. Weber, Montelair, N. J. ;
said Ellis assigTior to Ellis-Foster Company, a Cor-
poration of New Jersey. Filed Mar. 12, 1924. Serial
No. 698,678. 3 Claims. (CU 15—100.)
1. Apparatus for stripping the emulsion from cel-
luloid film which comprises a receptacle adapted to
contain an aqueous stripping medium, means for
heating said medium, means for continuously passing
the film through such heated medium whereby the
emulsion is softened, means for removing the soft-
ened emulsion and means for washing and drying said
film.
particularly if the lease contract does not
stipulate the manner in which the rent is to be
paid. (155 Pac. 620.)
Moreover, where a lease contract contains
stipulations regarding the right of a landlord
to compel a tenant to vacate the premises,
those provisions are construed by the Courts,
where it is possible to do so, in view of
ascertaining the intended meaning of the
parties at the time of the contract was signed.
For illustration, in re Loew's Buffalo
Theatres, 135 N. E. 862, it was disclosed that
a certain building, owned by three women was
leased to the Golde Clothes Shop for a period
of 10 years. The lease provided that the
premises were to be used for a clothing store,
and required the tenant to invest $5,000 within
six months in repairs, alterations and improve-
ments. The lease also contained the following
clause which gave rise to this litigation:
"It is further agreed that if the ownership
of the property above mentioned should pass
from the party of the first part, either by
grant, devise or by the operation of law or in
any manner whatsoever, it or its grantees,
heirs, devisees, or assigns, etc., may on three
months notice tO' the party of the second part
(clothing shop) given within three months of
such passing of ownership, terminates this
lease forthwith, on condition that it, its
grantees, heirs, devisees, or assigns, etc., pay
to the party of the second part, as liquidated
damages. * * *"
The three women, sold the property to
Harmful Light Eliminated by
New Lens, Is Claim
ANEW condensor, which it is declared ab-
sorbs trying violet and ultra-violet rays
has been developed by Dr. Maurice W.
Ashman, 729 Sixth avenue. New York City,
and has been adopted for the projectors in
the Roxy theatre. The new condensor is
known as the "See Easy" and is made of a
special process glass developed by Dr. Ash-
man.
Some four years ago Dr. Ashman began to
take an active interest in motion picture ex-
hibiting, actuated by his professional work as
a prominent optician. "All light," he says,
"produces helpful as well as harmful rays. The
brilliant light which emanates from a motion
picture projection machine to the screen,
thence to the observer, carries a number of
harrnful rays. These rays of harmful Hght
coming from such an intense light give to the
observers' eye the same effect as that of gaz-
ing into a brilliant light in a dark room. The
intensity of light increases the strain."
In considering the problem before him Dr.
Ash began experiments in the making of
glass. A formula was conceived.
The result, he declares, is a lens which, in
its finished state, disperses all its powers
throughout a greater field than ordinary opti-
cal lens, and is greater in its field of vision.
It is produced to give an accurate and distinct
vision through its entire surface. Similarly
it performs its power of harmful light elimi-
nation. It tones down light, subduing glare,
and filtering light to a degree of clearest visi-
bihty.
In addition to being used on the projector
it is readily adaptable to spot light and stere-
opticon, according to Dr. Ashman.
With the interposition of the "See Easy"
instrument on the projection machine the
strong yellow rays of light are mostly all ab-
sorbed by the "See Easy" lens as are also
great quantities of the Violet and Ultra-violet
rays, thereby allowing only those rays of light
which are most restful to reach the screen.
Dr. Ashman says further: "If you observe
the effect of light from your projection ma-
chine you will perceive that the light reflected
is a harsh yellow color, irritating to the eye
while with the 'See Easy' lens the light pro-
duced is of a blue velvety softness, extremely
restful. The harsh rays eliminated are a big
factor in the cause of eye strain."
others who several years later sold the build-
ing to Loew's Buffalo Theatre, Inc. Three
days after the theatre company purchased the
property, it served notice upon the clothing
.shop proprietor to vacate the premises. The
latter refused to do so on the grounds that
only the first purchaser of the property from
the original lessor, had privilege to give him
notice to vacate the premises. It is interesting
to observe that the Court held the owner of
the clothing shop not required to vacate the
premises to the theatre company in view of
the above underscored wording of the lease
contract, and said :
"Ordinarily, a covenant (agreement) to
vacate on sale and notice from the landlord
runs with the land, and gives to subsequent
grantees of the property the right to end the
term upon compliance with the provisions and
conditions specified * * * the reason why in
our opinion the general rule is not applicable
to this case is that the parties have agreed
otherwise. It is the intention of the lessor
and the lessee, as expressed in the lease, which
must control. There is nothing in the law
to prevent the parties limiting the right to
terminate the lease on notice to such time and
to such persons as they may choose. This is
what the parties have done here."
However, in the leading case of Realty
Company v. Martin, 233 N. Y. 683, the lease
contract contained the following clause: "Said
landlord reserves the right to terminate his
lease and the term thereof at any time after
May 1, 1921, in case of a bona fide sale of
the property, upon giving 90 days notice in
writing to such tenant, addressed to said
demised premises, of his intention so to ter-
minate the same, and this lease and the term
thereof shall cease, determine the end of the
expiration of the 90 days from the day when
such notice is given * * * in the event of
the cancellation of this lease, in the manner
hereinbefore provided, the landlord shall pay
to the said tenant as consideration for the
surrender of the said premises the sum of
Five Thousand ($5,000) Dollars."
In this case, if was held that the lessor or
subsequent purchasers of the property retained
privilege at any time to cancel the lease.
Also, it is important to know that where
a landlord agrees to pay a tenant a stipulated
amount of money in case the latter is required
to vacate the premises, the Courts will hold
the landlord strictly to the terms of the
agreement.
For instance, in Plaza Amusement Co. v.
Rubenstein & Co., Ill So. 702, it was dis-
closed that the Plaza Company occupied a
building in which was operated a moving pic-
ture show.
Rubenstein, the; landlord, being desirous of
obtaining possession of the premises a month
earlier than the expiration of the lease held
by the Plaza Company, entered into a written
contract with the Plaza Company to pay the
latter $2,600 if they would vacate the premises
a month earlier than the specified time. The
Plaza Company were satisfied with this con-
tract and vacated the premises as agreed.
After the landlord was in possession of the
property he refused to pay the Plaza Company
more than $1,6(X). The Plaza Company then
sued Rubenstein for the balance of $1,(XX).
Rubenstein was held liable to pay the balance
$1,0(X), without much controversy.
Powers Is Signed
as Dialogue Writer
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Francis Powers
has been signed by Warner Brothers as dia-
logue and title writer. This title is new in the
Warner organization and marks the new de-
velopments in , talking picture production.
Powers has had eight years' experience in
directing stage dramas and has written sev-
eral successful stage plays.
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
Safeguard Your Theatre, Because
It^s Duty to Yourself and Public
It^s Cheaper Than Damage Suits
It Reduces Insurance Costs and —
If s Most Economical Operation
SAFEGUARD your theatre. It is the best
investment j-ou can make. It guarantees
a pubHc confidence that never can be re-
gained by the theatre owner whose neglect
of complete protection has brought on a dis-
astrous fire. It is the most economical factor
in operating a theatre. In the first place it is
not expensive nor difficult. It is far cheaper
than damages and litigation costs in case of
loss of life or of injuries. And finally it
holds down your insurance cost to a minimum.
These conclusions are not guesses, nor plati-
tudes. They are a summarization of a number
of surveys, tests and analyses by scientific ex-
perts.
Five outstanding safeguards for a motion
picture theatre are these:
* * *
1. Ample exits and stairways from balcony,
with rounded turns, and no obstructions such
as doors swiniring toward the stairs.
2. Automatic preventive devices in booths,
and isolation of booths.
3. Ample, automatic, quick-opening smioke
vents from stage. (Development of presenta-
tions makes this universally important.)
4. Thorough equipment of stage with auto-
matic sprinklers which, via the action of the
heat, will release at once over the burning
scenery a rainfall 10 times heavier than the
heaviest thundershower.
5. Effective and immediate operation of a
curtain made as close to truly fireproof as
modem science has evolved.
* * *
You cannot leave it to the underwriter to
make your theatre safe, says John R. Freeman,
who at the time of writing his book, "On the
Safeguarding of Life in Theatres," was presi-
dent of the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers. He explains that the undenvriter
charges for hazards as he finds them. Nor can
the responsibility of the theatre owner be dis-
missed by the framing of a good building law.
It is the exhibitor's own duty to himself as
well as his public— and to his monetary gain.
Were one to state that the greatest single
cause of deaths in theatre fires has been faulty
arrangement and construction of exits, he
would not come far from the truth. That was
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the basic reason for the disaster at the Laurier
Palace in Montreal, which was diagnosed in
the last issue of "Better Theatres." Freeman
makes this generalization :
"In the great theatre fires of history the loss
of life has commonly resulted from rapid
spread of flame on a stage covered with
scenery, followed in two or three minutes by
an outpouring of suffocating smoke through
the proscenium arch into the top of the audi-
torium, causing death chiefly to those in the
balconies within less than five minutes of the
first flame."
At the Laurier Palace, a right-angle turn in
a stairway and a door on the first floor swing-
ing across the bottom of the stairs combined to
give Canada that theatre calamity. Such con-
ditions are impossible under modern building
requirements as well as standards in America.
Credit for this rightfully may be attributed to
exhibitors themselves, to building laws, and not
least to insurance companies. The insurance
rate on a fire-trap theatre should be so high
as to make "protection" impossible and cer-
tainly every theatre owner should agree that a
theatre with such defects has no right to exist.
* * *
Yet while the Laurier Palace case in no way
represents the status of safety-construction of
theatres today, there is a lesson to all theatre
builders in that disaster in forcing home the
realization of necessity for safeguarding the
public. No one deliberately neglects safety
as a principle in construction. It does happen,
however, that exhibitors do not realize its im-
portance. Emergencies have a habit of ap-
pearing unlikely to occur; that's what makes
them emergencies.
Freeman found that the practice of the art
of fire prevention in the theatre industry was
10 to 20 years behind that of the best industrial
plants. In other words, the fire hazards in the-
atres was 10 to 20 times greater than in
modernized factories. Those conclusions were
drawn from conditions some years ago, but it
is agreed that the facts unearthed at that time
still have their sermon to preach, despite all
the great awakening that has taken place partly
through the requirements for insurance.
This contrast of protection with other in-
dustries was not riecessary then, nor is any
difference necessary now. In fact, according
to Freeman, the actual fire hazard of the thea-
tre can be made even smaller than for the
factory, and that by well-proved means that
are not extravagant.
He reports having seen in a New York
theatre — one of the best at the time he wrote —
that the wedge-shaped space beneath the slop-
ing floor of the auditorium was being used as
a storeroom for trunks and properties. The
room was also the plenum chamber for ven-
tilation. Suppose a rat chewing a match, or
even spontaneous ignition of oily material,
started a slow, smouldering fire. The smoke
rising through the air ducts might have caused
a huge loss of lives from suffocation.
In another place of public assembly he found
that a portable wooden platform had been
stored in a dark passageway. Instead of this,
the owner should have made it a point to
place automatic sprinklers there.
The city council of Chicago within a few
months of the Iroquois stage theatre disaster
rescinded the new law which called for auto-
matic sprinklers over the stage and rigging
lofts. The repeal followed an appeal of man-
agers that the sprinklers might start a panic
should one happen to open prematurely. Yet
statistics show that of 3,000,000 sprinklers in
2,000 factories only 50 broke in one year, and
the average probability of breakage is one in
400 years in one theatre. Which should not
be very disturbing.
^ ^ ^
In another instance were found many dark,
concealed spaces behind the scenes and in the
mechanics' rooms which were being used as
catchalls. The owner and architect apparently
had not realized that light — and much of it —
in workrooms, storerooms and dressing rooms
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BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
July 7, 1928
is the best safeguard against fire, particularly
because of the large amount of inflammable
material.
Faulty ventilation is cited by Freeman as a
major cause for the Iroquois death list of 32
per cent of the total audience. A door opened
by escaping actors permitted a great mrush of
air. This, coupled with the expansion of air
above the stage, caused a shooting of flame
into the upper part of the auditoruim.
No need — or space — here to go into details
of the Iroquois fire. What is important here is
that 70 per cent of all patrons in the gallerj'
-were killed and 30 per cent in the balcony,
compared with only 7 per cent of those on the
ground floor. It must not be forgotten, too,
that the Iroquois was the newest theatre in
Chicago of fireproof construction and that
there was little damage except to scenerj',
decorations and upholstery.
It is pointed out that the firehose on the
stage was delayed, fire pails and soda-water
distinguishers were absent, the ventilating sky-
lights over the stage were blocked so that
they could not slide open, and the exits were
poorly marked. But even if these conditions
had not been present, the loss of life would
have been heavy.
* * *
The suddenness of the disaster was the
great lesson, contributing factors being the
scant smoke vents over the stage, the outburst
of smoke under the proscenium arch, the open-
ing of a rear door in the rear of the stage
with the resultant inrush of air, the fact that
the stage was crowded wth scenery, and fi-
nally the sudden spread of flames over the
scenery.
The predominance of deaths in the upper
floors in the Iroquois and the Laurier Palace
was not a coincidence. The same was true in
the case of the Ring theatre, Vienna, in which
450 lost their lives in 1881 ; one at Exeter,
England, with 200 casualties, and another out-
standing theatre fire at Conways in Brooklyn
Ordinary precaution in construction makes it
simple to keep fire and smoke from a stage out
of the auditorium, Freeman says. The big an-
swer lies in adequate smoke vents. Smoke
vents one-eighth to one-tenth of the stage area
probably would have saved many lives in the
cases mentioned in the preceding paragraph,
except possibly that of the Laurier Palace,
which was blamed primarily to faulty exits.
Good automatic smoke ventilators will do more
for safety than all other means combined,
the writer declared. The situation is paralleled
with the modern fireplace. At least 90 per
cent of a hearth fire goes up to the heavens.
Cc^rrespondingly, adequate chimney area and
sure-opening dampers would have saved four-
fifths of the lives lost in the Iroquois thea-
tre.
* * * I
The New York City building code required
metal skylight equaling in surface one-eighth
of the area of the stage, with sliding sash and
glazed with double thick sheet glass, but the
law also required a wire netting immediately
below the glass. The skylight would open in-
stantly on the burning or cutting of a hempen
cord. The purpose of the glass was that it
act as a substitute if the mechanism for slid-
ing off the cover should fail. The heat would
break the glass. The wire netting would catch
the pieces. Yet the requirement of using a
cord was considered foolish in comparison
with the fusible links used on fire doors in
factories. Even then, one New York theatre's
ventilator had canvas laced over the opening!
London had a similar ordinance, but with
the skylight area one-tenth of that of the stage,
while in Chicago only one-twentieth was stipu-
lated.
It was recommended that ventilators should
be sure to open wide without human interven-
tion, and should not be susceptible to being
stopped up by warping, settling, obstruction,
frost, snow, rust, dirt or ordinary neglect.
The vast service performed by adequate ven-
tilating systems is exemplified in fire tests con-
ducted by the Austrian Society of Engineers.
A theatre modeled after the Ring theatre with
one-tenth of the latter's Rnear measurements
was built for the experiments. The first test,
with no ventilator over the stage, showed that
the air expansion in time of fire rapidly forced
the curtain outward from the proscenium arch.
It ^\'as established that just this action caused
the original Ring fire, the atmospheric pres-
sure being larger than that of the gas jets
which were in use, thus putting out the flame
in the jets, with the resultant spread of suffo-
cating gas flumes in the wild disorder of dark-
ness.
In a second series of tests the ventilating
shafts were covered with sheets of paper and
as soon as these smoke vents burned open,
all excess of pressure vanished from the
auditorium.
* * *
The investigators warned against covering
smoke vents with wire screens, because
fljdng bits of charred paper almost closed
them. The remodeled Iroquois theatre had
such screens and the New York law, as noted,
even required them. Likewise, had fusible
links been used in the Iroquois equipment the
heat, which would melt them at 162 degrees
Fahrenheit, would have opened the smoke
Nents in 30 to 60 seconds.
Fundamental requirements for good smoke
vents, then, are listed as follows:
1. Absolute certainty of opening by gravity
in spite of neglect, rust, dirt, frost, snow, ex-
pansion of heat, twisting or warping of frame-
work.
2. Quickness of opening obtained by auto-
matic links of the thinnest metal practicable,
and by controlling doors by a cord run down
to the station of the stage fireguard.
3. Simplicity and massiveness, heavy coun-
terpoise weights, constant tension of 30 or 40
pounds so that rust, cobwebs and temperature
changes will bring no noticeable resistance.
Closely allied with smoke vents in safe-
guarding the theatre are the automatic sprin-
klers. Complete equipment over the stage as
well as throughout all rooms and nooks, is es-
sential to reducing hazard as well as insurance
rates. Sprinklers 60 to 80 feet above the stage
floor are not considered too high because hot
air from a fire is known to travel vertically
60 to 80 feet in five to ten seconds. One
series of sprinkler heads is recommended for
placement below the gridiron and another
series above it, irL echelon, as well as lines
along the lower outer edge of each fly gallery.
The fire curtain, another big factor in
safety, in most general usage is made of heavy
canvas woven from asbestos fibre. Freeman
credited Chicago with leading the country in
the substantial quality of proscenium curtains
in use. He cited the Chicago ordinance which
required steel curtains ; at the same time it
should be emphasized here that some of the
leading theatre engineers do not consider steel
curtains necessary for the safety of motion
picture theatres.
Investigations have shown that best quality
asbestos should last the two to four minutes
necessary to empty the theatre in the case of a
fire if the curtain can be pulled down.
The best that is possible in fireproofing
scenery is far from satisfactory. Freeman
wrote, \^'^lile it all helps, the best one can
hope for is that the fireproofed material will
not ignite from a match, an electric spark or
a gas jet, and that if ignited it will not burst
into flame. Once the gauze, canvas and pine
on the stage becomes enveloped in flame,
"fireproofed" scenery burns substantially with
as great a rush of flame and smoke as un-
treated material. Indeed, the chemicals used
may make the fumes even worse.
\Vhat can be looked for as the result of
fireproofing scenery is that destructive distilla-
tion of the chemical may keep the surface
cloth bathed for a few seconds in a thin film
of steam or inert gas, that the distillation will
absorb a little of the heat, and that the chem-
ical may cover the surface with a glass}' film
and lock up 25 to 50 per cent of the heat-
giving content of the fibre.
Reasons gix'cn for failure to fireproof stage
scenery are :
^ ^ ^
1. Added cost of fireproofed material.
2. Fear that most fireproofing chemicals in-
jure the strength of canvas.
3. Scenic artists' fear of an effect on colors.
4. Tendency of some chemicals to rust and
loosen fastenings.
5. Tedious delays in inspection of scenery
of traveling units.
6. Theatre catastrophes' appearance a gen-
eration apart, tending to make special laws
dead letters.
7. Public thoughtlessness.
Tests made with various chemicals estab-
lished the following conclusions :
1. Phosphate of ammonia brought the best
results, though it affected many colors. Am-
monium chloride was declared injurious.
2. Tungstate of soda possessed almost no
value.
3. Proprietary solutions were all based on
ammonium salts but frequently sulphate
(cheaper than phosphate) was used.
4. Linen canvas or cotton cloth, fireproofed,
easily burned.
5. The best value of fireproofed material
was the non-volatile fluid excluding oxygen.
6. Ammonium was best in locking up the
corrosive qualities of phosphoric acid for a
time.
7. The best method of application was to
saturate the canvas between rollers in a bath.
8. The chemicals affected the delicate blues
and greens most.
9. Fireproofed canvas gave off fumes.
10. Retardation of flames was proportional
to the amount of paint applied.
11. Brushing wood with phosphate of am-
monia or other chemical was not effective.
11. Common lime whitewash appeared as
effective, as any fireproofing paint — and that
little.
^ ^ ^
Dry powder fire extinguishers were found
to be nearly all of common cooking soda, with
some small value for a certain class of fires
but never to be used to give a false sense' of
security about the stage of a theatre.
The socalled hand grenades, glass bottles
holding a quart of liquid and found in the
older theatres, usually consisted merely of
water and common salt, the experiments
showed. The only advantage of these ma-
terials over plain water was that they didn't
freeze at ordinary winter temperatures.
Much of the foregoing information concerns
primarily the safeguarding of the stage. In
exits and aisles, howe\'er, is a subject of direct
concern to every motion picture theatre, both
the deluxe houses with their pretentious
presentations and prologues, and the smallest
theatres where the program is confined solely
to the picture.
Balconies present the greatest problem. The
total number of stairway exits and total width
of stairway to each 100 persons should be two
to three times as great as for other parts of
the house, according to Freeman. And the
true firetrap, which happily has almost com-
pletely disappeared, is a theatre with a door
beneath a fire escape through( which flames
can rise to envelop the exit.
All exits should run in such direct and
obvious course, with wide curves instead of
abrupt angles at changes of direction, that a
person in them could not fail to reach the
bottom in total darkness.
To deliver a crowd from seats with too great
a rush increases the danger of crushing at the
doors and on the stairs. The narrowest aisle
permitted is commonly 30 inches, though 22
and 20 inches are considered ample in Pull-
man and other railroad coaches. Making
aisles near the stage much narrower than the
laws specify was advocated bj' Freeman, as
a means of preventing such jamming. More
aisles then could be provided thus increasing
the number of good seats, as well as more
exits and stairways at the rear.
Tests of representative Chicago theatres — •
stage theatres — showed that only Zyi to '5 min-
utes from the start of the curtain were re-
quired to clear the corridors, with the patrons
leisurely putting on their wraps. Two to
three minutes were required for the balcony
July 7, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
57
and gallery. One minute after the curtain
dropped, however, the. aisles of the main floor
commonly were crowded, and they continued
to be full for two minutes.
Recommendations regarding exits for a
1,500-seat theatre were as follows:
1. There should be ample exits in four di-
rections from the balcony and gallery. Exits
at the front corners would tend to relieve the
crush toward the rear.
2. Stairvvay exits from the gallery nearest
the street should be entirely separate from
exits from other floors and should serve only
the gallery. There should be six exits at least,
two of them from the middle part of the
seating space to the corridor below.
3. There should be at least two large exits
to the alley in rear, for both audience and
stage folk, each exit a sort of fireproof tunnel.
Finally, the theory once held that a theatre
must stand alone m an open lot for safety's
sake has been discarded. Some of the worst
fires have occurred in buildings in open spaces.
What is far more important, both for protec-
tion of lives of patrons and for obtaining
minimum rates on insurance, is to give atten-
tion to provision of fire walls and safe pas-
sageways.
* * *
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Following is the text
of an Ordinance for Projection Booths as
proposed by the National Fire Protection As-
sociation of Boston. This is a continuation of
an article in the last issue of "Better Thea-
tres," in zvhich was published a proposed new
Building Code for theatres seating 300 or less,
as well as a new Building Exits Code for all-
sice d theatres.)
Pro{>osed Ordinance
on Projection Booths
Be it ordained by the of the
of as follows : —
Section 1. (o) By the term "picture ma-
chine," as used in the following sections, is
meant any machine or device operated by or
with the aid of electricity, calcium light or
other illuminant, and adapted or used to pro-
ject upon a screen or other surface pictorial
representations in which films are used.
{b) By the term "flammable film" is meant
any film whose base is nitrated cellulose.
(c) By the term "safety film" is meant any
film having slow-burning characteristics as
determined by the Underwriters' Laboratories
or other suitable authority.
Section 2. From and after the passage of
this ordinance no picture machine shall be
installed, maintained, operated or licensed, ex-
cept when in conformity with the provisions
of this ordinance.
Section 3. Every picture machine using
flammable film shall be installed or operated
within a booth, to be not less than 48 square
feet in size and 7 feet high. If more than one
machine is to be operated, an additional 24
square feet shall be provided for each addi-
tional machine. The booth shall be built of
brick, tile, or plaster blocks, plastered on both
.sides, or of concrete, or of a rigid frame,
properly braced, and sheathed and roofed with
sheet iron of not less than No. 20 U. S. metal
gauge, or with J<4-inch hard asbestos board,
securely riveted or bolted to the frame, or 2
inches of solid metal lath and Portland cement
plaster. All joints shall be sufficiently tight
to prevent the discharge of smoke.
Entrance Door 2 Feet by 5
(a) The entrance door into the booth shall
be at least 2 feet by 5 feet, of construction
equivalent to the sheathing permitted above
for rigid frame booths, and shall be so ar-
ranged as to close automatically, and shall be
kept closed at all times when not used for
egress or ingress.
(&) The orifice or opening for the
operator's view, or through which the picture
is thrown, shall not be larger than 6 inches
by 12 inches, and shall be provided with a
gravity shutter of the same construction as the
door on the booth. Shutters shall be held open
by fusible links placed in series with fine cords,
so arranged that one of the links is suspended
directly over the film when in the slide of the
apparatus, or the shutter shall be so arranged
as to be normally closed and held open by
pressure of the operator's foot.
(c) All shelves, furniture and fixtures
within the booth shall be constructed of incom-
bustible material, and no combustible material
of any sort whatever shall be permitted or
allowed to be within such booth, except the
films used in the operation of the machine.
Each booth shall be provided with an approved
fireproof box for the storage of films not on
the projection machine.
{d) Each booth must have an opening not
less than 78 square inches for ventilation,
which must be flanged to carry standard con-
ductor pipe for exhausting the hot air gen-
erated in operating the machine. Connection
for ventilation shall vent to chimney or out-
side of building. Draft in vent pipe shall be
maintained by an exhaust fan of at least 50
cubic feet per minute capacity.
Section 4. All picture machines shall be of
a type listed by the Underwriters' Laboratories.
Hot carbons taken from the lamps shall be
deposited in a metal receptacle.
* * *
Electrical Wiring Requirements
Section 5. The electrical wiring shall be in
accordance with the rules and requirements
embodied in the National Electrical Code.
Each lamp connected with a picture machine
shall be provided with a separate switch
located within the booth. There shall also be
two switches controlling the lights in the ex-
hibition room, one of which shall be operated
from the booth and the other so placed that
it is within the reach of the ticket taker or
other person stationed at the entrance door.
There shall be provided a separate system of
lighting, controlled by switches operating
green signal lamps, and located within the
reach of the ticket taker, and there shall be
one such lamp placed at each exit, with the
sign marked "EXIT" in letters not less than
five inches high. The location of these signs
and lights shall be determined by the Chief
of the Fire Department.
Section 6. No picture machine using flam-
mable film shall be installed, maintained or
operated in any building that does not abut
directly upon a street, and in no case shall the
main floor of such exhibition room be more
than four feet above or below the adjoining
street level. To overcome any difference of
level on the ground floor, ramps shall be em-
ployed of not over one foot in ten feet; no
steps shall be permitted. Exit doors shall be
at the level of the sidewalk. In exhibition
rooms directly abutting upon one street, the
booth enclosing the picture machine shall he
placed at that end of the room which is
opposite and farthest from the street, or on a
balcony. No room shall be used as an ex-
hibition room unless it has at least one separate
and distinct exit in addition to the front exit.
In exhibition rooms located at the corner and
directly abutting upon two streets, or on a
street and an alley, the booth enclosing the
machine may be located at the end of the room
opposite to the farthest from either street or
alley. All exits and entrances shall open
directly from the exhibition room upon the
street or alley or into a vestibule or lobby
opening immediately into the street or alley.
No exit in exhibition halls for picture machine
shall be less than five feet wide and all exit
doors shall be arranged to swing outward.
The aggregate width in feet of such exits shall
be not less than one foot for each twenty per-
sons to be accommodated thereby. All aisles
shall lead directly to exits and all exits shall
be directly accessible to aisles. No aisle shall
be less than three feet in width.
All seats in any exhibition hall for picture
machines shall be securely fastened to the floor
and shall be so arranged that there will be
not more than six seats between an aisle and
a wall and not more than twelve seats between
two aisles. ^
No stage, platform or scenery shall be^
placed, maintained or allowed to remain in,
any exhibition room for picture machines un-'
less of fire-proofed material.
* * *
Incandescent Electric Lamps
Section 7. Incandescent electric lamps shall
be used throughout for border lights, foot-
lights and stage purposes.
Section 8. No individual, partnership or
corporation shall be permitted to conduct the
business of moving picture exhibitions using
inflammable films, until the applicant therefor
has procured from the Chief of the Fire De-
partment his certificates that the premises
where the exhibitions are to be given and the
apparatus used in connection with the said
exhibitions are in compliance with this
ordinance.
Section 9. The Chief of the Fire Depart-
ment shall have authority and it shall be his
duty to revoke the license issued to any per-
son, firm or corporation for conducting or;
maintaining picture machine exhibitions, when'
he shall be satisfied that such license has,
violated any of the provisions of this ordi-
nance. Provided, however, before revoking
such license opportunity shall be given such
licensee to appear before said Chief of the
Fire Department and show, if possible, cause
why the same should not be revoked.
Concluding sections specify that the ordi-
nance shall apply to theatres, churches, schools
and public halls, that users of picture machines
without booths shall file a statement with the
chief of the fire department that only safety
film will be used, and that violators of the
ordinance shall be fined not less than $5 nor
more than $2.5 for each offense, with each
day of violation constituting a separate'
offense.
Motion Picture Patents My Specialty
PATENTS
William N. Moore
Patent Attorney
Loan and Trust Building
Washington, D. C.
The first important step is to learn
whether you can obtain a patent. Please
send sketch of your invention with
$5.00, and I will examine the pertinent
U. S. patents and inform you whether
you are entitled to a patent, the cost
and manner of procedure. Personal at-
tention. ELstablished 35 years.
Copyright your play $5.00
Trade-Mark your goods or titles $30.00
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58
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 7, 1928
Advertised in This
BETTER THEATRES SECTION
(If you desire something not listed here. Exhibitors Information and Catalog
Bureau published in this issue mill get it for you.)
Page
AISLE LIGHTS
Kausalite Mfg. Co 47
S129 Rhodes Ave., Chicago, III.
ANCHOR EXPANSION BOLTS
The Paine Co 47
2951 Carroll Ave., Chicago, III.
AUTOMATIC CURTAIN
CONTROL
Automatic Devices Co.
17 N. 7th St., Allentown, Pa.
48
CHANGE MAKERS
Brandt Automatic Cashier Co 31
IVatertown, Wit.
DIMMERS
Cutler-Hammer Mfg. Company 3
Milwaukee, Wis .
ELECTRIC FLASHERS, COLOR
HOODS
Reynolds Electric Co 29
2651 W. Congress St., Chicago, III.
EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES
National Theatre Supply Co Insert
624 South Michigan Ave., Chicago, III.
FILM CEMENT
F. B. Griffin 44
Oshkosh, Wis.
FLOWERS, PLANTS — ARTIFICIAL
G. Reising & Co 42
227 W. Austin Ave., Chicago, III.
GENERATORS
Automatic Devices Co 48
Allentown, Pa.
Hertner Electric Co 34
Cleveland, Ohio.
Roth Brothers & Co 42
1400 W. Adams' St., Chicago, 111.
HEAT SHIELDS
Best Devices Company 55
Film Building, Cleveland, O.
INTERIOR DECORATIONS
Continental Studios, Inc 47
100 East Ohio St., Chicago, III.
LAMPS, HIGH INTENSITY
Hall & Connolly, Inc 46
129 Grand St., N. Y. C.
LAMPS, REFLECTING ARC
Strong EUectric Co
2501 Lagrange St., Toledo, Ohio.
40
LENSES
Bausch & Lomb 35
Rochester, N. Y.
LIGHTING FIXTURES
The Voigt Company
1743 No. 12th St., Philadelphia, Pa.
LIGHTING PLANTS
Kohler Company
Kohler, Wis.
48
25
ORGANS
George Kilgen & Son, Inc Insert
401i N. Union Blvd., St. Louis, Mo.
Page
Nelson-Wiggen Piano Co. 41
1731 Belmont Ave., Chicago, III.
Operators Piano Co 30
715 N. Kedsie Ave., Chicago, III.
The Page Organ Co 28
519 No. Jackson St., Lima, Ohio.
J. P. Seeburg Piano Co 49
1510 Dayton St., Chicago, III.
Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. 2nd Cover
Cincinnati, Ohio.
ORGAN HEATERS
Cramblet Eng. Corp 44
2S6 Milwaukee St., Milwaukee, Wis.
Kausalite Mfg. Co 47
8129 Rhodes Ave., Chicago, III.
The Prometheus EUec. Corp 57
356 W. 13th St., N. Y. C.
PATENT ATTORNEYS
William N. Moore 57
Loan & Trust Bldg., Washington, D. C.
POP CORN MACHINES
C. Cretores Co 34
612 W. 22nd St., Chicago, 111.
PROJECTION TOOLS
Projection Improvement Co. 23
Drift on. Pa.
PROJECTORS
Coxsackie Holding Corp 37
Coxsackie, New York
Enterprise Optical Co 4th Cover
564 W. Randolph St., Chicago, III.
International Proj. Corp Front Cover
90 Gold St., N. Y. C.
SLIDES
Page
RADIUM LIGHT
Louis E. Samms Studios
177 N. State St., Chicago, III.
RHEOSTATS
Hoffman & Sons
3S7 First Avenue, New York City
SAFES, THEATRE
York Safe and Lock Company..
York, Pa.
SAFETY SHUTTERS
Best Devices Company
Film Bldg., Cleveland, O.
29
48
35
55
SCREENS
American Silversheet Co. 40
915 Wash St., St. Louis, Mo.
Da-Lite Screen Co. 22
922 W. Mionroe St., Chicago, 111.
Raven Screen Corp 26
1476 Broadway, N. Y. C.
SEATS
American Seating Company 4
14 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, III.
SIGNS— ELECTRIC
Arnold Electric Signs, Inc 37
Kokomo, hid.
Flexlume Corporation 7
Buffalo, N. Y.
Milne Elec. Co 43
614-18 Cherry St., Milwaukee, Wis.
J. F. Ransley 49
54 W. Randolph St., Chicago, 111.
SOUND REPRODUCING DEVICES
Platter Cabinet Co..
North Vernon, Indiana
20
STAGE AND ORCHESTRA LIFTS
Peter Clark, Inc. 24
534 W. 30th St., N. Y. C.
STAGE LIGHTING EQUIPMENT
Frank Adam Elec. Co 41
3650 Windsor Ave., St. Louis, Mo.
Belson Mfg. Company 43
800 Sibley St., Chicago, III.
Brenkert Light Proj. Co Insert
7348 St. Aubin Ave., Detroit, Mich.
Hub Electric Company 49
2225 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, III.
Kliegl Brothers 27
156 Clinton St., Milwaukee, Wis.
STAGE RIGGING HARDWARE
J. H. Channon Corp
223 W. Erie St., Chicago, III.
32
J. R. Clancy 44
Syracuse, N. Y.
Peter Clark, Inc 24
534 W. 30th St., N. Y. C.
STAGE SCENERY
Matney Studios 29
307 W. 47th Street, N. Y. C.
Novelty Scenic Studios 32
340 W. 41st St., N. Y. C.
Tiffin Scenic Studios 49
Tiffin, Ohio.
THEATRE BUILDING SERVICE
Midwest Engrg. & Const. Corp 46
209 So. Third St., Columbus. Ohio.
THEATRE PRINTING, PROGRAMS
Exhibitors Printing Service 55
711 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, hi.
Theatre Ad Mat Service, Inc 35
Uniontown, Penn.
TICKETS
Arcus Ticket Co
348 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, III.
Weldon, Williams & Lick
Fort Smith, Ark.
TRAILERS
National Screen Service
126-130 IV. 46th St., N. Y. C.
30
48
36
VENTILATING EQUIPMENT
Blizzard Fan Sales Co 32
1514 Davenport St., Omaha, Neb.
Lakeside Company 55
Hermansville, Mich.
Supreme Heat & Vent. Co 5
1915 Pine St., St. Louis, Mo.
Typhoon Fan Co.
345 W. 39th St., N. Y. C.
26
"Ask Anybody!"
Packard Says —
"Ask the Man who owns one"
Better Theatres Says —
"Ask Anybody!"
^
SK your friend, our friend, or
even our closest competitor, or
any man in the trade you meet in
the street.
The secret of Better Theatres' suc-
cess is that it is no secret at all.
Everybody knows why Better The-
atres leads the motion picture equip-
ment journal field — because every-
body knows Better Theatres.
But perhaps a shorter way to the
same answer is
Ask
Yourself!
w
Oh I ^
I
The New
MODEL H
MOTICGRAPli
DE LIXE
INCLUDING 20 DISTINCT
INNOVATIONS AND
IMPROVEMENTS
INCLUDED IN THESE
ARE
The elimination of Heating, Warping, Buckling
and Drying of the film.
BETTER DEFINITION AND
PERSPECTIVE
GREATER ILLUMINATION
GET THE FULL DETAILS AND SEE THE NEW MODEL AT
BRANCHES OF THE NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY CO.
DISTRIBUTORS OF THE MOTIOGRAPH DELUXE
Equipment for adapting models F and H Motiograph De Luxe Projectors for
Movietone in process,— will be ready soon
Enterprise Optical Mfg. Company
564 WEST RANDOLPH ST.
EXHIEITOM
FINISHES STRONG!
M-Q^M is delivering the hig hits right now
JOHN GILBERT
THE COSSACKS
GRETA GARBO
WAR IN THE DARK
WILLIAM HAINES
TELLING THE WORLD
MARION DA VIES
HER CARDBOARD LOVER
WHITE SHADOWS IN J^ john GILBERT
THE SOUTH SEAS -^^ L pnnpu/ATK;
opening soon, $2, Astor Theatre, N. Y.
FOUR WALLS
-G
STARTS
M'Q'M begins t?t^^§^29 season
with the greatest line-up of
its entire career
^ m^^.t&i'!^
WILLIAM HAINES
EXCESS BAGGAGE
One of the greatest pictures
ever 'made
t^.
LON CHANEY
WHILE THE CITY
SLEEPS
It's $2 calibre
OUR DANCING
DAUGHTERS
with JOAN CRAWFORD
"A masterpiece," says
Daily Review
BELLAMY
TRIAL
Monta Bell's
ingenious mystery
BUSTER KEATON
THE CAMERA
MAN
Better than
"The Navigator
II
Whnlo Vnl Q? Mn 9 fVnl %A M« C\ Entered as second-class matter, August 20, 1917, at the Post Office at Chicago, III., under the act of March 3, 1114 -tnio
iiiiuie TUi. :re., l-<iu. £. \^VOI. Ot, INO, 3} iS/9. Published weekly at 407 South Dearborn St., Chicago. Subscription $3.00 a year. .Single copies, 25 cents. JUly 14, I»Z8
[t'lj">^
^'V:^
ition^, the organs, the Supreitmcy cff
the 15 evidenced in its selec-- i
tion and cndoTsemcnt loy a majority of the
nation's ^vemosi Exliibitai*s,Shp\toen,Or-
danists,Perfi)rmers and distinguished
individuals in theatrical and public life.
■
HHP
^lEii'
mI
fl
^H
1 ^ -^^|9
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1
;.^
^^i
1
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M
fe
Individual characteristic tonal beautv,
greater rang^e in Varietyof orchestral ef^cts
and exclusive patented features make
it distinctlv different from all other
theatre oimns. , ^ ,
Yet,£r all its unquestioned supcrloritv,
the iflteit Morton unit Or|an is among
the least expensive theatre organs to own,
not ouIa; because it is more durabk,ldsts
longer and costs less fi)r upkeep, but be-
caiSe it is an investment that paijs ^r
itself in increased box office receipts.
^27h md&y /or /idhn/ormation
oox^cev^^ NeioCooperative Purchase Plan
R0teitN«rt«i 0r|i!i &.
New York, Chic.ag^o
i;6o Broadway 624 So MichiisR
Los Angeles
1914 So.Vermont
SanFraxicisco
l&SGolden Gate
Cenujne Diagan Percussions Used
Julv 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
here! hear!
Great new Paramount' Pictures with synchronized music score, sound effects and talking sequences!
For the first time Paramount Quality in "sound" pictures. Paramount Feature Pictures — 25 to 30
for 1928-29, Paramount News, Christie Comedies, Stage Presentations — the Whole Show ! In theatres
equipped to show "sound" pictures Paramount is proud to present:
c<?-
?5
WXIiIjO with synchronized music score and
sound effects exactly as presented to $2 audiences everywhere — more than a year in New* York. Hear
the drone of the planes, the rat-tat-tat of machine guns, the explosion of the bombs, etc. Sound at
its most startling best! William Wellman Prod, with Clara Bow, Charles Rogers, Richard Arlen, etc.
<!<!i
"r>r»
^v^^* THE WEDDING MARCH directed
by and starring Erich von Stroheim, with Fay Wray. Hear the throbbing love strains, the beautiful
ceremonial music, the bells, the trumpetings! Many of the scenes are in Technicolor. Even
without sound it is one of Paramount's greatest pictures — with sound it is incomparable ! ^ »^
^<?
i^»)
ABIE'S IRISH ROSE Anne Nichols
great piece of screen entertainment soon to go to picture houses with synchronized music score and
sound effects. See and hear Jean Hersholt in the greatest performance of his career, Charles Rogers,
Nancy Carroll singing the beautiful theme song. A positive sensation ! Victor Fleming Production.
THE PATRIOT Emst Lubitsch's wonder
picture, starring Emil Jannings. With Florence Vidor, Lewis Stone, Neil Hamilton. Hear the thun-
derous Russian marches, the charge of the wild Cossacks, the pistol shots, the cries of the innocent.
Hear the incomparable Jannings and others in the cast talk in the climactic scenes ! ^ *f" *i*
<?<r'
i!>r>
WARMING UP starring Richard Dix, in a
comedy-drama of love, laughs and Big League Baseball. For the first time, a crucial world's series
game on the screen in sound — the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd! The synchronized music
score introduces a great new song hit! Fred Newmeyer Production with beautiful Jean Arthur. ^
(TC
THE CANARY MURDER CASE
!>r>
The famous mystery melodrama by S. S. Van Dine that sold over 200,000 copies as a novel, ten times
more gripping as a Paramount Picture in sound! William Powell as "Philo Vance", Louise Brooks,
Ruth Taylor, James Hall. Malcolm St. Clair Production. Many sensational talking sequences. *i*
f
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
i
(Jfl
LOVES OF AN ACTRESS" spectac
ular story of the Parisian stage and boulevards enhanced by synchronized music score and sound
effects. A gorgeous special starring Pola Negri, with Nils Asther and all star cast. Directed by
Rowland V. Lee who made "Barbed Wire." '^*i**i**^*i^*^*J*'^*}*
"THE CARNATION KID" sta™g
one of the screen's most popular comedians, Douglas MacLean, directed by Marshall Neilan, produced
by the Christie Studios on a lavish scale with big all star cast. To be made with synchronized music
score and sound effects — making a big picture even bigger! «^ *f* ►f* »^ *J« ^J* "^
The Whole Show In Sound
mSm« PARAMOUNT NEWS ^l s„on rise to
even greater heights as a box-office attraction by presenting a large portion of its service in sound.
World events, epic-making happenings, scoops, special stunts, as only Paramount News can give
them to you — heard as well as seen. The world's greatest news reel — on the screen in sound! *J*
CHRISTIE COMEDIES The class
two
reel comedy product of the screen in sound! 32 in Paramount 's 1928 - 29 Whole Show Program.
"Confessions of a Chorus Girl," Bobby Vernon Comedies, Billy Dooley Comedies, "Sandy MacDuff "
Comedies with Jack Duffy. Two big special short features in sound coming and more to be announced !
STAGE PRESENTATIONS The pick
of the world's stage and screen talent presented in special de luxe short reels, with sound, in
the quality Paramount style — big names, big time acts, lavish novelties. Including the cream of
the famous Publix Stage units, making the small town theatre the equal of the Broadway palace !
THE ONE QUALITY WHOLE SHOW PROGRAM
Paramount Feature Pictures — Paramount News — Christie Comedies — Stage Presentations.
Paramount y^lctures
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
congratulations, TOM MEIGHAN!
mWrW^^W^^WW^
'.^-'^fl!
ivir5»..
^o:!Z'°ff ^^s*,' "'^t:-? ^»S:?.'° Se'Sf«p'.u
""•t
bottle L ^^^%he?w '''^f 0/ '"^^.^afearL •''^^g/n?^^'^"
— • They „ ° reporter '^ap/ta/ "^ oi^/icZ ^- ^at
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^_ ^'' cast '^^one o ^^n
jOM /lare your best picture
since ^^ Manslaughter^^ in your
latest^^'THE RACKET'
^ Your performance as fighting ''''Captain McQuigg" ranks with the
finest of your career. In Louis Wolheim, Marie Prevost and the
others you have virtually an all-star supporting cast — and class tells.
^ Lewis Milestone, your director, did a great job. Howard Hughes
and The Caddo Company lavished freely upon this production — and
you have come through nobly. ^ Paramount is proud to distribute
"The Racket" because we know it will make big money for the Exhibi-
tors of America! «« ,, ^ ^ ^ , , , , «
:€'*
d^^^»^^
^^^^iujtfJl
39^
T^STm
tr
jealurina
♦ LYA*
de PIJTTI
DON
ALVA|lADO
WAlilMtR
OLAIMD
;r^AIANCROSIAND
PRODUCTION
THE FIRST
1928-29
COLUMBIA
SUPER-SPECIAII
But the din o£ shouting about
ivhat you hope to accomplish is not
deceiving film buyers 'who have
EYES and EARS— and use them.
Only I^X has audible film for
sale no'w.
Only F#X has three studios
equipped and actually producing
Movietone.
OnlyF#X has an established
Movietone Newsreel, supplied daily
with News photographed with out-
door recording equipment — dis-
covered, developed and perfected by
|^#X sound experts.
FRON
ONLY
Only F#X can supply you dur-
ing 1928 MTlth comprehensive, exten-
sive foreign and local neivs that you
can HEAR— l^#X Movietone Ne^rs.
Only l^#X can supply NOW
and during 1928 'weekly Movietone
Entertainments in one and tivo reels.
Only rax can deliver NOW
synchronized prints on 6 completed
$2 specials*
Only rax can deliver a DOZEN
DIALOGUE FILMS DURING 1928.
Only |^#X — (oresighted devel-
oper oS Sound on Film— has the per-
fected Movietone your theatre needs
NOW— while others are experimentingi
First and Foremost
in Sound on Film
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
\Wi^^'l^^i!^^^^'MmiMmiLUmV^>:^^^Xli&M}J^^
Gold-Hawk Pictures, Inc»
Announce
That they have acquired the exclusive motion picture rights
for the
World Heavyweight Boxing Contest
GENE
TUNNEY
'VS'
TOM
HEENEY
To Be Staged Under the Direction
of the World's Premier Boxing Promoter
TEX
RICKARD
World's
Heavyweight Champion
Challenger
Champion of Australia
P & A Photo
P & A Photo
At the YANKEE STADIUM July 26th
ACT AT ONCE FOR YOUR TERRITORY - WRITE - WIRE - CABLE
WE ARE TAKING IMMEDIATE BOOKINGS FOR NEW YORK STATE
FOREIGN TERRITORY NOW SELLING
GOLD-HAWK PICTURES, Inc.
729 Seventh Avenue, New York City
BRYant9444
W. C. HAWKINS, Vice-President
and Export Manager
CHAS. N. JAWITZ
Vice-President
and
General Manager
Cable: JAWITZ FILM
.'^'i
JSN _.^^5WI
JI
, ,7r. _•
M-
V -^■
'F»x-.
r » «
iiJ**
"^.J
PBE-/ENT/
WILLI4M V
TUt
^VITM
■DOLORES IDtL I2IO
^^ I VAK" LIK'GW^
i^.
x#>\
has Five More $2 Specials Ready With
FOUR SONS-MOTH
SUNRISE - FAZIL -"^
^Skk ^BH^H IHB^B -JHbHI 7 ^HHI^^ .^HhS TOiiiiWI mmIIm^
HAS A PICTURE RECEIVED
SUCH UNANIMOUS
CRITICAL ACCLAIM !
*' 'The Red Dance'is one of the most magnif-
icent things of its kind which I have ever
seen on any screen." — New York World
"Without doubt the finest entertainment
of its kind of the year."
— New York Evening World
"Boasts . . . sufficient entertainment value
to bring . . . fans leaping to the Globe.
Raoul Walsh has made a masterly job of
directing the picture."
— New York Evening Telegram
"Directorially a gem .... extra special."
— New York Daily News
"No doubt that Charles Farrell has*it' espe-
cially in those Russian uniforms, In'TheRed
Dance, 'supporting Dolores Del Rio, he's the
answer to many a maiden's prayer."
— Variety
"The picture has action, and those who love
the melodramatic will certainly get a kick
out of this one."
— New York Morning Telegraph
^^ '^
it's playing to capacity twice daily at the
Globe Theatre, New York, at*2, doing the most
sensational summer business on Broadway.
or Without M^viEimvi:
ER MACHREE -
STREET ANGEL A
rox
10
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
«»*^ .. ^ : :^^s""^ w^'?;'^^." K
I
I
^■m
p
-A sensational national ad-
vertisinq campaiqn timecljwjth
your theatre showinfq
«C!
ATHE now brings to a focal point the
millions of dollars worth of publicity
that has accrued to "The King of Kings"
from a thousand sources since the produc-
tion first cast its magic spell over the
American public more than a year ago.
The hundreds of exhibitors who play this
immortal drama during the period begin-
ning September 29 will be backed by the
greatest national advertising campaign ever
accorded to a single production. They will
be enabled to get direct, traceable results ^
from this far-reaching plan, for each ofmik
the great magazines carrying the compel- ,
ling copy on "The King of Kings" will list
names of all theatres playing it.
Through this master stroke, Pathe turns
the pages of The Saturday Evening Post,
Collier's and all the leading fan publica-
tions to the showman's use, giving him a
new prestige, a new box-office force, trans-
posing national advertising into local
advertising and reaching every home in
his community with what is virtually his
own personal message.
Qffrtk FIRST
(^^^*
'""^ Million
CECIL
B.
DeMILLES
KING Of
ugo Riesenfeld^s Great Road Show Musical and Effect
^d with the
k^fU IICHI i r*i ■ K 1 1 kvjiciTi ■ T M II tf tl 11 M
Smashing two-page ad that will
appear iit Saturday Evening Post,
Collier% Photoplay, M. P. Maga-
zine, M. P. Classic, Picture Play,
Screenland, Film Futu
^i/£
S-^TV
^J>Jty
^y^A,,,
Pular
^U:
^"Ppe,
^est
/y
hJe,
"fre £^^
^^f^ieAfg^
'»cp/i
TH L N 4'S
Arc
ROABK
BRADFORI
^Osj
'^e):fon
M,
•eatres
!>uses
u^ill
^<-'/iich
sho
U'Ul
Can
yzv be
WPn
On
^■"f.VNG
"e^rt A.... '^ Of
P^ctu
reen
Odu.
^^'^ ^eeks ^^^GS
re
tn
cea
the.
even
atre
y
^^eoi
K
vie
^m
"^ Th
eat
fead
^^dH
isted Hi
^'^^tnh
ere
er thi
. KJLY
v., ,. „,
'N
p]{
;il:Ri'
^^
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%
^Os
a
Were,
"•ifAe
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^keis
going
'oshcu
"'''beKi,
"«*°fKi„„
^"■'"'■^oru
-'^'^^^2A^,
"^Qtie,
KINGS
Jeanie
Macpherson
Pathe
Score with orchestra of 100 and chorus of 50 vocalists
marvelous RCA PHOTOPHONE —
»«',
OCT.
li
*^JeanieMacpherson
been
Foreign Distributors
Producers International
Corporation
130 West 46th Street
New York City
William M. Vogel
General Manager
Its entertain.
^e been exhorteT'"^^ °^ ^""^^^^
And
screen history.
pro
screen.
"-.e of'SiS^
Capitalize
G
OOD PICTURES
Today more than ever before Good Pictures are the founda-
tion en which this business must rely.
No business of any kind can be any greater than the quaUty
of its product.
Good Pictures must be produced up to an ideal and not down
to a destructive budget.
Last year the stars and producers of United Artists pledged
themselves to produce Good Pictures ^ the best that talent,
energy and money could make.
That promise was more than fulfilled.
For 1928-29 each United Artist again subscribes to our ideal^
to produce the finest attractions that each can create.
With knowledge of their sincerity I confidently endorse their
personal pledge and heartily commend to you this season^s
United Artists Pictures in testimony of our faith in the busi-
ness-building value of Good Pictures.
9k ^%juu/^
President and Chairman
Board of Directors
^i^£oo^ (^5u£^-4^ '^AsuX. L)'
cMkvly
9lCKFOkD
in
a modem and grown
up love story will
reveal a new "Amer-
ica's Sweetheart'*
with curls cut off —
a picture even greater,
than "My Best Girl.""
Sam Taylor
Production
^ovjAtLd Colmavl
AVJD
^ILMA <BaMKY-
in their last co-starring
picture, ''
"TWO LOVERS"
Samuel Coldwyn presenta-
tion. Direction Fred Niblo
from the story "Leather-
face" by Baroness Orczy.
Eight weeks on Broadway.
Synchronized musical
(J^ORMA
Qalmadge
in
"THE WOMAN
DISPUTED'
A Joseph M. Schenck
presentation of
Dennison Clifts
play. With Gilbert
Roland. Direction
Henry King from
C. GardnerSuUivan's
"STEAMBOAT
BILL, JR."
Acclaimed everywhere as
Buster Keaton's <!reatest
comedy. The funniest
travestv of the Mississ-
iooi River ever filmed.
Directed by "Chuck"
Reisner. Presented by
Joseph M. Schenck.
Glor^iA
"THE SWAMP"
A powerful drama of
German East Africa
written especially for
Miss Swanson by Eric
Von Stroheim who will
also direct. Her greatest
effort — a tremendous
successor to her best
previous picture "Sadie
Thompson."
<D0L0kES
©elQIio
''REVENGE"
An Edwin Carewe
Production from
Konrad Bercovici's
story "The Bear
Tamer's Daughter."
Promises to be her
greatest effort.
^LMAr
Presented by Samuel
Goldwyn in her first
starring picture -
"THE
AWAKENING"
by Frances Marion. Victor
Fleming direction. With
Louis Wolheim and Wal-
ter Byron. Son5 by
Irving Berlin and syn-
chronized musical
^uster/Xeatovl M CHeRBERJ
ERy4ESTT0R.»tENCE ■ ^R^ENON
PRODUCTION
''LUMMOX"
Fannie Hurst's tre-
mendous best seller
will be Herbert
Brenon's next pic-
ture to follow his
recent great box-
office succes s —
"Sorrell and Son."
with William Boyd |
and Lupe Velez. j|
With Irving Berlin |
song in Movietone. *,
From Dr. Karl Voll- |
moeller's story, "La |
Paiva." Adapted by I
Hans Kraly. D. W. i
.» Griffith Production. I
'West
PRODUCTION
"NIGHTSTICK"
One of Broadway's most
■ successful plays will be
made by the director of
"The Bat" from the
scenario by C. Gardner
Sullivan. Certain to be
ne of the most thrilling
crook dramas ever
filmed for screen
entertainment.
C^+AR.LIE
Cm-Aplim
in
"CITY
LIGHTS"
A rollicking, lau»hin%,
whirling story of the
boulevard and the night
club. An ori<;inal story
written by Mr. Chaolin
and to be directed by
him. Supported bv
Merna Kennedy and
Harry Crocker.
Q)0UGLAS
^AlkBANKS
'THE MAN
WITH THE
IRON MASK"
An original story telling
of the further adventures
of d'Artagnan and "The
Three Musketeers." Di-
rected by Allan Dwan-
GklPFITW-
PkODUCTlOW
"THE BATTLE
OF THE SEXES'
/ith Jean Hersholt,
Phyllis Haver, Belle
Bennett, Don Alvarado,
Sally O'Neil. From
Daniel Carson Good-
man's story adapted by
Gerritt'Hoyd.
JOH-N
will have two pictures pre-
sented by Joseph M. Schenck
^»^' 'TEMPEST"
j with Camilla Horn and Louis i
I Wolheim — Sam Taylor Pro- 1
1 duction — Playing capacity K
at Embassy, N. Y., at $2 top.
2nduNTITLED
with Camilla Horn. Directed
^ by Ernst Lubitsch. ^5-
(Donald
COLMAM i
presented by Samuel
Goldwyn in his first
starring vehicle
-""THE
RESCUE"
from Joseph Con-
rad's novel. Herbert
Brenon d i r e c tci o n
with Lily Damita.
19
Pictures in order of
release*
OClNG-
PR.O DUCTIOVJ
"SHE GOES
TO WAR"
An Inspiration Pic-
ture Inc., presenta-
tion from Rupert
Hughes' Red Book
story. Big Cast —
Big Production.
PRODUCTIOVI
"THE THREE
PASSIONS"
from Cosmo Hamil-
ton's novel. With
Alice Terry, Claire
Eames, Ivan Petro-
vitch.
04ig gels'
Greatest of air films.
Now more than 11
months in the making.
With Ben Lyon, Greta
Nissen. James Hall. A
Caddo Production per-
sonally presented and
supervised by Howard
Hughes. A Road Show
Attraction.
■Vi
July
Buster Keaton and
Ernest Torrence in
"STEAMBOAT
BILL, JR."
August
Ronald Colman and
Vilma Banky in
"TWO LOVERS"
J ohn Barrymore in
"TEMPEST"
Septemher
Norma Talmadge in
"THE WOMAN
DISPUTED"
D. W. Griffith's
"THE BATTLE OF
THE SEXES"
October
Dolores Del Rio in
"REVENGE"
Vilma Banky in
"THE
AWAKENING"
Ts^ofember
"THE LOVE SONG'
with William Boyd and
Lupe Veler
Ronald Colman In
"THE RESCUE"
Road Show
"HELL'S ANGELS"
December
"NIGHTSTICK"
]Roland West Production
"LUMMOX"
Herbert Brenon
Production
January 1929
Gloria Swanson in
"THE SWAMP'*
Douglas Fairbanks in
"THE MAN WITH
THE IRON MASK"
MaryPickford Production
UNTITLED
February
Charlie Chaplin
"CITY LIGHTS"
John barrymore
UNTITLED
March
"THREE
PASSIONS"
Rex Ingram
Production
"SHE GOES
TO WAR"
Henry King
Production
"Each picture Sold Irtdiriduatiy — on tAerit."
mitmtm
GOOD BtiSINESS
Good Business depends on Good Pictures ^ quality pictures.
Good pictures must be produced up to a standard, never down
to a price.
United Artists Pictures are Good Pictures. They cost more.
They're worth more.
By booking Quality, you practice soundest economy. Your
patrons remember quality and quality only.
Over a period of a year, when you play Good Pictures, your
cost may be higher but your returns will be much higher.
That's good business.
Today thovisands of exhibitors know that Good Pictures build
the steady healthy ever-growing patronage. Today United
Artists Pictures are being played by more showmen than
ever before.
The nineteen United Artists Pictures for 1928-29 are BIG
pictures produced individually. They are sold the same way^
Individually on meriU
Each picture will be backed by an individual and distinctive
money-making exploitation campaign to sell your public.
In buying pictures the real showman says **Not How Cheap —
but How Good.''
Keep your Good dates open for the Good Pictures. That's
Good Business^
Make your appointment with United Artists salesmen
early, now!
i^<^5^2-<-f
Vice-President and General Manager of Distribution
United States and Canada
UNITtD ARTISTS COIU^ORATION
JOSEPH M.SCHENCK.
President and Chairman Board of Directors
Sftaty Pickford -^y[6rma Talmadge t0 Gloria Swanson -^ Charles Chaplin
Douglas Fairbanks ^-^ D.UCGriffith ->^ Samuel Goldwyn
,^^0:)4a^LU'^'-^^-^-^^
RUSS
VIATOR.
REED
WEf
iA new series
if air -thrillers
thai: will stam
iheir hair
tnd
From the famous
"Russ Farieir flying
stories in %ejlmericm
hoif Magazine -^^^
Bi^ Thomson Burtis
RV/SS FARRELL
AVIATOR ''
will pack as bi^ a
Kick a$ YOU ever
^ave an audience.
iht popuIai'itY of the
stories and the star,
and tie-ups that sur-
pass any short feature
exploitation ever be-
fore attempted, will
make them bi^ box^
office bet/ from the
take-off.
Mif being [)ioduced{orI928-'J929 bij
Charles R- Rogers Productions, inc.
EDUCATIONAL
FILM EXCHANGES. Inc.
President. ■ —
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
11
"Ask Anybody!"
Packard Says —
"Ask the Man who owns one"
The Herald'World Says —
"Ask Anybody!"
^
SK your friend, our friend, or
even our closest competitor, or
any man in the trade you meet in
the street.
The secret of the Herald-World's
success is that it is no secret at all.
Everybody knows why the Herald-
World leads the motion picture
trade paper field — because every-
body knows the Herald- World.
But perhaps a shorter way to the
same answer is
Ask
Your self I
what I neCi
FIRST
CLASS
SHOW
for a
FIRST
CLASS
HOUSE.'
WONDER ATTRACTION
IN SMASHING WORLD
PREMIERE RCSCr JULY 7
14
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
From New York down-
the whole country
acclaims UNIVERSAL!
July 14, 1928
J JUNDREDS of congratulatory
^ ^ letters and telegrams from
exhibitors all over the Nation,
from the biggest First Run thea-
tres down to the smallest, — all
acclaim Universal's magnificent
accomplishment in SHOWING IN
ADVANCE, (not 26 pictures as
Mr, Linet's editorial states) but
34 pictures all done, ready to see
on the screen.
No company in the business has
done it except Universal,
And not alone has no company
matched Universal, but also, none
shows the array of genuine
box office winners that Uni-
versal shows this year.
On top of that wonderful ac-
complishment Universal crashes
Broadway with 9 feature pictures
in less than 3 weeks time.
Capitol, Roxy, Rialto, Rivoli,
Hippodrome, the largest theatres
the world, all showing and
in
boosting Universal's winners.
Added to that. Universal an-
nounces 18 features to be synchro-
nized, headed by UNCLE TOM'S
CABIN and THE MAN WHO
LAUGHS,
Climb aboard the band-
wagon. Join the ranks of
the winners. Tie-up to
the season's surest prof-
its by Booking
UNIVERSAL
Solid!
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
15
Editorial
By Hank Linet
For Doubting Thomases
When Universal announced a few
schedll^l'to'VH '' ^^ '""^ P^^t^'S
hcneduled tor the year were comnlet-
fn/^Thn"^'^ ^«r Showing, the Doubt-
iig Thomases remarked that even
L^^^Z^''^^^ ^'^ have these 26, they
probably weren't any "good. ^
Universal has made its
answer, and a most con-
vincmg one. For three
>veeks straight. Broadway
IS to have three Universal
pictures showing simultane-
ously.
the RivoT ? f ^P'^""' ^^'^^^ ^"«' and
aid ^hl W-^''^'. °"^' ^"^ the Rialto
and the Hippodrome.
Nice representation .in competitive
n nl?'- ^L*^'^" ^^" f^'- the kind
of p ctures that Universal has ready
lor the year.
I
if
II
n *
iiri
>1
Member of Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc. — Will H. Hays, President
Written
by the co-author of
"Dulcy", "Merton
of the Movies"—
George S. Kaufman
Directed
by the man who made
"McFadden's Flats" —
Richard Wallace
Presented
by Richard A. Rowland
From the East -
Fi'om the North -
From the South -
they flocked by the thou-
sands to see-
md
tiiriER
EGG NAN
During its 7 months on Broad-
way--and more on the road.
Hundreds of amateur pro-
ductions. Read by thousands
in book form.
NOW ONE OF THE BIGGEST
COMEDY HITS OF RECENT YEARS
IS YOURS FOR EXTENDED RUNS!
TAMkS
EKTRUDEA^TOi;
lAIH HARDY
■f^/^'^^f/ j^^/f/
One of the
FinST li^ATIO^Al.
lembtr jT Motion Picture Producers ..d Distributors of America Inc.^Wlll H.Haye J>H,,inl
I
Y^
The
Independent
Film Trade
Paper
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
8b4 MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Home
Office:
407 So. Dearborn St.
Chicago
IN THIS ISSUE
The Herald-World tliis week presents the A B C of the Synchronized Picture, by Peter Vischer, who
has conducted a thorough survey of this phase of picture presentation; This informative article deals
with types of reproducing devices, prices to the theatre owner, and other subjects of consequence at
this time.
I
COMPLETE INDEX TO CONTENTS
NEWS
Stockholders of National Theatres, Chicago, will go into federal
court in an effort to regain control of circuit of theatres.
Sales analysis, rather than circusing of pictures, is basis of ex-
ploitation campaigns in the Southwest; Dignity is ad slogan.
A professor and his students study public demands upon the
motion picture theatre — an informative survey for the exhibitor.
The Northwest theatre men, and former AUied States exhibitors,
postpone convention; Chicago may get meeting to revive asso-
ciation.
DEPARTMENTS
Synchronized Pictures 31
The Studio 37
Short Features 43
Presentation Acts 44
The Theatre 50
New Pictures 54
Classified Advertising 59
What the Picture Did for Me 61
Chicago Personalities by Whit 66
FEATURES
Service Talks by T. 0. Service 53
Los Angeles by Douglas Hodges 38
Pictorial Section 27
Letters from Readers 60'
Broadway 2ft
ADVERTISEMENTS
FILM AND EQUIPMENT— M G M, Robert Morton Organ Com-
pany, Paramount, Columbia, Gold-Hawk Pictures, Fox, F B O,.
Universal, First National, Tom Tyler, Alfred Cohn, Charles
Clarke, Nick Musuraca, Al Martin, George Sidney, Automatic-
Ticket Register Company, Guercio & Barthel, Eastman Kodak.
PRESENTATIONS— Leo Feist, Inc., Villa Moret, Inc., Chief
Eagle Feather, Vale & Stewart, Benny & Western, Fritz & Jean-
Hubert, Darling Twins, Cornelius Mafiie, Frankie Masters, Bill'
Bennett, Harry Zimmerman, Leo Terry, Brooks Costumes, Rans-
ley Studios, Dean Stevenson.
CHIC4CO
407 South Dearborn St. Telephones Harriaoa 0036-37-38
Cable Address : Qnigpubco
EDWIN S. CXIFFORD, General Manager
JAY M. SHRECK, Managing Editor
GEORGE CLIFFORD, Business Manager
ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD, News Editor
LOS ANGELES
5617 Hollywood Blvd. Telephone Gladstone 3754
DOUGLAS HODGES
West Coast Manager
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
EDITORIAL
AND
ADVERTISING
OFFICES
M
i
NEW t&RK
56S Fifth Avenns Telephones Vanderbilt 3612-MlSl
JAMES BEECROFT, ?Vetti York Advertising Manager
PETER VISCHER, New York Editor
LONDON
THE BIOSCOPE
(J. Caboaro, Editor}.
Faraday Honso
S-10 Charing Cross Rd., W. C. 2
United States and possessions— $3.00 per year, Canada — $4.50 per year. Other points of the world S6.00 par y»ar. Single eoplss, 2S eeats,.
Advertising rate cards and Audit Bureau of Qrculations statements foraishad upon application.
%
i
18
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
aod MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Martin J. Quigley, Publisher 5>o Editor
Incorporating Exhibitors Herald, founded in 1915; MoviwG Pic-
ture World, founded in 1907; Motography, founded in 1909; and
The Film Index, founded in 1909
Published Every Wednesday by
QuicLEY Publishing Company
Publication Office: 407 So. Dearborn St., CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Martin J. Quigley, President
Edwin S. Clifford, Secretary George Clifford, Asst. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other Publications: The Chicagoan and Polo, class journals; and the follow-
ing motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exhibitors
Herald and Moving Picture World: Better Theatres, every fourth week, and
The Buyers Index, published semi-annually.
Whole Vol. 92, No. 2 (Vol. 34, No. 5) July 14, 1928
What About Publicity!
AT one time in the motion picture business publicity
men were considered to be publicity men and the
duties with which they were mainly concerned were of an
appropriate character. Recently, however, in a great
many instances publicity men have been elevated to — or
have degenerated into — a position which amounts to that
of some kind of an ofiGce executive, and the matter of
writing and placing publicity material has become only an
incidental activity.
The net result of this new order is that for some time
past the motion picture, and the industry, has been gradu-
ally dropping down the list of well-publicized activities
before the American public, until now a great many pub-
lic interests, which have decidedly less essential attraction
for the public, have dwarfed the position of pictures in
the public eye.
In a business in which publicity is of such tremendous
importance, this new alignment suggests considerations
which are actually alarming. In fact, it is reasonable to
state that the lessening of publicity, promotional and ex-
ploitational activities may be blamed in a substantial de-
gree for many of the adverse conditions which are now
attending the business.
The picture business is indulging in the illusion that
it is a well-publicized business and even many of the lead-
ing and best-informed executives are likely to contest the
assertion to the contrary. But any close and intelligent
examination of the facts proves the original contention.
The business has been lulled into a fancied notion of its
security in the public eye and, meanwhile, automobiles,
radio, cigarettes, cash registers and a number of other
commodities and services have forged ahead of the in-
dustry in public attention and are reaping proportunate
rewards while the motion picture business has been bare-
ly holding its own.
A review of the great and significant publicity eflforts of
the past year discloses nowhere any outstanding activity
of the motion picture business. The introduction of the
new Ford motor car leaves the sum of the past 10 years
of publicity in the picture business looking small and in-
consequential. In a somewhat limited degree the same
holds true relative to the introduction last Winter of a
new model by the Dodge Brothers company. Even the
current price war among the cigarette companies, which
seems to be virtually without effect as far as the consumer
is concerned, has gotten an important degree of public
attention.
In the sales and marketing of such a prosaic article as
a cash register there is now being introduced a ballyhoo
which leaves the best current efforts of the picture busi-
ness appearing meek and unpretentious, indeed.
The record is clear: The picture business is allowing
its most effective instrument to grow rusty from disuse
or only half-hearted use. And meanwhile the publicity
brains of the business are pretty much following the same
fate.
Although we are close observers of publicity referring
to the motion picture business, it is so long since we have
seen a really good story in the general or in the trade
press that an effort to recall the latest is a tax upon the
memory.
There has been a high order of publicity brains in the
picture business and we assume that it is still here, but,
certainly, it has been giving very little visible proof of
its existence for some time. The case would be a puzzling
one if we did not happen to know that many men who
have been responsible for excellent publicity efforts in
the past are now giving their attention almost exclusively
to office routine. These activities may be and probably
are important but they do not get publicity and if the
publicity men of the industry are not wholehearted on
the job of getting publicity of the right kind and in the
right volume, the business is going to continue to suffer
just as it has been suffering.
* * •
A Pioneer's Lot
EVERY great development has its skeptical commen-
tators. Just prior to sailing for Europe, Mr. Joseph
M. Schenck, in a statement, lists himself in this classifica-
tion relative to the use of sound in pictures. Mr. Schenck
warns of the dangers of the use of dialogue, pointing out
particularly that the language employed seriously limits
the subject in the world market.
It was not long ago that the majority of the leading
producers were highly skeptical about the whole matter
of synchronization. For a considerable period while Mr.
William Fox and the Warner brothers were investing
time, money and effort — and a lot of each — other leading
factors in the industry were assuming the attitude that
their contemporaries had only found a new plaything to
amuse themselves with.
Certainly, the question of dialogue is a most difficult
problem. Eventually it may be discarded and synchroni-
zation may mean only musical and sound effect accom-
paniment. But the possibilities of the new form of ex-
pression must be explored, and the pioneers will have to
face the dangers which are the usual lot of explorers. If
dialogue means an important development for motion
pictures, talking pictures will have to be made, first, for
the English-speaking countries alone and attendant prob-
lems of the world market will have to be met as they
arise.
We acknowledge the soundness of Mr. Schenck's pres-
ent position, but, it may be noted, pioneers in synchro-
nized production have quite enough to contend with with-
out— cold water.
* » *
DARK clouds continue to gather on the horizon of the
labor situation. In several individual localities dis-
putes have reached an acute stage. The problem is rap-
idly becoming a national one. A nationally defensive
move is considered by many as the only hope of perma-
nent relief.
Julv 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
19
Herald- World Presents Status
of Synchronized Pictures Today
Nine Systems for Production
of Sound Are Now on Market
What Is Fame? This Case
Brings Up the Question
(Stccial to the Herald-lVorld)
ST. LOUIS, July 10.— What is
fame? Or doesn't it matter.^ How-
ever, the inHuence of those nation-
ally known exponents of the art of
"gate crashing," Tammany Young
and One-Eyed Connolly, would seem
to have been felt in this region re-
cently. John P. Foerstel and Earl
Montgomery, both 18 years old, were
charged in city court by L. J. Hill,
manager of the Ambassador theatre,
with having tried to use the Young-
Connolly methods of entry into that
house. The boys stated that they
had been merely waiting for a friend,
and Judge Beck dismissed the case.
The incident, however, serves to
point a moral, does it not.' — the
moral so aptly stated by one George
M. Cohan, which possibly goes some-
thing like this: "I don't care what
you say about me. so long as you
mention my name." Quite so.
First ''All-Talkie"
Excites New York
at Strand Opening
By PETER VISCHER
NEW YORK, July 10.— The first all-
talking picture, without even a subtitle,
caught the interest of New York Friday
night at a special midnight opening at the
Strand. The picture was "Lights of New
York," a Vitaphone picture on which was
centered the entire studio and technical ex-
perience of the Warner Brothers organiza-
tion.
Notables at Opening
The picture aroused considerable excite-
ment as a test of the modern talking device
in a much greater scope than heretofore.
An audience that ranged from Ina Claire
to Tammany Young gathered to take a look
and a hear.
The picture was generally held to fore-
shadow what one may expect from talking
pictures, rather than to stand as a test of
the talking proposition. It would be well
■worth seeing as a novelty, if opinions heard
at the Strand provide any criterion.
"The Lights of New York," adequately ad-
vertised by Joseph Plunkett as the first 100
per cent talking picture, drew unusual crowds
to the Strand on Monday afternoon, a blister-
ing hot day. There was a line at the box office
and scats were at a premium. At the end of
everj- show the audience broke into spontane-
ous applause.
Others on the Street
By the way. New York is having a full
set of sound pictures this week. "King of
Kings," with a synchronized score, is at the
Rivoli. "Lights of New York" and "The
Lion and the Mouse" talk for Warners.
"Fazil" and "The Red Dance" represent
Fox.
Sugarman Joins Skirboll
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— Al_ Sugarman,
formerly with Universal, has joined Skir-
boll Gold Seal Productions, distributors for
Columbia pictures.
Costs of Installation and Rental Presented in This
Informative Survey of Field
By PETER VISCHER
The synchronized picture, admittedly the most brilliant development of the
film industry in recent years, has captured the imagination and the interest of
a world intent on motion pictures. Synchronized pictures hold the center of
the screen.
Because it is so new and fresh, because it is still in a state of flux, the syn-
chronized picture situation as it exists today is not a simple one. The very
importance of the sound picture makes it difficult to understand the situation
as a whole, and yet appreciate each component viewpoint that goes to make
the whole.
Many Problems Now Confront the Producers
The producer has his own peculiar slant on synchronized pictures. In the
first place, which of the many systems available shall he use? Shall he use
dialogue or restrict himself (for the present at least) to music? He has made
film stars overnight, but where can he pick up actors and actresses with trained
voices? What shall he do with those screen stars, built up into heroes and
heroines at enormous expense, whose voices are not adapted to modem speak-
ing devices? Can he afford to go slowly, with all his competitors apparently
going ahead under full steam?
motion pictures with a universal appeal, an
appeal to the eye. Will the public take
synchronized pictures to its heart, once the
novelty has worn off?
Opinions on these important matters are
available on all sides. The head of every
organization in the industry has ideas on
the subject. Every exhibitor has something
to say. Motion picture critics are full of
arguments, of all shades. The man on the
street has his own opinions, which is a
great thing for pictures, for it means still
another close tie between the industry and
the public.
Here Are the Facts
This is no place for opinions. Herewith
are presented only facts as they exist today.
without color. This is to be a cross-section
of the synchronized picture situation, pre-
(Continned on page 32)
Then consider the exhibitor. He doesn't
have to worry about recording problems,
but how about the reproducing? Which
system should he use? How much will
the equipment cost? If he signs up with
one reproducing method, will he be able to
show the pictures of all companies? Prices!
Where will he get his profit? Can he afford
to mark time, when the fellow down the
street is going ahead and installing sound
equipment?
Now Answer These Questions
Actors, actresses, directors, musicians,
salesmen! They all have their private
problems in connection with the new syn-
chronized pictures. Is the film industry be-
ing revolutionized, and if so who will be
caught in the revolution?
And how about the public? For years
the public has watched silent pictures. The
public has been educated into appreciating
Spoken Words on Film Must Be Censored,
Judge Rules in Vitaphone Case in East
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, July 10. — A decision that spoken words cannot be used in
conjunction with motion pictures in Pennsylvania unless the words as well as the
films are approved by the state board of censors has been handed down by Judge
Martin in Common Pleas Court No. 2 in this city.
This ruling was made by Judge Martin in denying an appeal by Vitagraph, Inc.,
from a recision of the censors. The Vitagraph company refused to submit to the
board a record of spoken words to be reproduced during the showing of a film,
contending that the powers of the censors applied only to pictures and did not
cover spoken words. The board thereupon refused to allow the picture to be
shown.
Judge Martin in pointing out the obvious intention of the law said: "To con-
strue the Act as vesting the board of censors with power to prevent the exhibition
of films when the same debasing features are published as part of the picture by
a machine would result in neutralizing and destroying the act of assembly. That
the machine to be used is a mechanism unknown to the world when the Act of
1915 was passed does not prevent the remedial provision of the act being extended
to the suppression of an evil made possible by its employment as a part of the
picture. A construction which would permit so palpable an evasion of the law
would result in an absurdity. The board of censors was right in demanding that
the language employed in conjunction with the proposed picture should be sub-
mitted to them before the film received the approval of the board."
20
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
NEW YORK.— Freddie Hall, who general-
ly writes motion picture criticisms for
the Times, is on a busman's holiday. . . . He
goes to Ho^y^vood for a vacation. . . . One
of these days there'll be a full story on mo-
iion picture criticism as she appears in this
man's town. . . . Which brings up the item
that the new critic on The World, hiding un-
der the modest initials of "A. J." is Abe
Jacoby, office boy in the dramatic department.
. . . Raoul Walsh, director of "The Red
Dance" for Fox is in New York watching the
crowds flock into the Globe, where his latest
opus is showing. ... Of course George Ber-
nard Shaw is at the Globe, too, which isn't a
bad break for any picture. . . . Leo, the
Aletro-Goldwyn-Mayer lion, visited Park Row
and the newspaper boys last week. . . . Word
came up to Frank Sullivan that he was to
come down and look at the lion. . . . "Noth-
ing doing," said Frank, "I wouldn't go down
12 flights of stairs for anything smaller than a
hippopotamus." . . . The theatres around here
don't know whether to boast of their cooling
plants or their umbrellas. . . . Ollie Garrett,
who was once a newspaperman and so forth,
is going to do the screen adaptation of John
Monk Saunders' new air story, "Dirigible."
. . . Bessie Love was at the Hippodrome and
got a royal welcome. . . . "King of Kings,"
with sound accompanied right on the film,
brought the crowds to the Rivoli. . . . Roxy
has taken the war tax off, thereby heading in
just in front of everybody else with the claim
that he has the lowest prices of any de luxe
house on Brodway. . . . The peerless Joe
Lee is doing his stuff on the Rialto as usual
and looking like a million dollars at the same
time. Joe says that talking and sound pictures
must make a noise like a quarter falling into
the box office, to be worth listening to. . . .
Ed Twner of the Cortellaphone, is one of the
busiest men of the industry these days. Ed
has already signed the Buck Jones Company,
and has a lot more signatures in sight. . . .
"Jaydee" Williams is expected to be sighted off
Fire Island any day now, and besides that,
Bill Yearsley is champing at the bit,, to get off
to the trout streams. One uses the ocean, and
the other gets the big fish out of the small
streams. . . . Apropos of the above named — •
Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Yearsley were visitors
at the World Wide Pictures offices during the
week. Both represented a feast for the eye,
as well as the ear, and we hope to have more
sound pictures of this kind. . . . Ray Johns-
ton, president of Rayart Pictures Company,
expected to be off to the West several weeks
ago, but owing to business in the big village
had to defer the trip. Ray has three terri-
tories to dispose of, and if we read the horo-
scope correctly, he will make short work of
the last three, and have an ace in the hole.
. . . Charles Jawitz, president of the Gold-
Hawk Company, says that the "Battle of the
Century" is going to be a dandy, and that the
$50,000 which he paid for the picture privilege
was well spent. . . . Dorothy Devore, Educa-
tional's star comedienne, swished through
New York on her way from Europe to Holly-
wood. . . . Incidentally, the Big Town ought
to be well represented out there now — even
His Honor Jimmie the Mayor having gone
West.
—PETER VISCHER.
Installs Movietone
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, July 10.— Movietone'
has been installed in the St. Francis theatre,
operated by West Coast Theatres, Inc.
Leo Starts on a World Tour
TNTERNATIONALISM seems to be a guiding principle in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's
•*- exploitation department. That Howard Dietz, advertising director, should prove a
supporter of the League of Nations would not be surprising. The "trackless train"
hasn't completed its world tour, yet Leo, the trade mark lion, has begun a similar
peregrination. And here he is, starting from Washington —
Crowds badiiig the famous lion goodbye at the Nation's capital.
Down a Washington avenue.
-As Leo, Jr., arrives in Australia
Miss Hester Ann Lefever, Washington society girl, christening the cage.
(Photos by International Newsreel)
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
21
U. S. Court Action for Control
of National Theatres Expected
Stockholders Charge Certain
Financial Deals Hurt Assets
Pattee Misses First Meet
in K-MM. P. T.O. History
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, July 10.— For the
£rst time in the history of the M. P.
T. O. Kansas-Missouri that veteran
showman, C. M. Pattee, owner ot the
Pattee theatre. Lawrence, Kansas,
failed to put in an appearance at the
recent convention in Wichita. That
fact was just discovered by President
R. R. Biechele the other day and Mrs.
June Medcalf, secretary, was in-
structed to £nd out if Mr. Pattee—
"Dad." as he is known — still was in
good health.
Dads of College Students
Favor Sunday Shows as
Town Plans Fourth Vote
(Special to the Herald-World)
CHAMPAIGN, ILL., July 10.— Citizens
of Champaign within the next six weeks
will vote upon the question of Sunday mo-
tion picture shows. A petition for an elec-
tion now in circulation will be presented to
the City Council for action.
Recently the Dads Association of the
University of Illinois investigated campus
conditions at the University of Illinois,
here, and recommended some sort of Sun-
day amusements for the boys and girls
attending the University.
As usual the Ministerial Alliance will lead
the fight against Sunday opening on the
grounds that they are unmoral. Catholic
and Jewish clergy will take no active part
in the campaign since they do not regard
motion picture shows as competition, it is
understood. The question has been up for
vote three times during the past several
years and each time the reform element
succeeded in defeating Sunday amusements.
Theatre Man Held When
Caller at Home Is Killed
DENVER, July 10.— A. E. Dickson, vice
president of Consolidated Theatres, Inc.,
operating a large chain in the Denver terri-
tory, is being held pending the filing of a
murder charge. Dickson was supposed to
have left the city Saturday night but re-
turned home to find Herbert Powell visit-
ing Dickson's wife.
A fight followed, Powell attacking Dick-
son, who it is claimed, drew a revolver which
discharged killing Powell during the scuf-
fle. Dickson will plead self defense and the
unwritten law. Dickson was former head
of D. and R. Theatre circuit.
Wilkerson Group Buys
Exhibitors Review Firm
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— William R. Wilker-
son and a group of associates have taken over
sole ownership of the Exhibitors Review Pub-
lishing Corporation from George C. Williams.
Henry Linet, managing editor, has resigned,
but no other changes in either personnel or
policy are now contemplated.
Wilkerson's associates are said not to be
otherwise connected with the motion picture
industry.
Bill of Intervention Protesting Receivership of Chicago
Circuit Now Being Prepared
By GEORGE SCHUTZ
Suit to take National Playhouses, Inc. (Cooney Brothers), important Chicago
circuit, out of the hands of receivers will be filed in U. S. district court within
a week or 10 days, according to Nash & Ahern, attorneys for the stockholders,
who are now preparing a bill of intervention protesting the receivership granted
in foreclosure proceedings brought by the Guaranty Trust Company of New
York, holders of mortgage notes against the theatre chain, two weeks ago.
Philadelphia and New York Bankers to Be Named '
The bill will name Barret & Company of Philadelphia, and Frederick Peirce
& Company of New York and Chicago, bankers, who took over the circuit last
month, and probably Cooney Brothers also.
Meanwhile, conversations between the Chicago Title & Trust Company,
the receivers appointed two weeks ago, and a prominent national circuit, for
the purpose of selling the theatres, have been thus far unsuccessful. The name
of the chain is not divulged.
Just what charges will form the major
counts in the bill of intervention would not
be given out by M. J. Ahern, speaking for
counsel. A committee appointed by the stock-
holders, however, has issued a printed state-
ment to the several thousand stockholders,
declaring that certain financial transactions be-
tween the bankers and Cooney Brothers
resulted in a depletion of the assets of the
company.
Oppose Advanced Receivership
Exception is also taken by the stockholders
to the establishment of a receivership several
days before the day on which they were to
be allowed to meet enough of the obligations
against the company to retain control, it being
alleged that the banJcers had agreed to a period
of 30 days, ending July 1, in which the stock-
holders could attempt to raise the necessary
$250,000. Although this amount was not
raised, it is stated that an arrangement satis-
factory to the creditors and the amount due
the bankers had been attained by that date.
The printed statement issued by the stock-
holders' committee, in which the future as
well as the present value of the properties is
strongly emphasized because of their locations
in growing communities and because of the
impetus to theatre-going which the committee
expects from sound pictures, is, in part, as
follows :
Bonds Are Issued
"About a year ago Cooney Brothers, then
directors of National Playhouses, Inc., bor-
rowed from some Eastern bankers, $2,500,000,
issuing bonds therefor, secured by first
mortgages on the Avalon and Chatham thea-
tres, and second mortgages on the Capitol and
Stratford, there being at the time prior bond
issues totalling about $1,275,000, secured by
first mortgages on the Capitol and Stratford.
"In making this loan of $2,500,000, the baink-
ers deducted 17 per cent commission, or about
$425,000. As a bonus for making the loan
they were given from the unissued stock in
the treasury of the company, 50,000 shares of
A stock, having a par value of $1,250,000. The
liabilities of the company exceeded the assets
by about $155,000, so in order to make the
bond issue more readily saleable, the Cooneys
were required by the bankers to subscribe to
about $155,000 worth of the A stock, which
subscription was then listed as an asset, the
bankers guaranteeing the subscription. To
secure themselves on this guarantee the bank-
ers required the Cooneys to deposit with them
as collateral 200,000 shares of the B stock,
having a par value of $1,000,000, and about
$77,000 in first mortgage Capitol theatre bonds,
to be forfeited to the bankers if the Cooneys
failed fully to meet their subscription. In
October, 1927, the Cooneys failed to pay a
balance of $54,000 due on their subscription,
and thereby the B stock aforesaid and the
$77,000 in bonds became forfeit to the bankers.
Done Without Consent, Claim
"All of this was done without the knowl-
edge, consent or approval of the stockholders,
despite the fact that their assets were thus
(Continued on page 30)
Receiver to Seek Right to Sell Ascher
Theatres; Old Circuit Not to Quit Field
Application for the right to dispose of the Ascher Brothers theatre properties
in Chicago will be made in U. S. district court shortly by the Chicago Title and
Trust Company, receiver, according to Chester Davis, head of the latter's legal
department. Contest of the receivership by creditors was withdrawn several
weeks ago.
Sale of the theatres, however, would not mean the passing of Ascher Brothers
from the Chicago theatrical scene, according to Harry Ascher. Other bouses
might be purchased or the present ones bought back, he said.
The Ascher group includes several small neighborhood houses and the Sheridan,
a deluxe theatre along the North Shore. One of the £rst and originally one of
the most influential of the Chicago circuits, Ascher Brothers has been disposing
of some of their theatre interests the past few yeasr.
Joe Leo, formerly of the William Fox theatre group, is managing the bouses
as representative of the receivers.
22
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
What the PubHc Likes
gT[ An educator's interest in the motion picture industry is reflected by a can-
Tll vass he conducted among the students of Syracuse University, where he
is a professor in the de partment of business psychology. Professor Harry W.
Hepner made the survey with the assistance of selected students, and 6oo in-
dividuals, both towoisfolk and students, were interviewed in person. The re-
sults of the survey, as told by Professor Hepner, are printed below as a matter
of general interest in the trade.
The manager referred to is Jerome Harrison, formerly assistant manager
at the Empire theatre, owned and managed before its sale, by David Harri-
son. Jerome Harrison, his brother, managed the Savoy also.
g
I
By PROFESSOR H. W. HEPNER
THE managers of motion picture theatres often judge the public's opin-
ions of their pictures and service by the chance remarks which people
make as they leave the theatre. In some cases they use the stop watch
'to time the amount of laughter. I have often felt that data other than the
casual remark, the stop watch, and admission figures should be used in evaluat-
ing the public tastes in the motion picture.
DECIDED to have some of my students larger number of the former attend on Sat-
urdays and Mondays.
With reference to main floor or balcony, 72
per cent preferred the former and 28 per cent
the latter location. Of the 28, per cent who
preferred the balcony, one-half said that they
preferred it because of economy and one-fifth
because of a better view.
One set of answers which would indicate
that some managers could increase one form
of advertising was secured to the question,
Would you like house programs sent to you?
Of all the answers, 47 per cent were favor-
able. Many managers do not take full ad-
vantage of this favorably disposed element of
their patronage.
To the question, Da you go to the show
because of the star or the picture? One out
of e\'ery four claimed that they go because
of the star and three out of four because of
the picture.
To the question, What creates your interest
in pictures? the answers were:
General College
Public Students
17%
12
17
16
10
6
6
6
7
2
J4 of 1 per cent
The great difference between the general
public and college students with respect to
stories is what a college teacher would ex-
pect. Students have text books and other as-
signed readings so that many of them do not
read very much contemporary fiction. They
were also more interested in acting, enter-
tainment, and the description of life and less
interested in stars.
Exactly one-half of all the people asked
stated that they read the newspaper writeups
and criticisms of the motion pictures. To the
question. Do they influence you? 37 per cent
said "Yes" and 52 per cent said "No," while
11 per cent did not answer the question.
The influence of word-of-mouth advertis-
ing was shown from the fact that 85 per cent
of the people stated that they discuss pic-
tures with their friends.
What special features about your favorite
theatre appeal to you? brought the following
response :
Percentages
Both Groups
Music 43%
Seat comfort - 24
Pictures . 1 7
Prestige - 6
Beauty _ 4
{Continved on page 30)
make a statistical study of what people like
and dislike about the photoplay. It was de-
cided to interview them in their homes.
A one-page questionnaire was prepared with
the assistance of the manager of a local thea-
tre and a selected number of my students in-
terviewed 600 people. It was found that 571
blanks had complete answers.
The men constituted 58 per cent and the
women 42 per cent of the group tabulated. In
order to take care of the factor of the large
number of college students the data for the
students and non-students were tabulated
separately.
The occupational classification of the peo-
ple who answered the questionnaire was as
follows :
Percentage
of Total
College students 41%
Clerks and stenographers 11
Salesmen _ 9
Housewives 8
Unclassified 8
Mechanics 7
Professional: lawyers, doctors, etc 6
Teachers 4
Executives _ 3
Cooks and domestic servants 3
The first question asked was : What kind
of pictures do you like best? The answers
were as follows :
General
Kind of Picture Public
Comedy 20 %
Melodrama _ 20
Historical 21
Mystery 15
Sex drama IS
Western 5
Costume ~ 4
Only 8 per cent of the college students pre-
ferred the sex drama whereas 15 per cent of
the general public voted for that kind of pic-
ture. The students' tastes were heavier for
mystery and comedy.
What day of the week do you usually at-
tend the theatre? was the next question, with
the following reaction:
College
Day of Week Students
Saturday _ 3 7 %
Sunday 2 1
No particular day _ _ 1 1
Friday _ _ 9
Thursday _ 7
Wednesday _ 7
Tuesday 7
Monday _ 1
Both
Time of Day Groups
Afternoon _ 14%
Evening 86
The percentages for the general public dif-
fer from those for college students in that a
College
Both
Students
Group
25%
22%
18
19
17
19
23
18
8
13
6
5
3
4
Stories 37%
Stars 26
Entertainment 8
Acting 7
Life 5
Romance 5
Scenery 4
Education 2
Advertisements 1
Feature 5
Producer „ Less than
Both
Groups
26%
18
13
12
8
5
5
5
4
3
Phototone Increases B. O.
of Neighborhood House
(Special to the Herald-World)
INDIANAPOLIS, July 10.— An announce-
ment by officials of the Strand theatre here,
has been made that the theatre has installed
a new phototone. This is the first neighbor-
hood theatre of the city to take such a step.
The first days following the installation
showed a big increase in business. The thea-
tre is owned by the R. R. Bair interests, con-
trolling the Strand, Uptown, Ritz, Dream,
Oriental and St. Clair theatres.
t(
City Without Jews" Now
Plays After Censors Cut
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— "The City With-
out Jews," the new foreign picture slated
to go into the Fifth Avenue Playhouse last
week, but held up by censors, was licensed
after minor deletions were made and is now
showing.
''The Toilers" Booked
For Indefinite Runs
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— The Tiffany-
Stahl production, "The Toilers," has been
booked for in-definite runs at the United
Artists theatres in Los Angeles and De-
troit.
Gets 6 Months* Sentence
on Stench Bomb Charge
(Special to the Herald-World)
SEATTLE, July 10.— Arthur Campbell,
23, convicted of breaking a malodorous
bomb in the Embassy theatre, has been
sentenced to serve six months in the coun-
ty jail.
Harry Warner Speaks
at Warner Club Meet
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— Honorary President
Harry M. Warner ooened the latest and most
important meeting of the Warner Club at the
Warner Building last Tuesday with an address
to the members. In an informal way, he
spoke on sincerity in business as in pleasure.
Rosenberg Wins $75
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, July 10.— Joe Rosen-
berg, Kansas City booking agent, won the
first prize of $75 for obtaining the most
new members for the M. P. T. O. Kansas-
Missouri over a period starting last winter
and ending last week. He obtained thirty
members. William Bradford of the Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer exchange was second with
fifteen new members. His prize was $50.
Hicks Manages Howard
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, July 10.— Robert E. Hicks
has succeeded Ernest Morrison as manager
of the Howard theatre. He arrived in At-
lanta Sunday night. Morrison left for his
new post in Dallas, where he will be man-
ager of the Palace theatre and assistant
to District j\Ianager John J. Friedl.
Charged With $2,240 Robbery
MONTREAL. — Jack Russell, 28 years old, was ar-
rested at Loew's theatre here and charged with hav-
ing committed the $2,240 robbery at that house June
17. Russell had entered the theatre as a. patron.
Thirteen diamond rings were found on him, police
declare.
Senger Resigns as Manager
MISHAWAKA, IND.— George L. Senger has re-
signed as manager of the Tivoli theatre here. He
has transferred the duties of manager to E. H.
Wood of South Bend.
Julv 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
At the New York
Theatres
NEW FILMS
STRAND ■■•The Lights of New York," a War-
ner Brothers all-talking picture with Helene Costello,
directed by Bryan Foy.
ROXY— "The Hit of the Show," an F B O film
featuring Joe E. Brown and Gertrude Olmstead,
directed by Ralph Ince.
PARAMOUNT— "The Racket," a Paramount film
starring Thomas Meighan, directed by Howard
FIFTH AVENUE PLAYHOUSE— "The New Ger-
many," a foreign production depicting the contrasts
between the old metropolitan life and the new in
Germany.
S5th STREET PLAYHOUSE— "Discord," a Swedish
comedy starring Lil Dagover and Gosta Ekman, di-
rected by Gustave Hollander.
C.A.MEO — "The Loves of Jeanne Ney," a UFA
production, directed by G. W. Pabst.
CAPITOL — "The Actress," a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
production starring Norma Shearer, directed by Sid-
ney Franklin.
RIVOLI — "The King of Kings," revived for an-
other week.
RIALTO— "The Man Who Laughs," revived for
another week.
HELD OVER
CRITERION — -"Wings," Paramount, opened August
12. 1927.
ASTOR— "The Trail of '98," Metro-Goldwyn
Mayer, opened February 13, 1928.
EMB.A.SSY— "The Tempest," United Artists, opened
May 17.
GAIETY — "Fazil," Fox, opened June 3.
WARNERS — "The Lion and the Mouse," Warner
Brothers film with Lionel Barrymore, May McAvoy
and Vitaphone, opened June 15.
GLOBE — "The Red Dance," Fox, opened June 25.
Dorothy Devore Home
to Start 1928-29 Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— Dorothy Devore,
Educational star, who again will be starred
in her own series of six two-reel comedies,
arrived in New York
from Europe last
week and left for
Hollywood.
Miss Devore spent
about six weeks
abroad as part of
her vacation this
year. She expects
to start production
work on her initial
starring comedy for
the 1928-29 program
soon after arriving
on the West Coast.
One of the most
consistently popular
of the short subject
comedians of either sex. Miss Devore has
been slated for types of vehicles expected
not only to maintain her in her present
popularity, but to enhance it considerably.
Dorothy Devore
Ince Days Recalled as
Pathe Casts Barriscale
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— The opening
day of "Show Folks" at the Pathe studio
was made notable by the first appearance on
the lot of Bessie Barriscale since the old
Ince regime, when she shared with Bill
Hart the honor of being the most popular
Ince star. First at Inceville and then at
the big new plant in Culver City she ap-
peared in scores of successful screen pro-
ductions.
Miss Barriscale's comeback is for the pur-
pose of playing the part of Kitty Mayo,
vaudeville trouper, in "Show Folks," her
first screen role in a number of years. Re-
cently she starred at the Hollywood Play-
house in the stage drama, "Women Go on
Forever."
Exhibitors of Sound Films Are
Non-Committal on Labor Drive
Middle West Theatre Owner Declares, However, That Showdown
Will Be Necessary When Demands Are Made —
Indianapolis Remains Unperturbed
The labor situation continues to pla}'- an undetermined role in the field of
synchronized pictures.
Nationally, there is a united front — a defensive against this new form of
screen entertainment. Locally, however, this movement seems erratic.
Situation Clouded in Some Centers
In some of the larger centers there is a reticence on the part of all concerned
— labor and theatre owners — to discuss this phase of the synchronized picture.
Therefore, the situation in these centers remains clouded.
The situation becomes more involved with we will just have to go to the mat with them.
the demand on the part of some exhibitors
for a reduction in the wage scale of musicians
and projectionists. This is true especially in
St. Louis, where the wage agreement expires
August 31.
From one of the key centers — Indianapolis
— comes an optimistic note :
Nothing Radical
Expected to Develop
(Special to the Herald-World)
INDIANAPOLIS, July 10.— From all that
can be seen now, other than the occasional
muttering on the part of musicians, nothing
will develop of a radical nature in this city
from the musicians, projectionists or stage
employes over the coming popularity of the
synchronized picture.
The three crafts have contracts which run
for a year or more yet and it is not thought
they will become sufficiently exercised over
the latest development to raise any great
howl until their contracts expire.
Installed in Three Houses
Only three of the downtown theatres which
used extensive orchestras to any large degree,
have installed synchronized pictures. In one
of these the pictures are used as supplementarv'
programs and the orchestra is maintained as
formerly. In the other two, however, the
orchestras will be done away with, or have
been already and the organ provides most of
the music other than that put on by the
pictures.
Two neighborhood houses, however, are in-
stalling synchronized equipment. These will
make little difference to the musicians, as no
orchestras were employed in the first place
and the organist will be retained in the usual
capacity.
One big manager declared yesterday it
would do the musicians no good to kick over
the traces.
"Go to the Mat," Says One
"The synchronized picture is here to stay,"
this manager declared emphatically. "It will
grow into one of the biggest features of the
show business unless I am badly mistaken. I
know it has done wonders for our house,
drawn a lot more patrons than any orchestra
we ever had. If the musicians raise a kick.
Shows 20 Years of Fisticuffs
in Film at Theatre
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— Manager
Charles McDonald, of the Broadway
theatre, has compiled thirty-£ve hun-
dred feet of historical film containing
actual scenes taken of many of the
foremost gladiators of the squared
circle in action dating back as far
as twenty years ago, and it is being
shown at his theatre the week com-
mencing Monday.
We are in the show business to make a living
and, if possible, a little profit. We are going
to install those features that draw us the big-
gest returns on the capital invested. The
orchestra in our house was merely a com-
petitor in drawing ability with the synchro-
nized picture and it turned out to be a very
poor competitor. It had to go. It was not
paying its board and room. We did not lose
a patron when the orchestra left and the pic-
tures gained us many hundreds."
Marks Antitrust Case
Continued Again; Film
Buying Still Postponed
Action in the suit of Marks Brothers,^ Chi-
cago circuit, against Publix and subsidiaries
and six producer-distributors, charging viola-
tion of the antitrust laws, was again post-
poned last week by agreement of the attorneys,
the case being continued to July 12 by Judge
Carpenter, acting for Judge Page in U. S.
district court in Chicago. The first continu-
ance named last Friday as the date of the
hearing.
Although this is the buying season, neither
party to the suit can contract for pictures
pending a hearing of the case, according to
the agreement reached when the first continu-
ance was granted, which, however, permitted
Publix, through its Chicago subsidiaries,
Balaban & Katz and allied companies, to buy
pictures from any of the six producer-
distributors named in the suit. These are
M G M, First National, Pathe, Paramount,
Universal and United Artists, all companies
which regularly do not sell to Marks Brothers.
Censors Vary in Opinion
on "Dawn" in Canada
(Special to the Herald-World)
OTTAWA, ONT., July 10.— The first de-
cisions by censor boards in the Dominion of
Canada with regard to the much-discussed
feature "Dawn" have been announced and the
early returns are in the nature of a draw.
The famous British production was viewed by
the Board of Moving Picture Censors for the
Province of Manitoba and it was passed with-
out one deletion.
On the other hand W. E. Gladstone, the
censor for the neighboring Province of Sas-
katchewan, condemned the feature in its
entirety. Gladstone declined to give his
reasons for banning the picture outright.
Jack Pick ford Suffers
Breakdown; in Hospital
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, July 10.— Jack Pickford,
brother of Mary Pickford, is ill in St. Vin-
cent's hospital here. He had been in a
desert health camp for several months. He
is reported to have suflfered a breakdown
and later, at the hospital, a heart attack.
24
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
Sales Analysis Minimizes Circusing
by Theatres in Texas
Many Houses in the Southwest Have Adopted the Policy of Campaigning
Only on the Bigger Attractions
[This is one of a series of informative articles on advertising and exploitation which
the Herald-World is publishing from the trade territories of the country.]
AMPAIGNING the big ones" seems to be the ultimatum of Texas
exhibitors, in regards to the magnitude of exploitation campaigns on
various picture attractions. The new tendency is to publicize
to the hilt the "super attractions," and to let the mediocre ones hit along as they
may — except in rare instances.
C
THE popular opinion among exhibitors is
that an extensive campaign on a big pic-
ture will carry through in results for the
following couple of weeks. The usual
method taken by exhibitors of Texas is to
put on a shock campaign once each month
and to use a regular campaign the other
three weeks of the month.
Conducts Shock Campaign
For example, take the campaigns put on
by Publix houses in Texas on Harold
Lloyd's "Speedy." Three weeks prior to
the booking of this picture in each house, a
conservative advertising campaign was used
to allow a minimum expenditure. The sur-
plus saved on these three campaigns was
used to an advantage on the shock campaign
for "Speedy." Every known exploitation
scheme was used for this picture, and the
houses saw to it that their trailers running
the week of "Speedy" were especially strong,
in order to sell the coming attractions to
current patrons.
While no manager is going to intention-
ally shirk his duty willingly, and still remain
a manager, there are cases when it might
seem that advertising on a current attrac-
tion is especially weak, owing to a natural
let-down after a series of big campaigns.
Behind all exploitation in Texas is the
elemental purpose of institutionalizing the
theatre, making unnecessary shock cam-
paigns except on exceptional attractions.
The manager has in his mind the idea of
building up his patronage by giving great
shows to such an extent that his regular ad-
vertising will carry over the show — and
exert any extra weekly energy toward the
building of permanent patronage.
While managers are in favor of shock
campaigns periodically, they make their
weekly campaigns so inclusive that all
methods of advertising are adequately taken
care of including posting newspaper ads
and features lobby and screen. A move is
now on in Texas Publix theatres in the de
luxe division to stabilize advertising to such
Newspictures
M G M NEWS NO. 93 — Tommy Hitchcock plays
brilliant game at Sands Point — Huge crowd be-
siege balloon racers at Detroit — Martha Norelius
wins 440-yard swim race in Olympic.
PATHE NEWS NO. 56— Captain Wilkins and Ben
Eielson welcomed after flight over Artie — Huge
balloons race for Bennett trophy at Detroit —
Admiral Pratt becomes Chief of U. S. Armada.
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. 98— Tom Heeney works
hard to get in shape for fight with Tunney — Cap-
tain Carranza accompanies Lindbergh to Detroit
— ^Al Smith receives many congratulatory tele-
grams.
FOX NEWS NO. 81 — Democratic nominees hailed
by neighbors after the convention — Citizens of
Hungary receive knighthood from their regent —
Western girls climb snow-clad cliffs to escape
summer heat.
KINOGRAMS NO. 5410— Germany gives Bremen
flyers big welcome — Bobbie Wadlow, Alton, 111.,
10-year-old boy, is 6 feet 7 inches — 12 Balloons
race for international rtrophy at Detroit. .
INTERNATIONAL NEWSREEL NO. 53— Presi-
dent Coolidge is giveii huge fish weigliing ' 41
pounds — Lindbergh and Emilio Carranza fly to De-
troit together — Depiocratic campaign for presi-
dency opens in Texas.
an extent that these four mediums will be
so perfectly planned and executed that fur-
ther exploitation will be superfluous except
in rare instances. At the Texas in San
Antonio and the Met in Houston at the
present time these four mediums have been
so thoroughly mastered that a well-built
patronage has been established and when
a shock campaign comes along it sets the
whole town agog, whereas, if these two the-
atres used campaigns of a shock nature each
week, they would lose the value that they
otherwise have.
Dignity Is Important
Dignity in campaigning is another im-
portant subject that has come to the atten-
tion of Texas exhibitors, in the past year.
Heretofore, it has been the custom to
"circus" more or less the big attractions,
using very little sales analysis, and the re-
sult was a flock of campaigns that were
alike in almost every respect. The opening
of the Kirby in Houston last October was
the beginning of the realization that dignity
more than "splash" meant more to the thea-
tre operator — the Kirby's exploitation for
its opening was in every respect of a high
class nature, and directed to the population
in such a manner that the poorer class
knew that they were welcome, and at the
same time, the elite understood that the
Kirby was to be a rendezvous for them. The
success of the Kirby since its opening is
proof that advertising of this nature is re-
sultant of good business more so than the
old type of consistent ballyhoo.
Texas realizes the importance of bally-
hoo, though, and does not pass up a good
chance to utilize it, when the attraction war-
rants.
Sales Analysis, the Thing
Summing up advertising this year in
Texas, that state might be taken as a
criterion for the entire country, for when
a state that is supposedly somewhat erratic
in its support of entertainment can stabilize
theatre patronage to such an extent as is
now being done, something good is in the
air. And the whole situation in a nutshell
is that Texas theatre managers are analyz-
ing their subjects, and selling them with
dignity, using an occasional spurt, as they
deem necessary, to put over extraordinary
attractions. Sales analysis is the thing in
Texas now, and J. H. Friedl, district man-
ager for Publix, is largely responsible for
bringing this change in methods to the at-
tention of his managers. Texas managers
are alive to every situation, but they are
convinced that the intensively selling cam-
paigns, recognized by their dignity, force-
fulness, and sales value, are more important
than a series of shock affairs built around
a helter-skelter idea.
a
Wings" Has Record Ruh\
(Special to the Herald-World) \
CLEVELAND, July 10.— "Wings," Para-|
mount picture, going on its 13tb week, has;
broken the Cleveland record, according to
A. Griffith Grey, head of the Paramount
roadshow department. --^^
$1,500,000 Deal Would
Give Grubel Theatres
to a National Circuit
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, July 10.— Negotiations for
the Grubel Brothers theatrical properties
valued at $1,500,000 have been opened by a
national theatrical syndicate, it is admitted
by the parties interested. Details are being
withheld, but it is said that when the plans
are completed, it will mean a new theatre for
Kansas City, Kans., costing approximately
$200,000, and the revamping of the Electric
theatre there for combined vaudeville and
first-run pictures. The deal includes theatres
in Kansas City, Kan., Joplin, Mo., Springfield,
Mo., and St. Joseph, Mo.
Edward J. Grubel, president of the Electric
Theatre Company, and Frank C. Grubel, his
brother, said the deal had been under con-
sideration several months and that they may
maintain part interest and continue manage-
ment of the houses.
The new theatre, they said, would be
equipped for talking pictures.
Cammack Returns to
Atlanta as U Manager
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, July 10.— Ben Y. Camniack has
returned to Atlanta where he will again man-
age Universal's local exchange, and C. T.
Jordan, who has been branch manager for th«
past three months, becomes special sales
representative.
Three months ago Mr. Cammack re-
linquished the managership of the local
Universal exchange to go to New York where
he became short subjects sales manager.
Recently he was transferred to Pittsburgh as
district manager, with supervision over the
Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Indianapolis ex-
changes.
F BO Art Exhibit
Is Well Attended
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— The first day of
the art exhibition held by F B O Pictures Cor-
poration imder the auspices of the Motion
Picture Artists League of America drew huge
crowds to the East Room of the Hotel Mc-
Alpin, where the exhibit is on display.
This exhibit is the first of its kind ever
held in America, it is said, and is representa-
tive of the work that is being done by the
artists who are devoting their talents to motion
picture illustrating.
Bandit Attacks Employe
But Flees Without $1200
(Special to the Herald-World)
EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL., July 10.—
Charles H. Ward, secretary of the Lyric
theatre, was attacked at 9 p. m. July 1 in
the lobby of the theatre by a man who
attempted to obtain the $1200 in receipts
Ward was transferring from the ticket office
to an office in the rear of the lobby. The
man fled without obtaining any money after
he had knocked Ward down. Employes
of the theatre and two patrolmen pursued
the would-be bandit but he escaped.
132 Million Feet of Film
Used by Fox in a Year
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— Approximately,
132,000,000 .feet of film were used by Fox
during the last year, according to John_
Coneybear, engineer of the film laboratory.'
Herman Goes to Universal. ■ ""
ALBANY.^Alec Herman, former manager 'of the'
First National exchange here, has accepted a sales;
position with Universal and will make his head-
quarters in Pittsburgh.
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
New War Film May Have
Same Fate as "Dawn"
(Special to the Herald-World)
LONDON, July 1. (By Mail).— "The
Burgomaster of Stilemonde," the famous
Maeterlinck war play now being completed by
Captain George Banfield for British Filmcraft
Productions, may meet with the same storm
of protest from Germany as did "Dawn."
Several of the German newspapers have
already written lengthy articles protesting
against its exhibition and one of the leading
dailies yesterday printed a long condemnation
of the film, concluding with the following
paragraph in heavy black type :
"Don't let us as in the case of 'Dawn' raise a
protest after the film is produced. Let us here and
now strongly protest against this new war and
HATE film by calling upon the Government to
bring pressure to bear immediately, for we must
remember that Maurice Maeterlinck who is a great
Belgian poet is also a great German hater !"
Lazarus Is Appointed
as Theatre Fight Ends
(Special to the Herald-World)
KINGSTON, N. Y., July 10.— One of the
stiffest fights witnessed in New York state
in recent years between theatres battling
for supremacy terminated last week here,
and resulted in Harry Lazarus becoming
resident manager for an operating com-
pany that will handle both the Broadway
theatre built by Lazarus last year at a
cost of $300,000 and the Reade theatre,
which was remodeled a year ago at a cost
of $200,000. Under an agreement reached
last week, the Kingston Operating Cor-
poration takes over the two houses on a
long term lease.
Midwesco to Control
Madison's New House
(Special to the Herald-World)
MADISON, WIS., July 10.— Thomas and
John Saxe, Walter Schroeder, Oscar Brach-
man, and the Midwesco Theatres, Inc., have
purchased control of the new Madison Capi-
tol theatre, according to reports from that
city.
The Capitol, Madison's newest show-
house, will be operated in conjunction with
other theatres of the Midwesco circuit.
Controlling interest in the new theatre, ac-
cording to Schroeder, was obtained from
Sol Levitan and August Pauneck, Madison.
Troy Man Claims Feature
Is Not Boosted Enough
(Special to the Herald-World)
TROY, N. Y., July 10.— There has been
altogether too much boosting of late of
the presentation of prologues, according to
Jacob Rosenthal, here, and of the talking
picture with a direct result that the feature
has been almost totally overlooked and the
theatre suffers. Rosenthal believes that the
feature should be exploited fully as heavily
as the other parts of the program and that
unless this is done, people are bound to lose
interest not only in the picture but in the
house as well.
Lyric, Spokane, Bombed;
Interior Is Demolished
(Special to the Herald-World)
SPOKANE, July 10.— A bomb set off in
the Lyric theatre, here, last Friday en-
tirely demolished the interior of the the-
atre. Cause for the bombing is unknown.
There were no casualties.
Sapiro "Passes Up" Missouri
Exhibitors; Allied Meet Is Off
Mid West Theatre Men, Interested in Cooperative Movement,
Disappointed in Leader's Action — "Too Many"
Registrants Postpones Convention
Two developments this v^eek in exhibitor circles —
Failure of Aaron Sapiro, head of the Independent Motion Picture Exhib-
itors' Association, the Newr York cooperative buying organization, to "stop
over" in St. Louis, en route from the West to the East Coast, to confer M^ith
Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois theatre men interested in the move-
ment; and
Postponement of the convention of Northw^est and other exhibitors of the
country, at which time it was hoped to resurrect Allied States Association.
Details of these two developments in with the possible revival of the old Allied
Burks Sell Three Theatres
BAKER, ORE. — K. L. and Jack Burk have sold
to Guy -D. Hazelton of Missoula, Mont., the Or-
pheum, Empire and Clarick theatres here.
exhibitor activities follow:
Annual Election Is
Delayed in Missouri
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, July 10.— Motion picture ex-
hibitors of Eastern Missouri and Southern
Illinois were somewhat disappointed at the
failure of Aaron Sapiro, president of the
Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors
Association, to visit St. Louis en route from
the West Coast to New York.
A number of exhibitors in this territory
are interested in Sapiro's plans and they
were anxious to hear him explain some of
the details of his organization. There is
some sentiment in favor of the formation
of a branch organization in St. Louis, but
whether it has progressed to the point
where definite action will be taken is not
yet apparent.
The regular annual election of officers
and special committees of the Motion Pic-
ture Theatre Owners of Eastern Missouri
and Southern Illinois has been postponed
many weeks beyond the usual time. It
was thought that the future course of the
association in Eastern Missouri and South-
ern Illinois would largely be determined by
the reports of those who attended the
Duluth gathering of Northwest and other
exhibitors of the country, but since post-
ponement of this meeting it is not known
what action will be taken.
From the side lines it is apparent that
a few enthusiastic individuals have been
carrying the burden for the exhibitors as-
sociation in the St. Louis territory. On
occasions these men have dug down deep
into their own pockets to make flying trips
to Washington, D. C, Jefferson City, Mo.,
and other points to work on behalf of the
independents. I «| i
But apparently the rank and file have
not been holding up their end. Just a
few weeks ago the executive committee of
the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of
Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois
decided that in the future the theatre own-
ers members on the arbitration board of
the St. Louis Film Board of Trade would
not act in cases affecting non-members or
members who have not paid their 1928 dues.
Allied May Meet
In Chicago
(Special to the Herald-World)
MINNEAPOLIS, July 10.— An unique
situation has presented itself here.
You've heard of a meeting being post-
poned because a quorum was not present.
But, did you ever hear of a convention be-
ing postponed because of too many regis-
trants?
That, it seems, was the situation in the
Northwest' where members of the North-
west Exhibitors Association and other the-
atre owners of the country were to meet
States Association.
The meeting was to be held aboard ship,
en route from Duluth to Port Arthur, Ont.,
but according to leaders of the movement,
the more than 350 reservations received
made postponement necessary — the boat
wasn't large enough.
Just when the meeting will be held is
problematical, although W. A. Steffes,
president of the Northwest association,
stated in a wire to exhibitors that such a
convention would be held later in the year,
either in Chicago, or on a boat chartered
for the purpose.
At the time of postponing the gathering,
Steffes also wired members of his own
organization, admonishing them for their
apparent lack of interest in the meeting,
which had first been postponed from the
Minneapolis convention of the Northwest
exhibitors.
Loew Official Commends
Use of Art Screen Title
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— "Art title" as a
medium for all advertising of a news na-
ture, such as announcements of prices and
policies, special stage and screen attractions,
was recommended by Louis K. Sidney, ex-
ecutive of the Loew office here, in referring
to a type developed by National Screen
Service.
"In my opinion," Sidney said, "our mo-
tion picture screens offer limitless possibili-
ties for forceful advertising, and is the right
medium because it is without competition."
Harry Balaban to Wed
Daughter of D. E, Rice
David E. Rice, manager of the North
Center theatre in Chicago, has announced
the engagement of his daughter Marian to
Harry Balaban, of the managerial staff of
Balaban and Katz, Chicago. Although the
exact date of the wedding is not announced,
it will take place within the next three
weeks, it is understood.
INCORPORATIONS
ALBANY, July 10. — Five companies obtained char-
ters from the department of state last week for the
purpose of incorporating in the motion picture busi-
ness. These companies included the Gold Hawk Pic-
tures, Inc., capitalization not specified, with Louis
Goldstein, Joseph Rinderman and Charles W. Jawitz,
all of New Ybrk city; Concordia Sound Film Corpora-
tion of America, capitalization not specified, with
Jerome G. Rosenhaus, Samuel Ml Reis and Samuel
Null, New York city; Amsterdam Consolidated Cor-
poration, capitalization not specified, J. . H. Walters,
Leslie A. Thompson, A. J. Van Buren, New York city;
Newtown Amusement Corporation, Elmira, $100,000
Henry and Frederick Schweppe, William P. Rodgers,
Elmira, and the Wolf Lane Theatre Corp., $10,000,
Jacques and Sol Buitenkant, Herman B. Oberman,
New York city.
26
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
Joseph M* Schenck^s Trip Abroad
of Significance to Industry
Head of United Artists Decries General Use of Talking Pictures,
Declaring They Have Not International Appeal
(Special to the Hei-ald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10. — A trip abroad that may have a considerable effect
on the American film industry was begun July 5 when Joseph M.
Schenck, chairman of the board of United Artists, sailed on the Homeric
for two months in Europe.
RUSSIA is one of Schenck's objectives,
the American film head being par-
ticularly interested in Russia's film activi-
ties. He expects to arrange for United
Artists' distribution in Russia, as well as in
England, Norwa3% Sweden, Denmark,
France and Germany.
In London he will arrange for a second
picture to meet the British quota law, an
addition to "Three Passions" on which Rex
Ingram is at work.
Schenck had interesting comments to
make regarding sound pictures:
"Not all pictures can use the spoken
word to advantage. Basically a motion pic-
ture is international in appeal, because
visual picture entertainment is almost ex-
clusively international in its expression.
people of every tongue and clime under-
stand silent pictures. Music and sound
effects are also international, because all
peoples can hear as well as see, and there
is very little difference in taste as to music
and interpretive sounds.
"But the talking picture is limited in ap-
peal to certain peoples of certain coun-
tries. The spoken word never has been
international in its practicability. Even in
English-speaking countries only certain pic-
tures will permit of spoken lines as an
accessory. Even with these there will be
only occasional instances of success.
"Talking pictures will never displace the
silent drama from its supremacy, or affect
the appeal of motion pictures with syn-
chronized music and special sound effects.
There will always be silent pictures and pic-
tures with musical and sound effects for
international distribution, and there will be
a much more limited number with dialogue.
"Over-enthusiastic producers believe be-
cause the novelty of some talking pictures
received unusual response from the public,
that the basic screen entertainment will be
superseded. It will not be."
Philadelphia S. C. D. Uses
Films in Clean-up Drive
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, July 10.— The Phila-
delphia Bureau of Street Cleaning is carry-
ing on an enormous "clean up" campaign
this summer with their equipment aug-
mented by 8,000 feet of film, a modern
camera and a projection machine. The idea
is to teach children by means of pictures
how they may co-operate with ofificials in
improving the appearance of the city. The
pictures are shown every evening during
intermissions at concerts by the municipal
bands whch play in different parts of the
city.
M G M's Touring Leo
Insured for a Million
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— Leo, the Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer lion, which is starting a
world tour, carries a million dollar insur-
ance contract, according to M G M. Clauses
of the policy include $100,000 protection
against the possibility of Leo taking
French leave from his cage, and three times
as large a sum against the chance of the
animal injuring anyone in the crowds sur-
rounding his entourage.
More than 700,000 New Yorkers have
seen Leo, his motorized circus cage, Captain
Frank Phillips, the lion's trainer. After
finishing his tour Saturday of greater New
York, Leo was taken to Philadelphia. This
week he will visit the New England states.
Film Exports for April
Show Decline from March
(Washington Bureau Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, July 10.— Exports of
motion picture films during the month of
April totaled 23,703,607 feet valued at $652,-
714, according to figures just compiled by
the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com-
merce, a decline of 6,000,000 feet in quan-
tity and approximately $150,000 in value
fromx the March figures of 29,345,604 feet
valued at $810,860.
Exports for the month included 16,868,-
384 feet of positive film valued at $409,451;
495,644 feet of negatives valued at $65,881,
and 6,339,579 feet of raw stock valued at
$177,382. Four markets took more than
1,000,000 feet of positive each, the most
important market being Argentine with 1,-
866,553 feet, followed by Brazil with 1,718,-
150 feet, Australia with 1,505,061 feet and
Uruguay with 1,017,565 feet.
Germany Censors 406
Films in Nine Months
(Washington Bureau Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, July 10.— German long
feature films censored in that country for
nine months ended March 31 totaled 406,
Trade Commissioner George R. Canty has
reported to the Department of Commerce.
German-made films number 204 and foreign
202.
Films from the United States during the
period numbered 137. The other 65 foreign
films came from France which supplied l7,
Austria 14, Russia nine, Czechoslovakia
eight, Denmark five, Italy five, England
three, Sweden three, and Hungary one. The
entire 406 featurei films were distributed by
67 companies of which 47 presented less
than five films each.
Personnel Changes in
San Antonio Exchange
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN ANTONIO, July 10.— A number of
changes have been made in the personnel
of the San Antonio Branch of Paramount
pictures. "Mac" McClintock, who has been
booker for two years, has been promoted
and is now in Atlanta. He is succeeded by
Fred Earned, who has been assistant booker
and assistant ad sales manager. R. H.
Shannon, formerly under Charles Karr, ad
sales manager, has been advanced to assist-
ant booker, and Frank Nelson was pro-
moted from shipping clerk to assistant ad
sales manager.
Miller Succeeds George Hoffman
SARASOTA, FLA.— E. R. ("Doc") Miller has
been appointed manager of the Edwards and Sarasota
theatres in this city, succeeding George Hoffman,
resigned.
Yes, Yes ! Truth Is Stranger
Than Film Scenarios
(Special to the Herald-World)
LAMAR, MO., July 10.— Strange
things happen in front of the box
office of a theatre as well as in the
picture scenarios. It was just twenty
years ago that Mr. and Mrs. H. Wag-
ner opened the Bijou theatre, here,
and James Gregory, a citizen, bought
the first ticket. The first picture was
"A Voyage Around the Stars." The
other day the theatre was sold to
A. J. Simmons and Thomas Edwards.
Oddly enough, on the closing night
the other night that same picture was
selected as the closing picture for
Mr. and Mrs. Wagner. Then came
the coincidence. The last person to
buy a ticket to see that picture was
the same James Gregory, who had
seen it twenty years ago.
West Coast Asks
Drastic Protection
for Its Theatres
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, July 10.— Protection proposals
declared by theatre men here to be the most
drastic and far-flung ever presented on the
Pacific Coast have been prepared for discus-
sion with distributors here by West Coast cir-
cuit. The general plan calls for 45 days'
clearance over all houses, 60 days over thea-
tres charging 25 and 30 cents, and nine months
over all houses charging less than 20 cents.
The proposals, moreover, extend to four
counties in the state of Washington.
In support of the new plan, it is said that
the proposed protection is necessary to safe-
guard class A theatres and houses of runs
immediately subsequent to that of class A
from unfair competition created by exhibitors
who slash prices. The essential provisions call
for the following clearances :
Sixty days over second-runs for West. Coast
theatres in California.
For California, first-run houses to have 60
days over second-run; 120 days over houses
charging 20 and 25 cents, except downtown
theatres seating 500 which charge 25 cents or
less, these theatres to get product seven months
after the clearance accorded second-runs ; and
nine months' clearance over any other theatre
charging less than 20 cents.
For Portland, seven days' clearance over all
theatres in leading counties of Oregon, and
in the Washington counties of Qark, Ska-
mania, Colwitz and Washington, and also over
Seaside, Ore., from May to September.
Warner Brothers Gets
Out Date-Book to Be
Issued to Exhibitors
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— An attractive and
useful date-book of convenient pocket size
has just been issued by Warner Brothers
to be distributed to exhibitors with the
compliments of the Warner organization.
Space is given for bookings from July 29,
1928, to September 28, 1929.
A. P. Waxman is responsible for super-
vision of this service.
Forming Producing Company
KANSAS CITY. — Imperial Productions, a $500,-
000 organization to produce eight six-reel feature films
a year with recognized stars in the stellar roles, was
scheduled for incorporation in Missouri last week, to
make its product in the suburbs of Kansas City.
James A. Fitzgerald and William M. Pizor are those
interested.
July 14. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
27
^^^
Film Neivs
in Pictures
PICTORIAL SECTION
Stories Told
by the Camera
Demure — becomingly so. This
lovely maid of the films is one of
Europe's favorites, Lilian Har-
vey, whom Americans may view
in the Ufa pictures that get on
our screens.
All set! For here is Tom Mix ready to begin his first
Western under the F B O banner, after a vaudeville
tour during which he was seen "in person" by at least
a portion of his millions of admirers. Mix is shown
with C. E. Sullivan, vice-president of F B O, on re-
turning to Hollywood.
A new portrait of Lina Basquette
which affirms her capacity for
the emotional. She will appear
in three of Pathe's 1928-29 pro-
ductions, "The Godless Girl,"
"Celebrity" and "Show Folks."
The summer exodus for Europe has begun.
Though film folk go abroad without regard
for the season, Hunt Stromberg, M G M super-
visor, and Mrs. Stromberg are observing the
convention. They are shown arriving in New
York for embarkation.
One of the first and most popular
master of ceremonies, Mark Fisher,
singing conductor, who has re-
turned to the Senate and Harding
theatres, Chicago, after taking Paul
Ash's place at the Oriental.
Another pair of picture people arriving in New
York, however not to continue beyond it.
They are George Fitzmaurice and his wife, who
went East with "The Barker," Director Fitz-
maurice's new First National production star-
ring Milton Sills.
28
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
\\hy the Ocean's so
Close to the ^hore
The answer to the troublesome question above is this: So that people
who look well in swimming suits need not conceal themselves in
the water. And now we shall demonstrate its truth, first with these
three Roach-M G M comedy maidens, Paula Howard, Billie Barnes
Lorema Clark
Herewith Audrey Ferris, Warner Brothers featured player, offers
extremely convincing evidence that our solution is correct. Shoot-
ing craps with sofa cushions thus serves to keep Miss Ferris dry.
But if one has no dog so accommodating as Warner Brothers' Rin-
Tin-Tin about, one usually can find some obliging man.
Left: Another canine impli-
cated in the "but don't go
near the water" method of
swimming. Louise Fazenda,
Warner Brothers comedienne,
and her pup were basking in
the sun under an umbrella
(!) when the photographer
tricked them thus.
Right: Apparent is the long-
ing of this pair watching
those otherwise constructed
taking to the sea. "Ah,"
sighs Bebe Daniels (the Para-
mount star) to her literary
friend, Adele Rogers St.
John, "if only swimming
were not such a waste ot
opportunity!"
j^^H^H .'•■^ 'm
^flH^K\ M
cn
mI:
iM^
^^. .^.^JtSft ^Mj
Two who know their swimming deportment to a T. Obviously
these Warner Brothers players need little assistance. Just give 'cm
a beach, a pot of oolong and we vow that many pairs of eyes find
each a wow! It is Agnes Franey and Myma Loy who thus demon-
strate good form at the seaside.
Another factor which may have brought the ocean so close to thei
shore is the men! Some say that if men took to the waves oftener,
the women would follow. Without further comment, we offer the
above testimony of those' three M G M celebrities, Johnny Mack
Brown, "Flash" and Charles Farrell.
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
fsjeu; for ^0lv and next S^^^on
Two scenes from M G M's latest vehicle for William Haines, "Telling the World," are
presented above and at right, both showing the star and Anita Page, who plays opposite.
Sam Wood directed this production, which is on the 1927-28 program.
The first of F B O's 1928-29 series, "Racing Blood," is the source of the two scenes
above and at left. Each shows the star. Alberta Vaughn. Larry Darmour is directing
from stories by H. C. Witwer which ran in Cosmopolitan.
Left: Though Love's
laboratory is properly
a garden, other en-
virotunents will serve,
such, for example, as
this in "Heart to
Heart." The principal
players, Lloyd Hughes
and Mary Astor, are
shown in this scene
from that First Na-
tional production.
Right: When the
darling luxuries are
calling on every side,
the pleas of necessity
make uripretty sounds
to feminine ears.
Hence this sc^ne,
showing the leading
players, Alice Lake
and Malcolm Mc-
Gregor, from the Tif-
fany-Stahl production,
"Lingerie."
30
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
What the Public Likes,
a Survey of Theatre
and Film Requirements
(Continued from page 22)
Lighting .- - 3
Courtesy 3
What attracts you to a motion picture thea-
tre? gave the following votes by the students
only for the twelve suggested answers :
The picture - 21%
The star 1 5
Entertainment 1 5
Music 13
Friend's recommendation 1 1
Newspaper advertising 5
Advertising, outside of theatre 5
Prestige 4
Beauty _ 3
Quietness 3
Education 3
Mood at the time 2
In looking over the above table it may ap-
pear to some that mood does not have enough
votes. It is probable, however, that mood
often brings out the desire for entertainment,
music, beauty, and quietness. In order to at-
tract people to a theatre, it is necessary for
the management to have all the factors which
the public wishes, balanced into a harmoni-
ous attractive whole.
^ ^ v!-
Only one-fourth of all the people preferred
to have two features on the bill. Most of
them, 80 per cent, preferred to have one fea-
ture with additional interesting short subjects.
Of the general public, 73 per cent favored
singers and other special attractions, and 27
per cent opposed them. About one-half of
the general public said that they like scenic
prologues and one-half dislike them. To the
question. Do you like scenicsf 70 per cent
said "Yes" and 30 per cent said "No." It is
probable, however, that some of the people
did not know what was meant by these ques-
tions regarding "scenics" and "prologues."
Another important question for managers is
that of merchants advertising on the screen.
Of those interviewed, 63 per cent definitely
opposed such advertising, 22 per cent had no
objection, and IS per cent did not know. A
number stated that their view of the matter
depends upon the appropriateness, artisticness,
and interest of the advertising.
Another question which confronts the man-
agement is that of Do you like to see big pic-
tures even if a raise in price is necessary?
Only 15 per cent said "No" and 85 per cent
said "Yes." At times managers do secure an
exceptional picture and present it at a higher
price only to find that the receipts do not
justify it. However, other factors are to be
blamed. Perhaps the advertising was inade-
quate or other interests in the community at-
tracted the public at the time. Moreover, the
picture which costs a great deal to produce
may not be intrinsically interesting.
5}: * *
This investigation of the mind of the people
on the subject of pictures indicated that the
opinions of the public and the critics do not
always agree. The critic may judge a pic-
ture from the technical standpoint whereas
he should, I believe, try to see it as Mr. Com-
mon Man sees it and then write his news ar-
ticle from that point of view.
To the theatre manager I wish to say that
he should not try to manage his house ac-
cording to these statistics. I do believe, how-
ever, that he should make a systematic study
of the likes and dislikes of his guests rather
than depend upon their chance remarks as
they come out of the theatre.
It would be better for the management to
place a supply of ballots in the chair backs
or in the lobby and ask the patrons to express
their likes and dislikes by checking a simple
questionnaire. Such a method will take care
of local tastes and will advertise the fact that
the management is interested in giving the
public the best service.
Ahoiit how often per week do you attend
a motion picture show? was the final question.
The answers :
General College Both
Weekly Attendance Public Students Groups
Once 49% 35% 45%
Twice - 34 43 37
Three times 10 9 10
Four or more — . 4 .... 3
Seldom 3 13 5
These figures indicate that these people
were competent judges of these questions so
far as attendance was concerned.
35 Wesco Houses
Play Sound Films;
Equipping 25 More
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10. — Harold B.
Franklin, president of West Coast Thea-
tres, emphasizes the importance of sound
synchronization to the screens of today in
a i!;tatement issued recently.
"From now on the motion picture indus-
try may look to the laboratories of the
foremost electrical organizations for fur-
ther progress. Science and the motion pic-
ture theatre from now on go hand in hand.
The theatre of tomorrow will be largely
developed along mechanical lines. No one
may predict what will be contributed by
science in the years to come . . . talking
pictures and sound synchronization are but
a forerunner of any development that we
may look forward to.
"West Coast Theatres was one of the
first circuits which recognized the value of
the talking picture. At this time over 35
important West Coast theatres are already
equipped and have shown the best product
available of this type. Both the Fox Movie-
tone and 25 other products found a promi-
nent place in its programs. More additional
theatres are being equipped and a large or-
der has been placed for additional equip-
ment."
Gold-Hawk Firm Gets
Tunney-Heeney Films;
Rights Cost $50,000
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— Gold-Hawk Pic-
tures, Inc., has obtained for a reputed price
of $50,000, the rights to the Tunney-Heeney
fight which Tex Rickard is sponsoring at the
Yankee Stadium in New York.
This is considered one of the top prices for
the rights to pictures of the world of fistiana.
Whether or not a sound reproducing device
will be used in catching the battle has not
been stated, although there are s'trong indica-
tions that it may.
Leaders of Gold-Hawk are : Mr. Jawitz,
Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Zizleman and Cy Braun-
stein.
UniversaVs Pittsburgh
Is Destroyed by Blaze
(Special to the Herald-World)
PITTSBURGH, July 10.— Fire of unknown
origin destroyed the Cameo theatre building
in downtown Pittsburgh, this week. Damages
totalled $100,000.
Rowland Lee Barton, manager of the the-
atre which is owned by Universal, was in-
structed to remain on the job until further
notice, although Universal has not announced
its future plans regarding the house.
U. S. Court Action
For Cooney Control
Is Expected Soon
(Continued from page 21)
depleted and their stock depreciated in value
to the tune of about $2,800,000, which repre-
sents what the bankers received for making a
loan of $2,500,000, in other words more than
100 per cent, figuring the stock received by
them at par value, which is what you, Mr.
Stockholder, paid for it."
The statement then says that within the
preceding month the bankers advanced $82,000
to pay interest on the $2,500,000 loan, and
about $15,000 to pay certain claims, including
some by the Cooneys.
"Also," the statement continues, "about a
month ago at a meeting of stockholders, the
bankers sought to get the approval of the
stockholders to a plan whereby the bankers
would be put in the present control and man-
agement of the company and its theatres, and
later create a management corporation headed
by the bankers to operate the theatres at a
percentage of the profits for so operating. A
stockholders' committee, however, was formed.
. . . This committee employed the undersigned
as its attorney to investigate the bankers' plan.
Disapproved Bankers' Plan
"L'pon ascertaining the details of the uncon-
scionable transaction which depleted your
assets by approximately $2,800,000, and re-
porting the same to the stockholders, they
unanimously disapproved of the bankers' plan,
and have undertaken to raise the $250,000
among themselves, which will be sufficient to
pay back the bankers the amounts of money
lately advanced by them, pay a portion of the
claims due creditors, which total about $300,-
000, and leave a balance with which to operate
and put these theatres on their feet."
The statement gives the total bonded indebt-
edness of the theatres as approximately $3,775,-
000. and claims of creditors as an amount not
to exceed $400,000, including the money re-
cently advanced by the bankers.
The statement is signed by M. J. Ahem, as
attorney for the stockholders' committee, and
by members of the committee, who are Martin
J. McNally, chairman ; Charles L. Mickleberry,
Patrick E. Callaghan and M. Fox.
Charles Casanave, Manager of Associated
Exhibitors of Chicago, is named as the prob-
able choice of the stockholders to direct the
theatres in the event they regain control.
James Coston, head of the Coston booking
office, now manages the houses for the receiver
on a W'eek-to-week basis.
Sidney Doing British Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
LONDON, July 2.— Scott Sidney, Christie
comedy producer, who made the film version
of "Charlie's Aunt," will shortly arrive at
Elstree to direct a full-length comedy starring
the comedy pair. Long and Short. This will
be the first picture made for Long and Short
in Great Britain.
Lesser Regains Health
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, July 10.— Sol Lesser,
operating a theatre in the Mission District,
is home from a trip to Rochester, Minne-
sota, where he underwent an operation in
the Alayo Brothers hospital. He is feeling
better than in years.
Sparks Goes to Europe
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.— E. J. Sparks, accompa-
nied by Mrs. Sparks, left Friday for New York,
preparatory to sailing for Europe for their annual
vacation abroad. Mr. Sparks has been busy recently
with the details of the transfer to him of Universal's
theatre holdings in Florida.
Weiner Tennis Winner
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— Harry Weiner
captured the Fox Athletic Club tennis
championship, winning his match against
Harlan Gluclc in the finals by a 7-5, 6-3
score.
Julv 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
Y^
SYNCHRONIZED PICTURES
Douglas MacLean 's
Next to Be a "Talkie''
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— The next Douglas
MacLean picture, "The Carnation Kid," will
be synchronized with sound. Not only will
Douglas and his supporting players talk, but
sound effects of a vivid nature are planned.
In connection w4th these effects, the tieup
of sound with "The Carnation Kid," should
prove particularly effective because the story
is said to be especially suited to sound. The
flamboyant roar of political rallies, the stac-
cato of machine guns, the tapping of type-
writers and the clickety clack of railroad rails
are all integral parts of the story. Two stages,
now being equipped for the Christies' West-
em Electric talking process, will probably be
used for the first time when production starts
on "The Carnation Kid." This should be in
about four or five weeks, possibly sooner.
Although the contracts for the equipment
have just been signed, technicians are already
preparing the installation.
Even the Army Uses
Sound Films Now
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— The first sound
picture especially designed for military in-
struction purposes has been completed and
privately shown in Washington before a
selected group of military officials. The
film was made at the Infantry School at
Fort Benning, Georgia, through the joint
efforts of Electrical Research Products, Inc.,
subsidiary of the Western Electric Com-
pany, and the Fox Case Corporation, pro-
ducers of Movietone features, with the co-
operation of the War Department. It is
understood that a number of high officials
of the War Department have expressed
themselves as favoring the use of such
sound pictures for Army training films.
Sennett Plans to Have
First Sound Comedies
For Release by Autumn
(Special to the HeraUl-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— Mack Sennett,
producer of comedies for Pathe, after months
of preparation, will soon begin production of
two reel comedies with RCA Photophone
talking and sound effects. When Sennett
began the construction of his new studios at
Studio City, California, sound proof rooms
■were included in the new plant. He is ready
to begin production, and the first of the Pathe
comedies with talking and sound effects will
probably be ready in early autumn.
"I consider that talking and sound will be
the greatest advance in short subjects since
the first two reel comedy," says Sennett.
"Here is a new science that lends itself mar-
velously to screen comedy. The short comedy
is about to enter a period of great expansion
and the widest influence."
Universal to Produce Musical
Comedy^ Minstrel Show in Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10. — Following Universal's announcement of plans to film
18 pictures with sound effects, the company now announces that it will produce
a musical comedy and also an old time minstrel show. Work has already begun
on both of these unusual sound picture features.
The musical comedy production will be a organizations will further cooperate on the
compilation of the four series of "Collegian"
stories, written by Carl Laemmle, Jr., and pro-
duced in series of two-reel pictures for the
last three years. It has been tentatively titled
"The College Hero." Joseph Cherniavsky has
been at work for several weeks on the music,
and it is expected that se\'eral prominent music
Please Give Us 10 Days
To Answer Your Letters
Due to the great number of letters
received from exhibitors all over the
country asking for detailed informa-
tion and advertising plans on syn-
chronized pictures, this department
asks you to be patient if you do not
receive an answer by return mail.
All letters are being answered in the
turn in which they are received, but
even with this department working
overtime it will require 10 days to
answer your letter after it is re-
ceived. However, the department is
at your service to offer you all pos-
sible information and help in putting
over synchronized pictures.
Ten Canadian F, P.
Houses Get Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
TORONTO, July 10.— Ten synchronized
picture sets have been ordered for installa-
tion in theatres of the Famous Players
Canadian Corporation, according to the an-
nouncement of H. M. Thomas, division
manager. These will be suitable for the
presentation of both "Vitaphone" and
"Movietone" productions, it is asserted.
The first sets are to be placed in the
Uptown theatre, Toronto, and the Capitol
theatres in Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary
and Vancouver.
Paramount s First "Talkie^'
Opens at Paramount July 14
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— Paramount's first
sound picture is completed, and will open at
the Paramount the week of July 14. The
picture is Richard Dix's "Warming Up;"
it is a fast-moving baseball story, and is
said to be ideal for the sound effects and
the talking screen.
musical scores.
"The Minstrel Show" will be founded upon
a composition just purchased from George
Rogan and Normal L. Sper, entitled "The
Minstrel Man." The idea of this production
is to present to the present generation all the
humor and color of the old-time minstrel
show.
Rossheim Predicts
Great Success for
Synchronized Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, July 10.— Irving D.
Rossheim, president of the Stanley Com-
pany of America and of First National
■Pictures, is among those who predict great
things for synchronized pictures. "Stanley
theatres are rapidly installing necessary
apparatus," says Rossheim, "and in the Fall
practically every Stanley house will be
equipped to give some form of picture with
accompaniment of synchronized speech or
music.
"I am of the opinion that the silent pic-
ture will not be supplanted but that it will
continue to find a place for itself. It is not
always possible to get the accompanying
sound and in plays long stretches of dia-
logue would not seem to be advisable. The
technique of the drama as presented on the
stage and the screen is different and allow-
ances must be made for this in the new
talking photoplays. But there are splendid
examples of the new art they are con-
tinually being sent out. I am confident
that there will be such an aroused new
interest in the screen as to bring record-
breaking attendance to every theatre."
^ 'Horn e To ivn ers ' ' Is
Bought by Warners
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— Warner Bros, an-
nounce the purchase from George M. Cohan
of the screen rights to "The Home Towners,"
which was produced on Broadway and had
a long run at George M. Cohan's theatre
there. Robert McWade, who played the lead-
ing role in the Broadway run, has been en-
gaged for the same part in Warner Bros.'
production.
"The Home Towners" will be one of Vita-
phone's specials for the coming season and
will be an all-talking picture.
32
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
The Status of Synchronized Pictures Today
The initial issue of this department carried the first and only complete and authentic picture of the developments in
synchronized pictures up to that date. But in the intervening period developments in this newest of entertainment
arts have progressed with such surprising rapidity, that that picture is no longer complete. This article, an A B C of
synchronized pictures, which begins on page 19, presents the status of synchronized picture developments up to date.
The Herald-World, by presenting news, service features on advertising and exploitation and a school of synchronized
pictures and amplification, is the only paper in the industry giving every phase of sound picture progress.
(Continued from page 19)
sented as simply as possible.
A brief history —
For years experiments were conducted in
attempts to evolve "talking pictures," but
three factors combined to make the syn-
chronized picture of today commercially
advantageous. They were: 1, electrical
recording on discs, as developed by talking
machine engineers; 2, the microphone,
which made it possible to use electrical re-
cording devices; 3, the socalled public ad-
dress system of horns and amplifiers.
Some interesting demonstrations were
given, notably one by Lee DeForest, but the
first system to enter the commercial field
on a bie scale was Vitaphone. By the
Vitaphone method discs were made to be
operated at the same time and at the same
speed as the motion picture projector.
Vitaphone Actively Enters Field
Vitaphone actively entered the field in
August, 1926, when engineers of the Bell
Experimental Laboratories, working for the
Western Electric and American Telegraph
& Telephone organizations, interested
Walter Rich of Warner Brothers. Warners,
of course, still use Vitaphone.
Meanwhile, William Fox interested him-
self in experiments conducted by DeForest
and by T. W. Case, whereby sound was to
be recorded on film. Recording was
promptly found to be fairly simple, but re-
producing presented problems that took
some time and thought to solve.
The Warners, at that time, were the sole
licensees of Western Electric, permitted in
turn to license others. They licensed Fox
to use the public address part of their
Vitaphone system and in March of 1927
appeared the first Movietone, which re-
corded sound on film and reproduced there-
from.
A rearrangement of contracts between
the Warners and Western Electric followed.
Western Electric got back the handling of
licenses and now has the sole right to li-
cense producers to use its sound recording
devices, whether on film or disc.
Other companies were not idle. The
Radio Corporation of America, an ally of
the Western Electric in many enterprises
during the war, became a strong rival.
RCA engineers developed the Photophone,
also a system whereby sound is recorded on
film-, a system with its own strong points.
Others came into the field until today new
ones are popping up in every corner of
the world.
Here are some of the more important
American systems and the film companies
already signed:
Western Electric
Western Electric, licensing both film and
disc methods:
1 — Warner, with Vitaphone, disc.
2 — Fox-Case, with Movietone, film.
3 — Paramount, Movietone by arrang-ement with
Fox, which may be made either on film or disc.
4 — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Movietone, by arrange-
ment with Fox, film or disc.
5 — United Artists, Movietone, by arrangement with
Fox, film or disc.
6 — Hal Roach Comedies, expected to use film.
7 — Christie comedies, mostly Movietone, film.
RCA Photophone
RCA Photophone has signed the following,
all using sound on film:
1— F B O.
2 — Pathe, beginning with "King of KlngB."
3 — First National, originally slated to go Western
By PETER VISCHER
Electric with Firnatone, a disc device like Vitaphone.
4 — ^Mack Sennett Comedies.
Cortellaphone
Cortellaphone, disc or film, has signed:
1 — Buck Jones Westerns.
Vocafilm
Vocafilm, a disc method, has begun with:
\ — Educational, on a tentative arrangement.
Some Not Yet Signed
From this list it is obvious that several
producers have not yet signed with one
system or another. Among them are:
Columbia — studying three systems,
expects to announce contract with
"one of the biggest" in a few days,
probably Western Electric, using
film;
Gotham — also studying several
systems, expects to sign with a big
company within a short time, prob^
ably RCA.
Tiffany-Stahl — studying the mar-
ket, announcement expected soon;
closing with a big organization, prob-
ably Western Electric.
Universal — will synchronize 18 big
pictures, the first two, "Uncle Tom's
Cabin" and "The Man Who Laughs"
Lieber of F N Warns
Against Sound Films
Robert Lieber ot First National
has expressed strong doubts as to the
possibilities of talking Bltns, accord-
ing to dispatches from Berlin printed
in The Bioscope, English Sim jour-
nal. According to the story, Lieber,
at a dinner held in Berlin in bis
honor, pointed out that talking pic-
tures were apt to endanger the inter-
nationalism of £lms.
already being made by Movietone;
full program to be announced soon.
World-Wide Films — studying the
market here and abroad, announce-
ment expected in a week or so when
J. D. Williams returns from Europe.
So much for what has already been done.
Here Are the Systems
The companies that are still undecided
may use one of the systems listed here, a
list probably not complete when one con-
siders that new ones are arriving almost
every day:
1 — Western Electric, disc or film.
2 — R C A Photophone, film.
3 — Cortellaphone, disc or film.
A — Vocafilm, disc.
5 — Cinephone, made by Pat Powers, disc
or film.
6 — Madalatone, film.
7 — Bristolphone.
8 — Han-A-Phone.
9 — Kaleidaphone, and others.
It will be noted that the DeForest or-
ganization, the DeForest Phonofilm, is not
mentioned as seeking business. This com-
pany is at present formulating a policy
pending legal actions already under way.
DeForest, one of the first to present sound
on film, claims basic patents and contem-
plates an entry into this competition from
the door that leads to the law courts.
Reproducing System Is Problem
The producers and the systems that have
been chosen have now been listed. The
sound reproducing systems have been
listed. What remains, then, is the problem
of equipment for the producer.
Consider first Western Electric. They
claim that 400 installations of their sound
projector system, leased through Electrical
Research Products, Inc., have already been
made. They say that 95 per cent of their
theatres are so equipped that film or disc
reproduction is available. They say all you
need are attachments and wiring, no new
projector, but wiring problems vary so that
prices range from $5,000 to $15,000 for a
15-year rental. Incidentally, Western Elec-
tric will not promise results if their film
is used on rival projectors, or if rival film
is used on their machines.
Then consider the RCA Photophone
equipment. Photophone furnishes complete
projectors, with sound-boxes built in. They
claim more perfect reproduction than any
other system, because their reproduction is
not afifected by underdeveloping or over-
developing of film, nor by jumping needles
on discs. They promise full-sized pictures.
They are putting in demonstration sets at
the Gaiety theatre in New York and at
the Biltmore in Los Angeles, offering gen-
eral distribution by September. Their
prices run as follows:
For a theatre seating up to 750, $7,500
for a 10-year rental; for a theatre seating
up to 1,500, $9,000 for 10 years; for a
theatre seating up to 3,000, $12,500 for 10
years; for a theatre seating more than 3,000,
about $16,000 for 10 years.
Has 2,000 Machines Ready
The Cortellaphone claims to be a com-
bination device, using film and disc. Scor-
ing is done by a hairline on the film be-
tween the picture and the sprocket holes,
not interfering with the size of the picture.
The machine weighs 300 pounds and can be
installed in three hours, promised at less
than $500. The company says it has 2,000
Cortellaphones ready for installation be-
tween now and December 31.
The Vocafilm is a disc system with a
horn in front of the screen, demonstrated
with success in New York when "Babe
Comes Home" was shown, if one will over-
look a bad first day. The advantage of this
system, it is claimed, is that it promises to
be quite inexpensive as compared with some
disc machines.
Cinephone employs both film and disc,
made available through an attachment to
the projector. The advantages claimed for
the Cinephone lie in a fine quality of tone
and an inexpensive installation, with prices
not yet ready for announcement.
The Madalatone, developed by Ferdinand
von Madaler, long an expert with the
Columbia Phonograph Company, repro-
duces sound from a single groove on the
film. This equipment consists of two
sprockets and a stand placed between the
upper magazine and the head, to be sold
for $1,000. It uses neither phonographic
records, as do the disc systems, nor photo-
electric coils, but gets its sound from the
film itself. A New York demonstration is
promised during the next two weeks.
Most of the others are disc devices of
one sort or another, with the advantage of
small cost. Details are not yet available
but will probably be brought forth in the
not distant future.
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
33
Hal Roach Prepares
for Sound Comedies
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, July 10.— Hal Roach en-
tertained 35 players, directors and execu-
tives at dinner last week in order to dis-
cuss plans for synchronization of the
M G M Roach comedies. Roach has signed
a 15 year contract with Electrical Research
Products Corporation, and preparations for
sound production have already begun. Of
the Roach players, Charley Chase, Stan
Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Max Davidson, mem-
bers of the "Our Gang Comedy," and Marion
Byron have had varying degrees of stage
experience.
Western Electric Warns
Against Interchange of
Sound Pictures Equipment
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— An announcement
has been made by Western Electric that that
company had made no arrangements with any
other manufacturer of talking picture equip-
ment for the use of either films or projecting
apparatus interchangeably with that of the
Western Electric System of Sound Pictures.
The practicability of so using sound films
of other makes on Western Electric Machines
or of using W. E. sound films on other types
of projecting equipment in such a way as to
obtain results equally effective is open to
question, according to the company. The
burden of responsibility for any exhibitor
endeavoring to make such an experiment com-
bining two different products in this way
would of course be his own, and not that of
the manufacturer of the equipment.
Stage Producer Tests
Voice of Norma Shearer
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— Bayard Veiller,
playwright and stage producer and author
of "The Trial of Mary Dugan," recently put
Norma Shearer through the lines that are
spoken in the leading role in "The Trial
of Mary Dugan." "Although Aliss Shearer
has never been on the stage I want to say
that she spoke the lines and acted the part
perfectly," Veiller declared. "Certainly, if
she is any example of what we may expect,
screen stars need have no apprehension con-
cerning the development of the talking pic-
ture. It will make her a greater star than
ever."
Kenneth Harlan Is Cast
for Vitaphone Playlet
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10. — Bryan Foy,
Vitaphone supervisor and director for
Warner Brothers, will direct Kenneth Har-
lan in "The Alibi," an original Vitaphone
playlet written by Murray Roth and Addi-
son Burkhart. "The Alibi," a melodrama of
the underworld, also will have Robert Elli-
ott and John St. Polis in important char-
acterizations.
75 Per Cent of M-G-M
Players Saw Stage Work
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3.— Seventy-five per
cent of the players under contract by M-G-M
have had stage experience and are suitably
equipped for synchronized picture work, ac-
cording to the company.
The 25 per cent lacking stage training are
to be coached in a studio elocution school, and
their response to the voice culture instruction
probably will measure their future usefulness
to the company.
Success of Sound Depends Upon
Good Presentation^ Says Franklin
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, July 10.— The success of synchronized pictures depends upon
their quality and the methods used in advertising and presenting them to the
public, is the opinion of Harold B. Franklin, president of West Coast Theatres.
In the near future more than 70 of this company's theatres will be presenting
sound pictures.
"It can readily be seen that sound sjm-
chronization has become a prime necessity to
every progressive motion picture theatre," says
Franklin. "That motion pictures are being
made with sound synchronization, however,
does not in itself insure a continued public
support. If it is not to be a fad, quality must
be the dominant objective of the producers.
"Sound synchronization offers a new mode
of expression which will progress only to the
extent that producers take advantage of the
opportunities before them; they must realize
that here is a new art that requires sympa-
thetic understanding. Mistakes will be made
in the beginning, and those companies that
have or are willing to gain experience will
naturally make the greatest progress. That
the interest of the public has been aroused is
an undoubted fact, to which the recent success
of certain motion pictures with sound syn-
chronization bear witness.
Showmanship Must Be Used
"It is not enough to show sound motion
pictures ; theatres that devote themselves to
sound synchronization must give to this new
showmanship understanding and sympathy. It
is not sufficient to merely install a synchroniz-
ing device ; it is quite important to insure for
its operation enterprise and expert handling.
Projectionists should not alone understand the
mechanism, but are in a great measure re-
sponsible for its successful operation. Man-
agements must be sure that amplification is
just right — not too loud nor too soft.
"There must be a close cooperation between
the management and projectionists in main-
taining just the proper degree of amplification
at all times. The instruments require different
adjustments in a crowded auditorium as com-
pared to those periods in the day when patron-
age is lighter. This makes necessary carefully
worked out schedules, as well as constant
supervision to insure uniform tone quality.
Make Advertising Specific
"In advertising sound synchronization, mis-
representation must never be resorted to.
The public mind should not be allowed to
expect talking motion pictures when only
synchronized scores are presented; yet, when
talking motion pictures or effects are given,
clear definite advertising in this respect should
guide the publicity and announcements, and
short talking or singing subjects should be
advertised as such.
"Short subjects should be programmed so
that they blend into a smooth-running enten-
tainment. Two singing or dancing acts fol-
lowing one another would indicate the same
poor judgment in sound pictures as it would
be in stage entertainment. The tendency to
give lengthy programs brings to mind that
quality is of greater value than quantity.
"Sound synchronization is another mile-
stone in the progress of the motion picture.
The same progressive spirit that has built our
industry into one of the greatest, is now neces-
sary to bring this new art to its height.
Ted Lewis to Make
Warner Road Show
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— Ted Lewis, "the
high-hat tragedian of jazz," has just been
signed by Warner Brothers to make a
Vitaphone road show. The title of the
production will be the famous Lewis greet-
ing, "Is Everybody Happy?" Lewis has
been a vaudeville star for years, and in the
last few years has been featured in several
Broadway revues.
Campus to Reopen
(Special to the Herald-World)
BERKELEY, CAL., July 10.— The Vita-
phone at the Campus theatre which has been,
silent for more than a month, has been placed
in operation again. The equipment has been
overhauled, many improvements made, and it
is now possible to play Movietone acts and
Fox Movietone news, as well as Vitaphone
productions.
Broadway f Portland, Gets
Movietone Installation
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., July 10.— The Engi-
neering staff of the Electrical Research
Products corporation have just finished the
work of installing Fox Movietone at the
Broadway theatre here. Harold B. Frank-
lin of the West Coast Theatres is now in
New York booking presentations.
May Install Movietone
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, July 10.— W. H. Linton, of
Utica, N. Y., one of the pioneer exhibitors
of New York state, is contemplating the
installation of the Movietone in his Olympic
theatre, and is arranging to take a trip in
the near future to New York city, to see
it in actual operation.
Amplifier
Movietone producing (left) and reproducing (right) systems pictured in simple drawings to
give an elemental understanding of the two methods. Notice the photo-electric cell on
each machine.
31
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Julv 14. 1928
Advertising and Putting Over
the Synchrnized Picture
By J. S. O'CONIVELL
(J. S. O'Connell is managing director of the Vita-Temple theatre, Toledo, Ohio, and is a
pioneer in advertising and putting over the synchronized picture. We believe his article
is one of the most valuable and helpful articles yet written on this subject.)
WHILE exhibitors are running around
in circles and producers are running a
temperature thinking, talking and guess-
ing about what sound devices are GOING TO
do to the motion picture business, why not
take a little time out to consider what they
CAN do for it NOW — at their present stage
of development?
It is not impossible, or even improbable,
that the talkies will revolutionize the whole
industry' — eventually. But that revolution is
not going to come over night. A new school
of screen acting, directing and staging will
have to be perfected first ; simpler and more
efficient methods of recording, synchronizing
and reproducing sotmd remain to be worked
out; a thousand and one problems are yet to
be solved before the picture millenium can
be attained.
Aleantime a lot of dough is waiting to be
pushed through the box-office windows of
exhibitors who will give some thought and
energy to making the most of such sound
equipment and productions as are now avail-
able.
The Public Must Be Told
Managing one of the first theatres in the
country to install Vitaphone as a regular fea-
ture (I put it in only a few months after
the Warner theatre. New York, introduced it
to the world), I have been in a position to
conduct some exhaustive experiments in the
WA^
notHer
Vitaphone
SensAt4on
FIRST Iowa showing
of iIk' ])icture that
talks! — No wonder
Full Dodge is proud
of it!
HEAR
Fill- I he 1m>1 liino.. . . a vivul.
I'^iise, full lengtli .st.'r--.'L*ii pro.
duetion is presented . . . \\itli
tlie Vrr.U'HOXE reprodur.
ion of VOICK.S and SOUNDS
iu tlie dr.iniati'* el:niax"s!
3 ACTS VITAPHONE
VAUDEVILLE
Ends Wixine^da) Mfl.l
NOW PUYING
L. J. Wegener, manager of the Rialto the-
atre. Fort Dodge, la., used this ad for the
run of "Tenderloin." the Warner talking
picture. The ad is both effective and
easily read. Vitaphone has been in use in
the theatre for four months.
presentation of this form of entertainment.
Testing every move by its box-office reaction.
I have arrived at several conclusions by which,
I believe in all modesty, other showmen in
similar houses can profit.
In the £rst place, one of the most com-
mon errors made by theatre managers who
pioneered in the presentation of audible
screen fare was to assume that the public
knew all about it, that extra exploitation
was unnecessary. Several who proceeded
on that theory learned to their sor-
row that many of their prospective cus-
tomers didn't know whether Vitaphone
was a means of reproducing synchronized
sound or the second cousin to a vitamin.
And so, because these exhibitors did not
drive home with intensive publicity cam-
paigns the fact that they were selling an
entirely new theatrical commodity, they
did not attract enough added paronage to
balance up the additional overhead.
Now Vitaphone came in at a time when
the public was readj' for something new, and
Vitaphone filled the bill — but it was something
so sensationally different, so radical a depar-
ture from the beaten path, that it needed a
great deal of explaining and real circus ex-
ploitation methods. Managers who calmly
accepted it as a cure-all for box-office ail-
ments and inaugurated a Vitaphone policy
with as little noise as they would make about
hiring a new organist were quickly — some of
them disastrously' — made aware of their mis-
take.
Properly publicized, on the other hand,
sound pictures put the picture houses into
actual and active competition with vaudeville
and other theatres offering stage shows. And
if sound pictures needed a strenuous adver-
tising drive for their proper and profitable in-
troduction to the public, they stand doubly in
need of consistent and prominent publicity
now that their novelty has worn off.
Play Up the Sound Picture
Hence, too much stress can not be laid upon
the necessity for plugging this part of your
show just as strongly as you do the rest of
it. Don't let your house become kno^vn simply
as a picture theatre with talking pictures as
a freak added attraction. I give Vitaphone
and Movietone (I'm using both as regular,
standard features on every bill) equal promi-
nence with my picture in the newspaper ads
and advance notices, 24-sheets, street-car cards,
lobby frames, trailers, throw-aways, etc.
Thus, my customers read about and look for-
ward to my show as a whole. If the film
doesn't look so hot to them, some part of
the sound picture bill will.
Another thing which has detracted from
the entertainment value of sound produc-
tions in many cases is slipshod, hit-or-miss
presentation. It is not uncommon, for in-
stance, to visit a sound-equipped theatre
and find a show run off in this order: News
reel, comedy, three Vitaphone acts in any
old seauence, and then the feature pic-
ture. No effort made to balance the bill,
as would be the case in a well regulated
vaudeville house, no close-ins of drapes
between the acts, no entre-acte music, no
attempt whatever to get away from the
mechanical or "grind" idea of it all.
To make the maximum of impression with
such a program, it should proceed from the
news reel to a jazz or fast novelty sound pic-
{Coiitiniied on page 66)
Seven Road Shows
with Sound Now in
Warner Production
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— SeVen Vita-
phone Road Shows are now before the
cameras in the W^arner studios. At the
same time two pictures from the Winner
group, are also in the making, these as
well as the specials to be filmed with Vita-
phone effects.
"Noah's Ark," the biggest picture the
Warner organization has ever undertaken,
has still some time to go before its com-
pletion. The schedule has been arranged,
however, to allow the star of "Noah's
Ark," Dolores Costello, to begin work on
"The Redeeming Sin" in which she is now
at work with Conrad Nagel playing op-
posite her and Howard Bretherton direct-
ing. Al Jolson is in the midst of his Vita-
phone activities on "The Singing Fool,"
with Lloyd Bacon directing. Archie Alayo
is making Fannie Brice's first starring ve-
hicle, "My Man" in which many of her
popular song hits will be featured on Vita-
phone.
Bryan Foy, director of Warner's first all-
talking picture, "Lights of New York,"
has turned his attention to another 100 per-
cent Vitaphone special, George M. Cohan's
success, "The Homer Towners." May Mc-
Avoy, Louise Fazenda and Edward Ever-
ett Horton are recording their voices now
on Vitaphone for "The Terror." Monte
Blue has reported for his Vitaphone debut
in "Conquest," on which a number of pre-
liminary scenes have already been shot
with H. B. Warner and Lois Wilson who
will play chief support to the star. The
"Winners" now in production are "The
Outlaw Dog" starring Rin-Tin-Tin and
"The Little Wildcat" starring Audrey Fer-
ris.
Fox Buys Mystery
Tale for Movietone
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— Fox Film Cor-
poration has just bought "Behind That Cur-
tain," a mystery novel by Earl Derr Big-
gers, author of the two mystery novels,
"Seven Keys to Baldpate" and "The
Chinese Parrot." The picture will be in
Movietone. Raoul Walsh, who directed
"The Red Dance," will produce it. He left
Hollywood Saturday for New York in
quest of suitable talent.
3 New York Publix Houses
Being Equipped for Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— Changes are
under way to convert the Rialto theatre
screen for sound pictures, and it will only
be a short time until all three of the Publix
houses, the Rialto, Paramount and Rivoli
have sound effects and talkies. The Rivoli
is completed now, and will open with the
first sound picture next Saturday, which is
"The King of Kings."
"Lion and Mouse ^ Goes
Big in Portland House
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., July 10.— Manager
Normand and his assistants at the Blue Mouse
theatre have had their hands full taking care
of daily crowds for "The Lion and the
Mouse" now in its second week, and this
Vitaphone offering will have no trouble in
reaping a big harvest here for at least a
five-week's run.
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
35
AL UCHTMAN
Vice-President and General Manager
of Distribution
VICTOR M. SHAPIRO
Director of Advertising and Publicity
JOSEPH M. SCHENCK
President and Ctiairman
United Artists to Release 19 in 1928-29
NINETEEN films will be distributed
by United Artists internationally
during the 1928-29 season. Five of
these pictures already are completed, five
of them have been in production for sev-
eral weeks, and six of them will enter pro-
duction in less than a month. The an-
nouncement from Joseph M. Schenck,
president and chairman of the board of
directors of United Artists, states that the
1928-29 list of nineteen pictures is the great-
est number of films to be released in any
single season by United Artists, which
began its tenth year April 17, 1928.
At least five and probably more United
Artists pictures will have sound effects,
scores and voices. Charlie Chaplin has not
yet decided whether his picture will have a
Movietone song, but Samuel Goldwyn's
Vilma Banky film, "The Awakening," will
be movietoned, an Irving Berlin song to
be the theme. Goldwyn's "Two Lovers"
has been movietoned for national release.
Irving Berlin also has composed the theme
son? of the "The Love Song," the William
Boyd-Lupe Velez picture of the time of
Napoleon III. Douglas Fairbanks said in
London that he would use song effects in
"The Man With the Iron Mask."
Ingram New Producer
The only new producer on United Artists'
1928-29 list is Rex Ingram. All the others
made films for the company last year.
The other units and their pictures are as
follows:
Mary Pickford, minus her curls, will fol-
low "My Best Girl" with a comedy-drama to
be directed by Sam Taylor.
Norma Talmadge has completed, "The
Woman Disputed," a film version of Denni-
son Clift's stage play. Henry King directed
from C. Gardner Sullivan's scenario. Gil-
bert Roland is leading man and others in
the cast are Olga Baklanova, Boris de Fas,
and Gustaf von Seyffertitz.
Gloria Swanson's successor to "Sadie
Thompson" will be "The Swamp," an origi-
nal story to be directed by Eric von Stro-
heim, author of the tale. The locale is Ger-
man East Africa.
Dolores Del Rio will be starred in "Re-
venge," now almost completed. Edwin
Carewe, director of "Resurrection' and
"Ramona," is making this version of Kon-
rad Bercovici's short story, "The Bear-
Tamer's Daughter." Finis Fox adapted.
Leroy Mason, a virtual unknown, is leading
man.
Vilma Banky becomes a star in her own
right, after five co-featured and co-starring
films with Ronald Colman, when Samuel
Goldwyn presents her in "The Awakening,"
an original story by Francis Marion. This
is a modern story of Alsace-Lorraine and
the awakening of a girl's love-life. Victor
Fleming is directing from Carey Wilson's
adaptation. Louis Wolheim and Walter
Byron, Goldwyn's new English "find," are
in the cast.
Charlie Chaplin will make, "City Lights,"
picture of the boulevards, cafes and night
clubs. The picture enters production within
two weeks. Merna Kennedy and Harry
Crocker are in the cast. It is an original
story, written, acted and directed by
Chaplin.
Douglas Fairbanks will be seen in "The
Man With the Iron Mask," an original story
telling of the further adventures of d'Arta-
gnan and the Three Musketeers. Allan
Dwan will direct.
David Wark Griffith has completed for
1928 release, "The Battle of the Sexes," a
modern drama based on the motive that
"the sex battle is forever being fought but
never won." Jean Hersholt, Phyllis Haver,
Belle Bennett, Don Alvarado and Sally
O'Neill head the cast. Gerritt Lloyd adapt-
ed Dr. Daniel Carson Goodman's story.
John Barrymore's "Tempest," in which
Camilla Horn and Louis Wolheim also ap-
peared under direction of Sam Taylor, will
be distributed internationally in 1928. It is
now being show to capacity in one theatre.
The Embassy in New York, at $2 prices
and for an indefinite run.
Ronald Colman becomes an individual
star in "The Rescue," based on Joseph Con-
rad's sea story. Herbert Brenon will direct.
Samuel Goldwyn presents in this picture the
American screen debut of Lily Damita,
French actress who recently arrived in
Hollywood.
"Two Lovers" National
"Two Lovers," the last film in which
Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky are co-
starred, will be distributed nationally in
1928. Fred Niblo directed this Samuel
Barry D. Buckley
Vice-President
Arthur W. Kelly
Vice-President
Cresson E. Smith
Asst. Sales Manager
Paul Burger
Asst, to Al Lichtman
Paul M, Lazarus
Mgr. Sales Promotion
Moxley Hill
Mgr, Contract Dept,
36
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 192&
yorma Talmadge
Mary Pickford
Charles Chaplin
Gloria Stoanson
Douglas Fairbanks
D. W. Griffith
John Barrymore
Vilma Banky
Samuel Goldtoyn
Ronald Caiman
Fred Niblo
Eric von Stroheim
Ernst Lubitsch J* R^* Considine, Jr.
DoloreM Del Rio
Edwin Car ewe
Herbert Brenon
Rex ingrttm
These are the stars and most of the directors and producers creating th(
1928-29 releases for United Artists.
Goldwyn presentation, which is based on
the novel, "Leatherface," by Baroness
Orczy. Noah Beery appears in the cast.
"Two Lovers" had a run of eight weeks at
$2 top at the Embassy Theatre in New
York. It has been movietoned for general'
release.
Buster Keaton and Ernest Torrence in
"Steamboat Bill, Jr.," will be seen through-
out the world in 1928. Charles (Chuck)
Reisner directed from Carl Harbaugh's
story of life on a Mississippi River boat.
Herbert Brenon will produce "Lummox,"
Fannie Hurst's novel.
William Boyd and Lupe Velez will be
seen and Miss Velez will be heard in "The
Love Song," under the direction of D. W.
Griffith. Irving Berlin's newest composi-
tion, "The Love Song," will be played as
the theme and sung by Miss Velez in the
Movietone synchronization of this story of
the times of Napoleon III. Dr. Karl Voll-
moeller, author of the book of "The
Miracle," wrote the original screen story,
"La Paiva," on which "The Love Song" is-
based. Hans Kraly adapted. It is now
ready for production.
"Nightstick," crook play by John Wray,
The Nugents, and Elaine Sterne Carrington,
will be filmed with Roland West directing:
from C. Gardner Sullivan's adaptation.
"Hell's Angels," the Caddo air film in
which Ben Lyon, Greta Nissen, James Hall,
John Darrow, Thelma Todd and George
Cooper appear, is in production under per-
sonal supervision of Howard Hughes, Jr.,
President of Caddo Productions. Based on
Harry Behn's adaptation of an original
story, "Hell's Angels" has been in produc-
tion for eight months.
Rex Ingram's production of "The Three
Passions," based on Cosmo Hamilton's
new novel, will have Alice Terry, Clare
Eames and Ivan Petrovitch in its cast. In-
gram is making part of the picture in his
studio at Nice, while some exteriors are be-
ing filmed in England.
"She Goes to War," is a Henry King
production for Inspiration Pictures of the
Rupert Hughes story serialized in the Red
Book Magazine. Howard Estabrook wrote
the scenario.
The Directors
Directors of United Artists Pictures on
the 1928-29 list include David Wark Grif-
fith, Charles Chaplin, Ernst Lubitsch, Eric
von Stroheim, Herbert Brenon, Rex Ingram,
Sam Taylor, Henry King, Fred Niblo, Edwin
Carewe, Victor Fleming, Allan Dwan and
Roland West.
Featured players will include Camilla
Horn, Lupe Velez, Lily Damita, Louis
Wolheim, Gilbert Roland, Don Alvarado
and Walter Byron.
Lichtman Directs Sales
Al Lichtman, vice-president, is general
manager in charge of distribution.
Lichtman's selling campaign this year is
based on what he calls the Rolls-Royce
theory. He says United Artists' stars and
producers spent millions of dollars and
lavished many years of effort in producing
pictures that have given them prestige with
the public and the trade. That prestige cost
a fortune. It is a tangible thing, a definite
commodity with a particular value, Licht-
man declares.
He says United Artists pictures are to
films what a Rolls-Royce is to automobiles
— because of their quality.
Planning Exploitation
Each picture will have its own advance
and during-run campaign, prepared with the
cooperation of producers' representatives
and producers themselves, according to Vic-
tor M. Shapiro, advertising and publicity
director.
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
Y^
THE STUDIO
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
"Hollywood:*
"Effect" Is New Studio
Word for Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD. July 10.— Studios
are making use of the word "Effect"
to indicate the use of any sound de-
vice in pictures. The word is in large
letters on the "take board" and is in-
serted on Elm wherever sound of any
nature is to be spotted.
Hays Sees Universal
Use of Sound Films;
Reveals Export Plan
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— Will Hays
reached here Sunday and proceeded with
interviews on talking pictures as well as
his findings in the European film situation.
The idea of the expected universal use of
sound pictures was new to many Holly-
wood people.
He intimated in his discussions that
sound pictures and dialogue films would
be placed in universal distribution declaim-
ing that the greatest personages would
be heard as well as seen everywhere and
that these pictures would be universally
adopted.
As a result of negotiations to date he
said the principle of enforced exports of
film bad been abandoned. As it is, Ameri-
can producers can send seven films to
France for every French film they receive.
Jackie Coogan Takes Up
Dancing for Eastern Tour
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— Jackie Coo-
gan is taking an intensive course of danc-
ing instruction from Fanchon and Marco,
prior to his Eastern tour on the stage.
One More Film, Then
Estelle Goes to Stage
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— Estelle Taylor
is making "The Singapore Mutiny" for
F B O before leaving for the East for a
season on the legitimate stage.
Joseph Dowling Dies
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— Joseph J.
Dowling, one of the screen's finest actors,
and a member of the cast of "The Miracle
Man," died at his home here. Dowling
was 78 years old.
Claire Foley on Vacation
SAN FRANCISGO. — Miss Claire Foley, secretary
of the San Francisco Film Board of Trade, left
recently on a vacation to be spent at her former
home at Omaha.
Ford Begins "Riley the Cop"
for Fox; Studios Grow Quiet
Six Pictures Begun During Week, 11 Completed; MGM Starts
"Alias Jimmy Valentine"; William K. Howard Completes
"River Pirate"; Jannings in "Sins of the Fathers"
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10. — One big time director went into action this
week with a production being made by and to be released by Fox Film Cor-
poration. The b. t. d. is Jack Ford, maker of "Four Sons," "Mother Machree"
and "Hangman's House" of recent showing and maker of other great pieces
of past years. Ford's picture now under way is another of Irish tenor and
stars the Irish Farrell MacDonald. It is known by the title, "Riley the Cop."
The scenario, I believe, deals with a New call a novel by that name. Edward
York policeman who figures in many more
or less highly dramatic incidents. Ford is
the director who
can make the inci-
dents effectively
dramatic and yet
surround them with
heart interest that
gives any box of-
fice a silver lining.
Five other motion
pictures were begun
this week which
warrant comment.
The MGM film is
being directed by
Jack Conway and
features Bill Haines
and Karl Dane. The
title "Alias Jimmy
Valentine" is on it now but nothing has
been said to explain whether this is the
same "Valentine" story that has been
screened before. Whether or not however
it is of little consequence at the moment
and can be determined when the picture
is on the gelatine.
Of the other four Paramount has one
called "Sins of the Fathers." You'll re-
John Ford
CHARLES G. CLARKE
A. S. C.
Photographer of
"FOUR SONS"
"THE RED DANCER"
for Fox
name.
Berger is the director. Jannings is the
star. Little fiery Ruth Chatterton, whom,
you probably have never seen (unless you
live in California or New York) will be
opposite him.
Bennett Kept Busy
The name of Belle Bennett distinguishes
a film (begun) by the name of "Power of
Silence" at Tiffany-Stahl. Miss Bennett
is working under the direction of Wallace
Worsley. She has proved one of a limit-
ed number of free lance players who
are constantly kept in demand. It is due,
of course, to the following she has built
and to one or two minor items.
As the trade little suspects perhaps such
a thing as a player's demand depends very
little on his trouping ability. Good troup-
ers are all right enough but, like good ad-
vertising, it must be accompanied by other
ingredients.
Howard Builds Big Set
William K. Howard completed a picture,
"River Pirate," for Fox Film Corporation
last week. It features Victor MacLaglen,
Lois Moran and Nick Stuart.
Howard has worked with a remarkable
(,Continued on page 39)
~~
Nick
^mm
Musuraca jl^BmH^^^--^
is photographer
of
p '^P ^
"When the
-
Law Rides"
"VaUey of
Superstition"
"Terror
Mountain"
FBO Studios
A. S. C.
■\
38
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
Hays^ Kennedy and Laemmle in
West; Producers to Meet
Universal Chief Arrives Home After Two Month Absence — M G M Gets
Rights to "Mrs. Cheney" — Taurog at Fox Studios
By DOUGLAS HODGES
HOLLYWOOD, Jul}^ 10. — Will Hays arrived on his semi-annual visit
to the studios yesterday. His arrival w^as followed and preceded by
the arrival of numerous other figures of the industry. Carl Laemmle,
senior, reached home after a two months visit in the East.
JOSEPH P. KENNEDY, identified now
J with Pathe, F B O and First National,
arrived todaj^ with Richard A. Rowland.
Joseph Schenck has been here a few days
from the East. He will leave this week for
Europe.
The Hays visit is thought to be chiefly
for the purpose of attending a meeting of
the producers association this week. Other
producers arriving simultaneously apparent-
ly have that interest in common.
* * *
Norma Talmadge returned from a visit
to Honolulu a day or two ago and stepped
in on the cutting of "The Woman Dis-
puted," which was directed by Henry King.
* * *
Norma Shearer will have the title role of
"The Last of Mrs. Cheney." The stage
play was purchased several months ago by
Joseph Schenck and was intended as a
starring vehicle for Constance Talmadge.
Plans were suddenly shifted and the story
was given to John Barrymore who was to
make it as a male starring film. Jack's in-
terest in it waned almost from the first,
however, and an effort was made to dis-
pose of the story rights. M G M and others
bid on it. That company succeeded two
days ago in clinching it for a Shearer ve-
hicle to be directed by Robert Z. Leonard.
No announcement has yet been made as
to the picture Constance Talmadge will
have to replace it. Norma has likewise been
unable to obtain a suitable story for her
next picture.
Howard Hawks' return to Hollywood to-
day brought the announcement that "The
Air Circus" will now be completed. Hawks
left four weeks ago for Honolulu following
his marriage to Athol Ward. He is also the
director who made "Fazil" for Fox Films.
^ ^ ^
Finis Fox to Write
Two Del Rio Films
Finis Fox will spend the summer writing
scenarios for two pictures to be released
by United Artists. Each will star Dolores
Del Rio and will be directed by Edwin
Carewe. Carewe will leave within a few
weeks for Europe with members of his com-
pany. They will be preceded by Harry
Wilson, advance ambassador.
* * *
Since this column has been more or less
devoted to people coming and going to
(Continued on page 60)
— ''you can't beat Tylers for Box Office''
THE FLYING U
RANCH: Tom
Tyler — They
liked this produc-
tion and it drew
well. It brought
out plenty of ap-
plause. E. Vet-
ter. Majestic the-
atre, Homer,
Mich.
DESERT PIRATE: Tom with his
pals always does his entertaining
right. Frankie Darro good as
usual. Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D.
SPLITTING THE BREEZE:
Another good Western. It was
well liked by all. — Halliburton and
Burns, Texline theatre, Texline,
'Jcx.
Here's What They Do
To Give You a Thrill
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— Motion
picture scenes can sometimes give
more thrills to the makers than the
audience eventually receives.
During the filming of Fred Thom-
son's Paramount picture, "Kit Car-
son," eight members of the company
spent an afternoon on a pinnacle of
rock 1,500 feet above the floor of
Coal Mine Canyon in the Navajo
reservation. Dorothy Janis and Ra-
oul Paoli leaned against a strong
wind as they worked, and perched
below them on a shelf of rock was
Mr. Thomson, Director Alfred L.
Werker, Mack Stengler, chief cam-
eraman, and his assistants. Ropes
were attached to the cameras, and
all the men around them clung to the
tripods to keep themselves from slid-
ing off the loose shale rock.
All this risk was taken to get a
vista of cathedral-like pinnacles in
the background.
Willat Takes Staff and 30
Extras to Pedro Location
for Columbia's "Depths"
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— Irvin Willat
who is directing "Into the Depths" for
Columbia took the complete staf? and 30
extras to San Pedro last week for scenes.
Jack Holt has the starring role in the sea
production.
Rayart Completes Two
on 1928-29 Program
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— Rayart Pictures
Corporation under the supervision of Trem
Carr has finished the first two of the 1928-29
pictures on the Rayart Program and is at
work on the third. The first picture to be
completed was "The Divine Sinner," and the
second release, a Duke Worne production, is
"The Man From Headquarters." The third
release, on which shooting has just started, is
"Sweet Sixteen," from the story by Phyllis
Duganne.
U. S. Admits It Erred
on Clara K. Young Tax
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— Clara Kimball
Young Monday faced preliminary hearing
in the suit of the United States against her
for the recovery of nearly $2,000 which is
said to have been returned to her on her
income tax adjustment for last year. It
is charged that the government erred in
the return.
"Gang" Gets High Grade
in Brain Test by Prof.
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— Hal Roach's
"Gang" were given intelligence tests by
Justin W. Brierly, child psychologist of
Columbia university, in collaboration with
Dr. William M. Marstonk, one of the
psychological heads of Columbia. They
received high marks.
Max Meyer Joins Pathe
KANSAS CITY. — Max Meyer has joined the Pathe
sales force and is coverinfj Western Kansas. Robert
Waterman, cashier at the Fox exchange, is back after
two weeks vacation. Tommy Thompson, booker for
United Artists, departed for a three weeks vacation
Monday, to motor to California.
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
"Riley the Cop" Begun
by John Ford for Fox;
Coast Plants Are Quiet
{Continued from page 37)
selection of sets on the picture, one of
which was a complete salt water docks
built inside a stage. It is not a miniature.
It is full sized and ingeniously arranged.
No use to try to describe it because it
might be giving away valuable secrets and
no good would be gained. Nevertheless
it is a feat seldom attempted by a director
or a studio.
Baxter-Rich Finish One
William De Mille has completed his last
picture at the De Mille studios under his
contract. It is "Craig's Wife." A strong
cast is headed by Warner Baxter and Irene
Rich. Baxter is exactly the type of the
player who had the male lead of the stage
play in the East and suits the role excel-
lently. It will be a Pathe release.
All the studios are operating but there
is not the rush noted six weeks ago. Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer is probably busier than the
others at present. Fox is quieter but con-
tinues to have four pictures in progress.
ON A LOT OF THE LOTS
Christies in Control of
Metropolitan Following
End of Pathe's Lease
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— Pathe's lease
on the Metropolitan studio has expired and
the owners, Al and Charley Christie, have
assumed active control, with Phil H. Ryan
continuing in charge of operations and
management.
A large number of companies are at work
at Metropolitan headed by the Harold
Lloyd and Caddo companies. The Charles
Hutchison company is starting on its third
feature picture, and Trem Carr Productions
are in the midst of a large schedule. Other
producing units which are centered at Met-
ropolitan include Burton King Produc-
tions, First Division Pictures, Cliff
Broughton, Batchelor Productions, Mascot
Pictures, Varco, Nat Spitzler and part of
the production of Anchor Films.
Plans are going forward rapidly for the
new construction which will be undertaken
for sound-stages and sound-recording equip-
ment.
All "t/" Films to Have
Audio Effects: Laemmle
(Special to tne Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— Carl Laemmle
stated today that he signed contracts in
the East whereby Universal will be entitled
to unlimited use of motion picture syn-
chronization devices. Many pictures, he
said, would be made with talking sequences
and that all would be effect pictures.
He also stated that 26 of the pictures on
this year's program .have been finished and
are in exchanges ready to be sold. Carl
Laemmle, Jr., he said, will be promoted
immediately to become supervisor of
"Broadway," a millon dollar production.
Norma Talmadge Returns
from Hawaiian Vacation
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— Norma Tal-
madge is back from her vacation in the
Hawaiian Islands and is spending consid-
erable time in the cutting room, where
"The Woman Disputed" is being edited.
By FRAZIER
HOLLYWOOD.— With the advent of sound
and talking pictures, along come plans for
color films. This old, but recently revised, idea
has been discussed for several months. Several
big directors and producers have profited from
a study of the few pictures which have been
made.
Colored pictures at first were prompted by
short features or period epics but now many
of the biggest productions have technicolor
sequences.
The result will prove interesting to ex-
hibitors. Past experience may have no bearing
on future pictures but the reaction of audiences
must serve as a pointer as to what the public
wants.
At the present time several of filmland's most
prominent directors are planning technicolor film;;,
others are being made and several have been finished.
Casting for pictures using the particular '*types" has
to be more closely studied, using tests to decide the
players.
During the past six weeks color has made much
headway. Al Ray, Fox director, now completing
*'None but the Brave,'* is making several scenes in
color and even with speaking lines in Movietone, but
the color is the foremost thought for this particular
story.
Buck Jones, actor-producer, who is making his own
pictures will be right in line with a Western air story,
which will have colors as well as other technical
GEORGE SIDNEY
Says —
Am in the East
For a rest
But, Gosh! My mind
Is in the West.
highlights. Movietone will also be used in part.
R. William Neill is preparing to start on **The Life
of Robert E. Lee" which will be completely in tech-
nicolor. This is the latest of several he has made
this year.
Victor Schertzinger, Paramount director, recently
announced his intention of making **Red Skin," Rich-
ard Dix''s next starring epic, in this fashion. No
talking, but with sound effects and color.
Studio executives, directors and representatlvtts in
general, are all awaiting results of their *'bird dogs"
and will follow up^ with whatever they deem necessary
for the production of bigger and better pictures.
*
Another director has suggested that exhibitors in-
form him (or us) of the actual public demand for
color films. The suggestion prompts us to raquest
advice from readers on the subject, viz. :
Do color pictures exert a marked strength at your
box office?
Address your replies to 5617 Hollywood boulevard,
care of The Herald-World, Hollywood, Cal. Replies
will be given to the director in quest of the infor-
mation. Name supplied on request.
''Sunrise" Wins Medal
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 10.— "Sunrise," Fox
production starring George O'Brien and
Jaynet Gaynor, has been awarded a gold
medal in Spain as the best film of the pres-
ent season.
ALFRED A. COHN
WRITER
Two Pictures
Starring Douglas MacLean
Being Produced at
Christie Studios
"Cohens and Kellys in Paris"
"The Jazz Singer"
"The Cat and the Canary"
"We Americans"
"The Last Warning"
I have asked
AL MARTIN
to change his copy in this ad but he replied "just say I still
live at the Hollywood Plaza Hotel on Vine Street."
AO
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
Production Directory
[Number immediately following title denotes production number']
STORY
DIRECTOR
CHIEF
PLATERS
PERIOD OF
PRODUCTION
STARTING
DATE
Columbia Studio
Oat of the
Ir\'in Willat
Jack Holt
Depths"
Ralph Graves
Dorothy Revier
'The Scarlet
Alan Crosland
Lya DePutti
Lady"
Don Alvarado
Warner Gland
DeMille Studio
"Annapolis" Christy Cabanne John Mack Shooting
Brown
Jeanette Loff
"Show Folks" Paul Stein Lina Basquette Preparing
Eddie Quillan
Robert Armstrong
F B 0 Studio
"The Spirit of Jerome Storm
Youth"
"Fury of the Leon d'Ueseau
Wild"
Bob Steele
Mary Mayberry
Ranger
Barbara Worth
Pat O'Brien
First National Studio
'Oh Kay"
"Waterfront"
"The Wrecking
Boss"
"Show Girl"
Mervyn LeRoy
Wm. Seiter
Eddie Cline
Alfred Santell
Colleen Moore Shooting
Lawrence Gray
Dorothy Mackaill
Jack Mulhall
Miltori Sills
Thelma Todd
Alice White
Charles Delaney
Donald Reed
Lee Moran
Fox Studio
Dry Martini"
D'Arrast
Albert Gran
Mary Astor
Matt Moore
■The River"
Frank Borzage
Charlie Farrell
Mary IJuncan
'None But the
AI Ray
Charles Morton
Brave"
Sally Phipps
Farrell McDonald
Gertrude Short
'The Cyclone
R. Lee Hough
Rex Bell
Lover"
Patsy O'Leary
Starting
Starting
Gotham
No Production
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio
"The Devfl'i Victor Seastrom John Gilbert Starting
Mask"
"Morgan's Last Nick Grinde Tim McCoy Starting
Raid"
"The Single Harry Beaumont Lew Cody Starting
Man" Ailecn Pringle
"West of Sanzi-Todd Browning Lon Chaney
bar" Warner Baxter
Mary Nolan
"Alias Jimmy Jack Conway William Haines
Valentine" Karl Dane
Lionel Barrymore
May 19
May 15
June 1
June 19
June 25
June 27
June 1
June 19
June 18
June 25
June 10
June 10
May 26
June 13
June 21
June 25
June 21
June 23
July 2
STORY
DIRECTOR
CHIEF
PLAYERS
PERIOD OF
PRODUCTION
STARTING
DATE
Metropolitan Studio
'Hell's Angels" Howard Hughes
"The Mating James Cruza
Call"
"The Chinatown J. P. McGowan
Mystery"
"Sweet Sixteen" Scott Pembroke
Greta Nissen
James Hall
Ben Lyon
Thomas Meighan
Joe Bonomo
Ruth Hiatt
Paul Melvern
Francis Ford
Helen Foster
Gertrude
Olmetead
Reginald Sheffield
Paramount
Untitled
Frank Tuttle
"The Fleet's Mai St. Clair
In"
"Take Me Home"MarshalI Neilan
'Docks of New
York"
"Sins of the
Fathers"
Joseph von
Sternberg
Edward Berger
Chas. Rogers
Mary Brian
Chester Conklin
Clara Bow
James Hall
Bebe Daniels
Neil Hamilton
George Bancroft
Betty Compson
Baclonova
Emil Jannings
Ruth Ghatterton
Shooting
Nov. 1
June 2
June 21
June 28
May 29
May 19
May 25
June 25
July 7
Tec- Art Studio
"Revenge"
"Romance of a
Rogue"
Edwin Carewe Dolores Del Rio Shooting
Leroy Mason
King Baggott H. B. Warner
May 1
June 29
Tiffany-Stahl Studio
"The Power of
Silence"
Wallace Belle Bennett
Worsley
July 5
United Artists Studios
"The Awaken-
ing"
"The Rescue"
Victor Fleming Vilma Banky Shooting
Herbert Brennon Ronald Coleman
Lily Damita
May 7
June 20
Universal Studios
'The Collegians"
Nat Roea
George Lewis Shooting
Dorothy Gulliver
May 14
•The Girl on the
Edward Slomatf
Jean Hersholt Shooting
May 28
Barge"
Sally O'Neil
"The Last
Paul Leni
Laura LaPlante Starting
June 12
Warning
*
"Wolves of the
Lee Jason
Bill Cody
June 11
City"
Duane Thompson
"The Mystery
Rider"
"Beauty and
Jack Nelson
William Desmond
June 28
Ray Taylor
Ted Wells
June 28
Bullets"
"The Boundry
Joe Levigard
Edmund Cobb
July 2
Battle"
"The Range
Walter Fabian
Bob Curwood
July 2
Wolf"
Marjorie Bonner
Warner Brothers
"The Singing
Lloyd Bacon
Al Jolson Shooting
June 4
Fool
Betty Bronson
Josephine Dunn
Reed Howes
"The Outlaw
Ross Lederman
Ein-Tin-Tin
July 2
Dog"
Matty Kemp
Evelyn Pierce
"My Man"
Archie Mayo
Fannie Brice
"Big Boy"
Williams
Edna Murphy
Andre De Segxir-
ola
Richard Tucker
Billy Seay
June 19
"The Little
Ray Enright
Audrey Ferris
June 20
Wildcat"
James Murray
Doris Dawson
George Fawcett
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
Columbia Extends
Its Program to Make It
"The Perfect 36"
In 1928-29
COLUMBIA'S line-up for the 1928-29
season surpasses in scope and magni-
tude any program this company has
ever attempted.
Over $4,000,000 has been budgeted to pro-
duction. The stories chosen have been se-
lected from thousands, and represent the
work of authors known vi^herever books and
magazines are read. Conspicuous in the
line-up are several stage plays that were
outstanding hits.
To bring these stories to the screen, the
studio personnel has been strengthened. In
the scenario and directorial branches, par-
ticularly, no expense has been spared to ob-
tain the right type of technicians to bring
^'The Perfect 36" to the screen in a way that
will reflect credit upon its sponsors and
Turing profits to theatres booking the
product.
Will Use Synchronization
In addition, Joe Brandt, president of
Columbia, announces that he has made ar-
rangements to synchronize the first release
on the 1928-29 program. As soon as it has
"been decided which of "The Perfect 36" is
to be the first synchronized release, defi-
nite announcement will be made to the
■trade.
"The Perfect 36" program for 1928-29 is
-made up of 10 De Luxe Special productions
and 26 Net Profit Features, for which Harry
Cohn has already under contract the follow-
ing distinguished directors: George B. Seitz,
Alan Crosland, Frank Capra, Irvin Willat
and Millard Webb, whose past efforts have
won for them notable honors. Authors in-
clude John Emerson and Anita Loos, Fan-
nie Hurst, Owen Davis, Louis Joseph
Vance, Cosmo Hamilton, Elizabeth Alex-
ander, Willard Mack, Count Leo Tolstoi,
Frederick A. Thompson, Gertrude Atherton,
Norman Springer, Richard Harding Davis,
Rupert Hughes, Alfred Henry Lewis, Mary
Roberts Rinehart and Elmer Harris.
Among the stars already under contract
are some of the finest box-office assets in
the industry, including Jack Holt, Bert
Lytell, Lois Wilson, Margaret Livingston,
Betty Compson, Lya de Putti, Don Al-
varado, Dorothy Revier, Warner Oland and
Olive Borden.
The De Luxe Specials
The ten De Luxe Specials are "The Fall
JACK COHN
Treasurer
of Eve," from the
play by John Em-
erson and Anita
Loos; "Trial Mar-
riage," from the
Saturday Evening
Post serial story
by Elizabeth Al-
exander, directed
by Millard Webb;
"T h e Donovan
Affair," mystery
play by Owen
Davis; "The
Younger Genera-
tion," from the
play and maga-
zine story, "It Is
to Laugh," by
Fannie Hurst;
"Court - Martial,"
a high-tension ac-
tion drama star-
ring Jack Holt, with many scenes in Techni-
color; "Acquitted," from the Cosmopolitan
story by Mary Roberts Rinehart; "Into the
Depths" (temporary title), by Norman
Springer, directed by Irvin Willat and star-
ring Jack Holt; "Father and Son," from
the story, "Stepmother," by Elmer Harris;
"Redemption," from the play by Count Leo
Tolstoi; and "The Scarlet Woman," di-
rected by Alan Crosland and starring Lya
de Putti, who is supported by Don Alvarado
and Warner Oland.
The "Net Profit" Group
The 26 Net Profit pictures are "The Lone
Wolf's Daughter," by Louis Joseph Vance;
"Nothing to Wear," "A Broadway Hoofer,"
the story of a jazz dancer; "The Wildcat,"
"The Street of Illusion," "The Sideshow,"
a story of racketeers; "The Love Captive,"
"Runaway Girls," a drama of missing girls;
"Light Fingers," a mystery crook drama by
Alfred Henry Lewis; "The Flying Marine,"
a fast-moving story dealing with aviation;
"Stool Pigeon," underworld drama; "Green
Eyes," "The Spice of Life," "Object — Ali-
mony," by Elmer Harris; "Behind Closed
Doors," mystery drama; "The Apache," a
story of the Parisian underworld; "Rest-
less Youth," adapted from the magazine
story, "Restless Souls," by Cosmo Hamil-
JOE BRANDT
President
of Columbia Pictures
Corporation
HARRY COHN
Vice-President
ton; "Hurricane," by Norman Springer and
starring Hobart Bosworth; "The Power of
the Press," from the Frederick A. Thomp-
son story published in McClure's; "The
Bachelor Girl," "The Wicked Angel,"
"Greenwich Village," "The College Co-
quette," "Sinners' Parade," by David Lewis;
"The Faker," and "Driftwood," adapted
from a story by Richard Harding Davis.
Directors of Proven Calibre
An impressive list of directors will mold
"The Perfect 36" into box-office form for
Columbia this coming season. Each has
definitely established his position in the
cinema world and has behind him a record
of achievement which has won solid recog-
nition.
George B. Seitz directed "The Blood
Ship," "The Warning," "Wild Hovse Mesa,"
"The Last Frontier" and "The Vanishing
American."
Alan Crosland during the past two years
has directed several road shows. These in-
clude "Don Juan," "When a Man Loves,"
"Old San Francisco," "Glorious Betsy" and
"The Jazz Singer.' He is now directing Lya
de Putti in the Columbia Special, "The Scarlet
Woman."
Frank Capra once directed Harry Langdon.
Capra was author and director of "The
Samuel 3. Briskin
Aatt, Studio Manager
George B. Seita
Direetor
Irvin Willat
Direetor
Alan Crosland
Director
Millard Webb
Direetor
42
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
Some 1928-29 Columbia Stars — and the Studio
Hobart Bosivorth
Bert Lytell
Dorothy Revier
Lois Wilson
Jack Holt
Margaret Livingston
The enlarged Columbia studio in Hollywood
Lya de Putti
Strong Man" and he directed "Long Pants"
and "For the Love of Alike." For Columbia
he has directed "That Certain Thing," "So
This Is Love" and "The Matinee Idol." He
has just returned to the lot after directing a
picture for M G M, to which company he
was loaned.
Irvin Willat is an outstanding exponent of
camera illusion and trick photography. He is
responsible for such successes as "Behind the
Door," "Below the Surface," "Back to God's
Country" and "The Wanderer of the Waste-
land." His first Columbia release will be "Into
the Depths," in which are many underwater
shots.
Millard Webb has to his credit "The Sea
Beast," "The Love Thrill" and "Naughty but
Nice." He will direct "Trial Marriage," from
the Saturday Evening Post serial of the same
name.
Maberry Aids Growth
One of the most important factors, it is
believed, in the consistent expansion of Colum-
bia is the attention devoted to the selection
of the personnel of the sales force, both in
executives and in men in the field, and Joe
Brandt and Jack Cohn feel that they have
made a decided step forward in securing Cecil
E. Maberry, widely known executive in the
distribution and sales end of the industry, as
general sales manager.
He was successively theatre owner, branch
manager and then vice-president of Goldwyn,
and for four years was Middle West division
manager for Pathe and Producers Distributing
Corporation.
Bringing his long experience and the wide
scope of his friendships among exhibitors to
the support of Columbia has produced imme-
diate results in the tangible form of sales and
bookings on "The Perfect 36." These are
coming in earlier and in volume far in excess
of those last season at this time.
The important post of general manager of
exchanges is held by Claude H. Macgowan,
who is an old Universal man, having been
with that organization in various executive
capacities practically from its inception. He
produced and distributed his own pictures for
a time and then hitched his wagon to Column
bia's star.
"Rube" Jackter is manager of contracts.
J. H. Goldberg, former general booking man-
ager of West Coast Theatres, Inc., was re-
cently appointed Western division sales man-
ager with headquarters in Los Angeles. He
has already given some striking examples of
his ability as a salesman, such as booking five
Cecil Maberry
General Sales Ufanager
first-runs for Columbia pictures in Los An-
geles in eight weeks and another first-run in
San Francisco in the same period. He is book-
ing Columbia product 100 per cent in West
Coast theatres.
Foreign Sales Grow
Steady progress in foreign fields is also
reported by Columbia as a result of Joe
Brandt's efforts to develop an international
distributing organization. Columbia features
are now being shown in Japan, Burma, India,
Mexico, Porto Rico, South America and irb
Europe.
The first step in Columbia's program for an
international distributing organization was the
selection of Frederick E. Shoninger as its resi-
dent manager in Europe. Columbia then
forged another link in its foreign operations
with the appointmnt of A. V. de Duisin as
special foreign representative of the company.
De Duisin came to Columbia armed with a
thorough knowledge of the export field
through many years devoted to handling mo-
tion pictures, as well as other products all
over the globe. He joined Columbia after two
years with Fox. His first assignment for
Columbia was an intensive sales trip through
South America and Porto Rico, resulting in a
number of important contracts.
Brandt Urges World View
The position of Columbia Pictures on the
question of motion pictures with an inter-
national appeal was recently stated by Presi-
dent Brandt recently, upon his return from an
extensive trip of Europe. He said:
"Serious consideration should be given by
producers to the types of stories selected. On
this decision hangs the success or failure of a
picture, and if in their deliberations, producers
would study the world aspect of a story, the
final point of world circulation will have been
gained."
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
Y^
THE SHORT FEATURE
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
"Little Pictures with the Big Punch," which has presented news, reviews and exploitation on
short features and serials.
Releases
WEEK OF JULY IS
EDUCATIONA]:^"Wild Wool-Night Clouds," Out-
door Sketches, one; "The Lost Laugh," Cameo,
Wallace Lupino, one; "Blondes Beware," Tuxedo,
Arthur, two.
M-G-M — "A Happy Omen," Oddities.
PARAMOUNT— "Sea Food," Dooley, Christie, two;
"The Companionate Mirage," Krazy Kat, one.
PATHE— "The Yellow Cameo," Chap. 7, two; "The
Baby Show," Aesop Fable, one; Pathe Reyiew No.
29, one; Topics of the Day, one.
UNIVERSAI^— "Sandwiches and Tea," Snappy, one;
"Scarlet Arrow," Chap. 7, two; "Big Game George,"
Stern Bros., two; "The Gold Claim," Western, two.
WEEK OF JULY 22
EDUCATIONAL — "Listen Children," Hamilton, two;
"Felix the Cat in Jungle Bungles," one.
F B O — Newslaff No. 24, one.
FOX — "His Favorite Wife," Van Bibber, two; "Ore-
gon— The Trail's End," Varieties, one.
PARAMOUNT — Novelty, two; "Baby Phases," Ink-
well Imps, one.
PATHE— "The Yellow Cameo," Chap. 8, two; "The
Early Bird," Aesop Fable, one; "Bunker Battlers,"
Sportlight, one; Pathe Review No. 30, one; Topics
of the Day, No. 30, one.
UNIVERSAL— "Sleigh Bells," Oswald, Snappy, one;
"Scarlet Arrow," Chap. 8, two; "Good Scout Bus-
ter," Stern Bros., two; "Yukon Gold," two.
WEEK OF JULY 29
EDUCATIONAI^"Leaping Luck," Davis-Collins,
Mermaid, two; "Roaming Romeo," Lupino Lane,
two; "Hard Work," Wallace Lupino, Cameo, one.
M G M — "Nature's Wizardry," Oddities.
PATHE— "The Yellow Cameo," Chap. 9, two; "Out-
numbered," Aesop Fable, one; Pathe Review No.
31, one; Topics of the Day No. 31, one.
UNIVERSAL — "The Trackless Trolley," Snappy, one;
"Scarlet Arrow," Chap. 9, two; "Broke Out," Mike
and Ike, Stern Bros., two; "Ropin' Romance,"
Western, Newton House, two.
WEEK OF AUGUST 5
EDUCATIONAI^-"Felix the Cat in The Last
Life," one ; "Kid Hayseed," Big Boy-Juvenile,
two.
FBO — "Mickey's Babies," two; "Joyful Day,"
Standard, two ; Newslaff No. 25, one.
FOX — "The Elephant's Elbows," Animal, two ;
"The Lofty Andes," Fox Varieties, one.
PATHE— "The Yellow Cameo," Chapt. 10, two;
"The Terrible People," Chapt. 1, two; "Our Lit-
tle Nell," Aesop Fable, one; "The Supper Sex,"
Sportlight, one ; P'athe Review N"o. 32, one ; Top-
ics of the Day, No. 32.
UNIVERSAL^— "High Up," Oswald, Snappy, one;
"Newlyweds' Anniversary," Snookums, Junior
Jewel, two; "Scarlet Arrow," Chapt. 10, two;
"McGinis' vs. Joneses," two; "The Range.- Patrol,"
Western, two.
Novel Color-Folder Tells
Paramount' s '28-29 Films
A novel three-color folder on Paramount's
short feature product for the coming season
has just been issued. Under the heading,
"A Short Short Story," the four-page folder
is made up to resemble a closed book, the
cover opening upon a spread announcement
of the product, while the back cover is de-
voted to Paramount News.
FitzPatrick Completes
Param,ount Sound Film
James A. FitzPatrick has completed super-
vision of "Schubert's Songs," Victor sound-
on-disc picture, which FitzPatrick calls the
first synchronized picture of Paramount.
This Exhibitor to Give Third of
Ads to Increased Short Booking
Tivenan & Wolfe Convinced One Snappy Short on Sunday Bill Will
Increase Gross 50 Per Cent — More Than One Screenland
Program Saved by One to Three-Reelers
"We are becoming more and more of the opinion that the short feature is a
very valuable part of the program, and the practice of some exhibitors of run-
ning a certain number of feet of celluloid to fill out the program is poor
judgment."
Find That Short Features Pay
There is a wealth of information for theatre owners in the foregoing state-
ment, from Tivenan & Wolfe, operating the Screenland theatre at Nevada, Ohio.
First of all, it shows that experience — which means box office returns — ^has con-
vinced the management of this theatre that short features pay.
In corroborating the statement of Paul "Our experience as exhibitors covers enly
B. Hoffman that the short feature is a busi- a relatively small period. However, we
ness getter and business builder, as pub-
lished in last week's issue, Tivenan &
Wolfe, through a letter by P. B. Wolfe to
this department, goes a step farther by pre-
dicting that "one good snappy short added
to our Sunday program would possibly in-
crease our gross as high as 50 per cent."
Here is the Tivenan & Wolfe creed on
which the firm will base its programs for
the coming season:
Even in our short experience we have
had more than one program saved by good
short features.
We have bought very much more short
product for 1928-29.
We are going to devote probably about
one-third of our advertising to shorts.
We absolutely refuse to run a double-
feature bill.
A good short fits in admirably to fill out
and enliven the program.
We are strongly of the opinion that one
good snappy short added to our Sunday
program would possibly increase our gross
as high as 50 per cent without detracting
one whit from the "morality" of our Sun-
day entertainment.
By adding the digest of the T. & W.
letter in the opening programs we would
have a real decalogue of showmanship —
short feature showmanship.
Of particular importance also is the de-
termination of the Screenland theatre to
increase its advertising of short product to
one-third of the total budget. Advertising
talks, for the exhibitor as well as any other
business man, and it not only talks but it
announces the exhibitor's policy and tells
the story of his ticket office as nothing else
can.
Profit by T. & W.'s Experience
Almost every word in Tivenan & Wolfe's
note is an invitation to other theatre own-
ers to profit by its experience. The letter
follows:
are becoming more and more of the opinion
that the short feature is a very valuable
part of the program, and the practice of
some exhibitors of running merely a cer-
tain number of feet of celluloid to fill out
the program is poor judgment. Even in
our short experience we have had more
than one program saved from being an
utter flop and a disgrace to our theatre
by good short features accompanying the
main picture.
Increases Short Product
"You will have noted that, while we re-
port regularly (to the 'What the Picture
Did for Me department') on short features,
our bill has never contained more than one.
Also, we have not advertised them except
in a general way. However, this will be
changed for the coming season. We have
bought very much more short product for
1928-29 than we used this nast year, and
we are going to devote probably about one-
third of our advertising to shorts. We ab-
solutely refuse to run a double-feature bill,
believing that such practice is all wrong,
although fully realizing the need for an
addition to the program in many cases. It
is in such cases that a good short fits in
admirably to fill out and enliven the pro-
gram.
Hoffman Absolutely Right
"Mr. Hoffman is absolutely right. We
have been running a rather stilted program
on Sundays in deference to the orthodox
church element. But after having studied
over the matter and felt out the temper of
our patrons we are strongly of the opinion
that even one good snappy short added to
our Sunday program would possibly in-
crease our gross as high as 50 per cent
And do it, with proper selection, without
detracting one whit from the 'morality' of
our Sunday entertainment. It shall be done.
"Thank you for your interest in our
opinions."
44
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
Y^
PRESENTATION ACTS
STAGE SHOWS
Chicago Senate
Week Ending July 7
This was homecoming week for Mark Fisher, who
returned to the Weet Side house after a successful
run at the Oriental theatre. The canopy, lobby and
street was well displayed and decorated for the
event and the long lines waiting to get in at a sup-
per show proved that Fisher is still the idol of his
former days.
The stage show was called "Fine Feathers" and
with a few exceptions was the exact staging that
was originally produced at the Oriental a few weeks
ago. The opening showed the orchestra in the pit
playing an arrangement while a colored film was
flashed on a scrim curtain as a bird whistler chirped
off some tunes.
After this Mark Fisher made his entrance by
stepping into the pit to give a short talk about
his return and the new theatre that would eoon
open where he would make his headquarters in the
future. For nearly a minute the audience kept on
applauding and was without a doubt one of the most
welcome and wholehearted reception ever accorded
anyone in picture houses.
The first band number which Mark directed was
"When You're Smiling," one of his own composi-
tions, which he also vocalized. The applause for this
specialty was tremendous.
Hall and Esley, a man and woman, followed next
with a series of untitled dance capers that served
more or less as a fill in or rather killed enough
time so the orchestra boys could move from out of
the pit to the stage band.
The next speciality was Mark Fisher again singing,
this time the popular Berlin tune called "Beloved"
with Charlie Buckwalter accompanying him on the
piano from the pit. This won a very big hand and
compelled Mark to repeat a chorus. The ballet girls
followed next with a clever routine called "The
Flamingo Strut" one of the best creations ever
staged by the Abbott Girls.
Evans and Perez, two men, came on next with
many daring stunts on a high pole and ball juggling
by foot-work. It was one of the best routines of
its kind ever seen in a picture house and they cer-
tainly walked away with plenty of applause.
Doris Koc, a cute little blonde songstress, replaced
Edna Kirby with peppy songs, such as "It's Just
Too Bad" and "A Lot to Learn." She worked with
Mark a great deal and won a pretty nice hand on
her own merits, for which she repaid with a dance
called "The Sugar Foot Strut." Although working
something along the Peggy Bernier type, she has a
fine personality for this sort of work and should
click.
Earl La Vcre came on next with his wise gags
and smart chatter accompanied now and then by a
few notes on his accordian. Most of his jokes this
time were about a Scotchman. They, however, won
considerable laughs and a very big hand which
proved that the dear public evidently appreciated
them.
Mark Fisher next sang the theme song of the show
called "Fine Feathers" as the ballet costumed in
pretty plumes gathered around band as huge fan
in background parted displaying Sybil Sanderson
Fagan, the bird whistler and all the cast on for the
finale.
According from applause and manner in which the
show was handled it eeems that the novelty of a
pit orchestra is besinninK to click with picture bouse
I>eople.
Johnnie Devine
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World Department,
"Stage and Pit"
Publix Goes For Beauty Contest
Thirty Theatres
Searching for
Miss Chicago
Affiliated Circuits Offer Fine
Prizes to the Winners of
American Venus Contest
By A. RAYMOND GALLO
With the constant report that no
national bathing beauty pageant will
be held this year at Atlantic City,
Balaban and Katz and its affiliated
circuits are capitalizing on this fact
by holding their own bathing beauty
contest. The affair will be conducted
in association with Publix Theatres,
Lubliner and Trinz, Lynch Circuit,
Stern-Brockell and Balaban and Katz,
involving more than 30 theatres in
the city of Chicago. At present the
preliminaries are being held at each
of the above theatres after which
finals will be held immediately after
the fourth preliminaries.
This year the affair will be exploited
under the heading of "The American Venus
Beauty Contest" which will last for a period
of six weeks. Chicago's fairest daughter
who may be the lucky winner of the title
of "Miss Chicago" will be given a trip to
Europe. Two other beauties who win the
second and third semi-finals will be given
trips to the Pacific Northwest and Yellow-
stone Park. Twenty-six other winners of
the elimination contest will be given sum-
mer vacation trips to Colorado.
The winning girls of the various neigh-
borhoods will travel together on the Colo-
rado trip which will consist of one week
with all expenses paid and a personally con-
ducted trip through a service bureau. The
stop-overs will include Denver, Colorado
Springs and Pike's Peak.
The second prize at each local theatre
will be an all electric radio called "The Ma-
jestic." The third prize will be a Q. R. S.
Movie Camera and Projector. Pretty win-
ners of the semi-finals will get a two weeks
vacation in the Canadian Rockies and
Yellowstone National Park through a per-
sonally conducted tour.
GrEuid Final at Chicago Oriental
The contest will terminate in a grand
final at Balaban & Katz Oriental theatre,
Chicago, in about six weeks where all of the
beauties selected from the preliminaries and
Here's a chap who proved that community singiitg
is an asset to a deluxe theatre by dishing out
novelty solos every week at the Patio in Chicago^
in fact Devine is one of the most popular organists
in picture houses.
ORGANISTS!
The weathers warm yes!
An appropriate song for these dog-days
"READY FOR THE RIVER"— the
super special organ presentation
"LAMENTATIONS"
introducing
"READY FOR THE RIVER"
is ready for you
JUST A FEW SETS LEFT
The song is by
GUS KAHN and NEIL MORET
The slide version is by
WALTER HIRSCH
Write, phone or wire
VILLA MORET, INC.
(Tlie Voice of the West)
At their New Yorlt, Chicago or San Francisco Offlces
— order your slides — now
New York Chicago
1595 Broadway 504 Woods BldK.
San Francisco: 935 Market Street
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
45
You Can't Go Wrong
VOO'RE A REAL ,,
SWEETHEART
DON'T CRV BABV"
|v
LONESOAAE \N
THE MOONLIGHT {
GOTTA BIG date:
WITH A UTTLE GIRL'^
'boWM WHERE ^,
THE SUN GOES DOWW
'cast NIGHT I DPEAiVieD
VOU KISSED N\^"
\ TORE OP VOUR PICTURE
WHEN VOU SAID GOODBVE'
*''(V) WINGIN'HOME'^
''CHIQUITA'
'THAT'S (VIV dAAftftMV/
?.
IS IT GONWA BE LOWG?}
(TILL YOU BELONG TO me;
'too busy''
bixie DAWN"
'say'ves'to-daV
*DO LORES"
'WAIT IN' FOR KATV
(COQUETTE"
*(V)Y OHIO HOME""
//
THERE MUST BE //
"A SILVER LINING
'iNDICiN CRADLE SONG
LEO.FEISX INC
231 v<40^"St.,
NBw ronK,N.Y
semi-finals will receive credentials for their
prizes and winner of the "Miss Chicago"
title, her 32-day tour to Europe personally
supervised by a travel bureau. The contest
allows unmarried girls only to take part
between the ages of 16 and 25.
Managers of each theatre are registering
the local girls and Sam Herman is per-
sonally conducting the preliminary semi-
finals and Final contest for the theatre
circuits.
Presentation
LETTERS
In this open forum those interested in presen-
tation may discuss important matters bearing
upon this phase of theatre entertainment. Only
signed letters wiU be published.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: This is
my first letter to you, so I'll try to make it as inter-
esting as possible. Hope you won't be bored stiff !
Guess you know all about the Black Hills, owning
to the publicity this country received last summer
when President Coolidge was here. Have been play-
ing here at the Elks just a year this month. This
is the only deluxe theatre having an organ in the
Black Hills. A few weeks ago I had a nice visit
with Ramon Beery, who has been spending his vaca-
tion in the hills. He said he had a great time,
except for the fact that it rained nearly every day
he was here. But now, that is all over and the
summer season is here. I met several presentation
artists and organists last siunmer when they came
through Rapid City. If you want a real vacation
the Hills is the place, and now that the new Hotel
Alex Johnson is open the best of accommodations
can be had. There are all kinds of sports, wonder-
ful places to see things, and I don't mean per-
haps. Tell my Chicago organists to be sure and
stop in and let me know they are in town when
they visit the Black Hills. Will be glad to get
acquainted and would like to talk with them about
Chicago, for it has been nearly three years since
I left Chi.
This week for my organ solo I am using Lamenta-
tions, which introduces "Ready for the River," by
Gus Kahn and Neil Moret. This special is put out
by Villa Moret, Inc., and is really something differ-
ent. It made a great hit for me. "Ready for the
River" is something along the style of "Chloe"
or negro spiritual or folk song, and is sure 'nuf
different. Last week I used "Oh You Have No
Idea," a new comedy song that went over very well,
published by Ager Yellen & Bornstein. Running
out of paper, so I'll stop. More next time.
With kindest regards — Joe Brite, Organist, Elks
theatre. Rapid City, S. D.
Indian Chief Made Repre-
sentative of Pontiac Car
Chief Eagle Feather, now playing Publix theatres
and formerly a featured player in several motion
pictures, has been made the official national repre-
sentative for the Pontiac automobile. This author-
ization gives the Indian chief the right to exhibit
a Pontiac car in any town he may be visting.
It also entitles him to a car at his disposal dur-
ing the period of his engagement and secures him
a great deal of publicity and newspaper tieups
which not only help the local Pontiac agency but
also the box office of the theatre that the chief is
playing.
This is one of the many unique publicity stunts
arranged by the publicity department of the theatre
circuit which enables the local theatres to capital-
ize on the novelties.
t^m^m
Paul Whiteman Changes
Men and Recording Firm
Paul Whiteman and his orchestra, who are now
filling a three weeks' engagement in Chicago for
Balaban and Katz, are no longer recording for
Victor, through some disagreement Whiteman has
transferred his recording activities to the Columbia
Phonograph Company.
Each year Whiteman and hie organization makes
a tour of deluxe picture houses, this being about
the fifth return engagement for Publix and affiliated
theatres. A number of WTiiteman's original mem-
bers of his immortal band have branched out into
their own musical aggregation lately and what at
one time was claimed as the most perfect and most
famous symphonic jazz band in America no longer
enjoys this title. Reports from various theatres
have it that the Whiteman organization has det-
teriated considerably in the last two years.
LOS41S
about
Everyone
Hello follis ! . . . I have lots of news for you this
week . . . first of all let me warn all you Exhibitors
not to have any dealings with Hal Ross who up to a
few days ago was handling an act called "Making
Movies on the Stage." . . . Lem F. Kennedy the
owner and director of the act gave Ross the gate
for abusing the "Volstead Act." ... I also hear from
managers who played the act that Ross promises
everything and fails to deliver. . . . just a friendly
tip — lay-off his money-making ideas ... in this
morning's mail I received an invitation from Joseph
Brite the only organist in the Black Hills to spend
a few days there . . . the invitation is also extended
to any Chicago organist . . . thanks, Joe. . . . Eddie
Hanson will take a two months' rest in Europe . . .
Eddie Meikel will replace him at the Uptown and
Tivoli. . . . Preston Sellers is replacing Henri
Keates at the Oriental while he is vacationing
. . . Louis Lohman takes Meikel's place . . . reports ,
have it also that Eddie House returns to the B & K
fold. . . . Don Cordon is now at the Frolic theatre,
Chicago. . . . Ted Leary returns to the Stratford
theatre, Chicago, next week. . . . Ted Campbell from
Michigan City is on his yearly vacation. . . . ilaraon
Berry, just returned from his, spent with Joe Brite
in the Black Hills. . . . Leonard Smith of the
Avalon, Chicago, is going to spend his in Texas. . . .
Jules Buffano is now at the Metropolitan theatre,
Los Angeles, as stage band leader. . . . Frank
Magine, popular song writer, has composed a num-
ber that should succeed "Where Ya Worka, John."
. . . It's called "Hey, Cumba." . . . Speaking of song
writers, the authors of "Laugh, Clown, Laugh," were
in Chicago last week. . . . They are Joe Lewis and
Sam Young, both of the staff of Remick's. . . . Some
band should grab Dean Remick, the clever pianist
who rattles his stuff in the Tivoli mezzanine. . . .
Al Manning, personal pianist to Belle Baker, is now
leading a stage band at the Broadway-Strand, a
Marks Bros. Chicago house .... Don Cordon, popular
organist of the Lawndale and other Chicago houses,
has been signed as guest featured organist for the
Chicago Theatres Corp. ... If you ever want to see AI
Kvale at the Oriental in a hurry try to get by Bill
Davis. . . . Bill always smiles at you even if you are a
music publisher's representative. . . . Mrs. Bennie
Krueger and her daughters Sally Joy and Betty Irene
are visiting her folks in the East for a few weeks.
. . . Paul Whiteman is in Chicago for three weeks.
. . . George Dewey Washington is back into B & K
houses after a successful tour of Pnblix. . . . You
ought to see Mark Fisher's welcome home show at
the Harding this week, it looks like the homecoming
of a long lost son. . . . Ates & Darling are playing
picture houses now after a tour of combination thea-
tres. . . . Robert Johns and Serena Bergandi, winners
of the Chicago Coliseum Marathon Dance Contest, are
being featured by the Chicago National Playhouses.
. . . While on the subject of contests let us say that
there is another marathon going on' now in Chicago at
the 8th Regiment Armory, where all the dancers are
colored. . . . The story world lost one of its best
writers it ever had during the modem age. . . .
Avery Hopwood is his name and he was drowned
near Juan-Le-Pins, a beach resort in France. . . .
Latest wire despatches has it that Capt. Roald
Amundsen, famous Arctic explorer, has been found
dead near Oslo, Norway. If true the news should
sadden the whole world, for he was a brave and
remarkable man. . . . Jack Dempsey has become a
stage star and will make his debut in "The Big Fight,"
produced by Lewis, Harris & Belasco on Broadway.
, . . Joe Laurie, Jr., is back into the two-a-day after
a successful tour of Publix. . . . Louise Have, known
as the American nightingale, has joined Major Bowes'
Radio Family at the Capitol, New York. . . . Frank
Silvers, author of "Yee, We Have No Bananas," is
now stage band leader at the Loew's Melba theatre
in Brooklyn. . . . Dave Gould is training a new ballet
of girls to go into a Broadway show. . . . Dave has
been with B & K and Publix for nearly three years.
. . . Elizabeth Swanson, daughter of Arthur E. Swan-
son, vice-president of the Guaranty Trust Company
of Detroit, is very happy that she received President
Coolidge's praise at a reception given by his personal
friends. . . . Elizabeth dances nightly on the Park
Central Hotel Roof in New York. . . . More later.
46
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVIlvG PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
STAGE SHOWS
New Orleans Saenger
Week Ending July 6
Supplementing: the Publix show this week Castro
Carazo presented an innovation styled a "production
overture." with stage settings depicting a Persian
Market with graceful dancing girls, with wiggles
that would put to shame tJie original Fatima of
years gone by. sparkling music and scenic effects,
beautiful in the extreme — in fact a minature opera.
The Publix production, though billed to the skies,
pleased in spots, while others left a rather disagree-
able taste in the mouths of the audiences, who wel-
comed the coming of "canned vaudeville" as the
one relief from bush league artists on big time.
The production styled "Treasure Ships" opened
on a full stage representing the forecastle of a
Bucaneer who had captured a merchant ship, whase
passengers were supposed to entertain and amuse
the boss pii-ate, Walter Smith, and his crew, which,
by the way, on this particular occasion was Art
Landry and his stage band, attired in natty pirate
dress. Failing to do so, the unlucky captives were
doomed to "walk the plank" to Davy Jones' locker.
Val and Ernie Stanton opened the bill, and just
how they escaped a watery grave remains a mysteiy
to those of the audience who witnessed their act.
Possibly the captain of the pirate ship was waiting
for a section of the ocean where the water was
deeper before giving the sharks a meal. He cer-
tainly displayed bad judgment in not bumping them
off before leaving New York habor. The Cherr.v
Sisters of by gone days were wonders compared to
this team.
Baby Dot Johnson, a six year old, played a saxo-
phone, danced, sang, twisted Art Landry's necktie
to shreds, and led the stage band in a manner
that would have done credit to one of mature age
(including the destruction of Landry's necktie). Dot
received much applause, which she was entitled to.
Walter Smith is a good vocalLst, but if it hadn't
been for the accompaniment of the stage band no
one on earth would ever had the slightest idea what
he was singing about, unless he happened to look
THE GREATER DRUNKARD
DANCERS
JEAN
HUBERT
FRITZ
Repeating Publix Theatres as a featured
attraction in
"HULA BLUES''
(A Publix Unit)
DIRECTION WM. MORRIS AGENCY
Is Mr. Duncan
Right?
There is no small competition between mio-
tion picture houses of Kansas City which use
stage presentations and those which do not.
K. S. Duncan, owner of the Alamo, Roanoke
and Broadmour theatres, suburban houses, ran
a newspaper advertisement last week in which
he denounced the fact that good pictures need
presentation acts to support them.
The advertisement then proceeded to explain
why it was possible for a theatre which did
not have presentations to show better pictures
than those which did. But, in the meantime,
both down town and suburban theatres which
continue to offer stage presentations are at-
tracting larger crowds than those which do
not.
at the program. Of course as captain of the pirate
ship he had a fair chance of being saved, as very
few artists will commit suicide, especially when they
have a season's enagement ahead.
Carlo and Norma, attired as Argentines, done sev-
eral clever dances and received their share of the
applause.
Mirth Mack, a pretty blonde, and a recording artist
as well, wras cordially received in a selection which
certainly pleased judging from the number of en-
cores received.
The chorus, the Felicia Sorrel Girls, slim, peppy
and handsome, made a creditable showing in attrac-
tive wardrobe. In fact they shook a wicked hoof and
above all pleased, not only the tired business man,
but the feminine portion of the audiences as well.
Philadelphia Stanley
Week Ending July 7
Florence Moore, comedy star of the legitimate stage,
in person, a Philadelphia girl, heads the bill at the
Stanley this week and surely no one ever received a
warmer welcome or more applause.
Jack Kaufman has succeeded Buddy Page as master
of ceremonies and he is a very personable and
affable leader who appears to say just the right
thing at the right time. The stage show this week
was an entertaining revue entitled "Streets of New
York," with a most realistic setting showing Brook-
lyn Bridge and the New York sky line at night.
To make the scene still more realistic lighted cars
crossed the bridge at intervals.
As an introduction to the act the Six English
Tivoli Girls, representing the fashions of different
periods appeared as the Stanley Stage Band played
"Sidewalks of New York."
Jack Kaufman then introduced Novelle Brothers,
pantomime artists, who played the violin very credit-
ably without dropping a note while turning somer-
saults and performing all kinds of impossible feats.
The Six English Tivoli Girls appeared dressed as
street sweepers with brooms as the band played
"Mary Ann," and did some fine synchronized danc-
ing ending with the goose step.
Peggy English, soprano, sang "Back in Your Own
Back Yard," and another selection. Jack Kaufman
introduced George Lyons, harpist, who played
"Mighty Lak' a Rose" and "Ramona" to good re-
turns.
Novelle Brothers appeared again in an imitation
BENNY and WESTERN
And Their
WHISK-BROOM DANCE
Now Featured in
John Murray
Anderson's
"Milady's Fan"
A PUBLIX UNIT
Direction
Wni. Morris
Agency
of two birds in feather headdress, etc., and brought
down the house, especially the lady bird's admiration
of a large diamond ( ?) ring worn by the male bird
and her methods of wheedling it from him.
Florence Moore is bubbling over with vivacity and
her manner of telling a joke is inimitable. Her
imitations of a Ziegfeld Follies girl parting from her
meal ticket, of a dramatic artist parting from her
sweetheart and of a flapper in a cabaret whose boy-
friend has turned her down are irresistibly funny.
She was given an ovation and as an encore told a
funny story that again brought down the house.
The Tivoli Girls in red and white with silver
sequins offered a clever synchronized dance.
San Francisco Warfield
Week Ending July 6
The stage acts at the Warfield theatre are getting-
close to nature these days, this week's offering being
the Fanchon and Marco "Bath Tub Idea." It was
the kind of revue one might expect on a Saturday
night, but the act was clean throughout.
Rube Wolf, the inimitable band leader and master
of ceremonies, announced that the first musical offer-
ing would be "The Turkish Towel" and the song as
sung by members of the orchestra had something to
do with towels. Before the number was concluded a
back curtain went up, revealing five tubs in which
bathing beauties disported themselves, scrubbing and
drying themselves in unison and dressing behind
rather diminutive screens. They concluded this fea-
ture by coming to the front of the stage and danc-
ing.
The master of fun then announced a hot number
in keeping with the Turkish bath idea, this being-
dedicated to "the newly married man who has just
learned that Liberty is only the name of a maga-
zine." The offering proved a real warm one, with
a trumpet solo by Rube, and was accorded a good
hand.
The Four Gilmartin Girls, June, Jane, Joan and
Jean, introduced as quadruplets and looking as
though they might be, sang and danced in a pleas-
ing manner. They were followed by Lucille Page,
who was an O'Neill Kiddie three years ago, who
gave an animated version of the "Varsity Drag."
Sweet William and Bad Bill, Brunswick record
artists, offered their old vaudeville act, which always
gets great laughs. A selection was played on the
Panatrope, with the band joining in the finale.
The Junior Beauties presented an original powder
puff dance and the act came to a close with a
patriotic medley by the band, in which Rube Wolf
displayed his artistry on the trumpet by playing^
"The Long, Long Trail" as a solo. The organ
joined in the finale and the back curtain went up-
on the Junior Beauties draped in American flags.
Indianapolis Circle
Week Ending July 7
Mr. Powell, the stage director, has an array of
fine talent this week. In addition to his own vocal'
offerings which are received with as much acclaim.
as ever, he presents Sanna and Wallace, a team of
adgio dancers, whose numbers are creations of art,
both graceful and daring ; Pop Cannon and his Kids,
tumblers, and the youngest of the group, a little
girl who can not yet have reached her teens, is a
budding comedienne of stellar magnitude, and Walter
Nillson, whose thrilling unicycle stunts are done -with'
comedy trimmings.
VALE & STEWART
Direction
Lyons & Lyons
Featured
with
"Dancing Feet"
A Publix Unit
Now on
Tour
Regards to
Max Turner
UNIFORMS
FOR HOUSE
ATTACHES
COSTUMES
FOR STAGE
PRESENTATIONS
BROOKS
1437 Bw»»
N. Y. City
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
Los Angeles Metropolitan
Week Ending July 7
Ruth Roland, screen star, with the co-operation of
Jules Buffano, master of ceremonies, pleased an audi-
ence at the "Met" this weelc. The show opened
-with a band number, "Hugs and Kisses," the assist-
ant conductor weilding the baton.
Jules Buffano then made his appearance amid a
heavy hand of applause. He introduced Ilomay
Bailey who Bang "Without You Sweetheart," the
signal for the Manhattan Steppers starting out with
four boys and four girls in a dance number. They
-danced an encore to "Shady Tree" and a large drop
resembling a tree was lowered, the steppers appear-
ing from behind the trunk of the tree, revolving into
a waltz tap, being led by Bailey, in the front line,
next the master of ceremonies, who is proving ex-
ceedingly popular, sang "That's My Weakness Now."
The number clicked in great style .
Charles Huey, dancing whistler, followed. He put
his stuff over in a great manner. He is one of the
test teeth and tongue whistlers seen for several
months. His apparent nervousness could be elLmi-
Tiated to advantage, but nevertheless, he had the
stuff.
Rath Roland's appearance was preceded by a
screen showing of several of her past pictures and
daring screen exploits. She made her entrance
dressed in a white evening gown, singing bits from
popular numbers. Her voice was pleasant. She
made her exit but took an encore singing "Me and
My Shadow" entertaining from the wings. She was
followed by a colored child about seven years of
age dressed like Roland in a high silk hat, carrying
a cane, and imitating her. Later giving an im-
pression of Ted Lewis, in a song. Ruth Roland in-
troduced a number of screen stars from the stage,
who were in the audience, before making her exit.
Gleen and Jenkins was next introduced by the
m. c, and these two black face boys kept the audi-
ence in a constant uproar with their wise cracks.
The seven minutes passed quickly, and got a great
hand.
The Manhattan Steppers closed the bill doing fast
dancing in line and up and down stairs. This was
new and exceptionally well done. The complete bill
was well arranged and wonderfully carried out.
Wilwaukee Wisconsin
Week Ending July 7
"Learn how to say Ritchie Craig" was the slogan
for the past two weeks, and this week all of Mil-
waukee is learning — and how ! Ritchie Craig may
not be the whole show but he is a large part of
the presentation and predictions are that he will
be fully as popular as the foi-mer leader who passed
on the baton to Ritchie.
The presentation opens with the eight Barry Girls
dancing on the stage with gold suits on and they
looked almost as snappy as the dance they were
doing. The Playboys then put one on themselves,
playing "Without You Sweetheart." Then comes
Freddie Hopp«, who does a lonesome in entertaining,
singing eccentric dancing, gags, and otherwise "put-
ting on."
Ritchie Craig then does a "Brodie" into the or-
chestra pit and entertains with song and gags, not
to mention and old guitar, which he handles till
he makes the "gallery gods" leave off their own
handling and sit up and notice.
Hank Moreno and company, in the shape of a
talented dancer, then do some tap and toe and
acrobatic dancing. Murtle Boll then gives the audi-
ence a chance to hear some real singing. "I Still
Love You" went over big with the Milwaukee crowd.
Jones and Elliot do a song and dance act that
seems to please the audience very well. Craig then
does what seems to be his best card, and it's a wow.
Deluxe Stage Policy
Has Resident Players
The Aztec, San Antonio, changed its policy
of straight pictures last week, and is putting
on a series of presentations, with a resident
company of artists.
Sets are designed by a local artist, and the
shows are produced by Palmere Brandeaux,
featuring a ballet of twelve girls, many of
whom have been trained by Dave Gould of
Chicago. Bcbe Moffic, a former Publix fea-
tured act, is one of the major attractions — she
is a contortionist dancer.
Ritchie shakes a mean foot. He had the crowd
almost shouting for more, but the wise showman
that he is, he did not try to overdo it so the crowd
had to be contented with what he gave them and
wait till the next time.
The finale is good. A pergola with numerous
red lights in place of roses decorates the stage.
The Barry girls then climb the arbor to the strains
of syncopated music, the lights go softly ddm, and
as the song grows near an end, the girls assume
artistic poses, and the curtain drops.
Kansas City Pantages
Week Ending July 6
"Aregentine Cabaret," featuring Alvarado and
Jean, a dance and music act, headed the stage pro-
gram at the Pantages theatre. Alvarado is a clever
dancer, as is his partner, who dances some fluffy,
smiling numbers that are well received.
Carlena Diamond has one of the cleverest harp
numbers that has come along in some time. She i»
mighty good looking, even to those sitting on the
front row.
Field and Cook have a wild array of gags and
are such earnest workers that the audience is forced
to like them. They do a clever trick with the aid
of the motion picture projectionists, a short film
depicting a thrilling rescue on a railroad track that
winds up by Cook rushing on stage and grabbing
a dummy from a hook on the stage curtain, just
at the point where the locomotive would have come
on the screen.
The Elder Sisters have a pleasing dance routine.
Jubal Early is a comedienne who cannot help but
arouse enthusiasm. Louie Charninsky, director, and
his Pantages orchestra play popular selections as an
overture.
Howard Atlanta
Week Ending July 7
"Hands Up" proved an entertaining number for
the Howard this week.
Jack Stanley and the Howard stage band came in
for a big hand.
Dezso Better, styled "The American Prince of
Whales" and who has been on the Howard stage
previously, was well received.
Marguerite Rickard, songster, rendered several
numbers which were popular.
Jack and Kay Spangler proved versatile and laud-
ably hailed dancers.
Jimmic Dunn, comedian, drew well with his puns
and original songs.
Eight Gould Girls received an encore for their at-
tractive dances and ballet formations. They showed
expert training and were donned in eye-catching
costumes.
Omaha Riviera
Week Ending July 5
A patriotic tableau, "The Spirit of Freedom," was
Manager Harry Watts' contribution toward Fourth
of July week. The American Legion drum corps
participated in the 9 o'clock performance every night,
while the pit orchestra played a medley of patriotic
airs.
The stage show was Boris Petroff's "Tick Toek."
A feature of the show were the 12 girls trained in
their steps by Albertina Rasch. Paul Spor, as mas-
ter of ceremonies, kept the numbers going entertain-
ingly. A special of the stage band was a novelty,
"Constantinople," directed by Spor, who also di-
rected the pit orchestra.
Sonia Meroff sang "blues," Bernard and Rich en-
tertained with song, dance and jests, and Bayes and
Speck went in for comedy dancing and repartee.
Indianapolis Palace
Week Ending July 7
"Odds and Ends" is the title Mort Harris has
given this week's stage production. It features a
return engagement of Rome and Dunn, the popular
singers who spent several weeks here earlier in the
season. The Palace orchestra, conducted by Emil
Seidel, plays the Second Hungarian Rhapsody, as an
overture.
New York Paramount
Week Ending July 13
"Ocean Blues" this week at the Paramount, brings
Paul Ash back on the stage again which is as it
should be.
A solo opening offered by Paul Small, called "Ocean
Blues" is followed by The Foster Girls, who chorus
the finish of the song in a snappy sailor garbed
dance. The girls divest themselves of the garbs,
and climb ropes, at the top of which are ankle
and wrist catches and they do different poses on' the
ropes while the orchestra is going through the selec-
tion again.
"Salty" is the next offering by Paul Ash and the
stage orchestra and followed by "Don't Be a Sailor"
by Scanlon, The Denno Brothers and Scanlon, and
The Foster Girls, and consists of singing, dancing
and music by the orchestra, with numbers as "Join
the Navy" — semaphored by the girls with proper
flags, and others.
Edith Evans and Ray Mare put over a big-time
singing, talking and piano which is one of the best
yet. "Get Out and Get Under the Moon" is fea-
tured by Miss Evans, and a cowboy "Blue Song"
is furnished to great returns by Ray Mare.
"Just a Melody Out of the Sky" by Ash and the
orchestra, and sung by Paul Small.
Another big-time feature was Moss and Frye with
their clever witticisms. If three sevens are twenty-
one, how much is a lot of nines was just one of many
laugh provokers. Their singing finish is weak, but
the act was well-received and appreciated.
Nell Kelly was held over for another week, and
opens with "My Pet" sung or rather talked, with her
swinging arms and legs. Encore was a lot of busi-
ness with Ash, and she was well-liked. Wouldn't be
surprised to see her steadily here.
The finale was weak, enlisting the entire ensemble
— show was of usual amount standard.
New York Roxy
Week Ending July 13
The first half of the Roxy program this week in-
cluded the Roxy Symphonic Orchestra on the stage
under the leadership of Erno Rapee, Charles Previs
arid Joseph Littau. It is the first time the 110
Bill Bennett
Featured Organist
BELPARK
AND
VARSITY
THEATRES
CHICAGO
CORNELIUS MAFFIE
Gennett Recording Artist
Now Featured Organist at Publix's
METROPOUTAN Theatre, HOUSTON, TEXAS
SOLOS AND COMMUNITY STUNTS
HARRY ZIMMERMAN
FEATURED ORGANIST
BELMONT cJ5^T5.> CHICAGO
48
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
musicians desert the pit to appear behind the foot-
lights for a presentation. With a garden fete set-
ting, the presentation includes the Ballet Corps, the
Chorus, the 32 Roxyettes, and the principals com-
prising the largest company that has ever been
assembled on the stage of a motion' picture theatre.
Selections from "Aida" by Maurice Baron were
given by the orchestra, chorus and ballet — soloists
Viola Philo, Aldo Boraonte and Adelaide De Loca.
Valse Bluette from "Air De Ballet" is danced by
Patricia Bowman, Nicholas Daks, and the ballet corps
present the gypsy dance from "Rusalka." Harold
Van Dnzee and Douglas Stanbury sing the duet from
Verdi's "La Forza del Destino." Friml's "L'Amour
Toujours L'Amour" is contributed by Gladys Rice.
"Egyptian Echoes" is danced by the Roxyettes and
the entire ensemble, Frank Black having written the
musical theme.
Agnes George DeMille, daughter of William De-
Mille. was retained for a second week to give the
Roxy audiences an example of unique work in panto-
mime characterization. "Stage Fright" is the name
of the pantomime sketch, assisted by Misses Diamant,
Vitola Sapharia, Yorke, Palsey, Shally, Larina, Poe
and Fenwick.
"Parade of the Wooden' Soldiers" by the Roxyettes
is offered as a repeat, by request.
Newspaper Runs Stori.2S
on Stage Shows
A series of feature stories, with layouts, is
being run in the Express by the Texas the-
atre, San Antonio, on the different phases of
the production of Publix stage shows. Many
people in Texas do not understand that these
shows are produced at a big cost in New
York by an enormous organization, and the
stories will do much to educate them to ap-
preciation.
The first story is on production in general,
the second on selections of acts, the third
on the training of dancers, the fourth on music,
the fifth on the various producers, the sixth
on various theatres these shows play, and the
seventh a wind-up and resume of the former
stories.
Chicago Oriental
Week Ending July 7
Al K vale's show at the Oriental this week is
called "Al's Mo\ne Party," and the party is sup-
posed to take place in Hollywood. Al succeeds in
carrying out the idea entirely through the show. The
show opens with a girl doing a clever dance before
a beautiful lace curtain upon which are thrown
beautiful shadow designs from the operating booth.
The Ballet enters, each girl carrying an illuminated
basket of flowers, to do a good routine. A male
voice is heard back stage. The lace curtain rises
to reveal a huge stage setting, the interior of some
palatial home. There follow three solo dances by
two girls and a man, who were not announced.
Kvale comes on to antiounce the Theodore Kosloff
Dancing Girls, who proceed to do a unique folk
dance. Their beautifully colored peasant dresses and
the speed and dash with which they dance combine
to make the offering a good one. They get a good
hand.
Chief Eagle Feather is next, in his stuntiing white
Indian costume, doing his tap dances that never
fail to bring the house down. Reported many times
in this journal. Eagle Feather still can be praised for
his fine work.
Rose Valyda is next ■svith her two voice singing.
She has the deep voice of a man and the soft voice
of a woman, either of which she employs at a
moment's notice. Good applause is given her song.
"Do You Love Me 'When Skies Ai-e Grey." Then she
and Kvale indulge in a bit of cornice, bringing the
house to a big laugh when' she and Kvale dance.
The Janet Sisters follow with a song, sung only
fairly well, and a dance of equal worth, for a fair
hand. Then follows a band number, "I Can't Help
Loving You," played in what Al announced as the
West Coast rhythm, which really hasn't much to offer.
This is followed by a young lady, whose name
sounded like Wilma Joy, but probably wasn't, who
did a really beautiful toe dance. The applause was
all she could have desired.
The Kosloff dancers follow with another unique
dance, this one called "Pan-American." Again the
girls ran and ducked and chased each other all over
the stage, to the evident pleasure of the crowd.
Kvale and the gang next dispense "The Tiger Rag,"
with a lot of jazz trimmings. Kvale plays practically
every wind piece in the band, but his work on the
clarinet makes the audience beg for more, and they
are not satisfied until after two encores. A great
little number, this was, and Al will probably have
to do it again.
Murray and Alan are next, singing "Mary Ann,"
CHIEF EAGLE FEATHER
World's Only American-Indian
TAP DANCER
After a Very Successful Tour of
PUBLIX
Now Repeating All BALABAN & KATZ
Chicago Theatres
Direction — Max Turner — William Morris Agency
DARLING TWINS
Just Closed a Successful Second Tour of Publix
as a featured attraction in
"The Mikado of Jazz"
Many Thanks to PAUL ASH
Direction — William Morris Agency
Leo Terry
Featured Organist
with
GREAT STATES THEATRES, INC.
and their crazy song, "A Thousand Years Ago," the
while wearing their funny Egyptian mummy head
pieces. The boys have to come back and back to
give more of those funny verses to their song. They
made a good hit.
The show ends with a patriotic tableau and
medley of patriotic songs played by the orchestra.
The Kosloff do another dance, this one a military
tap, and the curtain falls on a beautiful scrim scene
in the background of Betsy Ross and Old George
and the flag. Very beautiful.
Brooklyn Mark Strand
Week Ending July 13
"In Jail" is this week's attraction at the above-
named house, featuring Ray Teal in the gloom-chae-
ing Summertime revue.
The stage orchestra plays "Sweet Sue" and the
number is danced by Mary Mashert.
Stage is set in full, with background of a cell
range in a prison. The orchestra are dressed in'
black and white striped garbs.
The George Sisters sing "Get Out and Get Under
the Moon" dancing a tap finifih which goes over
very good.
Starr and Rollo give a buck-and-wing dance in
unison, with their ankles and wrists chained to-
gether. For their encore they offer a skating dance,
and they also click favorably.
The Happy Go Lucky Boys, with their piano, offer
a trio singing number called "Nothin*," followed by
"Golden Gate" and a much deserved encore, "Paddio."
Hill and Hull, a girl and a jack-in-the-box offer
a unique contortion acrobatic dancing novelty — ^but
the girl's makeup is all wrong, as a girl she is too
strong, and she would fit better as a small boy.
"Constantinople" is played by the Orchestra, and
specialties offered by the different members of the
group, singing the song in different lingoes.
Eileen Flory, evidently an old-timer in' the vaude
game, does some fast business with Ray Teal which
is very well spotted and gets the applause.
Roth and Shay do a comedy acrobatic tumbling
bit that is very good. The finish was very brief and
poor, but the show itself was a good one.
Chicago Norshore
Week Ending July 7
"Levee Lovers" was the name of last week's offer-
ing at this house, ■with BVankie Masters officiating as
the M. C. Briefly (for this production' has been
told of before), the show opens with the band playing
Dixie melodies behind a Southern street scene, while
George Dewey Washington, colored singer, imperson-
ates an old darky walking across the stage, picking
up the chorus being played by the band, as the
curtain' rises revealing a Mississippi boat moored to
the levee,, the band sitting on the deck. Frankie
Masters enters and takes the orchestra into "Old
Man' Rhythm," instrumental jazz nu-^iber. at the fin-
ish of which this versatile conductor picks . up his
banjo, tilts back his tonsils and lets go in song,
the number being "You're a Real Sweetheart."
Then the customers listen to The Lucille Sisters,
who croon sentimental songs as Topsy and Eva, a
la Duncan Sisters. Three encores for the Misses
Lucille, alas ! However, Jerry and his accordion
follow with not so much music but not enough danc-
ing, and though he can stay out longer, he leaves
a little for the finale. After a unit of Abbott Dancers
dance awhile — and they dance very well and are
liked — Jack Joyce entertains ■with a magnetic per-
sonality, a pleasing singing voice, and a demonstra-
tion of dancing though bereft of one leg. The
audience thinks his efforts good, though some of the
applause must be for Joyce's handsome appearance
and well bred manner.
FRANKIE MASTERS
"The
RomEuitic
Singing
Band Leader"
Now at the
NORSHORE
Theatre
CHICAGO
(Balaban & Katz)
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
49
UP wd
Faithful and devoted service is moet always ap-
preciated in due time. Leiw Vitt who has been con-
nected for eight years with the Meyer Davis organ-
ization of orchestras as an individual musician, has
now been placed by Meyer Davis in the capacity of
leader at the Nassau Hotel in Long Beach. Vitt,
having played all these years under the direction of
many Meyer Davis leaders has the knack of conduct-
ing which is very favorable with the patrons of the
Nassau Hotel. Doing his own announcing on the
radio seven nights a week through Radio Station
WABC is also gaining Vitt a lot of good friends.
« « *
With the summer season now in full swing around
the "Alley," it is hard to keep track of the various
changes, particularly as far as orchestra leaders are
concerned. When winter comes, things will again
be normal, and when' you want to find a certain
someone, you will know jus* where he is.
• • •
A distinction worth mentioning is Peter Van
Stccden and his orchestra, who have taken B. A.
Eolfe's place at the Palais D'Or for the summer
season'. Van Steeden has the honor of being the
protege of Arthur Lange, who takes a personal
interest in his orchestra and the arrangements that
they play. Van (as he is kno'WTi by the boys around
the "Alley") broadcaets about six times a week
over Radio Station WEAF, and if you ever have
the opportunity, listen in to them, for you certainly
•will enjoy an hour of good dance music.
• • •
Of unusual interest is Therese Rose Nagle who has
complete charge of all daytime programs of Radio
Station WGBS (Gimbel Bros.). This is quite a man's
sized job, but Miss Nagle. who has been connected
■with this station for over four years in this capacity,
has certainly proved herself to be perfectly capable
of tackling this job, for she has just been allotted
the evening programs as well as the daytime pro-
grams.
• • •
We ran into Jack Arthur recently, who probably
does more in a theatre than any one man in the
show business. Jack is manager of the Uptown the-
atre in' Toronto, a Famous-Players house, and outside
of running the theatre, leads the orchestra in the pit,
conducts the stage band, stages the presentations,
does bits on the stage, and attends to all the publicity
for the house. Incidentally, Jack just staged a
beautiful presentation around the song "My Window
of Dreams," which is the talk of Canada.
« • •
Lloyd Huntley has the new orchestra at the Ten
Eyck Hotel in Albany, succeeding Frank Funda.
Lloyd is a well known society favorite and hails
from Miami, Florida. He will be featured from the
Ten Eyck Hotel on' Station WGY (which is one of
the most powerful stations in the world). This means
that he will be heard by a large portion of the
country's population.
• * •
Tom Grierson has recently been appointed feature
organist at the Buffalo theatre in Buffalo, one of
the Publix deluxe houses. Tom is recognized as one
of the foremost organists of the east, who does not
depend on community singing to get his stunts over,
but features his own novel style of organ entertain-
ment. » 4 9?
We caught the opening of Frank Comwell as a
Publix M. G. at the new Loew house in Syracuse,
and he justifies our prediction that he should have
been doing that years ago. For appearance, voice
and personality, he is on the par with any one on the
circuit, and as far as staging ideas is concerned,
anyone who has seen his band at Janssen's Hofbrau
in New York City, can testify that he knows what it
is all about.
• • *
I am taking a trip through New England, and
will give you the lowdown as I find it when I
return. Of one thing I am certain, it will certainly
be hot in some of those New England towns I in-
tend visiting.
ORGAN SOLOS
Preston Sellers (Chicago Senate) after three weeks
vacation' returned with a batch of new ideas for his
community stunt. Illustrated slides featured special
lyrics to popular tunes with two very clever ones,
one on the July 4th gag and the other on "Ramona"
with the word Torpedo. Some of the songs used
were "Ready for the River," "Constantinople," "Was
It a Dream," "That's My Weakness Now." Every-
body sang with Sellers at this show and proved that
they were glad to see him back.
Ray Turner (Rockford, Coronado, HI.) reports a
suggestion to other organists who wish to use a
novel solo on "Ramona." Turner used it as fol-
lows: First, Dagger Dance from "Natoma" — Victor
Herbert ; second, "By the Waters of Minnetonka" —
Lieurance, and third, "Ramona" — Wayne. Slides and
spot was injected to help give the stunt more effect
and it sure pleased the patrons. A good suggestion
to run when showing the film of the same name.
Ron Baggot-Don Moore (Seattle Seattle, Wash.)
the ambitious young organists have successfully ar-
ranged and presented for patrons "Those Songs We
IJsed to Sing," which is an answer to a number of
requests for songs of yesteryear. An effective and
humorous idea was employed through the medium of
a comparison of the old songs with modern, and
withal rendered one of the best concerts on the
organ since the house opened.
Joe Brite (Rapid City Elks, S. D.) reports that
his solo for last week introducing "Ready for the
River," was entitled "Lamentations" a special from
Villa Moret that is really different and worthwhile.
It made a big hit with this crowd. The last half
of the other solo was a comedy novelty called "Oh,
You Have No Idea," from the song of the same title.
Larry Jean Fisher (Omaha Riviera) was guest or-
ganist and pleased with his pep and the life he put
into his music. In "A Box of Tricks" he showed
how many ways "My Bungalow of Dreams" can be
played.
Earl Abel (San Antonio Texas) whose popularity
as featured organist of the Texas theatre for the
past five weeks is unprecedented, is offering his
first organ-stage production this week — it is "Chloe,"
presented ■with a local tenor-baritone. Earl opens
with his first few slides on a scrim. Lights come
up back of the scrim revealing a ground row and a
cut drop in silhouette, lighted with very dim blues.
The singer does his number without making an
appearance. The number was sensational, and Earl
is inspired to do others of this nature in the future.
Jnlia Dawn (Atlanta Howard) guest organist, con-
tinues to draw favor. Her number was "A Safe
and Sane July 4th." The patrons here can always
depend on a good organ presentation from Julia
who knows how to tickle the console.
John and Betty Hammond (New Orleans Saenger)
at the organ played popular and operative airs.
They are the Jesse Crawfords of this beautiful
historical city, and always click with their offerings.
DEAN STEVENSON
And His Boys
Featured at the
Marshall Square Theatre
CHICAGO
'lOS
54 W. Pd/idofpfi St
Olrl'ca^O
Qioff Koip. r Arc pu getting RUMORS
^ liio 3^ 1 o^ fjf^f^ 9iicfe1te«> for He ahm±
SQM6$
BEST SELLERS
"Ramona" — (Leo Feist).
"Girl of My Dreams"— (Jack Mills).
"Last Night I Dreamed Yon Kissed
Me"— (Leo Feist).
"Constantinople" — (DeSylva, Brown
& Henderson).
"Laugh, Clown, Laugh" — (R e mi c k
Corp.).
"You're a Real Sweetheart" — (Leo
Feist).
"Beloved" — (Irving Berlin).
"Too Busy"- — (Leo Feist).
"Get Out and Get Under the Moon"
— (Irving Berlin).
"Was It a Dream" — (Harms).
"Chlo-e"— (Villa Moret).
"Rosette"— (Milton Weil).
"In My Bouquet of Memories" —
(Remick Corp.)
"Thafs My Weakness N.ow"—(Ager-
Yellen & Bornstein).
"My Angel" — (DeSylva, Brown &
Henderson).
"Together" — (DeSylva, Brown &
Henderson).
"Back in Your Own Back Yard"—
(Irving Berlin).
TOO BUSY — (Leo Feist, Inc.) — The writers, Ned
Miller and Chester Cohn, who usually have big
western hits look like they have another one that
should be ready money. They will be remembered
as having written — You Don't Like It Not Much —
Whafll You Do— Sunday. Not bad!
* * •
ADOREE (I Adore You) — (Harms, Inc.) — When
this firm concentrates on one song they usually make
it. This song has enough merit to deserve a No. 1
plug. Words and music by Eugene West.
* « «
REALLY AND TRULY— (Harms, Inc.)— A Ha»-
sard Short production called — Sunny Days. Still
playing at the Four Cohans and newspaper reports
are very encouraging on this show. This is the hit
song. Book and lyrics by Clifford Grey & Wm. Gary-
Duncan. Music by Jean Schwartz.
* * *
MY SORORITY SWEETHEART — (Lewis-Marks
Pub. Co.) — A collegiate waltz. This new firm will no
doubt start this song for a turnover to one of the
bigger publishers. By Al Sherman and Al Lewis.
* • •
BLUE LAND — (Joe Morris Music Pub. Co.) — The
government does not allow Blue Land to be sold.
However this has nothing to do with real estate and
besides anything goes in a song. It's all about the
Mason-Dixon line, is well ■written as to lyrics and
melody. Words by Howard Johnson, Music by Al
Sherman.
* « *
I'M ON THE CREST OF A WAVE— (Harms, Inc.)
— ^Reports from New York are that the new George
White Scandals has a great collection of songs. This
is the hit song of the show and it's really a classic
as a production number. How these boys can ■write.
By B. G. De Sylva, Lew Brown and Ray Henderson.
« # 9
JUST A LITTLE WAY FROM HOME— (Remick
Music Corp.) — A home song of the wanderer who
returns to the fold — in other words, the gospel of this
song is. There's No Place Like Home. The lyric
writers have been making a specialty of this type of
song with plenty of success. Lyric by Lewis and
Young, music by Oscar Levant.
4 * «
GOTTA BIG DATE WITH A LITTLE GIRL—
(Leo Feist, Inc.) — Reminds one of that big song by
the same publishers entitled Five Foot Two. Writ-
ten as a hot song with both lyrics and melody carry-
ing the spirit. Should go big in this territory as it's
a typical Chicago tune. Words by Harry and
Charles Tobias, music by Henry H. Tobias.
Jt/i^ ^>
50
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
Y^
THE THEATRE
Incorporated in this department of practical showmanship of Exhibitors Herald are the Moving
Picture World departments, "Selling the picture to the Public," and "Better Business Builders."
Johnson Builds Business and
Goodwill with Flower Matinee
If 900 children walked into your theatre for a matinee, each carrying a bouquet
of flowers, do you think it would create much excitement and talk in your town?
And if all these flowers were taken to the hospitals in your city and used to dec-
orate the halls and rooms of all the inmates do you doubt for a minute that
you and your theatre would not profit by the goodwill of the entire town?
You know and I know the answer to
these two questions, but Fred E. Johnson,
manager of the Colonial theatre, Cam-
bridge, Ohio, answered these questions to
his entire satisfaction by staging the flower
matinee in his theatre as the opening per-
formance for a three-day run of "The
Legion of the Condemned."
"Business men of the town tell me this
was the greatest advertising stunt I have
ever put across. No doubt other exhibi-
tors could use it to advantage," says John-
son. And how right Johnson is! If other
exhibitors use the idea they will find that
the resulting goodwill created in the hearts
of their patrons will more than pay
them for the slight trouble of the flower
matinee.
Johnson announced prior to the date that
all children who brought a bouquet of flow-
ers, would be admitted free to the first
showing of "The Legion of the Con-
demned." More than 900 children flocked
to the theatre, each bringing a beautiful
bouquet of flowers which filled the entire
rear of the theatre.
After the show was over, the flowers
were loaded in taxicabs and taken to the
three local hospitals and used to decorate
all the halls and rooms of the hospitals.
What a red letter day it was for the chil-
dren, the inmates of the hospitals and for
the theatre, too. The local paper carried
a good story on the event, giving a great
deal of credit to the theatre for its public-
spirited work.
Think for a moment what such a flower
matinee would do for your own theatre.
Think of 900 children scurrying around for
bouquets of flowers, and of them coming
from all parts of town to the theatre with
their bouquets. The Colonial theatre, the
day of the matinee, was no doubt, the chief
topic of conversation in at least 900 homes.
But this is just one of the many things
Johnson does in his theatre. "Ladies of
the Pastor's Aid Society of the First Pres-
byterian church," writes Johnson, "helped
me put over 'The Little Shepherd of King-
dom Come' recently, and I realized nicely
on the percentage of sales. The woman's
class of the Methodist church also gave
splendid aid in putting over 'Les Mise-
rables,' which was also a big success. These
things help very materially on one's sum-
mer business."
But the goodwill which Johnson derives
from such activities probably pays more in
the long run than the immediate profit
made. Johnson is making a big investment
in goodwill that will pay big dividends for
him in increased patronage. — (W. W.)
Here 's the Answer
to the "45'' Puzzle
In the June 23 issue of this paper,
"The Theatre" presented another puzzle.
If you remember, it came from Harry
Reader, manager of the Rialto theatre,
Wilson, Pa. The puzzle as presented
was :
"Can you subtract 45 from 45 and leave
45 as a remainder?"
Now that is no easy thing to solve,
as many of you, who have written for
the answer, have already found. But
the solution like most puzzles is just as
easy as falling off a log, once you know
the answer, and here it is :
p+5-f-74-54-5+4+J,+2-fi=45
1 -J^2+3+4+5-{-6+7 +8+9=45
S+6+4+1 +9+7+5+3+2=45
The figures of the first line added to-
gether give 4'5. The figures of the
second line also equal 45. Subtract the
second line from the first and the figures
of the remainder added together also
make 45.
Now what could be easier than that?
But it does make a good puzzle doesn't
it? If you'll turn back to the June 23
issue you'll see how Reader used the
puzzled in a herald, and that might give
you a pointer on how to use this one.
Remember, if you do use it, "The The-
atre" would like to hear just how and
with what success you make use of it.
Just a few of the 900 children who crowded the Colonial theatre, Cambridge, Ohio, with their presence and their flow-
ers when Manager Fred E. Johnson held a flower matinee for the opening of a run of "'The Legion of the Condemned."
A bouquet of flowers was the only admission charge for the children, who, after the show was over, took the flowers to
three local hospitals to cheer the inmates. The flowers were loaded in cabs, as the other photograph above shows.
Who could think of a better way than this to build good will and patronage for a theatre, and besides there's a great
deal of personal pleasure and satisfaction in such an act.
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
Texas Makes Scoop
with Famous Fliers
A real "Scoop" was perpetrated by the
Texas theatre in San Antonio when they
arranged for the personal appearance of the
forty famous fliers making the Reliability
Tour at the Midnight Show; the Texas
chapter of the National Aeronautical Asso-
ciation handled the tieup, and immense
amounts of newspaper publicity were de-
rived from the stunt. The fliers, including
Eddie Stinson, Brock and Schlee, and
George Halderman, were introduced by the
mayor.
In My Opinion —
[Letters from Readers]
The article of Mr. Morris in your issue
of June 9 prompts me to write you, thinking
that I might be of some help in making fronts
for theatres.
I have been making fronts for the Rialto
and Liberty theatres for the last five years
here in Wenatchee.
We are on a corner and our lobby is L
shaped, one side being used for entrance and
the other used for the display. On this wall
we have one large board, 6 by 10 feet and two
smaller bo?rds, 4 by 6 feet. These boards
are changed every change of picture, which
is three times a week.
I have five of the large 6 by 10 boards,
which I have been using for the last year
and they are still in good condition. This
is one of the features I thought might be of
use. They are made of beaver board on a
light frame of 1 by 2 batten with a small lat-
tice batten around the front for protection.
They were coated with White Lead before
I started to use them and we wash them off
with a bucket of water and brush as soon
as they are dead. We used to use a hose in
the alley and a broom, but found that the
boards got soaked with water too much and
would wear out very quickly.
The smaller boards are just plain beaver
board with no frame or batten around and
are painted on each side so that on change
nights they are just turned around.
The Rialto changes four times a week, and
they only require a banner and one set piece.
When I started here I was up against the
same thing that Mr. Morris speaks of in his
article, that is, speed. The management
wanted pictorial displays, and to do that satis-
factorily meant lots of time. I started out
using cutouts from 24 sheets and 3 sheets
and working around it, but that didn't seem
to have the right look to it. It was not hand
made. Someone suggested a mirroscope and
I got one and it worked all right for a while,
but it reversed, and it would only project a
post card size picture. So I took the lens
out and made a box of my own and finally
discovered that by the use of a mirror I
could project it as it should be. I now have
a projector of my own make and that is a
great speed maker, and with the amount of
work to be turned out is a great help.
I work from the press sheet a great deal,
as I find there are a good many good things
in it of value for use on my boards; from
photos, window cards, sometimes one sheets,
in fact from almost anything that I find I
need.
I am enclosing a few snaps of the large
board that I have made and one showing
the entire side of the lobby. Although it is
not so good, you can get an idea of our lobby.
—ED. CLISBEE, Wenatchee, Wash.
Lobby boards made by Ed. Clisbee, Wenatchee, Wash. Read his letter in opposite column.
Texas Theatre Makes Films of
City^s Industries in Big Tieup
Few theatres in the country are more successful at arranging crack publicity
stunts, newspaper tieups, special exploitation campaigns and in general keeping
the patrons flocking to the box office than the Texas theatre, San Antonio. Its
present campaign can hardly be beat for creating goodwill, obtaining publicity
and increasing business. Details of this campaign follow:
Publix in San Antonio has gone in for a regular ads. They purchase at regular prices
series of industrial moving pictures at the
Texas — with an idea to boosting the "made
in San Antonio products," to building box
office, and to increase publicity outlets. The
gag is simple, and one that is going over like
wildfire.
A tieup has been arranged with the San
Antonio Express, whereby its efficiency expert
sells the idea to the various large industries
in that city. A full page ad is run on the
Sunday of the week that the specified indus-
tries' film runs, together with boxes in their
enough tickets from the Texas for their entire
stafif of employees, and hold an "Industry
Night" one night during the week.
They also get a display in the Texas lobby,
and a line in the regular theatre ads, besides
an editorial layout in the Sunday paper. The
paper stands half the cost of production on
the picture, which is a 300-foot average. Ten
industries have been sold to date, with pros-
pects of 30 more, making a period of almost
40 weeks that the Texas will have this feature,
and the full page publicity.
You'll agree, won't you, that this atmospheric lobby display would make most any passerby
stop, look and buy a ticket? It was used by Gus Carlson of the Savoy theatre, Superior,
Wis., for th'i Columbia picture, "The Isle of Forgotten Women." Notics the cutout in the
center which was animated with all the contortions of a South Sea wriggler.
52
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
A window tieup with the Domino records used by Manager A. P. Drohan of the Griffith
theatre, Chatham, Ontoria, on Ramona, the United Artists picture starring Dolores Del Rio.
Good results were secured with this window, the store being in the heart of the business
district.
Here 's a Good Idea
for Football Season
Here's a stunt that Dick Bradley, manager
of the Parkway theatre, Madison, Wisconsin,
used last fall to build up attendance at his
theatre during the fall season, and all you
live vnrt managers living in football towns
can do the same. As the football season's
only a couple months away it will pay you
to get started on the idea.
Dick went right out to the stadium of the
University of Wisconsin and organized a
Letter Rooter Section. You know what that
is. Each student has a letter and sits in a
certain section in the stadium. Then, when
the home team scores a touchdown : "Wowie !"
Up goes all these letters, some red, some
blue and the word "Wisconsin" can be seen
above the heads of the students. It looks
great from the other side of the stadium.
On the backs of the letters were advertise-
ments of the Parkway theatre. And if you
don't think that this idea didn't bring in busi-
ness you should have gone to the Parkway any
time during the football season, and seen the
crowds.
The Stanley Company of America
with headquarters in Philadelphia
recently staged a mammoth Jubi-
lee Week celebration, and 83 of
the company's theatres took part.
Above is a window tieup on
"Ramona" the United Artists pic-
ture, starring Dolores Del Rio, used
by the Aldine theatre, Phila-
delphia, during the week. The
city of Wilmington cooperated in
every way to make the Jubilee
week a success. At right is shown
how the light poles in the city
were decorated with shields and
flags for a distance of eight blocks.
"Dressed to KiW^ Idea
A dandy publicity stunt was recently used
by the Merrill theatre, Milwaukee to exploit
the picture, "Dressed to Kill." A, Saxe, man-
agre hired a young fellow to dress up in a
snappy dress suit, pack a big shotgun under
his arm and walk up and down Wisconsin
avenue, Milwaukee's principal thoroughfare.
The stunt attracted a great deal of attention
and resulted in many people attending the
theatre during the week the picture played. A
shotgun tucked under a well dressed man's
arm ought to attract attention almost any-
where.
Tunis Issues Censorship
(Washington Bureau Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, July 10.— Only films
that have been approved by the Prime
Minister of the Bey of Tunis will be al-
lowed to be projected in the Regency of
Tunis, according to a decree issued, it is
reported by the vice consul at Tunis to the
Department of Commerce. The owners of
moving picture theatres will have to exhibit
whenever asked for by the municipal or
police authorities a censorship card accom-
panying each film.
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What to Say When
Opening a Theatre
If you are planning the opening of a
theatre, you will need a trailer for the
opening performances, or perhaps you
will want to make a curtain talk, or use
an institutional ad of dedication of your
house to the public. The following dedi-
cation used by the Emboyd theatre. Fort
Waye, Ind., when it was recently opened
by W. C. Quimby, should provide a good
pattern for your needs:
The Emboyd Welcomes You
We take this opportunity of extending to
you the most cordial welcome of this latest
and most modern temple of photoplays.
The Emboyd was built for your pleasure
and entertainment. We realized one of the
essential needs of this community and neigh-
borhood was a theatre where photoplays of
the highest caliber could be shown, where
you could hear music that will entrance and
delight you and where novelty entertainment
will reign supreme, so that young and old may
find here memories of the past made sweeter,
experiences of today helpful and visions of
tomorrow brighter and clearer.
Our main purpose when constructing this
theatre was to provide a theatre where serv-
ice, convenience and pleasure could be served
you 100 per cent.
The decorations, materials and furnishings
are of the finest obtainable and were selected
with the thought utmost in our minds of giv-
ing YOU a theatre where you and your fam-
ily may enjoy an evening in an atmosphere
of refinement with the feeling of real com-
fort and coziness.
We say this is your theatre, for we are
here merely to provide you with entertain-
ment, and we will always be open for any
suggestions you may have, for after all, this
theatre cannot be a success without your con-
tinued patronage and support.
M. My\RCUS, GENERAL MANAGER,
for W. C. QUIMBY.
Plan $500,000 House
(Special to the Herald-World)
MADISON, WIS.— Having purchased the
Baptist church property in Beloit, Wis., for
$85,000, the Fischer-Paramount Theatre
Co., which operates three theatres in Madi-
son, contemplates building a $500,000 theatre
on the site.
^^■^^1^
— ''-^j/rmmmm^^^^^^^^
^^^^K'''
^^^^^^^^Rm
'•^.
m
The Reading railroad turned the
information desk in its terminal
station in Philadelphia over to the
company for billing purposes as
can be seen above. It also donated
the use of over 300 billboards in
the railroad's stations. These tie-
ups form just a small part of the
many tieups and the exploitation
campaigns used by the company
and individual theatres to make
the Jubilee Week the big success it
was. But these three photographs,
alone, show the extent of coopera-
tion that can be obtained where
theatres really go out to get it.
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
53
Y^
SERVICE TALKS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald, which is a department containing news, in-
formation and gossip on current productions, is the Moving Picture World department, "Through
the Box Office Window."
"HOT NEWS"
171 OT NEWS" is that in more than title.
It is the news that a good picture can be made
on a picture theme, a fact which a good many
producing companies have spent a good deal
of money in trying — unsuccessfully — to prove.
"Hot News" is the first picture about pictures
that has seemed to me to get the reality of
pictures over to the public, and it seems to do
that not only so far as I'm concerned but also
as far as were concerned those thousands who
looked at the picture with me in the Oriental
theatre last week.
The opening of "Hot News" is first rate stuff
for the public and doubly that for the trade,
since the Sun News — the newsreel of the story —
performs the feats that were performed for
the initial edition of Paramount News some
months back. Neatly worked into the story,
with no self-applause for Paramount by Para-
mount, the stunt is superb in handling and
effect.
Bebe Daniels is the cameragirl of the picture
and, as usual, she goes at once about the busi-
ness of showing the young man how much bet-
ter a young woman can do a young man's work
than a young man can do it. (If Miss Daniels
isn't elected chief high potentate by the fem-
inists of this our contemporary civilization it
must be because the scattered membership
hasn't seen her last several pictures.) And,
again as usual, Miss Daniels performs that
demonstration with dash, semblance of con-
viction and many a laugh. In fact the thing
is a first rate comedy on points, even without
the picture angle, and I suppose it is true that
a really first rate comedy may concern one sub-
ject just about as profitably as another.
Be that as it may, I am glad that the con-
siderably interesting subject which is the
motion picture has been made, finally, an avail-
able subject for motion picture treatment. Like
plays about plays, books about books and
drawings about drawings, the trick is not a
simple one. I recommend that the industry
at large take a good look at "Hot News" and
become familiar with the really very simple
manner in which the motion picture can be
treated successfully in motion pictures.
I
"TELLING THE WORLD'
T, O. Service
the World" he has surpassed previous efforts
and therefore the picture is funnier than those
that have gone before it. Circumstances being
what they are, I shall simply repeat that the
captions in this picture are gems and therefore
the picture is good for a lot of laughs.
I am in better fortune in the case of the
leading lady, for I remember her name. It
is Anita Page (and maybe there is an "i" in
the last name at that) and Miss Page is hailed
herewith as the most welcome young lady in-
spected by these dimming eyes in many and
many a month. I don't know where this young
lady came from, I never heard of her before
the picture started, but I know that she is just
about all right. I can't think of a thing she
does in "Telling the World" that might have
been done better by anyone else I can think
of, and she does some things that I doubt an-
other actress could do at all. She is particu-
larly effective when dependent solely upon an
eye for her effects. But then, it is pointless
to say why anyone is better than anyone else
in any picture and so I shall not go into de-
tail. But see this girl. She's worth your while.
Mr. Haines continues in "Telling the World"
the series begun with whatever his first pic-
ture was and continued steadily up until and
including this time. I believe this gives Mr.
Haines the world record for continuous repe-
tition of a given routine and I suppose a cer-
tain distinction should be attached to that rec-
ord. I observe, incidentally, that a great many
people seem perfectly contented to see him do
this act over and over and over again. For
my own part, however, I should like to find
downtown Chicago so filled with new pictures
on the weeks when Mr. Haines is periodically
prevalent that I should not have to inspect his
current endeavors. But of course that's per-
sonal, and I am not unmindful of the fact that
Mr. Haines seems entirely capable of keeping a
certain public in consistent subjection.
I
"SHOW GOING ON"
F it were less hot than it is, or less far to
the file cabinet, or if my memory were better,
I would tell you the name of the person who
writes the captions for William Haines' pic-
tures and then go on to say that in "Telling
N 1908, if my memory for dates is no worse
than my memory for other things, it was a
pretty dull nickelodeon which did not have its
phonograph ballyhooing to the pedestrian pub-
lic the fact that a show was in progress. I
recall, even, the lumbering contrivance which
Columbia produced — with a huge horn and a
big motor, which seemed to give a greater vol-
ume of sound from the standard cylinder record
than the smaller models — to meet this demand
for loud and more or less musical notification
of the populace. No doubt there are among
you several who still have the machine in the
basement. That is, of course, where it went
when invincible civilization brought trade and
public to realization that this was a pretty cheap
business.
All this is recalled merely as a preface to
the remark that a squawking device of even
greater volume has been mounted atop the box
office of McVickers theatre on Madison street
in Chicago, Illinois. As one stands in the foyer
awaiting eventual entry — and they are standing
there for "Street Angel" — this apparatus makes
life particularly terrible. Waiting in line is
quite bad enough, but listening to constant
repetition of a single tune is much too much.
The sidewalk impression, by the way, is identi-
cal with that experienced when passing one of
those bandit radio stores which have come into
flower with the decline of the battery set and
the home-made receiver. One instinctively
looks away and hurries.
AND, THEN, TOO—
J UST because a minor illness last week kept
me away from some of the customary theatres
and so leaves me with several lines of type to
employ, I want to utter a pet protest of mine
against:
Comedies in which children do adult things,
do obscene things, do things which bring pain
to them and make them cry, do anything at
all which healthy children under normal con-
ditions do not do.
Comedies in which glue, mush, oil, soapsuds
or other fluids are spilled upon people's faces,
down people's necks, into people's food, or
pockets, under people's feet, and comedies in
which people are dropped into vats containing
such fluids.
Comedies which set forth as funny such
things as toothless men, dwarfed men, men
with bald heads, hideous faces, crooked spines.
Women ditto.
Comedies which depict people losing their
pants, their false teeth, hair, limbs, and all
comedies which have hospitals, funeral parlors
and haunted houses as their setting.
Comedies which are produced on the basis
that a thing which is funny once is funnier the
second time and so on progressively.
And with the protest goes a prayer of grati-
tude for each of the three funny comedies I
have seen in the past year. Why not make
more of them?
54
EXHIBITOKS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
Y^
NEW PICTURES
In "New Pictures" the EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE
WORLD presents in concise form infor-
mation on current and forthcoming attrac-
tions.
The facts as presented will serve exhib-
itors in booking and in the preparation of
their advertising campaign.
BARKER, THE: First National drama, with
Milton Sills, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., George Cooper,
John Erwin, S. S. Simon, Dorothy Mackaill, Betty
Compson and Sulvia Ashton. Directed by George
Fitzmaurice. Released. Liength
TYPE AND THEME: An adaptation of the suc-
cessful stage play of the same title and true to
the original story. Nifty Miller is one of the best
barkers in the carnival game. Carrie, hula dancer,
loves him madly. Nifty is fond of her, too, and
their rotnance goes along well until Chris, Nifty's
S071, turns up to see his dad. Chris is only a
"punk" and has run away from his grandparents'
farm to be out in the world. Nifty wants the
boy to go back, for he is determined the boy shall
not be a carnival trouper. He wants Chris to
study latv. Jealous of Chris, Carrie induces Lou
to vamp the boy. Lou, young but sophisticated
beauty, does, but falls in love with the kid herelf.
They get married. Learning that this is Carrie's
doings. Nifty almost kills her, then quits the show.
Later, in another town, the carnival is
flopping. It needs Nifty. He turns up, can't bear
to see the shcnv fail and takes charge of things.
Chris a/nd Lou appear in the crowd. They are
forgiven.
« # *
FREE LIPS: First Division melodrama, with June
Marlowe, Jane Novak, Frank Hagney, Ernie
Shields, Olin Francis and Edna Hearn. Directed
by Wallace MacDonald. Released
Length
TYPE AND THEME: An addition to the col-
lection of night club "mellers." Anne, broke and
ousted from her room, walks untU she collapses in
front of the "Free Lips" night club, where Flossie,
an entertainer there, picks her up and takes her
home. Flossie then induces Dugan, the proprietor,
to put Anne in the clwrus. One night Merrit,
wealthy rounder, is spending his money freely while
sitting with Anne. Nearby sits "The Fox," a
crook. Flossie orders him to leave, and when he
refuses, Merrit knocks him doivn. Dugan orders
the lights lowered to a moonlight scene. Merrit
starts dancing with Anne. Just as he pkuces his
cheek against her lips, a shot is fired. Merrit falls
dead. Rouge marks on the dead man's cheek
indicate Anne's guilt. But Dugan takes the blame.
The jury pronounces him guilty. Then Flossie
rushes forward with the fatal gun. "The Fox"
is apprehended in the courtroom. He confesses.
And Dugan is free to marry Anne.
« » »
RED MARK, THE: Pathe drama with Nena Quar-
taro, Gafiton Glass, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Rose
Dione, Luke Cosgrave, Eugene Pallette, Jack
Roper and Charles Dervis. Directed by James
Cruze. Released Length
A critical scene from one of the new
Hoot Gibson Westerns, which are now
being produced by the star's own com-
pany. Universal, however, will remain
the distributing company. This scene,
showing Gibson, is from "Burning the
Wind."
TYPE AND THEME: Love and intrigue— a
prodigious amount of the latter — in a prison camp.
De Nou is executioner on the penal island of
Noumea. He desires Zelie, niece of Mother Carron,
a "lifer" because De Nou believes she knows the
whereabouts of his son, who disappeared when a
child. The boy bore a red birthmark on his neck.
Bibl-Ri also loves Zelie, and she him, and as soon
as he is released from prison, they plan their mar-
riage. De Nou interferes, declaring that the girl
is his. But noting a red mark on Bibi-Ri's neck.
Mother Carron arranges for a secret wedding of
the young lovers. An aide of De Nou announces
the coining of his master. Bibi-Ri kills him.
De Nou arrests the slayer. A nun arrives to take
Zelie into a convent. Zelie and Bibi-Ri have one
last moment together. Then Zelie leaves, and
Bibi-Ri is led to the guillotine. The knife falls, as
De Nou, the executioner, sees the tell-tale red
birthmark on the prisoner's neck.
STOCKS AND BLONDES: PEG comedy-drama,
with Gertrude Astor, Jacqueline Logan, Skeets
Gallagher, and Albert Conti. Directed by Dudley
Murphy. Released Length
TYPE AND THEME: In which a good little
night club girl debunks her bunk shooting fiance.
Despite the sneers of her pal, Goldie, Patsy per-
sists in retaining Tom as her man. Goldie intro-
duces Powers to Patsy. One night at the club the
girls overhear Powers and another man ivhile drunk
give away details of an impending oil deal. Patsy
has a lawyer tell Tom to buy and sell certain stock
at certain prices. Tom, who has been fired by Poll-
ers, does not know his clients, but he follows in-
structions and cleans up. Prosperity goes to his head
and tvhen he sees Patsy ivith Powers, he calls her
a gold digger and throws her down. To bring
him to his senses. Patsy connives with Powers to
"bust" Tom on the stock exchange. Tom is thus
brought to earth, amd thoroughly debunked, he
returns to his waiting Patsy.
* * *
TENTH AVENUE: Pathe melodrama, with Phyllis
Haver, Victor Varconi, Joseph Schildkraut, Louis
Natheaux, Robert Edeeon, Ethel Wales, Casson
Ferguson and Ernie E. Adams. Directed by Wil-
liam C. DeMille. Released Length
TYPE AND THEME: A tale of those who
struggle and deceive in the crude manner of the
lowly born, laid in "Hell's Kitchen," New York.
Lyla slaves all day in a department store, then
tends to the rooming house which her mother
operates. Lyla's biggest problem, however, is Joe,
whom she has promised to marry. Joe is a weak-
ling, though a gangster, while Lyla loves Bob, a
reformed gambler, far more. Fink, a bootlegger, is
found dead. Bob and Joe return with a lot of
money. Both are suspected. But on Joe's promise
to release Lyla from her promise. Bob tcfkes the
blame. However, a detective overhears Joe confess
the crime to Bob, and Joe is killed trying to
escape. The way is clear for Lyla and Bob.
* * *
WHIP, THE: First National drama, with Dorothy
Maekaill, Ralph Forbes, Anna Q. Nilsson, Lowell
Sherman, Albert Gran, Marc McDermott, Lou
Payne and Arthur Clajrton. Directed by Charles
Brabin. Released Length _
TYPE AND THEME: A designing woman and
attendant intrigue over a nobleman and a horse.
Young Ixird Brancaster is very happy over his
engagement to Iris d'Aquila up to the moment he
learns that she is marrying him only for his title
and money and that she is intimate with Sartoris,
On the way to his country estate, he meets with
an automobile accident and suffers amnesia. Iris
and Sartoris hear of his condition, and at a ball
at Lord Beverly's, Iris produces a falce certificate
of her marriage to Brancaster. Lady Diana, tvith
whom Brancaster has now fallen in love, tells him
that she knows he is the victim of a fraud — and
also that The Whip, which was thought too un-
manageable, tvould certainly win the coming ra/:e.
Having beH his all against The Whip, Sartoris un-
couples the car carrying the horse to the track,
leaving the horse in the path of an express train.
Brancaster, however, gets the car to a siding just
as the express whizzes by. The Whip wins, and
Brancaster and Diana a/re enabled to marry.
This Week's Press Sheet
THE WAY OF THE STRONG (Columbia drama) : It
might be possible for you to induce the local prohibition
enforcement agents to destroy a consignment of confiscated
liquor in the sewer before your theatre. Advertise the occa-
sion well in advance, and the crowd will gather to see the
event. It would prove an excellent object lesson and tie-up
well with the picture. You might also arrange to have a
member of the federal enforcement bureau give a talk at one
of the performances. Invite the clergy and social workers to
a special pre-showing of "The Way of the Strong" and ask
them to endorse the picture. Suggest that the clergy use the
theme as sermon topics the Sunday previous to the opening.
This is good for a break in the newspapers and will insure
you of good audiences.
A lobby display of firearms, showing the machine guns and
other weapons used by the gangsters in their warfare, should
prove an attraction. In the display you might arrange a com-
parison of the weapons used today with those in various
periods of history. This may be made highly instructive and
worthy of a special newspaper story, if you commence with
the tomahawks and knives of the stone age, the clubs of the
caveman and come down to the modern times. The librarian
at the museum will probably be glad to cooperate with you
on this.
Camouflage a fleet of trucks to look as if they were loaded
with booze. Use posters along the side stating, "If the hi-
jackers knew what was on these trucks they would meet us at
the theatre, where we are going to see 'The Way
of the Strong?'" Build your stage presentation around an
underworld cafe. Dancing numbers, comedy, whistling,
choruses and other novelties are appropriate. Arrange with
some local club or dramatic school to furnish the talent. Run
an essay contest in the public schools on the subject, "Why
a gangster can't win"; or, "What is the way of the strong?"
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
^e^
QUICK REFERENCE PICTURE CHART
Incorporated in this department of Moving Picture World is the Exhibitors Herald department,
"Available Attractions."
The key to abbreviations used in denoting the type of pictures
C-^lomedy F—^Farce
D — Drama M — Melodrama
R— Romance W—~Western
My 'Mystery
Where the picture is a comedy-drama, comedy melodrama, etc.,
there is a combination of these abbreviations. Stars denote
reissues.
That dates prior to January 7 published under the "Comment"
column are those of the issues of Moving Picture World in which
the pictures were reported. The January 7 and subsequent dates
are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOV-
ING PICTURE WORLD in which "Service Talks" have been
published on pictures.
The dates prior to January 7 published under the "New Pic-
tures" column are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD
in which "New Pictures" information was printed. The January
7 and subsequent dates are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD in which this in-
formation will be printed.
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Chesterfield
1928
5400 Adorable Cheat, The, Lila Lee-McIntosh June 1
5450 Below the Deadline ...Feb. 28
6500 Campus Knights ..._ Aug. 15
5300 Circumstantial Evidence _ - Oct. 30
6000 House of Shame, The _ June 30
6000 Roaring Forties, The _ Apr. 15
5900 South of Panama Deo. 15
1928
June 9
1927
5831
6843
5432
5628
5513
5645
5750
S524
5569
5892
1000
5996
5435
5054
6108
6357
5426
5791
1928
5459
5537
Columbia
Alias the Lone WoU (D). Lytell-Wilson.... Aug. 22
Blood Ship, The (M), Boswortli-Logan. Aug. 10
By Whose Hand (MyD), Cortez-Gilbert Sept. 15
College Hero, The (CD), Agnew-Garon. Oct. 9
Fashion Madness, Windsor-Howes _ Dec. 8
Isle of Forgotten Women (D), Tearle-Sebastlan_Sept. 27
Lone Wolf Returns (M), LyteU-Wilson
Opening Night, The (D), Windsor-J. Bowers....Nov. 14
Pleasure Before Business (F), Davidson.
Sally in Our Alley (M), Mason-Allen Sept. 3
Screen Snapshots
Siren, The, T. Moore-Eevier._ _ Dea 20
Stage Kisses (D), Hailan-CLadwiok Nov. 2
Stolen Pleasures (CD), Revier..
1927
Jan. 7 Oct. 1
Dec. 3 July 23
Dec. 31
Jan. 14
Dec. 3
Jan. 14
July 31
.._ i..May 14
Jan. 14
.._ Aug. 28
Jan. 21 Jan. 21
Jan. 7 _
Sweet Rosie O'Grady (CD), Mason _
Tigress, The (M), Holt-Revier - _ „Oct. 21
Wandering Girls (CD), Bevier-Agnew _
Warning, The (M), Holt-EeTier _ Nov. 26
..Oct. 2
..52.72%
Dec. 3
5928
5925
5440
5464
6047
5350
5472
After the Storm, Hobart-Bosworth _
Broadway Daddies, JacQueline Logan. _...
(Jolf Widows (CD), Eeynolds-Ford
Desert Bride, The (MD), Betty Compson. Mar. 26
Lady Raffles, Taylor-Drew Jan. 25
Matinee Idol, The (MD), Love-Wallier Mar. 14
Modern Mothers (CD), Helene Chadwick. June 9
Name the Woman (D), Stewart-Gordon
So This Is Love, Mason-Collier Feb. 6
Sporting Age, The, Bennett -Herbert _ Mar. 2
That Certain Thing. Dana-Graves _ _ Jan. 1
Wife's Relations, The, Mason-Glass Jan. 13
Woman's Way, A, Baiter-Livingston Feb. IS
1928
..May 26
Apr. 14
Feb. 25
Apr. 7
..June 19
Feb. 25
Jan. 28
Feb. 11
Mar. 31
Cranfield & Clarke, Inc.
1927
2000 Angelus, The (D) - May 15
2000 Real Charleston, Lesson Novelty — Apr. 24
Wooden Shoes, InternationaL May 8
1927 Emblem Films
6250 Husbands or Lovers, Jannings Dec. 3
1927
1927
1927
5980
6805
5912
6645
5792
Excellent
Back to Liberty (D), Walsh-Hall Nov. 15
Bowery Cinderella, A (D), O'MaUey-Hulette. May 1
Broadway Drifter (D), Walsb-HaU Nov. 1 —
Broadway Madness (D), De la Motte-Keith. Apr. 14
His Rise to Fame (D), Walsh-Shaw Feb. 15
Kick-off, The (D), Hyams-Amann. Mar. 17
Nest, The (D), Frederick-Herbert Aug. 1
Striving for Fortune (D), Walsh-Roberts Jan. 15 Mar. 3
1927
.Nov. 26
7393
5337
5750 Winning Oar, The (D), Walsh-Hall „.....Tuue 1
5867 Your Wife and Mine (F), Haver-Holmes Sept. 1 Mar. 17
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
1928
6400
6536
6600
A Bit of Heaven (D), Washbum-Lee Apr. 25
Into No Man's Land, Tom Santschi-J. Norman_
Making the Varsity, Rex Lease-Mildred Harris. .June 30
Manhattan Knights, Barbara Bedford -..July 15
Speed Classic, The, Rex Lease-Mildred Harris..-.July 25
Satan and the Woman (D), Windsor-Keefe Jan. 20
Stronger Will, The (D), Marmont-Carewe Feb. 20
Women Who Dare (D), Chadwiol;-Delaney Mar. 30
You're in the Army (D) - May 25
1928
Feb. 25
Feb. 25
1927
FBO
1927
4765
4838
4910
4837
5701
5093
4754
4913
630O
6507
7014
5240
56G5
5186
6481
6515
5181
4924
6680
6140
4941
6004
4886
6388
4892
1928
5872
4893
5583
4869
6267
6375
6320
5311
5984
5063
4770
4804
4758
6148
Aflame in the Sky (M), Luden-Lynn. Dec. 18
Bandit's Son, The (W), Bob Steele Nov. 20
Boy Rider, The (W), Buzz Barton Oct. 23
Breed of Courage (D), Ranger Aug. 7
Cherokee Kid, The (W), Tyler-Lynn -Oct. 30
Clancy's Kosher Wedding (CD), Geo. Sidney Sept. 17
Coward, The (D), Warner Baxter... Aug. 21
Desert Pirate (W), Tom Tyler Dec. 25 .
Flying U Ranch. The (W), Tom Tyler Sept. 4
Gingham Girl, The (C), Lois Wilson Oct. 2
Great Mail Robbery, The (M), Von Eltz-Nelson..Aug. 15
Harvester. The (D), OrviUe CaldwelL Nov. 23
Hook and Ladder No. 9 (D), Ed Hearne Nov. 13
In a Moment of Temptation (M), Kit Guard....Sept. 18
Jake the Plumber (C), Jesse De Vorska Oct. 16
Judgment of the Hflls (D), Darro-Valli -Nov. 6
Little Mickey Grogan (D), Frankie Darro _Dec. 27
Loves of Ricardo (D), Beban June 17
Moiave Kid, The (W). Bob Steele -Sept. 25
Moon of Israel (D), Maria Corda _
Not for Publication (M), Ralph Ince Aug. 31
Racing Romeo (D), Red Grange _
Ranger of the North (D), Ranger O'ct. 9
Shanghaied (M), Ralph Ince Oct. 19
Slingshot Kid, The (M). Buzz Barton....: Dec. 4
South Sea Love (D), Patsy Miller. -Dec. 10
Swift Shadow, The (D), Ranger Dec. 11
Dec 10
Dec. 10
Dec. 3
Oct. 8
Nov. 26
Dec. 24
Nov. 26
Nov. 19
Dec. 3
Dec. 3
Nov. 12
Dec. 17
Dec. 31
..Sept. 10
..Sept. 10
July 30
..July 2
Nov. 19
Nov. 26
..Dec. 10
54.90%
Aug. 20
.Dec. 10
Dec. 3
Dec. 3
Dec. 10
Nov. 12
Dec. 10
..Aug. 6
..July 9
..July 23
Aug. 20
5144
4769
5771
4S01
6424
4785
4781
4884
6419
4729
6039
3067
4793
4760
6329
4898
4805
1927
5400
5960
3600
3900
5800
5700
5750
6700
6700
5700
5000
Alex the Great (M). Skeets Gallagher May 13
Bantam Cowboy (W), Buzz Barton Aug. 12
Beyond London's Lights (M), Lee Shumway — Mar. 18
Breed of the Sunsets (W), Bob Steele Apr. 1
Chicago After Midnight (M), Ince-Mendez Mar. 4
Coney Island (0), Lois Wilson. Jan. 13
Crooks Can't Win (D), Ralph Lewis -May 11
Dead Man's Curve (D), Fairbanks, Jr Jan. 15
Devil's Trademark, The (D), BeUe Bennett Apr. 7
Dog Justice (M), Ranger June 10
Driftin' Sands (W), Bob Steele Jan. 1
Fangs of the Wild (D), Ranger Feb. 5
Fightin' Redhead (W), Buzz Barton July 1
Freckles (D), Stratton-Fox. Jr Mar. 21
Headin' for Danger (MD), Bob Steele
Her Summer Hero (CD), Blane-Trevor Feb. 12
Law of Fear (D), Ranger Apr. 8
Legionnaires in Paris (C), Cooke-Guard -Jan. 31
Little Buckaroo, The (W), Buzz Barton Mar. 11
Little Yellow House, The (D), Orville CaldwelL. May 28
Man in the Rough (W), Bob Steele May 20
Phantom of the Range (W), Tom Tyler Apr. 22
Pinto Kid, The (W), Buzz Barton Apr. 29
Red Riders of Canada (M), P. B. Miller..... Apr. 15
Riding Renegade (W), Bob Steele -Feb. 19
Sally of the Scandals (M), Bessie Love July 15
Skinner's Big Idea (M), Bryant Washburn Apr. 24
Texas Tornado, The (W), Tom Tyler Feb. 26
Trail of Courage, The (W), Bob Steele July 8
Wallflowers (D), Trevor-Scott Feb. 16
When the Law Rides (W), Tom Tyler June 24
Wizard of the Saddle (W), Buzz Barton -Jan. 22
Feb. 11
May 5
Feb. 11
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Dec. 17
Feb. 11
Dec. 17
Mar. 3
June 16
Dec. 17
Jan. 21
Feb. 11
Feb. 4
..June 19
Jan. 21
Feb. 11
Dec. 10
Jan. 14
June 2
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Feb. 4
Jan. 21
1928
Feb. 18
Mar. 17
Apr. 28
Apr. 14
..Dec. 24
First Division
1927
Comrades. Costello-Hughes -Jan. 1
Death Valley (W), Carroll Nye Sept. 1
Eager Lips, Garon Oct. 1
Finnegan's Ball (C), Mack Swain. Sept. 15
Ladies at Ease (CD), Garon-Shon Nov. 13
Ladybird, Compson . -Aug. 1
Naughty, Garon _ Nov. 1
Polly of the Movies, Short-Robards Oct. 15
Ragtime (D), De La Motte _ Sept. 1
Return of Boston Blackie (D), Glenn-Palmer....Aug. 1
Say It with Diamonds, Betty Compson -Aug. 15
5700 Temptations of a Shop Girl, Compson Nov. 1
1928
5500 Fagasa, Raymond Wells...- Apr. 1
6300 Masked Angel, Betty Compson. -Mar. 1
6200 Souls Aflame, Raymond Wells Mar. 15
..Aug. 20
Jan. 7
..Oct. 15
Jan. 7
Nov. 26
Sept. 3
1928
Apr. 7
Apr. 21
56
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
1921
6300
6333
6433
6222
6765
8730
7724
63S6
65SS
6S02
5400
52S2
7133
62SS
611S
6190
6524
6400
6720
5T1S
5550
5255
73SS
6521
5542
5434
7S46
6520
6040
6431
6734
11414
59S2
6897
6400
6210
6477
5606
5S00
6648
7179
5000
7400
7419
5774
5668
7833
6336
6324
6409
1928
7404
6500
5800
5744
6374
8030
6172
6344
7100
7433
7541
5957
7694
6592
7700
6625
7129
5485
8188
5827
6212
6874
5087
7187
1927
466.5
4777
4556
5425
6078
6333
4810
4300
6381
8154
5524
4545
6617
5515
4983
4851
6040
6162
6599
6507
8538
6415
6440
6500
7734
7677
6327
6808
6876
6893
6480
W70
First National
Not. 19
Nov. 12
Dec. 17
Dec. 3
Nov. 26
All Aboard (C). Hines-Murphy May 8
American Beauty (CD), Dove-Hughes. _ Oct. 9
An Affair of the Follies (D). Dove-Hughes. .Feb. 13
Breakfast at Sunrise (CD), C. Talmadge ...Oct. 23
Broadway Nights (D), Wilson-Hardy May 15
Camille (D), N. Talmadge-IJoland Sept. 4
Convoy (D), Sherman-Mackalll Apr. 24
Crystal Cup. The (D), Mackalll-Mullial] Oct. 16
Dance Magic (D), Lyon-Starke June 12
Drop Kick. The (D), Barthelmess-Revier Sept. 25
Easy Pickings (MyM), Nllsson-Harlan. _ Feb. 20
Framed (D). Sills-KJngston _ —June 19
Gorilla, The (My), Murray Kelsey _ „ -Nov. 13
Gun Gospel (W), Maynard-Falre Nov. 6
Her Wild Oat (C), Moore-Kent _ Dec. 25
High Hat (CD), Lyon-Brian Mar. 13
Home Made (C), Hlnes-Daw -Not. 20
Lady in Ermine. The (D), C. Grifflth-Bushman_jan. 9
Life of Riley, The (C), Murray-Sidney — Sept. 18
Lonesome Ladies (CD), Nilsson-Stone —July 3
Long Pants (C). Langdon-Bonner. _ -Apr. 10
Lost at the Front (C), Murray-Sidney May 29
Love Mart, The (D). Dove-Boland Deo. 18
Lunatic at Large, The (C), Errol-Mackaill Jan. 2
Man Crazy (CD). Mackaill-MulhaU -Not. 27
Masked Women, The (D), Nilsson-Blinn-H'nsen_jan. 23
McFadden's Flats (C). Murray-ConWin. Feb. 6
Naughty But Nice (C), Moore-Reed. June 26
Notorious Lady, The (D), Bedford-Stone -Mar. 27
No Place to Go (C). Hughea-Astor _ Oct. 30
Orchids and Ermine, Moore-Mulhall _ Mar. 6
Patent Leather Kid, The (D), Bart'lmess-O'Day..
Perfect Sap, The (CD), Lyon-Starke Jan. 16
Poor Nut, The (C), Murray-Mulhall Aug. 7 _...
Prince of Head Waiters (D), Stone-Tashman — _
Red Raiden, The (W), Maynard-Drew — July 17 _...
Rose of the Golden West (D), Astor-Roland — Sept. 4
Sea Tiger, The (D), SlUs-Astor _ Oct. 2 Nov. 1
See You In Jail (C), MulhaU-Day Feb. 27
Smile, Brother, Smile (C). MulhaU-MackaUL Apr. 17
Stolen Bride, The (D), Hughes-Dove -Sept. 11
Sunset Derby (D), Astor-CoUier Aug. 14
Tender Hour, The (D), Dove-Lyon _ June 5
Texas Steer, A (CD), Rogers-Fazenda...- May 1
Three Hours (D), Grifflth-Bowers _ Dec. 4 Dec. 3
Three's a Crowd (C), Langdon-McConnell Apr. 3
Twinkletoes. Moore-Harlan Aug. 28
Valley of the Giants (D), Sills-Kenyon. Dec. 11 Dec. 2-
Venus of Venice (CD), Talmadge-Moreno..._ Mar. 20
White Pants Willie (C), Hlnes-Hyams July 24
...Apr. 2
Oct. 22
..Mar. 5
Nov. 26
...May 21
...May 2
..May 21
Oct. 29
Aug. 13
Feb. 26
..July 9
..Jan. 7
..Mar. 19
Oct. 29
..Jan. 8
...Oct. 1
..Sept. 24
..Apr. 9
..June 25
1927
66.10%
48.00%
66.00%
61.54%
54.81%
..Feb. 5
Not. 12
...Jan. 22
...Feb. 12
...July 16
May 14
...Dec. 10
...Apr. 9
...Aug. 20
.. Jan. 22
...Sept. 10
...July 23
...Oct. 15
Oct. 8
May 14
Apr. 23
Sept. 17
Sept. 3
July 2
May 28
Apr. 16
.. Jan. 1
.. Deo. 3
Jan. 7
.. Aug. 6
...Apr. 16
67.90%
7.0.47%
61.88%
47.00%
38.90%
47.72%
68.66%
45.86%
1928
Big Noise, The (CD), Conldln-White Mar.
Burning Daylight (M), Sills-Kenyon. _Feb.
Canyon of Adventure (W), Maynard Apr.
Chaser, The (C). Lansdon -Feb.
Chinatown Charlie (C), Hines-Lorraine - Apr.
Goodbye Kiss, The, Johnny Burke-SaUy Ellers
Code of the Scarlet (W), Ken Ma.vnard
Flying Romeos (C), Murray-Sidney Feb.
French Dressing (CD), Warner-Wilson Jan.
Happiness Ahead (D), Colleen-Moore-Lowe June
Hawk's Nest. The (M), Milton Sills -May
Heart to Heart, Lloyd Hughes-Todd
Harold Teen (CD). Lake-Brian Apr.
Heart of a Follies Girl (D), Dove-Kent-
Sherman Mar.
Helen of Troy (CD), Stone-Corda-Cortez. Jan.
Ladies Night (CD), Mackaill-MulhaU Apr.
Lady Be Good (CD), Mu]hall-Macl;aill May
Lilac Time (D), Moore-Cooper Apr.
Little Shepherd of Kingdsm Come (D), Bar-
thelmess-O'Day Apr.
Mad Hour (D), O'Neil-Kent-Sherman -Mar.
Noose, The (D), Barthelmess-Joyce Jan.
Sailors' Wives (CD), Hushes-Astor Jan.
Shepherd of the Hills (D), Francis-O'Day -Jan.
Three Ring Marriage (M), Hughes-Astor May
Wagon Show, The (W), Maynard Mar.
Wheel of Chance, The (D), Richard Barthelmess
Whip Woman, The (D). Taylor-Moreno Feb.
Wright Idea, The (CD), Johnny Hlnes
Yellow Lily, The (D), Dove-Brooks May
Mar. 10 Apr. 7
Feb. 11 "ZZZ
Feb. 18
..July 7
..June 23
Apr. 7
Dec 10 Deo. 17
May 26
May 26 June 16
.July 7 _,
Apr. 21
Mar. 10
Dec. 24 Feb. 4
Length Title and Players
Released New
Pictures
Comment
..Oct. 30
.Not. 27
Seventh Heaven, The (R), Farrell-Gaynor
*Shame (M), John Gilbert
Silk Legs (CD), Madge Bellamy -Dec. 18
Silver Valley (W), Tom Mix -Oct. 2
Singed (D), Baxter-Sweet Aug. 21
Slaves of Beauty (D), Herbert-Tel] June 5
Stage Madness (D), Valli JaiL 9
St. Elmo (M), John Gilbert _. -Oct. 9
Tumbling River (W), Tom Mix-Dawn. Aug. 21
Truxton King, Gilbert -Oct. 30
Two Girls Wanted (CD), Janet Gaynor „ Sept. 11
Upstream (D), Foxe Jan. 30
Very Confidential (CD). Madge Bellamy Not. 6
War Horse (W), Jones _ Feb. 6
What Price Glory (CD), McLaglen-Lowe -...Aug. 28
Whispering Sage (W), Jones -...Mar. 20
Wizard, The (MyD), Lowe-Hyams Dec. 11
Wolf Fangs (D), Thunder (Dog) Not. 27
10726
6467
6446
5009
5792
5412
6620
4943
4675
4299
6293
5510
5620
4953
11109
5783
5629
5531
1928
4612 Branded Sombrero, The (W), Buck Jones Jan. 8
Chicken a la King (CD), Carrol-Fvancis Lee
4987 Daredevil's Reward (W), Tom Mix Jan. 15
5703 Don't Marry, Moran-Hamilton June 3
6566 Dressed to Kill, Lowe-Astor Mar. 18
5109 Escape. The (D), RusseU-Valli _ Apr. 29
51038 Gateway of the Moon, The (D), Del Rio Jan. 1
5882 Girl In Every Port, A (CD), Victor McLaglen....Jan. 29
6430 Hangman's House. McLaglen-Collyer „ May 13
4618 Hello Cheyenne. Tom Mix May 13
6188 Honor Bound. O'Brien-Taylor May 13
4309 Horseman of the Plains (W), Tom Mix. Mar. 11
5782 Love Hungry (CD). Moran-Gray _ Apr. 15
6679 News Parade. Stuart-Phillips
5071 No Other Woman (D), Dolores Del Rio -...June 10
Painted Post (W), Tom Mix _ _..„
5260 Play Girl, The, Madge Bellamy - - Apr. 22
£380 Sharp Shooters (CD). O'Brien-Moran Jan. 15
5829 Soft Living (CD), Bellamy-Brown. Feb. 5
5355 Square Crooks, Brown-Dwan Mar. 4
Street Angel, Gaynor
5937 Thief In the Dark, A, Meeker-HlU-Beebe. May 20
4921 Wild West Romance (W), Rex King„._ June 10
5030 Why Sailors Go Wrong, Phlpps-McNamara...- Mar. 25
5480 Woman Wise (C), Russell-CoUyer. Jan. 8
Dec. 31
Dec. 17
..May 28
..Not. 26
77.10%
Oct. 29
..July 16
..June 11
..Jan. 29
..Aug. 27
..Feb. 12
..Nov. 12
..Feb. 19
Jan. 14
..Apr. 9
Dec 3
7.93%
60.61%
Jan. 21
..June 23
Feb. 11
June 9
Apr. 14
Apr. 14
Jan. 28
1928
June 30
Apr. 14
Jan. 21
May 12
Apr. 21
Apr. 7
Mar. 10
..May 26
June 23
..July?
Feb. 4
Feb. 18
..JVIay 26
May 19
Feb. 4
June 23
Feb. IS
May 19
Jan. 28
..JulyT
June 2
Gotham
Dec 31
1927
6987 Blondes by Choice (C), Claire Windsor. _ Oct. 1
5800 Cheer Leader, The (CD), Graves-Olmstead. Not. 15 _
6000 Final Extra (M), De la Motto. - - _ JPeb. 19
62O0 'Frisco Nights (D), Percy Marmont Dec. 1 Dec. 10 -.-
5950 Girl from Rio, The (D), Carmel Myers _ Sept. 1 Nor. 26 Sept. 24
6600 Heroes of the Night (M), Landis-Niion. _ Feb. 6
6700 Rose of Klldare, The (D), Helene Chadwlck.....Aug. 16 Not. 19
6750 Satin Woman, The (D). Mrs, Wallace Keld. Aug. 1 Not. 19 Aug. 13
1928
5268 Bare Knees (D), Corblne - Feb. 1 Jan, 7
Branded Man, The (D), Delaney-Marlowe. May
Chorus Kid, The (D), All Star Apr. 1
Danger Patrol, The (D), All Star. Apr.
Devil's Tower. The (W). Buddy Roosevelt..- May
Hell Ship Bronson, Mrs. Wallace Reid-Beery June 2
Lightnin' Shot The (W), Buddy Roosevelt May
Midnight Adventure, A (D), Landis-Murphy May _
Mystery Valley (W), Buddy Rooseyelt July _
Trail Riders (W), Buddy Rooseyelt.- Apr.
Trailin' Back (W), Buddy Rooseyelt Mar.
Turn Back the Hours (M), Myma Ley. Mar. 1 Feb. 11
1927
1928
6000
5900
Jime 2
I
Apr. 7
Mar. 17
Dec. 10
Dec. 24
Dec. 8
Apr. 28
Mar. 17
...June 2
Feb. 11
..July 7
Apr. 28
1927
6199 Broadway After Midnight, Betz-
Krelbar Productions
1927
Oct. 29
May 12
Fox
78.36%
1927
Arizona Wildcat, The (W), Tom Mix _ —Not. 20
Blackjack (W). Buck Jones Sept. 25
Blood Will Tell (W), Buck Jones -Nov. 13
Broncho Twister (W), Mi.t Mar. 13
♦Cameo Kirby (D), John Gilbert Aug. 28
Chain Lightning (W), Buck Jones Aug. 14
Circus Ace. The, Mix -June 26
Come to My House (CD), Olive Borden Dec. 25
Cradle Snatcheri (FC), Fazenda June 5
East Side, West Side (D), O'Brien-Valli Oct. 9
Gay Retreat, The (C), Cohen-McNamara Sept. 25
Good as Gold (W), .Tones June 12
Heart of Salome (My), Rubens May 8
High School Hero (C), Phlpps-Stuart Oct. 16
Hills of Peril (W), .Tones —Mayl
•Honor First (D), John GUberL Sept 18
Is Zat So? (CD), O'Brien-Lowe May 15
Joy Girl, The (CD), Olive Borden Sept. 18
Ladies Must Dress (CD), Virginia Valli -Nov. 20
Love Makes 'Em Wild (D), Harrcn -Mar. 6
Loves of Carmen (D). McLaglen-Del Rio Sept. 4
Madam Wants No Children, Cordia Apr. 3
Marriage (D), Valli Feb. 20
Monkey Talks (D), Lemer _ -..Feb. 20
Music Master (D), A. B. Francis - Jan. 23
One Increasing Purpose (D), Lowe Jan. 2
Outlaws of Red River (W), Mix -
Paid to Love (D), O'Brien-VallL Aug. 14
Pa]ama» (CD), Borden-Gray Oct. 23
Publicity Madness (CD), .Moran-Lowe „ Oct 2
Rich But Honest (CD). Beebe May 22
Secret Studio, The (CD). Borden -...June 19
..-Not. 19
Not. 12
Apr. 2
63.00%
Jan. 7
Jan. 7
..lune 4
Oct 22
- une 11
-May 9
..Tct. 29
..May 14
May 21
Sept. 24
Nov. 19 Dec. 17
Oct. 8
Apr. 16
■■■'■h, 26
Mar. 5
Jan. 22
Jan. 15
Apr. 23
Aug. 6
Dec. 10
40.70%
48.60%
61.58%
..June 4
..June 25
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Not. 26
Not. 26
Dec 31
Nov. 10
1927
6667
4709
6312
8730
6439
12000
12550
5902
5821
6050
6126
7395
6408
4658
6909
8156
6646
6088
5687
6110
6291
6280
5957
7603
7627
6337
6581
6640
6309
7865
6280
6705
6273
5252
6160
7809
6657
5517
1928
6998 Actress, The, Norma Shearer-Forbes Apr. 28
6805 Across to Singapore (MD), NoTarro-Crawford....Apr. 7
5010 Baby Mine. Arthur-Dane Jan. 21
6S38 Big City, The, Chaney-Conip,son-Day Feb. 18
6344 Bringing Up Father, Farrell-Moran-Olmstead Mar. 17 Mar. 31
Adam and Evil (CD), Cody-Prlngla Aug. 27
Adventurer, The (W), Tim McCoy _
After Midnight (D), Shearer-Gray. „ Aug. 20
Annie Laurie (D), Lillian Gish _ Sept. 17
Becky (CD), Sally O'Nell Not. 12
Ben Hur (M), Ramon NoTarro - -...Oct. 8
Big Parade, The (M), Gillrert-Adoree. Sept 10
Body and Soul (D), L. Barrymore _ Oct. 1
Bugle Call, The (D), Jackie Coogan Aug. 6
Buttons (CD), Jackie Coogan Dec 24
Callahans and Murphys (CD), DressIer-Moran....June 18
Captain Salvation (M), Hanson - May 14
Fair Co-ed, The (CD), Marlon Dayies Oct 15
Foreign Devils (W), Tim McCoy _ Sept 3
Frisco Sally Levy (C), O'Neil Apr. 2
Garden of Allah, The (D), Terry-Petrovltcli. Not. 6
In Old Kentucky (D), H. CosteUo Oct 29
Little Journey (CD), All Star Jan. 1
London After Midnight (D), Lon CHianey —Dec. 3
Lovelorn, The, Sally O'Neil _ Dec 17
Lovers (D), Novarro-Terry Apr. 9
Man, Woman and Sin (D), John Gilbert -...Nov. 19
Mockery (M), Lon Chaney. Aug. 13
Mr. Wu (M), Lon Chaney Mar. 26
Quality Street, Davies-Nagel. -Dec 31
Red Mill (C), Davies - Jan. 29
Road to Romance, The (D), NoTarro-Day -..Sept 24
Rookies (C), Dane-Arthur Apr. 30
Show, The (M), Gllbert-Adoree Jan. 22
Slide, Kelly, Slide (CD), Halnes-O'Nea Mar. 12
Spoilers of the West (W), McCoy-Daw Deo. 10
Spring Fever (C), William Haines -.-Oct, 22
Tea for Three (C), Cody-Pringle -...Deo. 10
Thirteenth Hour, The (D), Lionel Barrymore Nov. 26
Tillle the Toiler (C), Daries —May 21
Twelve Miles Out (M), Gilbert July 9
Understanding Heart (D), Crawford. Feb. 26
Unknown, The (M), Chaney - June 4
..Aug. 13
..Aug. 27
..May 21
1927
52.61%
50.31%
45.63%
..Not. 12
Nov. 19
..July 16
-July 2
Oct 29
Not. 19
Nov. 26
Dec. 17
Dec. 31
Dec. 3
Jan. 7
Not. 19
...Apr. 23
Sept. 10
Dec. 3
...Jan. 15
Dec. 17
..May 2
Dec 17
..Sept 10
.June 4
95.25%
81.50%
51.38%
48.09%
51.6()%
61.41%
43.46%
39.20%
39.50%
i.83%
..Feb. 19
66.04%
May 9
70.55%
....Mar. 19
....Apr. 2
66.43%
12
24
3
...Dec 24
Dec 10
Not. 12
Dec. 3
Nov
Dec
43.61%
Deo
69.63%
65.16%
56.93%
63.25%
1928
..-July 30
.-.May 14
—May 26
Apr.
Jan.
Feb.
28
28
25
Feb'."ir'"
Apr. 7
Juiy 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
57
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
TIclter
54S2
5661
8548
54S2
6057
7300
8340
4987
7743
7045
6402
5760
6395
7365
7289
5014
7745
6476
9566
5901
8134
5011
4435
Certain Young Man, A. Novairo-Day _...May 19
Circus Rookies (CD), Dane-Arthur _.._ Mar. 31
Cossacks, The. Adoree-Gilbert-Torrence May 12
Crowd, The, Boardman-Murray-Roaoh. Mar. 3
Detectives. Dane-Arthur June 9
Diamond Handcuffs, Boardman-NageL May 5
Divine Woman, Garbo-Hanson-Sherman Jan. 14
Enemy. The. Gish-Dane-Forbes - Feb. 18
Excess Baggage (D), William Haines.
Forbidden Hours (D), Novarro-Adoree June 16
Latest from Paris, The, Shearer- Forbes _...Feb. 4
Laugh. Clown, Laugh, Chaney-Murphy-Hisle Apr. 14
Mademoiselle from Armentieres, Estelle Brody-
John Stuart . June 2
Skirts. Syd Chaplin.
Law of the Range, McCoy-Crawford Jan. 21
Love, Garbo-Gilbert ._ _ _ _ Jan. 2
Patsy. The, Daries-Caldwell-Gray „_ Mar. 10
Riders of the Dark Apr. 28
Rose Marie, Crairford-Murray _ Feb. 11
Smart Set. Haines-Day-Holt-Bosworth Feb. 25
Student Prince. The (R). Novarro-Shearer..._ Jan. 30
Under the Black Eagle, Forbes-Dog Flash. -...Mar. 24
West Point (CD). Haines-Crawford. Jan. 7
White Shadows of the South Sea (MD), Monte
Wickedness Preferred (CD), Cody-Pringle Jan. 28
Wyoming, McCoy-Sebastian _ Mar. 24
June 2 June 23
Mar. 10
June 9
I —
Jan. 21
Mar. 10
_June 23
Mar. 17
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
May 26
.June 2
Feb. 4
Jan. 7
Apr. 7
May 5
Feb. 18
Mar. 10
Feb. 25
Jan. 21
...July 7
Feb. 11
Apr. 14
-July 7
Apr. 28
..June 2
Jan. 21
May 5
Mar. 10
May 12
•"" " "
Jan 14
Apr. 14
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
Mar. 3
. 70.10%
_
1927
6199
6951
9879
5597
5878
7175
6040
65S6
6662
5408
T447
6287
6296
5399
6376
6017
5889
6415
7091
6862
6452
8656
7656
6439
7080
6940
6052
6007
5617
8039
7180
6258
6877
5798
4551
6599
6187
6680
6306
6247
6952
9443
5614
6368
6634
5209
6170
5515
6015
6179
6838
5524
4934
6200
6124
6006
6497
4926
5319
7643
8486
6869
5935
6866
E966
1928
5897
6536
Paramount
1927
6930
6665
7866
6364
6889
6402
6852
6871
6263
Afraid to Love (C), Vldor _ _ Apr. 9
Barbed Wire (D), Negri-Brook _ Sept. 10
Beau Geste (M). Colman-N. Beery Aug. 1
Blind Alleys (M). Meighan. _ Mar. 12
Blonde or Brunette? (C), Menjou. Jan. 24
Cabaret (CD). Gilda Gray - Mar. 26
Casey at the Bat (C), W. Beery _ Mar. 5
Chang (D). Special cast - Sept. 3
Children of Divorce (D), Bow „ Apr. 2
City Gone Wild (M). Meighan-Millner Nov. 12
•Covered Wagon, The (M), Kerrigan- Wilson Aug. 6
Evening Clothes (C), Jlenjou Mar. 19
Fashisns for Women (CD). Ralston Mar. 26
Fireman Save My Child (C), Beery-Hatton. Aug. 1
Gay Defender, The (CD). Richard Dlx Deo. 10
Gentleman of Paris, A (CD), MenJou-0'Hara...-Oct. 15
Get Your Man (CD), Clara Bow _ Deo. 10
Honeymoon Hate (CD), Florence Vldor Dee. 3
Hotel Imperial (D), Negri _ Feb. 26
Hula (CD), Bow-Brook. Aug. 27
It (C), Clara Bow Feb. 19
Jesse James (D). Fred Thomson Oct. 22
•Kid Brother (C). Lloyd. Oct. 4
Kiss in a Taxi (C), Daniels Feb. 26
Knockout Reilly (CD), Dix _ Apr. 16
Last Waltz, The (D), Special cast. „...NoT. 26
Let It Rain (C). MacLean Jan. 3
Love's Greatest Mistake (CD), Brent _ Feb. 12
Man Power (D), Dix „ July 9
Metropolis (D). Special cast _..Aug. 13
Mme. Pompadour (D). Moreno-D. Gish. Aug. 13
Nevada (W), Cooper-Todd Sept. 10
New York (M), Cortez-Wilson Feb. 5
Now We're in the Air (C). Beery-Hattoa Oct. 22
One Woman to Another (CD), Vldor- Shotwell... Sept. 24
Open Range (W), Lane-Chandler -.._ Nov. 5
Paradise for Two (C), Dix-Bronson Jan. 17
Potters (CD), W. C. Fields Jan. 31
Ritzy (CD). Bronson Apr. 9
Rolled Stockings (CD), HaU-Brook. _ June 18
Rough House Rosie (C), Bow May 14
Rough Riders. The (D), Astor-FarrelL - Oct 1
Rubber Heels (FC), Ed. Wynn. June 11
Running Wild (C), Fields-Brian. Aug. 20
Senorita (F), Daniels - Aug. 30
Serenade (D), Menjou-Wray Dee. 24
Service for Ladies (C), Menjou-Carrer Aug. 6
Shanghai Bound (D), Dlx-Brian..._ _ Oet. 16
She's a Sheik (C), Bebe Daniels - Nov. 12
Shootln' Irons (W), Ludeu-Blane — Oct. 8
Soft Cushions (C), MacLean-Carol Aug. 27
Special Delivery (C), Eddie Cantor. — Apr. 16
Spotlight, The (CO), Kalston-Hamilton. Nov. 19
Stark Love (D), Special cast Sept. 17
Swim, Girl, Swim (CM), Daniels-HalL Sept. 17
Tell It to Sweeney (C). Conklin-Bancroft —Sept 24
Ten Modern Commandments (CD). Ralston. July 2
Time to Love (FC), Raymond GrifBth June 18
Two Flaming Youths (0). Fields-Conldin. Deo. 17
Underworld (M), Bancroft-Brent -Oct 29
Way of All Flesh. The (0), Jannings-Bennett-.Oct 1
Wedding Bills (F). Raymond GrifHth -..May 7
Were's All Gamblers (D), Meighan-Millner. Sept 3
Whirlwind of Youth (D), Lois Moran. - -Apr. 30
Wings (M), Charles Rogers _ Oet. 29
Woman on Trial (D), Pola Negri
Adventure Mad (M), UFA _ Mar. 31
Beau Sabreur (M). Cooper-Brent _ Jan. 7
Beggars of Life (MD), Wallace Beery-Brooks-
Big Killing (CD), Beery-Hatton. May 19
Doomsday, Vidor-Cooper — Feb. 18
Drag Net, The (MD), Bancroft-Brent-Powell.
Easy Come, Easy Go, Richard Dir. - Apr. 21
Feel My Pulse. Daniels-Arlen. Feb. 25
Fifty- Fifty Girl, The, Danlels-Hall May 12
..Apr.
23
-Aug.
3
5
-.Jan.
15
-May 9
-Apr. 16
-May 2
-May 2
..Deo. 10
Apr. 9
Apr. 9
Dee. 10
Nov. 12
Oct. 8
Jan. 7
Deo. 31 Dea 17
Jan. 8
Sept. 10
Feb. 12
Oct. 22
Jan. 29
Apr. 2
4.pr. 23
Not. 19
Mar. 12
Feb. 26
Aug. 6
Mar. 12
Nov. 26 Aug. 6
-Feb. 5
-Dec. 17
..Sept. 24
Jan. 14
Dec. 31
Jan. 21
Jan. 29
Jan. 22
June 25
July 30
— — _June 4
Mar. 19
July 16
June 18
-May 14
-Sept. 3
Nov. 12
Nov. 26
57.21%
63.66%
50.84%
41.30%
63.66%
51.86%
68.00%
67.60%
65.85%
66.77%
65.91%
38.61%
55.64%
55.59%
61.18%
73.90%
70.25%
48.36%
48.30%
54.72%
57.64%
Aug. 27
May 9
Dec. 3
Mar. 19
Sept. 17
Jan. 7 Oct. 22
July 23
July 9
44.08%
66.27%
Sept. 3
July 2
July 23
June 11
— -Aug. 20
..Dec. 24 Oct. 1
Jan. 14
Jan. 7
57.46%
47.36%
45.90%
1928
..July 7
Jan. 21
-May 26
May 19
Feb. 25
Mar. 31
Apr. 7
Deo. 10
June 16
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
5741
7910
6600
5582
6118
7646
6631
7194
7616
4720
7960
5951
6218
6763
TOilO
5733
5991
5834
6509
6435
Loves of an Actress (D), Pola Negri _-.
Night of Mystery (D), Menjou Apr. 7
Old Ironsides (D), Beery-Bancroft Mar. 17
Partners in Crime (C), Beery-Hatton. Mar. 3
Peaks of Destiny Jan. 28
Pioneer Scout, The (W), Fred Thomson. Jan. 21
Racket. The (D), Thomas Meighan...- June 30
Red Hair (CD), Bow-Chandler Mar. 10
Sawdust Paradise, The, Esther Ralston. Aug. 25
Secret Hour, The (D). Negri-Hersholt Feb. 4
Showdown, The, Bancroft Feb. 25
Something Always Happens, Ralston-HamUton....Mar. 24
Speedy (C), Harold Lloyd - - Apr. 7
Sporting Goods, Dix-Olmstead - Feb. 11
Street of Sin (D), Jannings-Wray May 26
Sunset Legion (W), Fred Thomson. Apr. 21
Three Sinners (D), Negri-Baxter Apr. 14
Tillie's Punctured Romance, Fields-Conldin Feb. 18
Under the Tonto Rim, Arleu-Brian Feb. 4
Vanishing Pioneer, The (W), Jack Holt June 23
Warming Up, Richard Dix. Aug. 11
Wife Savers (C), Beery-Hatton Jan. 7
Woman FriMn Moscow, The (D), Negri-Kerry
June 23
Feb. 18
Feb. 25
Jan. 7
Dec. 10
Mar. 3
June 9
May 26
Feb. 18
..June 19
Fools for Luck (CD), Fields-Conklln. May 7
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (C), Taylor-Whitei.-Jan. 28
Half a Bride (0), Ralston-Cooper June 16
Hot News, Bebe Daniels June 9
6038 His Tiger Lady. Menjou-Brent June 9 Mar. 31
Kit Carson (MD), Fred Thomson June 23
6792 Ladies of the Mob, Clara Bow _ June 30 May 26
8234 Last Command. The (D), Emil Jannings -.-Jan. 21 Jan. 28
7415 Legion of the Condemned, Wray-Cooper Mar. 10
6837 Love and Learn, Balston-Chandler. Jan. 14 Jan. 21
Mar. 10
Mar. 19
Mar. 19
Feb. 18
June 16
July?
Feb. 4
-Apr. 21
Feb. 25
1927
6596
6555
4335
5326
4875
4512
5100
7500
4933
5478
8586
5804
6599
6228
8002
7107
6403
6568
6859
3303
5867
49G8
7913
4750
5990
6563
6035
4620
6788
4700
4890
4076
4864
5324
13500
4131
4752
6472
5865
4576
5750
5736
6421
6903
4575
4692
4497
6000
4828
5844
4542
4375
6303
58 SO
4562
4546
4338
5397
5670
5921
6198
4485
5610
6447
7820
1928
3996
5755
4805
5927
6589
4833
5408
4530
7996
4526
4480
5398
7056
4155
6650
5888
4600
5659
5954
6494
6626
6902
7040
5423
4520
6035
4000
Pathe
Almost Human (CD), Reynolds Dee. 26
Angel of Broadway, The (D), Leatrice Joy. Oct. 3
Avenging Fangs (M) June 5
Border Blackbirds (WD), Maloney — - Aug. 28
Born to Battle (W), Bill Cody Sept. 11
Code of the Cow Country (W), Roosevelt June 19
Combat (D), Walsh Oct. 23
Country Doctor, The (D), Schildkraut Aug. 22
Desert of the Lost, The (W), Wally Wales Dec. 18
Devil's Twin, The (W), Leo Maloney Dec. 11
Discord (D), Dagover-Ekman Nov, 20
Don Desperado (W), Maloney May 8
Dress Parade (D), Boyd Nov. 11
Eyes of the Totem (M), Hawley May 15
Fighting Eagle, The (M), La Rocaue-Haver Aug. 29
Fighting Love (D), Goudal
Flying Luck (C), Monty Banks _ Dec. 4
Forbidden Woman, The (M), Jetta Goudal Not. 7
Getting Gertie's Garter (F), Prevost
Girl from Everywhere (C), Pollard - Dec. 11
Girl in the Pullman, The (C), Prevost -.Oct 31
Gold from Weepah (W), Bill Cody Not. 20
Golden Clown, The (D), Gosta-Ekman Dec. 18
•Grandma's Boy (C), Harold Lloyd -.-Dec. 11
Harp in Hock. A (D), SohiIdkraut-Coghlan...-...Oct 10
Heart of the Yukon (M), Bowers -Cornwall May 29
Heart Thief (D), Schildkraut-De Putt!
Hidden Aces (M), Hutchison - Aug. 7
His Dog (D), Schildkraut July 21
His First Flame (C), Langdoa .May 8
His Foreign Wife (D), MacDonald-Murphy Not. 27
Hoof Marks (W), Jack Donovan. Nov. 13
Interterin' Gent, The (W), Buffalo Bill. Jr Aug. 21
Jim, the Conqueror (W), Boyd-Faire
King of Kings (D), All Star
Land of the Lawless, The (W), Jack Padjan. Dec. 25
Little Firebrand (C), Thornton _ July 3
Main Event, The (D), Reynolds _ Nov. 21
Man Bait (CD), Prevost Jan. 29
Meddlin' Stranger (W), Wales June 12
My Friend from India (F), Pangbom-Fair. Dee. 19
Night Bride (FC), Prevost
Nobody's Widow (FC), Joy-Ray-Haver
No Man's Law (W), Rex May 1
Obligin' Buckaroo. The (W), Buffalo Bill, Jr.....Oet. 16
Pals In Peril (W), Buffalo Bill. Jr June 26
Phantom Buster, The (W), Roosevelt -.-Aug. 14
Pieces of China (Travel) _ Aug. 7
Pirates of the Sky (M), Hutchison - May 22
Reiuvenation of Aunt Mary (C), Robson
Ride 'Era High (W), Buddy Roosevelt Oct 9
Roarin' Broncs, Buffalo BUI, Jr _ Nov. 27
Rubber Tires (C), Ford-Love.— - -
Rush Hour, The (C), Prevost Dec. 12
Skeedaddle Gold (W), Wales July 31
Soda-Water Cowboy, The (W), WaUy Wales Sept 25
Trunk Mystery (M), Hntehison. June 12
Turkish Delight, Schildkraut-Faye Nov. 11
Two-Gun of Tumbleweed (W), Leo Maloney July 17
Vanity (M), Joy -
White Gold (D), Goudal -...,
White Pebbles (WD), WaUy Wales —.Aug. 7
Wise Wife, The (C), Haver -...Oct. 24
Wreck of the Hesperus, The (M), Bradford Oct. 31
Yankee Clipper (M), Boyd -
Dee. 24
Nov. 19 Nov. 5
June 4
-.- Sept 10
1927
..June 17
-Oct 15
Jan. 14
Not. 19
... 72.70%
-Dec. 10
-May 9
Nov. 5
..May 14
...Sept. 17
..June 4
Nov. 12 Nov. 5
Feb. 19
Nov. 5
Nov. 19 Nov. 5
Nov. 12
Not. 5
..May 21
..May 21
..Sept. 3
-July 24
..May 9
Jan. 14
Not. 19
Dec. 24
..Aug. 2T
..Jan. 1
..Mar. 10
..July 2
Not. 6
..Jan. 29
...June 12
..May 9
...Jan. 16
..May 2
..Oct 8
June 25
-Aug. 20
..May 21
..Aug. 6
...Oct. 8
Jan. 7
..Apr. 9
..Aug. 6
..Oct 1
..Juno 11
Not. 19
..July 17
-June 18
..Apr. 9
..Aug. 20
Not. 5
May 14
Alice Through a Looking Glass Feb. 12
Apache Raider, The, Leo Maloney Feb. 12
Ballyhoo Buster (W), Buffalo BiU, Jr Jan. 8
Blonde for a Night, Prevost Feb. 27
Blue Danube, Leatrice Jo.v - Mar. 12
Boss of Rustlers Roost, The, Don Coleman. Jan. 22
Bronc' Stomper, The, Don Coleman. Feb. 26
Bullet Mark. The, Jack Donovan Mar. 25
Chicago (M), Phyllis Haver _ Mar. 5
Cowboy Cavalier (W), Buddy Roosevelt...- Jan. 29
Crashing Through, Jack Padjan. Feb. 6
Desperate Courage (W), Wales - Jan. 15
Hold 'Em Yale, Rod La Rocaue. May 15
Laddie Be Good (W), BIU Cody -.-Jan. 1
Leopard Lady, The (M), Logan _ Jan. 23
Let 'Er Go, Gallagher! (M), Junior Coghlan. Jan. 16
Marlie, the Killer, Klondike - Mar. 4
Midnight Madness, Logan. - -...May 26
Night Flyer, The, Wm. Boyd -...Feb. 5
On to Reno (D), Prevost -Landls. Jan. 2
Perfect Gentleman, A (C), Monty Banks Jan. 15
61.72%
1928
May 12
Mar. 3
Feb. 18
May 12
Mar. 17
May 19
Dec. 24
Feb. 4
Ship Comes In, A, Rudolph Schildkraut
Skyscraper, Boyd...
-.June 4
-.Apr. 9
Stand and Deliver, Rod La Roeque. Feb. 20
Valley of Hunted Men, Buffalo BUI, Jr Feb. 19
Walking Back (M), Sue Carol May 20
What Prlte Beauty (CD), Nit» Naldl Jan. 22
May 19
May 26
Jan. 28
Jan. 28
■*"'
Mar. 17
Jan. 28
"
-June 2
May 12
.. .
Jan. 28
Deo. SI
58
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
Length Title and Players
Pictures
Ticker
1927 Ray art
60S9 Cruise of the Helion (D), AU star
5076 Heroes in Blue (M). Bowers-Rand -...Nov.
5916 Law and the Man, The (D). Santsclu-EockweIl..Dec.
6960 Light in the Window, A (D), Walthal
5970 On the Stroke of Twelve (M), D. Torrence Not.
5503 Silent Hero CM), Bonaparte _ _..
4200 Wanderer of the West. A (W), Tex iIa,vnard....Dec.
1928
60S9
6673
GOTO
4533
..Sept. 24
1927
..Nov. 12
-Aug. 29
5976
5853
4797
52G2
4548
5608
4571
5906
4627
5490
5260
Branded Man, The (D), Chas. Delaney-MarloweMay
Casey Jones (CD), nice-Lewis „ Jan.
Danger Patrol, The (D), Eussell-Fair _ .Tan.
Devil's Tower. The (W), Buddy EoosevelL June
Divine Sinner, The (D), Vera Iteynolds-HIHlard..July
Gypsy of the North CD), Gordon-Hale. -...Apr.
Heart of Broadway, The CD), Garon-Agnew....Mar.
Lightning Shot. The (W). Buddy Eoosevelt May
Man from Headquarters, The (D), Cornelias
Keefe-E. Roberts _ Aug.
Midnight Adventure, A CD), Landis-E. Murphy-May
Mystery Valley (W), Buddy Eoosevelt ...July
My Home Town CD), Broctwell-Glass -...Jan.
Painted Trail, The CW), Buddy Eoosevelt, Mar.
Phantom of the Turf, The CD), Costello-Lease.Feb.
Sisters of Eve (D), Mae Busch Sept.
Sweet Sixteen CD), Helen Foster-Olstead iug.
Trail Riders (W), Buddy Eoosevelt April
Wild Born (W), Tex Maynard Mar.
You Can't Beat the Law, Lee Keefe Jan.
1928
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Galloping Fury (W), Hoot Gibson... Nov. 20
Held by the Law (M), Lewis „.„ Apr. 10
Hero for the Night, A, Tryon-Miller_ Dec. 18
Hey! Hey! Cowboy (W), Gibson. Apr. 3
Irresistible Lover, The (CD), Kerry-Moran Dec. 4
Les Miserables (M), Gabrio-Toulont _ Oct. 30
Les Miserables (M), (Long Version) Oct. 30
Lone Eagle, The, Kent-Keane _ _ Sept. IS
Love Thrill CFC), La Plante JUay 8
Man's Past, A CD), Veidt-Kent. Dec 25
Men of Daring CW), Hoxie June 5
On Your Toes CC), Denny-Worth Nov. 27
Out All Night (C), Denny-Nixon. _ Sept. 4
Painted Ponies (W), Hoot Gibson Sept. 25
Painting the Town (FC), Tryon. Aug. 7
Perch of the Devil (M), Busch Mar. 6
Rough and Ready CW), Hoxie -..Jan. 9
Sensation Seekers (D), Dove Mar. 20
Silk Stockings, Laura La Plante Oct. 2
Sky High Saunders, Al Wilson. _ -...Nov. 6
Small Bachelor, The (C), Beranger-Kent -.-Nov. 6
Straight Shootin' (W), WeUs _ Oct. 16
Taxi! Taxi! (FC), Horton. Apr. 24
Thirteenth Juror, The (D), Bushman-NUsson...Nov. 13
Three Miles Up. Al Wilson...- - Sept. 4
Wild Beauty (CD), Eex - Nov. 27
Wrong Mr. Wright, The (F). Hersholt Feb. 27
Wolf's Trail, Dynamite, the dog Oct. 2
Sterli
1927
Burning Up Broadway (D), H. CosteUo Jan. 30
5563 Closed Gates CM), Harron-Novak. _
5400 Outcast Souls CD). Lewis-Bonner..._ Dec. 15
5500 Pretty Clothes CD), J. Ealston-Wallier. Oct. 15
Stranded (D), Mason Aug. 15
1928
Marry the Girl (CD) _
1927
Deo. 3
May 28
Nov. 12
Dec. 31
Jan. r Sopt. 10
1927
5754 Backstage (CD), Bedford.
5669
5300
6024
7300
Tiffanv-Stahl
1928
1927
5500
6482
5233
4752
5600
5800
6049
6235
5629
6100
5182
5276
6448
5614
1928
6147
5209
5510
5297
6553
5708
5102
5735
5652
5361
5283
Beauty Shoppe (CD). Busch
Broken Gate CD), CoUier
Cheaters CM), O'Malley...-
College Days (CD). M. Day - -
Enchanted Island CD) -
First Night, The CFC). LvteU-Devore -
Fools of Fashion CCD), Busch..._ -
Girl from Gay Paree, The CF). Sherman. .Sept. 15
Haunted Ship. The CM). Sebastian-M. Love..-Dec. 1
Husband Hunters CC), Marsh —
Josselyn's Wife (D), Frederick
Lightning CW), J. Ealston Sept. 1
Night Life (CD). Day-Harron Nov. 1
...July 9
...July 16
.-Jan. 15
...Mar. 24
...Nov. 6
...June 25
..Feb. 19
...Oct. 9
-.-Feb. 26
\ov. 27
5503
6929
5711
5378
6958
7713
11000
5862
603S
6135
6159
5918
6170
5416
6043
6807
4409
7015
6166
4393
6218
4251
T173
5598
4136
5192
6459
4167
1928
4259 Air Patrol. The CW). Al WUson...... Jan. 1
6869 Alias the Deacon (CD), Hersholt-Marlowe Jan. 22
4076 Arizona Cyclone CW), Humes -. Jilay 6
6171 Buck Privates, de Putti June 3
4345 Call of the Heart. The CW). Dynamite Jan. 29
4232 Clean-Up Man. The CW), WeUs _ Feb. 12
7481 Cohens and Kellys in Paris (C), Sidney. Jan. 15
6279 Count of Ten, Tbe, Eay-Ealston-Gleason. June 6
4173 Fearless Rider, The (W), Fred Humes Jan. 15
6081 Finders Keepers (CD), Laura La Plante Feb. 5
4426 Four Footed Rangers. The (W). Dynamite Mar. 25
5645 Good Morning Judge Apr. 29
Dec. 24
Jan. 14
Dec. 17
..Apr. 2 42.00%
Nov. 26
54.84%
Nov. 19
.Aug. 27
Nov. 12
Dec. 17
Jan. 14
Nov. 19
Nov. 19
Feb. 4
Dec. 3
May 21
SepL 27
..Apr. 9
40.14?
..Oct. 1
July 23
..June 25
..Feb. 5
..Jan. 8
..Jan. 29
Aug. 20
62.55%
35.87%
4094 Greased Lightning (W)-
-July 29
.-Feb. 19 44.70%
Dec. 3
Dec. 24
...Mar. 5
1928
.Tune 9H
Jime 16
Mar. 10
Feb. 4
_Apr. 21
Jan. 28
Apr. 28
-Apr. 21 _ -
Once and Forever CD). Patsy Euth Miller. — Oct. 15
Sin Cargo CD), Mason -
Snowbound CFC). Blythe _ -.
..Dec. 11
-July 30
Streets of Shanghai CRD), Starke-Harlan. Dec 15
Tired Business Man (C)
Wild Geese (D). BeUe Bennett-.-
Women's Wares (D), Brent-LyteU
J^ov. 15
Oct. 1
Mar. 10
Dec. 24
1928
Bachelor's Paradise (R), Sally O'Neil...- Mar. 15
Clothes Make the Woman CR), Southem-
Pidgeon _ - — May 1
Devil's Skipper. The, Bennett Feb. 1
Grain of Dust, The (D). Cortez-Windsor July 10
Green Grass Widows (CD). Walter Hagen June 10
House of Scandal CD), Sebastian-O'Malley Apr. 1
Ladies of the Night Club CCD), Cortez-Moran-..May 15
Lingerie (CD), Wliite-McGregor July 1
Nameless Men, Moreno - Feb. 15
Prowlers of the Sea (D), Cortez-Myers June 20
Scarlet Dove, The (D), Margaret Uvingston. Apr. 15
Stormy Waters (D), Southern-McGregor. Jime 1
Their Hour (D), Sebastian-Harron Mar. 1
Tragedy of Youth, Miller-Collier. Jan. 15
Woman Against the World, A - _ Jan, 1
Mar. 31 _..
United Artists
1927
9264 Beloved Rogue (M), J. Barrymore
5000
7500
7311
8550
1927
College (C), Keaton-CornwaU. „ Sept. 10
General, The (C), Keaton.
Loves of Sonya (D), Swanson.
7440
9120
9000
7456
8250
8000
Magic Flame, The (M), Colman-Banky. Sept. 24
My Best Girl (M), Mary Plckford. Nov.
Night of Love (M), Banky-Colman
Resurrection CM). La Eocaue
Sorrell and Son (D). Wamer-Nilsson. Nov,
Topsy and Eva (C), Duncan Sisters..
Two Arabian Knights (CD), Boyd-Wolheim
Winning of Barbara Worth CD), Banky-Cohnan..
45.90%
1928
6400 Circus, The CC), Charlie Chaplin
7000 — Devil Dancer. The. Gilda Gray -
9358 Douglas Fairbanks as the Gaucho (M). June 1
9100 Dove. The (M), Norma Talmadge Jan. 7
8350 Drums of Love (D). Mary PhUbin -. -...Mar. 31
7300 Garden of Eden. The (D). C. Grifflth-Eay Feb. 4
Two Lovers, Banky-Colman Aug.
7650 Ramona (D), Del Eio Feb. 1
8600 Sadie Thompson (D). Gloria Swanson Tan. 7
Steamboat Bill. Jr.. Buster Keaton
Tempest (M). John Barrymore Aug. 11
73.65%
1928
...Apr. 28
..JJov. 26
...Jan. 7
June 16
May 26
-July 7
Universal
1927
5751 Back to God's Country (D), Adoree-Frazier-.Sept, 4
5777 Beware o( Widows (FC), La Plante .Tune 19
4427 Border Cavalier, The (W), Humes-Pierce Sept. 18
7319 Butterflies In the Rain CD). La Plante. Feb. 6
7190 Cat and Canary. The (My), La Plante Sept. 11
5623 Cheating Cheaters (C). Compson-Harlan Oct. 9
Nov. 12
Dec 17
Nov. 26
Aug. 6
..May 9
-..Jan. 1
May 14
1927
60.81%
44.10%
46.'i'8%
68.50%
6598 Grip of the Yukon. The, AU star Aug. 30
5064 Hot Heels, Glen Tryon _ May 13
4095 Hound of Silver Creek. The (W), Dynamite-.May 20
6813 Love Me and the World Is Mine, Kerry-Philbin. Feb. 25
6832 Jazz Mad. Hersholt-Nixon-Lewis - June 3
4120 Made-to-Order Hero (W), WeUs —June 3
5689 Midnight Rose, de Putti-Harlan. Feb. 26
4253 Phantom Flyer, The (W), Wilson. Feb. 26
4200 Put 'Em Up (W), Humes Max. 11
4472 Quick Triggers (W), Humes July 15
5382 Rawhide Kid (W), Hoot Gibson. Jan. 29
5424 Riding for Fame, Hoot Gibson Aug. 19
6172 Shield of Honor, The, AU star...- Feb. 19
5109 Society Cowboy. A. Hoot Gibson. July 8
5389 Stop That Man, All star JIar. 11
8249 Surrender, PhUbin-Mosjukine Mar. 4
6179 Thanks for the Buggy Ride, La Plante-Tryon...-Apr. 1
6073 That's My Daddy CC), Denny-Kent _ Feb. 5
4353 Thunder Riders. The, WeUs Apr. 8
6274 13 Washington Square. AU star Apr. 8
5495 Trick of Hearts, A, Hoot Gibson Mar. 18
4348 Won in the Clouds. (W), WUson. Apr. 22
9151 We Americans, AU star...- May 16
5254 Wild West Show, Hoot Gibson May 20
Apr. 28
May 26
June 23
Feb. 31
May 19
Mar. 17
Mar. 17
Jan. 28
Feb. 25
Jan. 14
Apr. 28
May 5
Apr. 21
Warner Brothers
1927
5803 Black Diamond Express (M), Blue _
6330 Brass Knuckles CD), Blue-Bronson Dec. 3
C281 Bush Leaguer, The (CD), Monte Blue. Aug. 20
5897 Dearest (D), Eich - _ _
6408 Desired Woman. The (M). Irene Rich. _ Aug. 27
5003 Dog of the Regiment, A (M), Etn-Tin-Tin. Oct. 29
6767 First Auto, The, Oldfleld-MUler Sept. 18
6284 Gay Old Bird (FC), Fazenda. _
5978 Girl from Chicago, The (M), Nagel-Loy. Nov. 5
Glorious Betsy (CD), Dolores CosteUo-.-
6302 Good Time Charley CD), Oland-H. CosteUo Nov. 12
5613 Ham and Eggs at the Front (C), WUson-H.
Conklin Dec. 24
6271 Hills of Kentucky (M), Ein-Tin-Tin.
5200 Husbands for Rent, AU star Dec. 31
6230 If I Were Single, McAvoy-Nagel - Dec 17
5397 Irish Hearts CCD), McAvoy.
5569 Jaws of Steel (D). Rin-Tin-Tln _ _ Sept. 17
6352 Matinee Ladies (C). McAvoy _
6310 Mill Bid, A (M), D. CosteUo
6485 Missing Link, The (C), Syd Chaplin Aug. 7
7961 Old San Francisco (M), D. Costello-Oland Sept. 4
6357 One Round Hogan (M), Monte Blue Sept. 17
5492 Reno Divorce. A (D), May AcAvoy Oct. 22
6295 Sailor Izzy Murphy (F), George JesselL Oct. 8
5685 Sailor's Sweetheart, A (C), Fazenda-C. Cook...Sept. 24
6124 Silver Slave, The (D), Eioh-Ferris _ Nov. 9
6218 Simple Sis (M), Fazenda _ _
6412 Slightly Used, McAvoy-Nagel - Sept. 3
7647 Third Degree CM), D. CosteUo _
5813 Tracked by the Police CM), Bin-Tin-Tin.
6281 What Every Girl Should Know CCD). MUler.
5567 What Happened to Father CC), Oland
10081 When a Man Loves CR), Barrymore Aug. 21
6820 White Flannels CM), Dresser -
7068 Wolf's Clothing CM), Blue-MiUer. -
1928
-July 23
1927
60.20%
-June 18
-July 9
-Mar. 12
Dec. 31
-May 26
Nov. 26
-Feb. 26
-Apr. 28
-.June 11
-Oct. 1
-Apr. 23
-June 4
-May 14
-June 25
-Oct. 8
-Oct. 29
-Dec. 10
-Oct. 15
70.47?
June 11
Jan. 8
.... May 21
Mar. 19
.July 9
Feb. 12
Apr. 2
.Ian. 29
Across the Atlantic, Blue-Murphy Feb. 25
Beware of Married Men, Irene Eich Jan. 14
City of Sin. The. Loy-Miljan-Wong _
Domestic Trouble (CD), Cook-Fazenda
Jazz Singer. The, Al Jolson
Lion and the Mouse, The, L. Barrymore-
44.00%
60.30%
1928
Feb. 11
..Apr. 14
Little Snob, The, May McAvoy Feb. 11
Powder My Back (C), Eich-Ferris - Mar. 10
Race for Life, Ein-Tin-Tin. _ Jan. 28
RInty of the Desert, Ein-Tln-Tln. —
Tenderloin, Dolores CosteUo.- -
Feb. 18
..May 19
..May 19
..Apr. 28
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
59
1
CLASSIFIED
Advertising
Ten cents per word, payable in advance. Minimum charge,
$1.00. Copy and checks should be addressed Classified Ad
Dept. Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, 407 So.
Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
The Recognized National Classified Advertising Medium
Help Wanted
WANTED — Violinist who can double on tenor
banjo for steady year round teaching position in Con-
necticut state in about three weeks. State age and
present employment in first letter. Address F. Mueller,
22 Dennison St., Hartford, Conn.
WANTED — Experienced Theatre Manager to locate
in Pittsburgh, Pa. Attractive opportunity for ambi-
tious and aggressive young man. Possibilities for
advancement are unlimited. Address Box 285, Exhibi-
tors Herald and Moving Picture World, 407 S. Dear-
born St., Chicago, 111.
WANTED — A publicity man to connect with a
Pittsburgh, Pa., theatre. Want .one with initiative
and with original ideas. This is a real opportunity
for the right man. Address Box 285, Exhibitors Her-
ald and Moving Picture World, 407 S. Dearborn St.,
Chicago, 111.
Position Wanted
THEATRE MANAGER who is also poster artist,
display and exploitation man, desires position. Results
guaranteed. Will consider any location. Address
Box 286, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture
World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
AT LIBERTY- — Experienced high grade Organist
with complete modern and classical library, union.
Wurlitzer, Morton, or any standard make. Address
F. H., 8631 S. Ashland Ave., Apt. B. 2, Phone Bev-
erly 1461, Chicago, 111.
THEATRE MANAGER— Wants connection, now
employed but wants a new position to start in fall.
Young, experienced, educated, and strictly above
board. Never been idle, ideal man for smaH city
where high class person is required. Address Box
287, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
EXPERIENCED OPERATOR on Powers and Sim-
plex machines, wishes steady job, sober, reliable, will
go anywhere. Address O. Dupree, 1433 Raynor St.,
Detroit. Michigan.
ORGANISTS thoroughly trained and experienced in
theatre work. Men and women now ready for good
positions. Union or non-union. Write salary and
other data. Address Chicago Musical College, 61 E.
Van Buren, Chicago.
ORGANIST — Experts thoroughly trained in show-
manship available at all times for first-class positions.
Men and women. No service charge. Write full in-
formation concerning salary, organ, hours, etc. Ad-
dress Vermond Knauss School of Theatre Organ
Playing, 210 N. 7th St., Allentown, Pa.
Engagements Wanted
AT LIBERTY— D. C. Nelson Organize Dance Or-
chestra Versatile Musicians. Red Hot with up-to-
date Dance Rhythm. Will go anywhere. Write or
-wire 455 East 42nd Place, Chicago, 111., Phone Oak-
land 4669.
Theatre Wanted
WANTED to buy — Picture Theatre. Must be a
money-maker. Middle West preferred. However,
will consider all propositions. Address Box 288, Ex-
hibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, 407 S.
Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
We want large or small moving picture houses and
theatres in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Write Box 283, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture
World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
Film Rights for Sale
LOOK-READ-ACT— ROAD SHOWMEN, STATE
RIGHTS FOR SALE
The True Life of "The Younger Brothers"
Featuring Cole, Bob and Jim Younger and the James
Boys, in five reels, and Younger's Historical Events,
in one reel. This picture as a popular priced road
show is no experiment. It has been tried and true,
has played against all kinds of competition under all
conditions. Has always gotten the money. With each
State or sale we furnish free one new complete Lobby
Display, consisting of new Prints of Film, three new
Wax Figures, standing, life size, of Cole, Bob and Jim
Younger, true to life, dressed in cowboy style, big
hats, boots, etc.; 500 One-Sheets, 100 slides, 10 Photo
Lobby Boards, 100 small Photos extra, 6 Banners,
lettered in flashy oil colors, enough to fit any theatre
front. Everything ready to go. Hurry. It will pay
you to buy the King of all Road Shows.
Address E. L. HUMPHREY, Miami, Okla.
Films for Sale
"The Dungeon" (7); — "Deceit" (6) ;— "Birthright"
(10); — three all star Negro productions; — also — "Truth
About Women" (6); — "Temptation" (7); — "Marriage
Morals" (7); — Other miscellaneous productions. Come-
dies, Serials, Travel, Educational, etc. Guaranteed
pictures, 729 Seventh Ave., New York City.
Equipment for Sale
FOR SALE — Strong Reflector Arc Lamps and ac-
cessories, also guaranteed rebuilt Powers 6-A and 6-B
and Simplex Heads. Best Prices. Write Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
GET OUR PRICES first on complete Theatre
Equipment and Pipe Organ before buying elsewhere.
You save, we satisfy. Address Southern Theatre
Service, 643 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, La.
CHICAGO CLEARING HOUSE— Our bargain list
on rebuilt Projectors, Powers 6-A Motor driven ma-
chines, including 12 rebuilt Simplex motor driven
machines with latest Simplex type S lamp houses.
Prices ranging from $175.00 and up. Peerless arc
controls $35.00 per pair. Compensarcs all makes,
$20.00 and up. Rebuilt Generators at reasonable
prices. AC and DC Electric fans rebuilt, just like
new. Write for complete list of your needs and
prices. No obligation. Address Illinois Theatre
Equipment Co., 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Chairs for Sale
Brand New Veneer and Spring cushion opera chairs
to be had at the lowest prices ever offered. Kindly
state your requirements and let us submit to you
exact photographs and full details. C. G. Demel, 845
South State, Chicago.
300 Upholstered Opera chairs. All seats and backs
entirely reupholstered in new imitation Spanish
leather. Eight Hundred Dollars for entire lot. C. G.
Demel. 845 South State, Chicago.
LARGE STOCK — Used veneered theatre chairs in
5 and 7 ply veneer guaranteed condition, also 1600 up-
holstered chairs newly recovered in brown imitation
Spanish leather, just like new. 500 portable assembly
chairs. Chair prices very reasonable. Write for com-
plete list of your needs and prices. No obligation.
Address Illinois Theatre Equipment Co., 12-14 E.
Ninth St., Chicago, HI.
FOR SALE — Used Theatre chairs, always a stock
on hand, also veneer seats, write your requirements.
Address Theatre Seating Co., 845 S. State St., Chi-
cago, 111.
Stationery
SPECIAL! 250 each business letterheads — en-
velopes $3.75 (cash postpaid). "Neargravure" proc-
ess printed. Samples, see difference. Stamp appre-
ciated. Address Sollidays, XH-124, Knox, Ind.
Banners and Posters
CLOTH BANNERS— $1.40, 3x10, 3 feet, colors,
any copy up to 10 words; one day service; sent any-
where; also Bargain Paper Banners. Associated
Advertisers, 111 West 18th St., Kansas City, Mo.
For Sale
1,000 sets, 8 m.m. and 12 m.m. reflector arc Car-
hons, $70.00. Address Box 485, Rochester, N. Y.
Slightly used Style W. Wurlitzer Organette just
like new. Gold Mine Butterkist Pop Corn Machine
in good condition. Address Central Theatre, Fair-
bury, Illinois.
OPERA CHAIRS, seats and backs for all makes,
five ply, at prices that save you half. Address
Redington & Co., Scranton, Pa.
Organs for Sale
FOR SALE: Bartola Pipe Organ. Used Wurlitzer
Pipe Organ, model U, very reasonable. Cremona
Pipe Organ, used or new Reproduce Pipe Organs.
Address S. B. McFadden. Havana, 111.
Gift Night Souvenirs
GIFT NIGHT MERCHANDISE: Over 300 fine
novelties in our large free catalog at genuine whole-
sale prices. Write today. No obligation. Address
Fair Trading Co., Inc., 140 W. 21st St., New York.
Projector Repairing
Our Twentieth Century Repair Shop, witb skilled
expert mechanics, specialized tools, precision machin-
ery, assure the very best REPAIR JOBS. Relief
Equipment furnished FREE. Prompt service. Rea-
sonable prices. Progressive Exhibitors over entire
country send their work to "THE OLD RELIABLE."
Monarch Theatre Supply Co., Memphis, Tenn. Estab-
lished 20 years.
SKILLED MECHANICS, specialized tools, and a
shop equipped for but one purpose can offer you
nothing but the best in repair work. That is what I
have, and I can offer you the best in the overhauling
of your motion picture machinery equipment. One
of the oldest repair men in the territory, and serving
some of the largest houses. Relief equipment fur-
nished free. For results bring your work to Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Miscellaneous
BEAUTIFUL registered Bull Pups, $15. Bulldogs.
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60
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
LETTERS
From Readers
A forum at which the exhibitor is
invited to express his opinion on
matters of current interest. Brevity
adds forcefulness to any statement.
Unsigned letters will not be printed.
"Band Wagon Season Opens"
PLAINFIELD, ILL.— To the Editor: The
band wagon season is on in Hollywood. The
industry has gone wild on "talkies." Trade
papers full of the wonders of synchronized
pictures. When a thing is all praise and there
is no criticism, something is wrong.
Because Paramount makes a "Covered
Wagon" we are "covered wagoned" to death.
Because Universal makes a hit with "Cohens
and Kellys" we have Jew-Irish pictures 'til
one could scream. This year it's mystery
stories and so on down the line. As soon
as oi» company makes a hit all the rest of
the producers jump aboard the band wagon.
So it is with "talkies." Vitaphone and
Movietone have made a few pictures and
they're a hit, naturally, because it's a novelty
and up goes Hollywood in a grand rush for
sjTichronized pictures.
* * *
This is written by a small town exhibitor.
Where are we going to get off at? We have
not $12,000 to $15,000 to spend for an outfit
and if we did have it we'd be foolish to spend
it. For myself, I can answer this question.
I'm going to do nothing but sit back and
smile, for it is my assumption that it will
blow up and bust after the novelty has worn
off. In the short subject field and news reel,
prologues and vaudeville sketches, it is and
will be wonderful.
Now a prologue to "Ramona" would be
wonderful. To make a "talkie" of this pic-
ture would be an atrocity. To listen to Jack
Gilbert whisper sweet nothings in Greta Gar-
bo's ear would make even the deaf ones walk
out. To listen to "Abie's Irish Rose" would
truly be a treat but to hear the pounding
horses' hoofs in Fairbanks' "Gaucho" would be
terrible. And, yet, it is going to be tried. To
listen to a football game in a news reel would
be something, but to listen to the milling in
a mob scene is another joke. Think I spoof?
All right, how many of you listened to the
screeching on the radio of the Kansas City
convention when Hoover was nominated?
And, yet, it is being run in Chicago on the
Movietone.
* * *
Mr. Joseph Schenck says in the June 16
issue of the Herald-World, "Eye entertain-
ment has much stronger appeal than ear en-
tertainment," but he forgot to add that the
ear is more sensitive and some things we
hear jar on the nerves terribly. I've had many
a walkout on pictures that were dumb with
never a word said, but let a musician hit a
false note or the organist miscue and they'll
stop at the box office and bawl you out for it.
The theatre that plays a picture synchro-
nized to music only while its own pipe organ
and orchestra sits silent, better change its
manager. Mind you I'm speaking of when
the novelty has worn off.
Remember when the talking machine first
came out everybody bought one. Went crazy
over it for a month, then let it sit in a cor-
ner, silent and dusty. Then the radio came
along and the same thing is happening today.
Why? Because the music was not all there
on the phonograph and is not all there on
the radio, a few sets excepted. Then the
orthophonic Victor came along, able to re-
cord and reproduce every sound vibration the
ear can hear and the music is truly wonder-
ful. But it is no better than a theatre or-
chestra and it has no personality whatsoever.
I have installed a Phototone in my theatre
made by the Platter Cabinet at North Vernon,
Ind. A double disc arrangement using two
motors, electric pickups, a four tube flat curve
power pack and a 9-foot exponential type
horn. The reproduction is wonderful. You
can cue pictures perfectly and it's as new as
the latest record, and I wouldn't trade it for
a Vitaphone or Movietone tomorrow.
Mr. Lasky says he is going to synchronize
his first picture with a 60 piece orchestra.
I have that now and Paul Whiteman, John
Philip Sousa, Jesse Crawford and all the rest
of the artists from Victor, Brunswick and
Columbia besides. All in one picture, all for
$500, which is a lot of difference from $15,000.
Mr. Paramount, would you install this out-
fit in your Publix theatres? Of course, you
wouldn't, yet it is Vitaphone all over again
less the talking. Thank goodness !
* * *
Mr. P. A. Powers of the Powers Motion
Picture Company advises exhibitors to go slow
on buying equipment to synchronize. Well,
I should say so. Fifteen thousand bucks is
a lot of money for a couple of loud speakers,
a four or more tube power pack, a couple
of electric pickups, a plate to synchronize the
disc or tubes to take the sound vibration from
the film, with radio still in the experimental
stage.
Some of you old heads can remember in
the days of the first pictures when an orches-
tra consisted of a piano, violin and drum,
and they tried to reproduce every sound from
a train whistle to horses' hoofs on the cobble
stones and now history is repeating itself and
we're going to try it all over again.
We still have pictures with technical mis-
takes like "The Shepherd of the Hills" where
in it it rained with the sun shining. Now we
face the possibility of double mistakes. Ouch !
The producer knows what it costs to operate
the musical end of a theatre and I'm wonder-
ing if he isn't figuring how much of this
he can get in a synchronized film. A thou-
sand theatres maintaining a 60 piece orchestra
is a lot of money, but 1,000 theatres playing
canned music at higher film rentals. You
figure, I can't. Better keep your orchestra. —
Jay Gould, Alamo theatre, Plainfield, 111.
Hays and Laemmle Are
Now on West Coast;
Producers to Convene
(^Continued from page 38)
Honolulu and Europe this is a good place,
to remark that Carmel Meyers is remaining
at home. Some time ago a paper printed an
item that she might go abroad. She has
been harassed with queries ever since. She
declares emphatically that she has no hopes
or plans of leaving this country's studios.
Taurog Directing '
at Fox Studios
Norman Taurog is directing a picture at
Fox Film Corporation. The story is an
original. It is yet to be named and like the
Harold Lloyd com-
edies and the Buster
Keatons will proba-
bly not receive its
complete nomen un-
til the last frame has
been cranked and
the last title written.
Fact is Taurog
has been working on
the story only a
week and hasn't had
the time to think of
a working title.
What's the use of a
working title any-
how? So far as
we're concerned it
will remain the "Taurog Picture" until it
gets its own sure-fire box office title.
Taurog is an interesting personality. He
was one of the first we met when we came
here dustblown from Chicago. It was he
who lent the impression that Hollywood's
folk must be a crowd well worth knowing.
He left Educational where he had made
two reel comedies successfully for five
years. He decided two reelers were all
right but six reelers must be better. He was
determined to change strides at a time when
old time feature directors were finding jobs
extremely scarce. But he figured the whole
industry is a gamble. He is game.
The rest is brief.
He has worked constantly since he made
that decision. He has considerable to do
at the Fox lot. But he has contracted for
another picture upon the completion of the
one he is now working on.
Watch Taurog. His kind often does great
things.
* * *
Ray Rockett arrived in town last week.
His absence from Hollywood dates back to
1927. Interim he has enjoyed several months
in charge of affairs in the foreign field. Back
at the First National lot he has been in
constant conferences since his return.
Someone asked Hal Roach why he doesn't
go in for feature length comedies. He replied:
"Do you enjoy kissing your girl friend?"
Someone said. "Yes." And he said:
"You probably do for 15 or 20 minutes.
But what if you had to linger two hours on
the kiss?"
Don't bother about the answer to the last
question. Don't ask me what the answer to
the original question is. Who cares?
* * *
The following players — stars of another
day — have been cast for a picture "The
Chinatown Mystery."
Grace Cunard Sheldon Lewis
Ernest Shields George Chesb-o
Rosemary Theby Helen Gibson
Francis Ford Paul Panzer
William Clifford Frank Moran
Harry Meyers Jack Richardson
Frank Clark
A great list of 1913. Principal Pictures
has admirably gotten these people together
for one more big performance. J. P. Mc-
Gowan is directing them in a big serial be-
ing made at the Metropolitan studios.
Several of them are in big money nowa-
days. Harry Meyers Sheldon Lewis and
Paul Panzer are working in fine roles. Most
of them are probably a little heavier how-
ever than IS years ago and a little lined.
But whatever they are there are a good
many thousands of people who would like
to watch them do an old time serial again.
Pearl to Make Sales Trip
Dick Pearl enterprising and indefatigable
young protege of this and that Hollywood
luminary is packing up his duds for another
of those excursions into the ever welcome
East. His honor as "the youngest film ex-
ecutive in Hollywood" will accompany him.
_ In New York and other Eastern way sta-
tions he will limit himself to selling Burr-
Hines product to these and those exhibitors.
It's almost an annual jaunt and would easily
be so but for the fact that it has only been
been 10 months since Charley Burr brought
him to California to act as the B &H sales
head.
Other than Mr. Burr he has served as a
prodigious protege of Samuel Goldwyn,
Guy P. Morgan, James R. Grainger and
E. C. Grainger.
Norman Taurog
Behe Recovering
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— Bebe Daniels,
who was taken suddenly ill from influenza,
is resting easily, it is reported. Her con-
dition is not regarded as serious.
Ruth on Coast for Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 10.— Ruth Elder
arrived Sunday to begin work in a Para-
mount picture.
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
61
Y^
WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Verdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor
Copyright, 1928
Incorporated in this original exhibitors report department of Exhibitors Herald, which was estab-
lished October 14, 1916, is the Moving Picture World department, '^Straight from the Shoulder
Reports."
Columbia
FASHION MADNESS: Reed Howes— 30%. June
17. Better show than the name but no bills or her-
alds to show what it would be about, so they stayed
away but it was not our fault. The exchange sent
this as a substitute for "The Desert Bride" and
spoiled my Sunday business. Six reels. — Rudolf Duba,
Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
SO THIS IS LOVE: Shirley Mason— 31%. Juno
10. Fair. Six reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem
theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
SALLY IN OUR ALLEY: Shirley Mason— 8%.
June 12. Very, very good program picture which
was remembered and talked about for some time.
Well they can tell sometimes when they see a good
show at regular price but if we raise the admission
the attendance falls down no matter what we play.
Six reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.
— General patronage.
SALLY IN OUR ALLEY: Shirley Mason— June
ZT-M. A very fair picture. Six reels. — Mrs. C.
Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111. — Small town
patronage.
ALIAS THE LONE WOLF: Bert Lytell— 39%.
This picture is entirely too slow and draggy and the
entire plot is exposed long before the climax. Did
not please here at all. Six reels. — E. N. McFarland,
Pine Grove theatre. Port Huron, Mich. — Neighborhood
patronage.
THE TIGRESS: Jack Holt— June 24-25. A very
good picture, and Jack Holt is a favorite star. Six
reels. — Mrs. 0. Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove, III.
— Small town patronage.
THE TIGRESS: Jack Holt— Here is a good pro-
gram picture that pleased and also brought them in
at the same time. Six reels. — E. N. McFarland,
Pine Grove theatre. Port Huron, Mich. — Neighborhood
patronage.
BROADWAY DADDIES: Special cast— It's a
pleasure to get a show like this one. Pleased every-
one best of all it's not to long. Six full reels and
every foot good, most pictures are ruined by putting
to much footage in them. You will hear many
favorable comments when you show this one. Six
reels. — ^A. Mitchell, Dixie theatre, Russellville, Ky. —
General patronage.
THE MATINEE IDOL: Johnny Walker— May
30-31. One of the best Columbia has ever made.
Plenty of laughs. Business very decent. Six reels.
— P. J. Levesque, Acadia theatre, Rumford, Me. —
Small town patronage.
FB 0
BREED OF SUNSETS: Bob Steele— 10%. June 7.
Good little show for the Western' fans. Bob is
good and is coming ahead to the front. Everyone
is better, keep it up. Bob. Five reels. — Rudolf Duba,
Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
THE HARVESTER: Special cast— 50%. June 24.
Very good show from Gene Stratton Porter's book
which pleased them all. Poor print, too foggy and
dark. Eight reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
Editor's Note
Percentage ratings given by ex-
hibitors in reports to this depart-
ment are obtained in the following
manner: Average daily gross of
picture reported is divided by
average daily gross of picture hold-
ing house record to determine
relative box office value in terms
of percentage.
EXAMPLE: $75 (average daily
gross of picture reported) divided
by $100 (average daily gross of
picture holding house record)
equals .75 (percentage rating given
picture in report) .
When a picture has received
percentage ratings in 10 reports it
is entered in THE BOX OFFICE
TICKER column of "Quick Ref-
erence Picture Chart."
BREED OF COURAGE: Riinger- 29%. May 22.
Good average dog picture. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime
theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
CONEY ISLAND: Lois Wilson— 19%. May 23-24.
Pretty fair story, one very hot dance number. — Roy
W. Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. — General
patronage.
SKINNER'S BIG IDEA: Bryant Washburn— 40%.
May 29. Just so-so. Half this percentage should be
credited to the Lindbergh News Reel, put out by
Universal. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason,
Mich. — General patronage.
LITTLE MICKEY GROGAN: Frankie Darro—
26%. June 26. The kid is clever, and the story is
not so worse. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre.
Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
THE COWARD: Warner Baxter— 30%. June
17-18. Some awful loose stitches in this story, but
it seemed to get by. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre,
Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
THE BOY RIDER: Buzz Barton— 28%. June 5.
My first with this kid, and he's good. It clicked
with the Western fans. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime the-
atre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
THE TEXAS TORNADO: Tom Tyler— Good
Western for Saturdays. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre,
Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
THE CHEROKEE KID: Tom Tyler— June 27-28.
I am not giving this a percentage rating as I
double-featured it with "Cheating Cheaters." It isn't
so hot, some riding and shooting but not much story.
— Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. —
General patronage.
LITTLE MICKEY GROGAN: Frankie Darro—
June 19. A very good picture. This little star in
my estimation is far better than Jackie Coogan. Six
reels.— Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111.
— Small town patronage.
RED RIDERS OF CANADA: Patsy Ruth Miller-
June 20-21. Good picture of North country. Scenery
fine, story good. Seven reels.— P. G. Estee, S. T.
theatre, Parker, S. D. — Small town patronage.
First National
THE LITTLE SHEPHERD OF KINGDOM COME:
Richard Barthelmess — 74%. June 29. Here is a pic-
ture for the general audience that can't be beat and
the readers of the book will all be there. We ran
this in a down pour of rain only one night and it
holds the record for any day's business during the
week. It's a special as specials are now classed.
Seven reels. — E. N. McFarland, Pine Grove theatre.
Port Huron, Mich. — Neighborhood patronage.
BURNING DAYLIGHT: Milton Sills- 30%. June
21-22-23. What a picture for the small town. Sill's
best since "Men of Steel." Sill's does some wonder-
ful acting in this drama of the Klondike gold rush,
and Stone furnishes some rich comedy. Everyone in
this country is crazy over mining and this subject
is most timely for me. Seven reels. — Stan Kennedy,
Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
VALLEY OF THE GIANTS: Milton Sills— 54%.
June 24-25. This will please them and it drew very
well against the first real summer we have had up
here. Eight reels. — E. N. McFarland, Pine Grove
theatre. Port Huron, Mich. — Neighborhood patronage.
LADIES NIGHT IN A TURKISH BATH : Maekaill-
Mulhall— 25%. June 28-29-30. This seemed to please
the crowd but personally I cannot hand it much. It's
just one of those strange happenings that an ex-
hibitor calls punk and yet the public eats up. I'm
satisfied. Seven reels. — Stan Kennedy, Central the-
atre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town patronage.
HARDBOILED HAGGERTY: Milton Sills— 10%.
June 26. Just a picture. Not much to it. This is
the kind that will do more damage than good to a
star like Sills. Sills should be kept in clean and good
shows. Soma of the scenes should be cut and it
would cleanse the smutty scenes in it. Eight reels. —
Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.— Gen-
eral patronage.
SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS: Special cast^-80%.
Dandy picture that clicks at the box office. Eight
reels. — Harold Kortes, Sun theatre, Plainwell, Mich.
■ — General patronage.
THE LIFE OP RILEY: Murray-Sidney— 33%. May
20-21. Good comedy. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime the-
atre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
THE RED RAIDERS: Ken Maynard — 42%. May
lS-19. A good historical Western, with daring stunt
riding. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason,
Mich. — General patronage.
HAPPINESS AHEAD: Colleen Moore — Just a pro-
gram offering. Not much to it. Certainly it will not
add to the reputation of Colleen for knockout com-
edies as in the past. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia the-
atre, Columbia City, Ind. — General patronage.
CANYON OF ADVENTURE: Ken Maynard— This
one alright for Saturday, but not as good as some of
Maynard's that we have run. — A Mitchell, Dixie the-
atre, Russellville, Ky. — Geneial patronage.
FLYING ROMEOS: Sidney-Murray— This picture
pulled about one half average Sunday business in
fine weather and with no competition. In explana-
tion I was surprised to be told that "We are fed
up on those birds," and comments to that effect.
Personally had a good laugh on the picture but
thought the finish weak. — Geo. E. Fuller, The Play-
house theatre, Fairhope, Ala. — Small town patronage.
THREE RING MARRIAGE: Astor-Hughes— A
program picture of circus life. — J. L. Seiter, Selma
theatre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
NO PLACE TO GO: Hughes-Astor — Just a very
ordinary picture neither good or bad. If you have
nothing else to do or no place to go it will fill in
the time and that is about all it is. Just a filler.
Seven reels. — -W. H. Goodroad, Strand theatre. War-
ren. Minn. — General patronage.
THE NOOSE: Richard Barthelmees — June 22-23.
A very fine picture which held and pleased even
the Saturday out of door lovers. Seven reels. — P.
G. Estee, S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D.— Small town
patronage.
ROSE OF THE GOLDEN WEST: Special cast—
From reports thought that this would be a lemon but
it is a good show and one that will draw at the box-
office. No kicks at all and some good comments. —
A. Mitchell, Dixie theatre, Russellville, Ky. — Gen-
eral patronage.
Fox
SEVENTH HEAVEN: Gaynor-Farrell— 45%. June
21-22, Fine special which pleased fair but did not
draw as much as we thought it would. Just took
in' enough to pay film rental and advertising. Well.
we are glad it's all over with the wares. Twelve
reels.— Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.
— General patronage.
THE ESCAPE: Valli-Rus6ell^4%. June 29-30.
All fed up with booze runners, cabaret dancers and
gang fighters. Virginia escapes to the country and
spends the rest of her life kissing the hero and feed-
ing the pigs. This happy ending is tacked on in
the last ten feet of film. Virginia gives a fine,
sincere performance. Bill Russell is satisfactory
villianous, Nancy Drexel and George Meeker are
good. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich.
— General patronage.
A GIRL IN EVERY PORT: Victor MacLaglen
— 37%. June 10-11. Funny but awfully rough. —
Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre, Mason, Mich. — Gen-
eral patronage.
LOVE HUNGRY: Lois Moran— 18%. June 12.
A title like this would kill any picture in my town.
It's not a bad little comedy drama. — Koy W. Adams,
Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
PUBUCITY MADNESS: Special cast— 37%. June
7. Just a fair program that won't draw but will
please most of them. Six reels. — E. N. McFarland,
Pine Grove theatre. Port Huron, Mich. — Neighborhood
patronage.
THE BRANDED SOMBRERO: Buck Jones— 44%.
June 1-2. Fair Jones Western. — Roy W. Adams,
Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
THE BRANDED SOMBREO: Buck Jones— Good
Western for Saturdays. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre,
Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
SILVER VALLEY: Tom Mix— 50%. June 22-23.
The usual Mix stuff, and it satisfied the Mix fans.
• — Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre, Mason, Mich. —
General patronage.
SHARP SHOOTERS: George O'Brien— 50%. This
is indeed a funny one of a sailor's life. People well
pleased. — St. Peters Bros., Ritz theatre, Correction-
ville, la. — General patronage.
EAST SIDE. WEST SIDE: Special cast— 30%.
Fortunately it rained. Eight thousand feet of the
credcst melodrama ever perpetuated on an exhibitor
and an unsuspecting public. Continuity is of the
1914 vintage and we paid for a special. The dramatic
scenes evoked laughter. George O'Brien's emotional
scenes are similar to a burlesque we once saw on
"Madame X." — George Cohen, Princess theatre. West
Union, la. — General patronage.
LOVES OF CARMEN: McLaglen-Del Rio— 48%.
June 10-11. People as they walked out were indeed
mad, felt ashamed of the picture. Had some of the
people from a neighboring town, and they and a
number of others walked out before it was finished.
Played on Sunday and Monday. If you want to hold
the people do not show this as it hurt our business.
Very raw. — St. Peters Bros., Ritz theatre, Correc-
tionville, la. — General patronage.
WHAT PRICE GLORY: Special cast— 40%. June
25-26-27. Head and shoulders over any war drama
we have run. Excellently produced and acted.
McLaglen, Del Rio and Lowe do some splendid work.
Receipts were not large for a special, but the
weather was terribly warm. Twelve reels. — Stan
Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. —
Small town patronage.
THE GAY RETREAT: Ted McNamara— Just a
frothy light comedy with plenty of laughs. Six reels.
— Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz.
— General patronage.
BLOOD WILL TELL: Buck Jones— June 23. Will
please the Buck] Jones fans. Drew good business
and pleased. A Western' with enough action to make
it entertaining. Five reels.— R. Pfeiffer, Princess
theatre, Chilton, Wis. — General patronage.
CHAIN LIGHTNING: Buck Jones— June 26. Buck
Jones is a favorite Western star with my patrons
and they liked this one and told me so as they passed
out. Five reels. — Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre. Villa
Grove, 111. — Small town patronage.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
THE CROWD: Eleanor Boardman— 45%. April
20-21. This picture is more true to life than any we
have run here. People well pleased, those who saw
it. — St. Peters Bros., Ritz theatre, Correctionville,
la. — General patronage.
UNDER THE BLACK EAGLE: Flash— 32%. June
24-25. We consider the print we got to be defective,
as a good part of it was absolutely impervious to
liglit, and this seriously marred what would other-
v/ise have been a good picture. Program grade but
a little out of the ordinary and our patronage
fairly eat these dog pictures. Flash is darn good.
Nothing different! But the two Flash pictures we
have had were both dark. People here will soon as-
sociate dark with M G M. Seven reels. — Tivenan &
Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town
patronage.
THE ADVENTURER: Tim McCoy— 22%. June
27-28. Poor print, which is unusual from Metro.
First two reels were a weird combination of old and
new film. Impossible to run at uniform speed with
our power. Rotten splices. The picture ? — Well, call
it fair. Too short for a single feature show and
don't believe it added anything to the lustre of the
name of Tim McCoy. Five reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe,
Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patron-
age.
LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT: Lon Chaney—
50%. June 24-25. My people enjoyed two delight-
fully fearful evenings with this spooky, awesome
thing. Chaney has a pleasing role as the detective,
and did better business than usual for me. — Roy W.
Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. — General pat-
ronage.
THE ENEMY: Lillian Gish— 30%. April 25-26.
Very poor drawing card, did not even pay the film
rental. One of Metro's specials, but those specials
that are a flop. If you want to lose money, play
this as we lost over $35.00 on it. — St. Peters Bros.,
Ritz theatre, Correctionville, la. — General patronage.
THE LATEST FROM PARIS: Norma Shearer—
30%. June 18-19-20. Excellent. In fact the best
picture I have had on Metro's program this year.
Smart and clean as a hound's tooth. Just what the
public wants today. Had many favorable comments
and did fair business in spite ot rainy weather all
during engagement. Eight reels. — Stan Kennedy,
Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
FRISCO SALLY LEVY: Sally O'Neil— 43%. June
3. Good program picture that pleased them gener-
ally, don't fail to play it. Satisfactory business.
Eight reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball,
S. D. — General patronage.
ADAM AND EVIL: Cody-Pringle— 44%. June
17. Very good comedy. Six reels. — Mrs. Hulda J.
Green Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General pat-
ronage.
THE BIG PARADE: John Gilbert— 62%. June
4-5-6. Good show that did not draw any business
for us, just mostly wasted three nights and a pic-
ture like this at that so write your own' ticket boys,
and don't pay too much for it. We never made
a cent and if we don't make money on a picture
like this what shall we play anyhow. Goodbye
Parade. This picture was not for my town. So
that's that. Metro got all the butter. Thirteen reete.
—Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.—
General patronage.
THE ACTRESS: Norma Shearer — Don't promise
anything on this one. It's rotten. Plenty of walk-
outs and to make it still more boresome they had
to put it in eight reels. — A. Mitchell, Dixie theatre,
Russellville, Ky. — General patronage.
BRINGING UP FATHER: Special cast— Fair. It
depends on what kind of an audience you have
whether or not this will go over for you. Refined
people will not like it. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre,
Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
DIAMOND HANDCUFFS: Eleanor Boardman—
June 20-21. Better not get your hopes up too high on
this one. — J. S. Walker, Texas theatre. Grand Prairie,
Tex. — Small town patronage.
BABY MINE: Dane-Arthur — "Baby Mine" is a
good picture to let lie. It isn't risque, it is just
plain vulgarity all the way. I had more criticism
on it than I have had on some of the more broad
sex stuff for some time back. It might go big in'
the cities but it is poison in a rural town house
where your trade are regulars and are not looking
for this type of picture. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia
theatre, Columbia City, Ind. — General patronage.
CIRCUS ROOKIES: Dane- Arthur— Poor. This is
another dead comedy team. — J. L. Seiter, Selma
theatre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
IN OLD KENTUCKY: Special casl^-June 17-18.
Not worth the rental but it is a good program pic-
ture and will please majority. — R. Pfeiffer, Princess
theatre, Chilton, Wis. — General patronage.
THE BIG CITY: Lon Chaney— June 18-19. Good.
— J. S. Walker, Texas theatre. Grand Prairie, Tex. —
Small town patronage.
THE LOVELORN: Sally O'Neil^Iune 20. A
Beatrice Fairfax story which is fair entertainment
but did not draw. — R. Pfeiffer, Princess theatre,
Chilton, Wis. — General patronage.
WICKEDNESS PREFERRED: Cody-Pringle— Sad
waste of celleloid for small towns. — Geo. E. Fuller,
The Playhouse theatre, Fairhope, Ala. — Small town
patronage.
WICKEDNESS PREFERRED: Cody-Pringle—
very, very poor. It has aboslutely nothing, no story,
no acting. You can't fool the movie public with
this kind. They told us it was rotten. — J. L. Seiter,
Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
TELL IT TO THE MARINES: Lon Chaney—
Rather long but seemed to interest the audience.
Certainly cannot be classed as a big picture and It
gave us nothing new or original. No outstanding
part in this. Chaney-Haines and Eleanor Boardman
had nothing but light easy parts to portray and
maybe that was what held the people's interest.
They just acted human parts naturally. Ten reels. —
Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. —
General patronage.
Paramount
THE GAY DEFENDER: Richard Dix— 71%. June
3. Good picture and think it did Dix good to appear
in this kind of a role. Well liked here. Six reels. —
E. N. McFarland, Pine Grove theatre. Port Huron,
Mich. — Neighborhood patronage.
THE SHOWDOWN: George Bancroft— 25%. June
14. Good. Eight reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem
theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
THE SHOWDOWN: George Bancroft— Here Is a
picture that probably points a moral but it's sordid
and depressing. The people do not like to hear the
truth exemplified sometimes and while the cast and
story held an attentive audience yet it did not send
them home with a pleasant taste in their mouth.
Seven reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tomb-
stone, Ariz. — General patronage.
A WOMAN ON TRIAL: Pola Negri— 42%. June
6. This is a picture too deep for the average audi-
ence but is surely well made and the work of Miss
No Losses Xn the Box Office
ICKET REGISTEI^
Automatic Ticket
Register Corp.
7235EVENTH Ave.New York
Julv 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
63
Negri was wonderful. Rather sad. Well liked here
with the few that eaw it. Seven reels. — E. N.
McFarland, Pine Grove theatre. Port Huron, Mich. —
Neighborhood patronage.
UNDERWORLD: George Bancroft— 49%. June
4-5. A great picture and well liked by the small
crowd that we had, but played against a circus just
across the street. Bancroft did some real work in
this picture. Played it up big. Seven reels. — E. N.
McFarland, Pine Grove theatre, Port Huron, Mich. —
Neighborhood patronage.
UNDERWORLD: George Bancroft— 35%. Fine
underworld picture, but paid too much for it. Para-
mount sure holds us up and their pictures don't get
us extra business they claim they will. Goodbye
Paramount unless they change their ways. — Harold
Kortes. Sun theatre, Plainwell, Mich. — General pat-
ronage.
OLD IRONSIDES: Special cast— 46%. June 10-11.
Very good show, but not worth the double admis-
sion' we had to charge on a percentage engagement.
Well worth seeing by the best of patrons you get
in your theatre but admission should be only about
ten cents more than regular, but here we had to
charge twenty-five and fifty cents and that was too
much to get in very big crowds. Eight reels. —
Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.— General
patronage.
GET YOUR MAN: Clara Bow— 53%. June 23.
Clara's best to our notion. It's very good. Six
reels.^Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver,
Utah. — General patronage.
A GENTLEMAN OF PARIS: Adolphe Menjou—
17%. June 22. Fair program picture that won't do
the business. And it's a wasted playdate here. Six
reels. — E. N. McFarland, Pine Grove theatre. Port
Huron, Mich. — Neighborhood patronage.
BEAU SABREUR: Gary Cooper— 61%. June
21-22. Very good but not a special. Seven reels. —
Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah.
— General patronage.
ROUGH HOUSE ROSIE: Clara Bow— 10%. June
14. Well, Clara is all right in pictures like "It"
but I don't think that they will make another show
like "It" for sometime. AH the best stars won't
be worth a hoop if producers won't give them the
right kind of storys. "Rough House Rosie" failed
to draw the first night so we let it go at one night's
run and nothing lost but money. Six reels. — Rudolf
Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General pat-
ronage.
TWO FLAMING YOUTHS: Fields-Conklin— 52%.
June 9. Very good comedy. Six reels. — Mrs. Hulda
J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General
patronage.
CASEY AT THE BAT: Wallace Beery— 20%.
June 23. Very well. Comical show which made
'em laugh all over the house. Plenty of fast action
and all the comedy good. Six reels. — Rudolf Duba,
Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
THE WAY OF ALL FLESH: Emil Jannings-
90%. This is one of the greatest pictures of its kind
ever screened. This kind sure goes over in this
town. Give us more like it. — Harold Kortes, Sun
theatre, PlainWell, Mich. — General patronage.
SERENADE: Adolphe Menjou— 39%. June 16.
Fair. Six reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre,
Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
DOOMSDAY: Florence Vidor— This will get by
but not suited for Miss Vidor. Not enough class. —
A. Mitchell, Dixie theatre, Russellville, Ky. — General
patronage.
THE STREET OF SIN: Emil Jannings— June
21-22. A good picture but not in the class with
the "Way of All Flesh." Too rough for the average
audience. Picture shows life in the slums of Lon-
don.— R. Pfeiffer, Princess theatre, Chilton, Wis. —
General patronage.
NEVADA: Gary Cooper— June 23. They pre-
served the names of the characters in Grey's book
but nothing more when they made this average
Western. Seven reels. — J. S. Walker, Texas theatre.
Grand Prairie, Tex. — Small town patronage.
SPORTING GOODS: Richard Dix— A good pro-
gram picture. — A. Mitchell, Dixie theatre, Russell-
ville, Ky. — General patronage.
THE LAST WALTZ: Special cast— June 19. A
very good German made picture which pleased all. —
R. Pfeiffer, Princess theatre, Chilton, Wis. — General
patronage.
A NIGHT OF MYSTERY: Adolphe Menjou— Just
a program. This star don't mean a thing to our
box-oflSce. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. —
General patronage.
PARTNERS IN CRIME: Berry-Hatton— Fairly
good. This team does not produce enough laughs. — -
J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General
patronage.
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
NELIGH, NEB., July 4, 1928.
DEAR HERALD-WORLD:
There isn't going to be much picture talk in this letter for this is Independence Day and
we should try as much as possible to forget our troubles and rejoice that Patrick Henry
shouted, "Give me liberty or give me death," so loud that it jarred the foundation walls
in Effingham Palace and made the Kaiser of Germany remove his pipe and say, "Veil, vot
you know aboud dot, mine Got in Himmel, vos is?"
This is not intended as a Fourth of July oration. Were it intended as such we would
have it proceeded by a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Reginald De Pyster
of the eight grade and by a renditon of "America" and "The Star Spangled Banner" by
the Silver Cornet Band from Smith's Corners. No, we are too full of enthusiasm and our
wife's pancakes to wait for all that.
We can remember away back (and this will prove that our memory is good) when we
arose at 4 a. m., went out to our father's blacksmith shop near Niles, Mich., turned the
anvil upside down, filled the hole in the bottom with powder, placed another anvil on
top of it and touched the powder off with a red hot nail rod and blew the roof off the
shop and a kind Providence directed the flying missels away from our gourd and thus
saved us for the good of posterity. (AU right, laugh if you want to, it's all right with us.)
And when Ring Lardner would shoot firecrackers in the morning and go fishing for
suckers in the St. Joe river in the afternoon, and Ring has been catching suckers ever
since.
John Adams once said, "We ought to observe the day with pomp, shows, games, sports,
guns, bonfires and illuminations from this time on forever," but John failed to include
fishing and therein omitted the best part of the program. To our mind no celebration
program is complete that does not include a few hours of bass fishing. The political
enemies of Grover Cleveland accused him of going fishing on Decoration Day, and if
the season opened on that day we don't blame him. Grover showed good judgment, and
if he were a candidate for president today we might be for him (we said we "might") for
we hold that it is a darn sight better to go fiishing than to work up a sweat lugging some
gum chewing Lucy aroimd a bowery floor, as is the custom today.
Two years ago today we spent the day driving the highway between Ft. Dodge and
Dubuque, la. The next day we drove into Niles, Mich., where we left the family and
took the train into Chicago and went to the HERALD office and offered to remove Bill
Weaver's corns and bunyons free of charge, but he wouldn't let us. A year ago today we
spent the day in Valley City, N. D., and in the evening John Piller, of the Filler Grand,
took us to his house for dinner, and when we say dinner we don't mean lunch. When
Ma Piller puts up a dinner there is nothing about it that suggests a shortage of the
requisites for a banquet. John opened a couple and we didn't have the heart to refuse.
That was a year ago today, but today our wife points to the faucet and says, "Have one
on the city." That goes to show how liberal she is with the city's property.
Last night we had a big rain all over this section of the state and it makes Nebraska
look like the Garden of Eden, only the apples are not ripe. If Adam were here today
he'd have to eat cherries and mulberries and the box alder leaves are hardly broad
enough to make a proper costume for Eve, although she would appear well dressed in
some of the pictures. Tragsdorf, of Neillsville, Wis., says, "The smaller the leaves the
better they look," and Gailey. of Wayne, Neb., says, "Cut the leaves," and Crockett Brown,
of Nashwauk, Minn., said, "They have."
Every time we think of that gathering at Alexandria we think of a lot of things we
would like to tell you about but can't. If we were to give you the lowdown on Will Whit-
more of BETTER THEATRES we wotdd be betraying a confidence, a thing we cannot
do, but if there was a lady between 16 and 30 that didn't pose for a picture for Will it
was because she didn't get her makeup on in time, or because she didn't live in Alex-
andria. There isn't an eligible lady in Alexandria that hasn't figured out the exact dis-
tance between that city and Chicago, which goes to prove how popular BETTER THE-
ATRES is.
Then there was Gailey, but Gailey swore vengence on us if we mentioned "bullheads"
{Continued on next page)
SWIM, GIRL, SWIM: Bebe Daniels— June 24.
A very light comedy drama of college life which
pleased majority and drew good business spite of
heavy rain. — R. Pfeiffer, Princess theatre, Chilton,
Wis. — General patronage.
THE COVERED WAGON: Special cast— June
25-26. Re-issues never go over big in my town and
the "Covered Wagon" was no exception. Was a big
money maker years ago but it failed at the box-
office this time. Pleased those that turned out. Eight
reels. — R. Pfeiffer, Princess theatre, Chilton, Wis. —
General patronage.
Pathe-P D C
THE LEOPARD LADY: Special cast— 30%.
Dandy picture but I just can't get them in on a
Pathe feature. — Harold Kortes, Sun theatre. Plain-
well, Mich. — General patronage.
THE FIGHTING EAGLE: Rod LaRocqu^l4%.
June 17. Good picture that did not draw and was
too long. Nine reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem
theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
THE MILLION DOLLAR HANDICAP: Vera
Reynolds — 23%. June 22-23. Very good program
offering to poor business. Pleased those who saw
it. Good light print, but all cut up and filled with
splices. We are saps to pay for the privilege of
showing pictures to these scanty hot weather audi-
ences. No business at all. Distributors get all the
gravy and we only get the dirty dishes. Six reels.—
Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. —
Small town patronage.
SKYSCRAPER: William Boyd— June 4-5. Boyd is
very popular here. Picture very good. Whole cast
fine. Don't be afraid to boost it. Seven reels. —
P. J. Levesque, Acadia theatre, Rumford, Me.^
Small town patronage.
CHICAGO: Phyllis Haver— April 23-24. Business
was very good first day. Picture disappointed. Sec-
ond day fell off badly. Eight reels. — P. J. Levesque,
Acadia theatre, Rumford, Me. — Small town patronage.
Rayart
THE MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY: James
Kirkwood — 25%. June 16. Good mystery show and
James Kirkwood and Lois Wilson put it over in
good shape. Interesting from start to finish. Busi-
ness better than expected as the serial of same title
was run here about eight years ago and people thought
it good. Six reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
64
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
{Continued from preceding page)
so in justice to him we will state that he caught some nice sunfish and a few perch and
insisted that our bass and walleyed pike were entirely too large for nice table fish. He
prefers the smaller variety.
There wasn't a fisherman in the bunch who could qualify in the same class with Frank
O'Hara, of Elgin, Neb. Frank went out fishing one morning and presently came running
back to the cabin all excited and out of breath and when we asked what was the matter
he replied, "May the Saints be praised, it's mesilf that is thankful to be alive, for I saw
a fish out there that was nine feet long if he was an inch and his back fin was as broad
as a bam dure and he was makin' right fur me hook and, knowin' I couldn't shwim, I
threw mc rod in the lake and run, and it's happy I am to be tellin' this tale." We patted
him on the back and said, "There, there, don't let a little thing like that excite you, we
told you not to take over three, that it would go to your head, but you would do it, but
don't mention this to the rest of the boys or they will all be out here looking for that
same fish and wanting to know where the bootlegger lives."
Micky Larson, of Oakland, Neb., was the Beau Brummel of the occasion, and it was a
tossup between him and Whitmore as to which would receive the greater number of in-
vitations to afternoon teas. As a heart smasher Micky is 100 per cent, and had it not been
for Nels Benson, of Oakland, who chaperoned him, he would have left a trail of wrecked
feminine hopes that would have been something awful. He's so careless that way, but as
it was he fished a little, played ping pong with the ladies and got out of town without any
breach of promise suits, due to the guiding influence of his chaperone.
P. G. Estee, of Parker, S. D., doesn't fish, play golf, dance nor drink pink lemonade,
but he's strong for Bermuda onions and limburger cheese. He says he had a royal time
and will be at the next convention if his "Hoot Gibson" can make it, and he thinks he
can.
Nebraska had the largest representation of any outside state, just as she always does,
and the only thing to mar the complete enjoyment of the occasion was the absence of
"Fishy" PhU, Bill Weaver and Eagle Eye Joe. These three boys ought to be ashamed of
themselves.
As we are writing this there is a big celebration on down at the city park and, judging
from the noise, they are trying to do justice to the occasion. The Clearwater band is
discoursing pleasing sounds, the young hopefuls are firing off crackers and the yelling
of the crowd indicates that some member of the home team has just slid to home plate
and tied the score. There was a time when we looked upon occasions of this kind with
100 per cent approval, but today we are willing to take it for granted that George did his
duty at Valley Forge and it doesn't matter to us whether Paul Revere rode a grey gelding
or a black mare. An occasion of this kind is duck soup for the kids and we are for 'em.
Billy Bradley has a "shooter gun," Joline has a new dolly that says "mama" and even
though they woke grandpa up before his accustomed time to show him these things the
day is not without its compensation, so let the eagle scream. She can whip the buzzard
any day of the week.
We thought of writing some poetry for this issue but Geneve said, "Now, Dad, don't
try to kid yourself that you are a James Whitcomb Riley, for you are not, and people
who read your poetry do so with a clothespin on their nose," so acting on her suggestion
we will leave a long suffering public to stiU suffer.
It wasn't our intention to say anything about pictures in this issue, but we saw one in
Longaker's theatre the other night that has made us wonder just who is responsible for
whatever entertainment we find on the screen. The picture, unless we are mistaken in the
title, was "A Lady of the Mob," with Clara Bow, and we have been wondering whether the
entertainment would have been worth the price without Clara Bow in it. It savored
largely of the underworld in theme and the direction was probably as good as it could
have been with the story material to work with. We vote it well done for the kind of a
picture it was, and we believe it will prove satisfactory to most audiences, but we believe
Clara Bow could do better things in a better story. Anyhow, that's the way we view things
and we are willing to admit that our knowledge of things ought not to have any influence
on you, and if you will be guided by what Thomas O. Service says about pictures you
will have a better understanding of what pictures should be. This is all the pie for this
time, there is no use waiting for any more.
J. C. JENKINS,
The HERALD-WORLD man.
United Artists
STEAMBOAT BILL, JR.: Buster Keaton~May
21-22. Too long. Just a fair picture. United
ArtietB get too much money for it. Business poor.
Seven reels.- — P. J. Levesque, Acadia theatre, Rum-
ford, Me. — Small town patronage.
SORRELL AND SON: Special cast— Wonderful
picture, but away above the average small town
audience. Did not pull. — Geo. E. Puller, The Play-
house theatre, Fairhope, Ala. — Small town patron-
age.
Universal
GALLOPING FURY: Hoot Gibson— 14%. June
13. Good Western from Hoot and nobody excited
over it, but satisfied all who saw it. Six reels. —
Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General
patronage.
A TRICK OF HEARTS: Hoot Gibson— 50%. May
25-26. A very thin story indeed. — Roy W. Adams,
Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
THE COUNT OF TEN: Charles Ray— 35%. June
15-16. Nothing new in this one. — Roy W. Adams,
Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
THE FOUR FLUSHER: George Lewis— 32%. Nice
little comedy with "The Collegians" cast — Roy W.
Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. — General pat-
ronage.
HEY, HEY, COWBOY: Hoot Gibson— 19%. June
20-21. "God said 'Let There Be Light and There
Was Light' " but not on' this picture. May have
been a good picture — quien sabe ? — too dark to tell.
Print must have been through the mill somewhere
some time as it certainly averaged one splice to
every six inches. Hoot draws good here but it don't
take many prints like this one to ruin him. Darn
shame to film a good picture and then send out such
a result. Six reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland
theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
SURRENDER: Mary Philbin— 45%. June 8-9.
War picture in an Austrian-Jewish setting. I didn't
enthuse over it much, but my people told me it was
pretty good. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre, Mason,
Mich. — General patronage.
ALIAS THE DEACON: Jean Hersholt— 37%. May
27-28. Very pleasing and satisfactory picture. Good
work by Hersholt and all concerned. — Roy W. Adams,
Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
THUNDER RIDERS: Ted Wells— 10%. June 20.
Very good show for small town. Ted is a good actor
and we think that he will make good. Five reels. —
Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — Gen-
eral patronage.
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME: Lon
Chaney — 54%. June 3-4. This is still a wonderful
picture, what's more to the point, I made more
money on it this time than I did on the first run. —
Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. —
General patronage.
STOP THAT MAN: Arthur Lake — June 17. Good
comedy drama of the lighter class. Six reels. —
P. G. Estee, S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D. — Small
town patronage.
THE COHENS AND KELLYS IN PARIS: George
Sidney — May 14-15. Not as good as "The Cohens
and Kellys" but good enough for any theatre. Busi-
ness very good. Eight reels. — P. J. Levesque, Acadia
theatre, R'umford, Me. — Small tovra patronage.
CHEATING CHEATERS: Betty Compson- June
27-28. Clever comedy-drama with a surprise end-
ing.— Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich.
— General patronage.
FINDERS KEEPERS: Laura La Plante — June 22.
As I had seen this mentioned several times in Mr.
Laemmle's column in Saturday Evening Post, was
all set, looking for something. I am looking yet!
Six reels. — J. S. Walker, Texas theatre, Grand
Prairie, Tex.- — Small town patronage.
LES MISERABLES: Special cast— April 30-May 1.
This is a very good picture. Business good. Lots
of French people here. Eight reels. — P. J. Levesque,
Acadia theatre, Rumford, Me. — Small town patron-
age.
Warner Bros.
THE HEART OF MARYLAND: Dolores Costello
— 19%. June 8-9. Good show, but too poor print
spoiled entertainment of the whole evening. Seven
reels.^Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. —
General patronage.
A RACE FOR LIFE: Rin Tin Tin — Rinty may
be old but when it comes to pulling power at the
box-office he is far ahead of the rest of the pack
of dog actors. This was a good story, well handled
and it pleased a good crowd. — Geo. E. Fuller, The
Playhouse theatre, Fairhope, Ala.— Small town pat-
ronage.
A RACE FOR LIFE: Rin Tin Tin— June 15-16.
Good program picture. — R. Pfeiffer, Princess theatre,
Chilton, Wis.^General patronage.
HAM AND EGGS AT THE FRONT: Heinie
Conklin — Just a fair picture. All right for second
feature. Seven reels. — ^P. J. Levesque, Acadia thea-
tre, Rumford, Me. — Small town patronage.
State Rights
THE PORT OF MISSING GIRLS: Barbara Bed-
ford— June 18-19. This is a good box office bet.
Give it lots of publicity. Title can't help pull them
in. Eight reels. — P. J. Levesque, Acadia theatre,
Rumford, Me. — Small town patronage.
RAGTIME: John Bowers— 8%. June 19. Good
program picture but not such a success as we
thought it would be. Small business for a good
picture that all liked who saw it. Seven reels. —
Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.— General
patronage.
Serials
THE HAUNTED ISLAND (Universal) : Just played
concluding chapter, and can say it is a high grade,
well produced serial of quality. It pulled and held
interest throughout. — Geo. E. Fuller, The Playhouse
theatre, Fairhope, Ala. — Small town patronage.
BLAKE OF SCOTLAND YARD: (Universal) Hay-
den Stevenson' — First chapter. Very good mystery
and suspense. Something different in the way of
serials from Universal. Comments from patrons very
good. Twelve chapters. — E. S. Wright, Redwood
theatre. Redwood, N. Y. — Small town patronage.
BLAKE OF SCOTLAND YARD: (Universal) Hay-
den Stevenson — "In' the Spider's Web," chapter 2.
Holds up well and looks like the best of the serials
Universal ever put out. More like it was made by
Pathe. Twelve chapters. — E. S. Wright, Redwood
theatre. Redwood, N. Y. — Small town patronage.
THE TRAIL OF THE TIGER: (Universal) Jack
Daugherty — First chapter of this serial is good and
July 14, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
65
should bring: them back next week. Two reels. —
Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah.
General patronage.
TRAIL OF THE TIGER: (Universal) Jack Daugh-
erty — One of the best serials ever made and Univeorsal
can be well proud of it. One of the best we've
played in years (excepting "The Vanishing Rider,"
Universal serial). Two reels. — George Khattar,
Khattar's theatre, Sydney, N. S., Canada. — General
patronage.
THE VANISHING RIDER: (Universal) William
Desmond — Boys, if you're looking for a box office
di-aw, get this latest Universal serial and if it do^n't
smash all your past records of serials then nothing
ever will. Each episode of "The Vanishing Eider" is
not only equal to but better than the average feature.
Any exhibitor who passes up this serial should make
an apology to his patrons. Local exhibitors are kick-
ing themselves for letting this serial pass without
making a fight for it. Two reels. — George Khattar,
Khattar's theatre, Sydney, N. S., Canada. — General
patronage.
THE VANISHING RIDER: (Universal) William
Desmond — The best serial yet! Sure draws and holds
the crowds. You can't go wrong on this serial. As
good as "The Riddle Rider" and "The Return of the
Riddle RJder." — Paul J. Durbin, Majestic theatre,
Peiry, 111. — General patronage.
Short Subjects
COLUMBIA
PAWNSHOP: Charlie Chaplin— Plenty of fun but
not worth the extra price asked for it by the ex-
change. Passed well. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba,
Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
EDUCA'nONAL
CROWN ME: Lupino Lane— A real laughable
comedy for a one reeler. One of those toothache
stories that always get a laugh. One reel. — Stan
Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. —
Small tovpn patronage.
HELLO SAILOR: Lupino Lane — Good snappy
comedy. — St. Peters Bros., Ritz theatre. Correction-
ville, la. — General patronage.
MONTY OF THE MOUNTED: Lupino Lane-
Good comedy. Lupino Lane always brings out a
few laughs. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal thea-
tre, Kimball, S. D.— General patronage.
TALES OF A TRAVELER. OHM, SWEET OHM,
SCIENCE TREASURE CHEST. GLOWING MONEY.
CAPERS OF CAMERA, POLY ICE: Felix— All are
worth showing. — St. Peters Bros, Ritz theatre. Cor-
rectionville, la. — General patronage.
FBO
ALL WASHED UP: Al Cooke— Very good comedy.
Just as good as "The Pacemakers" or any of the
previous series. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal
theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
MICKEY'S NINE: Dandy comedy for kiddies and
kept the old folks interested. Two reels. — Rudolf
Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General pat-
ronage.
PASSING THE HAT: Krazy Kat— Good cartoon
to make 'em laugh. One reel. — Rudolf Duba, Royal
theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
FOX
A COWS HUSBAND: A good title but just fair
comedy. — Harold Kortes, Sun theatre, Plainwell,
Mich. — General patronage.
METRO-GO LDWYN-MAYER
THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY: Laurel-Hardy
— ^It was, believe us ! More pies thrown in this
comedy than in any six others we ever saw. In
fact, too many to suit us personally. But all in all,
it was pretty fair comedy. Two reels. — Tivenan &
Wolfe, Sereenland theatre. Nevada, O. — Small town
patronage.
CAME THE DAWN: Max Davidson— Another ex-
cellent Davidson. All about a spooky house and it
sure makes 'em howl. Two reels. — Stan Kennedy,
Central theatre. Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
CRAZY HOUSE: Our Gang— Fair enough but
not above the average. Seemed to be a darker print
than these usually are. Not much to it until the
second reel. Two reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screen-
land theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
FAIR AND MUDDY: Our Gang— This is one of
their beet. — St. Peters Bros., Ritz theatre, Correc-
tionville, la.- — General patronage.
THE FINISHING TOUCH: Hardy-Laurel— Just a
comedy. Too much of foolish acting that was over-
done. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre. Kim-
ball, S. D. — General patronage.
THE FINISHING TOUCH: Hardy-Laurel— Good.
— J. L. Seiter. Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General
patronage.
GOLDEN FLEECES: Oddity— If all the prints
we received were up to the standard of these Ufa
produced Oddities ye would be in the seventh heaven
of delight. Certainly a pleasure to project such
clear, sharp pictures. The subject of this one was
sheep, setting Germany, so tied in well with "Under
the Black Eagle." One reel. — Tivenan & Wolfe,
Sereenland theatre, Nevada. O. — Small town patron-
age.
M-G-M NEWS: These seem to be getting better.
More variety and better photography than they had
for a while. However, we could stand our News
about thirty days fresher without any trouble. Like
green apples the newer the better, but green news-
reels don't have that after effect. One reel. — Tivenan
& Wolfe, Sereenland theatre, Neveda, O. — Small town
patronage.
ODDITIES: In my opinion these are the outstand-
ing quality short subjects of the screen. Uniformally
good and pleasing a variety. — Geo. E. Fuller, The
Playhouse theatre, Fairhope, Ala. — Small town pat-
ronage.
PURPLE MOMENTS: Laurel-Hardy— The first
weak one I have had from this pair. It is pretty
slow until the last four hundred feet. Two reels. —
Stan Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Can-
ada.—Small town patronage.
SHOULD WOMEN TELL: Max Davidson— Good
and lots of expression on Max's face. — St. Peters
Bros., Ritz theatre, Correctionville, la. — General pat-
ronage.
YALE VS. HARVARD: Our Gang— Not as good
as Our Gang usually do. — Harold Kortes, Sun thea-
tre, Plainwell. Mich. — General patronage.
LOVE 'EM AND FEED 'EM: Max Davidson^
This is the first knockout of a comedy from Metro.
The house was in an uproar for the full twenty
minutes of the run of this comedy. Give us more
like this one. Thanks, Metro. Two reels. — Rudolf
Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General pat-
ronage.
MERO-GOLDWYN-MAYER COMEDIES: Are just
average comedies. You may get a good one every
fifth, but they are all alike. Two reels. — H. Karlen,
Karlen theatre, Monticello, Wis. — General patronage.
YALE VS. HARVARD: Our Gang— Not half as
good as the old Pathe Our Gangs. Metro doesn't
make good feature comedies, let alone short subjects.
Two reels. — Paul J. Durbin, Majestic theatre. Perry,
111. — General patronage.
PARAMOUNT
DAD'S CHOICE: Edward Everett Horton— Good
comedy which was well received. Two reels. — R'udolf
Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patron-
age.
FIND THE KING: Edward Everett Horton— Very
good. Two reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem thea-
tre, Greenriver. Utah. — General patronage.
MAD SCRAMBLES: Neal Burns— Just like the
title and all scrambled. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba,
Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
OCEAN BLUES: Jimmie Adams— Nothing much
to this one. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
SHORT SOCKS: A good comedy— Harold Kortes,
Sun theatie, Plainwell, Mich. — General patronage.
SPLASH YOURSELF: Bobby Vernon— Good. Two
reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Green-
river, Utah. — General patronage.
SPLASH YOURSELF: Bobby Vernon— Just lots
of excitement. Not many laughs at that, only yells
every once in' a while. Two reels. — -Rudolf Duba,
Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
PATHE
BE YOUR AGE : Charlie Chase — Good. Two reels.
—Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver,
Utah. — General patronage.
CAPTAIN KIDD'S KIDS: Harold Lloyd— Good.
Run this if you can. — St. Peters Bros., Ritz theatre,
Correctionville, la. — General patronage.
THE COLLEGE KIDDO: Very good— J. L. Seiter,
Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
45 MINUTES FROM HOLLYWOOD: Glenn Tryon
— Good. Two reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem thea-
tre. Greenriver, Utah — General patronage.
GRANDMA'S BOY: Harold Lloyd— June 13-14.
This ifi still a good old comedy, and paid for itself
on my two poorest nights. — -Roy W. Adams, Pastime
theatre. Mason. Mich. — General patronage.
PERIL OF PETERSBORO: Alice Day— Good.
Two reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre,
Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
SHOULD A MASON TELL: Charlie Chase— This
is a poor comedy, even the Masons who saw it called
it rotten. — St. Peters Bros., Ritz theatre, Correction-
ville, la. — General patronage.
SMITH'S FISHING TRIP: A real comedy. A
roar from start to finish. Two reels. — Harold Kortes,
Sun theatre, Plainwell, Mich. — General patronage.
WHAT WOMEN DID FOR ME: Charlie Chase-
Good comedy. — St. Peters Bros., Ritz theatre, Cor-
rectionville, la. — General patronage.
UNIVERSAL
BACK TO NATURE: Arthur Lake — Nice laughs
from Arthur Lake, good clean entertainment. One
reel.— Rudolf Duba. Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. —
General patronage.
BUSTER'S WHIPPET RACE: Nothing to get
excited about. A flock of kids and a pack of dogs
cavorting around the landscape according to accepted
rules for comedy. Drew the usual modicum of
guaffaws and no kicks, so suppose we'll have to
okay it. Second reel of this print dark. Two reels.
— Tivenan & Wolfe. Sereenland theatre. Nevada, O. —
Small town patronage.
THE COLLEGIANS: These are the best shorts
that we can get hold of. If you advertise them
they will pull in the younger set. Two reels. —
E. N. McFarland, Pine Grove theatre. Port Huron.
Mich.^ — Neighborhood patronage.
THE COLLEGIANS: Second series — These com-
pare pretty well with the first series. I have played
five, and "Samson at Calford" is the only poor one.
— Roy W. Adams. Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. —
General patronage.
HOT AIR: Puffy — Here is one dandy single reeler.
The guy who flew the plane in this sure knew his
onions. One reel. — Stan Kennedy, Central theatre.
Selkirk. Man.. Canada. — Small town patronage.
KEEPING IN TRIM: Ike and Mike — Just a com-
edy which made a fair filler. Two reels. — Rudolf
Duba. Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patron-
age.
RIDING FOR GOLD: Good two reel Western to
make the show a good combination. — Rudolf Duba,
Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
TOO MUCH SLEEP: Just fair. Too much the
same thing over and over. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba,
Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
A TOTAL LOSS: I have been playing Gump for
three years Sunday and Monday. But people stay
away until the comedy is over. They now say they
da. not like Gumps, too suggestive and impossible
stories. If Andy wants the "low down" on' it, write
me ! — Geo. E. Fuller, The Playhouse theatre. Fair-
hope, Ala. — Small town patronage.
MAN OF LETTER: "Let George Do It" series
This one passed by as a good comedy. Two reels. —
Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General
Patronage.
THE PARTY MAN: Charles Puffy— A fair single
reel. No more. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Sel-
kirk, Man., Canada. — Small town patronage.
RUSHING BUSINESS: Sid Taylor— A few laugh«
but not much story or new gags. The same stuff
all the time. Two reels. — E. S. Wright, Redwood
theatre. Redwood, N. Y. — Small town patronage.
SNOOKUMS CLEANS UP: Good comedy. Two
reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
SOCIETY BREAKS: One of the first of "Keepin*
Up With the Jones" series. Very good and a laugh
getter. Two reels. — E. S. Wright, Redwood theatre.
Redwood, N. Y. — Small town patronage.
SOME PETS: Arthur Lake— Pretty good one
reeler. Arthur has plenty of pep in this one. One
reel. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. —
General patronage.
MISCELLANEOUS
ALWAYS LATE: Winnie Winkle— Have run sev-
eral of these, Winnie Winkle with Perry Winkle
and gang, and they certainly get the laughs. They
are full of gags and real honest mischievous fan
that brings down the house. Two reels. — John W.
Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Coming, Ark. — General
patronage.
BABY FACES: Al All^-Exceptionally good tor
this star. Lota of laughs in this one. Two reels. —
John W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark. —
General patronage.
66
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 14, 1928
Y^
CHICAGO PERSONALITIES
By Whit
CHICAGO will henceforth be seen and heard throughout the world through
the medium of Movietone News, for a Movietone News production unit
is now stationed here to catch all the "see and hear" news that may
transpire. The entire equipment is contained in a motor truck which may be
rushed to any spot where news is breaking. Ralph Bitner, who handles the,
sound production, and Charles Downs, cameraman, are in charge of the Movie-
tone News unit.
Should they be in need of subjects, we sug-
gest that they tie up with some Chicago gun-
men for a murder scene. Doubtless any one
of Chicago's first rate murderers would be
glad to arrange a nice little killing, and just
think how thrilling the rat-tat-tat of machine
guns and the death crj' of a racketeer would
sound over Movietone ! We make no charge
for the suggestion.
"Chicago swelters in worst heat wave of
the year," reads the papers and Saturday at
the M-G-M exchange we saw one girl sans
stockings and another with a charming ef-
fect of stockings rolled below the knees.
Well, we are for it — merely in the interest of
comfort, of course.
s{: ^ ^
The boys at F B O sent a beautiful bouquet
of flowers to Miss Sue Adams, F B O's
"hello girl," who is in the Mercy hospital re-
cuperating from an operation. She will be
pleased to know that she will find a new
switchboard when she returns.
^ ^ ^
Adam Durenback of the Grand, at Whea-
ton, is spending a couple of weeks in Wis-
consin and fishing is occupying most of his
time, 'tis said.
^ ^ ^
The film row was grieved to hear of the
death of Mrs. Charles Lundgren last Thurs-
day, and of the death last week of Mrs. Harry
O'Brien.
* * ^
Alexander Pantages was in town Saturday
and with him was George Hickey, division
manager of the West Coast for M-G-M.
* * *
The Lynch circuit of theatres has contracted
for the 100 per cent program of M-G-M for
next year, according to Frank Ishmael.
* * ^
Miss Ruby Dorfman, cashier for the Tif-
fany-Stahl exchange in Minneapolis, and M.
W. Sgutt, of Minneapolis, visited Bill Brum-
berg Saturday. Sgutt, who was with Uni-
versal in Chicago for a number of years, is
now in the cosmetics business.
* * *
Vitaphone is being installed in the Rialto
theatre at Champaign and the Fisher theatre
at Danville.
* * *
C. E. Maberry, sales manager and Abe
Fischer, Mid West division manager, of
Columbia, were in town Saturday.
DO YOUR PROJECTORS NEED
REPAIRING?
Guercio & Barthel, Dept. A
1018 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago
Superior Workmanship. 1 Day Service if
required. Relief heads furnished gratis.
The People's theatre in Chicago has been
taken over by Israel and Jesselson, who
now operate the Waverly and Halsted
theatres.
'¥ ^ ^
L. V. Kuttnauer, general sales manager
of Phototone in this territory, with offices
at 845 South Wabash, announces that many
exhibitors in this territory are installing the
Phototone equipment. Some of the latest
installations are the Vanity, Batavia; Rialto,
Coal City; Majestic, Kewanee; Princess,
Canton; Orpheum, Moline; Star, Watseka;
Varsity, Champaign; Lyric, Bement; Alham-
bra, Decatur; Colonial, Oglesby; Colonial,
Urbana; Gould's Opera House, Plainville;
and the Home, Castle and Lawndale, North
and Harmony avenues, in Chicago. Kutt-
nauer is well known in Chicago for he
served six years with Fox in the city. Asso-
ciated with him is L. R. Nelson.
E. M. Saunders, Western sales manager
for M-G-M, was in town Saturday.
^ ^ ^
Miss Edna Frank, the M-G-M booker, left
Saturday for a two weeks' vacation at
Eagle River, Wisconsin.
* * *
H. Goldson, who owns the Plaza and
Western theatres in Chicago, is taking over
the Embassy, formerly operated by Marks
Brothers.
* * *
Al Putz, country booker for M-G-M, has
just returned from a two weeks' vacation
in the East.
* * *
Tom North is back on the job again and
seems to be none the worse for his taxi
accident.
* * *
Gene Cour, of Pathe News, having re-
turned from Houston, is at his summer
home in Lake Geneva.
* * *
Charles McDonald, general manager of
the Amedee J. Van Beuren Enterprises,
passed through Chicago last week, return-
ing to New York.
* * *
George Levine, of the Fox exchange, is
now handling the Movietone News and
short subjects in this territory.
* * *
Clyde Eckhardt held a sales meeting last
week and managers from St. Louis, Kansas
City, Des Moines, Minneapolis and Milwau-
kee were present.
* * *
Neil Wilson of the Royal theatre, Ma-
rengo, has taken over the Boy Scout work
in his city. That's good work, and besides
the personal satisfaction he, no doubt, will
derive from the work, it should help his
theatre.
It is reported that L & T's Covent Garden
is to reopen August 1.
%^
Well, well, look who's here! The "Our
Gang" comedy stars and their director,
but, whoa, hold everything ! It's our own
Frank Ishmael of Chicago just posing as
director, but Frank is always up to some-
thing like this. The picture is some
months old, but it was just too good to
keep from you any longer.
Putting Over Sound
(Continued from page 34)
ture act, followed by a dramatic or comedy
talking skit, then by a short screen subject
to break up the sound portion of the bill, the
concluding act or acts of which will immedi-
ately precede the principal flickersheet films.
Still another factor often overlooked is the
psychological as well as the decorative value
of color. Back in 1924 I was advocating the
use of colored lights in subdued shades to
relieve the monotony of black-and-white en-
tertainment. At that time I was projecting
color harmonies through the use of spots,
lobsterscopes, etc., and synchronizing moving
color effects with orchestral overtures, which
evoked many complimentary comments. When
Vitaphone came in I was convinced that
color had its place there also. By banking
the orchestra pit with varicolored flowers and
greenery, through which glowed colored lights
in quiet but warm and harmonizing hues, the
bleakness caused by the absence of musicians
and their music-rack lights was overcome.
Also, this suggestion of life and activity in
the pit had the effect of keeping audiences
from dwelling upon the fact that what they
heard was coming from a horn. Thus, it fur-
thered the illusion which talking pictures aim
to create.
Synchronize Slide and Sound
One more idea, originated at the Vita-
Temple, can be adopted by any house having
sound equipment and will add variety and
novelty to any program. Ordinary phono-
graph records can easily be synchronized with
the song slides obtainable from music pub-
lishers, making a distinctive presentation of
the latest popular songs. We project the
slides on a scrim curtain, framed with dis-
solving color effects. Since instituting this
feature, many of our cusomers have been en-
thusiastic in their approval. In some in-
stances these numbers made such a hit we
had to bring them back and insert them in
subsequent programs as request features.
To sum it all up by paraphrasing an ancient
wisecrack, "the show's the thing." If you
have what the customers want, they'll buy it.
But they don't want just a lot of films and
"speakies" thrown together to make an hour
and a half or two hours of sitting in your
showshop and wishing they'd gone somewhere
else. You've got to make it continuous enter-
tainment in the best sense of the word. Not
for nothing do the film producers hire con-
tinuity experts. The exhibitor who will real-
ize the necessity for extending that policy to
each individual program in his house will not
exert his mentality in vain either.
For your
Protection
To insure exhibitors the high-
est possible screen quality,
Eastman Positive Film is made
identifiable. The words "Eastman
Kodak" are stencilled in black
letters at short intervals in the
transparent film margin.
Specify prints on Eastman Film
—look for the identifying words
in the margin— and get the film
that always carries quality
through to the screen.
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
FAinniTORS IJKR VLD aiurMOVING PJCTl RK WOR'-O
It took ff^fSL
To Break Every
Record at McVicker§
When Balaban & Katz, for the first
time in 12 years, toolc a chance on
Fox product, look "what
FRANK b6rZAGE*S
Street Angel
with
JANET 6AYNOR »»«. CHARLES FARRELL
did to the ^veikly statement
MORE $
THAN i
40,000
IN
7 DAYS
Positively the biggest weekly gross ever at this theatre
Noi^ you understand Mrhy
ItiPress
PARAMOUNT ENDORSES
FOR the first time in history, Balaban and Katz of Publix (Paramount) Theatres booked Fox product for
their big Loop theatres in Chicago, having bought fifteen FOX pictures for exhibition during the coming
season. B. & R. are to be congratulated upon their good sense in thus affording the patrons of their
theatres the greater diversity of program assured by these splendid FOX pictures.
hnochs^em far a loop in CHICAQO
wa
EXHIBETOM
THE MOST IMPORTANT
Sound Announcement
EVER MADE !
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has obtained the prize stage
property of years and is the first to synchronize with
complete dialogue a current Broadway stage success
/hen the
lARY DUGAN
1 1 Months on Broadway and
still S.R.O. The vehicle they
all were after. The vehicle
M-Q-M got. Thir\k of it,
M-G-M brings to your audi-
ence a complete Broadway
stage hit, hot from its metro-
politan triumphs.
THE SENSATIONAL A. H. WOODS STAGE SUCCESS BY BAYARD VEILLER
and thafs just the first Sound Announcement from
METRO - GOLDWYN - MAYER
Whole Vol. 92, No. 3<V«{. g4,AIe.^
Entered as ji&aani- class matter, August 20, 1917, at the Post Office at Chicago, III., under the act of March 3, I I 91 1090
'i6f9. Tuilished weekly at 407 South Dearborn St., Cktcagn. Subscription $3.00 a year. Single copies, 25 cents. JUly ol, 19^0
HM
jm open
Jo exkditto^^...
^2%^ „
"s^^^
WURUIZER
Organs
Factories, North Tonawanda, N. ¥•
NEW YORK
ST. LOUIS
BUFFALO
DETROIT
CLEVELAND
CHICAGO
SAN FRANCISCO
KANSAS CITY
PHILADELPHLA.
PITTSBURGH
CINCINNATI
LOS ANGELES
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
most popular girl on the screen!
Clara Bow in
Xadies of the Mob'
'with Ricliard Arlen
William Wellman
Production
Hollywood
News
lis
ivas
diir/„- .^'er Of ,
by p
ifar
'Shed
. Two
"-et
en h
/«" Bia// .
■■ecorc^ 1
fan mail is a box
office barometer
CLARA
BOW
gets 33,727 letters a month, far more
than any other star. No wonder exhib-
itors are cleaning up with Clara's latest
'Tadies Of The Mob''
You get 4 ^B^^i^^^ big Clara Bow long run Specials in PARAMOUNT'S
WHOLE SHOW PROGRAM for 192829: The Fleet's In", 3 Week
Ends" (by Elinor Glyn), '^The Saturday Night Kid" and one more.
Sure fire S. R. O.! -• -• -»-• -• * -• •• * -»-• # -•
PARAMOUNT hm the real stars !
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
filmdom's leading* 2 -reel comedy
H
"CONFESSIONS OF A
CHORUS GIRL" with Frances
Lee and Christie beauties.
H
BILLY DOOLEY COMEDIES
The goofy gob, supported by
a shipload of beauties, nauti-
cal but nice.
32 qUAL-ITY
^ NOW— the class two reel comedy product of the screen synchronized with
sound in all its phases! Run them with Paramount features in sound and
give your patrons a quality "whole show" in sound! Play them when your
feature is "silent" and more than satisfy the craving of today's public for
Paramount'^ 1!IS8-S9
25 or more Features in SOUND. Paramount News in SOUND*
Julv 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
program entirely in SOUND!
^
BOBBY VERNON COMEDIES
The popular koUege kut kom-
edian. Nationally advertised
for years. Popular everywhere.
H
SANDY MACDUFF COME-
DIES. Exhilarating shots of
Scotch from Jack Duflfy and
his Caledonian cuties.
IN SOUND
€Oiii:Dii:ii
sound pictures. ^ 32 in Paramount's 1928-29 program. ^ The first five syn-
chronized Christies are ^'^Confessions of a Chorus Girl"— '"'"Ska ting Home" with
Frances Lee. Bobby Vernon in "Stop Kidding", Billy Dooley in "Dizzy Diver"
and "Oriental Hugs", "Sandy MacDuff " Comedy "Hot Scotch" with Jack Duflfy.
Whole SJho^f Program
Christie Comedies in SOUND, Stage Shows on the Screen.
/I
R'
X#>\
ONLY PROD
OF DEMONST
WILLIAM I^OX
IMIESKXTTS
l)€LCCE/ DEL i5l€
IN
POUR/ \theKEI>
SOXS/ DAXCE
CAPACITY
for
16 WEEKS
at the
GAIETY
THEATRE
NEW YORK
9 Weeks
CARTHAY
CIRCLE
L. A.
4 g^reat
weeks
St.Francis
San
Fran-
cis-
co
CHARLES
FARRELL
and
GRETA NISSEN
HOWARD HAWKS'
ROMANCE of FORBIDDEN LOVE
NOW PLAYING
Twice Daily
GAIETY Theatre
NEW YORK
to sensational
summer business
Hotter Than Sahara!
wvith
CHARLES FARRELL
and
IVAN LINOW
CAPACITY
twice Dally at the
GLOBE
THEATRE— N.Y.
**One of the most
magnificent things
of its Mnd which
I have ever seen
on any screen,**
— Qttinn Martlnf
N. y. World.
. ONLY ACTUAL PRO
MOVIETONE NEWS AND
£ N A £ 1% T A I Pi Aft £ PI TS #• r«#s
UCER of 6 MOVIETONES
RATED BOX OFFICE VALUE
rCANK BCCZAeE*/"
JOHN rocD*/
STREinT MOTHER
AN<;i:ii
JANET GAYNOR
and
CHARLES FARRELL
in
THEIR GREATEST SUCCESS
11 WEEKS
at $2,
GLOBE
THEATRE— N.Y.
9 WEEKS
at CARTHAY
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^"•^Week
McVlCKER*S
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JANET GAYNOR
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10
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
Reading's a
Habit
Reading's a Habit.
There are habit-forming papers and
the other kind.
The habit-forming paper is the one
that makes reading a pleasure.
Composition, display and mechani-
cal convenience are conducive to
reading pleasure — but quality of
subject matter is the thing that fixes
the reading habit permanently.
Everybody reads the Herald- World.
It is more easily, pleasurably and
profitably read than any other mo-
tion picture trade journal. Natu-
rally, it has more readers than any
other.
Naturally, it leads the field.
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
as4 MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
I I
'ft
r
Now Ready I
The first three great
Box-Office Specials on
Columbia Pictures
1928-1929 Program - -
II
cAnlrvin Wttlat productim
Jack Holt In
Into tlu Depths
IViih RALPH GRAVf S an^l DOROTHY Rf VI{R^
A Soul-Stirring Submarine Drama — The Most Up-to- 11
the-Minute Plot in Pictures — ^Jack Holt in the Sort I
of Story That Reaches the Screen Once in a Lifetime !||
{Temporary Title)
Never Before So Thrilling
a Role for Jack Holt
and Different!
cAnAlan Crosland productim
SCARIET
UDY
STARRING
a deTuUl
\MV\W
DON ALVARADO
WARNER GLAND
e/ Geofvae B. Seitz production
tJxmw^^
^.
IN
/
WIIH
^IfffCDm/mmDmiHill
A Foignant Story of Love versus Dutyl
Nowhere in the Industry Will You Find a More Con-
sistent Program for Quality and Profit than Columbia's
"PERFECT 36" for 1928-1929.
Here Are the Rest of the Titles
Your Bo
PRINTED IN U. S. A.
ai*i; ii;«Kly nil* yoii tti Test-
imni IjH LIV lliUil ml
1028 -iO )illl'KK-l'IHMMIi:T !
■W71
COLLEEN NOORE in "LILAC TINE''
Opened at Carthay Circle, Los Angeles, July 17th and com-
ing to the Central, New York, August 3rd, at ^2.00 top for
indefinite road show runs. Special synchronized score and
sound effects added.
LA TOSCA f Milton , The C h a rll e i MACKAILL- } NO! NO! . Molly jBUTTERS. [ I^N^^
rE I MAYNARD I nrS^c,. . SILLS SQUALL MURRAY MULHALL NANETTE I O'DAY I EGG M AN j gucci
9 ♦ Po«cio i- Fattii i Paee.13 I Paget} P^e 14 ♦ Poge-iJ ^ Pascl6 ^ Pate 17 * Poi« tS
AND fNE/E ARE NEAR CONPLEflON
RICHARD BARTHELMESS in "OUT OF THE RUINS"— Sir Phillip
Gibbs' daring Cosmopolitan Magazine story of cowardice ayd regenera-
tion. Directed by John Francis Dillon.
BILLIE DOVE in "THE NIGHT WATCH"— A beautiful woman's
sacrifice of honor to save her man. Alexander Korda directing.
"SHOW GIRL" — Alice White, exhibitors' star-choice, in a racy back-
stage comedy from popular Liberty serial. Alfred Santell directing.
MILTON SILLS in "HARD ROCK"— Powerful adventure drama
directed by Edward Cline. With Thelma Todd.
"WATERFRONT"— With Dorothy MackaiU and Jack Mulhall. Spark-
ling human interest story with double-star draw.
i d
A R K E R
rr
Ready for immediate play-dates with MILTON SILLS
and BETTY COMPSON as announced, and Dorothy
Mackaill and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., added.
ON SILL
N OF THE HOURI
"THE
terror of the Sidcl
soft spot, his Ud!
for a Iitde HtiU ^j
lis real — real
time lhi» kaIeidosc<
ground, and piccurcsqae comedy from
the etrangcsT lot oi hud bailed charac-
ters flver filmed!
rouble-crossing
... just ONE
fSui the Jdd (alls
And tlien! —
rX!— And all the
carnival back-
A GEORGE FITTMAUaiCE PRlXH-'CTIOr^'
TKtloi'XJatTtm*"." rh* DarkArtsil' .• Nijal ••; 1
Fttrnx tht dJtfj fcy John Kt.nion NkWum jrn '
-Se\iinih,Hrnv«n.". 'FUth (Ttd ttit Dn.ni',
Then 4 others gauged specially to a
to women as well as to Sills' tremei
male following;—-
fNESE ARE IN
P R E P A R A r I O N
-Williatn Seiter directing the
CORINNE GRIFFITH in "OUTCAST"-
screen version of famous Broadway play.
RICHARD BARTHELMESS in "SCARLET SEAS" (previous title
"Mutiny")— Smashing story with the lure of the sea. John Francis'
Dillon will direct.
"THE SQUALL" — A special from the 1-year Broadway smash. Alex-
ander Korda will direct.
CHARLIE MURRAY in "DO YOUR DUTY"— William «eaudine will
direct.
THE HAUNTED HOUSE" — First of First National's special mystery
drama series, from the famous Owen Davis play.
mkmM ■
Queck'EmOfr
Now mark these 4 pages in First National's 1928-'29 Announcement, "Ready.'
Then see these 4 great Specials on the screen at your exchange.
Compare the Performance with the Promise . . . You'll say — "Deliv-
ered— as Specified!"
Every feature announced is there — and more. — More big
1
44
fHE BUTTER AND EGG NAN"
Comedy special from famous Broadway hit with 4-star cast
as announced. Booking now.
cast names than we promised . . , New Box-office values
added! They're conclusive evidence that you can buy
First National as announced — and get more than
you bargained for! il
WHILE THESE ARE IH THE CUTTIHG ROON
COLLEEN MOORE in "OH KAY!"— From the long-run musical
comedy hit. Mcrvyn LeRoy directed. Lawrehce Gray, Ford Sterling,
Claude Gillingwater in the cast.
JOHNNY HINES in "THE WRIGHT IDEA"— Hailed as hit by pre-
view audience.
HARRY LANGDON in "HEART TROUBLE"— Strong love interest
and a touch of pathos behind hilarious comedy.
'HEART TO HEART" — With Mary Astor and Lloyd Hughes. Fast
moving comedy romance directed by William Beaudine.
KEN MAYNARD in "THE GLORIOUS TRAIL"— "Maynard for
mine, every time"— say 10,000 exhibitors!
4 4
THE W
I P
r f
This big-scale special from the stage melodrama classic is
ready for summer play-dates with Marc McDermott and
Albert Gran added to the original 4-star cast.
AND THESE ARE KOPPING UP:
COLLEEN MOORE in "HAPPINESS AHEAD"— Led the town a
the Fifth Avenue, Seattle. Practically capacity every show at Warfield
San Francisco. New York reviewers raved.
"THE STRANGE CASE OF CAPTAIN RAMPER"— Sensation at th.
Roxy. Held over at McVickers, Chicago. Booked for the Adam;
Detroit, 'and the Missouri, St. Louis.
RICHARD BARTHELMESS in "WHEEL OF CHANCE"— Barthei
mess in dual role. An Alfred" Santell production from Fannie Hurs
story. Best business in 6 weeks at the Paramount, Salt Lake City.
MILTON SILLS in "THE HAWK'S NEST"— With Doris Kenyon.
CHARLIE MURRAY in "THE HEAD MAN"— CharUe puttine th
"IT" in Politi
14
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
15
accorded the highest honors
in filmuom/
CHOSEN TO PLAY ''MAGNOLIA' in ^'SHOW bOAT'
UNIVEBSAL'S DE LUXE PQODUCTION FOR 1928-29
le^vorld-vidc publicity that tias resulted
because of ttiis announecmenf has
vastly increased ttie value of her
"orthGoming pietures whieti include
HOME JAMES". . .THAT bLONDE"
TWE LAST VADNING" . . . "ONE EAINY
NIGUT"...BANGEDOUS DIMPLES."
BIG TIME
SHOWMANSHIP
^^m
•^5^1
Palhe array
of Specials
and Features
N<
.FORBIDDEN
\0
r^^
To
>N'
SHOW
vov
v^\
^^
1
■
: fF
.'.^^,^|I^!.JLJI
^•^^■:l.A:-..?" --i^-'
■■■.■-,. ■^■. !
/I Pathe production unit is now
at Annapolis, making a big spec-
ial with the colorful background
of the I\aval Academy . Watch for
^^ Annapolis^ ^ with Jeanette Lqff
and John Mack Brown. Directed
by &iristy Cabanne. Original
story by F. McGrew Willis.
Diversified
product
offering a world of
exploitation possibilities
"pATHE is selling more than pictures. Pathe is
•* selling box-oflSce results. In its great program
for the new season, Pathe has dramatized factors
in the public eye — and always with an eye to the
box-office. Think of what the public's interest
centers around — Nicaragua, aviation, the Far East,
the aftermath of war, royally, show folks, the prize
ring, romance of the business world, the struggle
for law and order. These and a score of other
factors of this snappy, modern age that are talked
about and written about are the background for
Pathe's showmanship product. These pictures
are timely. They bring to a focal point tons of
ready-made publicity. They ring true to box-office
demands. They give tbe showman a running start
with his campaign — something to say, something
to talk about, something to exploit — and it won't
fall on strange ears. The keynote of Fathers
program is showmanship — pictures plus.
Four great Pathe specials
with the indelible stamp
of S. R. O.
They are ready for screen-
ing and in their screening
is the proof that they are
showman's product — big
names, striking background,
up-to-the-minute themes,
melodramatic action.
a
THE COP
with
ALAN HALE, JACQUELINE
LOGAN and ROBERT
ARMSTRONG
A Donald Crisp Production. Screen
play by Tay Garnett. From the story by
Elliott Clawson. Produced by Ralph
Block for DeMille Pictures Corporation.
TENTH
AVENUE
with
PHYLLIS HAVER
VICTOR VARCONI and
JOSEPH SCHILDKRAUT
A William C. DeMille Produc-
tion. From the stage play by
John McGowan and Lloyd Gris-
com. Continuity by Douglas
Doty. DeMille Studio Pro-
duction.
''THE RED
MARK''
with
NENA QUARTARO, GASTON
GLASS, GUSTAVE VON SEYF-
FERTITZ AND ROSE DIONE.
Adaptation and continuity by
Julien Josephson from the story
by John Russell. A James Cruze
production Personally directed
by James Crtize.
"A
SHIP
OMES IN"
with
RUDOLPH SCHILDKRAUT
LOUISE DRESSER and
ROBERT EDESON
Original story and adaptation
by Julien Josephson. Continuity
by Sonya Levien. A William K.
Howard Production. DeMille
Studio Production,
Watch for amazing new R. C. A. PHOTOPHONE musical
and effect accompaniment on certain forthcoming
PATHE FEATURE PRODUCTIONS Season 1928-1929.
i
18
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
SHOWMENS
Amazing
speed and
great nationall
unanimous'
men
Pathe's Floating Lab
A now apparatus called a
"floating laboratory" has been
perfected by Fathe to hasten
the development and printing
of shots taken at big events
by news reel cameramen. It
consists of four trunks, about
the size -of the sample cases
used by traveling men. Two
men, a developer and printer,
take the film from the camera
boys and rush, it to a hoteL
The trunks haye been set up
in a room, where the film Is
at once put through the pro-
cess necessary for developing
and printing. It Is quickly
dried and prepared for a pro-
jecting machine.
The pi n is adopted whenever
shots of big events are taken In
places any distance from the
regular labratories. The time
element is the one responsible
for the innovation.
X EARS of experience, years of slow building, years of studying the
wants of the public, years of team work, years of thought and labor,
aggressiveness and sincere endeavor combined with the instinct of the
showman, have made possible today's mighty accomplishments of
Pathe News. When the public thinks of a news reel, it invariably thinks
of Pathe News. And the reason is that Pathe News is delivering the goods.
There are news reels and there is THE NEWS REEL. That's PATHE NEWS.
For 1 7 Years Pathe News Has Been
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
19
CHOICE
|]emonstration of
service in covering
conventions wins
vote of smart show* "
^-V t
THE PATHE ROOSTER
is a sure winner as the
box-office candidate,
xT'S a race now between Pathe News and the printing presses. Other
newsreels are left at the post. Pathe News pushes on, utilizing
every modern factor for speed and progress. The balloting for
Hoover starts at the Republican Convention. Before it is com-
pleted, Pathe News flashes the message on the screen of the Main
Street Theatre. (Pathe News has moved on Kansas City with its
own secret portable laboratory.) An hour after the convention
opened, Pathe News released prints for the immediate territory.
The entire country was covered in 24 hours. Millions of theatre
patrons, through Pathe News efficiency, sat in on the pictorial
story almost simultaneous with the newspaper pictures. At Houston,
it was the same achievement — a nation-wide beat for Pathe News.
No wonder the Rooster is as well known as the elephant or the
donkey. No wonder a Pathe News camera is the symbol of the
cinema. Pathe News yesterday — today — tomorrow, the keynote
of your program, the people's choice, the showman's choice.
■■^**^&.
The Greatest Motion Picture
mmm^
20
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
■■
Y^
The
Independent
Film Trade
Paper
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
as^ MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Home
Office:
407 So. Dearborn St.
Chicago
IN THIS ISSUE
Marks Brothers, denied injunction in their suit against Balaban & Katz and six producer-distributors,
are in need of new product, according to statement by attorney for theatre owners ; Anti-Trust trial
is set for early fall by the court; Defendants, under ruling, are prohibited from committing any of
the acts which are charged in the bill of the plaintiffs ; United States department of justice agent is
in attendance at hearings.
\
COMPLETE INDEX TO CONTENTS
NEWS
President of musicians union in Chicago makes declaration that
"talkies won't hurt us;" Adopt plan of watchful waiting.
Some indignant, others smile indulgently at Mayor James J.
Walker's charge that the motion picture industry is in politics.
Admission price war in Ohio has created a bad situation, accord-
ing to reports; Lima theatres are charging 25 cents top.
Musicians leaders and the governor of Missouri are in tilt over
mechanical music situation; Pickets arrested by police.
"Joy Week" is sponsored by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as antidote
for warm weather; Many accessories will be supplied gratis.
DEPARTMENTS
Synchronized Pictures 36
The Studio 40
Short Features 44
Presentation Acts 45
The Theatre 51
New Pictures 54
Classified Advertising 59
What the Picture Did for Me 61
Chicago Personalities by Whit 66
FEATURES
Service Talks by T. O. Service 53
Los Angeles by Douglas Hodges 40
Pictorial Section 31
Letters from Readers 60
Broadway 26
ADVERTISEMENTS
FILM AND EQUIPMENT— M G M, Wurlitzer Organ, Paramount,
Fox, F B O, Columbia, First National, Universal, Pathe, Eastman
Kodak, International Projector, L. V. Kuttnauer (Phototone), and
Milton Stearn.
PRESENTATION ACTS— J. Virgil Huffman, Sam Herman, Gin-
ger Rogers, Henri A. Keates, Preston Sellers, Irene Taylor, Roy
Dietrich, Albert F. Brown, Doc Webb, Harold J. Lyons, Ilomay
Bailey, Ransley Studios and Brooks Costumes.
CHICAGO
407 South Dearborn St. Telephones Harrison 0036-37-38
Cable Address : Qnigpubco
EDWIN S. CXIFFORD, General Manager
JAY M. SHRECK, Managing Editor
GEORGE CLIFFORD, Basinets Manager
ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD, News Editor
LOS ANCELES
S617 Hollywood Blvd. Telephon* Gladstone 3754
DOUGLAS HODGES
West Coast Manager
EDITORIAL
AND
ADVERTISING
OFFICES
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
SEW YORK
363 Fifth Avenue Telephones Vanderbilt 3612-3613
JAMES BEECROFT, Neiti York Advertising Manager
PETER VISCHER, Neic York Editor
LONDON
THE BIOSCOPE
(J. Cabonm, Editor)
Faraday House
8-10 Charing Cross Rd., W. C 2
United States and possessions— $3.00 per year, Canada — $4.50 per year. Other paints of the world— $6.00 per year.
Advertising rate cards and Audit Bureau of Circulations statement* fuTBlched npon application.
Single copies, 25 ••■«•.
22
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
82^ MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Martin J. Quigley, Publisher ^>o Editor
Incorporating Exhibitors Herald, founded in 1915; Moving Pic-
TUEB WoRUj, founded in 1907; Motography, founded in 1909; and
The Film Index, founded in 1909
Published Every Wednesday by
QuiGLEY Publishing Company
Publication Office: 407 So. Dearborn St., CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Mahtin J. QuiGLEY, President
Edwin S. Clifford, Secretary George Clifford, Asst. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other Publications: The Chicagoan and Polo, class journals; and the follow-
ing motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exhibitoss
Herald and Moving Picture World: Better Theatres, every fourth week, and
Thi Buyers Index, published semi-annually.
Whole Vol. 92, No. 3 (Vol. 34, No. 6) July 21, 1928
The Screen in Politics
THE Honorable James J. Walker, New York's most
popular mayor, took a little time out of his current
vacation in California to issue a warning to the production
branch of the motion picture business against partisan
political leanings in the present national campaign. The
time and eflfort thus employed might better have been de-
voted exclusively to vacation purposes, or whatever other
purposes which might more accurately account for Mr.
Walker's presence in California.
Mr. Walker is an orator. The natural function of
orators is to orate and in the practice of orating they are
frequently inclined to make much ado about nothing. In
his California utterance, Mr. Walker, apparently, felt the
need of making some weighty pronouncement and, with
no valid weighty pronouncement in mind, he brought up
the stock issue of motion picture interference in politics.
We do not think that Mr. Walker was very serious and
we do not think that his statement, or his warning or what-
ever it was, should be taken seriously.
It just happens that any person who knows little or
nothing about the operations of the picture business might
honestly have some apprehensions about the screen being
used politically during a campaign. But Mr. Walker knows
a great deal about the picture business, the people in it
and its natural limitations as far as exerting a partisan
political influence. As counsel for many years for the
Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America Mr. Walker
experienced a very comprehensive schooling in picture
matters and in his California utterance we cannot credit
him with what would be a natural apprehension in the
case of a person who simply did not know.
Mr. Walker did not make a case against the industry or
any of the important factors in it and, very likely, he really
had no intention of so doing. But in his oratorical flight
he did focus attention on the subject of the possible
political influence of pictures which will plant the seed of
suspicion, at least, in the minds of a great many people.
Hence, despite the fact that pictures cannot — without en-
couraging destruction — and will not enter into politics, a
few million people will probably go through the present
national political campaign believing that somehow, some-
where, the picture business is seeking to use the screen
for political purposes. This is the harm of Mr. Walker's
unguarded utterance.
Mr. Walker's veiled criticism of Mr. Louis B. Mayer and
Mr. Joseph M. Schenck because they participated as dele-
gates in the Republican National Convention at Kansas
City was uncalled for and quite improper. As private
citizens these men have every right under the sun to inter-
est themselves in politics and there is no legitimate ground
for interpreting such interest to mean that they shall seek
to use their influence in the picture business to turn the
screen toward activities for the promotion of the interests
of their candidate.
To be consistent Mr. Walker should now take the ap-
pointment of Mr. John J. Raskob as an occasion to warn
the automobile industry that it is likely to be crushed if
the opposition forces conquer.
Full Dialogue
THE Warner Brothers' full talking picture which has
been playing to heavy business at the Strand theatre.
New York City, has created a great deal of interest in the
picture business at the same time that it has been winning
wide interest with the public.
This subject, "Lights of New York," is a graphic
illustration of where the synchronized picture is leading.
It just happens that because of the facts of the picture,
coming at this time, it is enabled to reveal definitely a
great deal about the possibilities of the dialogue picture.
"Lights of New York," without the synchroniatzion fea-
ture, would be a picture that would not materially stir the
motion picture market. As a film it is not a subject that
even nearly ranks with the best efforts of Warner Brothers,
but under the magic of the dialogue accompaniment it be-
comes a thoroughly interesting picture and one that
doubtlessly will be a major attraction for the theatres dur-
ing the coming season.
It is particularly interesting to note in this picture the
development of a new technic — one that differs radically
from the practices that have characterized the best motion
pictures of recent years. With the introduction of dia-
logue, the closeup is dispensed with and its absence is
hardly noticeable because the spoken word easily and more
naturally yields the desired emphasis. Also various kinds
of scenes — such as cabaret sequences which never pre-
viously meant much except for atmospheric purposes —
with dialogue and music become high spots in the pro-
duction.
The New Technic
WHILE the cost feature of synchronized pictures is the
cause of no little current worry in production circles,
there now appears to be compensations which may come
to have very great significance.
While the introduction of music and dialogue obviously
puts the producer to certain added costs, still the new
technic and the new character generally of the synchro-
nized picture offers hope of dispensing with certain of
the very heavy costs of the silent picture. For instance,
in the matter of sets there is less reason and less necessity
for the optical flash when both eye and ear are being
appealed to.
In certain subjects already viewed the backgrounds ap-
pear of very little moment because the attention of the
audience is fully absorbed in watching and hearing the
characters in the foreground. The dialogue picture cer-
tainly means a more intimate type of subject because the
great broad fields of the silent picture can no longer be
advantageously employed.
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
Marks, Denied Injunction, in
Need of Film, Says Attorney
Anti -Trust Trial Against BK
Set for Early Fall by Court
G. B. S. in Films; Now
He Goes to Mat for 'Em
(Special to the Herald-World)
If we know out Bermudas, it
seems to us that George Bernard
Sbaw has always ridiculed the gal-
loping dramas, yet be has just gone
to the mat for them. According to
the "Daily Film Renter," an English
£lm paper, a motion was recently
made in the British Drama League
to cast certain aspersions upon the
"lowly" Elms. Whereupon Shaw
rose up in all his dignity and de-
clared, "There is no question that
the £lm business is going to be a
very big thing in the future."
Well, well, it is to smile. But,
then, G. B. S. has just recently ap-
peared to quite good advantage in
Movietone, and — well, perhaps even
he has bis vanity.
Police Power to Prevent
Showing of Films Barred
(Special to the Herald-World)
CAMDEN, N. J, July 17.— New Jersey's
city boards of motion picture censors, accord-
ing to a decision issued in the Camden Chan-
cery court, are without authority to use police
power to prevent the showing of films. An in-
junction was issued enjoining the police de-
partment and the Camden Board of Censors
from interfering with the showing of a pic-
ture.
Sunday Picture Shows
Forbidden in Peekskill
(Special to the Herald-World)
PEEKSKILL, N. Y., July 17.— The Peeks-
kill Ministerial Association, of Peekskill won a
victory last week with the result that there
will be no more Sunday motion picture shows
in the village. The new ordinance came into
effective this week.
Vitaphone and Movietone
Replace House Orchestra
(Special to the Herald-World)
SPOKANE, July 17.— The Liberty theatre,
now equipped with Vitaphone and Movietone,
has announced that its orchestra has termin-
ated its engagement, and that its fall plans do
not include the re-engagement of any other
orchestra.
E. W, Hammons Arrives
In New York This Week
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.-^E. W. Hammons,
president of Educational Film Exchange, ex-
pects to reach New York this week from Eng-
land. He was accompanied on his trip by
Mrs. Hammons.
Four Die, Forty Injured
As New House Falls
(Special to the Herald-World)
ITALY, July 17. — Four persons were killed
and forty injured in the collapse of a motion
picture house here. Firemen and police mob-
ilized to dig victims from the ruins.
Defendants, Under Pact, Prohibited from Committing
Acts Charged in Bill of Plaintiffs
By GEORGE SCHUTZ
Marks Brothers was denied a temporary injunction against Balaban & Katz,
six producer-distributors incliiding Paramovint, and other defendants in the
former's antitrust suit before Federal Judge Page last Thursday, but though
thus denied, the plaintiffs obtained what the court called the essential effect of
a temporary injunction, through the continuance until the final hearing of the
counsels' agreement, which was operating pending last Thursday's hearing,
restraining the defendants from committing the acts charged in the suit.
Final Hearing to Be Held in Fall
Continuance of the restraints, which was recommended by the court, was
approved Friday by attorneys representing all litigants. The court intimated
tliat the final hearing would be held as early this fall as possible.
That Marks Brothers, operators of two Chicago deluxe neighborhood thea-
tres and three other houses, is in urgent need of attractions, particularly pic-
tures, was emphatically declared by that circuit's counsel at Thursday's hear-
ing, it being testified by affidavit that for the weeks between July 14 and
August 31 only one picture, Warner Brothers' "The Lion and the Mouse,"
was booked. Marks Brothers is seeking "just some of the pictures" from the
companies now selling first-runs to B & K exclusively, Attorney Joseph Rosen-
berg told the court.
of whom are investigating the motion
picture industry for the government.
Action is now contemplated by the
government against Paramount as a
result of rejection by the federal
trade commission of Paramount's re-
ply to the commission's charges,
which are also based on the Sher-
man and Clayton anti-trust laws.
The suit, which besides Paramount and
B & K and subsidiaries, names Metro-Gold-
wyn-Mayer, First National, Universal,
Pathe, United Artists, Orpheum, the
William Morris vaudeville booking com-
pany and Western vaudeville manager's as-
sociation, reveals itself as the result of a
bitter battle between Marks Brothers and
B & K going on for more than a year and
now involving charges and counter-charges
of monopoly through illegal practices, con-
(Continued on next page)
In recommending that the restraining
agreement be continued. Judge Page said
to counsel for Marks Brothers, "That will
give you about what you want, without the
advertising."
"Not exactly," objected Attorney Roger
Sherman, "it won't give us the pictures we
need right away."
Judge in Dilemna
"But I can't give you the pictures," re-
plied Judge Page.
"How are we to know that the defendants
will live up to the agreement?" asked
Sherman.
"If I hear of any of them violating it,
it won't be hard for you to prove con-
spiracy," the court told him.
Spectators at the hearing were L.
T. Plummer of the U. S. department
of justice, and William H. Benham,
assistant U. S. attorney general, both
"Talkies Won 't Hurt Us, " Belief of Union
Chief in Chicago; Watchful Waiting Is Plan
The Chicago local of the American Federation of Musicians plans no immediate
action against the use of synchronized music in motion picture theatres and will
adopt a policy of watchful waiting, according to James C. Petrillo, head of the :
local union. This statement came as a denial of reports that the Chicago union
had declared war on the use of talkies.
He stated that the stories had been obtained by Chicago papers through news
services from the national president. "As a matter of fact," asserted Petrillo,
"I do not believe that synchronized pictures will hurt union musicians. There is
still the radio and phonograph recording, and I believe that both are better than
the synchronized music. I believe we have nothing to fear, but if the worst should
develop we can easily stop the use of synchronized music in theatres, because
union musicians produce this music."
When asked what disposition had been made of the musicians who were let out
of the Roosevelt and McVickers theatres when these two houses began a syn-
chronized picture policy, Petrillo stated that "the 14 musicians from the McVick-
ers were transferred by B & K to the Uptown theatre and I am now negotiating
with them over the disposition of the Roosevelt musicians. Balaban & Katz have
always been very fair with us, and I am not expecting any trouble at all."
For the present, at least, it appears as if no trouble will develop if Petrillo's
policy of watchful waiting can be carried out. However, the musicians' contract
with the Exhibitors' Association of Chicago expires in October, and it is expected
by many that action will be made at that time against the effect picture.
24
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
Charge B-K Has Cornered Market
spiracy, employe-"stealing" and physical
violence. Final decision in the case is ex-
pected to be material to whatever action is
taken by the government in regard to prac-
tices within the entire motion picture indus-
try.
Considered Important in "Protection"
The whole suit as regards Marks Brothers
charge that B & K has "cornered" the pic-
tures of the "leading" companies, is con-
sidered to importantly involve the general
trade practices of "protection" and "block
blocking." Marks Brothers sets forth that
it should be licensed for first-runs, the pic-
tures of the "leading" companies now being
shown first-run at B & K houses of a class
declared by the plaintiffs to be lower than
that of their two deluxe theatres, the Mar-
bro and Granada. B & K buys in block the
entire programs of Paramount, M G M and
First National, and varying portions of
the product of Universal, Pathe and United
Artists and gets two-weeks' protection for
all of its theatres, both large and small,
over the Granada and Marbro. In reply
to the charge that this condition consti-
tutes a "cornering" of pictures and was
achieved through a desire to put Marks
Brothers out of business, it is contended
that B & K needs first-runs for the success
of its smaller theatres, that the pictures
were sold with the present protection be-
cause the distributors thus realize more
money from the sale of their product to B
&K's 40 Chicago theatres than sales to
Marks could make up, and that other com-
panies have enough product suitable for
Marks Brothers' first-runs.
Another charge that B & K is endeavor-
ing to "corner" the vaudeville market for
its stageshows, inducing performers to
break their contracts with Marks Brothers
and boycotting those who appear at the
Granada and Marbro, is flatly denied, while
the plaintiffs' assertion that B & K em-
ployes have attacked their employes, has
brought in addition to denial, counter-
charges that Marks Brothers employes at-
tacked B & K employes. Both circuits
admit to checking attendance at each
other's theatres and both submit testimony
that the one tried to get employes away
from the other.
Swaine Appears for Paramount
Robert T. Swaine of Cravath, de Gers-
dorff, Swaine & Wood, New York at-
torneys, made the principal address for
Paramount and B & K at Thursday's hear-
ing, while Ralph M. Shaw of Winston,
Strawn & Shaw, Chicago, also presented
those companies' defense. Roger Sherman
of Tenney, Harding, Sherman and Rogers,
and Joseph Rosenberg of Rosenberg &
Rosenberg addressed the court for Marks
Brothers. Denial of the charges were
briefly made for M G M by Ed R. John-
son, for Pathe, Orpheum and Western
Vaudeville Managers Association by B. B.
Kahane; for Universal, by Amos Miller;
and for United Artists, by William J. Cor-
boy, all of Chicago. Counsel for all the
other defendants were present. Ralph Shaw
was delegated by the court to represent
the defendants in a meeting with attorneys
for plaintiffs to decide on continuance of
the restraints.
In arguing for the right to first-runs from
Paramount, M G M, First National and the
other three companies named, Marks
Brothers not only contends that B & K
should not be allowed first-runs for its
"lower-class" houses, classified locally as
Class B theatres or lower, but also con-
tends that B & K even now has a surplus
of pictures, contracting for this surplus to
(Contimied from preceding page)
keep the "leading" product out of the Gra-
nada and Marbro.
Not enough of the product left Marks
Brothers is suitable for first-runs, that cir-
cuit declares. To this Sam Katz, president
of Publix, states in an affidavit that B & K
used 364 pictures in 1926-27, out of a total
of 508 pictures made by all companies; and
432 pictures in 1927-28, out of a total of
557. For 1928-29, B & K has thus far
leased 235 pictures out of a total of 534 to
be made, according to Katz. He declares
that the balance, including product of Pathe
and Fox not bought by B & K, and the
product of Warner Brothers, F B O, Tif-
fany-Stahl," Gotham, Columbia, Greiver and
Security (the latter two being Chicago
state's rights distributors), offers Marks
Here's What They
Agree to Do
The restraints which opposing
counsel in the Marks-Balaban &
Katz antitrust suit have agreed to
continue in operation until the case
is disposed of, binds the defendants
from :
1. Leasing pictures from producers
and distributors who refuse to lease
to Marks Brothers.
2. Persuading producers and dis-
tributors or otherwise arranging with
them, to refuse to lease to Marks
Brothers, or making contracts with
producers and distributors condi-
tional on their refusal to lease to
plaintiffs.
3. From entering into any contract
or understanding with Fox or War-
ner Brothers requiring them to
refuse to lease to Marks Brothers.
4. From inducing or intimidating
vaudeville or other artists, actors
and actresses to break contracts with
Marks Brothers.
5. From making contracts with
bookers which require them not to
furnish performers to Marks Broth-
ers.
6. From executing physical vio-
lence on employes of Marks Broth-
ers.
7. From making demonstrations in
Marks Brothers theatres.
8. From charging prices for pic-
tures discriminatory against Marks
Brothers.
9. From persuading oi compelling
any producer to require the consent
of Publix, B & K or subsidiaries as
a condition to the leasing of pictures
to Marks Brothers.
Brothers pictures suitable for first-runs.
This the latter denies.
The Granada on the North Side and the
Marbro on the West Side, run the same
pictures weekly and simultaneously and ac-
quire only 52 first-runs. B & K houses,
including those of its subsidiary, Lubliner
& Trinz, are declared to require 388 first-
runs on the North Side and 501 on the
West Side.
SuburbEm Exhibitor Presents Affidavit
In support of Marks Brothers' allega-
tions that B & K has tied up the local pic-
ture market, Elmer H. Uhlhorn, exhibitor
of Downers Grove, a small town in the
Chicago metropolitan area, testifies that
after he had begun construction of a 1,400-
seat theatre, the entire building to cost
$215,000, Floyd M. Brockell, general man-
ager of Balaban & Katz Midwest, and
Joseph Stern, also of that company, leased
another theatre there and buying most of
the product of the companies named in
the suit, prevented him from getting suit-
able pictures. Another exhibitor, A. A.
Zeimis of Joilet, 111., alleges that Great
States, a B & K subsidiary having 55 houses
in Illinois, gets 53 weeks' protection over
his theatre for their three houses in Joliet.
That Marks Brothers gathered material
now set forth in the suit more than a year ago
is shown by the affidavits of Louis Marks,
president of the circuit, and of Leo Salkin,
booker for Marks Brothers, presenting what
they allege to be conversations early in 1927
between them and sales executives of M G M,
Paramount, Unitd Artists and Universal, as
taken down by a court reporter employed by
Marks Brothers. In those alleged conversa-
tions, the sales officials are reported as having
said they would like to sell to Marx Brothers
but were instructed not to by their superiors.
It is contended in refutation, however, that
the reason for this refusal to sell Marks
Brothers was only that previous contracts
had been made with B & K for the pictures
desired by the former.
It is brought out in the suit that in 1925,
B & K made a 10-year contract with Para-
mount, having at that time three Loop
houses besides its others. Also in 1925, a
10-year contract was made with M G M,
this being extended three years in 1927, to
make it co-extensive with a Publix con-
tract made with M G M also in that year.
Since then, Publix and B & K have con-
tracted with United Artists for 14 pictures
a year for 10 years. Since 1926, it is as-
serted, the First National program, with
the exception of that for three theatres,
has been bought on a year-to-year basis.
One of the excepted theatres is the Par-
adise, now under construction near Marks
Brothers' Marbro for opening this Septem-
ber, for which pictures were bought last
summer.
Judge Page ordered that the contracts be
entered in the suit.
P F L Denies F N Interest
Paramount denies any interest in First
National beyond the holding of 247 of the
25,000 shares of that company, these shares
having been acquired through the taking
over of theatres which had been franchise-
holders in First National prior to termina-
tion of the franchise scheme in 1926. In-
terest in all the other producing companies
named in the suit is further denied by
Paramount.
Marks Brothers, the oldest of whose de-
luxe theatres was opened two years ago,
has been getting its chief screen attractions
for them mainly from the product of Pathe,
Fox and Warner Brothers. Last year, how-
ever, some of the more desirable Pathe
subjects were bought by B & K while this
year Fox has sold 15 of the major pictures
to B & K with first-run protection for four
of them, "Street Angel," "Sunrise," "The
Red Dance" and "Mother Knows Best,"
in the Marks Brothers territory. Fox de-
clares that Marks Brothers refuses to sign
for its 1928-29 product unless the Granada
and Marbro be given these four pictures
first-run. Negotiations are still pending
between Pathe and Marks Brothers for the
1928-29 product.
Two of Pathe's 1927-28 pictures con-
tracted for by B & K, "Walking Back" and
(Continued on page 60)
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
Gaumont-British May Buy
Theatres in America for
English Film Distribution
A scheme is being considered by Gau-
mont-British to break into the American
market by buying a large number of
theatres in the United States, according to
a story in Kinematograph Weekly, a
British film paper. This is considered the
only way in which an outlet can be secured
in this country for Gaumont-British produc-
tions of a suitable nature.
It is being rumored, according to the
article, that the company has been in nego-
tiations for the Stanley Company of Amer-
ica chain, a chain in Chicago and another
important chain in the South, but this ru-
mor has been in part denied by Reginald C.
Bromhead of iGaumont.
It is also stated that the company plans
the opening of an office in New York to
acauire American pictures for the theatres
to be purchased with the understanding that
Gaumont productions would be shown in
theatres controlled by American producers.
Gaumont, according to the article, is said
to possess unlimited capital, and intends to
undertake production in Canada of pictures
which will come under the conditions of the
British quota act.
Mrs, William Fox Sees
New Detroit Theatre
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, July 17.— Mrs. William Fox
has been in Detroit to supervise the
decorating of the $10,500,000 theatre which
her husband is building here and which is
scheduled to open in September.
Mrs. Fox has visited here before, to keep
in touch with building operations. Under
her direction, the interior decorations are
to be after the Hindoo style.
Brown Joins Advertising
Department of Warners
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— A. P. Waxman,
Warner Bros.' director of advertising and pub-
licity, has appointed George Brown as a mem-
ber of his department to handle advertising
details for the company's new product. Brown
is very well known in the industry, having had
charge of advertising for Universal for more
than seven years.
Arizona to Rid State
of Billboards August 1
(Special to the Herald-World)
TUCSON, ARIZ., July 17.— There will
be no more billboards in Arizona after the
first day of August, if the State Highway
Commission has its way. The commission
has ruled that all billboards must be re-
moved from state highways by that date
or they will be torn down and destroyed.
Theatrical Magnate Leaps
from Tenth Floor, Killed
(Special to the Herald-World)
TULSA, July 17.— Harry F. Castle, theatri-
cal man, committed suicide by leaping from the
tenth floor of the Ambassador hotel in Kansas
City. He was 35 years old, having an interest
in two Tulsa theatres. He leaves a widow and
a young daughter.
"Music Box" Theatre Opens August 2nd
SEATTLE. — John Hamrick's new "Music Box"
theatre will open August 2. Both Vitaphone and
Movietone have been installed in the new house.
Manager Narrowly Escapes Death
ALBANY. — John A. Fitzgerald, manager of the
Strand theatre in Hudson Falls, N. Y., narrowly
escaped death when his car went over an embank-
ment.
Some Smile Indulgently, Some
Indignant at Walker's Charges
Producers and News Reel Executives Declare Statements by Hizzoner
of New York Are Unfounded — Censors Declare Pictures
Are Impartial in Treating Politics
[Report of Mayor Walker's address appears on page 40]
NEW YORK, July 17. — Mayor Jimmy Walker's charges that motion pic-
tures were being exploited for political purposes were received here with mixed
feelings. Many film executives were inclined to smile indulgently. Others in-
dignantly denied the truth of his assertions. Still others said that while
politics were not yet in pictures, this was as good a time as any to get the
matter thrashed out.
No Favoritism Shown in News Reels
Even the censors have entered into the situation, and from Philadelphia
comes the story that no favoritism to the political parties has been shown in
the news reels screened in Pennsylvania.
Will H. Hayes, head of the M. P. P. D. A., did the silent act for the most part
during his trip to the West Coast. However, at Kansas City he took occasion
to remark: "You may rest assured that I'll have nothing to do with the presi-
dential campaign."
reels before. If they continue, Kinograms
will merely adopt a policy of not including
any views of a political nature. News reels
have been neutral, strictly so and any
charges to the contrary are rediculous."
News reel editors have been especially
emphatic in denying the charges of Hiz-
zoner. M. D. Clofine of the Hearst news
reels made the following statement:
"Nobody has made any effort to control
Louis B. Mayer Denies
HOLLYWOOD, July 17. — Louis B. Mayer Issaed
the following statement in denying Mayor Walker*8
charges :
**The printed report to the effect that Joseph
M. Schenck and I are attempting to deliver the
motion picture industry to the Republican party
must appear extremely amusing to anyone who
understands the picture business.
**I cannot even induce some of our stars to
make personal appearances at a theatre showing
one of our pictures to stimulate added business to
that theatre. This might offer a slight Indication
of what my chances would be of inducing the
entire industry to deliver itself* to any party.
**A8 to the personal feelings of Mr. Schenck
and myself, we are Republicans. We are for
Hoover, California and our personal friend. Some
of the executives of our own companies are Demo-
crats. That^s their privilege. However, as to
attempting to deliver the motion picture industry
to any party, that is my idea of wasting time on
an extensive scale.**
either Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer News or In-
ternational Newsreel in the interest of any
political party. Mr. Hearst has always in-
sisted that the newsreel must be a non-
partisan medium of information and enter-
tainment. This policy has always governed
Emanuel Cohen, editor of Paramount
News:
**We are absolutely impartial, have been
impartial and will continue to be so in
every form, shape and manner."
Ray Hall, editor of Pathe News:
Hays Denies
KANSAS CITY, MO., July 17. — ^WiU H.
Hays, president of the Motion Picture Pro-
ducers and Distributors of America, made the
following comment while in Kansas City en
route to Hollywood: **You may rest assured
that I'll have nothing to do with the presi-
dential campaign. My present job requires
about 25 hours a day of my time and i ean*t
even think about a presidential campaign.'*
Censor Denies
PHILADELPHIA, Juir 17. — Commeittinc
upon the address of Mayor Walker before tke
publicity men of the motion picture Indiutry
in Hollywood, Harry L. Knapp, chairman of
the Pennsylvania state board of motion ple-
tur. censors, said that no favoritism is beii&s
shown to political parties in the news reels
shown in this state. He stated that the film*
have been fair to both parties.
the Hearst news reels and always will. It
should be added that Universal Films and
M-G-M thoroughly endorse Mr. Hearst's
stand."
H. E. Hancock, editor of Kinograms:
"We have had these charges filed at news
"It is the first time in my observations
of Mr. Walker that he has been led so far
from the facts that there is only one con-
clusion to draw and that is that he has
been completely misled."
And that's that!
it
Graft Money*' Charge in Censor Rulings
to Be Investigated by Board in Seattle
(Special to the Herald-World)
SEATTLE, July 17. — Dave Himelhoch, chairman of the Seattle board of censors,
has issued call for a special meeting to investigate reports he has received that
some member of the board "had accepted graft money." While this is emphatically
denied by the chairman, he has called the meeting to thrash out the matter, and
if the rumors have any foundation the guilty party will be asked to resign.
The censor board chairman also denied rumors to the effect that the board held
a secret meeting with the mayor and after the meeting a trip was made to view
a motion picture which had troubled censor boards in other cities.
26
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
mm
^
iSH
#]TNew York — The perfect screen actor
^,has just gone off to Europe, worse
luck. . . . Charlie Paddock is the name. . . .
He made "The Olympic Hero" and testi-
fied that he didn't take a dime for the job.
. . . Not a tin dime. . . . He loves his art.
... I commend his example, and so forth.
jJAnybodj^ who sees a fly in the publicity
ointment, or a busted string in the publi-
city racquet, gets his choice of pistols or
sabres from Bruce Gallup. . . . Bruce can
tell you, in something less than an hour and
a half, that the only trouble with publicity
is that so many people insist on having it.
. . . People, that is, who don't rate it.
^Howard Dietz, who goes in for ping-
pong on a large scale, is considering run-
ning a tournament. . . . Madison Square
Garden wouldn't be an inch too big. . . .
First prize will probably be one lion, slightly
worn.
HJoe Kennedy is off for the West coast.
. . . And now they're picking him to be
chief something-or-other for the RCA
Photophone. ... If he'd ever wear all his
medals at the same time he'd look like
John Philip Sousa on a Sunday morning.
llHarland Dixon, who owns educated feet,
is making his first appearance in a motion
picture house. . . . He was enticed into the
Capitol.
UGloria Swanson is the latest to go in
for heavy conversation. . . . Her new Von
Stroheim opus is going talkie. . . . It's laid
in German East Africa, but Gloria will prob-
ably converse in the familiar North Amer-
ican.
^Roxy has captured all the big Fox pieces
for his theatre. . . . They're all coming in,
one after another, starting with "Street
Angel."
irVVhich brings up the point that Massa
Jimmy Grainger has landed the Fox product
100 per cent in 37 key centers. . . . Not
the usual 99 44/100 per cent, but a hundred,
just like your golf score.
Ifjohn Spargo just couldn't keep his fin-
gers off a typewriter. . . . He is now bat-
ting 'em out for the Exhibitors Daily
Review. . . . Great stuff, John! . . . Now
we know just where to turn when this
thing doesn't quite make the bottom. . . .
What's that? Who said it hits bottom ev-
ery time?
JlJimmy Walker's memory is going back on
him. . . . Didn't he solemnly raise his
right hand and swear — oh, years ago — that
he would never stick his head into motion
pictures again? Didn't he? . . . And now
look what he's done. . . . Jumped right
in and warned everybody about everything.
. . . C'mon home, Jimmy, and take a rest.
f'The Trail of '98" finally left the Astor.
. . . This was a pretty swell picture, by
the way, that should have jammed them in.
. . . Great stuff for hot weather.
lyinterest is reviving in series. . . . Pathe
is showing exciting moments from all the
old thrillers. . . . Universal has a new one,
on the Tarzan idea, that ought to catch
them coming and going out through the
country.
1[Joe Santley, musical comedy favorite,
is producing a series of unit shows for the
Publix Theatres Corporation. . . . "Babes
on Broadway" is his first and it will open
in New Haven, then coming to the Para-
mount.
tIFox is considering a pretty keen-witted
lady whose only job would be to sit around
and insert the woman's angle into every-
thing. . . . Angle?
PETER VISCHER.
The Circus Arrives at FB O
TLJAVING decided that Frankie Darro is ripe for stardom, F B O has pro-
■'■ -'■ cured a story a real kid like Frankie likes — a circus story called "The
Circus Kid," so the F B O lot has been dominated by the "big top" of late.
These pictures indicate the looks of things, showing also the famous clown,
"Poodles" Hanneford, and his troupe, who aid young Mr. Darro.
Above is shown "Poodles" and the members of his family in his troupe, with George
B. Seitz, director of the picture. From left to right, they are Miss Hanneford, "Poo-
dles'"- sister; Mrs. Hanneford, his mother; Seitz, "Poodles" himself, and his wife. Be-
low is a view under the "big top," showing Frankie Darro's wire-sliding act.
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICIURE WORLD
27
At the New York
Theatres
NEW FILMS
ROXY — "Street Angel," a Fox production, starring
Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, directed by Frank
Borzage.
PARAMOUNT — "Warming Up," a Paramount pic-
ture starring Richard Dix, directed by Fred New-
meyer.
55TH STREET PLAYHOUSE— "Power," a for-
eign production starring Emil Jannings.
CAMEO — "Stark Love," directed by Karl Brown
and "Moana."
CAPITOI^-"Telling the World," a Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer picture starring William Haines, directed by
Sam Wood.
HELD OVER
CRITERION — "Wings," Paramount, opened Au-
gust 12, 1927.
EMBASSY— "Tempest," United Artists, opened
May 17, 1928.
GAIETY — "Fazil," Fox, opened June 5.
WARNERS — "The Lion and the Mouse," Warner
Brothers, opened June 15.
GLOBE— "The Red Dance," Fox, opened June 25.
STRAND — "The Lights of New York," a Warner
Brothers all-talking picture, opened July 6.
FIFTH AVENUE PLAYHOUSE — "The City
Without Jews," a foreign picture, opened July 7.
RIVOLI — "The King of Kings," Pathe, opened
July 7.
RIALTO — "The Man Who Laughs," Universal,
opened July 7.
Schine Merely Part of
New Exhibitor Group; 200
Members Are Anticipated
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, July 17.— Although the Schine
brothers of Gloversville, N. Y., are among the
incorporators of the Mutual Association of
Motion Picture Exhibitors, the organization
is not a Schine one, and will include many
other houses as well as exhibitors. It is said
that more than 100 motion picture theatres in
New York state, outside of the metropolis,
and which operate independently, are identified
with the new association.
According to those behind the idea, the
membership will reach, and possibly exceed,
the 200 mark. The theatres already identified
with the association have an annual buying
power of more than a million dollars.
In addition to the Schine brothers, the in-
corporators include Charles Hayman of Ni-
agara Falls, who was prominently identified
some years ago with the Motion Picture The-
atre Owners of New York state. The papers
as filed at Albany state that the new organiza-
tion has been formed for the purpose of
studying and handling the problems of the
industry and the exhibitor and to promote
and extend friendly association among those
engaged in the industry ; to accomplish the
reforms and abuses in the exhibiting end and
to handle all problems of the exhibitor.
Smallest Picture House in
Philadelphia to Be Erected
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, July 17.— What is said
to be the forerunner of a number of small
motion picture theatres in this city was the is-
suamce this week of a permit for the erection
of what will be in all probability the smallest
motion picture theatre in Philadelphia. It will
be 27 feet wide and 97 feet deep and will seat
279. The estimated cost is $20,000.
Bell Named Production
Executive for Paramount
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— Monta Bell has
been chosen by Jesse Lasky as production ex-
ecutive for Paramount's Long Island Studio.
He will have active charge of productions
which are planned to start at Astoria.
Theatre Admission War in Ohio
Creates Bad Situation, Report
Prices Now as Low as 10 Cents for Matinee and 25 Cents for
Evening — ^Exhibitors Operating Within a Radius
of 50 Miles Affected
(Special to the Herald-World)
LIMA, O., July 17. — For 10 weeks there has been an admission price war
on in this city.
A bad situation, according to reports, has developed, with the slash in prices
affecting "independent exhibitors in a limit of at least 50 miles from Lima."
Prices Reduced to 35 Cents for Night
The "war" started, it seems when the Schine Ohio theatre reduced its prices
to 35 cents for night and 20 cents for the matinee performances. Other houses
in the city met this competition.
Later, the Schine theatre reduced its
prices to 25 cents for the night performance
and 10 cents for the matinee show. The
other houses have not met this competition
entirely.
The other leading theatre of Lima is the
Sigma which presents Vitaphone.
Manager Philip J. Wood of the Motion
Picture Theatre Owners of Ohio, made a.
personal investigation of the situation last
week and reported that conditions are in
"a bad mess."
The Schine theatre gives several acts of
vaudeville, a comedy, news reel and a fea-
ture film for the sum of 10 cents in the
afternoon and 25 cents in the evening.
Join Schade in
Anti- Trust Suit
(Special to the Herald-World)
COLUMBUS, O., July 17.— The Motion
Picture Theatre Owners of Ohio is giving
its moral support to the suit instituted by
George J. Schade, owner of the Schade
theatre, Sandusky, in the federal courts in
Cleveland, on the question of booking.
The suit brought during the past week
under the provisions of the Sherman and
Clayton anti-trust acts is expected to iron
out a bad situation which is said to have
developed among independent operators of
the country.
Philip J. Wood, manager of the Ohio
association said: "We believe that the suit
will clarify the situation with reference to
block booking in the country at large and
especially for Ohio exhibitors."
A temporary restraining order secured
against 17 distributors prevented them from
refusing to sell films to the plaintif in the
suit. It is believed that the suit will be
taken to the United States supreme court
for final adjudication.
The attorneys for Schade are Joseph N.
Ackerman, Ohio state senator of Cleveland,
and former judge, William L. Day.
French Delegation Asks
for Raw Film Reduction
(Special to the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, July 17.— An official
delegation of the French Chamber Syndi-
cale Francaise de la Cinematographic, has
requested that the question of_ a price re-
duction on raw film be examined^ by the
manufacturers as soon as possible, in order
to cooperate with the development _ of
French film production and the extension
of the French market, according to items
in the European press as submitted to the
Department of Commerce. A price reduc-
tion on positive film may, therefore, occur
in the near future, which will satisfy ex-
hibitors, producers, distributors and im-
porters.
To Enlarge Des Moines
House at $500,000 Cost
(Special to the Herald-World)
DES MOINES, July 17.— Plans for the
expenditure of $500,000 for the reconstruc-
tion and enlargement of the Des Moines
theatre were announced here Saturday, by
A. H. Blank, president of the A. H. Blank
theatres. Inc.
The house will be known as the New Des
Moines and will be rebuilt inside and out,
Blank announced. The seating capacity will
be increased from the present 1,759 to 2,800.
Exhibitor Organization Readjustment Is
Needed, Declares Missouri-Kansas Chief
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, MO., July 17.— Exhibitors Herald-World story, prompted by
an exhibitor organization executive's criticism of the present status of the state
bodies has brought the following response:
"Missouri, Kansas and Illinois long ago saw the need of readjustment in the
lines of exhibitor organization," R. R. Biechele, president of the M. P. T. O.
Kansas-Missouri, said. "Exhibitors in Eastern Missouri were served by St. Louis
exchanges instead of Kansas City exchanges. Hence, followed the organization
of the M. P. T. O. Western Illinois and Eastern Missouri and the M. P. T. O.
Western Missouri and Kansas. Different exchange zones have different problems,
although there are of course problems which arise from time to time that concern
the entire industry.
"There is only one successful solution of exhibitor organization. That is to
limit your boundary of organization to a zone which has everything in common.
I do not think exhibitor interest in organization is declining one whit. Business,
as any one knows, has been bad. Most exhibitors just now are worrying about
business conditions and consequently may appear to be lax in their interest towards
their respective organizations, but I feel certain that if a genuine need of their
support should be confronted that we could depend upon 100 per cent of our
exhibitor members."
w
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28
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
^^Joy Week^^ Is Suggested by MQM
as Builder of Business
Lineup of Free Accessories Are to Be Offered by This Company During
Its Summer Campaign for Increased Box Office Receipts
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17. — Summer has its antidotes! Just like any other
period of the year.
There has been "Greater Movie Season," "Laugh Month," and the
like, and now Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer comes to bat with a new one. There also
has been the campaign on ventilation, music, etc.
TV /r G M is now sponsoring "Joy Week,"
-'-''-'■ which the company considers "the fin-
est and most practical idea that has been
developed for exhibitors during the entire
season."
It is the opinion of M G M executives
that this new idea on exploitation offers
an opportunity to create a distinctively
novel program for the theatre.
To describe the plan further, Metro's an-
nouncement declares that an exhibitor does
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M-G-M's "Joy Week" one sheet
not have to play the product of the com-
pany 100 per cent. The idea is simply rec-
ommended to theatre men, who are guar-
anteed "a lineup of free accessories which
M G M is prepared to supply them."
Presented at Convenience
The M G M statement says:
"The idea of Joy Week somewhat re-
sembled the Laugh Week plan which has
proved so successful in other years, but
this new version is more practical and
more elastic in that it allows an exhibitor
to present his Joy Week-Carnival of
Comedy program at any time that best
suits his convenience.
"Joy Week consists of a theatre booking
an all-comedy program consisting of short
feature comedies or a combination of them
with feature length comedies and putting
in back of this program the complete
campaign that has been developed to the
very last detail. Special Joy Week one
sheets, five styles of three sheet snipes and
Joy Week slides will be distributed free to
all accounts desiring to take advantage of
this opportunity. Arrangements have also
been made with numerous manufacturers
of paper pennants, felt pennants, balloons,
streamers and confetti, etc., to supply these
items to theatres on a minimum cost basis.
"Numerous exploitation tieups and pub-
licity stunts emphasizing the Joy Week
Idea are also included in the press sheet.
The M G M field force of exploitation men
have complete details of the plan and are
right now bending their efforts to insure
its success in a number of key cities where
Joy Week will be presented immediately.
"Even the task that might confront some
exhibitors in assembling a balanced pro-
gram of comedy units has been simplified
by the inclusion in the press sheet of a
variety of programs that offer a wide selec-
tion. In addition to the titles and stars
of the productions listed, the number of
reels and the minutes running time have
been computed so that an exhibitor may
tell at a glance of what his show consists
and the actual running time to the very
second.
"There is no doubt but what Joy Week
is a timely and sound showmanship sug-
gestion. The complete campaign which
M G M has prepared leaves no problems
to be solved — only the selection of the week
in which the exhibitor chooses to make a
splash. Joy is what the public wants; it
is what they look for in every form of
entertainment. You'll have more Joy in
such a program than anything else your
town can offer. That's why it's a sure-
fire idea."
Sapiro to Sue for
Injunction Against
MGMandMS Chain
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— Herbert Ebenstein
announced here that papers would be filed by
the Sapiro organization, the Independent Mo-
tion Picture Exhibitors Association, against
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and the Mayer &
Schneider Circuit of New York.
An injunction is to be asked in an effort to
restrain M G M from entering into any con-
tract or carrying out the performance of any
contract with the Mayer & Schneider Circuit,
in violation of prior agreements existing with
the I M P E A.
There is already a suit pending against May-
er & Schneider for non-payment of dues to
the Sapiro organization.
Incorporations
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, July 17. — Five companies incorporated in
the motion picture business in New York state last
week, the companies including Fotovox, Inc. (no
capitalization specified) with Louis J. Schwartz, Rose
Harber and Pearl Srednick, of New York, as in-
corporators; Film Life Extension Corporation, $150,-
000, Stuart Sessions, Victor A. Stewart, R. L.
Saunders, New York City; Malboe Theatre, Inc.,
$10,000, Patrick J. McGrath, Thomas Farrell, Daniel
McCleary, New York City; International Talking
Pictures, Inc. (no capitalization specified) Susan W.
Smith, L. W. Goss, N. Downes, New York City;
Kingston Operating Corporation, $20,000, William J.
Marks, Sara Goldberg, Louis L. Garrell, New York
City.
Paramount Sound
Film Doing Record
Gross in New York
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— "Warming Up,"
Paramount's first feature picture with
sound accompaniment, broke all existing
records for week end business at the Para-
mount theatre, grossing $30,861 for Satur-
day and Sunday, including midnight per-
formances, according to figures made
public by Paramount. The popularity of
the picture was forecast by the ovation ac-
corded it at a preview screening at the
Strand theatre, Yonkers, some weeks ago.
Critics viewing the picture at the open-
ing performance at the Paramount Satur-
day vied with each other in praising the
music score and sound effects introduced
in this base ball story. All acclaimed the
theme song, "Out of the Dawn," written
by Walter Donaldson.
The gross according to Paramount fig-
ures, shatters all house records for Para-
mount since that theatre opened. On
Saturday the receipts were $16,036.05, which
was $1,500 more than ever grossed before
on that day of the week. Midnight per-
formance played to $500 more than ever
has been paid before. Total gross for the
week end run was $900 better than any
previous week end which includes business
for the week the house opened. It is the
confident prediction of Paramount home
office ofiicials that the picture will gross
$85,000 for the week. At 10 a. m., Monday,
there was a line of people blocking Seventh
avenue entrance to the Paramount office
building and stretching around to 43rd
street entrance of the theatre.
Kennedy May Become
a Dominating Figure
in RCA Photophone
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— Putting aside his
many duties in New York, Joseph P. Kennedy
left here for the West Coast to look into the
progress of his various enterprises there.
In addition to inspecting the workings of
First National, Pathe, and F B O, all of which
he is directing, he will also assist in the start-
ing of Gloria Swanson's new picture, directed
by Erich Von Stroheim, in which some of the
bankers backing Kennedy are interested. The
Swanson picture is to be made on a Kennedy
lot.
One of the purposes of Kennedy's visit West
is understood to be a close study of R C A
Photophone possibilities on the West Coast.
Kennedy is expected to make his association
with RCA blossom into a position of first-
rate importance.
Buck Jones to Go
East with Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 17.— Buck Jones,
who put the finishing touches last week
on "The Big Hop" his first picture as an
actor-producer, is due to return East as
soon as the production is cut and titled.
Buck has arranged for first runs in Brook-
lyn and Philadelphia and will probably
lease a Broadway house to show his pic-
ture along the big street.
George Manville Dies
(Special to the Herald-World)
WATHENA, KAN., July 17.— George
Manville, veteran exhibitor, who had been
ill several months, died Saturday. He op-
erated the Liberty Hall theatre here for
seven years. He was the father-in-law of
W. P. Bernfield, Kansas City film salesman.
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
NowRoxyCan'TieUp"
With Book on Arctic
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— Here's the
kind of idea that makes a publicist
shout with glee — or whatever pub-
licists are wont to shout with. Im-
agine that you are the publicist of
the Roxy theatre in this town. (Try,
anyway; it's lots of fun!) And in
a book you read that a great Arctic
explorer once lived in the frozen
North with an Eskimo family com-
monly called by the whalers "Roxy."
What a lucky break, especially in
the summer when tie-ups with places
and things of low temperature bring
the customers to the box office win-
dow. Well, it has been found, the
passage in the book about the "Roxy"
family that lived where frigidaires
are a public nuisance, in "The
Friendly Arctic," by the famous ex-
plorer, Vilhjalmur Stefansson, who
lived with them.
U. S, Helping Germany
To Recover by Aiding Its
Film Industry, He Says
(Special to the Herald-World)
BERLIN, July 7. — Frederick Zelnik, director
of First National-Defu productions, states
that the recent American financing of the
German film industry has resulted in an in-
tensifying of German industrial activity, with
the products given a better place on the world
market.
"German films react upon the various indus-
tries which supply articles necessitated in
every-day life. The intensive activities of our
film industry react favorably upon our general
economical position, and since this intensive
activity has been advanced by these American
means it is but an easy conclusion that the
American financing of the German film indus-
try had its influence upon the whole general
situation in Germany," Zelnick declares.
"A certain fear that through the American
influence German film production would go
down to a level of making contingent films
only has not come true. For this we have to
thank the heads of the German industry, who,
even under severe financial strain, developed
the necessary ambition."
Belle Baker May Make
Fox Talking Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, MICH., July 17.— Belle Baker,
the famous singing comedienne of the legiti-
mate stage, is to follow Al Jolson and other
musical comedy stars into the field of talking
pictures, according to her announcement made
here this past week, while she was making
her debut on the motion picture theatre circuit
in the Publix presentation, "Flapperettes."
The show opened at the Michigan here.
According to the announcement, arrange-
ments have been completed for one talking
picture by the William Fox organization. An
original story is in preparation, it was stated,
which, like Al Jolson's "The Jazz Singer,"
will allow the star to be heard singing char-
acteristic songs. It is to be a story of the
theatre and back stage, and present plans are
to make it in New York studios.
Sore Throat Epidemic
Closes Theatres in Lee
(Special to the Herald-World)
LEE, MASS., July 17.— All motion picture
theatres in Lee were closed last week in an
effort to stamp out an epidemic of septic sore
throat which has already claimed 20 people,
while 700 others have been stricken.
Mergers Concentrate Control
of Theatres in Smaller Cities
Consolidation in Zanesville, O., Gives Brown Theatrical Company
Ownership and Management of All Houses — Cinemas
in South Dakota Also Combine
(Special to the Herald-World)
ZANESVILLE, O., July 17. — All motion picture theatres in Zanesville are
now under the control and management of the Brown Theatrical Company,
a deal having just been closed between Brown and Sam E. Lind, president of
Imperial Theatre Company, whereby three houses are transferred by Imperial
to Brown, thus giving the Brown company the six houses here.
Understood $600,000 Involved in Transfer
While no financial consideration was mentioned publicly, it is understood
that the transfer involved in the neighborhood of $600,000, with all leases on
the Imperial property running 25 years.
Frank M. Ransbottom is president of the Brown company, and Caldwell H.
Brown is general manager.
Prior to the merger, the Brown com-
pany had the Liberty, Weller and Grand
theatres, the merger giving the company
the Quimby, Schultz and Imperial.
Al C. White, who in partnership entered
into the motion picture theatre field in this
city in 1914, will remain with the Brown
company.
Will Redecorate Houses
The Weller theatre is now closed for
redecorating and other changes, and ex-
tensive remodeling of the Schultz theatre
will be undertaken by the new owners just
as soon as plans can be completed and
contracts let.
Definite plans for the operation of the
theatres can not be given at this time as
certain details are not yet worked out.
General Manager Brown has gone to New
York, and upon his return is expected to
make an announcement.
In a statement Mr. Brown said:
"Heretofore both the Imperial Theatre
company and our company were compelled
to take the entire output of each company
they were doing business with, but now,
with our combined purchasing power, we
will be able to eliminate the showing of
poor pictures in the city. We feel quite
sure the public will recognize this soon af-
ter September 1.
"In conclusion, we want to state that we
deeply appreciate the faith and trust Zanes-
ville has shown in our theatres, and we go
on record right now that we shall keep
faith with Zanesville and what we regard
as a sacred trust."
Theatres Consolidate
in South Dakota
DEADWOOD, S. D., July 17.— Through
a merger just consummated, several thea-
tres in the Black Hills territory will be op-
erated by the Black Hills Amusement
Company, which has operated the Elks and
Auditorium at Rapid City, the Ford at
Lead, the Deadwood in this city, and the
Orpheum at Sheridan, Wyo., and the Prin-
cess at Douglas, Wyo.
Under the new agreement, the following
additional theatres will come under the
Black Hills company management:
Isis at Belle Fourche, S. D., Princess
at Spearfish, S. D., and Majestic at Sturgis,
S. D.
The general impression in this territory
is that the merger will have a far-reaching
effect "in bringing into the territory all
the best in all lines of entertainment."
It is planned to make improvements in
the new properties acquired.
Excellent Pictures Is
Soon to Have 3 More
For Franchise Release
NEW YORK, July 17.— Excellent Pictures
Corporation this week is shipping prints of
"Making the Varsity" to its franchise holders.
Soon to follow will be "The Speed Classic,"
and directly after that "Manhattan Knights"
will go forth.
"Manhattan Knights" is practically com-
pleted now and will be ready ahead of sched-
ule. Barbara Bedford plays the role of the
girl heroine. Others in the cast include Wal-
ter Miller, Betty Worth, Ray Hallor, Noble
Johnson, Maude Truax and Eddie Boland.
Excellent Pictures Corporation has kept
consistently ahead of its schedule in the last
18 months. All pictures have been delivered
ahead of their promised dates. Production
plans for the 1928-29 season are equally ad-
vanced.
"Lilac Time" Has Theme Song
NEW YORK.— "Lilac Time," First National pro-
duction starring Colleen Moore, has a theme song
written by Nathaniel Shilkret, called "Jeannine, I
Dream of Lilac Time."
What Exhibitors are Saying
EXHIBITORS ^ MOVING PICTURE
-bout DniEIRMLni) ^^ WOMLP
" and assuring you that we think that the Heraid-World is the
'one and only' trade paper in the business today. In saying this I am sure
that I am voicing what every exhibitor in the world thinks of your publica-
tion. Best wishes for your continued success." — H. J. Thacker, manager. Hip-
podrome and Temple theatres, Newport, Ky.
30
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
Juvenile Law Closes Film House;
Reopens as Vaude Theatre
"Rajnona" Shows for Nine Weeks in Tivoli Theatre at Toronto — Carnival
Companies Are Now Barred in Hamilton, Ont.
(^Special to the Herald-World)
OTTAWA, ONT., July 17. — Following the enforcement of the new law in
Quebec which forbids the admission of children under 16 years of age to
a moving picture performance, the Imperial Theatre, one of the largest
in Montreal, under the management of Howard W. Conover, re-opened July 15
with an all-vaudeville policy, film attractions having been eliminated. The
theatre was dark for five weeks, during which time it was remodelled. Pre-
viously, the show at the Imperial consisted of a film feature, short film subjects
and five acts of vaudeville. It now comprises nine acts of vaudeville, presented
twice daily at $1.00 top.
J. M. Franklin
CHILDREN are now privileged to be
patrons of the Imperial theatre because
photoplays are no longer screened.
A change is also to take place at the
Palace theatre, another large Montreal
house under the management of George
Rotsky. A fullsize stage is to be con-
structed and Pantages vaudeville will be
featured.
J. M. Franklin, prominent in theatre and
community circles of Ottawa, Ontario, has
received the appointment as Canadian
representative of
the Keith - Albee-
Orpheum Corpora-
tion, New York
City, with supervi-
sion over all Keith
interests in the Do-
minion. His head-
quarters will con-
tinue to be in
Ottawa, the Cana-
dian Capital, where
he has been the
manager of B. F.
Keith's theatre for
the past five years,
and he will con-
tinue to be the man-
ager of that impressive house in addition
to handling matters of policy with regard
to all Keith features in the Dominion. An-
nouncement is made that no changes in
the Keith or allied interests in Canada are
contemplated.
Apart from many Keith and Orpheum
theatres in the principal cities, there are
distributing organizations for Pathe, F B O
and First National pictures.
An exceptional showing has been made
at the Tivoli theatre, Toronto, by
"Ramona" for its first Canadian engage-
rnent, the run concluding July 20 after con-
tinuous presentations for nine weeks, be-
ing followed by the new edition of "The
White Sister." This was not a record for
Canada, however this having been estab-
lished at the Grand theatre, Toronto, some
years ago by "Mickey" which played 15
weeks. The Grand theatre, incidentally,
is now being torn down.
"Ramona" is also having a big run in
Western Canada where it has already
played five weeks at the Metropolitan the-
atre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, under the di-
rection of Manager Walter F. Davis. This
is a record for Western Canada.
The Police Department of Hamilton,
Ont., has received instructions from the
Hamilton City Council, in the form of a
resolution, not to issue any more permits
for carnival companies. One good reason
for this action is that Manager H. E. Wil-
ton of the Strand theatre is an alderman.
For the second time within a period of
two weeks, the Imperial theatre, Ottawa,
had an experience with an electrical storm.
On the second occasion, July 9, lightning
put the electrical service of the theatre out
of commission and it was found impossible
to make immediate repairs with the result
that Manager Ray Tubman refunded all ad-
missions. There was not the slightest sign
of panic, although a large crowd was
present.
James T. Moxley, a veteran exhibitor of
Ottawa, Ontario, has received the appoint-
ment of City Registrar of Deeds and has
definitely retired from the motion picture
field. During his long career, Mr. Moxley
has been manager of the Regent, Imperial,
Russell and Francais theatres.
Incidentally, Mr. Moxley was a patient
in the Ottawa Civic Hospital when he re-
ceived word of his appointment. He is now
on the road to recovery.
* * *
Theatre managers of Montreal, Quebec,
took advantage of the air-mindedness of
the people of Montreal during the holding
of the first aviation show in that city during
the week of July 9, by presenting appropri-
ate pictures. Manager James Adams of
Loew's theatre presented "Across the At-
lantic" as the film attraction while Manager
Harry Dahn had a special air film at the
Capitol theatre. This was a topical re-
view of airplane development from the time
of the first flights.
* * *
Starting with the week of July 9, Man-
ager Don Stapleton of the Centre theatre,
Ottawa, Ontario, followed a summer policy
by presenting programs for three days at
regular prices instead of making changes
weekly.
Butler and Crew Sail
to Europe for Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— David Butler,
Fox director, and a crew of cameramen
and assistants will arrive in New York from
the Fox Studios July 22, and will sail a
few days later for Europe to make exteriors
for the second newsreel picture, entitled
"Chasing Through Europe." Harry Brand
has been in Europe for the last three weeks
selecting locations for the troupe.
Patricia Perry Killed
in Airplane Accident
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, July 17.— Lightning is
believed to have caused the airplane in which
Patricia Perry and Morris Tittergington, an
inventor, to crash near Pottsville, killing both
occupants.
Gone Are the Pickford
Curls — But Not Forever!
The curls are gone, long live the
curls! Into Chicago came Mary Pick-
ford, golden ringlets shorn, having
been shorn in New York. But Miss
Pickford, home from abroad, was on
her way to Hollywood to begin her
new United Artists picture, the new
role requiring that the former screen
"slavey" and "orphan girl" be grown
up. So again the golden ringlets of
the star's perennial adolescence were
shorn, more appropriately deleted in
Chicago where censors and gangsters
execute violence with rare expertness
— and so that the Chicago newspapers
would not be outdone by the New
York. But though twice divorced from
their owner, they did not fall into the
oblivion of the barber shop Soar.
They were saved, America! And soon
after reposed in the display window
of a Chicago drug store on Dearborn
and Randolph Streets. The same curls,
Mary's own tresses? Ah, well — the
curls are gone, long live "America's
Sweetheart."
Prospects Seem Bright
for the Independents
Next Year, Says Brandt
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— Never before has
the outlook for the independent producer-
distributor been more favorable than it is
today, according to Joe Brandt, president
of Columbia.
"My views as to the probable course of
events from the independent standpoint are
in our program of production for the 1928-
1929 season. In the Perfect 36, we have
outlined a greater production schedule than
ever before. We have arranged to spend
somewhere between $4,000,000 and $5,000,
000 to bring this program to the screen.
Our line-up, even before a single picture
went into production, represented the in-
vestment of thousands and thousands of
dollars for vehicles. We spared no expense
in attempting to get together the sort of
story material we think the box-ofifices of
the country are seeking."
Harry Cohn, vice-president in charge of
production, announces that Columbia is
preparing three more productions for 1928-
1929, "Trial Marriage,' "The Power of the
Press" and "Runaway Girls."
Exhibitor Arrested 2nd
Time in His War on Law
Forbidding Sunday Shows
(Special to the Herald-World)
BIRMINGHAM, July 17.— The second
trial of W. Fred Walsh, manager of the
Fairfield theatre, on charge of operating a
motion picture show on Sunday, was post-
poned on account of the illness of Walsh.
Sunday of last week, Walsh was arrested
the second time and for the second time
within a week, charged with operating his
theatre on Sunday. The first time he was
fined $25 and costs, but he appealed the
case.
Walsh has thus made it plain that he
expects to fight the new ordinance against
Sunday shows with vigor. The case will
not reach trial in the circuit court before
the September term.
Rothacker on Way East
LOS ANGELES, July 17.— Watterson
Rothacker left for the East on the Chief
Monday.
Julv 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
W/
Film News
in Pictures
PICTORIAL SECTION
Stories Told
by the Camera
From Russia comes this lad, Paul
Guertzman, as the protege of
Jesse L. Lasky, vice-president of
Paramount. Only 15, he will
appear in Paramount pictures
after receiving training.
Four film notables about to attend the midnight premiere of
Warner Brothers' "Lights of New York," first all-talking fea-
ture, at the Mark Strand, New York. They are Albert Warner,
Moe Mark, general manager of the Mark Strand; Harry M.
Warner, president of Warners; and Moe Silvers, general man-
ager of Stanley.
An M G M importation from
Europe, Eva von Berne, whom
Irving Thalberg, production, ex-
ecutive of M G M, "discovered"
recently in Austria. She is shown
arriving in Hollywood.
I I
4
The guests of Ben Lauthain, salesman of Pathe's Milwaukee branch, and Bill Tracy, Platteville, Wis., exhibitor. Lauthain "promoted" the
party at Platteville, inviting neighboring exhibitors to a dinner and showings of Pathe product, which included "Walking Back," "The
Cop" and several shorts. Attending were many exhibitors, some with their wives, and others, including Fred C. Aiken, special represen-
tative of Pathe; William Aschmann, Pathe manager in Milwaukee; Ross Baldwin and Tom North, district shorts manager, Chicago.
32
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
ihis and | hat her
July 21, 1928
E
Lucy Doraine at home on a summery summer's
day, suggesting how a mere couch swing may
be made an attractive part of the landscape by
the addition of a beautiful girl. Miss Doraine,
by the way, is a Paramount player, no star, but
talented as well as highly decorative.
Here's a master of ceremonies for you! For
anybody, in fact. "Scheherazade of a 1,001
tunes" — and who'd care if she only knew
the one? However, Patsy Ruth Miller is
only giving us a sample of her role in Uni-
versal's, "The Gate Crasher."
Again opposite John
Barrymore, in a new
United Artists picture —
Camilla Horn, who made
her debut in "Tempest."
One horseman, who with another just opposite, makes
two — and that, we believe, is one-half an apocalypse.
This rough and ready equestrian is Ted Wells, Uni-
versal Western star. Wells will make seven feature
Westerns this year.
Listening in, though we won't go so far as to say that it's on Art Goebel's story of his
airplane ride from the Coast to Hawaii. That would be a flight on our part — one of the
imagination, and perhaps it's just as well we're out of gas. The scene is the Paramount
studio, and from left to right are Frank Tuttle, Chester Conklin, Mai St. Clair, director
of Clara Bow in "The Fleet's In"; Goebel, and Charles Rogers, whom Tuttle is directing
in a new picture.
July 21, 1928
and THERE in pilmd
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
om
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This sample of adaptation to environment comes
from Chesapeake Bay, and therein Rowland V.
Lee, directing Paramount's Gary Cooper-Fay
Wray production, "The First Kiss," is shown
separating Leslie Fenton from Lane Chandler
with a lobster hook.
Bob Steele up, but not in the role of a plainsman, but
as an exponent of the aristocratic game of polo. In-
deed, Bob has changed his ways, having become a col-
legiate, athletic hero in F B O adventure stories, in-
stead of Westemsi.
Ronald Coleman's new
feminine lead, Lily Dam-
ita, who will make her
American debut in "The
Rescue."
i
Some people of importance around First National's European studios, principally, how-
ever, around the First National Pathe British plant at Elstree. No. 1 in this foreign film
foursome is Ray Rockett, who is First National's production manager at Defu in Berlin
as well as at the Elstree studio. Proceeding to your right, the others are Audree Sayre,
ingenue in "Confetti," and Anny Ondra, star of "Eileen of the Trees," both pictures
First National Pathe productions; and J. H. Graham Cutts, director at Elstree.
Alas, the bitter truth! Ah, what gowfer has
not trusted his iron, as Karl Dane apparently
trusted his, only to have, like this MGM
comedian (if we are to believe the picture)
it fail him in the end! Dane remains George
K. Arthur's teammate in 1928-29.
34
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
St. Louis Union and Governor Revival Threatened
in Tilt Over Mechanical Music
Labor Chiefs Ask for Removal of Board of Police Commissioners
on Charge of Persecution Following
Arrest of Pickets
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, July 17. — Governor Sam Baker of Missouri has rejected the
request of the Musicians Mutual Benefit Association that he remove his board
of police commissioners in St. Louis, Mo., for alleged persecution of union
musicians in their campaign against "canned" music.
Union musicians picketing the theatres in St. Louis which are using
mechanical organs instead of union orchestras have been arrested for littering
the streets with handbills, while other musicians have been arrested for vio-
lating traffic ordinances, etc. All were later discharged in police court.
Union Chieftains Call on Governor
A few weeks ago a delegation of labor chieftains headed by President Wood
of the Missouri State Federation of Labor called upon Governor Baker to
complain against the undue activity of the police in the music controversy.
On Frida}', July 13, Henry J. Kortjohn,
Jr., and Dr. Frank L. Alagoon, members of
the police board, had a conference with Gov-
ernor Baker regarding the complaints of the
musicians.
After the meeting, Governor Baker made
clear to newspaper correspondents that he is
entireh' satisfied with the manner in which the
poUce board had handled the situation rela-
tive to the complaints made by the musicians,
and stated that in the future the board vnll
have his backing as in the past
Asks Specific Charges
The governor instructed Commissioners
Kortjohn and Magoon to get in touch with
the heads of the musicians union and re-
quest them to file specific charges against any
individual policeman alleged to have over-
stepped his authority in any way, and for the
board to investigate carefully any complaint
so filed. All complaints not officially filed with
the board are to be ignored.
Guy M. Daily, president of the Musicians
Mutual Benefit Association, Local Union 2,
commenting upon Governor Baker's refusal to
act on the complaints, severelv criticised the
governor, who he charged with denying to
the union musicians their constitutional right
of picketing and free speech.
"In view of the facts, we are satisfied that
we have placed the responsibility for the in-
vasion of the constitutional rights of our
members where it properly belongs, and that
is on the present governor of the state of
Missouri, and in view of his backing up of
the members of the St. Louis police board in
their unlawful action, and of refusing to make
an investigation which he promised to make,
I unhesitatingly assert that the Honorable Sam
Baker, governor of Missouri, is grossly unfair
to organized labor," Daily concluded.
Seek More Concerts
Plans of the Musicians Mutual Benefit
Association and affiliated unions for more
music in the St Louis theatres and more con-
certs in public parks has been indorsed by
the Central Trades and Labor Unions with a
combined membership of almost 100,000 men
and women.
On Sunday morning, July 15, more than
12,000 persons heard a public concert by a band
of 250 union musicians given in the Nathan
Frank band stand in Forest Park. The mem-
bers of the band donated their services in
furtherance of the union's campaign to edu-
cate the public regarding the advantages of
good human orchestral music compared with
"canned" music in the form of mechanical
organs, electric pianos, phonographs, Vita-
phone, Movietone and similar mechanical
music reproduction devices.
The St. Louis musicians hope to have the
taxpayers vote a special tax fund for the
financing of more band concerts in public
parks. The present board of estimate and
apportionment has kept the appropriation for
band concerts to the minimum, the city setting
aside less for that purpose than 25 years ago.
Rumors of Changes
in Stanley Concern
Without Foundation
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, July 17.— The meet-
ing of the Stanley directorate, held today,
resulted in the re-election of 15 of the 16 di-
rectors. Only one change was made,
Clifford B. Hawley's name being dropped
from the company.
Rumors that sweeping changes were to
be made proved to be unfounded, as the
principal business of the meeting consisted
of a report by Irving D. Rossheim, pres-
ident, in which he admitted that profits
for the first half year of 1928 dropped
somewhat, but that the best part of the
year was still to come. He said that sav-
ings totaling thousands of dollars had been
effected.
Rossheim is expected to be re-elected
head of the company at a meeting to be
held in New York July 27.
Film rentals, he said, were responsible
for the reduction of the dividend from $4 to
$3, and its subsequent discontinuance. Fur-
ther, he said that rentals for the new
season will be more favorable to the
company.
K, C's Zoning Problem Is
Watched with Interest
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, July 17.— Just what is
to become of the projection zoning plan,
recently adopted by the Kansas City Film
Board of Trade and rejected by the M. P.
T. O., Kansas-Missouri, is problematical.
Several Kansas City film exchanges are
preparing to sell film on the basis outlined
in the board's plan, but the sales will be
confined to Kansas City theatres only and
not including the entire territory as origi-
nally planned. Just what the reaction will
be is proving interesting speculation for
Kansas City's film row.
of Ancient Sunday
Laws in St. Louis
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, July 17.— St. Louis is once
more threatened with a strict enforcement
of ancient Sunday closing laws which have
been permitted to remain dead letters for
almost a century. Mayor Victor J. Miller
last Wednesday vetoed a bill which would
have permitted delicatessens to remain
open for business all day Sunday, con-
tending that this measure discriminated
against grocers, bakers and butchers. At
present the delicatessen shops are per-
mitted to open between 3 and 6 o'clock
Sunday afternoons.
Several weeks ago when police were
preventing delicatessen shops from open-
ing for more than three hours on Sundays,
proprietors asserted that if the Sunday
closing laws were strictly enforced against
them they would insist that all other Sun-
day closing measures be strictly enforced,
and if necessary, force officials by manda-
mus to proceed against Sunday baseball,
motion picture shows and other recrea-
tional activities.
One of the old laws requires that every
business, with the exception of drug stores,
must not operate on Sundays.
When the threat was made by the deli-
catessen men, the new measure granting
special concessions to them was rushed
through the board of aldermen. Now
Mayor Miller's veto has placed the situa-
tion exactly where it was prior to the in-
troduction of the bill.
Theatre Bombers Still
Being Sought by Police;
Owner Blames His Rival
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, July 17.— East St. Louis police
are still endeavoring to learn the identity of
the person who planted a bomb in the rear
of the Washington motion picture theatre
there early in the morning of July 9. The
bomb exploded at 2 a. m. damaging the theatre
foundation and windows in two adjoining
buildings with a loss of about $100.
William Markuly, who with John Manol
owns the theatre, attributes the bombing to
enmity on the part of a business rival. He
states that on July 4 he caught some small
boys throwing fireworks into the theatre and
that they admitted to him they had been sent
to the theatre by a competitor.
Former F N President
Opens Finance Office
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— Clifford B. Haw-
ley, who recently resigned as president of
First National, has opened an office for cor-
porate financing at 39 Broadway.
U Holds Meeting
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, July 17.— Fourteen
Universal branches were represented at a
sales meeting at the Hotel Muehlebach
here, last week. M. Van Praag, sales di-
rector of the western division, presided.
Fred J. McConnell, short subjects manager,
and G. E. Rosenwald, Pacific Coast divi-
sion manager, also attended the meeting.
Kathleen Kay in New York
NEW YORK. — Kathleen K&y, who appears in the
first two-reel talking comedy, "The Family Picnic,"
arrived in New York for a vacation.
Buffalo Scores in FN Drive
NEW YORK.— The fourth week of First National's
summer billing drive was a general shifting of posi-
tions among the leaders. Buffalo has won first place,
with San Francisco seaond.
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
35
How Many Receivers? What
Theatres? Goodbye $1.35!
Somehow last week, the discussion
came up — as even discussions will —
as to just how many theatres and
what theatres, as a matter of fact,
are being operated in Chicago by
receiver. Then a betting person in
one of those rash moments such peo-
ple are always having, wagered
$1.35 there are 30 houses so oper-
ated, including those of Lubliner &
Trim. Stories in Exhibitors Herald-
World were consulted. And $1.35
being at stake, information was
sought even further, with the follow-
ing result: The Chicago Title &
Trust Company is operating upwards
of 40 theatres, those of Ascher Broth-
ers, National Theatres, Inc., and in-
dividual owners, according to Chester
Davis of the legal department. L & T
bouses, of course, are operated by
Balaban & Katz. And the State
Bank of Chicago operates the in-
choate Admiral. That is correct.
But old. And what of it? So the
$1.35 went to charity.
43 Wisconsin Exhibitors
Attend Pathe Showings
Staged by Ben Louthain
[Picture in Pictorial Section]
PLATTEVILLE, WIS., July 17.— One of
the most successful get-togethers of exhibitors
of southwestern Wisconsin was conducted
here by Ben Louthain, Pathe salesman of the
Milwaukee branch, who has handled this
territory for years. The territory has been
transferred to Ross Baldwin, former booker
at the Pathe Milwaukee branch. Louthain
sent letters to all exhibitors in this section
telling them of the event to be held in Platte-
ville and advising them of the Pathe product
that would be shown especially for them at
William Tracy's Gem theatre. Also a dinner
was served to the 43 exhibitors, their wives
and friends who attended.
Short talks were made on Pathe product,
and in the morning was shown Pathe Topics,
Pati.e Review and "Walking Back." After
the luncheon, Fables, Sportlights, and "The
Cop" were screened. No business was so-
licited, but a number of contracts resulted,
any way. Among those attending were:
O. J. Bakke 1 and P. Peterson, Parkway theatre,
Mt. Horeb; IV'r. and Mrs. Geo. Gadsen, Richland,
Richland Center; Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Hurd, Strand,
Boscobel; Vein Campbell, Alert, Steuben; Peter
Panka, Metropolitan, Prairie du Chien; Ora Hatch
and Mr. and Mrs. James Sprague, Opera House,
Bloomington; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Brechler, Opera
House, Fennimore.
Mr. and Mrs. Whitney Burr, Orpheum, Lancaster;
Mr. and Mrs. A. Hurst, Gem, Potosi; Mr. and Mrs.
William Tracy, Gem, Platteville; T. F. Lee, ShuUs-
burg; Qaude Vail, Benton, Blenoe: N. T. Thompson,
Crystal, Ft. Atkinson; Fred C. Aiken, Pathe special
representative; William Aschraann, manager of the
Pathe Milwaukee branch; Ross Baldwin, and Tom
North, district manager for Pathe Topics and Fables.
Animals of the Jungle
Will Feature U Serial
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— Universal has made
a new and unusual serial which ought to
achieve considerable popularity through the
country. It is called "Tarzan the Mighty," and
was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, author
of the famous Tarzan stories.
The picture is distinguished by a number of
remarkable animal shots. Pictures of croco-
diles, elephants, monkeys, giraffes, zebras, gen-
erally in exciting situations, ought to make
the picture deservedly popular.
$30,000,000 Budget Will Give
FBO Its Record Film Output
More Than 50 Per Cent of New Season's Product Has Now Been
Completed — Tom Mix Starts First on New Schedule,
"Son of the Golden West"
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— With the announcement that a $30,000,000 produc-
tion budget had been set aside for the next three years, FBO Pictures Cor-
poration this week set in motion what, the company believes, will be its
greatest program of expansion.
F B O is entering the third year of its existence under the leadership of
Joseph P. Kennedy in a position firmly entrenched, according to company
executives.
Special Attractions Increased to Six
The number of specials which the company will make has been increased
to six, with a series of six Tom Mix Westerns, 24 Gold Bond productions, 7
Westerns starring Tom Tyler, 7 Westerns starring Buzz Barton, F B O's
14-year-old Western ace, 6 Bob Steele dramas of youth and adventure and 4
productions starring Ranger, the wonder dog, completing the program.
More than 50 per cent of the new prod- E. Brown, Frankie Darro, Helene Costello,
uct has been completed. "Hit of the Show" Lionel Belmore and Poodles Hanneford
with Joe E. Brown and Gertrude Olm-
stead, directed by Ralph Ince, was chosen
by S. L. Rothafel for the Roxy theatre
for the week of July 7.
The specials on the 1928-29 program in-
clude:
"The Perfect Crime," with Irene Rich
and Clive Brook; "Taxi 13," with Chester
Conklin and Martha Sleeper; "Hit of the
Show" with Joe E. Brown; "The Circus
Kid" with Joe E. Brown and Frankie Dar-
ro; "Gang War" with Olive Borden and
Jack Pickford, and "Blockade," with Anna
Q. Nilsson. Of these the first five have
been completed.
The Gold Bond Pictures
The Gold Bonds on the new program in-
clude: "Danger Street," with Warner Bax-
ter and Martha Sleeper; "Stocks and
Blondes," with Jacqueline Logan and Skeets
Gallagher; "Charge of the Gauchos," with
Jacqueline Logan and Francis X Bushman;
"Singapore Mutiny," with Estelle Taylor
and Ralph Ince; "Sally's Shoulders," with
Lois Wilson, George Hackathorne and
Huntly Gordon; "Sinners in Love," with
Olive Borden, Seena Owen and Huntly
Gordon; "His Last Haul," "Stolen Love,"
"Tropic Madness," "Hey, Rube!," "Air Le-
gion," "Voice of the Storm," "The Yellow
Back," "Hardboiled," "The Jazz Age," "The
Red Sword," Macfadden prize story, "The
Convict's Son, with Frankie Darro, "Love
in the Desert," "King of the Klondike,"
"The Record Run," "Lest We Forget,"
"Skinner Steps Out" and Double Crossed."
Nine pictures are in course of filming
at the present time. "Son of the Golden
West," the first Western starring Tom
Mix, was started July 9. This story by
George Pyper is a dramatic tale of the
Pony Express days. Tony, Mix's wonder
horse, will share honors with his master,
while Sharon Lynn is playing Mix's leading
lady.
Produces Prize Story
"Sinners in Love" the prize winning
story conducted by the Macfadden pub-
lications, was also started July 9, under the
direction of George Melford. Olive Bor-
den, Huntly Gordon and Seena Owen have
been assigned to enact the leading roles.
"Sinners In Love" is an original story by
an anonymous writer, and was awarded
first prize in the True Story contest. "Sin-
ners In Love" will be published serially
in four issues of True Story Magazine
starting with the September issue, simulta-
neously with the release of the film.
Director George B. Seitz is putting the
last touches to "The Circus Kid" with Joe
and his troupe in the cast.
Lois Wilson In Cast
"Sally's Shoulders" a picturization of
Beatrice Burton's widely read newspaper
serial, is being directed by Lynn Shores,
with Lois Wilson, George Hackathorne,
and Huntly Gordon in the leading roles.
"Singapore Mutiny" boasts Estelle Tay-
lor in the leading feminine role, with Ralph
Ince as director and male lead. Bob Steele,
F B O's athletic young star, has started work
on "Captain Careless," the second of his
new type of action pictures, under the di-
rection of Jerome Storm.
Steele makes his debut as a screen writer
with "Captain Careless." He wrote the
original story of the film in collaboration
with Perry Murdock, who is his companion
in the picture.
Tyler Now On Location
Tom Tyler is on location in the Mojave
Desert with the "Trail of the Horse
Thieves" company. The production is
based on a story by William E. Wing.
Robert De Lacy is directing. The support-
ing cast includes Harry O'Connor, Bill
Nestell, Vic Allen, Ray Childs and Leo
Willett.
Buzz Barton F B O's 14 year old Western
star, begins work this week on "Rough
Ridin' Red" under the direction of Louis
King. This is the second picture on the
1928-29 program for theyouthful star.
Frank Rice, the only player who has ap-
peared consistently in Barton's previous
pictures, is the only one as yet cast for
"Rough Ridin' Red."
Leon d'Usseau has been assigned a di-
rectorial position with FBO and will as-
sume his new duties this week when he
starts production of "Fury of the Wild"
starring Ranger, the wonder dog.
The increased volume of short subjects
product necessitated the installation of a
short subject sales department, with Cleve
Adams in charge. Larry Darmour, for
Standard Cinema Corporation, is turning
out one of the greatest programs for FBO
in the short subject field. He is now mak-
ing four series of nationally publicized at-
tractions, including 12 "Racing Bloods"
from the Cosmopolitan Magazine stories by
H. C. Witwer, starring Alberta Vaughn;
12 "Barney Googles" from the great Hearst
comic strip by Billy De Beck; 12 "Toots
and Caspers" from the Hearst strip by
Jimmy Murphy and the Fontaine Fox
Mickey McGuires. Walter Putter's 26 one
reel Curiosities complete the short subject
program.
\
\\
36
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
Y^
SYNCHRONIZED PICTURES
FN Contracts for 30 Pictures
in Sound; May Synchronize All
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17. — First National Pictures, Inc., has signed a contract with
Electrical Research Products, Inc., for the sound synchronization of at least thirty
pictures in the coming season according to Irving D. Rossheim, president of First
National. The actual signing took place last Saturday.
"This announcement is a conservative one," became interested in First National, he opened
said Rossheim, "It is not at all unlikely that
within a month or so all First National pic-
tures will be synchronized. Special stages are
now being built in our Burbank studios and
experiments are under way for producing the
finest talking picture effects. We are experi-
menting with pictures in which all the dialogue
RCA and Movietone
Now Interchangeable
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— Photo-
phone's sound track is now the same
as Movietone's, according to an an-
nouncement made today by Dr. Al-
fred N. Goldsmith, vice president in
charge of engineering and production
for RCA Photophone. Photophone's
sound track was 100 mills wide as
against 80 for Movietone and the
change makes it possible, according
to Dr. Goldsmith, to interchange
the two at will.
is spoken, as well as with productions in which
the synchronization consists chiefly of music
and sound effects." Joseph P. Kennedy, F N
special advisor, is at the Burbank studios at
present completing arrangements for the in-
stallations.
Some weeks ago the announcement of the
contract with Western Electric would have
occasioned no surprise, but when Kennedy
negotiations with RCA and the feeling was
general that First National sound would be
made by Photophone.
First National's first synchronized picture,
"Lilac Time," starring Colleen Moore, opened
yesterday at the Carthay Circle in Los Angeles.
Three additional Colleen Moore pictures are
now being prepared for sound, as are "The
Divine Lady," starring Corrine Griffith, in
which the Battle of Trafalgar will be pro-
duced in sound; "The Barker," starring Milton
Sills, in which all the sounds and dialogue of
the carnival will be produced.
Others include "The Whip," with Dorothy
Mackaill; a Billie Dove special, directed t^
George Fitzmaurice ; "The Good-bye Kiss" ;
"The Squall" ; "Changeling" ; Corrine Griffith
in "Outcast," "Paid For," "Saturday's Chil-
dren," and one other; Richard Barthelmess in
"Scarlet Seas," "Diversion," and two others ;
Billie Dove in "The Night Watch," "The
Heart of a Princess," "The Other Tomorrow"
and "Pleasure Bound" ; Milton Sills in "Hard
Rock," "The Spotter," "The Eagle's Trail"
and "Captain of the Strong" ; Alice White in
"Show Girl" ; three mystery dramas, "The
Haunted House," "Seven Footprints to Satan"
and "Sh! The Octopus."
"First National doesn't contemplate sound
production in the East at this time," said
Rossheim. "We are sure that the finest equip-
ment and the best talent can be secured in
Los Angeles and that Hollywood will soon be
built up as a center of sound reproduction as
it now is the center of motion picture produc-
tion."
UA Will Synchronize 18 Films;
Signs Irving Berlin for Music
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— United Artist will synchronize all of the 19 United
Artists pictures for 1928-29 except "Steamboat BOl," according to Joseph M.
Schenck, president. In line with this poHcy comes the important announcement
that the company has contracted with Irving Berlin for a number of original
theme songs for certain productions.
Berlin has also been placed under exclusive contract to write original songs
and scores and to compose music for United Artist pictures. Synchronization
will be made by use of Movietone process.
Berlin has also been placed under ex- W. Griffith's production of "The Love
elusive contract to write original songs and Song," and also another special song.
scores and to compose music for United
Artists pictures. Synchronization will be
made by use of Movietone process.
Berlin will provide an original song, con-
sisting of words and music entitled,
"Where Is the Song of Songs for Me?"
which will be sung by Lupe Velez in D.
"Marie," which will be sung as part of
Samuel Goldwyn's production, "The Awak-
ening," in which Vilma Banky makes her
first individual starring appearance under
the direction of Victor Fleming. "Marie"
will also be the theme for the synchronized
score.
Sizzling Heat Fails
to Hurt Theatres
Playing Sound Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, July 17.— The Vitaphone
demonstrated last week in Albany and
Troy, its ability to attract patronage to a
motion picture theatre despite weather con-
ditions that left practically all other houses
stranded as the mercury remained in the
nineties and the two cities sweltered in
some of the hottest weather they had ever
experienced at this time of the year.
At the Mark Strand theatre in Albany,
"The Lion and the Mouse" with complete
Vitaphone synchronization, drew capacity
houses throughout the entire week. In
addition to the feature, there were also two
other Vitaphone presentations. The picture
proved so satisfactory on the opening day
that it was well received by the newspaper
critics and this helped to swell the crowds.
In Troy, "Tenderloin" with Vitaphone
accompaniment, played throughout the
week at the Troy theatre, and to crowds
that exceeded any previous week in the
history of the theatre during a hot period.
Some idea of the heat that prevailed in
central New York last week can be gained
in the fact that an usher at the Troy theatre
fainted one day from the heat, according
to reports.
The success that last week attended these
two shows in Albany and Troy, has set
other theatre owners talking and predic-
tions are being made that every first run
theatre in Albany, at least, will be equipped
by early fall with apparatus permitting
talking movies.
Oregon Houses Fast
Equipping for Sound
Picture Presentation
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., July 17.— Oregon
exhibitors are keeping abreast of the times,
and are fast making arrangements to equip
their houses with both Vitaphone and
Movietone. Among the houses who are
adding these features to their bill of en-
tertainment are Hunt's Criterion at Med-
ford, and it is expected that in the near
future they will also equip both of their
other houses located at Roseburg and
Grants Pass.
Bob Marsden and Denny Hull operating
the Egyptian at Marshfield, are negotiating
for Vitaphone and Movietone. The Rialto
theatre, a West Coast house at Pendleton,
Ore., has already installed the new ap-
paratus and noted an increase in business.
Early in September the Rivoli theatre,
Portland, will be equipped with Vitaphone
and Movietone, as will also the United
Artists, this equipment being added while
other repairs and renovations are being
made.
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
Victor Company to
Build Large Sound
Plant in Hollywood
(Special to the Herald-World)
CAMDEN, N. J., July 17.— A large plot of
ground in Hollywood, Cal., has been purchased
by the Victor Talking Machine Company as a
site for a plant in which it will carry on its
work of sound synchronization for films, it has
been announced by E. R. Fenimore Johnson,
executive vice-president of the company. Work
will start immediately on a record-pressing
plant and in the near future a studio will be
erected in which actual scenes from photo-
plays may be "shot" at the same time voices
of players or other sound accompaniments
are being recorded. This plant will be in ad-
dition to the one owned and operated by the
Victor Company in Oakland.
Further plans call for the building of a
studio in New York City for the recording of
music not only for pictures but for the gen-
eral recording activities of Victor in the met-
ropolitan district.
It is not the intention of the Victor Com-
pany to compete with the film producing com-
panies. It will be strictly a service company
providing picture producers with sound ac-
companiments for their photoplays, either in
the form of complete synchronized scores ar-
ranged and recorded by Victor's staff and
made after the feature films have been cut
and edited, or in sound effects recorded dur-
ing the actual photographing of the films. It
will also make records for any company which
does its own recording. This latter work it
has done for some time for the Vitaphone
Company.
In addition to its plant in Hollywood it will
maintain trucks equipped with recording ap-
paratus which can be quickly moved to any
studio or location where sound is to be re-
corded. Recent experiments with a portable
apparatus to record the sounds of an airplane
motor in flight have proven the practicability
of the scheme. It is probable that all scores
recorded for films already edited and ready for
pubHc showing will be recorded in the East.
2 Columbus Houses
to Play Movietone
(Special to the Herald-World)
COLUMBUS, OHIO, July 17.— The an-
nouncement is made that Loew's Ohio and
Loew's Broad theatres here will be using
Movietone within 30 days. Both houses
are being wired for the new method of
entertainment and while the announcement
has not yet been made to the public, it
is believed that Movietone will be shown
about August 15 or possibly earlier.
Christie Will Make All
Comedies in Both Sound
And Silent Type Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17. — "All product
made for sound accompaniment will also
be presented in straight film for the reg-
ular trade which is not equipped to use
sound effects and for the foreign market,"
according to Al Christie, in commenting
on his plans to synchronize all Christie
comedies for the coming season.
"We expect to use sound in some form
in every picture made for the new releas-
ing season," he states. "In some of the
comedies, sound effects and dialogue will
be used in parts of the picture where most
effective, and some of the comedies will
carry sound all the way through, with the
addition of musical effects."
"Sounding^^ the Comedy
A L CHRISTIE announces that all Christie comedies, released through Para-
■^J- mount, will be synchronized with sound effects. The first of the group is
"The Dizzy Diver," featuring Billy Dooley, and it's all about sailors, (of course)
deep-sea divers and submarines. So, verily, the sea will be "sounded" in more
than one way, and there's opportunity for lots of sound effects in the comedy.
Shall we hear this-
And the Sounds of the Sea?-
^
Yes, surely we'll hear Billy's snores-
And the Skipper's rebuke-
But certainly not this!
38
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
U Begins Work on First Unit
of Synchronized Film Studios
(Special to the Herald-World)
UOTVERSAL CITY, July 17.— Ground was broken today at Universal City for
the erection of unit number 1, in the new sound-proof stage system which is
being installed upon orders of President Carl Laemmle. The fixst group consists
of three sub-units; a main stage, 60 by 100 feet; a combined theatre and monitor
room, 35 by 50 feet; and an apparatus section, 73 by 53. This new unit will be
the nucleus of Universal's comprehensive synchronization plant, sufficient ground
space being allowed for expansion as future requirements will demand.
The main stage is of the truss type. The by sight. Special space will be devoted
walls will be built of sound-insulating ma-
terial and the floors are to be insulated
separately from the balance of the building
to obviate ground noises, such as passing
motor trucks. The ceiling has been es-
pecially designed to prevent overhead
sounds, such as heavy winter rainstorms,
and passing airplanes from penetrating the
"shooting" chamber. There will be a sound-
proof vestibule wide enough for a truck to
deliver props and equipment to the studio
direct.
The theatre and monitor room will house
an expert who controls the microphones
and sound volume by a remote control sys-
tem. The monitor hears only the recorded
voice although he is able to see the players
Fox Movietone Program
to Be Given for Blind
NEW YORK, July 17.— Several
blind persons of New York will be
guests of William Fox next Saturday
morning at a special showing of "The
Red Dance" and accompanying
Movietone program at the Globe
theatre.
The guests will bear George Bar-
nard Shaw speak, Richard Bonelli
sing Pagliacci, the two-reel comedy,
"The Family Picnic," Fox Movietone
News and the score of "The Red
Dance." Raoul Walsh, the director
of the feature who is in New York
now, will explain the picture as it is
unfolded on the screen.
through plate glass windows. He is thus
able to modify or enlarge the voices or
atmosphere sounds.
The theatre itself will be built in absolute
proportion to an actual theatre. The
screen, projection "throw" and sound
volume will be proportionately diminutive
so that actual theatrical conditions can be
simulated. Projection rooms are to be
built so that a picture can be screened into
the main stage itself to accommodate post-
synchronization when a hundred-piece or-
chestra may be required, for example.
The apparatus section will house a gen-
erator room, a battery room, amplification
room, two recording rooms, stock room,
test rooms, office, two cutting rooms, disc-
shaving room and rest rooms. The record-
ing and amplifying rooms will be vibra-
tionless, special concrete piles being sunk
to support separately those two chambers.
The new units will be built to accommodate
both disc and film synchronization devices.
An interesting feature of Universal's
sound proofing system is, in addition to
the special lining material, a network of
tracks to accommodate heavy baffling cur-
tains to be used in isolating the subjects
to be photographed, or to be more specific,
"audiographed." These are portable sound-
deadeners, or "baffles," a new word in the
shifting cinema dictionary.
The cutting rooms will be adjacent to
the theatre, as the cutter of the future will
have to edit his films by sound as well as
to the synchronization department in the
laboratory which is being enlarged to ac-
commodate the new device.
Exhaustive tests of every sound — and vi-
bration-proof material extant were taken
by studio officials before construction con-
tracts were finally awarded. A novel use
of science was made by Universal when
a seismograph was utilized to determine
the exact degree of vibration which is to
be the allowable maximum for the amplify-
ing and recording rooms.
Construction work is being rushed on the
new units by order of Laemmle in order
that synchronization can be started without
delay on films already finished and sched-
uled for the new system.
Warner Prepares 27
Sound Films; 3 Are
Already in Release
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— With fiye talking
feature pictures now available for immediate
release, Warner Brothers studio at present has
27 more pictures with sound effect and dia-
logue in preparation.
The five in release now are "The Jazz Sing-
er," "Tenderloin," "Glorious Betsy," "The Lion
and the Mouse" and "Lights of New York."
Those in preparation include the seven road
shows, "The Terror," "The Singing Fool,"
"My Man," "The Redeeming Sin," "Conquest,"
"The Home Towners" and "Noah's Ark." In
preliminary preparation are "The Desert Song"
and "Is Everybody Happy?" both of which
are classed as big specials.
The remaining 18 are classed as "Warner
Winners." The six already completed are,
"State Street Sadie," "Women They Talk
About," "The Midnight Taxi," "Land of the
Silver Fox," "Caught in the Fog" and "Be-
ware of Bachelors." Two are in production —
"The Outlaw Dog" and "The Little Wildcat."
The remaining are: "Kid Gloves," "From
Headquarters," "Stolen Kisses," "Hard Boiled
Rose," "One Stolen Night," "She Knew Men,"
"No Defense," "Fancy Baggage," "The Grey-
hound Limited" and "King of the Wilder-
Movietone Brings
New Screen Names
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— With the advent of
Movietone pictures new names are beginning
to appear in electric lights on theatres through-
out the country. Motion picture audiences are
being introduced to opera singers, musical
comedy stars, vaudeville headliners and stage
stars who had been known to them hereto-
fore only through the newspaper columns.
Three new names soon to be introduced to
the public are Sumner Getchel, Toy Gallagher
and Ford West. They have the principal roles
in the third all-talking screen comedy "Mys-
tery Mansion," to be produced by Fox Film
Corporation.
Use Microphone to
Make Announcements
on Sound Equipment
A number of theatres equipped for syn-
chronized pictures have installed microphones
so they can use the equipment for making an-
nouncements from the stage. In some cases
a separate set of horns is installed over the
proscenium arch or somewhere at the side of
the stage so as not to interfere with presenta-
tion acts. Both the Roxy theatre in New
York City and the Fox theatre in Washington
have installed such systems.
The installation is simple, according to Don-
ald F. Whiting, a Fox-Case engineer who was
a pioneer in the development of the vacuum
tube amplifier and loud speaker equipment. If
the theatre is equipped for Movietone, all that
is needed is a microphone and a key to switch
the announcing through the regular multi-stage
amplifier and loud speakers used for Movie-
tone. The microphone may be installed in the
projection booth, on the stage or anywhere
the theatre manager finds most convenient.
In effect, the addition of a microphone gives
a sound-equipped theatre the same results as
the Western Electric public address equipment
A carbon microphone or condenser micro-
phone and associated amplifier works into a
multi-stage amplifier and from there the voice
of the announcer is carried through the loud
speakers into the auditorium of the theatre.
Since most theatres want to get the regular
loud speakers off the stage to make way for
acts, the special horns are added. The same
multi-stage amplifier may be used, however,
in this additional application of the equipment
Announcements through the loud speakers
have proved most effective wherever this sys-
tem has been tried. Whiting said. At the Fox
theatre in Washington stage celebrities are in-
troduced by the simple expedient of announc-
ing their names through the loud speaker when
they first appear.
Hanshaw Pictures,
La bora tory Merge
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 17.— A coalition and
merger of Hanshaw Pictures and the Produc-
ers Laboratory has recently been made and
announced by Dale Hanshaw, President of
Hanshaw Pictures Company, and Dwain Esper,
President and Manager of the Producers Lab-
oratory.
Hanshaw Pictures has the exclusive contract
for synchronizing sound and music with pic-
tures for use on the Han-A-Phone Reproduc-
ing appliance and will make twelve synchro-
nized feature pictures for the coming season,
production on the first feature starting July
10th. The Producers Laboratory will continue
its general laboratory work but will specialize
on that incidental to the "Movie-Talkie" fea-
tures, and is now installing the necessary equip-
ment. The new alliance will also produce
other features to be announced later; and, as
stated, will continue to handle "outside" prod-
uct both in production, laboratory and general
production and distribution business.
Saenger Installs Movietone
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, July 17.— Announce-
ment was made late today that Movietone
would be installed in the Saenger theatre
July 28. Business with Vitaphone at the
Tudor has been phenomenal, the bill having
been held over another week, 21 days in all.
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
And Now Warners Make
a Picture Without Title!
(Sfedal to the Herald-World)
^^ HOLLYWOOD, July 17.— When
"The Terror," now in production in
the Warner studio. Sashes on the
screen, even the title will be an-
nounced by voice, thus making it 100
per cent all talking, it is said.
Every line in "The Terror" will
be spoken audibly, and the audience
will hear all the sounds which would
naturally occur during the progress
of this mystery drama — the wailing
of the wind, shots in the dark, weird
playing of an organ standing by itself
and blood-curdling calls for help.
Effect Films Will
Increase Love of
Art, Says Pinanski
Synchronized pictures will lead to a much
greater appreciation of art and beauty among
all people. Such is the belief of Samuel Pi-
nanski, head of the New England Theatres
Operating Corporation, as expressed by him
in the "Boston Sunday Globe."
"We have reached a real turning point in
the matter of entertainment," he states, "and
it is now possible for the patrons of suburban
theatres to see and hear the very best that is
offered. I believe that the 'talkie' will be used
two-thirds to add music to motion pictures,
to add the color and emotion of music as
played by truly great artists, and only one-
third for dialogue in motion pictures as we
see them now.
"I can see the possibility that lectures syn-
chronized with pictures may be given by great
specialists to towns where it would be impos-
sible to get the men themselves to come; that
travelogues may be given, with the description
of the film given by an authority flowing
along with the picture instead of being chopped
off in subtitles."
Tudor Draws 62,238
People in 14 Days
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, July 17.— The popu-
larity of the inaugural Vitaphone program
at Saenger's Tudor, in 14 days drew 62,238
people. The film "Glorious Betsy" and
attending vaudeville has been held over
21 days in all.
Glenn Hunter May Star
in Warner Vitaphone Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— Glenn Hunter,
well known stage star, is negotiating with
Warner Brothers for the lead in "The
Grifters," a New York play. Hunter's three
attempts in silent pictures were considered
disappointments, but it is believed in Vita-
phone pictures, the personality that has
won him fame on the stage, will come to
his aid in making the picture a success.
Anita Page Goes to College
(Special to the Hertld-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 17.— Anita Page, of
the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio, has en-
rolled as a co-ed at the summer sessions of
the University of Southern California to take
a college course in voice. She will attend
college two hours each evening in order to
master the various phasesi of elocution and
diction which may be of aid in the new dia-
logue pictures.
Nearly seven weeks in advance of the
opening local newspapers carried the first
announcement that Vitaphone and Movie-
tone would come to the Strand. At brief
intervals new and interesting angles on de-
velopments in sound pictures furnished the
subject matter for additional stories.
When the time came to launch intensive
exploitation Montgomery and the surround-
ing territory within a radius of 100 miles
were plastered with paper on the scale of
circus billing. The big billing started three
weeks ahead of the opening and increased
as the date approached. Here are the high
points in the campaign:
All Buses Carry Banners
Arrangements were made with every bus
line running into Montgomery whereby
each bus carried a banner announcing the
cur»w(tp.n(
Wnt Jllontgonifj:^ SlJipetttscr
VITAPUCNE
maesm
Vitaphone—Movietone to Be Seen— Heard ?['■"' '"jjjj!?!.
At Strand Theatre Beginning Today
First Shoe; Begins at 2 P. ,M. Sharf
T^
Blanket Campaign Puts Sound
Over in Montgomery with Bang
Vitaphone and Movietone added another triumph to their l&ng list of conquests
when they made their debut at the Strand theatre June 24 in Montgomery, Ala-
bama. With interest keyed to a high pitch through effective publicity launched
six weeks in advance and through intensive advertising that culminated the open-
ing day in a great newspaper splash the public was eager for the first presentation
of the long-awaited "sound pictures."
and on all hotels. All proclaimed Vitaphone
and Movietone with the indispensable line,
"See and Hear."
Stores Join ia Campaign
Practically all the more important stores
joined in the campaign using special hand
painted window cards; every drug store
and soda fountain of any consequence
played up the event using not only special
window cards, but featuring on their daily
menus some special drink or sandwich em-
ploying the words, Vitaphone, Movietone,
and Strand. Thus the "specials" painted
on the mirrors above the soda fount — and
painted by the Strand's own sign painter —
would read, "Vitaphone Sundae," "Movie-
tone Special," or "Strand Sandwich." A
number of restaurants devised special
Vitaphone and Movietone dishes and ad-
vertised them in bold type on the regular
bill of fare.
Every vacant store in Montgomery had
its windows plastered with one-sheets and
three-sheets. In addition to that, 30 one-
sheets were posted on sandwich boards
about 10 days ahead of the opening and
placed advantageously at down-town street
intersections.
A huge electric sign proclaimed, "Vita-
phone and Movietone" from the Strand's
marquee; large banners hung from the
marquee, and smaller hand painted banners
on "When a Man Loves" were immediately
beneath.
Thousands of cards in several different
styles were distributed over the town, both
in business and residential sections. A
special card, proclaiming the tremendous
ovation accorded Vitaphone and Movietone
at the brilliant Sunday opening were dis-
tributed Monday afternoon — 5,000 taking
the message while the news was still hot.
Use Country Newspapers
Display advertismg in the newspapers
started one week in advance of opening
and built steadily, culminating in a big
splash on Sunday. All country newspapers
within a radius of 100 miles carried display
ads and readers.
Immediately preceding the opening a
special showing of the full program with
synchronization was arranged for the news-
papers,_and signed reviews, all enthusiastic
in praise of Vitaphone; and Movietone,
helped to fill the Strand for the first per-
formance, and steadily thereafter.
There was also the six-page special sec-
tion devoted to Vitaphone and Movietone
in the Sunday, June 24, edition of The
Montgomery Advertiser. Big business
firms took occasion to pay regular space
rates in large ads based on Vitaphone and
Movietone and calculated to bring attend-
ance to the Strand. The readers bore not
only upon the innovation, but had much to
say of coming attractions.
In addition to the special six-page sec-
tion there was generous space on the two
pages usually devoted to "Screen and
Stage," with layouts from "When a Man
Loves.' Moreover, there were two dis-
tinctly good advertising breaks elsewhere.
Small wonder that the Strand was filled
to capacity for its first performance, and
no wonder at all that the cash customers
kept coming. It was an all-around mer-
chandising campaign that an eager public,
seeking amusement, could not resist.
WCVIETCNE
First page of the special newspaper sec-
tion put over by the Strand theatre, Mont-
gomery, Ala., the opening day of Movie-
tone and Vitaphone
opening of Vitaphone and Movietone at
the Strand on June 24. Every piece of
advertising carried the line, "See and Hear."
Through co-operation of the Western of
Alabama Railroad and Central of Georgia
special cards were posted in every station
advertising the debut of Vitaphone and
Movietone and offering reduced rates to
Montgomery for the event. Every Yellow
Taxicab carried a circular card on its spare
tire reading, "See and Hear Vitaphone and
Movietone, Strand theatre, June 24."
Large cutouts from "When a Man
Loves," and similar cutouts from the Vita-
phone short subjects, as well as cutouts of
President Coolidge and Lindbergh, fea-
tured in Fox Movietone News, were
placed in various store windows, and in the
other Publix Montgomery theatres one
week in advance.
Large banners were placed on prominent
office buildings, in the down-town section
40
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
V^
THE STUDIO
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
"Hollywood:*
Mayor Walker^s Wampas Address
Leads to Big Demonstration
New York City's Chief Executive Takes Occasion to Charge Particdity on
Part of Films in Presidential Campaign
By DOUGLAS HODGES
HOLLYWOOD, July 17.— Mayor James J. Walker's visit to California
became a motion picture item the fifth day after his arrival. After
four days spent in disappointing city hall officials by absence and
tardiness be made a seasonal debut into the film colony w^ith a memorable
speech at the Wampas meeting Monday evening.
When he finished the 45 minute impromptu address the entire assembly
rose and for several minutes applauded, whistled and shouted.
TV/TAYOR WALKER handled the report acker, Dick Barthelmess, Al Rockett, Al
that two well known producers had
gone to Kansas City recently to "deliver
the motion picture industry into the camp
of a certain large organization" in the fol-
lowing manner:
"It may be true that these self styled
representatives of the industry have at-
tempted to turn the industry over to a
political organization. But knowing the in-
dustry as I do and aware as I am of the
intelligence necessary in motion picture
work I am sure it cannot be done. It is
not possible for those two men or any
two men to tell such people as you how to
vote."
Reverts to History
He declared that his admiration for peo-
ple of the industry is founded upon his
experience as legal adviser of the Motion
Picture Theatre Owners of America. And
incidentally he believed that people who
have served the industry have more claim
upon it than those who have made the
industry serve them. Here he recalled
the day when he wrote upon the statute
books of New York state the words which
to this day have given that commonwealth
Sunday motion pictures.
Mayor Walker was introduced by Ray
Coffin, chairman of the meeting, who,
among other things, called him "the great-
est mayor ever elected by the greatest
city in the world." And, as the mayor
added: "I'm willing to let that lay where
it fell."
Other guests among the speakers and
non-speakers were John McCormick, Ned
Marin, Charles Hand, and Harold Hurley.
Guest at First National
Walker was the honored guest of First
National studios at a luncheon the follow-
ing day. Anticipating another piece of ora-
tory the press turned out in scores. But
he doesn't repeat. He chose his words with
greater caution and caused much less ex-
citement. He spoke at length however and
wisecracked quite as well.
Well known First National people in
attendance were McCormick, Marin, Wid
Gunning, Colleen Moore, Watterson Roth-
Santell and Alice White.
Other guests were: Wade Werner, Dan
Thomas, Jerry Hoffman, William McCor-
mick, Ralph Wilke, Harry Burns, Edwin
Schallert, Monroe Lathrop, Mrs. Eloise
Lowes, Evelyn Lowes, George Schafer,
Speed Kendall, Louis Jacobino, Regina
Crewe, and Charles Hand.
It was at this instance that Marin prof-
fered to Walker a "perpetual film contract"
calling for $10,000 per week in motion pic-
ture language and $15,000 a week thereafter.
In rejecting Marin's offer Walker stated
that the contract contained neither mutual-
ity nor equitability and that his own train-
ing as an attorney brought him to the
conclusion that the contract was all 'bunk.'
Not only did the contract call him'Mayer'
Walker but it declared he must be punctual
in all his appointments. He added "y'know
I don't get such a damn small salary any-
how."
Hizzoner Is Prompt
His arrival at the studio at 1 o'clock
was prompt and was met with a military
salute of field ordnance, flag waving, cheer-
ing and serial bombs. About 100 reporters
were at the studio entrance as well as the
entire working force of First National.
He will be the guest tonight at a dinner
of the Motion Picture Producers Associa-
tion. He will be the only speaker. Cecil
B. De Mille will preside and Will H. Hays
will act as toastmaster.
* * *
Among the unusual things of California
are the weather, the Wampas and the peo-
ple. It's a great state for news. In any
other state it's common for a man to be
bitten by a dog but in California dogs are
bitten by men.
A friend of ours operates a casting agen-
cy. It is that friend who arose from her
bed last night to answer the telephone.
Today she is on crutches.
She might have broken an arm, a limb
or a neck. She did the unusual. She broke
a toe.
* * *
Mickey Neilan's cast was hard at it at
Lasky's the other day. Bebe Daniels was
(Continued on page 42)
ON A LOT
OF THE LOTS
Jean de Limur
Russell Matthews
Frank Tuttle
Gary Cooper
Fay Wray
Ethel Doherty
Marshall Neilan
Bebe Daniels
Neil Hamilton
Joe E. Brown
REGARDING:
J. Walter Ruben
Monty Brice
James Hall
Bodil Rosing
Thelma Todd
Wesley Ruggles
Fred MacKaye
Robert Yost
Al Ray
Jean de Limur Flies to Catalina
Jean de Limur, writer for Paramount studio, took
a two day vacation to Catalina over Sunday, making
the trip via plane. This is the first time de Limur
has been in the air since the Armistice was signed,
when he was discharged from the French air service,
wearing a couple of medals. He is at present working
on a story entitled "Dirigible," which will go into
production in the near future.
Russell Matthews Returns
Russell Matthews, assistant director to Frank
Tuttle, has returned from a two week vacation, and
has started on retakes for "The First Kiss" starring
Gary Cooper «nd Fay Wray, for Paramount.
Ethel Doherty Completes Rebels Latest
Ethel Doherty has recently completed the screen
play, "Take Me Home," which Marshall Neilan is
directing for Paramount. This picture starring Bebe
Daniels, was delayed several days due to illness of
the star, but is well under way now. Neil Hamilton,
Lilyan Tashman and Joe E. Brown are in the
supporting roles.
Ruben and Brice in Bow Story
J. Walter Ruben and Monty Brice are credited
with writing the screen play, "The Fleet's In,"
starring Clara Bow with James Hall and Bodil Rosing.
This is their own original story. Mai St. Clair is
directing.
Milton Sills Returns from Location
Director Eddie Cline of First National, has re-
turned from location in Truckee, Cal., where he
was making the exteriors for "The Wrecking Boss"
starring Milton Sills. This thriller may surpass any
of the director's or star's former efforts, for real
punch. The cast includes William Demarest, Sylvia
Ashton, Wade Boteler, Fred Warren and Thelma
Todd, the girl in the case.
Ruggles Gives MacKaye a Break
Wesley Ruggles, Universal director of note, picked
Fred MacKaye out of the extra ranks, and placed him
in a featured role in his current production, "For-
bidden Love." The boy has shown considerable
promise and will prove a credit to this far sighted
director.
Bob Yost Taking Vacation
Bob Yost, Fox Hollywood publicity director, is tak-
ing a two week vacation at Trails End, high up
in the mountains, near Mt. Baldy. Mrs. Yost,
Buddy and Jimmy are having a great time, according
to reports.
Al Ray Epic in Color
Director Al Ray of the Fox studios, has added
another touch to his latest picture, having one com-
plete reel in its natural colors. "None but the
Brave," will be released August 5.
— FRAZIER.
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
THE STUDIO
PREVIEW
"Four Walls"
T~^ESPITE John Gilbert's wonderful work
■^ in the past, "Four Walls," does not get
the applause of his former pictures. This
crook story, directed by William Nigh, lacks
backing and motive. The picture starts weak,
and titles are of little help but improve as the
picture progresses.
A night life story of the underworld in
New York, night clubs, gang fights, shooting
and jail. The four walls of the prison cause
Gilbert to change his idea toward transgres-
sion, and when he is released four years
later he denounces his old gang who seek
him, and plans to start life anew.
Joan Crawford portrayed the "moll" per-
fectly. Vera Gordon's efforts not up to her
standard. She plays to the camera with no
apparent thought to the audience reaction.
Carmel Myers, as the home girl, did her self
proud. She will be remembered for her work
in this picture even though her part was small.
Her coy mannerisms as the bashful girl who
was in love with Gilbert, was done as only
Carmel could.
The picture is rather lengthy. The sequences
at the start are not as intelligible as they
might be as several of the scenes, appear to
be omitted.
Katzman Is Assistant
In Directing Movietone
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 17.— Sammy Katz-
man, assistant director under Ben Stoloflf.
has been assigned assistant director of Fox
Movietone productions. His first vehicle,
"Four A. M.," was directed by William
Conselman.
This one real comedy stars Sammy Cohen
and Jack Pennick, with Tyler Brooke, Ben
Bard, Marjorie Beebe and Henry Armatta,
in the supporting roles. It will be released
with the first big Fox feature that is booked
in New York.
Technicolor to Make
^ Feature Length Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 17.— Technicolor Film
Corporation is to make a feature length pro-
duction, with possibilities that sound effects
will prevail in this feature. "The Thrall of
Leif the Lucky" is the title. House Peters
will play the title role, and Leroy Mason plays
a leading role.
Tom Mix Begins Work
On First Film forFBO
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 17.— Tom Mix's first
Western feature under the F B O banner, "Son
of the Golden West," went into production
last week under the direction of Eugene J.
Ford with Sharon Lynn as the Western
star's leading lady.
Jannings Denies Rumor
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 17.— Reports that Emil
Jannings, motion picture character actor,
would return to Germany in the near future
have been denied by the star, who pointed to
the fact that he had just taken a long term
lease on a home in Hollywood as evidence that
he has no intention of immediately leaving
this country.
Many Long Vacations End, 14
Pictures Begun; Mix Shooting
Effect Films Encourage Cost Cutting Because of Increased Risk on
Market of Silent Dramas; One of Coast's Biggest Studios
Seeks Extras for Five Bucks Per Day
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 17. — Directors, players and writers who have been
hard hit by idleness during the past 12 months are again working in the studios.
Two male stars who left for Europe when work became scarce appeared this
week in makeup. Almost a score of other big time players were cast for roles
which began this week.
Circumstances to Blame for Panic
A difficult set of circumstances has prevented many people from working,
although a great number of pictures have been made during those months.
One big company which has several hun- however. But whatever the reasons these
dred theatres, last week employed 50 ex-
tras for an indefinite period. Instead of
offering them the regular $7.50 per day the
extras were given only $5. The entire sav-
ing on that item alone amounted to $1,250.
There are numerous methods by which the
producers are attempting to cut costs.
Added to the fact that money has been
scarce producers have now become alarmed
about talking pictures and their effects up-
on the market of the silent drama which
are in the making. It is imperative that
The Next Step Is
Bound to Be Television
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE.. July 17.—
Speed is the order of the day and is
nowhere exemplified to a greater ex-
tent than by Bert Levey, manager
of "The Columbia." Deciding on an
eleventh hour change in booking, he
ordered the £Ims for "The Dove"
to be sent by the West Coast Trans-
port Company in their fast cabin
plane. The new print of the picture
made a record trip from Hollywood
and arrived in ample time.
each picture be made economically because
of the grave risk of loss.
Melford Directing Olive Borden
George Melford whose latest work was at
Universal reappeared with a megaphone
last week at F B O studios. He began "Sin-
ners of Love." Olive Borden appears in
the feminine starring role with Huntly Gor-
don opposite her. Seena Owen is in one
of the main supporting roles.
Mix Shooting at F B O
Tom Mix is in the harness at F B O
in "Son of the Golden West." The young
man with the megaphone is Eugene Ford.
The picture was begun this week. It's the
first Tom has ever made for F B O and
is the first, likewise, of the series that
company will release this year.
Alma Rubens is cast in an important role
of "The Devil's Mask" at M G M. Jack
Gilbert is the star. Another whose face
is always welcome to the screen and who
is in the picture is Theodore Roberts. Vic-
tor Seastrom, director of "The Wind," is
the director.
Lewis Shooting Cortez
Ricardo Cortez is working at Tiffany-
Stahl studios. Edgar Lewis, one of Holly-
wood's foremost veteran directors, is
executing director. Title "Gun Runner."
Ramon Novarro, Norma Shearer, Spen-
cer Bennett, Christy Cabanne and a number
of others who are again diligently making
pictures have enjoyed vacations from Hol-
lywood for other than economic reasons,
people and many others are resuming a
payroll basis and still there are others who
are vainly hunting jobs.
U Buys Play from
James Gleason for 1929
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— Universal has
signed contracts by proxy with James
Gleason, author and star, for the purchase
of "The Shannons of Broadway." "The
Shannons of Broadway" will in all proba-
bility be a complete talking picture. At any
rate, Universal has the right to make it
such. Furthermore, it will have the serv-
ices of Mr. and Mrs. James Gleason, who
starred in the New York production at the
John Barrymore May
Go Back to Warners
(Special to the Her»ld-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 17.— Warner Bros, are
negotiating with John Barrymore to do pic-
tures with the Vitaphone. It is understood
that Barrymore will carry out his plans and
do "Hamlet" in the Hollywood Bowl and in
the Greek theatre at Berkely in the late sum-
mer.
PF L Retitles Picture
Directed by Schertzinger
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 17. —"Forgotten
Faces" is the new title of Victor Schert-
zinger's latest picture for Paramount, ac-
cording to announcement made this week.
The picture was made under the working
title of "The Perfumed Trap."
Louise Fazenda to Join
Free-Lance Screen Artists
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— Terminating a five-
year contract with Warner Brothers, Louise
Fazenda will join the free-lance list. She is
now completing her first talking picture, "The
Terror."
D'Arrast Signs Contract
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 17.— H. D'Abbadie
D'Arrast, Paramount director, has signed a
new contract. "The Magnificent Flirt," with
Florence Vidor, was D'Arrast's most recent
directorial assignment. He will probably han-
dle Adolphe Menjou's next Paramount produc-
tion.
Murnau to Make "Our Daily Bread"
NEVy YORK.— F. W. Murnau's third picture for
Fox will be "Our Daily Bread," according to an an-
nouncement from Fox Film Coast studio.
42
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
^^Lilac Time^^ Is One of Finest Air
PictureSy Hodges Reports
Colleen Moore Does Best Work of Her Career in New Opus, Declares
Herald-World Staff Representative
By DOUGLAS HODGES
LOS ANGELES, July 17.— "Lilac Time" at its world premiere here last night
proved itself one of the best air pictures so far produced and the finest
^ work ever presented by Colleen Moore. Carthay Circle theatre, where
the First National picture opened, had been sold completely out several da}/^
preceding the premiere. It looks like the management will have nothing toi
worry about in the business of bookings for at least three months and possibly
longer.
NO premiere here in the last 18 months
has drawn interest half equivalent to
that of John McCormick's latest production.
Mayor James J. Walker, visiting here from
New York, had the privilege in his address
of speaking to the producers about whom
he has been semi-seriously wisecracking
ever since his arrival 10 days ago, but he
was less loquacious and more dignified than
heretofore.
Photophone Also Has Premiere
It was also the premiere of the Photo-
phone device which will be utilized in the
First National program. Following the
screen presentation Conrad Nagel, veteran
miaster of ceremonies, stepped onto the
platform to introduce members of the cast,
FN Needs Advertising
Aid; Offers $100 Prize
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— Here's a
chance for exhibitors to win a little
easy money, it seems. First National
is offering $100 in prizes to exhib-
itors writing the best 250-word let-
ter stating which of four advertising
"angles" should be played up on
"The Barker." According to FN,
there are four good sales angles, and
the company can't decide which is
best, so it's leaving it up to exhib-
itors. There are $25 prizes and £ve
$10 prizes for the best letters.
the director, George Fitzmaurice, the pro-
ducer, John McCormick, and James War-
ner, Southern Cross flier who was in the
audience in Mayor Walker's party. Miss
Moore then stepped to the stage. She
spoke a few words which were quickly fol-
lowed by a "Screen test" of the Gotham
mayor. In it he appeared on a visit to the
famous star's home that served as Walker's
introduction.
Throughout "Lilac Time" is a strong
dramatic force that bears the stamp of the
capable Fitzmaurice. Beginning with a se-
quence where Colleen goes into the quaint
French garden to console the youthful
British flier the picture shows Colleen in a
role unlike anything she has ever done.
The youth is a member of a flying squadron
that has just been ordered into the air "to
fight until shot down." It is in this se-
quence also that the dominant love theme
begins between her and Gary Cooper, cap-
tain of the squadron. Cooper is perfectly
suited to the role and makes a hero who
is handsome, stalwart and convincing.
Action Gains Momentum
The star does the greatest acting of her
career. Gaining momentum with each
scene, the picture has moments as moving
as anything in those two early war epics.
Fitzmaurice has introduced an over-
whelming status of drama at the start by
showing the tributes paid to each of two
score of planes already shot down in the
recent campaign.
Photographic shots of the battle of the
seven British planes against the eight Ger-
man planes were beautifully done and at
the same time done with meticulous care
for the human drama of the air, although
this sequence was naturally devoted to the
fighting audience.
Anxiety for the heroine strongly pre-
vailed throughout. It appeared that every
star, director and producer of the film
colony attended the showing last night.
Carli Elinor was director of the orchestra
which presented "On Flanders' Fields," his
own composition, in an entertaining
manner.
Warner Studio Busy on
Seven Important Films
and Vitaphone Shorts
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 17.— Production
activities at Warner Brothers assumed
greater proportions last week when seven
major productions were in filming and prep-
arations for two specials reached final
stages. Vitaphone short subject work is
likewise at its height, J. L. Warner, pro-
duction executive, said. A Vitaphone super-
production and four Vitaphone specials are
included.
"Noah's Ark," already several months in
filming, is nearing the cutting room stage.
"The Terror," an all-sound Vitaphone spe-
cial, is being filmed under Roy Del Ruth's
direction. Al Jolson is busy on his second
starring role in the Vitaphone special, "The
Singing Fool,' while Fannie Brice's Vita-
phone feature, "My Man," is well under
way.
"The Hometowners," a Vitaphone special
based on the George M. Cohan stage suc-
cess, is in production, and the Rin-Tin-Tin
unit is in the mountains filming scenes for
"The Outlaw Dog." In preparation for
early filming is "The Redeeming Sin," a
Vitaphone special starring Dolores Costello.
"Conquest," to star Monte Blue and fea-
ture H. B. Warner, is also in preparation
as a Vitaphone special.
Business Builds as
Admission Drops
(Special to the Herald-World)
SPOKANE, July 17.— The Granada thea-
tre has adopted a summer price policy,
with 2Sc as top. Under the new policy
the first picture was "Better 'Ole" with
complete synchronized musical score, and
business showed a big increase.
Synchronize Score to "Lilac Time"
NEW YORK. — Sound accompaniment to "Lilac
Time," First National picture starring Colleen Moore,
is now completed and will be ready with Photophone
synchronization August 3.
Mayor's Wampas Talk
on West Coast Leads '
To Big Demonstration
(Continued from page 40)
emoting and Doris Hill was in a wheeled
chair.
The whistle blew at 12 o'clock.
Says Neilan: "I don't care what the rest
of you do I'm going to lunch. Not gonna
ruin my health by working all day."
Thirty seconds later Micky was on his way
to the Montmartre.
* * *
Hughes to Use Sound
in "Hell's Angels"
After having spent a year on the shoot-
ing of "Hell's Angels" Howard Hughes
has decided that, to be up with the times,
he shall put sound effects in the picture.
He will even give it a few talking sequen-
ces. In addition he will throw in some
technicolor, a process that Hollywood pro-
ducers are taking more and more seriously
every day.
Hughes' picture stars Ben Lyon and
James Hall. It has been made upon extrav-
agant lines and was recently announced as
a September release. The date has been
set back to November.
Thousands of dollars have been spent
upon the production. It may be a cele-
brated piece of work. Hughes has before
been associated with excellent cinema work
and may be again. He has spared no ex-
pense in bringing this picture to a high
level of entertainment.
* * *
Butler's Trip Delayed
Dave Butler was ready to sail for Europe
last Monday. He is still in Hollywood. He
sails late this month.
Whatever the reason for the delay in
the Fox company's production plans it re-
mains that June CoUyer is returning very
soon to Hollywood, no women will make
the European trip and Harry Brand is al-
ready inFrance awaiting the arrival of the
tardy company.
Butler is to direct "Chasing Through
Europe." The reason most logically as-
signed to the change in plans is the orders
from the French government that no Amer-
ican producer may make pictures on
European soil with American actors. It
is said that an embargo has been decreed.
The story appears to be an orphan that
none will claim but everyone knows.
* * *
Epstein Says Hersholt
Is to Do "Abie" in Sound
Dave Epstein tells us that Jean Hersholt
is unfinished with his work in "Abie's Irish
Rose." The Paramount picture is to be
fitted with talking sequences and Jean's
excellent stage voice is to be heard by his
thousands of followers.
Employees Club Holds
First Outing Meet
(Special to the Herald-World)
RALEIGH, N. C, July 17— For the pro-
motion of good fellowship and the creation
of a spirit of closer understanding between
employer and employee, the Publix-Saenger
Employees' Recreational Club, composed
of attaches of the State, Superba, Palace
and Capitol theatres here, has been formed
and held its first outing Friday night at
the Antone farm, where a wiener roast was
a feature.
Joe Antone was elected president, Mrs.
Charlie Separk vice-president, and Miss
Elizabeth Hinnant, secretary and treasurer.
The club has 53 members and meets the
first Tuesday morning in each month.
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
Production Directory
[Number immediately following title denotes production num,ber]
STORY
DIRECTOR CHIEF BRAND
PLAYERS NAME
STARTING
DATE
Columbia Studio
"Ont of the
Depths"
Irvin Willat Jack Holt
Ralph Graves
Dorothy Revier
May 19
DeMille Studio
STORY
DIRECTOR
CHIEF
PLAYERS
BRAND
NAME
Paramount
"AnnapoIiB"
Christy Cabanne John Mack
Brown
Jeanette Loflf
June 1
"Show Folks"
Paul Stein Lina Basquette
Eddie Quillan
Robert Armstrong
June 18
"Marked
Spencer Bennett Junior Coghlan
July 12
Money"
Virgina
Bradford
F B 0 Studio
"The Singapore
Ralph Ince Ralph Ince
July 6
Mutiny"
E5telle Taylor
Gardner James
"Son of the
Eugene Ford Tom Mix
July 11
Golden West"
Sharon Lynn
"Sinners in
George Melford Olive Borden
July 11
Love"
Huntley Gordon
Seena Owen
First National Studio
"Oh Kay*
Mervyn LeRoy Colleen Moore
Lawrence Gray
June 1
"Waterfront**
Wm. Seiter Dorothy Maekaill
Jack Mulhall
June 19
"The Wrecking
Eddie Cline Milton Sills
Jtine 18
Boss"
Thelma Todd
"Show Girl"
Alfred Santell Alice White
Charles Delaney
Donald Reed
Lee Moran
Jvme 25
Fox Studio
"Dry Martini"
D'Arrast Albert Gran
Mary Astor
Matt Moore
June 10
"The Rivet"
Frank Borzage Charlie Farrell
Mary Duncan
June 10
"The Girl Shy
R. Lee Hough Rex Bell
June 13
Cowboy"
Patsy O'Leary
"Riley, the
John Ford Farrell
July 6
Cop"
MacDonald
Nancy Drexel
David Rollins
"Fog"
Charles Elein George O'Brien
Mary Astor
July 16
Gotham
No Prodaction
1
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Studio
"The DcvII'ii
Victor Seastrom John Gilbert
June 21
Mask
"
"The Sinele
Harry Beaumont Lew Cody
June 21
Mnn
" Aileen Pringle
"West of Sanz
i-Todd Browning Lon Chaney
June 23
bar'*
V/arner Baxter
Mary Nolan
"Alias Jimmy
Jack Conway William Haines
July 2
Valentine"
Karl Dane
Tjionel Barrymore
"Gold Braid"
George Hill Ramon Novarro
July 14
"Little Angel"
Sam Wood Norma Shearer
July 14
Metropolitan Studio
"Hell's Angels"
Howard Hughes Greta Nissen
James Hall
Ben Lyon
Caddo
Nov. 4
"The MaUng
James Cruze Thomas Meighan
Caddo
June 2
Call"
"The Chinatown J. P. McGowan Joe Bonomo
Principle
June 21
Mystery"
Ruth Hiatt
Paul Melvern
Francis Ford
"The Fleet's Mai St. Clair
In"
"Take Me Home"Marshall Neilan
"Docks of New Joseph von
York" Sternberg
"Sins of the Edward Berger
Fathers"
"Moran of the Frank Strayer
Marines"
Clara Bow
Jamee Hall
Bebe Daniels
Neil Hamilton
George Bancroft
Betty Compson
Baclonova
Emil Janninge
Ruth Chatterton
Richard Dix
Ruth Elder
Tec-Art Studio
NO PRODUCTION
Tiffany-Stahl Studio
'Patience"
Wallace
Belle Bennett
Worsley
Marion Douelas
John Saint Polls
The Gun
Edgar Lewis
Ricardo Cortez
Runner"
Nora Lane
Gino Corrado
John Saint Polis
United Artists Studios
"The Rescne"
Herbert Brenon Ronald Coleman
Lily Damita
Univ^sal Studios
'The Collegians"
Nat Ross
George Lewis
Dorothy Gulliver
'The Girl on the
Edward Sloman'
Jean Hersholt
Barge"
Sally O'Neil
'The Last
Paul Leni
Laura LaPlante
Warning
'
'Eyes of the
Lee Jason
Bill Cody
Underworld"
Perilous
Ray Taylor
Ted Wells
Paths"
'Born to the
Joe Levjgard
Edmund Cobb
Saddle"
'A Man's
Walter Fabian
Bob Curwood
Game"
Forbidden
Wesley
Mary Philbin
Love"
Ruggles
Fred Mackaye
Otis Harlan
Warner Brothers
"The Singing Lloyd Bacon
Fo<d"
"The Outlaw Ross Lederman
Dog"
"My Man"
'The Little
Wildcat"
"The Home-
towners"
"The Redeem-
ing Sin"
Archie Mayo
Ray Enrjght
Bryan Foy
Howard
Bretherton
Al Jolson
Betty Bronson
Josephine Dunn
Reed Howes
Rin-Tln-Tin
Matty Kemp
Evelyn Pierce
Fannie Brice
"Bis Boy"
Williams
Edna Murphy
Andre De Segur-
ola
Richard Tucker
Billy Seay
Audrey Ferris
James Murray
Doris Dawson
George Fawcett
Richard Bennett
Irene Rich
Doris Kenyon
Robert McWade
Robert Edeson
James D. Mack
Dolores Costello
Conrad Nagel
Georgie Stone
Lionel
Barrymore
Phillip DeLacy
STARTING
DATE
May 19
May 25
June 26
July 7
July 14
July 6
July 10
June 20
May 14
May 28
June 12
July 12
July 9
July 10
July 10
June 14
June 4
July 2
June 19
June 20
July 9
July 14
44
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
Y^
THE SHORT FEATURE
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
"Little Pictures with the Big Punch,*' which has presented news, reviews and exploitation on
short features and serials.
Kennedy Makes Personal Canvass
on Billings for Short Features
"They Have Saved Many Shows for Me," Declares Canadian Theatre
Owner — More Patrons Comment on Comedy Than on
Feature Attraction, He Declares
"What the Short Feature Does for Me and What I Do for It," is a live topic
with Stanley B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man.
It means — the short feature — added business for this Canadian exhibitor,
who makes a personal canvass of his community in promoting this valuable
program adjunct.
Let Mr. Kennedy tell you his own story:
"I must say that I am glad of the opportunity to
give the Short Subjects the credit they so much
deserve. They have saved so many shows for me, and
I do not show any; old picture that comes along, that
I feel rather under an obligation to them.
"In the past year especially I have noticed so
many times that my) patrons when coming out of the
theatre made special mention of the comedy. In fact,
'That was some comedy,' or 'the comedy was great,'
was more often remarked than 'The picture was
great.' It naturally made me think.
"I have certain patrons that I make a practice of
notifying by phone or a personal call, that I have
a comedy with a certain star on such a date, and
they never fail to come out. It is a little trouble, 1
admit, but it shows them you are trying to give them
what they like.
"I find the comedies and news reels that I have
been using this year of an exceptionally high order,
and any exhibitor who has a good line of comedies
under contract and does not advertise them in some
way, is losing a lot of business he might otherwise
have.
"As to 'What I Do for the Shorts,' I regret that
it is not as much as they do for me. I am rather
under a handicap for newspaper space here as our
local paper is only issued once a week and the rates
are very high so I have to depend mostly on my
screen and front for notices.
"I do not use short feature programs here as my
patrons like a long feature picture, but I do believe
they would be ideal for houses catering to transients.
I certainly agree with Messrs. Hoffman, Tivenan &
Wolfe that short subjects if properly handled are
sure enough business getters."
Georgia House Gets Sound
ATHENS, GA., July 17.— The Palace the-
atre will begin at once the installation of
Vitaphone and Movietone equipment, with
September 1 set as the tentative date for
the debut. Specifications for the installa-
tion were completed a few days ago and
actual work will get under way within a
few days.
Releases
WEEK OF JULY 22
EDUCATIONAL— "Listen Children," Hamilton, two;
"Felix the Cat in Jungle Bungles," one.
F B O— Newslaff No. 24, one.
FOX — "His Favorite Wife," Van Bibber, two; "Ore-
gon— The Trail's End,"' Varieties, one.
PARAMOUNT— Novelty, two; "Baby Phases," Ink-
well Imps, one.
PATHE— "The Yellow Cameo," Chap. 8, two; "The
Early Bird," Aesop Fable, one; "Bunker Battlers,"
Sportlight, one; Pathe Review No. 30, one; Topics
of the Day, No. 30, one.
UiNlVERSAl "Sleigh Bells," Oswald, Snappy, one;
"Scarlet Arrow," Chap. 8, two; "Good Scout Bus-
ter," Stern Bros., two; "Yukon Gold," two.
WEEK OF JULY 29
EDUCATIONAI^-"Leaping Luck," Davis-Collins,
Mermaid, two; "Roaming Romeo," Lupino Lane,
two; "Hard Work," Wallace Lupino, Cameo, one.
M G M — -"Nature's Wizardry," Oddities.
PATHE— "The Yellow Cameo," Chap. 9, two; "Out-
numbered," Aesop Fable, one; Pathe Review No.
31, one; Topics of the Day No. 31, one.
UNIVERSAL— "The Trackless Trolley," Snappy, one;
"Scarlet Arrow," Chap. 9, two; "Broke Out," Mike
and Ike, Stem Bros., two; "Ropin' Romance,"
Western, Newton House, two.
WEEK OF AUGUST 5
EDUCAT10NAI^-"Felix the Cat in The Last
Life," one; "Kid Hayseed," Big Boy-Juvenile,
two,
F B O — "Mickey's Babies," two ; "Joyful Day,"
Standard, two; Newslaff No. 25, one.
FOX — "The Elephant's Elbows," Animal, two;
"The Lofty Andes," Fox Varieties, one.
PATHE— "The Yellow Cameo," Chapt. 10, two;
"The Terrible People," Chapt. 1, two; "Our Lit-
tle Nell," Aesop Fable, one; "The Supper Sex,"
Sportlight, one; Pathe Review No. 32, one; Top-
ics of the Day, No. 32.
UNIVERSAI^"High Up," Oswald, Snappy, one;
"Newlyweds' Anniversary," Snookums, Junior
Jewel, two; "Scarlet Arrow," Chapt. 10, two;
"McGinis' vs. Joneses," two; "The Ranger Patrol,"
Western, two.
WEEK OF AUGUST 12
EDUCATIONAL— "Goofy Birds," Bowers, two;
"He Tried to Please," Collins-Hutton, Cameo,
one; "The Peep Show," Hodge-Podge, one.
PARAMOUNT— "Stop Kidding," Christie-Vemon,
two.
PATHE— "The Terrible People," Chapt. 2, two;
"Sunny Italy," Aesop Fable, one; "His Unlucky
Night," Bevan-Dent, Sennett, two; Pathe Review
No. 33, one; Topics of the Day No. 33, one.
The illfated Italia, in which the intrepid Italian explorer. Gen. V. Nobile, flew to the
North Pole, only to become stranded on an ice floe as the homeward trip began. The ship
and its crew are still "hot news" because of the daring attempts at rescue. The picture above
is from M G M News, showing the Italia leaving Spitzbergen on the last lap to the pole.
Newspictures
KINOGRAMS NO. 5411- New York City gives
tremendous welcome to Amelia Earhart — Secretary
Wilbur starts inspection on battleships — A. E.
Cunliffe is killed as car overturns at Southport,
England.
KINOiGRAMS NO. 5412— Gustav V, King of Swe-
den, celebrates his 70th birthday — Old records fall
in final Olympic trials at Cambridge — France hon-
ors Jeanne Hachette, the Joan of Arc of Beauvais.
PATHE NEWS NO. 58— Catholics of world hail
P'ope on Birthday — Olympic marks smashed in
final U. S. tryouts — Gene Tunney trains at New
York for bout with Heeney.
INTERNATIONAL NEWSREEL NO. 55- Helen
Wills keeps title in brilliant battle at England —
World's biggest plane, IS tons joins British forces —
Thousands of New Yorkers jam Coney Island for
relief from heat.
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. 100— Mexicans choose
Gen. Alvaro Obregon for their chief executive —
Joie Ray breaks American record in 10,000-meter
run at Cambridge — Gene Tunney works hard for
future battle with Heeney.
M-G-M NEWS NO. 95— Tunney and Heeney round
into shape for big battle — English ruler sees Helen
Wills triumph — Pacific flyers, Lyon and Warner
warmly welcomed on return from Australia.
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
45
Y^
PRESENTATION ACTS
STAGE SHOWS
New York Paramount
Week Ending July 20
"West Point Days," featuring Paul Ash and the
Paramount stage band, is the current week's attrac-
tion, staged by Frank Cambria.
Scene 1, called "Flirtation Walk," opens with
songs of West Point sung by George Nelidoff and
The Cadet Chorus, with whistling effects. "Strolling
Along ■with Mollie" is the second number sung by
Joseph Griffin, Virginia Johnson, The Cadet Chorus,
and danced by the Gamby-Hale Girls.
Ray Bolger, the "ambassador," serves up the com-
edy, with comedy patter, songs, burlesque dramatic
recitation and dancing.
Scene 2, "Blossom Time," opens with a song
called "A Faded Flower," sung by Joseph Griffin to
Virginia Johnson. The former has an excellent
voice, but Miss Johnson was decidedly not the type
for this number, and she does not register favorably.
Scene 3, featuring the Gamby-Hale Girls (no con-
nection with Chester Hale), is an excellent chorus
dance. These girls are perhaps the best outfit at the
Paramount this season, their precision dancing is
characteristic of Gamby's excellent training. Ray
Bolger again offers his inimitable comedy, with danc-
ing and good-natured horseplay with Paul Ash.
He goes over for a big hand.
"Mother Goose Parade" — evidently Paul Ash's own
idea — is very touching. Two little children, a boy
and girl, apparently about 4 or 5 years of age, come
on and ask their "Uncle Paul" to tell them a
Mother Goose story. Paul, with the able assistance
of the orchestra, does the honors. It is a quiet
little bit, and thrills the hearts of lovers of children.
"Your Land, My Land," which is a favorite mili-
tary number, is played by the stage-band, sung by
Joesph Griffin and danced by the Gamby-Hale Girls
for a close.
Here's the Man
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World Department,
"Stage and Pit"
Picture Songs Are Getting Popular
Music Pu blishers
Learn Value of
Screen Tieup
"Ramona" and "Laugh, Clown,
Laugh" Films Boost Sales
of Sheet Music
By A. RAYMOND GALLO
Now more than ever music publish-
ers are realizing the value of song
themes to motion pictures. At one
time this was considered just a part
of the musical score with no particu-
lar interested stressed on making any
individual song a hit. In the past few
years good melodies have been as much
responsible for the success of some
good photoplays as the story of the
photoplay itself. This was more than
proven recently with "Ramona" and
"Laugh, Clown, Laugh."
There are many good songs published
nowadays that lend themselves to good ad-
vantage as stage presentations. Take for
instance "Charmaine," published by Sher-
man Clay & Co., as the theme song for
"What Price Glory." The same writers and
publishers also contributed "Diane," a won-
derful success as the theme of "Seventh
Heaven." At this writing the same writers
have released a new song called "Angela
Mia" as the theme for "The Street Angel,"
featuring Janet Gaynor, star of the "Seventh
Heaven" film.
A point worthy to mention and to know
at this time is the fact that "Ramona" as
a song was written long before the motion
picture of a similar name was ever thought
of. The publishers, Leo Feist, Inc., were so
well pleased with the tune that they im-
mediately arranged a tieup with the pro-
ducers of the film and now both the film
and song are riding on the waves of ex-
treme success. In this case either the song
or the film could easily ride on its own
merits. However, it happens that both fit
into each others plot and it is doubted
whether a similar coincidence will ever hap-
pen again under the existing conditions.
Film Inspired Song
"Laugh, Clown, Laugh," published by the
Remick Music Corp., was inspired by the
film of the same name. It happens that
both fit into the theme of the original story
and is the most popular song hit next to
"Ramona." Both of these songs offer un-
usual possibilities for staging a prologue to
Detroit Michigan
Week Ending July 13
Belle Baker, the inimitajble songstress, who has
been the star of many musical comedies, made her
first appearance in a film theatre here this week
as star of the Publix production, "Flajpperettee."
Belle did a vai-iety of numbers in her charming
fashion, including the he-man's lament, "That's My
Weakness Now." She sang a number of other of
those "sob ditties" and characters songs of hers in
a way that only she can. And a goodly multitude of
Detroitere were pleased with, and took advantage of,
the opportunity to hear and see Belle without the
necessity of paying out a month's rent to do so.
Frank Beaston, the smiling master of ceremonies
at the Michigan, is an old personal friend and a
former stage co-worker of Belle's, so the two ex-
changed some pert chatter in between songs.
Among the other good entertainers in the show
was Billie Gerber, who did some cute "boy" imper-
sonations and also a little singing and dancing. The
Rio Brothers were fast steppers, their speciality be-
ing collegiate dances.
Rath Denise offered some "flapper steps." Lulcy,
Mealy and Crocker competed for trick honors and the
Michigan chorines cavorted. Arthur Gotow had a
new song for the organ and the Michigan Symphony
Orchestra supplied the claesic selections for the over-
ture. As usual, the Michigan Syncopators supplied
the musical background for the stage show.
Here's the man who put community singing on
the map — Henri A. Keates is his name and he pre-
sides at the console of the Oriental theatre, Chicago
— Henri has played organ solos in nearly every pic-
ture house of note and has always succeeded with
his own novelties — ^before singing became a fad in
theatres Keates gave organ concerts and classical
recitals proving that a good organist can and should
play every class of music — and most of all what the
public wants.
SAM HERMAN
The only real novelty Booking
Agent in Chicago Now Booking his
BATHING BEAUTY CONTCSTS
for the Balaban & Katz Circuit,
Lubliner & Trinz Circuit, National
Playhouses, Inc., Coston Circuit and
40 other Chicago theatres. Also get-
ting ready for the Fall Season with a
BRAND NEW NOVELTY.
Sam Herman
1001 Woods BIdg.
Phone State 2147
46
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
the film. The cast of each is small and the
theme could easily be brought out with
two characters in the stage presentation.
Film Produced from Song Hit
There have been occasions also where a
successful song gave the producers of mo-
tion pictures enoup-h confidence to make a
photoplay storj' by making an adaptation.
This was successfully done by Lem F. Ken-
nedj% director and supervisor of "Down
Upon the Swanee River," which was pro-
duced by Hapsburgh Liebe. "Mighty Lak
a Rose" and "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"
were also successful motion pictures
adapted from successful song hits.
Recently Villa Moret, Inc., published
"Aloonlight on the Danube" as the theme
song for Cecil de Mille's "Blue Danube"
photoplay. They also published and re-
leased the song theme for Mack Sennett's
"Goodbye Kiss."
Nearly every music publisher at some
time or other manages to publish a song
of sufficient color and interest that will lend
itself not only as a music theme to a par-
ticular motion picture, but also as the fea-
ture of a musical score. This is frequently
done by Irving Berlin, Milton Weil, Harms,
Shapiro-Bernstein, Ager, Yellen & Born-
stein, Donaldson-Douglas and Gumble, Wit-
mark, Jack Mills, Joe Morris, Harold and
Will Rossiter, Foster, Ted Browne, Melrose
Brothers, Al Piantadosi and many others.
All Publishers Have Organ Slides
Each or any of the above music publishers
often have special arrangements for a band
presentation and in some cases even special ar-
rangements for singing parts that may be used
in a particular type of stage show. Nearly
every one of them will be more than glad to
supply organists of any consequence with slides
for organ solos among which may be found
many original novelties including the ever
popular community sonc fest. Most of
them are cleverly made by Ransley Studios
of Chicago.
At any rate whenever you are contemplat-
ing the use of slides or song arrangements
and you are in doubt as to what will really
please your patrons it will be wise for you
to get in touch with any of the above music
publishers.
Organists can also gather considerable in-
formation by following the advice of Sid
Berman, our music editor, who never fails
to inform the exhibitor, the musical direc-
tor and the organist what is the best seller
and just exactly what is on the air. For
further particulars write us.
Presentation
LETTERS
In this open fomm those interested in presen-
tation may discuss important matters bearing
upon this phase of theatre entertainment. Only
signed letters will be published.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: I in-
tended to write you before this but have been so
darn busy that I haven't had a chance. Have not
sent you any programs in the meantime either, or
clippings. Don't know at this minute where my late
clippings are, but will try and locate a couple of
them for you. However, will send a couple of the
house ads if I can find them, so that will partly let
you know what is going on around here. As for
the article that you spoke about for the Better
Theatres, I haven't had a chance to even think about
it. Will try and get busy on it soon though.
Note the large type on my name in the house ads.
These are the Sunday ads. Smaller space is used
on the other days, sometimes the copy is the same,
and sometimes it is different.
Will try and drop in and see you when in, if
I get a chance, but it is so seldom that I get any
extra time when I do get in.
If the heat bothers you — we have a FRIGIDAIRE
in the office. You can take this as a suggestion if
you care to. No harm done.
Best regards — Ray Turner, Coronado Theatres.
Rockford, 111.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: The
writer has noticed your article in the June 30th issue
of your paper in reference to Miss Edna Kirby, '^The
Paramount Girl," tieup with Davis Company and
Oriental theatre for which I wish to thank you very
much in behalf of Miss Kirby and myself.
I am herewith enclosing check for SI. 00 for four
copies of said issue (June 30th, 1928) which will
you kindly see that they are mailed to me at earliest
possible date.
For your future information, please be advised
that Miss Edna Kirby is the "originator" of the
"Apartment Unique" in a glass house and its mate-
rial legally protected for her exclusive use.
Yours very truly — C. R. Menillo, Box 422, Bilt-
more, N. C.
Song Writer in Person
Ted Fiorito, composer of "Laugh, Clown, Laugh"
and several other popular songs and recently part
of the Eusso-Fiorito Oriole Orchestra, which be-
came famous at the Edgewater Beach Hotel, Chi-
cago, is now back at the same hotel with his own
band.
Ted is also appearing in person as a featured
attraction for Marks Brothers at their Granada and
Marbro theatres, Chicago.
COMMUNITY SINGING
ORIGINAL ORGANLOGUES
HAROLD J. LYON
ORGANIST-SOLOIST
MILLION DOLLAR STATE THEATRE— JOHNSTOWN, PA.
Organ Recitals broadcast daily through Station WHBP
Albert F. Brown
Featuring ORGAN-SCRIM Presentations
"REPRESENTS THE NEW ERA OF DE LUXE THEATRE ENTERTAINMENT"
Granada and Marbro Theatre^, Chicago
"DOC" WEBB
Original Organ Novelties
at the
MARSHALL Square Theatre, CHICAGO
LOSAYS
Someihin^
about
Everyone
Well, boys, I'll leave you in care of Dawson and
Russell for the next few weeks . . . it's getting too
hot for me to stick around here so I'll have to take
that little fishing trip I've been waiting for a long
while . . . nearly everyone of note is away on a
vacation so I might just a£ well take one too . . .
maybe when I return I'll be in a better mood . . .
anyhow we'll try our hand at a little motoring along
the highways of Colorado . . . Oh, yes! by all means
we are going to pay "Pike's Peak" a visit . . .
in fact we'll call on all the "PeaJcs," and their little
"Pikers" . . . I'll keep you informed from the
highest point on what's going on . . . well here
goes some scandal . . . open your ear, everybody,
and cross your heart that you will never tell where
it came from ... all right, I know you can all
keep a secret, so let's go: . . . we learn from news-
paper announcements that Balaban & Katz will
feature an augmented orchestral production at their
Uptown theatre starting next Monday . . . the new
policy will be in addition to a stage band show and
Ulderico Marcelli will conduct from the pit . . .
Reports have it that Marks Bros., will also install
this policy ... at any rate the National Playhouses,
formerly known as the Cooney Bros'. Circuit, will
change their opening date from Monday to Saturday
hereafter . . . this change was made in order to
play the same program of stage and screen at-
tractions now offered by Marks Bros. ... we hear
that Fred Kinsley formerly featured organist at the
Hippodrome in New York, has been appointed chief
organist of the Keith-Albee-Orpheum Circuit in
charge of their organ presentations for the entire
circuit . . . speaking of organists we are in receipt
of several letters from many of our friends among
which are J. Virgil Huffman, now at the new Ameri-
can in Roanoke . . . Ray Turner of the Coronado
in Rockford . . . Louis Lohman who replaces Carl
Lagerquist at the Congress in Chicago and Chauncey
Haines who returned from his vacation . . . Melvin
Peacock of the Sheboygan theatre in Sheboygan
writes us for information on how to form an organ
club . . . Eddie Meikel, take Md in hand and do your
brotherly duty towards him . . . Howard J. Peterson,
featured organist of the Arcadia theatre in St.
Charles, 111., is a regular feature of WJJD in his
half hour organ recitals every Tuesday at 6 :30 P. M.
. . . tune in on him some evening . . . Milton
Charles is playing at the Tivoli this week as guest
organist ... if you ever want to find Albert F.
Brown, featured organist for Marks Bros., there are
just two places to look . . . first at the music pub-
lishers and then at Riverview Park, Chicago, riding
the Bobs with the family ... if not at either place
then try the Granada and Marbro and you will
surely find him there . . . Eddie Hill and his wife
are still enjoying their honeymoon tour of Publix
. . Eddie is the rotund comedian whom the girls
won't let alone . . . J. F. Ransly, the Chicago organ
slide man is enjoying a rest at his farm in Kentucky
. . . Wayne Allen formerly with Charles Kaley's
band is now with Ted Fiorito at the Edgewater
Beach Hotel . . . Jack Lavin, manager of the
Chicago Villa Moret office is back after a tour of
picture houses in the Middle West . . . did you
know that Louis Lipstone is the proud daddy of a
ten pound boy . . . Lou says he will not be a
master of ceremonies . . . M. J. Murphy formerly of
the Oriental is now manager of the Varsity theatre
in Evanston . . . Del Delbridge is in Chicago . . .
reports have it that he is looking for a place for
Mr. Stork to call on . . . Mel Richmond has booked
the ballet into the Chicago Piccadilly theatre . . .
Max Turner in charge of the Chicago William Morris
office is on his vacation . . . Louis St. Pierre is
managing the Coronado theatre in Rockford a Great
States house . . . rumors have it that Al Belasco
is leaving L & T Chicago for deluxe house in Cleve-
land . . . Charles Irwin is making two appearances
this week . . . one in person at the Palace in
Chicago and the other on the Vitaphone at the
Capitol and Avalon . . . Harry Liebman of De Sylva-
Brown & Henderson, said on his recent visit to
Chicago that our city is great . . . thanks, Harry,
I'm glad somebody likes it . . . Listen, Hank Lnst-
garten, behave yourself until I return . . .I've heard
two many complaints about your Radio Cappers.
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
STAGE SHOWS
Chicago Oriental
Week Ending July 15
The Oriental, Al Kvale and Mister McDermott do
themselves up brown this week with a colorful show
and a show which has its best moments. In fact the
best moments continue from the opening curtain
until the last.
It doesn't take much to realize that McDeEunott
is back on the job, which he deserted for a much
needed vacation after Ash's departure. There is
color, continuity and all of the other things that
go with a good presentation act.
The show opens with Milton Watson and the 10
Ahbott Girls in front of a drape which politely rises
for the dancers to take positions on the steps lead-
ing back center, and as they dance and sing they
condecend also to unrobe. In our humble opinion
the Abbott Girls are as far superior to other dancing
units as the sun is brighter than the moon. That's
our opinion, which undoubtedly means nothing, ex-
cepting, of course, that we are reporting the show.
The stage band, now being in the pit — and not
such a bad idea — next plays "One Step to Heaven"
to a good hand, with Al doing his stuff and garner-
ing the appreciation.
And of course, this show being called, as we forgot
to tell you, KwoUies Follies, they had to have some
sketches. So, Al, Coleman Goctz and Anita La
Pierre did one. It brought its share of laughs — and
more, for Miss La Pierre (and the French is hard to
write) came on with two good numbers. The first
as it sounded from the rear was sung in French,
while the next brought forth "My Darling," dedicated,
as Al said, to himself. Use your own judgment.
Nevertheless she got a good hand, and was accepted
as one of the Oriental gang.
Next, it seems, the band played "Your a Real Sweet-
heart," with Watson doing his contribution, and with
our French maiden "in." Another good hand.
Watson next sang the theme song from "The
Street Angel," "Angela Mia," following this with
"The Desert Song." Watson always gets a good
hand, although his voice does not have the color it
did when he joined Ash some years ago.
Naturally, there had to be some dancing, and the
leadoff was Scotty Weston, who, with the Abbotts,
did a good turn and was thanked with applause for
it. Weston's encore was a tap to the fife and drum
corps and it was done admirably.
Next — and we're not speaking in the lingo of
the barber — came Al with "That's My Weakness
Nfliw." This piece gave Al an opportunity to show
what he could and couldn't play in the way of
musical instruments. Well, he did pretty good and
everyone liked it, but you've heard those weird
noises coming from an apartment wind«w, haven't
you ? N»iff said.
Then came Goctz and the finale with the Abbott
Girls and "Little Dream House," all of which was
very inviting.
It was a good show and, Al, you may take a bow.
Milwaukee Wisconsin
Week Ending July 14
This week Richy Craig and his Gang were in
Melody Land and — what a melody of joy and hap-
piness they told ! The setting was an orgy of musical
notes centered about a great banjo, the drum of
which was transparent and through which at in-
tervals could be seen beautiful dancers in gorgeous
gownte tripping along, strumming banjos.
The main attraction of the evening was Joe Regan,
the celebrated Irish-American tenor. He sang a
number of Irish melodies in a way that only an Irish-
man could do it, and only an' Irishman with the talent
and voice of Joe Regan. "My Wild Irish Rose,"
"When Irish Eyes Were Smiling" and a few selec-
tions from opera brought the crowd to a fren2y
of applause. Again and again he was called back ;
just for one more song — just one. But the presenta-
tion must keep a time schedule and the audience was
subdued enough for the rest of the program to con-
tinue. Milwaukee likes anything that really is
good.
Bcbi Barri's exponents of the terpsichorean art
then execute a fantastic dance which ends up in
striking poses by the different dancers.
Richy Craig and his Gang then put on a little
comedy with a song entitled "For Instance," Jack
Richmond singing the final verse. Louise and
Andrew Carr then do some high-class tap dancing
ending up with an accompaniment to the "Stars
and Stripes Forever." As a surprise to the audience.
Craig introduces the parents of Louise and Andrew
Carr. Mr. and Mrs. Carr are some mean steppers
and they get lots of applause. It was evident where
the younger Carrs got their dancing ability from:.
One of the features of the presentation was the
introduction of the members of his Gang by Richy
Craig. Slides were flashed on' the screen of each
musician in a comic pose and introduced by Craig
with a witty saying for each one.
The finale consists of the Barri Girls dancing and
playing banjos behind the large transparent banjo
in the setting and Jack Richmond singing "To-
gether."
Atlanta Howard
Week Ending July 14
The far heralded "Mikado of Jazz" reigned at
the Howard this week, but not in the splendor pre-
dicted, one suspects because of the change of per-
sonality from its father, Paul Ash, to Jack Stanley
the Howard orchestra. Something missed out, giving
it a too slow tempo.
Standing out is Bob LaSalle as Ko-Ko the comedian,
who brought a round of laughter on each appear-
ance.
Willard Andelin furnished good comedy also. Arch
Cannon, lyric tenor, went over well.
The Kimiwa troupe of four Japanese acrobats drew
a loud hand. Evelyn Vee, the heroine, is ably as-
sisted by the Darling Twins. The trio received favor.
Eight chorines displayed picturesque costimaes and
lively steps in several numbers.
The plot, based upon the popular Gilbert-Sullivan's
comic opera, was hailed as a jazz version staged by
Paul Ash. Costuming and settings were expensive
and eye-catching. Songs were good. Individual num-
bers went off well, but on the whole something
retarded the swift movement which should have been
there.
New York Roxy
Week Ending July 20
"Carnival of Venice" is arranged particularly this
week to depict the atmosphere of the film "Street
Angel," and utilizes all the musical properties of
the theatre, and reflects the Italian atmosphere of
the film by the use of the choral stairways and
boxes on either side of the stage.
Beatrice Belkin sings Benedict's "Carnival of
Venice," followed by the Roxy Ballet Corps and the
32 Roxyettes in a novel Harlequinade with Four-
drain's "Carnival" as the musical theme.
■Voljanin, Sergeyeva, and 'Vodnoy, singing come-
dians, bring the continental art of mimicry to Amer-
ican audiences in a Venetian comedy number.
Helen Lyons and Locques Lorraine, well-known
character dancers, appear in an interpretation of the
gypsy dance.
Jeanne Mignolet sings the traditional "Ciribirbin,"
the ballet corps supplying the background with
Patricia Bowman and Nicholas Daks in the principal
dancing roles.
Berinoff and Eulalie, the adagio team who recently
scored at this theatre, present another composition
of daring quality.
Douglas Stanbury, assisted by the entire ensemble,
sings "Venetian Moon" and Henry Therrien follows
this with "Angela Mia," the theme of the picture, by
Erno Rapee and licw Pollack. The Roxyettes close
the bill with a precision dancing number called "The
Lido."
Seattle Seattle
Week Ending July 14
Most unusual was the dancing in the Publix show
devised by Jack Partington, dance master, and the
bright particular star was Drena Beach, who is most
fascinating.
Moore and Powell come in for a good share of
applause with the musical saw, quick comedy and
snappy singing.
Anna Chang is some cute Oriental singer and
more comedy is well handled by Jean and Fritz
Hubert. A group of graceful and decidedly pretty
girls are the Felida Sorel group, who make the most
of a colorful dance routine.
Thel Seattle Stage band also offer a number of
comedy musical offerings directed by Jack Bain.
Grand opera selections with the outstanding number
"Slavonic Rhapsody" with Arthur Clausen directing.
"Back in Your Own Back Yard" says Ron Baggot
on the organ.
Pittsburgh Penn
Week Ending July 7
The Publix unit, "Eixylophonia," staged by John
Murray Anderson, was one of the most entertaining
and attractive yet seen here, the finale being espe-
cially breath-taking. The Two Johnsons, xylophon-
ists, were accompanied by twelve Foster Girls, each
of whom played an xylophone. The girls in the
rear of the stage, occupying two platforms, one
above the other. Each platform holding six girls.
These fourteen xylophones playing the "Zampa Over-
ture" was something worth hearing and seeing.
Rosemary, coloratura soprano offered "Una Vooa
Poca Fa" and "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." A
beautiful girl who makes a splendid appearance, and
has a wonderful vodoe. She scored heavily.
Chester Fredericks, late dance star of "Music Box
Revue," did some unusually clever acrobatic dancing
and Hal Sherman offered a clever eccentric dance
number. Sherman stopped the show on several
occasions.
The stage band featured master of ceremonies
Teddy Joyce's newest number, "You Need Me, I
Need You." A jazzy numiber that got a big hand.
The orchestra overture presentation was accom-
panied by the showing on the giant screen of M G M's
Technicolor subject, "The Flag," very appropriate for
Independence Day Week. The music was very inspir-
ing.
PRESTON SELLERS
Now Confined to the organ duties of the
ORIENTAL THEATRE, CHICAGO
Father and Brain Children are doing well.
IRENE
TAYLOR
(The ''
IT" of Blues)
Featured in Publix "PAGODALAND" Unit
Playing Entire PUBLIX Circuit
Direction
— Wm, Morris Agency
ILOMAY BAILEY
"The Golden Voiced Prima Donna"
Featured in "STEPS and STEPPERS" Unit
Now Touring PUBLIX Theatres
Direction Wm. Morris Agency
f
I
UNIFORMS
FOR HOUSE
ATTACHES
COSTUMES
FOR STAGE
PRESENTATIONS
BROOKS
1437 B'way
N. Y. City
48
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
Los Angeles Metropolitan
Week Ending July 14
Frank Cambria's Publix revue. "Surprise," with
the Felicia Sorel grirls, offered a novel, but entertain-
ing program at the "Met" this week. A beautiful
stage setting backed by clever artists, and mueic as
directed by Jules Baffano, master of ceremonies, all
combined to make the presentation surprising. The
show started with Buffano singing a new number,
"Watermelon."
A military tap dance by the Bernic Brothers fol-
lowed, they warmed the audience, with their hoofing
and closed in great style. The Moore Sisters then
sang "My Ohio Home," going into a dance in the
chorue. The girls were cute, and have a charming
manner. Their work is light but they took a good
hand.
Kathryn Irwin, accompanied by Charles JoUey, fol-
lowed in a song number which penetrated a screen
that was lowered, the projection machine, with color
effecting water, made the Sorel girls appear as sea
nymphs. Beautiful lighting and pretty costumes
added much to their wonderful reception.
They were followed by the two Harlequins in
gymnastic stunts. Their work is above the average,
offering something different from the average "dtimb"
act. They were well liked. The 12 Sorel girls
offered a line dance next, doing some clever steps,
in unison. Bcnardo, the clown, with his mandolin,
gave the audience several laughs with his line of
hokum and expressions. Jules Buffano assisted him
in some of the gags, ■which was pleasing. His selec-
tions on the mandolin were good and appeared to
please the patrons.
The three Ritz Brothers, headliners in vaudeville,
were the highlights of the bill. They kept the
crowd laughing at all times with their stories and
songs. Their actions showed they were real troupers
and the gags were at least new in these parts. They
were forced to take two encores. Their impression
of Hary Langdon and John Barrymore doing the
Charleston, took a big hand. The orchestra started
in playing the closing number with the Sorel girls
entering and lining up on either side of the stage.
Steps leading up offered a good setting for the
display of beautiful gowns. The creations were in
line with the orchestra closing to "Here Gomes the
Bride." A couple appearing at the head of the
steps, as bride and groom.
The show could have been shorter by several min-
utes and still hold the good will of all.
J. VIRGIL HUFFMAN
Formerly of LOEWS PALACE,
WASHINGTON, D. C, An-
nounces his engagement as Fea-
tured Organist at the AMERICAN,
ROANOKE'S NEW $1,500,000
THEATRE. Hear him daily over
WDBJ.
Fred Kinsley Now Heads
Keith- Albee-Orpheum
Organ Presentations
Keith-Albee Hippodrome of New York has lost a
very good organist, but the Keith-Albee Orpheum
interests has in turn gained a manager of organ
presentations, than who no other is better qualified
for the work. Frederick Kinsley, formerly the organ-
ist at the Hipp, was last week appointed manager
of the organ presentation department for the entire
K.-A.O. string of theatres.
His work, devoted for the present to the metro-
politan area of New York, takes in the arranging,
composing and managing of all organ solos at these
theatres, while he also arranges and directs the illus-
trated slides. He is in charge of the employing of
organists for the entire circuit, and "A Fred Kinsley
Presentation" will be the announcement neralded in
every theatre using this feature.
His offices are with the K.-A.O. orchestra depart-
ment in the Broadway Theatre Building, 41st St.
and Broadway, New York. Walter Wild, former
organist at Mark Strand's New York house, is replac-
ing Kinsley at the Hippodrome.
Philadelphia Carman
Week Ending July 7
A breezy and entertaining revue with 27 skilled
performers, including the Shamrock Band and the
16 Gould Girls greeted patrons of the Carman this
week.
Walter Clinton, conductor of the band, acted as
master of ceremonies and proved himself a versatile
and entertaining leader. The wholesomeness and
genuine spontaneity of the Gould Girls is especially
noteworthy.
The Shamrock Band in green costumes gave a jazz
selection and the Gould Girls in wistaria dresses
offered a delightful bit of synchronized dancing fol-
lowed by Clinton, who sang a popular melody and
gave a dance imitation of Harry Lauder. Gloria
Gay and Ruby Fay are two promising youngsters
whose solo dancing won considerable applause.
Clinton then indulged in a monologue filled with
references to his personal preference for the wet
Presidential candidate which to say the least ■was
in bad form.
The chorus in glittering gold costumes and head-
dresses offered another routine dance. Julia Rooney,
dressed in gold vpith a gold cape, gave an eccentric
oriental dance that brought a storm of applause.
She was later joined by the chorus in a clever unison
dance.
One of the members of the Shamrock Band sang
a sentimental lyric after which Julia Rooney, attired
in a soft gray green costume, danced, pirouetted and
did some high kicking.
The Gould Girls, in bathing suits, then returned and
sitting on low stools went through a series of gym-
nastic stunts to show their agility. The "Stop and
Go" dance created much amusement as the chorus
had to stop as soon as the strains of the m.usic
ceased and dance when it played. The ludicrous
positions of the girls and their inability to balance
themselves after the sudden stops proved the hit of
the evening.
The tenor soloist sang "Mother Majihree" with
good results. The whole company appeared in the
finale and joined in the revelry.
New York Capitol
Week Ending July 20
"Monte Carlo" is an elaborately colorful produc-
tion featuring the ever-acclairaed versatile Walt
Roesner and his delightful band of syncopating mel-
odists.
"Gemble Vit Me" is oft'ered by the Capitolians'
piano player, who is an artist in his own right.
The num.ber is a typical "roulette wheel story" and
is danced by the Chester Hale Girls.
"Chile Pom Pom Pe" is offered by the Capitolians
Orchestra, and sung in different styles by members of
this versatile gathering of musicians.
Harlan Dixon, late dancing star of "Manhattan
Mary" and other musical comedy successes, appears
at this theatre for the first time on any picture
theatre stage. He offers steps and twirls that made
him famous on Broadway, and his "Five-Step," the
most difficult of all, is danced with him by one of
the Chester Hale Girls who learned the dance in
four days.
Helen Yorke, coloratura soprano, returns to the
Capitol and sings "Voices of Spring."
Louis and Freda Berkoff, sensation Russian danc-
ers lately feattired with The Greenwich Village Fol-
lies, put over a fast routine of peppy dancing, which
wins the applause in great volume.
Dtiring the revue, the Chester Hale Girls, in brief
playing card costumes, offer a series of chorus danc-
ing, which is moderately good.
Frank Stever, popular baritone, offers solos with
the band. The finish was very dazzling and beauti-
ful, with roulette wheel and playing-card scenery
and lighting effects, and the show ie another Capitol
success.
Indianapolis Indiana
Week Ending July 20
Tommy Wonder, or at least that is the name he
uses, does a dance act at the Indiana this week
w^hich is a classic. The boy, for he is not so old,
does a solo dance rather Russian in character, that
is one of the best seen here for some time. He
shows two or three new steps at a time when it
would seem there were no new steps. Then he
makes his second appearance with the figure of a
flapper on his arm. The flapper is stuffed, or so it
seems, but Tommy dances with this thing as though
entranced. His act is a headliner in an otherwise
somewhat drab bill.
Verdi, a violinist, is introduced with a lot of bally-
hoo, but it would seem that there is too much con-
versation and not sufficient violin playing to warrant
all the extravagant introduction.
The Lett Sisters and Louise are pleasing harmony
singers. Charlie Davis plays a piano solo and the
Foster Girls do some unusually good dancing.
Glendale Alexander
Week Ending July 3
Ted Mack and His Musical Monarchs, with Jack
Kates and Bobby Agnew, popular screen juvenile,
assisted by the "San Francisco Beauties," put over
Fanchon and Marco's "College Caper's Idea" in great
style. Each artist received a good hand for their
offering.
The show opened with a collegiate atmosphere, the
girls giving college yells, the orchestra playing school
tunes, which was followed up by the Beauties doing
a toe tap dance. Ted plays the saxophone through
the chorus.
Jack Kates came next with a barrage of stories
and wise cracks, which made a hit with the crowd.
He finished singing "Coquette" with the aid of the
girls, doing a comical dance as an exit. He was
highly received and took an encore.
Bobby Agnew, who is rather stage shy, sang a
special song regarding the cinema, ending up with
"Back in Your Own Back Yard." His voice is good
and his manner pleasing. He and the eight beauties
in the finale danced and paraded to the orchestra's
"Yale Blues," closing a short but delightful program
and immensely entertaining.
Detroit Capitol
Week Ending July 13
Del Delbridge, popular master of ceremonies and
band leader, presided over "Jazz Butterflies," the
stage attraction this week at the Capitol. The setting
was gorgeous and the individual performers talented.
Mae Wynn was a dainty little dancer who won
much applause. Lang and Voelk, although in comedy
makeup, proved to be sweet voiced singers, and mixed
in several songs with their comedy numbers.
Three Japanese, Toki, Yokie and Kee, proved quite
versatile ; singing, dancing, playing and juggling.
It was an amusing novelty act and was very well
done. Erner and Fisher had a slick "dumb" dance
act which predominated in eccentric steps.
The rest of the program, too, is heavy in dancing.
Two Harlem boys. Rector and Cooper, were the fea-
tures in some intricate and high grade tap dances,
and the Capitol Dancing Girls danced gracefully in
lovely costumes.
The Capitol Symphony Orchestra provided a class-
ical overture.
GINGER ROGERS
"A Rarebit of Spice"
A JOHN HEUD, JR., Cartoon Girl in the Flesh
Playing Return Dates for Publix
Direction— WM. MORRIS AGENCY
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
49
Philadelphia Fox
Week Ending July 14
The outstanding feature on the surrounding bill
at the Fox this week was an exceptionally fine read-
ing of the too infrequently played "Hungarian
Rhapsody No. 13" by Liszi. Majestic at time it
weaves in the enchanting Hungarian dances which
are so much enjoyed for their rhythmic fire and
IXJetic expression. The violin cadenza was played
by Morris Braun and hie interpretation of this beau-
tiful selection left no doubt in the listeners' minds
that it is one of his favorite compositions. Under
the leadership of Adolphe S. Kornspan, gxiest con-
ductor, the orchestra played with more than usual
fire and expression.
Rodion and Ravana, of "Greenwich Village Follies,"
presented an adagio dance that was a marvel of grace
and rhythm and gave the impression of a beautiful
painting. Against a background of a full moon and
stars shining through trees Rodion and Ravana
danced and poised, the very acme of grace and
lightness, combined with strength, like a young
nymph and faun.
The Four Aristocrats are handsome fellows with
lot of personality and pep and they were all in
good voice and form. They strummed away on
mandolin, guitar and piano and entertained with an
excellent aesortment of musical hits, including "Mary
Ann." "Mighty Lak' a Rose," and a clever adapta-
tion of "Constantinople."
Fred Himes and Lenora Chamberlain put on a
burlesque Apache dance that was a masterpiece of
its kind and was quite the toughest this reporter
has ever seen. Lenoi-a is a slim little girl but she
took a lot of punishment, including several spankings,
and ended by picking up her brawny companion
and stakling out with him thrown over her shoulder.
The act was roundly applauded and as an encore
she appeared carrying him over her shoulder.
There was a Movietone film "At the Base Ball
Game," featuring Joe Cook in one of his monologues.
St. Louis State
Week Ending July 13
Nat Nazzaro, Jr. presented "Stepping on It" with a
finale composed of racing automobiles.
The cast included Ponce Sisters, harmony singers ;
Fuzzy Knight, Lillian Morton and the Nazzaroettes.
as well as the State Syncopators.
The orchestral overture for the week was Tann-
hauser." Kirk Frederick directed. Ernest Hares
was at the organ.
Chicago Granada
Week Ending July 20
"Dream House" is the title of this Charles Kaley
presentation, which, besides serving incidentally to
exploit the song of that name, also gives the Granada
patrons a clever and colorful show. As a spectacle,
it is as pretty a thing of its kind as this reporter
has seen recently. The curtain rises on a scrim sea.
through which, on the ocean floor, can be seen the
ballet, while a bathing girl sings "When You're in
Ixive with Me." By this time the atmosphere has
a rather salty tang, but presently the ocean heaves
up out of the way, and the ballet comes out front
for a routine. Thereafter, Kaley enters, taking the
band in "China Bay" and singing a bit. The set
now shows a fantastic garden, with a house, osten-
sibly the aforesaid dream house, at one side.
Crawford and Caskey. a mixed team of dancers,
follow the band number, and with a turn of adul-
terated tap and acrobatic steps, win the approval
of those out front. Then again the band and Kaley.
the former playing "If You Don't Love Me," and
the latter singing the chorus. The Five Maxellos
are next, offering gymnastic work to the demon-
strated pleasure of those who paid to get in. Then
comes a dream house skit, and it's clever and pretty.
With the band playing "Dream House," the ballet
comes out, each member concealed behind and carry-
ing a piece of a cute little cottage and of a fence,
so that when all is assembled, you have just what
you might expect, a cottage with a fence. Kaley
sings the chorus of the song, then out through the
cottage door comes Crawford and Caskey for an-
other turn of dancing. They done, the ballet carries
off the cottage and fence. And the auditorium ex-
pands with great quantities of applause.
The headliner follows — Trixie Friganza. the amply
built veteran of song and chatter. Her "Hallelujah"
is done well and successfully. There are other songs
of a comic turn. And a great deal of premeditated
gags and ad libbing of the same sort, with a tinge
of roughness added. If applause means anything,
she must be labeled a hit.
The finale proceeds upon the entrance of the ballet.
Again "Dream House" is sung. The ballet points up-
ward. Two columns have appeared, and atop each
one is a girl with the most necessary amount of
attire, the color of gold. Singer and band strain in
final crescendo. And all's over but the clapping of
the customers.
San Francisco Has Created
Many Band Leaders
The high place held by San Fiancitjco as a pi-oduc-
ing field for presentation orchestra leaders is com-
mented upon by Albert Greenbaum, local musician
and impresario, who returned recently from New
York, where he met several former San Franciscans
now in the spotlight in the metropolis.
Prominent among the local celebrities who have
won success in Eastern fields, of course, is Paul Ash,
now at the Paramount. Paul Ash, with Jack Part-
ington, really originated the jazzy style of stage
entertainment in moving picture houses, first winning
fame at the Imperial theatre in San Francisco, before
going to the Granada. He commenced his career with
Will King, at the Casino theatre.
Then there is Walter Roesner. long at the Warfield
theatre and a pronounced San Francisco favoritOt
and who has been with the Capitol theatre in New
York for more than a year. Mischa Violin, who led
the orchestra at the Imperial theatre at one time,
and who has been with other San Francisco houses,
is at the head of an orchestra of ninety men in
the Roxy theatre.
Herman Heller is another fine musician who has
made hie mark in New York. For several years he
conducted the orchestra in the California theatre
here and the success of this was such that large
orchestras were then installed in other houses. Under
his direction Sunday morning concerts were offered,
with an hour of music before the presentation of
screen attractions, an innovation which packed the
house almost every Sunday for a year. He is now
director of music for the Vitaphone pictures of
Warner Brothers.
Ben Black, formerly of the Strand theatre, San
Francisco, and still connected with a local music
publishing house, is meeting with success in New
York, while Ulderico Marcelli has charge of the
music in two of the Publix theatres in Chicago.
St. Louis Ambassador
Week Ending July 13
"Swanee Moon" was the revue offered by Ed
Lowry and his entertainers. The music score was
especially composed by Dave Stamper.
The cast included Ginger Rogers. Jack North, comic
songster ; Kathryn Lewis, singer ; Charles Chcsney,
tenor, and Shclvey and Landau, comedy dancers. Ed
Lowry sang "Memories of France."
Chicago Chicago
Week Ending July 15
"Knicknacks," the show at the Chicago this week
oi>ens with the ballet doing a clever dance, half
of the girls being disguised as large arm chairs.
The audience is thoroughly deceived until the chairs
begin to dance with the rest of the ballet. Lou
Kosloff directed the stage band.
Mildred and Muriel Lee. a sister act, dressed as
pages, do a good tap dance for a fair hand. Llora
Hoffman. Winter Garden star of many years, fol-
lows with two songs, one of which is the ever good
"Zing. Zing Boom." Her singing is thoroughly en-
tertaining and she is rewarded with three calls for
more.
Winfrcd and Mills, the crazy Chinaman and Negro
act, are next with their riotous dialogue. Their lines
are funny and well delivered. They pull a variety of
gags and stunts for a fine hand. This is one of
the best acts seen around here in a long time. An
orchestra rendition of a medley of popular songs
follows. Very good.
Then comes one of the best numbers of the show.
Karavieff, the Russian tap dancer who gets in all
the Russian steps in tap. Boy. he can dance and
ROY DIETRICH
"The Silver
Voiced Director"
Featuring
STAGEBAND
PRESENTATIONS
At the
"Playhotise of the
World"
AVALON
THEATRE, CHICAGO
(A National Playhouse)
the audience begs for more. A real number. The
Lee Twins follow with an acrobatic dance which is
acceptable.
The finale begins with the Foster Girls coming on
in Roman Soldier armour to do a military drill,
which is very good. The Lee Twins do another short
tap and Llora Hoffman sings. The Foster Girls
appear again on the upper stage level standing at
attention with huge Roman shields, as the curtain
closes. A show hitting the average of the Publix
units.
Spitalny's musical overture, "The Concert," with
fine voices, a beautiful scrim picture and wonderful
music is by far the best part of the show.
Chicago Uptown
Week Ending July 15
The show at the Uptown this week is built en-
tirely around Paul Whiteman and his band, and as
such is nothing to go into hysterics about. White-
man's band is certainly not the band it used to be,
and the Uptown patrons were not slow in finding
that out. Whiteman's musical comedians would rate
about third class outside his band as comedians, so
why try to make comedians out of them. Very little
music is dispensed by the band most of the time be-
ing taken up with a lot of foolishness, which the
audience did not come to see.
His chief offerings were "Chloe," "My Ohio Home"
and a medley of blues, into which was of course
worked the theme of "Rhapsody in Blue." If we
are to have Whiteman and his band as a big picture
show attraction, let's have his band and not a lot of
third rate comedians who take up all the time.
K A O Appoints New
Western Manager
At a convention of theatre managers and booking
members of the Keith-Albee Orpheum Circuit, re-
cently held in Chicago at the Palmer House, it was
decided that John Royal, formerly manager of their
Cleveland interest be put in as regional director of
the combined interest of the circuit for the Middle-
The first one opened last week with a stage unit
of economic policies that will be installed in all
their Western theatres.
Kosloff Starts School
Theodore Kosloff, famous Russian ballet master
and one-time popular as a motion picture actor, has
established a dancing school in Chicago to train ex-
clusively for the theatre and Russian dancing.
Balaban and Katz has secured his services as
ballet master at their Oriental theatre, Chicago,
which in the future will display a Kosloff Ballet.
The first one opened this week with a stage unit
called "A Movie Party" featuring Chief Eagle
Feather, Murray and Alan and several others.
Gotham Opens Branches
In Three Canadian Cities
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— Exchanges have
been opened by Gotham in Montreal, To-
ronto and St. John, and another soon will
go into action in Winnipeg.
Benjamin Muller Weds
(Special to the Herald-World)
SANTA ROSA, CAL., July 17.— Benjamin
Muller, manager of the Cine and California
theatres, has joined the benedicts.
HENRI A. KEATES
'The Organist Who Put Community
Singing on ^;0^^^^ the Map"
Now Vacationing
50
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
U P Bpd fl ORGAN SOLOS
9^\
C I
ID
id
•the
Lester Santly "pinch hitting" for Larry Spier!
First of all let me get this "Santly proposition"
straightened out. There seems to be too many
Santlys and every day someone aeks me "Who are
you with now ?" — so I'm glad to have an opportunity
to enumerate the various Santlys and place them
oflicially where they belong: Henry Santly, profes-
sional manager of Jerome H. Remick Co. ; Joe
(Banjo) Santly, one of the eight professional man-
agers of Irving Berlin, Inc. ; and Lester Santly, ex-
ploitation manager (whatever that is) of Leo Feist,
Inc. Now don't mix up Joseph Santly of "Santly
and Sawyer" who is now connected with Publix
Theatres as a production manager and Henry
Santly the well known band leader.
Now that I've that horrible "Santly situation"
off my chest, let's do some "gabbing" with a bit
of gossip here and there. This is being written
on July 9. It's hot — ^hotter than Hades ! Everyone's
disposition and ambitions are at a rather low ebb.
Theatre managers are "squawking," musicians say
that movietones and vitaphones are a menace,
masters of ceremonies are more dissatisfied than ever ;
song writers are "kicking" about small royalties ;
publishers are wondering where the sheet music
business went to, and the radio is full of static. Yea,
verily, "there must be a silver lining." Don't be
fooled by the summer slump in the various branches
of the show business. It's been the same for the
last iifteen years.. There are no menaces that can
hurt the individual artist if he or she has the
"goods."
• * *
I've received dozens of letters from orchestra lead-
ers and organists asking what we thought the
"talkies" would do to their careers. Good orchestra
leaders, musicians, and organists will always be in
demand. True enough there'll be an over-supply of
mechanical entertainment in the theatres, but here's
one thing you can't deny! You can't applaud a
ghost, and within a year or two from now the public
will be clamoring for some personal appearances
"in the flesh." It's inconceivable, ghastly and ghostly
to expect our entertainment served permanently
"through a horn," flickering, danglin' and speaking
orthophonically. There will always have to be a
"personal element" in the theatre — either in the form
of a good organist or a snappy, modern, up-to-the-
minute orchestra.
* • *
Your new "pinch hitting" correspondent seems to
feel that the musician will have to be more "musical"
to hold his place through the evolution of entertain-
ment. The vitaphone and movietone will eliminate
the "C" and "D" class of organist and musician.
You can't blame a small exhibitor for taking syn-
chronized music when he has been compelled to
listen for years to a "tin pan" orchestra or an
organist who makes a "groan box" out of his
instrument.
• • •
Forward March, musicians, and don't let the
"talkies take" you! They'll never take Paul White-
man, Jesse Crawford, Fred Waring, Milton Charles,
Paul Ash, Henry Murtagh, Vincent Lopez, Henri
Keates, Abe Lyman, Lew White, and many others of
equal class and calibre who should not be offended
if they're not mentioned in this paragraph. I can
think of hundreds, even thousands, who'll survive
becaiise they're striving for betterment in thedr in-
dividual lines.
* * •
It's just too bad I have to virrite the finale to this
column. I've always longed for an opportunity to
take the stand, get on a soap box, and give con-
structive suggestions and criticisms to my brethren
of the profession. Maybe my good friend, Larry
Spier, will permit me to contribute to "Up and
Down the Alley" again in the near future?
Yours "in the sunshine,"
Walter Wild (New York Hippodrome), who was
formerly with the Mark Strand of this city, offers the
fij-st "Fred Kinsley Presentation" at the Hipp this
week, since Kinsley was transferred to manage the
Organ Presentation department of the Keith-Albee
theatres. His feature, entitled "Checkers," opens
with his first move, "Forgetting You" — a recently
written ballad, real title unannounced. The audience
is requested to make the second move, and he directs
the singing of "Together" while he follows it with
"Sorry for Me," which is on the same style as the
first offering. "Constantinople" is another move,
and his winning nimiber was a repeat of "Forgetting
You" for the finale. These Kinsley presentations are
going to develop into a very good feature, if this
success is a sample.
Dick Liebert (Pittsburgh, Pa., Penn) scored
heavily when he played "Ramona" as a church or-
ganist would offer it ; then as a German band ; Cal-
liope ; Music Box, and as a merry-go-round organ.
Liebert is an exceptional organist, and his fans
here are numbered by the thousands.
Harry Zimmerman (Chicago Belmont). If you
want to hear a well played organ solo and some fine
community singing it is wise to go to the Belmont
theatre some Saturday afternoon and hear this young
fellow, Harry Zimmerman, play. There is no fooliu'
about it because his style of playing gets him con-
siderable applause. Although there were not many
singing this week it's no fault of the solo, there
were only a few people in the show but they
sang.
Arthur Gutow (Detroit Michigan) had a patriotic
specialty for Fourth of July week. It was entitled
"Spirit of Independence," and gave Gutow opportu-
nity to play the songs which were popular during the
various wars in which this country has engaged.
"Yankee Doodle," of course, was the theme song for
the slides depicting Washington's troops in the strug-
gle for independence, and "Dixie" was played for
the Civil War scenes. Along came the Spanish-
American War on the slides, and Gutow's organ
blazed forth with "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old
Town Tonight." To close, there was the World War
and George M. Cohan's "Over There," although by
that time all of the war veterans in the audience
were beginning to whistle the lilting strains of
"Parlez Vous." It seems that "Over There" wasn't
popular over there.
Henri Keates (Chicago Oriental) calls his organ
novelty this week, "Love and Other Diseases," and
plays "Sweet Sue," "Get Out and Get Under the
Moon," "My Darling," "Rosette," "Beloved," and in
between songs, he answers via the slide a lot of
crazy questions on the gentle art of making love,
the questions and answers having some bit of humor.
Eddie Meikel (Chicago Uptown) was guest con-
ductor at the Uptown this week and told in slides
and music about the organ club he has organized at
the Harding theatre where he is regularly seen. His
slides were very clever, most of which he accom-
panied to "Gallagher and Shean." Eddie knows how
to play the organ in the popular style, and how to
play for community singing. He came very near
stopping the show for more, the applause lasting
long after he disappeared from view in the organ
pit. He certainly did hit the fancy of the Uptowners.
Milton Charles (Chicago Chicago) calls his organ
presentation, "Writing a Song." He first plays the
melody and then suggests different words for the
song. Slides also tell how the popular song is
usually written. The song happens to be "If You
Don't Love Me," by Milton Ager. At the close one
of the Chicago theatre ushers sings the song and
is given a good hand calling for an encore. The
entire presentation gets a fine applause for Milton
Charles.
9tato59l8
54W.D6ndolphSt
Oh tea 6 o
AfcputDcttingRUMCffis
MooUV SWcteio fcr tit Of^nii
BEST SELLERS
"Ramona" — (Leo Feist),
"Laugh, Clown, Laugh" — (Remick).
"Girl of My Dreams" — (Jack Mills).
"Last Night I Dreamed You Kissed
Me" — (Leo Feist).
"You're a Real Sweetheart" — (Leo
Feist).
'"My Angel' — (DeSyha-Brown &
Henderson).
"Beloved" — (Irving Berlin).
"Was It a Dream" — (Harms).
"Just Like a Melody Out of the Sky"
— (Donaldson-Douglas & Gumhle).
"Get Out and Get Under the Moon"
— (Iiy/ing Berlin).
"Constantinople" — (DeSylva-Brown &
Henderson).
"Rosette"— (Milton Weil).
"Back in Your Own Back Yard" —
(Irving Berlin).
"My Pef — (Ager-Gellen & Born-
stein).
"That's My Weakness Now" — (Sha-
piro-Bernstein).
"Chlo-e" — (Villa Moret).
"I Can't Do Without Youf'— (Irving
Berlin).
MEMORIES OF FRANCE (Watcrson, Berlin &
Snyder) — A song that sounds like a war song but
is a love song of one who remembers his days in'
France. Should be great for the presentation houses.
The writers are both well known being responsible for
many past hits. Lyric by Al Dubin', music by J.
Russcl Robinson.
THINK OF ME THINKING OF YOU— (L. B.
Curtis) — A fox trot ballad that has a trick title
with a very pretty tune. This firm has a big hit
every once in a while and they have a good chance
with this song. Words and music by Charlie Abbot,
Johnny Marion and Dale Wimbrow.
• * •
CHALITA — (Chappell Harms, Inc.) — ^A high class
Spanish number that reminds one of "Marcheta."
This house is noted for its high class songs and this
no doubt will live among the masterpieces already
in' their catalogue. Words and music by Victor
Schertzinger.
* * •
LONESOME IN THE MOONLIGHT— (Leo Feist,
Inc.) — ^A dance tune by the writer of June Night.
Will depend strictly on orchestras to make it. An
appropriate lyric by Benee Russell, music by Abel
Baer.
• * *
FLORA (I A-Dore Yon) — (M. Whitm«rk & Sons)—
An imported European novelty hit. A lilting tune
with a good lyric that should be good over here,
too. Lyric by Johnny Tucker and Joe Schuster,
music by Fred Markush.
* * «
EVERY EVENING (I Miss Yon)— (Jack MUls,
Inc.) — Evening is the time for love and thinking. Too
busy during the day but at night it's different. A
dance tune with an appropriate lyric. Words by
Billy Rose, music by Jimmy McHugh.
# * #
IS IT GONNA BE LONG ('Till Yon Belong to
Me) — (Leo Feist, Inc.) — The lyric writer is responsi-
ble for the famous Blue Heaven and has certainly
w^ritten an excellent lyric in this song. Looks like
a song that will be heard from. The melody is also
very good. Words by Geo. Whiting, music by Rubey
Cowan and Charlie Abbot.
# « «
BLUE OVER YOU— (DeSylva-Brown & Hender-
son)— A pretty fox trot. Though not an original
idea it has a very good chance as it is well written,
both as to lyrics and its fox trot melody. By Billy
Davis and Joe Burke.
« # «
P. S. — Will be back next week with a batch of new
song hits.
j/^ /3.
==^ THE STANDARD BOOK ==
ON
THEATRE MANAGEMENT
AND
THEATRE ADUERTCSING
— — ^^^— — There Is No Other ^^— — n^— _
Read - What - Leading - Authorities - Say
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Moving Picture World. Wilby - Saenger - Publix.
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United Artists Theatres.
.,. "After fifteen years in theatre management I find Building
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ment and showmanship has fitted them perfectly to write
with authority on the topics they chose." — Exhibitors "One can say no more than that the book is comprehensive
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These few testimonials are representative of hundreds of others received praising this vital,
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July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
^^^
THE THEATRE
Incorporated in this department of practical showmanship of Exhibitors Herald are the Moving
Picture World departments, "Selling the picture to the Public" and "Better Business Builders."
Big Campaign Gives Success to
Chattanooga Vitaphone Debut
(Special to the Herald-World)
CHATTANOOGA, TENN., July 17.— Heralded for a radius of 75 miles in many
original and effective tieups, Vitaphone and Movietone made their debut in
Chattanooga at Publix's Tivoli theatre Monday, July 9, with Dolores Costello
and Conrad Nagel in "Tenderloin," claiming one of the most successful intro-
ductions in the Southeast. LTnder the alert supervision of E. R. Rogers, manager
of the Tivoli, no avenue was left untouched in putting over the "see and hear"
picture.
Talk," "See and Hear," "First Talking Pic-
tures," and "It's Hear" ran for a long time in
advance.
An enthusiastic preview was held by Mr.
Rogers on Sunday evening, July 8, to 150 spe-
cial guests including members of the press,
Publix officials and friends of the theatre.
Twelve ones, threes, sixes and 24 sheets were
liberally used literally to plaster the town and
adjoining section selling Vitaphone and Movie-
tone. The "turn-away-house" on the opening
night and the succeeding performances be-
spoke the accomplishment of the campaign.
The performance itself received high lauda-
tions. Opening with Alex Keese and his
Troubadours playing a "Friml Cocktail," a
Paramount News and Conrad Nagel in War-
ner Bros, general trailer followed. The short
subjects, "The Serpentine," and "When the
Wife's Away'' proved popular. "Tenderlion,"
the picture concluded the program.
The following Publix officials were guests
for the preview on Sunday and remained for
the record opening on Monday : F. H. Dow-
ler, division manager ; W. E. Drumbar, Jess
L. Clark, Harry Hardy, district managers ;
Charley Morrison, assistant district manager,
Guy Kenimer, Jacksonville manager, A. C.
Cowles, Atlanta district booker; Tracy Bar-
ham, Florida district booker and George L.
Denton, manager.
Besides selling the "cooV' idea, even this
ad, itself, has a cool appearance. The
liberal use of white space has accom-
plished it, as much so, as the ice decora-
tions. Notice, also, how simply but how
effectively, the programs of the five
neighborhood houses are presented at the
bottom of the page. It takes but a min-
ute to read the attractions at each of
these theatres, and in spite of the three
big ads above, the eye will be drawn to
the bottom of the page. The ad is of the
Midwesco chain of theatres in Milwaukee.
Former Diplomat Joins
Fox Movietone in Europe
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— William Gleason
O'Brien, who for two and a half years has
been United States Vice-Consul in Paris, has
resigned from the Diplomatic Service to take
a position as assistant to J. S. Connolly, gen-
eral director for Fox Movietone in Europe,
according to word just received at the Fox
Film Corporation in New York. O'Brien will
cover Spain, Italy, Belgium and France for
Fox Movietone, making his headquarters in
Paris.
The outstanding tieup was effected with H.
G. Hill Company, wholesale and retail grocers,
who operate 58 stores in Chattanooga and 17
in the outlying district, covering an area of 75
miles. This concern distributed 60,000 an-
nouncement cards, placed in their stores 150
large cards, the same being carried on their
trucks', and ran ads in the daily papers de-
voting much space to Vitaphone.
The theatre mailed 5,000 cards illustrated
with an eye and ear to launch the "see and
hear" idea to box holders on rural routes in
Hamilton county. Also, 200 cards were dis-
tributed along the bus routes out of Chatta-
nooga and each bus carried one. The bus lines
went so far to co-operate by offering special
round trip rates to parties attending the show.
To reach the town people, 5,000 novelty her-
alds were distributed from house to house and
5,000 door knob hangers likewise placed.
Eight thousand heralds tieing gas refrigera-
tion with Vitaphone were distributed by the
Chattanooga Gas Company, while 15,000 nap-
kins neatly stamped with Vitaphone announce-
ment were used by the suburban lunch counters
the week preceding the opening.
A tieup in the classified column of the
Chattanooga Times gained much free space
daily in advance of showing. Besides this a
strong newspaper campaign using such catch
lines as "The Tivoli Screen Speaks," "They
A study in simplicity are these two ads from the Brockton theatre, Brockton, Mass., where
Morris Simms is manager, yet they possess beauty, eye-appeal, balance and perfect reading
sequence. The beginner in ad-writing will do well to emulate ads such as these.
52
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
Bringing the atmosphere of the Sdwra right to the door of the theatre — that's ivhat E. B.
Cummings, manager of the Resort Amusement Company theatres, Mineral Wells, Texas,
did when he played the M G M picture, "Garden of Allah." No one can deny the patron-
pulling-power of such fine lobby displays.
Anniversary Month Exploitation
Makes Al Gillis M. B. I. No. 24
Anniversary days, weeks or months for theatres are no new innovations, but
when you stage them it takes lots of ingenuity and ideas to put them over suc-
cessfully. By keeping things popping each week during the Eighth Anniversary
Month at the Liberty theatre, Yakima, Washington, a West Coast house, Al W.
Gillis, publicity director, made the month a big success, and for his work, becomes
M. B. I. No. 24.
Miller (our organist) Testimonial" and also
got a local baker to furnish a 37 pound cake
which we shared with our patrons. We gave
the ladies attending the matinee hand-painted
china dishes with local views on them. Also
had orangeade with the cake and Bill Waller
of the art department and myself waited on
the folks. We packed them in from noon 'til
midnight and it was the biggest day in the
history of the house excepting a Sunday or
holiday.
Harrison Miller has the reputation of never
having turned down a club or lodge and when
I went to the various civic organizations direct
and told them it would mean a lot for Harry,
they just couldn't do enough. This Testi-
monial Day is the biggest sure-fire day of
them all — you just can't miss!
Theatre Gets Free
Tieups on "Ramona^^
When Reinhold Walloch, directing manager
of the Sheboygan theatre, Sheboygan, Wis-
consin, played "Ramona" he exploited the pic-
ture and achieved wonderful success in at-
tendance and publicity — all without a cent of
cost to the theatre.
First of all Walloch got a tieup with a local
music firm. This firm placed an orthophonic
phonograph in the lobby of the theatre near
the box office and played "Ramona" all dur-
ing the time the show was playing which was
five days. Records were sold by the person
in charge. The music firm advertised the
event in its newspaper ads.
A tieup was also effected with a local radio
station which played "Ramona" every night
during the week — at lea^t twice a night. An-
other tieup was with three millinery stores
which featured "Ramona hats" during the
week. A local department store gave Spanish
shawls to three prize winners in the "Ramona"
beauty contest which was staged in connection
with the show. All in all it was one of the
best promotion ventures staged in that town in
a long time.
"My Best Idea" No. 24
By Al W. Gillis
THIS is how we handled Anniversary
■Month. I got out 5,000 letters (copy en-
closed) and we covered the entire Yakima
Valley district with them. We started our
month with "The Patent Leather Kid" with
plenty of fireworks ; had a wonderful tieup
with the National Guard and they furnished
several thousand rounds of ammunition and
had a machine gun mounted on a truck mak-
ing the big noise. This gave us a wonderful
start which was closely followed by another
tieup for "The Legion of the Condemned"
with aeroplanes the big noise this time.
On Wednesday, June 13, we had "Harrison
Cooking School Gives
Publicity to Theatre
Frank Welter, manager of the Grand thea-
tre, Wausau, Wisconsin, recently staged a
good exploitation stunt which concerned a
good will venture and yet which brought
a lot of publicity to the theatre and resulted in
increased patronage during the week.
It happened that merchants of that city were
going to hold an Electric Cooking School and
Frank stepped in and offered the use of the
theatre. It was accepted. When all the vari-
ous merchants in the city advertised the school
the name of the Grand theatre appeared
prominently in all the advertisements. We'll
wager that there wasn't a person in Wausau
who didn't see the name of the Grand theatre
that week. Announcements of the school
flashed on the screen at night also helped build
up patronage for the school and the theatre.
Many good news stories in the local papers
also helped to give the theatre lots of pub-
licitv.
When the Liberty theatre, Yakima,
Wash., celebrated its eighth Anniversary
Month, Al W. Gillis, publicity director,
did a lot of things to make the month a
success, and these things make him
M. B. I. No. 24. He is seen in the cen-
ter, doubling us a waiter to serve the
ladies at a special matinee held for them.
The Birthday cake, lemonade and hand
painted dishes were treats to the ladies.
The cake and china-ware, given away, are
seen above.
' I
n
c^^ Patents
Leather Kid
NOW-LIBEKTY-NowW^
Here's a special ballyhoo truck Gillis used
for "The Patent Leather Kid," the F N
picture used during the Anniversary
month. Tieups were made with the Noi-
tionul Guards for a special dance they
held. Thousands of rounds of ammuni-
tion were fired by the machine gun pic-
tured above. For "The Legion of the
Condemned," another picture shown dur-
ing the month, another tieup was used,
this time with several airplanes creating
the fireworks.
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
53
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald, which is a department containing news, in-
formation and gossip on current productions, is the Moving Picture World department, "Through
the Box Office Window.*'
"DRUMS OF LOVE"
X AGAIN rise to remark that I have not al-
ways been kind enough to Mr. Lionel Barry-
more — who no doubt will be startled to hear
that I have abused him — and that his work in
Mr. D. W. Griffith's "Drums of Love," like his
work in "The Lion and the Mouse," is quite
something else again. Particularly is it some-
thing quite different than his work in "Sadie
Thompson," which I continue to regard as the
world's worst performance. Mr. Barrymore is,
however, "Drums of Love" and "Drums of
Love" is, therefore, a pretty sound picture.
In "Drums of Love," Mr. Barrymore enacts
the hunchback brother of Don Alvarado and
marries Mary Philbin who loves and is loved
by that gentleman. Reasons are of state, as
the monarchical phrasemakers used to put it,
and the place is South America although it
might as well be Mexico or Spain so far as
people, customs and costumes are concerned.
Well, Tully Marshall is in the thing, too, doing
a sort of court jester, and Tully makes Lionel
aware that brother Don and the delectable
Mary (all in the story of course — Oh, my
word) are more than pleasantly chummy. Af-
ter this there's emotion and that sort of thing,
culminating in quite as satisfactory a culmina-
tion as I've seen in a good long time.
Now that may or may not sound like the
skeleton of a Griffith production, but it is.
And it is a very good production, too, with
the producer going easy on the mob stuff and
leaning not too strongly upon the explanatory
caption and the probing closeup. In fact, the
picture convinces me that such doubt as has
existed with reference to his ability to do a
modern picture has been wholly without
ground.
"BRINGING UP FATHER"
i.\| OW if everybody will agree with me and
petition their favorite directors, producers and
Congressmen to that effect, I will set down in
the plainest possible language my belief that
we have had just a little more than enough of
this newspaper comic strip stuff. I have no
particular fault to find with "Bringing Up
Father," which has its quota of laughable situa-
tions and comic captions, but you know as
well as I do that a newspaper comic strip isn't
very funny. Nor is it well connected. Nor
has it a beginning. Nor an end. And, lacking
these things, you know as well as I do that
there simply isn't a motion picture in one of
the things and that's all there is to it.
T. O. Service
If that is agreed — and if it isn't you ought
to write your congressman anyway — we will go
on with the discussion of "Bringing Up
Father" and say that it is a motion picture
manufactured from the odds and ends of comic
action, character sketching, etc., which appear
in various newspapers over the signature of
George McManus. Now these things have been
appearing for a great many years and they
have, in that time, got into and out of any
number of complex situations which have re-
sulted in the manufacture of much good com-
edy and much that is not so good. In fact,
if no one objects, I will say that much of it is
just plain terrible. Anyway, there was so much
of this stuff that a blind man with but one
good ear could have selected enough funny
wheezes and situations to make a six or seven
reel picture that would have funny spots in it.
That, my good friends, is exactly what some-
one did and that is exactly what this picture is
— a picture with some funny spots in it.
I don't remember who the various folks in
it were and I don't think any of them will ob-
ject to my failure to mention their names.
w.
'SUNRISE"
ELL, "Sunrise" finally got to Chicago.
And it got to the Roosevelt theatre with a
Movietone musical accompaniment on it and it
got the attention of a lot of people who went
to see it the first night and among those present
there was (yes, you guessed it) even I. And
there we sat and looked and looked and had
a good time and enjoyed the picture thoroughly
and the musical accompaniment fairly well and
then we went away and to another good show
which didn't seem so good after having seen
"Sunrise." And a thing like that is sometimes
necessary to reveal the strength of a picture,
because "Sunrise" is so good that it didn't
look at all extraordinary to me while I was
looking at it.
I hope that paragraph is clearer to you than
to me, though I don't see how it could be.
Therefore 1 will explain that what I'm trying
to say is that when a picture is so good as
"Sunrise" it approaches so near to reality that
it seems to be no more remarkable than reality
itself is and therefore seems almost dull. A
terrible condition, of course, but a splendid
condition, too. For when one has seen "Sun-
rise" one is not at all through with it, as he
is with 99 out of every 100 other pictures he
sees. No, when he has seen "Sunrise" he has
just begun to enjoy it, and when he thinks back
upon "Sunrise" — very likely while he is looking
at some other picture — he enjoys it again. He
enjoys the straight narration of it, the simple
strength of it, the excellent acting and all the
rest of it. He enjoys the fact that some pro-
ducers still know that the principal purpose of
the motion picture is to tell a story and still
employ their camera to that end.
w.
"THE WHEEL OF CHANCE"
HO, by the way, is Basil Roding? (And
is that the way she spells it?) I saw her last
week in this picture and I saw her the week
previous in another and if I have a little better
than my usual run of luck I'll see her just
about that often during 1928 or longer. She
is, if you ask me, or for that matter if you
don't, about the last word in dramatic mothers.
We've needed something like this.
In "The Wheel of Chance" this lady (I do
hope I'm not confusing these titles and credit-
ing her to the wrong picture) is the Jewish
mother of two Jewish boys who, though twins,
are alike save in the color of their hair, one
being black and the other red. (I do not in-
tend to dispute the authorities who say that
twins aren't born this way — that's the author's
job.) The childhood in Russia is briefly and
brilliantly played, and then the boys are found
in an American city, one of them apparently a
very good young man and the other apparently
a very bad one, although you and their mother
know that there really isn't any difference be-
tween them at all.
Richard Barthelmess is, of course, both of
these young men, and the ordy difference be-
tween Richard Barthelmess playing two parts
and the same actor playing one part is that he
is twice as good when he is playing two parts.
But still I remember more about what Basil
Roding did in the one part which she plays
than I do about what Mr. Barthelmess did in
the two parts and so I conclude that this lady
is a very excellent actress. And I do hope I've
spelled her name correctly, and if it isn't Basil
Roding at all who is in the mother role of
"The Wheel of Chance," why everything I've
said about her in this item applies alike to
whoever it was that did play the part.
(NOTE: At this point the thermometer
upon the wall of my extremely Western ex-
posure exploded and maybe that's what's been
the matter with me.)
^
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
Y^
NEW PICTURES
In "New Pictures" the EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE
WORLD presents in concise form infor-
mation on current and forthcoming attrac-
tions.
The facts as presented will serve exhib-
itors in booking and in the preparation of
their advertising campaign.
BEWARE OF BLONDES: Columbia melodrama,
ivlth Dorothy Revier, Matt Moore, Eoy D'Arcy,
Robert Edeson, Walter P. Lewis, Hazel Howell and
Harry Semels. Directed by George B. Seitz. Re-
leased- Length
TYPE AND THEME: About a gem and a
blonde. Jeff is coTinnissioned to take a priceless
emerald to a client in Honolulu. He is warned tliat
"Blonde Mary" is after the gem, Jeff is wary of
all blondes. The CosUgan gang is also after the
jewel, with Harry pursuing Jeff. Mary, beautiful
blonde, forces her attentions on Jeff, and he is sus-
picious. Harry thinks she is Blonde Mary and
tries to work with her. Then she tells Harry she
loves Jeff. Furious, he threatens to kill Jeff un-
less she goes through with the theft. She steals,
the gem. Jeff finds her at a gang hangout. Po-
lice arrive and arrest the gang. But Mary proves
to be an insurance operative sent to protect Jeff.
And there you are.
HEART TROUBLE: First National comedy, with
Harry Langdon, Doris Dawson, Lionel Belmore.
Madge Hunt, Bud Jaimson, Mark Hamilton and
Nelson McDowell. Directed by Harry Langdon.
Released. Lenth
TYPE AND THEME: In ivhich Langdon ex-
hibits the horrors of war behind the front for
the purpose of achieving humor. He is a young
fellow of German birth who likes these here United
States first-rate, and when said States declare ivar
on his native land, he endeavors to enlist in the
Am,erican army, turning down a date to elope
with his sweetie to do so. However, he's got most
everything the matter with him that soldiers must
not have, including flat feet, so he's ruled out of
the would-be hero class. But then he encounters
some information which leads to a huge expose of
value to America in the ivar, and as a resxdt he
becomes a hero in spite of his flat feet, etc., and
wins the gal.
* ■»■ *
HIT OF THE SHOW, THE: FBO comedy-drama,
with Joe E. Brown, Gertrude Olmstead. Gertrude
Astor, Daphne Pollard. Lee Shumway, Leroy Ma-
son, William Norton Bailey, William Francis Du-
gan, lone Holmes. Frank Mills, Cosmo Kyrle
Bellew and Ole M. Ness. Directed by Ralph Ince.
Released Lenth
TYPE AND THEME: Comedy with a tear in
it, presenting the vaudeville actor, Joe Brown, as
a screen comedian for the first time. As Twisty,
he is seeking employment in a show at a manager's
office, where he meets Kathlyn, also looking for work.
When she leaves, he follows, and though it costs
him a job, he is glad to be able to befriend her.
Later he gets work and gets her a job in the same
shoic. He has pain in his chest, but he is happy
over Kathlyn's success in the show. One night
A scene from. "The Foreign Legion,"
Universal Laemmle Special tvith a cast
headed by Lewis Stone and Mary Nolan,
who are shown above, and Norman Kerry.
Edward Sloman directed.
he takes the leading man's part and proves a great
hit. The same night Kathlyn is reunited with her
fiance. And the same night Twisty is taken ill.
He dies reading about his success.
* * *
LONESOME: Univereal comedy-drama, with Glenn'
Tryon and Barbara Kent. Directed by Paul Fejos.
Released Length
TYPE AND THEME: A fellow and a girl wlio
are just working along without life meaning very
miu:h for the present. Then both go, separately,
to an aniusement park. There they get to be
friends, for the time being, anyuray, and liking
each other immensely, they have lots of fun. Among
other things, they take a ride on a scenic railrvay,
though he is deprived of a seat beside her by an-
other customer. He rides in another car. Her car
catches on fire. He tries to get to her. He is ar-
rested for shoving a policeman. When he gets back
to the park, she is gone. He goes home. They
had danced to "Alivays." He plays "Always" on
his phonograph. She pounds on the loall for the
music to stop. He goes to her room. They recog-
nize each other. Her tears melt in smiles as he
takes her in his arms.
STRANGE CASE OF CAPTAIN RAMPER, THE:
First National drama, with Paul Wegener, Emilie
Jurz. Mary Johnson, Kurt Gerron, Georg D.
Gurtler, Hermann Vallentin, Hugo Doblin, Dillo
Lombardi and Raimondo van Riel. Directed by
Max Reichmann. Released. „ Length
TYPE AND THEME: A German production by
First National's Berlin unit, Defu, this one tells an
unusual story of a man who goes on an arctic
expedition, which becomes lost but is enabled to
live on rations left by another expedition. Years
later, the crew of a whaler finds a strange man-
animal, ivhich it brings to civilization. The "ani-
mal" is exhibited in a fair and attracts the atten-
tion of a doctor, who finds the animal is a man,
Ramper, the arctic explorer. Though his -mind re-
turns, Bamper likes only Zizi, a girl, and when he
sees she loves another, he takes the whaler that
brought him to civilization and returns to the
northern wilderness.
• • *
WATER HOLE, THE: Paramount Western, with
Jack Holt, 'Nancy Carroll, John Boles, Ann Christy,
Montague Shaw, Lydia Yeamens Titue, Jack
Perrin, Jack Mower, Paul Ralli, Tex Young, Bob
Miles and Greg Whitespear. Directed by F.
Richard Jones. Released- Length
TYPE AND THEME: A Zane Grey Western.
Judith is the daughter of a rich man and she is
spoiled. Philip Randolph, Westerner, goes to New
York to see her father, his partner. Dolores bets
Nancy she can't -iuake Philip propose. But he
does, and her friends rush in to congratulate her
on the success of the scheme. Philip leaves in
anger. But Judith is interested. She induces her
father to take her West. There Philip has her kid-
napped to tame her. He even spanks her (that's
the kind of story this one is). But she and a rival
to Philip get lost in the desert. Philip brings them
to safety. The cotvboys seize him for kidnapping
Judith. But presently he finds himself handcuffed
and on a train with Judith. She has kidtiapped
him this time.
» * *
WAY OP THE STRONG, THE: Columbia melo-
drama, with Mitchell Lewis, Alice Day, Margaret
Livingston, Theodor von Eltz, and William Norton
Bailey. Directed by Frank Capra. Released
Length
TYPE AND THEME: Bootleggers, hijackers and
a blind girl. Williams is so scarred from gang
battles that he is ironically called "Handsome."
He is head of the hijackers, and his greatest
enemy is Tiger Louie, head of the bootleggers.
Williams has a soft spot for mvMc and particularly
for that of Nora, blind street musician, who often
played outside his cafe. For he loves Nora. One
day while he is listening to her, a truck rolls by
and machine gun bullets are showered therefrom
upon Williams. He escapes, but Nora collapses.
Carrying her into his cafe, he offers her a job
playing there. Louie hears of Nora through Marie,
his mistress. Belierving that he can get a load of
liquor through by holding Nora as a hostage, he has
her abducted. But jealousy drives Marie to tell
Williams. The gangs meet in a tremendous fight.
Louie is killed. Williams takes Nora away. She
feels of his ugly face. WiUiams sees her repulsion
— and turning her over to Dan, whose love Nora
has seemed to reciprocate, Williams goes back into
the fray and is killed.
This Week^s Press Sheet
BEWARE OF BLONDES (Columbia drama): As each
patron enters the theatre, have him or her draw a marble from
a box. The majority of the spheres are yellow, but scattered
among them are a number of marbles of other shades. The
object is to avoid the yellow or blonde marbles and secure
one of the others. Have a number of cards printed with
"BEWARE OF BLONDES" in big letters. Snipe these
everywhere during the night. In the morning when the people
go to work every one will be speculating on the meaning of
the curious warning. Tie-up with some dealer in cosmetics,
lotions, shampoos, hair dyes, and other accessories to furnish
you with samples which are to be distributed to your patrons
during the showing of "Beware of Blondes." In connection
with the arrangement you might secure one or more window
displays in drug stores, beauty parlors and barber shops.
A professional checker player such as frequent amusement
parks, fairs and carnivals may be used to advantage in your
lobby. Have him play with a black set of counters and his
opponent with yellow markers. The idea is to challenge any-
one to beat the professional by using blondes. A tie-up legend
should read, "Beware of Blondes. We challenge you to win
against the brunettes."
Turn your lobby into a ship deck. Over the box-office
place the caption, "Book your passage here." Over the en-
trance place have "Entrance to main salon." Arrange a gang-
plank for your patrons to pass over as they enter. Have your
ushers and door men in marine uniforms. The effect of a docked
ship might be enhanced by the use of ropes and piles. A
steam whistle and ship's bell will add to the effect. About the
lobby walls have warning signs reading, "Beware of Blondes."
"Not responsible for lost hearts, beware of blondes." "Watch
your heart, beware of blondes."
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
Y5^
QUICK REFERENCE PICTURE CHART
Incorporated in this department of Moving Picture World is the Exhibitors Herald department,
"Available Attractions."
The key to abbreviations used in detioting the type of pictures
C— Comedy F— Farce
M^^Melodrama
D^— Drama
R^— Romance
W — Western
My
-Mystery
Where the picture is a comedy-drama, comedy melodrama, etc.,
there is a combination of these abbreviations. Stars denote
reissues.
That dates prior to January 7 published under the "Comment"
column are those of the issues of Moving Picture World in which
the pictures were reported. The January 7 and subsequent dates
are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOV-
ING PICTURE WORLD in which "Service Talks" have been
published on pictures.
The dates prior to January 7 published under the "New Pic-
tures" column are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD
in which "New Pictures" information was printed. The January
7 and subsequent dates are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD in which this in-
formation will be printed.
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
1928
5400
6450
5500
6300
6000
6000
6900
Chesterfield
Adorable Cheat, The, Lila Lee-Mclntosh June 1
Below the Deadline __Feb. 28
Campus Knights ., Aug. 15
Circumstantial Evidence Oct. 30
House of Shame, The June 30
1928
Roaring Forties, The
South of Panama.
Apr. 15
— Dec. 15
1927
5831
6843
5432
56 2S
5513
5645
5750
5524
5569
5892
1000
5996
5435
5054
6108
5357
5426
5791
1928
5459
5537
5928
Columbia
S440
5464
6047
5350
5472
Alias the Lane Wolf (D), Lytell-Wllson Aug. 22
Blood Ship, The (M), Bosworth-Logan. Aug. 10
By Whose Hand (MyD), Cortez-Gilbert Sept. 15
College Hero, The (CD), Agnew-Garon. Oct. 9
Fashion Madness, Windsor-Howes Dec. 8
Isle of Forgotten Women (D), Tearle-Sebastian_Sept. 27
Lone Wolf Returns (M), LyteU-WUson
Opening Night, The (D), Windsor-J. Bowers....Nov. 14
Pleasure Before Business (F), Davidson...- _
Sally in Our Alley (IH), Mason-Allen Sept. 3
Screen Snapshots
Siren, The, T. Moore-Revler....- _ Dec. 20
Stage Kisses (D), Harlan- Chadwick- Nov. 2
Stolen Pleasures (CD), Eerier _
Sweet Rosie O'Grady (CD), Mason _.,
Tigress, The (IH), Holt-Rerier „Oct. 21
Wandering Girls (CD), Eerier-Agnew _
Warning, The (M), Holt-Eevier. _ Nov. 26
After the Storm, Hobart-Bosworth.
Broadway Daddies, Jacaueline Logan. _
Desert Bride, The (MD), Betty Compson MaT. 26
Golf Widows (CD), Eeynolds-Ford.
Lady Raffles, Taylor-Drew Jan. 25
Matinee Idol, The (MD), Love-Walter. Mar. 14
Modern Mothers (CD), Helene Chadwick. June 9
Name the Woman (D), Stewart- (Jordon
So This is Love, Mason-Collier Feb. 6
Sporting Age, The, Bennett-Herbert-..'. Mar. 2
That Certain Thing, Dana-Graves _ Jan. 1
Wife's Relations, The, Mason-Glass Jan. 13
Woman's Way, A, Baxter-Livingston Feb. 18
1927
Jan. 7
Dec. 3
Dec. 31
Oct. 1
July 23
Jan. 14
Dec. 3
Jan. 14
Jan. 21
Jan. 7
Jan. 14
..July 31 '
..May 14
..Aug. 28
Jan. 21
Oct. 2
..52.72%
Dec. 3
Apr. 14
..May 26
Feb. 25
Apr. 7
1928
..June 19
Feb. 25
Jan. 28
Feb. 11
Mar. 31
Cranfield & Clarke, Inc.
1927
2000 Angelus, The (D) _
2000 Real Charleston, Lesson Novelty..
Woodea Shoes, International
..May 15
..Apr. 24
..May 8
1927
1927 Emblem Films
6250 Husbands or Lovers, Jannings. - Dec. 3
1927
5980
6805
5912
6645
5792
Excellent
7393
5337
5750
5867
Back to Liberty (D), Walsh-Hall _ Nov. 15
Bowery Cinderella, A (D), O'Malley-Hulette. — May 1
Broadway Drifter (D), Walsh-HaU Nov. 1
Broadway Madness (D), De la Motte-Keith.
His Rise to Fame (D), Walsh-Shaw. Feb. 15
Kick-off, The (D), Hyams-Amann
Nest, The (D), Frederick-Herbert Aug. 1
Striving for Fortune (D), Walsh-Eoberts. Jan. 15
Winning Oar, The (D), Walsh-HaU June 1
Your Wife and Mine (F), Haver-Holmes...- Sept. 1
1927
1927
Nov. 26
...-
-Apr. 14
.Mar. 17
Mar. 3 -
Mar. 17 -
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Tickv
1928
6600
6400
6536
6600
A Bit of Heaven (D), Washburn-Lee Apr. 25
Into No Man's Land, Tom Santschi-J. Norman-
Making the Varsity, Bex Lease-Mildred Harris..June 30
Manhattan Knights, Barbara Bedford — — July 15
Satan and the Woman (D), Windsor-Keefe Jan. 20
Speed Classic, The, Eex Lease-Mildred Harris._July 25
Stronger Will, The (D), Marmont-Carewe Feb. 20
Women Who Dare (D), Chadwick-Delaney Mar. 30
You're in the Army (D) - - May 25
1928
Feb. 25
1927
FBO
4765
4858
4910
4837
5701
5093
4754
4913
6300
6507
7014
5240
5186
6481
6515
4924
6680
6140
4941
6004
4886
6388
4892
1928
5872
4893
5583
4869
6267
6375
6320
5511
5984
5063
4770
4804
4758
6148
Aflame in the Sky (M), Luden-Lynn. Dec. 18
Bandit's Son, The (W), Bob Steele Nov. 20
Boy Rider, The (W), Buzz Barton — Oct. 23
Breed of Courage (D), Eanger. Aug. 7
Cherokee Kid, The (W), Tyler-Lynn -Oct. 30
Clancy's Kosher Wedding (CD), Geo. Sidney. — Sept. 17
Coward, The (D), Warner Baxter. Aug. 21
Desert Pirate (W), Tom Tyler - Dec. 25
Flying U Ranch, The (W), Tom Tyler Sept. 4
Gingham Girl, The (C), Lois Wilson Oct. 2
Great Mail Robbery, The (M), Von Eltz-Nelson..Aug. 15
Harvester, The (D), Orville CaldweU. Nov. 23
Hook and Ladder No. 9 (D), Ed Hearne Nov. 13
Jake the Plumber (C), Jesse De Vorska Oct. 16
Judgment of the Hills (D), Darro-VaUi -Nov. 6
Little Mickey Grogan (D), FranMe Darro -Dec. 27
Mojave Kid, The (W), Bob Steele -Sept. 25
Moon of Israel (D), Maria Corda _
Not for Publication (M), Ealph Ince. Aug. 31
Racing Romeo (D), Red Grange --.-
Ranger of the North (D), Eanger. Oct. 9
Shanghaied (M), Ralph Ince - Oct. 19
Slingshot Kid, The (M), Buzz Barton -Dec. 4
South Sea Love (D), Patsy Miller Dec. 10
Swift Shadow, The (D), Ranger - Dec. 11
Dec. 10
Dec 10
Dec. 3 Oct. 8
1927
-..Sept. 10
...Sept. 10
Dec. 24
Nov.
Dec.
Dec.
Nov.
Dec.
July 30
..July 2
Nov. 19
Nov. 26
54.50%
Aug. 20
..Aug. 6
..Julys
-July 23
...Dec
Dec.
Dec.
Dec
Nov.
Dec.
Aug. 20
1928
5144
4769
5771
4801
6424
4785
4781
4884
6419
4729
6059
5967
4793
4760
6329
Alex the Great (M), Skeets Gallagher May 13
Bantam Cowboy (W), Buzz Barton Aug. 12
Beyond London's Lights (M), Lee Shumway — Mar. 18
Breed of the Sunsets (W), Bob Steele Apr. 1
Chicago After Midnight (M), Ince-Mendez Mar. 4
Coney Island (D), Lois Wilson. - Jan. 13
Crooks Can't Win (D), Ralph Lewis May 11
Dead Man's Curve (D), Fairbanks. Jr Jan. 15
Devil's Trademark, The (D), Belle Bennett Apr. 7
Dog Justice (M), Ranger...- _ _ June 10
Driftin' Sands (W), Bob Steele...- Jan. 1
Fangs of the Wild (D), Eanger - Feb. 5
Fightin' Redhead (W), Buzz Barton. July 1
Freckles (D), Stratton-Fox, Jr — Mar. 21
Headin' for Danger (MD), Bob Steele -
Her Summer Hero (CD), Blane-Trevor Feb. 12
Law of Fear (D). Eanger Apr. 8
Legionnaires in Paris (C), Cooke-Guard. —Jan. 31
Little Buckaroo. The (W), Buzz Barton Mar. 11
Little Yellow House, The (D), Orville CaldweU.. May 28
Man in the Rough (W), Bob Steele May 20
Phantom of the Range (W), Tom Tyler Apr. 22
Pinto Kid, The (W), Buzz Barton Apr. 29
Red Riders of Canada (M), P. E. Miller. Apr. 15
Riding Renegade (W), Bob Steele -Feb. 19
Sally of the Scandals (M), Bessie Love July 15
Skinner's Big Idea (M), Bryant Washburn Apr. 24
Stocks and Blondes (CD), Logan-GaUagher ^
Texas Tornado, The (W), Tom Tyler - Feb. 26
Trail of Courage, The (W), Bob Steele -..July 8
Wallflowers (D), Trevor-Scott _ Feb. 16
When the Law Rides (W), Tom Tyler...- June 24
Wizard of the Saddle (W), Buzz Barton. Jan. 22
Feb. 11
May 5
Feb. 11
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Dec. 17
Feb. 11
Dec 17
Mar. 3
June 16
Dec 17
Jan. 21
Feb. 11
Feb. 4
.-Tune 19
Jan. 21
Feb. 11
Dec. 10
Jan. 14
June 2
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Feb. 4
Jan. 21
Feb. 18
Mar. 17
First Division
1927
5400
5960
5600
5900
5800
5700
5750
6700
6700
5700
5G0O
5700
1928
5500 Fagasa, Eaymond Wells Apr. 1
Free Lips (MD), June Marlow
6300 Masked Angel, Betty Compson Mar. 1
6200 Souls Aflame, Eaymond WeUs...- .._ _ JUar. 16
Comrades, Costello-Hughes - -Jan. 1
Death Valley (W), CarroU Nye...- - Sept. 1
Eager Lips, Garon Oct. 1
Finnegan's Ball (C), Mack Swain. - Sept. 15
Ladies at Ease (CD), Garon-Short. Nov. 15
Ladybird, Compson . -Aug. 1
Naughty, Garon - _ Nov. 1
Polly of the Movies, Short-Eobards. - Oct. 15
Ragtime (D), De La Motte _ - Sept. 1
Return of Boston Blackie (D), Glenn-Palmer—Aug. 1
Say It with Diamonds, Betty Compson _ _Aug. 15
Temptations of a Shop Girl, Compson Nov. 1
Apr. 28
Apr. 14
.July 14 -...^...
Feb. 4
Dec 24
1927
_. .Aug. 20
Jan. 7 -.
- Oct. 15
^
Jan. 7 _
Nov. 26 Sept. 3
1928
-July 14 . .
Apr. 7
Apr. 21
56
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
First National
192:
8300
6333
6433
6222
6765
8730
7724
63S6
65SS
6802
52S2
7133
6258
611S
6190
6624
6400
6720
5718
6550
6255
7388
5521
5542
5431
6520
6040
6431
6734
11414
5982
6897
6400
6210
6477
5606
5800
6648
7179
5000
7400
7419
6774
5668
7833
6336
6324
6409
1928
Barker, The (0), Sills, Maokalll.
7404 Big Noise, The (CD), Conklln-Whlte Mar. 25
6500 Burning Daylight (M), Sills-Kenyon. -Feb. 26
5800 Canyon of Adventure (W), Maynard _ Apr. 29
6744 Chaser, The (C), Langdon _ -Feb. 12
6374 Chinatown Charlie (C), HInes-Lorraine _ Apr. 15
Code of the Scarlet (W), Ken Maynard
8030 Goodbye Kiss, The, Jolinny Burke-Sally Ellers
6172 Flying Romeos (C), Murray-Sidney Feb. 26
6344 French Dressing (CD), Warner-Wilson Jan. 15
7100 Happiness Ahead (D), CoUeeu-Moore-Lowe June 30
7433 Hawk's Nest. The (M), Milton Sills -May 6
_ Heart to Heart, Lloyd Hughes-Todd
7541 Harold Teen (CD), Lake-Brian Apr. 29
6957 Heart of a Follies Girl (D), Dove-Kent-
Sherman . Mar. 18
7694 Helen of Troy (CD), Stone-Corda-Cortez. Jan. 8
6592 Ladies Night (CD), Mackaill-Mulhall Apr. 1
6608 Lady Be Good (CD), MulhaU-Maol;aill May 12
8967 Lilac Time (D), Moore-Cooper Apr. 22
7700 Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come (D), Bar-
thelmess-O'Day - - Apr. 8
6625 Mad Hour (D), O'Neil-Kent-Shennan Mar. 4
7129 Noose. The (D), Barthelmess-Joyce. Jan. 29
5485 Sailors' Wives (CD), Hughes-Astor _ Jan. 22
8188 Shepherd of the Hills (D), Francis-O'Day Jan. 1
5827 Three Ring Marriage (M), Hughes-Astor.- May 27
6212 Wagon Show, The (W), Maynard Mar. 11
6874 Wheel of Chance, The (D), Bicihard Bartbelmess ,
Whip. The (D), Forbes-MackaiU - - _.
5087 Whip Woman. The (D), Taylor-Moreno. Feb. 5
Wright Idea, The (CD), Johnny Hines
7187 Yellow Lily, The (D), Dove-Brcolis May 20
All Aboard (C), Hlnes-Murphy May 8
American Beauty (CD), Dove-Husbes. Oct. 9
An Affair of the Follies (D), Dove-Hughes Feb. 13
Breakfast at Sunrise (CD), C. Talmadge Oct. 23
Broadway Nights (D), Wilson-Hardy May 15
Camille (D), N. Talmadge-Koland Sept. 4
Convoy (D), Sherman-Mackaill Apr. 24
Crystal Cup, The (D), MackaUl-MuIhall Oct. 16
Dance Magic (D), Lyon-Starke- June 12
Drop Kick, The (D), Barthelmess-Eevler Sept. 25
Framed (D), Sills-Kingston June 19
Gorilla, ThB (My), Murray Kelsey. Xot. 13
Gun Gospel (W), Maynard-Faire Nov. 6
Her Wild Oat (C), Moore-KenL Dec. 25
High Hat (CD), Lyon-Brian Mar. 13
Home Made (C), Hlnes-Daw Nov. 20
Lady in Ermine, The (D), C. Qrifflth-Busbman-jan. 9
Life of Riley, The (C), Murray-Sidney Sept. 18
Lonesome Ladles (CD), NUsson-Stone July 3
Long Pants (C), Langdon-Bonner Apr. 10
Lost at the Front (C), Murray- Sidney. May 29
Love Mart, The (D), Dove-Koland Deo. 18
Lunatic at Large, The (C), ErroI-MackallL jan. 2
Man Craiy (CD), Mackaill-Mtilhall Nov. 27
Masked Women, The (D), Nilsson-Blinn-H'nsen_jan. 23
Naughty But Nice (C), Moore-Eeed. June 26
Notorious Lady, The (D), Bedford-Stone Mar. 27
No Place to Go (C), Hughes-Astor _ Oct. 30
Orchids and Ermine, Moore-Mulhall Mar. 6
Patent Leather Kid, The (D), Bart'lmess-O'Day..
Perfect Sap, The (CD), Lyon-Starke.._ Jan. 16
Poor Nut, The (C), Murray-Mulhall _ Aug. 7
Prince of Head Waiters (D), Stone-Tashman —
Red Raiders, The (W), Maynard-Drew -...July 17
Rose of the Golden West (D), Astor-Eoland Sept. 4
Sea Tiger, The (D), Sills-Astor _ — Oct. 2
See You In Jail (C), Mulhall-Day Feb. 27
Smile, Brother, Smile (C), MulhaU-MackaUL Apr. 17
Stolen Bride, The (D), Hughes-Dove Sept. 11
Sunset Derby (D), Astor-Collier _ Aug. 14
Tender Hour, The (D), Dove-Lyon June 5
Texas Steer, A (CD), Rogers-Fazenda _ May 1
Three Hours (D), GrlfHth-Bowers Deo. 4
Three's a Crowd (C), Langdon-McConnell Apr. 3
Twinkletoes, Moore-Harlan Aug. 28
Valley of the Giants (D), SiUs-KenyoiL Dec. 11
Venus of Venice (CD), Talmadge-Moreno Mar. 20
White Pants Willie (C), Hlnes-Hyams July 24
1927
ipr. 2
Nov. 19
Nov. 12
Oct. 22
...JWar. 5
Nov. 26 .
...May 21
__ May 2
Nov. 12
...May 21
Oct. 29
...Aug. 13
..July 9
..Jan. 7
47.20%
66.10%
48.00%
Dec 17
Dec 3
...Mar. 19
Oct. 29
Jan. 8
Got. 1
...Sept 24
...Apr. 9
...June 25
66.00%
61.54%
53.58%
Nov. 26
..Feb. 5
Dec 24
...Feb. 12
...July 16
May 14
...Dec 10
...Apr. 9
...Aug. 20
...Jan. 22
.-Sept. 10
...July 23
...Oct. 15
Oct. 8
..May 14
.. Apr. 23
.. Sept. 17
..Sept. 3
.. July 2
...May 28
Apr. 16
.. Jan. 1
..Deo. 3
Jan. 7
..Aug. 6
...Apr. 16
67.90%
70.47%
61.88%
47.00%
38.90%
47.72%
45.80%
1928
July 14
Mar. 10 Apr. 7
Feb. 11
Feb. 18
.June 23
July 7
Apr. 7
Dec 10
May 26
May 26
July 7
Apr. 21
Mar. 10
Dec. 24
Dec 17
June 16
June 2
Apr. 7
Mar. 17
Dec 10
Dec 24
Dec 8
Apr. 28
Mar. 17
...Jtme 2
..July 14
Feb. 11
-July 7
Apr. 28
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Comment
10726
5467
5446
5009
5792
5412
6620
4943
4675
4299
6293
5510
5620
4953
11109
5783
6629
6531
1928
4612
Seventh Heaven, The (R), Farrell-Gaynor Oct. 30
•Shame (M), John GUbert Nov. 27
Silk Lefls (CD), Madge Bellamy. Dec 18
Silver Valley (W), Tom Mix - Oct. 2
Singed (0), Baxter-Sweet Atig. 21
Slaves of Beauty (D), Herbert-Tell June 5
Stage Madness (D), Valli Jan. 9
St. Elmo (M), John Gilbert. Oct 9
Tumbling River (W), Tom Mix-Dawn Aug. 21
Truxton King, Gilbert - _ Oct 30
Two Girls Wanted (CD), Janet Gaynor Sept 11
Upstream (D), Foxe Jan. 30
Very Confidential (CD), Madge Bellamy Nov. 6
War Horse (W), Jones _ Feb. 6
What Price Glory (CD), McLaglen-Lowe Aug. 28
Whispering Sage (W), Jones Mar. 20
Wizard, The (MyD), Lowe-Hyams Dec. 11
Wolf Fangs (D), Thunder (Dog). Nov. 27
..May 28
Nov. 26
71.33%
Dec 31
Dec. 17
Oct 29
July 16
June 11
Jan. 29
Aug. 27
-...J-eb. 12
.Nov. 12
Feb. 19
4987
5708
6566
5109
5038
5882
6430
4618
6188
4399
5782
6679
5071
5260
5380
5629
5355
5937
5O30
4921
5480
Branded Sombrero, The (W), Buck Jones
Chicken a la King (CD), Carrol-Francis Lee
Daredevil's Reward (W), Tom Mix _.
Don't Marry, Moran-HamiIton..._
Dressed to Kill, Lowe-Astor
Escape, The (D), RusseU-Valll
Gateway of the Moon, The (D), Del Rio -..
Girl in Every Port, A (CD), Victor McLaglen..
Hangman's House, McLaglen-CoUyer.
Hello Cheyenne, Tom Mix.
Honor Bound, O'Brien-Taylor. _ _.
Horseman of the Plains (W), Tom Mix.
Love Hungry (CD), Moran-Gray._
News Parade, Stuart-Phillips
No Other Woman (D). Dolores Del Bio.
Painted Port (W), Tom Mix
Play Girl, The, Madge Bellamy -
Sharp Shooters (CD), O'Brien-Moran
Soft Living (CD), Bellamy-Brown.
Square Crooks, Brown-Dwan _
Street Angel. Gaynor....
Thief In the Dark, A, Meeker-HiU-Beeba
Why Sailors Go Wrong, Phlpps-McNamara^
Wild West Romance (W), Rex King
Woman Wise (C), Russell-CoUyer.
..Jan. 8
.Jan. IS
.June 3
-Mar. 18
-Apr. 29
.Jan. 1
.Jan. 29
.May 13
.May 13
..May 13
.Mar. 11
-Apr. 15
.June 10
Jan. 14
Jan. 21
..June 23
Feb. 11
June 9
Apr. 14
Apr. 14
Jan. 28
..Apr. 9
Dec 3
71.00%
50.61%
1928
June 30
Apr. 14
Jan. 21
May 12
Apr. 21
Apr. 7
Mar. 10
..Jilay 26
June 23
-JulyT
—Mays
May 19
Feirr"
June 23
Apr. 22
.Jan. 15
Feb. 5
.Mar. 4
Feb. 4
Feb. 18
Feb. 18
May 20
.Mar. 25
.June 10
.Jan. 8
July T
May 19 June 2
Gotham
..Oct. 1
.Nov. 15
1927
6987 Blondes by Choice (C), Claire Windsor _..
5800 Cheer Leader, The (CD), Graves- Olmstead.
6000 Final Extra (M), De la Motte _ _
6200 'Frisco Nights (D), Percy Marmont Dec 1
5950 Girl from Rio, The (D), Carmel Myers Sept 1
6500 Heroes of the Night (M), Landis-NixoiL..-
6700 Rose of Klldare, The (D), Helene Chadwick. Aug. 15
6750 Satin Woman, The (D), Mrs. Wallace Beid. Aug. 1
1928
5268 Bare Knees (D), Corbine - Feb. 1
Branded Man, The (D), Delaney-Marlowc May
Chorus Kid, The (D), AH Star _...Apr. 1
Danger Patrol, The (D), All Star Apr.
Devil's Tower, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt May
Hell Ship Bronson, Mrs. Wallace Reid-Beery June 2
Lightnin' Shot, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt May
Midnight Adventure, A (D), Landls-Murphy May
Mystery Valley (W), Buddy Roosevelt July
Trail Riders (W), Buddy Roosevelt _ Apr.
Trailin' Back (W), Buddy Roosevelt Jitar.
Turn Back the Hours (M), Myma Loy. Mar. 1
Jan. 2S
Dee. 10
Not. 26
1927
..J-eb. 19
Sept. 24
..Feb. 6
Nov. 19
Nov. 19
Jan. 7
Aug. 13
1928
6000
Feb. 11
May 12
63.25%
"78723'%
1927
4665
1777
1556
5425
6078
6S33
4810
4300
6381
8154
5524
4545
5617
5515
4983
4851
6940
6162
5509
6507
8538
6415
6440
6500
7734
7677
5327
6898
5876
S893
6484
(870
Fox
Arizona Wildcat, The (W), Tom Mix. —Nov. 20
Blackjack (W), Buck Jones Sept. 25
Blood Will Tell (W), Buck Jones Nov. 13
Broncho Twister (W), Mix Mar. 13
•Cameo Kirby (D), John Gilbert Aug. 28
Chain Lightning (W), Buck Jones. _ Aug. 14
Circus Ace, The, Mix. - _June 26
Come to My House (CD), Olive BordeiL Dec. 25
Cradle Snatchers (FC), Fazenda -.-June 5
East Side, West Side (D), O'Brien-VaUl Oct. 9
Gay Retreat, The (C), Cohen-McNamara Sept. 25
Good as Gold (W), Jones „ June 12
Heart of Salome (My), Rubens —.May 8
High School Hero (C), Phlpps-Stuart Oct. 16
Hills of Peril (W), Jones May 1
♦Honor First (D), John GUbert Sept 18
Is Zat So? (CD), O'Brien-Lowe May 15
Joy Girl, The (CD), OUve Borden. Sept. 18
Ladies Must Dress (CD), Virginia ValU _Nov. 20
Love Makes 'Em Wild (D), Harron Mar. 6
Loves of Carmen (D). McLaglen-Del Rio Sept 4
Madam Wants Nc Children, Cordis Apr. 3
Marriage (D), Valli _ _ Feb. 20
Monkey Talks (D), Lcmer Feb. 20
Music Master (D), A. B. Francis Jan. 23
One Increasing Purpose (D), Lowe Jan. 2
Outlaws of Red River (W), Mix. .
Paid to Love (D), O'Brlen-Valli Aug. 14
Pajamas (CD), Borden-Gray Oct. 23
Publicity Madneu (CD), Moran-Lowe Oct. 2
Rich But Honest (CD), Beebe May 22
Secret Studio, The (CD), Borden. Jtine 1»
1927
.-Nov. 19
Nov. 12
Apr. 2 63.00%
June 18
Jan. 7 .
June 4
Jan. 7 Oct 22
fune 11
...- - -May 9
Oct 29
May 14
— May 21
...- Sept 24
Nov. 19 Dec. 17
40.70%
Oct. 8
Apr. 16
Feb. 26
Mar. 5
Jan. 22
Jan. 15
Apr. 23
Aug. 6
._ Dec. 10
June 4
June 25
48.60%
61.58 %
1927
6199 Broadway After Midnight, Betz
Krelbar Productions
1927
Oct 29
1927
6667
4709
6312
8730
6439
12000
12550
5002
5821
6050
6126
7395
6408
4658
6909
8156
6646
6088
5687
6110
5291
6280
5957
7603
7627
6337
6581
6640
6309
7865
6280
6705
6273
5252
6160
7899
6657
5517
1928
6998
6805
6010
6838
6344
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Adam and Evil (CD), Cody-Pringla Aug. 27
Adventurer, The (W), Tim McCoy -
After Midnight (D), Shearer-Gray Aug. 20
Annie Laurie (D), Lillian Gish. Sept 17
Becky (CD), Sally O'Neil Nov. 12
Ben Hur (M), Ramon Novarro - Oct. 8
Big Parade, The (M), Gilbert-Adoree. Sept. 10
Body and Soul (D), L. Barrymore - _ Oct. 1
Bugle Call, The (D), Jaolde Coogan Aug. 6
Buttons (CD), Jackie Coogan - Dec 24
Callahans and Murphys (CD), DressIer-Moran-...June 18
Captain Salvation (M), Hanson.- _ May 14
Fair Co-ed, The (CD), Marion Davles. Oct 15
Foreign Devils (W), Tim McOy _ Sept 3
Frisco Sally Levy (C), O'Neil _ Apr. 2
Garden of Allah, The (D), Terry-Petrovitch. Nov. 5
In Old Kentucky (D). H. Costello-..- _ Oct. 29
Little Journey (CD), All Star — Jan. 1
London After Midnight (D), I^n Chaney Dec. 3
Lovelorn, The, Sally O'Neil _ Dec. 17
Lovers (D), Novarro-Terry _ — Apr. 9
Man. Woman and Sin (D), John Gilbert Nov. 19
Mockery (M), Lon Chaney _ Aug. 13
Mr. Wu (M), Lon CSianey Mar. 26
Quality Street, Davles-NageL _. Dec 31
Red Mill (C), Davies _ _ Jan, 29
Road to Romance, The (D), Novarro-Day — Sept 24
Rookies (C), Dane-Arthur - - Apr. 30
Show, The (M), Gilbert-Adoree. _ Jan. 22
Slide, Kelly, Slide (CD), Halnes-O'NeU Mar. 12
Spoilers of the West (W), McCoy-Daw. _ Dec 10
Spring Fever (C), William Haines — Oct 22
Tea for Three (C), Cody-Pringle Dec 10
Thirteenth Hour, The (D), Lionel Barrymore Nov. 26
Tillie the Toiler (C), Davies -...May 21
Twelve Miles Out (M), Gilbert — July 9
Understanding Heart (D), Crawford. Feb. 28
Unknown, The (M), Chaney - - June 4
Actress, The, Norma Shearer-Forbes Apr. 28
Across to Singapore (MD), Novarro-Crawford-.-Apr. 7
Baby Mine, Arthur-Dane - — _ Jan. 21
Big City, The, Chaney-Compson-Day_ — Feb. 18
Bringing Up Father, FarreU-Moran-Olmstead. Mar. 17
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
57
Length Title and Playen
Releaied
New
Picture!
Comment
Ticker
64S2
6661
8548
5482
605T
7300
8340
49S7
7743
7045
6402
6760
6395
7S65
7289
5014
7745
6476
9566
5901
8134
Certain Young Man, A, Novarro-Day -...May 19
Circus Rooi(ie> (CD). Dane-Arthur. Mar. 31
CoMacks, Ttie, Adoree-Gilbert-Torrence. „ May 12
Crowd, Tile, Boardman-Murray-Eoadj Mar. 3
Detectives, Dane-Arthur June 9
Diamond Handcuffs, Boardman-Nagel May 5
Divine Woman, Garbo-Eanson-SliermaD Jan. 14
Enemy, Tlie, Gish-Dane-ForlJes - Feb. 18
Excess Baggage (D), William Halnea.
Forbidden Hours (D). Movarro-Adoree. June
Latest from Paris, The, Shearer- Forbes -...Feb.
Laugtl, Clown, Laugli, Chaney-Murpliy-Hlsle. Apr.
IHademoiselie from Armentleres, Estelle Brody-
John Stuart June
Skirts, Syd Chaplin. _ — _...
Law of the Range, McCoy-Crawford - Jan.
Love, Garbo-GUbert -
Patsy, The, Davies-Caldwell-Gray
Riders of the Dark
Rose Marie, Crawford-Murray -
June 2 June 23
-July?
Apr. 28
Mar. 10
June 9
Jan. 21
Mar. 10
-June 23
6011
4435
1927
6199
6951
9879
5597
5878
7175
6040
6536
6662
5408
T447
6287
6296
6399
6376
6017
6889
6415
7091
6862
6452
8656
7656
6439
7080
6940
6052
6007
5617
8039
7180
6258
6877
5798
4551
6599
6187
6680
5306
6247
6952
9443
5614
6368
6634
6209
6170
5515
6015
6179
6838
5524
4934
6200
6124
6006
6497
4926
6319
7643
8486
6869
6935
5866
Jan.
„..— .Mar.
Apr.
Feb.
Smart Set, Haines-Day-Holt-Boswortli Feb.
Student Prince, The (R), Novarrc-Shearer. Jan.
Under the Black Eagle, Forbes-Dog Flash Mar.
West Point (CD), Haines-Crawford. Jan.
White Shadow* of the South Sea (MD), Monte
Wickedness Preferred (CD), Cody-Pringle Jan.
Wyoming, McCoy-Sebastian _ Mar.
16 Mar. 17
4 Feb. 18
14 Apr. 21
2 May 26
June 2
21 Feb. 4
Jan. 7
Apr. 7
May 5
Feb. 18
Mar. 10
Feb. 25
..June 2
Jan. 21
May 5
Mar. 10
May 12
Jan. 14
Apr. 14
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
Mar. 3
Jan. 21
67.41%
July 7
28 Feb. 11
24 Apr. 14
Paramount
Afraid to Love (C), Vldor - Apr. 9
Barbed Wire (D), Negri-Brook - Sept. 10
Beau Geste (M), Colman-N. Beery — Aug. 1
Blind Alleys (M). Meighan Mar. 12
Blonde or Brunette? (C), Menjou. Jan. 24
Cabaret (CO). Gilda Gray Mar. 26
Casey at the Bat (C), W. Beery Mar. 5
Chang (D), Special cast _ ..Sept. 3
Children of Divorce (D), Bow Apr. 2
City Gone Wild (M), Meighan-Mlllner. -Nov. 12
♦Covered Wa9»n, The (M), Kerrigan- Wilson Aug. 6
Evening Clothes (C), Menjou.- ..-.Mar. 19
Fashions for Women (CD). Halston Mar. 26
Fireman Save My Child (C), Beery-HattoiL Aug. 1
Gay Defender, The (CD). Richard Dlx. J)eo. 10
Gentleman of Paris, A (CD), MenJou-O'Hara— Oct. 15
Get Your Man (CD), Clara Bow Deo. 10
Honeymoon Hate (CD), Florence Vldor Dec. 3
Hotel imperial (D), Negri Feb. 26
Hula (CD), Bow-Brook. _ Aug. 27
It (C), Clara Bow - Feb. 19
Jesse James (D), Fred Thomson Oct. 22
•Kid Brother (C). Lloyd. - Oct. 4
Kiss in a Taxi (C). Daniels - Feb. 26
Knockout Reilly (CD). Dix Apr. 16
Last Waltz, The (D). Special cast Nov. 26
Let it Rain (C), MacLean, - Jan. 3
Love's Greatest Mistake (CD), Brent Feb. 12
Man Power (D), Dlx - - July 9
Metropolis (D), Special cast Aug. 13
Mme. Pompadour (D), Moreno-D. Glsh.- Aug. 13
Nevada (W), Cooper-Todd Sept. 10
New York (M). Cortez-Wilson. Feb. 5
Now We're in the Air (C), Beery-HattoiL Oct. 22
One Woman to Another (CD), Vidor-ShotweH-Sept. 24
Open Range (W), Lane-Chandler Nov. 5
Paradise for Two (C), Dix-Bronsou Jan. 17
Potters (CD), W. C. Fields Jan. 31
Ritzy (CD). Bronson _ Apr. 9
Rolled Stockings (CD), Hall-Brook. June 18
Rough House Rosie (C), Bow May 14
Rough Riders, The (D), Astor-FarrelL Oct 1
Rubber Heels (FC), Ed. Wynn June 11
Running Wild (C), Fields-Brian. -..Aug. 20
Senorita (F), Daniels - Aug. 30
Serenade (D), Menjou- Wray Dec. 24
Service for Ladies (C), Menjou-Carver. Aug. 6
Shanghai Bound (D), Dlx-Brian...- Oct. 15
She's a Sheik (C), Bebe Daniels - Nov. 12
Shootin' Irons (W), Luden-Biane -. Oct. 8
Soft Cushions (C), MacLean-Carol Aug. 27
Special Delivery (C), Eddie Cantor. - Apr. 16
Spotlight, The (CD), Ealston-Hamilton. Nov. 19
Stark Love (D), Special cast Sept. 17
Swim, Girl, Swim (CM), Danlels-HaU. Sept 17
Tell It to Sweeney (C), Conklin-Bancroft Sept. 24
Ten Modern Commandments (CD), Ralston July 2
Time to Love (FC), Raymond Griffith. June 18
Two Flaming Youths (C), Fields-ConHin. Deo. 17
Underworld (M), Bancroft-Brent _ -Oct. 29
Way of All Flesh, The (D), Jannings-Bennett..Oct. 1
Wedding Bills (F), Raymond Griffith -.May 7
Were's All Gamblers (D), Meighan-Millner. Sept. 3
Whirlwind of Youth (D), Lois Moran Apr. 30
Wings (M), Charles Rogers.- - Oct. 29
Woman on Trial (D), Pola Negri
6960
1928
5897 Adventure Mad (M), UFA _...Mar. 31
6536 Beau Sabreur (M). Cooper-Brent _ - Jan. 7
Beggars of Life (MD), Wallace Beery-Brooks-
Big Killing (CD), Beery-HattoiL May 19
Doomsday, Vidor-Ccoper - Feb. 18
Drag Net, The (MD), Bancroft-Brent-PowelL
Easy Come, Easy Go, Richard Dlx Apr. 21
S930
6665
7866
6364
6889
6402
6852
6871
6263
5038
6792
S234
7415
6837
Feel My Pulse, Daniels-Arlen. Feb. 25
Fifty- Fifty Girl. The, Daniels-HaU May 12
Fools for Luck (CD), Fields-Conklin. May 7
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (C), Taylor- White.- Jan. 28
Half a Bride (D), Ealston-Cooper. June 16
Hot News, Bebe Daniels
His Tiger Lady, Menjou-Brent June 9
Kit Carson (MD), Fred Thomson
Ladies of the Hob, Clara Bow.
Last Command, The (D), Emil Jannings......
June 30
Jan. 21
Legion of the Condemned, Wray-Cooper —..Mar. 10
.-Apr. 23
Aue. 3
_.Mar. 5
...Jan. 15
.-May 9
.-Apr. 16
.-May 2
-.May 2
...Dec. 10
Apr. 9
Apr. 9
Dec. 10
Not. 12
Oct. 8
Jan. 7
Deo. 31 Dec. 17
Jan. 8
Sept. 10
Feb. 12
Oct. 22
Jan. 29
Apr. 2
Apr. 23
Nov. 19
Mar. 12
Feb. 26
Aug. 6
Mar. 12
Nov. 26 Aug. 6
-Feb. 6
-Dec. 17
-Sept. 24
-Jan. 29
-Jan. 22
-June 25
-July 30
-June 4
-Mar. 19
-July 16
-June 18
-May 14
Jan. 14
Sept. 3
Dec. 31 Not. 12
Jan. 21 Not. 26
Aug. 27
May 9
Dec. 3
Mar. 19
Sept. 17
Jan. 7 Oct. 22
July 23
July 9
-Sept. 3
-July 2
-July 23
June 11
-Aug. 20
..Dec. 24 Oct. 1
1927
67.21%
62.04%
50.84%
41.30%
60.30%
51.86%
68.00%
49.60%
62.63%
67.83%
65.85%
66.77%
65.91%
38.61%
65.61%
55.59%
51.18%
71.00%
70.25%
48.36%
54.72%
47.00%
57.64%
44.08%
66.27%
52.83%
59.78%
57.46%
47.36%
45.90%
1928
Length Title and Players
Released
Jan. 14
Jan. 7
-July 7
Jan. 21
-May 26
May 19
Feb. 25
Mar. 31
Apr. 7
Dec. 10
June 16
Mar. 10
Mar. 19
Mar. 19
Feb. 18
-June 9
Mar. 31
-June 23
May 26
Jan. 28
June 16
Love and Learn, Ralston-Chandler..
Jan. 14 Jan. 21
July 7
Feb. 4
-Apr. 21
Feb. 25
New
Pictures
Comment
Loves of an Actress (D), Pola Negri..-
Night of Mystery (D), Menjou. -..Apr. 7
Old Ironsides (D), Beery-Bancroft Mar. 17
Partners in Crime (C), Beery -Hatton...- Mar. 3
Peaks of Destiny -Jan. 28
Pioneer Scout, The (W), Fred Thomson. - Jan. 21
Racket, The (D), Thomas Meighan — June 30
Red Hair (CD), Bow-Chandler Mar. 10
Sawdust Paradise, The, Esther Ralston. Aug. 25
Secret Hour, The (D), Negri-HersholL - Feb. 4
Showdown, The, Bancroft - Feb. 25
Something Always Happens, Ralston-Hamllton....Mar. 24
Speedy (C), Harold Lloyd - - Apr. 7
Sporting Goods, Dlx-Olmstead - ....Feb. 11
Street of Sin (D), Jannings-Wray - May 26
Sunset Legion (W), Fred Thomson Apr. 21
Three Sinners (D), Negri-Baxter Apr. 14
Tillie's Punctured Romance, Fields-Conklin Peb. 18
Under the Tonto Rim, Arlen-Brian - Feb. 4
Vanishing Pioneer, The (W), Jack Holt June 23
Warming Up, Richard Dlx. Aug. 11
Wife Savers (C), Beery-Hatton. Jan. 7
Woman From Moscow, The (D). Negri-Kerry - —
1927 Pathe
5596 Almost Human (CD), Reynolds Deo. 26
Angel of Broadway. The (D), Leatrice Joy Oct. 3
Avenging Fangs (M) - June 5
Border Blackbirds (WD), Maloney...- Aug. 28
Born to Battle (W), Bill Cody Sept. 11
Code of the Cow Country (W), Roosevelt. June 19
Combat (D), Walsh - —Oct. 23
Country Doctor, The (D), Schildkraut Aug. 22
Desert of the Lost, The (W), Wally Wales. Dec. 18
Devil's Twin, The (W), Leo Maloney - Dec- H
Discord (D), Dagover-Ekman - -...Not, 20
Dor. Desperado (W), Maloney. - May 8
Dress Parade (0), Boyd Nor. 11
Fighting Eagle, The (M), La RocQue-HaTer Aug. 29
Flying Luck (C). Monty Banks - Dec. 4
Forbidden Woman, The (M), Jetta Goudal Nov. 7
Getting Gertie's Garter (F), Prevost
Girl from Everywhere (C), Pollard Dec. 11
Girl in the Pullman, The (C), Prevost Oct. 31
Gold from Weepah (W), Bill Cody Nov. 20
Golden Clown, The (D), Gosta-Ekman Deo. 18
"Grandma's Boy (C), Harold Lloyd —Dec. 11
Harp in Hock. A (D), Schildkraut-Coghlan Oct. 10
Heart of the Yukon (M), Bowers-Cornwall May 29
Heart Thief (D), Schildkraut-De Puttl
Hidden Aces (M), Hutchison. Aug. 7
His Dog (D), Schildkraut July 21
His First Flame (C), Lansdon May 8
His Foreign Wife- (D), MacDonald-Murphy Not. 27
Hoof Marks (W), Jack Donovan Nov. 13
Interferin' Gent, The (W), Buffalo Bill. Jr Aug. 21
Jim, the Conqueror (W), Boyd-Faire —
13500 King of Kings (D), All Star
4131 Land of the Lawless, The (W), Jack Padjan. Deo. 25
Little Firebrand (C), Thornton July 3
Main Event, The (D), Reynolds Nov. 21
Man Bait (CD), Prevost Jan. 29
Meddlin' Stranger (W), Wales June 12
My Friend from India (F), Pangbom-Fair. Dec. 19
Night Bride (FC), Prevost - _
5741
7910
6600
6582
6118
7646
6631
7194
7616
4720
7960
5951
6218
6763
7060
5733
5991
5834
6509
5435
6555
4335
5326
4875
4512
5100
7500
4933
5478
8586
5804
6599
8002
6403
6568
6859
3303
5867
4968
7913
4750
5990
6563
6035
4620
6788
4700
4890
4076
4864
5324
Jiine 23
Feb. 18
Feb. 25
Jan. 7
Dec. 10
Mar. 3
June 9
Feb. 18
Mar. 3
Apr. 28
Feb. 18
Apr. 28
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
Feb. 18
May 26
Apr. 7
Feb. 25
May 5
May 26
..June 19
..Feb. 18
1927
Dec. 24
Not. 19 Nov. 6
- June 4
Sept. 10
-June 17
-Oct. 15
Jan. 14
72.70%
-Dec. 10 :
May 9
Not. 19 Not. 6
— Sept. 17
Not. 12 Not. 5
.- - Feb. 19
Not. 5
Not. 19 Nov. 5
50.40%
Nov. 12
Nov. 6
-May 21
..May 21
..Sept. 3
-July 24
-May 9
..Aug. 27
..Jan. 1
..Mar. 10
4752
6472
5865
4576
5750
5736
6421
6903
4575
4692
4497
6000
4828
5844
4542
4375
6303
5880
4562
4546
4338
5397
5670
5921
6198
4485
5610
6447
7820
1928
3996
5755
4805
5927
6589
4833
5408
4550
7996
4526
4480
5398
7056
4155
6650
58S8
4600
5659
5954
5494
5626
Jan. 14
Not. 19
Nobody's Widow (FC), Joy-Ray-Hayer. -
No Man's Law (W). Rex May 1
Obligin' Buckaroo. The (W), Buffalo Bill, Jr Oct. 16
Pals in Peril (W). Buffalo BUI. Jr June 26
Phantom Buster, The (W), Roosevelt^ —Aug. 14
Pieces of China (Travel) _ -...Aug. 7
Pirates of the Sky <M), Hutchison. May 22
Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary (C), Robson
Ride 'Em High (W), Buddy Roosevelt Oct. 9
Roarin' Broncs, Buffalo BUI, Jr - Nov. 27
Rubber Tires (C), Ford-LoTe _
Rush Hour, The (C), Prerost Dec. 12
Skeedaddle Gold (W), Wales _ July 31
Soda-Water Cowboy, The (W), Wally Wales Sept. 25
Trunk Mystery (M), Hutchison. _ June 12
Turkish Delight, Schildkraut-Faye Not. 11
Two-Gun of Tumbleweed (W), Leo Maloney July 17
Vanity (M), Joy -
White Gold (D). Goudal -
White Pebbles (WD), WaUy Wales Aug. 7
Wise Wife. The (C), Haver Oct. 24
Wreck of the Hesperus, The (M), Bradford. Oct. 31
Yankee Clipper (M), Boyd _
..July 2
Not. 5
..Jan. 29
-June 12
-May 9
.Jul 16
..May 2
..Oct. 8
..June 25
..Aug. 20
46.60 0
..May 21
..Aug. 6
..Oct. 8
Jan. 7
..Apr. 9
.-Aug. 6
...Oct. 1
-.June 11
..July 17
..June 18
..Apr. 9
..Aug. 20
Not. 19
Not. 5
-..May 14
61.72%
1928
May 12
6902
7040
5423
4520
6035
4000
Alice Through a Looking Glass Feb. 12
Apache Raider, The, Leo Maloney - _ Feb. 12
Ballyhoo Buster (W), Buffalo Bill, Jr - Jan. 8
Blonde for a Night, Prevost. _ - Feb. 27 Mar. 3
Blue Danube, Leatrice Joy _ - Mar. 12 Feb. 18
Boss of Rustlers Roost, The, Don Coleman. .Tan. 22 May 12
Bronc' Stomper, The, Don Coleman. - Feb. 26 Mar. 17
Bullet Mark, The, Jack DouoTan.. Mar. 25 May 19
Chicago (M), PhyUis Hayer _ Mar. 5 Deo. 24
Cowboy Cavalier (W), Buddy Roosevelt ...Jan. 29 Feb. 4
Crashing Through, Jack PadJaiL - -...Feb. 5 -
Desperate Courage (W), Wales. Jan. 15
Hold 'Em Yale, Rod La Rocaue. - May 15 May 19 May 26
Laddie Be Good (W), BiU Cody -...Jan. 1
Leopard Lady, The (M), Logan _ _ Jan. 23 Jan. 28
Let 'Er Go, Gallagher! (M), Junior Coghlan Jan. 16 Jan. 28
Mariie, the Killer, Klondike Mar. 4
Midnight Madness, Logan - May 26 Mar. 17
Night Flyer, The, Wm. Boyd Web. 5 -
On to Reno (D), Prevost-Landis. Jan. 2 Jan. 28
Perfect Gentleman, A (C), Monty Banks Jan. 15
Red Mark, The (D), Glass, Quartoar.
Ship Comes In, A, Rudolph Schildkraut June 4
Skyscraper, Boyd Apr. 9
Stand and Deliver, Rod La Rocque Feb. 20
Tenth Avenue, Haver- Varconl
Valley of Hunted Men, Buffalo BUI, Jr Feb. 19
Walking Back (M), Sue Carol May 20
-July 14
June 16
May 12
-July 14
i!
What Price Beauty (CD), Nita Naldl-
Jan. 28
Deo. 31
58
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
Length Title and Players
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
1927
60S9
5076
5916
E960
B970
5502
4300
1928
60S9
6673
607G
4533
Rayart
5976
5853
4797
6262
454S
560S
4571
5906
4627
5490
5260
Cruise of the Helion (D), All star..
Heroes in Blue (M), Bowers-Kand _ -...Nov.
Law and the Man, The (D), S3iitschi-Bockwell..r>ec.
Light in the Window, A (D). Walthal _.
On the Stroke of Twelve (M), D. Torrence Nov.
Silent Hero (M), Bonaparte - - —
Wanderer of the West, A (W), Tex Maynard....Dec.
Branded Man, The (D), Chas. Delaney-MarloweMay
Casey Jones (CD), Price-Lewis _ - Jan.
Danger Patrol, The (D), Eussell-Falr _ Jan.
Devil's Tewer, The (W), Buddy BoosevelL.._ June
Divine Sinner, The ( D ), Vera Reynolds-HUllard.. July
Gypsy of the North (D), Gordon-Hale..._ Apr.
Heart of Broadway, The (D), Garon-Agnew....Mar.
Lightning Shot The (W), Buddy Eoosevelt May
Man from Headquarters, Ths (D), Comelliu
Keefe-E. Boberts _ Aug.
Midnight Adventure, A (D), Landis-E. Murphy..May
Mystery Valley (W), Buddy Eoosevelt July
My Home Town (D). Brodcwell-Glass _...Jan.
Painted Trail, The (W), Buddy EoosevelL Mar.
Phantom of the Turf, The (D), CosteUo-Lease-Feb.
Sisters of Eve (D), Mae Busch _ — Sept.
Sweet Sixteen (D), Helen Foster-Olstead- Aug.
Trail Riders (W), Buddy Eoosevelt.— - _AprU
Wild Born (W), Tex Maynard _. _ Mar.
You Can't Beat the Law, Lee Keefe..- Jan.
-..Sept. 24
1927
..Nov. 12
-Aug. 29
1928
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
Sterling
1927
Burning Up Broadway (D), H. Costello Jan. 30
5563 Closed Gates CM), Harron-Novat. _ _
5400 Outcast Souls (D), Lewis-Bonner Dec. 15
5500 Pretty Clothes (D), J. Kalston-Walker. Oct. 15
Stranded (D), Mason Aug. 15
1928
1927
Dec. 3
„ May 28
Nov. 12
Dec. 31
Jan. 7 S.'pt. 10
Marry the Girl (CD)..
.._Feb. 4
1927
5754
5669
5300
6024
7300
4887
5500
6482
5233
4752
5600
5800
6049
6235
5629
6100
5182
5276
&448
5614
1928
6147
5209
5510
5297
6553
Tiffanv-Stahl
1928
1927
Backstage (CD), Bedford
Beauty Shoppe (CD), Buscb...
Broken Gate (D), Collier
Cheaters (M), O'Malley.
College Days (CD), M. Day
Enchanted Island (D)
First Night, The (FC). Lytell-Devore
Fools of Fashion (CD). Busch _
Girl from Gay Paree, The (F), Sherman. Sept. 15
Haunted Ship, The (M), Sebastian-M. I/Ove....Dec. 1
Husband Hunters (C), Marsh —
Josselyn's Wife (D), Frederick.
Lightning (W). J. Ealston. Sept. 1
Night Life (CD), Day-Harron..._ Nov. 1
Once and Forever (D), Patsy Euth Miller Oct. 15
Sin Cargo (D), Mason _
Snowbound (FC), Blythe - - ~
Streets of Shanghai (RD), Starke-Harlan..._ Dec. IS
Tired Business Man (C) --
Wild Geese (D), BeUe Bennett _ Nov. 15
Women's Wares (D), Brent-LyteU. _ _ Oct. 1
Bachelor's Paradise (R), Sally O'Neil Mar. 15
Clothes Make the Woman (R), Southem-
Pldgeon - — May 1
Devil's Skipper, The, Bennett Feb. 1
Grain of Dust, The (D), Cortez-Windsor July 10
Green Grass Widows (CD), Walter Hagen. June 10
House of Scandal (D), Sebastian-O'Malley Apr. 1
Ladies of the Night Club (CD), Conez-Moran....May 15
Lingerie (CD), White-McGregor. July 1
Nameless Men, Moreno _ - Feb. 15
Prtrwiers of the Sea (D), Cortez-Myers .Tune 20
Scarlet Dove, The (D), Margaret Livingston Apr. 15
Stormy Waters (D), Southern-McGregor June 1
Their Hour (D), Sebastian-Harron Mar. 1
Tragedy of Youth, Miller-Collier. Jan. 15
Woman Against the World, A Jan. 1
..July 9
..July 16
-Jan. 15
....Mar. 24
....Nov. 6
June 25
—Feb. 19
....Oct. 9
—Feb. 26
...Nov. 27
..Dec. 11
..July 30
Dec. 24 Dec. 10
1928
United Artists
..Sept. 10
5708
5102
6735
5652
5361
6283
1927
9264
5000
7500
7311
8550
7440
9120
9000
7456
8250
8000
1928
6400 Circus, The (C), Charlie Chaplin.
7000 — Devil Dancer, The, Gilda Gray
9358 Douglas Fairbanks as the Gaucho (M)..._ June 1
9100 Dove, The (M), Norma Talmadge Jan. 7
8350 Drums of Love (D), Mary Phllbin Mar. 31
7300 Garden of Eden, The (D), C. Grlfflth-Eay Feb. 4
Two Lovers, Banky-Colman. _ _ Aug.
7650 Ramona (D), Del Rio „ -...Feb. 1
8600 Sadie Thompson (D), Gloria Swanson. _...Jan. 7
Steamboat Bill, Jr., Buster BJeaton
Beloved Rogue (M), J. Barrymore. -
College (C), Keaton-CornwalL _
General, The (C), Keaton.
Loves of Sonya (D), Swanson. _ _
Maflic Flame, The (M), Colman-Banky...- Sept. 24
My Best Girl (M), Mary Plckford...- _ Nov.
Night of Love (M), Banky-Colman
Resurrection (M), La Eocque _ -
Sorrell and Son (D), Wamer-Nilsson Nov.
Topsy and Eva (C), Duncan Sisters „
Two Arabian Knights (CD), Boyd-Wolheim
Winning of Barbara Worth (D), Banky-Colman.
— Feb. 12
- Mar. 19
Sept. 24
- A-pr. 7
_ Jan. 29
- — Apr. 16
Nov. 19
Aug. 13
Oct. 29
1927
45.90%
73.65%
1928
Mar. 3
.. Apr. 28
,.3rov. 26
.-Jan. 7
Tempest (M), John Barrymore Aug. 11
„ May 26
July 7
1927
5751
6777
4427
7319
7190
6623
Universal
Back to God's Country (D), Adoree-Frazler-.. Sept. 4
Beware of Widows (FC), La Plante.... June 19
Border Cavalier, The (W), Humes-Pierce Sept. 18
Butterflies In the Rain (D), La Plante. Feb. 6
Cat and Canary, The (My), La Plante Sept. 11
Cheating Cheaters (C), Compson-Harlan Oct. 9
Nov. 12 Aug. 6
May 9
Jan. 1
Deo. 17 May 14
Nov. 26
1927
51.00%
44.10%
46.18%
67.06%
5503 Galloping Fury (W), Hoot Gibson Nov. 20
6929 Held by the Law (M), Lewis _ Apr. 10
5711 Hero for the Night, A, Tryon-Miller - Dec. 18
5378 Hey! Hey! Cowboy (W), Gibson Apr. 3
6958 Irresistible Lover, The (CD), Kerry-Moran Dec. 4
7713 Les Miserables (M), Gabrio-Toulont. - Oct. 30
11000 Les Miserables (M), (Long Version) Oct. 30
5862 Lone Eagle, The, Kent-Keane _ Sept. IS
603S Love Thrill (FC), La Plante.— _ - May 8
6135 Man's Past, A (D), Veidt-Kent. Dea 25
6159 Men of Daring (W), Hoxie June 5
5918 On Your Toes (C), Denny-Worth -...Nov. 27
6170 Out All Night (C), Denny-Nixon. - Sept. 4
5416 Painted Ponies (W), Hoot Gibson - Sept. 25
6045 Painting the Town (FC), Tryon Aug. 7
6807 Perch of the Devil (M), Buscb Mar. 6
4409 Rough and Ready (W), Hoxie Jan. 9
7015 Sensation Seekers (D), Dove Mar. 20
6166 Silk Stockings, Laura La Plante Oct. 2
4393 Sky High Saunders, AI WllsoiL Nov. 6
6218 Small Bachelor, The (C), Beranger-KenL Nov. 6
4251 Straight Shootin' (W), WeUs Oct. 16
7173 Taxi! Taxi! (FC), Horton - - Apr. 24
5598 Thirteenth Juror, The (D), Bushman-Nilsson-.Nov. 13
4136 Three Miles Up, Al Wilson - - -..Sept. 4
5192 Wild Beauty (CD), Rex - Nov. 27
6459 Wrong Mr. Wright, The (F), Hersholt —Feb. 27
4167 Wolf's Trail, Dynamite, the dog Oct. 2
1928
4259 Air
Dec. 24 _ _
Apr. 2 43.57%
Jan. 14 Nov. 26 „.
62.28%
Dec. 17 Nov. 19
Aug. 27
Nov. 12
May 21 40.14%
Deo. 17 Sept 27
Jan. 14 _
Oct. 1
Nov. 19 July 23
June 25
- -...Feb. 5
Jan. 8
- ...Jan. 29
Nov. 19 Aug. 20
Feb. 4
Dec. 3
6869
4076
6171
4345
4232
7481
6279
4173
6081
4426
5645
4094
6598
5064
4095
6813
6832
4120
5689
4253
4200
4472
5382
5424
6172
5109
5389
8249
6179
6073
4353
6274
5495
4348
9151
5254
1927
5803
6330
6281
5897
6408
5003
6767
6284
5978
Patrol, The (W), Al WOson. Jan. 1
Alias the Deacon (CD), Hersholt-Marlowe Jan. 22
Arizona Cyclone (W), Humes Jlay 6
Buck Privates, de Puttl June 3
Call of the Heart, The (W), Dynamite Jan. 29
Clean-Up Man, The (W), WeUs Feb. 12
Cohens and Kellys in Paris (C), Sidney Jan. 15
Count of Ten, The, Eay-Ealston-Gleason. June 6
Fearless Rider, The (W), Fred Humes Jan. 15
Finders Keepers (CD), Laura La Plante Feb. 6
Four Footed Rangers, The (W), Dynamite Mar. 25
Good Morning Judge Apr. 29
Greased Lightning (W) - July 29
Grip of the Yukon, The, All star _ Aug. 30
Hot Heels, Glen Tryon. _ _ _ May 13
Hound of Silver Creek, The (W), Dynamite-..May 20
Love Me and the World Is Mine, Eerry-Philbin. Feb. 25
Jazz Mad, Hersholt-Nixon-Lewis June 3
Made-to-Order Hero (W), Wells June 3
Midnight Rose, de Putti-Harlan. Feb. 26
Phantom Flyer, The (W), Wilson. Feb. 26
Put 'Em Up (W), Humes - Mar. 11
Quick Triggers (W), Humes. July 15
Rawhide Kid (W), Hoot Gibson. Jan. 29
Riding for Fame, Hoot Gibson Aug. 19
Shield of Honor, The, AH star Feb. 19
Society Cowboy, A, Hoot Gibson July 8
Stop That Man, AH star ^lar. 11
Surrender, PhUbin-Mosjukine. - _...Mar. 4
Thanks for the Buggy Ride, La Plante-Tryon....Apr. 1
That's My Daddy (C), Dermy-Kent - Feb. 5
Thunder Riders, The, Wells Apr. 8
13 Washington Square, All star. Apr. 8
Trick of Hearts, A, Hoot Gibson Mar. 18
Won in the Clouds, (W), Wilson. Apr. 22
We Americans, All star. May 16
Wild West Show, Hoot Gibson May 20
...Feb. 19
45 18%
Dec. 3
Dec. 24
-.Mar. 5
1928
June 16
-June 25
Mar. 10
Feb. 4
-Apr. 21
June 30
Jan. 28
Apr. 28
_Apr. 21
Apr. 28
May 26
June 23
Feb. 31
May 19
Mar. 17
Mar. 17
Jan. 28
Feb. 25
Jan. 14
Apr. 28
Mar. 17
May 5
Apr. 21
Warner Brothers
Black Diamond Express (M), Blue —
Brass Knuckles (D), Blue-Bronson Deo. 3
Bush Leaguer, The (CD), Monte Blue.— Aug. 20
Dearest (D), Eich - -
Desired Woman, The (M), Irene Eich. - Aug. 27
Dog of the Regiment, A (M), Eln-Tin-Tin Oct. 29
First Auto, The, Oldfleld-Miller Sept. 18
Gay Old Bird (FC), Fazenda.
Girl from Chicago, The (M), Nagel-Loy_ -...Nov. 5
Glorious Betsy (CD), Dolores Costello
July 23
1927
50.20%
-June 18
-July 9
-Mar. 12
6302
5613
6271
5200
6230
5397
5569
6352
6310
6485
7961
6357
5492
6295
5685
6124
6218
6412
7647
5813
6281
5567
10081
6820
7068
1928
Good Time Charley (D), Oland-H. Costello Nov. 12
Ham and Eggs at the Front (C), Wilson-H.
Conklin _ — Dea 24
Hills of Kentucky (M), Ein-Tin-Tln. -...
Husbands for Rent, All star Dec. 31
If I Were Single, MeAvoy-Nagel Dec. 17
Irish Hearts (CD), McAvoy
Dec. 31
-May 26
Nov. 26
Jaws of Steel (D), Ein-Tin-Tin Sept. 17
Matinee Ladies (C), McAvoy..
Mill Bid, A (M), D. CosteUo..
Missing Link, The (C), Syd Chaplin Aug. 7
Old San Francisco (M), D. Costello-Oland Sept. 4
One Round Hogan (M), Monte Blue Sept. 17
Reno Divorce, A (D), May AcAvoy Oct. 22
Sailor Izzy Murphy (F), George JesselL Oct. 8
Sailor's Sweetheart, A (C), Fazenda-C. Cook...Sept. 24
Silver Slave, The (D), Eioh-Ferris Nov. 9
Simple Sis (M), Fazenda -
Slightly Used, McAvoy-Nagel _ Sept. 3
Third Degree (IH), D. Costello.
-Feb. 26
-Apr. 28
-.June 11
-Oct. 1
-Apr. 23
-June 4
-May 14
-June 25
-Oct. 8
-Oct. 29
-Dec. 10
-Oct. 15
68.94%
June 11
Tracked by the Police (M), Ein-Tin-Tln....
What Every Girl Should Know (CD), MUler.
What Happened to Father (C), Oland
When a Man Loves (R), Barrymore Aug. 21
White Flannels (M), Dresser -
Wolf's Clothing (M), Blue-MUler.-
Across the Atlantic, Blue-Murpby Feb. 25
Beware of Married Men, Irene Rich Jan. 14
City of Sin, The, Loy-Miljan-Wong -...
Domestic Trouble (CD), Cook-Fazenda —
Jazz Singer, The, Al Jolson
Lion and the Mouse, The, L. Barrymore.
Little Snob, The, May McAvoy Feb. 11
Powder My Back (C), Rich-Ferris. Mar. 10
Race for Life. Eiu-Tln-Tin. Jan. 28
Rlnty of the Desert, Ein-Tln-Tln _
Tenderloin, Dolores Costello..
..Jan. 8
. May 21
..Mar. 19
...Tuly 9
-Feb. 12
..Apt. 2
.Jan. 29
Feb. 18
Feb. 11
44.00%
60.30%
1928
..Apr. 14
Feb. 18
..May 19
-May 19
..Apr. 28
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
59
CLASSIFIED
Advertising
Ten cents per word, payable in advance. Minimum charge,
$1.00. Copy and checks should be addressed Classified Ad
Dept. Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, 407 So.
Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
The Recognized National Classiiied Advertising Medium
Help Wanted
WANTED — Violinist who can double on tenor
banjo for steady year round teaching position in Con-
necticut state in about three weeks. State age and
present employment in first letter. Address F. Mueller,
22 Dennison St., Hartford, Conn.
Position Wanted
THEATRE ORGANIST— Experienced on all makes,
has a large library, will go anywhere. Address Box
289, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
Attention, Theatre Managers! Are you looking for
an organist, male or female? If you are, why not let
Exhibitors Herald-World find just the kind you want?
Address George Schmidt, Exhibitors Herald- World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
LADY ORGANIST desires change. Experienced,
union, large library. Good recommendations. Prefer
eastern location. Address Box 290, Exhibitors
Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
AT LIBERTY— Experienced high grade Organist
with complete modern and classical library, union.
Wurlitzer, Morton, or any standard make. Address
F. H., 8631 S. Ashland Ave., Apt. B. 2, Phone Bev-
erly 1461, Chicago, 111.
ORGANISTS thoroughly trained and experienced in
theatre work. Men and women now ready for good
positions. Write salary and other data. Address
Chicago Musical College, 61 E. Van Buren, Chicago.
ORGANIST — Experts thoroughly trained in show-
manship available at all times for first-class positions.
Men and women. No service charge. Write full in-
formation concerning salary, organ, hours, etc. Ad-
dress Vermond Knauss School of Theatre Organ
Playing, 210 N. 7th St., AUentown, Pa.
Engagements Wanted
AT LIBERTY— D. C. Nelson Organize Dance Or-
chestra Versatile Musicians. Red Hot with up-to-
date Dance Rhythm. Will go anywhere. Write or
wire 455 East 42nd Place, Chicago, 111., Phone Oak-
land 4669.
Theatre Wanted
THEATRE WANTED— To rent with option to buy
if theatre is paying proposition. Address Fred T.
Walker, 4314 Irving Park Blvd., Chicago, 111.
Film Rights for Sale
LOOK-READ-ACT— ROAD SHOWMEN, STATE
RIGHTS FOR SALE
The True Life of "The Younger Brothers"
Featuring Cole, Bob and Jim Younger and the James
Boys, in five reels, and Younger's Historical Events,
in one reel. This picture as a popular priced road
show is no experiment. It has been tried and true,
has played against all kinds of competition under all
conditions. Has always gotten the money. With each
State or sale we furnish free one new complete Lobby
Display, consisting of new Prints of Film, three new
Wax Figures, standing, life size, of Cole, Bob and Jim
Younger, true to life, dressed in cowboy style, big
hats, boots, etc.; 500 One-Sheets, 100 slides, 10 Photo
Lobby Boards, 100 small Pbotos extra, 6 Banners,
lettered in flashy oil colors, enough to fit any theatre
front. Everything ready to go. Hurry. It will pay
you to buy the King of all Road Shows.
Address E. L. HUMPHREY, Miami, Okla.
Films for Sale
"The Dungeon" (7); — "Deceit" (6); — "Birthright"
(10) ; — three all star Negro productions; — also — "Truth
About Women" (6); — "Temptation" (7); — "Marriage
Morals" (7); — Other miscellaneous productions. Come-
dies, Serials, Travel, Educational, etc. Guaranteed
Pictures Company, 729 Seventh Ave., New York City.
Equipment for Sale
FOR SALE — Motion Picture Projectors, parts and
supplies for all type machines. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
FOR SALE — Strong Reflector Arc Lamps and ac-
cessories, also guaranteed rebuilt Powers 6-A and 6-B
and Simplex Heads. Best Prices. Write Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
GET OUR PRICES first on complete Theatre
Equipment and Pipe Organ before buying elsewhere.
You save, we satisfy. Address Southern Theatre
Service, 643 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, La.
CHICAGO CLEARING HOUSE— Our bargain list
on rebuilt Projectors, Powers 6-A Motor driven ma-
chines, including 12 rebuilt Simplex motor driven
machines with latest Simplex type S lamp houses.
Prices ranging from $175.00 and up. Peerless arc
controls $35.00 per pair. Compensarcs all makes,
$20.00 and up. Rebuilt Generators at reasonable
prices. AC and DC Electric fans rebuilt, just like
new. Write for complete list of your needs and
prices. No obligation. Address Illinois Theatre
Equipment Co., 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Chairs for Sale
Brand New Veneer and Spring cushion opera chairs
to be had at the lowest prices ever offered. Kindly
state your requirements and let us submit to you
exact photographs and full details. C. G. Demel, 845
South State, Chicago.
300 Upholstered Opera chairs. All seats and backs
entirely reupholstered in new imitation Spanish
leather. Eight Hundred Dollars for entire lot. C. G.
Demel, 845 South State, Chicago.
LARGE STOCK — Used veneered theatre chairs in
5 and 7 ply veneer guaranteed condition, also ,1600 up-
holstered chairs newly recovered in brown imitation
Spanish leather, just like new. 500 portable assembly
chairs. Chair prices very reasonable. Write for com-
plete list of your needs and prices. No obligation.
Address Illinois Theatre Equipment Co., 12-14 E.
Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Stationery
SPECIAL! 250 each business letterheads — en-
velopes $3.75 (cash postpaid). "Neargravure" proc-
ess printed. Samples, see difference. Stamp appre-
ciated. Address Sollidays, XH-124, Knox, Ind.
Banners and Posters
CLOTH BANNERS— $1.40, 3x10, 3 feet, colors,
any copy up to 10 words; one day service; sent any-
where; also Bargain Paper Banners. Associated
Advertisers, 111 West 18th St., Kansas City, Mo.
Manager Schools
LEARN Modern Theatre Management at home, as
a business or vocation. Catalog H shows you how.
Moving Picture Theatre Managers Institute, Inc.,
Elmira, N. Y.
For Sale
FOR SALE — American Photoplayer Co., combined
organ and piano, duplex rolls, cost $3,175. Will sell
for $1,500 or will exchange for pair of Simplex or
Powers projectors of equal value. Address L. Bates
Russell, Lyceum Theatre, Chestertown, Maryland.
FOR SALE — 2 Peerless Lamps, nearly new, com-
plete $385.00. Address Box 485, Rochester, N. Y.
1,000 sets, 8 m.m. and 12 m.m. reflector arc Car-
bons, $70.00. Address Box 485, Rochester, N. Y.
Slightly used Style W. Wurlitzer Organette just
like new. Gold Mine Butterkist Pop Corn Machine
in good condition. Address Central Theatre, Fair-
bury, Illinois.
OPERA CHAIRS, seats and backs for all makes,
five ply, at prices that save you half. Address
Redington & Co., Scranton, Pa.
Organs for Sale
FOR SALE: Bartola Pipe Organ. Used Wurlitzer
Pipe Organ, model U, very reasonable. Cremona
Pipe Organ, used or new Reproduce Pipe Organs.
Address S. B. McFadden, Havana, 111.
Gift Night Souvenirs
GIFT NIGHT MERCHANDISE: Over 300 fine
novelties in our large free catalog at genuine whole-
sale prices. Write today. No obligation. Address
Fair Trading Co., Inc., 140 W. 21st St., Nevir York.
Projector Repairing
BEST GRADE repair work. Prices right. Free
relief heads. Prompt service. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
Our Twentieth Century Repair Shop, with skilled
expert mechanics, specialized tools, precision machin-
ery, _ assure the very best REPAIR JOBS. Relief
Equipment furnished FREE. Prompt service. Rea-
sonable prices. Progressive Exhibitors over entire
country send their work to "THE OLD RELIABLE."
Monarch Theatre Supply Co., Memphis, Tenn. Estab-
lished 20 years.
SKILLED MECHANICS, specialized tools, and a
shop equipped for but one purpose can offer you
notliing but the best in repair work. That is what I
have, and I can offer you the best in the overhauling
of your motion picture machinery equipment. One
of the oldest repair men in the territory, and serving
some of the largest houses. Relief equipment fur-
nished free. For results bring your work to Joseph
Sprader, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Space to Rent
TO RENT — Desk space with telephone and steno-
graphic service, 845 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, III.,
Room 302.
Equipment Wanted
BEST PRICES paid for projection machines, all
types. Address Guercio & Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, 111.
Miscellaneous
BEAUTIFUL registered Bull Pups, $15. Bulldogs.
Address 501 Rockwood, Dallas, Texas.
Results More Than Satisfactory!
The results obtained through the classified columns of Exhibitors Herald- World are more than satisfactory.
We are well pleased and will continue using them.
J. P. Redington & Co.,
Opera Chairs,
Scranton, Pa.
60
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
LETTERS
From Readers
A forum at which the exhibitor is
invited to express his opinion on
matters of current interest. Brevity
adds forcefulness to any statement.
Unsigned letters will not be printed.
Better Than a Sermon
GRAND ISL.\ND, NEB., To the Editor :
Please find enclosed an editorial published in
one of Grand Island's leading newspapers in
regard to a picture, "Paying the Price," pro-
duced by Columbia.
I am sending you this editorial hoping that
j^ou may be able to publish it, for in reading
your most worthy journal the film manufac-
turers are continually asking what the ex-
hibitors want in pictures.
From this editorial I believe that they may
find an answer to that question. I remain —
S. A. Hayman, Lyda theatre, Grand Island,
Neb.
Following is the editorial referred to by
Mr. Hayman:
CAUGHT ON THE WING
By T. B. Hutchinson
One Sunday evening recently I was on my way
up Third street en route to Trinity Methodist chruch
with the view of hearing the Rev. Mr. Hillman
deliver his sermon on "Safety and Salvation," pre-
pared especially for observance of the Union Pacific's
"Safety Sunday." I was about fifteen minutes ahead
of the church schedule, so when I got along by the
Lyda theatre I bethought myself that I would go in
and see just what the play "Paying the Price"
looked like. I expected to tear off only a small chunk
of it and then go on to Trinity. But fate decreed
differently. I got settled comfortably down in a chair
just fitted to my back and soon became engrossed
in the picturization on the screen, so engrossed that
time speeded by on golden wings and Trinity church
and Mr. Hillman became blanks in my memory.
Probably, just as well, for I later learned from Mr.
Hillman himself that on the afternoon of that par-
ticular Sunday the Reverend gentleman while speed-
ing— possibly I shouldn't say "speeding," for that
might be stretching the truth — was hurrying toward
Grand Island to comply with that special request of
the Union Pacific that fate hit him some cruel taps
in the face, one of them a punctured tire on the
road and later a slide into the ditch with the result
that he did not reach this city in time to edify the
members of his congregation as to whether safety and
salvation goes together well or not.
But though I missed on that particular evening the
pleasure of hearing Mr. Hillman's sermon to hear it
a week later, I saw a sermon on the screen in the
theatre which impressed itself on my mind as no
other picture for a long time has. It was the most
faithful portrayal of real mother love for her children
that could be placed before any footlights. Mary Carr
was the portrayer. Many theatre-goers, as well as
church-goers, know Mary Carr intimately as the lead-
ing exponent of old women roles upon the film. And
the white-haired Mary was at her best in this film.
As I sat and ^vatched the female veteran enthrall
the audience with her silent language behind the
lights I thought of what is sometimes vaguely termed
the "eternal feminine" by many writers is just
"maternal love" — the most dominant emotion known —
whether in human beings or in animals. There is
something within even the most callous that responds
to the pure, spiritual affection we call "mother love."
Hardened criminals have been known to break down
at the sight or mention of their mothers. Mothers
themselves willingly and cheerfully make the greatest
sacrifices to shield or help their "babies," no matter
what estate those "babies" have reached. So it is
that the word "mother" has a significance of sacrifice
as well as love that puts it in a classification all its
own. And so truly was this characterization of
mother portrayed that no wonder the reporter forgot
all about the Union Pacific, Trinity Church and Mr.
Hillman's sermon on "Safety and Salvation." So
true were Mary's characterizations of mother, and
so great the appeal she made in her roles, there was
such a depth of understanding, cheer, humor, sacrifice,
love — the fullness of the real mother in the presenta-
tion laid before the man who had been ahead of his
church schedule fifteen minutes that he wandered
homeward from the picture show wondering whether
he had not witnessed one of the most eloquent ser-
mons that could possibly be preached.
On the following Sunday evening the scribe at-
tended Mr. Hillman's church, was refreshed by the
uplifting services and heard the dominie deliver his
sermon of "Safety and Salvation" intended for a
week before but deprived of its mission at that time
by a punctured tire and an automobile in the ditch.
The sermon, like Mary Carr's picture, was well worth
hearing.
Marks, Denied Injunction, in
Need of Film, Says Attorney
{Continued from page 24)
"Skyscraper," were shown in the Marks
Brothers houses after B & K had cancelled
them last May upon the request of Pathe.
The prices, according to the Lorch affida-
vit, were $2,000 for the Marbro, and $1,500
for the Granada, for each picture.
In contracting for the Fox pictures this
year for the first time B & K denies that
it is doing so to prevent Marks Brothers
from getting them, but because Fox and
Warner Brothers, from whom B & K has
orally agreed to take four pictures, are the
only companies having sound-pictures
available early in the season. B & K has
just inaugurated sound-pictures at two of
its Loop houses and expects to expand the
policy shortly to all of its principal thea-
tres. Marks Brothers have had Vitaphone
for a year and a half, and Movietone since
last Spring.
Says Paucity of Film Closed House
Declaring that it has no surplus of pic-
tures, B & K asserts that it closed its Pan-
theon because of a shortage of product.
On the other hand, Marks Brothers point to
B & K's booking of first-runs in the Sher-
idan, an Ascher house now being operated
by a receiver and distant enough from the
Granada to play day and date with the
latter.
Allegations regarding boycotting of stage
acts and inducing performers to break con-
tracts, concern a number of well known
vaudeville and presentation artists and
groups, three of whom, Rae Samuels, the
Ritz Brothers and the Lomas Troupe, figure
chiefly in the charges, Marks Brothers as-
serting that agents for B &K induced them
to break their contracts in order to appear
on its stage. This is denied, the William
Morris booking office in New York, which
booked Rae Samuels and the Lomas
Troupe, declaring that Miss Samuels' con-
tract had a two weeks' cancellation clause,
and that it understood the Lomas Troupe
had paid Marks Brothers for not appearing
at the Granada and Marbro. The charge
that the vaudeville agencies named in the
suit were boycotting performers who ap-
peared at the Marks Brothers theatres is
also denied, it being further set forth by
Max Turner, Chicago representative of
William Morris, that he had booked 30 acts
into B & K houses after they had played
the Granada and Marbro. Opposed to this
is the affidavit of Murray Bloom, booker
for Marks Brothers, naming 15 acts which
had not played B & K theatres for a year
following their appearances at the Marks
theatres.
A picture of intense rivalry between the
two Chicago circuits is painted by allega-
tions of theatre-checking, employe-"steal-
ing" and physical violence. One charge
concerns the highly-exploited Paul Ash,
stagehand leader recently transferred from
B & K's Oriental in Chicago to the Para-
mount in New York, it being testified that
in 1926 Marks Brothers offered Ash $3,000
a week to sign with that circuit, and that
to induce him to sign, Ida Ash, his wife,
was ofFered a $9,000 suite at the Edgewater
Beach hotel, a maid, a Rolls-Royce and a
chauffeur. Marks Brothers deny the offer
to Mrs. Ash, but admitting the overtures
to Ash, they understood he was not under
contract at that time. Negotiations with
him fell through only upon disagreement
as to the number of daily appearances,
Meyer S. Marks, treasurer of the circuit,
asserts.
States Skouras Sought Services
Another band leader, Benny Meroff, mas-
ter of ceremonies alternating between the
Granada and Marbro, testifies that Max
Turner of the Chicago William Morris
office, which books many B & K acts, called
him to his office last summer and asked
him to leave Marks Brothers in spite of
his contract and go with Skouras Brothers,
a St. Louis circuit affiliated with Publix,
saying that Marks Brothers would not last
long since it would soon be unable to get
pictures and acts. Later, it is alleged,
Turner made Meroff another offer to go to
the Capitol in New York, stating that his
contract with Marks Brothers would be of
no value in that state.
Among the allegations of physical vio-
lence is that of Joseph Kasmarsyk, Marbro
usher, who testifies that one night last
April as he boarded a street car on his
way home from the theatre, several young
men who were in the company of Ralph
J. Van Dyke, an usher at B & K's Senate,
pulled him off the car and attacked him
with their fists and a club. The same Van
Dyke testifies to having been similarly
treated by Marbro employes when dis-
covered checking that theatre.
The spirit of rivalry continues, according
to the affidavits, into the field of usher
training, called "service systems." B & K
claim the distinction of originating the
stiff-backed, extremely polite school of
ushers and attendants and assert that Marks
Brothers, through former B & K employes
hired for the purpose, copied this system.
Marks Brothers deny this, asserting that
its system is quite different, being of the
"personal contact" variety, in contradistinc-
tion to B & K's "military" form. As to B
& K's origination of the deluxe entertain-
ment like that presented at the Granada
and Marbro, Louis Marks, president of
Marks Brothers, declares that the Alham-
bra in Milwaukee was the birthplace in 1910
of such shows, S. L. Rothafel, now director
of the Roxy in New York, following with
similar entertainment at the Capitol in that
city, he states.
Not Now Booking B & K
In reply to charges of discrimination in
favor of B & K in the booking of stage
acts, made against the Western Vaudeville
Managers Association, a whole-owned Or-
pheum subsidiary, B. B. Kahane, secretary,
sets forth that his company no longer books
B & K, with the exception of the Nor-
shore theatre, one half the stock in which
is owned by Orpheum.
Besides those which have been specifi-
cally mentioned, the defendants are Lub-
liner & Trinz, B & K subsidiary; B & K
Midwest Theatres, Inc., Great States Thea-
tres, Inc., B & K subsidiary; Orpheum Cir-
cuit Booking Corporation, Adolph Zukor,
Jesse L. Lasky, Sam Katz, Barney Balaban,
Max Balaban, Dave Balaban, John Balaban,
A. J. Balaban, Herbert Stern, Floyd M.
Brockwell, and Leo Spitz.
Portland House Books
Entire Gotham Output
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., July 17.— The New
Capitol here has signed to play the entire
Gotham output of 22 features and four spe-
cials to be released for 1928-29, and the re-
maining pictures to be released on the 1927-28
program.
National Supply Holds Meeting
KANSAS CITY.— A local sales meeting of the
National Theatre Supply Co. force of Kansas City
was held July 9 at the Hotel President. George De-
Kruif, general sales manager, presided. W. C. Denny,
district manager from Denver, also attended the
meeting.
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
61
'^^
WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Verdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor
CoprrlBht, 1928
Incorporated in this original exhibitors report department of Exhibitors Herald, which was estab-
lished October 14, 1916, is the Moving Picture World department, "Straight from the Shoulder
Reports.*'
Columbia
THE SELF STARTER: Reed Howes^uly 3. Fair
picture. Had a poor crowd on account of tent ehow.
Five reels. — Andrew Rapp, Theatorium theatre, Em-
lenton. Pa. — General patronage.
FB 0
THE TEXAS TORNADO: June 20. I've eeen
Westerns with lots of chasee, but this one tops them
all. Nothing else but. In addition, the picture's the
bunk. Six reels. — Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre,
Eureka, Mont. — Small town patronage.
RIDING RENEGADE: Bob Steele— June 23. Fair
"Western, didn't have much of a crowd on account
of tent show. Five reels. — Andrew Rapp, Theatorium
theatre, Emlenton, Pa. — General patronage.
THE DESERT PIRATE: Tom Tyler— May 26.
Good Western, Tom Tyler. Five reels. — Andrew
Rapp, Theatorium theatre, Emlenton, Pa. — General
patronage.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION: R:alph Ince— June 21.
Good picture. Had a very poor crowd. Seven reels.
— Andrew Rapp, Theatorium theatre, Emlenton, Pa. —
General patronage.
THE GREAT MAIL ROBBERY: Special cast-
June 28-29. Didn't see this, but all reports and box
office said it was good and what they like to see.
Seven reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neills-
ville. Wis. — Small town patronage.
THE GREAT MAIL ROBBERY: Special casl^
As a detective and mystery it is a good one. Our
patrons liked it fine. No brutal parts. The main
parte worked in fine and made a good hit. We were
pleased with the business end, too. Seven reels. —
E. H. Vetter, Majestic theatre. Homer, Mich. — Small
town patronage.
SPUTTING THE BREEZE: Tom Tyler— June 29.
30. A good picture, but no drawing card for me ;
it seems bb if my patrons don't care for Tyler. Print
and photography good. Five reels. — P. G. Held,
Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — Neighborhood patron-
age.
CLANCY'S KOSHER WEDDING: George Sidney-
July 5. A very good comedy-drama. Pleased all who
saw it. Seven reels. — Andrew Rapp, Theatorium the-
atre, Emlenton, Pa. — General patronage.
First National
BURNING DAYLIGHT: Milton Sills— 55%. July
4. A good Sills picture with good scenery, action and
interesting plot, clean. Has the rough fights that you
usually see in Sills' pictures. Seven reels. — H. J.
Eagan, American' theatre, Wautoma, Wis. — Small
town patronage.
BURNING DAYLIGHT: Milton Sills— 50%. June
27-28. A splendid picture. Stars great. Stone's
work clever. Very poor print. — Bert Silver, Silver
Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
THE PATENT LEATHER KID: Richard Barthel-
mess — 40%. June 28-29-30. A splendid picture, but
I couldn't get them in. Paid four times more than'
Editor's Note
Percentage ratings given by ex-
hibitors in reports to this depart-
ment are obtained in the following
manner: Average daily gross of
picture reported is divided by
average daily gross of picture hold-
ing house record to determine
relative box office value in terms
of percentage.
EXAMPLE: $75 (average daily
gross of picture reported) divided
by $100 (average daily gross of
picture holding house record)
equals .75 (percentage rating given
picture in report) .
When a picture has received
percentage ratings in 10 reports it
is entered in THE BOX OFFICE
TICKER column of "Quick Ref-
erence Picture Chart."
I should have paid, so lost plenty. The picture is
there with good action, drama, romance, prize fights,
war scenes and everything that an audience likes.
Not another "Big Parade," but a real good special.
Eleven reels. — H. J. Eagan, American theatre, Wau-
toma, Wis. — Small town patronage.
AMERICAN BEAUTY: Billie Dove— 25%. June 3.
A splendid picture star and Hughes splendid. Very
poor print. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
THE WAGON SHOW: Ken Maynard— Not as good
as some of the other Maynards and failed to show
any box office value on 10-cent family night. This
fellow and his horse are okay, but can't make them
go here. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City,
Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
BROADWAY NIGHTS: Lois Wilson— June 30.
Good program picture, but did not draw for us. Our
Saturday night business fell away off. Print blurred
in places. Seven' reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny
theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage.
LOST AT THE FRONT: Special cast— A war
burlesque story that went over fairly well. I en-
joyed most of it immensely, as Sidney is a real
comedian. War shots excellent. We lost big on this.
as we paid the price of a special, but were afraid to
run it as a special. I'm glad I did not raise prices,
as it is not worth it. As a Saturday picture it ia
okay. This will please the men especially. Ladies
won't care for it. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon,
Idaho. — General patronage.
HOME MADE: Johnny Hines— June 26. This one
is fine. Johnny Hines better than ever. Kept them
laughing all the time. Seven reels. — Andrew Rapp,
Theatorium theatre, Emlenton, Pa. — General patron-
age.
SWEET DADDIES: Special casl^Will the gentle-
man who put the poodle dog, wet umbrella stunt in
this picture please stand up so that we can see him 7
First National surely knows how to make pictures
for the roughneck and painted lip class. This was
a good play save for this episode, but one drop of
filth makes a whole play black. — Philip Rand, Rex
theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
VENUS OF VENICE: Constance Talmadge— June
22-23. Good little picture which drew a good crowd
and pleased, but what a print ! Oh, my ! Doesn't
First National out of St. Louis have any good prints 7
If 60, wish they would send us one once in a while.
Seven' reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny theatre, Mans-
field, Mo. — General patronage.
EASY PICKINGS: Anna Q. Nilsson— May 29.
Good mystery picture. Had a fair crowd. Seven
reels. — Andrew Rapp, Theatorium theatre, Emlenton,
Pa. — General patronage.
JUST ANOTHER BLONDE: Dorothy Mackaill— I
saw this ten days ago and can't remember one darn'
thing about it now that I try to report on it, so I
guess it was just another play. However, Jack Mul-
hall is always pleasing and Dorothy Mackaill and
Louise Brooks are both good, and with an airship
smash for excitement it must have been okay. —
Philip Rand, Rtex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General
patronage.
ORCHIDS AND ERMINE: Colleen Moore— Colleen
is there as usual. If you've passed it up, get it. The
hero is a weak spot. Too sappy at times. Seven
reels. — J. C. MacKenzie, Princess theatre, Seaforth,
Ont., Canada. — Small town patronage.
Fox
GATEWAY OF THE MOON: Dolores Del Rio—
30%. June 30. As poor a picture as we ever run,
and yet Fox calls it a special. We had a small
orowd and I'm glad we did. Dolores Del Rio is a
good star, but she didn't do much in' this one. —
Minnie M. Schnoor, Paramount theatre, Stapleton,
Neb. — Small town patronage.
HORSEMAN OF THE PLAINS: Tom Mix— 75%.
June 30. A very fine picture. Satisfied all. Poor
print. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich.« — General patronage.
OUTLAWS OF RED RIVER: Tom Mix— Tom Mix
since the days of Selig's single reelers, the peer of all
Western stars, again shows them how. Get a good
print. Six reels. — J. C. MacKenzie, Princess theatre,
Seaforth, Ont., Canada. — Small town patronage.
CHAIN LIGHTNING: Buck Jones— June 15-16.
A good, clean Western with plenty of action'. Print
62
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
BARRIERS
By
Carolyn F. Hayward
A brilliant emotional
drama... A great Love-
affair... TTie inevitable
triangle . . . Powerful . . .,
Dynamic!!!
V/^ PICTURES CORPORATION
SAMUEL ZIERLER^ president
N E v/ Y O P^ K^
and photography good. Six reels. — P. G. Held, Strand
theatre, Griswold, la. — Neighborhood patronage.
THE COUNTRY BEYOND: Olive Borden— July
4-5. This is a good Curwood picture, which would
probably have been better if all of it had been there.
Hunks of it had been ripped out of the print I drew.
Five short reels on six spools. Fox probably built a
new theatre on what they saved by not keeping a
decent print on this picture. Six reels. — Wm. E.
Tragsdorf, Trage theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town
patronage.
GOOD AS GOLD: Buck Jones— June 21-22. A
very good Buck picture. Too bad Fox can't use this
bird any more in connection with his big theatre
tie-ups. If they showed a few of Buck's pictures in'
the big city theatres instead of so much bedroom stuff
the big boys probably wouldn't have so many hypo-
crite reformers on their tails all the time. Well,
that's that. I should tell the big uns how to run
their business. Five reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags
theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage.
SOFT LIVING: Madge Bellamy— June 26-27. Due
to the Fish Fry at Alexandria, I didn't see this one,
but the reports and box office receipts were good.
Maybe they would be better if I stayed away all the
time. Six reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre,
Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage.
Gotham
QUARANTINED RIVALS: Special cast— 65%.
June 27-28. My first Gotham picture. Photography
not extra good, but picture went over fairly well.
Advertising better than picture ; in fact, the guy that
got out the press sheet is an A-1 copy-writer. The
picture pleased about 75 per cent and had better
crowd second night than I expected. Personally I
did not care much for the picture, but as it showed
profit I don't care how "I" felt about it. Seven reels.
— J. W. Grabtree, Joyland theatre. Coming, Ark. —
General patronage.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
THE ACTRESS: Norma Shearer— 20%. July 1-2.
Here is another one that some of the boys "panned."
Without reason as far as we can see. We thought
this made a very nice Sunday picture, and so did the
majority of our patrons. Naturally, you cannot show
this type of picture often and get away with it,
but for variety it is okay. Business was not very
good, but Ziggy himself couldn't draw a crowd here
in summer. Picture a little dark, otherwise quite
okay. Eight reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland
theatre, Nevada, Ohio. — Small town patronage.
FORBIDDEN HOURS: Special cast— 51%. July 1.
Drew better than average Metro picture on a Sunday
night. We had a brand new print on this out of
Salt Lake City branch. Six reels. — ^Mrs. Hulda J.
Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General pat-
ronage.
SUDE, KELLY, SUDE : Special cast— 100%. June
30. If you want a real live show, don't hesitate to
buy this one. It is a baBeball story that is a dandy.
We set a new house record on this one, and so of
course we think a lot of this picture. The cast is
great and the story moves right along. A good,
clean show with comedy and action. The only objec-
tion is to the length. Eight reels. — Paul B. Hoffman,
Legion theatre, Holyrood, Kan'. — Small town patron-
age.
BUTTONS: Jackie Coogan— 60%. June 25-26.
Drew enough kids from the Big Revival meeting to
have the preacher comment on the "evils" of the
movies and warn parents that children that attended
the picture shows every night would turn out "Hick-
mans." The picture was mildly entertaining for
adults. Kids were pleased with same practically 100
per cent. The ending was abrupt and unsatisfactory
and left one with a feeling there should have been
another reel. I do not consider this picture up to
M G M'e standard of excellence as compared with
other pictures I have received from them. Appeal
about 50 per cent. Seven reels. — J. W. Crabtree, Joy-
land theatre. Corning, Ark — General patronage.
CIRCUS ROOKIES : Dane-Arthur— Personally
thought it mighty silly. However, it drew well on
Sunday, and judging from the laughter they enjoyed
it. But if it's a good picture then I'm a ring-tailed
monkey. Six reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre,
Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
WICKEDNESS PREFERRED: Cody-Pringle— A
mighty silly picture that gets a number of laughs
before it's all over. The entire cast, including Bert
Roach and Mary McAlister, do very nice work. Five
reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo.
— Neighborhood patronage.
BABY MINE: Arthur-Dane— June 22-23. If Dane
and Arthur can't do better than this they better quit.
I don't want any more of their pictures. Some of the
subtitles are terrible. Before I play another Dane
and Arthur picture I am going to be sure that it ia
clean. Print and photography good. — P. G. Held,
Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — Neighborhood patron-
age.
BABY MINE: Dane-Arthur— June 28. Good com-
edy drama, although a little rough. Six reels. — An-
drew Rapp, Theatorium theatre, Emlenton, Pa. — Gen-
eral patronage.
ROSE MARIE: Special cast— Made in the dark of
the moon or in face of a blazing sun, don't know
which, but absolutely no excuse for this terrible
photography. Otherwise a good north woods French-
Canadian Mounted Police drama. The thread of plot
at times hard to follow. Beautiful scenery. Gripping
climax when four men are in death throes, but the
right one lives and gets Rose Marie. Not a big spe-
cial. Will please some and disappoint others. Per-
sonally I enjoyed it, but had many kicks. — ^Philip
Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patron-
age.
MAN, WOMAN AND SIN: John Gilbert— There
is nothing wrong with this picture. Drew a fair
business and was generally liked. — RHissell C. Dey,
Reedville theatre, Reedville, Va. — General patronage.
QUALITY STREET: Marion Davies— Doggone it,
had to go out for evening tied to my wife's apron
strings, so couldn't see this, and Marion (after "The
Fair Co-Ed" picture) has got me going. Of course,
I'm still true to Colleen, but — I thinJc after all at
heart I'm a Mormon 1 Those I asked said it was a
fine- very fine play, but it did not draw at all. Can't
advise whether to book it or not, but, shucks, if you
like Marion as well as I do you'll buy it anyway. —
Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General
patronage.
QUALITY STREET: Marion Davies— Here is
rather an odd picture, pretty scenery, delightful com-
edy, costume play that according to brother exhibitor
reports would not interest our roughnecks, but it did.
The gallery seemed to enjoy it as well as the high-
brows downstairs. Ordinarily this kind of a picture
gets on the nerves of the gallery, but this one did not,
and we must say that this town of the terrible name
failed to live up to its past reputation, and they
fairly "ate up" Marion Davies and Conrad Nagel in
this picture. Much to our surprise, which but goes
to show that even the wild West can stand for a
clean picture now and then even, if overdra'wm. Eight
reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone,
Ariz. — ^General patronage.
LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT : Lon Chaney— June
30-July 1. A good show of mystery, horrors and
excitement. Did not please so well on that account.
Not a good show for children. All parts well played.
Chaney is sure a wonder in this show. Play it if
you like this type of picture. Seven reels. — E. H.
Vetter, Majestic theatre. Homer, Mich.^ — Small to'wn
patronage.
THE LOVELORN: Sally O'Neil— July 1-2. Pretty
good picture, but fell flat at the box office. Print and
photography good. Seven reels. — P. G. Held, Strand
theatre, Griswold, la. — Neighborhood patronage.
TWELVE MILES OUT: John Gilbert— June 23.
Pretty good picture. Print and photography good.
Eight reels. — P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold,
la. — Neighborhood patronage.
TWELVE MILES OUT: John Gilbert— A lot of
disjointed roughnecks stuff. "Listen, John," the com-
ment of the ladies was, "we don't come to the movies
to see ugly men." Pete Harrison had this one right.
Eight reels. — J. C. MacKenzle, Princess theatre, Sea-
forth, Ont., Canada. — Small town patronage.
TILLIE THE TOILER: Marion Davies— Here's a
title that's worth its weight in gold, and the picture
will please them when they come. — J. C. MacKenzie,
Princess theatre, Seaforth, Out., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
THE FIRE BRIGADE: Special cast— A big special
that has everything, including colored scenes that
show May McAvoy as just about the most beautiful
vision that ever appeared on a screen. As a produc-
tion, I count it the finest special I have run this year
to date (July 6), but on account of the punk unimi-
Ho Losses \n the Box Office
TiCICET REGISTEI^
Automatic Ti cket
I^EGiSTER Corp.
723 Seventh Ave.New York
TucKETS;^r Every Porpose^fLoWEST Market Prices
^■^^""iMiiiii niiiMiiiiiiiiil IIIIIIIIIMIII1B1
■I " )iiiiii«iiiiiiii«ii— lit.
wiFfni
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
63
aginative title I couldn't get them out to see it and
it made me the least money. Nine reels. — J. C. Mac-
Kenzie. Princess theatre, Seaforth, Ont., Canada. —
Small town patronage.
THE FIRE BRIGADE: Special cast— June 24-25.
A very good picture. Believe it or not, this is the
first time Charlie Ray has been' on my screen in
about seven years. I guess he has made a few pic-
tures during that time, but, having gone highbrow,
the reports in the Herald didn't class them as very
good, so I didn't run 'em. When that fellow sticks
to what he can do he is very good, as in the olden
days. Nine reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre,
Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage.
THE BIG CITY: Lon Chaney— Blah, blah! First
reel or two good, then it's all over except six more
reels of stalling around in a couple of rooms. I
consider it a very weak Chaney and the box office
showed it was. Seven reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun
theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
ANNIE LAURIE: Lillian Gish— Everybody won't
like this one, but it got me vei-y good business in
this Scotch community, on a three-day run. Nine
reels. — J. C. MacKenzie, Princess theatre, Seaforth,
Ont., Canada. — Small town patronage.
THE BUGLE CALL: Jackie Coogan— This one
fell down bad compared to other Coogans. Even the
kids didn't turn out. Six reels. — J. C. MacKenzie,
Princess theatre, Seaforth, Ont., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
WEST POINT: William Haines— July 3. Highly
improbable and almost impossible in its situations,
but a good audience picture. Gave it to the local
service company and they cleaned up pretty good
on it. X had some friends who went through West
Point — in fact, one of them, a colonel, is in' town
right now — but they surein-ell never pulled anything
like Haines did or they never would have passed be-
yond the stage of a plebe. Seven reels. — ^Wm. E.
Tragsdorf, Ti-ags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small
town patronage.
THE SCARLET LETTER: Lillian Gish— We played
this on our weakest night and made a little, which
is going some for us, and shows that this play will
draw for you, due probably to the fact that it is a
•well known book. Everyone liked this play. We
should have run it two days. Lillian Gish good as
usual, but that Hansen fellow as the minister was a
"dud." If I thought that all my Puritan ancestors
were like ones depicted in this play I believe I'd go
to Canada and get dnink, and I guess the evils of
the 18th amendment are due to just such Puritans
in America today who saddled us with this per-
nicious law. This play certainly sets one thinking.
— ^Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General
patronage.
ADAM AND EVIL: Pringle-Cody— A very clever
picture that will appeal to the sophisticated. Seven
reels. — J. C. MacKenzie, Princess theatre, Seaforth,
Ont., Canada. — Small town patronage.
THE FLAMING FOREST: Special cast— July 1-2.
Very good Curwood picture. They had some techni-
color in it, but it belonged to the "Flaming Forest"
and not to the Northwest Mounted Police. They
thought the technicolor would take better with the
"red coats" than with the main theme of the story,
the forest fire. Nine reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf,
Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — ^Small town patron-
age.
Paramount
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— 65%. July 6-7. A typ-
ical Lloyd picture ; no better or no worse than his
others. If they like Lloyd they will certainly like
this one. Registers the usual amount of laughs in
a Lloyd pictm-e. Played it the hottest day of this
season, so did not get the crowd that I should have
had. Seven reels. — H. J. Eagan, American theatre,
Wautoma, Wis. — Small town patronage.
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— 65%. June 30. Gave
satisfaction to fair crowd, good, but not as good as
"Girl Shy" or "The Freshman." Nevertheless one
of our best bets. Eight reels. — O. A. Fosse, Com-
munity theatre, Ridgeway, la. — Small town patronage.
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— 50%. June 27-28. A
real good comedy and pleased those who came. Eight
reels. — ^Minnie M. Schnoor, Paramount theatre, Sta-
pleton. Neb. — Small town patronage.
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— A good Lloyd comedy
which did not do any business for me and after
splitting with Paramount came out 20 bucks in the
hole. The Paramount Lloyds don't seem to have the
draw the old Pathe Lloyds did, but "Speedy" is good.
Eight reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas
City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— June 19-20-21. A new
good comedy. For some reason it did not draw for
me. Print and photography good. Eight reels. —
P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — Neighbor-
hood patronage.
OPEN RANGE: Special cast— 95%. June 30.
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
HASTINGS, NEB., July 10, 1928.
DEAR HERALD-WORLD:
It has been said that it takes hot weather to make corn. If that is true the Nebraska farm-
ers will have to use derricks to load their corn in the wagons this fall. It is so durn hot
tonight that it sizzles when you spit on the sidewalk and when the boy brought us a chocolate
sundae a few moments ago it was soup before he got up stairs with it. Yes, sir, it's hot. It's
so hot that there is steam coming out of the ice water faucet. Maybe you won't believe it
but there is, and that's pretty hot.
We stopped in Sargent last Monday and called on John Cosner of the Sun theatre. As
near as we could figure John we listed him as a boy with mighty good sense. His only
weakness seemed to be that he operates his theatre right in the season when catfish are bit-
ing. John's theatre is not very far from the North Loupe river and the North Loupe is full
of catfish and the way we have it doped out is that any boy who will run a show that close
to the river at this season of the year needs somebody besides his wife to look after him.
There's no doggone sense of a fellow acting that way. Anyhow, John and his wife tried
to get us to stay for dinner but we know how these big feeds affect us in hot weather. We
hope to go back again sometime when it is cooler.
* * *
Dr. R. P. Higgins, of the Ansley theatre, at Ansley, and F. S. Mooney, of the Opera House,
at Mason City, are located right in the midst of an agricultural country that can't be beaten
on earth and if these boys don't mop up this fall it won't be the fault of Al Smith or Herb
Hoover. They will have to take the blame themselves.
Gus Holub, of the Pastime, at Ravena, has one of those musical contraptions like Kramer,
of Stanton, has, and Kramer's is a Columbia-Kolster, if you know what that is, and we
desire to repeat what we have heretofore said, that it is simply par excellence personified-
or something like that. Maybe it's better than that, anyhow, it's good enough for Holub and
anything that is good enough for Holub is good enough for the average herd, and we like
it ourself, which makes it a cinch proposition. Buy one if you want to or leave it alone,
it's mox nix oush with us.
'K * *
Grand Island and Hastings are making faces at one another. This is very naughty in both
of them. Grand Island says, "The Village of Hastings," and Hastings says, "The Grand
Island crossroads," and both of these towns look upon Lincoln and Omaha as switching
points for the Burlington and U. P. roads. Grand Island reminds us of the boy when he
first felt fuzz on his upper lip and refers to Dad as, "The Old Fossil," and Hastings reminds
us of the girl when she had her first beau and referred to Mama as, "The Old Girl." Com-
ing as we do from Neligh, where they sell codfish and tenpenny nails in the postoffice and
Bill Smith's Jack wakes everybody up in the morning, we are willing to admit that Grand
Island and Hastings are both some pumpkins as cities. In fact, we are doubtful if two
better cities of their size could be found this side of Tombstone, Ariz., or Grindstone,
S. D. Grand Island's slogan is. "The third city of the state," and Hastings says, "After us
you come next," and the government doesn't seem to be doing a thing to settle the matter.
Let 'em fight, they are both Republican anyhow.
Last night at the Rivoli here in Hastings we saw Dolores Del Rio in "Ramona" and we
have been trying to figure out whether a jammed house on Monday night with the mer-
cury trying to bust out of the thermometer was due to the picture or the popularity of
Mr. M. H. Garvin, the manager. We have multiplied two by two several times and got four
as a result in each case which leads us to conclude that it is about 50-50.
This afternoon, when everybody was gasping for breath, there was something like 300
attended the matinee, mostly ladies, and it may have been on account of Dolores, but more
likely on account of the genial smile of the manager, which seemed to have a cooling effect
on their fevered brows. Anyhow, there is a magnet somewhere about the Rivoli that pulls
them in and that is all that matters.
When we introduced ourself to Mr. Garvin he got up and gave us the glad hand and in-
troduced us to his estimable wife (a very dangerous thing to do), and then followed a
half hour of delightful conversation in which we were tendered the freedom of both of his
theatres with the hope that we would call on him often. It is a pleasure to meet a manager
of this type. There are not enough of them. May their numbers increase. We remember
calling on one manager who looked up at us with a frown and growled, "Well, what do
{Continued on next page)
Drevf one of the best crowds this season' and gave
general satisfaction. Made back some money that I
lost on highbrow pictures. — G. E. Wendel, Opera
House, Smithland, la. — Small town patronage.
OPEN RANGE: Special cast — A good Saturday
night picture. Six reels. — J. C. MacKenzie, Princess
theatre, Seaforth, Ont., Canada. — Small town patron-
age.
STARK LOVE: Special east— 40%. June 26.
Pleased on its educational merits. — Bert Silver, Silver
Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
LOVE AND LEARN: Esther Ralston— 36%. June
30. A dandy comedy. Lane Chandler is good and
Esther Ralston at her best. Six reels. — Mrs. Hulda J.
Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General pat-
ronage.
FIREMEN, SAVE MY CHILD: Beery-Hatton—
40%. July 1-2. Just too bad. — Bert Silver, Silver
Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
BEAU GESTE: Special cast— 28%. July 4-5.
Little need be said about this picture. You all know
it's good. But O Lord ! We've got plenty to say
about that Paramount outfit at Cincinnati. Service?
Don't believe they know the meaning of the word.
Our opinion is that they are so darn busy trying to
get something on the little exhibitor that they haven't
time left to give him decent service. They couldn't
furnish us with the paper we wanted and the film
must have been salvaged from some trash-heap. What
we mean, it was dirty. Stuff on it in' gobs, and it
had been spliced up just any old way. Splices were
rotten, and a good part of the time the titles could
not be read due to stretches of the film having been
spliced in backwards. Can you tie that for the
"biggest and best in pictures" ? Due to these things
our Independence Day program was a dud at the
box office and a pain to our projectionist. And they
want 50 per cent of the gross ! ! ! Ha ! ha ! Ain't
that humorous? O Justice, take off your bandages
and get out the old spectacles ! Ten reels. — Tivenan &
Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, Ohio. — Small
town' patronage.
BEAU GESTE : Ronald Colman— June 26-27-28. A
good picture, but no drawing card. Print and pho-
tography good. Ten reels. — P. G. Held, Strand thea-
tre, Griswold, la. — Neighborhood patronage.
HALF A BRIDE: Esther Ralston— July 1. Very
good, better than average island story stuff. Opens
with society scenes, from novel "White Hands."
64
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
{Continued from preceding page)
you want?" and we replied, "Excuse us, sir, we were looking for the theatre and didn't know
we had gotten into a blacksmith shop." It is a good thing that all people are not alike.
If they were just see how many times our wife would have had to be married, and we hold
that once is a plenty.
ilf * *
We note by today's press reports that Cal caught two trout at one cast. Huh, that's
nothing, Elmer Gailey caught three bullheads and a dogfish on one angleworm and didn't
half try.
Any guy who will sit at a typewriter in his B. V. D.'s and write nonsense when there is a
cool shower bath awaiting him in the next room doesn't have as much sense as a bullfrog,
but if our wife knew we were going to take a bath the chances are she would send us a
quart of smartweed tea and a bottle of Sloan's liniment. Anyhow, we are going to chance
it right now.
JULY 11.
It was a terrible shock but we believe we are going to survive, anyhow we believe we will
stand a better chance than the guy in the next room to us who has a phonograph and is
playing jazz selections, and his stay on this mundane sphere will depend entirely on how
many more of these records he has. If there is anything that will incite riot and a shedding
of gore it is jazz music. We can stand to hear an old sow squeal for swill by the hour and
call it music but when they put on a jazz record we want to sign a declaration of war with
an unconditional surrender attachment, and if this bird in the next room has as large a
repertoire as we are afraid he has we will have front page space in the morning papers.
Hf *■ i):
Mr. Garvin of the Rivoli played 'HOT NEWS" tonight with Bebe Daniels and Neil
Hamilton. There are three things that made this picture much above the average enter-
tainment. Bebe, Neil and Clarence Badger. Bebe is always good, she used to be good
when she was playing with Harold Lloyd and Snub Pollard, and that was a long time ago,
and Bebe doesn't show her age a bit (there now, Bebe, how's that?). And Clarence Badger
hasn't lost any of his directorial ability since he directed "Jes Call Me Jim" and that was a
long time ago too.
When they combine a trio such as these, with a sensible story, such as "HOT NEWS"
the result is bound to be SATISFACTION, and that was the net result here tonight. Note:
If the HERALD-WORLD could be induced to dispense with our services we might be per-
suaded to act as Bebe's press agent, but that would be tough on the HERALD-WORLD,
but forgetting a calamity of that kind, we wish to remark that any exhibitor who doesn't
play "HOT NEWS" has no reason to squawk about poor business, for "HOT NEWS" will
yank 'em in on hot nights unless they have all gone Democratic, in which event Al Smith
should be held responsible. If they will play "HOT NEWS" in Palo Alto we will bet our
last nickel (and we have only one left), that Herb Hoover will be there both nights. If he
doesn't we will vote for Lydia E. Pinkham.
Mr. and Mrs. Garvin invited us to dinner today and the layout on Mrs. Garvin's table so
frustrated us that we tried to eat our soup with a fork and drink our fruit cocktail. Was
it a dinner? Well, boy, you asked something. You may have tried the Ritz or the Waldorf-
Astoria, but listen, son, you hain't never et nuthin' yet. We tried to apologize for our
tapeworm and Mrs. Garvin said we should see a doctor. Yes, it was a dinner, and we have
felt like a cormorant (Editor's note: Jaysee's bought a dictionary) ever since and it has
ruined us for hotel grub ever after and anon. Thanks, folks, you gave us a thrill.
There are a couple of young girls and their beaus in that room where they have the
phonograph and if business keeps on improving we are going to ask them to start another
record, for we didn't know before that there was anything worse than a jazz selection.
* * *
Nebraska is harvesting the largest wheat crop in her history, and if the corn matures, as
it looks now like it would, she will be able to supply the world, unless they repeal the
eighteenth amendment.
It has cooled off tonight and there is a chance to get a little sleep and you will be entitled
to guess as to what we are going to do right now. You are right about it. Shower bath,
pajamas and good night.
J. C. JENKINS,
The HERALD-WORLD Man.
Seven reels.— P. G. Estee, S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D.
— Small town patronage.
A PIONEER SCOUT: Fred Thomson— A good
Western, excepting that the scene where the villain
sharpens the hook used on his handlees arm and
pulls the man up through the trap door is too grue-
some.— J. C. MacKenzie, Princess theatre, Seaforth,
Ont., Canada. — Small town patronage.
THE PIONEER SCOUT: Fred Thomson— First
Thomson picture in this theatre for two years, and
he was evidently a stranger to my patrons, including
the kids, as no applause greeted the gentleman when
he appeared upon the screen. Drew hardly normal
business and would class as only the usual run of
Westerns. Fair. Six reels. — P. G, Vaughan, Sun
theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
GET YOUR MAN: Clara Bow— Oara is there as
xisual. The action in the wax works is good, but the
story is quite ordinary and peters out at the end.
Six reels. — J. C. MacKenzie, Princess theatre, Sea-
forth, Ont., Canada. — Small town patronage.
THE LAST OUTLAW: Special cast— Good. Play
it. Liked by everyone. — Russell C. Dey, Eeedville
theatre, Reedville, Va. — General patronage.
THE GAY DEFENDER: Richard Dix— Richard is
our favorite star, but while the picture is entertaining
they didn't fancy him in the Spanish get-up. The
advertising didn't help any either. Seven reels. —
J. C. MacKenzie, Princess theatre, Seaforth, Ont.,
Canada. — Small town patronage.
THE GAY DEFENDER: Richard Dix— June 26.
Dandy picture. Had best crowd for Tuesday that we
have had in a long time. I asked Richard for a photo
when I reported on "Knockout Riley," but haven't
received any and guess I won't. We don't have to
ask First National stars for photos ; they send them
and write us nice letters besides. Long may they
reign. Seven reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny thea-
tre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage.
NEVADA: Gary Cooper — Very good Zane Grey
picture. Seven reels. — J. C. MacKenzie, Princess the-
atre, Seaforth, Ont., Canada.^ — Small town patronage.
SHANGHAI BOUND: Dix-Brian— How soon will
the Chinese be able to do as other nations? Stop
this showing of their people as disagreeable inferior
animals. The Chinese are engaged in the laudable
effort at National Independence. When they have
completed the task perhaps too, they may acquire
time and money to wear a white uniform and become
superior and refined, don't you know. The picture,
if your patrons are not troubled by the above, will
please. Six reels. — J. C. MacKenzie, Princess theatre,
Seaforth, Ont., Canada. — Small town patronage.
BARBED WIRE : Pola Negri — Get this one. Truly
a great picture. This star has been given such
wretched parts that I hesitated to play it. It will
be liked by the people you like to have in your
house. Seven reels. — J. C. MacKenzie, Princess thea-
tre, Seaforth, Ont., Canada. — Small town i>atronage.
A NIGHT OF MYSTERY: Adolphe Menjou— Not
so good. A lot of good actors wasted on a jjoor
piece of screen material ; and this guy Lothar Mendee,
what country does he hail from? I've yet to see a
box oflice picture he's turned out. Six reels. — P. G.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighbor-
hood patronage.
SHE'S A SHEIK: Bebe Daniels— June 17-18. Ex-
cellent entertainment. Bebe Daniels always good.
Best of luck and success to you, Bebe; just keep on
making action comedy dramas. Print and photogra-
phy good. Seven reels. — P. G. Held, Strand theatre.
Griswold, la. — ^Neighborhood patronage.
SHE'S A SHEIK: Bebe Daniels— A real picture,
a credit to Bebe and all concerned. Good for Sat-
urday or any day. Six reels. — J. C. MacKenzie,
Princess theatre, Seaforth, Ont., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
SWIM, GIRL, SWIM: Bebe Daniels— Here's a
rousing comedy, a worthy successor to "The Campus
Flirt." Play it and forget your grief. Six reels. —
J. C. MacKenzie, Princess theatre, Seaforth, Ont.,
Canada. — Small town patronage.
BEAU SABREUR: Special cast— Satisfactory pic-
ture. Seven reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre.
Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage.
NOW WE'RE IN THE AIR: Beery-Hatton— July
3-4. This is a dandy comedy. Had big crowds and
everyone was happy. Good print and photography.
Didn't see anything vulgar about it, as so many have
stated in their reports. Six reels. — Robert K. Yancey,
Bonny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage.
FIGURES DON'T LIE: Esther Ralston — This
sounded like a good title for Esther, but I can't see
its application. A lot of you have said this picture
is good. You've got to show me. Five reels. — J. C.
MacKenzie, Princess theatre, Seaforth, Ont., Canada.
— Small town patronage.
TWO FLAMING YOUTHS: Fields-Conklin-Brian^—
This one gave us good Saturday night business and
was enjoyed, apparently. Six reels. — J. C. MacKen-
zie, Princess theatre, Seaforth, Ont., Canada. — Small
town patronage.
TELL IT TO SWEENEY: Bancroft-Conklin— Great
work, all but the advertising matter. It will put your
crowd in good humor. Six reels. — J. C. MacKenzie,
Princess theatre, Seaforth, Ont., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
Pathe-P D C
THE LEOPARD LADY: Jacqueline Logan — 40%.
June 28. A very good picture. Comedy, drama,
thrills, everything you can wish for and then some.
Boost this picture. Six reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green,
Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
STEEL PREFERRED: Special cast— 2«%. June
29-30. Here is a mighty nice program offering
which ought to please any reasonable Saturday night
audience. Plenty of dramatic scenes and tense mo-
ments, amply relieved with comedy. A good cast
and a good picture. However, we drew a bum print
as usual. Seems as if the distributors try to help
us little fellows along the road to oblivion by can-
celling good pictures with rotten patched-up prints.
Seven reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland theatre,
Nevada, Ohio. — Small town patronage.
STAND AND DELIVER: Rod LaRocque— June 23.
This turned out to be quite fair. Unusual locale.
Pleased 70 per cent. — Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre.
Eureka, Mont. — Small town patronage.
New Camera Effects in
F N's "The Divine Lady"
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 17.— "The Di-
vine Lady," First National produc-
tion, starring Corrinne Griffith, has
new technical and camera effects,
evolved in the studio research labo-
ratories.
July 21, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
65
ROARIN* BRONCS: Buffalo Bill, Jr.— June 30. A
dandy little Western' for Saturday night filled with
comedy and action. Five reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf,
Trags theatre, Neilleville, Wis. — Small town patron-
age.
Tiffany
LIGHTNING: Special cast — A mighty good Zane
Grey far West and New York cabaret picture, with
wild horses being chased and tamed and one. Light-
ning, furnishing much of the plot. Thifi picture is
different from moet Zane Greys, but intensely hu-
man. Aeroplane crossing continent with two chorus
girlfi breaks down on desert, and their experience in
sandstorm is mighty thrilling. Scenery fine, cast
fine. Jobyna Kalston is in this ; also Robert Frazier
and Margaret Livingston — all good. Also the cowboy
who ropes everyone and everything in New York.
Oh, yes, Guinn Williams. He's good ! Book this by
all means. It's full of laughter, dancing and excite-
ment.—Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. —
General patronage.
THE BROKEN GATE: William Collier, Jr.— The
audience, while small, gave very attentive interest
to this picture. Acting well done and story had much
heart interest as well as bringing out the point that
scandal-mongers are in the Main streets as well as
among the city cliff dwellers. Six reels. — Giacoma
Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General pat-
ronage.
United Artists
RAMONA: Dolores Del Rio — Perfectly beautiful
picture. One of finest in years. Del Rio a treat.
Beautiful scenes. Warner Baxter as Indian and
Roland Drew as Felipe very fine. Superb direction
by Carewe. Simplicity of story and treatment a
delight. No absurd movie brainstorm stuff in this,
but a dignified, yet humorous, play. Thrilling, ab-
sorbing, often sad, but with great human interest
appeal. Not a fast Western, but a colorful, lovely
drama whose beauty will linger long in the memory.
The slaughter of the Indians and destruction of their
villages are as big scenes as are in "The Covered
Wagon." Believe this ranks right up close to "Cov-
ered Wagon" and "Ben Hur" in popular appeal.
Chautauqua kept profits down to normal. There are
three Orthophonic records of Ramona ; the one with
guitar accompaniment is just ideal for Felipe's play-
ing and singing. This is a great box office attraction.
Don't hesitate to play it up big.— Philip Rand, Rex
theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
COLLEGE : Buster Keaton — Best comedy ever. Oh
boy! it's a peach! Best of all, there is a real story
in this. Buster, the prize student-grind, goes in for
athletics to please his girl and becomes the campus
clown. His trials at running, jumping, pole vaulting,
discus and javelin and hammer throwing and shot
putting are screams. As coxswain for the crew.
Buster pulls over the cleverest stunt yet. In the
grand finale Buster, to rescue his girl from the col-
lege villain, breaks every known record in running
and jumping, pole vaults through a two-story window
and kicks the other fellow to a fare-you-well. House
in uproar. Will you book it? Don't be foolish I—
Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho.— General
patronage.
Universal
OUT ALL NIGHT: Reginald Denny— 30%. June
29. Just a silly farce. They are spoiling a good
he-man actor in this type of picture.— Bert Silver,
Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.— General pat-
ronage.
SILK STOCKINGS: Laura La Plante— 33%. June
24. A good comedy. Six reels.— Mrs. Hulda J.
Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah.— General pat-
ronage.
BUCK PRIVATES: Lya de Putti-June 24-25.
A good comedy picture which put the house in an
uproar at times. Did not draw as well as others.
It will stand a good stunt advertising of a comedy
nature. Six reels.— E. H. Vetter, Majestic theatre.
Homer, Mich. — Small town patronage.
THE COHENS AND KELLYS IN PARIS: Special
cast— This picture will get the laughs, but when they
say "better than the original Cohens and Kellys"
it's blah. Three parte of it is old stuff revamped.
Eight reels.— J. C. MacKenzie, Princess theatre, Sea-
forth, Ont., Canada. — Small town patronage.
A HERO ON HORSEBACK: Special cast— This
is one of Hoot's poorer pictures. People losing inter-
est in Hoot because of his stories. He draws less and
less for me month by month. Carl Laemmle is
going to find Universal footing list of producers
very soon. Foreign made pictures — imbecile Blue
Streaks — punk comedies and poor stories for Hoot
do not make Universal a very good bet. It is fortu-
nate for exhibitors that the bigger companies also
make Westerns. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon,
Idaho. — General patronage.
HARD FISTS: Art Acord— One of those Blue
Streak Westerns that no Universal salesman was ever
known to sit through a showing. I didn't have the
heart to see sad faced Art Acord dropping tears, so
stayed at home. However, some liked it fine and
some went joyriding. These Blue Streaks are gen-
erally the bunk. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon,
Idaho. — General patronage.
GRINNING GUNS: Jack Hoxie— June 23. A good
Hoxie for Saturday night. Five reels. — Wm. E.
Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small
town patronage.
PAINTING THE TOWN: Glenn Tryon— This one
pleased. This new star gets his part over in good
style. Not a special. Six reels. — J. C. MacKenzie,
Princess theatre, Seaforth, Ont., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
THE RAWHIDE KID. Hoot Gibson— July 3. Just
a good clean Western which seemed to satisfy the
majority. Business fair. Six reels. — E. H. Vetter,
Majestic theatre. Homer, Mich. — Small town patron-
age.
BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY: Renee Adoree — June
30. Can't say I enthused over this one. Would not
please high class patronage but will get by with av-
erage fan. — Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre. Eureka,
Mont. — Small town patronage.
THE FIGHTING THREE : Special cast— Of all the
bunk plays, this is it. Jack Hoxie befriends a road
show girl and that's about all. Better blue pencil
these Blue Streaks and start over again making real
Western cowboy hard riding pictures. Jack is posi-
tively getting fat from just sitting around watching
the clouds roll by. Haven't met any one yet who
likes these Blue Streaks and I have a year's supply
ahead of me! Horrors! Yet, I'll have the fun of
shooting holes in 'em every time they appear. — Philip
Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patron-
Warner Bros.
THE GIRL FROM CHICAGO: Special cast— Here
is a program picture which cost us only one fifth of
"Don Juan" and beat the latter in box-office receipts
as three to one. Just how it got by as a program
picture is a mystery to me. It seems to have been
the joker in the pack. All Warner pictures are not
flops. With the Rin Tin Tins and with the Monte
Blues "The Girl From Chicago" will rank high, a
good picture for a small or a large town. — A. J.
Gibbons, Illinois-Kozy-Elite theatres. Metropolis, 111. —
General patronage.
THE HEART OF MARYLAND: Dolores Costello—
March 8-9-10. Good program picture. Star pleases,
the chap who appeared as Maryland's brother was
the one who caught the flapper's eye. Six reels. —
J. C. MacKenzie, Princess theatre, Seaforth, Ont.,
Canada. — Small town patronage.
SAILOR IZZY MURPHY: Special cast— A walk-
out with comments more or less vulgar. We bought
this as a special and paid a special price for it. We
put it on as a two day picture, but took it off on
Friday night because it was a complete flop. The
receipts were less than one half what we paid for the
picture ; though this play had the ruggedness which
distinguishes Warner productions, it is fundamentally
wrong. The dominant character is a mad man and
hie resultant acts constitute the action of the play.
It is a well known tenet among those who have
studied plays that mental aberration is not a proper
subject for a drama, though this play might prove
quite interesting to those who had been formerly
inmates of a lunatic asylum and possibly help to
send some exhibitors to the same place. — A. J. Gib-
bons, Illinois-Elite-Kozy theatres. Metropolis, 111. —
General patronage.
JAWS OF STEEL: Rin Tin' Tin— An ordinary Rin
Tin Tin picture. It will get by O. K. Six reels. —
J. C. MacKenzie, Princess theatre, Seaforth, Ont.,
Canada. — Small town patronage.
THE BLACK DIAMOND EXPRESS: Monte Blue—
A good railroad drama. Monte Blue very good. Good
cast. Six reels. — J. C. MacKenzie, Princess theatre,
Seaforth, Ont., Canada. — Small town patronage.
SLIGHTLY USED: MacAvoy-Nagel— Good enter-
tainment. Seven' reels. — J. C MacKenzie, Princess
theatre, Seaforth, Ont., Canada. — Small town patron-
age.
BRASS KNUCKLES: Monte Blue— June 27. Blue
plays in consistently good pictures. He and Rinty
are the only sure fire in' this Warner bunch. — Frank
Sabin, Majestic theatre. Eureka, Mont. — Small town
patronage.
THE COLLEGE WIDOW: Dolores Costello— A good
college picture. Big Boy Williams helped a lot in
putting this one over. Seven reels. — J. C. MacKenzie,
Princess theatre, Seaforth, Ont., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
DOG OF THE REGIMENT: Rin Tin Tin— A ho-
kum war story but one of the best dog pic^-u-es from
an entertainment standpoint I've ever played. Old
Rinty is getting old and fat but he does his stuff in
this one. Played it with Harold Lloyd in "Grandma's
Boy." Some show! Six reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun
theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — ^Neighborhood patronage.
TRACKED BY THE POLICE: Rin Tin Tin— This
picture got business on the strength of previous pic-
tures. It's a lot of stunts thrown together in old
fashioned serial style. Six reels. — J. C MacKenzie,
Princess theatre, Seaforth, Ont., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
WHITE FLANNELS: Special cast— March 26-27-28.
Did not appeal to my crowd, though well enough pro-
duced. Story too drab. Seven reels. — J. C. Mac-
Kenzie, Princess theatre, Seaforth, Ont., Canada. —
Small town patronage.
State Rights
BRANDING FIRE: Cheyenne Bill— 50%. My crowds
seem to be getting off Westerns, and from the stuff
I have been dishing out to them the past two months
I sure don't blame them for staying home and taking
a bath on Saturday night. This picture just a shade
better than the usual dose I have been getting, but it
lacks quality. This one will please about 50%. Five
reels. — J. W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark.
— General patronage.
THE SLAVER: Pat O'Malley— June 29-30. Good
sea story from James Oliver Curwood's novel. Six
reels.— P. G. Estee, S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D. —
Small town patronage.
Serials
THE HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY (Pathe) : Special
cast — On sixth chapter and seems to please pretty
well. Ten chapters. — Andrew Rapp, Theatorium the-
atre, Emlenton, Pa. — General patronage.
Short Subjects
EDUCATIONAL
THE DAFFY DILL: Billy Dooley— A fair two reel
comedy. — P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. —
Neighborhood patronage.
FALL IN: Cameo — Good one reel comedy. — P. G.
Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — ^Neighborhood
patronage.
HALF PINT HERO: Lupino Lane— This bird is
in a class by himself, when it comes to acrobatic com-
edies. This one is a good number. Two reels. — P. G.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo.— Neighbor-
hood patronage.
HIS BETTER HALF: Lloyd Hamilton— Not much
to these Hamilton comedies. Hardly a laugh in' them.
Print good. Two reels. — P. G. Held, Strand theatre,
Griswold, la. — Neighborhood patronage.
WEDDING SLIP: Cameo— Pretty good comedy.
One reel. — -P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. —
Neighborhood patronage.
WHOOZIT: Charlie Bowers— Quite puzzling, how
it's all done. But not much for laughs. Two reels. —
P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. —
Neighborhood patronage.
WILD CAT VALLEY: Good comedy. Two reels-
Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, GreenVille, Mich. —
General patronage.
F B O
BILL GRIMM'S PROGRESS: Al Cooke— All have
been good. Two reels.— Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem
theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
F B O NEWS LAFFS: Fair, not much to them.
One reel. — Andrew Rapp, Theatorium theatre, Emlen-
ton, Pa. — General patronage.
WANDERERS OF THE WAISTLINE: Three Fat
Boys — These three fat men draw well for us. Their
pictures are comical, good and clean. We use them
as often as we can. Two reels. — E. H. Vetter, Ma-
jestic theatre, Homer, Mich. — Small town patronage.
FOX
FOLLOW THE LEADER: Good comedy. Two
reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
A FOOL AND HIS MONEY: A darn poor comedy.
Two reels. — Minnie M. Schnoor, Paramount theatre,
Stapleton, Nebr. — Small town patronage.
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
AFRICAN ADVENTURE: Oddity— Very fine.
Shows African wild life. Men all raved over it. A
geographic education in one reel. — Philip Rand, Rex
theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
BUFFALO BILL'S LAST FIGHT : Played this with
"Circus Rookies" and honestly believe "Buffalo Bill's
Last Fight" was responsible for at least 50% of my
business. Very beautiful, interesting and historical
picture. Two reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre,
Kansas City, Mo. — -Neighborhood patronage.
DOG HEAVEN: Our Gang^Good comedy, not any
better than Pathe. Too expensive. Two reels. —
(Continued on next page)
66
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 21, 1928
Y^
CHICAGO PERSONALITIES
By Whit
MARKS BROTHERS was denied a temporary injunction against
Balaban and Katz, six producer distributors and other defendants in
its anti-trust suit last Thursday. However, the plaintiff received what
the court called the essential effect of a temporary injunction through the con-
tinuance until the final hearing of the counsels' agreement, which was operating
pending last Thursday's hearing, restraining the defendants from committing
the acts charged in the suit. For full details of the suit, giving all charges and
counter-charges, read George Schutz's story in the news section of this book.
Jack Baker, who keeps Universal well and before we had time to ease down in
publicized in this territory, has a new a chair to rest our dogs, he dragged us
daughter in his home, and she has been back in his poster department. Well, you
christened Betty Jane, a name which goes
nicely with her elder sister, Mary Lou.
* =7i *
All the boys at F B O staged a big golf
tournament SaturdaJ^ Results of the match
have not been learned, yet we'll bet that
Ted Meyers came in for a large share of
the pot that was put up.
* * *
The circus came to town Saturday, and
all morning the row was filled with ele-
phants, dogs, horses, wagons, carts and all
the other what-nots that go to make up
"the biggest show on earth." And maybe
j-ou think it wasn't hard for us to keep
from playing hookie.
* * *
The Colfax theatre, a new Publix house
in South Bend, will open its doors on
August 4 for the first time, and a sound
picture, Richard Dix in "Warming Up,"
will head the program. A brand new
theatre and an opening policy of sound
pictures should prove a fare enticing
enough for most any South Bender.
^ ^ ^
Irving Mack, who is always on the go
at race horse speed, is spending a few days
in Wisconsin in an attempt to get a little
rest.
^ ^ ^
It is rumored that the Orpheum circuit
is soon to install sound picture equipment
in all its vaudeville-picture houses.
^ ^ ^
Sam Sax, president of Gotham Pictures,
was in Chicago Fridav on his way to New
York.
* * *
We dropped in to have a chat with
Freddie ISIartin at United Artists Saturday,
Mr. Exhibitor!
See What Jay Gould
Plainfield, HI.
Says About
PHOTOTONE
Read Page 60 of July 14
Exhibitor.s Herald-World
For Details Communicate with
L. V. Kuttnauer
845 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago
Phone Harrison 0737
back in his poster department,
should just see the place. System and
efficiency are the big features, and every-
thing for the handling of posters in the
best possible way is there. Freddie is
proud of it, and he has a perfect right to be.
^ ^ ^
"Sunrise," the Fox picture with Movie-
tone accompaniment opened at the Roose-
velt theatre last Friday, marking the
opening of its sound picture policy, and
the Chicago presents sound pictures to its
patrons on July 30 with "Warming Up,"
the Paramount picture starring Richard
Dix. Whether Chicago likes it or not,
sound pictures are here, and from the great
success of "Street Angel" at McVickers,
it looks as if Chicago does like the synchro-
nized pictures.
^ ^ ^
Harold Wise, formerly with Coston, is
now in the short subject department at the
Columbia exchange here.
^ ^ ^
The Marks Brothers case was a general
topic of conversation down the row last
week, and no doubt will continue to be.
Whether or not the company can get pic-
tures, we are in no position to say, but
we do know that its Friday ads carried no
picture announcem.ent and the house
changes on Saturday. The picture that is
now playing is being given the least pos-
sible notice in the ads.
^ ^ ^
Herbert R. Ettelson, owner of the Strand,
is touring Wisconsin and will continue to
do that for the next three or four weeks.
* * *
M. Van Praag, Western sales director for
Universal, was in Chicago last week.
^ '-^ ^
The Orpheum theatre at South Bend has
reduced its prices from 15 and 30 cents
to 10 and 20 cents.
^ ^ ^
Steve Montgomery of the Daily News
Screen Service, spent a few days of recrea-
tion at Bangs Lake last week.
* * *
And Jack Miller is on a vacation at his
summer home in Lake Geneva. And by the
Avay. Jack's office in Chicago will be closed
on Saturdays during the remainder of the
summer, which, according to Miss Tess
Heraty, is a splendid idea.
Joseph P. Kennedy, whose titles are too
numerous to mention, was in town last
week visiting the F B O, Pathe and First
National exchanges. He met the entire
force at Pathe for the first time.
* * *
Harry Scott, short subjects sales man-
ager for Pathe, was in town Friday.
^ ^ ^
Harry O'Brien is now covering Northern
Illinois for Pathe.
It is understood that "The Port of Miss-
ing Girls" has been booked for 39 of the
Coston houses and 48 of the houses booked
by B &K. The picture is being handled by
Ben Beadell and Major Doenning.
MILTON M. STERN
The Row's Insurance Man.
Life, Accident, Auto, Fire &
CasusJty Lines
1180 E. 63rd St. Phone Fairfax 7200
What the Picture
Did for Me
(Continued from preceding page)
Andrew Rapp, Theatorium theatre, Emlenton, Pa. —
General patronage.
LIMOUSINE LOVE: Charlie Chase— Pretty good
comedy. Two reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre,
Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
TOKENS OF MANHOOD: Oddity— Interesting
picture of Amazon Indian tribal customs. Better
than average oddity. However, it appears that our
patrons want to be entertained rather than educated,
and since we do not feel able to do both, we are
going to replace "Oddities" with something snappier.
One reel. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Ne-
vada, Ohio. — Small town patronage.
YALE VS HARVARD : Our Gang— A picture that
pleased the kids better than older folks. Not as good
as some other Gang comedies. Two reels. — E. H. Vet-
ter. Majestic theatre. Homer, Mich. — Small town pat-
ronage.
PARAMOUNT
FRENCH FRIED: Neal Burns— Nothing much as
are most comedies of late, gags are exhausted it
seems and no actors with Chaplin or Keaton individ-
ualities in sight. Two reels. — O. A. Fosse, Community
theatre, Ridgeway, la. — Small town patronage.
HOLY MACKEREL: Very good comedy. Two
reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
SCARED PINK: Jack Duffy— This is our third
Paramount comedy and evei-y one has been good.
Two reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre. Green-
river, Utah. — General patronage.
SPLASH YOURSELF: Another good funny com-
edy. Two reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre,
Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
WEDDING WOWS: Bobby Vernon— Good Vernon
comedy. T%vo reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre,
Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
PATHE
BRINGING HOME THE TURKEY: Our Gang-
Good, reasonably priced. Two reels. — Andrew Rapp,
Theatorium theatre, Emlenton, Pa. — General patron-
age.
SMITH'S LANDLORD: Better than average. The
live stock grab a flock of laughs. Two reels. — Frank
Sabin, Majestic theatre. Eureka, Mont. — Small town
patronage.
WHY GIRLS SAY NO: Hal Roach comedy— This
comedy has an all star cast. Max Davidson, Marjorie
Daw, Creighton Hale and Spec O'Donnell, it's very
good, too. Two reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem
theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
WILL ROGERS IN DUBLIN : Not as big as Pathe
thinks they are ; only a one reel scenic, with titles
by Bill himself. — P. S. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansae
City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
TIFFANY
KING OF SPORTS: Another little Tiffany Gem
that's a credit to its name. Has a nice little story
and the colors are certainly pleasing to the eye. One
reel. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo.
— Neighborhood patronage.
UNIVERSAL
BUSTER'S SLEIGH RIDE: Very clever. Every-
one liked it. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon,
Idaho. — General patronage.
DANCING FOOLS: Just one roar after another.
A vei-y fine comedy. Pleased our crowd fine. Play
it. Two reels. — E. H. Vetter, Majestic theatre. Homer,
Mich. — Small town patronage.
MODEL GEORGE: A little on the order of a
bedroom picture although nothing rank in it. Some
very funny parts in it. Two reels. — E. H. Vetter,
Majestic theatre. Homer, Mich. — Small town patron-
age.
For your
Protection
To insure exhibitors the high-
est possible screen quality,
Eastman Positive Film is made
identifiable. The words "Eastman
Kodak" are stencilled in black
letters at short intervals in the
transparent film margin.
Specify prints on Eastman Film
—look for the identifying words
in the margin— and get the film
that always carries quality
through to the screen.
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
EXIliniTORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORI D
MOVIETONE EQUIPPED
MEANS
SIMPLEX EQUIPPED
IN ANERICAl$ leading THEATRES
Better Projection Pays
SPECIAL MODEL N^^SIMPLEX
FOR IVI O^V^IEXOIME
WILL BE SUPPLIED WHEN SPECIFIED
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTOR CORPORATION
90 GOLD STREET, NEW YOFK
EXHieiTOM
PASTE THIS IN
YOUR HAT TOO!
— we^ll have that old chapeau
of yours looking like a row of
24'sheets. These are real tips!
■^^^^
^-
:^
^«ia!>
r^^
'Our Dancing Daughters."
Vith }oan Crawford ani
ohr\ Math. Brown, Dorothy
kbastian, Anita Page. Story
ind scenario by Josephine
-ovett. W Metro-Goldwyn-
tAayer Picture directed by
iarry Beaumont. A Cos-
nopolitan Production.
MG-M
The Sound Company
Whole Vol. 92. No. 4 (Vol. 34. No. 7)
Entered as second-class matter, August 20, 1917, at the Post Office at Chicago III., under the act of March 3.
Published weekly at 407 South Dearborn St.. Chicago. Subscription $3.00 a year. Single copies, 25 cents.
July 28, 1928
^ilUlViXv
Among the organs, the'Supremdcy'of
the ^»fe»iis evidenced in its selec-'
tion and endorsement hy a majority of the
nation's fi)reniost Exhibitca*s,Shp\toen,Or-'
4anists,Per^rmers and distinguished
individuals in theatrical and public life.
%^6^
individual characteristic tonal beautv,
greater ran^ in Varietyof orchestral eflects
and exclusive patented features mahe
it distinctly different from all other
theatre oimns. , , ,
Yet,£r all its unquestioned superioriti/,
the f is among
the least expensive theatre organs to own,
not ouIa; because it is more durable,la8ts
londer and costs less for upkeep, but be -
ca^e it is an investment that paijs for
itself in increased box office receipts.
^ri^md^ for full inform
cp^<^^^^ NeioCooperative Purchase Plan
totet M«it«i#igm &.
New York,
1560 Brojdway
Los Angeles
1914 So.Vermont
Chi c afo
624 So MichiiaR
SmFrancisco
168 Golden Gate
Genuine Seapan Percussions Llied
i]
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
LINES three deep
in front of the Paramount Theatre
on hottest day of year!"
the heat continued all week
— "The Racket" continued
its sensational business!
THOMAS MEIGHAN
in 'The Racket
with Louis Wolheim and Marie Prevost. Caddo Production.
PARAMOUNT
— Harrison^s Reports
critics:
"More genuine than ^Un-
derworld.' Best Meighan
m
five
years.
—N. Y. World
"Best picture that ever
played Paramount Thea-
tre since it opened. One
of best pictures of year !"
— N. Y. Journal
"One of the outstanding
stories of the year."
—N. Y. Eve. Post
"The high mark for
melodramatic aspirants
to shoot at."
—N. Y. Times
"Splendidly entertain-
ing. Keen, acrid, truth-
ful, speedy."
— iV. y. American
Unanimous
Applause!
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
^ e w^ Y © r k
Par A MOUNT'S
first SOUND picture
Richard Dix
in "WARMING UP '
Fred Newmeyer Production with beautiful Jean Arthur
40 TO 50 PARAMOUI^T
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
f
S^oei^ eraxji
WIN
I kuthi
U tb*
K tad
bta r ---
t*lV BoO
s
EsTkI
Paramovnt's first mJ'M~7l M JTB
S'OKVI) picture MMMiJXMw
jvhat you
SEET
y^BOVE THEROAROF THE CROWD
YOU HEAR A
HIGH SWEET
VOICE !
What was she
trying to say?
toi
*I You can wairely hear hrr . . . all
arounil you the cries, ihc ahoula of that
»MthIn4 Diou of hunuinltx . . . jcrre . . .
mhrieka . . . razzing beUo>
criu-Ju. q la she trring to tell that cour-
■Xraui figure out there that iihe loves
bim . . . (hat be MUST win? The
lumull Inereuca . . . thouaanda, and
YOU. TOO. ar« cheerine ... all at the
liJgboI pilch of eieitemmiE Q What a
klcli rou'll Ket out of Paramount'a firal
SOLTMD PICTURE for consisieni
Paramount', position as the woi
atior
xhlcl
okUirul uxe of lound and musie <
amazing not* rbtos of cntcrlninmi
RICHARD
jy What TiinlLLs!
WARMING UP
___^ *'Ii'b Always Cool" — Where the midnight picturcy||T]
Pa R A M O U
SH
JHER
JAIL
•dioftcd
t baml'
GIE
JONS
t^HolU— ,
hdrputmfut
" 1 fit«l
r Music t
*r voice ones
out- and \hars
tool Together
Mfou cheer him onf
^ Out there . . . B lone courageous
figure fighting for victory. Atl
around you . . . howling thou-
sands . . . fthouting for vlrtory . . .
jeering . . . razzing . . . making
wittccracks ... bellowing en-
couragement. Near you, that
sweet girl trying to make hcrxelf
heard above the din . . . striving
to tell her sweetheart . . . that he
MUST win. qXhelove.
the fear, the hope of
that young girl, the
6ghting despai)
HEART
PARAMOinVX'S
nnST SOUND PICTURE
SEE T
surge of victory In that ynunf{
hero, every thrill . . . thctremen-
dous escitemcnt of that huge
crowd are yours. Paramount
brings it to you in its fintt SOUND
PICTURE, q And what a wallop it
has, for consistent wlih Para-
mount*s position as the foretnost
motion picture producer, thn
first Par^Tmount Sound Picture
laasuperlativecreationl itopens
amazing new vistas of entertain-
before have
thrill-
ingly
photoplay.
On Tiie StaceI
PAUL ASH
Richard
DIX
UP
'It's Alicayt Cool"— Where i'^mtdnight piclurei play
Paramount
YOU CAN USE THESE ADS:— Get in touch with your Paramount
exchange about using these ads on a co-operative basis. They aided
materially in the success of "Warming Up" at the Paramount.
Over $31,000 in two days at Paramount
Theatre, N.Y., smashing all records! — by popular
demand, moves Saturday to Rivoli, for long run!
QUALITY SouiVD Pictures
RiD
William Le Baron
PRESENTS
•n p 1^ LANDS SURPRISE SMASH
r D l^ IN NICK OF TIME!
laith
OLIVE BORDEN JACK PICKFORD
EDDIE GRIBBON
WALTER LONG
Story by J. A. GREELMAN
Nation's gravest problem dramatized in masterful
fashion by brilliant new director.. BERT GLENNON!
When ^^GANG WAR" hits 'em they'll stay HIT!
Have it screened at once... and GET BEHIND IT
FOR PLENTY HEAVY JACK!
ANOTHER CLEAN CLICKER FROM P B U
"No doubt
Charles Farrell has
THEY RAVED ABOUT HIM
in
"STREET ANGEL"
Mae Tinee of the Chicago Tribune, the
hardest' boiled critic west of New York
wrote:
^Street Angel' is a picture that more or less defies
description. One can say that it is charming; that
it delights the senses and thrills the nerves; that
scenery, sets, plot, direction and music — it's a
sound picture, you know, are all one could hope
for; thai .... Charles Farrell does to your heart
what he wants to — and still you haven't described
'Street Angel' the way it deserves to be described.
Having no possible fault to find with 'Street Angel'
and having given it all the praise I know how to
bestow, I leave it to you, saying only
I wish 1 hadn't seen it, so that I could see it all
over again — for the first time."
**Street AngeV* brohe att existing
house records its first week at
McVickerSf Chicago. The first Vox
picture ever to play a B&K house.
has the jump on
everybody in
n^ vthe red dance
he^s the answer t
many a
IT
VARIETY
THEY CLAMORED FOR HIM^-*
in
THE RED DANCE
"-*The Red Dance,' a film acted in its principal parts by
Charles Farrell, the fine young Fox star of 'Seventh Heaven'
and 'Street Angel,' is one of the most magnificent things of
its kind which I have seen on any screen."
— New York World
"Directorially, a gem — histrionically, extra special — Charlie
Farrell can play any part at all, we've discovered."
— New York Daily News
" 'The Red Dance' is the one outstanding example of what
genius can accomplish . . . Charlie Farrell proves that he may
take his place among the first lovers of the screen."
— New York Evening Graphic
" 'The Red Dance' boasts sufficient entertainment vahic to
bring the Charlie Farrell fans leaping to the Globe."
— New York Evening Telegram
"There's plenty of romance and action in the film . . . and j!
Farrell's fan mail will undoubtedly increase after this one."
— New York Evening Journal
'* *The Red Datice' with an excellent cast including Charles
Farreli. . . is without doubt the finest entertainment of il>
kind of the year." — iVei* York Evening World
*^Tfi« Red Daneef* is now playing the
Qtobe Theatre^ New Yorkf to record
hredMng summer business.
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N keeping with the snappy, modern line-up of Pathe pic-
tures for 1928-29, an Ail-American rooster, Mr. Pathe,
was chosen at the premier poultry show of the world,
Madison Square Garden, to become a model for the famous
animated trademark. Mr. Pathe received nation-wide pub-
licity. He now heralds a program of ^
pictures of quality and distinction,
made to meet every box-office re-
quirement in every corarmumty.
if /
i
I
r
..yVii>»-v.t«»
n^
HRru^;^it>l
^^■:^%^^
id^^H
1
Scenes taken
during the ex-
hibition and
selection of
Mr. Pathe at
the Annual
Poultry Show.
I
i
I
i^m:
He Crows this Year wifh R-OA- PHOTOPHONE
<:.
!
.Grantland fSB^Bk'
A sensational national
advertising campaign
'King of Kings".
on
Timed with the showing in hun-
dreds of theatres for the period
beginning Oct. 1, there will be
launched on the DeMille epic
the greatest national advertis-
ing campaign ever accorded an
individual production. Book it,
time your showing with copy in
the Saturday Even ing Post,
Collier\s, and the leading fan
publications.
The greatest publicity
stunt ever put over in the
history of the country. The
wise showmen are cashing
in by booking and boosting
the 12 Pathe one-reel pic-
tures, "Will Rogers, Our
Unofficial Ambassador
Abroad."
GRANTLAND RICE has no peer
in the realm of sports writers.
His columns are syndicated in
more than a hundred great
dailies. He is a regular con-
tributor to Collier's Weekly and
other magazines, and is known
the country over for his review
of sports and sport events over
the radio. When you play the
Grantland Rice Sportlig hts,
this publicity will be reflected
in ticket sales at the box-office.
Tons of publicity has been rolled up covering
Capitalize on it by getting your
'T^HE Pathe Rooster is the most widely known trade-
-■- mark in the world.
For more than a quarter of a century this bird has her-
alded deluxe entertainment in motion picture houses
everywhere within the boundaries of civilization.
Millions upon millions of theatre-goers have seen this
proud Pathe Rooster strut his stuff in the titles that
precede Pathe pictures of every type. jbiss*«
\o trademark of any organization has been seen by so
many eyes. No trademark has registered so forcibly
and no trademark is more of a guarantee to the public
of satisfaction in the merchandise it represents.
This Pathe trademark has feathered the nests of more
showmen than any other screen symbol.^
ss-X.-
SMiTTV
AND ms PALS
Millions of dollars
worth of publicity
when you play these
great kid comedies.
HERE'S a publicity
tie-up and ready-
made audience that
means dollars ai
jour box-office.
"Smitty and His
Pals" are seen dally
in the New YorL
Daily News, Chi-
cago Tribune and
50 other great news-
papers throughout
the country. Inter-
preted on the screen
by a gang of real,
lovable kid actors.
Sensational new series of two-reel kid com-
edies, with a cast of leading child actors.
Presented by Amedee J. Van Beuren and based on the
famous cartoon feature "Smitty" by Berndt.
Here's a
Mack Sennett
Bathing Girl,,
the lUilUon
Dollar Star.
She gets more
publicity
breaks than
any star in
Filmland,
The shotvmen
playing
Mack Sennett
comedies cash
in on this
copy.
MACK
SENNETT
comedies have always been
great — greater than any
other brand on the mar-
ket, and now, coming
from his gigantic new
studio, the Capital of
Comedy, utilizing the
talking and sound effects
of the marvelous new
RCA Photopho ne they
will be greater than ever.
factors in Pathe's 1928-29 program .
complete program^ from Pathe
does Pathe
neres
the A
nswer-
PATHE has the merchandise. Pathe has the stars^ the direc-
tors^ the studios and pictures. It's Pathe's year. The whole
country is talking about 'The King of Kings", the most publicized
film drama in all history. "^The Godless Girl" has aroused wide
comment even before its release. "The Red Mark", "The Cop",
"A Ship Comes In", "Tenth Avenue" and two score of other
super features have so many noteworthy ingredients that they
stand out from the common run of pictures like a lighthouse in
the fog. Names like Grantland Rice, Mack Sennett are
constantly before the public in various mediums. The Sennett
bathing beauty is an American institution and more space is
devoted to her than to any other star. The coming Pathe stars
like Phyllis Haver, Lina Basquette, Jeanette Loff, Sue Carol,
Robert Armstrong, George Duryea, Eddie Quillan and John
Mack Brown are good newspaper "copy". There are no more
popular stars than William Boyd, Rod LaRocque, Leatrice Joy,
Marie Prevost and Jacqueline Logan. The press always recog-
nizes and appreciates leadership and Pathe has jumped the
field this season— Pathe is out ahead going strong, and editors
see real news in its activities.
^'*'* PathesYear
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
11
imwimmim m mil m u
Western Electric
^ystexn of Sound Pictures
adopted by leading producers and exhibitors
The Western Electric Company licenses producers to use in
their studios its apparatus for recording sound by both the
disc method, and the photographic or film method in which
the sound is registered on the edge of the film. Both of these
methods were developed in the Bell Telephone Laboratories.
The equipment for both is manufactured by Western Electric.
WARNER BROTHERS
FOX FILM CORPORATION
PARAMOUNT FAMOUS LASKY
METRO- GO LDWYN-MAYER
UNITED ARTISTS
FIRST NATIONAL PICTURES
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
HAL ROACH
CHRISTIE COMEDIES
The Western Electric Sound Projector System is the theatre
equipment designed to reproduce sound pictures of any of the
foregoing companies and its other licensees.
Now installed in over 400 theatres
This Sound Projector System, with a proven history of suc-
cessful operation in over 400 theatres, is available exclusively
through Western Electric's subsidiary
Electricat Research Products fnc
250 WEST 57th STREET
NEW YORK, N. Y.
Electrical Research Products supplies to theatres of any size other types
of equipment for the reproduction and amplification of speech and music
from records made by the foregoing licensees and by the Victor Phono-
graph Company, which is also licensed by it.
It also maintains a nation-wide servicing organization operating from 22
offices, each equipped with apparatus and a technical staff.
THE STANDARD FOR THE INDUSTRY
UUMMMMUMMAUMMMMMMAUMMMd
Y...... ............. .(.....
........... .....^
TALKING PICTURES
TAUUNG PICTURES ARE WHAT
m'RE TALKING ABOUT f
VTOTHING IN THE INDUSTRY TODAY COMES WITHIN TALKING DIS-
•'•^ TANCE OF WARNER BROS. VITAPHONE PICTURES.
The talking pictures that are actually being produced, actually
being shown, actually making fortunes for exhibitors!
"LIGHTS OF NEW YORK," the First 100 per cent. All-Talking
Picture is the sensation of sensations! Held Over for Third Week
at the MARK STRAND, N. Y. BOOKED OVERNIGHT IN EX-
ACTLY 155 CITIES.
For 1928-29, you can absolutely depend upon a continuous sup-
ply of Warner Bros. Vitaphone Pictures.
EACH IS A TALKING PICTURE. EACH HAS SOUND
EFFECTS, ORCHESTRA ACCOMPANIMENT AND EVERY
ADDED ATTRACTION THAT CAN BE SUPPLIED BY SCI-
ENCE, INVENTION, INGENUITY, SHOWMANSHIP, AND
UNLIMITED RESOURCES.
Talking Trailers are prepared for you on every Talking Picture.
These Talking Trailers are admitted to be the greatest advance
agents in all the history of exploitation.
EVERY WARNER BROS. PICTURE WILL
HAVE TWO NEGATIVES
ONE FOR NON -VITAPHONE THEATRES
and ONE FOR VITAPHONE THEATRES
5
EVERY PICTURE, BEFORE SOUND IS ADDED, IS MADE TO STAND
SOLIDLY ON ITS MERITS AS A BOX-OFFICE ATTRACTION.
WMWER BROa LEAD THE FIELD
Coming!
w
NOAH'S ARK" ,
Madetotof) any picture ever made/
MEMBER MOTION PICTURE PRODUCERS
TALK PROFITS
'\fc^ and Hear
Everii Characfef in the Picture'^
Available Now
EIGHTEEN SPECIAL WARNER WINNERS
Audrey Ferris in
FANCY BAGGAGE
Rin- Tin-Tin in
THE OUTLAW DOG
STATE STREET SADIE
■with Conrad Nagel and Myrna Loy
Monte Blue in
THE GREYHOUND LIMITED
BEWARE OF BACHELORS
with Audrey Ferris ond William Collier, Jr.
WOMEN THEY TALK ABOUT
tvith Irene Rich and Audrey Ferris
THE MIDNIGHT TAXI
with Antonio Moreno and Helena Costello
Monte Blue in
FROM HEADQUARTERS
Audrey Ferris in
THE LITTLE WILDCAT
ONE STOLEN NIGHT
Rin-Tin-Tin in
KING OF THE WILDERNESS
May McAvoy in
STOLEN KISSES
Monte Blue in
NO DEFENSE
May McAvoy and Conrad Nagel in
CAUGHT IN THE FOG
Myrna Loy in
HARD BOILED ROSE
Conrad Nagel in
KID GLOVES
SHE KNEW MEN
Rin-Tin-Tin in
LAND OF THE SILVER FOX
ROAD SHOWS
LIGHTS OF NEW YORK
First "All-Talking" Picture
Al Jolson in
THE SINGING FOOL
Fannie Brice in
MY MAN
THE DESERT SONG
THE TERROR
Latest and Greatest "All-Talking" Picture
Monte Blue in CONQUEST
with H. B. Warner and Lois Wilson
Dolores Costello and Conrad Nagel in
THE REDEEMING SIN
George M. Cohan's Great Stage Success
THE HOME TOWNERS
PLAYING AROUND
THE TIME, THE PLACE & THE GIRL
(Temporary)
ON TRIAL
(Temporary)
Dolores Costello in
MADONNA OF AVENUE A
Third 1928-29 Costello Picture
(not "Noah's Ark")
Dolores Costello in GLORIOUS BETSY
with Conrad Nagel
Al Jolson in
THE JAZZ SINGER
Dolores Costello in TENDERLOIN
with Conrad Nagel
EACH A BANK BOOK NATURAL
THE LION AND THE MOUSE
with May McAvoy and Lionel Barrymore
WHAT WARNER BROS* PROMISE
WARNER BROS* DELIVER
BROS.
lYlTWWSSiJic^
AND DISTRIBUTORS OF AMERICA, INC.
14
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
The Pace That Thrills
Y^esterday, tite auto. Today, radio and airplanes. Toxnorro-ir.-virlio kno-ws -%vl&at? Travel
1>y rockets? Conversation -nvitk Mars? Whatever it is, it will l>e faster. Don't call it tke
pace that kills. It is the pace that ^ives life. It makes our lives better, fuller than any
hef ore in the -vvorld's history, Because it stimulates us to pack every minute -with action!
The entertainment you offer your patrons must keep pace -with the tiutes. ^o ivasted mo-
ments! They -want speed, action in their play and entertainment as -well as in their -work.
To please them no-w, of course, your sho-w must he q[uick-movin^, snappy, exhilarating.
And you may he sure that it -will he if you huild a sho-w that has plenty of good short
novelty, comedy and ne-ws subjects selected from the Educational Pictures line-up. Because
a Short Feature HAS to he crammed -with action, and HAS to reach the highest level of
entertainment quality, to carry the Educational trade mark. Y^ou kno-w -what fun Lupino
Lane,**Big Boy" and the other popular Educational Pictures comedy stars add to your pro-
gram.Their pictures for the ne-w season are faster, funnier. And typical of -what Educational
has in store for your hox-office are the ne-w ''Russ Farrell, Aviator" pictures -with Reed
Ho-wes. Watch for these flying thrillers. There's speed, action, excitement for you! Don't
forget that Educational is the -world's greatest producer-distrihutor of Short Features; the
only hig company dealing exclusively in this type of ^
entertainment. Educational Pictures al-ways make a good
sho-w hetter.
•THE SPICE OFTHE PROGRAM'
PRESIDENT '
LUPINO LANE
in Lupino L>ane Comedies
TUXEDO COMEDIES
{Jack White Productions)
KINOGRAMS
Fint among NEWS REELS
M
IDEAL COMEDIES
Kith JERRY DREW
RUSS FARRELL
Aviator
with
REED HOWES
MERMAID
COMEDIES
{Jack White Productions)
DOROTHY DEVORE
in Dorothy Devore Comedies
CAMEO COMEDIES
EDUCATIONAL FILM EXCHANGES, Inc., E. W. Hatnmons, President
BIG BOY
in Big Soy-Juvenile Comedies
Lyman H. Hotce'a
HODGE-PODGE
OUR WORLD TODAY
A Modern Screen Magazine
Member, Motion Picture Producers and Distributorit of America, Inc., Will H. Hays, President
i^
(&leasi>.
/YNCHIIOMIXED BY ARRANCEMEHT VHTH ELECTMCM. RESEARCH
"OUTCAST .^„.n'.»i<«»»
the pwy*"'"» ■^„ Play »»*"^
In long Btoaaway CHll-t)RtIN
rS»— ' "^ * ^iD FOR"
Jo ONE OTHER
' . ^.DIVERSION ^ ^^^ .,*.
lr.tSf^*«;ND T^-O OTHERS
-..THE NIGHT WA^^„
"HEART Of A^^,„„.,^»fS5i
-=^-^?oTHERTOMORROT^,„
triangl*- F !<1„ Port •««»''«^ ^, ,vrr*»'
^'-""'""clus BOUND''
my
tlurei
V.
PRODUCTriMC'/UDnMARYOfiVrEfTERM ELECTRIC CO-
I
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•^^iSf-^S^S/v/-,,
"SH/
*^tfiOft
<5 ^^STpt.
Can Stoiiv-
COLLEEN MOORE
CORINNE GRIFFITH
BILLIE DOVE
R I C H A R D
BARTHELMESS
MILTON SILLS
and other great
FIRST NATIONAL
stars in
SOUND pictures
y^^^^hen
youb,
This
Uy
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3J.TIIE GREAT
Fl RST NATION Al
nCTUREi
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in %OVkH.^from
Ifaabcr ^I4ptfan gctnw Werfuctit tU jM»Mbutor> of Amcric* In&'^WlU H.Hav< P
Y^
The
Independent
Film Trade
Paper
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
824 MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Home
Office:
407 So. Dearborn St,
Chicago
IN THIS ISSUE
William Fox purchases Poli circuit of 20 theatres in New England for $25,000,000; Million is set
aside as budget for modernizing houses and installing Movietone equipment ; Largest privately owned
string of motion picture houses has combined seating capacity of 45,000; Deal follows breakup of
Shoolman transaction and gives Fox theatre chain powerful outlet in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
COMPLETE INDEX TO CONTENTS
NEWS
Credit committees are vital to progress of industry and protec-
tion of exhibitors, Film Boards reply to Government suit.
Pathe is launching $75,000 national advertising drive for "King
of Kings" in fall, just prior to release date.
M P T 0 A is pushing plans for convention at Toronto October
16, 17 and 18; Canadian theatre owners and civic bodies co-
operate.
J. J. McCarthy joins Fox as box office expert from production
standpoint — Four slayers of girl usher get life sentences.
DEPARTMENTS
Synchronized Pictures 28
The Studio 32
Short Features 36
Presentation Acts 37
The Theatre 43
Classified Advertising 51
What the Picture Did for Me 53
Chicago Personalities by Whit 58
FEATURES
Service Talks by T. 0. Service 46
Los Angeles by Douglas Hodges 32
Pictorial Section 23
Letters from Readers 52
Broadway 18
ADVERTISEMENTS
FILM AND EQUIPMENT— Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Robert Mor-
ton Organ Company, Paramount, F B O, Fox, Columbia, Pathe,
Western Electric, Warner Brothers, Educational, First National,
Eastman Kodak Company, John Ford, Alfred E. Green, United
Studios, Charles Lament, Howard Green, Manhattan Studios,
Automatic Ticket Register.
PRESENTATIONS— Al Kvale, Leo Feist, Inc., W. Remington
Welch, Joe Kayser, Fred Kinsley, Bernard Cowham, Leo Terry,
Brooks Costumes, Ransley Studios.
CHICAGO
407 South Daarbom St. TaUphonas Harriaon 0036-37-38
Calila Address : Qnigpubco
EDWIN S. CLIFFORD, General Manager
JAY M. SHRECK, Managing Editor
GEORGE CLIFFORD, Busineit Uanager
ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD, Neu$ Editor
LOS ANGELES
M17 Hollywood Blvd. Talephono Gladstone S754
DOUGLAS HODGES
IFejl Coast Manager
EDITORIAL
AND
ADVERTISING
OFFICES
NEW YORK
565 Fifth Avenue Telephones Vamderbllt S612.S613
JAMES BEECROFT, /Ve» York Advertifing Manmger
PETER VISCBER, Neu, York Editor
LONDON
THE BIOSCOPE
(J. Cabonm, Editor)
Faraday House
8-10 Charing Cross Rd., W. C. 2
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
United States and possessions— $3.00 per year, Canada — $4.30 per year. Other points of the world — S6.00 per year. Single eoples, 2S ceata.
Advertising rate cards and Audit Bureau of Circulations stalemenU ftumlahed upon application.
16
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
ajvS MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Martin J. Quigley, Publisher €>o Editor
Incorporating Exhibitors Herald, founded in 191S; Moving Pic-
TtTM World, founded in 1907; Mo tography, founded in 1909; and
The Film Index, founded in 1909
Published Every Wednesday by
QuiGLEY Publishing Company
Publication Office: 407 So. Dearborn St., CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Martin J. Quigley, President
Ebwin S. Clifford, Secretary George Clifford, Asst. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other Publications: The Chicagoan and Polo, class journals; and the follow-
iflC motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exhibitors
HscALB and Moving Picture World: Better Theatres, every fourth week, and
Thi Buyers Index, published semi-annually.
Whole Vol. 92, No. 4 (Vol. 34, No. 7) July 28, 1928
Sound — This Season
LIKE every other great opportunity the sound film is
bringing ^vith it certain definite responsibilities and
hazards.
In many respects the industry at large, in the first flush
of realization of the practical advent of sound pictures, is
ignoring various of these responsibilities and hazards.
There need be no further timidity and no further uncer-
tainty about the eventual significance of the sound fihn, it
is definitely and certainly a tremendous widening of the
scope and sphere of the motion picture. Eventually it is
sure to transform the complexion and the essence of motion
picture entertainment.
But this cannot come in a daj'^ or a month, and if disap-
pointment and confusion are to be avoided the industry at
large, and particularly the exhibitor, must face the facts,
calmly and intelligently, and must divest his actions and
his attitude from the false basis upon which they may now
rest on account of the first enthusiasms generated by the
realization of the widespread advent of the sound picture.
Since the introduction of the synchronized picture in
practicable form by Vitaphone, and since the advances
made in the Movietone experimentation by Mr. Willisim
Fox, the sound picture has been making amazing technical
advances. Other eff'orts in conjunction with those of these
pioneers have brought the sound picture to a point where
it may be regarded as much a defixiite practicality as the
motion picture itself.
BUT from the point of the practical perfection of the
sound picture technically to the point of its general
application to the working operations of the industry there
is a great chasm to be bridged.
In the studio there is a vast amount of experimentation
and research to be done.
With respect to the theatres, installations can only be
accomplished gradually and, under the most favorable cir-
cumstances, only a limited percentage of the theatres can
possibly be equipped for the coming season.
In view of these facts cool judgment must be brought to
bear upon the situation. While there is no reason for any
failing enthusiasm about the sound picture, or any reason
for narrowing of confidence as to where the sound picture
is leading — still it must be realized that the development
can only gradually come to exert its full effect upon the
business and, in the meantime, provisions must be made
for going ahead under existing conditions.
The sound picture cannot possibly provide the major
part of the entertainment required by the theatres during
the coming season. While there is a possibility of a thou-
sand theatres being equipped with sound devices by the
first of next January, there is little possibility that there
will be sufficient meritorious sound product available to
enable even this limited number of houses to make the
synchronized picture the major part of their entertainment.
« • «
CURRENT developments indicate that exhibitors, in
negotiating for film for the coming season, are in an
exceedingly trying position as the result of the trade inter-
est and enthusiasm brought about by the sound picture.
They are apprehensive about contracting for pictures with-
out sound, yet they must realize that because of what must
be accomplished in installations and in production, the
silent picture must afford the backbone of the programs
for the coming season for even the leading houses. In the
case of the many thousands of smaller houses, the sound
picture cannot arrive before the season after next or later.
An unfavorable current development also is the fact
that many buyers are placing first and greatest emphasis
upon sound, losing sight, apparently, of the fact that the
sound picture simply on its novelty can only have a mo-
mentary fascination for the public. This season and every
season the quality of the picture, with or without sound,
will be the main factor in the theatre's prosperity.
One of the obvious hazards that is threatened by the
current interest and enthusiasm concerning the sound pic-
ture is that pictures of this type, regardless of quality, may
be set in ahead of pictures of greater quality that are with-
out sound accompaniment. The sound picture or the full
talking picture must have a greater recommendation than
technical novelty to be successful.
The record already proves that while there is a first flash
of interest in the sound picture on the part of the public
when it is introduced in a theatre, still this interest quickly
subsides unless there is the necessary quality element in
the subject.
The practicalities of the situation must be faced.
Many thousands of theatres will be without sound
devices during the coming season, yet this fact need in no
way militate against prosperity if the exhibitors bring to
avail a proper management of their affairs.
There will be plenty of good product available which
will be superior in attractive value to much of the early
sound product.
— and quality will count most, with or without sound,
this season and every season.
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
17
Fox Buys Poll's 20 Theatres
In New England for 25 Million
Police Neutral His ^cts Aside Million to Rcmodel
Reply to Musicians ' Houscs and Install Movietone
Charge in Picketing ^^^^^^S Capacity Totals 45,000 — Deal Follows Breakup
Of Shoolman Transaction
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, July 24.— Dr. Frank L. Ma-
goon, acting president of the St. Louis board
of police commissioners, in a letter to D. K.
Howell, secretary of the Musicians Mutual
Benefit Association, asserts that the police de-
partment has been strictly neutral in the con-
troversy between the musicians' union and
theatres that have substituted mechanical
music for union orchestras. Guy M. Daily,
president of the benefit association insists that
the police have arrested members of the union
who were peacefully picketing theatres using
mechanical music, in violation of the latter's
constitutional rights.
Omaha Film Board,
9 Exchanges Named
In $105,000 Action
(Special to the Herald-World)
OMAHA, July 24.— The Omaha Film
Board of Trade and branches of nine dis-
tributors are named defendants in a suit for
$105,000 damages filed yesterday in federal
court by Victor Newton and Thomas H.
Leddy, owners of a suburban theatre, who
charge monopoly and restraint of trade.
The defendants were responsible for the
closing of the theatre last year, according to
the plaintiffs, who charge that they have been
unable to rent films since that time.
Bandit Gets $1,000
In Theatre Office
While Show Goes On
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., July 24— While pa-
trons of the Portland theatre were enjoying
the screen and stage show Sunday night, a
lone robber walked into the office of Manager
Blavis and stole $1,000 in currency, Sunday
receipts. The bandit overlooked a quantity
of silver.
Rowland Reported
Leaving FN After
Kennedy's Return
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Despite the desire
of First National to retain Richard A Row-
land, it is understod here that he will retire
soon after the return of Joseph P. Kennedy
from the West coast.
//. M, Warner on Vacation
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— H. M. Warner,
president of Warner Brothers, has tossed
overboard all thoughts of the industry —
maybe — for ten days and is vacationing at
Long Lake in the Adirondacks. He returns
to his desk August 1.
By PETER VISCHER
NEW YORK, July 24. — William Fox scored another notable triumph to-
day when he announced the purchase of the Poli chain of motion picture thea-
tres, a tower of strength in New England. The chain includes 20 theatres in
leading New England cities and cost the Fox Theatres Corporation $25,000,000.
$1,000,000 to Modernize Poli Chain
Purchase of the Poli string was not engineered without difificulty. As the
largest privately owned circuit in the country, it could not change hands un-
til many tangles of one sort or another were unraveled, to the end that Fox
had to postpone an announcement of his deal on two occasions. When he
finally did proclaim the success of his negotiations, at a private gathering in
the Roxy theatre, Fox was obviously delighted.
He said a budget of $1,000,000 had been Lyric, and two others in Bridgeport; the
Broadway Street in Norwich; the Palace in
Springfield, Mass.; and the Plaza, Poli and
Palace in Worcester, Mass.
45,000 Seats Involved
(By Herald-World Correspondent)
MEDFORD, MASS., July 24.— William
Fox last night confirmed the statement that
set aside by his corporation immediately
to renovate and modernize the entire Poli
chain, particularly with regard to installa-
tion of Movietone projectors and apparatus
so that these theatres may present not
only motion pictures in sound but the same
type of motion picture entertainment now
Sound-
— This Season
"In many respects the industry at large, in the first flush of realization of the
practical advent of sound pictures, is ignoring various of these responsibilities and
hazards. There need be no further timidity and no further uncertainty about — "
—Read MARTIN
J. QVIGLEY, page 16.
presented in the Roxy and other deluxe
theatres throughout the United States.
Appraised Value $26,000,000
The Poli chain, with an appraised value
of $26,000,000, according to a statement by
Fox, was the largest privately owned the-
atre circuit in America, held outright and
operated successfully for 30 years by Syl-
vester Z. Poli, now 68 years old. The chain
now becomes part of the Fox organization,
which controls a circuit from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, including the recently ac-
quired $100,000,000 Northwest Coast The-
atres, Inc. It also operates a $50,000,000
studio in Hollywood, now engaged on a
$100,000,000 five-year production program,
according to Fox.
The Poli theatres acquired include the
Capitol and Palace in Hartford, Conn.; the
Hyperion, Bijou and Palace in New Haven;
the East Main Street and West Main
Street in Meriden; the Strand and Palace
in Waterbury; the Palace, Poli, Majestic,
the Fox Theatre Corporation has purchased
the Poli circuit of 20 theatres in Massachu-
setts and Connecticut, appraised at $26,-
000,000 with a seating capacity of 45,000.
The deal was completed at midnight in
New York.
Sale of the theatres to Max Shoolman
was announced about a year ago but the
transaction failed of consummation and the
Fox interests now buy direct from S. Z.
Poli. It is understood that the price paid
was in the vicinity of the appraised valua-
tion.
Kurt Hubert on Ufa Board
(Special to the Herald-World)
BERLIN, July 24.— Kurt Hubert has been
appointed a member of Ufa's board of man-
aging directors. He has been connected
with management of the foreign depart-
ment for three years. Albert A. Sander
has been recalled to manage the foreign
publicity bureau.
Four Boys Who Killed Chicago Girl Usher
In Suburban House Are Given Life Terms
Four boys who murdered Pearl Eggerson, Berwyn, 111., theatre usher, will have
plenty of time to consider the inadvisability of banditry under the life impris-
onment sentences handed down Monday by Judge Frank D. Comerford. Only the
confession and grief of Stanley Durmaj, 19, who did the actual slaying, as well as
his assistance to the police, saved the quartet from the chair. Three of the boys
were crying while the judge read the sentence.
Miss Eggerson, usher at the Ritz theatre m Berwyn, Chicago suburb, was chat-
ting with Gertrude Plant, cashier, when the four youths attempted to hold up the
cashier. Durmaj in his confession declared that Miss Eggerson's scream fright-
ened him into discharging the pistol.
18
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
w/m
^NEW YORK— The news leaks out that
Ji J. J. McCarthy has been captured at last
by Fox and will spend his hours on the West
Coast. . . IViiifield Sheehan will never lack
for compan}-. . . Apparently Mr. Sheehan has
not yet made any attempt to move City Hall
Park to the West, but come to think of it
the Mayor is missing.
HThe old gag about Lon Chancy is all worn
out. . . Don't step on that now. . . It might
be Joe Kennedy.
IJThe Cameo has put one over by presenting
Cluirlie Chaplin's first screen test. . . With
appropriate hoorah. . . What I'd like to see
is a private showing of the first sound tests
made by some of our ablest actors and act-
resses.
IJThe Strand had the time of its life with
"Lights of New York," the first all talking
picture. . . Hottest days of the year and the
Strand had 'em standing up. . . Did nearly
$50 for seven days.
^James A. Fitzpatrick will sail for England
August 1, full of plans and ideas. . . Three
months in England and he may come back
with a full-length feature picture. . . Fitz-
patrick Pictures, Inc., has sold the Music
Masters to Paramount and the Schubert
series to the Bristolphone Company so there's
no telling where the feature may go.
\Owen Davis, whose name seems vaguely
familiar as the author of some stage play or
two, is now editor-in-chief of Paramount's
Long Island studio. . . He has long been an
advisor on stories for Paramount while writ-
ing stories lefthanded.
^^Harry Brand postcards from Paris that it's
just like the Astor, only different. . . So many
of the boys are over there.
TIHaving had a chance to peek at everything
from the flea circus to paintings of the
Spanish Inquisition, Broadwayites may now
look over a weird collection of movie props :
rubber bricks, plaster bottles, imitation marble,
miniatures of all kinds. . . Everything but an
imitation actor.
IJThe Roxy had such a good time with
"Street Angel" that it was held over a second
week. . . And in this weather. . . "Street
Angel" set the best mark at the big Roxy
since "What Price Glory" tugged 176,000
people through the doors.
^Wanted: one president. . . The A M P A
is looking for a good live operating head. . .
Bruce Gallup declined renomination and
Charlie Barrell turned out to be too busy. . .
Wonder if Kennedy still has a few spare
moments.
^Texas Guinan is to appear in "Queen of the
Underworld," according to Milton Strands,
who found her in open daylight and dazzled
her so she just had to sign up.
%Jommy Meighan is leaving the West for
Long Island. . . Tommy's latest effort, "The
Racket," was a great hit and nothing could
please everybody more.
^Hy Daab has knocked off a new play in
collaboration with Ted Paramore, Jr. . . It's
called "Ringside" and seems to look and
sound pretty swell.
^Dick Rowland's plans have got a lot of the
boys buzzing. . . He's been asked to stay with
First National, as readers of this journal
knew many weeks ago, but is still more in-
terested in going fishing than anything else.
PETER VISCHER
Jean Darnell in New York
NEW YORK.— Jean Darnell, general exploitation
chief of the Capitol theatre of Dallas, Texas, has
just arrived in New York to spend her annual
vacation.
A Lady Divine Out of History
TTIRST NA-
r TIONAL has
taken the biograph-
ical novel by E.
Barrington, "The
Divine Lady," and
made a special out
of it, with Corinne
GriflSth in the title
role. Three scenes
from the picture,
which was directed
by Frank Lloyd, are
presented here.
On hoard
Lord Nelson's
Flagship,
"The Victory" —
Dropping anchor.
Above: Tragedy boards "The Victory" to stalk the divine lady.
Below: The first shot is fired in the great battle of Trafalgar.
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
19
Credit Committees Are Vital
To Industry, Government Told
Machine Always Wins,
Is Synchronism Verdict
"The musicians as organized in
labor are seeking to obstruct the use
of the Movietone and other tone and
sound producing devices which are
being developed and used in connec-
tion with the showing of moving pic-
tures," the Chicago "Tribune" said
editorially last week.
"It is the age old struggle between
the man and the machine which the
machine has always won. Labor for
the most part recognizes that vir-
tually nothing can be attained by
Bghting the machine, and much can
be lost if intelligent perception does
not suggest the necessary adjust-
ments to new conditions. If they
are undertaken in time there is a
labor makeover which does not en-
tail much distress. A delayed ad-
justment sometimes does mean seri-
ous disturbance of living conditions.
The rule is that the machine wins
and in that is onS reason for general
American success."
M P T O Protest May
Lead to Death of Film
Board Protection Plan
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, July 24.— The resolu-'
tion of the M P T O Kansas-Missouri, pro-
testing the protection zonin'^ plan of the
Kansas City film board submitted recently,
is not a matter for the board to handle but
up to the individual exchanges, Harry
Taylor, president of the board, has de-
clared. It is believed that therefore the
protection plan, upon which much time was
spent, is due for a natural death.
Points brought out in the exhibitors'
resolution alleged that no protection plan
could be worked out which would prove
fair to all theatres.
World Tax Free Music List
Prepared by New Company
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— A music library
for film scoring which will be proof against
foreign copyright restrictions is to be of-
fered producers under plans of the new
World Wide Music Corporation, headed by
Irving Mills. World Wide also is prepar-
ing to do scoring and synchronizing.
$1.62 and Half Dividend^
Is Declared by Loew's
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— A quarterly divi-
dend of $1.62^ per share was declared on
the outstanding $6.50 cumulative preferred
stock of Loew's, Inc., payable August 15
to preferred stockholders of record on July
28, at a meeting of directors July 2.
American Theatre Robbed
(Special to the Herald-World)
TERRA HAUTE, July 24.— Yeggs
robbed the safe of the American theatre of
about $150, according to Seiber R. Nichol-
son, manager.
3,000 Theatres Change Hands
In Year, Film Boards Declare
No Exhibitor Has Cause to Object Unless Dishonest, Is
Answer to Federal Suit
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24. — No exhibitor has cause to object to the credit com-
mittee system and its regulations unless he is seeking a dishonest advantage
or trying to cover up a fraudulent transfer or bad financial condition, the 32
Film Boards of Trade and 11 co-defendants declared Friday in answer to the
Government suit under the Sherman anti-trust law.
Committees Declared Necessary
The credit committees and their confidential reports are reasonable and
necessary, according to the answer, which was filed in the U. S. district court
for Southern New York. The Government suit was started April 27.
The answer was signed by George W.
Wickersham and Edwin P. Grosvenor, of
Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft, counsel
for the defendants, and Gabriel L. Hess and
Charles C. Pettijohn, general attorney and
general counsel repectively for the Film
Boards of Trade.
3,000 Change Hands Yearly-
It was set forth that there are 3,000
changes of ownership a year among 22,000
film theatres, requiring definite data be
available to distributors regarding reliabil-
ity of new owners and details of the trans-
fers. It was stated that $8,081,000 of out-
standing uncompleted contracts were in-
volved last year when 3,950 theatres
changed hands.
"When a distributor signs a contract with
an exhibitor," says the answer, "for pic-
tures which are to be delivered in the fu-
ture the distributor in fact advances a form
of credit to the exhibitor, because after
the contract is executed the distributor is
prevented from contracting with a neigh-
boring or competing theatre for the same
run of the same picture. He is precluded
by the terms of the contract from doing
so.
Total Rental Held Form of Credit
During the life of the contract the dis-
tributor agrees to give the exhibitor "pro-
tection" for the period specified in the con-
tract against the exhibition of any of the
photoplays named in the contract at thea-
tres in the immediate neighborhood or
vicinity of exhibitor's theatre. If the ex-
hibitor later rep'udiates the contract the dis-
tributor will not be able to place the pic-
tures in that vicinity for the reason that
the competing theatres will be completely
booked with other pictures. Therefore the
total amount of rental involved in the aver-
age contract for 20 to 60 pictures, which
represents the entire earning power in that
particular neighborhood of all the pictures
named in the contract, is a form of credit
which the distributor has given the exhibi-
tor and the distributor acts in reliance on
that credit.
"As nearly all contracts are concluded in
the spring or early summer of each year
and cover pictures to be released at regu-
lar intervals during the year beginning the
following fall, there are comparatively few
cases of the transfer of a theatre in which
there are not outstanding uncompleted con-
tracts at the time of the change in the
ownership of the theatre."
Fraudulent Moves Cited
Regarding the purposes of the credit com-
mittees the answer says:
"No exhibitor except one looking for an
unfair or dishonest adventage, or with a
bad financial condition or a fraudulent
transfer to conceal, has cause to object to
the rules and regulations.
"In the course of each year there are
numerous transfers of theatres made for
the purpose of avoiding existing contracts.
An improvident or unscrupulous exhibitor
finds he has signed contracts for more pic-
tures than he has available playdates in
the season within which to show them ; or
decides that there are other pictures more
desirable than those he has contracted for.
Instead of negotiating an honest settlement
or adjustment of his contracts he sells or
transfers the theatre to a relation or dummy
who notifies the distributors that he has
acquired the theatre and thereupon solicits
(Continued on page 58)
Pettijohn Promises Early Analysis of
Chase-Hudson Bill to Bridle Industry
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24. — An analysis' of the Canon Chase-Hudson bill, latest of
the legislative proposals to inject government bureaucracy into the motion pic-
ture business, is being prepared and will be ready for the press and Aim boards in
about two weeks, according to C. C. Pettijohn, general counsel for the Film Boards
of Trade.
"The policy of the industry," Pettijohn states, "is to meet such attempts at
destroying the business by the simple process of getting before the legislative
authorities, in open committee, the true facts in regard to our present operation
and what would happen under the various panaceas proposed. We did this in the
case of the Brookhart bill — frankly, sincerely and vigorously. It was sufficient.
"We will continue to prepare and release, well in advance of the time for action,
analyses in plain English of the effects of all important legislative proposals."
f^m
20
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
Pathe Launching National Ad Drive
On ^^King of Kings^^ in Fall
Advertisements in Magazines and Newspapers Will Carry Names and Lo-
cations of Theatres and Time of Showing
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24. — A $75,000 national advertising campaign in a
large group of general magazines and leading newspapers, will be
launched this fall for "The King of Kings" by Pathe in a comprehen-
sive application of consumer advertising simultaneous with distribution.
Fenray and the Elzane. The two theatres
were opened last Sunday for the first time
following a newspaper advertisement that
the managers are "convinced that, by oper-
ating our theatres on Sundays, we will not
only be complying with the desires of a
majority of the people of Martins Ferry
and vicinity, thereby rendering them a real
service, but will also directly benefit the
merchants of Martins Ferry."
At Ashland the theatres have initiated a
referendum, to be voted on August 14. This
campaign is sponsored by the Ashland The-
atre Owners' Association, of which Fred
Edwards is chairman and Harry Carl sec-
retary.
The Cecil B. DeMille production will
show in 500 theatres the first two weeks
in October, says Pathe, and the advertis-
ing campaign will open just before the re-
lease date. Two-page spreads will run in
the Saturday Evening Post, Collier's, Pho-
toplay, A'lotion Picture Magazine, Motion
Picture Classic, Picture Play, Screenland,
and Film Fun. There will also be full
page ads in the Chicago Tribune and the
Chicago American.
Expect 19,000,000 to See Ads
Nineteen million persons will see the ad-
vertisements, Pathe declares, citing a 6,000,-
000 combined circulation of the magazines
alone, and basing the estimate on the the-
ory of the readers to a magazine.
Direct tieups will be effected under the
plan by including in the advertisements the
names of the theatres, their locations and
the time of showing. The advertising will
appear in the September 29th issues of the
Saturday Evening Post and Collier's, in
the October Photoplay and in the Novem-
ber issues of the other monthly magazines.
Issue dates of these are very close.
Pathe sees one important solution of the
problem achieved in obtaining a sufficient
number of first runs so located as to meet
the public demand in all sections and so to
direct the public to specific theatres at a
specific time. Furthermore, the picture has
had a large amount of national publicity in
nearly two years of roadshowing.
Spreads Adopted as Dominating
Two-page spreads were decided upon,
Pathe explains, because they dominate in
attracting attention, and particularly in the
Saturday Evening Post and Collier's pre-
clude so-called "competitive" advertising,
because of being entertainment projected
against the editorial backgrounds of the
publications and the religious training of
the readers.
Phil Reisman, general sales manager, has
directed months of hard work by the Pathe
sales force in preparing for this concentra-
tion of advertising and exhibition, with the-
atre owners also planning to increase their
local advertising. The entire campaign is
under the direction of John C. Flinn, vice-
president.
"Magazine advertising for motion pic-
tures has for years presented an interest-
ing and difficult problem owing to the ques-
tion of adequate distribution and timeli-
ness," said a high executive of one of the
large magazines. "We believe that Pathe
has solved the problem."
Pathe has mailed broadsides to every
Pathe employe in the field and Collier's
has sent a similar broadside to 4,000 ex-
hibitors.
Two Ohio Cities Start
Drive for Sunday Show;
Referendum in Ashland
(Special to the Herald-World)
COLUMBUS, July 24.— A Campaign to
open motion picture houses in Martins
Ferry on Sundays has been inaugurated by
the Fenray Photoplay Co., operating the
Funeral Services for
Ellen Terry Observed
In Tiny English Town
(Special to the Herald-World)
LONDON, July 24. — Funeral services
were to be conducted today at the little
church of Small Hythe for Ellen Terry,
beloved actress of stage and screen, who
died Saturday morning at 80 years in the
farmhouse which was her home.
"The one great light
speaking stage has gone
Barrymore in New York,
death of Dame Ellen Ter
ers of the American stage
selves similarly.
"All that she did was
clared Arthur Brisbane,
writer. "She represented
resoecting womanhood on
private life."
on the English
out," said Ethel
learning of the
ry. Other lead-
expressed them-
well done," de-
Hearst editorial
admirably self-
the stage and in
West Coast Has First Call
On Films of Six Producers
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, July 24.— West Coast
Theatres now has first call on the product
of six leading producers, President Harold
B. Franklin announced on his return from
New York with J. J. Sullivan, chief buyer
for the circuit.
Arrangements were made for a number of
productions from Fox, Paramount and
M G M, while the chain also has first selec-
tion on pictures from Warner Brothers,
First National and Pathe.
David Seymour Dead
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, July 24. — Exhibitors were
shocked last week in learning of the death
of David Seymour, manager and part owner
of the Pontiac at Saranac Lake, N. Y.
Represents Pickford
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Otto B. Man-
tell, formerly United Artists branch man-
ager at Geneva, Switzerland, has been
named Eastern business representative for
Mary Pickford and has returned from
abroad.
At the New York
Theatres
NEW FILMS
CAPITOL — "Forbidden Hours," a new Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer film starring Ramon Novarro.
Harry Beaumont directed.
PARAMOUNT — "Hot News,' a new Paramount
picture starring Bebe Daniels. Clarence Badger
directed.
GAIETY.^"Lost in the Arctic," a film record of
the expedition of Sidney Snow and his father, the
late H. A. Snow, to the Far North.
HIPPODROME— "United States Smith," a Gotham
production.
HELD OVER AND REVIVED
CRITERION— "Wings," Paramount, opened Au-
gust 12, 1927.
EMBASSY — "Tempest," United Artists, opened
May 17, 1928.
GAIETY — "Fazil," Fox, opened June 5.
WARNERS— "The Lion and the Mouse," Warner
Brothers, opened June IS.
GLOBE— "The Red Dance," Fox, opened June 25.
STRAND— "The Lights of New York," a Warner
Brothers all-talking picture, opened July 6.
ROXY — "Street Angel," Fox, revived July 14.
RIVOLI — -"Warming Up," Paramount, started July
14 at Paramount.
RIALTO — ^"The Racket," Paramount, with Thomas
Meighan and Louis Wolheim, revived.
CAMEO — "Hunting Big Game in Africa," Capt.
H. A. Snow's jungle picture, revived.
55TH STREET PLAYHOUSE— "The Strong
Man," with Harry Langdon, and "The Love Pirate,"
with Paul Richter, revived.
FIFTH AVENUE PLAYHOUSE— "Ways to
Strength and Beauty," UFA physical culture
film, revived.
Texas MPT O Adds 17
New Members in Drive
(Special to the Herald-World)
DALLAS, July 24.— The M P T O of
Texas announces the acquisition of 17 new
members in the drive now being conducted
to increase the membership. The new
members are:
J. C. T. Wilburn, Sunset, Ladonia; O. H. Minnis,
Dixie, McGregor; Oiakes & Walters, Ritz, Valley
Mills; M. J. Caraway, Cliftex, Clifton; O. A. Engle-
brecht, Palace, Georgetown ; Jim Tobola, B -»t,
West; M. R. Williams, Texon, Texon ; J. S. Wall,
Palace, Brady ; George Shaw, Lantex, Llano ; W. W.
McNatt, Lyric, Lometa; Will Pence, Dixie, Goldth-
waite; Keeling Bros., Queen, Santa Anna; Heniy
Reeve, Mission, Menard; Majestic, San Saba; L. B.
Brown, Regal, Gatesville ; H. Taylor, Kitz, San Saba
and L. M. Dunlap, Palace, Meridian.
So far, district No. 13, of which Lee
Walker of Lampasas, is chairman, is lead-
ing the field with nine new memberships.
The drive is progressing well, according to
Bill Cole, president of the organization.
W. S. Waid, manager, is in the field at the
present time.
Emelka Report, Minus
Big Deals, Shows Profit
(Washington Bureau Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, July 24.— Emelka's fi-
nancial statement, just issued, shows a
profit of 320,644 marks, after deducting 145,-
772 marks amortizations, including the
amount carried over from last year, accord-
ing to a report to the department of com-
merce. The report points out, however,
that the statement is of historical inter-
est only, since it does not account for the
sale of Sudfilm shares to British Interna-
tional, nor for the purchase of Phoebus.
The company acquired all the Sudfilm thea-
tres.
The statement, moreover, shows a capital
of only three million marks, while since
then the capital has been increased to five
millions, the report declares.
Signs Buck Jones Films
Territorial rights in Southern Illinois and
Eastern Missouri for all Buck Jones pic-
tures have been acquired by Nat Steinberg
and Tom Tobin of Premier Pictures Cor-
poration, St. Louis.
Jiilv 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
21
Death Closes Quest
Of Ward Crane for
Health in Mountains
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, July 24.— Ward Crane, well
known screen actor, died Saturday morning
at Saranac Lake, N. Y., following an illness
of about four weeks. Funeral services were
held here yesterday.
Crane had gone to the Adirondacks from
Hollywood a few weeks ago in the hopes of
regaining his health. For a time there
appeared to be an improvement, but pneu-
monia developed last week and death soon
followed. His father, a resident of Thiskity,
was with his son at the time of death. Crane
was 37 years old.
Crane was born in this city. He served
as private secretary to Governor Sulzer and
later joined the Navy, serving during the
World war with the rank of lieutenant. His
entry into the motion picture field came almost
immediately after his discharge, a position
being offered him by Allan Dwan, the director
Crane spent a portion of last summer at
Jack Dempsey's training camp at Saratoga
Lake and was one of Dempsey's closest
friends. He made a personal appearance at
the Leland theatre here at the time, in con-
nection with one of the Corinne Griffith's
pictures, in which he appeared opposite the
star.
Union Fights Sound
Films to Save Good
Music, He Declares
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, July 24.— Opposition to
mechanical music in theatres, declared here by
the local musicians' union, is based on the
desire to prevent "something being slipped
over on the theatre patron," according to John
Colaprete, president.
"It is a 'creeping adulteration' of music
that we are warning again?t," he said.
Colaprete also pointed out the desirability
of musicians spending, salaries locally, instead
of patrons giving money for musicians in dis-
tant communities. Continuing, he said :
"The movie business has done much to fos-
ter appreciation of good music. Now it is
proposed to destroy this musical advance.
"If the public wants its music in this form,
it will get it. It may enjoy synchronization
as a new toy, but if it is not alert to the con-
sequences it may find later that the toy has
become the substitute for good music."
Projectionists* Walkout
In Oklahoma Is Averted
(Special to the Herald-World)
OKLAHOMA CITY, July 24.— A walk-
out of all projectionists at the Capital and
Liberty theatres was averted at a confer-
ence with managers after the union had
demanded that two men be employed to
operate talking machines. The theatre
managers won the right to use as many or
as few men in the booths as they found
necessary.
Kansas City Exchange to
Handle Fox Sound Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, July 24.— Synchronized
prints, vaudeville acts and Movietone News
will be distributed in the Kansas City ter-
ritory through the local Fox exchange in-
stead of through New York, it was an-
nounced here.
M P T O A Pushing Plans For
Toronto Convention Oct. 16-18
Canadian Theatre Owners and Civic
National Body Rousing Welcome-
Bodies Prepare to
-WoodhuU, O'Toole
Give
and Brady Arrange for Gathering
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24. — -Arrangements are being- pushed for the 1928 con-
vention of the M. P. T. O. A., now that it has been decided to hold the a;in,ual
meeting at Toronto on October 16, 17 and 18. Canadian theatre owners and
civic bodies are wheeling into action to make the gatheririg an outstanding
event.
WoodhuU Meets with Brady
Decision to conduct the three-day conference in Canada, following the cor-
dial invitation brought to the convention last year at the Coluiiibiis convenT
tion, was made at a meeting last week at the King Edward hotel in Toronto.
Representing the New York office was President R. F. WoodhuU and M. J.
O'Toole, executive secretary. Representing the Canadian exhibitors were J. C.
Brady, regional vice-president, who also is president of the Canadian organi-
zation, and several other leaders of Dominion theatre owners.
The vote of the national board of directors Jules Michael, William James and Nathan
was practically unanimous for Toronto. Other Yamins.
cities considered were Philadelphia, St. Louis, Members of the national board of directors
Sound — This Season
"Current developments indicate that exhibitors, in negotiating for film for the
coming season, are in an exceedingly trying position. . . . They are apprehensive
about contracting for pictures without sound, yet they must realize that — "
Read MARTIN J. QUIGLEY, page 16.
Detroit and Buffalo. The decision to hold the
convention in Toronto was arrived at largely
because of the insistence of Canadian theatre
owners, led by Brady, supplemented by the
direct efforts of the mayor of Toronto, the
Board of Trade and other civic and fraternal
bodies in that city. The matter of selecting a
place for the convention was left to the direc-
tors at Columbus, with the implied under-
standing that Toronto was to be given very
favorable consideration.
Special Entertainment in Line
Arrangements were perfected in Toronto
whereby the Canadian theatre owners will join
forces with other motion picture interests
there and also with the official and civic bodies
to make this convention one of the most im-
portant meetings; of the present year in that
city.
Special lines of entertainment will be pro-
vided and every effort exerted to add to the
dignity and usefulness of the gathering. The
special convention committee of the national
organization consists of the administrative
committee members, as follows : L. M. Sagal,
M. E. Comerford, J. W. Walsh, Jack Miller,
and national executive committee are also
auxiliary members of this convention commit-
tee, and will have charge of the work of
making arrangements in their various locali-
ties.
Walker Puerile in
Political Warning,
Says Peoria Paper
The Peoria, 111., Transcript last week com-
mented editorially on the remarks of Mayor
James Walker of New York to the motion
picture industry, as follows :
"The somewhat cryptic warning of the
movie industry by Mayor Jimmy Walker of
New York City, that they had better be care-
ful to avoid partisan politics will not surprise
the worldly-wise observer of politics and in-
dustry. At the same time, the little mayor
of the big city, was rather puerile in his state-
ments, since, he offered no evidence in support
of what is obviously nothing but a suspicion."
Take Air Ride First,
Then Enjoy the Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
KENOSHA, WIS., July 24.— Quite
a novel service to picture patrons
has been inaugurated by the Kenosha
theatre. This house is offering free
airplane Sights to patrons, and has
arranged with Lieutenant Hart
Smith, a licensed pilot, to conduct
the Bights until Labor Day.
This service is absolutely free to
patrons. Anyone wishing to take a
Sight has only to apply at the box
office and then he will be notiSed
when he will be taken up. This serv-
ice is probably the £rst of its kind
offered by any theatre in the coun-
try.
Terry Ramsaye Named
Editor-in-Chief of Films
Made in East by Pathe
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Terry Ramsaye,
editor of Pathe Review, was appointed editor-
in-chief of Eastern productions today by
Colvin W. Brown executive vice-president of
Pathe. His editorial jurisdiction will apply
to all nondramatic subjects issued by Pathe.
Mineola Reopens August 8
(Special to the Herald-World)
MINEOLA, L. I., July 24.— The Mineola
theatre has been taken over by the Mineola
Theatre Corporation from the Calderone
Circuit of Hempstead and will reopen Au-
gust 8. Ralph W. Latham, president of
the corporation, is managing director and
Bennett Brandon manager.
HH
22
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
J. J. McCarthy, Roadshow Wizctrd,
Joins Fox as B* O* Expert
Will Help Carry Out Sheehans $100,000,000 Five-Year Program With
Headquarters at Studios in Hollywood
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— J. J. McCarthy has joined Fox. Signing of the
veteran showman and newspaperman, credited with originating and
developing the roadshow policy for exhibition of motion pictures, is
another tenstrike for William Fox. He will be box office expert for Fox
Films from a production viewpoint.
Fifteen years of experience in selecting pic-
tures he regards as roadshow timber, and
from the studios of several producers, have
given McCarthy a premier fitness for his new
position of judging boxoffice futures of Fox
productions. The millions of dollars taken in
at the boxoffices of so called legitimate thea-
tres throughout the world with $2 film attrac-
tions sponsored by McCarthy are proof of his
judgment.
Will Help in $100,000,000 Program
With Fox production activities doubled due
to Movietone projects, McCarthy joins a staff
of showmen, players and playwrights newly
organized by Winfield Sheehan to carry out
Fox's $100,000,000 production program over a
period covering the next five years.
McCarthy launched the first road show pro-
duction when he took over "Cabiria" in Phila-
delphia, billed it like a circus with more paper
and newspaper ad space than the business had
ever dreamed it would use — and cleaned up.
In 1905 McCarthy joined George Brennan,
■who produced Thomas Dixon's "The Clans-
man." He was the first to see the motion
picture possibilities of this play.
Sells Roadshow Idea
When D. W. Griffith made the picturization,
calling it "The Birth of a Nation," McCarthy
pointed out the roadshow possibilities of this
production. He "sold" the roadshow idea,
despite the fact that Griffith and Dixon then
thought it suicide. He took over the road-
showing of the picture and made film history.
Since then he has handled nearly every big
film that has enjoyed success as a roadshow,
among them being most of the D. W. Griffith
specials, as well as "The Covered Wagon,"
"The Ten Commandments," "The Big Pa-
rade" and "Ben Hur."
McCarthy will make his headquarters at the
Fox studio in Hollywood.
Movietone picture films, though, as above noted, they
are a species of picture films unknown at the time of
the enactment of these sections of the General Code.
"I am of the opinion, therefore, that the board of
censors has the same right to censor Vitaphone and
Movietone picture films and, if necessary, order the
elimination of objectionable matter, either seen or
heard, that it has with respect to ordinary picture
films; and that it may wholly reject such Vitaphone
and Movietone films in proper cases.
"As the authority of the board of censors to censor
Vitaphone and Movietone picture films carries with' it
the authority to adopt and use reasonable means to
that end, said board may require the exhibitor to fur-
nish continuity sheets showing the words, whether
spoken or sung, which are reproduced as a part of the
picture and explanatory of or otherwise characterizing
the same, in all cases where it is practicable to do so.
It is to be recognized, of course, that some sounds
which are picked up and reproduced by the Vitaphone
and Movietone might be of such a vagrant and inde-
scribable character that the same could not be por-
trayed by words. With respect to sound of this kind,
it, of course would not be practical to furnish con-
tinuity sheets.
"As in ordinary picture films, the board of censors
in censoring the same causes the motion picture film
to be projected as it is and thus determines upon the
existence or non-existence of objectionable matter
visible to the examining board, so in the matter of
censoring the Vitaphone and Movietone picture films
the board of censors is authorized to make provisions
for the projection and reproduction of such films and
thus determine the existence or non-existence of
objectionable matter, whether the same be seen or
heard. The authority of the board of censors to ex-
amine and censor picture films of the kind here in
question, authorizes the department to procure such
appliances as may be necessary for the purpose and, if
the censorship of Vitaphone and Movietone picture
films requires the procurement and installation of
appliances and facilities for this purpose, the same
should be obtained as soon as money is available
therefor."
Ohio Decision 2nd
to Declare Spoken
Words Censorable
^pecial to the Herald-World)
COLUMEUS, O., July 24.— Another ruling
that the dialogue in sound pictures may be
censored as well as the action itself, was
handed down in Ohio by Attorney General
Turner. This decision follows that of Judge
Martin in Philadelphia, who upheld the censor
board of Pennsylvania in rejecting spoken
lines in a picture submitted by Vitagraph.
Like the Pennsylvania ruling, the Ohio de-
cision, made in response to an inquiry by J. L.
Clifton, director of education, interprets the
law as applying to the entire production, and
if sound features are now introduced, these
are included in the production. Attorney
General Turner said:
"It is obvious that what is heard by the public in
the reproduction of the words or other sounds in
connection with the projection of a Vitaphone picture
show or a Movietone picture show may be clearly
within the mischief which occasioned the enactment
of the censorship law as the scenic action or explana-
tory words made visible to the eye in the projection
af the ordinary moving picture. In this view there is
no reason to doubt the application of the pertinent
provisions of sections 871-48 and 871-49, General
Code, with respect to Vitaphone picture films and
Censor Asks Film Heads
to Stop Crime Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
DALLAS, July 24.— Mrs. Ethel Boyce,
Dallas censor, has filed a letter with New
York and Hollywood motion picture execu-
tives asking all producers to desist in the
making of films that depict crime. The
letter makes the claim that Dallas is an
unusual center for theatre patronage and
that films in which crime is featured are
distasteful to patrons in Mrs. Boyce's
jurisdiction.
Mrs. Boyce recently censored Para-
mount's "Partners in Crime" in Dallas, but
is reconsidering her move now that both
the Houston, San Antonio, and Waco
censors have passed the picture. No action
was taken in either of these cities on
"Ladies of the Mob" or "The Dragnet,"
both Paramount "crime' pictures.
Daab, Paramore Stage
Play Believed Success
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, July 24.— "Ringside," the
stage play written by Hy Daab, advertising
manager of F B O, and Ted Paramore, Jr.,
formerly with Hal Roach, is being hailed by
critics as a success, following the opening
here for a try-out engagement.
Vivian Moses Signs Again
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Vivian Moses
has signed a new contract with Paramount
whereunder he continues as head of the
story department.
Warner Brothers Adds
642 Theatre Accounts;
Vitaphone Films Lead
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Sam E. Morris,
general manager of distribution of Warner
Brothers, states that in the last five weeks,
the organization has added 542 new theatre
accounts to its books. An intense promo-
tion campaign is being carried on direct
from the home office, under the supervision
of A. C. Brauninger.
The greatest number of dates are being
taken on the Vitaphone specials, Al Jolson
in "The Jazz Singer," Dolores Costello in
"Tenderloin" and "Glorious Betsy," May
McAvoy and Lionel Barrymoore in "The
Lion and the Mouse" and the first all-talk-
ing feature, "Lights of New York."
Cap
ra to Direct One of
Columbians Major Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Frank Capra,
one of the newer Columbia directors, has
been assigned to hold the megaphone on "The
Younger Generation,"
which Columbia lists
in its group of "De
Luxe Productions."
The story is an
adaptation of the
stage play by Fannie
Hurst, "It Is to
Laugh," and accord-
ing to Harry Cohn,
vice-president in
charge of production,
Capra will have great-
er opportunities than
were offered him in
"That Certain Thing"
and "The Matinee
Idol."
Capra, who formerly directed comedies
starring Harry Langdon, is also to be as-
signed other "De Luxe" pictures on the
1928-29 program, according to Cohn.
Frank Capra
PubliXf Union to Argue
Adding Men for Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN ANTONIO, July 24.— With the
installation of Movietone and Vitaphone at
the Texas theatre, the local projectionists'
union has asked for the addition of two
men to the present staff of three in the
booth at practically all times. John J.
Friedl, district manager for Publix, has
come to a temporary agreement with John
Dennis, business agent of the San Antonio
local, whereby only one additional man will
be used for the present, until a meeting can
be arranged between a representative of the
national union, and Harry Sherman, repre-
senting Publix.
Edna PRster to Montreal
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, July 24.— Miss Edna Pfister,
secretary of the Albany Film Board of
Trade, has been transferred temporarily to
Winnipeg to instruct future secretaries. In
her absence, the Albany board is being
handled by Miss Emmeline Feinberg of
Pittsburgh.
Laemmle to Coast
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Carl Laemmle,
president of Universal, has gone to Uni-
versal City, where he will expedite the
filming of "Showboat." Harry Pollard is
to direct.
July 28, 1928
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
Y^
Film News
in Pictures
PICTORIAL SECTION
Stories Told
by the Camera
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Two matters having an extraordinary hold on the
public are herewith joined — aviation and films,
which Buck Jones has astutely combined in his
first independent production, "The Big Hop."
With Buck himself (at left) are shown Mrs. Jones
and Dick Grace, daring aviator.
A screen beauty with talent
also deserving of mention —
Florence Dudley, whose
career Burton King has fos-
tered at the Metropolitan
studio.
jBt T^^^BR "^ *■'*'
'"^^^ ^^m
' /Im
k
to
is ';
Marking the acquisition of Henry King, director
of "Tol'able David" and others, by Inspiration.
Here are John Boyce'Smith, vice-president; Emil
J. Jensen, Eastern executive; and King. The di-
rector's first production will be an adaptation of
Rupert Hughes' novel, "She Goes to War."
At the Los Angeles premiere of First National's
"Lilac Time," Colleen Moore, the star; Mayor
James Walker of New York; and John
McCormick, husband of the star and her pro-
ducer. This is a telephoto originally sent to
New York.
Marjorie Daw pictured some-
what in refutation to the irref-
utable fact that she is to play
opposite Reed Howes in Edu-
cational's "Russ Farrell" air
thrillers.
Getting some action shots, perhaps, of the lady
with the torch, but more certainly, King Vidor,
M G M director (f 'rinstance, "The Big Parade") ,
and Mrs. Vidor (Eleanor Boardman) arriving in
New York harbor on the De Grasse after their
sojourn in Europe.
..-_,
24 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
J^imal ^yisecr adders or {^therwise
July 28, 1928
Illustrating what is absolutely not meant by the
saying, "Leading a dog's life." The patient is
Flash; his nurse, Blanche Le Clair — and few men
pick 'em as well. Both, you see, are in M G M's new
dog drama, "Shadows of the Night," directed by
Ross Lederman.
Above: Frankie Darro comes
under consideration through
this bit of fisticuffs with Anna
May. One can only admire
Frankie's ambition to tackle
big things, yet if there's a
line to be drawn, here's a
place to draw it. Anna sup-
ports Frankie in F B O's "The
Circus Kid" — and well she
may!
Right: Something might be
done about this, also. Snook-
ums may thus be setting an
example of courtesy toward
our more lowly cousins, but
it looks like a lot of monkey
business to us — though the
beast is really an orangoutang
belonging to Universal,
which releases Snookums'
Stern Brothers comedies.
Horsefeathers; But this collection needed a horse,
and having no kingdoms and because of the auto-
mobile— well, this is the best we could do. Josephine
Dunn, William Haines' feminine lead in M G M's
"Excess Baggage," is the equestrienne.
A dapper simian and an exponent of arts said to
be derived from that species. Duko's boy friend
at M G M's Culver City studio is Buster Keaton,
Whose latest monkey shines are contained in
M G M's "The Cameraman."
Another M G M dog — though that is
unfair to Flash. To be fairer to Lew
Cody, all this was necessary for the
Cody-Pringle comedy, "The Baby
Cyclone."
The largest egg laid at the chicken
ranch of Carl Laemmle, president of
Universal, and the smallest, displayed
with their respective contributors by
Kathryn Crawford, Universal player.
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
]_^ife as [ragedy
l^omedy, ^yelodrama
The tragedy, telling a story of striking sincerity about life in the tropics. It is M G M 's
"White Shadows of the South Seas." Both scenes presented here show Monte Blue,
the star, with one showing Raquel Torres, the only other player not native to the
locale. Van Dyke directed this production.
The comic phase of
existence is represented
in the scenes shown at
left and right, both
from Universal's "How
to Handle Women."
Surely, there is com-
edy aplenty in this
tale, if the title is ap-
propriate, for numer-
ous attempts to ex-
pound the principles
of woman taming are
recorded in history —
and all have been very,
very funny. The
theme, therefore, seems
a fitting one for the
roguish Glenn Tryon.
He is shown at left
with Marian Nixon,
and at right, with Bull
Montana.
The melodrama, which has adapted that lively phenomenon of so much current inter-
est, the big city and its gangs. Indeed, this F B O production is called "Gang War,"
and above the title is adequately illustrated in a scene therefrom. Olive Borden (who
is shown in the scene at right) and Jack Pickford are the featured players.
26
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
Kwnsky, Who Qave Detroit Its First
ShoWf Fetes Chain^s 20th Year
Brought Machine to Michigan Hub 23 Years Ago But Company Started
with Theatre Roy ale — 12 Houses in Circuit Now
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
DETROIT, July 24. — The John H. Kunsky Theatrical Enterprises, which
date back to the real cradle days of the motion picture industry, this
week, are celebrating the twentieth anniversary of their founding. An
organization of 20 years is not unusual in industrial corporations, but in the
motion picture business 20 years covers nearly the life history of the films. The
Kunsky interests now operate 12 theatres in Detroit and surrounding suburbs,
and the twentieth anniversary was celebrated in all of them with unusually
elaborate programs.
John H. Kunsky
JOHN H. KUNSKY is a native Detroiter.
His first job was a minor one with Caille
Brothers, manufacturers of coin controlled
machines. He even-
tually became the
partner of A. Arthur
Caille in the opera-
tion of the machines.
Then came the sum-
mer of 1905 when
Kunsky and Caille
heard of a public hall
in the East where
moving pictures were
projected on a sheet.
The two men went
East to view the
marvel, and after hav-
ing' the machine
demonstrated, they
purchased one. That
is how Detroit was given its first motion pic-
ture. Kunsky and Caille brought the ma-
chine to Detroit, set it up in a store at
28 Monroe avenue and gave the first exhi-
bition of motion pictures in this part of the
country.
About 200 seats were installed, and a
five-cent admission was charged. The new
"nickel" theatre prospered; incidentally it
still is in operation although under differ-
ent management, and a second one of
larger capacity was opened. Thus, Kunsky
really should be celebrating his 23d anni-
versary in the motion picture field, but it
was not until 1908 that the present com-
pany was formed.
Built Theatre Royale in 1908
In that year, Kunsky and Caille perceived
the possibilities of the new entertainment
and built the Theatre Royale, giving De-
troit its first large picture theatre and lay-
ing the foundation of the chain of today.
An admission of 10 cents was charged — an
unheard of price in those days — but the
theatre prospered and when the first mul-
tiple reel picture, "The Passion Play," was
released it was exhibited at 25 cents with
great success.
The next theatre built was the Majestic,
in the downtown section, and then came
the Empress, also a downtown house. The
Majestic was Detroit's finest theatre in its
heyday, and in it were shown Mme. Sarah
Bernhardt in "Queen Elizabeth" and James
K. Hackett in "The Prisoner of Zenda."
First Residential in 1912
In 1912, the Garden was erected, "way
out in the residential section." This was
one of the most beautiful playhouses of
its kind in the country and the first resi-
dential theatre in Detroit. Shortly after
the partnership of Kunsky and Caille was
dissolved and Kunsky became the sole op-
erator of the rapidh'- growing chain.
The Liberty theatre in the heart of the
downtown district was the next addition,
and it was here that the first presentation
programs were introduced. An orchestra
was presented for the first time in a pic-
ture theatre here, with Eduard Werner as
director. The orchestra boasted five pieces
plus a pipe organ. Werner is now director
of the Michigan Theatre Sympohnic Or-
chestra of nearly 100 pieces.
In 1914 Mr. Kunsky took over the Wash-
ington theatre on Washington boulevard.
The theatre had proved a failure as the
home of a stock company, and many scoffed
at the idea of a picture theatre prospering
so far from the heart of the shopping sec-
tion.
Orchestra Grows to 15 Pieces
But the Washington succeeded and its
success marked another forward movement,
not only in location, but in size, for it
seated 1,348 persons. And by now the sym-
phonic orchestra had grown to 15 pieces.
The Madison opened in 1916; the Adams a
year later; the Capitol in 1921, the State
in 1925 and the Michigan in 1926.
While expanding downtown, and creating
a new theatre district around Washington
boulevard and Grand Circus Park, Kunsky
also invaded the suburbs. The Garden was
succeded by the Alhambra, the Strand and
the DeLuxe, all neighborhood houses.
Within the last year the Kunsky frontier
was established with theatres in Birming-
ham, Redford and Royal Oak, suburbs
within 15 miles of Detroit.
Kunsky also pioneered in the new talk-
■ng pictures, and but a few weeks ago trans-
formed his State theatre into a house de-
voted exclusively to talking pictures.
Jackie Coogan came to Detroit to open
a new caudeville act at the Michigan thea-
tre as part of the anniversary program. At
the Capitol, Lou Holtz, revue star, headed
the stage show, and at the State, Lionel
Barrymore spoke from the talking screen
as the star of "The Lion and the Mouse."
Special attractions were offered at all of
the other theatres.
William Page, Well Known
Publicist, Dies Suddenly
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— William A. Page,
well known theatrical publicist, died last week
in New York. Cause of death is believed to
have been a heart attack, superinduced by the
heat. He was a member of the Lambs Club
and lived at the Alamac hotel.
Page served as publicity man in many the-
atrical ventures, among his employers being
Florenz Ziegfeld and Charles Dillingham.
Projectionists Picket 2
Houses in Labor Strife
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, July 24.— Two down-
town theatres, the Palace and Twelfth
Street, are being picketed by projectionists'
union.
In previous instances courts have granted
restraining orders against picketing, but
thus far no restraining orders have been
sought by the theatres.
Ufa in Combine with
Italian Luce; Assured
Sales in That Country
(Special to the Herald-World)
PARIS, July 14.— (By Mail) — It is
learned that an agreement has been reached
by Ufa and the Italian Luce company,
whereby Ufa has practically acquired the
latter organization. Ufa plans to intensify
the distribution of Italian films throughout
the world, it is said. It is expected
that the fusion will add one more difficulty
to the distribution of American films in
Europe.
For some time Italian pictures have been
a negligible factor in the market. That
distribution will now be effected in a more
able manner is a foregone conclusion. But
skeptics permit themselves to wonder how
Germans will be able to produce Italian
films. The German organization plans to
spend six months making over the Italian
studios and will use its own scenarios,
based on German and French novels.
Reisman Makes Shifts
In Pathe Sales Divisions
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Changes made by
Phil Reisman, general salesmanager of
Pathe, now make Stanley Jacques manager
of the central division, with Chicago, Cin-
cinnati, Des Moines, Indianapolis, Milwau-
kee, Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City and
St. Louis under his supervision; L. W. Weir
manager of the Western division, with Den-
ver, Los AngeleSi Portland, Salt Lake City,
San Francisco and Seattle; and Dan Micha-
love manager of the Southern division, with
Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Memphis, Ok-
lahoma City and New Orleans.
Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Cleveland, New
Haven, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
and Washington are supervised by the
home office, assisted by L. J. Hacking.
New Orleans Aloof from
Musicians' War on Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, July 24.— Any organ-
ized effort of the American Federation of
Musicians to stop or curtail mechanical
music in theatres, is not expected to ma-
terially affect local houses. New Orleans
being known as an "open shop" city. In
practically all crafts, local unions have
little or no trade significance.
Hoffberg Distributor in
Europe Here for Plans
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Samuel Cornfeld,
head of the Cornfeld Enterprises, the Euro-
pean representative of J. H. Hoffberg Com-
pany with offices in Paris and Berlin dis-
tributing pictures on the Continent, has
come to this country to work out plans for
the coming season with the Hoffberg
company.
Publix Shifts Three
(Special to the Herald-World)
FORT WORTH, July 24.— Bob Hicks,
publicity director of the Worth theatre
since its opening last winter, has been pro-
moted to the managership of the Publix
Howard theatre in Atlanta. Ernest Mor-
rison, formerly manager of the Howard,
has been transferred to the Palace, Dallas,
succeeding Al Mason, who resigned. Jean
Finley is now handling publicity at the
Palace, replacing Ray Tarannella.
Branson at Des Moines
(Special to the Herald-World)
DES MOINES, July 24.— W. E. Bronson
has succeeded Walter Liebmann, resigned,
as manager of the Pathe branch.
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
27
Scott Sydney Dies
In England as He
Talks of New Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
RABLETT, Hertfordshire, England, July
21. — Scott Sydney, American motion picture
producer, died suddenly at his hotel here yes-
terday. Sydney, who was making a protracted
stay in this country, was discussing produc-
tion of a screen comedy when death occurred.
Sydney Long With Christies
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Scott Sydney,
who died Friday in London, was one of the
most popular and well known directors of
the film colony. He had been associated with
the Christies for several years, during which
time many of his pictures piled up highly suc-
cessful records. "Charley's Aunt" and "The
Nervous Wreck" were outstanding among his
recent successes. Al Christie cabled his Lon-
don agent, John Taylor, yesterday to assist
Mrs. Sydney in arrangements to bring the
body home for burial.
Paramount Names
Schulberg General
Manager on Coast
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— B. P. Schulberg,
Paramount associate producer, has been
named general manager of West Coast pro-
duction. Promotion was awarded to Schul-
berg after a recent series of conferences in
New York, at which Adolph Zukor, S. R.
Kent, Jesse L. Lasky and other home office
executives discussed past achievements and
plans for the future.
Other promotions elevate B. P. Fineman,
Louis D. Lighton, J. G. Bachmann, B. F.
Ziedman and David O. Selznick, from the
rank of supervisor to associate producers.
Roy Pomeroy, expert on sound synchroni-
zation, has been made director of sound
effects. Pomeroy will head the recently cre-
ated studio sound department and will have
charge of all technical work in connection
with Paramount's sound picture program.
Oren W. Roberts has been appointed to suc-
ceed Pomeroy as head of the department of
special effects.
Judge Denies Right
Of Censors to Pass
On Spoken Words
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, July 24.— Judge Mc-
Devitt, in common pleas court No. 1, has
handed down a decision denying the right
of the Pennsylvania board of censors to
pass on spoken words used in connection
with motion pictures.
Judge McDevitt's decision upholds the
contention of Fox Film Corporation, which
protested against disapproval of a film be-
cause spoken words to be used in the pro-
duction were not submitted for censorship
along with the pictures, and is directly op-
posed to the decision handed down by
Judge Martin, common pleas court No. 5,
on June 30 on the appeal of Vitagraph,
Inc. The position assumed by the board of
censors. Judge McDevitt's opinion sets
forth, leads to an effort to censor every-
thing concerned with motion pictures "in-
cluding music, language, programs and con-
ceivably even the decorations in the thea-
tre."
Exhibitor Pawning Off Old Film
Draws Wisconsin Session's Fire
Misrepresenting Old Versions of Stories Is Denounced in Resolu-
tion— Steve Bauer Elected President — WoodhuU Empha-
sizes Value of Synchronism Development
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald- World]
MILWAUKEE, July 24. — ^Unethical practices of certain exhibitors in this
territory who tried to pawn off old films of "Ramona" and "Uncle Tom's
Cabin" came in for a lot of criticism at the annual convention of the Wiscon-
sin Theatre Owners Association, which was held at the Hotel Wisconsin last
Tuesday and Wednesday.
Exhibitors Criticize Exhibitors
Many complaints were brought before the convention by theatre owners
stating that certain exhibitors had tried to capitalize on the popularity of
"Ramona" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by misrepresenting old versions of these
stories as being the new. It would be all right to advertise the old versions
as old, theatre owners in session stated, and capitalize that way, but not tc
misrepresent them and say that they were the latest products.
Exhibitors of this class should be severely
condemned, stated delegates, and a resolution
to this effect was passed. The result of it is
that some of these exhibitors will have consid-
erable difficulty in dealing with Wisconsin the-
atre owners in the future.
One of the principal subjects of the conven-
tion was the discussion and speeches on sound
installations in theatres. This was a subject
in which all theatre owners were very much
interested. R. F. Woodhull, president of the
N. P. T. A., spoke to the convention on the
first day. He stressed the talking pictures,
pointing out that it is a relatively new thing
and that no doubt much improvement would
be noted as time went on. "One of the prob-
lems of theatre owners today is to book the
right pictures and exploit them properly at a
small expense," Woodhull said.
Other speakers were R. Smith of Movie- _ j^ .
tone and T. M. McKinney of Vitaphone. Both ^jtUffC PrOuUCerS
Reported Planning
Synchronized Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Synchronized
picture versions of Broadway stage shows
are to be made by a group of producers,
it is reported, with the intention to show
the pictures in so-called legitimate theatres
throughout the country while the attraction
is appearing on the stage in New York. A
picture would be made of each entire show
considered of the right type for synchro-
nization, the production being photographed
on the stage.
talked about the improvements in sound in-
stallations and the progress made in attend-
ance by theatres throughout the country that
had installed them.
Officers elected for the coming year were :
Steve Bauer, Milwaukee, president; Fred See-
gert, Milwaukee, vice-president; Max Krafta,
Milwaukee, recording secretary, and E. Lan-
genbach, Milwaukee, treasurer. Henry Staub
again was chosen as business manager of the
association.
Directors elected for the coming year were :
George Fischer, Milwaukee, J. P. Adler,
Marshfield, Wis., F. G. McWilliams, Madison,
W. L. Ainesworth, Fond du Lac, and T. E.
Wolcott, Racine. George Beyers, Milwaukee,
was elected sergeant-at-arms. There were 150
at the convention.
Mogler's Nickels Beat
Rockefeller's Dimes
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, July 24.— For the past
year Joseph Mogler, state senator,
president of the Motion Picture Ex-
hibitors' League of St. Louis and
owner of the Mogler, Bremen and
Excello theatres in North St. Louis,
has been making a regular trip every
Saturday between 9 and 9:30 a. m.
to the Bremen bank.
One Saturday in January, two
small and somewhat ragged boys
met him at the door with "Gimme a
nickel, will ya. Mister Mogler.^'"
Mogler Sshed up two shiny new
nickels. The following Saturday he
was met by the same two boys and
Sfteen companions. "This is a good
joke," thought Joe, and again he dug
into his trousers for the coins,
which this time proved to be dimes.
The following Saturday a larger
crowd of boys were at the bank and
they cheered loudly as Mogler drove
up. He had the cashier prepare a
small bag of nickels and he passed
out a hundred of them. Last Satur-
day more than 400 boys were on
hand and police reserves were
needed to keep the boys in line.
Each received a nickel, with per-
haps a few repeaters.
"I have decided to end it the Satur-
day before Christmas by giving each
kid a quarter," Mogler said. "That
ought to draw a real big crowd."
End of Carnivals May
Follow Carousel Death
And Panic of Patrons
(Special to the Herald-World)
TORONTO, July 24.— Carnivals are ex-
pected to be banned in this city as a result
of the killing of a merry-go-round operator
and severe electrical shocks to those riding
on the device at a carnival here. The rid-
ers, many of them children, were glued to
the horses and carriages when a short cir-
cuit caused the device to become charged.
Struggling to free themselves, the patrons
screamed in panic, and when the contrap-
tion was stopped, Benjamin Heiges of Bur-
ton, O., part owner, was found dead with
his hand clutching the controlling lever.
Agitation to bar carnivals immediately
followed, and appealed to also by theatre
men, the authorities have indicated they
will refuse all permits to carnivals in the
future.
28
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
^^^
SYNCHRONIZED PICTURES
ii,
Paramount to Establish Sound
Service Stations in Nine Cities
Throw Publix Organization into Production Field to Produce Novelties
and Music — All Feature Sound Pictures to Have Sound
Trailers — All Novelty Production to Be in East
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24. — The latest development in Paramount's plans for
sound picture productions and distribution is the decision to establish offices in
9 cities in this country from which feature and short feature sound pictures will
be distributed. These sound picture exchanges will be located in the same build-
ings housing regular Paramount exchanges but will be operated separately.
This announcement comes on the heel of Hand, orchestrator for Sousa, Paul White-
other Paramount plans of importance to the
effect that sound trailers will be made for all
of the company's feature length sound pic-
tures, totalling not less than from 25 to 30
productions ; that the Publix organization will
co-operate in the production of all sound films
and that practically all short feature novel-
ties, excluding the Christie comedies', will be
made at the Paramount Long Island studios.
Location of Nine Offices
The nine service stations will be located in
Boston, serving Boston, New Haven and
Maine; New York, serving New York, Brook-
lyn, New Jersey, Albany and Buffalo ; Phila-
delphia, serving Philadelphia, Washington and
Pittsburgh; Atlanta, serving Atlanta, Mem-
phis, Charlotte and Jacksonville ; Dallas, serv-
ing Dallas, New Orleans and San Antonio ;
Chicago, serving, Chicago, Detroit, Milwau-
kee, Minneapolis and Sioux Falls ; Cincinnati,
serving Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and
Indianapolis ; Kansas City, serving Kansas
City, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Denver, Des
Moines and Omaha; San Francisco, serving
San Francisco, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City,
Seattle and Portland.
A master print of each sound picture will
be kept at each of the sound exchanges and
equipment for examination of sound prints is
being installed at those offices. In the case of
Vitaphone (disc) sound recording, exhibitors
will receive duplicate sets of records to guard
against loss of exhibition through breakage in
transportation or possible defects in the discs.
The plan to place the Publix organization in
charge of musical production will throw a
huge organization, hitherto working sepa-
rately from Paramount's production organiza-
tion, in the producing field. Several thou-
sand musicians are on the payrolls of thea-
tres owned, controlled or directed by Publix,
according to the company. The men at the
head of the Publix music and presentation de-
partments have had years of experience in
both legitimate stage and picture work.
Many Musicians on Staff
Heading the list is Nathaniel W. Finston,
chief of the music department, who worked
seven years with various talking machine com-
panies, including Victor and Columbia. Run-
ning close seconds to Finston are Frank Har-
ling, Dominicko Savino, well known orches-
trator and composer, Walter Donaldson ;
Dave Stamper, 15 years with Ziegfeld's Fo.-
lies; and L. Wolfe Gilbert, who has to his
credit many most popular songs.
Other outstanding music and production
men in the Publix organization are Herman
man and Walter Damrosch, Einar Svan and
Adolph Deutsch, jazz arrangers and George
Drumm who has been writing motion picture
music scores for the past 20 years.
These men will work in conjunction with
Paramount production officials in the making
of novelty subjects and stage presentations
which will be filmed with sound accompani-
ment.
Practically every field of motion picture
production is included in Paramount's plans
for sound picture work. Besides the feature
length films, all the Christie comedies will
have sound effects ; Paramount News is soon
become the "see and hear" type of newsreel
and many novelty short subjects will be pro-
duced under the supervision of Emanuel
Cohen, director of the short feature depart-
ment.
Two Sound Features Finished
At present Paramount already has com-
pleted two feature productions with sound —
"Warming Up," starring Richard Dix and
"The Loves of an Actress," starring Pola
Negri. Others now in work are Anne Nichols'
"Abie's Irish Rose," "The Patriot," Ernst
Lubitsch's work which stars Emil Jannings ;
"The Canary Murder Case," a detective mys-
tery melodrama with William Powell, Louise
Brooks, Ruth Taylor and James Hall featured
in the cast ; "Wings" and, "The Wedding
March," Erich von Stroheim's picture in which
he also plays a featured role with Fay Wray.
Short features complete with sound are
"Dizzy Diver" and "Hot Scotch," two of the
Christie series of two reel comedies. Other
Christie subjects now in process of synchro-
nization are "Stop Kidding," "Skating Home,"
"The Sock Exchange" and "Oriental Hugs."
Douglas MacLean's first feature length pic-
ture for Christie "The Carnation Kid," will
be made with sound accompaniment at the
Christie studio where the Electrical Research
Products is now erecting a sound-proof stage.
To Furnish Sound Trailers
Construction of the sound-proof stages at
the Paramount Long Island studios is pro-
gressing and it is expected that they will be
completed within a fortnight.
The first completed sound trailer, made up
as advance agent for the Richard Dix pic-
ture, "Warming Up," is now being screened in
40 Publix theatres.
The trailer for "Loves of an Actress" is
now being made by the Paramount advertising
department in conjunction with National
Screen service. Nathaniel Finston will handle
all musical details connected with the Para-
mount trailers.
"Voice, Voice, Who's Got a
Voice?" Is Hollywood Cry
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— "Sound
£lms are already bringing about rad-
ical changes in all studios," accord-
ing to Edward J. Montague, scenario
editor-in-chief of Universal.
"The voice test is becoming just as
important as the screen test was only
a few months ago in casting pic-
tures, and the candidates loom up
everywhere.
"The special policeman at the gate
greets you in rich baritone voice.
Telephone operators trill a delight-
fully sweet 'number, please.' There
is a lilt in the secretary's 'good
morning.' Electricians call to one
another on the set in golden tenor
voices and even the janitors say
'goodnight' in a rollicking profundo
basso.
"The other day I thought I beard
Melba's haunting lyric soprano. It
was the waitress warbling, 'Anything
else, please?'
"Even the office boys are doing
vocal gymnastics with their high
falsettos. It is the day of the voice
test, and the voice with the person-
ality wins."
"HeWs Angels'' Has
Both Color, Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Both sound and
color will be employed in "Hell's Angels,"
United Artists' air film now being completed
at the Metropolitan studios in Hollywood.
Final sequences of "Hell's Angels," in which
Ben Lyon, Greta Nissen, James Hall, Thelma
Todd and John Darrow appear, are being syn-
chronized with voice and music. Another por-
tion of the picture already has been filmed in
technicolor. It is planned to exhibit "Hell's
Angels" in a New York theatre in November.
99
MGM Buys Play
for First "All Talkie
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer's first all-talking picture will be "The
Trial of Mary Dugan." Purchase of the
screen rights to this popular play by Bay-
ard Veiller including Movietone and Vita-
phone rights, was announced last week,
after contracts had been signed by Al
Wood, the producer, and Nicholas M.
Schenck, head of the film concern.
Replaces Orchestra
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEWCASTLE, IND., July 24.— J. W.
Greer, owner of the Starette theatre here
will equip his theatre with a new Photo-
tone machine replacing the orchestra.
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
18 Puhlix Houses in
New England Begin
Sound Picture Policy
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Eighteen Publix
theatres in the New England territory have
opened or will open with Vitaphone during
the coming month, according to the an-
nouncement of Paul J. Swift, general sales
manager of the Vitaphone Corporation.
The theatres and their opening dates are
as follows: Fenway and Olympia theatres,
Boston, day and date policy, July 8; Strand,
Newport, R. I., July 8; Capital, Pittsfield,
July 8; Alston, Mass., July 22; Central
Square, Cambridge, July 22; Stadium,
Woonsocket, July 22; Opera House, Ban-
gor, July 23; Strand, Brockton, July 23;
Scolly Square, Boston, July 22; Olympia,
Lynn, July 29; Merimac, Lowell, August
19; Strand, Pawtucket, August 5; Salem,
Salem, August 19; Strand, Dorchestra, Sep-
tember 2; Field's Corner, Dorchestra, Sep-
tember 2, and the Publix theatres in Chelsea
and Haverhill, September 2.
The service contracts with Vitaphone call
for weekly changes of programs. The
Warner Bros. Vitaphone productions of
"Tenderloin," "Glorious Betsy," and "The
Lion and the Mouse" will be the opening
bill at most of the theatres.
Fox to Have Twelve
Movietone Offices
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— E. H. Collins, super-
visor of Fox Film exchange operations, has
been appointed by general sales manager J. R.
Grainger to the post of supervisor of booking
and distribution of all Fox-Movietone feature
prints. At the same time Grainger announced
the division of the United States into 12 zones,
each having its own key point where syn-
chronized prints will be stored, inspected and
shipped. These shipping points include the
following cities San Francisco, Cleveland,
Boston, Seattle, Washington, Dallas, Chicago,
Philadelphia, St. Louis, Indianapolis, New
York, Omaha.
^'Warming Up ^^ Breaks
Paramount Record
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— "Warming Up,"
starring Richard Dix, Paramount's first
sound picture, has broken the week-end rec-
ord at the Paramount theatre by more than
$1,000, according to Paramount. Monday
night of the week's run, the entire Yankee
baseball team saw the picture. It has now
been moved to the Rivoli where it will be
given an extended run.
England^ Germany Big Markets
for American Sound Products
[Washington Bureau of the Herald- World]
WASHINGTON, July 24. — ^American interest in the talking motion picture
is reflected in Europe, according to a report from Trade Commissioner George
R. Canty, at Paris, to the Department of Commerce. British, German and
French film organs have devoted themselves more to the project than their con-
temporaries in smaller European film markets, but the general news that the
leading producing companies of the United States have associated themselves
with the sound film has aroused much interest in European trade circles.
The advanced popularity of the motion will some day replace the so-called 'silent
picture in Great Britain as a method of en-
tertainment, the laneuage similarity with
the United States, and the extensive seat-
ing capacity in the large number of houses
which open daily tend to make England
especially capable of assimilating the vari-
ous ramifications involved in the American
talking pictures. Many large cinemas are
able to undertake the expense of necessary
installations for the projection of the "talk-
ing picture."
Germany, after England, offers the best
prospect for the American sound pictures.
6,000,000 Match Books to
Exploit All-Sound Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK. July 24.— Six mil-
lion match books will be distributed
throughout the country through ar-
rangements made by Warner Broth-
ers to exploit the all-talking Vita-
phone picture, "The Lights of New
York." Distribution will take place
between July 25 and August 1.
Its theatres are numerous enough to per-
mit the installation of a large supply of
projection equipment; its admission prices
are of a scale sufficient to justify cinema
owners purchasing this equipment.
France, third in line of importance of
European markets susceptible to this new
departure, must be considered only as ;i
remotely potential market. Its cinema ad-
mission scales are small as compared with
England and Germany. The industry lacks
credit and is not inclined to borrow for
the future. At present it should be classed
with other smaller countries in Europe as
a market where the installation of the pro-
jection equipment for the talking motion
picture is only possible in a few of the
larger-sized sinemas. In fact, interest in
France has only reached the discussion
stage.
In England, circuit cinema owners are
already estimating the cost of the equip-
ment installation for the American inven-
tions, so certain are they that they must be
ready to provide their audiences with this
latest form of theatre entertainment.
Warners Ad Four to Paul Sloane Quits
Road Show Program job to Study Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Four new Vita-
phone specials were announced this week
by Warner Brothers as additions to the
road shows to be released in 1928-29. They
are: "The Grifters," from the story by
C. D. Lancaster, to be directed by Roy Del
Ruth; "Playing Around," from the stage
play by Frances Norstrom; "The Madonna
of Avenue A," starring Dolores Costello
and another, yet untitled, also starring
Dolores Costello. All will make extensive
use of Vitaphone.
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Paul Sloane is said
to be the first motion picture director to vol-
untarily give up a position in Hollywood in
order to spend several months in the talking
picture laboratories in the East to learn every
phase of production. His salary as a director
is about $1,500 per week. As he intends
spending at least 12 weeks in the East, this
"journey to school" will cost Sloane $18,000
in salary sacrificed. In addition, his personal
expenditures on this trip will total approxi-
mately $5,000.
"It is inevitable that talking motion pictures
drama'," Sloane declares. "Any person who
can see and hear the first experimental "talk-
ies" and not foresee the future of the business
can be compared only to those people who, a
bare 25 years ago, laughed at the first motion
pictures and said they could never be compe-
tition to the stage. Talking motion pictures
are here to stay. Eventually, our motion pic-
tures will be in color, will have depth, and
will be accompanied by synchronic sounds and
conversation. It is my belief in this that is
prompting me to spend $25,000 seeking a new
sort of directorial education — a knowledge of
how to produce talking motion pictures."
Sound, Color, Third
Dimension Soon to
Come, Says Expert
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Within five years
the screen will produce the closest possible
imitation of human life ; talking, natural-color,
stereoscopic pictures, according to John Nicko-
laus, laboratory head at the Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer studios, who discloses that for more
than a year experiments in a new and im-
proved color-process have been under way at
the big plant, with other experiments for
adapting them to "talkies."
"The color picture," said Nickolaus, "is now
close to the attainment of practical perfection.
For more than a year we have been experi-
menting quietly here with a three-color proc-
ess, and in the Eastman laboratories impor-
tant developments of a similar process have
been under way. The Technicolor process, a
two-color system, has also been so improved
that perfect correctness is practically assured.
"Several methods of producing stereoscopic
or three-dimensional pictures are also in course
of development. It is safe to say that within
five years human figures in three dimensions
and natural colors, talking in natural voices,
will be common on the screens of the world."
Pathe's ''Show Folks''
to Be Given Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Sound synchro-
nization will be used throughout "Show
Folks," now being filmed under the direc-
tion of Paul Stein, according to Ralph
Block, associate producer. New musical
scores written by Chris Schomberg, espe-
cially for the original dance numbers of
"Show Folks," will be introduced to the
public for the first time through the sound
effects used in conjunction with the picture.
Every member of the cast has been a
former player on the legitimate or vaude-
ville stage, it is said. Lina Basuqette, Eddie
Quillan and Robert Armstrong have the
featured roles in "Show Folks," with Bessie
Barriscale, Crauford Kent and Carol J.om-
bard in important roles.
30
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
Sound Work Keeps ^Em Busy^ But
a Bit up in the Air in Hollywood
By DOUGLAS HODGES
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— With Fox and Metro-GoldwynMayer making no
announcement here as to which pictures in production are to have eflfect se-
quences 14 pictures are in production which are slated for the new device.
Twenty-five which are under way will either be silent pieces or will be given
synchronization after a late decision.
The Paramount production schedule
shows that sound records will go ^\t\\ the
following: "Sins of the Fathers," which
Emil Jannings is starring in; "Docks of
New York," which Josef von Sternberg is
directing; "Moran of the Marines," which
Frank Strayer is directing, and "Inter-
ference," the Lothar Mendez film.
Warner Brothers is synchronizing "The
Hometowners," featuring Irene Rich and
Doris Kenyon. This one will likewise be a
dialogue proposition all the way through.
Robert McWade is in it, bringing his
artistry of spoken drama from the stage
where he enacted the best role on Broad-
way and Chicago. There are grounds for
doubts about others of the cast but at
least we'll finally have the pleasure of
knowing whether Irene Rich's voice is as
beautiful as her manner. "The Outlaw
Dog" and "The Redeeming Sin" are set for
Fox Shows First Sound
and Color Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— The com-
bination of color and sound on the
same £lm, one of the newest devel-
opments in motion picture enter-
tainment, will be shown to the public
for the £rst time Wednesday night
at the Gaiety theatre by Fox Film
Corporation. . The subject, is a short
reel picture of a girl playing violin
selections- It was £lmed in Movie-
tone and technicolor.
effects too, but probably not dialogue. The
first one is the Rin-Tin-Tin opera so it is a
safe bet that Warners will delete the human
vocal chords. A bark or two here and there
might prove novel.
Universal is another studio that is going
in heavy for the effect business. The fore-
most pictures of their current program
which were under way simultaneously last
week are "The Last Warning" and "Show
Boat." Both are Movietone pieces.
Another big one in the making is "Girl on
the Barge," which will be synchronized
likewise.
First National's "Show Girl," with Alice
White in the cast, is to be an effects picture.
The only one in the sound class at De
Mille's is "Show Folks." It's impossible
to say whether it will have the speech stuff
with music or just music but it's a sure
shot for sound of some sort. It is being
directed by Paul Stein with Eddie Quillan
in the comedy role. Eddie's voice is trained
for the stage racket and has possibilities in
dialogue drama.
The biggest picture in Hollywood's
studios is "Hell's Angels." As heretofore
announced in these columns, it is on the
boards for recorded music. No thought
has been advanced regarding lines however
but with synchronization and technicolor
and airfights the lines will probably be
superfluous.
It's more difficult to get a written state-
ment from these Hollywood producers re-
garding sound pictures than it is to get
their bankrolls. They are aipparently
frightened in their boots about the de-
mands on the industry within the next 12
months. They know nothing about the
subject and are free to admit it.
Three electricians rolled up their over-
alls last week and accepted jobs ranging in
salaries from $500 to $1,250 per week. They
showed intelligence about sound productiori
technique and were promoted at once.
Producers are seeking madly for technicians
who know enough about the subject to
teach them the rudiments.
Work on Christies^
Sound Studios at
Metropolitan Begins
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Construction was
started by the Christie brothers on the com-
plete group of sound buildings at the Metro-
politan studios this week when the Austin
Company began work on the first group of
buildings including the first stage, 76 by 106
feet, a second stage of equal size or larger
to be added after construction of the next
unit which will be a recording and monitor
building 64x119 feet in dimensions. Impor-
tant features of the group will be the sound
proof walls and roof, ventilating systems, vi-
brationless foundations for the mechanical and
machinery buildings, fireproof construction,
and a compact building of 11 rooms which
will house the various technical groups re-
quired for recording.
Western Electric equipment will be installed
throughout in the new group of buildings.
Christie recently signed contracts covering the
use of Western Electric's film and disc meth-
ods of sound recording which will be used in
the entire Christie product including the
Douglas MacLean features, the "Confessions
of a Chorus Girl" series, and the Sandy Mac-
Duff Comedies starring Jack Duffy, and the
Billy Dooley and Bobby Vernon comedies.
First Atlanta Deluxe
Begins Sound Policy
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, July 24.— The growing popu-
larity of sound pictures is responsible for
the innovation which is to bring Vitaphone
and Movietone productions to the Howard
theatre, Publix deluxe house in Atlanta,
next week. Before any intimation of its
intention was known to the general public,
the Howard had sensed the reaction toward
synchronized pictures as a virtual demand
for this new feature.
"The Lion and the Mouse," Warner
Brothers Vitaphone production, will initiate
"sound pictures" at the Howard Monday.
The Howard will be the first deluxe thea-
tre in Atlanta to present sound pictures.
Pomeroy Promoted
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Roy J. Pome-
roy has been promoted to the position of
director of sound effects for Paramount.
O. W. Roberts succeeds Pomeroy as head
of the special effects department.
Sound Films Oust
Stage Band Policy
in Portland House
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., July 19.— New poli-
cies for the Portland and Broadway thea-
tres have been announced by Richard Spier,
division manager for West Coast Theatres,
Inc.
The Broadway will become this week
a "talking film" house for pictures with
synchronized musical scores and sound
efforts. The Fanchon & Marco stage
revues, which now play the Broadway, will
go to the Portland. The Publix stage
shows will be eliminated in Portland and
Seattle.
The Broadway will not have any stage
entertainment, but will have pictures with
sound eflfects and the Movietone weekly
news. The Thursday night dances will be
continued with Georgie StoU's music.
MGM's First With
Sound Opens July 31
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— "White Shadows
in the South Seas," which was recently
completed after five months in the South
Pacific, and which will be the first Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer picture with sound effects
and synchronized score, will have its pre-
miere at the Astor theatre, July 31.
During the past four weeks studio execu-
tives, in association with Movietone and
Vitaphone representatives, have been work-
ing at the Victor Recording Laboratory in
Camden, N. J., to provide the picture with
sound sequences and a synchronized score.
Both of these were completed last week and
the Astor theatre is now being supplied
with the facilities that will be required
when "White Shadows" begins its engage-
ment there. A surrounding program of
Movietone short features will supplement
the South Sea film.
Jewish Dialect to Be
Heard in "Nize Baby''
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— "Nize Baby,"
the film version of Milt Gross' Jewish book,
will be produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
with sound eflfects and the use of dialogue
in Jewish dialect. The cast is now being
selected, and Milt Gross is now on the
Coast preparing the screen adaptation. The
film may be produced in New York.
Rivoli Gets Sound
BALTIMORE, July 24.— The RivoH the-
atre, here, opened with Vitaphone Satur-
day, the opening attraction being the
Warner Brothers picture "State _ Street
Sadie," with Vitaphone score and dialogue.
Two Vitaphone acts, Martinelli in a scene
from "La Juive" and the Ingenue Band
were included on the opening bill.
Install Equipment in
New Pennsylvania House
(Special to the Herald-World)
AMBLER, PA., July 24.— The new
Ambler theatre here, owned by Harrison
Brothers, which will be one of the most
up-to-date houses in Montgomery County
when it is completed early in the fall, is
being equipped for both Vitaphone and
Movietone. The house seats 1,500.
July 28, 1928
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
Advertising the Synchronized Pictures
Ads on this page are from the Marks Brothers Granada and Marbro theatres, Chicago; the Victory theatre. Salt Lake
City, managed by Ray Hendry; the Orpheum theatre, Chicago, operated by Warner Brothers; the Roosevelt theatre,
Chicago, and Balaban and Katz house; and the Grand theatre, Columbus, Ohio, a J. Real Neth house. The ads show
how these houses are advertising the sound picture and the short subjects in sound. Study them carefully. You will
find a number of good slogans for use with the sound picture. This department is desirous of receiving ads on sound
pictures. Send your ads to the Synchronized Pictures department.
AVARKf DR-OJ
^— ^ ■
•'Tremendous'* hai-dly describes the reception TGIorlous Belsy" has re-
I celved at the baads of our patrons. Each perlormancc Is a trlumnh! —
' You MUST see It today!
IGMN4DJ
4Meii.$OAN **■ DEVON
■mm
32
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
Y^
THE STUDIO
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department
''Hollywood."
Jimmie Walker Meets Producers at
Banquet in His Honor
Spends 45 Minutes Comparing Gotham with Berlin and Malta; Hays Calls
Him "A Measure;" Tay Garnett Entertains
By DOUGLAS HODGES
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Mayor Jimmie Walker of New York, arrived
at the dinner in his honor Tuesday night with two speeches in his
pocket. One was the one he hoped to deliver; the other, the one he
delivered. The dinner was given by The Association of Motion Picture Pro-
ducers at the Biltmore hotel.
Cecil B. De Mille, Will Hays, toastmaster, George E. Cryer and Burton E.
Fitts spent two hours saying finely phrased things about Walker, and Walker
spent 45 minutes telling them how the population of New York compares with
that of Berlin and Malta.
accurately, sixty seven thousand times the
length of Tay Garnett's yacht.
The trip began Saturday noon and ended
exactly 36 hours later. During that time I
enjoyed my annual "two weeks" vacation with
no expense but considerable exposure.
The other yachtsmen guests of the youthful
De Mille director were Dick Hunt, who is
Louella Parsons greatest and latest rival;
Jerry Hoffman, the newspaperman who ought
to be a hoofer; Wade Werner, self styled
novice at any game of chance (and the one
who always takes the sugar) ; Ray Murray,
a real sailor even in the best of weather ;
Oliver Garver, sports editor turning publicist ;
George Greene, scenarist, Garnett and myself.
In spite of a deck luncheon of javacake
around only three got sick going over. It
was the return trip that heaved us up into a
channel storm. The boat was upside down 14
times and Hoffman, the New York Telegraph
correspondent, was upside down in the inter-
vals. After four days all but three of us were
in the cabin and we landed near San Diego
or San Francisco.
TT was the least virile address that the mayor
-'- made during his stay. He no doubt enjoyed
it less than those who heard it.
He was paid tribute by the assembly after
speeches had ended. The words of "Will You
Love Me in December as You Did in May?"
were thrown on the screen. The diners sang
Walker's song lustily. The number took such
hold that it was followed with other songs on
the screen, many of which were written by
the same author. Then came "On the Banks
of the Wabash" and a Dixie melody.
Hays called Walker a "measure." a stan-
dard. "The fact is he should be in the bu-
reau of standards in Washington, D. C." He
said Walker is one we owe honor because of
his personal work and because of his public
service. "Born in New York on the East
Side, he has developed into one as indigenous
to us as sassafrass is to Indiana; and as the
Eucalyptus is to California."
Following these and other similar things
that Hays said about him the honor guest be-
gan his address by turning to the toastmaster
and saying: "I have closely observed the
words you have used in your mention of me
and wish to say that all of your compliments
for me prove just another tribute to your
conservatism."
Entertainment consisted of two or three
Pantages numbers and an appearance by
Benny Rubin, erstwhile bandleader, who told
the story about the man who wanted to go
Figueroa and Pico Boulevards in Los Angles.
(Yes, the same one.)
* * *
Catalina Island
and Tay Garnett
Catalina Island is three hours of seasickness
from Long Beach, Cal. The distance is, more
Mr. Garnett has been requested to invite
the same crowd on a similar trip within the
next six weeks in order for them to demon-
strate that they are all really good sailors and
that "it's quite unusual" for them to behave
as they did. He is a great host, a great writer,
director and gentleman.
* * *
Newmeyer Has Eye
on Free Lance Field
Fred Newmeyer, director of "It Can Be
Done,' for Universal (which isn't done by any
means) contemplates entering the free lance
field upon the completion of the picture.
{Continued on page 41)
One of the young lieutenants who will probably find himself a Napoleon over
"" ' HOWARD J. GREEN
This era of talking pictures is made to order for him.
"Marked Money," by the way, for Pathe-De Mille.
He just completed writing
ON A LOT
OF THE LOTS
Joyzelle
Betty Egan
Vernon Smith
Charlie Murray
William Beaudine
Bayard Veiller
Monte Blue
H. B. Warner
Lois Wilson
H. Abbie D'Arrast
Adolphe Menjou
Regarding :
Frank Strayer
Richard Dix
Ruth Elder
Linton Wells
Sally Trump
Frances Deaner
Clyde Cook
George Bancroft
J. Von Sternberg
Dave Butler
JTick Stuart
Harry Brand
HOLLYWOOD.— Director Frank
Strayer, of Paramount Studios, was all
smiles as a result of a shot which was taken
on his set this week:
It was Richard Dix's birthday. It was
also three pugs' natal anniversaries. In a
banquet scene, the stags were having a great
time until some one started a fight, which
went into a battle. The gang centered on
Dix, and started to give him a beating, but
Dix, who is more handy with his mitts than
you think, gave as good as was sent. As a
result, bruised lips and eyes and whatnot
were common.
When the melee was over, broken dishes and
tables, coupled with swollen eyes, bleeding noses
and everything else which goes to make up a good
fight, put one of the best sequences ever filmed
into a picture. They were supposed to mix but
they waxed so hot that even the director forgot
to stop the camera. "Moran of the Marines," which
IS from the pen of Linton Wells, the nationally
known globe trotter, gives Ruth Elder her first
role before the camera.
• • •
Sally Trump, adorable diplomat, assistant to
Frances Deaner, of the Fox studio, is back on the
job after a six weeks' vacation at Lake Elsinore.
• * *
Clyde Cook, is fast breaking away from comedy
roles for more serious parts. He was first known
in comedy relief, but his impressions of pathos in
sequences also stood out strongly. At present he is
doing a little of both in "The Docks of New York"
with George Bancroft, which Von Sternberg is
directing for Paramount.
• » *
Dave Butler, Fox director, left this week for New
York where he will be joined by Nick Stuart. They
will be passengers on the Mauretania for South
Hampton, where they will be met by Harry Brand,
who has been working on Butler's next epic, "Chas-
ing Through Europe."
• • •
Joyzelle, well known oriental dancer, with Betty
Egan and her dancers, are taking up much footage
in Richard Dix's next starring vehicle, "Moran of
the Marines," which Frank Strayer is directing for
Paramount. Ruth Elder is playing opposite, and
although camera shy, is considered one of the best
"finds" on the Paramount lot.
« • *
Vernon Smith, scenarist, will return to the free
lance field upon his completion of "Do Your Duty,"
which will star Charlie Murray, for First National.
William Beaudine will handle the megaphone.
• • •
Monte Blue, Warner Brothers film star, has re-
turned to Hollywood after an absence of almost 10
months. He will start to work immediately on his
first Vitaphone production entitled, "Conquest," with
H. B. Warner featured and Lois Wilson in the
leading feminine role.
» « *
H. Abbie D'Arrast, will return to the Paramount
studio, upon completion of his current vehicle, "Dry
Martini," which he is directing for Fox studio. He
is booked for an opus starring Adolphe Menjou.
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
33
99
Al Green Completes
^'Making the Grade,
Ade Story for Fox
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Alfred E. Green
today completed "Making the Grade" for Fox.
The picture is from the story by George Ade
and features two well
known box office play-
ers, Edmund Lowe
and Lois Moran.
Movietone accom-
paniment is to be
given the production,
according to a report
from the studios.
Green has spent the
past seven weeks on
the picture and has
injected numerous
production values that
ought to make it a
worthy successor to
the Meighans, Colleen
Moores and Pick-
fords that first won for him national fame as
a maker of money making productions.
Lou Breslow, comedy constructionist, and
Jack Boland, assistant director, formed a part
of the technical staff.
Alfred E. Crean
Jackie Logan Is Doing
Role in "Lookout GirV
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Jacqueline
Logan began work yesterday in "The Look-
out Girl" for Quality Pictures. Immedi-
ately upon the completion of that role she
will resume work at the Pathe-DeMille
studios on "The Spieler."
Abe Carlos heads the Quality organiza-
tion.
Stone in Taurog Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Arthur Stone
will play an important role in Norman
Taurog's first Fox feature, which now is
in preparation. This will add another to
the succession of "dressed up" roles which
have been Stone's recent lot, since his first
picture for Fox, "Chicken a la King," in
which he was co-featured with Nancy Car-
roll.
Goudal in Griffith Film
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Jetta Goudal
has been signed to play an important role
in "The Love Song," which will be directed
by D. W. Griffith for United Artists.
Manhattan Studios
134th St. and Park Ave., N. Y. C.
Every Modern Facility for
Motion Picture Production
Motion Picture Settings on a Contract
Basis.
Sets for Screen Tests.
Full Equipment for Production of Every
Type of Industrial Film;
CONSULT US: OUR PLANT OFFERS
THE SOLUTION TO YOUR PRODUC-
TION PROBLEMS
Manhattan Studios Phone Harlem 7648
Thomson Finishes Last PFL;
Pollard Begins "Show Boat"
47 Pictures Under Way on Coast; O'Brien in "Fog" at Fox Lot;
13 Pictures Started by Major Companies; Another
New Director Heard From
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Fred Thomson completed scenes for "Kit Car-
son" three days ago, which is the last picture on his Paramount releasing con-
tract. It is a rather pretentious production with most of the shooting done
on location.
Universal launched its work on the big "Show Boat" at the same time,
which Harry Pollard is megaphoning and in which Laura LaPlante is star-
ring. Universal is expecting this to be one of the outstanding pictures of
its schedule. Another of course, and which is also in preparation is "The
Last Warning." Laura likewise has a big role in it.
In all there are 47 pictures in work in
the studios here. There may be two or
three small pictures being made by quickie
organizations which are not included in
that estimate. Thirteen of the pictures
were gotten under way in the past five
days.
O'Brien and Astor in "Fog"
George O'Brien hastened with his makeup
box from the Warner to the Fox lot last
week to begin work in "Fog," O'Brien has
lately been making scenes for the Vita-
phone sequences of "Noah's Ark." He is
the star role opposite Mary Astor in the
new Fox production. Its director is
Charles Klein.
Howard Higgin began shooting on
"Singapore Sal" at the De Mille studios.
{Contviiued on page 41)
The Next JOHN FORD Production
"Riley the Cop"
Fox Film Now in the Making
If you're not booking them yet you're not a smart showman. I saw another of
them the other night that
CHARLES LAMONT
directed and it's chuck full of laughs. He is directing Big Boy Juveniles and Jerry
Drew Ideals for Educational.
■UIBItUil
34
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
Studio Achievements to Be Qiven
Recognition by Academy
Awards Will Be Made to Actors, Writers, Directors, Technicians and Pro-
ducers Participating in 1927-28 Product
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24. — A plan has been conceived by the Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, whereby awards of merit will be
bestowed upon those who have made "distinctive achievements in
connection with feature motion pictures issued for general release between"
August 1, 1927 and August 1, 1928.
AWARDS will be made to an actor, a
writer, a director, a technician and a
producer.
The awards will be made on the follow-
ing bases:
ACTING
(1) A distinction award to the actor giving the
best performance in acting with special reference to
faithfulness in character portrayal and effectiveness
of dramatic or comedy rendition.
(2) A distinction award to the actress giving the
best perfomiance as herein described.
WRITING
(1) A distinction award for the best achievement
in coastruction of an original picture play with spe-
cial reference to originality, strength of theme, char-
acter developments and consistency.
(2) A distinction award for the best achievement
in construction of an adaptation for a picture play
as herein described.
DIRECTING
(1) A distinction award for the best achievement
in the art of directing a dramatic picture play with
special reference to character building, effective di-
rection of individual scenes, direction of the picture
play as a whole and originality in incidental or
general treatment.
(2) A distinction award for the best achievement
in directing a comedy picture play a-s herein de-
scribed.
TECHNICAL
(1) A distinction award for the best achievement
in photographic art.
(2) A distinction award for the best achievement
in art direction.
(3) A distinction award for the best engineering
achievement in producing effects.
PRODUCTION
(1) A distinction award for the most outstanding
motion picture production, considering all elements
that contribute to a picture's greatness.
(2) A distinction award for the most unique,
artistic worthy and original production without ref-
erence to cost or magnitude.
The distinction award will be in the form
of a statuette emblematic of the profession,
to be designed by some recognized sculptor;
to be reproduced in bronze, and the par-
ticular achievement for which it is awarded
to be engraved on the base of each one.
There will also be awards of honorable
mention, diploma or some other form of
recognition to those others in each class
who may be deemed entitled to it.
The awards will be determined as fol-
lows:
Nominations. Each member of the Academy will
make nominations on or before August 10 for each
of the several awards on blanks to be furnished
for the purpose, stating in each case the individual
nominate! and the particular picture in which the
achievement occurs. For the purpose of refreshing
the memory, a list of productions' released since
August 1, 1927, will be sent to each member.
Judges. There will be appointed after the ballot-
Another Version of
"Excess Baggage"
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, July 24.— The
motion picture industry has lost nu-
merous publicists in the past few
weeks. One of the studios has en-
forced a rule not permitting any of
its players to employ freelance press
agents. The rule has had a great
effect due to the fact that most of
the players of that lot were employ-
ers of press agents. Many of the
biggest stars of the industry now are
dependent upon the company alone
for their publicity.
ing five judges for each class group of awards,
these judges to be selected by each of the Executive
Committees of the five Branches of the Academy
from the Branch membership to embrace as far as
possible the best qualified members of the Branch.
Each Branch Board of Judges will report their
findings to a Central Board of Judges to be appointed
by the Board of Directors, one from each Branch
who will make the final awards.
Procedure. The Secretary will submit to each of
the several Branch Boards of Judges a record of
all the nominations made for its particular class of
awards, and each Board of Judges will then select
from the nominations the ten receiving the highest
number of nominating votes for each award, and
proceed to consider the merits of such selected
nominees by reviewing the pictures specified, after
which they will certify in writing to the Central
Board of Judges, the three nominees for each award,
in their order of excellence, whom they judge to be
most entitled to awards for distinction and honor-
able mention.
No judge shall be named to serve on any
board of judges who has been selected as a
candidate for any award to be judged by
such board.
It is proposed to bestow the awards at the
annual meeting of the Academy, which can
be either an open meeting or a dinner. The
annual meeting takes place late in October.
"Making the Grade"
ALFRED E. GREEN PRODUCTION
Will Soon Be Ready for Release
A Box Office Director Has Com-
pleted the Film Based on the
George Ade Story for Fox Film
Corp. Edmund Lowe and Lois
-;'•
Moran in the Featured Roles.
UNITED STUDIOS, Inc.
, M. C. Levee, President
100,000 square feet of props, garnered Let us supply the props for
from the four comers of the globe. your next production.
UNITED STUDIOS, Inc.
5341 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, Calif.
J
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
35
Fay Wray Appears in
Court in Character
Make-Up to Testify
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, July 24.— Fay Wray,
Paramount star, appeared "in character" in
court last Saturday for the first time in
real life. She is the complaining witness
in the state's suit against Lyon L Barnard,
who is charged with having attempted to
extort $2,000 from her through letters
threatening her mother.
Miss Wray, as well as her husband of a
few weeks, John Monk Saunders, the
author, was told by the district attorney
that she would not be needed in court.
Municipal Judge Gibbs threatened to issue
a bench warrant for the pair if they were
not brought to the court room at once.
The star had to leave a set on which she
was working, not even having time to
change her costume or remove her make-up.
1st Technicolor Feature
May Get Sound Effects
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Technicolor's
"The Thrall of Leif the Lucky," now in
production at the Tec Art studio. Techni-
color's first feature length production, may
be synchronized.
This story of Viking days of a thousand
years ago, has a cast headed by House
Peters, while Pauline Stark plays the only
romantic feminine part.
LeRoy Mason has the romantic male role.
The balance includes Roy Stewart, Anders
Randolph, Dick Alexander Harry Woods,
Al MacQuarrie and Claire McDowell.
May Shorten Sentence
Of Stench Bomb Thrower
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Joseph Bur-
bridge, who is serving six months in jail
for placing a stench bomb in a theatre here,
will get a hearing for suspension of the
remainder of the sentence July 27.
Others said by Burbridge in his confes-
sion to have been implicated, Sidney Bur-
ton, former union official; Ben Vezie and
Edwin A. Keller, the latter also a union
official, were granted a jury trial.
New Glass Said to Let
In Light Without Heat
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— "Heat-proof
glass" is said to have been invented, per-
mitting actors to work under hothouse-like
studio roofs in comparative comfort.
The new steel stage at the Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer studios is now so equipped. The
new glass is a special lead glass treated
with a chemical that filters out the "short"
or heat rays in light, it is said.
European Films Buys Serial
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— European Films,
Ltd., of London, has taken over the sales
and distribution rights in Great Britain of
"The Police Reporter," Arthur B. Reeve
serial, according to Max Weiss, president
of Artclass.
Schoedsackf Cooper Return
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Ernest Schoed-
sack and Miriam Cooper, makers of
"Chang," have returned from Africa to cut
and assemble the shots they took for an-
other production.
Bebe Daniels to Ride
to New York in Plane
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— What-
ever you read and disbelieved about
her in the fan magazines was prob-
ably right. Bebe Daniels is, after
all, that kind of a girl, it seems.
Mrs. Phyllis Daniels, the Paramount
star's mother, has given up trying to
think differently herself, and so the
lively, take-a-chance-on-anything-at-
least-once Bebe has the maternal
consent to ride all the way from this
town to New York in a mail air-
plane. When she gets there — and
Bebe, for one, is confident that she
will — she is to visit Mr. and Mrs.
Thomas Meighan.
Helen Ware to Teach
Fox Players to Talk
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Helen Ware,
stage and screen actress, has arrived here
to take charge of the new Fox voice-train-
ing department, to prepare players without
stage experience for Movietone speaking
parts.
She was accompanied by Fred Burt, her
husband, also a stage player, and Ben Jack-
sen, who is in charge of Movietone.
F B O Signs Tom Moore,
Noah Beery for 2 Each
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Tom Moore
and Noah Beery have been signed for two
F B O pictures. Moore will play the lead
in "His Last Haul" and "The Yellowback."
Marshall Neilan will direct "His Last
Haul." Noah Beery will play the leading
role in "The Red Sword" and "Love in the
Desert." George Melford will direct the
latter.
Colleen and Husband
Sail to South America
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Julv 24. — Colleen
Moore, First National star, and her hus-
band, John McCormick, who produces her
pictures, sail this week for South America,
in a yacht they have chartered. Cleve
Moore, Miss Moore's brother, and Jack
Stone, both of whom appear with her in
"Lilac Time," will be their guests. They
expect to be gone seven weeks.
Carewe and Del Rio in
Party to Go to Europe
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Dolores Del
Rio and Edwin Carewe are among six who
will leave in a party Friday for Europe.
Joseph Schenck will meet the group in
London and proceed with it to the Con-
tinent.
Harry D. Wilson leaves tonight on the
Chief to make advance arrangements in all
principal cities.
Reginald Denny to
Make Talking Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Production
will begin soon on "The Night Bird," a
Universal picture, starring Reginald Denny.
It will be a talking picture. Joseph Hena-
berry will direct.
Harold Byron Named
Scenario Editor of
Columbia Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Harold Byron,
formerly head of the Fox scenario depart-
ment, has been appointed scenario editor of
Columbia Pictures by Harry Cohn, vice-
president in charge of production.
Byron is well known in the industry for
his wise selection of story material. A
graduate of the University of Michigan, he
became engaged in scenario work for Wil-
liam Fox in 1923 and three years later be-
came head of the Fox scenario department,
a position which he held for two years.
During his regime he worked on such pic-
tures as "Square Crooks," "Street Angel,"
and "The Red Dance."
In his new affiliation with Columbia, ac-
cording to Mr. Cohn, Byron will begin im-
mediately on the assignment of writers to
"Runaway Girls," and two other produc-
tions about to be launched.
Three Players Added
To Paramount Casts
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— Paul Lukas
has been signed for a heavy role with Rich-
ard Arlen and Nancy Carroll in the first of
a series of Paramount pictures which will
co-feature the latter. Arlen, who recently
completed a role in Jim Tully's "Beggars
of Life," is also scheduled for a leading
part in "Dirigible," air special.
Nancy Dover, who recently graduated
from small parts to leads in Christie pic-
tures, has signed a long term contract with
Christie. Her first picture will be with
Bobby Vernon. Brandon Hurst has been
cast as a police inspector in Paramount's
film version of "Interference," which is now
before the cameras.
Dorothy MackailVs Next
To Be in Honolulu
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24. — Dorothy
Mackaill's next professional sojourn will
be in Honolulu, where exteriors will be
made under the direction of George Fitz-
maurice for First National's "The Change-
ling."
Miss Mackaill just recently returned from
San Francisco, where she worked in se-
quences for another First National produc-
tion.
Parkell Purchases Stage
Works for Sound Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— The Parkell Cor-
poration has purchased all the stage plays,
musical comedies and musical dramas writ-
ten by Adolf Philipp and Jean Briquet
which have been produced in the United
States and abroad. The plays will be pro-
duced for talking pictures by the Parkell
company.
Weight to Direct Loy
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24. — Harmon
Weight has signed a contract at Warner
Brothers to direct Myrna Loy in "Hard
Boiled Rose." It will be a talking picture.
Boy Scout Night Held
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Last night was
Boy Scout Evening at the Hippodrome at
the advent of Gotham's "United States
Smith" in the East.
36
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
^^^
THE SHORT FEATURE
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
^'Little Pictures with the Big Punch," which has presented news, reviews and exploitation on
short features and serials.
Vaughan Uses Short Features as
Seat (and Not Program) Fillers
Believes Successful Operation of Eight Theatres Has Been Due Largely
to Careful Selection of This Product — Has Educated
Patrons to Appreciate Two Reelers
Use your short feature as a "seat filler" and not just as a program filler and
you will build business !
That is the substance of comment written for this department by P. G.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, who has found in the operation of eight
theatres that the careful selection of short features is a boon to the box office
Mr. Vaughan concurs in the statements of million, has been largely due to the careful
other theatre men that the short feature-
scenics, color classics, cartoons, news, novel-
ties and comedies — is an invaluable part of
every motion picture program.
A policy of educating the public to appre-
ciate the short feature is one to which Mr.
Vaughan has adhered, and to this fact he
credits a share of his success.
"In time people learn that certain theatres
always have a good show even if the feature
isn't so strong," he writes.
Mr. Vaughan's comment on the short fea-
ture follows :
Short Subjects as a
Business Builder
"Short subjects are used in my theatre as
seat fillers, not just merely to make one show
last a required length of time.
"I do not mean to say that I believe any
great number of people are attracted to my
theatre by any specific short subject (only on
rare occasions), but I do believe that my
successful operation of eight theatres in towns
ranging from 1,000 inhabitants up to a half
Newspictures
INTERNATIONAL NEWSREEL NO. 57— Louvain
Library, restored by Americans — Chinese thousands
flee Northward as Southern troops take Tientsin —
Ovation for Hoover on way West for Campaign.
FOX NEWS NO. SA — Al Smith visits youthful ad-
mirers at Boy Scout camp — Nippon Prince leads
military game as an officer of the line — 52-story
building being built in New York City.
M G M NEWS NO. 97 — Splendid new library dedi-
cated at Louvain — Hoover starts west to accept
nomination — Expert lop rollers in championship
meet at Longview, Washington.
PAR.\MOUNT NEWS NO. 103 — Hoover visits
Coolidge at Summer White House — Relief parties
from all countries join in rescue hunt for lost
Italia's crew — New York pays tribute to Captain
Carranza, goodwill flyer who lost life in crash.
KINOGRAMS NO. 5413— Governor Al Smith visits
Boy Scout camp at Bear Mountain — Hundreds of
thousands cheer four air-men on completion of
daring air trip at Australia — Raskob is picked to
lead Democrats.
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. 102 — Historic Louvain
library restored by Americans — Many rescue parties
hunt for lost Italia's crew — Captain Emilio Car-
ranza dies when plane crashes.
KINOGRAMS NO. 5414 — Healthiest babies strive f9r
prizes at Coney Island — Captain Carranza, goodwill
flyer killed in crash — Harry Lyon and James War-
ner, Southern Cross flyers return.
selection of short subjects.
"I have always educated my patrons to ap-
preciate scenics, color classics, cartoons and
novelties. At present, I use every color sub-
ject made. Curiosities, Hodge Podges, Oswald
the Rabbit, Aesop's Fables, Krazy Kat, two
issues of Pathe news, one issue of Paramount,
practically all of the good two and one reel
comedies on the market, and when the length
of my feature will permit it, use as many as
four and five subjects on a program.
"In time people learn that certain theatres
always have a good show, even if the feature
isn't so strong.
"I use photos on short subjects of any im-
portance and one sheets on the balance. Some
short subjects receive as much newspaper
space as my feature. For instance, I played
"Circus Rookies" and a two reel M G Al color
classic, "Buffalo Bill's Last Fight" on
the same bill. I gave the color classic
equal space — result a heavy run of children
and a better than average day's business.
Good short subjects pay dividends."
Terry Ramsaye, editor of Pathe Review,
has given the film magazine a new typo-
graphical dress, and has originated many
innovations in its contents. The Pathe
title plant in Neiv York has been experi-
menting on new and remarkable effects
for several weeks and the first of these
will appear in Number 35, released Au-
gust 26. Illustrative of the new title ef-
fects is the main title (pictured above)
with its modernistic rooster.
Releases
WEEK OF JULY 29
EDUCATIONAI^— "Leaping Luck," Davis-Collins,
Mermaid, two; "Roaming Romeo," Lupino Lane,
two; "Hard Work," Wallace Lupino, Cameo, one.
M G M — "Nature's Wizardry," Oddities.
PATHE— "The Yellow Cameo," Chap. 9, two; "Out-
numbered," Aesop Fable, one; Pathe Review No.
31, one; Topics of the Day No. 31, one.
UNIVERSAL— "The Trackless Trolley," Snappy, one;
"Scarlet Arrow," Chap. 9, two; "Broke Out," Mike
and Ike, Stern Bros., two; "Ropin' Romance,"
Western, Newton House, two.
WEEK OF AUGUST 5
EDUCATIONAI^-"Felix the Cat in The Last
Life," one; "Kid Hayseed," Big Boy-Juvenile,
two.
F B O — "Mickey's Babies," two ; "Joyful Day,"
Standard, two; Newslafif No. 25, one.
FOX — "The Elephant's Elbows," Animal, two;
"The Lofty Andes," Fox Varieties, one.
PATHE— "The Yellow Cameo," Chapt. 10, two;
"The Terrible People," Chapt. 1, two; "Our Lit-
tle Nell," Aesop Fable, one; "The Supper Sex,"
Sportlight, one; Pathe Review No. 32, one; "Top-
ics of the Day, No. 32.
UNIVERSAI^"High Up," Oswald, Snappy, one;
"Newlyweds' Anniversary," Snookums, Junior
Jewel, two; "Scarlet Arrow," Chapt. 10, two;
"McGinis' vs. Joneses," two; "The Ranger Patrol,"
Western, two.
WEEK OF AUGUST 12
EDUCATIONAL — "Goofy Birds," Bowers, two;
"He Tried to Please," Collins-Hutton, Cameo,
one; "The Peep Show," Hodge-Podge, one.
PARAMOUNT — "Stop Kidding," Christie-Vemon,
two.
PATHE — "The Terrible People," Chapt. 2. two;
"Sunny Italy," Aesop Fable, one; "His Unlucky
Night," Bevan-Dent, Sennett, two ; Pathe Review
No. 33, one; Topics of the Day No. 33, one.
UNIVERSAL — "King of Shebas," Snappy, one;
"Tarzan the Mighty" No. 1, Adventure, two;
"Busting Buster," Stern Bros., two; "The Getaway
Kid," Western, Curivood, two.
WEEK OF AUGUST 19
EDUCATIONAL — "The Fighting Orphans — Eve-
ning Mist," Bruce Outdoor Sketches, one; "Just
Dandy," Drew, Mermaid, two.
F B O — Newslaff No. 26, one.
FOX — "Her Mother's Back," Imperial, two.
PARAMOUNT— "The Dizzy Dive," Christie-Dooley,
two.
PATHE — "The Terrible People," Chapt. 3, two;
"A Cross-Country Run," Aesop Fable, one;
"Canned Thrills," Sportlight, one; "Smith's Res-
taurant," two ; Pathe Review No. 34, one ; Topics
of the Day No. 34, one.
UNIVERSAL — "Hot Dog," Oswald, Snappy, one;
"Tarzan the Mighty" No. 2, Adventure, two; "She's
My Girl," Stern Bros., Let George Do It, two;
"The Ruse," Western, Perrin, two.
Four Series Are Started
for F B O Under Darmour
Work has just started at the F B O
studio on "Ruth Is Stranger Than Fiction,"
fifth of the Racing Blood series, and on
"Mickey's Movies," the first of the new
Mickey McGuire series. The first of the
Toots and Casper group is underway with
Thelma Hill and Buddy Duncan in the
leads, as is "Horsefeathers," first of the
Barney Google series. Larry Darmour is
making four series for F B O.
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
Y^
PRESENTATION ACTS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World Department,
"Stage and Pit"
Gallo Outlines Plan of Organ Club
Music Concerns
STAGE SHOWS
Philadelphia Stanley
Week Ending July 21
The delightfully low temperature of the Stanley
contributed quite as much as the unusually high qual-
ity of the ehow to make the bill this week well worth
venturing forth into the heat of Market street to
hear.
The orchestra played two American sketches, Gard-
ner's "From the Canebrake" and Powell's "Hoochee-
Koochee Danc«."
The stage presentation, "Eight Bells, a Trip in the
Pirate Ship," was conducted by Jack Kaufman, with
the Stanley stagehand dressed as pirates and the
stage suggesting the deck of a pirate ship, with
chests of jewels and treasures at the sides forming
a picturesque background for the act.
Odette Myrtil, who headed the stage attractions,
captured the audience with her charming personality
as well as her market ability as a violinist and vocal-
ist. She appeared coolly self-possessed in spite of her
wintry costume of black velvet in Turkish trouser
effect, and her unforced vivacity was most appealing.
She plays the violin with unusual delicacy of touch.
Her selections included "C'est Vous" and "When
Katrinka Shakes Her Tambourine."
Georgic Taps is a master of tap dancing. He also
offered a buck dance on his toes that was quite un-
usual.
Al and Jack Rand then appeared dressed in long
black coats and wide brimmed hats carrying psalm
books. These two old Puritan fathers soon forgot
their stiff and stately roles and tapped out the
rhythm of several iJopular melodies with precision
and vigor.
Olivette's mirth-provoking costume, loose jointed
dance and burlesque of a swan dance all tended to
keep the audience in laughing mood. She flapped her
pigtails gaily and her banter with Kaufman was
amusing.
The Stanley stagehand followed with a paraphrase
from "My Hero."
Paul Howard showed astonishing ability as a con-
tortionist and could bend himself into the most fan-
tastic positions. At times he bears more resemblance
to a prehistoric animal than to a normal man. He
always returns to a natural position from the most
impossible attitudes nonchalantly chewing gum.
Elsie Gilbert sang "St. Louis Blues" and "Missis-
sippi Mud" with a great deal of energy, but she
failed to e;xcite much enthusiasm in the audience.
Joe Kayser
Chicago Chicago
Week Ending July 22
They did splendidly with the college atmosphere at
the Chicago this week. The stageshow, "Rah, Rah,
Rah," wasn't still from the moment the curtain
flied, revealing two undergraduates (and track men)
doing a long distance run on a treadmill, until the
finale.
And not the least responsible for the fun of the
evening was Johnnie Perkins, he of the rotund waist-
line, ingratiating smile, contagious chuckle and funny
jokes. That ought to be enough for one man.
Arid not so bad either was the young man, AI
Gale, who did very humorously the frosh of school
days. The brunt of the wise cracks and practical
jokes of the upper classmen.
"Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" by 12 men and Louella
{Continued on next page)
Meet the Personality Master of Ceremonies and
Band Leader who waves his magic baton on
the stage of Loew's Midland theatre at Kan-
sas City, Mo. — Joe was one of the most popu-
lar ballroom band leaders Chicago ever had
before he became a stage bandmaster. Before
coming to Kansas City, Joe made his debut
in picture houses at the Orpheum Diversey
theatre, Chicago.
Augmented Orchestra
Introduced at Uptown
starting July 23, Balaban & Katz introduced a
new policy at the Uptown theatre, Chicago. Under
this new plan an augmented orchestra production is
featured each week under the direction of Uldrico
Marchelli conducting from the pit.
This new symphonic feature will present popular
and classic music played by an organization com-
posed of solo musicians and assisted by a vocal chorus
and soloist.
Here's a Break for
Al Piantadosi
Al Piantadosi has been riding on the crest of the
wave of good fortune recently. Paul Whiteman has
just recorded two of Piantadosi's numbers, "Louisi-
ana" and "Dancing Shadows," and these were
rushed out as special releases by the Victor Company.
It looks as though Piantadosi had two big hits in
these numbers and, according to the records, orders
are flooding the publisher.
National Changes Its
Opening Days
starting July 21, the National Playhouse, formerly
operated by the Cooney Brothers of Chicago, changed
their opening days from Monday to Saturday. The
theatres effected by this change were their two new
de luxe houses, the Capitol and Avalon, which are
featuring presentations and talking films.
Will Cooperate
With Organists
Lodges and Business Men's Associa-
tions Should Be Inter-
ested in Stunt
By A. RAYMOND GALLO
We are in receipt of many inquiries
from organists requesting informa-
tion on how to proceed in forming an
organ club. For the benefit of those
who are not able to correspond with
some of the leading organists that
specialize in this feature, we are set-
ting forth in this column a brief out-
line of how you are to go about it in
organizing your own club.
First of all, have your theatre manager
makeup for you a film trailer announcing that
you will form a club and desire members.
This announcement should be run at least
three weeks in advance. Hand bills about the
size of throw-aways should be printed at least
two weeks in advance and should be distrib-
uted around the schools and various soda
fountains.
Here's Membership Card Copy
Membership cards should be printed with
your name and the theatre's name on it with
wording to this effect:
"This certifies that Billy Brown is a mem-
ber of the organ club and is entitled to all
benefits. Free admission tickets will be mailed
to members on their birthday. Special meet-
ings will be advertised in advance and mem-
bers will be admitted free upon presenting
this card to the theatre, providing the mem-
ber brings an escort or a companion. Sugges-
tions and requests will be highly appreciated
from members and the organist will endeavor
to please all his members."
If you wish to carry this idea a little further
you might request your theatre to get out a
bunch of celluloid buttons to be given to all
the members who attend regularly each week
for the period of a month or more. If there
is a radio in your community by all means
broadcast a short program as this will help
popularize not only your club but also your
theatre.
Circularize Your Members
When all the above things have been ar-
ranged, it is quite possible that your theatre
or the publicity department can arrange to
obtain some iine publicity and photograph dis-
plays in the newspapers. Do not fail to obtain
a list of patrons from the theatre and circu-
38
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTUHE WORLD
July 28, 1928
You CanY Go Wrong
R/^(V)ONPi
VOU'RE A REAL ,,
SWEETHEART
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'cast night I DREAMED
VOU KISSED (V)£''
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V(V) WINGIN' home' j
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IS IT GONWA BE LONG??
(TILL YOU BELONG tome;
'too busy''
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WAITIN'FOR HATV
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'MY OHIO HOME''
THERE MUST BE ,,
'a silver lining
Indian cradle song
LEO. FEIST, INC.
23 r w.40^"St..
NE.W YOFiK, M.Y.
larize them each week with a fine personal
letter that can be printed in form style.
Clubs, lodges, and business men's associa-
tions are always a good bet as members of
an organ club and you could arrange a special
night for any of them with sufficient advance
publicity that will insure a good house on the
evening this performance will be held. By
tying-up with the various civic organizations
and merchants, you will gain the support and
cooperation of your community, and window
cards and other sorts of displays can be dis-
tributed around to good advantage.
Music publishers are ever ready to cooperate
with you on special solos and will gladly sup-
ply you with the proper slides and songs to be
used either as community singing stunts or
for original organ novelties. For further par-
ticulars write to Eddie Meikel, featured organ-
ist at the Harding theatre, Chicago, who has
conducted an organ club successfully for sev-
eral years. Also, get in touch with Billy Muth,
featured organist of the Texas theatre, San
Antonio, who has just inaugurated a club idea.
STAGE SHOWS
(Continued from preceding page")
Lee opened the musical part of the bill and was so
well done that it brought the encore, "Without You,
Sweetheart." They sang in a campus setting that
this writer might call reminiscent of "bygone" days.
And you should know.
Fatty (that's Johnnie Perkins) and Al Gale came
on again for a few laughs, and what they came
on for they got. Then followed a monkey dance
by two boys who, if we are not mistaken, came
from the orchestra — a versatile lot. And likewise
they were excellent, with appropriate laughter and
applause.
In the next act some one was wrong. Lou Kosloff
announced a quartette from the University of Cali-
fornia, and the billing swora that they were the
Maryland Collegians. Matters not, however, so long
as they did their bit — and very pleasantly — in mak-
ing "Rah, Rah, Rah," and a couple of whooplas,
entertaining. One song we remember, "How Could
Anything So Good Be Bad."
(Just to mention here : The Chicago should do its
stageshow like the Oriental and other theatres in
one respect — announce the acts and the songs. Help,
yes!)
This week the Chicago had the Joe Keith Dancers,
and while they were good, they could not match the
Abbotts or others we have seen hereabouts. Just
good — that's all.
AI Gale came on again for some songs and did
his turn in ample style. Al is a good and clever
youngster who could be helped if he had just a few
dance steps — comical — to go witii his other stuff.
The band did its last single with "Collegiana," with
the California or Maryland collegians (you guess)
doing the chorus along with some dancers. The
boys also took some steps in this turn.
Johnnie Perkins then was given the stage, both in
song and chatter and there is no reason to com-
ment further. His stuff is clean and witty. It gets
over with a wow, or a bang, or what have you.
Naturally, his rendition (you pay for that word) of
"Back in Your Own Back Yard" brought in plenty
of noise.
As a finale the band gave a few bars to several
of the college songs — Northwestern, Chicago, Navy,
Georgia Tech, etc. We might add that their North-
western song waB not the popular one.
It was a great show.
New York Paramount
Week Ending July 28
Paul Ash and the stagehand are featured this week
in "Harem-Skarem" — a burlesque on the Arabian
harem life. The first number is a soldier drill by
the Foster Girls, who go through all the motions,
then do a military climb over the walls. This num-
ber was followed by the orchestration of "Get Out
and Get Under the Moon."
Paul Small, with the stagehand, sang this song to
good returns.
Harry Savoy offers the comedy throughout the
show, and enters at this point with the usual talking
business with Ash, does a comedy song and intro-
duces :
Helen Swan, who kind of takes the place of Helen
Kane, erstwhile favorite for many weeks at the Par-
amount. Miss Swan sings to Ash, using a cute little
number which for want of a better name we'll call
"Anything You Say."
The Wandering Minstrels do a comedy acrobatic
tumbling bit which is cleverly executed. Fast and
furious work prevails through their offering, and
they are made up in clown outfits.
Pallo and Braille, with the Foster Girls, offer their
asthetic dancing act, which is very appropriate and
wins instant applause.
The theme song of "Loves of an Actress," which is
scheduled as the motion picture for next week, is
offered by the orchestra, and is called "Sunbeams."
Small sings the chorus.
Miss Swan and Savoy do some more play with
Ash, and the finale is the greatest spectacle ever pre-
sented at the Paramount. Savoy offers a dramatic
recitation, followed by a scene in the background
of the World War soldiers, who gallop to victory on
real horses, moving on a revolving platform. Very
realistic and has patriotic thrills to put it over for
a smashing close.
Kansas City Pantages
Week Ending July 20
Mabel McCane has a musical sketch, "Life," which
headed the Pantages' stage program. The sketch
has a good idea to it and allows Miss McCane to
show the audience a bit of convincing acting, as
well as some appealing little songs and hokum,
which goes over good.
Wilson and Kcppel have a novelty dance act, most
of which is done on a set of stairs. Nancy Fair has
a singing act in which she combines a bit of i>opu-
lar music with numbers of the more "serious" type
and makes the orchestra and stage hands feel good
vrhen she sings a little tribute to "everyone else con-
nected with the theatre."
Richard Haveman's Lions are not jokes by any
means. They are lions which do enough snapping
and pawing to make any member of the audience
feel thankful that a good, strong steel cage encloses
the beasts, which do some tricks that show the re-
sults of long training.
Louis Charninsky and his Pantages orchestra play
popular selections as an overture.
Detroit Capitol
Week Ending July 20
"Ride 'Em Ojwboy" at the Capitol this week was
topheavy with dancing, and the hoofers on the bill
had a hard time of it to please their audiences after
a gentleman of color answering to the name of
Dotson tripi>ed off the stage.
Dotson, the billing carries only his last name, is a
Negro tap dancer, and as everyone in the show busi-
ness knows, w^hen a Negro is a good dancer, he is a
superlatively good dancer. Dotson is probably the
best tap and soft shoe stepper that has been seen
here in two seasons, including the dancing stars of-
fered by the $5 revues, and his audiences applauded
him to the echo and then howled for more.
The two other dance numbers on the bill had
rather a hard time of it, therefore. Lyndon and
Farnum were comedy Apache dancers and did some
very funny dancing, and Aida Broadbent was a toe
dancer of much excellence.
Little Helen Kennedy was a charming "blues"
singer, one of those little girl type of blondes that
audiences take right to their hearts. She has a
charming personality, and puts her number over in
great style. Schirmer and I>oyle did an excellent
musical bit, and there were the Capitol Girls in fancy
stepping.
The setting was a Publix version of a Western
dance hall in the good old, bad old days. But
strangely enough, no one sang "The Cowboy's La-
ment" or "Bury Me Deep on the Wide Prairie."
FRED KINSLEY
Supervisor of
ORGAN SOLO PRESENTATIONS
For the entire
KEITH-ALBEE-ORPHEUM CIRCUIT
July 28, 1928
EXfflBlTORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
The Publix directors should drop those in for local
color.
Del Delbridge, the popular band leader and master
of ceremonies, was ill last week and hie place was
taken by Eddie Perry, a band leader of the vim and
vigor school. Eddie was in a tough spot, because
Del is well liked by audiences here, but he got by
very nicely.
New Orleans Saenger
Week Ending July 20
Opening in a riot of color, with gorgeous ward-
robe and sensuous music, "Havana," the Publix
show, made good the advance notices and pleased
those fortunate enough to witness the performances.
The scene, the exterior of a hotel in the Cuban
capital, disclosed on rise of curtain the stagehand
attired as toreadors, rendering Spanish music of by-
gone days transplanted to American shores.
The bill opened with the Boris Petroff Girls in an
effective Castanet ballet, which though burdened with
tmgainly skirts, disclosed a wealth of shapely limbs
in the various movements of the dance supplemented
by Quivering muscles which could not even offend
the most fastidious.
Wally Jackson, a nut dancer, passed muster and
gave several imitations, closing with an explanation
as to the origin of the Black Bottom, which he
claimed was the result of ants penetrating his cloth-
ing while in Havana, and the movements resulted
from efforts to dislodge the pesky creatures.
Dorothy Burke and Mario Naldi, an effective team
of Spanish dancers, are the best who have visited
this city for several seasons.
Coster and Hewlett sang decidedly well and proved
an innovation to those interested in the higher
grades of vocal music.
Billy Beard stopped the show with new and up-to-
date gags, and his song, "A Hundred Years Ago,"
received many hands. Beard was born in New Or-
leans, so he says, but whether or not, this section
claims him as its own as he has been seen several
times at the Tulane theatre with various minstrel
organizations.
An act not on the Public bill but which pleased
Immensely was the Two Lubowski Brothers, Dan and
Vit, members of the stagehand, who, on piano and
violin, rendered Sarsote's "Malaguena" and encored
with Kreisler's "Schon Rosmarin."
Art Landry, the personality leader, is growing
more a favorite as the days go on.
In honor of the French Fourteenth of July, Castro
Carazo and the Saenger Grand Orchestra rendered
"Robespierre" during the week, assisted by John and
Betty Hammond on the organ featuring "My Angel."
Omaha Riviera
Week Ending July 19
Rubinoff, Russian violinist, undoubtedly took the
honors at the Riviera stageshow this week, being
master of his art, but other numbers ranked high
in their particular line. There was Paul Spor's
stagehand, for instance, which was so popular in a
specialty which Spor had arranged in which each
member played a solo, that the audience would not
let them quit. He finally had to go out into the
wings and lead out Pauline Gaskins and ask, "Do
you want her?" Being extremely pretty, the audi-
ence was content to let the orchestra rest. As a
dancer, she is high in her profession as well as in
her kicks, and also can sing.
Spor and Manager Harry Watts had arranged a
specialty for the week which was another high spot
on the bill. Two five-year-old boy dancers, local tal-
ent. The dances may have been juvenile, but not
amatexirish. Another stoi-m of applause from the
audience. Burns and Kissen, who followed the young-
sters, fitted well into the bill with their light patter.
"Gems" was the name of the show and the Or-
monde Sparkling Gems, shimmering jewels in their
setting, lived up to the name.
George Johnson at the organ played "Mental
Telepathy" with much favor. The film was "Drums
of Love."
New York Capitol
Week Ending July 28
Walt Roesner and the Capitolians offer a West-
ern cowboy presentation entitled "Yip-ee," featuring
Herman Timberg and Barbara Blair.
The usual bucking broncho and quilt-tossing epi-
sodes supposed to depict the life of a two-gun cow-
boy outfit, opens the show, and puts a racy trend
to the atmosphere.
Walt Roesner does a "Three Trees" recitation, with
the accoimpaniment of the boys in the stagehand,
called "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Such characters as
Uncle Tom, Topsy, Eva, and Simon Lagree are aptly
described by the orchestra, even to the landing of
the bloodhounds on the cakes of ice. A hilarious bit,
and particularly unique and novel to this theatre.
The orchestra plays "Chloe" with vocal accompani-
ment through the Capitol microphone, the voice
sounding in the far balcony.
Artists who contribute their specialties to this pres-
entation are unannounced, but we find Joe Ross, an
excellent tap dancer, doing his particular style of
work to a big hand. Then Frank Stever, heard here
last week, and his marvelous voice. Herman Tim-
berg, with Barbara Blair, are featured with Walt
Roesner, and assign themselves to the purpose of
getting the laughs, and they succeed admirably. The
Capitol Male Ensemble offers specialties and atmos-
phere, by singing and group acting in their cowboy
outfits. The Gould Girls, chorus dancers, also lend
beauty and pep into this unit.
Seattle Seattle
Week Ending July 20
For the final Publix attraction, "Galloping On"
was the presentation to accompany Thomas Meighaii
and Marie Prcvost in "The Racket." A big show
well rendered composed of three scenes as only Frank
Cambria can do them.
Both the Bachelor Octet and the Esquestrienne
Quartet rendered a likeable number of musical of-
ferings.
"The Hunt in the Surrey Wood" was well received
in the second scene as it introduced a bevy of pretty
Felicia Sorel Girls ; John Griffin, golden-voiced tenor ;
Miriam Lax, charming soprano ; Ben Blue, world-
famous comedian, and last but by no means least,
the star of the bill, Alfred Latell, with his famoat;
characterization of Bonzo, the lonely pup, with Syl-
van Dell assisting.
"The Mask After the Hunt" was the title of the
third scene. Fanchon & Marco ideas will supersede
the Publix attractions in the future.
Chicago Sheridan
Week Ending July 21
This week's stage presentation was called "Garden
Follies," a pretty bandshow staged and product by
Roy MacMuUen and featuring Verne Buck and one
of Chicago's most popular bands.
It opens in ^pretty setting, garden-like as the title
denotes, with stairs running down center of band,
leading from platform representing veranda as the
band played an arrangement of "Rosette."
Frank Wilson, the popular singing member of this
band, vocalized the chorus as a young lady descended
these stairs to meet her boy-friend who in turn went
through a series of character steps which later
turned out to be a very clever Chinese Apache.
The twists and spins were very clever and won
them a wonderful hand. This was followed by an-
other band arrangement called, "Because I Feel Low-
dowrn," and this was played in real hot style.
The next one on the program as Verne Buck
announced was Bernie Grossman, one of Chicago's
popular song writers who sang, "Sh, Here Comes
My Sugar," and for an encore offered, "My Darling."
He was well received and was given an opportunity
to clown with Buck for an encore.
Toots Novello, the upside down dancer, was next
in a short but snappy novelty dance, which won him
a great hand.
He was followed by Agee & White, two colored
boys, who offered instrumental playing and Binging
in a harmony style. They were really good but
made a sad mistake by doing too long a routine.
Another suggestion to offer these boye is that th«
songs are too old and should be replaced by new
ones. According to the applause they received at
this show, they were easily the hit of the bill.
Novello came on again, and this time surprised
the audience by performing a ragamuffin doll dance
in front of a black curtain and dark stage. The
way he moved around surely had the people guess-
ing whether it was a human or merely a marionette.
Another band number followed, this time an ar-
rangement of "Sweet Sue" with a vocal chorus by
the band's trio, Wilson, Buck and the banjo-player.
Their style of playing won them an encore, a usual
occurrence for these boys.
The Chinese Dancers came out again, this time in
neat ball-room clothes and danced a waltz. They
were followed by Frank "Peg" Jones, a monopede
who offered smart chatter intermingled with instru-
mental music and a song or two in vocal style. His
tap dance really won the cake and stopped the show.
This fellow is a clever entertainer and can do more
on one foot than a great many performers are able
to do on two.
The finale was next with everybody in the cast
on for the last curtain call as the band played a
hot arrangement of "I'm More Than Satisfied." The
show as a whole more than satisfied the audience if
applause is anything to judge by.
Chicago Stratford ^: i
Week Ending July 25 "■ ■
"Ted Leary's back at the Stratford" — that's the echo
that can be heard around the vicinity of 63rd and
Halsted these days. Yes Ted Leary is back and he's
still the same fellow that helped pack the crowd in
the theatre three months ago, when he left. When
Leary made his appearance upon the stage the house
was in an uproar for nearly three minutes. You
can't blame the people of the Stratford, after hear-
ing many other and different kinds of "master of
ceremonies" one can appreciate Leary's return.
Ted introduced Ajeck and White, two colored lads,
who could sing fairly well and play the banjos a
little better. The boys sang "Dream Kisses" and
"Mississippi Mud" and then came back for an encore.
Then out comes Leary again with his puns that
nearly have the people in another laughing epidemic.
He introduces Al Roy, a trick dancer, who does every
thing with his body except fly. From the way he
was received it looks like the people like this sort
of dancing.
Louise Poney, one of these "blue singers" and ex-
ceptionally good used Leary for her first number
which created a great deal of laughter. She has a
pleasing voice and it's easy to listen to. For her
concluding number she sang "Down Where the Sun
Goes Down."
Dallas and Joyce, a farmer and a stunning looking
girl put on the old act as a farmer usually does.
The pair received considerable applause though.
It was Leary's turn and the people knew it so cast
THE KLOWN OF JAZZ
AL KVALE
{SAY QU ALLEY)
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
BALABAN AND KATZ*
ORIENTAL THEATRE
CHICAGO
P. S— IT'S GREAT TO BE HOME AGAIN.
^^^^^^^^^^K^^^^^^n
UNIFORMS
FOR HOUSE
ATTACHES
COSTUMES
FOR STAGE
PRESENTATIONS
BROOKS
1437 B'waj
N. Y. City
40
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
— Like the Cop Said:
"Tell It to the Judge"
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, July 24.— A piece
oi publicity sent out by one of the
companies recently was returned by
the editor of a Los Angeles drama
department with the explanation that
the paper had used much of this kind
of material and that in the future it
is hoped that the company compen-
sate him for the space donated. The
company's publicity department de-
clined to compensate the paper for
the space, explaining that it is
contrary to policy, but that its adver-
tising department might be inter-
ested in a space proposition. The re-
ply came immediately by telephone
from the editor, saying he would be
satisfied if the company would ar-
range for him to appear in an extra
role in a big production as compen-
sation for the publicity used.
He received no compensation.
lightful arrangement of the music which formed a
suitable background for the stage offering.
The orchestra played a pleasing overture, "Echoes
of the Opera."
away all nonsense and Bang a beautiful number in
a pleasing manner called "Just a Little Way from
Home." This particular number was better than the
entire show put together if the audiences had their
way about it. So Leary came back again to sing
ihe chorufi.
While the applause was still going on the entire
-east appeared while Maurie Hilbloom and his or-
"cheetra played a snappy ntimber.
Philadelphia Carman
Week Ending July 21
©Iga Mishka and Company, the Dooley Twins and
John Alden all earned well deserved honors in the
stage offering, "Artistic Moments," at the Carman
this week. The dancing of Olga Mishka and her
company placed them far above most in their field,
combining as it did grace and skill to a marked
degree.
The Four Diplomats, a quartette of singers and in-
strumentalists, presented several much appreciated
musical numbers.
Hawthorne and Cooke's skit, "Make Me Serious,"
was a side-splitting farce that brought down the
house, while the antics of the Dooley Twins proved
extremely popular.
John Alden deserves especial mention for his de-
Chicago Avalon
Week Ending July 20
The stage presentation at the Avalon was called
"Dance O'Mania" featuring Ted Leary, this being the
number played by the band with the Avalon Ballet
in red feather costumes doing a snappy routine.
Leary made his entrance from an alcove above the
band down a winding staircase, and was well re-
ceived by the audience. He then sang "Dance
O'Mania" receiving a good hand.
Roy Dietrich appears from the wings and has the
band play "High Hat." It was noticed by the writer
that Roy is more than well liked by the patrons of
the Avalon and Capitol. Roy then announces a
blackout and the curtains are drawn. The black-
out is sure fire comedy between Jack Spangler and
Leary.
Forbes Brothers, buck and wing dancers, were
next with a few new novelties that made a hit with
the audience.
Throughout the show Leary and Dietrich gag much
to the delight of the audience at the close of each
act.
Ted then announces Roy and he sings, "I'm a Liong
Way Away from Home," to which he does two en-
cores.
The next was a barnyard scene with novelty danc-
ing by the Avalon Ballet, vnth two girls costumed as
a horse, four acting as fence posts holding pickets
stretched across the stage, and a girl and boy who
retreat to the side of the stage and neck after
their dance. This received a round of applause.
The next was a comedy band number, "That's
My Weakness Now."
Jack and Kay Spangler, a well known act, whose
versatility will put them over in any house, were
the closing act. The audience more than appreciated
the high kicking and nimbleness along with the
coordination of the team.
Ted next sings "A Happy Go Lucky Day" going
into "Dance O'Mania" assisted by the ballet . A turn
by Jack and Kay Spangler was appreciated. Forbes
Brothers followed with an eccentric dance going over
nicely. This is the finale of a first rate presenta-
tion.
Detroit Michigan
Week Ending July 20
The song lesson for this week's practice on the
pianoforte is "Seeing Things," as sung by Allan
Raymond.
Either the Publix presentation at the Michigan
this week takes its name from the song, or the nong
takes its name from the show. Anyhow, "Seeing
Things" is a hot number and Raymond does it more
than justice.
Then there were those little illuminated beasts that
^^^^R^-fni (r''-|Rrnc<^|Me;;M«nrfTm^nHR^^H
^^K:'-^',<---<"'^imif
KodC'e e'oc'^o ^!n|B|H
W LEO TERRY onUli
!» IVORIES ., «*
Leo Terry
Featured Organist
with
GREAT STATES THEATRES, INC.
W. REMINGTON WELCH
SOLO ORGANIST
TIFFIN THEATRE CHICAGO
(Solos and Community Sings)
I'm bound for Oshkosh, B'Gosh! for a two
months' vacation. My address will be
Klemz Farm, Rural Route No. 1.
BERNARD COWHAM.
But Who Put the
Money in Matrimony?
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, July 24.— More
evidence that the word alimony is
derived from a contraction of the
slangy and oftimes tragic phrase,
"alia money" (meaning that's all
there is, there isn't any more), was
adduced here last week before Judge
Montgomery. Jacob Finder, who said
he made $100 a week when he was
working as a director, was trying to
have the amount he was paying his
former wife, Edna Finder, reduced
from $40 a week.
"It takes most of what I make on
one job to entertain friends who
will get me the next one," Finder ex-
plained, and the judge told him that
$30 a week would be enough here-
after.
do such charming dancing and are either Les Klicks
or are operated by Les Klicks. Frank Beaston, the
sunny master of ceremonies, didn't make it quite
clear as to what they were called or who was run-
ning them, but they were the hit of the show.
Castleton and Mack were well received when they
presented some clever hoofing, and there was John
Maxwell, who proved quite a surprise, and Beaston,
of course, with his usual song numlver.
The Knights Templar held their triennial conven-
tion here during the week, and the Felicia Sore]
Girls dressed up as knights of old in one number to
honor the visiting Templars.
The audiences who came during the week to see
"Seeing Things" went away more than satisfied with
the things they had seen.
Chicago Oriental
Week Ending July 21
Al Kvalc's show at the Oriental this week is
called "Carnival Nights," and the stage setting repre-
senting a typical Venetian canal scene is a real
knockout. A large bridge forms the center of the
back with buildings, lights and decorations forming
the background. The ballet girls and Milton Watson
walk on as if out for a promenade. Milton sings a
short song as the girls exit. Al comes on and he
and Watson chat for awhile about the girls they
met on the boat coming over.
A band number, "Crazy Rhythm" follows. The
ballet is on again in' Venetian costumes, plumed hats,
to do a good tambourine routine, John Dunn, a
young fellow with a ukulele is next. He plays a
number of selections in a number of different ways
on his uke and ends with playing and dancing at
the same time. Just a fair number, but the finish
gets him over acceptably. Two acrobats follow with
a lot of regulation tumbling, hand-balancing, etc.
Their slow motion work gets a good hand. It's just
another of those acrobatic acts, good stuff, but usual.
A little bit of life is added to the show by the
next routine from the ballet girls. They enter in
more or less unattractive green costumes, each carry-
ing a doll and a small chair. Seated in the chair
they do a little feet work, then march out on the
runway, where they do a few more steps with their
dolls in their arms, the dolls' eyes illuminated with
electric lights. Watson sings a short song in the
midst of the girls.
As the girls exit, Milton goes into "Chiquita," a
very pretty number, for which he gets a fair hand.
Then some young lady, whose name escaped us, came
on to sing "Maybe We Do, Maybe We Don't," with
Al and Milton going in for a lot of business and
talk while she's singing. She ends with a fair tap
dance. This is followed by a good band number,
"Angela Mia," with Al playing on his sax. Of course
Al's playing calls for an encore.
Then comes the feature number of the show — Buck
and Bubbles, the two colored boys whom you have
heard of before in these columns. They go through
their usual act, and it should be recorded that their
applause as they enter is fine, showing that the
house favorably remembered them from past appear-
ances. They get the best reception of the show,
and do a number of encores. Their style is slow
and leisurely, maybe just a bit too much so, espe-
cially in this show that drags from one end to
the other.
The show ends with a very pretty finale. Had
it not been for Al the show would have been a dismal
flop. But he manages to put in enough business
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
of his own to put over the show fairly well. But
even Al couldn't keep it from dragging, nor could
he, or any body else, take this very average group
of numbers, with the exception of one or two, and
make a real show out of it.
Atlanta Howard
Week Ending July 21
"Treasure Ship," with elaborate stage setting and
coetumes proved to be an entertaining number this
week at the Howard. Jack Stanley and his orches-
tra did themselves proud on an original number.
The introduction of the presentation was unusually
effective and started it off with a literal shot from
a pistol. A motion picture scene of pirates captur-
ing a treasure ship was flashed on the screen and
devolved into a stage setting at the well timed flash
of a gun in the hand of a pirate.
Val and Erne Stanton, funsters, went over very
well in their comedy number.
Carlo and Norma, billed sensational dancers, were
deserving of the good hand which they received.
Walter Smith, baritone, whom the pirates made
sing as his contribution to their show, had a pleas-
ing voice, while six comely chorines displayed expert
training in their several intricate numbers.
The whole show went off well and was short
enough not to be burdensome.
Julia Dawn, guest organist, rendered a novelty
organ number, while the Howard Symphony Orches-
tra also lent a hand with a specialty, Myers Segal
conducting.
St. Louis Missouri
Week Ending July 20
Frank Fay and his stage troupe offered a "Summer
Revue." The principals were Margaret Ball, a per-
sonality person ; Sammy Lewis and Pattie Moore,
dancers ; Genie Wirick, Paul Mall and Arthur Lang.
Cowham Guest Organist
Bernie Cowham was the guest organist at the Wis-
consin this week and made a big hit with the crowd.
He is one of the best organists in the city and very
well liked. He played "Rag Doll," "Rosette," and
the "Marsellaise." Bernie plays over the WISN sta-
tion occasionally, too.
Jimmie Walker Meets
West Coast Producers
At Fete in His Honor
{Continued from page 32)
Some of the biggest successes of Harold
Lloyd were made under the direction of Mr.
Newmeyer, whose latest work is Richard Dix'
current baseball picture.
* * *
Denny in
Mountains
Reginald Denny left this week for his home
in the mountains. It's a cabin, this home.
And Denny expects to remain there until
time to begin work on "Red Hot Speed."
* * *
Hoot Gibson this week chartered three pri-
vate cars which will carry his company and
equipment to Chicago for the big rodeo. Gib-
son will base his next film on a story sur-
rounding the Chicago rodeo. He will also
perform many daring riding stunts for the ap-
proval and entertainment of the spectators.
In the cast which will accompany him are
Bodil Rosing, Slim Summerville, Charles
French, Harry Todd, Jack Knapp and Monte
Montague. Kathryn Crawford will have the
lead opposite the star.
* * *
Barrywore to Return
to Warner Studios
Commenting on his return to the Warner
studios, John Barrymore said this week that
"the personal friendship and regard existing
between Mr. Schenck and myself in no way
affected this step. The increased demand for
talking pictures is primarily responsible for
these negotiations between Warner Brothers
and myself."
^ ^ ^
Edwards to Star
Falaise in Film
Harry D. Edwards, known East and West
in motion picture production circles, has or-
ganized a company to make a picture from
the story, "Yours to Command," at the Met-
ropolitan Studios. In the leading male role
will be Henry Falaise, husband of _ Gloria
Swanson. No release has been obtained as
yet for the picture.
ff
Thomson Finishes Last
For Paramount; Pollard
Is Making "Show Boat
{Continued from page 33)
Phillys Haver and Alan Hale are in the
leading roles of the picture. It is a great
combination of director and players and if
Higgin's lately preceding pictures are a
criterion this should be a good production.
Ruth Elder is in town, as you know, and
has descended from the air to the studio.
Her picture began this week. Richard Dix
is the star — a Paramount picture — ^Director
Frank Strayer. "Moran of the Marines"
is the title selected for the production.
Willie Wyler is directing a new one at
Universal that is titled "The Shakedown."
Much is to be heard of Mr. Wyler. He is
handling a cast headed by the same James
Murray of "The Crowd" and Barbara Kent,
Universal's pride in "Lonesome."
One of the newer directors — and of the
younger set — is R. Lee Hough of the Fox
lot. He last week completed "The Girl
Shy Cowboy" for Fox and gossip has it that
Fox has chosen him well. Rex Bell, youth-
ful star of 20 years, is in the main role.
8 and Three Quarters
Pounds, and a Girl, Too
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 24.— A baby girl
weighing 8^. pounds has been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Fred Niblo. Mrs. Niblo, known
to the motion picture public as Enid Ben-
nett, has two other children, a girl, Loris,
7 years old, and a boy, Peter, 4 years old.
Tlie new baby is as yet unnamed and was
born at their Beverly Hills home.
Hoyt Signs Olmstead
HOLLYWOOD, July 24. — Gertrude
Olmstead, who is usually a pretty busy
young actress, has signed a contract with
Harry O. Hoyt to star in "The Passion
Song." The picture will be made at the
Tec Art lot for Excellent Pictures.
JOE KAYsER
'That
Personality
Director and
Master of
Ceremonies"
Now at the
MIDLAND
THEATRE
KANSAS
CITY
MISSOURI
about
Everyone
In fact, Gallo says nothing for we have been left
the happy task of pinchhitting for "A. Raymond,"
while he is away out in Colorado chasing through
the clouds. The first announcement on hand: "Wak-
ing's Pennsylvanians" are to open at the Balaban
& Katz Chicago theatre, after a most successful tour
of Europe. They will be with Frank Cambria's
"Swanee Moon" unit and will tour with them for
30 weeks. . . . Al Kvale has been playing a lot of
golf lately, but would not tell us his score for 18
holes. . . . Verne Buck is going to spend a week
in his home town, a little burg called Lake Odessa,
Mich., and while there he hopes to do a lot of fish-
ing. While he is gone Uncle Hal Hiatt will offici-
ate at the Sheridan. ... I called Hal uncle because
his brother, Luch Hiatt, who arranges many of
Buck's band numbers, is the proud father of a
seven pound baby girl . . .Lucky Luch, aye what
. . . Let it be known that Nat Asher still has his
night out at Ravisloe Counti-y Club. . . . Verne Buck,
Milton Watson, Peggy Bernier, Jack Osterman,
Wisner Sisters, Murray and Allen Keriroft, Anita
LaPierre and a host of others entertained. . . . In-
cidently, Mel Richmond had charge of booking. . . .
Don Isham, the flying organist of Marks Brothers
Embassy theatre, recently returned from a flight to
Kansas City where he visited his lady love (we'll get
the devil for saying that, but it's the truth). . . .
Paul Mall, now at Sheridan, last week acted as
master of ceremonies for Frank Fay at the Mis-
souri, St. Louis, for one day. He surely was kept
busy changing from blackface to straight, but he
said he enjoyed it. . . . Rick and Snyder, well known
harmonizers, are out at the Vanity Fair, also that
young lady with the pleasing personality and more
pleasing voice, Adele Walker . . . While on the
topic of singers, we must mention that Lett Sisters
and Louise will grace the stage of the Chicago the-
atre next week. . . . Jack Osterman is on the same
bill with Lydia Harris in Dell Lampc's "Good-bye
Blues" show at the Avalon theatre. . . . Trixie
Fraganza in Charles Kaley's "Dream House" show,
after a successful week at the Granada, is now at
the Marbro theatre. . . . Jean Anthony is the or-
ganist that has been gaining popularity out at the
Marbro theatre with his afternoon concerts . . .
Adolph Evans is at the Granada while Albert F.
Brown is at the Marbro . . . Oliver Wallace, premier
organist for Fanchon and Marko's West Coast the-
atres, having played all their houses, finishing with
the Liberty, Vancouver, B. C, is going to New York,
theatre unknown . . . Ted Leary returns to the
Stratford, this week . . . Mrs. Murrie Hillbloom,
organist, played a special version for him . . .
Leonard Smith returned to the console at the Avalon
after spending a pleasant vacation in Texas and
Mexico . . . Wonder if he had anything to do with
the recent turmoil down there ? . . . Received a card
from Shannon's Playtimie Frolics from Detroit and
Canada . . . They send regards to their friends . . .
Francis Kromar is still at the Diversey, Chicago . . .
Fowler and Tamara are at the Palace . . . Irma
Glen formerly of the Portage Park, is featured or-
ganist at Station WENR . . . Jack and Kay Spangler
are motoring to their home in Glenside, Pa., where
they intend resting up until fall, then go into a
production.
Well, folks, this is about all the news we have
until we hear from Gallo.
W. S. RUSSELL.
E. T. DAWSON.
Oriental Will Stage
Beauty Finds
The American Venus Beauty Contest which is now
going on in 30 Chicago deluxe theatres, will come
to a close at each house about August 15. Immedi-
ately after the semi-finals, the winners of each
group will be assembled in a huge stageshow at the
Oriental theatre, Chicago, where the finals will be
held.
As stated before in this publication, the winners
will be given many valuable prizes including several
trips throughout the Middle West. Sam Herman is
conducting the contest for the circuits which are
sponsoring this featui-e.
42
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
U P Bpd <^| ORGAN SOLOS
Well, Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians re-
turned to these shores in all their glory this past
Thursday, and were certainly received with open
arms (by all music publishers). Fred and his kid
brother, Tom, look great and say they had a marvel-
ous time. Who wouldn't in Paris? We all envied
them when they left for Paris and all who saw them
off at the boat expressed the hope that they could
remain with them at least until they passed the
three-mile limit. Guess why?
« « «
Now, there are a few more changes along the "Al-
ley." I find that Jimmy Carr, the doctor of melody,
has replaced Tommy Gott at the Silver Slipi>er, and
from all indications, he is proving to be a "wow"
■with the patrons at that famous "Emporium of Joy."
* * #
Ankling over to the Astor hotel, I found Tommy
Gott furnishing the very excellent music on the roof
garden. His trumpet solos have already proven very
popular with the elite patronage who throng the
Astor Roof.
* « «
And speaking of roof gardens, William Scotti and
His Venetian Gondoliers are still favorably carrying
on with their very fine music and excellent enter-
tainment.
4 # #
It was too warm on Broadway for sightseeing so
we hopped into a taxicab (one of those nice luxurious
ones you get on Broadway) and decided to pay Vin-
cent Lopez a visit at the Woodmansten Inn on Pel-
ham road. We found this to be one of the most de-
lightful spots on Pelham Parkway. Mr. Lopez'
organization is without a doubt one of the most ver-
satile aggregations that it has been our pleasure to
listen to. They have everything! Quartets, trios,
comedy solorists, etc.
« * *
Harold Leonard is surely a busy young man these
days. What with playing at the Castillian Gardens
in Merrick, Long Island, and doubling at the Chateau
Madrid on 54th street, surely is a man-sized job!
His music has already proven a real stimulant to
night club patrons.
« « *
Leo Reisman is reigning supreme atop the Wal-
dorf-Astoria hotel. Boy, how he can play a fiddle!
He has been in New York only a short while and
has become one of the leading favorites of the day.
Reisman broadcasts four nights weekly through the
National Broadca.sting System and certainly keeps
the Western Union telegraph boys busy delivering
telegrams for requests, requests and still more re-
quests !
e * »
Our good friend Don Bernard dropped in our office
the other day. You know we made a prophecy for
Bernard when the National Broadcasting Company
"captured" him and made him production supervisor,
and he is surely living up to that prophecy. He now
is in charge of some 10 or 12 hours over the net
works of WEAF and WJZ. His best work is shown
in these features which have earned a national rep-
utation : "The Cabin Door" and "Venetian Nights."
In "The Cabin Door" is featured such artists as
Al Bernard, the great singing comedian ; Roberta
Curry, Howard Rice; Milan Smolen, pianist; Murray
Kellner, violinist ; "Carlino," the banjoist, whose
solos are responsible for so much fan mail ; and
Charles Boyd, tronbonist. In "Venetian Nights" Don
features weekly trips down the canals of Venice and
■we hear the rippling water (which has a great ef-
fect to listeners-in these hot days) and the music
from the throbbing strings of the Venetian Ensemble
under the direction of Robert Goetzl, and the impas-
sioned love songs of Gieuseppi de Benedetto, Italian
tenor. Bernard and Sam Coslow have written a
theme song for this weekly feature which is noon to
be published by Spier and Coslow, Inc. In August,
Don will introduce two new features to be known as
"The Fortune Teller" and "Blue Danube Nights."
If these are as good as his other "shows" then what
more could the radio audience want?
dianm
\jjuv
Melvin Peacock (Sheboygan, Wis., Sheboygan) re-
ports that his solo for the week ending June 30 was
called, "The Mock Wedding." The songs used were
"In My Bouquet of Memories," "Laugh, Clown,
Laugh," "Will You Be Sorry," "I Told Them All
About You" and "Happy Go Lucky Lane." This is
a Cliff Hess-Remick-version with slides and reported
to be one of the best ever used. The applause con-
tinued long after the feature started and proved a
good novelty here. Everybody sang to their heart's
content.
Mrs. Maurie Hilbloom (Chicago Stratford) pre-
sented a pleasing solo called "He's in Again" dedi-
cated to Ted Leary the master of ceremonies of this
house upon his return after a three months' leave.
She also brought in a few songs that were eung by
the audiences called "Was It a Dream," "My Pet"
and "That's My Weakness Now." Mrs. Hilbloom re-
ceived a nice hand for her work and the audience
seemed pleased, so what more can' one ask.
Bob Mitchell (Jacksonville, Fla., Palace). We wish
to correct an error that appeared in this column in
our July 7 issue in which we listed Mitchell as
organist at Dallas instead of Jacksonville.
Eddie Fitch (Chicago Sheridan) called his eolo
"Stage Struck," and in it he employed the audience
as performers in a community song fest. The num-
bers used were, "You're a Real Sweetheart," "Get
Out and Get Under the Moon," "Together," "That's
My Weakness," "My Pet" and "Beloved." He also
was compelled to take an encore and he used "Sun-
shine" for it. The gag slides were clever and one of
the best stunts of this sort ever seen. The patrons
sang very happily and gave Eddie a wonderful round
of applause.
Preston Sellers (Chicago Oriental) in the absence
of Keates, gives a thoroughly enjoyable organ presen-
tation at the Oriental this week, called "Sight See-
ing with Sellers." The slides show scenes of Chi-
cago and the words are clever. He plays "Waiting
for the River," "My Darling," "I Must Be Dream-
ing," "Constantinople," which was a knockout,
"You're a Real Sweetheart," and "Back in Yovir
Own Back Yard." The audience sings in great style
for Sellers and gives him a big hand. A good organ
presentation.
Fox Has Theme Songs
on Several Films
Fox Films Corporation has arranged a number of
tieups that will help exhibitors swell their boxoffice
receipts. The tieups have to do with the songs
written especially for the films produced by Fox.
For instance, "The Street Angel" has a theme song
called, "My Angel," by the writers of "Diane."
These writers also did the theme song for "The Red
Dance," called, "Some Day Somewhere." These num-
bers were published by De Sylva, Brown & Hen-
derson.
"Little Mother," the theme song for the film, "Four
Sons," was written by the same writers of "My
Angel," and published by Sherman Clay & Company.
"Neapolitan Nights" the theme song for the Fox
film, "Fazil," was published by the Sam Fox Music
Company. The film, "Mother Machree," uses the
song of the same name for its theme. It was pub-
lished by M. Witmarck & Sons, publisher of the
theme song for "Sunrise" called, "Sunrise and You."
A special illustrated motion picture edition is in
preparation of the Fox attractions mentioned above.
They will he published by Grosset & Dunlap. The
books will be on the market in time for the showing
of the picture. "Four Sons" has a special tieup
with the Postal Telegraph Company through the dis-
play of a 22 X 28 poster in each town showing the
film. A similar tieup was also made with Victor
Talking Machine Company for street car cards.
9tat& 5918
you octting RUMORS
Jily?lcteNc»fcrlJta4jiii5t
SIP S4
atou-fe
BEST SELLERS
"Ramona" — (Leo Feist).
"Beloved" — (Irving Berlin).
"Girl of My Dreams" — (Jack Mills).
"Laugh, Clown, Laugh" — (Remigk).
"My Angel" — (DeSylva-Brown &
Henderson).
"Last Night I Dreamed You Kissed
Me" — (Leo Feist).
« * •
"Cons tan tinop le"
(DeSylva-Brown & Henderson).
"Get Out and Get Under"
(Irving Berlin).
"We Love If _
(Irving Berlin).
* * «
"That's My Weakness Nozv"
(Shapiro-Bernstein).
"Chlo-E"
(Villa Moret).
IN A LITTLE LOVE NEST (Way Up on the Hill)
— (M. Whitmark & Sons) — A pretty description of
the love nest on the hill. Of course everything
looks rosy before, the only thing that worries us
is how they are going to get to this house. It's
quite a walk. By Joe Schuster, Johnny Tucker and
John Siras.
* « «
THAT OLD SWEETHEART OP MINE— (Harold
Kossiter) — An old fashioned song but nevertheless
should be very commercial. There is something about
an old sweetheart that hits all of us. Both writers
are responsible for some big hits in the past. Words
by Joe Goodwin, music by Larry Shay.
« « #
YOU AND I ARE PASSERS BY— (Harms, Inc.) —
From the Shubert Operetta "The Red Robe." This
number is high class and really beautiful. Written
as a duet. Perfect for the better grade singers and
should sell. Lyrics by Harry B. Smith, music by
Jean Gilbert.
» * *
ROSY DREAMS — (Gal DeVoll)— This is not a girl's
name, it merely represents bright dreams. This
song has a chance to sell though it's not out-
standing. Just a pretty song by Charley Newmand
and Joe Verges.
MEMORIES OF FRANCE— (Waterson-Berlin &
Snyder) — Though the title reads like a war song, it
is handled well by the writers and really is a love
song of one of the boys who went over there. Ought
to be a good song for presentations. Words by
Al Dubin, music by J. Russel Robinson.
* * *
I NEVER THOUGHT (That Someday You'd Be
Mine) — (Forster Music Co.) — The lyric ■writer is the
well known master of ceremonies, Ed Lowry, who
took St. Louis by storm. It is said that Ed can
start any song in that town and being the writer
will no doubt make it big in his section. A pretty
song that should sell. Music by Kenneth Albrecht.
OLD MAN SUNSHINE (Little Boy Bluebird)—
(Remick Music Corp.) — A philosophical song that is
different in the face that this boy is looking for two
things instead of one. However, while wishing it's
just as easy to hope for two things as less. Lyric
by Mort Dixon, music by Harry Warren.
« « *
TWO LIPS (To Kiss My Cares Away) — Remick
Music Corp.) — A fox trot tune with a pretty lyric
that has been done many times in the past but is
still always commercial. Both writers have many
past successes to their credit. Lyric by Billy Rose,
music by Harry Warren.
* * *
NEAPOLITAN NIGHTS (O Nights of Splendor)—
(Sam Fox Pub. Co.) — The theme song of the William
Fox super special "Fazil" now playing in the East.
Written as a waltz with the lyric speaking of Italy.
Words by Harry D. Kerr, music by J. S. Zamecnik.
YOU TELL ME YOUR DREAM, I'LL TELL YOU
MINE — (Villa Moret, Inc.) — Fair enough. Probably
the dreams will harmonize. A very pretty song by
the well known team that gave us Chloe. Words by
Gus Kahn, music by Neil Moret.
j/^ 3.
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
\^
THE THEATRE
Incorporated in this department of practical showmanship of Exhibitors Herald are the Moving
Picture World departments, "Selling the picture to the Public,** and **Better Business Builders.'*
There's Always a Lot of Meat in Hash !
"The Theatre" in the March 17 issue carried a resume of its leading stories appearing since the first issue of this year.
The following is a similar resume from March 17 to the present as a result of the response the first evoked. These re-
sumes are presented from time to time to give exhibitors who save each copy of the Herald-World an opportunity to
review "The Theatre" hurriedly and to afford a compilation of ideas for exploiting. If you have a picture which you.
want to exploit, this quick resume will more than likely give you an idea.
THE March 19 issue carries the tenth "My
Best Idea," and it really is a peach of an
idea. It tells how Fred Putnam, through un-
usual exploitation, packed his house for an
entire week. The picture used was a college
story. You could use some of his ideas in
your theatre when school starts again.
"Get Your Patrons to Make Displays," is
the title of an article in the March 24 issue
on arranging for lobby and window displays.
Since we wrote it, we won't say it's good, but
in spite of this fact it might give you several
good ideas. Also R. E. Falkinburg in his
"My Best Idea" tells how he builds goodwill
by sending invitations to patrons on their
birthdays.
March 31 is especially important, for in that
issue "The Theatre" presented the now famous
"21" puzzle which many exhibitors have used
with startling results. If you haven't used
this puzzle, you are overlooking a real bet.
Now and then we see advertising and exploi-
tation that is beneath the dignity of the the-
atre. Just to remind yourselves that you can
go a little too far at times in exploiting pic-
tures, you might be interested in reading the
little editorial, "Good Taste — The Test for
Exploitation," in the April 7 issue. And while
you are looking at this issue it might be
worthwhile to take a glance at the page of ads
showing how exhibitors have advertised a
number of pictures.
The April 14 issue carries the solution of
that puzzling "21" puzzle mentioned above,
and also a few ideas for using the puzzle.
And there's also a peach of a story about how
W. E. Dickson gave a live baby at his theatre,
and had the whole town buzzing with curi-
osity, and next laughing when the baby turned
out to be an infant pig. And Eddie Kidwell
relates how he has his heralds distributed
with a minimum of waste. This might save
you some money.
What we consider is a real idea and a fine
goodwill builder is related in the April 21
issue. The idea comes from Harry F. Storin,
and the story tells how Storin gives the chil-
dren of his town trips through his theatre.
The same issue offers a corking good hot
weather idea, one which you can use right
now with practically no expense.
"Blackie" C. Martin's "My Best Idea" in
the April 28 issue demonstrates clearly the
value of atmospheric lobby displays for pic-
tures which lend themselves to such treatment.
Hal G. Olson tells of a 26 weeks' campaign
that boosted business tremendously. You can
use the campaign to boost your weakest night
of the week. Olson guarantees it.
The May 5 issue marks the beginning of
Guy D. Hammitt, "Hoosier Exploitation
Chap" is back from Mexico and with
Mrs. E. M. Eagleston Theatrical Enter-
prises at Seymour, Indiana. Laxt season
Hammitt was connected with The Von-
derschmitt Amusement Enterprises who
operates theatres in Bedford, Blooming-
ton, Greencastle and Washington, In-
diana. Now that he is back, "The Thea-
tre" will expect some good stories from
him.
the new House Organ Exchange, and if you
haven't become a member yet, you have been
missing a good bet. That sounds like a rhyme,
but often there's truth in poetry. And just
a short little story in the same issue offers
an idea for running trailer ads in a vacant
store window. This is certainly worth think-
ing about.
The May 12 issue presents ideas on exploit-
ing a number of pictures, and the ideas were
all used with success by Monty Salmon of the
Boulevard theatre in Los Angeles. Look back
over this story and if you haven't played the
pictures yet, you will be sure to find some
good ideas which you can use.
"Any House Can Use This Novel Idea for
Announcing New Bill" is the name of an
article in the May 19 issue, and it is without
doubt a corking good idea, which you can put
over with practically no expense for good re-
sults. If you have a big picture booked soon,
you can't go wrong in using this idea. And
speaking of ideas, Hal G. Olson tells how he
keeps his ideas on tap for use at any time —
just a little story on system, but it is worth
reading and adopting.
Another hot weather publicity stunt, and
it's a real stunt which will attract favorable
attention, is related in the May 26 issue. The
next two months will bring a lot of hot
weather, and it's not too late to use this idea.
There's more dope, also, on atmospheric lobby
displays in the same issue.
A singing contest between the Rotarians and
Lions clubs in your theatre would bring in
everybody, wouldn't it. If you think so, a
story in the June 2 issue will tell you how to
put it over. This should be a good stunt to
bring in the patrons on some warm summer
night. In this same issue a new department
is begun — Synchronized Pictures — and if you
are playing the talking pictures, you'll find
good exploitation stories in this new depart-
ment which is now a regular feature of the
Herald-World.
If you are having trouble turning out real
lobby displays, an article in the June 9 issue
will prove of benefit to you. The story is
illustrated with drawings showing you how to
construct a simple device to enlarge press
sheet for making posters. Then there are
some more ideas for bringing in the patrons
on the sweltering days of summer.
It's not too late to use Leap Year as the
basis of an exploitation. For a little idea on
this, just turn to "The Theatre" in the June
16 issue. For those of you who get out house
organs, there's a small cut that might prove
interesting. It shows how a house organ's
appearance has been improved by the use of
illustrations.
Ah, in the June 23 issue is a real story, one
that will bring a harvest of goodwill. It tells
how E. E. Bair of the Falls theatre, Cuyahoga
Falls, Ohio, used a tin can matinee for kid-
dies, tying it up with a local clean-up drive.
In the same issue "The Theatre" presents
another good puzzle. Better look over this
puzzle and see if you can't use it. It's called
the "45" puzzle. And we'll bet you a dozen
doughnuts you can't solve it.
The June 30 issue carries a photograph of a
sign used by a small tovra exhibitor who says
he has doubled his business by using it.
There's also a story telling how Monty Sal-
mon put over Anniversary Week at his Boule-
vard theatre in Los Angeles, and Monty
(^Continued on page 45)
44
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
Theatre Has Bible Class of 2^ 700;
Builds Goodwill; Is Great Asset
Down in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a theatre with a Sunday morning Bible class
with an enrollment of 2,700 members. More than 750 members and visitors are
present each Sabbath at 9:30. It is the Strand theatre, managed by Roy Helm.
The goodwill created by such an institution as this is probably incalculable.
There are few things that a theatre can more profitably foster. Helm has the
following to say in regard to the class.
"Here is just a word of news about the
Bible class we have meeting here at the
Strand every Sunday morning.
"It is the largest Bible class in the South,
having a membership of 2,700. Every Sunday
morning there are over 750 present. Some
of these members arrive at the theatre at
seven o'clock. The actual service begins at
9:30.
"This Bible class has been meeting here for
the last four years. It is popular and has a
large membership because it is the friendliest
crowd in town. Everybody who attends is
given a hearty welcome. He is met at the
door and everybody shakes his hand and
makes him welcome, and if there are out of
town folks, their names are read out and they
are asked to stand up so everybody can see
them and they can get better acquainted with
the crowd.
"The Strand furnishes the collection en-
velopes for the class. On these envelopes are
listed the theatre attractions for the coming
week. This advertising costs us only two
dollars per week.
"Having a great crowd like this at the
theatre every Sunday morning means much
to the theatre. They not only come in con-
tact with the lobby display we have, but they
are also more closely associated with the
word STRAND and it has a better meaning
to them.
"This Bible class is a great asset. A large
part of our regular patronage comes from
their membership.
"This is a wonderful goodwill builder for
any theatre."
Think what a class of this kind would
mean to your own theatre ! Think of the
backing your theatre would receive from the
best element of people in your town. With
such a class there would be little opposition to
motion pictures in your town.
But besides the goodwill resulting from
such a class, there is the actual box office
value. People go places where they feel at
home. We all like to feel that we are a
part, no matter how small, of the things
about us. We are creatures of habit. We go
to a place several times, and then it is a
habit to go there. It is hard to break that
habit. A Bible class such as the one con-
ducted by the Strand theatre, will instill these
things into the hearts and habits of patrons
and potential patrons of any theatre in any
town.
Goodwill Work Boosts Business;
Makes F. Brock M. B. I. No. 25
Showing comedies to patients in a hospital requires little extra work, and might
be considered a trivial thing. But when Frank Brock of Gurdon, Arkansas, did
this regularly, he found that the entire town appreciated it. This little goodwill
work turned into a big business builder and made many patron-friends for Brock
and his theatre. Without doubt such good work as this entitles Brock the honor
of becoming M. B. I. Number 25.
"My Best Idea'' No. 25
By Frank Brock
T HAVE been a steady reader of the Herald-
•^ World for about 10 years and recently I
have been watching "My Best Idea" club with
great interest.
Below I am submitting my best idea. It
is quite different to most anything I have
seen and was only a goodwill builder, but
believe me it was that.
This best idea of mine was while I was
owner-manager of the Grand theatre, Oko-
lona, Mississippi, some three years ago. At
that time you carried several stories and my
picture in the Herald, the issue of September
12, 1925.
I had been running a serial at the Grand.
Just a few days before I was scheduled to
play the last chapter of it one of my friends
was taken suddenly with appendicitis and had
to undergo an operation. I was in to see
her a day or so later and she said she hated
very much to miss that last chapter.
I hunted around and found that the local
farm demonstration agent had a portable pro-
jector so I borrowed it from him. I asked
the attending physician's permission and then
took the serial and showed it at the patient's
bedside. It seemed to do her a lot of good
and for some time after that I visited both
hospitals with comedies.
The doctors and nurses always welcomed
me as they said a good comedy would help
a patient more than most medicine. It is
needless to say that the patients were glad
to see me.
This caused quite a lot of talk and made
the theatre and myself quite a few friends
and customers.
If there is an exhibitor who thinks this
won't help his business let him try it. The
exchange men won't get sore about using
their comedies either.
"Personality GirV
Contest Goes Big
(Special to the Herald-World)
BIRMINGHAM, July 24.— Sidney Dan-
nenberg, of the Alabama theatre, is drawing
wide attention this week putting over a
"Personality Girl" contest, tying up with
the Birmingham Age-Herald. Specifica-
tions are that "Miss Birmingham" must be
beautiful, talented and possessed of screen
personality. The reward for the winner
consists of $75.00 a week for a four week
engagement at the Alabama theatre, begin-
ning August 6 as one of the stars of a
Publix stage show. If, after that time,
experts consider her worthy, the winner
will be given an option for her services at
$125.00 a week for one year and will be
starred in a Publix show touring the prin-
cipal cities of the United States.
WE AMERICANS
A Rradni llA SaumW b, Ik.
CLEVELAND PUBLIC
UBRARI
RAMONA
Lsutd tbt Palm
I t>olore8 Del Rio j
••RAMONA"
U
Library cards issued by the Cleveland
Public library on "Ramona," and "iVe
Americans." The librarian prepares the
lists of suggested readings; the theatres
pay for the printing. These library tie-
ups prove valuable business builders, and
create more interest in motion pictures in
general. Every exhibitor who has a pub-
lic library in his town will do well to
make these tieups.
Use Your Library
For Picture Tieups
Are you co-operating with the public library
in your town for tieups on pictures? This
form of tieup is being used widely today, but
the Cleveland theatres and the public library
of Cleveland probably have done more of this
work than in any other city. It is proving
unusually beneficial to the Cleveland theatres
and has increased the use of books at the
library.
These tieups do much for theatres. They
increase the interest in each picture and mo-
tion pictures as a whole. They without doubt
increase theatre patronage, and they build
goodwill for the theatres.
On this page are pictured two book marks
published by the Cleveland library. One is
on "Ramona," the United Artists picture, and
the other on "We Americans," the Universal
picture. These cards give an extensive list of
parallel reading on the subjects of the pic-
tures. These lists are prepared by the li-
brarian. The theatres pay for the cost of
printing.
The librarian in your town will be glad to
co-operate with you in these tieups. It will
pay you to use them.
Hot Weather Ad —
The following advertisement in daily
papers brought considerable increase in pat-
ronage to "The Broadway," in Portland,
Oregon:
"HOT DOG! Vacation Land's right here
at Home — why swelter in the sun — when
fresh mountain climate awaits you — -invigor-
ating— purified air — refrigerated by wonder-
ful new machines — Try the cool comfort of
the Broadway theatre — with humdrum of
life — left far behind — and — above all — a bet-
ter show — so varied — so lavish — so brilliant
— that you forget the troubles of today — or
the problems — of tomorrow.
HOT DOG! — you know you can laugh at
heat — at the Broadway — Come — start your
vacation TODAY — physical and mental re-
laxation is your — Thoughtful people will
bring the entire family!
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
45
Summon Patrons
To See "Chicago^^
When R. L. Nellis, manager of the Liberty
theatre, Washington, Indiana, played "Chi-
cago," the Pathe picture, he sent a very legal
looking summons to every member of the bar
and to all business: men in town.
The summons read : "Supreme Court of En-
tertainment, on Main Street, City of Washing-
ton, County of Daviess, State of Indiana : To
YOU wherever you are: You are hereby
summoned to appear at the Liberty theatre,
Tuesday or Wednesday, July 17 or 18, be-
tween 7 to 11 p. m., to serve as a witness of
'Chicago.' . . . Roxie Hart vs. State of Illi-
nois. . . . Roxie Hart — Phyllis Haver. . . .
to answer the question, 'Would you have done
the s'ame as she did just for a thrill and ad-
venture and Love?' . . . Failure to appear in
answer to this Summons will mean the loss
of an opportunity to witness the true story
of a modern jazz-crazed wife. ... In testi-
mony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name,
and affix the seal of the said Supreme Court of
Entertainment at my office, in the City of
Washington, the 16th day of July, 1928. . . .
R. L. Nellis, Liberty Theatre."
"The summons idea brought very good re-
turns at the box office," said Nellis.
There's Always Lot
of Meat in Hash
(^Continued from page 43)
always has good ideas and knows how to put
them over.
There's an interesting story in the July 7
issue which tells how an exhibitor in Houston
used the Democratic convention to put over a
REAL exploitation. Perhaps you'll never have
a convention in your town, but the story does
show how a veteran showman can make the
most of his opportunities. All this time the
House Organ Exchange has been growing.
If you haven't joined yet, take a look at the
real showmen who are listed in the club, and
then you, too, will want to enroll in order to
get some fresh ideas on putting out your
house organ.
Another fine story on building goodwill
appears in the July 14 issue. It tells how
Fred E. Johnson put over a fine flower matinee
and later donated all the flowers to the hos-
pitals of his town. A real idea that will net
you new patrons and a lot of goodwill. There's
another story on how the Texas theatre in
San Antonio ties up with the largest indus-
tries in the city for good publicity and adver-
tising. If you have a motion picture camera,
this will interest you.
Last week "The Theatre" swiped a good
story from the department on Synchronized
Pictures, but since the story is loaded with
good exploitation ideas for putting over any
picture, it will prove helpfiil.
Now won't you agree with us, there is a
lot of meat in hash. This resume offers a
number of fine suggestions, we believe.
Here's Hot One for
"Certain Young Man''
How do you like this idea for the M G M
picture, "A Certain Young Man," starring
Ramon Novarro? When the Bison theatre
at Shawnee, Oklahoma, played the picture, a
Ford roadster was obtained — one that was
about done for. It was painted pink with
water color. A very modern flapper was
seated in the car. A large card was set in
back of the car with this caption : "I am look-
ing for a certain young man at the Bison
theatre." Two shot guns were hung on the
Ford. This got many real laughs and helped
the picture.
Harmonizing the theme of the picture with the advertising is the key-
note of these ads on "The King of Kings." Fine pen drawings, the type style used and the
wording of the ads carry out the feeling, theme and scope of the picture. Even a glance at
the drawings leads one to realize the sweep, the majesty and the awe-inspiring magnitude
of the picture. The ads were planned by G. G. Hall and Hal H. Carlton, manager of the
theatre. At the time Carleton wrote "The Theatre" the picture was in its tenth week and
still going strong, which is proof of the effeciveness of the ads.
46
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 192a
Y^
SERVICE TALKS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald, which is a department containing news, in-
formation and gossip on current productions, is the Moving Picture World department, "Through
the Box Office Window.**
I
"FORBIDDEN HOURS'
HAD thought— but, hang it, that's my trou-
ble; I'm always thinking— that "The Student
Prince" with its almost complete adherence to
the Old Heidelberg legend had finished that
story for a while. Certainly it seemed reason-
able to believe that the headlong-young-king
idea would be stowed away for so long a period
as might be deemed necessary to dull the edge
of memory. But not so, for here is the theme
again, and again Ramon Novarro is the boy
monarch, this time all stirred up about Renee
Adoree. And this time, wherein perhaps lies
the reason for making the picture, the boy gets
the gal and the loyal subjects are all for the
arrangement. It probably wouldn't happen, but
it does, and who am I to complain?
Yes, "Forbidden Hours" is the boy king yarn
again. This time the country is one of those
mythical places where everything looks nice
and nobody works. This time the boy is no
mere prince when the story begins but a ruling
monarch. And this time the girl is — or seems
to be — a daughter of France, or some place like
that, instead of the usual peasant girl from
the frontier. This time, too, Roy D'Arcy is the
bad man who wants to beat the king to her
and you know what a bad man Mr. (or is it
mons.?) D'Arcy can be when he wants to. Well,
this time he wants to.
The hours referred to in the title may be
those spent in the king's lodge, or again they
may not. It is always difficult to know about
these things if the picture is viewed in Chicago.
In this case, for instance, the king and his fair,
if unwilling — or, for that matter, if not unwill-
ing—guest are alone (that is to say, together)
in one of those roomy places invariably re-
ferred to as lodges. They've become wet, the
king having upset their canoe in most unkingly
manner, and so they must get down to negligee
before they can devour the splendid repast the
king has caused to be miraculously made avail-
able. This is accomplished without visible mis-
hap, but when the couple slither toward a
delightfully appointed divan something goes
wrong with the local print and their eager coun-
tenances are suddenly wrapt in something
which just possibly might be gloom, or regret.
As far as I'm concerned, it's quite okay with
me, whatever happened (I had my mother-in-
law with me anyway), but the scissoring didn't
add to the merriment of the others present and
T. O. Service
it didn't particularly help the story. Nor did
the later scissoring, occurring at a point where
I suspect the king dedicated the girl to the
army, but as I say, one can never be sure about
these things in Chicago.
No, I know this isn't telling you anything
about the picture. I don't know anything about
it. What? Stop, then? All right, I will.
w
THE BUTTER AND EGG MAN"
ELL, as I've said before, this Jack Mul-
hall is getting to be quite an actor. Indeed, if
everyone agrees, we will herewith cease talking
about him as an adolescent and say definitely
that he is quite an actor. I'll go further — ^he's
a first rate actor. That settles that.
This time Jack is an Ohio boy whose grand-
mother runs the town hotel and whose feet
(Jack's not his grandmother's) itch for the
pave of that often dear but never old Broad-
way. Worse, he wants to produce a show. And
who's there to help him spend his money but
our old friend, the gesticular Sam Hardy. It
falls out — if I may invoke a little Old English
to take up a line or two — ^like this:
Jack gets into New York at a time when Sam
is about broke and Sam's show is about to
open. Jack puts up the shekels (his mother's)
and the show flops in the trial by dog. Fire-
works, then Jack doctors it and it smacks Broad-
way on the beezer. More fireworks — but
there's fireworks all the way through and
there's no point in my beating you to them.
The tale moves along in step ^yith Jack, who
moves just a little more rapidly in all his pic-
tures than anyone else in the same sort of
endeavor, and it bristles with gag captions, gag
situations and gags. It doesn't over-emphasize
and it doesn't undershoot. I think it's about
the most ably assembled bit of light amusement
I've seen lately.
1
'IF WINTER COMES"
F winter comes, and there seems no really
sound reason for doubting that it wiU, I prom-
ise to see enough pictures each week so that I
can fill at least this page with comments per-
taining more or less directly to these same. I
regret to announce that I have great difficulty
in convincing myself that looking at pictures-
is a pleasant business under the currently^
humid circumstances. Not, of course, that the
theatres aren't nicely cool and aU that, but that,,
the streets are not and Balaban & Katz have
not yet installed refrigerator cars for the pur-
pose of bringing people to their theatres and
taking them home. Perhaps this will be done,,
and certainly if it is done Balaban & Katz will
do it.
There is, believe me, no false report about:
this Balaban & Katz Service. Boy, the way that
concern serves you is reason enough for the
free postals. What they serve you is sometimes
another story — it may be another from Paul
Whiteman to Miss Universe — but they never
forget to garnish the platter and smile urbanely
as you gulp your dish. And does it pay? Well,,
the other evening, when I was sitting in the
Oriental theatre, a young man at my right said
to me, "Say, wot's the name o' dis picther?" T
didn't know either. (The skilfully concealed'
point of this item is, of course, that Balaban &■
Katz Service is so good that people go to their-
theatres even when they don't know why.)
B,
'THE NOISIES"
fY way of filling the remainder of a page
which doesn't look well with a half-tone or-
other illustration used for filler, and by way ot
getting into said page at least one argument in
favor of my retention in HERALD-WORLD
employ, I will now take up the matter of the
industry's destiny. SpecificeJly, I shall take up
the industry's new fixture, the synchronized!
picture.
More specifically, I shall herewith condemn!
the writer who — only this week — applied the
word "noisies" to the new pictures. I believe
this label to be a terrible thing, as terrible in its.
implications as was the once-popular but^
finally uprooted term "movies." However, we
have the jump on this new word and it wiU be
no trouble at all to get rid of it if we all pull
together and refuse to use it or sanction its use.
It would be a disastrous thing if this label be-
came attached to the various mechanisms, a
thing tending to postpone indefinitely the ful-
fillment of their destiny. Let us all, then,
solemnly declare that we shall always use, in
speech as in written matter, the correct name
of this new and highly promiseful type of.
picture.
1
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
QUICK REFERENCE PICTURE CHART
Incorporated in this department of Moving Picture World is the Exhibitors Herald department,
"Available Attractions."
The key to abbreviations used in denoting the type of pictures
C— Comedy F — Farce
D— Drama M— Melodrama
R — Romanem W — Western
My— Mystery
Wbeie the picture is a comedy-drama, comedy melodrama, etc.,
there is a combination of these abbreviations. Stars denote
reissues.
That dates prior to January 7 published under the "Comment"
column are those of the issues of Moving Picture World in which
the pictures were reported. The January 7 and subsequent dates
are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOV-
ING PICTURE WORLD in which "Service Talks" have been
published on pictures.
The dates prior to January 7 published under the "New Pic-
tures" column are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD
in which "New Pictures" information was printed. The January
7 and subsequent dates are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD in which this in-
formation will be printed.
Length Title and Playen
Releaied
New
Picture!
Comment
Ticlier
1928
5400 Adorable Cheat, The. LUa Lee-McIntoBh_
B450 Beiow the Deadline....
B500 CampiM Knights
63te Ciroumitantial Evidence
60(0 House of Shame, The
Roaring Forties, The
Chesterfield
1928
Juno 1
Feb. 28
Aug. 15
Oct. 30
June 30
StOt
5900 South of Panama
—Apr. 15
-..Dec. 16 _
1927
5831
6843
5432
6S23
5513
5«46
5750
6524
S5S9
5892
1000
5896
6435
5054
6108
5357
6426
5791
Columbia
Alias the Lane Wolf (D), Lytell-WllsoiL Aug. 22
Blood Ship, The (M), Boswortli-Logan- Aug. 10
By Whose Hand (MyD), Cortez-Gllbert Sept. 16
College Hero, The (CD), Agnew-Garon. Oct. 9
Fashion Madness, Windsor -Howes. Deo. 8
Isle of Forgotten Women (D), Tearle-Sebastlan-Sept. 27
Lone Wolf Returns (M). Lytell-Wilson
Opening Night, The (D), Wlndsor-J. Bowers.... Nov. 14
Pleasure Before Business (F), Davidson
Sally in Our Alley (M), Mason-Allen Sept. 3
Screen Snapshots _
Siren, Thfc T. Moore-Kevier. Dec. 20
Stago Kisses (D), Harlan-Chadwlck. Nov. 2
Stolen Pleasures (CD), Bevler
Sweet Rosie O'Grady (CD), Mason
Tigress, The (M), Holt-Revier.- Oct. 21
Wandering Girls (CD), Revler-Agnew
Warning. tThe (M), Holt-Ri>vii"r _ Nov. 26
Way of the Strong. The (MD), Alice Day-Lewis —
1927
Jan. 7
Deo. 3
Dec. 31
Oct. 1
July 23
JaiL 14
Dec. 3
Jan. 21
Jan. 7
Jan. 14
..July 31
..May 14
..Aug. 28
Jan. 21
...Oct. 2
..52.72%
Dec. 3
_July 21
1928
5459 After the Storm, Hobart-Bosworth..
1928
5537
5928
6925
5440
5464
6047
5350
6472
Beware of Blondes (MD), Revier-Matt Moore
Broadway Daddies, Jacqueline Logan
Desert Bride, The (MD), Betty Compson. Mar. 26
&olf Widows (CD), Reynolds-Ford
Lady Raffles, Taylor-Drew- Jan. 25
Matinee Idol, The (MD), Love-Walker. Mar. 14
Modern Mothers (CD). Helene C^adwick. June 9
Name the Woman (D), Stewart-Qordon-
So This Is Love, Mason-CoUler Feb. 6
Sporting Ago, The, Bennett-Herbert Mar. 2
Tliat Certain Thing, Dana-Qraves Jan. 1
Wife's Relations, The, Mason-Glass Jan. 13
Woman's Way, A, Baxter-Livingston. Feb. 18
July 21
Apr. 14
-May 26
Feb. 25
Apr. 7
-June 19
Feb. 25
Jan. 28
Feb. 11
Mar. 31
Cranfield & Clarke, Inc.
1927
2000 Angeius. The (D)
2000 Real Charleston, Lesson Novelty-
Wooden Shoes, International...
..May 15
..Apr. 24
..May 8
1927
1927
6250 Husbands or Lovers, Jannings..
Emblem Films
Excellent
1927 t^xceneni
5980 Back to Liberty (D), Walsh-HalL- Nov. IB
6805 Bowery Cinderella. A (D), O'Malley-Hulette. — May 1
6912 Broadway Drifter (D), Walsb-Hall Nov. 1
1927
1927
.Apr. 14
6645 Broadway Madness (D), De la Motte-Keitb
5792 His Rise to Fame (D), Walsh-Skaw Feb. 15
Kick-off, The (D), Hyama-Amann. Mar. 17
7393 Nest, The (D). Frederick-Herbert.
[(337 Striving for Fortune (D). Walsh-Roberts. —
5760 Winning Oar. The (D), Walsh-Hal] — ,
6867 Your Wife and Mine (F), Haver-Hottnet-
-Aug. 1
Jan. 15
June 1
Sept. 1
Mar. 3
Mar. 17
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Tick*
1928
1928
6600
6400
6536
6600
A Bit of Heaven (D). Washburn-Lee -...Apr. 25
Into No Man's Land, Tom Santscbl-J. Norman-
Making the Varsity, Rei Lease-Mlidred Harris. June 30
Manhattan Knights, Barbara Bedford July 15
Satan and the Woman (D), Windsor-Eeefe Jan. 20
Speed Classic. The. Rex Lease-Mildred Harris._July 25
Stronger Will, The (D), Marmont-Carewe Feb. 20
Women Who Dare (D), C^adwick-Delaney Mar. 30
You're in the Army (D) - - May 25
Feb. 25
1927
FBO
1927
4765
4858
4910
4837
5701
5093
4754
4913
6300
6567
7014
5240
5186
6481
6515
4924
6680
6140
4941
6004
4886
6388
4892
1928
5872
4893
5583
4869
6267
6375
6320
5511
5984
5063
4770
4804
4758
6148
Aflame In the Sky (M), Luden-Lynn. Dec. 18
Bandit's Son. The (W), Bob Steele Nov. 20
Boy Rider, The (W), Buzz Barton _ Oct. 23
Breed of Courage (D), Ranger _ Aug. 7
Cherol4ce Kid. The (W). Tyler-Lynn -Oct. 30
Clancy's Kosher Wedding (CD), Geo. Sidney — Sept. 17
Coward, The (D), Warner Baxter -Aug. 21
Desert Pirate (W). Tom Tyler. - Dec. 26
Flying U Ranch, The (W), Tom Tyler -..Sept. 4
Gingham Girl, The (C), Lois Wilson Oct. 2
Great Mail Robbery, The (M), Von Eltz-Nelson..Aug. 15
Harvester, The (D), OrviUe Caldwea Nov. 23
Hoolt and Ladder No. 9 (D), Ed Hearne -...Nov. 13
Jake the Plumber (C), Jesse De Vorska „ Oct. 16
Judgment of the Hills (D). Darro-Valli -Nov. 6
Little Mickey Grogan (D), FranMe Darro -Dec. 27
Mojave Kid, The (W), Bob Steele -Sept. 25
Moon of Israel (D), Maria (3orda _
Not for Publication (M), Ralph Ince. Aug. 31
Racing Romeo (D), Red Grange -
Ranger of the North (D), Ranger. — Oct. 9
Shanghaied (M), Ralph Ince Oct. 19
Slingshot Kid, The (M), Buiz Barton. -Dec 4
South Sea Love (D). Patsy MOler - -Dec. 10
Swift Shadow, The (D), Ranger — - Dec. 11
Dea 10
Dec 10
Dec. 3
Oct. 8
Sept. 10 -..
Sept. 10 .-.
Dec. 24
Nov. 26
Nov. 19
Dec. 3
Dec. 3
Nov. 12
Dec 17
July 30
.July 2
Nov. 19
Nov. 26
Aug. 20
64.00%
Alex the Great (M), Skeets Gallagher. May 13
Bantam Cowboy (W), Buzz Barton Aug. 12
Beyond London's Lights (M), Lee Shumway. — Mar. 18
Breed of the Sunsets (W), Bob Steele _ Apr. 1
Chicago After Midnight (M), Ince-Mendez-.- Mar. 4
Coney Island (D), Lois Wilson. -..- Jan. 13
Crooi(s Can't Win (D), Ralpli Lewis May 11
Dead Man's Curve (D), Fairbanks, Jr -Jan. 15
Devil's Trademark. The (D), Belle Bennett Apr. 7
Dog Justice (M). Ranger...- June 10
Driftin' Sands (W). Bob Steele — — Jan. 1
Fangs of the Wild (D), Ranger. — Feb. 5
Fightin' Redhead (W). Buzz Barton July 1
Freckles (D), Stratton-Fox, Jr. _ -...Mar. 21
Headin' for Danger (MD). Bob Steele _.
Her Summer Hero (CD). Blane-Trevor Feb. 12
Hit of the Show, The (C), Joe Brown -Olmstead
Law of Fear (D), Banger - Apr. 8
Legionnaires in Paris (C), Cooke-Guard. Jan. 31
Little Buekaroo. The (W), Buzz Barton Mar. 11
Little Yellow House, The (D), Orrille CaldweR-May 28
Man In the Rough (W), Bob Steele May 20
Phantom of the Range (W). Tom Tyler Apr. 22
Pinto Kid, The (W). Buzz Barton Apr. 29
Red Riders of Canada (M), P. R. Miller Apr. 16
Riding Renegade (W), Bob Steele. _ - -Feb. 19
Sally of the Scandals (M), Bessie Love July 15
Skinner's Big Idea (M), Bryant Washburn Apr. 24
Stacks and Blondes (CD), Logan-Gallagher
Texas Tornado, The (W), Tom Tyler - Feb. 26
Trail of Courage. The (W). Bob Steele -..July 8
Wallflowers (D). Trevor-Scott Feb. 16
When the Law Rides (W). Tom Tyler...- -.June 24
Wizard of the Saddle (W), Buzz BartoiL Jan. 22
5144
476S
5771
4801
6424
4785
4781
4884
6419
4729
6039
5967
4793
4760
6329
4898
4805
1927
5400
5960
5600
590O
5800
5700
5750
6700
6700
5700
oGOO
5700
1928
5500 Fagasa. Raymond Wells
Free Lips (MD). June Marlow...
6300 Masked Angel. Betty (Jompson-
6200 Souls Aflame, Raymond Wells....
...Dec 10
Dec. 3
Dec. 3
Dec 10
Nov. 12
Dec. 10
Feb. 11
May 6
Feb. 11
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Dec. 17
Feb. 11
Dec 17
Mar. 3
June 16
Dec 17
Jan. 21
Feb. 11
Feb. 4
June 19
Jan. 21
..-July 21
Feb. 11
Deo. 10
Jan. 14
June 2
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Feb. 4
Jan. 21
Aug. 6
.-.July »
—July 23
Aug. 20
1928
Teb. 18
Mar. IT
Apr. 28
Apr. 14
.July 14
3ec 24
First Division
1927
Comrades, CosteUo-Hughes — — - -Jan. 1
Death Valley (W), Carroll Nye — Sept. 1
Eager Lips, Garon..- Oct. 1
Finnegan's Ball (C), Mack Swain. Sept. 15
Ladies at Ease (CD), Garon-Sbort _ Nov. IS
Ladybird, Compson - Aug. 1
Naughty. Garon - - Nov. 1
Polly of the Movies. Short-Robards. Oct. 15
Ragtime (D), De lia Motte. - _ Sept. 1
Return of Boston Blackie (D), Glenn-Palmer....Aug. 1
Say It with Diamonds, Betty Compson _ —Aug. 15
Temptations of a Shop Girl, Compson Nov. 1
Apr. 1
Aug. SO
Jan. 7
n^t 1.=;
Jan. 7
Nov 26
Sept. 3
1928
-Mar. 1
-Mar. 15
-July 14
Apr. 7
Apr. 21
48
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
Length Title and Playert
Released
New
Pictures
Ticker
1927
6300
6333
6433
6222
6765
8730
7724
6386
6588
6802
5282
7133
6288
611S
6190
6524
6400
6720
5718
5550
5255
7388
6521
5542
5434
6520
6040
6431
6734
11414
5982
6897
6400
6210
6477
5606
5800
6548
7179
6000
7400
7419
6774
6668
7833
6336
6324
6409
1928
7404
6500
6800
6744
6374
8030
6172
6344
7100
7433
First National
All Aboard (C), Hlncs-Murphy May 8
American Beavty (CD). Dore-Hughes- _ Oct. 9
An Affair of tfie Follies (D), Dove-Hughes Feb. 13
Breakfast at Sunrise (CD). C. Talmadge Oct. 23
Broadway Nights (D). Wilson-Hardy May 15
Camille (D). N. Talmadge-Roland _ Sept. 4
Convoy (D), Shennan-MackalU Apr. 24
Crystal Cup, The (D), MackaUl-Mulhal] Oct. 16
Dance Magic (D). Lyon-Starke June 12
Drop Kick. The (D). Barthelmess-Revier Sept. 25
Framed (D), Sills-Kingston _ June 19
Gorilla, The (My), Murray Kelsey -Nov. 13
Gun Gospel (W), Maynard-Faire. Nov. 6
Her Wild Oat (C), Moore-Kent. Dec 25
High Hat (CD), Lyon-Brian. Mar. 13
Home Made (C), Hlnes-Daw _ -Not. 20
Lady in Ermine. The (D), C. GrifHth-Busliman-jan. 9
Life of Riley. The (C), Murray-Sidney Sept. 18
Lonesome Ladies (CD), Nllsson-Stone July 3
Long Pants (C), Langdon-Bonner. Apr. 10
Lost at the Front (C), Murray-Sidney _ May 29
Love Mart, The (D), DoTe-Koland. Dec. 18
Lunatic at Large, The (C), Errol-Mackalll Jan. 2
Man Crazy (CD). MackalU-MulliaU Not. 27
Masked Women, The (D), Nllsson-Bllnn-H'nsen_jan. 23
Naughty But Nice (0). Moore-Beed June 26
Notorious Lady, The (D), Bedford-Stone Mar. 27
No Place to Go (C), Hughes-Astor Oet. 30
Orchids and Ermine, Moore-Mulhall Mar. 6
Patent Leather Kid, The (D). Barflmess-O'Day..
Perfect Sap. The (CD), Lyon-Starke Jan. 16
Poor Nut, The (C), Murray-Mulhall Aug. 7
Prince of Head Waiters (D), Stone-Tashman. — _
Red Raiders. The (W), Maynard-Drew July 17
Rose of the Golden West (D). Aator-Boland — Sept. 4
Sea Tiger. The (D), Sllls-Astor. - Oct. 2
See You in Jail (C), Mulhall-Day Feb. 27
Smile. Brother, Smile (C), Multaall-MackallL — Apr. 17
Stolen Bride, The (D), Hughes-DOTe Sept. 11
Sunset Derby (D), Astor-CoUler Aug. 14
Tender Hour, The (D), DoTe-Lyon June 5
Texas Steer, A (CD), Rogers-Fazenda May 1
Three Hours (D), Grlfflth-Bowers Dec. 4
Three's a Crowd (C). Langdon-McConneU Apr. 3
Twinkletoes. Moore-Harlan Aug. 28
Valley of the Giants (D), Sills-Kenyon. Dee. 11
Venos of Venice (CO). Talmadge-Moreno Mar. 20
White Pants Willie (C), Hlnes-Hyams July 24
Apr. 2
Not. 19 Oct. 22
ilar. 5
Not. 12 Not. 26
_ May 21
„ May 2
May 21
Not. 12 Oct. 29
Aug. 13
I"Z"!~Z"july 9
Jan. 7
Dec. 17
Dec. 3
Not. 26
Mar. 19
Oct. 29
Jan. 8
Oct. 1
Sept. 24
Apr. 9
June 25
1927
"47720%
56.10%
"48.60%
65.00%
61.54%
53.58%
Not. 26
..J"eb. 5
Barker, The (D). Sills. llackallL
Big Naise. The (CD), Conklln-Whlte Mar.
Burning Daylight (M), Sills-Kenyon. - -Feb.
Canyon of Adventure (W), Maynard _ Apr.
Chaser, The (C). Langdon Feb.
Chinatown Charlie (C), Hines-Lorraine. Apr.
Code of the Scarlet (W), Ken Maynard
Goodbye Kiss, The, Jotrnny Burke-Sally Ellen _
Flying Rome«s (C). Murray-Sidne.T Feb.
French Dressing (CD), Wamer-WUson Ian.
Feb. 12
_ _..July 16
Not. 12 May 14
Dec. 10
Apr. 9
Aug. 20
Jan. 22
Sept. 10
_ _ July 23
Oct. 15
Not. 19 Oct. 8
May 14
Apr. 23
_ Sept 17
__ Sept 3
„ „ July 2
_ May 28
Dec. 3 Apr. 16
Jan. 1
_ -...Dec. 3
Dec 24 Jan. 7
-..Aug. 6
Apr. 16
..July 14
Mar. 10 Apr. 7
67.90%
70.47%
61.88%
47.00%
38.90%
47.72%
69.92%
68.86%
45.80%
1928
7641
6957
7694
6592
6608
8967
7700
6625
7129
5485
8188
5827
6212
6874
Happiness Ahead (D), Colleen-Moore-Lowe June
Hawk's Nest, The (M), Milton SiUs _ -May
Heart to Heart, Lloyd Hughes-Todd
Heart Trouble (CD), Harry Langdon —
Harold Teen (CD). Lake-Brian Apr.
Heart of a Follies Girl (D), Dove-Kent-
Sherman
-Mar.
Helen of Troy (CD). Stone-Corda-Cortez. Jan.
Ladies Night (CD). Mackalll-Mulhall. Apr.
Lady Be Good (CO), Mulhall-Mackaill May
Lllao Time (0). Moore-Cooper Apr.
Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come (D), Bar-
thelmess-O'Day Apr.
Mad Hour (0), O'Neil-Kent-Sherman Mar.
Noose, The (D), Barthelmess-Joyce. Jan.
Sailors' Wives (CD), Hughes-Astor Jan.
Shepherd of the Hills (0), Francis-O'Day.. -Jan.
Strange Case of Captain Ramper, The (D) -
Three Ring Marriage (M), Hughes-Astor- May
Wagon Show, The (W), Maynard Mar.
Feb. 11
Feb. 18
-June 23
..July 7
Apr. 7
Deo. 10
May 26
May 26
-July 7
.July21
Apr. 21
Mar. 10
Dec. 24 Feb. 4
Dec. 17
June 16
7187
1927
4665
1777
4556
6425
6078
63S3
4810
4300
6381
8154
5524
4545
6617
5515
4983
4851
6940
6162
5599
6507
8538
6415
6440
6500
7734
7677
6327
6898
5878
5893
S48<
Wheel Bf Chance, The (0), Richard Barthelmess —
Whip. The (0). Forbes-Mackaill
Whip Woman. The (D), Taylor-Moreno Feb. I
Wright Idea. The (CD), Johnny Hlnes
Yellow Lily. The (D). Dove-Brooks May 1
June 2
Apr. 7
Mar. 17
Dea 10
Dea 24
Dec 8
..July 21
Apr. 28
Mar. 17
..June 2
..July 14
Feb. 11
-July 7
Apr. 28
May 12
63.25%
78.23%
July21
Fox
1927
Arizona Wildcat. The (W), Tom Mix. Not. 20
Blackjack (W). Buck Jones Sept. 25
Blood Will Tell (W), Buck Jones Nov. 13
Broncho Twister (W). Mix. _ Mar. 13
•Cameo Kirby (0). John GUbert Aug. 28
Chain Lightning (W). Buck Jones Aug. 14
Circus Ace, The. Mix. - June 26
Come to My House (CO), OliTe Borden Dec. 25
Cradle Snatchers (FC), Fazenda June 5
East Side, West Side (D), O'Brien-VaUl Oct. 9
Gay Retreat, The (C), Cohen-McNamara Sept. 25
Good as Gold (W), Jones _ June 12
Heart of Salome (My). Rubens —May 8
High School Hero (C). Phlpps-Stuart Oct. 16
Hills of Peril (W). Jones May 1
•Honor First (D). John Gilbert Sept 18
Is Zat So? (CD). O'Brien-Lowe May 15
Joy Girl. The (CD). OUve Borden. Sept. 18
Ladies Must Dress (CD), Virginia Valli Not. 20
Love Makes 'Em Wild (D), Harron. Mar. 6
Loves of Carmen (0). McLaglen-Del Rio Sept. 4
Madam Wants No Children, Cordla Apr. 3
Marriage (0). VallL.- Feb. 20
Monkey Talks (D). Lemer Feb. 20
Music Master (D). A. B. Francis Jan. 23
One Increasing Purpose (D). Lowe Jan. 2
Outlaws of Red River (W), Mix _
Paid to Love (D). O'Brien-VaUl -Aug. 14
Pajamas (CO). Borden-Gray Oct. 23
Publicity Madneu (CD), Moran-Lowe Oct. 2
Rich But Honest (CO), Beebe May 22
-Not. 19
63.00%
Jan. 7
Jan. 7
..June 4
Oct 22
Tune 11
May 9
Oct. 29
May 14
40.70%
May 21
Sept 24
Not. 19 Dec. 17
Oct. 8
_ Apr. 16
_ _ Feb. 26
JMar. 5
Jan. 22
- Jan. 15
Apr. 23
Aug. 6
Dec. 10
48.60%
61.58%
June 4
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Comment
S870
10726
5467
5446
5009
5792
5412
5620
4943
4675
4209
6293
5510
5620
4953
11109
5783
5629
6531
1928
4612
Secret Studio. The (CD). Borden. -
Seventh Heaven. The (R), Farrell-Gaynor
•Shame (M), John Gilbert
Silk Legs (CD). Madge Bellamy
Silver Valley (W). Tom Mix.
Singed (D). Baxter-Sweet
Slaves of Beauty (0), Herbert-Tell
Stage Madness (0), VaUi
St. Etmo (M). John Gilbert.
Tumbling River (W), Tom Mix-Dawn
Truxton King, Gilbert
Two Girls Wanted (CD), Jaaet Gaynor.
Upstream (0), Poxe
Very Confidential (CO), Madge Bellamy
War Horse (W), Jones...-
What Price Glory (CD), McLaglen-Lowe....
Whispering Sage (W), Jones
Wizard, The (MyD), Lowe-Hyams-
Wolf Fangs (0), Thunder (Dog)
June 19
Oct. 30
Not. 27
Dec 18
Oct 2
Aug. 21
June 5
Jan. 9
Oct 9
Aug. 21
Oct. 30
. — Sept. 11
Jan. 30
Not. 6
Feb. 6
— Aug. 28
Mar. 20
. — Dec. 11
Not. 27
Dec. 31
Dec 17
..June 25 _
..May 28 71.33%
-Not. 26
Oct 29
..July 16
-June 11
..JaiL 29
-.Aug. 27 IZ
Jon. 14
..Jeb. 12
..JIOT. 12
...Feb. 19
...Apr. 9
Dec 3
71.00%
60.61%
4987
5708
6566
5109
5038
5882
6430
4618
C188
4399
5782
6679
5071
5260
5380
5629
5355
..Jan. 8
-...Jan. 16
— June 3
-Mar. 18
5937
5030
4921
5480
1927
6987
5800
6000
6200
5950
6500
6700
6750
1928
5268
Branded Sombrero. The (W), Bucb Jones.
Chicken a la King (CD), Carrol-Francis Lee-
Daredevil's Reward (W), Tom Mix..
Don't Marry, Moran-Hamilton...— _..
Dressed to Kill, Lowe-Astor
Escape, The (0). RusseU-Valll Apr. 29
Gateway ol the Moon, The (0), Del Rio Jan. 1
Girl in Every Port, A (CD), Victor McLaglen..„Jan. 29
Hangman's House, McLaglen-CoUyer. May 13
Hello Cheyenne, Tom Mix. May 13
Honor Bound, O'Brien-Taylor ilay 13
Horseman of the Plains (W), Tom Mix. Mar. 11
Love Hungry (CO), Moran-Gray.. Apr. 15
News Parade, Stuart-Philllpe..
No Other Woman (0), Dolores Del Rio. June 10
Painted Post (W), Tom Mix..
Play Girl, The, Madge Bellamy Apr. 22
Sharp Shooters (CD), O'Brlen-Moran Jan. 15
Soft Living (CD). Bellamy-Brown Feb. 5
Square Crooks. Brown-Dwan Mar. 4
Street Angel, Gaynor.
Sunrise (0). George O'Brien. -
Thief In the Dark, A, Meeker-HlU-Beebe May 20
Why Sailors Go Wrong. Phlpps-McNamara- Mar. 25
Wild West Romance (W), Bex King June 10
Woman Wise (C), Russell-CoUyer. Jan. 8
Jan. 21
..June 23
Feb. 11
June 9
Apr. 14
Apr. 14
Jan. 28
1928
Apr. 14
Jan. 21
ay 26
Feb. 4
Feb. 18
Feb. 18
May 19
Gotham
1927
6000
Blondes by Choice (C), Clilre Wlndaor. Oct 1 Dec 31
Cheer Leader, The (CD), OraTsi-Olmstead Not. 15
Final Extra (M), De la Motte. —
'Frisco Nights (D), Percy Mannont JJec. 1 Dec. 10
Girl from Rio, The (D), Carmel Myers Sept 1 Not. 26
Heroes ef the Night (M), LandU-Nlxon
Rose of Klldare, The (D), Helene Chadwick. Aug. 15 Not. 19
Satin Woman, The (0), Mrs. Wallace Held Aug. 1 Not. 19
Bare Knees (D), Corbine Feb. 1 Jan. 7
Branded Man. The (D), Delaney-Marlowe. May
Chorus Kid, The (D), All Star ipr. 1
Danger Patrol, The (D), All Star. Apr.
Devil's Tower, The (W), Buddy Rooserelt May
Hell Ship Bronson, Mrs. Wallace Reid-Beery— ..June 2
Lightnin' Shot The (W), Buddy RooseTelt May
Midnight Adventure, A (D), Landis-Morpby May
Mystery Valley (W), Buddy RooseTelt July
Trail Riders (W). Buddy RooseTelt Apr.
Trailin' Back (W). Buddy Roosevelt Jilar.
Turn Back the Hours (M), Myma Loy Mar. 1 Feb. 11
Sept. 24
-Jeb. 5
Aug. 13
1928
1927
6199 Broadway After Midnight, Betz-
Krelbar Productions
-Oct. 29
Adam and Evil (CD), Cody-PringleL_.
Adventurer, The (W), Tim McCoy.
After Midnight (0), Shearer-Gray.
Annie Laurie (D), Lillian Gisti
Becky (CD). SaUy O'Nea
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Aug. 27
1927
6667
4709
6312
87S0
6439
12000 Ben Hur (M), Ramon NoTarro.
12550 Big Parade. The (M), GUbert-Adoree
5902 Body and Soul (0), L. Barrymore Oct. 1
5821 Bugle Call, The (D), Jackie Coogan Aug. 6
6050 Buttons (CO), Jackie Coogan. Dec 24
6126 Callahans and Murphys (CD), Dressler-Moran....June 18
7395 Captain Salvation (M), Hanson.- - May 14
6408 Fair Co-ed. The (CO). Marion Davles. Oct 16
4658 Foreign Devils (W). Tim McCoy Sept. 3
6909 Frisco Sally Levy (C). O'Neil _ Apr. 2
8156 Garden of Allah, The (0), Terry-Petroritch- Nov. 5
6646 In Old Kentucky (D), H. CosteUo Oct 29
6088 Little Journey (CO), AU Star — —..Jan. 1
5687 London After Midnight (0), Lon Chaney Dec. 3
6110 Lovelorn. The, SaUy O'Neil Deo. 17
6291 Lovers (D). Novarro-Terry - _ Apr. 9
6280 Man. Woman and Sin (D), John Gilbert _...Nov. 19
5957 Mockery (M), Lon Chaney Aug. 13
7603 Mr. Wu (M), Lon Chaney Mar. 26
7627 Quality Street. Davles-Nagel — Dec 31
6337 Red Mill (C). Davies -.-.Jan. 29
6581 Road to Romance, The (0), Novarro-Day Sept 24
6640 Rookies (C). Dane- Arthur — Apr. 30
6309 Show. The (M). GUbert-Adoree.— - Jan. 22
7865 Slide. Kelly. Slide (CD). Haines-O'Nea Mar. 12
6280 Spoilers of the West (W), McCoy-Daw Dec 10
6703 Spring Fever (C), WiUiam Haines Oct 22
6273 Tea for Three (C). Cody-Prlngle - —.Dec 10
5252 Thirteenth Hour. The (0). Lionel Barrymore Nov. 26
6160 Tillie the Toiler (C). Davies.-.- May 21
7899 Twelve Miles Out (M). Gilbert July 9
6637 Understanding Heart (0). Crawford. Feb. 26
5517 Unknown, The (M), Chaney June 4
1928
6998 Actress, The, Norma Shearer-Forbes Apr. 28
6805 Across to Singapore (MO), NoTarro-Crawford—.Apr. 7
5010 Baby Mine. Arthur-Dane Jan. 21
6838 Big City, The, Chaney-Compson-Day Feb. 18
6344 Bringing Up Father, FarreU-Moran-Otmstead. Mar. 17
Aug. 13
1927
1927
61.00%
Not. 26
Nov. 19
Dec 31
-..July 16
.July 2
Not. 10
Oct 29
.'.""Apr!"33""
Not.
Not.
Dec
Dec.
Sept. 10
Dec 3
..Jan. 15
Dec. 17
96.35%
80.20%
~'si.iT%
63.00%
48.09%
68.70%
61.60%
60.00%
~60.90%
43.46%
65.60%
..May 2
Dec 17
-Sept 10
..June 4
Jan.
Nov.
39.20%
39.60%
66.83%
Not.
Dec
Dec
Apr.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
-May 9
-Mar. 19
..Apr. 2
-.Dec 24
Dec 10
Not. 12
Dec. 3
-June 11
...July 30
-May 14
-June 13
-May 26
64.91%
~68ls9%
67.31%
43.6l"%
68.16%
66.16%
66.93%
68 76%
1928
Feb. 11
Apr. 7
-.
Julv 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
49
Length Title and Player>
Releaied
New
Picture!
Comment
5482 Certain Young Man, A, Novarro-Day. May
6661 Circus Rookie* (CD), Dane-Arthur Mar.
Cossacks. The. Adoree-Gilbert-Torrence. May
8548 Crowd. The, Boardman-Murray-Roach Mar.
5482 Detectives. Dane-Arthur June
6057 Diamond Handcuffs. Boardman-Nagel May
7300 Divine Woman, Garbo-Hanson-Sherman _...Jan.
8340 Enemy, The, Glsh-Dane-Forbes - _ _...Feb.
Excess Baggage (D), William Haines
4987 Forbidden Hours (D), Novarro-Adoree June
T743 Latest from Paris, The, Shearer-Forbes Feb.
7045 Laugh. Clown. Laugh, Chaney-Murphy-Hlsle. Apr.
S402 Mademoiselle from Armentleres, EsteUe Brody-
John Stuart June
5760 Skirts. Syd Chaplin
5395 Law of the Range, McCoy-Crawford Jan.
7365 Love, Garbo-Gilbert ._ Jan.
7289 Patsy. The, Dartes-Caldwell-Gray. Mar.
6014 Riders of the Dark Apr.
7745 Rose Marie, Crawford-Murray Feb.
6476 Smart Set, Haines-Day-Holt-Bosworth Feb.
9566 Student Prince, The (R), Novarro-Shearer Jan.
5901 Under the Black Eagle, Forbes-Dog Flasb Mar.
8134 West Point (CD). Haines-Crawford. Jan.
White Shidowf of tiie South Sea (MD). Uonta
Blue
19 June 2
31
12
3 Mar. 10
9 June 9
14 Jan. 21
18 Mar. 10
.June 23
16 Mar. 17
4 Feb. 18
14 Apr. 21
3 May 26
Tnno 2
21 Feb. 4
Jan. 7
Apr. 7
May 5
Feb. 18
Mar. 10
Feb. 25
June 23
-July?
Apr. 28
..June 2
Jan. 21
May 5
Mar. 10
May 12
Jan. 14
Apr. 14
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
Mar. 3
Jan. 21
67.41%
6011
4435
1927
6199
6951
9879
5697
6878
7175
6040
<536
6662
5408
T447
6287
6296
S399
6376
6017
6889
6415
7091
S862
6452
8656
7656
6439
7080
6940
6052
6007
5617
8039
7180
6258
6877
6798
4551
S599
6187
6680
6306
6247
6952
9443
5614
6368
6634
6209
6170
5515
6015
6179
6838
5524
4934
6200
6124
6006
6497
4926
6319
7643
8486
6869
6935
6866
6960
1928
5897
6536
Wickedness Preferred (CD), Cody-Pringle Jan.
Wyoming, McCoy-Sebastian Mar.
July?
28 Feb. 11
24 Apr. 14
Paramount
6930
6665
7866
6364
6889
6402
6852
6871
6263
6038
Afraid to Love (C), Vidor _ —Apr. 9
Barbed Wire (D), Negri-Brook. Sept. 10
Beau Geste (M), Colman-N. Beery Aug. 1
Blind Alleys (M). Melghan.- Mar. 12
Blonde or Brunette? (C). Menjou Jan. 24
Cabaret (CD). Gilda Gray Mar. 26
Casey at the Bat (C), W. Beery Mar. 5
Chang (D), Specdal cast Sept. 3
Children of Divorce (D), Bow ipr. 2
City Gone Wild (M), Melghan-MIllner Nov. 12
•Covered Wagon, The (M), Kerrlgan-WUson. Aug. 6
Evening Clothe* (C). Menjou Mar. 19
Fashions for Women (CD), Ralston Mar. 26
Fireman Save My Child (C), Beery-Hatton Aug. 1
Gay Defender, The (CD). Richard DIx Dec. 10
Gentleman of Paris, A (CD), MenJou-0'Hara...-Oct. 15
Get Your Man (CD), Clara Bow Deo. 10
Honeymoon Hate (CD), Florence Vldor Dec 3
Hotel Imperial (D). Negri Feb. 26
Hula (CD), Bow-Brook. Aug. 27
It (C). Clara Bow Feb. 19
Jesse James (D), Fred Thomson Oct. 22
•Kid Brother (C), Lloyd. Oct. 4
Kiss in a Taxi (C), Daniels. Feb. 26
Knockout Reilly (CD). Dii _ Apr. 16
Last Waltz, The (D), Special cast Nor. 26
Let It Rain (C). MacLean. _ Jan. 3
Love's Greatest Mistake (CO), Brent Feb. 13
Man Fewer (0). Dlx _ _ July 9
Metropslis (0). Special cast Aug. 13
Mme. Pompadour (D), Moreno-D. Gish Aug. 13
Nevada (W). Cooper-Todd Sept. 10
New York (M), Cortez-Wilson _ ...Feb. 5
Now We're In the Air (C), Beery-Hatton. Oct 22
One Woman to Another (CD), Vidor- ShotweU... Sept 24
Open Range (W), Lane-(3handler Nov. 6
Paradise fer Two (C), Dix-Bronson Jan. 17
Potters (CD), W. C. Fielda _..Jan. 31
Ritzy (CD). Bronson _ - Apr. 9
Rolled Stockings (CD), Hall-Brook. June 18
Rough House Rosie (C). Bow May 14
Rough Riders. The (D), Astor-FarreU Oct 1
Rubber Heels (FC), Ed. Wynn. -June 11
Running Wild (C). Fields-Brian. -..Aug. 20
Senorita (F), Daniels - Aug. 30
Serenade (D). Menjou-Wray _ _ Deo. 24
Service for Ladies (C), Menjou-Carrer. Aug. 6
Shanghai Bound (D), Dli-Brian Oct. 15
She's a Sheik (C), Bebe Daniels Nor. 13
Shootin' Irons (W), Luden-BIane Oct 8
Soft Cushions (C). MacLean-Carol Aug. 27
Special Delivery (C), Eddie Cantor. Apr. 16
Spotlight, The (CD), Balston-Hamllton. Nov. 19
Stark Love (D), Special cast..- - Sept 17
Swim. Girl, Swim (CM), Daslels-HalL..- Sept 17
Tell It to Sweeney (C), Conklin-Bancroft Sept 24
Ten Modern Commandments (CD), Ralston. July 2
Time to Love (FC), Raymond Griffith. June 18
Two Flaming Youths (C), Fieids-Conklin. -.Dec 17
Underworld (M), Bancroft-Brent Oct. 29
Way of All Flesh, The (0), Jannings-Bennett-Oct. 1
Wedding Bills (F), Raymond Griffith May 7
Were's All Gamblers (D), Meighan-SIiUner. Sept 3
Whirlwind of Youth (D), Lois Moran -Apr. 30
Wings (M), Charles Rogers Oct. 29
Woman on Trial (D), Pola Negri
Adventure Mad (M), UFA, Mar. 31
Beau Sabreur (M). Cooper-Brent _ Jan. 7
Beggars of Life (MD), Wallace Beery-Brooks-
Big Killing (CD), Beery-Hatton. May 19
Doomsday, Vidor-Cooper _ Feb. 18
Drag Net, The (MD). Bancroft-Brent-PoweU
Easy Come, Easy Go, Richard Dlx. Apr. 21
Feel My Pulse, Daniels-Arien, _ Feb. 25
Fifty-Fifty Girl, The, Daniels-Hall May 12
Fools for Luck (CD), Fields-Conklin. May 7
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (C), Taylor-White._Jan. 28
Half a Bride (D), Ralston-Cooper June 16
Hot News, Bebe Daniels .
1927
-Apr. 23 _
-Aug. 3 67.21%
_ 62.04%
-Mar. 5 50.84%
-Jan. 15 41.30%
-May 9
-Apr. 16 60.30%
-May 2 51.86%
-May 2 68.00%
-Dec. 10
Jan. 7
Dec. 31
Jan. 14
Dec. 31
Jan. 21
Jan. 7
-Apr. 9
...Apr. 9
-Dec. 10 49.60%
-Not. 12 62.63%
-Oct 8
67.83%
Dec 17
-Jan. 8
-Sept 10 65.85%
-Feb. 12 66.77%
-Oct 22
-Jan. 29 65.91%
-Apr. 2 38.61%
-Apr. 23 65.61%
-Not. 19
-Jiar. 12 55.69%
-Feb. 26
-Aug. 6 51.18%
-Mar. 12
Aug. 6
_ 71.00%
-Feb. 6 70.25%
-Dec. 17
-Sept. 24
-Jan. 29 —
-Jan. 22 48.36%
-June 25 _
-July 30
-June 4
-Mar. 19 54.72%
-July 16 —
-June 18 47.00%
-May 14
- 57.64%
-Sept. 3
Not. 12
Not. 26
-Atig. 27 Z
-May 9
-Dec. 3
-Mar. 19
-Sept 17
Oct. 22
-July 23
-July 9
44.08%
66.27%
-Sept 3
-July 2
-July 23
Dec. 24
Jan. 14
Jan. 7
-July 7
-June 11
-Aug. 20
Oct 1
62.83%
59.78%
57.46%
47.36%
45.90%
1928
Jan. 21
-May 26
May 19
Feb. 23
Mar. 31
Apr. 7
Dec. 10
June 16
Mar. 10
Mar. 19
Mar. 19
Feb. 18
6792
8234
7415
6837
His Tiger Lady. Menjou-Brent June 9
Kit Carson (MD), Fred Thomson
Ladies of the Mob, Clara Bow. June 30
Last (^mmand. The (D), Bmll Jannings. Jan. 21
Legion of the Condemned. Wray-Cooi)er Mar. 10
Love and Learn. Ralston -Chandler Jan. 14
Loves of an Actress (D), Pola Negri
-June 9
Mar. 31
-June 23
May 26
Jan. 28
Jan. 21
„ June 23
Jtme 16
July 7
Feb. 4
-Apr. 21
Feb. 26
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
5741
7910
6600
5582
6118
7646
6631
7194
7616
4720
7960
5951
6218
6763
7060
5733
5991
5834
6509
6435
Night of Mystery (D), Menjou. -..Apr. 7
Old Ironsides (D), Beery-Bancroft - Mar. 17
Partners in Crime (C), Beery-Hatton. Mar. 3
Peaks of Destiny -Jan. 28
Pioneer Scout, The (W), Fred Thomson. Jan. 21
Racket The (0), Thomas Meighan. June 30
Red Hair (CD). Bow-Chandler Mar. 10
Sawdust Paradise. The, Esther Ralston. Aug. 25
Secret Hour, The (D). Negri -Hersholt - Feb. 4
Showdown, The, Bancroft _ Feb. 25
Something Always Happens, Ralston-Hamlltoa..Mar. 24
Speedy (C). Harold Lloyd Apr. 7
Sporting Goods. Dix-Olmstead _ - Feb. 11
Street of Sin (0). Jannings-Wray _ -May 26
Sunset Legion (W), Fred Thomson...- Apr. 21
Three Sinners (D), Negri-Baxter Apr. 14
Tillie's Punctured Romance, Fields-Conklin Peb. IS
Under the Tonto Rim, Arlen-Brian Feb. 4
Vanishing Pioneer, The (W), .Tack Holt June 23
Water Hole, The (W), Jack Holt _
Warming Up, Richard Dli. Aug. 11
Wife Saven (C), Beery-Hatton. - Jan. 7
Woman From Moscow, The (D), Negrl-Kerry
Feb. 18
Feb. 25
Jan. 7
Dec. 10
Mar. 3
June 9
Feb. 18
Mar. 3
Apr. 28
Feb. 18
Apr. 28
Mar. 17
Apr. 21
Feb. 18
May 26
Pathe
1927
6596 Almost Human (CD). Reynolds _ Dec 26
6555 Angel of Broadway, The (D), Leatrice Joy. Oct. 3
4333 Avenging Fangs (M) June 5
5326 Border Blackbirds (WD), Maloney...- - Aug. 28
4875 Born to Battle (W), Bill Cody „ -....Sept 11
4512 Code of the Cow Country (W), Roosevelt June 19
5100 Combat (D), Walsh _ —.Oct 23
7500 Country Doctor, The (D), Schildkraut _ Aug. 22
4033 Desert af the Lost. The (W), Wally Walea Dec 18
5478 Devil's Twin, The (W), Leo Maloney Dec 11
8586 Discord (D). Dagover-Ekman - -...Not, 20
5804 Dor. Desperado (W), Maloney _ -.May 8
6599 Dress Parade (0), Boyd „ Nov. 11
8002 Fighting Eagle. The (M), La RocQue-Haver. Aug. 29
6403 Flying Luck (C), Monty Banks - Dec 4
6568 Forbidden Woman, The (M), Jetta GoudaL Not. 7
6859 Getting Gertie's Garter (F), Prerost -
3303 Girl from Everywhere (C), Pollard Dec. 11
5867 Girl in the Pullman. The (C), Prevost -.Oct 31
4968 Gold from Weepah (W). Bill Cody Not. 20
7913 Golden Clown, The (D), Gosta-Ekman Dec 18
4750 'Grandma's Boy (C), Harold Lloyd...- -...Dec 11
5990 Harp in Hock, A (0). Schildkraut-Coghlan. Oct 10
6563 Heart of the Yukon (M), Bowers-Cornwall May 29
6035 Heart Thief (D), Schlldkraut-De Puttl
4620 Hidden Aces (M), Hutchison. -Aug. 7
6788 His Dog (D), Schildkraut July 21
4700 His First Flame (C), Langdon May 8
4890 His Foreign Wife (D), MacDonald-Murphy Not. 27
4076 Hoof Marks (W), Jack Donovan Nov. 13
4864 Interferin' Gent, The (W), Buffalo Bill. Jr Aug. 21
5324 Jim, the Conqueror (W), Boyd-Faire —
13500 King of Kings (D), All Star _
4131 Land of the Lawless, The (W). Jack PadJaiL Dec. 26
Little Firebrand (C), Thornton _ July 3
Main Event, The (D), Reynolds Nov. 21
Man Bait (CD), Prevost „ _ -.Jan. 29
Meddlin' Stranger (W), Wales June 12
My Friend from India (F), Pangbom-Fair. Dec. 19
Night Bride (FC), Prevost
Nobody's Widow (FC), Joy-Hay-Hayer. - -
No Man's Law (W), Rex May 1
Obligin' Buckaroo. The (W), Buffalo Bill, Jr Oct. 16
Pais In Peril (W), Buffalo BUI. Jr. June 26
Phantom Buster. The (W), Roosevelt -...Aug. 14
Pieces of China (Travel) - „ Aug. 7
Pirates of the Sky (M), Hutchison _ May 22
Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary (C), Robson. ,
Ride 'Em High (W), Buddy Roosevelt..- Oct 9
Roarin' Broncs, Buffalo Bill. Jr Nov. 27
Rubber Tires (C), Ford-Love...- - „
Rush Hour, The (C), Prerost -. Dec. 12
Skeedaddle Gold (W). Wales July 31
Soda-Water Cowboy, The (W), Wally Wales Sept. 25
Trunk Mystery (M), Hutchison _ June 12
Turkish Delight, Schildkraut-Faye Not. 11
Apr. 7
Feb. 25
May 5
.July 21
May 26
...Feb. 18
Dec. 24
1927
Not. 19 Nov. 6
June 4
— Sept 10
-June 17
-Oct 15
Jan. 14
72.70%
-Deo. 10
May 9
Not. 19 Not. 5
Sept 17
Nov. 12 Nov. 5
Feb. 19
— - Not. 5
Not. 19 Not. 5
60.40%
Not. 12
Not. 5
..May 21
..May 21
..Sept 3
-July 24
..May 9
4752
6472
5865
4576
5750
5736
6421
6903
4575
4692
4497
6000
4828
5844
4542
4375
6303
5880
4562
4546
4338
5397
5670
5021
6198
4485
5610
6447
7820
1928
3996
5755
4805
5027
658!)
4833
5408
4530
7996
4526
4480
5398
7056
4155
6650
5888
4C00
5659
3954
5404
5820
Jan. 14
Not. 19
Dec. 24
-.Aug. 27
...Jan. 1
...Mar. 10
...July 2
Not. 6
..Jan. 29
-.June 12
..May 9
-.Jan. 16
...May 2
..Oct 8
..June 25
..▲ng. 20
..May 21
..Aug. 6
..Oct. 8
<5.eo%
Jan. 7
..Apr. 9
..Aug. 6
..Oct. 1
„Jun« 11
Two-Gun of Tumbleweed (W), Leo Maloney July 17
Vanity ( M ) . Joy
White Gold (D), Goudal - - -
White Pebbles (WD), Wally Wales _..Aug. 7
Wise Wife, The (C), Haver -...Oct. 24
Wreck of the Hesperus, The (M), Bradford Oct 31
Yankee Clipper (M), Boyd - _ - - _..
-July 17
-June 18
..Apr. 9
Aug. 20
6902
7040
5423
.4520
6035
4000
Alice Through a Looking Glass Feb. 12
Apache Raider, The, Leo Maloney...- - Feb. 12
Ballyhoo Buster (W), Buffalo Bill, Jr ..— Jan. 8
Blonde for a Night. Prevost _ Feb. 27
Blue Danube, Leatrice Joy _ Mar. 12
Boss of Rustlers Roost, The, Don Coleman. Jan. 22
Bronc' Stomper, The, Don Coleman. Feb. 26
Bullet Mark. The. Jadt Donovan Mar. 25
Chicago (M). Phyllis Haver _ _ Mar. 5
Cowboy Cavalier (W), Buddy Roosevelt Jan. 29
Crashing Through, Jack Padjan. _ Feb. 6
Desperate Courage (W), Wales - Jan. 15
Hold 'Em Yale, Rod La Rocque. May 15
Laddie Be Good (W), BiU Cody -...Jan. 1
Leopard Lady. The (M), Logan _ Jan. 23
Let 'Er Go. Gallagher! (M), Junior Coghlan Jan. 16
Marlie, the Killer, Klondike Mar. 4
Midnight Madness, Logan May 26
Night Flyer, The. Wm. Boyd Feb. 5
On to Reno (D), Prevost -Landia .Tan. 2
Perfect Gentleman, A (C), Monty Bankj Jan. 15
Red Mark, The (D). Glass. Quartoar
Ship Comes In. A, Rudolph Sctiildkrant Jtme 4
Skyscraper, Boyd Apr. 9
Stand and Deliver, Rod La Rocque Feb. 20
Tenth Avenue, Haver- Varconl
Valley of Hunted Men, Buffalo Bill, Jr Feb. 19
Walking Back (M), Sne Carol May 20
What Pries Beauty (CD), Nlta Naldi Jan. 22
Nov. 19
Nov. 5
May 14
61.72%
1928
May 12
Mar. 3
Feb. 18
May 12
Mar. 17
May 19
Dec 24
Feb. 4
May 19 May 26
Jan. 28
Jan. 28
Mar. 17
Jan. 28
.July 14
June 16
May 12
.July 14
Jan. 28
DeaSl
i
50
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 192}i
Length Title and Players
Released
Htvi
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
1927 Rayart
€089 Cruise of the Helion (D), All star
5076 Heroes in Blue (M), Bowers-Rand Nov.
5916 Law and the Man, The (D), Santschi-EockwelI..D€C.
6960 Light in the Window, A (D), WaltliaL _.._
6970 On the Stroke of Twelve (M), D. Torrence Nov.
BS02 Silent Hero (IVI), Bonaparte _ - _.
4200 Wanderer of the West, A (W), Tex Maynard....Dec.
1928
€089
6673
607S
4633
5976
5853
4797
Sept. 24 _..
1927
..Nov. 12
-Aug. 29
5262
454S
5608
4571
5906
■4627
5490
5260
Branded Man, The (D), Chas. Delaney-MarloweMay
Casey Jones (CD), Price-Lewis. Jan.
Danger Patrol, The (D), RusseU-Falr Jan.
Devil's Tewer, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt June
Divine Sinner, The (D), Vera Reynolds-HUllard.. July
Gypsy of the North (D), Gordon-Hale Apr.
Heart of Broadway, The (D), Garon-Agnew.._Mar.
Lightning Shot The (W), Buddy Roosevelt May
Man from Headquarters. The (D), ConuUni
KeeTe-E. Roberts Aug.
Midnight Adventure, A (D), Landls-E. Murphy-May
Mystery Valley (W), Buddy Roosevelt July
My Home Town (D), BrockweU-Glass Jan.
Painted Trail, The (W). Buddy Roosevelt Mar.
Phantom of the Turf. The (D), CosteUo-Lease-Feb.
Sisters of Eve (D), Mae Busch Sept.
Sweet Sixteen (D), Helen Foster-Olstead Aug.
Trail Riders (W), Buddy Roosevelt April
Wild Born (W), Tex Maynard _ - Mar.
You Can't Beat the Law, Lee Keefe Jan.
1928
1927
556i
5400
5500
1928
Sterling
1927
Burning Up Broadway (D), H. Costello Jan. 30 Dec S
Closed Gates (M), Harron-Novak. — -
Outcast Sonis (D), Lewis-Bonner. Dec. 15 Nov. 12
Pretty Clothes (D). J. Ralston-Walksr Oct. IS Dec. 31
Stranded (D), Mason Aug. IS Jan. 7
-May 28
1927
5754
5669
S300
6024
7300
4887
5500
€482
5233
4752
5600
6800
€049
€235
5629
€100
5182
5278
«448
£«14
1928
€147
S209
6510
Marry the Girl (CD)
TiffanyStahl
Backstage (CD), Bedford ■
Beauty Shoppe (CD), Busch
Broken Gate (D), Collier...-
Cheaters (M), O'MaUey
College Days (CD), M. Day
Enchanted Island (D)
First Night, The (FC), LyteU-Devore
Fools »f Fashion (CD), Busch...- —
Girl from Gay Paree, The (F), Sherman Sept. 15
Haunted Ship, The (M), Sebastian-M. Love—Deo. 1
Husband Hunters (C), Marsh
Josselyn's Wife (D), Frederick.
Lightning (W), J. Ralston. Sept. 1
Night Life (CD), Day-Harron Nov. 1
Once and Forever (D), Patsy Ruth Miller Oct. IB
Sin Cargo (D), Mason
Snowbound (FC), Blythe „ —
Streets of Shanghai (RD), Starke-Harlan Dea 15
Tired Business Man (C)
Wild Geese (D), BeUe Bennett .Nov. 15
Women's Wares (D), Brent-LyteU Oct. 1
Sept. 10
1928
-Feb. 4
1927
..July 9
...July 16
-Jan. 15
...Mar. 24
...Nov. 6
...June 25
..Feb. 19
...Oct. 9
—Feb. 26
—Nov. 27
.J3ec. 11
-July 30
Dec. 24 Dec. 10
1928
Bachelor's Paradise (R), SaUy O'Neil Mar. 15
Clothes Make the Woman (R), Southem-
Pldgeon
Devil's Skipper, The, Bennett _
Grain of Dust, The (D), Cortez-Windsor..
Green Grass Widows (CD), Walter Hagen. -
House of Scandal (0), Sebastian-O'Malley
Ladies of the Night Club (CD), Cortez-Moran..
Lingerie (CD), White-McGregor
Nameless Men, Moreno _
Prowlers of the Sea (D), Cortez-Myers
Scarlet Dove, The (D), Margaret Livingston
Stormy Waters (D), Southern-McGregor
Their Hour (D), Sebastlan-Harron
Tragedy of Youth, Miller-Collier
Woman Against the World, A
-May 1
..Feb. 1
..July 10
.Juno 10
..Apr. 1
.May 15
.July 1
.Feb. IS
.June 20
.Apr. 15
.June 1
.Mar. 1
Jan. IS
Jan. 1
United Artists
Beloved Rogue (M), J. Barrymore-
College (C), Keaton-ComwaU
General, The (C), Keaton
Loves of Sonya (D), Swanson.
..Sept. 10
5297
6553
5708
6102
6735
5652
6361
6^3
1927
9264
6000
7600
7311
8550
7440
9120
9000
745«
8260
tooo
1928
€400 Circus. The (C), Charlie (aaplln.
TOO©— Devil Dancer, The, Gilda Gray
9358 Douglas Fairbanks ai the Gaucho (M) June 1
9100 Dove, The (M), Norma Talmadge Jan. T
8350 Drums of Love (D), Mary PhUbln Mar. 31
7300 Garden of Eden, The (D). C. Grifflth-Ray Feb. 4
Two Lovers, Banky-CoUnan Aug.
7630 Ramona (D), Del Rio Feb. 1
•600 Sadie Thompson (D), Gloria Swanson Jan. 7
Steamboat Bill, Jr.. Buater V"""
Tempest (M), John Barrymor« Aug. 11
Mar. 31
-Apr. 2
-Sept. 17
Ma^io Flame, The (M), Colman-Banky Sept. 24
My Beat Girl (M), Mary Plckford. Nov.
Night of Love (M), Banky-Colman
Resurrection (M), La RocQue .
Sorrell and Son (D), Wamer-Nilsson Not.
Topsy and Eva (C), Duncan Sisters _.
Feb. 12
Mar. 19
.Sept. 24
Apr. 7
..Jan. 29
...Apr. 16
1927
45.90%
Two Arabian Knights (CD), Boyd-Wolhelm
Winning of Barbara Worth (0), Banky-Colman...
-Aug. IS
-Oct. 29
-Dec. 4
73.65%
1928
.Mar. 3
-..Apr. 28
—Nov. 26
—Jan. 7
—July 21
Universal
1927
6781 Baek to Q«d's Country (D), Adoree-Frazier- Sept. 4
BTTT Beware of Wl<tows (FC), La Plante June 19
44IT Border Cavalier. The (W), Humes-Pierce Sept. 18
7S1» Butterflies In the Rain (D), La Plante. Feb. S
7190 Cat and Canary, The (My), L« Plante Sept. 11
U23 Cheating Cheaters (C), Compaon-Harlas Oct. 9
Nov. 12
Aug. 6
—May 9
61.00%
44.10%
Deo. 17
Nov. 26
-.Jan. 1
May 14
46.18%
67.06%
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
5503 Galloping Fury (W), Hoot Gibson Nov. 20
6929 Held by the Law (M), Lewis Apr. 10
5711 Hero for the Night, A, Tryon-MiUer. Dec. 18
5378 Hey! Hey! Cowboy (W), Gibson -...Apr. 3
6958 Irresistible Lover, The (CD), Kerry-Moran Dec. 4
7713 Les Miserables (M), Qabrio-Toulont Oct. 30
Dec. 24
Jan. 14
-Apr. 2
Nov. 26
11000 Les Miserables (M), (Long Version)..
5862
6038
6135
6159
5918
6170
5416
6045
6807
4409
7015
6166
4393
6218
4251
7173
5598
4136
5192
6459
4167
1928
4259
6869
4076
6171
4345
4232
7481
6279
4173
6081
4426
5645
4094
6598
5064
4095
6813
6832
4120
5689
4253
4200
4472
5382
5424
6172
5109
5389
8249
6179
6073
4353
6274
5495
4348
9151
5254
1927
5803
6530
6281
5897
6408
50O3
6767
6284
5978
Lone Eagle, The, Kent-Keane-
Love Thrill (FC), La Plante-
Man's Past, A (D). Veidt-Kent
Men of Daring (W), Hoiie -.
On Your Toes (C), Denny-Worth..
-...Oct. 30
Sept 18
-..3Iay 8
— Dec. 9
June 5
Nov. 27
Sept. 4
Dec. 17 Nov. 19
Aug. 27
Nov. U
43.67%
Out All Night (C), Denny-Nixon-.
Painted Ponies (W), Hoot Gibson Sept. 25
Painting the Town (FC), Tryon Aug. 7
Perch of the Devil (M), Busch Mar. 6
Rough and Ready (W), Hoxie Jan. 9
Sensation Seekers (D), Dove Mar. 20
Silk Sttckings, Laura La Plante Oct. 2
Sky High Saunders, Al Wilson Nov. 6
Small Bachelor, The (C), Beranger-Kent Nov. 6
Straight Shootin' (W), Wells -...Oct 16
Taxi! Taxi! (FC), Horton. Apr. 24
Thirteenth Juror, The (D), Bushmaii-NUsson...Nov. 13
Three Miles Up, Al Wilson. Sept. 4
Wild Beauty (CD), Rex. Nov. 27
Wrong Mr. Wright, The (F), Hersholt Feb. 27
Wolf's Trail, Dynamite, the dog Oct 2
Air Patrol, The (W), Al WUson. Jan. 1
Alias the Deacon (CD), Hersholt-Marlowe.. Jan. 22
Arizona Cyclone (W), Humes Mlay 6
Buck Privates, de Putti June 3
Call of the Heart, The (W), Dynamite Jan. 29
Clean. Up Man, The (W), Wells. Feb. 12
Cohens and Kellys in Paris (C), Sidney. Jan. 15
Count of Ten, The, Ray-Ealston-GIeason June 6
Fearless Rider, The (W), Fred Humes Jan. 15
Finders Keepers (CD), Laura La Plante Feb. 6
Four Footed Rangers, The (W), Dynamite Mar. 25
Good Morning Judge. Apr. 29
May 21
Dee. ir Sept. 0
Apr. 9
Jan. 14
Nov. 19
40.14%
...Oct. 1
July 23
...June 25
Feb. 5
Jan. 8
Jan. 29
Nov. 19 Aug. 20
Feb. 4
Dec 3
62.31%
35.87%
Greased Lightning (W)
Grip of the Yukon, The, All star.-
Hot Heels, Glen Tryon..
—July 29
—Aug. 30
.May 13
Dec. 3
..-Feb. 19
45 18%
Dec. 24
Mar. 5
1928
June 16
June 25
Mar. 10
Feb. 4
—Apr. 21
June 30
Jan. 28
Apr. 21
Apr. 28
Hound of Silver Creek, The (W), Dynamite.- May 20
Lonesome (CD), Tryon-Kent..-
Love Me and the World Is Mine, Kerry-PhUbin.Feb. 25
Jazz Mad. Hersholt-Nixon-Lewls June 3
Made-to-Order Hero (W), Wella. June 3
Midnight Rose, de Putti-Harlan. Feb. 26
Phantom Flyer, The (W), Wilson. Feb. 26
Put 'Em Up (W), Hume* Mar. 11
Apr. 28
May 26
June 23
-July 21
Feb. 31
May 19
Mar. 17
Mar. IT
Quick Triggers (W), Humes...
Rawhide Kid (W), Hoot Gibson.-
Riding for Fame, Hoot Gibson
Shield of Honor, The, AH star-
July 15
Jan. 29
Aug. 19
Feb. 19
Society Cowboy, A, Hoot Gibson. July 8
Stop That Man, All star Mar. 11
Surrender, PhUbin-Moajuklne Mar. 4
Thanks for the Buggy Ride, La Plante-Tryon— Apr. 1
That's My Daddy (C), Denny-Kent Feb. S
Thunder Riders, The, Wells Apr. S
13 Washington Square, AH star. Apr. 8
Trick of Hearts. A. Hoot Gibson. Mar. 18
Won in the Clouds, (W). Wilson. Apr. 22
We Americans, AU star May 16
Wild West Show, Hoot Gibson May 20
Jan. 14
Apr. 28
Ma; 5
Apr. 21
Warner Brothers
Black Diamond Express (M), Blue-
_July23
1927
50.20%
Brass Knuckles (D), Blue-Bronson Dec. 3
Bush Leaguer, The (CD), Monte Blue Aug. 20
Dearest (D), Rldi—
Desired Woman, The (M), Irene Rich. Aug. 27
Dog of the Regiment, A (M), Rin-Tin-Tin. Oct. 29
First Auto. The, Oldfleld-Mlller Sept. 18
Gay Old Bird (FC), Fazenda.-
-June 18
-July 9
-Mar. 12
6302
5613
6271
5200
6230
5397
5569
6352
6310
€485
7961
6357
6492
6295
5685
6124
6218
6412
7G47
5813
6281
5567
10081
6820
7068
1928
Girl from Chicago, The (M), Nagel-Loy-
Glorious Betsy (CD), Dolores Costello
Good Time Charley (D), Oland-H. Costello Nov. 12
Han and Eggs at the Front (C), Wllson-H.
ConkUn — — - Deo. 24
Hills of Kentucky (M), Rln-Tin-Tln.
Husbands for Rent, All star Dec. 31
if I Were Single, McAvoy-Nagel Dea 17
Irish Hearts (CD), McAvoy
Jaws of Steel (D), Rln-Tin-Tin Sept. IT
Matinee Ladies (C), McAvoy
Mill Bid, A (M), D. CosteUo—
Nov. 6 Dec. 31
Dec. 31
-May 26
Nov. 26
Missing Link, The (C), Syd Chaplin-.- Aug. 7
Old San Francisco (M), D. (>>steIlo-01and. Sept 4
One Round Hogan (M), Monte Blue..- Sept. 17
Reno Divorce, A (D), May AcAvoy Oct. 22
Sailor Izzy Murphy (F), George JesselL. — Oct. 8
Sailor's Sweetheart, A (C), Fazenda-C. Cook...Sept 24
Silver Slave, The (D), Rioh-Ferris Nov. >
Simple SJs (M), Fazenda _ -
Slightly Used, McAvoy-Nagel - Sept 3
Third Degree (M), D. Costello
Tracked by the Police (M), Rln-Tin-Tln...-
What Every Girl Should Know (CD), MUler.
What Happened to Father (C), Oland...-
When a Man Loves (R), Barrymore - Aug. 21
White Flannels (M), Draaser.
Wolf's Clothing (M), Blue-MUler.
1928
5380
Across the Atlantic, Blue-Murphy. —
Beware *f Married Men, Irene Rich-
City of Sin, The, Loy-MlUan-Wong..
-Feb. 25
-Jan. 14
-Feb. 18
Domestic Trouble (CD), Cook-Fazenda-
Jazz Singer, The, Al Jolson-
Llon and the Mouse, The, L. Barrymore-
Llttle Snob, The, May McAvoy
Powder My Back (C), Blch-Ferrla
Race for Life, Rln-Tln-Tin
-Apr. 14
Feb. 11
Mar. 10
Jan. 28
May 19
RInty of the Desert, Rln-Tin-Tln—
Tenderloin, Dolores Costello
Feb. 18
..May 19
-Apr. 28
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
CLASSIFIED
Advertising
Ten cents per word, payable in advance. Minimum charge,
$1.00. Copy and checks should be addressed Classified Ad
Dept. Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, 407 So.
Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
I
The Recognized National Classiiied Advertising Medium
Position Wanted
THEATRE MANAGER now employed desires
change. Vitaphone and Movietone experience, 12
years in theatres, graduate of Publix Managers'
School, understands every detail of theatre operation.
Young, married, reliable. If interested address Box
292, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
AT LIBERTY SEPTEMBER 1st— Violin Director,
master of ceremonies. Presentation and pit. Double
several instruments. Best of reference. Information
furnished on request. Address Musical Director,
Burns theatre, Colorado Springs, Colo.
AT LIBERTY— August first, high class organist.
Expert cuing. Union, reliable. Four years in last
place. Address Box 293, Exhibitors Herald and
Moving Picture World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago,
111.
THEATRE ORGANIST— Experienced on all makes,
has a large library, will go anywhere. Address Box
289, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
Attention, Theatre Managers! Are you looking for
an organist, male or female? If you are, why not let
Exhibitors Herald- World find just the kind you want?
Address George Schmidt, Exhibitors Herald- World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
LADY ORGANIST desires change. Experienced,
union, large library. Good recommendations. Prefer
eastern location. Address Box 290, Exhibitors
Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
AT LIBERTY— Experienced high grade Organist
with complete modern and classical library, union.
Wurlitzer, Morton, or any standard make. Address
F. H., 8631 S. Ashland Ave., Apt. B. 2, Phone Bev-
erly 1461, Chicago, 111.
ORGANISTS thoroughly trained and experienced in
theatre work. Men and women now ready for good
positions. Write salary and other data. Address
Chicago Musical College, 61 E. Van Buren, Chicago.
ORGANIST — Experts thoroughly trained in show-
manship available at all times for first-class positions.
Men and women. No service charge. Write full in-
formation concerning salary, organ, hours, etc. Ad-
dress Vermond Knauss School of Theatre Organ
Playing, 210 N. 7th St., Allentown, Pa.
Engagements Wanted
AT LIBERTY— D. C. Nelson Organize Dance Or-
chestra Versatile Musicians. Red Hot with up-to-
date Dance Rhythm. Will go anywhere. Write or
wire 455 East 42nd Place, Chicago, 111., Phone Oak-
land 4669.
Theatre Wanted
THEATRE WANTED— To rent with option to buy
if theatre is paying proposition. Address Fred T.
Walker, 4314 Irving Park Blvd., Chicago, 111.
Film Rights for Sale
LOOK-READ-ACT— ROAD SHOWMEN, STATE
RIGHTS FOR SALE
The True Life of "The Younger Brothers"
Featuring Cole, Bob and Jim Younger and the James
Boys, in five reels, and Younger's Historical Events,
in one reel. This picture as a popular priced road
show is no experiment. It has been tried and true,
has played against all kinds of competition under all
conditions. Has always gotten the money. With each
State or sale we furnish free one new complete Lobby
Display, consisting of new Prints of Film, three new
Wax Figures, standing, life size, of Cole, Bob and Jim
Younger, true to life, dressed in cowboy style, big
hats, boots, etc.; 500 One-Sheets, 100 slides, 10 Photo
Lobby Boards, 100 small Photos extra, 6 Banners,
lettered in flashy oil colors, enough to fit any theatre
front. Everything ready to go. Hurry. It will pay
you to buy the King of all Road Shows.
Address E. L. HUMPHREY. Miami, Okla.
Films for Sale
"The Dungeon" (7) ;— "Deceit" (6) ;— "Birthright"
(10); — three all star Negro productions; — also — "Truth
About Women" (6); — "Temptation" (7); — "Marriage
Morals" (7) ; — Other miscellaneous productions. Come-
dies, Serials, Travel, Educational, etc. Guaranteed
Pictures Company, 729 Seventh Ave., New York City.
Equipment for Sale
2 Peerless Lamps complete. Like new, $190.00 each.
Address Box 485, Rochester, N. Y.
FOR SALE — Motion Picture Projectors, parts and
supplies for all type machines. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
FOR SALE — Strong Reflector Arc Lamps and ac-
cessories, also guaranteed rebuilt Powers 6-A and 6-B
and Simplex Heads. Best Prices. Write Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, HI.
GET OUR PRICES first on complete Theatre
Equipment and Pipe Organ before buying elsewhere.
You save, we satisfy. Address Southern Theatre
Service, 643 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, La.
CHICAGO CLEARING HOUSE— Our bargain list
on rebuilt Projectors, Powers 6-A Motor driven ma-
chines, including 12 rebuilt Simplex motor driven
machines with latest Simplex type S lamp houses.
Prices ranging from $175.00 and up. Peerless arc
controls $35.00 per pair. Compensates all makes,
$20.00 and up. Rebuilt Generators at reasonable
prices. AC and DC Electric fans rebuilt, just like
new. Write for complete list of your needs and
prices. No obligation. Address Illinois Theatre
Equipment Co., 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Chairs for Sale
Brand New Veneer and Spring cushion opera chairs
to be had at the lowest prices ever offered. Kindly
state your requirements and let us submit to you
exact photographs and full details. C. G. Demel, 845
South State, Chicago.
300 Upholstered Opera chairs. All seats and backs
entirely reupholstered in new imitation Spanish
leather. Eight Hundred Dollars for entire lot. C. G.
Demel, 845 South State, Chicago.
LARGE STOCK — Used veneered theatre chairs in
5 and 7 ply veneer guaranteed condition, also 1600 up-
holstered chairs newly recovered in brown imitation
Spanish leather, just like new. 500 portable assembly
chairs. Chair prices very reasonable. Write for com-
plete list of your needs and prices. No obligation.
Address Illinois Theatre Equipment Co., 12-14 E.
Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Stationery
SPECIAL! 250 each business letterheads — en-
velopes $3.75 (cash postpaid). "Neargravure" proc-
ess printed. Samples, see difference. Stamp appre-
ciated. Address Sollidays, XH-124, Knox, Ind.
Banners and Posters
CLOTH BANNERS— $1.40, 3x10, 3 feet, colors,
any copy up to 10 words; one day service; sent any-
where; also Bargain Paper Banners. Associated
Advertisers, 111 West 18th St., Kansas City, Mo.
Manager Schools
LEARN Modern Theatre Management at home, as
a business or vocation. Catalog H shows you how.
Moving Picture Theatre Managers Institute, Inc.,
Elmira, N. Y.
For Sale
FOR SALE — One Wurlitzer style "O" double roll
pipe organ slightly used. Looks and runs like new.
25 rolls new music. $1,100.00. Address Bonny the-
atre, Mansfield, Mo.
FOR SALE — American Photoplayer Co., combined
organ and piano, duplex rolls, cost $3,175. Will sell
for $1,500 or will exchange for pair of Simplex or
Powers projectors of equal value. Address L. Bates
Russell, Lyceum Theatre, Chestertown, Maryland.
Slightly used Style W. Wurlitzer Organette just
like new. Gold Mine Butterkist Pop Corn Machine
in good condition. Address Central Theatre, Fair-
bury, Illinois.
OPERA CHAIRS, seats and backs for all makes,
five ply, at prices that save you half. Address
Redington & Co., Scranton, Pa.
Organs for Sale
$200.00 buys large size Photoplayer. Perfect con-
dition. Address Box 485, Rochester, N. Y.
FOR SALE: Bartola Pipe Organ. Used Wurlitzer
Pipe Organ, model U, very reasonable. Cremona
Pipe Organ, used or new Reproduco Pipe Organs.
Address S. B. McFadden, Havana, 111.
INCREASED BUSINESS 25%
I am an advertiser in the classified section of the Exhibitors Herald-World and the results have been very pleas-
ing. In fact, I would say that in some respects advertising in your magazine increased my business about twenty-five
per cent.
Joseph Spratler
Scientific Repairing of Any Make of Motion Picture Projection Machine
12-14 East Ninth Street Chicago, Illinois
52
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
Gift Night Souvenirs
Equipment Wanted
GIFT NIGHT MERCHANDISE: Over 300 fine
novelties in our large free catalog at genuine whole-
sale prices. Write today. No obligation. Address
Fair Trading Co., Inc., 140 W. 21st St., New York.
Projector Repairing
BEST GRADE repair work. Prices right. Free
relief heads. Prompt service. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
Our Twentieth Century Repair Shop, with skilled
expert mechanics, specialized tools, precision machin-
ery, assure the very best REPAIR JOBS. Relief
Equipment furnished FREE. Prompt service. Rea-
sonable prices. Progressive Exhibitors over entire
country send their work to "THE OLD RELIABLE."
Monarch Theatre Supply Co., Memphis, Tenn. Estab-
lished 20 years.
SKILLED MECHANICS, specialized tools, and a
shop equipped for but one purpose can offer you
nothing but the best in repair work. That is what I
have, and I can offer you the best in the overhauling
of your motion picture machinery equipment. One
of the oldest repair men in the territory, and serving
some of the largest houses. Relief equipment fur-
nished free. For results bring your work to Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
BEST PRICES paid for projection machines, all
types. Address Guercio & Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, 111.
Miscellaneous
BEAUTIFUL registered Bull Pups, $15. Bulldogs.
Address 501 Rockwood, Dallas, Texas.
Theatre for Sale
Theatre for Sale — 620 seats, fully equipped includ-
ing organ. Now doing business, population 19,000,
largest theatre in city, good lease. For particulars
write George S. Kirby, Tuxedo Theatre, 372 South
Main St., Phillipsburg, N. J.
Any Real Showman desiring to invest $25,000.00
for business bonded to show 40 per cent return for
capable attention, Address P. O. Box 1306, Atlanta,
Ga. Note — No Competition, showing both Colored-
White, Drawing Population 25,000.
FOR SALE — 450 seat theatre in good Western
payroll town, 4,500. Best location. Good lease on
building, one theatre opposition. Part cash, part pay-
ments. Other interests demand my attention. Address
Box 291, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture
World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
LETTERS
From Readers
A forum at which the exhibitor is
invited to express his opinion on
matters of current interest. Brevity
adds forcefulness to any statement.
Unsigned letters will not be printed.
Miss Banky Nominated
NAPOLEON, N. D.— To the Editor: I
have contracts with all the larger film concerns
in the United States. The best looking star
and best liked star is Miss Vilma Banky in
our theatre.
Any time we play anything in which Miss
Banky is starred, we usually have a full house.
We have decided to nominate Miss Banky for
the beauty contest.
Hurrah for the beautiful, talented star —
Miss Banky! — Karl Miller, Miller Theatre,
Napoleon, N. D.
'^ Lilac Time*' Booked by
Kunsky for Special Run
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— First National's
"Lilac Time," Colleen Moore's latest pic-
ture, which opened in Los Angeles last
week, will be shown with sound for an
extended run at Kunsky's Madison, Detroit,
at roadshow prices, beginning August 11,
according to Ned E. Depinet, sales manager
of First National. The New York showing,
also to be with sound, is to begin August 3.
Two resort bookings are at Colorado
Springs and New London, Wis.
Depinet also reports the booking of the
"President group" by the Hoffman circuit
of Connecticut, and the Wilmer & Vincent
chain in Pennsylvania, besides a split of
First National service with Proctor theatres
in Albany, Troy and Schenectady.
Wisconsin Labor Asked
To Fight Machine Music
(Special to the Herald-World)
KENOSHA, WIS., July 24.— Because the
installation of Movietone and Vitaphone is
threatening to throw out of employment
many musicians, the Wisconsin Federation
of Labor has been asked by Kenosha
musicians to use its influence to oppose the
devices.
Famous-Canadian
Plans New Houses
In Several Cities
Expansion plans of Famous Players
Canadian Corporation, already having 135
theatres, call for a $1,500,000 construction
project in Toronto, the theatre to seat 4,200.
Famous also plans a $1,250,000 theatre at
Ottawa, one at Quebec City seating 3,000,
and others at Windsor, North Bay and
Saskatoon. United Amusements, affiliated
chain, is to build a $165,000 house in
Montreal.
Other theatre developments of the week
include the following:
The Stanley Company has received bids for a la.ge
residential house in the Pine Hills section of Albany.
Ollie Stacey is resigning November 1, from the Ma-
jestic in Albany. Andrew Hendrick has succeeded
Donald Ives as assistant manager of the Troy in
Troy, N. Y. Joseph Krist has bought the VanCurler
at Schenectady.
Many Kansas City exhibitors attended the open-
ing last Monday of the $500,000 Uptown at Wichita,
Kan. Sam Blair is building a house at Belleville,
Kan. A. Baler of Kansas City has started con-
struction of another suburban theatre. At St. Louis
it was stated that the William Fox theatre will be
ready in November. It is rumored there that the
Orpheum theatre will become a burlesque house. The
opening of the Colfax in South Bend, Ind., has
been set for August 4.
At Eau Claire, Wis., Robert W. Bross has taken
over the management of F & R's operations. The
Fischer-Paramount interests have purchased the
Baptist church in Beloit and are planning a $500,-
000 theatre. Nathan J. Blumberg has leased the Van
Der Vaart in Sheboygan. Louis Lutz is now man-
ager of the new Fischer theatre in Oshkosh, Wis.
Madison business men are planning an East Side
theatre. Sherman Brown plans remodeling of the
Pabst theatre in Milwaukee at a cost of $180,000.
Midwesco is to erect a 2,000-seat house in Appleton,
Wis. Community Theatres plans to increase its
chain of nine theatres to twenty. At Spokane C.
G. Bowman soon will take possession of Will
Starkey's Rex theatre.
Navy Will Co-operate
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Curtis D. Wil-
bur, secretary of the navy, has pledged
Paramount full co-operation in the filming
of "Dirigible."
Sigmund Moos Back
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Sigmund Moos,
manager of the leasing department at Uni-
versal City returned from Italy last week.
FOR SALE — Theatre in payroll town of fifteen
hundred population. Only theatre in town, open
seven nights a week. Price six thousand dollars —
half cash. Address Empress theatre, Glenrock, Wye,
or Black Hills theatre. Hot Springs, S. D.
Cameras for Sale
FOR SALE — One Universal 200-ft. camera in ex-
cellent mechanical condition, used slightly, with new
50 mm. B &_L F 3.5 lens. Price $200.00. Address G.
Russell Carrier, General Delivery, Akron, Ohio.
FOR SALE— One 400-ft. Wilart Professional
Camera, nearly new, with B & H tripod. Has two
extra magazines, automatic dissolver, magnifying
focusing tube direct to film; film punch, footage in-
dicator; also, special footage indicator for scenes;
trick crank, 170 degree shutter, 50 mm. B & L Tessar
F 3.5 lens, lever, sunshade, adjustable view finder for
various focal length lens. Has excellently smooth
cranking qualities. Price $395.00. Address G. Russell
Carrier, General Delivery, Akron, Ohio.
Theatre to Lease
FOR LEASE: Attractive. Fort Wayne. Fully
equipped, suburban theatre, with 594 seats, in thickly
populated neighborhood 1^4 miles from nearest com-
petition. Equipment priced low on option to buy.
Address Chas. Reuss, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Church Turns Theatre
Under Russian Order
It's an ill wind, and so on. Any-
way, it is reported from Riga, Lat-
via, that the Alexander Levski
church of Moscow will reopen as a
motion picture theatre under the su-
pervision of the Russian commissar-
iat of education.
Paramount Cameraman
Treks Across Ice to
Get Nobile Pictures
John Dored, Paramount News and Asso-
ciated Press cameraman, wrote his name
large in news reel enterprise with his pic-
tures of General Nobile, polar expedition
commander, after his rescue from an ice
floe by Lieutenant Lundbord, Swedish
aviator, and his transfer to the Citta di
Milano, Italian base ship.
In a letter to Emanuel Cohen, editor of
Paramount News, Dored told how he
joined up with the Risser Larsen expedition
but left to get in touch with the ice breaker
Braganza when he learned the Italians had
charge of most of the rescue work in the
northeastern part of Spitzbergen. The
Braganza was frozen in solidly when the
radio brought the news of the rescue.
He learned that the ship was 25 miles
from a temporary Swedish air base and
left the next day with a party across the ice
in the hope of getting through to the North
Coast. A plane returning to Kings Bay for
supplies gave him a lift from the base and
he arrived before Nobile was transferred to
the Citta di Milano. He got the pictures
and interview and caught the next boat
from Spitzbergen to Svolvaer, ■ Norway,
where a seaplane picked him up and took
him to Malmo. There another seaplane
helped him to Hamburg. Another plane
brought him to Paris, whence he got the
pictures aboard the He de France.
Paramount News has just issued a color-
ful brochure listing scoops claimed for its
cameramen.
56 Book UA Revival Weeks
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 24.— Fifty-six theatres
now have booked United Artists revival
weeks, eleven having just been added to
the total previously announced.
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
53
^^^
WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Verdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor
Copyright, 1928
Incorporated in this original exhibitors report department of Exhibitors Herald, which was estab-
lished October 14, 1916, is the Moving Picture World department, "Straight from the Shoulder
Reports.**
Columbia
THE TIGRESS: Jack Holt— 5%. July 3. Good
entertainment for any class of rieople that like
action and heart throbs. Jack very fine, Dorothy
marvelous. Six reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
MY WIFE'S RELATIONS: Shirley Mason— 65%.
July 11-12. Here is one they'll enjoy. An excep-
tionally good vein of comedy runs through it. Ben
Turpin as the cook goes over big. Many favorable
comments on this one. Six reels. — John W. Crab-
tree, Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark.— General pat-
ronage.
SNARL OF HATE: Johnnie Walker— 65%. July
7. The picture wasn't much from plot standpoint,
but of course was arranged to fit the acting of the
dog, Silverstreak. Now I have played all sorts of
dogs from Arkansas hounds to the long haired sas-
siety dawgs and most of them I have played needed
a tin can tied to their caudal appendage and sent to
the sausage factory. However, boys, here is a dog
that has 'em all backed off the boai'ds. He seems
to have almost human intelligence and has half as
much pep as a film salesman trying to sell the
1928-29 product on the "glad to pay more" plan.
So you'll know by that he's a real "dawg." My
crowd liked the picture 100 per cent and had many
favorable comments. If you want good dog pictures
get next to this Silverstreak. You won't get any
fleas o£E him. Six reels.— J. W. Crabtree, Joyland
theatre. Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
THE SPORTING AGE: Belle Bennett— 25%. July
13. This is a vei? good program picture. Story and
cast fine. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
THE BLOOD SHIP: Hobart Bosworth— Too much
blood, too gruesome. Did not do a good business
for us. It is well made, but ship life is not much
of a novelty in this seaport town. — E. T. Mathes,
Avalon theatre, Bellingham, Wash.— General patron-
age.
FB 0
WALLFLOWER: Special cast— 40%. July 8. Well
this one was a real picture. Human interest from
start to finish and the ending sure turned out to be
a good one. Well, this was a good gold brick. Good
clean picture for Sunday or any other night. Seven
reels.— Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.
— General patronage.
WHEN THE LAW RIDES: Tom Tyler— 9%. July
10. Very good little program picture for small
towns which should please the folks in the prairie
land. Five reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
FRECKLES: Special cast— July 5-6. A very good
program picture. Much better than "The Harvester."
Seven reels.— Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove,
111. — General patronage.
THE FLYING U RANCH: Tom Tyler— July 7.
Tom and his pals make a nice little entertaining pic-
Editor's Note
Percentage ratings given by ex-
hibitors in reports to this depart-
ment are obtained in the following
manner: Average daily gross of
picture reported is divided by
average daily gross of picture hold-
ing house record to determine
relative box office value in terms
of percentage.
EXAMPLE: $75 (avCTage daily
gross of picture reported) divided
by $100 (average daily gross of
picture holding house record)
equals .75 (percentage rating given
picture in report) .
When a picture has received
percentage ratings in 10 reports it
is entered in THE BOX OFFICE
TICKER column of "Quick Ref-
erence Picture Chart."
ture of this. Five reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags
theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — ^Small town patronage.
RED RIDERS OF CANADA: Patsy Ruth Miller-
July 13-14. Good entertaining picture. Okay for
Saturday. Print and photography good. Seven reels.
—P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — Neigh-
borhood patronage.
THE BOY RIDER: Buzz Barton — Just an ordi-
nary western. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma,
Cal. — General patronage.
First National
HAROLD TEEN: Special cast— 75%. July 2-3.
People razzed this one because they didn't know what
it was all about. Personally thought it one of the
cleverest pictures of the year. Don't say much about
it. Eight reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's theatre,
Ashland, Ala. — ^Small town patronage.
HAROLD TEEN: Arthur Lake— The young folks
and children will eat this one up and most of the
older people will get a kick out of it. As I see it,
it would have been a better picture if they had not
devoted so much footage to the amateur movies.
Seven reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas
City, Mo. — ^Neighborhood patronage.
CHINATOWN CHARLIE: Johnny Hines— 70%.
July 4. A very good comedy. Six reels. — E. F.
Ingram, Ingram's theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town
patronage.
LADIES NIGHT IN A TURKISH BATH: Mulhall-
Mackaill — 50%. June 18-19. A very good evening's
entei-tainment. Some clever situations and will
please the majority. Seven reels. — E. F. Ingram,
Ingram's theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town patron-
age.
LADIES NIGHT IN A TURKISH BATH : Mackaill-
Mulhall — Very good comedy drama.^^T. L. Seiter,
Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
AMERICAN BEAUTY: Billie Dove— 25%. July 3.
A fine program picture. — ^Bert Silver, Silver Family
theatre, Greenville, Mich. — ^General patronage.
THE UPLAND RIDER: Ken Maynard— 60%. July
14. Here is the answer. Drew a larger crowd than
"The Patent Leather Kid." This is Maynard's best
picture. A cross country horse race in the last two
reels that is a hummer. Hurdle jumping, spills and
thrills and comedy. A very out of the ordinary
V/estern. Seven reels. — H. J. Eagan, American the-
atre, Wautoma, Wis. — ^Small town patronage.
CAMILLE: Norma Talmadge— 7%. July 1-2. Not
so much of a small town picture. Too high class
and not the best Norma has made but should satisfy
the Talmadge fans. Fell flat at the box office on my
best night of the week, against a tent show. So
boys, write your own ticket. Nine reels. — Rudolf
Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — ^General patron-
age.
THE GUN GOSPEL: Ken Maynard— 15%. June
29-30. Dandy show just like all of Maynard's but
had a tent show for opposition, so did not break any
records but satisfied all who saw it. Seven reels. —
Rudolf Duiba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General
patronage.
THE OVERLAND STAGE: Ken Maynard— 85%.
July 14. It's a real Western and one that will go
over with your "uppety up" crowd as well as your
roughneck boys. The acting and settings are wonder-
fully good. Plenty of thrill and comedy and a sure
'nuf story in it. One of the best I have ever
played and believe it pleased 100 per cent. Seven
reels. — John W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning,
Ark. — ^General patronage.
THE NOOSE: Richard Barthelmess— A fair pic-
ture although one of the long drawn out kind. — ■
Charles A. Hagen, Crossett theatre, Crossett, Ark. —
Small town patronage.
THE NOOSE: Richard Barthelmess^une 27-28.
Splendid picture and good drawing power. Can be
classified as a special. — M. W. Mattecheck, Lark the-
atre, McMinnville, Ore. — General patronage.
THE VALLEY OF THE GIANTS; Milton Sillfr-
July 2-3. A good picture that drew well. Pleased
all who saw it. It's worth stepping on. — iM. K.
Harris, Liberty theatre, Franklin, Ky. — ^General pat-
ronage.
THE HEART OF A FOLLIES GIRL: Billie Dove
— Beautiful Billie rings the bell again. Play it.
54
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
it's good.^ — Charles A. Hagen, Crossett theatre, Cros-
eett. Ark.- — Small town patronage.
THE HEART OF A FOLLIES GIRL: Billie Dove
— Ordinary program. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre,
Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
MAN CRAZY: Mackaill-Mulhall— July 9-10. This
one did not draw very good. Don't make a big
thing out of it. However, those who came liked it.
— ^M. K. Harris, Liberty theatre, Franklin, Ky. — Gen-
eral patronage.
THREE'S A CROWD: Harry Langdon— July 4.
Oh ! What a Lemon I No plot, silly from start
to finish. Don't do it again, Harry, or you will ruin
yourself for life. — ^Gharles A. Hagan, Crossett thea-
tre, Crossett, Ark. — ^Small town patronage.
ROSE OF THE GOLDEN WEST: Special castr—
June 20. Sold as a special but an ordinary program
picture. — M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinn-
ville, Ore. — ^General patronage.
Fox
WILD WEST ROMANCE: Special cast— 50%.
July 14. This is a good Western action picture.
The star has everything in his favor, looks, riding,
fighting and little Billy Butts is great. I say it's a
good picture. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre,
Greenville, Mich. — ^General patronage.
A THIEF IN THE DARK: George Meeker— 45%.
July 14. I felt like the title to take my patron's
money on this one. A weak one. Fox has some
real lemons and this is one of them. Six reels. —
Minnie M. Schnoor, Paramount theatre, Stapleton,
Neb. — Small town patronage.
SILVER VALLEY: Tom Mix— 43%. June 22-23.
A very good Western picture. Did slightly better
than usual Saturday business. Six reels. — Warren
L. Weber, EUinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — Gen-
eral patronage.
SILVER VALLEY: Tom Mix— 94%. June 30. A
dandy Mix Western. Just enough comedy to put it
over. We had bad print as usual from Fox, but what
we did get was okay. Five reels. — E. F. Ingram,
Ingram's theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town patron-
age.
SILVER VALLEY: Tom Mix-July 14. A good
Mix picture, mostly comedy. Not much of the West-
ern he-man stuff, yet it pleased well. Five reels. —
M. K. Harris, Liberty theatre, Kranklin, Ky. — Gen-
eral patronage.
SILVER VALLEY: Tom Mix— A typical Mix
Western that pulled us extra business and satisfied
practically everyone. — W. C. Geer, Princess theatre,
Vermont, 111. — General patronage.
SHARPSHOOTERS: George O'Brien— 61%. July
9-10. Although vulgar in spots seemed to please the
majority. Personally thought it poor and hope I
shall never play another like it. Another one of
"What Price Glory" pattern. Six reels.— E. F.
Ingram, Ingram's theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town
patronage.
SHARPSHOOTERS: George O'Brien— Racy but it
went over big. Nothing bad unless one read the bad
into it. — E. T. Mathes, Avalon theatre, Bellingham,
Wash. — General patronage.
EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE: George O'Brien— 50%.
July 4-5. A splendid picture. Satisfied them all.
— Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
THE ESCAPE; Virginia Valli — A morbid story
of New York's Bast side and booze joints. Not a
single flash of comedy element from beginning to
end. Well acted and well produced but portrays a
section of life which we see enough of without clut-
tering up the screen with it. Blah I Six reels. —
P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. —
Neighborhood patronage.
THE GAY RETREAT: McNamara-Cohen— Fair
feature comedy, but cannot be compared to "Rookies."
Six reels. — W. C. Geer, Princess theatre, Vermont,
111. — General patronage.
HELLO, CHEYENNE : Tom Mix— Another Mix pic-
ture and this one is a little better than some others.
Mix gets the kiddies and they drag the parents along,
so it works out well. — E. T. Mathes, Avalon theatre,
Bellingham, Wash. — General patronage.
TUMBLING RIVER: Tom Mix— Good entertain-
ment for the Western fans and kids. Five reels. —
W. C. Geer, Princess theatre, Vermont, 111. — General
patronage.
VERY CONFIDENTIAL: Madge Bellamy— Here
was a light, frothy, impossible thing that got many
laughs and the crowd stayed until it was over,
whether it made them too tired to get up and go out,
or they enjoyed it, is hard to tell — in these days
when the public goes into a picture house to rest
and cool off they will stand for anything and you
cannot always tell whether they are giving the pic-
ture the merry "Ha^ha" or enjoying it, but at any
rate this one brought quite a few laughs as it
had considerable "horse play" in it but the name of
the girl who really put over the laughs missed us —
she played the maid to Madge Bellamy, and for
character part, was the show for she just jerked
several good laughs out of the crowd — it served to
amuse. Seven reels.— Giacoma Brothers, Crystal the-
atre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage.
SILK LEGS: Madge Bellamy-^uly 5. A very
good program picture, with a title that draws good.
— M. K. Harris, Liberty theatre, Franklin, Ky. —
General patronage.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
THE CROWD: Special cast— 53%. June 26-27.
A production that has wonderful acting and direc-
tion. A little long but should be in a class with
most specials. Twelvfe reels. — Warren L. Weber,
Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — -General patron-
age.
THE BIG CITY: Lon Chaney— 50%. July 12.
First they deluge as with Irish-Jew comedies and then
with underworld dramas. It's about time to call a
halt on this murder, gangster stuff. Seven reels.
— H. J. Eagan, American theatre, Wautoma, Wis. —
Small town patronage.
THE BIG CITY: Lon Chaney— 40%. July 4.
Very good picture but nothing seems to pull them in
this summer. Seven reels. — ^C. H. McCroskey, Allied
theatre, Dermott, Ark. — Neighborhood patronage.
THE LATEST FROM PARIS: Norma Shearer—
45%. July 8. The most entertaining film Metro has
put out this season. It's a very nice little show
and had many favorable comments. Too bad she
didn't repeat in "The Actress." They say it's
terrible. — H. J. Eagan, American theatre, Wautoma,
Wis. — Small town patronage.
THE DIVINE WOMAN: Greta Garbo— 60%. July
9-10. The highbrows will flock out to this picture
and after it's over one of 'em will say "Ahhh won-
derful" and another "Perfickutly magnifficent" ajid
the lesser dignitaries will chime in and agree. But,
confidentially, boys durned if I don't believe half of
'em goes home and wonders why Mrs. Smith (Smith
is an aristocratic name . in Arkaniras since the
Houston Convention) said the picture was "good."
First time I ever played Greta Garbo. She's there!
She has a vivid personality, a charm of action and
expression that gets across the limitations of the
screen better than any actress I have ever played
not even excepting Clara. The picture is good. How-
ever it is not a small town picture. They are in
the minority that will appreciate the wonderful
acting of Greta Garbo and the picture will not mean
anything to them. This is one of those prestige
pictures, costs you extra money and the box office
walls won't warp with the receipts. You take a
cash loss but you get yours in prestige. Is that the
idea? It takes money to buy bread and who can eat
prestige? Durned if I don't go to Alexandria next
year and learn something. Eight reels — J. W. Crab-
tree, Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark. — General pat-
ronage.
THE DIVINE WOMAN: Greta Garbo— July 9. A
little drawn out but up to the Garbo standard. —
Charles A. Hagen, Crossett theatre, Crossett, Ark. —
Small town patronage.
BEN HUR: Special cast— 85%. June 28-29. Will
add that it is all that has been said for it. Didn't
make any money on account of high rental, but you
owe it to your patrons to show this picture. Twelve
reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's theatre, Ashland, Ala.
— Small town patronage.
BEN HUR: Special cast — A wonderful production
and we very rarely use the word "wonderful" in
describing a motion picture. — -W. C. Geer, Princess
theatre, Vermont, 111. — General patronage.
THE COSSACKS: John Gilbert— Play it by all
means. It will please 100 per cent. Gilbert and
Adoree marvelous. — Andy Anderson, State and Rivoli
theatres. New Brunswick, N. J. — ^General patronage.
TELLING THE WORLD: William Haines— Three
cheers for Bill Hainee. This is the best crowd pleased
in months. Much better than any of his previous
pictures with the exception of "West Point." Lots
of comedy, love and action. Play it and boost it.
Eight reels. — Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre,
Ellinwood, Kan. — 'General patronage.
UNDER THE BLACK EAGLE: Flash— This dog
is as smart and intelligent as Rin Tin Tin ever
was in his balmiest days and is young and active
besides. I consider this an extra good dog picture.
Photography and lighting not as bad as one exhibitor
reports, and could be improved upon. Six reels. —
P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. —
Neighborhood patronage.
UNDER THE BLACK EAGLE: Flash— July 8-9.
This dog is one of the finest looking dogs on the
screen and he can act with the very best of them.
Outside of the dog's acting the picture isn't much.
Hope they put him in a few good mellers with good
human supijort. Seven reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf,
Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Srnall town patron-
age.
ACROSS TO SINGAPORE: Ramon Novarro — July
2-3. Good. Torrence stands out in this picture. —
J. S. Walker, Texas theatre. Grand Prairie, Tex. —
Small town patronage.
THE ACTRESS: Norma Shearer— Costume pic-
ture. Miss Shearer does good work. Woman will
like it but it is a little too slow for men. — J. L.
Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — ^General patron-
age.
THE PATSY: Marion Davies -Very good picture.
It will please your patrons. — ^Andy Anderson, State
and Rivoli theatres. New Brunswick, N. J. — General
patronage.
THE SMART SET: William Haines— June 24-26.
Good but did not draw for me for some reason. —
M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore.
— General patronage.
THE LAW OF THE RANGE: Tim McCoy-
Terrible for my patrons. Maybe good for Western
fans. McCoy is okay. — ^Andy Anderson, State and
Rivoli theatres. New Brunswick, N. J. — General pat-
ronage.
ANNIE LAURIE: Lillian Gish— A good Scotch
story with scenes and sets done on a big scale. Not
much comedy relief. Those who saw it said "good,"
but it did not draw the crowd it should. Eight
reels. — W. C. Geer, Princess theatre, Vermont, 111. —
General patronage.
BECKY: Sally O'Neil — A real good program pic-
ture. Our people liked it. — W. C. Geer, Princess
theatre, Vermont, III. — ^General patronage.
THE FIRE BRIGADE: Special cast— The best fire
drama we have ever played. — W. C. Geer, Princess
theatre, Vermont, III. — General patronage.
THE STUDENT PRINCE: Special cast— As dismal
a failure at the box office as ever arrived in a can.
Too bad, the picture is good, well staged and a
logical story but the costume picture is a picture
that the average show-goer won't fall for any more.
They look at the paper and pass on by. The in-
telligentzia of which there are mighty few in a
country tovfn arrived, but far too few. The pic-
ture drags, considerable padding, and could have been
a reel shorter and told the story. Novarro excep-
tionally good. Shearer just so-so, lacks fire or some-
thing.— A. E. Hancock, Columbia theatre, Columbia
City, Ind. — General patronage.
LOVELORN: Special cast — Very good picture and
pleased all. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal.
— General patronage.
Paramount
PARTNERS IN CRIME: Beery-Hatton— 50%. July
5-6. What I term a miracle is a Beery-Hatton com-
edy that is even half good. But, I'll have to admit
this one is really good. Better than all the others
combined. Seven reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's the-
atre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town patronage.
PARTNERS IN CRIME: Beery-Hatton— While
this is a great improvement over anything this pair
of birds have turned out lately, there are very
few laughs to be heard until the close of the picture
where they explode the tear bombs. Paramount can-
not resurrect the dead by giving them good stories
now. They have been dead too long. It's too bad
for these boys are good. Six reels. — P. G. Vaughan,
Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood pat-
ronage.
DOOMSDAY: Florence Vidor— 52%. June 25-26.
Another one of those pictures there is no excuse for
making as they have no entertainment value, no com-
edy or anything else for that matter. A dull, sordid
picture that one third oi our patrons walked out
on. Six reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's theatre,
Ashland, Ala. — ^Small town patronage.
WIFE SAVERS: Beery-Hatton— 63%. July 7. A
good comedy, different from the rest of them. Six
reels. — ^Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver,
Utah. — General patronage.
WIFE SAVERS: Beery-Hatton— 21%. June 19-20.
A^o Losses m the Box Office
WITH
T. ,,^ SUM.
ICICET REGISTEI^
Automatic Ticket
Register Corp.
723 Seventh Ave.New York
TuCKETS_^r Every PuKpose^ Lowest Market Prices
"""'"■i"i" "I" ' "I"
»—
MinaM
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
)l
A very poor comedy. I am certainly glad that Para-
mount has finally eepai'ated this pair. They drew
nothing at the box office. Seven reels. — Warren L.
Weber, EUinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — ^General
patronage.
THE PIONEER SCOUT: Fred Thomson— 30%.
July 5. We did not use the F B O Fred Thomson's.
As a result our patrons do not know much about him.
We have had poor houses to both this one and
"Jesse James." This is a good show but we prefer
Tom Wilson as a negro instead of a bad man. Seven
reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre. Green-
river, Utah. — General patronage.
THE FIFTY FIFTY GIRL: Bebe Daniels— 64%.
June 11-12. Very poor Daniels picture. Bebe fails
to draw here now because it has been so long since
she made a good picture. William Austin saves
this from a complete flop. Six reels. — E. F. Ingram,
Ingram's theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town pat-
ronage.
THE FIFTY FIFTY GIRL: Bebe Daniels-40%.
July 11. A good program picture. — Bert Silver,
Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General pat-
ronage.
THE FIFTY FIFTY GIRL: Bebe Daniels— July 12.
Bebe makes another good hit. It will keep the audi-
ence in an uproar all the time. James Hall also
does some good work. Made money on it. — Charles
A. Hagen, Crossett theatre, Crossett, Ark. — Small
town patronage.
LOVE AND LEARN: Esther Ralston— 75%. June
14-15. One of the best we have had from Paramount
this year. A very clever plot and the work of the
entire cast is fine. Will please everyone. Six reels.
— E. F. Ingram, Ingram's theatre, Ashland, Ala.—
Small town patronage.
LOVE AND LEARN: Esther Ralston^O%. July
6. A splendid program picture, better than the aver-
age.— Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
LOVE AND LEARN: Esther Ralston^uly 1-2.
A dandy little picture and liked by my audience. — •
M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore.
— General patronage.
LOVE AND LEARN: Esther Ralston— July 14-15.
Good comedy drama. Esther Ralston always good.
Print and photography good. Six reels. — ^P. G. Held,
Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — ^Neighborhood patron-
age.
EASY COME EASY GO: Richard Dix— 68%. June
21-22. Absolutely nothing to this one. Dix is slip-
ping fast with our patrons. Has had only one fair
picture in foiir. Six reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's
theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town patronage.
TILLIE'S PUNCTURED ROMANCE: Louise
Fazenda — 20%. July 9. It might be a puncture for
Tillie but it was a blowout for me. Sold me as a
special but if it's a special I'm a switch engine.
Grossed $8.60 and I wanted to give that back. Six
reels. — C. H. McCroskey, Allied theatre, Dermott,
Ark. — Neighborhood patronage.
FOOLS FOR LUCK: Fields-Conklin— 35%. June
17-18. An average comedy from this pair. Slightly
better than "Two Flaming Youths." Will please if
your audience is in the right mood. Seven reels. —
Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan.
— General patronage.
THE WAY OF ALL FLESH: Emil Jannings—
50%. July 15-16. One of the best pictures we ever
played. The star wonderful, story fine. As usually
the case, the good pictures of this type do not draw
the business they should. — Bert Silver, Silver Family
theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
THE VANISHING PIONEER: Jack Holt— 100%.
June 16. Like the other Zane Grey stories will get
by, but nothing big. Jack Holt's return will bring
them in and the picture will please. Broke our
Saturday record of two years standing which means
something. Six reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's the-
atre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town patronage.
LADIES OF THE MOB: Clara Bow— Good pic-
ture. Clara not at her best, however. — Andy Ander-
son, State and Rivoli theatres. New Brunswick, N.
J. — General patronage.
THE BIG KILLING; Beery-Hatton- Only fair.
This team is played out. — J. L. Seiter, Selma thea-
tre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
HALF A BRIDE: Esther Ralston— Something dif-
ferent for this star. Pleased generally. She has
yet to make a poor picture. Seven reels. — Warren
L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — 'Gen-
eral patronage.
STREET OF SIN: Emil Jannings— July 9-10.
Not in the class of "The Way of All Flesh." This
Olga Baklanova deserves the big type. The Wray
girl merely walks through with an expression as
full of kick as an over ripe banana. Seven reels. —
DEAR HERALD-WORLD:
SCOTTSBLUFF, NEB., July 18, 1928.
The nearer we get to the mountains — and we are getting pretty close to 'em now — the
more we wonder why people want to live in Chicago and dodge bootleggers bullets and
listen to jazz orchestras.
Out here one fills himself up on ozone right off the pine and spruce forests and he feels
so much like a man that he wants to say, "Howdy, brother," to everybody he meets. Back
there he fills up on 40 rod and goes out and shoots up the town. Every time we think of
Isabel selling her wardrobe (including her pajamas) to raise the dough for Chris to go on
that foraging expedition we feel like giving three cheers for Isabel and Chris. Suppose Chris
had taken on too much corn likker and sailed East instead of West, where would we be
today. Did you ever think of that? Had this occurred we would never have heard of Bill
Rogers, and Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound would still be an unknown remedy.
Gosh, let's n»t talk about it.
Say, suppose you were out in the Laramie mountains on a nice trout stream with your
fishing outfit on Sunday and there wasn't a church within 30 miles, what would you do?
Now, be honest about it, tell the truth. Yes you would too, you know you would, and that's
just what we are liable to do next Sunday and we are going to send the HERALD-WORLD
a picture showing positive evidence of just what happened and if Jay doesn't run it in our
Colyum we'll muss him all up the next time we are in the office, so watch for it, it will be
good for sore eyes.
>K * «
Marie has got the shimmies (if you know what the shimmies are) and she is acting up
something scandalous. Ever since yesterday she has gone Democratic, for she is bound to
travel on the wrong isde of the road. Today she stopped dead still in her tracks and refused
to budge a step, took one of those temperamental spells that causes directors to die young,
and we got out and looked her all over and couldn't find a thing for her to be sore about.
Her carburetor was working in perfect order, her transmission was all right, she had plenty
of lubrication in her anatomy, physiology and hygiene and her differential was just like
anybody's differential, but still she balked. We got out in front of her and recited "Rienza's
Address to the Romans," but stUl she sulked, then we sang a couple of verses of "Marching
Through Georgia," and she wouldn't even cough, then we lost our temper and kicked her
on the hood and got in and turned on the switch and she jumped about 10 feet and came
durn near running into an irrigating ditch before we could head her off. After this we will
turn on the switch before we accuse her of laying down on the job. If she takes another one
of those spells we are going to siphon out the ethyl and fill her tank with castor oil. We
can't fool along the highway all day for nothing.
Last night at Oshkosh, Mr. and Mrs. Jensen were playing Laura La Plante in "Thanks for
the Buggy Ride," and as we watched Miss La Plante play we thought, "If Laura ever wants
to take a joy spin with Marie and me it won't be necessary to offer any thanks and we will
guarantee she won't have to walk back." Glenn Tryon was good support for Miss La Plante
and the two of them put over an enjoyable evening's entertainment. Those of you who
haven't bought the picture better "take your pen in hand" and the film hound wiU show you
the dotted line.
Hf * it
Jack Riggs, who has been managing the Empress at Kearney for Universal, has resigned
and has taken over the Island at Grand Island. The Island has been under the management
of Blaine Cook and Mr. Cook goes to Holton, Kan., to operate his theatre at that place.
A. F. Kehr of the Princess at Ogallala informed us that he was fishing in a lake only 30
miles from Alexandria, Minn., while that exhibitors convention was on. We asked him why
he didn't come over there and he said he forgot about it. Any exhibitor who will do an
ornary thing like that ought to be shot, but A. F. says he mill make amends by being there
next season.
We drove in here this evening and tried to locate Billy Ostenburg but evidently he knew
we were in town and was hiding out from us for fear we would want to trim him up again
on Scottsbluff's golf links, but he need have no fears on that score, for until they fiU up
that irrigating canal at No. 9 we are going to refuse to spend another summer's wages on
golf balls. That irrigating canal cost us four good new Dunlaps besides a lot of bad lan-
guage and thirteen strokes while that sawed-off guy laughed himself into hysterics.
If we can ever engage that baby in our favorite sport Tex Rickard will want to sign us up
and bet his last nickel.
In spite of the grudge we have against him we will have to admit that his new Egyptian
theatre is the last word in elegance and would be a credit to any city where silk hosiery,
rouge and a circingle constitutes an evenings costume. She is sure some bon ton house
and everything about it suggests deserts, camels and harems (Billy would have a harem if
(^Continued on next page)
J. S. Walker, Texas theatre. Grand Prairie, Texas.
— Small town patronage.
THE SHOWDOWN: George Bancroft— A good
melodrama that drew nothing at the box office. No
fault of the picture, though. Eight reels. — Warren
L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — Gen-
eral patronage.
THE LAST COMMAND: Emil Jannings— It
seemed Paramount are bound to give us foreign
pictures, even if they have to produce them to do it.
This picture might be great entertainment for the
Russians. Jannings is a great actor and handles his
various roles magnificently but it lacks a — of a lot
of being an audience picture. Eight reels.— P. G.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo.— Neighbor-
hood patronage.
SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS: Esther
Ralston — Good mystery and thrill program picture. —
J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General
patronage.
FEEL MY PULSE: Bebe Daniels— July 8-9. Good
action, comedy drama. Bebe Daniels always good.
A person that works as hard as Bebe does, can't
help but make good pictures. Whenever I play a
Bebe Daniels picture I don't worry about it not
being clean and entertaining. I have yet to play
a picture from Bebe that has smut in it. The best
of luck to you. Hoping that you vrill continue to
give us pictures in the future as you have in the
past. Print and photography good. Six reels. — P.
G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — Neighborhood
patronage.
FEEL MY PULSE: Bebe Daniels— Of all the
trash we ever played this "dingle doo" was the
"creme de luxe" and was a terrific disappointment
to the many Daniels fan patrons we have. They
could not figure out how Bebe had the will power
56
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
{Continued from preceding page)
he didn't have a screen) and if we were called upon to suggest any change that would make
the place more beautiful we'd send in our resignation. When one enters the place he
instinctively looks around to see if some long whiskered gink isn't going to jab a lance
into him, and he can hear the rustle of silk drapery in the harem and smell the incense
burning. The usherettes are dressed in the garb of Ishmael's tenth and favorite wife and
you wonder if buUsnakes have ever entwined themselves around those snow white arms.
When you come out of the theatre it will take you sometime to realize that you are
still under the protection of the Stars and Stripes. Billy has an Oriental taste that isn't
influenced by garlic or limburger cheese and he is to be congratulated for embodying his
ideas in this theatre beautiful. For artistic elegance there are but few that equal it.
Every time Cal leaves the White House wigwam and goes away on a fishing trip it makes
us think more of him. Betcha when he gets back to the home ranch and tells the boys
about his catches up on the Brule they won't believe it, just like the HERALD boys when
Whit told them about the big Beardsley trout he caught at Alexandria which turned out
to be a dogfish. We can see Eagle Eye Joe's eyes stick out when Whit recounted his
experience of how the fish dragged the boat all over the lake and it took him three hours
to land him, some of which is true but the most of it is legendary. We told Whit when
he left for Chicago to try and confine his statements to the truth, for we knew that Jay
and Bill and Joe would be inclined to discount whatever he said anyway. It seems funny
that the farther one gets away from the fishing grounds the larger the fish were they
caught. By the time Elmer Gailey gets home from the lakes his bullheads have grown
so large that he had to use derricks to lift them out of the lake. O'Hara saw one fish
on Lake Homa Dieu that chased him out in the brush and would have nabbed him if he
hadn't climbed a sapling. After he told us that we insisted that he change bootleggers.
What we tell about the trout we expect to catch in the Laramie river next Sunday you can
depend upon, for we never have to enlarge on our statements in order to make a darn good
story.
* * .■>
If you should travel up the North Platte valley from Grand Island to Scottsbluft and
see the immense fields of wheat, oats, rye, barley, alfalfa and sugar beets and then tell .
us you have seen a better country we wouldn't believe it, for you haven't. Another reason
why we should give three cheers for Isabel and Chris.
The wheat is practically all in the shock, the first cutting of alfalfa in the stack and
they have started on the second, the corn is shoulder high and the beet fields look like
a garden. The sugar factories are making preparation for the largest output in their history
and sugar will retail at the factory door for the same price it does at Bill Smith's grocery
in Amoskeg, Vermont, all of which makes us wonder who pays the freight. Anyhow this
is a great country where one man is as good as two in most countries and where the girls
wear the abbreviated costumes just like they do in Hollywood. That's another reason
why we are strong for this country.
We heard a couple of fellows arguing politics last night. One was an Irishman and the
other a Swede. The Irishman said, "Vaght the Divil do youse want to vote for Henry B.
Hoover for, he never done nuthing but make a carpet sweeper, and that won't work half
the time," and the Swede replied, "A skall never vote for dos cough drop Smith and you
and him can go yump in the river," and the Irishman replied, "Oh, you go jump in the
river yourself, dam ye's," and that settled the argument, and now we are undecided our-
self just how to vote.
We ran across another peculiar exhibitor the other day. He was a foreigner. He came
from Massachusettes and had never heard of the HERALD-WORLD, said he was going to
vote for Grover Cleveland and he thought that Hollywood was a cross between a sycamore
and a jack pine.
We asked him if the chickens roosted on Plymouth Rock and he said he had never
heard of the place but that he played a picture called "Chicken a la King," but he didn't
know where they roosted. Massachusetts has some queer folks. We couldn't sell him the
HERALD-WORLD, he takes the "Menace."
^ ^ ^
Watch for that picture of those trout and then kick yourself for not living in a country
bounded on the North by the aurora borealis, on the East by the rising sun, on the South
by the gentle zephyrs laden with the perfume of clover blossoms and on the West by the
"shades of evening twilight gathered from the slopes of long ago" as Opie Reid said in
"Emmet Bonlore" and when you come to realize what a country this is you will exclaim
with us, "God bless the American eagle, he's some chicken." Watch for that trout picture.
J. C. JENKINS,
The HERALD-WORLD Man.
to go through with thie absurd, silly and utterly
impossible thing. It's been a long time since we
had any one walk out but they did it on this one.
Two women in the midst of one of the rum raids,
got up and walked out and one of them said "Hon-
estly, it's so rotten it simply drives us to the wide
open spaces." Well, that's what the picture industi-y
now faces — anything to spoil a lot of film, put in
time and spoil the business of the outlying houses.
Seven reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tomb-
stone, Ariz. — General patronage.
FEEL MY PULSE: Bebe Daniels-^uly 4-5. Just
fair. Six reels. — J. S. Walker, Texas theatre. Grand
Prairie, Tex. — ^Small town patronage.
WEDDING BILLS: Raymond Griffith— July 6. A
good picture but poor attendance. I like Griffith's
pictures but he doesn't seem to have much draft
at the box office. Seven reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf,
Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patron-
age.
Pathe-P D C
Providence and that's the reason. If Universal re-
issued "The Broken Coin" I would play it again.
Five reels. — William Bosse, Jr., La Sirena theatre.
Providence, R. I. — General patronage.
THE NIGHT FLYER: William Boyd— A good rail-
road picture and above average. William Boyd al-
ways cliclvs for us. — E. T. Mathes. Avalon theatre,
Bellingham, Wash. — General patronage.
THE DEVIL'S TWIN: Leo Maloney— Good West-
ern for Saturday. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre,
Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
EYES OF THE TOTEM: Special cast— A great
picture. Don't overlook this one. Seven reels. — •
William Bosse, Jr., La Sirena theatre. Providence,
R. I. — General patronage.
THE TRUNK MYSTERY: Special cast— Fine
mystery picture. Wish we had more like this one.
If the serials were as good as this feature we would
play more serials. Serial directors, see the picture
for one of your lessons and give us what the public
wants. Serials are not getting a fair showing in
Rayart
BOY OF THE STREETS: Johnnie Walker— 11%.
June 27. Good all the way through. Some things
are so real in this that it grips your heart and leaves
something with the folks to remember it by. Differ-
ent from the most of programs and it's good. Six
reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.
— General patronage.
United Artists
RAMONA: Dolores Del Rio— 90%. July 15.
Millions have read the story, millions have heard the
song. Grab this one, boys, and go after it. The
best drawing card of this year and a very wonder-
ful picture. A good violinist and piano player works
fine with this kind of a show. I also had two excel-
lent singers sing the song "Ramona" just before it
flashed on the screen. Eight reels. — H. J. Eagan,
American theatre, Wautoma, Wis. — Small town pat-
ronage.
SAJDIE THOMPSON: Gloria Swanson— 40%. July
8-9. A great piece of acting by Swanson and Barry-
more. Satisfaction on this picture about 50-50. I
call it fine, but did not draw second night. — Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
THE DOVE: Norma Talmadge— 35%. The poor-
est one Norma has made for some time. It might
get over in Lower California and Mexico but Arkansas
people prefer the English type. Nine reels. — C. H.
McCroskey, Allied theatre, Dermott, Ark. — Neighbor-
hood patronage.
A NIGHT OF LOVE: Special cast— 20%. July 11.
Drew the smallest crowd this summer with weather
perfect. A few left and a few said it was good.
Eight reels. — ^G. E. Wendel, Opera House, Smithland,
la. — Small town patronage.
THE BELOVED ROGUE: John Barrymore— July
10-11-12. No good. Not even a fair program pic-
ture. No entertainment to this. Just a bunch of
nothing. I am sure glad this is my last United
Artists picture. No more for me. This fell flat at
the box office. I didn't take in enough to pay film
rental. Ten reels. — P. G. Held, Strand theatre,
Griswold, la. — Neighborhood patronage.
Universal
HOT HEELS: Patsy Ruth Miller— 40%. July 10.
This is a splendid program picture. Don't make them
any better. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre,
Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
ONE GLORIOUS SCRAP: Fred Humes— 35%.
July 7. The actors tried hard to make an entertain-
ment out of this but no story to work on. — Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
WILD BEAUTY: Rex— 12%. July 6-7. Good
show for the farming community where they like
horses. But seems that now-a-days everybody is
more interested in machinery than animals, as this is
an age of progress and the horses are being forgotten
on account of using trucks and tractors. But a pic-
ture like this will satisfy most any. Six reels. —
Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General
patronage.
FAST AND FURIOUS: Reginald Denny— 83%.
July 4. Ran this on July 4th to a full house. It's
a good comedy. Six reels. — ^Mrs. Hulda J. Green,
Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
GALLOPING FURY: Hoot Gibson— July 6. A
very good Western, mostly all comedy. My patrons
like the Westerns of the wild and woolly type. How-
ever, those that came enjoyed it. — ^Six reels. — ^M. K.
Harris, Liberty theatre, Franklin, Ky. — General pat-
ronage.
THE IRRESISTIBLE LOVER: Si>ecial cast— July
12. This one did not draw well. Slow in places.
Good print. — M. K. Harris, Liberty theatre, Franklin,
Ky. — General patronage.
A MAN'S PAST: Conrad Veidt — A good mystery
picture. Veidt always does something. — E. T. Mathes,
Avalon theatre, Bellingham, Wash. — General patron-
age.
THAT'S MY DADDY: Reginald Denny— July 8.
A very pleasing picture. Good all the way through.
— Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111. — Gen-
eral patronage.
THE COHENS AND KELLYS IN PARIS: Special
cast — A good program comedy that we paid three
times too much for. Don't let them tell you it's a big
special. — W. C. Geer, Princess theatre, Vermont, 111.
— General patronage.
THE CAT AND CANARY: Laura LaPlante—
July 28, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
57
Films as First Aid
in Classes Endorsed
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, July 24.— Motion pic-
tures for use in classroom work re-
ceived the endorsement last week of
many teachers attending the summer
sessions at the New York State Col-
lege for Teachers at Albany, N. Y.
Professor W. C. Decker, director of
the summer sessions, gave such pic-
tures his unqualified endorsement,
following a demonstration given to a
large group of teachers at the col-
lege. The pictures shown to the
teachers were of a type that demon-
strated how they could be success-
fully used in classes in economics,
commerce, history and geography.
July 1-2. A very good program picture but not a
special. Sold to me as a special. Seven r«els. —
Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111.— Gen-
eral patronage.
THE RAWHIDE KID: Hoot Gibson— July 7. A
veiT poor Gibson picture. Just about the poorest
Peter B. Kyne story I ever saw screened. Six reels.
—Mrs. C. Knox. Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111.—
General patronage.
THE RAWHIDE KID: Hoot Gibson— July 6-7.
Only a fair Western. This did not draw for some
reason, I guess too much sameness. Print and pho-
tography good. Six reels. — ^P. G. Held, Strand the-
a.tre, Griswold, la. — Neighborhood patronage.
Warner Bros.
THE BUSH LEAGUER: Monte Blu^-40%. July
12. This is a good entertaining program picture.
The star alvirays good. — Bert Silver, Silver Family
theatre, Greenville, Mich. — ^General patronage.
TRACKED BY THE POLICE: Ein Tin Tin-
20%. July 4. A wonderful picture. With all the
celebrations around us we drew just a fair crowd,
but not the fault of the picture. Any ordinary night
we would have had real business so, boys, if you like
good pictures try to play a few of these Rin Tin
Tin's and give your people a different entertain-
ment. Six reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kim-
ball, S. D. — ^General patronage.
THE LION AND THE MOUSE : Special cast— The
best talking picture we have i"un. It gave us the
biggest gross in our history. Ran it ten days. It is
clean, thrilling, okay. We have Vitaphone and
Movietone installation. Six reels. — E. T. Mathes,
Avalon theatre, Bellingham, Wash. — General patron-
age.
TENDERLOIN: Special cast— Another Vitaphone
scored talking picture. Without the talking it would
be merely a good crook melodrama. Did a good busi-
ness for us. — E. T. Mathes, Avalon theatre, Belling-
ham, Wash. — General patronage.
RINTY OF THE DESERT: Rin Tin Tin— It's a
good average Rin Tin Tin picture. There is some
good work by the dog as usual. It is clean, good en-
tertainment.— E. T. Mathes, Avalon theatre, Belling-
ham, Wash. — General patronage.
THE BRUTE: Monte Blue — A wonderful Western
of Monte Blue. Wish we had more of these. Seven
reels. — William Boese, Jr., La Sirena theatre. Pro-
vidence, R. I. — General patronage.
BRASS KNUCKLES: Monte Blue— Another Blue
picture. Not much to it and failed to please over one-
half. Eight reels. — Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood
theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — General patronage.
THE GIRL FROM CHICAGO: Myrna Loy— A pro-
gram picture that pleased everyone. Ran to good busi-
ness on Friday-Saturday. Seven reels. — Warren L.
Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — General
patronage.
WOLF'S CLOTHING: Monte Blue— July 11.
Quite a picture, but nobody came to see it. Seven
reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville,
Wis. — Small town patronage.
State Rights
THE APACHE RAIDER: Special cast— Great
Western. Six reels. — ^William Bosse, Jr., La Sirena
theatre. Providence, E. I. — General patronage.
Serials
BLAKE OF SCOTLAND YARD: (Universal) Hay-
den Stevenson — Have just played episode 9 and it is
still holding up good. A thrill in each reel of it. —
M. K. Harris, Liberty theatre, Franklin, Ky. — Gen-
eral patronage.
THE YELLOW CAMEO: (Pathe) Special cast-
First chapter of this serial looks good. Has the
mystery element. Western atmosphere and a clever
dog. It should go over anywhere. — P. G. Vaughan,
Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood patron-
age.
Short Features
COLUMBIA
THE FLOORWALKER: Charlie Chaplin— Just a
comedy. Nothing much to it. Little fun but not
enough to talk about. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba,
Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
EDUCATIONAL
BREEZING ALONG: Lloyd Hamilton- Fair com-
edy. Little bit silly but went by all right. Two
reels. — Rudolf Duba, Eoyal theatre, Kimball, S. D.—
General patronage.
CIRCUS CAPERS: Jack Miller— The best comedy
we have seen for a long time. Action galore and
plenty of fun besides. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba,
Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
FLAMING ROMANCE: Pretty good comedy with
some laughs in it. Two reels. — P. G. Held, Strand
theatre, Griswold, la. — Neighborhood patronage.
HOWDY DO DUKE: Lupino Lan^-A fair two
reel comedy. — P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold,
la. — Neighborhood patronage.
INDISCRETE PETE: A veiT good comedy. Two
reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
SHAMROCK ALLEY: Big Boy— Good.-^. L.
Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
THE STUNT MAN: Larry Semon— Only fair.—
J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General
patronage.
FBO
THE CHIN HE LOVED TO LIFT: Cooke-Guard—
Just another knockout by the two boys of merit and
entertainment. This one was the best we had for
a long time. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
HEAVY INFANTS: Three Fat Boys— Good comedy
by the three boys of merit. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba,
Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
FOX
BIG BLUE BROWN EYES: A poor comedy, not
at all funny. Two reels. — Minnie M. Schnoor, Para-
mount theatre, Stapleton, Nebr. — ^Small town patron-
age.
COW'S HUSBAND: A bully comedy. (Title
great.) Two reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family thea-
tre, Greenville, Mich. — General pati-onage.
FOUR FACES WEST: Van Bibber— Only fair.
There are very few good two reel comedies on the
market. It seems as if the industry is not making
much headway making comedies that are funny. Two
reels. — ^P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la.—
Neighborhood patronage.
KNIGHT OF DAZE: Van Bibber— Just a comedy.
Two reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — ^General patronage.
TUMBLING RIVER: Tom Mix— July 3-4. The
poorest Mix I ever played. Nothing to it. No draw-
ing card at the box office. Five reels. — ^P. G. Held,
Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — Neighborhood patron-
age.
METRO-GO LDWYN-MAYER
THE CZARINA'S SECRET: Color Classic— These
"Great Events" in color are fine but believe they
would be better if Metro would use American histori-
cal subjects instead of foreign ones. — ^P. G. Vaughan,
Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood patron-
age.
PASS THE GRAVY: Max Davidson— Very good.
— J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — ^General
patronage.
RAINY DAYS: Our Gang^A howling success.—
P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo.—
Neighborhood patronage.
PARAMOUNT
DAD'S CHOICE: Edward Everett Horton— This is
a very good comedy. Two reels. — Bert Silver, Sil-
ver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General pat-
ronage.
DIZZY SIGHTS: Billy Dooley — Good comedy and
plenty of fun through the whole two reels. — Rudolf
Duba, Eoyal theatre, Kimball, S. D.— General pat-
ronage.
DIZZY SIGHTS: A very good comedy. Two reels.
— Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
EASY CURVES: Billy Dooley— First of this com-
edian and we like him. Two reels.— Mrs. Hulda J.
Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — ^General pat-
ronage.
GOLD DIGERS OP WEPA: Just a comedy. Two
Northerner's 10 Theatres
Win Negroes in South
(Special to the Herald-World)
MILWAUKEE, July 24.— Milton
Starr is a Northerner, but about ten
years ago he wanted to start a film
theatre and the South seemed to be
an ideal place. Accordingly, he set
forth for Nashville, where he rented
a small corridor in an old building
and stuck out a sign.
Not an auspicious start, but Starr
later got the idea that he ought to
admit only Negroes to his show
house. He chose a lot of action pic-
tures and comedies, and before long
his house was too small. He opened
up a second show. He got more
business than ever. Today he has
ten film houses in Alabama, Tennes-
see and Mississippi, and all for Ne-
groes.
reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
WATER BUGS: Billy Dooley— A funny comedy.
Two reels. — ^Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
PATHE
RUN GIRL RUN: Daphne Pollard— Very good.—
J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — Genex'al
patronage.
SAILORS BEWARE: A good comedy. Two reels.
— ^Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
SEEING THE WORLD: Our Gang— This is differ-
ent from the majority of the Gang comedies. This
one shows Our Gang in Rome, London, Paris, Venice,
etc. Full of wise cracks and a big thrill at the end
by Farina on top of the Eiffel Tower. — Mrs. Hulda J.
Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General pat-
ronage.
SMITH'S CANDY SHOP: Good.— J. L. Seiter,
Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — ^General patronage.
WITH LOVE AND HISSES: It is funny and gets
laughs. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. —
General patronage.
TIFFANY
COMRADES: These are very classy colored one
reel subjects. One reel. — Bert Silver, Silver Family
theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
ROMANY LOVE: Color classic— Very beautiful
and has a pleasing little story. One reel. — ^P. G.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neigh-
borhood patronage.
UNIVERSAL
ALL FOR UNCLE: Mike and Ike— Just two reels
of nothing to us. — ^Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kim-
ball, S. D. — General patronage.
CASE OF SCOTCH: Andy Gump— A wild Gump
comedy. No laughing matter. Two reels. — Bert SiU
ver. Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General
patronage.
OSWALD COMEDIES: The Oswald comedies are
always good, my patrons like them. Young and old.
A real good short feature. — M. K. Harris, Liberty
theatre, Franklin, Ky. — General patronage.
STOP SNOOKUMS: Good. Two reels.— Mrs.
Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. —
General patronage.
THAT'S THAT: A good comedy. Two reels.—
Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
WOLF OF THE RANGE: Fred Gilman— Fine two
reel Western which will go with any comedy fea-
ture and make a splendid progi-am. Two reels. —
Rudolf Duba, Eoyal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General
patronage.
MISCELLANEOUS
FAT AND CANARY: Good. Photography poor in
part of first reel but it brought plenty of laughs.
A kid comedy that all will like. Two reels. — John
W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning, Ai-k. — General
patronage.
JUNGLE LAND : An interesting comedy with two
large monkeys as actors. In fact, it was more in-
teresting than funny. However, the crowd enjoyed
it and had several favorable comments. Two reels. —
John W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark. —
General patronage.
PLAY BALL: A good one reel comedy. — John W.
Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark. — General
pationage.
58
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
July 28, 1928
Vv5^
CHICAGO PERSONALITIES
By Whit
THOUSANDS of Chicagoans will become amateur film extras when
Hoot Gibson arrives this week to film his picture, "King of the Rodeo,"
at the Rodeo next week. Hoot arrives Thursday with 60 people and a
large string of horses. This will be the first time Chicago has been the real
setting for a feature picture since Griffith made "That Royle Girl" here sev-
eral years ago.
The Roosevelt theatre is reported to have
taken in approximately $28,000 during the
first week's run of "Sunrise," which opened
the theatre's policy of sound pictures, and
that is said to be the best week the Roosevelt
has enjoyed in many moons.
* * *
Sound picture production, and especially the
short subjects, is confined, mostly to the
studio, and is therefore not dependent upon
sunlight and outdoor scenery. It is believed
by some, and they have arguments to back
up their belief, that production will eventually
be centered in Chicago. Whether or not this
is true, we do not know, but it is a rather
pleasant thing to think about!
* * *
A cloudburst hit Chicago and environs
Thursday, and right in the middle of it all
was Dave Dubin. Just as he was approaching
the second hole of a _ golf course, the down-
pour hit him, and continued to hit him for
the ensuing hour and a half. Dave says his
appearance upon entering the clubhouse would
have made the best comedy sequence in an
Educational comedy yet filmed. It took him
an hour and a half to get wet and three hours
to get dry.
And speaking of golf, the boys at F B O
count that Saturday afternoon lost that doesn't
afford them a good game of golf. Len Ullrich
won their tournament last Saturday, and
Washburn, Meyers and Henry Salkins were
runners up.
* * *
Salkins, by the way, has purchased a brand
new Auburn.
* * *
Mrs. Buck, who was a business partner of
William Heasman in the operation of the
Colonial theatre at Danville, was buried last
Friday.
* * *
Goldberg, Dwork and Mintz have reopened
the Weneeda theatre on West Chicago avenue
and have installed a Phototone music equip-
ment. A number of theatres in the city and
in this territory have installed Phototone re-
cently: among them are the Crystal theatre on
South Ashland, operated by Frank Simek; the
Galec theatre on Western ; Otto Anders' the-
atre in Milwaukee ; and the new Mishawaka
theatre at Mishawaka.
* * *
Charlie House, who runs the Midway at
Rockford, and his family are motoring
through Wisconsin, Michigan and parts of
Canada.
* * *
Jack Blitz has been made manager of the
North Center, and it is said that David Rice,
former manager, has gone to California as
manager of Universal's West Coast theatres.
* * *
Max Levine, operator at the Fox exchange,
completed his motor trip to California last
week.
^ ^ ^
W. L. Pracht and Lester Norris of the
Arcada theatre, St. Charles, are spending a
vacation of fishing in Minnesota.
* * *
Jack Pickford, brother of Mary, passed
through Chicago this week on an airplane
journey from Los Angeles to New York,
where he will enter a sanitarium in an effort
to regain his health.
* * *
J. A. Kraker, former Northern Wisconsin
and Michigan salesman, and more recently city
salesman for Paramount, has been elevated
to the position of manager of Paramount's
Milwaukee exchange, O. R. Rieffel resigning.
* * *
Nels Frye and I. G. Pettigrew of the
Home Theatre Company of Danville, were
in Chicago last week.
* * *
The Grayland theatre on Cicero avenue has
closed its doors for the summer.
* * *
Charlie Vetrover, cashier at M G M, is on
his vacation.
^ * ^
The Aero club of Woodstock, Illinois, has
selected the beautiful Miller theatre as the
Hoot Gibson comes to town
for the filming of "King of
the Rodeo" in Chicago and
of course he had to pose
with the boys of Universal.
He is seen standing in the
center with Henry Herber
nearby
building upon which to place an airplane
sign giving the name of the town and the
direction of the landing field. This might be
a good idea for other small town exhibitors.
* * *
Hank H. Hill, cashier at Fox, is on his
vacation.
* * *
Bankrupcy is said to be the cause of the
Lincoln theatre at Danville closing its doors.
Nathan Combiner has bought his brother
Robert's interest in the Commodore theatre.
* * *
William Varenhorst has just bought the
100 per cent program of M G M for his Glenn
theatre on Armitage.
* * *
Sam and Paul Latino who operate the
Columbia theatre in RockfOrd, were in Chi-
cago last week.
Credit Committee's Vital
to Welfare of Industry,
Reply to Government
{Continued from page 19)
new contracts for pictures in total disre-
gard of the existing obligations of the real
owner of the theatre.
"The frequent changes of ownership bring into
the field each year many new and inexperienced per-
sons. Some of these are unsuccssful and sell out
again in a few months with the result that their
contracts also go into the discard.
Losses to Distributor Shown
"With the transfer of his theatre the previous
owner or operator loses the capacity to complete
the performance of his existing uncompleted con-
tracts with distributors for the reason that each
contract calls for exhibition at the theatre which he
has transferred and as he is no longer the operator
of that theatre, he no longer has the authority to
say what pictures shall be exhibited there. The
contract does not permit the exhibition to_ take
place at any other theatre than that specified in the
contract. To show the pictures at some other thea-
tre of the seller, if the latter owned another theatre,
would, moreover, violate the protection given other
theatres in other contracts of the distributor for tha
same pictures and therefore would not be practicable.
"In many instances the principal or only asset of
the exhibitor is the ownership of the theatre which
he has transferred.
"Failure of the exhibitor to make a condition
precedent to the change of ownership that the new
owner, lessor or operator shall assume his uncom-
pleted contracts results in a total loss on such con-
tracts to the distributors in many cases.
Protection to Responsible Exhibitors
"Every purchaser of a theatre knows full well
before he buys a theatre that the seller in all
probability has uncomplete contracts with various
distributors for the exhibition of pictures at the
theatre which he proposes to buy. Every purchaser
well knows, before he buys, that his ptu-chase of
the theatre will cause the seller to breach every
existing uncompleted contract previously entered into
by the seller for the exhibition of pictures at the
theatre which is to be sold and that every dis-
tributor who has such a contract with the seller
will suffer loss and damage orii account of such
breach, unless either the seller makes a settlement
with the distributor before the transfer or the pur-
chaser assumes the outstanding uncompleted con-
tracts."
The answer declares that the credit committee
system gives full protection to all responsible and
honest exhibitors.
"Defendant distributorsi at all times," the respond-
ent companies say, "have been and are ready_ to
complete existing uncompleted contracts entered into
with the previous owner of a theatre and to de-
liver pictures under such contracts to the new owner
or operator without demanding of the latter that
he deposit security under such contracts or any of
them."
** Benefit" Carnivals Are
Put Off School Yards
The Chicago board of education has in-
structed the police to make all carnivals
operating on school property to quit the
premises, following complaints from the
parents of school children, charging that
the carnivals were offering p-ames of chance
in which dolls, kiddy cars and other articles
might be won, with the cost of trying rang-
ing from five to 25 cents.
The carnivals were able to obtain school
property, without cost, it is said, because
the concessions were being operated for the
benefit of several American Legion posts.
For your
Protection
To insure exhibitors the high-
est possible screen quality,
Eastman Positive Film is made
identifiable. The words "Eastman
Kodak" are stencilled in black
letters at short intervals in the
transparent film margin.
Specify prints on Eastman Film
—look for the identifying words
in the margin— and get the film
that always carries quality
through to the screen.
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
EXIUIUrORS IIKR4LD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
FewBetter Programs Are to BeFound
Anytvhere in the United States"
is the verdict oS Time, The Weekly Neivsmagazine,
speaking oS Fox Movietone Entertainment no^v^
playing the Globe TheatrerNeiv York to astounding
summer business. -mm
"The Family Picnic," first two-reel comedy with full
sound effects, caused a sensation at its premiere, as did
Richard Bonelli, celebrated opera star, whose flawless
interpretation of the Prologue; from "Pagliacci" proved beyond
the shadow of a doubt theabsotute perfection of Fox Movietone.
Clark and McCuUough, musical comedy team par excel'
lence, now playing the Gaiety Theatre, New York, in a fast
comedy sketch, "The Interview,^^ will bring Broadway to you
and Broadway attendance.
Joe Cook, star of "Rain or Shine," means money. Known
from coast to coast, hell draw like a magnet in his latest
comedy, "At the Ball Game.'' /
cMany shorts of Broadway stars are ready nowready
for the wise exhibitor who'll strike while the iron^s hot
Fox Movietone Neivs and Fox Movietone Entertainment represent
the apex of sound film development* Absolutely f laivless repro-
duction in all sound creations has ivon for Fox unstinted praise
and commendation from the industry.
EXHIBITOM
©MS.
SOUND!
i:^^
h,
^1,
la M-Q-M takes over Cosmopolitan Studios, N. Y., for sound production. Nearest of
all to talent sources of Broadway.
2. M-G-M completes sound Studio in Culver City, California, largest in world.
3« M-G-M opens "White Shadows in the South Seas** in sound at $2 at Astor Theatre
on Broadway.
4- M-G-M opens "White Shadows in the South Seas** in sound at $2 at Grauman*s
Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles*
5. M-G-M gets prize stage property "The Trial of Mary Dugan** and will bring to thea-
tres with complete dialogue this current Broadway stage hit.
6. M-G-M contracts for amazing stage talent for short subject sound numbers.
7. M-G-M short comedies in sound with Hal Roach Studios sound-equipped.
8- M-G-M announces that Milt Gross* "Nize Baby** will have talking sequences.
9- M-G-M announces the M-G-M Movietone News.
10- M-G-M announces that the majority of its features and shorts will be synchronized.
U7I.<.I« V^^l 09 M« C /!/ I tA M 0\ Entered as second-class matter, August 20, 1917, at. the Post Office at Chicago, III., under the act of March 3, i . t innn
WnOie VOU y^, no. D VVOI. i't, INO. o; JH/V. Published weekly at 407 South Dearborn St., Chicago. Subscription $3.00 a year. Single copies, 2$ cents. AUgUSt % 1»^8
' iE-rrt*-S^^.sSi^r«i3iSS2iiKfi5.*ri*SH*«9Fi«'fia
j August 4, 1928 EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
iiOUl^D or
PARAMOUNT
aione
combines the two essentials
aUAIilTY
and
IIUAMTITY!
**
II
4 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD August 4, 1928
*Paramount's First Sound Picture,
Richard Dix in "\^rming Up"
Breaks Paramount Theatre (N. Y.) record in red-hot
July! Moved to long run Rivoli by popular demand
and doing Broadway's biggest business there!
Thomas Meighan in '"'' The Racket ", after phenomenal week at
Paramount, N. Y., moves to Rialto Theatre, block away, for long run.
Emil Jannings in ^^Street of Sin'\ Bancroft in ^^Drag Nef^ and Clara
Bow in ^%adies of the Mob'^ outdraw all other product on the market,
**40 TO 50 Paramount 1928-9 Feature
Pictures in Sound:
^ Six in sound out of eleven pictures released in
August and September! Also Christie Comedies, and
coming: Paramount News in Sound, Paramount
Stage Shows on the Screen.
Whether you play sound or silent prints, PARAMOUNT is the one
company guaranteeing a continuous flow of QU ALU Y product.
MOTION PICTU^^MEADQUARTERS
1
ihL
August 4, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Held Over a 3rd WEEK
at the
ROXY!
ffirank ^orzage^s
"Street Angel
"With Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell
NETTED ^X2S)994 ^^^^
NoMT playing its ^Prcl capacity ^veek
Played 4 shoyvs a day to
over $4)000 a performance
''WHAT PRICE GLORY*' played 5 shows
daily to over $3^000 a performance!
LEADS THE INDUSTRY WITH
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EDITCCIAL CCMMCNT
THE EXHIBITORS DAILY REVIEW
"There isn't a doubt about the picture nutljing
•money in most of the first and second run theatres J"
FILM DAILY
"Tiffany'Stahl is indulging in lusty shouts over
it. It is one of the company's specials for next
season. "The Cavalier' ' is fast moving, straight'
away melodrama."
' .. 'sd'l'. 'p-j
, -jfv 'lir-L-E
n ' ' ' I'uff'.Pf
l|:r<lNy-</>Tfll-IL PI^ODUCTION./^ INC
940 BRO^DV^y
MEW yOl^K CITY
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
DOMl BE
The level-headed showman won't be stampeded by the syn-
chronization hysteria which rocks the motion picture indus-
try today.
He won't be herded like cattle nor will he give way to con-
fusion and fright when his common-sense tells him to TAKE
HIS TIME.
He will investigate all synchronization propositions like any
other good business man but will not forget for one instant
THAT HE IS STILL IN THE MOTION PICTURE BUS-
INESS AND THAT HE NEEDS GOOD BOX-OFFICE PIC-
TURES MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE TODAY.
He will realize that orders placed NOW for sound device
installations could not possibly be filled within eight or ten
months, so great is the task, so numerous the problems of
production which confront the manufacturers.
He will realize AND THIS HITS HIM IN THE POCKET-
BOOK. ..that the mere addition of sound to a photo-play will
not make it good screen entertainment that story value,
cast and direction are still the factors which make or break
a production.
FBO has not forgotten its obligation to the exhibitor in the
matter of sound pictures but FBO refuses to blow up like a
rattled pitcher in a ball game under stress of synchroniza-
tion hysteria.
And remember this:
MOREJNETPROF
^^^<=^^^^^^^^:^^-^^^^^^^^^^^i^^^
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
B4MICI4IED
Jl^ T r ^he show must go on J
FBO HAS BEEN PREPARED, IS PREPARED TODAY
AND WILL ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO HOLD ITS
PLACE IN THE MOTION PICTURE MARCH OF PRO-
GRESS.
For those exhibitors who already have installations and are
able to run synchronization pictures, FBO is prepared to
furnish the GREATEST LINE OF SHOW MERCHANDISE
IN THE HISTORY OF THE COMPANY.
Such smash hits as "The Perfect Crime", "Hitof the Show",
"Gang War", "The Circus Kid", "Blockade" and "Taxi 13"
either have been or shortly will be synchronized with music,
sound effects and dialogue.
These splendid attractions, thus synchronized, may be run
on Photophone or Movietone machines,
BUT THE SHOW MUST GO ON!
Synchronized or silent, the public must have its entertain-
ment on the screen.
Now, more than ever, (and principally those exhibitors who
cannot possibly ffet sound installations short of many months
to come) YOU NEED GOOD PICTURES and you need
them more than you ever did.
As usual FBO is ready to serve them to you.
10
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
ions
BIG BOY
itt Big Boy-Juvenile Comedies
DOROTHY DEVORE
in Dorothy Devore Comedies'
^-j
S:
IDEAL COMEDIES
with JERRY DRtW
Educational is the world's
greatest distributor of
Short Features— and the
only big company dealing
exclusively in the spice of
the program.
Edit cat ion a I Pictu res
always make a good show
better.
WALLACE LUPINO
in TUXEDO COMEDlESt
{Jack White Productions}.
EDUCATIONAL
FILM EXCHANGES, Inc.
j^jV^
President '
Lyiffi*|ii;|iii:ii|(^e's
OUR W<^i|l|tODAY
A Modern; Screert^Magazine
WmMERMAID
:0fiPi'oductions)
mk^m^ JOHN
^ -__Z!^
\
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
11
RUSS FARRELI
AVIATOR
From local high school athletic meets to
Olympic Games, the 100-yard dash is the
most popular race. It's short and snappy,
fast, thrilling, without a dull second.
That's why.
For the same reasons an Educational
Picture will be the spice of your program.
It's the sprint of your show. And Educa-
tionaVs stars are champions of the sprint.
They've held the laurels of championship
for over eight years.
^.liH
/
The spectacular Roxie Hart
of CHICAGO
destined for new heights
of popularity in Four
Sensational Features
IIIIII|I|1I!III.PWIINIIIIIIIIIH
Jhe SHADY
Starring
PHYLLIS HAVER
with ALAN HALE
Adapted by Julien Josephson from "The
Sentimentalists" by Dale Collins
■M
A box-office certainty. Stirring romance and
adventure on far seas. Strong in dramOf
tense in suspense, rich in humor.
Starring
PHYLLIS HAVER
From an original story by .
Leonard Praskins and
Richard L. Sharpe
A sizzling, ritzy story with a background oj
fashionable Park Avenue. New York,
Surc'fire,
he first of Phyllis Haver
Big-Money Specials
PHYLLIS HAVER is riding the crest of the popularity wave. The
vivacious, spirited beauty whose role in "Chicago" is the talk of
the country is now the trump card of the pack. The fans every-
where will flock to see this S. R. O. star in four dazzling features
for the new season. She has typical Haver parts in bright, breezy
modern stories, with themes attuned to the desires of showmen.
"Tenth Avenue" is the first of the Haver hits, a ticket twister as
powerful as "Chicago". It is based on the stage success of the same
title and is set in New York's West side, where anything can hap-
pen— and does.
I
(e OFFICE
SCANDAL
Starring
PHYLLIS HAVER
with GEORGE DURYEA
A HECTOR TURNBULL Production
An original story alive with mirthsome and
plausible action, with a commercial office
background*
Watch for amazing new R. C. A. PHOTOPHONE musical and effect accompaniment
on certain forthcoming PATHE FEATURE PRODUCTIONS Season 1928-1929.
14
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
X
>!->.
5^7
"^'Mh
mif^
• '. VI
■ )
'1 ^
JOHHMY
IPLEMDID
ons.
NOT a Sonnd Picture I — Because
they iwoalJIn't hear a sound for
laughs, laughs, laa^hs^plns a
thrill a minate -when Johnny as
the inventor ol a laminons ink
falls heir to a disguised mm-mn-
nin£ yacht ... He thinks he's jnst
£oing for the ride^hnt a mid-
night hijacking raid tips him off
\fi the facts, and the trick ink
proves a lifesaver for himself and
the girl -when he uses it to paint
"HELP" across the bo-^vs.
Patr,
in
Z^LOK
Q^>wieiit
n
i^^a^
Presented l>y C .€. BU KRi
J>o/y i^^ . . . . JACI4 TC^VN LEV
0;/pc-fea'i^...CHARI.EJ UINC/
Y^
The
Independent
Film Trade
Paper
EXHIBITORS
HERMJ)
&& MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Home
Office:
407 So, Dearborn St.
Chicago
IN THIS ISSUE
Chicago strike is viewed as part of labor's fight on sound films; Electricians walk out after starting
installations in Loop ; B & K Chicago and United Artists theatres are affected ; Musicians will maintain
policy of "watchful waiting" until after Labor Day, says James C. Petrillo, president of local ; Omaha
theatres renew synchronized shows.
COMPLETE INDEX TO CONTENTS
NEWS
Richard A. Rowland severs connection with First National as
contract runs out — Aviator is arrested in fight film roundup.
William J. Sweeney, veteran exhibitor organizer, is dead; Helped
form first national body and reunite organization at Dayton.
Al Rockett heads First National studios as Kennedy ousts 15
executives — Stanley Company re-elects Rossheim and drops board
chairman ofiice.
Paramount studio in Hollywood will house new 5,000-watt broad-
casting station KNX in big radio move of producing company.
DEPARTMENTS
Synchronized Pictures 31
The Studio 36
Short Features 40
Presentation Acts 41
The Theatre 47
Classified Advertising 51
What the Picture Did for Me 53
Chicago Personalities by Whit. 58
FEATURES
Service Talks by T. 0. Service 50
Los Angeles by Douglas Hodges 38
Pictorial Section 27
Letters from Readers 52
Broadway 18
New Pictures 57
ADVERTISEMENTS
FILM AND EQUIPMENT— Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount,
Fox, F B 0, Tiffany-Stahl, Educational, Pathe, First National,
Tec Art Studios, Eastman Kodak, Excellent Pictures, Automatic
Ticket Register, Gotham Pictures, National Program and Printing.
PRESENTATIONS— Maxwell and Lee, Henri A. Keates, Ramon
Berry, Dean Stevenson, Ransley Studios, McNeil Smith, Bob
Billings, Milton Slosser, Ulderico Marcelli, Brooks Costumes,
Sunshine Sammy, Lassiter Brothers.
CHICAGO
407 South Dearborn St. Telephones Harrison 0036-37-33
Cable Address : Quigpubco
EDWIN S. CLIFFORD, General Manager
JAY M. SHRECK, Managing Editor
GEORGE CLIFFORD, Business Manager
ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD, iVeu>s Editor
LOS ANGELES
5617 Hollywood Blvd. Telephone Gladstone 3754
DOUGLAS HODGES
West Coast Manager
EDITORIAL
AND
ADVERTISING
OFFICES
NEW YORK
563 Fifth Avenue Telephones Vanderbilt 3612-3613
JAMES BEECROFT, New York Advertising Manager
PETER VISCHER, Neu> York Editor
LONDON
THE BIOSCOPE
(J. Caboum, Editor}
Faraday House
8-10 Charing Cross Rd., W. C. 2
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: United States and possessions $3.00 per year, Canada $4.50 per year. Other points of the world $6.0O per year. Single copies, 23 cents.
Advertising rate cards and Audit Bureau of Circulations statements furnished upon application.
16
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
aEi MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Martin J. Quigley, Publisher ^>o Editor
Incorporating Exhibitors Herald, founded in 1915; Moving Pic-
TOBB WoRiD, founded in 1907; Motogrraphy, founded in 1909; and
The Film Index, founded in 1909
Published Every Wednesday by
QuiGLEY Publishing Company
Publication OflBce: 407 So. Dearborn St., CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Mastin J. QwiGLEY, President
EowiN S. Cliffomj, Secretory Georgb Cliffoks, Aist. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other Publications: The Chicagoak and Polo, class journals; and the follow-
ing motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exhibitors
Herald and Moving Pictdre World: Better Theatres, erery fourth week, and
The Buyers Index, published semi-annually.
Whole Vol. 92, No. 5 (Vol. 34, No. 8) August 4, 1928
Paramount Radio
PARAMOLTVT'S proposed radio broadcasting station in
Hollywood has the possibilities of becoming a defi-
nitely valuable asset to the industry. According to Para-
mount's assurances this new radio station will not be over-
burdened with company propaganda but, instead, will seek
to command a wide interest by virtue of entertaining pro-
grams and at the same time will hold itself subject, under
all circumstances, to the best interests of the industry gen-
erally.
The Paramount company, upon various occasions, has
exhibited a broad and understanding vision, and it is there-
fore logical to expect, especially in view of the proposed
policy, that the new station will be something more than
an advertisement for Paramount pictures. If the pro-
jected policy is carried into effect Paramount will not suf-
fer and the industry at large will be greatly helped.
Contact by radio with the public has developed into a
tremendously important avenue of communication. Be-
cause of the complexities of the radio situation the motion
picture industry up to this time has been left without an
adequate radio voice. Congestion on the air has been
rapidly becoming more acute and unless some factor in the
industry were to take early steps toward the establishment
of an adequate radio voice for the industry it is conceiv-
able that at some later day the industry might find itself
virtually locked off the air.
Indirect advertising is the only effective type of radio
advertising. Hence, it will be possible for Paramount to
make its station profitable without keeping it a distinctly
propaganda agency, thereby leaving time and opportunity
for dealing with important matters affecting the entire
business.
With the Paramount station conducted as it promises to
be, the industry will find itself much better equipped to
defend and advance its most vital interests.
Random Publicity
THE profitable day of the individual press agent in
Hollywood seems to be drawing rapidly to a close.
Several of the leading studios have introduced regulations
prohibiting their personalities from engaging the services
of press agents, causing these personalities to depend ex-
clusively for publicity aid upon the efforts of the regu-
larly constituted publicity departments of the various com-
panies.
While this development ushers in a harsh period for
many willing press agents who have been making a liveli-
hood through getting or promising pieces in the papers,
still we do not believe that it will induce any disastrous
results other than the payroll amputations involved.
The fact is that Hollywood and the screen personalities
have been virtually press-agented to death. While we
know to a certainty that there have been operating in the
picture colony many capable and industrious press men
and press women, we also know that the lure of easy
money has attracted a horde of incompetents, glib in
promises and barren in accomplishments. An imposing
sum of money has been extracted annually for many years
by this latter group. In the vast majority of cases they
have accomplished nothing of constructive significance and
in many instances their tactless activities have involved
their principals and associated companies in manifold
difficulties and embarrassments.
It is extremely important that the character of the pub-
licity referring to pictures and picture personalities which
is sent out be intelligently gauged and controlled. With
a horde of free lances operating, each of indefinite and
vague responsibility, this has been difficult or impossible.
Art Awards
THE plan for "distinction awards" for accomplishments
in connection with production which has been evolved
by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is
worthy of note. These awards may have no great effect
as far as public opinion is concerned but in the picture
colony they will go a long way toward affording encourag-
ing recognition.
These awards in offering something besides the dollar
mark to aim for cannot help but exert a sound and con-
structive influence.
Fox-Poli
THE Poli circuit in New England, which has long been
the object of vigorous negotiation by several of the
principal factors in the industry, now comes to rest under
the William Fox banner and there is, thereby, recorded
another considerable step of the Fox organization in en-
trenching itself in the theatre market.
In product and in theatre expansion, the Fox company
continues to hold the eye of the industry.
The Big Argument
COMPLETE disagreement continues between the two
schools of thought on dialogue pictures: One group
contends that the silent picture is complete and perfect
in itself and that while musical accompaniment will help,
dialogue is a detriment. The other group asserts that the
introduction of dialogue opens a vast new sphere for the
motion picture and that it will lead to new and greater
heights.
In the meantime, however, it may be remembered that
both groups, at this early date, can only be relying upon
opinion and not upon fact. There is only one way of find-
ing things out in the amusement business, and that is by
practical test before the public. The dialogue picture at
this time is precisely in its infancy. It must reach some
degree of maturity before its significance and effectiveness
can be determined.
The real facts of the situation probably will not be
known for some time, because certain of the early dialogue
pictures at least will be quickly and crudely done and
upon these alone no real conclusions may be based.
All are entitled to their opinions, and one side or the
other will prove eventually correct. But at this time, opin-
ions, regardless of their source, are only opinions. The
practical test before the public of a number of well-done
subjects alone will tell.
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
17
Chicago Strike Viewed As Part
Of Labor Fight on Sound Films
Rowland Is
Out of FN;
Plans Trip
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Richard A.
Rowland, general and production man-
ager of First National, severs his con-
nection with the
company today at
the conclusion of
his contract. Al-
though no state-
ment has been is-
sued either by Mr.
Rowland or by
Joseph P. Ken-
nedy it has be-
come known that
no arrangements
have been made
for a renewal of Mr. Rowland's con-
tract, and therefore his connection
with First National is at an end. It is
understood that Mr. Rowland is con-
templating an extended trip abroad.
Richard A. Rowland
Morosco and Tully Must
Pay Woman $781,891 for
Making *Bird of Paradise'
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Oliver Morosco,
producer, and Richard Walton Tully, play-
wright, must pay $781,891 to Mrs. Grace A.
Fendler for producing the play "The Bird of
Paradise," which Mrs. Fendler says they pla-
giarized.
The referees report, filed in the supreme
court, gives this figure as a computation of
entire profits from stage and screen presenta-
tions of the play plus interest. The order to
pay was issued June 24, 1926, after Mrs.
Fendler had won a suit against them.
Exhibitor, Back Broken
In Auto Accident, Dies
(Special to the Herald-World)
OAKLAND, CAL., July 31.— W. B. Crooks,
owner of the Majestic theatre, Benecia, Cal.,
is dead from injuries received in an automo-
bile accident in June. His back was broken.
F. W. Murnau Operated
On for Appendicitis
■ ' (Special to the Herald-World)
PASADENA, July 31.— F. _ W. Murnau,
Fox director, was suddenly stricken with ap-
pendicitis last Friday and was operated on at
Pasadena hospital.
Famous Picture Loaned tor Set
HOLLYWOOD. — A Velasquez painting, property of
M. H. Hoffman, vice-president of Tiffany-Stahl, was
loaned by him to dress the production "The Gun
Runner," starring Ricardo Cortez.
Electricians Walk Out After
Starting Loop Installations
B & K Chicago and U A Theatres Affected — Musicians
Wait Until Labor Day, Says Petrillo
By GEORGE SCHUTZ
Indications that union labor is bringing its various organizations to bear
in an effort to stem the tide of talking pictures and mechanical music in thea-
tres, were revealed last week in Chicago. Electrical workers installing syn-
chronization apparatus in theatres there went on strike in what is admitted
to be no wage controversy but a move in line with the general attitude of
union labor in opposition to the innovation.
Part of Equipment Placed
Several houses contemplating early inauguration of sound films, the most
prominent being Balaban & Katz' Chicago theatre and the United Artists
theatre, both Loop houses, were having the apparatus installed. The Chicago
expected to open with Paramount's "Warming Up" this week, while the United
Artists scheduled Pathe's "King of Kings" with synchronization for a run
beginning this Friday. Part of the equipment had already been placed when
the men, members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers,
walked out.
Up to Tuesday conferences to get the men
to return to work were of no avail.
At offices of the Chicago union of the Amer-
ican Federation of Musicians, James C. Pe-
trillo, president of the local, declared that he
was in no position to state the relationship
of his organization to the electrical workers'
sound film strike. He did not wish to make
any comment concerning the walkout, he said.
According to Petrillo, it had been decided
at a meeting of the national musicians' union
in New York, from which he has just re-
turned, that no definite and concerted action
would be taken by the national body concern-
ing synchronization until after Labor Day, a
policy of "watchful waiting" to be purstied in
the meantime. However, he stated that the
federation was leaving each member unit to
work out its own local problem.
Sound for Nine B & K Houses
Prominent Chicago theatres which already
have installed sound picture apparatus are
Balaban & Katz' Loop houses, the Roosevelt
and McVickers, and a neighborhood house, the
Tivoli ; the Avalon and Capitol, operated by
receiver for National Playhouses ; Marks
Brothers' Marbo and Granada; Warner Broth-
ers' Orpheum and Fox's Monroe, the latter
two being Loop houses. Balaiban & Katz has
announced a policy of sound pictures for all
its nine major theatres.
Omaha Sound Shows Reopen
(Special to the Herald-World)
OMAHA, July 31. — ^A new agreement with
motion picture projectionists on the basis of
a scale of $85 proved the "can opener" for
"canned music" in Omaha after a silence of
many weeks in synchronized pictures.
The Rialto— A. H. Blank-Publix house-
reopened the synchronized season with its
Vitaphone equipment July 21. The Rialto
also is installing Movietone. The World, with
Vitaphone and Movietone, but quiet for some
weeks, returned to vocalized films Friday,
July 27.
The Riviera, newest and biggest Blank-
Publix theatre in the city, is installing both
Vitaphone and Movietone and plans to offer
the public this added attraction August 3.
Both Blank-Publix houses are installing the
latest equipment.
Says Orchestra Won't Go
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, July 31.— "Orchestras
won't go out" says the Kansas City Star in
an editorial article on the effect of syn-
chronism.
The stand the musicians are taking "that
modern mechanical invention is driving out
one of the world's oldest arts is untenable,"
declares the writer. "It has been heard in all
ages and never was true. The contrary is
true, in fact, as witness the movies. They
have provided for more orchestras than ever
were known before; if -the new movie ad-
junct that makes for spoken drama on the
(Continued on page 26)
In This Comer, the Public; in That, Law;
The Prize, Chance to See Fight Films
The Bght over £ght £Ims is on again. The last "battle of the century," the Tun-
ney-Heeney affair in New York last week, is being followed, as usual, by that other
"battle of the century," the public-government affair throughout the Continent, ac-
cording to reports.
One of the first arrests occurred last Saturday in Detroit, where John Fisher,
New York aviator, surrendered to federal authorities on a charge of transporting
pictures of the Tunney-Heeney bout to that city. Officials stated they were con-
fident many copies of the negative had been made for local theatres. No convic-
tions ever have been obtained on similar charges in Detroit.
In Ottawa, Ont., Manager Ray Tubman of the Regent theatre, tied up with a
radio station in announcing showings of the £s:ht films. All the Equity theatres in
Philadelphia announced radio returns of the fight to their audiences.
18
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
mm
^BROADWAY— A mere 48,732 went to
^ji the Tunney-Heeney fight, and that would
hardly be considered a house where Roxy
counts the stubs. . . . But for the picture
crowd, there wouldn't have been more than
about 9,532.
lIThe town is full of exhibitors looking for
sound equipment. . . . Or maybe they're just
bazaaring. . . . But they do want to get in
on the sound money. . . . Money talks, as
usual.
lIGotham got ofif a neat publicity beat last
week. . . . Extra ! All about Gene Tunney
at the Hippodrome to see "United States
Smith." . . . Ho hum. He hadn't even left
Speculator.
^Bob Benchley's old lecture on "The Sex
Life of the Polyp," with the nasty word
elided, is a big Fox hit. . . . Bob forgot to
leave spaces for the laughs with the result
that he is half way through the lecture before
the audience recovers from the first two mo-
ments of hysteria.
^John Zaiift moved up another. . . . He will
have complete supervision of the newly ac-
quired Poli chain in New England. . . . Will
probably get Roxy to fix up a few snappy
prologues for him, eh?
IJPathe has a national campaign all set to
give "The King of Kings" such a sendoff as
3'ou never saw before. . . . More than 300
prints are being prepared, with and without
sound.
^Hal Roach, the eminent comedy producer
and lefthanded polo player, is in town and
will probably be seen until the middle of
September. . . . He has his ears open also.
fThe newest hunch is to make the Broad-
way plays into picture plays via the sound
route. . . A great idea, combining the worst
features of stage and screen. . . . What good
is a new medium if you don't do something
with it?
IfWall Street has been interested in films.
^Jack Retlaw, representative of the West
Coast Theatres, paid a visit to the office this
week. . . . Jack and his wife drove from Los
Angeles to New York, starting last April,
visiting the key cities on the way. . . . Just
the guy for punishment, he is going to drive
home.
^Capt. Henry Bate, whose modesty keeps
him quietly in the Universal office, was in
camp and in command when the young Mex-
ican, Carranza, crashed in New Jersey. . . .
The Captain took charge.
TIF B O is going into Cuba. . . . Ambrose
S. Dowling, manager of the F B O Export
Corporation, closed a deal last week with the
Cuban-American Film Company for the dis-
tribution of the F B O product in Cuba.
IfFox came through with a combination of
color and sound at the Gaiety last Wednesday.
. . . Very interesting indeed, to put it con-
servatively.
^Max Fleischer, given some measure of
fame by his "Out of the Inkwell," is going on
the radio. ... In person.
^Jhnmy Grainger and Glendon Allvine ai'c
on their way West. . . . Grainger will talk
turkey in Omaha and St. Louis and Allvine
will listen in Los Angeles.
^The Authors' League is out for fun.
Producers who bought screen rights, so they
say, didn't buy even a word of dialogue.
Let's go.
PETER VISCHER
Spector Returns to France
NEW YORK. — Jacques Spector, who for many
years represented Universal in France and Belgium,
and who came to this country a year ago to close
several theatre and distribution deals, has returned
to France.
Their Deluge — and Our War
T^HEY sinned, and the deluge came to
J- cleanse the world. We likewise —
and came the Great War. This is the
theme of Warner Brothers' Vitaphone
special, "Noah's Ark." This lavish pro-
duction stars Dolores Costello and fea-
tures George O'Brien. Michael Curtiz
directed.
Left: Paul McAllister as Noah receiv-
ing the message from God.
Above: Dolores Costello and George
O'Brien in a scene of our day.
Above: Miss Costello and O'Brien as lovers in the earlier period.
Below: The ark and Noah, through whom a new life was begun.
/8^_ —-■*^.- — fc=i- — ' •>
; ■■■/■
Bl
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
19
Stanley Re-Elects
Rossheim; Post of
Chairman Dropped
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, July 31.— At the meet-
ing of the board of directors of the Stanley
Company of America, the following officers
were elected for the ensuing year:
Irving D. Rossheim, president; Simon H.
Fabian, vice-president; Morris Wolf, secre-
tary; Nelson Sloan, assistant secretary;
James I Newman, treasurer; and James F.
Bumham, assistant treasurer. Newman is
vice-president of Loft, Inc.
The post of chairman of the board, which
was occupied by John J. McGuirk, former
president of the company, was eliminated at
this meeting.
Rossheim stated that all plans and policies
outlined at the recent stockholders meeting
would be carried out and expressed an opti-
mistic feeUng as regards Stanley's present fi-
nancial condition.
$3,900 Reward Is Divided
In Theatre Usher Slaying
Two members of Chicago's police depart-
ment and a detective bureau squad will divide,
with a man whose name is withheld, the $3,900
reward offered for the capture and conviction
of the slayers of Pearl Eggerson, usher who
was slain in a holdup of the Ritz theatre at
Berwyn, 111. Four youths were given life
sentences for the crime.
Rudolph Radtke Quits
U for Keith Orpheum
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Rudolph Radtke,
comptroller for Universal theatres, has re-
signed to accept a berth with J. J. Ford, assis-
tant to Joseph Kennedy, in the real estate
department of the Keith Orpheum home office.
Several Firemen Hurt in
Stubborn Theatre Blaze
(Special to the Herald-World)
SEATTLE, July 31.— A stubborn fire de-
stroyed part of the furnishings of Mike
Lyons' Playhouse theatre. Several firemen
were injured. The damage is estimated at
$10,000. The cause is unknown.
Iowa Democrats Ask Hays
Be Ousted as Film Chief
(Special to the Herald-World)
DES MOINES, July 31.— Ousting of Will
H. Hays as "czar of the movies" is asked by
Iowa Democrats in a plank in their new plat-
form.
Never Got Started
What was to have been an important addi-
tion to Chicago's string of neighborhood de-
luxe motion picture theatres, the Admiral, and
which is now practically four walls and a
roof, is being held by the Union Trust Com-
pany of Chicago in satisfaction of first mort-
gage bonds. The equipment and furnishings
have been removed by creditors, and the the-
atre, which went into hands of the receiver
even before its opening a year ago, is not
expected ever to function again as such.
Katherine Albert Joins Quirk
NEW YORK.— Katherine Albert, former M G M
writer, has joined the Quirk publications as a feature
and fiction writer. Mark Larkin is western editor
of the Quirk publications, which include Photoplay,
Smart Set, McClure's and Opportunity.
■Fli,ST- -llATlOKAL- -f tOJlU(lT10lf-■(!,OMOtA•T10^
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Here is the organization chart of First National studio as it stood before the etdvent of
Joseph P. Kennedy. Among changes are the making of Al Rockett the head of the studio as
well as production manager.
Al Rockett Heads F N Studios;
Kennedy Ousts 15 Executives
Thompson Resigns as Assistant Production Manager and Office Is
Theoretically Abolished — G. H. Stout Quits as Operating Super-
intendent— Accounting, Research and Fimatone Heads Leave
By DOUGLAS HODGES
LOS ANGELES, July 3L — Joseph P. KeTinedy announced the appointment
of Al Rockett as the new^ head of First National Studios this week, effective
immediately.
Shakeup Affects 15 Executives
Kennedy simultaneously made announcements which dislodged 15 people
from jobs of varying magnitude in the studios. The entire shakeup came on
Kennedy's third visit to the picture plant during his recent coast trip. It was
anticipated to some degree but the best rumors went awry when compared to
the actual developments.
Rockett, in addition to being production
manager, will have entire charge of operations,
business management and personnel. Here-
tofore he has been
production manager
while Watterson
Rothacker, who re-
signed several weeks
ago, was managing
director. Upon Roth-
acker's departure
Rockett was given
temporary charge of
all production.
David H. Thomp-
son, assistant produc-
tion manager, handed
in his resignation
Wednesday. Bobby
North will act as as-
sistant to Rockett.
The Thompson job is theoretically abolished.
Al Rockett
Others who resigned are George H. Stout,
operating superintendent; R. W. Allison, head
of the accounting department; Harriet Mor-
ris, head of the research department, and
Ralph Poucher, newly appointed head of
Finatone.
Others who are leaving the studios are of
lesser importance but all are classed as minor
executives of various departments. Scenario
writers, directors and actors have been dis-
missed during several weeks prior to the visit
of Kennedy.
Rockett first became known as the producer
of "Abraham Lincoln." Following its release
he was placed in charge of production in the
Biograph studios in the East. When produc-
tion was discontinued in that plant he was
transferred to Burbank, where for 15 months
he has been the active production head.
Who will be chosen to fill the vacated posi-
tions in First National studio's official family
is still to be announced.
20
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
Phone Miss Moore If Film Is Lost;
She^ll Send Bevy of Beauties
N
New Orleans Winner of 21 Prizes Launches Bathing Girl Revues Into.
"Big Business" Class — Signs Title Holder
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
EW ORLEANS, July 3L — There's a new profession under the sun and
Gladys Moore of New Orleans is its pioneer. She is the bathing girl
revue impresario. "Please send me one bathing revue." Telephone
that order to Miss Moore if the film is lost and she will fill it as auicklv 3c
your ice man will fill an order for a load of relief.
"\/OU can order a six-girl bathing revue Michael I. Pupin, Owen D. Young.
The amateur would load his camera with the
new process film, place a color filter over the
film, and shoot.
"The color filter, with separate red, green
and blue areas, is slipped into the lens in place
of the ordinary hood," Dr. C. E. K. Mees ex-
plained. "Light reflected from the subject
passes selectively through the color filter, on
through the camera lens and thence through
the tiny embossed lenses to the sensitive emul-
sion coating on the opposite side, where it is
recorded. The lenses embossed on the film
guide the light rays and lay them on the sen-
sitive emulsion as three distinct impressions
in three parallel vertical strips."
J- or a 35-girl event. However, you might
|as well take 'em wholesale, as six cost as
■ much as 35. Miss Moore made her debut
,'in the bathing girl revue less than three
'years ago, but she has had a brilliant career.
She is now probably more widely known
I than any princess of the pulchritude in the
! country. After winning honor after honor,
plenty of cash and 17 cups. Miss Moore
decided to put revues in the "big business"
; class.
Has Monopoly of Beauties
I Atlantic City has discontinued the bathin!?
[.revues which it formerly held every year,
land Galveston is now the international
bathing revue capital. In addition, revues
are held in practically every town and city
: of any size in the country. It is estimated
'.that bathing revues were part of the enter-
tainment features of more than 2,000 con-
;ventions in the last six months.
' In New Orleans Miss Moore has a
; monopoly of the beauties. She now has in
; her "stable" nearly three dozen "fillies" who
have won prizes. Thev arrange in age
from 11 to 20. The 11-year-old girl. Cherry
Blossom Preisser, is an exception. The
youngest are about 15. In a recent contest
on the Gulf Coast Miss Preisser was tied
for first honors with a young married
woman. The two flipped a coin and the
younger entrant lost.
A Regular George Cohan Girl
"I am a very busy girl," said Miss Moore.
"My whole life has been one big excite-
ment. Perhaps that's because I was born
on the Fourth of July. Right now I am
making plans for a big show at the South-
ern Championship meet at the Edgewater
hotel, Biloxi, and the fall festival at Rights-
ville Beach, Wilmington, N. C. Meantime
I am keeping an eye on the prospects
among the new crop of girls."
The title "girls" in Miss Moore's person-
nel include "Miss Louisiana," "Miss Missis-
sippi," "Miss Biloxi," "Miss Baton Rouge,"
"Miss Pontchartrain," "Miss Gulf Coast."
M G M Expects DeMille
To Sign But There's Still
Doubt of an Agreement
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer is expecting Cecil B. De Mille, pro-
ducer, to sign a contract today, according to
trustworthy sources. However, it is under-
stood there is still a trace of doubt whether
he will come to an agreement.
Ministers Lead Renewal
Of Sunday Show Fights
The fight over Sunday shows flared up
again this week in several Iowa and Missouri
cities. At Ames, Iowa, congregations of vari-
ous churches contributed to a fund of $1,000
to fight a new ordinance permitting Sunday
opening, passed over the mayor's veto by the
council. At Conway, Iowa, church services
are held each Sunday night in an open air
theatre, pictures following the services.
At Columbia, Mo., pastors have combined
to oppose Sunday shows, which will be voted
upon soon.
Eastman Shows How
Amateur Can Take Color
Films with New Process
(S fecial to the Herald-World)
ROCHESTER, N. Y., July 31.— A new
process to enable amateur photographers to
make colored motion pictures was demon-
strated yesterday by George Eastman before a
group which included Thomas A, Edison, Gen.
John J. Pershing, Hiram P. Maxim, Prof.
Police Make Depositions
In Mechanical Music Suit
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, July 31.— Depositions of Pohce
Commissioner Frank Magoon and Former
Commissioner Arthur Freund, were taken
Thursday before a special commissioner in the
$40,000 damage suit brought by Emil P.
IBafunno, a union musician, against the Board
of Police Commissioners and the owners of
the Senate theatre for alleged unlawful arrest
and prosecution, following the arrest of Ba-
funno and eight others in a demonstration
against mechanical music.
Trade Body's Jurisdiction Is Challenged
In West Coast's Denial of Restraint Acts
(Special to the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, July 31.— Restraint of trade charges against West Coast Thea-
tres and 17 other California houses were denied yesterday in a brief filed with the
Federal Trade Commission, which made the complaint. Jurisdiction of the com-
mission was challenged, the brief declaring it had failed to prove a monopoly
existed.
At the New York
Theatres
NEW FILMS
ASTOR — "White Shadows in the South Seas," a
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production. With synchronized
score.
STRAND — "At Yale," a Pathe picture starring Rod
La Rocque, from a picture by Owen Davis. With
Vitaphone novelties.
CAPITOL — "Beau Broadway," a Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer comedy with Aileen Pringle and Lew Cody.
Malcolm St. Clair wrote the film and directed it.
PARAMOUNT— "Loves of an Actress," starring
Pola Negri. With synchronized sound, but no dia-
logue.
CENTRAL — "Lilac Time," a First National pro-
duction starring Colleen Moore. Sound effects and
synchronized score.
HIPPODROME— "The Port of Missing Girls," a
Brenda picture.
HELD OVER AND REVIVED
CRITERION— "Wings," Paramount, opened Au-
gust 12, 1927.
EMBASSY— "Tempest," United Artists, opened
May 17, 1928.
WARNERS— "The Lion and the Mouse," Warner
Brothers, opened June IS.
GLOBE— "The Red Dance," Fox, opened June 25.
ROXY — "Street Angel," Fox, revived July 14.
RIVOLI — "Warming Up," Paramount, started July
14 at Paramount.
RIALTO — "The Racket," Paramount, with Thomas
Meighan and Louis Wolheim, revived.
CAMEO — "Czar Ivan the Terrible" and "Potem-
kin," revived July 28.
FIFTH AVENUE PLAYHOUSE— "The Bear's
Wedding," a Russian picture, revived July 28.
55th STREET PLAYHOUSE— "Streets of Sorrow"
and "Forbidden Paradise," each revived for half a
week.
Three Quit United Artists
Publicity Posts; Phelps Is
Left in Complete Charge
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— John Miles, Lulu
Case Russell and Beulah Livingstone have re-
signed their publicity posts with United Art-
ists, leaving Russell Phelps in charge of the
entire publicity offices of the company.
UFA Eastern Ready to
Open Philadelphia Office
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Final arrangements
have just been completed by W. C. Herrmann
and David Brill of U F A Eastern Division
Distribution, Inc., for the opening of the Phil-
adelphia exchange at 1220 Vine Street, under
the supervision of Jack Meyers. This is the
third exchange this company is now operating.
In August branches will be operating in
Washington, Boston, New Haven, Pittsburgh
and New York. Herrmann is now in Buffalo
negotiating for the opening of an exchange in
that city.
With the opening of an office in the' above
city, this will bring the UFA Eastern Dis-
tributing list of exchanges up to three, oper-
ating in New York, Philadelphia and Buffalo.
Warners Name Soloman
Assistant Studio Manager
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLY\yOOD, July 31.— "Doc" Soloman,
newly appointed assistant to William Koenig,
Warner Brothers studio manager, started
with the company ten years ago sweeping
stages.
Ralph Forbes Is III
In Hollywood Hospital
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31. — Ralph Forbes,
actor, is ill at a Hollywood hospital. His con-
dition is reported dangerous.
II
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
21
Sunday Shows Ran
In Relays; Arrests
Follow in Same Way
(Special to the Herald-World)
MARTINS FERRY, O., July 31.— The ad-
vertised intentions of motion picture theatre
owners to open their houses on a Sunday
resulted in seven arrests and a lively time
for the police department of Martins Ferry.
The report that if the theatres attempted to
operate on Sunday arrests would follow,
caused many people to throng the downtown
streets during the day.
Promptly at 1 :30 p. m. the two theatres, the
Fenray and Elzane, opened for business. At
1 :45 Chief of Police J. W. Muhleman ar-
rested Louis F. Eick, manager of the Fenray,
and Carl Koehnline, manager of the Elzane,
together with operators: at each house. While
they were being taken before Mayor Howard
Duff others stepped in their places and arrests
were made during all afternoon.
Mayor Duff warned those arrested that he
was going away during the afternoon and
would not be able to accept bond, so those
arrested later were compelled to remain in
jail until 10 :30 o'clock that night.
At the hearing next day, all were repre-
sented by Attorney Gordon D. Kinder and
pleaded not guilty. They were bound over to
the grand jury. There is talk that efforts
in retaliation will be made to have the mayor
close all places of business on Sunday.
Writ Asked to Prevent
Collection of Seat Tax
By South Carolina Board
(Special to the Herald-World)
SPARTANBURG, July 31.— Legal proceed-
ings testing validity of the state amusement
tax placed on theatre tickets were started in
Greenville Friday when Judge T. J. Mauldin
was petitioned by attorneys representing the
Omar theatre of Spartanburg for a temporary
injunction restraining collection of the tax by
the South Carolina tax commission.
The petition set forth that the ten per cent
amusement tax was unconstitutional because
the state legislation authorizing the tax did
not originate in the House of Representatives
as is required of all revenue measures. It is
also alleged that the act did not pass three
readings in both the House and the Senate.
Judge Mauldin has issued an order staying
action on the petition for an injunction until
a case of like nature now pending in the
supreme court is decided.
Fox Quitting Westerns;
Denies Signing Thomson
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Neither Fred
Thomson nor any other Western star has just
joined Fox, says the home office in reply to
persistent rumors that Thomson is going to
the Fox roster. Rex Bell has finished "The
Girl-Shy Cowboy," third of his pictures for
Fox and he will make seven for next season.
Fox appears to be retiring from the West-
ern market, says the statement, which adds
that no Westerns except those of Rex Bell
have been scheduled.
Pair Gags Janitor, Blows
Theatre Safes, Gets $250
Two bandits early Tuesday bound and
gagged a janitor and his wife, blew two safes
in the Tiffin theatre, Chicago suburban house,
and fled with $250. They missed $500 in an
inner compartment. The janitor, Ernest Win-
terstein, said the pair was waiting in the thea-
tre when he and his wife arrived at 3 a. m.
Know
Your
Synchronizing
Devices!
CI Like any new and far-reaching development, the
synchronization of sound and motion pictures has
created a new problem for the layman who, in this in-
stance, is the theatre man and the producer.
C[ Naturally, synchronization has made necessary the
creation of new devices, both for the studio and for
the theatre, and it is important that the layman (pro-
ducer and exhibitor) have a thorough knowledge o£
this equipment.
C[ In line with its progressive policy, the Herald- World,
through its department, "Synchronized Pictures,"
and through its "School of Synchronization and Ampli-
fication," has established a point of contact between the
layman and the producer of sound equipment.
Now, in order that the motion picture industry may
acquaint itself with the latest developments in sound
reproduction, the Herald-World, adhering to its pro-
gressive policy, will publish a complete "Synchronize
tion Service Manual" in its issue of —
AUQUST
ElQHTEENTH
22
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
The Modern Executive
gTt A theatre chain president who devotes his spare moments to painting —
111 that's Samuel Pinanski, head of the New England Theatres Operating
Company, which speedily is coming to the fore along the Atlantic seaboard.
Pinanski and the new type of showmanship which he personifies are described
in the following article by George Brinton Beal, associate dramatic editor of the
Boston Post.
By GEORGE BRINTON BEAL
LIKE everything else, the showman is changing with the times. No longer
do you expect to find a big-hatted, loud-voiced individual glad-handing
^ you into your favorate theatre. No longer does this same type of show-
man sit in the seats of the mighty in show business and direct its activities.
LIKE the dodo, he is done. Picturesque he
■* was, and it is with a certain regret that
we must exclude him from the picture today.
But the show business
has no place for him.
In his place has come
a new type of show-
man.
In just one thing
this new showman
resembles his prede-
cessor on the job.
He has learned the
business from the
bottom up. His staut,
however, was dif-
ferent. For the most
part he is college
educated. And he has
fads that would have
caused his big-hatted
ancestor in the front
Samusl Pinanski
of the house to
spit
his disgust, house rules or no house rules.
As an example of this new type of show-
man, Samuel Pinanski, president of the
rapidly expanding New England Theatres
Operating Company, provides an _ excellent
specimen for study. In his spare time, what
there is of it, and there is precious little, he
puts on a smock and paints pictures.
He paints because he loves beauty. He
likes to create beauty. And in the process of
creating, he finds opportunity for contempla-
tion and thought that was denied his more
strenuous prototype of the past. For it is
in thinking, in the seeing of visions, that this
growing man of the theatre differs most
radically from all that has gone before him.
Poet Plus Business Man
Seeing visions, painting pictures, loving
poetry and beautiful things are not new to
humanity. Men before Pinanski have done
all of these things. In finding the richness
of contemplation, he has discovered nothing
that thousands of philosophers since the first
have not known, and practiced. That is not
what marks the Pinanski type as something
distinctive in the trend of show business.
That is but a part of it.
The real difference in the Pinanski type
is that here, at least, is found a man who is
not only a poet and a lover of the beautiful,
but a poet and lover of the beautiful who has
the sound business sense, the financial ability
and shrewdness to make his dreams come true.
Artist that he is — and those who have
worked with him from the time he first led
an orchestra, in the days when he turned the
crank of the motion picture machine, in the
days of discovery and glad adventure_ when
he gave Boston its first stage presentation, in
the days when he set the high example to his
fellow managers by putting on evening clothes
not only for opening nights, but for every
night, will attest to his artistry — he is at all
times the sound and calculating business man.
Firm and Purposeful
Like Roger Babson, who can see no reason
why religion and business cannot travel in
psfrfect harmony and for mutual good, Samuel
Pinanski would likewise couple beauty and
business, to the same fine end.
As an executive he is firm and purposeful.
He dreams his dreams and proceeds to put
them into actuality. But he does not take the
steamroller method. Always a smiling,
smooth-speaking gentleman, he listens patiently
to opposition. He listens patiently to the roar
of discord with which some of his dearest
dreams have been greeted by men of lesser
vision. He listens and reflects. And in that
quiet reflection he finds the secret weakness
of that opposition. Then quietly, kindly, he
points out that error.
A Community Asset
On the other hand, Pinanski, as typifying
again the modern executive showman, is no
despot. He has no official equivalent of the
tyrant's "off with their heads." When a man
opposes him, and he finds that man's opposi-
tion right, he yields to him with the same
grace that he wins. But when he is right,
and he knows he is right, there is no yielding.
The Pinanski vision goes far along the way
to better motion pictures, and the development
of a theatre that shall mean more and more
to the social life of the country. Always he
would have that theatre a place of beauty.
A ticket bought at the entrance to a Pinanski
theatre should mean a veritable magic carpet
that will take the holder into a fairyland of
enjoyment. Down would come the walls of
the theatre, in their place would rise beau-
tifully painted vistas. Away forever would go
the ugly back wall of the theatre. In its
place would be fabricated a vision of beauty
even more attractive than that presented by
the stage.
Back Wall Big Factor
"It is a picture of the back wall of the
theatre that you carry away with you," points
out Pinanski. "That should be a beautiful
picture. You do not leave the theatre back-
wards, gazing at the elaborately decorated
proscenium. You turn away from its lavish
delights and carry with you into the work-a-
day world outside just a memory of plain,
and sometimes ugly, painted back walls. I
would change that."
Many motion picture executives of the
present day have borne, and rightfully so, the
stigma of being "merely business men." They
(Continued on page 52)
Claims Invention of
Practical Paper Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
BERLIN, July 28.— A Berlin en-
gineer announces that after tests
over a period of several years he has
succeeded in perfecting a paper £Im.
He declares it is as capable of reg-
istering light as celluloid and that
it is non-inflammable. It is said to
be cheaper than celluloid film, and
the Schwerin studio states that the
invention will revolutionize the Glm
industry.
Independent Downtown
House Opens in Portland
With Gotham Attraction
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., July 31.— Doors of
the handsome new Capitol theatre, latest
downtown theatre here, opened to a large
crowd. Gotham's "Blondes by Choice,"
starring Claire Windsor and Walter Hiers
was the major screen attraction. The
Capitol is owned by A. B. Germain of
Seattle, and operated independently.
Ray Lucas, organist, made his bow to the
public as musical director, offering a series
of musical novelties at the Kilgen organ.
Mayor Frank Edwards of Seattle, and
Mayor George Baker of Portland, both for-
merly identified with the theatrical business
in the Pacific Northwest, felicitated Man-
ager Akin on his new house, which
promises to be one of the outstandingly
popular show houses.
The Khorassen Four, a male quartet,
rendered some quality numbers. The popu-
lar price scale of 25 and 15c will prevail,
with twice-a-week changes.
6 Burned in Explosion;
2 Near Death; 175 Flee
(Special to the Herald-World)
PROVIDENCE, July 31— Six men were
severely burned, one of them Max Hyman
local representative of the Loew theatre in-
terests, while 175 other workmen fled to the
street in terror, when an explosion occurred
in an oil transformer switch at the new Loew
theatre in the heart of the business district.
Two of the six men burned are not expected
to live. Hyman who was burned about the
head and body, is in a critical condition but
hospital officials say he has even chances for
recovery. The accident was due to a fault
in the transformer, according to Ralph W.
Eaton, engineer who investigated.
The transformer, carrying 11,000 volts, was
in a fireproof room in the basement, but the
door to the room, opening into the coal
pockets, was apparently left open. Had it
been closed, the three men in the room at
the time of the explosion would have been
burned to death, it is declared.
Reisman Finds Trade
Conditions Improving
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Phil Reisman, gen-
eral sales manager of Pathe, who leaves this
week on a trip to Chicago, Milwaukee, To-
ronto and Montreal, reports that he finds con-
ditions in the trade much improved. Exhibi-
tors seem much more optimistic than they did
several months back, he declares.
Not only is business good on "The King of
Kings," he states, but on all Pathe product.
In addition to 100 per cent bookings in Keith
Orpheum houses, the Stanley circuit, the
Maine and New Hampshire circuit, the Libson
circuit and the Skouras houses in Indianapolis
have been closed on all the Pathe product, as
well as many other leading chains, he reports.
Sniff Fire! It's Rubber
(Special to the Herald-World)
OTTAWA, ONT., July 31.— Excitement
reigned at B. F. Keith's theatre here last
week, when smoke was observed and a pun-
gent odor sniffed. Investigation showed the
source of the smoke to be a garage on a near-
by street. Mechanics were burning discarded
tires in the furnace, and the smoke from the
chimney was drawn into the theatre through
the ventilators on the roof.
Fetes Tenth Anniversary
BERKELEY. CAL. — The tenth anniversary of the
opening of the U. C. theatre was celebrated last Week
with a special program and an hour of music over
radio station KRE.
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
WILLIAM J. SWEENEY
Hummell Is Made Sales
Head of First Division;
Noah Beery to Make 3
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Howard Hummell
has been appointed general sales manager of
First Division Distributors. This firm also
announces that it will release three specials
featuring Noah Berry.
The first of these features, all of which will
be completed and released during the next
year, is now in the course of construction
under the direction of Fred Windermere and
being supervised by Raymond Wells.
According to the plan of Robert Furst,
president of First Division, it is the ourpose
of the company to release at least eight fea-
ture length photoplays for the coming year to
the independent market. A year book cover
ing the product is now in preparation, to be
released to the trade next month.
Veterans Vote Protest
Of Censor "Dawn" Ban
(Special to the Herald-World)
TORONTO, July 31.— Twenty- two branches
of the Canadian Legion in Ontario have
passed resolutions favoring the showing of
"Dawn," following an announcement that the
feature had been condemned by the Ontario
board of censors. An appeal from the deci-
sion has been made by Canadian Educational
Films, Ltd., which holds the Canadian dis-
tribution rights. No announcement has been
made as to the outcome.
"Dawn" has been passed in Manitoba, but
has been rejected by the censor of Saskatche-
wan.
San Francisco Chamber
Asks Light Saving Vote
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, July 31.— While the
daylight saving proposition failed of passage
locally this year by the Board of Supervisors,
an effort is being made to make it a statewide
question and an initiative petition is being cir-
culated by the Junior Chamber of Commerce
to put the measure on the November ballot.
The daylight saving straw ballot taken
throughout San Francisco's business and in-
dustrial plants indicated a majority in favor
of the plan, but opponents of the plan declare
that the farmer vote will snow it under, if it
is placed on the state ballot.
William J. Sweeney Is Dead;
Veteran Exhibitor Organizer
Former Theatre Owner Helped Form First National Body in
1911 — Played Large Part in Reuniting Organization at
Dayton — Gave Chicago First Picture Show
William J. Sweeney is dead. Death came to the veteran Chicago theatre
owner and national exhibitor organizer following a long fight against illness
that was lost after a heart attack last Thursday.
Funeral Conducted Saturday
Men who had followed the development of the industry from its beginning,
and had known the important part that he had played in its unfoldment, met
with young exhibitors and exchange men who had learned to love him just as
well as the others, through association with him in his most recent duties with
the Illinois Exhibitors' Association and the Exhibitors' Association of Chicago,
of which he was office manager, Saturday to pay their last respects to "Bill"
Sweeney, as he was affectionately known throughout the trade.
latter triumphing at Cleveland in June, 1919,
with Sydney S. Cohen as president.
Funeral services were conducted at 10 a. m.
at St. Peter's Church, in the Chicago Loop
where "Bill" Sweeney had served the indus-
try all his life. Burial followed at Calvary
cemetery. He is survived by only his wife.
Aided First Move to Organize
Every phase of exhibitors' problems was
know to "Bill" Sweeney by experience, and
in later years by experience gained under the
handicap of illness. From Coast to Coast his
name is known for his accomplishments in
organization of exhibitors for protection of
their interests, accomplishments as old as ex-
hibitor organization itself. He took an im-
portant role in the first move, back in 1911,
when in August fifty exhibitors convened in
Cleveland and made preliminary plans at the
call of the late M. A. Neff of Cincinnati.
"Bill" Sweeney and Charles Anderson pre-
vailed upon the Cleveland meeting to select
Chicago for the convention for permanent or-
ganization. How well these two and their
associates promoted the Chicago meeting was
evidenced by the fact that more than 400 ex-
hibitors gathered at the Hotel LaSalle in July,
1912, and perfected the Motion Picture Ex-
hibitors League of America, with Neff as
president.
Brings Illinois Back Into Fold
When the second convention was held the
next year in New York, Illinois was one of
several large states which seceded in pro-
test against what they considered an arbitrary
attitude on the part of the league's president,
and formed their own organization, the Inter-
national Motion Picture Exhibitors' Associa-
tion.
Again in 1914 is seen the hand of "Bill"
Sweeney in working for unity of exhibitors
when at the July meeting of the M. P. E. L. A.
at Dayton he was named on the committee of
the I. M. P. E. A. effecting a compromise
which eventuated with disbandment of Inter-
national. From that point, exhibitor history
trailed through the split at St. Louis in 1918
and appearance of the Motion Picture Ex-
hibitors of America, formation of the Inde-
pendent Exhibitors of America, and the Mo-
tion Picture Theatre Owners of America, the
Familiar to Conventioners
"Bill" Sweeney was a familiar figure at
those gatherings, familiar not only on the con-
vention floor with his affable and kindly self
but also in the committee rooms where the
major questions of the sessions were threshed
to agreement. Indeed, up to the Los Angeles
meeting in 1926, he had not missed a national
convention. At various times he was national
vice-president and secretary.
So too in Illinois and Chicago exhibition
affairs he contributed much as an organizer.
Gldtimers in Chicago, in and out of the
industry, recall that "Bill" Sweeney, who was
born there and spent 50 of his 67 years in
the first ward, brought the city its first motion
picture. From the executive side of the circus
business, he went into exhibition and showed
the first film at his State Street Museum, at
the southwest corner of State and Van Buren
streets, in 1901. He cranked the machine him-
self in those days, the film trailing down into
a canvas bag below the projector. "The First
Alarm" was Chicago's initial motion picture
show.
Add to Modern Ways:
* Marriage a la Mud
<* \
99
(Special to the Herald-World)
EMPORIA, KAN., July 31.— A public wed-
ding on the stage of a theatre, with gifts
aplenty from local merchants, has aroused the
wrath of Emporia, Kan., in so far as the press
of this town, famous as the rostrum of Wil-
liam Allen White, widely known author and
editor of the Emporia Gazette, who charac-
terized the wedding as a "marriage a la mud."
"If there is anything left in this modern
world as too sacred to be commercialized, it
should be the marriage service," White wrote
editorially. "It is entirely possible that a
union consummated on a vaudeville program
between the performing seals and the Swiss
tumblers may be successful, happy and per-
manent, but it is not very probable."
What Exhibitors are Saying
EXHIBITORS ^ MOVING PICTURE
about IIEIRMLIID ^^ WOIML©
"Your magazine gives more solid information about the motion picture
industry than any one of the many others I have subscribed to heretofore." —
John B. Weiss, Teutopolis, III.
24
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
New Twists to Request Nights Win
Business in Eastern Theatres
Two Long Features Usually Shown on Regular Nights at Patrons' Request,
Survey Reveals — Closed House Is Revived
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
BOSTON, July 31. — Request Nights are open roads to busy box offices.
At least, such has been the conclusion of a numbe'r of Eastern theatre
owners following a series of experiments in permitting the patron to
pick his shows. There is nothing new about Request Nights, but there are
many new^ angles to putting them over. A survey of this type of showman-
ship in Eastern cities and in Canada reveals several departures in exploitation
which, their originators believe, point the way to increased business for their
colleagues in other parts of the country.
A P. CAUZI, manager of the Superior
•^*» theatre, New York City, attributes his
heaviest weekly business to stressing the "re-
quest films" idea. Every Tuesday, beginning
at 6 p. m., the pictures which have been pre-
dominantly in favor the previous week, are
shown. Included are two long features and
a one- or two-reel comedy. Added is a reel
of news.
One Request Per Patron
Two boxes have been installed near the chief
exits. Into these are placed the requests. It
is stipulated on the slides that every person
paying admission is qualified to submit one
request Blank sheets are available at two
places in the lobby, handy to the entrance.
Above each place is a signcard suggesting that
the_ patrons write out their requests while in
their seats. On a tray above one of the
boxes is another stack of the paper sheets.
All the patron needs do is to write the
name of the picture he or she wishes shown
at the theatre, and also write his or her name
and address underneath. The patron is ad-
vised to choose a picture that has had a more
or less general run and that it be a film that
has been seen before in that house, within
two years.
These suggestions have resulted in hundreds
of requests weekly for the older productions,
which are brought back at low cost to the ex-
hibitor, to_ packed houses and with no reduc-
tion in prices.
Contrasting Films Shown
On Request Night, wdely contrasting fea-
tures are shovm. For instance, a spectacle
film may be linked with a Western thriller,
or a sex problem photoplay with a full length
comedy. This is taken into consideration in
determining the bill for the next Request
Night. The two pictures receiving the
heaviest votes are not chosen unless they
differ in t>pe and theme. The idea is to get
one that has a sure fire appeal for women, and
another that has a direct appeal for men.
Film Trade Consumers
Most With 250 Millions
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, July 31.— "Which is
the more phenomenal result of in-
dustrial expansion of the last quarter
of a century, an automobile for every
Gve persons or movies for 250.000,000
each week.'" This question was put
editorially last week by the St. Louis
Globe-Democrat. "It scarcely seems
possible," the editorial continues,
"even when foreign audiences are
taken into consideration, but, of
course, millions see two, three or
more pictures in a single week." The
writer declares "Will H. Hays is
correct in his statement that the mo-
tion picture industry today has the
largest number of consumers in all
industries," agriculture alone being
excepted.
One slide is devoted to reminders of films
that have been shown at this house in recent
years. Titles, names of leading players and
directors are grouped together. No other
information is given.
Charles H. Williams, manager of the Na-
tional theatre, Boston, also has been very
successful with his Request Days.
The National, which seats 3,000, was built
15 years ago, as a link in the Keith- Albee
vaude\alle circuit. The location was somewhat
out of the beaten track of the theatres and
finally the theatre was closed, as a liability.
After being practically idle for several years,
it was reopened, this time wth pictures.
Williams, who had been acting as a sort
of general supervisor and doctor for sick box
offices for Keith-Albee, was put on the job.
He decided to feature Request Days. On
Monday of each week, he would use two fea-
tures for which he had received many re-
quests. Supporting these he would have a
comedy of two reels and a news weekly. The
request field was not limited to pictures shown
at the National, but patrons were advised that
this would facilitate the obtaining of the
pictures.
Ushers Jot Down Titles
Every Monday, the patrons were entitled
to make their request. The girl ushers re-
ceived the requests, or they could be deposited
in a box in the lobby. The forms were
handed to patrons as the ushers led the way
to the seats. The ushers were also equipped
with pencils and wrote down the titles of re-
quested pictures when asked.
C. E. Staples, manager of the State in
Calais, Me., and the Queen in St. Stephen,
N. B., both small film theatres, is reported to
have attained success with a weekly request
night. The Staples plan is to distribute a
voting coupon for each ticket bought at the
box office. Near the exit is a box for the
collection of the coupons after being filled out.
One feature picture is sho^vn. The field is
confined to pictures previously shown in the
community.
At the Olympic, Philadelphia, two request
nights have been arranged each week, starting
at 5 :30 p. m. At the two intermissions a
member of the staff comes out before the
curtain, to ask the patrons to submit names.
He reminds the customers of the two Request
Nights, and invites the patrons to call out
the titles of pictures they favor, all being
entitled to submit as many names as they
wish. The staff member writes down the
names on a pad. He then announces the
names and the two that get the most applause
are booked for the next Request Night, if
possible.
The program for each Request Night is not
announced until the day previously. There
are two features, besides scenic, comedy, news,
educational, science, nature reels.
In the event of only a few suggestions from
the audience, the staff member suggests the
names of some films that can be obtained
without difficulty, and gives the name of the
director, stars, author, and a clue to plot and
action.
The system clicks.
This Proves Crying Need
For Theatre Nurseries
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, July 31. — The
Pantages theatre received a front
page column story in daily news-
papers here the other day that was
unexpected. Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Bruce,
patrons, left their two-year-old son,
Floyd, in the nursery. The idea of
being left in a nursery and not seeing
the show didn't appeal to Floyd, but
when the negro maid started to wash
his face that was the last straw. As
soon as the maid turned her back
Floyd went out a side door and
crawled on to a street car unnoticed.
The next Ave hours saw the entire
police department searching for kid-
nappers. The newspapers "splashed"
the story on the front pages. Then
hnally a call came from an outlying
police station that an infant, identity
unknown, was there. It was pone
other than Floyd, who was having a
great time being entertained by the
patrolmen.
"Lilac Time" Is Breaking
Carthay Circle Records;
To Show Walker in N. Y.
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, July 31.— Reports of re-
ceipts from the premiere showings of First
National's special, "Lilac Time," at the
Carthay Circle here, indicate that the
Colleen Moore picture may have a run that
will break all box office records for Los
Angeles motion picture engagements. The
first night's receipts for "Lilac Time" were
the biggest for any first night in the history
of the Carthay Circle, while the first
week's receipts were more than $2,500 in
excess of the previous highest week's re-
ceipts ever taken in at the Carthay Circle.
The second Tuesday's business eclipsed the
first Tuesday matinee receipts by $350,
while the second Wednesday matinee
eclipsed the first Wednesday matinee by
$173.
At the premiere of "Lilac Time," at the
Central theatre in New York, August 3,
First National will show a novelty reel
which chronicles Mayor James Walker's
visit to Hollywood.
"Lilac Time" has been booked for an ex-
tended run at roadshow prices into the
Stillman theatre, Cleveland, Madison,
Detroit; Burns, Colorado Springs; and
Skouras Brothers St. Louis house, the New
Grand Central.
25 Class A Houses Play
Paramount Dix Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— P a r a m o u n t ' s
"Warming Up," booked day and date, is play-
ing this week in 25 class A houses. The com-
bination of synchronized score and effects
created a new box office record at the Para-
mount here last week. The picture was trans-
ferred from the Paramount, a weekly change
house, to the Rivoli, which has an indefinite
run policy.
Columbia Launches Own
Exchange at St. Louis
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, July 28.— Opening of Colum-
bia's own St. Louis exchange, temporarily at
3330 Olive street, under the name of Colum-
bia Midwest Exchanges, marks a further step
of the organization in building its national
distribution system. Rosenthal and Taylor
continues to handle the old Columbia product.
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
In the Matter of Marks
And B & K Competition
Announcement by B & K in trailers
last week that the Saturday opening
policy initiated in the Chicago cir-
cuit about three months ago at the
Oriental, Norshore, Harding and the
Senate, is to be adopted August ll
in other houses, was followed by the
following in the Marks Brothers'
newspaper ads this week:
"Every advance in Chicago's en-
tertainment in the last two years has
been initiated by Marks Bros. Two
years ahead of competition with the
'talkies'; one year ahead with mid-
night shows and now away in the
lead in beautiful stage productions.
"Imitation is the sincerest form of
flattery and it is natural that com-
petitors follow.
"The opening of new shows on
Saturday was a distinct Marks Bros,
feature — it was very successful.
"Competitors will no doubt fol-
low."
Zanft Given Direct
Supervision of Poli
Group in Fox Chain
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Major John Zanft
will assume complete supervision of the op-
eration and maintenance of the Poll theatres
taken over by Fox.
Zanft, vice-presi-
dent and general
manager of the Wil-
liam Fox circuit,
started more than 17
years ago at the old
Dewey theatre in
New York. Major
Zanft's association
with the Fox inter-
ests has been one of
unusrual achievement
and signal success,
mainly to his cease-
less energy and un-
selfish devotion on
behalf of the organ-
ization.
Notable among the Major's many contri-
butions to theatrical development has been
his foresight in determining and shaping the
trend of motion picture theatre entertain-
ment. Despite the additional work which his
newest assignment will entail, Major Zanft
at his office in the Roxy theatre, declared
that his connection with the board of com-
missioners of the Elmira and Bedford Re-
formatories will in no wise suffer from relaxed
attention.
Major John Zanft
Amador Can't Imitate
Chaplin, Court Decides
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Charles Chaplin
today won his long drawn out suit against
Charles Amador, also known as Charles Aplin,
in the California district court of appeals. The
court decreed that Amador must not imitate
Chaplin's characteristic clothes, walk and man-
ners, nor use the name Aplin in motion pic-
tures.
New Paramount Radio Station
Goes in Action in September
Construction of Broadcasting Studio on P F L Lot in Hollywood
Already Underway — Using 5,000 Watts, Granted
Right to 50,000 Power
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31. — Construction work has started on a broadcasting
studio on the Paramount lot to house the new 5,0(X)-watt super-power radio
station, KNX, the station to be known as "KNX, Paramount Pictures — Los
Angeles Evening Express Station."
Starts Operating Early in September
Decision of Paramount to go in for broadcasting' on this huge scale and
completion of negotiations pending several months means direct contact for
the company with millions of theatregoers when the new station goes into
action early in September.
A twofold policy has been worked out after
careful planning. Besides aiming to foster
goodwill for the industry and providing a
medium for educating non-theatregoers to
screen entertainment, the policy calls for
maintaining closer touch with exhibitors using
Paramount product and giving them direct
help in putting over their programs, as well
as offering them and the public the news of
Hollywood.
Equipment Rushed West
Equipment is being rushed from the East
for the new studio and for the transmitter
at Sherman Oaks in the San Fernando Valley.
Permission has been obtained from the
Federal Radio Commission to install equip-
ment for 50,000-watt capacity for future use.
This will make KNX one of the most power-
ful stations in the world, only three others in
the West having equal power and only three
with greater capacity in the entire country.
The 5,000-watt power to be used at present is
ten times that now being employed by KNX.
Private phone lines will convey the pro-
grams from the Paramount broadcasting
studio, and its many remote controls, over
Cahuenga Pass to the transmitter, 12 miles
distant. The change to 50,000 watts will be
possible in 24 hours, making the programs
easily received throughout the United States.
Two Studios Planned
One large studio will be equipped to handle
an orchestra of 100 pieces, a smaller studio
being available for everyday use. There also
will be rehearsal rooms. The KNX manage-
ment will continue in charge, with Na,ylor
Rogers as manager and program director ;
Glen Rice, assistant manager; Harold Isbell,
"Town Crier of the Night Watch" ; Eddie
Albright, "Town Crier of the Day Watch" ;
N. D. Garvey, chief technician, and Loyal Un-
derwood, special announcer.
"Paramount is not entering the broadcast
field in the customary sense," said Jesse L.
Lasky, first vice president, "but it does intend
to use the radio as a medium through which
exhibitors and the public can gain a first-
hand impression of the work accomplished in
the film capital."
"Paramount is happy to be associated with
a radio station of the calibre and reputation
of KNX," Lasky continued. "Under the op-
eration of the Los Angeles Evening Express,
this station has won a host of friends through-
out the western world, and with the addition
of super-power equipment it will not be long
before its audiences will cover the entire
North American continent.
"Motion pictures and radio are the two
greatest forces in the world today. The fu-
ture of the two arts is as limitless as the
horizons of the sea."
English Industry
Advances Fast But
Still Looks to U. S.
(Washington Bureau Herald-World)
_ WASHINGTON, July 31.— American mo-
tion picture actors and actresses are as well
known to the British public as in the
United States and a personal appearance in
England often arouses an enthusiasm equal
to the appearance of visiting royalties, ac-
cording to G. Grant Isaacs, trade com-
missioner of the Department of Commerce
who has just returned to the United States
from London.
This recognition is easily accounted for
by the fact that at the present time fully
85 to 90 per cent of the films exhibited in
the British Isles are produced in American
studios. The British are sincere devotees
of the picture show and motion pictures
have involved themselves into an Empire
problem in the British Isles. While yet in
the early stages of development, the British
film industry is taking advantage of govern-
mental assistance to the extent which may
be likened to a boom, according to Isaacs.
Studios are being built or enlarged, new
companies are being organized, and distribu-
tion agreements are being made with the
colonies and the continent.
Priscilla Bonner to Wed
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Priscilla Bonner
announced her engagement to Dr. Bert Wool-
fan of this city. The wedding will take place
September 6.
Buys Rights to Chaplin Shorts
NEW YORK. — Capital Productions Company has
secured the releasing rights for the three two-reel
Chaplins, "Behind the Scenes," "Charlie's Hard
Luck," and "The Heart Thief," for the entire world,
with the exception of the New York territory.
Faith in Sound Films Brings Fox Decision
To Drop Silent Two-Reel Comedies Altogether
Fox Films' conviction that synchronized productions are the pictures of the
future, in the short feature field as well as in long films, is credited for the decision
of the company to produce no more two-reel comedies without sound. Thus in-
stead of 26 two-reel comedies for the coming season, as previously announced^
there instead will be 52 Movietone Entertainments and a number of comedies in
sound, several of which have been completed, including "Four A. M.," "The
Mystery Mansion" and "The Family Picnic." Twenty-five of the Movietone
Entertainments now are ready.
26
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
Editors Swing Wicked Pens On
Industry But Laud Sound Film
Accuse Pictures of Snobbery, Demand Separate Theatres for Crook
Productions and — ^But Anyway It Shows the Trade Is
Arousing More Serious Comment in Newspapers
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald- World]
DES MOINES, July 31. — An attack on alleged snobbery in motion pic-
tures, a protest against crook films, a discussion of synchronized pic-
tures and an appreciation of Charlie Chaplin's work were the subjects of
four editorials recently published in local newspapers. Motion pictures seem
to be arousing more serious comment than ever before and the appearance of
these articles relative to the industry excited more or less argument as they
turned the spot on products.
WARWICK DEEPINiG'S "Sorrell and
Son," commended so highly by the Des
Moines Film council, an organization of
women from various clubs, came in for
severe criticism on the part of the editor.
"The films would have done better had they
rejected this piece of snobbery," he tells
the world.
Urges Films From Originals Only
After explaining his stand on films made
from a book, approving the change in
stories to fit the film representation but
suggesting that films be made only from
stories written directly for the screen, the
editor says that occasionally there is
enough faithfulness to the original work to
be irritating and cites the Deeping book
as an example.
He says in part, "Mr. Deeping is evi-
dently one of those writers with an aristo-
cratic complex. That is, he is not a real
aristocrat but he likes the pose. He is
careful to point out, by means of their rank
in war and by virtually direct statement,
that the enlisted man is necessarily of a
lower order, less fine, than the officer. He
likes to divide men into two classes, to
only one of which he and the reader could
possibly belong, of course, the officers and
gentlemen, and the enlisted men and ras-
cals. The film preserves this amazing dis-
tinction. It is false and bad for that reason
and it destroys sympathy for the picture."
Crook Films in Separate Theatres
As to the popular crook films, the editor
believes that all underworld films and plays
should be given apart from the regular the-
atres where devotees of that type of art
could go and have their particular form of
delight. He says he can refuse to read de-
tective stories and underworld books but
that the plays and films trip him up.
And Charlie Chaplin in "The Circus"
came in for a round of praise as one actor
whose artistry with smiles and tears is well-
night perfection. The last scene with
Charlie alone was the climax in more ways
than one, according to the admiring writer.
Vitaphone and Movietone with the tech-
nical differences of their operation were
discussed in a long editorial commending
A. H. Blank and Publix for bringing the in-
novation to Des Moines.
F B O Finishes Over 50
Per Cent of Films for
1928-29; Cost 5 Million
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Over SO per
cent of F B O's 1928-29 program has al-
ready been completed, with an expendi-
ture approximating $5,000,000 that company
announces. It is expected the remaining
half of the 1928-29 product will be com-
pleted before the first of the year, thus
rounding out the $10,000,000 yearly budget.
Of six specials, "The Perfect Crime,"
"Taxi 13," "Hit of the Show," "The Circus
Kid" and "Gang War" have been com-
pleted. "Blockade" remains to be filmed.
The Gold Bond productions completed are
"Danger Street," "Stocks and Blondes,"
"Charge of the Gauchos," "Singapore
Mutiny," "Sally Shoulders" and "Sinners in
Love."
The first Tom Mix Western, "Son of
the Golden West," will be completed this
week. Tom Tyler has completed four
Westerns: "Terror Mountain," "The Aveng-
ing Rider," "Tyrant of Red Gulch" and
"Trail of the Horse Thieves." Bob Steele
has completed "Captain Careless," "Head-
ing for Danger" and "Lightning Speed."
Buzz Barton has completed "The Young
Whirlwind" and "Rough Ridin' Red."
Ranger, the dog, has completed "Dog Law"
and "Fury of the Wild." Larry Darmour,
producer of four series of short subjects
for F B O is working on the sixth "Racing
Blood," the sixth Mickey McGuire, the
third "Toots and Casper," and the second
"Barney Google "
Two German Companies
In Production Combine
(Washington Bureau of the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, July 31.— The German
producing firms of Aafa and Greenbaum have
concluded a combination calling for joint pro-
duction, according to a report to the depart-
ment of commerce.
Monty Collins Featured
Alone in Mermaid Comedy
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Juyl 31.— Monty Collins is
a featured comedian in his own right now.
The young player has just completed his first
Mermaid production for Educational with
solo featuring. Estelle Bradlev plays opposite
and Stephen Roberts did the directing.
Opens Store Only for
His Theatre Patrons
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOUSTON, July 31.— As a busi-
ness builder for the Horwitz theatres
here. Will Horwitz has opened an
establishment dealing in groceries
and drug sundries. The business is
conducted primarily as a saving
store for patrons of Horwitz thea-
tres. Admittance to the store is
through coupons only, these coupons
being presented patrons of the thea-
tres with every adult admission sold.
Complete stocks of staple and fancy
groceries and drug sundries are car-
ried, arranged in the self-serving
style.
Chicago Strike Viewed
As Part of Labor's Fight
Against Sound Pictures
(Continued from page 17)
screen now displaces the orchestra, music is
no worse off than before.
"It cannot even be shown, we think, that
mechanically produced music, the phonograph,
player pianos — or the radio — have discouraged
music, though we have sometimes thought
they should. The opposite is true. They
create a musical taste reflected in a hundred
ways in the wider spread of musical educa-
tion. There are gifted persons who can pro-
duce something like the sound of a violin on
a saw; they are popular on the vaudeville
stage. But we never heard that they were
a threat to the art of the violinist. The
chromos that used to be given away as pre-
miums with soap never seriously threatened
the art of the portrait or landscape painter.
Wouldn't Go Without Music
"Readers of Charles Reade will recall the
lamentations of the manuscript copyist jour-
neying to Rome to find employment for his
pen, when he encountered the printing press
being carried over the Alps. He thought his
day was done. But we believe nothing in the
history of invention has given the illustrator
more employment than the printing press.
Mechanical invention is the handmaiden of
the arts. It has elevated them from the posi-
tion of companion to the few to that of a
necessity to the many. The process has com-
mercialized them to some extent but even this
has been an agency in their world-wide distri-
bution.
"The world wouldn't go without music even
if it should be banished from the movie shows.
Music didn't originate there and won't end
there. Beethoven never heard of a movie.
When another like him comes along he will
give orchestras employment for a thousand
years — and where will the movies be by that
time? we wonder."
Sees Actor Renaissance
Through Sound Films
"The talking movies are coming in, there
is no doubt about that, and most of the
doctors believe that with their advent the
talking actor again will come in, too," says
Burns Mantle in his column in the Chicago
Sunday Tribune.
Harold Lloyd to Remain
Metropolitan Producer
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Harold Lloyd
will continue to produce his pictures at the
Metropolitan studios for the next two years,
at least. William R. Eraser, general manager
of the Lloyd Corporation, has just concluded
negotiations with Phil Ryan, representing the
Metropolitan studios, to retain the same pro-
duction space the bespectacled comedian has
used since he started as an independent pro-
ducer, exactly five years ago.
All necessary provisions have been made for
the production of "sound" pictures should the
comedian find it practicable to go into this
field. Lloyd is now working out the details
of his next picture and it is expected will
institute camera work very shortly.
Hopwood Leaves Million
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Avery Hopwood,
the playwright, left his estate of $1,000,000 to
his mother and the University of Michigan.
His mother was bequeathed a fourth outright,
with three-fourths in trust. At her death,
one-fifth of the estate goes to the university
as dramatic awards. Hopwood was drowned
July 1 in France.
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
27
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A society belle from Chile, Christine Montt, daughter of an old
family long illustrious politically, has joined the ranks of Holly-
wood film players, appearing in Educational's Jerry Drew com-
edies. Shown in this photo taken at the studio are Charles
Lamont, director; Andres De Sigurula, Count De Alza, Miss
Montt and Drew.
Following the wedding of Sylvia Thalberg, M G M scenarist and
sister of Irving Thalberg, M G M supervisor, to Lawrence Wein-
garten, studio official. Pictured are Irving Thalberg, Mrs. Thal-
berg (Norma Shearer, M G M star) , William Thalberg, the
bride's father; Mrs. Weingarten and the groom. The wedding
was the climax to a studio romance.
The much-photographed Al Smith "shoots" a
few for himself. The Democratic nominee for
President is shown "grinding" the camera of
John Bartone, Paramount cameraman who is
commissioned to "cover" the governor.
As an urchin with a Frisco hat
doing the black bottom, Edna
May, pretty Roach-M G M
comedy player, is presented — in-
gratiatingly, we believe.
Michael Leshing, superintendent, and John F.
Coneybear, engineer, shown as they stretched
hands across the cornerstone at the recent cere-
mony marking the beginning of construction on
the new ^500,000 laboratory at the Fox studio.
28
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
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The best hay-shaker — er — but maybe one shouldn't
speak so spontaneously. Shall we say that Leilani
Deas is "Miss Honolulu," 1925 model? Yes, we
shall, adding that she appears in Educational's Jerry
Drew comedies, not in shredded wheat ads, as per-
haps you thought.
Above: Clara Bow at
her super-"het". And
there's the makings of
a wisecrack. For was
it not sin-glyn-ized pic-
tures that brought her
fame? But even though
the Paramount star
herself may say, "I owe
all my success to a pro-
noun," that isn't en-
tirely it. "Ladies of the
Mob" proved that.
Left: A lovely film
player wrapped up in
a cloak of prodigious
cost — ^it cost whatever
fine ermine coats do
cost. Billie Dove wears
it, as well as here, in
First National's "The
Night Watch." The
doU (which seems su-
perfluous in a photo
with such a coat and
such a Billie Dove) is
today's fad.
A new megaphone for Tay Gamett as he begins direction of Pathe's "Celebrity." Maybe
the sound films will bring megaphones for players and make the directors shut — But no
matter. Here Lina Basquette, the leading woman, is shown making the presentation, with
Robert Armstrong, featured lead, and Paverell Marley, cameraman, giving approval.
Louise Brooks as a hobo — indeed, the best
looking hobo we've ever seen. She becomes
one, appearing thus, in Paramount's tale of
tramp careers, "Beggars of Life."
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
Above: A bathing girl
— and we'll go even
further than that. She
is Derelys Perdue. And
this much further:
She's the new Mrs.
Newlywed- All newly-
weds new? Not in
these days of divorcees!
Miss Perdue's appoint-
ment is to the bride-
ship of the Stern
Brothers "Newlywed"
comedies released by
Universal.
Right: A lesson i n
aviation. It's quite the
thing these days, of
course. It seems a Col.
Charles Lindbergh flew
across the ocean, and
then, etc. Here is Es-
telle Bradley, Educa-
tional commedienne,
getting the low-down
on flying from Stephen
Roberts, who learned
about that elevating
subject in the army.
A proud cat. And who wouldn't be, if several hides
like one's own were worth ^2,000? For kitty is an
angora, and the angora coat worn by Lil Dagover
cost the UFA player the tidy sum named. Miss
Dagover recently re-signed with the German
company.
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It being midsummer, this "shot" of Jean
Hersholt expresses our best idea perfectly.
The photographer caught him napping while
working in Universal's "Give and Take."
A ceremony of recent date on the Navajo Indian reservation in Arizona, which made
Fred Thomson, famed Westerner and star of Paramount's "Kit Carson," Chief White Horse
of the tribe, one of only two pale faces to be so appointed. From left to right, Lloyd
Ingraham, director; Chief Sagi, Thomson and Al Werker, director.
30
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
Films Win 50-50 Advertising Ranking
In K A O Under Newest Policy
Influence of Kennedy Is Reflected in Home Office Campaign of Educating
House Managers on Exploiting Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31. — Motion pictures will have 50-50 importance with
vaudeville hereafter, and sometimes more, in local advertising of the
Keith-Albee-Orpheum circuit, under a new policy which directs house
managers to make material increase in film publicity and advertising.
Keith Orpheum Is Name
'T'HAT the advent of Joseph P. Kennedy
•*- in the affairs of K A O is a factor in this
new plan of operation is reflected by the an-
nouncement that his as'sociation with the com-
pany assures a new standard of picture pro-
duction on the programs. This fact is being
brought home to house managers in the home
office campaign to instruct house managers in
exploitation and advertising.
Entire Pathe Product Booked
The entire Pathe product will be shown in
the K A O theatres, Colvin W. Brown, execu-
tive vice-president of Pathe, has announced,
and copies of Pathe's' annual announcement of
product have been sent to all house managers,
as well as sample advertisements.
While Keith-Albee-Orpheum theatres have
been showing vaudeville for more than 40
years, it is in the last 12 years that motion
pictures have been gaining more and more
recognition. Keith started with a store show
in Boston 45 years ago. Then in 1894 the
first motion picture was shown in these houses.
That was "The Charge of the Light Brigade,"
bought by Albee in Europe. Fifteen years
ago Pathe News became a regular part of
the program. Now 85 per cent of the circuit's
theatres use a combination policy.
J. J. Ford In Campaign
The Pathe bookings into the K A O houses
include these specials : "The King of Kings,"
"The Cop," "Show Folks," "Celebrity," "Ned
McCabb's Daughter," "The Spieler," "Tenth
Avenue," "The Red Mark," "Love Over
Night," "Craig's Wife," "Tower," "Annapolis"
with Jeanette Loff and John Mack Brown.
All the other new Pathe features likewise are
included, as are the complete list of short
features — ^Pathe News, Pathe Review, Sport-
lights, Topics of the Day, Aesop's Film Fables,
the Mack Sennett comedies, the "Smitty"
comedies and Pathe serials.
J. J. Ford, assistant to Kennedy in the
K A O organization, is active in the campaign
for increased publicizing of the pictures, which
bears out the statement made by Albee that
"the motion picture has become such an im-
portant factor in the KAO theatres in the
last few years that it is only natural that we
should look to the picture industry for a new
associate."
Used in Newspaper Ads
Keith Orpheum is the designation of the
circuit's theatres in advertising this week in
Chicago newspapers. "A greater name in the
theatre world" is the heading over the ads,
which state :
"For more than forty years the Keith Cir-
cuit has been to the East what the Orpheum
Circuit has been to the West — the standard
bearer of all that is worth while in entertain-
ment. Now these two giant theatrical enter-
prises have merged to provide the greater part
of North America with the best amusement
talent in the world. In the future the big-
gest attractions can be seen onlv in KEITH
ORPHEUM theatres!"
>f
Warner Brothers Ends
Filming of "Noah's Ark
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— "Noah's Ark,"
called the greatest production undertaking
ever attempted by Warner Brothers, was
finished last week after two and a half years
spent on it. The last Vitaphone sequences are
done and the thousands of feet of film taken
by Director Michael Curtiz have gone to the
cutting room for the final stage of production.
"Noah's Ark" in its screen dramatization
embraces two stories, a biblical one and a
modern one, and between them is drawn a
parallel by showing how a decadent world
was first cleansed by the visitation of the de-
luge, and later by the visitation of the World
War. The cast is headed by Dolores Costello
as star, with George O'Brien appearing oppo-
site her.
F B O Completes Deal
For Distribution in Cuba
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Xuly 31.— Ambrose S.
Dowling, manager of F B O Export Cor-
poration, has closed a deal with the Cuban
American Film Company of Havana, for
the distribution of the F B O product in
Cuba.
Paramount Profit $3,870,000 in First
Six Months, Nine Per Cent Over 1927
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31. — Paramount estimates its proAt, after all charges and
taxes, including its undistributed share of earnings of the Balaban & Katz Cor-
poration, a sixty-five per cent owned subsidiary, for the six months' period ending
June 30, to be $3,870,000. For the quarter ending the same date the proGt is put
at $1,605,000. These earnings amount to $5.63 per share for the six months' period,
and $2.33 per share for the three months' period, on the 687,443 shares issued and
outstanding.
The profits reported for the first six months of 1928 are approximately 9 per
cent ahead of the corresponding six months of 1927, the previous record for the
£rst half year.
On February 1, 1928, the company retired all of its issued and outstanding pre-
ferred stock. In view of this fact, the amount available for common stock divi-
dend purposes in 1928 is the total amount of net earnings. In 1927 and previous
years the preferred dividend requirements had to be subtracted first.
Thus the Fight Films
Are Absolutely Official
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31. — The
heavyweight championship £gbt pic-
tures will be entirely, exclusively and
absolutely official this year. The Gold
Hawk company, which bought the
film rights for the Tunney-Heeney
encounter from Promoter "Tex Rick-
ard, took no chances with the £ght
bootleggers who, it seems, have har-
assed official fight film makers on
previous title bout occasions. The
gentlemen of the Gold Hawk brand
erected powerful lights so that their
beams might shoot straight into the
lenses of Burglarious cameras render-
ing them blind. Incidentally, resi-
dents around Yankee stadium found
even their window shades poor re-
sistance for the vigilant rays and
some were reported the next day as
suffering from Klieg eyes and sun-
burn. "Great stunt, wasn't it.''" com-
mented Paul A. Zizelman, attorney
for the official producers of the ab-
solutely ofBcial films.
Mayor Serves Leo
Juicy Steak from
Own Butcher Shop
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 28.— M G M's traveling
lion has been winning much attention in his
tour of New England but it is probable that
Leo smacks his lips most when he thinks of
the reception at Bridgeport, Conn. There
Mayor Behrens, who is also proprietor of a
butcher shop, donned a white apron and served
his guest with a big steak.
Several New England states have been cov-
ered by the ballyhoo, with special tieups in
many cities, as at White Plains, N. Y., where
the Evening Reporter carried an advertising
streamer for a meat market calling attention
to Leo's visit.
After a tour of New Jersey, which included
an appearance on the Atlantic City boardwalk,
Leo visited Greenwich, Darien, Stamford,
Norwick (Palace and Breed's theatres). South
Norwalk, Westport, Bridgeport, New Haven
(Poll's Palace), Lyme, New London (Capi-
tol), and many of the smaller Connecticut
communities. On July 24 the big motorized
cage reached Providence. Then the schedule
called for visits to Fall River, Newport, New
Bedford, Middleboro, Brockton, through Bos-
ton and on to Haverill, Salem, Lawrence,
Lowell with a stop at Portland, Me., August 4.
First National Outing
To Be Held August 11
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— First National's
third annual outing will be held at Indian
Point, up the Hudson, Saturday, August IL
William P. Mullen will again be master of
ceremonies, and there will be tennis, dancing,
swimming, a baseball game between married
and single men, various races for both men
and women and other events. The picnic
party will go up the Hudson on the steamer
Chauncey M. Depew, leaving West 42nd
Street at 9 :30 a. m. Dinner will be served
at Indian Point in the evening.
Theatre Officer Marries
OAKLAND, CAL.— D. P. Isabella, assistant man-
ager of the T. & D. theatre, was married last week to
Margaret Conners. Their honeymoon was spent in
Yoseraite Valley.
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
\^
SYNCHRONIZED PICTURES
Believe It Yourself
Some years ago we spent a summer
and winter selling stereoscopes and
sterescopic pictures. Selling them meant
another year in college for us, but that
is not the point here. The point is, we
sold those third dimension pictures by
making people believe that by looking
through the stereoscopes they were made
actually to stand on the spot where the
picture was taken. The third dimension
effect produced by the magic stereoscopes
actually enabled a country hired hand to
stand on the brink of the grand canyon
or to gaze at the wonders of the Taj
Mahal. By believing that ourselves and
making the prospect accept that, we sold
pictures.
The same thougth applies to selling
the sound picture. When an actor is
seen on the screen and his voice is
heard, the audience feels that that actor
is there in person. Capitalize this feel-
ing in your advertising. The sound pic-
ture is more than a shadow with a voice
coming out of a loud speaker. It is
more than an illusion of reality. It is
the nearest approach to actual personal
appearance that science can devise. It
is practically impossible to see and hear
George Bernard Shaw on Movietone
without having the feeling that you are
actually in his garden seeing and hear-
ing a flesh and blood G. B. S. Nor can
you sit through "The Jazz Singer" with-
out feeling that the blackface Jolson is
before you singing his mammy songs
in person.
Get this idea to your patrons. Believe
it yourself. Make him believe it. Then
you will sell the sound picture — the fea-
ture sound picture, the newsreel, the
vaudeville acts and the novelty — the
whole show. — Whit.
National Screen Service
Makes "Talkie"' Trailers
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW_ YORK, July 31.— National Screen
Service in collaboration with the exploitation
and publicity executives of Paramount and
Publix, have created a sound trailer on Rich-
ard Dix in "Warming Up" which is now
available for all theatres that are using the
sound version of this production. Experi-
mental and research work in the matter of
sound trailers and plans for sound trailers on
synchronized and talking pictures, are now
reaching a definite conclusion. The company
is now collaborating with First National.
Vitaphone to Open
Philadelphia Branch
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, July 31.— A marked in-
crease in the number of Vitaphone installa-
tions in the Philadelphia territory has led to
the announcement of the opening of a Vita-
phone branch office at 1220 Vine Street.
8 Legitimate Producers to Make
Talking Pictures of Stage Plays
By PETER VISCHER
NEW YORK, July 31. — The stage, which has suffered so long at the hands of
the screen, believes it has found the perfect defense. Plans are under way to
make synchronized talking pictures of the current stage successes on Broadway,
to be shown all through the country while the original legitimate companies are
still treading the boards in New York.
Eight New York producers of legitimate
drama are already in on the plan. Headed
by the energetic Al Woods and the cagey
Shubert Brothers, Lee and J. J., they have ob-
tained control of Vocafilm, a new device for
the reproduction of sound via disc, and in-
tend to start work at the earliest opportunity
to record their stage successes (and any
others that may be running) on film and disc.
The eight producers intend to start in, ac-
cording t© present plans, by photographing
and recording their plays right on their own
stages.
The result is to be released at once in Key
cities and any towns that have a vacant thea-
tre. Admissions not exceeding a dollar and
perhaps totaling only fifty cents are to give
the Hinterland all those plays New York is
talking about. In view of the fact that the
Shuberts own theatres all over the country,
and control many more, the plan is being
viewed with the keenest interest and curiosity.
They have been in long conferences on the
plan with such producers as Arthur Ham-
merstein, William A. Brady, Joe Gates and
others. If the plan works out successfully
with legitimate drama, it is expected that
producers of musical comedies will fall in line.
It is not impossible, then, that such extrava-
gances as the Ziegfeld Follies may be seen
on the road by means of the synchronized
screen. The scheme is being watched with
the keenest interest by all in the know, inas-
much as it is expected to affect seriously the
sale of motion right.
In view of questions such as this one, every-
one concerned with the plan is treading light-
ly. Vocafilm is to be distributed by Earle W.
Hammons, who is understood to hold a four-
teen-year contract with the disc device. He
hopes to supply short subjects to round out
any errtertainrrient that does not seem to be
quite complete in itself.
Warner to Make Talking
Tra Hers for a II Fea tures
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Talking trailers
for all Warner Bros, productions, including
road show productions, extended run pro-
ductions and the 18 "Warner Winners" will
be produced by Vitaphone for this season.
Fred Fox Promoted
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Fred Fox who,
has been an assistant director for some time
at the Warner Studio has been assigned by
J. L. Warner to one of the principal units
making Vitaphone features. This promotion
will make him first assistant to Bryan Foy
now directing "The Home Towners."
Two Spokane Houses
to Open with Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
SPOKANE, July 31. — An extensive expan-
sion program in the field of synchronized mo-
tion pictures for the Liberty and Granada
theatres is announced by Ray A. Grombacher,
director.
Installation of Movietone and Vitaphone at
the Granada and non-synchronous apparatus
in both theatres is under way. With these new
features, these houses will stage their first
"glorious talking movie season" on August 3,
opening with "Glorious Betsy," "Women They
Talk About" and "State Street Sadie."
First MGM Sound
Film Has Opening
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— The new Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer special, "White Shadows in
the South Seas," opened at the Astor Tuesday
evening with a gala audience. The picture,
made from Frederick O'Brien's book, was the
first Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture to be
made entirely with sound. It was enthusias-
tically received.
Tenderloin Keeps Going
Strong in New Orleans
After Four Weeks' Run
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, July 31.— Just four
weeks ago Saenger Theatres gave Vita-
phone its start in the Tudor theatre with
"Glorious Betsy" and that picture, though
not originally destined for so long a run,
is still holding forth. "The Jazz Singer" is
scheduled to follow, but just when it will
come in is uncertain for there seems to be
no waning of interest in "Glorious Betsy"
after four consecutive weeks.
Fox Movietone News
Opens in Loew's State
NEW ORLEANS, July 31. — Loew's
State will break into the sound picture
ranks on August 18, presenting Fox Movie-
tone News.
32
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Ausust 4, 1928
''Talkies " Give Birth to Many New
Words to Describe Actor's Voice
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31. — Every new invention brings into use a whole vocabu-
lary of new words, and this is especially true of the "talkies," which in itself is
new-born. Scientists at the University of Southern California have worked out the
first scientific terminology for the speaking voice, by which every shade of quality,
diction and accent is described by a specific word. And hand in hand with the
scientific terminology a new slang is being developed by the recording operators
to describe voices from their own angle.
For instance, when one "bloops," it means
that the voice has a sort of echoing quality
that causes the diaphragm to "blast" so that
the operator must carefully discover the dan-
gerous sounds and manipulate his switches
and controls at these points to overcome them.
A "sizzler" is one who in talking, generates
"S" sounds with his teeth ; a "rheostat voice"
is one that has to be toned down by using a
resistance or rheostat; the "juice sucker" is a
voice that whispers, and has to be amplified
by "giving the gun" to the electrical controls.
A "growler" accents the gutturals, and the
"corduroy voice" is one that wavers in inten-
sity, now loud, now low.
Is Your Voice "Dynaphonic"?
The scientific termination for "talkie"
voices, worked out by Professor W. R. Mac-
Donald, in cooperation with Dean Ray K.
Immel at the University of Southern Cali-
fornia, is something else again.
All voices that are capable of being re-
corded are classified as "dynaphonic" voices.
Jolson on Screen Sings
To His Real Mother
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, July 31.— A dramatic
scene was enacted at the Madison
theatre this week when Al Jolson,
star of Vitaphone's talking picture,
"The Jazz Singer," sang from the
screen to his mother the "mammy"
songs which have made him famous.
Jolson's parents. Cantor and Mrs.
Asa Yoelson, are vacationing at Mt.
Clemens, the town near here which
is famous for its mineral baths, and
were the guests of the Madison thea-
tre management to hear and see for
the first time their son in bis £rst
talking picture. Illness and a com-
bination of circumstances prevented
their seeing the picture before.
and this term, in studio use, will be a general
summing up of whether a player can appear
in "talkies" or not.
"In order to record," said Professor Mac-
Donald, "the voice must be able to exert
enough actual mechanical power to operate
the vibrating diaphragm. Hence a description
of such a voice would be a dynoacousmo-
phonic voice — and for practical purposes,
dynaphonic — or capable of exerting mechani-
cal power.
"In music we have always had words to
classify qualities of voice, as bass, baritone,
and so forth, but never before has it been
necessary to have definite terms for the speak-
ing voice. The necessity for listing voices
specifically for the "talkies" resulted in the
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios asking us to
work out a system, so that casting office rec-
ords can be complete. Outside of this, we
believe the new dictionary or terminology of
speaking voices will be useful to medical
science."
Terminology Based on Greek
The new terminology is based on Greek
roots. For instance, a deep voice is macro-
phonic, and a full quality is described as plei-
sophonic. A heavy voice is barophonic, a
light voice abrithephonic, and gradations in
between are all listed in different names, so
that a word can be found for any particular
type.
In voice tests made at the University,
Norma Shearer's voice was analyzed on the
telegraphone or electrical voice analyzing ma-
chine, and classified as follows : "Euphonic
allisophonic; diction eulexiphonic ; articula-
tion euarthrophonic."
"These terms may seem complicated at
first" declared Dean Immel, "but in use will
be very simple. Casting offices will have cards
with the terms of gradations of each quality,
pitch, diction, and so forth on them, and after
listening to a voice the casting director will
check off each term that fits it."
Among the odd words in the university's
new terminology for voices are such as "tra-
chophonic," implying roughness of voice;
plasmophonic, or the classification for fal-
settos, diaprusophonic, or piercing, compo-
phonic, or ringing. The longest word in the
new "voice dictionary" is "eudynoacousmo-
phonic," meaning superlatively ideal for re-
cording; the shortest word is "euphonic"
meaning easy to listen to.
Tiffany-Stahl to
Produce 10 Specials
With Sound Effects
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Tiffany-Stahl Pro-
ductions has announced that it will produce
ten specials with sound effects for the 1928-29
season. This step was decided upon at a
meeting of the company's executives last week
here.
The pictures decided upon to be synchro
nized include "The Toilers," a Reginald
Barker production already completed as a si-
lent picture ; four John M. Stahl special pro-
ductions ; three additional Reginald Barker
specials and two others to be announced.
English Group Get
Shares in Company
(Special to the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, July 31.— An English
consortium standing in close relations with
the British Brunswick and Duophone Com-
pany has acquired all the shares of the Vox
Company (talking films) and its daughter
companies in Frankfort, Breslau, Vienna, and
Amsterdam, and the German concern is to be
largely extended. British Brunswick are the
controllers of Panatrope, and are allied to
the new British sound film company, British
Phototone, Limited, according to the Depart-
ment of Commerce foreign bureau.
Close House to Wire
(S fecial to the Herald-World)
MILWAUKEE, July 31.— The Alhambra
theatre, Milwaukee, will he closed for a few
weeks, pending the installation of "talkies,"
according to the Milwaukee Theatre Circuit,
Inc.
Cover design for West Coast Theatres
house organ, Now, and what a timely
cover it is right now. There are several
good slogans here, but for YOU, the best
one is within the circle at the top of the
cover — "When your screen talks or sings,
SAY SO!" You'll do well to keep that
slogan before you and in your mind when
you are preparing every bit of advertising
and exploitation for the sound picture.
Fifth Atlanta House
May Be Wired Soon
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, July 31.— Four Atlanta the-
atres now have sound picture equipment, all
Western Electric systems. But even as the
fourth is announced a fifth looms up. This
time, the Cameo, the popular house with the
fixed policy of "bringing the big ones back."
Robert B. Wilby, who with Thomas G. Cole-
man, is joint owner of the Cameo, has satis-
fied himself that sound pictures are here to
stay. It was Wilby who revived Vitaphone
so brilliantly at the Metropolitan as soon as
that theatre came under his direction. He
did it with "The Jazz Singer." And he be-
lieves sound pictures will prove a boon to the
smaller theatres. He is backing his judg-
ment with his money.
Brin to Use Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
MILWAUKEE, July 31.— L. K. Brin, man-
ager of the Garden theatre, announces that he
has leased the Majestic theatre which is in the
same block as the Garden. Brin will remodel
the entire theatre and install Vitaphone and
Movietone in it as soon as possible. It is ex-
pected that the theatre will be ready to open
on September 1.
Second Paramount Sound
Film Opens in New York
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Paramount's second
picture with sound effects, "Loves of an Ac-
tress," starring Pola Negri, opened at the
Paramount theatre last Saturday. The syn-
chronization is similar to the Dix picture,
"Warming Up," there being no talking se-
quences in the picture.
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
33
Christie Men Evolve
New Scenario Forms
For Sound Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— With the
sweeping changes already brought about
by the advent of talking pictures, a new
problem has arisen within the industry, and
an interesting solution has been evolved by
Al Cohn and Henry McCarty who are re-
spectively writing the story and the con-
tinuity of "The Carnation Kid," according
to the Christie Film Company.
With director and players only to think
of in the production of silent pictures a
definite and characteristic form of scenario
grew up. About 15 years ago a style and
a form was evolved which, until the advent
of the talkies, changed very little if at all.
Suddenly a new problem has inserted it-
self into the situation. Technicians in
charge of the intricate sound recording ap-
uaratus must be thought of. They must
have interlocking instructions along with
the technical staff directly in charge of
the pictorial problems, it is said. Dialogue
must not only be added, but it is essential
that it be polished like the lines in a play.
The long and difficult period of sub-title
writing has been moved up. Instead of
looking at a finished picture and putting
sub-titles in afterward it is necessary to
look ahead and so write the story that the
picture will be absolutely finished when the
cameras stop turning, except for a very
little necessary cutting.
Write Story First, Then Sound
These aspects of the new situation and
these needs of a new production require-
ment have been solved in an interesting
way for "The Carnation Kid," the feature
starring Douglas MacLean which the
Christie Brothers are soon to make for
Paramount entirely with sound, according
to the Christie organization.
Al Cohn first wrote the story of "The
Carnation Kid." This original narrative
was then turned over to Henry McCarty
who wrote a scene-for-scene continunity
completely covering all pictorial action
from camera angles to fade out.
Then they started in on scene one and
worked out a complete sound script, line
for line and paragraph for paragraph to
match up with the action. All the spoken
lines were written for all the characters.
Sound effects accompanying the action and
the dialogue were minutely described.
Get Many Novel Effects
Especial attention was paid to fadeouts,
fadeins and dissolves of the pictorial action
and the accompanying synchronization. In
this connection many startling and unusual
effects have been planned. In one case, for
instance, the clickety click of a railroad
train going over the rails will begin a cres-
cendo before the actual picture of the train
dissolves onto the screen, and in another
the rumble of boat whistles will be heard
before the fog parts and the boat itself is
discerned in the mists.
Physically, the new scenarios will be just
twice the size of the old kind for the silent
pictures. The script for "The Carnation
Kid," which will probably establish a pre-
cedent due to its concise and efficient form,
has been evolved by McCarthy in this man-
ner: First he secured a bookkeeper's type-
writer capable of taking paper twice the
width of ordinary scenario paper. On one
side of the page the pictorial script w-<^
written. Then opposite each scene the aud-
ible accompaniment, the lines and the sound
effects were written in red ink. Blue car-
bon paper was used for the visual half
and red for the audible half to correspond
with the red and blue type of the original.
Thus in convenient and interlocking form
Richardson Continues
Sound School Series
F. H. Richardson, projection and
sound picture authority tor Exhib-
itors Herald-World, continues his
series of articles on sound picture
projection in this issue of BETTER
THEATRES.
This school on sound pictures, be-
ing conducted by Richardson, is prov-
ing of great value to all theatre men.
Already Mr. Richardson has beep
swamped by the response from his
initial article. It is the one authentic
source of information on sound pic-
ture projection to be found in any
trade paper in the industry.
the regular film technicians will have their
instructions as they are used to seeing
them. On the opposite half of the page
the new Western Electric technicians will
have a complete description of the results
they are to bring about. And the star and
directors will have both, easily discerned for
cross reference but with both scenic and
audible scenarios differentiated.
Lasky Forms Special
Department to Make
Short Sound Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— To supplement
Paramount's program of approximately 50
pictures with sound effects, plans for the or-
ganization of a department are being made to
produce short features with sound at the
Hollywood studios, according to an announce-
ment by Jesse L. Lasky.
This marks the first time in his career as a
producer for Lasky to create a department to
produce short reel and sound features. Many
of these one, two and three reel subjects will
be filmed in the California studios and others
are to be made at the Long Island plant in
New York. Coming with this announcement
is the fact that "Burlesque," taken from the
stage play, will be the first feature leneth all-
sound picture to be made in the Hollywood
studios by Paramount. Actual speech, songs,
musical accompaniment and sound effects will
be included in "Burlesque." Victor Fleming
will direct.
"With Paramount entering the sound pic-
ture field," Lasky said, "we will be active in
making short features which will be syn-
chronized with vocal and musical accompani-
ment. It is our plan to present a complete
show in sound, including stage unit produc-
tions similar to those offered at the bigger
theatres. Smaller theatres throughout the
country will be given entertainment they have
never been able to obtain.
"Short features of various types are to be
made. There will be comedy skits done with
vocal synchronization along with a thousand
and one other novelties I have in mind. Stars
from the New York musical cornedy, legiti-
mate and motion picture realms will appear in
them.
Perfect Device for
Filming in Motion
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Bryan Foy, pio-
neer Vitaphone director and supervisor, and
Edward DuPar, veteran Vitaphone cinema-
tographer, have perfected a device whereby
for the first time a traveling camera shot is
now possible in Vitaphone talking pictures
and several of them will be used in photo-
graphing "The Home Towners."
"Talkies'' Will Hurt
Many Ac tors ^ Say
Production Heads
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— "Somebody is
going to get hurt," said Harry Rapf, asso-
ciated producer of M G M, last week in a
speech to the Wampas. "It's the actor."
Rapf's words dealt almost entirely with
phases of the talking picture invention, al-
though he failed to deal definitely with the
foregoing statement. Rapf's statement is in
accord with beliefs of many producers in
Hollywood. Although none permits the use
of a quoted interview on the subject, many
of them will tell you that the actor more cer-
tainly than the writer or the director will be
required to acclimate himself to speaking roles.
The large following built up by each actor will
quickly melt away when the actor proves to
be a fraud in the flesh.
There are sufficient actors in Hollywood
who will prove all wool when voices are
heard. They are men and women whose
trainfng began on the stage. Alec B. Francis,
Lionel Barrymore, John Barrymore, John Mil-
jan, Conrad Nagel and Arthur Stone come to
mind firsthand. There are probably 250 or
300 of them in pictures who are somewhat
suited to big parts, according to production
men.
The other 10,000 "are going to get hurt."
They may go to school — but, they won't. A
few of them, such as Margaret Livingston,
Jacqueline Logan and Marie Prevost, are at-
tending voice school. One hundred and
twenty-five featured players are said to be
enrolled in these schools.
A few new schools have arisen in the crisis
and invite players to join them. But most of
the "10,000 actors" are of such a peculiar turn
of mind that they refuse to see the writing on
the wall. It is possible that they see it but
feel helplessly at the mercy of the same fate
that delivered them into the limelight.
Voice professors in legitimate schools have
told them voice training requires time and
study. Six months' courses are unguaranteed.
It takes six years of training to produce a
capable performer. Study is no more impor-
tant than experience.
Whether the public will want all "talkie"
pictures Hollywood wonders, but if the silent
pictures are to become passe many of the
screen's most popular actors are all washed
up. They have learned that the road of train-
ing is too hard and long and that it is ab-
solutely out of the question to expect their
voices to be faked. The faking can be done
theoretically but the process is practically un-
sound. There are places in Vitaphone and
Movietone pictures where a few words are
spoken by a trained voice and the camera ac-
tor plays dummy but it cannot be done with
satisfaction throughout a man's career. The
film company is not in favor of it first of all
and the dummy actor is held to such limits
that his career would soon end, it is said.
Sound Films Make
Debut in Memphis
(Special to the Herald-World)
MEMPHIS, July 31.— Sound pictures made
their debut in Memphis, yesterday, at Loew's
Palace theatre with Vitaphone and Movietone
accompaniment. The Palace has been equipped
with three systems. Movietone, Vitaphone, and
still another which makes operation of the
systems possible with films not specifically
designed for the purpose. Installation of
Vitaphone and Movietone at Loew's State
is now being arranged and will probably be
ready early in the fall, and with the opening
of the Strand next month, three Memphis
theatres will be equipped for sound pictures.
34
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
"The King of Kings," the Pathe-DeMille special, is the first picture to be shown with RCA
Photophone musical accompaniment and sound effects. When the picture opened at the
Rivoli theatre in New York with Photophone, this huge banner was used to tell New Yorkers.
MGM Leases Cosmopolitan
Studios; Signs Stage Stars
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31. — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has leased the Cosmopolitan
studios at 127th street and Second avenue, New York, for a term of years. Sound
and synchronized features will be made here, marking the first time this company
has begun production in the East. Stage stars have already been signed for
short subject production.
With the acquisition of the CosmopoUtan
studios it is believed that the company will
center a substantial percentage of its sound
picture activity in the East. While the
Culver City studios of M G M soon will be
physically capable for taking care of the en-
tire sound film product of the company,
nevertheless this move indicates special
production work in New York with metro-
politan stage talent.
No definite announcement as to the first
features to be produced here has been made,
"The Trial of Mary Dugan," may be the
initial production. Construction work is
now under way at the Cosmopolitan studios,
where there are two sound-proof stages
and facilities.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has already
signed a number of stage celebrities to
make Movietone shorts at the Cosmopolitan
studios.
The names are headed by Mary Eaton
and Oscar Shaw late stars of "The Five
O'Qock Girl ;" Louise Groody, star of "Hit
the Deck;" Eddie Allen, Keller Sisters &
Lynch, the close harmony trio, who have
appeared in revues, vaudeville and night
clubs; "Sunshine Sammy," one of the "Our
Gang" comedy stars; Mabel Wayne, com-
poser of "Ramona;" Walt Roesner and His
Capitolians, the Colonial Sextette, the
Arnaut Brothers an act well known to
vaudeville, now appearing for Loew; the
Locust Sisters, harmonizing quartet, and
Paul Tiejsen and His Orchestra, now ap-
pearing over the Loew Circuit.
These artists will be the first to engage
in production work at the Cosmopolitan
studios as soon as active work begins there.
Harry Rapf, MGM producer, arrives in
New York City this week for special voice
tests and possibly will assist in initial op-
erations at the 127th Street studio.
Hayakawa to Star
in Talking Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Harry Sebastian
has signed Sessue Hayakawa to star in a talk-
ing picture, "The Bandit Prince," from the
story written by Hayakawa. It is said that
technicolor will be used in many of the im-
portant sequences.
Herald-World Announces
Sound Special, August 18
Synchronization in all its phases
will be presented to readers of Ex-
hibitors Herald-World in the issue
of August 18. Watch for this spe-
cial sound issue. It will contain ex-
clusive stories on all sound picture
equipment, the latest news of pro-
duction and special feature articles
on exploiting and advertising the
sound picture. This special edition
will be of vital interest to every
man connected with the motion pic-
ture industry.
Warners Build New
$220,000 Sound Stage
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Erection of a
huge new steel and concrete sound-proof
stage to cost $220,000 at their Sunset Boule-
vard studio is announced by Warner Brothers.
Construction is going forward immediately, it
was stated, ground having already been
broken for the new building. The structure
will be the fourth erected by Warner
Brothers.
The new structure will measure 200 by 300
feet. Its main structure will be steel and con-
crete. Its interior will be sound-proofed to
prevent exterior sounds from entering and to
deaden all interior sounds unrelated to the
action being filmed. And at the same time,
its interior construction will be so arranged
and constructed that perfect recording will be
possible.
1000 Soldiers Will
Sing in U A Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— One thousand
voices of film soldiers will sing "La Marsei-
laise" in Movietone for D. W. Griffith's "The
Love Song," raising their voices in the din of
a battle that will be recorded in sound, ac-
cording to United Artists.
Another oral high spot in the production
will be the singing by Lupe Velez of Irving
Berlin's "The Love Song," written especially
for this production. William Boyd, Jetta
Goudal, Lupe Velez, George Fawcett and
Albert Conti already have been signed to ap-
pear in this new Griffith picture.
"Stark Mad" to Be
A Warner Special
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— J. L. Warner an-
nounced this week the title of another pic-
ture to be made soon at the Warner Studio as
a big Vitaphone feature with dialogue and
sound effects throughout. It will be called
"Stark Mad" and is adapted from a story just
purchased by the Warner organization.
Rialto, Columbus, to
Be Wired for Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
COLUMBUS, GA., July 31.— Roy E.
Martin, owner of the Martin chain of the-
atres here, announced this week the com-
pletion of arrangements for the installation
of Vitaphone in the Rialto theatre, located
in the heart of the business district in
Columbus.
Before the installation the Rialto will be
completely remodeled and redecorated. The
cost of installing the new talking equip-
ment, Martin, said, will be $20,000. Definite
date for installation has not been set, but it
is expected to get under way within the
next month.
Writes Dialogue
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— The first writer
to break forth as a creator of dialogue for
sound production on the Paramount lot is
Wells Root, former New York newspaper-
man, who was brought to Hollywood to write
Charles "Buddy" Rogers' first starring pic-
ture, "Varsity."
■HlUl
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
;35
Hodges Tells About
' Studio Methods in
Sound Production
By DOUGLAS HODGES
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— All pictures
with talking sequences are shot in their en-
tirety without sound, cut and titled before
the sound process is begun. Following a
preview the picture is taken into the sound
studio where the cast and director work
for 10 days or two weeks ordinarily.
Spotting it for the voice parts requires
comparatively little time. The film is cut
at the place where the title is spoken; the
insert is made and the film is pasted to-
gether.
In the case of "The Jazz Singer" Warner
Oland was required to sing "Kol Nidre."
He was unable to take the singing part
and the voice was borrowed from a trained
vocalist. Vocalists dislike to lend their
voices. They ordinarily demand that "the
pipes go only with the flesh."
The studio is heavily cloaked so that no
sound is emitted except the voice of the
speaker. The camera is heavily muffled so
that its purr is not heard.
In cases where the director forgets him-
self and shouts a word during the "take'
that word can be cut out as easily as if it
were quiet film.
If an actor makes a mechanical sound
while he is speaking, the sound cannot be
cut from the record without also cutting the
words. But recent inventions have made
it possible to cut the record almost as thor-
oughly as if the cutter were working with
film.
Fairbanks to Use
Sound; Shuns Voice
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Douglas Fair-
banks will use sound effects in his next
picture, "The Man with the Iron Mask," a
sequel to "The Three Musketeers," but
talking sequences will not be employed.
According to his representative, Fairbanks
has always felt that the motion picture,
because of its universal appeal, is a greater
medium of expression than the spoken
word, and that he does not intend to let
his use of sound impair the internation-
alism of his pictures.
Gloria Swanson to
Use Voice in Next
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31. — Both the
voice and sound effects will be used in
Gloria Swanson's next picture for United
Artists, tentatively titled "The Swamp."
Voice tests are now being made at the
studio and the leading man will be chosen
with suitable attention to his vocal ability.
The story is written and will be direced
by Eric von Stroheim.
'%ion and Mouse ^'
Opens the Vendome
(Special to the Herald-World)
NASHVILLE, July 31.— 'The Lion and
the Mouse" will introduce Vitaphone talk-
ing pictures at the Vendome, Loew's Nash-
ville house, August 6. On the same bill
there will be heard the Kentucky Jubilee
Choir, Fox Movietone News and Joe Cook
in Movietone.
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A Movietone motor driven camera and Movietone microphone set up for filming an effect
picture. The wee Scotch lassie is Madge Bellamy, making a scene for Fox's sound picture,
"Mother Knows Best." J. G. Blystone, seated, is directing.
Big Campaign Opens Sound in
Third Atlanta House; Record B. O.
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, July 31. — A new verdict in favor of sound pictures was handed
down last week at the Howard theatre where "The Lion and the Mouse" is ring-
ing up a mighty gross. All records for matinee attendance were smashed Mon-
day afternoon and the house played to overflow business Monday night. Tues-
day's box-office record showed but the slightest variation from Monday's, and the
picture goes on drawing audiences and winning praise.
Sound pictures are not new to Atlanta. The
Metropolitan's record established in that
house by "The Jazz Singer" during an eight
weeks' run which started late in February of
this year is unique in Atlanta's history. No
picture ever before played more than two con-
secutive weeks in any one theatre here.
While the Metropolitan was still going
strong with "The Jazz Singer" the Rialto had
Vitaphone and Movietone equipment installed
and started on its way with "Tenderloin."
More history was written. Both houses con-
tinue to feature Vitaphone and Movietone.
The brilliant record set by "The Jazz
Singer" at the Metropolitan, and the fine
showing established by "Tenderloin" at the
Rialto gave healthy stimulus to the Howard's
efforts.
Wherefore, when "The Lion and the
Mouse" was booked as the particular feature
which would give Vitaphone its debut at the
Howard the management went out to "put it
over." They made a thoroughly good job of
it, and without extravagance. The expenses
of the campaign were conservative. For one
thing, they were spared the pioneering work.
Vitaphone and Movietone were already fa-
vorably established here. So the Howard
theatre concentrated largely upon selling the
"talking" angle, the title of the picture, and
the stars. The greatest emphasis was laid on
Lionel Barrymore because of both his picture
and stage experience.
Exploitation for "The Lion and the Mouse"
included special lobby displays two weeks m
advance ; special trailers two weeks in ad-
vance ; William Collier, Jr., in the Vitaphone
talking trailer one week ahead of the opening ;
advance plugs in all newspaper ads starting
10 days in advance ; 40 block 24-sheets (type)
posted three days prior to the opening; 100
block three-sheets ; 100 block six-sheets ; 250
block one-sheets ; 75 block 22 x 28's ; 500 door-
knob hangers placed on store doors last Sat-
urday night ; a mammoth banner across the
main street ; and attractive one-sheets placed
in lobbies of all hotels.
Display ads in the newspapers Sunday pre-
ceding the opening gave the first big break in
that medium. On Monday there were signed
reviews, written as a result of a private
screening for the press.
Through a tie-up with the U. S. Navy one-
sheets were placed on the boards usually de-
voted to recruiting.
A piece of publicity that took on a more
personal atmosphere and made a decided di-
rect appeal was a letter announcing the en-
gagement with other appropriate references,
signed by the manager, Robert E. Hicks, and
mailed to the Howard's selected list of 4,000.
Additional advertising was obtained by
turning the lobby of the Forsyth theatre to
account. Although this theatre is now dark
the lobby is in constant use since it also pro-
vides the entrance to the Forsyth building and
the popular Forsyth soda fount. Two dou-
ble-sided banners proclaimed "The World's
Greatest Talking Picture, 'The Lion and the
Mouse'- — Opening Monday, Howard Theatre."
The huge electric sign on the top of the
Howard theatre building announced "The
Lion and the Mouse" with Lionel Barrymore
beginning Saturday night ; the marquee spelled
the feature in colored lights ; a special banner
under the marquee proclaimed the event
throughout the run.
36
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
(
WHERE THE
^^/uij^^l^^
ARE MADE
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
THE STUDIO
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
^'Hollywood:*
Sandrich Advanced to
Directorship of Feature
Length Films by Columbia
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Mark Sandrich,
who has for the past two years been known
as one of the best directors of short subjects,
having turned out an
entire program for
Educational and later
several special come-
dies for Fox, has
been elevated to a
full feature director-
ship by Harry Cohn,
vice - president in
charge of production
for Columbia.
For the past few
months, Sandrich has
been sought by sev-
eral studios to direct
features, but was un-
able to accept on ac-
count of his affilia-
tion with the Fox comedy department. With
the closing of that department he has taken
advantages of the opportunity to direct his
first feature.
Mark Sandrick
Sound Stage Is Now
In Making at Universal
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— With the an-
nouncement by Carl Laemmle that 18 features
on the coming year's program would be syn-
chronized construction has started on a sound
proof on the Universal lot. "Lonesome," the
special directed by Paul Fejos, will be the
first Universal picture to have dialogue and
filming of the talking sequences will be started
soon.
*' Drums of Araby" to
Be Next for Tom Mix
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Tom Mix; next
picture will be "Drums of Araby" and it will
be directed by Robert DeLacy, long known
for his achievements in the Western line as
the director of many box office successes star-
ring Tom Tyler. The picture is said to be a
gigantic effort which will cost more than a
quarter of a million dollars. Production will
begin early next week.
Lloyd Going Soon on
Location for His Next
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Harold Lloyd's
next picture will be "The Butterfly Chaser."
He will play the role of a bespectacled botan-
ist on the trail of evasive insects. It will be
the first Lloyd comedy to be made with sound.
Lloyd and his staff are leaving for location in
the mountains soon.
All Indie Lots Boasting Big
Stars; Seeking Pickup Money
Clarence Brown Begins "Woman of Affairs" for MGM; George
O'Brien Returns to Fox Lot After Four Months with
Warner; D'Arrast Completes "Dry Martini"
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 3L— Caste to the winds the big timers here are now-
adays anxious and willing to sign with any independent company for a two
weeks' engagement. Pickup money in the spare time is in demand.
The state right class of producers are taking quick advantage of the situa-
tion and they are producing pictures with starring values equivalent to Para-
mount, M G M or First National pictures in many cases.
Productions Are Shot in Two Weeks
Good directors are already in the employ of these same independent pro-
ducers with the result that only two differences in general remain between
independent pictures and major producers' pictures : The stories are handled
less carefully and the shooting time is two weeks on the average poverty row
production.
Alice Day, Belle Bennett, Ricardo Cortez,
Dorothy Sebastian, Gertrude Olmstead, Hedda
Hopper, are among the featured players who
were working in independent studios last week.
Among the biggest pictures which have been
started this week are "Gold Braid," "Little
Angel" and "A Woman of Affairs." Clarence
Brown's first work since "The Trail of '98"
began today with the Greta Garbo picture.
There is little expectation that "A Woman
of Affairs" will compare in magnitude to "The
Trail," but there are possibilities that Brown
will turn out a darn good box office picture
with the material he has at hand. The other
two are being directed by George Hill and
Sam Wood. Hill's cast for "Gold Braid" is
headed by Ramon Novarro, while Wood's cast
is in support of the star, Norma Shearer.
Arlen in Arzner Picture
Hollywood's noted woman director, Dorothy
Arzner, began one last week for Paramount
featuring Richard Arlen and little Nancy Car-
roll. The picture has not title as yet on the
Gloria Swanson's Disguise
Fools Studio Executives
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31. — The
story is going the rounds here of
how Gloria Swanson, disguised as a
country girl with a blond wig and
curls and an antequated suit, con-
sistently was refused jobs in a tour
of the studios with a magazine
writer.
Gossip says that at Goldwyn's an
executive termed her just a "gawky
country girl" and that at another she
was advised to get back to Indiana
while there still was a silver lining
to her purse.
boards;, but the director, supervisor and
scenarist are toying with three or four that
may be decided before our next issue goes
to press.
This week marked the return of one of
Fox greatest box office attractions, George
O'Brien. He has completed his cinematic as
well as Vitaphone sequences in Warner Broth-
ers' "Noah's Ark" and is now working in
"Fog" under the direction of Charles Klein.
Klein is the man who attracted no little at-
tention nine weeks ago upon the presentation
of his $50 picture, "The Tell-Tale Heart."
Paul Stein is the director of "Show Folks"
which was completed last week at the De Mille
studios. In the featured roles are Lina Bas-
quette, Eddie Quillan and Robert Armstrong.
D'Arrast Completes Astor Film
Harry D'Arrast completed six week's work
on the picture, "Dry Martini" Saturday. It is
comedy throughout with D'Arrast touches,
such as those which have made him famous
at Paramount, all through the story. Here,
instead of directing Florence Vidor and
Adolph Menjou, he is directing Mary Astor
and Matt Moore with Albert Gran in a major
supporting role. Gran is the funny fellow in
"Four Sons" and "Seventh Heaven." It is
a Fox production and has had good reports
from local previewers.
Another comedy completed last week is the
MGM piece, "The Sin.Ie Man." Harry
Beaumont is the director and Lew Cody and
Aileen Pringle provide the comedy stuff.
Universal completed a number of pictures
last week, most noteworthy of which was "The
Last Warning." One was a Bill Cody; one a
Ted Wells; and one a Bob Curwood.
Frank Capra dismissed his cast for "Into
the Depths" Saturday, when the Columbia pic-
ture was completed. It is the same opus that
Irvin Willat started a couple of months ago.
Willat withdrew before the picture was com-
pleted, but many of his brilliant ideas are
said to remain in the story.
38
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
Qrauman to Reopen Chinese Theatre
August 3 with ^^White Shadows^^
M G M Picture Starring Monte Blue to Have World Premiere; Jack
Warner, Harry Rapf and Sol Wurtzel Speak at Wampas Meeting
By DOUGLAS HODGES
HOLLYWOOD, July 3L— Sid Grauman arrived at a conclusion if not a
solution to his Chinese problem this week when he booked Metro-Gold-
wyn-Mayer's "White Shadows" to open an engagement August 3 at
the Chinese theatre on Hollywood boulevard. Sid's chief concern for three
months has been the crowds that the Warner Brothers theatre has been draw-
ing away from the Chinese, a couple of blocks west, and also lack of product
on the market.
'y*HE full title is "White Shadows of the
^ South Seas." It is the filmization made by
M G M when a film company packed its
equipment to the tropical islands several
months ago with the stars, Monte Blue and
Raquel Torres. The entire picture is said to
have been made on location.
While the house has been dark it has under-
gone the regular renovating made necessary
by a year's continual usage. It closed its doors
a month ago, shortly after the Warner thea-
tre opened.
* sji sii
Rapf and Warner Entertain
The last Wampas meeting was given over
to the West Coast for the entire entertain-
ment, according to previous announcement.
That did not account for the speeches made
by Harry Rapf or Jack Warner.
The latter made one of the rambling variety
for which he is best known and liked. He
•was exceedingly cordial to the publicists as
well as visiting reporters of Variety, Film
Daily, and legitimate newspapers, inviting
them all to the Vitaphone studios any time
they choose. Especially anyone who would
like to know the inside dope on the Vita-
phone process was invited to drop in and get
wise to the modern methods. He promised
that the service would be prompt regardless
of the hour of day, and that 8 :30 in the morn-
ing would find someone at the door to take
excellent care of you.
Harry Rapf's chief statement in a much
more serious speech was that this era of
sound pictures has caused him as well as
dozens of other producers to lose many
nights of sleep. It's a precarious period, he
said, and somebody is going to get hurt.
The actor is due for a dangerous stretch.
Sol Wurtzel, Fox executive, followed the
others. "The other speakers have covered the
entire ground," he said. "There is nothing
for me to say."
^ ^ ^
Mark Sandrich Gets There
In the news columns is a story about a
young director named Sandrich. Mark Sand-
rich is one of the most ambitious' young men
in Hollywood. His promotion to direct fea-
ture length pictures follows two years of con-
centration on pictures and picture making.
Paint 'Em Blue to Make
'Em White, New Film Plan
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Each
white article that appears before the
camera is now stained a rather dark
blue, about the same shade as the or-
dinary blue cotton work shirts, under
a new color scheme credited to 01-
lie Marsh, M G M cameraman. The
plan is being applied in John Gil-
bert's "The Mask of the Devil." For
the old arc lighting system, it is ex-
plained, yellow or pink colors pho-
tographed white, but the softer in-
candescents cause a slight reflection
even of these.
He has had no "luck" to speak of. But he
has kept his nose to the wheel with the logical
result that he is getting there.
"Playback" Conies Into Use
Players and directors are becoming accus-
tomed to a new word in Hollywood. On a
parallel with the word "rushes" comes the
word, "playback." After the voice recording
sequences are made actors and directors re-
treat to another room where the record is
played. If the voice of the actor has been
heavy or the diction bad the scene is recorded
again.
An interval of only five minutes elapses be-
for the record may be heard.
* * *
Harold Beaudine, who has directed for
Christie Comedies for five years, is leaving
that organization for a free lance career.
Wood Urges Exhibitors
To Go Slow in Placing
Sound Film Equipment
(Special to the Herald-World)
COLUMBUS.— P. J. Wood, business man-
ager of the M.P.T.O.O., in a letter sent out
to certain motion picture theatre owners in
Ohio who had inquired concerning the sound
films, warned these owners to go slow in plac-
ing equipment for sound films in their the-
atres.
He declared no one knows whether sound
films are interchangeable, that exhibitors are
obligated to install improvements and to pay
maintenance charges, that an additional
amount must be paid for synchronization
rights to a film, and that the devices are sold
to everyone.
Preparations Started
On ''Broadway" by U
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Carl Laemmle,
Jr., stated today that "Broadway" prepara-
tions have been started and that a director of
the calibre of Griffith, Henry King or Vidor
is to be engaged. -
June Collyer Returning
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— June Collyer is
expected to return to Hollywood, August 2.
Her trip to Europe for Fox "Chasing Through
Europe," was called off when she arrived in
New York.
Henabery on Denny Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— "Red Hot
Speed," Reginald Denny's next picture for
Universal, will be directed by Joseph Hena-
bery, who has been prominent for a number
of years in the comedy field.
He Said It With Bricks,
Now With Fine Phrases
(Special to the Herald-World)
COFFEYVILLE, KAN., July 31.
— Many years ago a boy in this town
asked John Tackett for a job in
Tackett's "hay barn" theatre. He
asked five times and was turned down
five times. The boy then proceeded
to throw rocks through every window
in the house. Time passed. The
other day Tackett opened his new
Tackett theatre here. The editor of
the Coffeyville News gave Tackett
and his theatre one of the greatest
send-offs a newspaper ever has given
a theatre or an exhibitor in Kansas.
The editor of the News was none
other than the dirty faced boy who
had broken all the windows in Tack-
ett's theatre years ago. After those
windows had been broken it seems
that Tackett had an attack of kindly
sentiment towards the youth and gave
him a job, the boy becoming Tackett's
assistant. Later he became editor of
the News.
Buck to Make Personal
Appearances With Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Buck Jones left
Hollywood last week for the East, where he
will make personal appearances when "The
Big Hop" makes its first public appearance in
New York, Brooklyn and Philadelphia. "The
Big Hop" is Buck's first picture as a star-
producer and has already been sold through-
out the United States.
Don McElwaine, his business manager,
arrived in New York, Sunday, to close deals
for foreign releases. Buck is driving from
Hollywood to Vancouver, where he will leave
his car and continue to New York on the
Canadian Pacific.
''Street Angel" Plays
Third Week at Roxy
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— "Street Angel," the
William Fox special production of Neapolitan
romance directed by Frank Borzage, with
Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell in the star-
ring roles, is playing its third week at the
Roxy theatre. In its first two weeks at popu-
lar prices at the Roxy, the second highest rec-
ords for attendance and receipts were re-
corded.
The figures of the first week, exceeded only
by the world's record held by "What Price
Glory," revealed an attendance of more than
160,000, with net receipts of $126,000. The
second week kept pace with the first.
Jolson to Play Both
In Films and on Stage
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Al Jolson, whose
second Vitaphone is now in the final stages of
filming, has just signed a long term contract
with Warner Brothers. Jolson will not give
up the stage, but will make trips to the studio
in Hollywood at required intervals.
Belasco Fetes 69th Birthday
NEW YORK. — David Belasco, theatrical producer,
has just celebrated his 69th birthday.
— Then the Honeymoon
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Mr. and Mrs.
Edward Halperin are en route to New York
on a belated honeymoon. They will visit a
number of exchange cities in conjunction with
Henry King's production, "She Goes to War,"
which is being produced by Halperin and his
brother for Inspiration, and which will be re-
leased through United Artists.
August 4, 1928
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
The Roach Studio Folks Qo Qolfing
OCCASION again
arises for the
presentation of
filmfolk in the serio-
comic roles of golf
tournament players.
The one before us now
is the private links
party of the Hal Roach
studio, and doubtless
this serious business
offers extraordinary re-
lief to contestants
whose life is just one
comedy after another
for M G M's program.
The tournament was
held at the Riviera
Country Club near
Hollywood.
Charlie Chase, comedy star,
with the cup he donated
and also won.
What's wrong with this picture? Stan
Laurel, star comedian, gets his billiards
and gowf a little confused, it seems.
George Stevens, cameraman,
plays the 13-ball in the side
pocket — er — But let it pass!
H. M. Walker, veteran comedy
title writer — and we can't
think of a single gag for him!
As Robert McGowan, the vet-
eran director of "Our Gan^'
comedies, looks in his togs.
Another director of long stand-
ing with the Hal Roach organ-
ization, the huge Arch Heath.
Even the adjectives were ab-
jured for the day by Ray Cof-
fin, studio publicity director.
And the mighty casey struck
out — Oliver Hardy, star come-
dian, trying a Babe Ruth.
Another cameraman who
reeled off a few million feet of
footwork — Len Powers.
As stated, this is serious busi-
ness. Hence, this "shot" of
Ed Kennedy, contract player.
And finally, for space permits
no more of this interesting
meet James Parrott, director.
40
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
Y^
THE SHORT FEATURE
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department^
"Little Pictures with the Big Punch,** which has presented news, reviews and exploitation on
short features and serials.
Exhibitor Giving Short Film Half
Of Ad Space Asks Better Comedy
Short Product a Necessity in Modern Complete Program, Says P. G. Held —
Frank E. Sabin Agrees but Wants Improved Product —
Just Mentions Shorts in Paper
An exhibitor who gives his short comedies equal exploitation with the long^
features — . Another exhibitor who merely names the comedy, title and star in
his advertising — . These two, in letters to this department, present widely
diverging ideas on the publicizing of short product.
Both Ask for Better Comedies
Both make the same plea, however, and that is for better comedies — funnier,
cleaner and more entertaining, one granting that comedies "are the hardest
entertainment to make."
P. G. Held of the Strand at Griswold, Iowa,
is the theatre owner who believes in placing
the short comedy and the long feature on an
absolutely equal basis in his paper.
Vital to Complete Program
To him the short product is vital to the
balancing of a finished program, stating his
creed in these words :
"I think funny comedies and late newsreels
are a necessity nowadays to make any picture
program complete."
In his appeal for better product in this field,
Held goes on:
"The great fault I find nowadays with the
comedies is the producers don't take enough
pains to make them funny, clean and interest-
ing. Only about three out of every ten com-
edies we run nowadays are up to the standard
and are funny. The other seven are mere
iillers.
"I have played one and two-reel comedies
and never heard a patron laugh. That shows
plainly that so many of the comedies are not
comedies — they are mere fillers.
"I wish someone would produce comedies
that are funny, clean and entertaining. It
would be one of the greatest helps to small
town exhibitors."
Sabin Makes Same Appeal
Frank E. Sabin of the Majestic theatre at
Eureka, Mont., while praising the newsreel,
makes the same comment as Held, regarding
the quality of the comedies, but Sabin does not
give his short product more advertising than
simply naming the stars and the titles. His
policy he describes as follows :
"I am down to but two changes per week
now. On one of these I show Pathe News
and find it a very good drawing card.
"Am using Pathe two-reel comedies on my
other change. These run 50 per cent good and
I could class them only as fillers, as the fea-
ture's the thing.
"If one could be assured of first-rate com-
edies they would, undoubtedly, prove a valu-
able asset to one's program. But, as you
know, they are the hardest entertainment to
make so we take what we can get.
"I have tried the 'all-short' programs, but
they do not register, except with the kids.
"In my advertising, I merely name the star
and title of the comedy."
Now then, other exhibitors, do you agree
withHeld in allotting 50 per cent of his ex-
ploitation to the short feature, or are your
views similar to those of Sabin, who just
names comedy and star? Do you agree with
them that the short feature can be an invalu-
able part of the program? Do you agree
with them in their appeal for a higher stand-
ard of comedy production?
The columns of this department are wide
open for your use, in informing your fellow-
exhibitors of your experiences and conclusions
for constructive showmanship.
Newspictures
KINOGRAMS NO. 5416— John Mears and C. B. D.
Collyer break "round world record" circle the globe
in 23^ days — Babe Ruth hits two home runs to
thrill his sister — 16,000 join in great singing fes-
tival at Reval, Esthonia.
INTERNATIONAL NEWSREEL NO. 60— Tunney
is still champion, knocks out Heeney in 11th round
— Peter Hesselbach remains aloft for 57 minutes in
motorless plane — Spectacular scenes as fire razes
6 oil tanks at Wood River, Illinois.
FOX NEWS NO. 88 — Home state welcomes Hoover —
Peter Hesselbach sets a record for motorless glid-
ers, stays aloft for 57 minutes — French-Spanish
tunnel is opened by rulers.
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. 1— College songs and
cheers greet Hoover home — Gene Tunney retains
World Heavy weight title by knocking out Heeney
in nth round — Packet Chris Greene defeats Betsy
Ann in revival of paddle-wheel classic.
PATHE NEWS NO. 63— Gene Tunney retains world
Heavy weight title — College greets Hoover home
with songs and cheers — Liquid Gold burns in $500,-
000 blaze at Wood River, Illinois.
M G M NEAVS NO. 100 — Gene Tunney keeps Cham-
pionship title, knocks out Heeney in 11th round —
Peter Hesselbach keeps motorless plane aloft in air
for 57 minutes— Old-time steamboats in stirring run
for Ohio's speed crown.
Releases
WEEK OF AUGUST 5
EDUCATIONAL— "Felix the Cat in The Last
Life," one; "Kid Hayseed," Big Boy-Juvenile,
two.
F B O — "Mickey's Babies," two ; "Joyful Day,"
Standard, two; Newslaff No. 25,- one.
FOX — "The Elephant's Elbows," Animal, two;
"The Lofty Andes," Fox Varieties, one.
PATHE— "The Yellow Cameo," Chapt. 10, two;
"The Terrible People," Chapt. 1, two; "Our Lit-
tle Nell," Aesop Fable, one; "The Supper Sex,"
Sportlight, one; Fathe Review No. 32, one; Top-
ics of the Day, No. 32.
UNIVERSAL— "High Up," Oswald, Snappy, one;
"Newlyweds' Anniversary," Snookums, Jtinior
Jewel, two; "Scarlet Arrow," Chapt. 10, two;
"McGinis' vs. Joneses," two; "The Ranger Patrol,"
Western, two.
WEEK OF AUGUST 12
EDUCATIONAL— "Goofy Birds," Bowers, two;
"He Tried to Please," Collins-Hutton, Cameo,
one; "The Peep Show," Hodge-Podge, one.
PARAMOUNT— "Stop Kidding," Christie-Vemon,
two.
PATHE — "The Terrible People," Chapt. 2, two;
"Sunny Italy," Aesop Fable, one; "His Unlucky
Night," Bevan-Dent, Sennett, two ; Pathe Reriew
No. 33, one; Topics of the Day No. 33, one.
UNIVERSAL— "King of Shebas," Snappy, one;
"Tarzan the Mighty" No. 1, Adventure, two;
"Busting Buster," Stem Bros., two; "The Getaway
Kid," Western, Curwood, two.
WEEK OF AUGUST 19
EDUCATIONAL— "The Fighting Orphans— Eve-
ning Mist," Bruce Outdoor Sketches, one; "Just
Dandy," Drew, Mermaid, two.
F B O — Newslaff No. 26, one.
FOX — "Her Mother's Back," Imperial, two.
PARIAMOUNT— "The Dizzy Dive," Christie-Dooley,
two.
PATHE — "The Terrible People," Chapt. 3, two;
"A Cross-Country Run," Aesop Fable, one;
"Canned Thrills," Sportlight, one; "Smith's Res-
taurant," two ; Pathe Review No. 34, one ; Topics
of the Day No. 34, one. ■;
UNIVERSAL — "Hot Dog," Oswald, Snappy, one;
"Tarzan the Mighty" No. 2, Adventure, two; "She's
My Girl," Stern Bros., Let George Do It, two;
"The Ruse," Western, Perrin, two.
WEEK OF AUGUST 26
EDUCATIONAL — "Wedded Blisters," Lupino-Boyd,
Tuxedo, two ; "Troubles Galore," Collins-Ruby Mc-
Coy, Cameo, one.
PARAMOUNT— "Hot Scotch," Duffy, Sandy Mac-
Duff, Christie, two.
PATHE— "The Terrible People," Chapt. 4, two;
Aesop Fable, one ; "The Chicken," Deluxe, Sen-
nett, two; Pathe Review No. 35, one; Topics of
the Day No. 35, one.
UNIVERSAL-^"A Hurry Up Marriage," Harold
Highbrow series, one; "Tarzan the Mighty" No. 3;
Adventure, two; "Husbands Won't Tell," Mike and
Ike, Stern Bros., two; "The Danger Trail," West-
ern, Newton House, two.
Paramount Sets 4 Dates
for Actor-Author Series
Release dates set by Paramount for the
first four of the Great Actors and Authors
series are as follows : Irvin S. Cobb's "Walls
Tell Tales," August 4; Rita Weiman's "Two
Masters," Sept. 8; Rupert Hughes' "The
Dancing Town," Oct. 27, and Edna Ferber's
"The Home Girl," Dec. 1.
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
PRESENTATION ACTS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World Department,
"Stage and Pit"
Careful Staging of Shows Necessary
STAGE SHOWS
Hollywood Warner
Week Ending July 22
Larry Ceballos revue, "Over the Garden Wall,"
with James Burroutfhs, Leonard St. Leo, Lyda
Robert!, Tommy Atkins Sextet, Tut Mace and the
Carsons, with the Warner Girls, offer an exceptional
presentation. The program is handled in musical
comedy style, no master of ceremonies, but with ac-
tion intermingled with clever dancing and entranc-
ing music.
The show opened with the Tommy Atkins Sextet
singing "Over the Garden Wall," six girls appearing
at the chorus over the fence, the boys going through
the gate on the finish, continuing the singing as
six more enter from the sides of the stage. The
girls then do a short dance while the garden wall
slides to the sides revealing a large garden, where
several girls in afternoon dress are reposing.
Leonard St. Leo and Tut Mace do a song number
which the girls dance, the Tommy Atkins Sextet sup-
porting the musical number of "Oh Baby," while St.
Leo does an acrobatic specialty.
The Carsons next entered doing a fast whirlwind
dance to "Golden Gate." The Sextet and Lyda
Robert! followed singing "Dawn of Love" with
strains of "My Heart Stood Still" at the end, the boys
and girls doing a line dance.
The "serpentine" dance with the 24 beauties took
a great hand. Their spangle suits with wonderful
lighting effects added much to their reception. They
were forced to take an encore In front of a drop
to calm the patrons.
Jimmie Burroughs followed and with the aid of
four of the girls sang a song which was illustrated
by the different girls appearing in garb representing
the seasons. This was a great number and well done.
The drop was next raised displaying the six boys
and six girls as spooners sitting on pillows. A
light appeared on each couple as they sang a line,
which was followed by the complete group going into
a dance number. They took a good hand for a
clever routine.
Entering into the finale, the troupe started off
with Tommy Atkins Sextet and the girls singing
"My Heart Stood Still" dividing into twos, fours
and eights, with each principal on the bill doing a
specialty. As a closing number, the projection ma-
chine gave flashes and the cast left the stage in a
train, appearing as though they were shadows. This
was one of the outstanding highlights of the bill and
the presentation closed with a heavy hand of ap-
plause.
The bill was much above the average and coupled
with high class talent and exceptional lighting ef-
fects the bill was 100 per cent. Larry Ceballos de-
serves commendation for originality.
Philadelphia Fox
Week Ending July 28
An' arrangement of Fritz Kreisler's "Rhythmic
Rhapsody" gave the drummer of the Fox orchestra
an opportunity to show his dexterity and he captured
a large share of the honors of the evening. It is
quite an acrobatic feat to attend to all the instru-
ments allotted to him and he makes a rasping sound
Murray & Alan
You've all heard of the Howard Brothers, well,
these are not the famous Howard Brothers
but they are really brothers — Murray & Alan
are their first names and are well known to
the theatrical profession as such — before going
into presentation work, the boys were one of
the feature doubles over the Keith & Orpheum
Circuits — they are now making their second
tour of Publix.
by tearing a piece of cloth to hie own and every one
else's enjoyment.
The Midsummer Syncopation Gambol featuring
Fred Rich and His Hotel Astor Orchestra offeied an
enjoyable program. A cool, summery stage setting
with Japanese lanterns, a rose covered pavilion and
sparkling fountains at the sides of the stage, together
with the refrigerated air of the theati'e, almost de-
luded the audience into believing themselves at some
pleasant summer resort.
Helen Werley, strutting debutante, was literally
draped with rhinestones. She lay aside her head-
dress and cape and gave a wonderful exhibition of
muscular control as she bent her body into almost un-
believable postures. The audience burst into ap-
plause several times before the finish of the act.
The orchestra played "Angela Mia" from "The
Street Angel" and one of the tenors came to the
front of the stage and sang it very effectively.
Freddie and Eddie proved themselves very capable
unison tap dancers and Jackie Heller, playing his
own accompaniment on the ukulele, sang "Because
My Baby Don't Mean Maybe," whose appeal lay in
its wording rather than the musical quality.
{Continued on next page)
Papa! Papa! Papa!
Perhaps that headline also should have said,
"Mama, Mama, Mama," but, frankly, we
don't believe that Zenohia Doreen can say
either as yet. In other words, this is to an-
nounce that Mr. and Mrs. Turner (he of the
Coronada theatre, Rockford, III., organ) are
the proud parents of a lovely little girl. And
as Ray says, "In case the name fools you,
it's a girl."
Specialty Acts
Alone Will Not
Make a Program
Policy Has Opened New Fields to
Writers and Producers
By A. RAYMOND GALLO
Producing picture house stage presen-
tation is as much of an art today as
producing successful musical comedy
shows. The only difference between
the two is the fact that presentation
allows only one hour or less for the
entertainment to take place while the
other can be explained in two and a
half hours which composes an evening's
entertainment in the legitimate theatre^
Careful staging of scenery and costumes is
just as necessary to put over stageshows suc-
cessfully in picture houses as it is in musical
comedy.
Requires Substantial Show
When presentation first began to see the
light of day some 200 weeks ago, many
thought that all it required to put on a show
was a band on the stage with a few specialty
acts and a leader who could also act as a
master of ceremonies. It was not very long
before it was found out that picture house
goers were not easily satisfied with just a
mere average vaudeville bill and the chain,
circuits soon realized that in order to keep,
their theatres filled something more substan-
tial had to be done with picture house presen-
tation.
So, it was the beginning of a new era when
Paul Ash started his stage bandshow policy
in Chicago which two years later spread all
over the country like wildflower. Since then
there have been considerable changes made in
this form of entertainment and each change
is bringing the new policy closer to being sub-
stantial as a part of motion picture theatre
entertainment which now can easily be classed
as a standard policy.
Shows Profit to All
The policy opened new fields to hundreds
of writers and producers and it has been
especially good to musicians and stage artists.
The music business has profitted considerably
with this new branch of the show business, \
profited to the extent that what was once con- :
sidered a waste of time and money is now the
most important source of exploitation popu-
lar songs or any other type of songs' can
secure. It has also made the music business.
42
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
substantial in this respect — that many theme
songs published for motion pictures of the
same name are gaining popularity through the
double exploitation and really increase the
value and sales of sheet music and mechani-
cals.
Costumers who at one time catered only to
a limited field and amateur theatricals now do
the bulk of their business with musicians who
form stagehands and the performers of the
presentation show. Tw'o of the most popular
costumers who lead in this field are Brooks
Costumers of 1437 Broadway, New York, and
the New York Costume Compam^ of 75 West
Lake street, Chicago. Both now specialize in
equipping complete stagehands and presenta-
tions as well as house attaches.
Employ Own Designers
Nearly every deluxe theatre of note like the
Roxy or the Paramount in New York, also
has its own designers on the staff and a
complete technical staff including scenic art-
ists who conceive and design the settings and
execute them according to the creation of the
producers.
This new department has caused the motion
picture theatre to be completely revolutionized
where today more than 5,000 deluxe theatres
present some form of stageshows that employ
over 50,000 musicians and nearly 25,000 per-
formers who have a solid route of 100 weeks.
It is quite a business and every department
works hand in hand with the other. Any
business that can employ as many people as
mentioned above and which can entertain
more than 25,000,000 people a week through-
out the country and still keep a smile on the
treasurer's face, is no small thing to sniff at.
STAGE SHOWS
{Continued from preceding page)
Caffrey and Miller were good in acrobatic dancing,
hand turns and somersaults complicated by twists
and turns. They are masters in their line and the
one who played stupid brought down the house by a
rapid succession of somersaults as a climax.
The orchestra then played "Dolly Dimple," with
Bich doing some rapid fingering of the piano.
Mirth Mack, dressed in black and white, sang "Get
Out and Get Under the Moon" in the usual "blues"
manner but her fortune lies in her feet rather than
in her voice, and her dancing and handt^lrns made a
bigger hit than her songs.
Cy Landry was back with a clever line of wit and
nonsense and his inimitable loose jointed dance in his
loose suit of clothes never fails to please.
Seattle Seattle
Week Ending July 27
Joe Jackson, famed pantomime tramp, and his in-
valuable bicycle furnished the comedy in "Sun
Shades," which is also the final Publix stageshow
in the Pacific Northwest.
Others in the revue and who received their share
of the applause were the Wainwright Sisters — Mary,
Madge and Muriel — ^pretty harmonists, a trio hard
to equal.
There was also Max and "his gang" of a half
dozen gingery fox terriers exceptionally well trained.
Another team who go well together are George
Griffin, tenor, and Rosette, toe dancer.
Allen K. Foster assembled a number of really pretty
dancing girls who made a nice finish to the bill to
the music of Sam Wineland and his band, and who
acted as guest master for this particular show.
P. S. — Jimmy Walker, the famous New York mayor,
was here and admits writing a new song to take
the place of "Sidewalks of New York," called,
"Give the Old Home Town a Hand."
Chicago Oriental
Week Ending July 28
"Pacific Breezes" is the name of the Oriental
show this week, but what's in a name since the
Oriental show continues to be a one man proposition,
and Kvale is that man. Talent at the Oriental is
hitting a low ebb these days, necessitating Kvale
carrying everybody, and without Kvale, this week's
show would be a flop. But besides. Kvale the stage
setting is good, being a pretty Pacific Island scene
with mountains in the background. The band is
placed before a high garden wall. The show opens
with somebody singing a short song as the ballet
girls in gi-ass skirts do a short Hula Hula.
Al enters in a skirt draped around his waistline and
leads the band through "On the Road to Manda-
lay." The unusual arrangement and the Gang's fine
playing make this a real number, which gets a good
hand. Al next announces two young fellows who
do a short song and then go into a tap dance to-
gether. Their next is one of those ice skating af-
fairs that is just about as good as any of them.
Then they give a burlesque prize fight in tap and
slow motion. Really quite good, especially so be-
cause of the Tunney-Heeney fight.
Thelma Edwards, in a Hula girl costume, sings
"South Sea Moon," then goes into a Hula dance.
Well, this is a total loss. Then comes another band
number, "Losing the Blues," with the ballet in crazy
Hula costumes shaking a lot of hay. Fairly good
number, but nothing extra. Ruth Durell follows,
singing, "There's Something About a Rose That
Reminds Me of You," and "Last Night I Was
Dreaming."
Al next introduces a young lady whom he calls
Helen, and tells the fans that she is his first find.
The band plays, "My Baby Don't Mean Maybe." Al
plays his clarinet, much to the enjoyment of every-
body, and then Helen comes on to sing it. She
follows with "You're a Real Sweetheart." and closes
with "Give Me a Little Kiss." Al's find gets several
encores and seemed to please the audience.
Earl and Bell follow with their songs and steel
guitar playing. Their first is "My Darling," and
they follow with "Just a Melody." Al helps them out
with a lot of impromptu stuff on his clarinet. They
get a big hand for this. Then the two give "Where
Do You Worka John," which is said to have been
originally introduced by them. This gets a good
hand.
The show closes with Ruth Durell singing as the
ballet girls pose in the background and a scrim
above discloses several of them posed as angels in
a sky of glimmering stars. A really pretty finale
spec.
LASSITER BROS.
The ORIGINAL BOYS From
"OLD IRONSIDES"
Cleancut Comedy and
Acrobatic Dancing
Now Featured in "ROMAN NIGHTS"
Touring PUBLIX THEATRES
Direction — Wm. Morris Agency
fianc & Warren
Max Turner
Chicago
Harry Lenetska
New York
New York Paramount
Week Ending August 4
"Babes on Broadway" with Paul Ash and the
stagehand, was witnessed this week by the New
York reviewer while suffering from vacation sun-
burn, and opens with the scene "In the Forest" —
the wood nymphs portrayed by the Gamby-Hale Girls,
the Queen of the Forest by Electa Havel, the Babes
by the CoUette Sisters, and Mr. Manhattan by Paul
Ash.
"On Broadway" follows with the rising of the
curtain, and Fred Bernard does his "correct imper-
sonation" of Al Jolson, adding talent in the way of
dancing.
The Misses Larkin, Fursa, Love and Baker in
English costumes, present their "Three Musketeers"
dance, fencing and sword-play the theme of the
number. Four musketeers to make it even.
Ash gives his imitation of somebody imitating
Ash, and the stagehand plays "Chili-Pom-Pom-Pee."
A very good impersonation of Ash.
Helen Honan offers her impersonation of George
White, in an original tap dance that clicks with
unusual appeal.
The CoUette Sisters as themselves, offer a cute
sister number, singing and dancing and a little
acrobatic work. Nice little team.
Helen Honan presents her idea of how "Charlie
Chaplin" would dance, if Charlie Chaplin could dance,
and we all get the idea very nicely.
Robert Amibruster, a young recording artist, puts
over the concert waltz by Friml, partly played by the
record, and partly by himself, — a good novelty, as-
sisted by the stagehand.
Du Gallon, monologist on the balancing ladder,
does some very good talking and business with
Ash, also offers his imitation bit, by his man and
woman chasing a street car. Easily the hit of the
show.
Sally Starr as Ann Pennington, offers a very lively
dance on the style used by the latter-named star, and
completes the program with the exception of the
finale, which is done to the tune of "It's Getting
Hotter on Broadway" and taking in Sally Starr, Fred
Bernard, the Gamby-Hale Girls, Helen Honan, and
the CoUette Sisters.
Indianapolis Circle
Week Ending July 28
Dick Powell's stageshow this vpeek is called "Keep
Cool." He contributes a song or two to the program
and is joined in one nimnber by Eddie Allen, a new
soloist, who also plays the banjo in the state orches-
tra. Eddie and Dick do very well together. Others
in the cast are Helen Kennedy, a delightful blues
singer ; Linden and Farrum, eccentric dancers ; Doyle
and Schirmer, cowboy funsters ; Dotson, a dancer and
the Circle Comets.
Milwaukee Wisconsin
Week Ending August 3
Richy Craig and His Gang stage a "Midsummer
Revue" this week which is very good. It's different
from the usual because a running platform is built
out around the orchestra and some of the actors
perform there. The scene opens with a king, clad in
royal robes, listening to the jokes of a jester and
watching the Barri Girls do a clever dance. Naughty
jokes is what makes the king laugh is what is re-
vealed. The jokes are told by Richy.
Lydia Harris then comes out and sings a number
of songs, among which are "My Kid," "Get Out
and Get Under the Moon," "That's My Weakness
Now." She putfi them over well and the crowd
likes it.
Next is a telephone scene. Richy, Jackie Rich-
mond, Lydia Harris and a Bebe Barri Girl enact it.
Crossed wires, deceptive husband, deceptive wife, and
all that stuff. It gets a laugh, too.
Next is Paul Howard, the boy who sure can dance
while twisting himself into lots of funny positions.
He's well liked and gets a couple of encores. This
boy can sure catch fleas with his left foot. A good
number.
The Barrie Girls then dance "The Glowworm."
The scene is at night, with stars blinking and lights
blinking, representing glowworms. It's good and gets
lot of applause. Richy and His Gang then play
"Tiger Rag." It's pretty snappy and the boys siu-e
work, but the crowd likes it and calls for more.
Emerson and Baldwin then do a lot of funny tricks,
imitating Frenchmen. It's a good act and goes over
fine. These boys are really humorous. Then come
the MitcheU Brothers, two clever boys with the
banjo who play a. n'umber of i>opular ditties. They
UNIFORMS
FOR HOUSE
ATTACHES
COSTUMES
FOR STAGE
PRESENTATIONS
BROOKS
1437 Pway
N. Y. Oty
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
get lots of applause. The Milwaukee crowd likes
banjo playing. A vei-y fine program, snappy and
short. The finale is the orchestra back on the stage
and the Barri Girls dancing.
Chicago Chicago
Week Ending July 29
Naturally, Waring's Pennsylvanians was the show
at the Chicago this week. You had to ask for no
more. This writer — or scribbler — won't even bar
Whiteman when he says that Waring's is the tribe
that does its stuff 100 per cent.
It came on with "Wobbly Walk," doing this lively
piece in song and band. The men were stationed on
steps to back stage, which proved an effective layout,
especially for color.
You could ask for nothing better for the next
selection than "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life," by the
great composer, Victor Herbert. The color play on
the orchestra during this piece was beautiful, with
lavender and green lights blending, and then fading
into a pink with an amber spot on the soloists.
The effect was one of those things you can't describe,
but you can describe it by that much worn word,
wonderful.
"Ice Cream" gave the clever drummer of the outfit
a chance to gurgle lyrics with his throaty and funny
voice. He's a real asset to the band.
In "Tin Pan Parade," the stage darkened. Then
as the lights came up it revealed the orchestra
wearing cockades and harmonizing (ouch) on the
well known tin plates of the army mess with forks
and knives. It wa£ a great laugh.
A green and lavender lighting effect was thrown
on for "Was It a Dream," Waring soloed through
the piece, and then was joined by the band for some
good harmony.
"Goodby Broadway, Hello Montreal," brought forth
some jazzy notes, some harmony and a lot of laughs.
And as a finale the band gave a noval rendition of
"Dancing Tambourine." With a dark stage, the or-
chestra participated in what you might call a cales-
thentic drill with lighted tambourines.
The Waring band is a clever and versatile outfit
and is a complete show in itself, although on the
bill also was the Publix unit, "Swanee Moon." Jack
North, the banjoist, was outstanding in this act.
Detroit Michigan
Week Ending July 27
An elaborate stage presentation and an amusing
screen play marked the Twentieth Anniversary Cel-
bration on' the Kunsky organization at the Michigan
this week.
In addition to the regular program, Jackie Coogan,
beloved boy of the movies, made his first stage ap-
pearance. His father assisted him in an entertain-
ing combination of dance arid patter.
Little Jackie, one of the cleverest actors who ever
graced the silver screen, showed a personality that be-
lied all those luking beliefs that he would turn out,
in. real life, to be a pampered, obnoxious little prod-
igy. WTiile he didn't do a great deal, what he did
do was entertaining and sufficed to prove that he is
a real kid.
The regular Publix stage show was "Sunny Skies,"
produced by Paul Oscard. Frank Beaston, the smile
master, conducted the show, in which the Pedro
Rubin Girls showed some fine ensemble work.
William Robyn sang the name piece of the show,
"Sunny Skies," in which he was assisted by the
girls in a jingle dance, and then a comic number,
"Heaven Help a Sailor." He has a fine voice.
Bobbie Gilbert, violinist with the Michigan Syn-
copators and a newcomer to Beaston's gifted group,
won' tremendous applause with his tricky fiddling,
and there was Maurice Colleano with a good stunt
and a bit of dancing to offer.
One excellent number was entitled, "The Mari-
onette Show," featuring Georgie Hayes, the Pedro
Rubin Girls and the gifted Mr. Robyn. The latter,
it seems, sports the nickname of "Wee Willie."
Arthur Gutow at the organ and Eduard Werner
and his Michigan symphony orchesti-a had special
numbers and helped to make the anniversary cele-
bration a good one. The picture was "Home
James," with Laura LaPlante.
San Francisco Granada
Week Ending July 26
Arabia dominated the stage at the Granada this
week and the stage a(it, aptly billed as "Araby,"
brought out some of the most delicious of the
haunting melodies inspired by the Far East. The set-
tings were beautiful and the members of the or-
chestra were garbed as Arabs, adding to the effect.
The curtain arose on the orchestra in full action
and lie Albertina Rasch Girls soon made their ap-
pearance going through a lively desert dance which
filled the stage with veils.
Frank Jenks, master of ceremonies, the boy who
capitalizes his funny face, introduced the "Wonder-
ful Trio," colored dancers, who tripped the light fan-
tastic in varied forms and how, getting a great
hand. This was followed by a descriptive band num-
ber, offered under the name of "A Fishing Trip on
the Sahara Desert." Storm, sunshine and the prowess
of the Fishermen were depicted in realistic fashion.
The Three Gicrsdorff Sisters, who were at once easy
to look upon and to listen to, offered "Sunshine"
and "Baby's Blue." One missed their music on
brass arid reed instruments which featured their
appearance in vaudeville, "Araby" not permitting a
full display of their talents.
Rita Owen, introduced as the "Queen of the
Arabian Desert," proved a burlesque queen and won
a good measure of applause with her novel songs
and grotesque dances. She was followed by the
Albertina Rasch Girls in a typical Arabian dance.
Leroy and Vann, introduced as two big butter and
egg men from Oklahoma, furnished a good comedy
act, playing on brooms, bellows and saws, arid offer-
ing a rube song that pleased.
The Three Giersdorffs sang "Sing Me a Song of
Araby" and the act came to a close with the dancing
girls posing in bizarre costumes against a brilliant
background.
voices and the way she puts over her songs is no-
body's business. She's a cute trick.
Hall and Esley danced, and Subil Sanderson Fagan
whistled prettily. The Capitol Girls had some new
and elaborate numbers and of course the Capitolians
provided tha nxusical background with their usual
skill.
Samuel Benavic and his symphony orchestra had
a pleasing and finely played overture entitled, "Com-
posers and Moods," and Don Miller provided a spe-
cialty on the organ.
Detroit Capitol
Week Ending July 27
Lou Holtz, star of many musical comedies, was
the leading light of Del Delbridgc's show at the
Capitol this week.
Lou was good with either jokes or songs and he
had plenty of both to offer. The crowds liked Lou,
and many thousands of them took advantage of the
chance to hear and see him at popular prices, in-
stead of having to pay the usual $4.40 to see and
hear him in one of the elaborate revues in which he
usually is found.
Earl LaVcre did some good work on his accordion,
but devoted most of his time to kidding, most of
which was amusing. Blair Stewart, a tenor, was
heard in several pleasing numbers, and Evans and
Perez proved to be out of the ordinary equilibrists,
doing some really remarkable tricks.
The song lesson for the week was "Sugartown
Stomp," or at least something like that, as done
by little Doris Rue. Doris has one of those blues
New York Capitol
Week Ending August 4
"Greenwich Village," the new Boris Petroff stage
revue, uses the "Pirate's Den" for the scene of the
activities, featuring Walt Roesner as the master of
ceremonies.
There are several band selections running through
the revue, arrangements of popular current airs, in
which the "boys" take active part, one of which is
"I Cannot Help Loving That Man" and cornet solo
played by Roesner.
Val and Ernie Stanton, the "English boys from
America" are featured in the revue and offer their
big-time standard talking, yodeling, imitating novel-
ties with harmonica and ukulele playing work.
Addie Seaman, sensational dancer, appears in a
whirlwind tap and toe number.
Frank Stevcr, the Capitol's baritone, offers several
solo numbers with the band.
Mortimer Chadbourne, tenor, sings several popular
numbers among them being the well-known compo-
sition by our New York Mayor, Jimmie Walker,
"Cheerio."
Edna Sedley, personality and "blues" singer, offers
the story of a colored man who is tired of life and
is ready for the river. The number could be titled
"Ready for the River."
The Chester Hale Girls offer three chorus 'dancing
numbers. The finale was very dazzling and bril-
liant, enlisting the entire ensemble.
Salt Lake Capitol
Week Ending July 28
The Capitol presented the Fanchon and Marco
"Bird Ideas" this past week, a colorful and original
sketch featuring the "Sunkist Orioles."
The costumes and stage settings were very beauti-
Dick Marjorie
MAXWELL and LEE
^'The Most Versatile Dance Team of the Age'"
Now 'Alf Way to England
on Aquitania
For Triumphant Tour of Continent
(Doing Our Stuff for the Approval of the British Isles)
Direction
WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY
New York Chicago Los Angeles
McNEIL SMITH
Featured Organist
MARQUETTE Theatre, CHICAGO
Photoplay and Solo Specialties
ULDERICO MARCFUJ
MUSICAL CONDUCTOR
BAIABAN&KATZ
Uptown and Tivoli Theatres, Chicago
'Jl'
44
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
ful and created a striking background for the dance
and song numbers featured.
Fox and Harris, two gifted comedians, offered some
laugh provoking entertainment. Armanda Chirot
and Jose Mercado, featured songsters, scored a hit
with their numbers.
Beauty and harmony were well blended in this
stage presentation which was made cosnplete with the
Capitol theatre orchestra, ' recently taken' charge of
by Ralph Pollock, who succeeds Dave Good (High
Hat Harry) as director, and the artistic organ
interpretations of Alexander Schreiner.
The feature picture shown in this connection was
"Hot News" starring Bebe Daniels, and very good
business was enjoyed, especially considering the mid-
summer weather.
Kansas City Mainstreet
Week Ending July 27
"Melodyland" was the title of the stage presenta-
tion at the Mainstreet, featuring Davidson's Louis-
ville Loons, playing an extended engagement as the
stageband. Harlan Christie, who knows how and
when to sing, was featured in conjunction with the
band.
Then there were Charles Derickson, young dramatic
tenor, and Burton Brown, the young concert pianist,
who were featured in a number of their latest songs.
Walter Nilsson rides a one-wheeled bicycle and keeps
the audience in a state of fidgets with the chances
he takes.
Morley and Anget have a skit that includes a num-
ber of jokes and witty lines. Louise Massard is a
cute girl who sings baby talk to Little Fritz. She
can sing, too. Moran and Grauman dance nimbly
and rapidly, which is little short of wonderful when
HENRI A. KEATES
'The Organist Who Put Community
Singing on £0^^^ the Map"
fMm
Oriental Theatre, Chicago
one considers the length of their sideburns. They
do a slow motion picture prize fight which is good.
The Louisville Loons render popular seleotione as an
overture.
St. Louis State
Week Ending July 27
Nat Nazarro offered as the stage attraction "Jazz
Ahoy" with Howell and Harger, Moore and Shy and
Maxine Lewis as the principal entertainers.
Walter Hiers the screen comedian, made a personal
appearance in conjunction with the stageshow. He
can talk as well as act. He's sitting pretty as far
as sound pictures have gone.
Virginia Futrelle's fine soprano voice was also a
very pleasing feature of the week. Edith Wright
Gordon was also featured in connection with the or-
chestra directed by Kirk Frederick. The overture
wafl "Chopiniana."
St. Louis Ambassador
Week Ending July 28
On the stage Ed Lowry offered a Publix novelty
"Kat Kabaret" in which he sang a few songs him-
self, much to the delight of the audience. Others
prominent in the stage show were: Karenoflf and
Maree, adagio dancers ; Felix and Maria and the
Patterson Twins, also dancers ; the Hearst Brothers,
songsters, the 16 Albertina Rasch Girls and the
Ambassador Chorus.
Irving Rose directed the orchestra in a "Show
Boat" overture.
Indianapolis Palace
Week Ending July 28
The stage program provides come interesting num-
bers, including the presentation of the Dixie Four.
Negro singers and steppers, a pair of dancers with a
more classical leaning, and Jimmy Ray, who prances
in an eccentric way and Joseph Regan, an unusually
good picture house tenor. The Palace Girls, the
orchestra and Dusty Rhoades add their bit to the
program, which has a high entertainment value
this week.
Has Story on Crime
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Ten years of
study in this country and Europe of criminals
and the various phases and origins of crimi-
nality, especially with reference to juvenile
crime, has resulted in an original screen play,
entilted "Haunted Lives," which Felix Orman
recently completed. The author is now nego-
tiating for its production.
MILTON SLOSSER
Solo Organist
Fifth Year at the
MISSOURI THEATRE, ST. LOUIS
LOSAYS
5onie-tbing
about
Everyone
Jay Shreck batting for the bride-
groom with the assistance of Ed Daw-
son, Russ Russell, Harold Daniels and
other good souls.
The "bridegroom," as you all know, refers to that
well known young man, A. Raymond Gallo, who lost
his head two weeks, stepped bravely (yehl) before
the altar and then hied himself with his bride to
Colorado. . . . And we know you wouldn't blame
Ray for losing his head if you knew Mrs. Gallo. . . .
Al Seegaard, the slide manager at Berlin's, is doing
the natural thing and getting sunburned while vaca-
tioning. At least, it's a safe bet there are a few
blisters and a coat of tan. . . . And also heaving
a sigh of relief from workaday worries is Joseph
McKeown.j manager of Marks Brothers Embassy. Joe
is a wise, and we hoi>e not too careful, boy for he
chose the Canadian border for bis days of leisure.
Why explain?. . . . Jack Fink is being welcomed as
manager of the Terminal theatre in Chicago. Jack
hails from Norwich, Conn. . . . Mrs. Harold Daniels
and the pride of the family, Dorothy, are spending
a few days away from the fireside and are permitting
hubby and daddy to do his own cooking. They are
at Henry, in the beautiful Illinois river valley. . . .
And speaking of the Daniels, Howard, organist at the
Buckingham, has had his Kiddies Matinee club tied
up with the Chicago Evening American's "Just Kids"
Safety Club, and has made an achievement of it.
.... Ambrose Larson is being heard over WHT,
Chicago, these days, if you happen to have good
tubes in your radio. . . . Rumor has it that Al Car-
ney is in vaudeville, and should we say "doing a
turn" for the better?. . . . And it seems we just
can't stay away from vacations. Benny Cohn, man-
ager of the Frolic in Chicago, and his former or-
ganist, Fleming, are said to be enjoying themselves
in the Black Hills of South Dalkota. We'll take
their word for it. . . . Verne Buck, dapper MC of
the Sheridan, and his cellist. Earl Salisbury, are
planning on a sojourn sometime, somewhere. . . .
Norma Ballard is also doing matinee concerts at the
Granada in Chicago. . . . And now we'll step out
of the picture, hoping that Ray and his bride will
have returned to the old homestead in time to catch
the next issue.
Holmes' Son with P F L
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Phillip R. Holmes,
son of Taylor Holmes, has been signed by
Paramount to work in a Buddy Rogers pic-
ture.
Theatre Manager Dead
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Harry J. Walker,
manager of the Belasco theatre, died at his
home Saturday.
Solos and Community Sings
BOB BILLINGS
Solo Organist
CRYSTAL THEATRE, CHICAGO
RAMON BERRY
Solo Organist
Second Successful Season
ALAMO THEATRE, CHICAGO
SUNSHINE
SAMMY
"OUR GANG"
Star and his
little brother
CHARLEY
Now Featured
over
Marcus Loew
Circuit
Direction — Abe I. Feinberg
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
45
OOi
'Si
1 1
nor
(Ql\
';i
Poeeibly the youngest orchestra leader, in regard
to years, is Peter Van Steeden, who is holding down
the job at the Palaie D'Or restaurant here in New
York, during B. A. Rdfe's absence. When the
trumpet player, par excellence, returns. Van' Steeden
and his orchestra are slated for one of the big ho-
tels here in New York. His radio trademark is very
distinctive, inasmuch as he usee a chorus of "Say It
With Music" for both his opening and closing num-
bers on every program.
» * •
The music business today is threatened with a
scarcity of arrangers. The good arrangers can be
counted on' your fingers, and when you stop to real-
ize that the music publishers get out approximately
16.000 songs a year, you can very plainly see the
necessity for more good arrangers. A young chap
by the name of Phil Wall, who recently arrived here
from Boston, is rapidly coming to the fore along
these lines. His work is being recognized rapidly and
it would not surprise me in the least to find him
among the first five arrangers in due time.
« « «
Just to show you that some organists are not
afraid of anything, when they have nothing to do,
they get married ! George H. Latsch, premier organ-
ist of the Stanely theatre in Jersey City, recently
married Miss Esther I. Newcombe, who is also pre-
mier organist at the Orpheum theatre in Jersey City.
They were married on Friday, July 13 (what a day!).
Possibly, this combination may develop into another
"Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Crawford," or some other
"premier" combination.
• • •
And as I mention the name of Jesse Crawford, I
wonder if there are many of you who realize his
perseverence. I have seen Crawford practice at his
organ at the Paramount theatre. New York City,
from 1 o'clock in the morning until 7 a. m. At
times he will spend two hours just to perfect pos-
sibly a certain 8 bars or so, or a quick change of
combinations. It is needless to say that such per-
severance, ambition and stick-to-it-ness has certainly
rewarded Crawford.
• • *
Benny Sclvin, the musical director of the Colum-
bia Phonograph Company, also conducts one of the
big hours over the NBC system. The broadcast to
which I refer is the O'Cedar Shining Hour.
« « «
W. C. Polla, versatile arranger and also the writer
of "Dancing Tamberine" and many other hits, is
another conductor making a name for himself over
the NBC system. Bill's baton is waved during the
broadcast by the "Flit Soldiers," which features
Corporal Billy Jones and Sergeant Ernest Hare.
« * *
The "Seiberling Singers" (Revellers Quartette) are
on a concert tour in Europe. In their place on this
very popular hour is Frank B4ack, conductor of
the Seiberling Orchestra, featuring Phil Ohman and
Victor Ardn, without doubt one of the greatest two
piano teams in the world.
• * *
It is rumored that one of the professional men
connected with Irving Berlin, Inc., is contemplating
going into the music publishing business on his
own. These new publishing ventures are quite the
vogue and the majority of them are doing very
well, so the more the merrier! I am just wonder-
ing, however, what will eventually happen to the
bigger music publishing firms when the time comes
that almost every song writer or professional man'
will have his own business.
• * *
Within the next few weeks, I intend to have a
lot of fellows in the music business who you are
familiar with pinch-hit this column for me. I am
sure they ■will have very interesting things to say
and it will be all worth while reading.
• • *
Pardon me while I slip down to Long Beach for
a nice swim in the ocean, a good dinner and a good
cigar !
j^anm ^'
bAJW;
ORGAN SOLOS
Milton Charles (Chicago Chicago) again gave a
solo of the highest type, choosing for this week,
"Thannhauser," through which he introduced "Eve-
ning Star." Charles always draws — or most always
— a big hand at the Chicago.
Harold Daniels (Chicago Buckingham) used a
clever novelty called, "A Trip Through Organland,"
giving a detailed demonstration of the Buckingham's
beautiful organ. For a finish he had his gang sing,
"My Pet," "Last Night I Dreamed You Kissed Me,"
the new Weil hit, "Don't You Remember Sally," and
"That's My Weakness Now." The solo was a show
stopper. Daniels specializes in community sing
stunts.
Ed. Fitch (Chicago Sheridan) "Making Whoopie"
was the title of his organ solo this week and in-
cluded the following numbers : "Was It a Dream,"
"Keep on Smiling," "Last Night I Was Dreaming,"
"Constantinople" and "Sweet Sue." Ed.'s solo ex-
plains the special ingredients for making "Whoopie."
Johnny Devine (Chicago Patio) featured "Two
Lips" as his lead song this week. He also used,
"Happy Go Lucky Love," "Laugh, Clown, Laugh,"
and "Sunshine." Devine's songfests always call for
an encoi-e. The one he used this time was "My
Pet."
Don I sham (Chicago Embassy) offered an original
novelty organ solo this week in which he used com-
edy slides and comedy versions to some of the popu-
lar numbers he played. "Constantinople" was the
most popular of his numbers and the audience forced
him to take two encores on this number.
Jan Sofer (Seattle Columbia) spent some four
weeks devising a lyric investure to fit the strange
situations in the German-made production, "The
Strange Case of Captain Ramper," and rendered a
classic. He drew on nearly 400 different pieces of
music for his "Rami)er" interpretation.
Don Moore (Seattle Seattle) presented an unusual
musical offering called, "A Friendly Tilt," which was
rendered with the assistance of Arthur Clausen and
the grand orchestra, and which helped materially
the screen offering, "The Racket."
Karzas Sued for Million
In State Theatre Bombing
Andrew Karzas, owner of two Chicago ball-
rooms and original lessee of the State theatre
at Hammond, Ind., bombed last November, is
named in a $1,000,000 suit filed by Harold A.
Moore, trustee.
Moore, through Attorney Joseph B. Flem-
ing, holds that Karzas is still responsible to
him for the condition of the property though
Karzas declares that he conveyed the lease to
B & K and B. F. Lindheimer. William Klei-
hege and three others were sentenced recently
in connection with the bombing.
DEAN STEVENSON
And His Boys
Featured at the
Marshall Square Theatre
CHICAGO
9tato59l8
54W.DjndolphSt
Oliica^o
inglUIMOns
51? SA
atou-fe
Songs
"Ramona" — (Leo Feist).
"You're a Real Sweetheart" — (Leo
Feist).
"Last Night I Dreamed You Kissed
Me"— (Leo Feist).
"Girl of My Dreams" — (Jack Mills).
"Beloved" — (Irving Berlin).
"Was It a Dream" — (Harms).
"My Angel" — (DeSylva-Brown &
Henderson).
"Just Like a Melody Out of the Sky"
— (Donaldson-Douglas & Gumhle).
"Laugh, Clown, Laugh" — (Remick).
"Get Out and Get Under the Moon" —
(Irving Berlin).
"Thafs My Weakness Now" —
(Shapiro-Bernstein).
"Chlo-E"— (Villa Moret).
"Constantinople" — (DeSylva-Brown &
Henderson).
"Rosette"— (Milton Weil).
"Too Busy" — ( ).
OUT OF THE DAWN (Donaldson, Douglas &
Gumble)^ — The theme song of the first sound picture
made by Paramount which is "Warming Up," star-
ring Richard Dix. From New York reports this
song is a big seller through the plug it gets in this
picture. The writer and publisher is the famous
Walter Donaldson.
• • *
UNTIL YESTERDAY (Harms, Inc.)— A pretty fox
trot by two well known writers, one of them being
of the Coon-Sanders Orchestra and the writer of the
recent waltz hit, "Beloved." Should be heard from.
By Benny Davie and Joe Sanders.
» • •
WILL THE ANGELS PLAY THEIR HARPS FOR
ME? (Ted Browne Music Company) — A dramatic
ballad that is different and a song that will no doubt
sell in the hilly billy country where they always go
for this type of song. Both writers are local boys.
By Walter Hirsch and Monte Wilhite.
» * •
SWEET LORRAINE (Jack Mills, Inc.)— A fox trot
tune that will depend strictly on orchestras. A
lyric that fits this melody. Words by Mitchell Par-
ish, music by Cliff Burwell.
« * •
BLESS YOU SISTER (Waterson', Berlin & Snyder)
— A semi-Spiritual song by the writer of the big
hit "Just a Girl That Men Forget." The melody
writer will be remembered for his "Mary Lou."
Words by Al Dubin, music by J. Russel Robinson.
• * •
AN OLD ADOBE (O. Ditson Company)— The writer
of "Marcheta" has written a song on that type.
It's an excellent number and will no doubt develop
into a standard song. Words and music by Victor
L. Schertzinger.
• • •
HE'S OUR AL (Broadway Music Corporation) —
The first song published boosting Al Smith for
president. We will no doubt have a lot of cam-
paign songs but as this is the first, should get all
the breaks as far as selling is concerned. Words
and music by Albert Von Tilzer and A. Seymour
Brown.
• * •
JEANNINE I DREAM OF LILAC TIME (Leo
Feist, Inc.) — A waltz song that is the theme of
"Lilac Time," featuring Colleen Moore. It seems like
these theme songs are all the rage now. One of
the writers is responsible for the lyrics of "Ramona"
and the melody writer is well known as a Victor
artist. Lyric by L. Wolfe Gilbert, music by Nathaniel
Shilkret.
• • •
JUST LIKE A MELODY OUT OP THE SKY (Don-
aldson, Douglas & Gumble) — The first of the Donald-
son publications by that well known' writer, is com-
ing along like a big hit. With this staff this new
firm will be among the leaders before long. By
Walter Donaldson.
X^/9.
46
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
Orpheum Circuit to
Pat up 3,000 Seat
House in Winnipeg
(Special to the Herald-Woild)
WINNIPEG, July 31.— Plans have been pre-
pared for the erection of a big Orpheum thea-
tre in Winnipeg, it is intimated. The site will
be close to the Hudson Bay Company's stores
and the new house will seat more than 3,000
persons, the cost being $1,250,000. Other Or-
pheum Circuit houses are slated for other
western Canadian cities in a general building
program, it is understood.
The Stanley Company is spending $100,000 m re-
modeling the Metropolitan Opera House m Philadel-
phia for silent and sound pictures. . . . The merger
of two theatres at Mt. Pleasant, Tex., with the pur-
chase by S. G. Fry, owner of the Palace, of the lease
and equipment of the Titus theatre from East Texas
Theatres, Inc., has been made public. . . . The State
theatre at Pawhuska, Okla., opened recently with
Fred Cisman manager. . . . Fred Smith's new theatre,
the Circle, opened at Tulsa last week. . . . Tiffany-
Stahl has opened its new branch office at Oklahoma
City with Roy Avery manager. . . .
i^ ^ ^
The Palace theatre at Blair, Okla., recently de-
stroyed by cyclone, is being rebuilt. . . . Edward (_r.
Kadane of Frederick, Okla., will take over the Royal
and Rialto theatres in Clinton. . . . Jack Johnson
has taken over the Royal at Marshall, Okla. . . .
Mrs O. F. Moore has taken over the New theatre
at Konowa, Okla. . . . Griffith Brothers will take
over the New theatre at Konowa, Okla. . . Gnttitii
over the old and new Empire theatres at Altus, Ukla.
. Christian and Russell have taken oyer the
Palace theatre at Turkey, Texas. . . , . R. A. Kirk
has opened his new theatre at Strmgtown, Okla.
. . Leonard Bishop, manager of the Hollywood
theatre, Detroit, has been appointed manager of the
Tivoli theatre at Hamilton, Ontario. ...
Hyatt Brothers of London, Ontario, are starting
at once the erection of a $100,000 theatre there. . . .
The Broadway theatre, Portland, Ore., has begun its
roadshow policy with "Street Angel." ... A new
$50,000 theatre will be built at Milan, Tenn . . .
Barney L. Cohen is the new manager at the Jefferson,
Philadelphia, succeeding Russell Cotter, who resigned.
. Twenty thousand dollars is being spent on
remodeling the VVishart theatre, Philadelphia. . . .
C. R. Stanley is again manager of the Bell theatre,
Philadelphia. ... It is announced that the Motion
Picture Guild will open a little theatre in Philadelphia
for the showing of so-called "art films." . . . The
Benn theatre, Chester, Pa., has been taken over by
Jacob Gorshov. . . . The Colony theatre. Brant Beach,
N. J., owned by Jarry Colmer, opens August I. . . .
The Principal Theatres of Northern California has
taken over the Monache theatre at Porterville. . . .
The San Jose Theatres, Inc., has been incorporated
with a capital stock of $25,000 by Enno Lion, T. S.
Cooper and Emma E. Williams. . . .
The Golden Gate Theatre and Realty Company has
arranged to erect a moving picture house at Hanford,
Cal. . . . The Imperial theatre in San Francisco has
been remodeled and reopened with a policy of first
run pictures and five vaudeville acts on a weekly
change basis. . . . Samuel H. Levin has announced
plans for the erection of a 2,000 seat house in San
Francisco. . . . Charles E. Kurtzman is back again
as manager of the Granada theatre, San Francisco.
. . . Work will begin at once on a $100,000 seat
house in Pittsburg, Cal. . . . G. H. Coates has been
made temporary manager of the Saenger theatre. New
Orleans, succeeding A. E. Chadick, who resigned on
account of ill health. . . . Al Raleigh has taken charge
of several houses in Olympia, Wash. . . . The
Colonial theatre, Eugene, Ore., has reverted from
Percy Garrigues to the Western Loan and Building
Company. . . . Among the new firms on Seattle's film
row is the American Film Corporation, successors to
Western, Deluxe and Northwestern concerns. . . .
Another new house, the State, will open in Medford,
Ore., September 15 under the management of George
Roy.
Sees Her First Film —
And It's Synchronized
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, July 31.— Mrs. Vic-
toria Cantrell of Bremen, Ga., 72,
never had seen a motion picture, and
when she did the other day it was
a synchronized film at that. She saw
and heard Al Jolson's "The Jazz
Singer" at the Metropolitan, and
they're still trying to convince her
that it was Vitaphone she heard and
not Jolson on the stage behind the
screen.
Calvin Brown, executive vice president of
Pathe, announced last week that Pathe
product has been booked 100 per cent
into the Keith-Albee-Orpheuni circuit.
He cited this booking as further evi-
dence of the big year in store for Pathe.
He was snapped with Mrs. Brown by a
Herald-World photographer, on a recent
flying visit to Chicago.
Paramount Ad Campaign
In 413 Cities Throughout
Nation to Open Aug. 12
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— An extensive ad-
vertising campaign designed to go direct
to motion picture patrons in the various
sections of the United States, will be in-
augurated August 12 by Paramount. The
advertisements prepared for the campaign,
each seven columns wide and full-page
deep, will appear in 695 newspapers in 413
cities. This represents a circulation of 100,-
000,000, it is said.
Saves Sunday Shows
(Special to the Herald-World)
EL PASO, ILL., July 31.— This city, with
a vote of 860 votes cast out of a possible
1,000, defeated a petition to ban Sunday
motion picture shows and other amuse-
ments. The shows won by a majority of
169 votes.
Shooting Starts Aug, 15
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Robert Fair-
banks, general manager for his brother, Doug-
las, officiated at the ceremony at which "The
Iron Mask" was begun. Actual shooting on
the picture is scheduled for August 15. It is
a Fairbanks vehicle.
Seattle Holds FN Lead
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— At the end of the
seventh week of First National's billing drive,
Seattle still holds first place. The other lead-
ing exchanges in order are Portland, New
Jersey, Omaha, Charlotte and Buffalo.
Censor 6,237,000 Feet
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., Julv 31.— Motion pic-
ture censors here viewed 6,237,000 feet of film
last year, according to Mrs. Elenor Colwell,
secretary.
Developments in Sound
Film Device Being Made
in England, Is Report
(Special to the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, July 31.— It is learned
that developments in the exploitation of
"Synchro-Film," the gramophone device by
which, it is claimed, cinematograph film
projection and sound reproduction can be
perfectly synchronized, are imminent in
England, according to items in the Euro-
pean press as submitted by Trade Com
missioner George R. Canty, Paris, to the
Department of Commerce. In this inven-
tion the projection apparatus is described
as being controlled by the gramophone
unit, the two elements starting, slowing
or stopping in precise unison. The slight-
est tendency towards loss of synchroniza-
tion is said to be automatically adjusted.
The drive is from the gramophone,
through a ratchet-wheel keyed to a spindle
carrying a toothed wheel having an in-
ternal screw thread. Speed, once set, is
claimed to remain constant. Film break
during projection brings the apparatus to
the stop, and film shortage consequent upon
rejoining is automatically adjusted in the
synchronization, it is said. The apparatus
may be used in connection with any make
of gramophone, and control being electri-
cal, can be near or remote, as desired.
»
New Camera Effects in
F N's ''The Divine Lady
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW Y;0RK, July 31.— "The Divine Lady,"
First National production, starring Corinne
Griffith, has new technical and camera effects,
evolved in the studio research laboratories.
New Color Film Firm
(Special to the Herald-World)
LONDON, July 21.— (By Mail)— Charles
Gulliver, the well-known managing director
of the London Theatres of Varieties, of which
the Palladium was the principal theatre, has
become chairman of the British Multicolour
Film Corporation, Limited, a new company
which has just been formed to market a na-
tural-color film process and to make and dis-
tribute British films generally.
Tax Brings $813,979
(Special to the Herald-World)
MONTREAL, July 31.— The amusement
tax brought a revenue of $813,979 to Mon-
treal during 1927, according to the annual
financial report. The exhibitors collected and
paid over this amount. There are 54 moving
picture theatres in Montreal, and these paid
license fees of $48,137 during 1927. Five cir-
cuses paid $1,000 a day for five days during
the year.
Albert Warner Plans Trip
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Albert Warner will
take but a ten day vacation this year, but he
will put this time to good advantage in the
Adirondacks for fishing and golfing.
Omaha Orpheum Gives
Spot to Pathe News
Something out of the ordinary in
billing was given Pathe News by
Manager Hartung of the Orpheum
in Omaha when he placed the news
reel in the feature spot of the pro-
gram for five weeks. Another
example of the growing recognition
of the short feature in programs.
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOViiNG PICTURE WORLD
47
Incorporated in this department of practiced showmanship of Exhibitors Herald are the Moving
Picture World departments, "Selling the picture to the Public" and "Better Business Builders.'*
This Year Will Test Your Showmanship
, By Will Whitmore
This year will test your showmanship, as never before. If you remain placid this year and let what business come to
you that will, as some of you have done in the past, you are due to get a swift kick in the pants. If you roll up your
sleeves, use your knowledge of advertising, exploitation and publicity — and work — you will enjoy the best year you
have ever had. It's going to take showmanship this year. If you use it, you have no need to worry.
THESE conditions will apply especially to
both you who are opening with sound
pictures and you who are facing sound
picture competition. It's going to take a
great deal of work to put over sound pic-
tures properly and it's going to take work
to put over the silent drama where there is
sound picture competition.
The theatre exhibiting nothing but silent
pictures has no reason to worry this year,
even though it be surrounded by sound pic-
ture competition, provided the theatre uses
showmanship. Why? Because there is
more interest in pictures today than
there ever has been. The country is loaded
with picture interest. It is true that
the advent of sound pictures has caused this
heightening of interest, but the interest
that has been aroused is for pictures,
whether they be silent or sound. Every
bit of increased interest in sound pictures
works to the advantages of pictures in gen-
eral, both sound and silent pictures. We
all know that the more the public goes to
the picture theatre, the more it wants to go
If the public goes to see the sound picture,
it will have its interest quickened in pic-
tures, and this interest will extend to the
silent picture, just as much as the sound
picture.
But the silent picture exhibitor must be
on his toes to cash in on this quickened
interest. The public is not going to the
theatre that lies dormant and waits for
the public to come in. Every theatre in the
country must show new life this year to
keep in step with the public's new inter-
est. The theatre that remains static this
year is going to be passed up like a pocket
book on April Fool's day. Keep in step
with the public and the public will step
your way.
Many exhibitors who will not be able to
show sound pictures this year are shaking
in their boots. Some of them are ready to
lie down and take the count. Such an at-
titude is thoroughly silly. The sound pic-
ture will not keep one penny from your box
office this year, unless you fly the white
flag and surrender to an imaginary enemy.
Sound picture competition to the silent
drama is nothing but a terrifying bugaboo
concocted in the minds of those who are
looking for an excuse for failure and a rea-
son to quit.
There has been a lot of talk recently
about the public being tired of silent pic-
tures, and that the sound picture has ar-
rived in the nick of time to save the motion
picture from utter ruin. Such talk is utter
nonsense. The silent picture has lasted for
more than a quarter century and it will al-
These charming young ladies were used
in a prologue to "The Gingham Girl," an
F B O picture, by Charles E. Stroud,
owner and manager of the Grand theatre,
Lake City, Minnesota. Small prologues
used with pictures often add much to
the interest and entertainment of the
m-otion picture diet, especially in small
town houses.
ways be here, no matter how popular the
sound picture becomes.
It is true that the public's interest in
pictures may have become less intense in
the last few years, but that was not the
fault of pictures. The entire trouble rested
in the fact that the producer and the exhibi-
tor had fallen down on their jobs in creat-
ing and keeping that interest fresh.
It is an accepted fact that producers and
exhibitors have in the last few years
been lax in keeping the public interested.
It seems that we have all felt that all
that is necessary to make a success in the
motion picture business is to make good
pictures and show them in fine theatres.
The art of publicity, advertising and ex-
ploitation has been slighted in the last few
years and this work has become, more or
less a routine job. The public did not lose
faith in pictures. It is the industry that
lost faith in the methods of keeping the
public interest fresh.
Any traveling man will tell you that in
the average small town it is difficult to
learn what is playing in the town's theatre.
The hotel keeper cannot tell you — he
doesn't know— the barber can't tell you — he
doesn't know — and there are no bills on
the streets to tell you. There are few
window cards to tell you. In fact, a
stranger in a small town often has to get
a guide to show him where the theatre is,
and he doesn't know what the picture is,
until it flashes on the screen. This is not
an exaggeration. Sad to say, it is too often
the case, not only in the small town but in
the good-sized city.
It is this state of affairs that has dulled
the public's interest in motion pictures.
And every theatre owner in the country
from the smallest to the largest should
thank the sound picture for reviving the
public's interest in pictures, not the sound
picture alone, but pictures in general.
Let's keep this interest alive. What the
industry now needs is enterprising show-
manship. Pictures are better than they ever
have been. Showmanship, not pictures, has
degenerated. Let's not be content to put
out three window cards and two one-sheets
in front of the theatre and believe that we
are doing all for the picture we can.
Let's give the picture a break. Let's give
it an even chance to bring in the patrons.
No picture ever made will bring the public
in your theatre, unless the public knows
what that picture is. It's up to you to tell
the public. If you do, you have no reason
to worry about the picture not doing its
part whether it be sound or silent.
To the exhibitor showing silent pictures
this year — Remember this — You will not do
yourself any good by knocking the sound
picture. If you can't show sound pictures
forget them. Don't spend your time worry-
ing what the sound picture is going to do
to your business. Spend your time doing
something for the silent picture. Play to
the public's heightened interest in pictures,
and this heightened interest will play to
your box office.
Installs Orchestrope
(Special to the Herald-World)
HUNTINGTON, IND., July 31.— The
management of the Colonial theatre here
has purchased an orchestrope, manufacture
of which has been started by the Capehart
Automatic Phonograph Company. This is
the second of the machines to be installed
in Huntington. The Capehart company
has been here only a short time.
48
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
These Mailing Pieces Develop
Goodwill^ Increase Patronage
James A. Carrier, managing director of Universal's Capitol theatre at Atlanta.
Georgia, has hit upon two direct mail ideas and uses them to build goodwill and
patronage. One idea has perceptibly increased private party business, and the
other has proved a fine Monday evening box office stimulant.
Both ideas make use of cards sent
through the mail. The first is si hand drawn
card mailed out daily to every society lady
who receives some mention in the news-
paper in regard to some social event being
staged. The card is a cordial reminder to
the person it is mailed to that arrangements
can be comfortably made for a "theatre
party" with no extra charge for the service.
The novelty has not only received praise
A Phoaff call to Ih's
department sUlmq I he
number ol seals ijoa
requiiv at II sdi>e ijoo
tune and
THEATRE PARTY AT THE
CAPITOL
JlClsnla's finest Theatre
ISAM EASY WAY KDR
YOU TO SOLVE THAT
SOGAL OBLIGATION
These two cards have increased goodwill
and patronage for the Capitol theatre,
Atlanta, Ga. The upper card is good for
one admission, and is sent to everyone
writing a letter to the theatre comment-
ing on the theatre's radio programs. The
lower card is mailed to society women,
and has increased phone reservations for
ten or more seats.
from many outside sources, but also has
been the means of increasing phone reser-
vations for ten or more seats.
The second card is tied up with the radio
programs. Every Tuesday night from
eleven to midnight the theatre goes on the
air over station WSB with a radio mid-
night frolic. During the program, an-
nouncement is made that every person writ-
ing into the theatre or station making men-
tion of the program and what number they
liked the best will receive an invitation good
for one admission at the Monday evening
performance of the following week. Hun-
dreds of these letters are received and
cards in turn are mailed out. After care-
fully checking these cards at the box office,
Carrier finds that 96 per cent are returned
and one or more tickets are purchased by
every one who receives an invitation, which
proves this to be an exceptional box office
stimulant.
Beauty Pageant Is
Big Hit in Atlanta
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, July 31.— A publicity cam-
paign hailed as an outstanding one and well
planned was instituted during the past week
by the Capitol theatre, under the personal
supervision and direction of James A. Carrier,
managing director of the Universal house,
when a beauty pageant was presented in co-
operation with the M. Rich & Bros. Company,
a leading department store.
An extensive use of devices was utilized
in exploiting this feature attraction, includ-
ing street car signs, special circus heralds
distributed from house-to-house, novelty
teaser cards, billboards and newspaper ads.
The entire campaign was handled by
Howard Litchey, director of public relations
for the Capitol theatre, and photographs and
stories were put over in the news sections,
radio pages, society pages, theatre pages and
automobile sections of the local newspapers.
That the campaign was highly successful was
told by the box-office returns for the week.
Check Film Bills;
Check All Postage;
Check All Expenses
Do you check all expenses to save a penny
here and another there? A penny is a trivial
matter but in the course of a year the number
of pennies you can save by being on the alert
grow into dollars. Joe Weil, director of ad-
vertising and exploitation for Universal Chain
Theatrical Enterprises, Inc., has sent out two
letters to all Universal managers which are
worthy of being read by every theatre man-
ager. Here is Weil's letter:
"A careful check of all mailing charges
eliminating the placing of too much pos-
age on letters or packages and a careful
checking of postal or express charges on
film shipments will save a tidy sum weekly
for every theatre manager.
"Regarding ordinary postage matters, go
to your local post office at once and get
the revised list of postal rates. Note that
air mail letters are five cents after August
1. Study the different rates and various
classes of postage. Note the maximum
size of post card to get the one cent rate.
Do not send printed matter Srst class
where parcel post will answer the pur-
pose. Don't guess postage on bulky letters
or packages. Weigh them before you
affix stamps. Save postage pennies!"
The second letter comes from J. J. Bayard,
"Tragic," Says Joe When
He Misses Herald- World
"The Theatre" received a fine let-
ter from Joe Mayer, managing direc-
tor of the Palace theatre, Hamilton,
Ohio, this week, in which Joe ex-
plains why he hasn't been shooting in
a lot of good ideas to us lately. And
we'll excuse Joe this time for he has
been on a vacation in the East.
"Just got back from a vacation,"
says Joe, "and haven't even had a
chance to read the last two issues of
the Herald, which is nothing short of
tragic. I am going to take them to
my room tonight and in my pajamas,
with a pitcher of cracked ice by my
side, see what I have missed in the
way of news."
July Is Jubilee Month
'yi%^ -:- ENTERTAINMENT i^g%
Full page institutional ad used by Frank
B. Hill of the Inland Theatres, Inc.,
Walla Walla, Wash., in connection with
the "July Is Jubilee Month," idea origi-
nated and sponsored by Inland Theatres.
Achievement of the community in the
first six months of the year is stressed, to-
gether with the achievement of the thea-
tres in presenting good entertainment in
good theatres. It makes a splendid in-
stitutional ad. However, for this type of
ad, simplicity should be the keynote. The
heavy rules and black border detract
from the ad. Institutional ads are more
effective when light and pleasing to the
eye. Don't make your institutional ad
shout. Let it talk, conversationally.
manager of the Masonic theatre, Clifton
Forge, Virginia, and was submitted to Weil
in an expense saving contest. It tells how he
has saved $5 monthly by watching postage
charges. The letter follows :
"For some time back I have been check-
ing invoices from all exchanges serving
this house and I £nd that mostly all of
them bill us for postage with the bill for
rental on the same invoice. In going over
them I 6nd many include postage charges
even when the £lm is circuited to us from
some other house. It is the custom of most
exchanges to notify the exhibitor that be
will receive his print from a nearby town
if they are not coming direct from the ex-
change.
"These notices of circuit should be
carefully checked with invoices and deduc-
tions made from them accordingly. In this
territory, where circuiting from one of our
own houses to another is quite common, I
have effected an average saving of ap-
proximately $5.00 per month.
"In addition, my operators are instructed
to inform me when a print is received
from a neighboring town not on our circuit
and a similar deduction is made in these
cases. So far the exchanges have not
squawked when such deductions have been
made."
It will pay you to check on these matters.
One small town independent exhibitor tells
"The Theatre" that he effects a saving of $300
a year by checking all postage, and $300 a
year is $300.
Begins Kiddie Club
MADISON, WIS., July 31.— Len Brown,
manager of the Capitol theatre, has begun a
Kiddies Club and already has close to 500
members. Educational films, and clean en-
tertainment are booked as part of the ac-
tivities of this new Kiddies Club.
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
49
You 've Heard Lots
About Walla Walla
But Read A bout Hill
We all have heard of that town with the
funny name, the name they loved so well,
they used it twice — Walla Walla, Washing-
ton, of course — but did you ever hear of
Frank B. Hill, publicity and advertising di-
rector for Inland Theatres, Inc., of Walla
WaUa?
If you haven't give a listen, for Frank
does things in his theatres that are worthy
of being heard. Just for instance — Frank
grabbed off a column story on the front page
of the Walla Walla Daily Bulletin when he
inaugurated the "July is Jubilee Month"
campaign.
At the beginning of this year, Frank had
the merchants adopt a slogan, "Way better
than last year," for which his theatres won
a lot of publicity. Then when the year
reached its half way mark, Frank conceived
the idea of staging a month's celebration of
Walla Walla's achievements during the first
half of the year. Tieups were made with all
the merchants who put on "July is Jubilee
Month" sales. The theatres tied in with
special programs during the month.
The theatres came in for a lot of publicity.
Frank has succeeded in showing that he and
the theatres are interested in the com-
munity's welfare, and that his organization
is a big booster for the community.
But this campaign is just a few of the
things Hill does. There is always something
popping in the Inland theatres. In the fol-
lowing letter to "The Theatre" Frank tells
of a few of the things he has been doing
lately :
"For a long time I have been reading, and
using a lot of the publicity ideas which you
have been running in your magazine and
have decided that it is about time you heard
from Walla Walla, Washington.
"Enclosed you will find some of our pub-
licity work and a few pictures which I had
taken to send to you. The tank used to ad-
vertise 'The Patent Leather Kid' was built
out of compo board over a Ford roadster.
We covered a radius of 40 miles around
Walla Walla in advance of the picture and
also used it in a parade. Took over a week
to build but was well worth the time.
"On 'The Circus' we used 12 boys for 12
days in advance of showing. These boys
dressed as Chaplin and carried banners every
day for two hours and I am quite sure they
covered the town in that length of time.
Then we also used the front.
" 'July Is Jubilee Month' is getting away
to a good start. Have cards in all windows
in town and the merchants are cooperating
very nicely in running Jubilee sales during
this month. A week from next Wednesday
all merchants are putting on a Jubilee com-
munity sales. Will have 30 to 40 merchants
in on this.
"In closing I wish to state that the theatres
in Walla Walla are owned and operated by
Frederick Mercy, Senior and Junior."
Use Carrier Pigeons
to Advertise "Dove^^
One hundred carrier pigeons were re-
leased from the street in front of the
Columbia Theatre in Portland, Oregon,
which successfully advertised "The Dove."
As each dove soared away to the home
loft across the Willamette River, it carried
a tiny "pigeongram" addressed to some per-
son chosen at random from the city direc-
tory and written in the form of an invi-
tation.
Exploitation Pays Frank Hill
Frank Hill, director of publicity and advertising for Inland Theatres,
Inc., Walla Walla, Wash., keeps things popping in his theatres,
and finds it pays big at the box office
Here's how Hill ballyhooed "The Circus." It paid.
With such an attractive "cool" lobby display
(above) people forget the heat and head
right into the theatre. Thermometers placed
at intervals along the side of the theatre
register the cool temperature inside the
theatre. At the right is seen a ballyhoo
for "The Patent Leather Kid." It took a
week to build this tank, but Hill says it
was worth the labor and cost. If you're
skeptical of such work as this, glance below.
Crowds like this prove that exploitation pays.
50
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
YW
SERVICE TALKS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald, which is a department containing news, in-
formation and gossip on current productions, is the Moving Picture World department, "Through
the Box Office Window."
"HEART TO HEART"
I yEAR FOLKS: I take typewriter in lap
this bright summer day to tell you about one
of the best little pictures I have seen in so
long a time that I seek in vain for a milestone
to designate as marking the beginning of same.
In fact, when I think it over, I doubt that I
have ever seen a picture just like "Heart to
Heart" — and I betray no confidences by telling
you that I have seen more pictures than any-
body else I know and I know quite a few
people who have seen pictures quite steadily
over a considerable expanse of calendar.
Yessir, this "Heart to Heart" is a different
kind of picture. And it is an excellent kind of
picture. It is the kind of picture I used to
try to describe as a "good little picture" — mean-
ing that it was extremely good, even if it didn't
contain an earthcjuake, landslide or tornado —
but it is not at all a little picture in the usual
sense of that term. It is, in significance if not
in point of overhead and trick scenery, a great
big picture. I think we can use about as many
more like it as Hollywood can turn out, even
if Holl>^vood suddenly goes logical and turns
out one good picture after another.
The people in this picture are many, and all
of them are good. Best, I think, is Louise
Fazenda, enacting a small town homebody
whose sight isn't what it used to be. I ask
you to look at this and see if you can recall a
more completely consumate performance. I
cannot.
Others whose good performances are assets
of the picture include Lloyd Hughes, as an
inventor always just a bit tardy with his de-
%'ices, and Mary Astor, who is no less beauti-
ful than ever but more at home with the tasks
given her and so more effective. And then
there is the gentleman who plays the husband
wed to the wife played by Louise Fazenda, and
whose name always evades me. This gentleman
is so good, however, that his name doesn't mat-
ter. Indeed, I think it is his knack of effacing
self for role — in other pictures as in tliis one — •
which makes it impossible for me to remember
his name. Wouldn't it be great if all the actors
were that good? (Now I remember his name!
Lucien Littlefield!)
The story is about a small town which is host
to an Italian princess — or something — and I
would be the last guy in the world to tell you
more about it. Stories like this are to be seen
and not read. I think, too, although it is be-
side the point, that they are to be seen and not
heard, but time will determine that.
T. O. Service
"FORGOTTEN FACES"
A,
.MONG the good actors who weren't al-
ways so good I now place Mr. Clive Brook.
This personable and mannerly performer, who
I remember always as a stiff-legged stalker
through English pictures imported by Para-
mount years and years ago, now stands — in my
estimation — alongside H. B. Warner and
Adolphe Menjou, completing a trio of highly
polished players who ad class to whatever ve-
hicle may serve them at a given moment. "For-
gotten Faces" is, of course, an excellent vehicle.
The outline of "Forgotten Faces" is nothing
epochal. It is a story about a burglar whose
wife isn't so good either but whose love of
child is okay. The major portion of the pic-
ture has to do with his precautions against the
girl's mother messing up the highly commend-
able scene he has created for the child before
going to jail. There is a wealth of detail,
plenty of plot, and the cast contains so many
good names as to exhaust even a chronicler
who believes in listing cast names. Everybody's
in it.
The story is remarkably well told, making
up for any lack of freshness, and the acting is
great. The captions are in English, the pho-
tography doesn't get in your way, and there
isn't a thing wrong with the picture that I
can think of at this moment. If I think of any-
thing later I'll let you know. For the present,
let me say merely that it's well worth your time
to take a look at the picture. After all, even
an exhibitor ought to get some enjoyment out
of motion pictures once in a whUe.
H
'THE GARDEN OF EDEN"
ONESTLY, folks, I don't know whether
this picture is any good or not. One minute
— while watching it — I thought it was a gem.
Next minute I was sure it was anything else.
So on and on, reel after reel, until I don't
know what to say about it. As you know — or
should — this is the first time in my life this
has happened.
I'm pretty sure, though, that Miss Corinne
Griffith isn't a very good commedienne. That
is, she may be a good enough commedienne,
but she's so much better at other things that
she ought not to cup up. Somehow, she just
isn't Clara Bow, nor Janet Gaynor, nor any of
the dozen other girls who can flirt across a hotel
court and make yon think she means it (in
the picture, that is) and that is what she tries
to do in "The Garden of Eden." I felt, while
watching her do this, as if I'd caught my
mother-in-law ogling the postman. But no; that
woidd be funny. This isn't.
On the other hand, though, and in a case of
this kind one needs at least two hands, the
composition (slang for production) is precisely
the sort of thing I like more than anything else
in pictures. It is a light, modem story about
light modern people doing — lightly and in mod-
ern manner — things that used to be considered
heavy and prosaic. It happens at Monte Carlo,
which is a good place for things to happen, and
there are any ntmiber of light touches in it that,
individually, stack up as smart. Indeed, the
whole thing may even be so bloomin' smart
that I don't get the finer points, which wotdd
explain my curiously confused opinion of it
and reflect great discredit upon my perception,
erudition and whatnot. (All of which I should
not admit, of course, and do admit solely in
order that I can get across to you my com-
plete lack of conviction as to anything con-
cerning the picture.)
I
IT'S BODIL ROSING
AM indebted to my old friend Ray Murray
and to Mrs. Bodil Rosing for the information
that I was wrong (as I suggested I might be)
in spelling that lady's name "Basil Roding" in
the preceding issue of this great paper. I
wrote the name, if yon recall, as that of the
lady who played the mother in "The Wlieel of
Chance," adding that her performance showed
her to be "about the last word in dramatic
mothers" and that "we needed something like
this." Ray dropped me a note about it, from
the Holly^vood front, and added that the lady
would be here with a Hoot Gibson unit al-
most by the time his note arrived.
True to this statement, Mrs. Rosing tele-
phoned me on last Saturday morning to say
several things, including the fact that she'd like
to meet the gang and so would drop in to the
office and see us some day this week. I regret
that this page needs must be dashed off on Mon-
day morning, for otherwise I should have more
to say to you about her. That, however, will
come along in the next packet of paragraphs.
And while she's here I'll tell her you all agree
with me about her performances in the picture
named, in "Ladies of the Mob" and in "For-
gotten Faces."
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
CLASSIFIED
Advertising
Ten cents per word, payable in advance. Minimum charge,
$1.00. Copy and checks should be addressed Classified Ad
Dept. Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, 407 So.
Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
The Recognized National Classiiied Advertising Medium
Help Wanted
WANTED — Capable musical director and master of
ceremonies for presentation and pit work, principally
pit work. Must have best of references and own
library. Good proposition for right party. Address
295, Exhibitors Herald- World, 407 S. Dearborn St.,
Chicago, 111.
Position Wanted
OPERATOR — Nine years' experience. Wants steady
position. Address J. T. Kennedy, Gilbertville, Mass.
AT LIBERTY— August first, high class organist.
Expert cuing. Union, reliable. Four years in last
place. Address Box 293, Exhibitors Herald and
Moving Picture World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago,
III
THEATRE ORGANIST— Experienced on all makes,
has a large library, will go anywhere. Address Box
289, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, III.
Attention, Theatre Managers! Are you looking for
an organist, male or female ? If you are, why not let
Exhibitors Herald- World find just the kind you want?
Address George Schmidt, Exhibitors Herald-World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago. 111.
LADY ORGANIST desires change. Experienced,
union, large library. Good recommendations. Prefer
eastern location. Address Box 290, Exhibitors
Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
AT LIBERTY — Experienced high grade Organist
with complete modern and classical library, union.
Wurlitzer, Morton, or any standard make. Address
F. H., 8631 S. Ashland Ave., Apt. B. 2, Phone Bev-
erly 1461. Chicago, 111.
ORGANISTS thoroughly trained and experienced in
theatre work. Men and women now ready for good
positions. Write salary and other data. Address
Chicago Musical College, 61 E. Van Buren, Chicago.
ORGANIST — Experts thoroughly trained in show-
manship available at all times for first-class positions.
Men and women. No service charge. Write full in-
formation concerning salary, organ, hours, etc. Ad-
dress Vermond Knauss School of Theatre Organ
Playing, 210 N. 7th St., Allentown, Pa.
Engagements Wanted
AT LIBERTY — D. C. Nelson Organize Dance Or-
chestra Versatile Musicians. Red Hot with up-to-
date Dance Rhythm. Will go anywhere. Write or
wire 455 East 42nd Place, Chicago, 111., Phone Oak-
land 4669.
Theatre Wanted
EXPERIENCED EXHIBITOR, FINANCIALLY
RESPONSIBLE, WANTS TO BUY OR LEASE
SMALL TOWN THEATRE. GIVE DETAILS
FIRST LETTER. ADDRESS BOX 294, EXHIB-
ITORS HERALD- WORLD, 407 S. DEARBORN ST.,
CHICAGO, ILL.
FUm Rights for Sale
LOOK-READ-ACT— ROAD SHOWMEN, STATE
RIGHTS FOR SALE
The True Life of "The Younger Brothers"
Featuring Cole, Bob and Jim Younger and the James
Boys, in five reels, and Younger's Historical Events,
in one reel. This picture as a popular priced road
show is no experiment. It has been tried and true,
has played against all kinds of competition under all
conditions. Has always gotten the money. With each
State or sale we furnish free one new complete Lobby
Display, consisting of new Prints of Film, three new
Wax Figures, standing, life size, of Cole, Bob and Jim
Younger, true to life, dressed in cowboy style, big
hats, boots, etc.; 500 One-Sheets, 100 slides, 10 Photo
Lobby Boards, 100 small Photos extra, 6 Banners,
lettered in flashy oil colors, enough to fit any theatre
front. Everything ready to go. Hurry. It will pay
you to buy the King of all Road Shows.
Address E. L. HUMPHREY. Miami, Okla.
Films for Sale
"The Dungeon" (7);— "Deceit" (6) ;— "Birthright"
(10); — three all star Negro productions; — also — "Truth
About Women" (6); — "Temptation" (7); — "Marriage
Morals" (7); — Other miscellaneous productions. Come-
dies, Serials, Travel, Educational, etc. Guaranteed
Pictures Company, 729 Seventh Ave., New York City.
Equipment Wanted
I AM IN THE MARKET for the following second
hand equipment: 500 re-upholstered theatre chairs,
two Simplex or Powers Projectors with Peerless Re-
flector Arc Lamps and Generator for same. This
equipment must be in first class shape and at a bar-
gain. Will pay cash. Address Crystal theatre. Hale
Center, Texas.
Equipm,ent for Sale
2 Peerless Lamps complete. Like new, $190.00 each.
Address Box 485, Rochester, N. Y.
FOR SALE — Motion Picture Projectors, parts and
supplies for all type machines. Address Guercio &
Barthel. 1018 Wabash Ave.. Chicago, 111.
FOR SALE — Strong Reflector Arc Lamps and ac-
cessories, also guaranteed rebuilt Powers 6-A and 6-B
and Simplex Heads. Best Prices. Write Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago. 111.
GET OUR PRICES first on complete Theatre
Equipment and Pipe Organ before buying elsewhere.
You save, we satisfy. Address Southern Theatre
Service. 643 Carondelet Street, New Orleans. La.
CHICAGO CLEARING HOUSE— Our bargain list
on rebuilt Projectors, Powers 6-A Motor driven ma-
chines, including 12 rebuilt Simplex motor driven
machines with latest Simplex type S lamp houses.
Prices ranging from $175.00 and up. Peerless arc
controls $35.00 per pair. Compensarcs all makes,
$20.00 and up. Rebuilt Generators at reasonable
prices. AC and DC Electric fans rebuilt, just like
new. Write for complete list of your needs and
prices. No obligation. Address Illinois Theatre
Equipment Co., 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Chairs for Sale
FOR SALE — About 250 good veneered chairs,
priced low for quick cash sale. Address Gem Theatre,
Seaman, Ohio.
Brand New Veneer and Spring cushion opera chairs
to be had at the lowest prices ever offered. Kindl*
state your requirements and let us submit to yoii
exact photographs and full details. C. G. Demel, 84S
South State, Chicago.
300 Upholstered Opera chairs. All seats and backs
entirely reupholstered in new imitation Spanish
leather. Eight Hundred Dollars for entire lot. C. G.
Demel, 845 South State, Chicago.
LARGE STOCK — Used veneered theatre chairs in
5 and 7 ply veneer guaranteed condition, also 1600 up-
holstered chairs newly recovered in brown imitation
Spanish leather, just like new. 500 portable assembly
chairs. Chair prices very reasonable. Write for com-
plete list of your needs and prices. No obligation.
Address Illinois Theatre Equipment Co., 12-14 E.
Ninth St.. Chicago, 111.
Stationery
SPECIAL! 250 each business letterheads — en-
velopes $3.75 (cash postpaid). "Neargravure" proc-
ess printed. Samples, see difference. Stamp appre-
ciated. Address SoUidays, XH-124, Knox, Ind.
Banners and Posters
CLOTH BANNERS— $1.40, 3x10, 3 feet, colors,
any copy up to 10 words; one day service; sent any-
where; also Bargain Paper Banners. Associated
Advertisers, 111 West 18th St.. Kansas City, Mo.
For Sale
FOR SALE — -American Photo Player Organ, per-
fect condition, cost $3,000.00. $600.00 cash. Hurry if
you want this. Address Cozy theatre, Hazen, Ark.
FOR SALE — One Wurlitzer style "O" double roll
pipe organ slightly used. Looks and runs like new.
25 rolls new music. $1,100.00. Address Bonny the-
atre, Mansfield, Mo.
OPERA CHAIRS, seats and backs for all makes,
five ply, at prices that save you half. Address
Redington & Co., Scranton, Pa.
Organs for Sale
$200.00 buys large size Photoplayer. Perfect con-
dition. Address Box 485, Rochester, N. Y.
FOR SALE: Bartola Pipe Organ. Used Wurlitzer
Pipe Organ, model U, very reasonable. Cremona
Pipe Organ, used or new Reproduce Pipe Organs.
Address S. B. McFadden. Havana, 111.
Your Classified Ad Will Do the Work
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World has helped hundreds of Theatre owners in solving many a problem. The
classified advertising department has placed organists all over the country, has helped in obtaining equipment, in selling
equipment, and in solving many another problem that seemed difficult. The rates are but 10c per word payable with
order, 10% discount if run for 3 insertions. See this week's classified pages. Maybe you are in need of something that is
being advertised this week. The cost is small, the results are great.
Mnn
52
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
Gift Night Souvenirs
GIFT NIGHT MERCHANDISE: Over 300 fine
novelties in our large free catalog at genuine whole-
sale prices. Write today. No obligation. Address
Fair Trading Co., Inc., 140 W. 21st St., New York.
Projector Repairing
BEST GRADE repair work. Prices right. Free
relief heads. Prompt service. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago. 111.
Our Twentieth Century Repair Shop, with skilled
expert mechanics, specialized tools, precision machin-
ery, assure the very best REPAIR JOBS. Relief
Equipment furnished FREE. Prompt service. Rea-
sonable prices. Progressive Exhibitors over entire
country send their work to "THE OLD RELIABLE."
Monarch Theatre Supply Co., Memphis, Tenn. Estab-
lished 20 years.
SKILLED MECHANICS, specialized tools, and a
shop equipped for but one purpose can offer you
nothing but the best in repair work. That is what I
have, and I can offer you the best in the overhauling
of your motion picture machinery equipment. One
of the oldest repair men in the territory, and serving
some of the largest houses. Relief equipment fur-
nished free. For results bring your work to Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Equipment Wanted
BEST PRICES paid for projection machines, all
types. Address Guercio & Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, 111.
Miscellaneous
BEAUTIFUL registered Bull Pups, $15. Bulldogs.
Address SOI Rockwood, Dallas, Texas.
Theatre for Sale
Theatre for Sale — 620 seats, fully equipped includ-
ing organ. Now doing business, population 19,000,
largest theatre in city, good lease. For particulars
write George S. Kirby, Tuxedo Theatre, 372 South
Main St., Phillipsburg, N. J.
Any Real Showman desiring to invest $25,000.00
for business bonded to show 40 per cent return for
capable attention, Address P. O. Box 1306, Atlanta,
Ga. Note — No Competition, showing both Colored-
White, Drawing Population 25,000.
FOR SALE— Theatre in city of fifty thousand
Western New York. Requires little cash for deal. Ad-
dress Box 296, Exhibitors Herald- World, 407 S. Dear-
born St., Chicago, 111.
Cameras for Sale
FOR SALE — One Universal 200-ft. camera in ex-
cellent mechanical condition, used slightly, with new
50 mm. B & L F 3.5 lens. Price $200.00. Address G.
Russell Carrier, General Delivery, Akron, Ohio.
FOR SALE— One 400-ft. Wilart Professional
Camera, nearly new, with B & H tripod. Has two
extra magazines, automatic dissolver, magnifying
focusing tube direct to film; film punch, footage in-
dicator; also, special footage indicator for scenes;
trick crank, 170 degree shutter, 50 mm. B & L Tessar
F 3.5 lens, lever, sunshade, adjustable view finder for
various focal length lens. Has excellently smooth
cranking qualities. Price $395.00. Address G. Russell
Carrier, General Delivery, Akron, Ohio.
LETTERS
From Readers
A forum at which the exhibitor is
invited to express his opinion on
matters of current interest. Brevity
adds forcefulness to any statement.
Unsigned letters will not be printed.
On Publicity, Exploitation
NEW YORK CITY— To the Editor : Your
publicity editorial this week shows that you
have lost your former close touch with what
goes on in the exploitation end of this in-
dustry. Or else the men who do the "out-
standing publicity' stunts which you feel have
become extinct, don't sufficiently ballyhoo
themselves. In point of fact there was never
a period so replete with smashing publicity
stunts as this spring. But they must have
gotten away from your notice.
I can think of just a few:
Tom Sorerio's missing girl stunt, Rochester,
for "The Port of Missing Girls" ; Wayne
Pierson's "boycott" against "Dawn" ; Howard
Dietz' "Our Gang" stunt with New York
Journal; Irwin Zeltner's country-wide stuff on
Tom Mix ; Emil Jensen's "Ramona" campaign
and tieups, and Harry Mandel's tieup of Ger-
man flyers with "Raider Emden."
Now these, good editor, are just a few of
the outstanding things that I have witnessed
and mainly for the reason that they had to
do with pictures that I was in no manner con-
nected with. Perhaps you aren't in position to
get the dope on these things as they happen.
And they are happening all the time.
Also, I fail to see your point that the man
at the desk can furthermore be the man in
the field, actually putting the stunts over.
It just can't be done, Mr. Editor. Each
man in his place — the desk executive, the fel-
low who takes his ideas, adds some of his
own, and puts 'em over. — Bert Adler, New
York City.
"Where Do We Come In?"
WELLSBORO, PA.— To the Editor:
Here's a little thought that I would like to
have answered through the medium of the
Herald-World.
This is a town of 3,500 with a 900 seat
house doing the average small town business
in the way that it is -being done in perhaps
hundreds of other small towns in this country,
trying to give our patrons a show that will
compare with those seen and now also heard
in the cities.
My little thought is this :
"Where do we come in on this new inno-
vation, the synchronized movie, and how?"
There is no doubt but what we all want it.
But can we afford $16,000 installations, rentals
that run into three figures daily, organists
being paid to hear the synchronized picture
when shown, extra operators to run them,
and the various other expenses that go along
with them?
The talking movie should be the life-saver
for the small town theatre. It ought to revo-
lutionize their business. To the city house it
is a novelty as far as synchronized music is
concerned because just as good if not some-
times better music is furnished by the city
house orchestra. To the small town theatre
the synchronized music will be a life-saver if
the prize is within the owner's as well as the
patron's reach.
Access to the city has here as well as else-
where caused my patrons to continually ask,
"When do we get the Vitaphone, Movietone,
etc.?" What can I say to them? All I can
tell them is to wait. In the meantime, they
slip away to the city and get what they are
waiting for.
Now come on, Mr. Producer, put us wise.
How do we get in on this synchronized stuff
and when? What's the plan, rentals or in-
stallations beyond our means? — L. A. Woodin,
Arcadia Theatre Company, Wellsboro, Pa.
THE MODERN EXECUTIVE
(Continued from page 22)
have done a huge task, and done it, so far
as their knowledge and their vision went, very
well indeed. Motion pictures have made
money. They continue to make money. And
they will continue to make money. That, ac-
cording to the old type of executive, is what
they are for.
Not so, says Pinanski and his growing
tribe of 1928 model executives. "Motion pic-
tures should make money. But they should
make money a secondary consideration. Never
yet has a great art come into being, or a single
example of a great art, for that matter, that
was deliberately started with the ultimate aim
of making money. Do something well, do it
beautifully, and the money will come."
Beauty Added to Utility
That, then, is the slogan, for in these days
of super advertising every movement, be it no
bigger than the waving of one's little finger,
must have a slogan, of the new executive,
of which Pinanski is an outstanding example.
"Do the job beautifully, and money will come."
It is rather a new idea in business, but not
entirely so. Already Ford has found it ad-
visable to add beauty to mere utility in his
product. According to men of the Pinanski
type, the bigger the business, the bigger the
vision, will shortly be the recognized rule of
business the world over.
Imagination, says Pinanski, is one of the
Major Bowes Celebrates
Three Years on Radio
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— Major
Edward Bowes is celebrating the end
of three years as a presider over
radio entertainment. It was on
July 26, 1925, that the managing di-
rector of the Capitol theatre here
christened his group of performers,
his "family." They had theretofore
been called "Roxy and His Gang,"
S. L. Rothafel being in charge.
most needed accessories to the business mind.
Without imagination there would have been
no motion pictures, no radio, in fact none of
the various marvelous inventions that have
made present life at once so enjoyable and
so complex. You need imagination, as you
need vision. You must be able to imagine
what the other fellow is thinking — ^for it is
in out-thinking the other fellow that an execu-
tive must excel, be he the old-fashioned type
or the new. And you must have the saving
grace of humbleness'.
Women Publicists Plan
Benefit Affair in August
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, July 31.— Preparations are
now being made by the "Wasps," women
screen publicists' society, for a benefit bridge
party and fashion show at the United Artists
studio August 11. Carolyn Wagner is general
chairman of entertainment. Those who have
consented to act as patronesses are :
Norma Talmadge, Colleen Moore, Belle Bennett,
Ruth Roland, Mrs. R. D. Shepherd, Mrs. Alice Pike
Barney, Mrs. Richard Hylan, Adele Rogers St. John,
Mrs. Grace Glaser, Mrs. Tim McCoy, Mrs. Carlos
Hardy, Mrs. Daryl Francis Zanuck, Mrs. Frank
Edwin De Long, Mrs. Lloyd Smith, Mrs. Samuel
Goldwyn.
Norma Shearer, Miss Estelle Ralston, Dolores Del
Rio, Mary Pickford, Mrs. J. J. Carter, Mrs. Leiland
Atherton Irish, Irene Rich, Billie Dove, Mrs. Antonio
Moreno, Louise Fazenda, Mrs. Samuel Rork.
Estelle Taylor, Phyllis Daniels, Mrs. C. C. Craig,
Mrs. Douglas MacLean, Mrs. Alec B. Francis, Mrs.
George Fawcett, Mrs. Robert Edeson, Mrs. Chester
Franklin, Mrs. Edward Everett Horton, Sr., Rose
Bryant, Mrs. Harry Rapf, Mrs. Wallace Reid, Mrs.
Frederick Valentine, Mrs. Maurice de Mond, Mrs.
Frank Crane, Mrs. Lee Al Phillips, Mrs. Victor
Schertzinger, Elizabeth Lloyd-Smith, Mrs. Paul
Sloane.
Alice Joyce, Agnes Christine Johnston, Winifred
Dunn, Bess Meredith, Lois Wilson, Maud Fulton,
Elizabeth Pickett, Ethel Wales, Marjorie Williams,
Alma Priester and Hedda Hopper.
Keith to Play All FN Pictures
NEW YORK.— First National Pictures has just
closed a contract with the new Keith theatre in
Rochester whereby the theatre will play all its First
National product.
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
53
Y^
WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Verdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor
Copyright, 1928
Incorporated in this original exhibitors report department of Exhibitors Herald, which was estab-
lished October 14, 1916, is the Moving Picture World department, '^Straight from the Shoulder
Reports."
Columbia
THE MATINEE IDOL: Special cast— 65%. July
18-19. An excellent entertaining picture from every
angle. Acting exceptionally good. Comedy clean and
thoroughly amusing. The Columbia "30" so far has
given good satisfaction. It is a pleasure to play pic-
tures that give general satisfaction like the Colum-
bias. This one is very good. — John W. Crabtree,
Joyland theatre, Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
THE SPORTING AGE: Special cast^Just fair.
Will please about 25 per cent, that's all. — A.
Mitchell, Dixie theatre, Russellville, Ky. — General
patronage.
F B 0
FRECKLES: Special cast— July 15-16. A fine,
clean, wholesome pitcure, as are all of Gene Stratton
Porters. The photography In the first two or three
reels is not so good, but the picture as a whole will
please and draw. A good picture for any night of
the week, especially Sunday. Seven reels. — Wm. E.
Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small
town patronage.
THE MOJAVE KID: Bob Steele — July 14. My first
of Bob's pictures and a very good little picture for
Saturday night. Bob has a r'^nd personality and
there is plenty of action in this. Five reels. — Wm.
E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre. Neillsville, Wis. — Small
town patronage.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION: Ralph Ince— July 4.
Very good. Pleased. Ince a fine actor. — Frank Sabin,
Majestic theatre, Eureka, Mont. — Small town patron-
age.
First National
THE LIFE OF RILEY: Sidney-Murray— 60%. July
16-17. Glad Riley didn't have as many lives as a
cat. As it was, his life like to have been the death
of my audience! However, they would have died
joyous! Laff??? Never had a crowd so tickled since
I have been in business. This picture ain't nothin'
but good, real good. The title is against it, but
get 'em in. They will sure enjoy it. Second night
much better than first so comment must have been
very favorable. Play it, it'll advertise for you. Seven
reels. — John W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning,
Ark. — General patronat:e.
HAPPINESS AHEAD: Colleen Moore^-A good pic-
ture, good stoi-y and they liked Colleen very much in
this one. — Whitney Burr. Orpheum theatre, Lan-
caster, Wis. — General patronage.
THE YELLOW LILY: Billie Dove — Here is a good
star for us and a real picture. Send us another,
Billie. Eight reels. — Whitney Burr, Orpheum theatre,
Lancaster, Wis. — General patronage.
THE MAD HOUR: Special cast — I should think
the grownups would get awfully tired of seeing these
"flaming youth" pictures. Fair picture. The last
part was better than the first. — Whitney Burr, Or-
pheum theatre, Lancaster, Wis. — General patronage.
CANYON OF ADVENTURE: Ken Maynard— July
4-5. Good Western, although to our notion not quite
Editor's Note
Percentage ratings given by ex-
hibitors in reports to this depart-
ment are obtained in the following
manner: Average daily gross of
picture reported is divided by
average daily gross of picture hold-
ing house record to determine
relative box office value in terms
of percentage.
EXAMPLE: $75 (average daily
gross of picture reported) divided
by $100 (average daily gross of
picture holding house record)
equals .75 (percentage rating given
picture in report) .
When a picture has received
percentage ratings in 10 reports it
is entered in THE BOX OFFICE
TICKER column of "Quick Ref-
erence Picture Chart."
as good as "'Gun Gospel." Six reels. — P. G. Estee,
S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D. — Small town' patronage.
ROULETTE: Richard Barthelmess— This was the
best Barthelmess picture yet, although "The Noose"
was very good. — Whitney Burr, Orpheum theatre,
Lancaster, Wis. — General patronage.
THE HAWK'S NEST: Milton Sills— More like this
one for Milton Sills. Good entertainment, good cast.
Holds your interest. Seven reels. — Whitney Burr,
Orpheum theatre, Lancaster, Wis. General patron-
age.
THREE RING MARRIAGE: Special cast— A very
good circus picture. They liked it. Six reels. —
Whitney Burr, Orpheum theatre, Lancaster, Wis. —
General patronage.
Fox
SEVENTH HEAVEN: Gaynor-Farrell— Jan. 18-19
— April 9-10. This is without a doubt the finest pic-
ture I have ever seen. Very clean. Farrell and Gay-
nor exceptionally good. By all means play it. Busi-
ness wonderful for four days. Twelve reels. — P. J.
Levesque, Acadia theatre, Rumford, Me. — General
patronage.
THE GAY RETREAT: Cohen-McNamara— A good
feature comedy. — W. C. Geer, Princess theatre, Ver-
mont, 111. — ^General patronage.
ARIZONA WILDCAT: Tom Mix— July 12-13. The
i-egular good Mix picture. Six reels. — Wm. E. Trags-
dorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town
patronage.
Gotham
UNITED STATES SMITH: Kenneth Harlan— July
6-7. Gotham did a good job on this one. Eddie Grib-
bon has one of the best parts of his career. Busi-
ness fine for the summer season. Seven reels. — -
P. J. Levesque, Arcadia theatre, Rumford, Me. —
General patronage.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
BRINGING UP FATHER: Special cast— 80%. July
21. I fell for the title and the title is all there is
to it. The nearest nothin' I ever had with one ex-
ception. Seven awful reels. No laughs. Well we
all get a dud once in a while, and Metro's pictures
have been so exceptionally good until this one that
I won't give it the h — it deserves. Just say you'll
be terribly disappointed when you screen it, and so
will your crowd. Seven reels. — John W. Crabtree,
Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
THE PATSY: Marion Davies- 25%. July 15-16.
Goody ! Goody ! we showed one that everybody
liked. Strictly okay and hurrah for Marion I In
fact, three cheers for all, from Metro to ourselves.
Even the print suited us, and the only insect in the
salve was the scantiness of the crowd we were able
to entice within. Warm weather and not enough
publicity. Fellows, give this one lots of hoorah if
you haven't run it yet. Eight reels. — Tivenan and
Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, Ohio. — Small
town patronage.
THE LATEST FROM PARIS: Norma Shearer—
21%. July 8-9. Very good picture, especially for
Sunday. Personally thought this one much better
than "The Actress," and the few whom we were able
to entice inside seemed to think so too. Thanks to
Miss Shearer, et al. Like many of Metro's pictures,
this was a little dark, otherwise in excellent con-
dition. Due to sweltering weather, our receipts have
shrunk so that we are almost ashamed to give per-
centage. Tough life. Eight reels. — Tivenan and
Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, Ohio. — Small
town patronage.
ROSE MARIE: Special cast— 35%. July 12-13-14.
Rather slow for four reels but makes up for it in
the last four. Good to see House Peters again and
he does good work, as does Miss Crawford also. No
Canadian house can go wrong on this one as it is
made for Canadians. The "Indian Love Call" will
easily sell it. A gi-eat song tie-up. Eight reels. —
S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man'.,
Canada. — Small town patronage.
WINNERS OF THE WILDERNESS: Tim McCoy
• — 73%. July 14. One of these costumes pictures that
they do not like to see. Had a number of walk-outs
on this one. Can't blame them as it is not much of
54
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
SAMUEL ZIERLEd^ presents^
DAVID
VMliORf
From the great novel by Francis Lynde,
published by Scribner's. A big, vital
drama which centers around the power-
ful personality of David Vallory. A
picture that gets down to life's raw
fundamentals.
V/^ PICTURES CORPORATION
SAMUEL ZIERLER_ president
N E \A/ V O PL_ »c_
a show. Seven reels. — Paul B. Hoffman', Legion
theatre, Holyrood, Kan. — Small town patronage.
FORBIDDEN HOURS: Ramon Novarro— Ramon
is done for in this town since showing "Forbidden
Hours." Terrible for a email town. Took it off the
second night. Why do they have to spoil a good
star like Novarro in such trash? No story, cen-
tainly no entertainment, not when they walk out.
A wonderful star in a picture like "Ben Hur" then
to come down to something like this and pass the
censors — ! ! — Whitney Burr, Orpheuon theatre, Lan-
caster, Wis. — General patronage.
SKIRTS: Syd Chaplin— Not so good. Just fair for
Syd Chaplin. Six reels. Whitney Burr, Orpheum
theatre, Lancaster, Wis. — General patronage.
QUALITY STREET: Marion Davies— Well here it
is again. It's surely a lemon. Looks like children
directed and acted this one. Someone will surely
learn better. — Russell C. Dey, Reedsville Movies,
Keedsville, Va. — General patronage.
MAN WOMAN AND SIN: John Gilbert— Nothing
wrong with this picture. We found it better than
the run of Metro. — Russell C. Dey, Reedville Movies,
Reedville, Va. — General patronage.
BUTTONS: Jackie Coogan — Very good — one of the
best we have had from Metro. Drew well after first
night. — Russell C. Dey, Reedville Movies, Reedville,
Va.
SPRING FEVER: William Haines— This is a
splendid comedy romance built up with golf as a
background and although we haven't a golf course
within fifteen-mile radius our people enjoyed it very
much. — W. C. Geer, Princess theatre, Vermont, 111. —
General patronage.
SPOILERS OF THE WEST: Special cast- Well,
here comes an Indian' picture that passed muster.
Nothing to find fault with, nothing in particular
wrong with the picture. It proved good entertain-
ment. The Indians did fine, Tim McCoy satisfied and
Marjorie Daw pleased and the West has no fault to
find in this picture. Our "crabs" were satisfied. Six
reels. — Giamoca Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone,
Ariz. — General patronage.
THE WANING SEX: Norma Shearer— July 17-18.
An entertaining program picture. Norma wears a
lot of different clothes during the picture, which is
what the ladies come to see. When these dames get
so they think any one comes to see them "act" they
aje out. Seven reels. — -Wm. E. Tragsdprf, Trags
theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage.
Paramount
THE SHOWDOWN: George Bancroft— 20%. July
9-10-11. An excellent picture with many gripping
situations, though it canHot compare with "Under-
world." We were not asked to pay "Underworld"
prices. Bancroft and the whole cast were excellent.
Very warm weather accounts for low patronage.
Eight reels.^S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Sel-
kirk, Man., Canada. — Small town patronage.
SHOOTIN' IRONS: Jack Luden— 58%. July 14. A
good little Western. Six reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green,
Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
FEEL MY PULSE: Bebe Daniels— 33%. July 7.
Not much of a show although it has some good
spots in it. — Paul B. Hoffman, Legion theatre. Holy-
rood, Kan. — Small to-wn patronage.
THE RACKET: Thomas Meighan— This is a good
picture, although it dragged a little. Could have
put it in six reels nicely. Kght reels. — 'Whitney
Burr, Orpheum theatre, Lancaster, Wis. — General
patronage.
THE DRAG NET: George Bancroft— A good pro-
gram picture. Eight reels. — ^Whitney Burr, Orpheum
theatre, Lancaster, Wis. — General patronage.
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— Very good and drew
extra money to the box office. — W. C. Geer, Princess
theatre, Vermont, HI.- — ^General patronage.
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— Jnly 3-4-5. Played three
days to the poorest houses ever. It was no fault of
the picture as the rainy weather caught us in the
midst of harvest and as a result no one had time for
shows. Eight reels. — Paul B. Hoffman, Legion
theatre, Holyrood, Kan. — Small town patronage.
PARTNERS IN CRIME: Beery-Hatton— Failed to
come up to the usual Beery-Hatton standard and
consequently, while not a flop, was far from satis-
factory to the patrons. Seven reels. — Giacoma Bros.,
Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patron-
age.
THE SUNSET LEGION: Fred Thomson— Another
good one from Paramount with Fred Thomson. This
one pleased. — A. Mitchell, Dixie theatre, Russellville.
Ky. — General patronage.
RED HAIR: Clara Bow — This one got business
with a tent show for opposition ail(J t<? 4o this you
sure have got something out of the ordinary. This
one pleased and Clara Bow gets you the money every
time. — A. Mitchell, Dixie theatre, Russellville, Ky. —
General patronage.
Pathe-P D C
A HARP IN HOCK: Rudolph Schildkraut— 19%.
July 6-7. Not so good as we thought it would be,
and did not draw as we expected, after Schildkraut's
success in "The Country Doctor." It is not a bad
little picture, but did not appeal to our particular
small towners. Just made film rental. However, we
were dark the 6th, due to delayed films on account
of a wreck, and it was beastly hot the 7th. Junior
Coghlan deserves mention. Seven reels. — Tivenan and
Wolfe, Greenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town
patronage.
THE BLUE DANUBE: Leatrice Joy— March 21-
22. This suited everybody. The first story Leatrice
Joy has had for months. Played it in Lent. Busi-
ness pretty good. Seven reels. — P. J. Levesque,
Acadia theatre, Rumford, Me. — General patronage.
THE MAIN EVENT: Special cast- July 7. Inter-
esting fight picture. Pleased. — Frank Sabin, Majes-
tic theatre. Eureka, Mont. — Small town patronage.
Tiffany
THE ENCHANTED ISLE: Henry Walthal— Six
reels. This was a good animal show, in fact, it re-
minded us of Haggenback's. All that was needed was
a few clowns. They brought about everything into
this from "soup to nuts." The villain "villianed"
and the hero "heroed," on land or sea there was
son"ething doing every minute, even the raft scene
from Littles World played at McVickers way back
in 1886 was there. As a play you might call this
"chop suey" or "hash," for every field was entered
to put this story together and at that all acted their
parts well, but after the last reel was shot onto the
silver screen we might produce the following bene-
diction : "A nice time was had by all." Six reels. —
Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. —
General patronage.
United Artists
MY BEST GIRL: Mary Pickford— 30%. July 5-6-7.
Excellent Pickford picture, but Mary does not steal
all the credit. Young Charlie Rogers sure is entitled
to some also. Fair business in spite of warm
weather. Nine reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central
theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town patron-
age.
THE CIRCUS: Charles Chaplin— July 9. Have
played many pictures costing one-fifth as much which
gave us as good satisfaction. They oversold me. I
had to raise to 15c and 40c, and 10c and 25c would
have been better. Seven reels. — Frank Sabin, Ma-
jestic theatre. Eureka, Mont. — Small town patronage.
Universal
WILD WEST SHOW: Hoot Gibson— 30%. July 2-5.
They sold me this for a special and I think it is the
poorest Gibson I ever ran. Hoot is taking the same
trail as Mix. Trying to be funny instead of injecting
some real drama and action into his stuff. Six reels.
— S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man.,
Canada. — Small town patronage.
WILD WEST SHOW: Hoot Gibson— July 6-7.
Good out of door picture with circus atmosphere.
Enough comedy to please even a Saturday crowd.
Six reels.— P. G. Estee, S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D.
— Small town patronage.
PAINTING THE TOWN: Glenn Tryon— 38%.
July 13-14. Nice little chunk of entertainment to
build a program around. Somehow we didn't ex-
pect much of this — Friday the 13th ! — but did well
with it. Pooh for superstition I Just a little dark in'
spots, but the condition of the film was much better
than we have been getting from Universal lately.
Ho LOSSES in the BOX OFFICE
ICI^T REGISTEI^
Automatic Ticket
Register Corp.
723 5EVENTH AVENEW YoRK
TucKETS_^/- Every Purpose^ Lowest Market Prices
-Ml""'"^ ""I I1NI1IIIH.III«IIMNIIIINIIIIHHI1
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
Patsy Ruth Miller officiatee as the female foil. Six
reels. — Tivenan sind Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Ne-
vada, O. — Small town patronage,
THE THIRTEENTH JUROR: Special cafi^-77%.
July 12. Had a full house on this, due, I think,
to a one-reel subject called "Conquering the Colo-
rado" (a Hodge-Podge Novelty) which shows the
launching of the boats of the Clyde L. Eddy Colo-
rado River Expedition at Greenriver and as a lot
of Greenriver people were in the picture they all
wanted to see themselves. Then there are several
shots of the boats going through some rapids. All
of this was very interesting to the people of Green-
river. The feature picture was a strong dramatic
picture, not overdone and very good for a change.
Six reels. — Mrs. Hula J. Green, Gem theatre, Green-
river, Utah. — General patronage.
ON YOUR TOES: Reginald Denny— This is a
good comedy drama and a good evening spent. Six
reels. — Whitney Burr, Orpheum theatre, Lancaster,
Wis. — General patronage.
LOVE ME AND THE WORLD IS MINE: Norman
Kerry — May 28-29. Not even a good program pic-
ture. I can't figure out why Universal called this
one a special. Story very, very poor. Business lack-
ing. Eight reels. — P. J. Levesque, Acadia theatre,
Rumford, Me. — General patronage.
SURRENDER: Special cast — Uncle Carl should
keep this in his private projection room and show
it there. I don't think that the show-going public
are interested in pictures of this type at all. It's
just a piece of cheese. — A. Mitchell, Dixie theatre,
Russellville, Ky. — General patronage.
TAKE IT FROM ME: Reginald Denny— One of
his last year pictures that seemed to please. We do
not consider it as good as some of the later ones.
— W. C. Geer, Princess theatre, Vermont, 111. — Gen-
eral patronage.
Warner Bros.
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC: Monte Blue— July 11.
A good drawing card and Will give entire satis-
faction. Step on it. — Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre.
Eureka, Mont. — Small town patronage.
Miscellaneous
JESSE JAMES UNDER THE BLACK FLAG:
Jesse James, Jr. — July 10. I understand that thii
outfit has three companies on the road. The one I
had was number three and I never saw any harder
workers than the two young fellows who accom-
panied this unit. They have a bally-hoo that would
wake up the dead and a flock of dummies they stick
up in front which stop everyone. Unfortunately I
only had them booked for one night. Had the big-
gest crowd since the nights of "The Covered Wagon."
In fact, after I had packed 'em in with a shoa
horn, I had to turn away between two and three
hundred. This unit is working upper Wisconsin,
Minnesota and Upper Michigan and if any of you
fellows up that way get a chance to book them, be
sure to do so even if you have to pay for your reg-
ular show for that night and leave it in the can.
The bally-hoo they carry with them does the trick
and the picture can be rated as pretty good froira an
historical viewpoint, and their print is practically
new and in good shape. Bight reels. — Wm. E. Trags-
dorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town
patronage.
State Rights
WOLF TRACKS: Jack Hoxie— 75%. Just a West-
ern of ordinary calibre that went over on the
strength of the star in this community. However,
it wasn't so worse. Appeal about 60 per cent. Five
reels. — John W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning,
Ark. — General patronage.
Short Subjects
EDUCATIONAL
CONQUERING THE COLORADO: Hodge Podge—
This is a good picture. More interesting to us than
to others because we know the men who went down
the river and saw them leave Greenriver. One reel.
— Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver,
Utah. — General patronge.
F B O
LADIES PREFER BRUNETTES: Jack Luden—
Very good. Two reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem
theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
METRO-GO LDWYN-MAYER
DO DETECTIVES THINK: Laurel-Hardy— If any-
one thinks this pair is not good, he doesn't know
comedy. Never had a poor one from them yet, and
I have run them all. This is no exception. Two
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
LARAMIE PEAK, LARAMIE MOUNTAINS, WYC, July 22, 1928.
DEAR HER ALEK WORLD:
If we should take this typewriter under one arm and a typewriter stand under the other
and lug them up this mountain over the rocks for 7,000 feet just to write this Colyum
on top of the mountain you'd think we were crazy wouldn't you? Well, that's what wc
would think about it too, and that's the reason why we didn't do it. In our letter last
week we promised what few readers might read this Colyum — for want of something better to
do — a picture of some real trout, but we have been unable to find one in any of the drug
stores along the line.
Saturday afternoon Charley Martin drove us up to the Laramie mountains with the
understanding that we would catch him more trout than he could eat — and Charley has
nine tapeworms — and only for a cloud burst up the Laramie river Saturday night which
made the water raise about three feet we would have done it, but as it was we had to
eat sowbelly and come back Sunday afternoon minus the trout.
Charley is an old friend of ours. He lives at Kearney, Neb., and sells flour and chop
feed for a milling company at Grand Island and every time we meet him he wants us to
go fishing with him. That is how it came that we went to the Laramie mountains Satur-
day. Charley is what you would call a consistent Democrat. That's one among a thousand
reasons why we like him, fishing is another.
* * •
Charley thinks that Thomas Jefferson dug Hood's Canal and put the cape on Cape Horn
and he has been voting for him consistently and religiously ever since the law would
permit. When we were driving up one of the canyons in the mountains where the rocks
were piled thousands of feet above us we said to him, "Charley, at one time there must
have been an awful upheaval of things to have piled these rocks up in such masses and
made this gorge. Nature must have been on a tremendous rampage," and Charley looked
at us and said, "Nature had nothing whatever to do with it, that hajjpened under one of
the Democratic administrations, for you know. Colonel, the Democrats always go to the
bottom of things." "Yes," we replied, "we've noticed that, and they always take business
with 'em." At this Charley stopped the car and said, "Say, Colonel, can't you ever get
anything besides business in that Teapot Dome of yours. Forget about business, we are
going trout fishing, look around you and enjoy the scenery, the marvelous works of the
Democratic party." That closed the argument.
« « *
That night we pitched our tents on the banks of the Laramie river and slept on the
ground. We had one rock under our left hip joint and another under the small of our
back and Charley pulled all the blankets off of us and a chipmunk crawled in the tent
and licked our toes — he was dead in the morning — and sometime in the night Charley
punched us in the ribs and said, "Did you hear that. Colonel?" "Hear what," we replied.
"Don't you hear him? There's a cougar out there trying to get into our grub box." "Keep
still," we replied, "we hope he does, and if he gets hold of one of those pancakes you
made for supper he'll be a dead cougar in the morning." This made Charley a little sore
and he said we could cook our own breakfast, damifhewould, or something like that,
then he slipped the pillow out from under our head and went to sleep, and we laid awake
the balance of the night and wondered if the time would ever come when the human
race, and a flour peddler and a column writer would have as much sense as a dogfish.
We stood it as long as we could, and about 3 o'clock in the morning we began to sing.
We sang, "Carry me back to Old Virginny," and Charley never budged, then we sang,
"Dixie," and still he snored, but when we opened up with "The Sidewalks of New York,"
he rared up and shouted, "Hurrah for Samuel J. Tilden," and we inquired,
"WhotheheUshe?"
• • •
SIDNEY, NEB., July 23.
We ought to be in Cheyenne today. The big show opens there this morning with a
"WHOOPEE, RIDE 'EM COWBOY" and the lid is off on everything except the Ladies'
Home Missionary Society. The sheriff and members of the police force are deaf, dumb
and blind and the judge has adjourned court for one week. We ought to be there, we
feel it our duty, in justice to the world's greatest magazine, to have gone there and given
the readers first hand information on the big show, but our finances are limited to such
an extent that we didn't care to loosen up to the tune of eight bucks for the privilege of
sitting on the curb all night when we ought to be in bed, and we were informed that
that is what we would have to do. Our absence will throv/ a wet blanket over the fes-
tivities, we know that, but Ken Maynard is there and so is "Rawhide Rosie" and that
will help some. The highways are lined with all kinds of vehicles all headed for Cheyenne.
Pa and Ma Jones from Ypsalanti, Mich., will reach there tonight if their 1916 Ford holds
out. A delegation of boosters for Al Smith from Claremore, Okla., passed us on the road
and one was shouting for Herb Hoover and the other three were hurrahing for Bill
Rogers, one was waving a corkscrew and another a lemon squeezer and the driver saw
two roads and tried to take 'em both and Marie and I took the ditch.
It is going to be a great show and we ought to be there, the welfare of the public
demands it, but what is a feller to do when his expense check is in McCook, Neb., and
that's 400 miles from Cheyenne. Out in Cheyenne they demand cash, and plenty of it and
{Continued on next page)
reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man.,
Canada. — Small town patronage.
DUMB DADDIES: Max Davidson— Tolerable good
Metro, pretty fair. Little slow in starting but hits
sixty when she does go. Lots of laffs in last reel.
Consider this a little better than average. Two
reels.^John W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning,
Ark. — General patronage.
FAMILY GROUP: Charlie Chase— Was rather
disappointed in this Chase comedy but his standard
is so high that anything a little off color looks
worse than it really is. Two reels. — S. B. Kennedy,
Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
PALACE OF HONEY: Oddity— Very excellent
study of bee life, done in an interesting manner.
Some good photography in this, close-ups of in-
teresting habits of the honey makers. One reel. —
Tivenan and Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O.
— Small town patronage.
PASS THE GRAVY: Max Davidson — Fair comedy,
but not the sort that tickles the sturdy agriculturists
of Wyandot County, Ohio, and their progeny. This
is a custard-pie knock-em-down-and-drag-em-out
56
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
(Continued from preceding page)
we haven't a friend in Cheyenne that we know of that we could panhandle for a handout.
They say it is no disgrace to be poor, but it is mighty inconvenient when you want to be
in Cheyenne.
JULESBURG, COL, July 24.
They've got the longest beds in the world out here in Colorado. Must be a state law
requiring it. There is one in our room that we betcha is 16 feet long, it would have been
longer but that was the length of the room. When Pa and Ma go to bed out here Pa
crawls into one end and Ma cuddles up in the other and they have to use a telephone to
talk to one another. Looks like that would be mighty inconvenient, and when Pa wakes
up in the morning and gets hungry he rings Ma up and tells her it is time to get up
and get breakfast, and of course this makes Ma sore and she bawls Pa out and says, "You
cross-eyed alligator, how dare you ring in my ear when I am asleep, you can get up and
get your own doggone breakfast." Suppose when Ma is bawling Pa out that way she
would have a short circuit, what then? Gosh, but we are glad we are living in Nebraska.
* * *
We stopped in Chappell today to call on Mr. R. C. Geeting of the Lyric and we came
very near not getting to meet him. We caUed at his residence and Mrs. Geeting came
to the door and gave us the once over and was just puckering up her mouth to whistle
for the bulldog when we said, "Just a moment. Madam, our name in Jenkins, initials J. C,
not the Jenkins that killed the teacher's cat and tried to lay it onto poor Duncan, nor the
Jenkins who was hung in Alabama for chicken stealing, but we are (if you will pardon
us for seeming to boast of the matter) the accredited representative of the world's greatest
magazine, known the world over as the EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOTION PICTURE
WORLD and — ," but here she began to laugh and she grabs us by the hand and yanked
us into the room and then she shouted to her husband to come and see what she had
found. We had a regular gabfest, and some nice watermelon, and we pronounce both of
them ace high with the joker gone. The next time we go back we will plan to stop all
night in Chappell and then we can have a regular visit. They are as fine a couple as ever
chased a film hound off the premises.
* * ♦
JULESBURG, July 25.
We are back in Julesburg tonight. We started this morning for McCook and got as
far as Imperial and found that the bridges on the Golden Rod highway were washed
out and the mud was so deep over the road for about 30 miles that all the bullfrogs
were mired down so we had to backtrack 265 miles over a territory we had already
covered. The state made the mistake of building that Golden Rod highway too •
close to Kansas. Of course those webfooted Kansas mudhens, such as Sam Blair of Belle-
ville, Grasshopper Sprague of Goodland and Ray Musselman of Lincoln don't mind it
but it sure throws a chill into us Nebraska folks. The trip over and back wasn't without
its compensation though, for we met R. E. Guild of the Princess at Holyoke, Col., E. C.
Dettman of the Imperial at Imperial and H. W. Dettman of the Alhambria at Culbertson,
Neb., three pheasant roosters with all their plumage on. If they make 'em any better
they haven't them on exhibition and they needn't go into Kansas looking for them either.
Just out of Holyoke we picked up a pilgrim on the highway, a thing we seldom do.
He said he was on his way from Los Angeles to Superior, Wis. We asked him what his
line of endeavor was and he said he was a witness for the Lord. Then we asked in what
case and when the trial would come off and it went over his head. He said he was a
disciple of Aimee Semple McPherson and we asked him how Aimee was getting along
these days and if she still had the same press agent, and there wasn't anybody home. He
told us that a farmer back near Denver offered him a job and he was on the point of
taking it but the Lord told him not to do it, that He had other work for him and He
would provide for all his wants. We asked him if he didn't think it was a little unfair
to expect the Lord to provide all the pork and beans and then slop the shoats and do all
his other chores and not expect him to do anything, but he didn't savvy. Then he told
us about living in Hollywood and how Aimee Semple was garnering the sheaves right and
left and we asked him if she had ever broken into the picture colony and he said she hadn't,
for she only worked on fertile ground where there was hope for redemption. This re-
mark caused us to wonder if he was as dumb as we thought he was. Then we asked him
if Hollywood kept a record of all the nuts that left there and he replied that it wasn't
necessary, that none ever left, said they aU stuck. The chap was a Finlander by trade and
when he left us at Imperial we decided he wasn't as crazy as he looked.
« * «
Mrs. Zorn operates the Alhambria here in Julesburg, and Mrs. Zom has four daughters,
two of whom are married, but what we can't savvy is why these Colorado yaps will let
these two young ladies go unchaperoned through life without any manly bosom to lay
their heads on. If they will move over in Nebraska we will guarantee results in 30 days.
It's a good thing for the Zorn family that we are not 26 and single, otherwise wedding
bells would drown out the fire whistle. It is a pleasure to meet people like the Zorn
family, we hope to meet many more like them. Look out, Kansas, you are liable to be
next, so have something on ice.
J. C. JENKINS,
The HERALD-WORLD Man.
dump, and even the subtleties of Max are clear out
of reach. Two reels. — Tivenan and Wolfe, Screen-
land theatre, Nevada, Ohio. — Small town patronage.
SLEEPING DEATH: Oddity— Good. Intereeting.
Some fine shots of African scenery and animals, al-
though the main subject is the tsetse fly and sleep-
ing sickness. One reel. — ^Tivenan and 'Vt'olfe, Screen-
land theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
SPOOK SPOOFING: Our Gang— Not so good for
a Gang comedy. A lot of monkey-business in the
old deserted graveyard, but it was dark, dark. 0 yes.
the kids liked it. Two reels. — Tivenan and Wolfe,
Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patron-
age.
PARAMOUNT
FRENCH FRIED: Neal Burns— There is a dog
in this picture that is a wonder. A good comedy.
Two reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre,
Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
PARAMOUNT NEWS: Best and newest news
shown here. — L. M. Dunlap, Palace theatre. Meridian,
Tex. — Small town patronage.
Griffith Claims First
Use of Sound Effects
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, July 31.— D. W.
Griffith claims to be the Srst director
to use sound effects with a picture.
According to him, the £rst sound ef-
fects were used ten years ago in
"Dream Street," using equipment
similar in many respects to Vita-
phone. The picture and sound
effects are said to have been a hit and
won many editorial prophecies in
regard to its development. However
Griffith failed to secure ffnancial
backing and the thing was dropped.
Almost ten years later, or today,
GrifBth is beginning another picture
with sound effects — "The Love
Song," with William Boyd and Lupe
Velez.
PATHE
LOVE'S LANGUID LURE: Ben Turpin— A very
funny comedy. Two reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family
theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
PATHE NEWS: No. 26, 28, 30. Good. Pathe
is right on the job when it comes to news. We
would be better satisfied with all news reels if there
was* not so much duplication. Can't they ever
"scoop" ? One reel. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland
theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
SHOULD SECOND HUSBANDS COME FIRST:
Max Davidson — Fair comedy but got the laughs.
First reel was very dark. Two reels. — Ray P.
Murphy, Old Trail theatre, Hebron, O. — General
oatronage.
UNIVERSAL
RIVAL ROMEOS: Oswald, the rabbit— Excellent
cartoon. Best in some time. Single reel. — S. B. Ken-
nedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man'., Canada. — Small
town patronage.
SMOTHER OF MINE: Charles Puffy— Can't say
much for this one. Single reel. — S. B. Kennedy, Cen-
tral theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
TROLLEY TROUBLES: Oswald, the Rabbit— Just
passable. Better than some — not so good as many.
Okay filler. Half reel. — Tivenan and Wolfe, Screen-
land theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
NEWLYWED'S MISTAKE: Snookums— The kid's
antics were laughable, but the rest of the picture is
just the same old blah. Some of the inside scenes
a bit dark. Please, mister, can't yon make good
comedies? Two reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland
theatre, Nevada, O. — ^Small town patronage.
PASSING THE JONES': Very good. Two reels.
— Carl L. Brown, Crystal theatre. Many, La. — Gen-
eral patronage.
PLEASE DON'T: February 25. A fair comedy.
Two reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville. Mich. — General patronage.
ON THE FRONT PAGE: Just fair comedy. Only
a few laughs to a full house. — ^E. N. McFarland,
Pinegrove theatre. Port Huron, Mich. — Neighborhood
patronage.
MISCELLANEOUS
THE MAGIC GAME: Photography poor, print
hazy. Comedy fair and seemed to suit the kids in
audience better than, usual. Two reels. — John W.
Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark. — General
patronage.
JERRY THE DOCTOR: Good comedy in one reel.
Fast as a dose of salts and had the crowd trotting
from one laugh to another. — John W. Crabtree, Joy-
land theatre. Corning, Ark. — Small town patronage.
THE TAIL OF THE MONK: A fair cartoon com-
edy, nothing extra. One reel. — J. W. Crabtree, Joy-
land theatre. Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
WINNING WINNIE : Hot as a mustard plaster on
an old maid's back ! Comical situations one after the
other that bring down the house. This series of
comedies means extra business. Play them, all are
good. Two reels. — J. W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre.
Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
Callaway Back from Trip
iNliW YORK. — W. E. Callaway, Southern sales
manager for First National pictures, is back in the
home office after a 10-day trip to Cincinnati, Cleve-
lana and Pittsburgh. .
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
^^^
NEW PICTURES
In "New Pictures" the EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE
WORLD presents in concise form infor-
mation on current and forthcoming attrac-
tions.
The facts as presented will serve exhib-
itors in booking and in the preparation of
their advertising campaign.
FIRST KISS, THE: Paramount drama, with Fay
Wray, Gary Cooper, Lane Chandler, Leslie Fenton,
Paul Fix, Malcolm Williams and Monroe Owsley.
Directed by Rowland V. Lee. Released
Length
TYPE AND THEME: About an energetic young
oyster-fisherman and a rich girl. One of Mary-
land's first families, the Talbots, have gone to pot
— literally, for the old man's a booze-fighter. Three
of the sons are as worthless, but one. Mulligan,
tvorks hard. He is loved by the town's richest girl,
Anne Lee. But one day, when he kisses her, she
flares up, calling him "white trash." Mulligan gets
the idea — he's really far beneath her. Angry at
her, he determines to raise the family. The old
■man helps out by dying, and Mulligan finances the
education of his brothers, robbing ships to do so.
But finally he sells his dearest possession, a
schooner he had built as a "dream ship" for Anne,
getting enough for it to compensate for his loot.
But his robberies are brought to light. Though she
still finds Mulligan smarting under her insult, Anne
appears in court for him, revealing why he stole.
And Mulligan learns that it was she who bought
the "dream ship." They sail away in it.
t * *
FORGOTTEN FACES: Paramount melodrama, with
Clive Brook, Mary Brian, Olga Baclanova, William
Powell, Fred Kohler and Jack Luden. Directed by
Victor Schertzinger. Released- Length
TYPE AND THEME: A crook, his wife and
his daughter. "Heliotrope Harry" is a bad man.
Holds up a gambling joint. Going home, he finds
his baby daughter neglected, his wife ivith another
man. He shoots the man. Places baby on wealthy
fam,Uy's door step. Then gives up and gets life.
Chloe, his wife, threatens to interfere with the
child's present status as the happy daughter of
wealth. At first denied parole, Harry gets it by
saving the warden. He obtains a job in the Deane
family, to watch over his daughter, no^iv known as
Alice Deane. His wife he keeps teaming by pester-
ing her tvith the odor of heliotrope (an odor well
adapted to the purpose, no doubt). Finally he adds
a revolver. Chloe takes it, rushes to the Deane
home. Harry sees her. A shot — and a finish tliat
Paramount says, "in all fairness to the picture,
should not be revealed," which, the information
being for the trade, sounds like whatever one is
in the habit of calling such things.
* * *
MADE TO ORDER HERO, A: Universal Western.
with Ted Wells, Marjorie Bonner, Pearl Sindelan,
Jack Pratt, Benny Corbett, Pee Wee Holmes.
Scotty Mattraw and Dick L'Estrange. Directed by
Ray Taylor. Released...- Lenjrth, 4,120.
TYPE AND THEME: A Ted Wells Western.
As Larry Day, Wells is a young ranch owner. Com-
ing to visit him are his sweetheart and her aunt.
Larry arranges for a fake holdup so that he can
show the aunt that he is a hero, in order to over-
Mary Astor in a scene from First Nation-
al's "Heart to Heart," tale of an Italian
princess who finds love in her American
home town. The cast includes Lloyd
Hughes and Louise Fazenda.
come the aunt's desire that Marjorie marry a so-
ciety ■man. But the holdup flops, and Larry is
■made to look ridiculo^us. However, the two wo-men
are placed in real danger, whereupon Larry shows
'em all whafs what, proving that he is the correct
man for Marjorie.
* * *
ROAD HOUSE : Fox melodrama, with Maria Alba,
Warren Burke, Lionel Barrymore, Julia Swayne
Gordon, Tempe Pigott, Florence Allen, Jack Oakie,
Eddie Clayton, Jane Keckley, Joe Brown and Kay
Bryant. Directed by Richard Rosson. Released
_ Length
TYPE AND THEME: The story of a good boy
gone temporarily wrong, sketching certain modern
tendencies. Larry gets a little tired of doing the
same things over and over, including going about
with his demure little sweetheart. So he takes to
the roadhouses, meeting Sally, a "stall ■moll" for a
gang of thieves. He takes articles from his fath-
er's store to give her, arguing that his father
does the same for his stenographer. His father
catches him and they liave a row. Larry goes to
Sally and before he realizes it, he is in on a "job."
The gang robs a gambling joint. A shot rings out.
Larry is standing over the proprietor with a re-
volver j'ust as his father enters. The boy is charged
imth ■murder, and in court his father tells that it is
all his fault that his son got into bad ways.
Cleared of the charge, Larry is glad to return to
his father and simple sweetheart.
* * *
SAY IT WITH SABLES: Columbia drama, with
Francis X. Bushman, Helene Chadwick, Margaret
Livingston, Arthur Rankin, June Nash, Alphonz
Ethier and Edna Mae Cooper. Directed by Frank
Capra. Released Length
TYPE AND THEME: A man's past returns to
threaten his son, and a murder follows. In order to
gi-ve his son a mother, Caswell throivs over his
■mistress, Irene, and marries. Years later, the son
brings his sweetheart to see his parents. She is
Irene. Caswell tells Doug the truth about her. En-
raged, tlve boy decla/res he will see her and demand
the truth from her. Alarmed, Caswell follows. He
finds Irene dead on the floor, having been shot.
Mitchell, detective, arrives. He finds an earring in
the dead tuoman's hand. A sable coat is traced as
the gift of young Caswell. The boy tells his father
he killed Irene. To protect him, the father de-
clares he did it. Hoivever, the other earring is
found in Mrs. CasiveU's jewel case. She suggests
that a woman may have killed Irene — to get letters
that would ruin her son's life, perhaps. Mitchell
nods. Then he declares that the case is plainly one
of suicide.
* * *
VARSITY: Paramount drama, with Charles Rogers,
Mary Brian, Chester Conklin, Phillips R. Holmes,
Robert Ellis, John Westwood and Princeton Uni-
versity undergraduates. Directed by Frank Tuttle.
Released Length _
TYPE AND THEME: College, father-son be-
sides girl-boy sentiment, and booze. Pop Conlan is
the beloved janitor at Princeton. His weakness is
booze, and he has been forced to conceal his rela-
tionship to his son on that account. Jimmy, brought
up in an orphan asylum, enters Princeton and be-
comes an honor student. But he, too, takes to
booze, -much to his father's disappointment. Pop
will not reveal his identity to his son, but he tries
hard to keep Jimmy from going to the dogs. In
this he is helped by Fay, an actress, who loves
Jimmy. But Jimmy goes on a protracted drunk,
gambles and is accused of losing money he has
been collecting for a college fund. Pop and Fay
get him out of the ■mess. Pop being run over by an
automobile in doing so. Jim^my seems to have
learned his lesson, and he and Fay are married.
Fay has guessed that Pop is Jimmy's father. But
as she leaves on her honeymoon. Pop cautions her
WHITE SISTER, THE: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
drama, with Lilian Gish, Ronald Colman, Gail
Kane, J. Barney Sherry, Charles Lane, Juliette La
Violette, Sig. Serena, Alfredo Bertone, Ramon
Ibanez, Alfredo Martinelli, Carloni Talli, Giovanni
Viecola, Antonio Barda, Giacomo D'Attino, Michele
Gualdi, Guiseppe Pavoni, Francesco Socinus, Sheik
Mahomet, James Abbe and Duncan Mansfield. Di-
rected by Henry King. Released Length
(Reissue.)
TYPE AND THEME: This Gish-Colman picture
of a few years ago, tells the story of Angela, beaii^
tiful maid of Italy. Since her noble father had
not ■married her ■mother civilly and because her
foster sister destroys his wiU, she is penniless. But
her lover, Giovanni, army officer, seeks her out, and
he being ordered to Africa on an engineering ex-
pedition, Angela proinises to wait for him. Then
he is reported killed, and Angela, half-crazed, is
taken in at the Hospital of the White Sisters.
This Week's Press Sheet
FARMER'S DAUGHTER, THE (Fox comedy-drama):
You can arrange for a local contest for the best cattle, vege-
tables, and fruit, running it like a country fair. In large cities
this is naturally not feasible, but it will get results in towns
that are gathering centers for the farm folk. For the ladies,
a contest can be held for the best bread or cake. Local mer-
chants will benefit by this sort of a fair, because the money
will remain in the town. Therefore, they should be willing
to cooperate with awards and window displays. Call the con-
test "The Farmer's Daughter Fair."
Another twist to the idea is a photographic resemblance
competition for the girls who look most like Marjorie Beebe,
who appears in the picture. The conditions should include
the statement that the winner will be chosen by popular vote
and that no photographs will be returned to the owners. The
newspaper that sponsors such a local enterprise will gain
good will from the merchants and farmers.
Dress your ushers in sunbonnets^ and gingham and drive
them around the town with the following legend tacked to
the car: "Though I'm the farmer's daughter, I am a modern
thoughter. I never rise to greet the dawn; Just stay awake
till night is gone. I know a chicken from a cow, I know
my vegetables — and how. When in a beauty pageant. My
calves are my press agent. I stir the city's calm belief — Boy,
I'm the farmer's farm relief." Have the name of your theatre
and the showing of the picture also on the car.
Using the main theme of the picture, you can arrange a
ukulele contest, the winner to be chosen by popular acclaim
of your audiences. Tie-up with a music dealer. Contestants
should be required to play the main theme and one other
selection of their choosing. You can pick the winners at
each showing and have them appear at the last performance
for the final choosing. Have them play their songs again and
let your audience select the final winner.
■BRMUHIflHIl
58
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
Y^
CHICAGO PERSONALITIES
By Whit
IN the death of William J. (Bill) Sweeney last Thursday morning, the in-
dustry in general and the Row in particular lost one of its most ardenti
supporters and noble characters. Never swerving from a course of honesty
and fair dealing, Mr. Sweeney's influence stretched over a wide territory for
many years in the industry. More than one of the industry's leading figures
today owe their success, in large measure, to the counsel of Bill Sweeney. He
was a man of rare humanness and kindliness. Even in the last year of his life,
when ill health brought him much suffering, he did not lose the optimism and
sheer love of living that marked his entire career. But Bill Sweeney needs no
eulogy. The memory of him that all of us carry in our hearts is eulogy enough
for any man.
the first all-talkie, on August 3 for an ex-
tended run, which makes it the first Warner
picture to be shown in a B & K house for an
extended run. There may be some significance
in that. We don't know, we're sure.
Miss Myrtle Collins, switchboard operator
in Jack Miller's office, is on a vacation at
Deep Lake.
* * *
"Grad" Sears: left Friday for a short trip
to New York.
* * *
And Tom Gilliam pushed off Saturday for
a week-end trip to Saugatuck, Michigan, where
he hopes to catch a few fish.
* * *
E. M. Saunders of the home office of M G M
was in the Chicago office last week and had
the pleasure of congratulating Frank Ishmael
on his seventh anniversary as city sales man-
ager for M G M.
Art Smight, general sales manager of
Tiffany-Stahl, was in town last week. Eph
Rosen has been made manager of the Chicago
exchange of Tiffany-Stahl. He was formerly
the Milwaukee manager.
* * *
Joe Hopp is now connected with F B 0 here
as a country salesman. He is well known
both as an exhibitor and as an exchange man.
He operates the Majestic theatre at Rock
Island.
* * *
The Orpheum circuit ceased operation of
the Diversey theatre Sunday. Management of
the theatre returns to Jones, Linick and
Schaefer, and the house is soon to be turned
into burlesque, the shows to be staged by
Anshell Brothers, who now produce the shows
at the Rialto and Star and Garter theatres.
* * *
Jack Kennedy, auditor for F B 0 with office
in New York, was in Chicago last week. Both
he and Dickerson were given their first game
of golf by the F B O boys and Kennedy suc-
ceeded in trimming Dick.
* * *
Walter Brown of F B O was home most of
last week suffering from a very serious eye
disorder. A broken blood vessel caused blind-
ness in one eye, which may result in permanent
blindness in this eye.
* * *
The McVickers theatre will open vnth the
Warner picture, "The Lights of New York,"
Programs
prepared by us
get the public
interested in
your shows.
Lit us itni. you
umu samj)lci.
THE NATIONAL
PROGRAM « PRINTING CO.
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Recognizing the fact that changes
in method come in the splendid
advancement of the motion picture
industry, the Eastman Kodak Com-
pany continues its own forward
march and maintains its supremacy
in presenting to the trade
Eastman Panchromatic
Negative
Type 2
— a perfected^ proven product
for the cinematographer
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
irurroRS herald mui moving I'l
RVUHHJ
cMoreThanSOO Theatres
Are NOW Equipped tiAth
X X
SOO exhibitors ivho knoiv that the industry is
moving soundivard.
Who knoiv that everyivhere Fox Movietone
Entertainment has been presented, capacity
houses have resulted.
Who kno^ir that Fox is the only producer with
6 $2 Movietoned Broadw^ay specials breaking
house records everyivhere.
Who knoiv that Fox Movietone Entertainment
has the greatest of Broadivay's musical and dra-
matic stars— box-oSSice, money-making names.
Who knoiv that Fox Movietone Neivs is present-
ing w^orld events in a sensational manner.
Who ivill celebrate the Fox Silver Anniversary
marking 25 years of achievement, ivith grosses
that only Fox productions could pile up.
^irst and Foremost
in Sound on Film
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Every Theatre Can Have
the original pre-selective
Allmaster Q
Major System
Loewg Theatre
Louisville, Ky.
Whether your next theatre is to be a
huge one or the tiniest in town — you
should insist on @ Major System of
Lighting Control. Send for full details.
Shrank C^dam
ELECTRIC COMPANY
ST. LOUIS
and every theatre should !
You will readily see the wide range in size be-
tween these two switchboards, yet each is equally
efficient, equally economical for the service it is
to perform.
Atlanta, Ga.
Baltimore, Md.
Boston, Mass.
Buffalo, N. Y.
Charlotte, N. C.
Chicago, 111.
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cleveland, Ohio.
— District Offices —
Dallas, Texas. Minneapolis, Minn.
Denver, Colorado.
Detroit, Michigan
Jacksonville, Fla.
Kansas City, Mo.
Los Angeles, Calif.
Memphis, Tenn.
Newr Orleans, La.
New York City.
Omaha, Nebraska.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
San Francisco, Calif.
Seattle, Washington
Tampa, Fla.
Tulsa, Okla.
Montreal, Quebec.
Toronto, Ontario.
Vancouver, B. C.
Walkerville, Ontario
Winnipeg, Man.
Modified
Major System
Little Thealra
Dallas, Texas
an
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5?^"*"^
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Whole Vol. 92, No. 5 (Vol. 34, No. 8)
August 4, 1928
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uilt up to
an ideal and
not down to
a price
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REG.U S PAT. OFT,
Jtt..TH.
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OILCANS
Factories, North Tonawanda, New York
BUFFALO
CHICAGO
CINCINNATI
CLEVELAND
DETROIT
KANSAS CITY
LOS ANGELES
NEW YORK
PHILADELPHIA
PITTSBURGH
SAN ft; AN CISCO
ST. LOUIS
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St 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Experience is a long road
. . but it leads to
ertormance
IN hundreds of theaters, C-H SimpUcity Dimmers
have given universal satisfaction. Because of
this reputation, uncompromised over a long period
of years, experienced theater managers, architects,
and electrical contractors use C-H Dimmers to
assure the smooth control and color blending of
lights so essential to modern presentations.
Talk over the advantages of C-H Dim^-
mers for your theater with your architect
or contractor — regardless of its seating
capacity or scheme of decoration.
Write for the booklet "Illumination Control for the
Modern Theater" ivhich describes C-H construc-
tion advantages tvhich have built this reputation
The CUTLER^HAMMER Mfg. Co.
Pioneer Manufacturers of Electrical Control Apparatus
1254 St. Paul Avenue MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
The neu! State Theater, Johnstown, Pa., is
equipped ivith C-H SimpUcity Dimmers —
mounted on a switchboard built by the
Metropolitan Electric Co., hong Island
City, N. Y. Hodsen & Hill, of Philadelphia
tvere the architects — Mumphrey Davies,
of Philadelphia ivas the engineer.
Superiorities of
C-H Simplicity Dimmers
Solid soapstone bases have high heat
dispersion and insulating qualities —
great continuous load capacity — freedom
from burn-outs and maintenance.
Contacts on both sides of plates allotv
tivice as many circuits in the same space.
Plates can be taken out by removing one
screw. Plates of any capacity can be sub-
stituted, allovuing easy adaptation to all
theaters or any remodeling plan.
Low-ratio rack and pinion drive elim-
inates play and backlash. 110 distinct
steps ujith no overlapping of contacts
assure flickerless dimming from full brilli-
ancy to black out. Brushes of Cophite — a
non-oxidizing, self-lubricating material.
CUTLER
HAMMER
Perfect IlhtrriiriatioTi Control for the TSIodem ^Theater
kJ \J (3182)
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928 )
Looking Ahead
In new Theatres or old. Supreme Heating
— combined with Supreme CooUng — makes
you independent of weather conditions.
Positive Summer Cooling and equally pos-
itive Winter Heating is an assured fact —
with the Supreme System.
Heated and Cooled by Oupreme
Two Months
of Hot
Weather Still Ahead
You're paying for a Supreme Cooling
System whether you have one or not!
Losing patronage if your Theatre isn't
Cool and Comfortable — losing receipts
that would pay for the complete Supreme
Cooling System.
It's Not Too Late
There's a complete Supreme Cooling
System in stock to exactly meet your re-
quirements. You can get quick action —
immediate delivery. You're paying for it
regardless — why not have its advantages.
Use the coupon for quick results — better
still, wire for complete details, stating
capacity of Theatre.
(Mail This Coupon Today Sure)
Supreme Heater &. Ventilating Corp.
St. Louis, Mo.
Send complete information about your Heating and
Cooling Systems.
Name
Address
City State
□ Check here if interested in Cooling only.
COOLING
Size Theatre x
Capacity
HEATING
Size Theatre x
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Have you a
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What Make?
Outstanding features
Combined Summer Cooling — Winter Heat-
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Perfect Ventilation during the Heating
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iators that occupy valuable space and are
uncomfortable to folks sitting near them.
No danger of freeze -up.
Easily controlled — easily converted to
Cooling System — economical to operateand
a combined Cooling and Heating System
for less than the cost of the ordinary steam
system having none of its advantages.
Use Your Present Cooling
System
If you now have a Cooling System,
Supreme Heating can be attached easily —
in most cases without changing the loca-
tion of your Cooling Blower. Write for
complete details. Be sure to mention size
and make of Cooling Blower, also it you
have speed contrbl pulley and send sketch
showing location of the Blower.
Next to mechanical refrigeration there
is no other type of Cooling System more
efficient, more effective than the Supreme
System. Quiet, powerful and economical,
the Supreme Cooling Blower will give
you 100% Cooling results.
The Supreme Boiler Plate Steel Heater
— an important fart of the combination
Supreme Cooling and Heating System.
Absolutely gastight — guaranteed for 5
years unconditionally and the result of
many years experience in Theatre Heat-
ing.
..Jill.
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Write for
Complete
Information
HEATER & VENTILATING CORP.
STLOUIS -^ -^ V-S-A-
Send in
the Coupon
Today
Floor Plans for a 1 500 Seat Capacity
CHARLES B. O'NEILL
Advertising Manager
A monthly supplement of Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, pub-
lished for information and guidance of theatre owners in matters of theatre
construction, operation and equipment and to promote the ideal of finer theatres
HARRY E. HOLQUIST
Eattern Repretentatium
BETTER THEATRES
EDITORIAL AND
ADVERTISING OFFICES
CHICAGO
407 So. Dearborn St. Telephone
Harrison 0036. Cable Address:
Quigpubco.
Jay M. Shreck, Managing Editor
Charles B. O'Neill, Advertising
Manager
George Clifford, Business Manager
NEW YORK
565 Fifth Ave, Telephone Vander-
bilt 3612-3613
Harry R Holquist
Eastern Representative
LOS ANGELES
5617 Holljrwood Blvd. Telephone
Gladstone 3754
Douglas Hodges
West Coast Manager
LONDON
The Bioscope (J. Caboum, Editor)
Faraday House, 8-10 Charing Cross
Rd., W. C. 2
The successful theatre today is the
one that pays strictest attention to
its physical features. Cinema pa-
trons demand more than pictures.
They must be given every degree of
comfort, convenience and atmos-
phere.
To the enterprising exhibitor Better
Theatres each issue presents numer-
ous ideas and suggestions for in-
creasing profit through better pub-
lic service and management.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
United State and possessions —
$3 per year
Canada — $4.50 per year
Other points of the world —
$9 per year
Single copies, 25 cents
Advertising rate cards and Audit
Bureau of Circulations statements
furnished upon application.
In This Issue
IN THIS issue the floor plans and sectional view of the new Missoviri
theatre in Columbia are presented through the courtesy of Boiler
Brothers, the architects; this new house will seat 1,500 persons;
it is located in a college city.
THE MODERN theatre in a small town might well be the caption
of the story dealing with the new Eg3T>tian theatre in Scottsbluff,
Neb. ; here is an outstanding house for a town of 7,000 popula-
tion, and this achievement might well be emulated by others.
THE "SCHOOL of Synchronization and Amplification" in this issue
takes under consideration another important phase of the sound
picture; this is the second of the series which F. H. Richardson is
preparing for the readers of Better Theatres.
HOW ABOUT the manager of yesterday and today? Don't ask
us, but read the Parks article which is published in the Music
department in this issue; you may not agree, but you cannot deny
that this music critic and organist is talking straight from the
shoulder.
NEXT ISSUE
^Modernistic Design
•■»p
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
SALES
OFFICES
Baltimore, Md.
Boston, Mass.
Buffalo, N. y.
Chicago, 111.
Detroit, Mich.
Kansas City, Mo.
Los Angeles, Calif.
Minneapolis, Minn.
New York, N. Y.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Portland, Oregon
St. Louis, Mo.
San Francisco, Calif.
Seattle, Wash.
ONE right after another ! That is the way Heywood - Wakefield
Theatre Chairs are winning out in the important theatre installations
of the past two years. Publix is using over 40,000 Heywood-Wakefield
Theatre Seats in new houses; Orpheum Circuit is well satisfied with over
a dozen recent installations; Pantages is reseating three important
houses; Roxy is breaking all box-office records and is as enthusiastic as
ever about his Hejrwood-Wakefield chairs.
And NOW — the Roxy-Midway, another magnificent and costly show-
house, has ordered the same luxurious chairs that have meant so much
to box-office receipts at the original Roxy.
Send for YOUR copy of our new 44-page catalogue which illustrates and
describes the above chairs in detail.
HEYWOOD«W\KEFIELD
Theatre Seatihd Division
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Planning a Motion Picture Theatre
For the College Community
A ""^TT^ for other small cities which can patronize profitably a house seating 1,520. This
■^ theatre in Columbia, Mo., was designed by Boiler Brothers of Kansas City and
Los Angeles, who have been responsible for a number of important houses in the Middle
West and West.
A L L L Y -
— (
r
<r
THE Missouri theatre now being built
for the Missouri Theatre Company at
Columbia, Mo., is expected to be one
of the finest in the state. Boiler Brothers
of Kansas City and Los Angeles, are the
architects.
Columbia is the seat of the University of
Missouri, Stephens College, and Christian
College, and this fireproof theatre, con-
structed in accordance with the ordinances
of cities of the first class, and lavishly fur-
nished and decorated in the style of Louis
XV, will be attractive to students coming
from the larger cities of the state. The
theatre will seat 1,520.
It is located on a corner site, the main
Main floor j>1an of the new l^issouri theatre,
Columbia, 7^o., designed by Boiler Brothers.
entrance being on the principal thorough-
fare of the city. There are exit facilities
on the side street, in addition to exit courts
on both sides of the building. The com-
mercial portion of the building is of one
story at present, but preparations have been
made for a six-story hotel building.
Columbia has a considerable colored
population, and a separate entrance and
stairway for these patrons is provided on
the side street, while the rear section of
the balcony, as well as separate retiring
rooms, are arranged for them.
The dressing rooms, are provided for in
a unit separated from the stage by a wall,
which allows outside ventilation and light
for all rooms, in accordance with the ordi-
nances. The stage is of sufficient size for
any used attraction and will be fully
equipped with counter-weight rigging and
modern electrical devices.
A large mezzanine opens into the main
foyer, having the effect of giving the foyer
a lofty height. The retiring rooms are
in the mezzanine.
A modern ventilating system will be in-
stalled, with provisions for a refrigeration
system, when it is desired.
The opening is scheduled for about
September 15.
[Additional Pictures on following pases]
^.'
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
,1 Of 5t AqL
The New
Missouri
at
Columbia
Left: The mezzanine and sec-
ond floor {>lan as designed hy
Boiler Brothers. Mote the s^ace
which at a future date will he
devoted to a hotel.
Left: The balcony and third
floor {>lan, which again indicates
the s^ace which was wisely de-
signed for use as a hotel.
On Opposite Page
Sectional and perspective sketch-
es of the new T^issouri theatre.
I August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
.,.:,.-JU) ■
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•4-'*- • •''ii^-*'=^
ix
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10
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
An exatnjile of the
decorative ivork done
economicaUy by the
Lasher wi'^e-out sys-
tem. The method of
'fainting such designs
has heen described in
•previous articles by
l^r. Lasher,
August 4, 1928
Your Decorative
Scheme
Hawley M. Lasher has, in the last three
issues of Better Theatres, instructed you
on the use of paints and stencils in in-
terior decoration. It might be well to
reflect on what he has said previously,
and therefore you are urged to turn back
to these articles i
The Wipe-Out System in
Decoration
Rapid, Economic and Colorful
Treatment of Foyer
• The "Over-All" Stencil in
Wall Decoration
■and now the preparation of walls
for redecorating
By HAWLEY M. LASHER
Instructor in interior decorating, Illinois College of Painting and Decorating
IN my previous articles offering sugges-
tion on wall decorations and other phases
of interior decorating as applied to the
theatre, I have taken up the preparation and
application of materials to be used in the
creation and completion of the decoration, as
submitted in reproductions of examples I pre-
pared. I believe it will not now be amiss to
deal with the preparation of the walls, wood-
work, etc., for as is frequently the case, espe-
cially in the painting and redecoration of
older walls and wood work, a great and un-
necessary amount of time is spent by the
decorator because of his lack of knowledge on
the treatment and corrective applications for
stains, lime spots, water erosive, aniline, salt-
peter, tar, grease, etc.
Various methods and formulas have been
in use for ages, with varying success. I have
heard discussed and argued the merits of cer-
tain counteractents, some practical, many use-
less, expensive and time-wasting. Always on
the alert for profitable knowledge on the
treatment of the foundations to be worked
upon, I have tested and tried out many mix-
tures, some, I must say, ridiculous experi-
ments, resulting in the conclusion that many
of the simpler and older formulae were the
more reliable. Consequently, this statement
will remove any idea that I am attempting to
assume authority or take upon myself the role
of originator of the following suggestions.
Assuming we have a new wall to prepare
for painting, with the usual cracks, pin holes,
wounds and some uneven surface to contend
with — before giving the priming coat ''for
after the primer is on, the surface should
never be disturbed or worked over with plas-
ter, putty or other fillers) all cracks, holes,
etc., should be cut open to a sufficient depth
to allow all loose plaster to be removed, leav-
ing a firm edging around the opening, so that
the repair plaster may have a solid foundation
to cling to, without fear of Iposening or drop-
ping out Isecause of age, vibration, contrac-
tion or expansion.
Too frequently the decorator, in order to
save time, will add calcimine, whiting, vine-
gar, glue or other substance to the plaster of
paris, thus permiting a large mixture to be
made at once without fear of its setting or
hardening within a certain time, the time of
hardening depending entirely upon the amount
of retarding material used in the plaster. This
method is frequently used with disastrous
consequences, for it not only weakens the ad-
hesive properties of the plaster, but stops the
plaster in its intended mission of sealing
firmly the blemishes and wounds of the wall.
Therefore, only an amount of plaster just suf-
1,672,542. FILM CUTTING AND JOINING
DEVICE. Harold Rohrdanz, Inglewood, Calif.
Filed Aug. 11, 1925. Serial No. 49,656. 2
Claims. (Cl. 154—42.)
'/O 10
1. In a film splicer, a hinged leaf, means
whereby a film section may be clamped by said
leaf with the end portion thereof projecting
beyond one edge of the leaf, a guide bar
mounted for turntable and longitudinal move-
ment on said leaf, and an abrading device
carried by said bar adapted to be positioned
to engage the surface of the film section pro-
jecting beyond the _ edge of the leaf, and a
spring acting on said abrading device to nor-
mally hold it both longitudinally and laterally
from the edge and end, respectively of the
clamped film section.
ficient should be mixed in clean water, so that
the entire mixture may be used before it loses
its strength by setting or becoming hot
through the action of the lime.
Plaster that has once reached the hot or set-
ting stage, should never be worked over or
used for filling purposes. It should be thrown
away, for it would prove a decided detriment
to the purpose for which it is intended. Quite
frequently one sees a wall newly decorated in
which the repairs on the plaster show up very
distinctly through the paint and decoration,
either because of a lack of knowledge or be-
cause of carelessness on the decorator's part.
In many cases I have seen a beautiful wall
decoration robbed of its just value and en-
titled recognition as a work of art through
the vividly apparent carelessness of the deco-
rator in the most essential part of the work.
There would be crack and wounds not filled
to an even smoothness, whelts caused by the
piling of the plaster on absorbent spots or
places where the hard surface plaze of the
plaster had been scraped down to remove an
uneven or bulging defect, and with the repair
material applied and setting almost instantly,
the result was one that made it an almost
impossible task to smoothen the surface
evenly.
To overcome such a condition and eliminate
the hot or absorbent spots, a very thin coat of
white shellac may be applied before putting
on the plaster. This allows a sufficient amount
of time to attain an even, smooth and proper
surface, which means so much to the value of
the decoration. A slower and an old reliable
mixture is Swedish putty, of which there are
different formulae. Swedish putty, when
properly prepared, is an absolutely reliable
compound for the smoothening of uneven sur-
faces. It is easily applied, adheres tenaciously
at whatever point it is put on, and when
(Continued on page 27)
Where the Small City Is No Deterrent
to the Theatre Beautiful
n
Town of 7,000 population in the Middle West boasts of Egyptian palace which
ranks with the finer theatres in the metropolitan centers of the country.
By J. C. JENKINS
TO the man who argues that the small town, or small
city rather, cannot create artistic elegance in its thea-
tre and place it on a par with the houses in the
metropolitan centers, Better Theatres in this issue offers
convincing evidence to the contrary.
It was my good fortune, in my travels for the
Herald-World, to stop over in Scottsbluff, Neb.,
a town of perhaps 7,000 population. Maybe you
have never heard of this enterprising little city,
and if you have not that is your misfortune, and
I promise that from now on you will hear of it
frequently.
Scottsbluff is in the center of the sugar beet
country from whence comes a great deal of the
product which keeps America's sweet tooth satis-
fied. It is a productive center, and this fact may
account for a clientele which can make possible
such a theatre as the new Egyptian in a com-
munity of only 7,000.
The Egyptian was built by W. H. Ostenburg, who be-
lieves that to give the public the right kind of entertain-
ment in the right kind of place is not a gamble.
Mr. Ostenburg's motto, which you will read upon enter-
ing the theatre, is : "All ye who enter here leave
worldly care behind." And the admonition of that
motto is realized, for the atmosphere of the inte-
rior makes one loath to leave. It encourages
repeat attendance and a regular clientele.
Now for a description of the theatre as I saw it.
It seats 1,100 persons — 600 on the main floor
and 500 in the smoking balcony. In the layout
of the theatre there is the unusual feature of hav-
ing the projection booth on the lower floor.
After passing through the lobby you enter a
beautiful and spacious promenade. This prome-
nade, pictured in Figure 1, has been decorated in
a very attractive manner, with no suggestion of
the gaudy in either decorative scheme or archi-
12
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
\'\
* _ ♦ ♦ * ♦ i 4 * ♦ * i 4 / |.;' ♦ '
Figure 1
Figure 2
i«.. ._.-•-,>., ..<,'
tectural design. In here you will find the
house manager, the doorman and the
usherettes.
Let me take you now into the audi-
torium. Will you please refer to the
large picture on the preceding page?
This picture was taken from the smok-
ing balcony and shows the artistic
proscenium, the attractive organ
grilles, the lighting fixtures and the
Marr & Colton organ.
The lighting fixtures are designed
like the old Egyptian boats. Each
weighs 250 pounds and may be re-
moved at any time to permit the use
of a sky effect machine.
In Figure 4, you will find a closeup
of the proscenium, which was taken
from in front of the booth. Showing
prominently in this picture are the sun
rays above the Egyptian scarab.
Figure 3, is the mezzanine lounge, a
room of which Mr. Ostenburg is very
proud. Hanging in this lounge are
beautiful Egyptian trapestries and dra-
peries, all of which were designed
especially for this theatre. More than
800 yards of especially designed car-
pet covers the floors of the lounge,
foyer and aisles.
From the mezzanine lounge you
enter the smoking balcony, the baby's
cry room and the children's play room.
Also from this floor are entrances to
the men's lounging room and the
ladies' rest room.
The exterior is shown in Figure 2.
It is attractive and it invites the passer-
by to enter.
The lighting effects are one of the
features of the Egyptian. There are
2,080 outlets in the theatre proper. To
accomplish this it required 86,000 feet
of wiring, and with this wiring and the
outlets seven complete changes of
lighting effects may be obtained
through the use of the modern dimmer
system. Throughout the entire theatre
there is not a white light.
The equipment in the theatre was
installed by the National Theatre Sup-
ply Company's Denver branch.
So that is the modern theatre in the
small town today.
It seems to me that Mr. Ostenburg
has, in this beautiful house of his,
made provision for every comfort of
every patron, be that patron a child,
a baby, a mother or, what I might be
tempted to say, "the one in the ball
and chains."
Yet this theatre does not end in com-
fort. Comfort is its beginning, and
beauty, charm, intrigue of eye-interest
and a spirit of the out-of-the-ordinary
the end. Imagine my feeling of sur-
prise and delight upon entering this
theatre. Expecting an ordinary house,
as one too often finds in small towns, I
stepped into a place of enchantment
where soft lights of many different
hues caught my eye as did the huge,
massive pillars, so typical of all Egyp-
tian architecture, the colorful decora-
tions and the many other things
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
13
which please the eye and arouse the
imagination.
Notice the curtain as shown in one
of the pictures. How different it is
from curtains we see in so many small
town theatres. This curtain further
carries out the Egyptian architecture
and atmosphere of the theatre. The
figures on the curtain are true to the
motif and practically no building of
ancient Egypt was complete without
carved figrures on its walls. In too
many small town theatres we find no
curtain at all, or perhaps an advertis-
ing curtain painted by some hobo sign
painter whose idea of art is a street
scene where true perspective has no
part, or a lily pond with a couple of
long necked swans floating over its
surface.
Seeing theatres and exhibitors is my
job, and I have seen hundreds of thea-
tres in every section of the country. I
know it is hard for a small town ex-
hibitor, often, to plan and build a beau-
ful and up-to-date theatre, but I also
know that it is possible and that the
increased patronage will more than
pay for all the trouble and expense of
building a theatre that you and your
patrons may well be proud of.
People in small towns are proud of
their home towns and they are jealous
of surrounding towns. They take great
pride in the buildings and parks of
their communities. Stop for a moment
and think how proud the people of
Scottsbluff must be of W. H. Osten-
burg and his beautiful Egyptian. It is
a show place. People bring their
friends and visitors to see it. They are
proud of it. They like to brag of the
Egyptian.
I wonder how many small towns are
proud of their theatres. Is your thea-
tre a place where your patrons really
enjoy themselves? Do they point to it
with pride, or do they ignore it when
they are showing strangers the beauty
spots of your town? These are things
to think about. If your patrons are
ashamed of your theatre and make ex-
cuses for it to visitors, you had better
get busy.
I have seen many small town thea-
tres where a great deal of money was
spent on their construction, yet they
lacked charm. There was nothing in-
dividual about them. They were just
the usual house where pictures are
shown. With the same amount of
money, had a little imagination been
used^ these houses could have been
made to possess individuality. It. does
not necessarily take a prohibitive
amount of money to make an attractive
theatre.
If you are about to build a new thea-
tre or remodel your present one, spend
a great deal of time and thought on
how you can get individuality into
your theatre. Remember, simplicity
is often a road to individuality.
Figure 3
Figure 4
14
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
SeH&ftmim
Published Every Fourth Week by
QuiGLEY Publishing Company
Publication ofiSce: 407 So. Dearborn St, CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Martin J. Quigley, President
Edwin S. Clifford, Secretary George Clifford, Assi. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other publications: The Chicagoan and Polo, class journals; and the follow-
ing motion picture trade publication in addition to Better Theatres, published
as a supplement to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World: The
Buyers Index, Semiannual.
Whole Vol. 92, No. 5 (Vol. 34, No. 8) August 4, 1928
The Modern Theatre
sound like a
THAT — The Modern Theatre — may
bromide to you. But is it?
After you have perused this issue of Better Thea-
TKES, after you have digested its contents, we are of the
opinion that your viewpoint will change slightly — or even
radically.
Let us consider some of the theatres presented graph-
ically in this issue :
First, we have the Egyptian theatre, a new house in
Scottsbluff, Neb. You never heard of the town? Ap-
parently you have been missing something, for this enter-
prising small city can boast of one of the finest theatres
in the country.
The new Egyptian is built in a town of 7,000 population,
and seats 1,100 persons. That is "The Modern Theatre"
of the modem town, and it evidences the great advance
which has been made, not only in pictures themselves, but
in the home of pictures.
Modern — yes, the new Forum theatre in Philadelphia
is another example of "The Modern Theatre."
This house is in French modernistic, a motif which lends
itself admirably to theatre construction and decoration.
It is a motif which, in our opinion, will find recognition
among the theatre builders of America.
The motion picture itself is a leader in a new art and
business, and therefore, it is only reasonably to be expected
that it would lead in other undertakings.
The modernistic lends a new tone and atmosphere to
the theatre, and those who have experimented with it
have been enthusiastic and are desirous of encouraging
others.
Again, there is the new theatre at Columbia, Mo., being
erected from plans by Boiler Brothers. In this issue the
architects offer for your consideration and study the floor
plans and sectional draft of this new house of 1,500 seats,
which will operate in a university city.
A problem in the building of a modern theatre is the
house erected in Ohio by Smoot. Here, again, the archi-
tect was confronted by an unusual problem, and for his
solution you will find the plans in this issue.
No, the term "Modern Theatre" is not a bromide. Nor
will it ever be so long as the theatre man and the archi-
tect are of the imaginative type.
« * *
The Architect and Insurance
INSURANCE in any field is a subject of vital interest.
But especially is this true of the theatre field. No
explanation of this statement need be made for every-
one realizes that in places where the public congregates
extra precautions must be taken.
In an interesting article this month. Better Theatres
discusses the relationship between architect and insurance.
It is an interesting subject, this subject of insurance, and
your attention is called to the significance of the material
presented in this article.
You wouldn't deliberately throw away a few thousand
dollars. That is taken for granted. You want returns for
your money, even when those returns are of the heart and
when no monetary returns are involved.
Yet, there are theatre builders today who are throwing
money away in high insurance rates. This is foolhardy,
for if every precaution were taken in the building of a
theatre there would be a drastic lowering of the rate.
If you are planning to build a theatre, give this matter
sincere consideration. Insist that your architect, even at
a slightly increased cost, include those materials which are
fire resisting and which are required by the Fire Under-
writers.
You all know the adage, "A stitch in time, etc."
* * «
The Synchronized Field
WE cannot refrain from again mentioning the fact
that in Better Theatres F. H. Richardson is con-
ducting a "School of Synchronization and Ampli-
fication."
You will find no other "school" of this type in any trade
paper, and its import has been recognized throughout the
trade. Mr, Richardson has been "literally swamped" (in
his own words) with correspondence since the publication
of the first of this valuable series.
The popularity and importance of the sound picture
is growing and growing rapidly. Today you may feel that
this instruction is of no importance to you, but if you are
to keep abreast of the times you must know the significance
of synchronized reproduction.
Let Mr. Richardson, in each issue, give you the funda-
mentals of this great invention.
Better Theatres Welcomes
These New Advertisers
York Safe and Lock Company, York, Pa.
Manufacturers of York Burglary Chest for the
protection of cash in the box office.
The L. J. Gardiner Company, 1201 West Goodale Building,
Columbus, O.
Manufacturers of the Gardiner Velvet Gold Fibre
Screen, Gardiner Reflector Arc Lamp, Gardiner
Motor Generators, Gardiner Tungar Rectifier,
Gardiner Rheostat, Gardiner Panel Boards,
Gardiner Steel Booth, Gardiner Fireproof Power
Rewind, Gardiner Steel Rewind Tables, and
Gardiner Reel Cabinets.
August 4. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
15
Modem
Installations
The tendency among theatres, both
large and small throughout the
country is to modernize. Evidence
of this encouraging situation is
found in the many installations
of equipment reported by leading
manufacturers.
Hoffman and Soons
Rheostats
Keith's Memorial, Boston, Mass.
Publix Scollay Square, Boston, Mass.
Tudor theatre. New Orleans, La.
Rialto theatre, New York, N. Y.
Strand theatre, New York, N. Y.
New theatre, Baltimore, Md.
Keith's Washington, Washington, D. C.
Branford theatre, Newark, N. Y.
Des Moines theatre, Des Moines, la.
Lincoln theatre, Trenton, N. J.
De Witt theatre, Bayonne, N. T.
Brooklyn Strand theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Capitol theatre, Bloomsburg, Pa.
Carlton theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y.
U. S. Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N. Y.
S. S. RepubHc, U. S. S. Lines.
Colonial theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Loew's Coney Island theatre, Coney Island,
N. Y.
Loew's Midland theatre, Kansas City, Mo.
Loew's State theatre, St. Louis, Mo._
Loew's State theatre, Columbus, Ohio.
Loew's Palace theatre, IndianapoHs, Ind.
Loew's State theatre, Richmond, Va.
Loew's Publix Stadium theatre, Woon-
socket, R. I.
Heywood- Wakefield Company
Seats
Monte Clair Theatre Corporation, Chi-
cago, 111.
Granada theatre, Minneapolis, Minn.
Palace theatre, Kingston, Jamaica, N. Y.
Elmhurst theatre, Elmhurst, N. Y.
Strand theatre, Everett, Mass.
Happy Hour theatre, Buffalo, N. Y.
Bellard theatre, Bridgeburg, Ont., Can.
Blair theatre, Belleville, Kan.
Pekin theatre, Cincinnati, O.
Dreamland theatre, Harrington, Kan.
Schines New theatre, Sandusky, O.
Rahway theatre, Rahway, N. J.
New Music Box theatre, Seattle, Wash.
Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Wash.
Campanil theatre, Antioch, Cal.
Lakeside Company
Ventilating Equi{>ment
Armour theatre, North Kansas City, Mo.
American theatre, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Mayfair theatre, Newark, N. J.
Dixie theatre, Linneus, Mo.
Grand theatre, Paterson, N. J.
Jefferson theatre, Springfield, Mo.
Anthony Jim Circuit, 1012 Keystone Bank
building, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Landers theatre, Springfield, Mo.
Legion theatre, Irene, S. D.
Lyric theatre, Kenyon, Minn.
Marva theatre, Pocomoke, Md.
Miller theatre, Boonville, Md.
Opera House Company, Snowhill, Md.
Plaza theatre, Brookfield, Mo.
Palace theatre, Winston-Salem, N. C.
Princess theatre. Parkin, Ark.
Aliquippa theatre, Aliquippa, Pa.
Strand theatre, Oxford, Kan.
Trenton theatre, Lynchburg, Va.
Voigt Company
Lighting Fixtures
College theatre, Bethlehem, Pa.
Rialto theatre, Beaver Falls, Pa.
KOHLER Co.
435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, 111.
Gentlemen: After four years our Kohler
Electric Plant is still giving excellent serv-
ice. We consider it one of the most impor-
tant factors in the operation of our theatre.
RIDGE THEATRE
Park Ridge, Illinois
June 25, 1928
Besides depending upon it in emergencies
when the city service is interrupted, we use
it for four or five hours every day while the
auditorium is being cleaned. ^ ^
Very truly yours, /f/M%y^
Ridge Theatre^ Park Ridge, III.., equipped zcith a Kohler Elcctr ll Plant Jor emergency lighting
This theatre
can't "^o dark"
booth, exits, and for other purposes.
Kohler Electric Plants are ap-
proved as "standard" by the National
Board of Fire Underwriters. They
are safe, clean, quiet, economical.
They are powered by smooth-run-
ning 4-cylinder engines; generate
110- volt direct current;
and have no large bat-
teries— only a small
starting battery.
These dependable
plants are not expensive.
There are models to suit
the needs of large or
small theatres, including
rural theatres where no
other current is available.
Mail the coupon below
"the lobby, aisles, ticket MadeaisoiniVa, 2, and iok.w. capacities for detailed information.
Kohler Co., Founded 1873, Kohler, Wis. Shipping Point, Sheboygan, Wis.
BRANCHES IN PRINCIPAL CITIES
KOHLER OF KOHLER
Electric Plants
Automatic — 110 Volt D. G.— No Storage Batteries
Kohler Co., Kohler, Wis.— Please send me information about the Kohler Electric Plant.
The city of Park Ridge, Illinois,
could be thrown into pitch darkness
by a storm or an accident at the
power station. But the Ridge The-
atre would still have light. The ticket
booth would be taking in the money.
The picture would be flashing on the
silver screen.
The Kohler Electric
Plant will give you the
same insurance against
loss of revenue and dan-
ger of panic from stop-
page oryour regular cur-
rent supply. // will ''cut
in" automatically the
moment the city current
fails, and supply ample
current for your pro-
jector and for lighting
KOHLER ELECTRIC PLANT
ModelSAl—S K. W.; 110 Volt D. C.
Name Street..
City, State Use in which interested..
16
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
The
Working
portion of
Gardiner Lamp
Gardiner Complete Line Includes
The New High Efficiency
Reflector
Arc Lamp
We will place the Gardiner Reflector Arc
Lamp against any in the field and feel
sure of high vote. It combines all the
latest projection ideas and inventions
and the biggest lamp innovations. In the
Gardiner Lamp you will see the newest
expression of the Gardiner Policy — the
finest at the lowest price. Gardiner now
has a complete line of Projection Equip-
ment, each item of tested value, of known
quality.
Send for descriptive literature and
prices. Get the Gardiner Direct-
to-you proposition.
THE L. J. GARDINER CO.
1021 West Goodale Blvd.
Columbus Ohio
Side view of
Gardiner Lamp
Other Products
Gardiner Velvet Gold
Fibre Screen
Gardiner Power Re-
winds, Fireproof
Gardiner Rheostats
Gardiner Steel Booth
Tungar Rectifier
Gardiner Panel Board
Gardiner Reel Cabinets
Gardiner Steel Rewind
Tables
Gardiner Motor Gen-
erator
=Thei
Low Prices — Known Quality
L. ]♦ Gardiner Line
Your Fall and Winter
TICKET Requirements
Let us take care of them now, and save your-
self both worry and money
Roll Tickets
Machine Tickets
Reserved Seat Tickets
Coupon Books
■ — and all your other box office equipment and
supplies.
As one of America's largest ticket manufac-
turers we can give you a service that will make
you a forever friend and booster. We count the biggest of 'em among our regular customers, as
well as several thousand smaller houses and chains.
Send samples for quotations.
Ask for the boaklet illustrated above. It is free.
The Arcus Ticket Co., 346 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, 111.
Mention Exhibitors Herald
mmwBooM
"gMrcus Ticket Co.
348 N. Ashland Ave Chkago.111.
August 4, 1928
I
Sedgwick theatre, Mt. Airy, Pa. i
Mainker's New Capitol theatre, AUentown, '
Pa.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: This new style of modern art
decoration, according to Voigt, is taking "a very
strong hold in this section of the country." "In addi-
tion to the several theatre jobs for which we are now
making modern art fixtures," the company reports,
"there are quite a few jobs in prospect on which we
have submitted bids. Architects here are strong for
this new style. The Voigt Company renders a com-
plete service to architects as well as builders and
owners of new theatres, and old ones to be improved.
Suggestions and recommendations isnll be submitted
by their designing staff upon receipt of blueprint
plans and specifications, or a list of the conditions
submitted on the form prepared for this purpose for
any style of theatre.")
The Page Organ Company
Organs
Santa Catalina Island Company, Santa Cata-
lina, Cal.
Park theatre, Tampa, Fla. Two console
organ.
Wilier & Boshoven, New theatre, Grand
Rapids, Mich.
Young Amusement Company, New theatre,
Anderson, Ind.
Young Amusement Company, Indiana
theatre, Kokomo, Ind.
Young Amusement Company, Palace theatre,
Marion, O.
Opera House, Girardville, Pa.
Roxy theatre, Fay Amusement Company,
Glassboro, N. J.
Wesley A. M. E. Church, Akron, O.
Humboldt Square church, Buffalo, N. Y.
Evangelical Lutheran church, Chicago, 111.
Crystal theatre Ligonier, Ind.
John Wesley A. M. E. church, Pittsburgh,
Pa.
Nichol & May, New theatre, Dayton, O.
Macedonia Baptist church, Detroit, Mich.
John Gregory, Springfield, O.
Margaret Vanden Berg, Grand Haven.
Mich.
C. W. Young, Bowling Green, O. )
R. Mainker, Allentown, Pa.
Bronx theatre, New York, N. Y.
George Kilgen and Son, Inc.
Organs
Avon theatre, Birmingham, Ala.
Chase Street theatre, Kane, Pa.
Capitol theatre, Rockford, 111.
Towson theatre, Towson, Md.
Alpha theatre, Catonsville, Md.
Grenada theatre, Racine, Wis.
Embassy theatre, Walthom, Mass.
Leola theatre, Minneapolis, Minn.
Strand theatre, Scottdale, Pa.
Palace theatre, Stamford, Conn.
Bandbox theatre, Bronx, N. Y.
Arcade theatre, Baltimore, Md.
Graham theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y. (Gerritt-
sen Beach, L. I.)
Strand theatre, Hacketstown, N. J.
Wade theatre, Morehead City, N. C.
Westwood theatre, Westwood, N. J.
Oakland theatre, Marion, O.
Grand theatre, Madison, Ind.
Forum theatre, Philadelphia, Pa.
Crown theatre, Lowell, Mass.
National Theatres Supply Company
Orchestra^hone
Dreamland theatre, Rockford, 111.
Star theatre, Peter Casenelli, Bulan, Ky.
Dorothy theatre, William Coffelt, Dorothy,
W. Va.
Strand theatre, A. N. Robertson, Mendota,
111.
Park theatre, American Motion Picture
Company, Louisville, Ky.
Garden theatre, Portsmouth, O.
Empire theatre, Cincinnati, O.
Capitol theatre, Logan, W. Va.
Hiawatha theatre, A. J. Hamilton, Denver,
Colo.
Grand theatre, G. Blakeslee, Lander, Wyo.
Mary Lou theatre, G. H. Hayob, Marshall,
Mo.
Nile theatre, J. W. Dodge, New Ulm, Minn.
Victory theatre, A. F. Sams, Jr., Salisburg,
N. C.
{Continued on page 39)
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
17
BETTER PC€JECTI€N
MM«i«i«M«Mi
•WiaMH
••^•••MNPa'^Mi
The Vacuum Tube Rectifier
In Sound Pictures
JTT This is Mr. Richardson's second "class" on the synchro nized film, a course for the projectionist and the exhihi-
jJ tor which was started in the last issue of Better Thea tres. The immediate response to Mr. Richardson's in-
struction in this important phase of motion picture projection is indicative of the value of this school. It will be
continued indefinitely as a part of the Herald-World's complete coverage of the field of synchronization.
By F. H. RICHARDSON
HERE, men, is the second of the series
of articles, the first of which, dealing
with amplification, seems to have
been enormously popular. At least I have
been nearly swamped with letters of ap-
proval. In fact the postmaster of this
as an amplifier. In this article I shall show
you how they may be made to work or
function as a rectifier, transforming A. C.
into pretty nearly true direct current
(D. C). Rectifiers are of interest in con-
nection with Movietone and Vitaphone
times per second. That is to say, for
l/120th of a second the current flows one
way and during the succeeding l/120th of a
second it flows in the opposite direction,
then the next l/120th the first way again
and so on.
DtfiECT CiJ>?ff£NT
FULL WAve
^ittSKCO^
HAL' VV/Vf
? I
ALTERNArif^S CURRENT
FLOW OF CUffftEATT
'■"V P£CTIFJ£0 A. C-
(half iV^ye)
FLOiV OF Ct/VfS'vr
ffSCnriED A. C.
(full WAi/e)
\f-low of ct/f>«sn/T
Types OF cuRP£:/\/T
rSL£T:T/?0/^S £MITT£D BY HOT FILAM£/vr
FLOLV TV (^/?/o -fl-WP F'L'^T£' w/fC/V rH£S£
Aiffe f^OS'r/\^£'
a^rra'^y-
?|iH
TO COAL?
■ +
TO 110 K
60 cycLf
1. C. SUPPLY
ELEMENTARV [/ACUUM rUBE /fecr/F/EJ?
small office (South Lyme, Conn.) advised
me to rent a postoffice, instead of a mere
box.
This article will tell you how a vacuum
tube acts as a rectifier. As I first advised
you I propose to give you a real under-
standing of just how the various elements
of Movietone-Vitaphone equipment work.
When that has been done it will be time to
link up their action and tell you how the
wheels work when their "cogs" are meshed
together. I think you will find this article
instructive and thoroughly understandable.
I hope so anyhow. Let's go!
The last article explained the action of
the vacuum tube when it functions or works
equipment primarily because of the fact
that in some types of amplifiers used in this
equipment they supplant or take the place
of the "B" (plate) battery.
In the previous article it was shown how
an electric current can be thought of as a
stream of electrons or particles of negative
electricity flowing along a wire, or around
a circuit. Now in D. C. this stream travels
or moves along steadily, always in the same
direction. With A. C, however, the elec-
trons chase back and forth along the wire
or around the circuit in opposite directions
alternately. The majority of commercial
power and lighting systems operate on A.
C, which reverses, as just described, 60
Figure 1
The current that flows during one of
these l/120th of a second periods is called
a half-wave; the current during two suc-
ceeding l/120th of a second period — that is
to say during l/60th of a second — consti-
tutes a full wave.
Of course most of you understand all
this, but we must remember that some do
not, and a clear understanding of these dis-
tinctions is important ;f one is to grasp and
understand what follows. A full wave or
two full l/120th second alternations is
called a "cycle" because of the fact that
during that period (l/60th of a second)
the current has gone once each way and is
Corres-^ondence for F. H. Richardson, editor of this dejiart-
ment, should he addressed to South Lyme, Conn., Box 100.
18
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
back to where it started, hence has
completed one full cycle of action.
Hence the term often heard and seen
in print : "60 cycle current" or a "fre-
quency of 60 cycles," or "60 cycle
frequency," each of which expres-
sions means precisely the same thing.
We have already seen that in a
vacuum tube the electrons all flow
from the hot filament to the relatively
cold plate, the electrons being nega-
tive and the plate positive — none
flowing in the opposite direction. As
these electrons are what constitutes
the electric current, are always nega-
tive and are emitted only from the
hot filament, it follows that the cur-
rent can only flow through a tube in
one way, namely from filament to
plate, and that is the key to the action
of the vacuum tube rectifier action.
Figure 2
In figure 2 we see a vacuum tube
with a battery to heat the filament ;
one lead from a 110 volt 60 cycle
A. C. supply is connected to the fila-
ment; the other through the load to
the plate. Each lead will, of course,
be alternately positive and negative
as the current reverses.
A tube does not need a grid in
order to act as a rectifier, but if it
happens to contain one, the grid can
be turned to good account by con-
necting it to the plate, as shown, thus
adding somewhat to the effective area
of the latter. If the tube contains a
grid this connection eliminates danger
that the grid might accumulate a
charge on its own account, which
would interfere with the stream of
electrons passing from the filament to the
plate. Now, bearing in mind what has been
explained before, we can see that during a
half-wave when the line terminal connected
to the plate is positive, current will pass from
filament to plate just as it does in an amplify-
ing tube, by virtue of the stream of electrons
attracted to the latter. But during the next
half-wave the plate will be negative; the
electrons also being negative, will be re-
pelled by it and no current can flow; the
negative plate blocks the path.
While this simple arrangement illustrates
the principle of vacuum tube rectification,
it would not be of much value as an am-
plifier "B" battery eliminator for the fol-
lowing reasons:
1. It uses a battery to light the Ma-
in ent.
2. The TeciSed current is at the
same voltage as the supply
(usually 110 volts) but in ampli-
£er operation higher plate volt-
ages are generally desirable.
3. Only alternate half-wave is rec-
tified, and this means that the
recti£ed current is not coming
through steadily, but in chunks,
with gaps between left by the
half-waves that didn't get through
the rectifier; this makes only half
the power available, too.
Figure 3 shows the arrangement used to
avoid these drawbacks. At the left side of
the diagram are leads connecting to the 110
volt A. C. supply. This current does not
go direct to the rectifier tubes, but to the
two transformers, Tl and T2 (transform-
ers are used to change the voltage of A. C.
power; as shown in the diagrams they have
two windings, the primary winding, con-
nected to the supply leads, and the second-
ary, connected to the circuit using the
power). Tl delivers a low voltage for
lighting the filaments of the vacuum tubes
VI and V2, thus eliminating the need for
a battery. T2 delivers a high voltage to
the plates and grids of the tubes, which
overcomes the second difficulty mentioned.
From the middle of the secondary windings
of Tl and T2 a pair of wires carries the rec-
•Cff^re/? Ty^p
ri/LL WAVE VACUUM TUBE f?£CT/n£P
tified current via the filter to the load, con-
sisting of the amplifier plate circuit.
To explain the action of this arrange-
ment, notice that the plates of VI and V2
are connected to opposite ends of the sec-
ondary winding of T2. If there is a voltage
across this winding, the two plates will
therefore be opposite in polarity. Now
imagine an instant when the A. C. voltage
in the secondary winding of T2 is making
the plate of, say, VI positive. Then starting
from the filament of VI, current will flow
to the plate and grid, then to the lower end
of the secondary winding of T2, out
through the center tap to the filter and ex-
ternal circuit, back to the center tap on the
secondary of Tl, and through the two
halves of the secondary winding back to
the filament of VI. Of course, no current
will flow through V2. This state of affairs
will continue until the end of that half
wave; then on the next half wave, things
will be reversed. Whereas the lower end
of the secondary winding was positive pre-
viously, now the end that is positive will
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be the upper end, connected to V2,
and current will pass through this
tube and nothing through VI. But
just the same, the current from the
plate of V2 will go out through the
center tap of T2, as it did before;
and we see that our rectifier is now
using both halves of the A. C. wave.
We must be careful to point out
that the process just described does
not produce true D. C, but a hybrid
current, called "rectified A. C." (Fig-
ure 1), which resembles D. C. in that
it always flows in one direction, but
differs from D. C. in that it is not
steady. Every half cycle it drops to
zero, then shoots up to a maximum,
drops to zero again and so on. In
other words, it is a pulsating current.
The reason for this is that, as shown
in the diagram, Fig. 1, the A. C. does
not suddenly change its direction at
the end of each wave, but drops down
gradually to zero and then increases
again in the opposite direction to the
maximum for the next half wave,
just as when you are driving your
car forwards you cannot start to go
backwards in an instant ; you must
slow down, stop, and then build up
reverse speed. For the same pur-
pose, such as charging batteries,
there is no objection to rectified A.
C with its ups and downs — it may
even be sufficient to use half wave
rectification, thereby eliminating the
second tube. However, for amplifier
plate supply we must have true D. C,
even more free from irregularities
than the current obtained from the
mains in most D. C. Districts. Other-
wise, the output of the amplifier would be
rendered useless by reason of the loud hum
accompanying it.
To obtain from our tubes the kind of
current we want for amplifier work, one
further step is necessary. The rectified A.
C. must be made smooth and steady by
passing it through the filter previously
mentioned, which is a combination of
choke coils and condensers that may be
described as an electrical shock absorber.
In your car the road bumps are prevented
from reaching you by the elasticity of the
tires, springs and cushions, combined with
the weight of the car itself. In exactly the
same way, condensers, acting as electrical
springs, and choke coils, acting as electrical
inertia, remove the irregularities from rec-
tified A. C. and make it into true D. C, any
small ripples that may remain being either
so weak, or else so low or so high in fre-
quency, that they are inaudible in the am-
plifier output.
The
Magnascope
A projectionist in Alissouri, who is too bash-
ful to permit his name to be used, has this to
say — and says it :
"Would you advise me as to whether or no the
screen image can be enlarged by adding an extra
attachment to the projection lens in use in ordinary
projection, and without changing the already existing
focus. If so how?
"Several theatres in a nearby city are running
their short subjects on a screen full stage size, then
reducing the feature to the normal size screen. I am
told this is done without changing the projection
lens itself, simply by the addition of an attachment.
"I am working in a small town theatre and under
very adverse conditions as to projection equipment.
Am not bragging, but have been on the job for seven
years and have had several substantial increases in
the li'l ole pay envelope."
If your employer is fair enough to you to
thus appreciate and encourage good work in a
substantial way, it would seem that he would
be fair enough to himself to have nothing but
the very best projection equipment, kept in
the pink of condition — which I take it from
your remark about adverse conditions is not
the case. He loses himself money in needless
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
19
"overhead" and at the box office when he does
otherwise.
As to the magnification stunt, I never heard
of it being done in any such way, nor do I
beheve it possible to do it. If you go to the
projection room of those theatres I think you
will discover that they have a three projector
installation, and that one projector is fitted
with a special short focal length lens. That
is the way it usually is done, though it is, of
course, possible to change lenses on one pro-
jector of a two-projector installation.
If the projectionists of any famous or in-
famous town, city or village has found an at-
tachment by means of which the focal length
of a projection lens can thus be changed we
would, I think, all be delighted to know just
what it is and where it may be had. However,
it is a case of SHOW ME with this editor.
Ordering
Rheostats
The Hertner Electric Company, Cleveland,
writes us as follows :
"With the advent of the reflector type high in-
tensity lamp, and the various other lamps now used
in motion picture projection, and for spot lamps re-
quiring approximately the same amperage, when or-
dering rheostats it is imperatively important that you
specify not only the generator voltage and the am-
perage requirements of the lamps, but also either the
make and type of lamp or the arc voltage of the lamp
for which the rheostat is required.
"The standard high intensity lamp which uses 100
to 125 amperes seems to operate best at 60 to 68
volts, whereas the reflector type high intensity lamp
made by the McCuley Manufacturing Company seems
to operate best at from 48 to 50 volts. We have no
recommendation from the Hall & Connolly company
relative to the best operating voltage of their lamps.
"It is well to keep in mind the fact that in order-
ing rheostats you can easily give too little informa-
tion, but you cannot possibly do any harm by
giving too much. NINETY PER CENT OF THE
TROUBLE WE HAVE HAD WITH RELATION
TO RHEOSTATS HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE
FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN SUPPLIED
WITH EITHER SUFFICIENT OR PROPER IN-
FORMATION WHEN THE RHEOSTATS WERE
ORDERED."
To which the editor will add the remark
that many men, without any intent of course,
fail almost completely in giving full data even
when ordering equipment. They seem not to
understand that a man or a company a thou-
sand miles away cannot possibly know what
the local condition is, or what the equipment
is, unless they are told.
Before me lies this letter from Alabama,
omitting everything but the actual text, but
quoting it every bit, it reads : "Dear Mr.
Richardson : I read your department and it
helps a lot. I cannot seem to get an even light
all over my screen. Can you tell me why?
Thanking you in advance I am."
And that is nothing so very unusual. I
usually receive one or more requests for help
almost as totally lacking in even the most
common details every day. May I suggest that
neither myself nor equipment manufacturers
are mind readers. Sending too much data
does no harm I guess. I don't know though,
for I've never had the experience of receiving
too much data yet.
Don't Be So
Darned Noisy
Some of you chaps — a few only, thanks
be — who are projecting pictures with syn-
chronized sound seem to have acquired the
mistaken idea that because oodles, gobs and
lots of sound is available, it should all be
used; either that or you were up too late the
night before and want a Fourth of July cele-
bration to keep you awake.
Gentlemen, that is of course a bit facetious
(good word that), but in all seriousness you
should be very, very careful in handling sound
volume. Yours is a truly responsible position
as synchronized sound projectionist. You can
place before audiences truly wonderful enter-
tainment, or you can turn the whole thing into
pretty nearly a howling farce — -and make your-
self into a laughing stock in so doing.
Some synchronized sound projectionists are
committing the error of leaning too heavily
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lighting, framing, fading, and spotlight
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everything needed in the operation of a
projector; and having all controls cen-
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facilitate convenient, speedy, and easy
operation.
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up to 150 ft.; gives anything required from a 4 ft. spot to a 50 ft. flood — and al'
colors desired. Truly a remarkable spotlight. Examine it at our plant — or write
for full details. Nothing like it has ever been available heretofore. It is far supe-
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20
on the fader — of using too much volume.
They cause a man of normal proportions to
have a voice like a fog horn, which is worse
than bad. And it is all their fault, and the
fault of no one else. In that particular matter
there can be no side stepping. The projection-
ist alone is responsible for the volume of
sound. His range downward is to no sound
at all; upward it is in many cases the limit of
the apparatus.
SOUND SYNCHRONIZED PRODUC-
TIONS SHOULD ALWAYS AND INVA-
RIABLY BE RUN IN THE THEATRE BE-
FORE THEY ARE USED. During this run
an assistant, preferably the theatre manager,
should be in the empty auditorium and direct
the volume, the projectionist making a cue
sheet of the position of the fader at each scene
or point, to which one or two points should
be added when the theatre is filled full.
THAT IS THE ONLY RIGHT WAY. It
may be accepted as fact that it will be utterly
impossible to correctly cue the fader from the
projection room, or to handle it in the best
possible way without a cue sheet.
That ought to be pretty nearly self evident.
The projectionist is not so located that he can
possibly hear the sound as the audience will
hear it. At least he very rarely if ever is.
The fader should be to the projectionist what
the brush is to the artist. So use it that au-
diences will applaud, not hiss or cat-call.
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928 j
A Lively
Livewire
Frank Dudiak, projectionist, Fairmont the-
atre, Fairmont, W. Va., has long been known
to the editor as a very lively livewire. He
is anything but a chair warmer. Whoever it
is takes care of his clothes certainly sews no
patches on the seat of his trowsers.
Imagine my surprise to learn from a news-
paper item that Brother Dudiak is also a
cameraman and that he is now filming the
Youngest
Projectionist
Virginia, flows almost directly north to Pitts-
burgh, Pa., where it joins the Allegheny river
and the two of them become the Ohio. There
are some charmingly beautiful and picturesque
bits on the Monongahela. I am sure Brother
Dudiak will get many well worthwhile scenes.
I know all our readers will join me in wishing
him success.
Gentlemen, permit me to introduce you
to the youngest projectionist I have met
up to date — and a lady at that. She is in
the arms of her maternal ancestor. Dick
Keuster, projectionist at the Paramount
theatre, of the Great White Way, New
York City, is the responsible party.
Looking at the mother of the young pro-
jectionist you will agree that Dick is
some picker, what? And b-o-y can she
cook? I'll say she can!
Miss Keuster (Helen by name) is a
member in good standing of the Inter-
national Alliance of Pretty Babies and
Gimme Some More Milk of the World.
She is chief projectionist in the Keuster
home, as dents in the furniture will tes-
tify. Readers of this department all know
Dick by his excellent contributions dur-
ing past years. "
Monongahela river for one of the companies
which makes a specialty of scenics.
The Monongahela starts down in West
Some Amazing
"Rules"
Recently I was in the projection room of
one of a chain of theatres. On the wall was
a neatly framed, printed set of rather amaz-
ing "INSTRUCTIONS To OPERATORS."
They were in fact so astonishing that I copied
them. They started off with "Instructions to
operators," though whether telephone, tele-
graph, shirt waist, bucket shop, coal mine,
operators on straw hats, sewing machine op-
erators or operators on ladies' silk underwear
(which last has or had a perfectly good union
in New York City), was not stated. Guess,
though, it probably meant to be instructions
for, by rules governing, projectionists. For
your benefit here they are :
1 — No smoking allowed.
2 — Remove all punch marks from film.
3 — Booth must be kept clean.
4 — Lamp houses and machine heads most
be thoroughly cleaned each day.
5 — A thorough oiling must be made of all
parts before each show.
6 — Electrical defects must be tested for be-
fore each day's performance.
7 — On each reel the picture must be framed
fti before running.
8 — Carbons must be burned down as far
as possible.
9 — A good changeoyer is an expression of
an experienced operator. Kindly do your best.
10 — Reels must be placed in the reel case
to avoid accidents.
11 — Heads must be dipped in kerosene once
a month.
12 — Know your cellar fuses.
13 — Make a list of your change over cues
after each first show.
14 — Allow no one in booth besides reel boy,
manager or union official. Every operator is
P
O
1
1
Circuit of Theatres
has contracted for
the installation of
Sentry Safety Control
in all their theatres
Proving again that the exhibitor-leaders are following the trend
■which makes the patrons' safety of primary importance !
C Q R P D R AT I D N
13th and Cherry Sts., PHILADELPHIA 1S60 Broadway, NEW YORK
And All Branches of
NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY
The positive hre-preventer. Can be attached to any projector. Costs only a few cents a day
lai
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
21
expected to cooperate to the fullest extent,
so that the public receives the entire benefit
of his skill. These orders will be enforced
to the fullest extent.
This rather amazing assortment was signed
by the president of the theatre chain. I
wrote an article in which I certainly did
roast him and his supposed "instructions,"
sending him a copy for comment. He came
back with this astounding statement :
"The set of rules I signed my name to came
direct from the headquarters of the Operators'
Union. I accept your roast as a good sport
should, and suggest that possibly you might
originate a set of suitable rules for use in
our projection rooms."
Well, I just junked the whole five-page ar-
ticle, in which the president was named, not
once but several times. One just can't roast
that sort of a sport for something he is not
really to blame for. I'll accept his challenge
or suggestion and promulgate a set of pro-
jection room rules, asking any of our readers
•who can suggest improvements to do so.
First, however, let me briefly examine the
rules or instructions in controversy.
No. 1, seems hardly necessary.
No. 2 is good and I hope it is done, BUT why not
have Friend Manager raise ♦*** with the exchange
which permits film containing them to reach his
theatre ? ? ? ?
3-^All right, except the name is all wet — see
Society of Slotion Picture Engineers' nomenclature.
4 — \Vhat is meant is all right, but the wording is
bad. '
5 — About as bad an "instruction" as I ever saw
issued. I think all agree with that, who have re-
ceived and had to project oil soaked film.
6 — All right, but poorly worded.
7 — Silly wording.
8 — Rather needless, don't you think. The man
who wastes carbons or anything else should be just
plain fired.
9 — A good changeover is NOT the expression of
experience. I've seen perfectly rotten changeovers
made by men I know to have had years of experience.
A good changeover is evidence that there is a care-
ful painstaking projectionist on the job, one who
takes real pride in his work.
10 — Very badly worded. Means little or nothing in
practice.
11 — Gosh! I'll be darned if I'd dip my head in
kerosene for anybody, or any job. I'd quit first!
Anyhow as worded it is foolish. It is a relic of the
old days when the theory that to submerge the
mechanism in kerosene and give the crank a dozen
or more turns while so immersed, would wash out
all dirt from the bearings. I think nobody does
that stunt nowadays and anyhow just to "dip the
mechanism in kerosene" would do just about abso-
lutely no good at all, except to make a dirty mess.
12 — Why have fuses in the cellar anyhow? It is
very poor practice.
13 — Poorly worded but all right otherwise.
IS — Um! I'd like to see what happens when they
try to keep the City Inspector out! I really would!
What I shall offer in substitute is hastily
compiled and probably far from perfect.
Comment is invited, to the end that we,
among us, compile a really good set of stand-
ard projection room rules.
PROJECTION ROOM RULES AND
REGULATIONS
1 — No one permitted in the projection
room except the men on duty, the theatre
manager, a representative of the union or a
duly authorized ofiScial representing an author-
ized governmental department.
2 — Projection room and all equipment must
be kept clean and in order at all times.
3 — All city or state rules, regulations and
laws must be obeyed.
_ 4 — Projectionists must be on duty a suffi-
cient time in advance of time for opening the
show to be fully prepared.
5 — Before starting the first show each day,
all projection room circuits and electrical
equipment must be thoroughly tested for
grounds.
6 — Once each week all switch, fuse and
other contacts and connections mlust be care-
fully examined for defects. It is well to feel
of switch and fuse contacts occasionally after
extended use, to see if they develop more
than norma] temperature.
7 — Projectionists must select the oil used
with great care, because upon its excellence
in great measure depends the life of the
equipment bearings. Oiling must be done
SPARINGLY, and with reasonable frequency.
Too much oil will run out of projector bear-
ings, mess things up and probably get on the
films. One or two drops of oil is all any
projector bearing can use. Motor generator
and projector oil wells should be drained and
refilled after each 70 hours of operation.
,8 — Always thread in frame. Starting a
picture out of frame is evidence of a careless,
incompetent projectionist. It will not be toler-
ated.
9 — Reels of film must be either in the hands
of a projectionist or helper, in a projector
magazine, on the rewinder or in the film
storage cabinet. Safety demands this. See
to it that the order is obeyed.
10 — Projectionists are required to remove
all punch or other changeover marks from
film, reporting their presence to the office.
During the first showing of all pictures, pro-
jectionists are expected to make a change-
over cue sheet for use thereafter.
11 — Before starting the first show each day
the projectionist in charge is required to make
a thorough examination and test of the pro-
jection room port fire shutters, making certain
that they are in perfect working order. In
case of fire this might mean the avoidance of
panic in the audience, with possible fatalities.
Do not neglect it.
12 — Know the location and capacities of all
fuses. Have an ample supply of each size on
hand, available for instant replacements.
FINAL: THIS THEATRE IS SELUNG A
SCREEN IMAGE TO THE PUBUC. IT
DEPENDS UPON YOU TO PLACE IT BE-
FORE AUDIENCES IN MAXIMUM PER-
FECTION. IF YOU ARE CARELESS, THE
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE OF WHAT WE
HAVE TO SELL WILL BE LOWERED.
YOU ARE EMPLOYED AS PROJECTIONIST
UPON THE ASSUMPTION THAT DURING
YOUR HOURS OF DUTY YOU WILL GIVE
US THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE. WE
TYPHOON rOOlINC QYSTEH
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'• ,er.o». ^''— ^.^t»^-Tr
oy »**"' r^ ^-^^^^ triw s°^!;^ mZi^-^
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— "the best I ever
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heard
m
amplified music
99
It is the same statement we hear everywhere — the best. You will say the same.
Phototone amplifies music and voices so remarkably that it is difficult to detect the
means employed. It is as new as the latest record. It can be cued to the picture,
made to play elaborate overtures and form a complete musical program. Now we have
added an attachment that permits announcements to be made via the Phototone base-
ball scores, election returns, paging for doctors or other calls left at box office.
For $500.00
The Phototone is furnished complete
with one amplifying console, with
double motors and tumtatles, two
electric pickups, powerful amplifying
device, one large horn with eitra
unit, a cabinet with cue rack of
eighty-four record capacity, and fifty
special selected records included.
Phototone is built for years of serv-
ice and wiU always be as up to date
as the newest records. Where condi-
lions require more than one horn,
they may be added at cost of twenty-
five dollars each up to sixty doll.nrs.
The price is f.o.b. factory and If in-
stallation is made by the factory en-
gineer, his actual time and expense
is added to the price of the eauip-
ment. Complete blue prints and in-
structions are furnished where the
owner desires to install it himself.
Send for complete details giving seating
capacity and inside dimension of your au-
ditorium. We know you will be interested.
The Phototone Co.
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22
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
PAY YOU UNION WAGES. SEE TO IT
THAT YOU DO CREDIT TO YOURSEU-'
AND TO THE UNION YOU REPRESENT.
Well I'll
Be '*?;;////
If it wasn't 2,000 perfectly long miles I'd
go gunning for Projectionist W. R. Gwynn,
Estes Park, Col. He actually had the ingrow-
ing gaul or gall — whichever happens to be
correct — to send me photgraphs of snow banks
25 feet deep, when the thermometer here is
literally frying in the sun. Right now if I
smelled a sulphur match burning I'd auto-
matically think I was dead! The nerve of
'im!
"But anyhow he gets ashamed of his hellish
deed for he sends this interesting bit :
"I want to compliment you on the article on
vacuum tube action in July 7, issue of the Better
Theatres section of the Herald- World and the plain,
understandable manner in which the subject is treated.
"When it is known that many, many men projecting
motion pictures have little if any real understanding
of the elementary principles of electrical action, it is
easily seen that your task of explaining this new
phase of the profession to them is not an easy one.
"Here is something which may interest you: Long
before the 'Orchestraphone' and other similar phono-
graph amplifiers were even heard of we were ampli-
fying records here using a home-made outfit which
rivals the best of them, insofar as concerns results.
In out-of-door tests, announcements made through
a microphone could be distinctly heard for a distance
of eight blocks. Your future articles on sound syn-
chronism will be read with much interest.
"P. S. I see 20 persons died from heat prostra-
tion in New York City last week. Just for 'orniness'
I attach a few photos showing the cool scenery around
here."
Huh ! I sincerely hope one of those dem-
mad snow banks falls on y' ! However,
mucha garcias for the sound article com-
pliment. You are right. It certainly is
SOME job to set it forth clearly in language
the engineering staif can be coaxed, albeit
with elevated noses, into lending their ap-
proval to. And you see I don't and won't
send out anything until it has been inspected
and approved by the Movietone engineering
staff.
However, I think from the great mass of
letters voicing unqualified approval of the
iirst article I certainly must be making good.
Hope you like the rest of them equally well.
THE
REPRODUCO
PIPE
ORGAN
RECENT INSTALLATIONS:
Franklin Theatre, Syracuse, N. Y.
Grand Theatre, McCamey, Tex.
Midland Theatre, Newark, Ohio.
Auditorium Theatre, Marietta, Ohio,
Grand Theatre, Greenfield, Iowa.
Utopia Theatre, Sheffield, Pa.
G. M. Johns, Morgantown, W. Va.
Maple Heights Theatre, Maple Heights,
Ohio.
E. F. Penny, St. Louis, Mo.
IN BUYING A PIPE ORGAN
Consider First
SIMPLICITY OF CONSTRUCTION
Fewer parts — Better parts — mean Longer Life, Less to
get out of order, and more dependable service.
The Reproduco gives better music yet only uses about
half as many parts as most organs. Reduces possibility
of trouble 50%, increases satisfaction 100%. Insures
better music at more reasonable cost per year.
TTiere's a Reproduco suitable for every house. Every
style has Reproduco Simplicity and Service that Satisfies.
1700 Daily Users
The Reproduco Pipe Organ Co.
715 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, 111.
Reproduco Pipe Organ Co.,
715 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, 111.
Send me descriptive booklet and names of users of the
Reproduco Theatre Organs.
Na
Gty..
..State..
Value
$500
It is not my purpose to print letters con-
cerning the Bluebook, but once in a while one
comes in which seems to deserve it. Roy L.
Brewer, projectionist at the Club theatre,
Granby, Mo., writes, in part, as follows :
"Have just read the initial article on Synchronized
sound and motion pictures in the Better Theatres
section of Exhibitors Herald-World. I must say
it is very interesting. Can hardly wait for the
next installment.**** Want to say a word about your
fifth edition of Handbook of Projection — -the Blue-
book of Projection. I have had 14 years practical
experience as motion picture projectionist in Missouri,
Oklahoma and Kansas. I am in • thorough earnest
when I say that this set of books, received some while
ago, has taught me things I would never have known
without them. They absolutely explain everything
about projection and projection equipment, down to
the finest detail. I would not take $300 for my set
if I knew I could not get another."
That last is not quite so extravagant as
seems at first glance. To the man who has
adopted projection as his profession it is not
inconceivable that what is contained in the
Bluebook would easly be worth even so much
as $500. I know I have myself obtained in-
formation from a book which was worth fully
three times that sum to me beacuse it made me
more proficient and valuable in my work.
The letters coming in concerning the sound
synchronization articles have surprised me a
bit. The Better Theatres number con-
taining it had not been out a week when they
began to arrive and they have arrived in a
steady stream ever since. It is very evident
the articles will be very popular. Here is a
sample, from F. W. Kutil, Woonsocket, S. D.
"Have read your initial article on synchronization
in July issue of Better Theatres. Can truthfully
say I have been greatly benefited by it. It has made
sound amplification remarkably clear to me.**** Your
article has given me a clear insight of its operation.
Thanks, Mr. Richardson. You have helped me a lot.
I sincerely hope you will keep the good work up."
The work will certainly be continued. Kutil's
letter is just a sample of hundreds. Plainly
the work is wanted and is appreciated, so we
will go forward with it.
Loyalty
Gentlemen and brothers, has it occurred to
you that you owe a certain very definite
amount of loyalty to those publications which
have consistently boosted for better projection
—for the improvement of projection and the
equipment incident thereto for lo these many
years? It matters little or nothing whether
they have done so through what- they have
believed to be their own best interest or not.
The fact remains that they HAVE stood by,
and many of you are beginning to understand
just how much help they have given.
As a matter of fact, however, I know of one
which stood by when it most emphatically was
NOT to its own best interest to do so and
that was the Moving Picture World, now a
part of Exhibitors Herald-World. There
was not a time in 17 years that it would not
have been to its monetory interest to lay down
and cease fighting for better conditions in pro-
jection. That is just plain cold FACT.
That the Moving Picture World did very
much to advance projection and raise it out
of the literal slough into which it had fallen
is now pretty generally conceded. That the
Exhibitors Herald- World is carrying on the
work loyally you all know.
For a lesser time (five years) the American
Projectionist has done a good and highly bene-
ficial work, and I say to you that you most
emphatically owe allegiance and at least some
considerable degree of loyalty to those papers
that have HELPED YOU by helping the pro-
fession of projection.
How can you show that loyalty?
That is easy. The only reason these papers
are able to carry on is because men and com-
panies with goods to sell advertise in their
columns and surely you will agree with me
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
that quality of goods being equal, the least
you can do is to give preference in purchase to
the goods of those companies which are adver-
tised in the papers that have literally fought
your battles and helped the profession by
which you live. That is practical loyalty. It
is standing by those who have stood by you.
It is just plain RIGHT. It is what we call
playing the game.
A Queer
Proposition
Recently Frank Dudiak, projectionist, Fair-
mont theatre, Fairmont, W. Va., sprung the
proposition on me that as the speed of pro-
jection increased the screen illumination also
increased.
I promptly advised him that he was full of
prunes, or words to that effect Now, Dudiak,
who is no dumbell, but a livewire progressive
man, came back at me with this:
"Dear Brother Richardson: In regards to the ques-
tion that I raised about, 'as the speed of the projector
is increased, the screen becomes more brilliant.' Now
for the simplicity lets assume that the illumination of
the screen be 20 candle foot power, with the projector
running at 70 feet per minute, but without any film
in it. Also assuming that the three blades of the
shutter occupy one half or 180 degrees of the total
area, hence the illumination of the screen must be
40 candle power when the projector is idle. Now,
if we would speed the projector up to the terrific
speed of 140 feet per minute, the shutter would be
travelling twice the previous speed. Common sense
will tell us that the intervals of the shutter will be
twice as often as it was when the projector was
travelling at 70 feet per minute. Therefore, in my
BETTER PROJECTION PAYS
PROJECTION ROOM
FRANK DUDIAK. PucjECTIOuiST
FAIRMONT THEATRE. FAIRMONT W VA
The editor of this department,
"F. H.," didn't request that we use
this letterhead, hut we are doing it
anyway, in the face of a possible
reprimand, for we believe that it is
indicative of the progress in pro-
jection and of the ^lace the projec-
tionist has established for himself
in the modern theatre.
opinion, that will permit more light to reach the
screen, or in other words the screen will become more
brilliant. How much, I do not know. I do not even
know of any method of finding out, except by using
a photometer and conduct a test at different speeds
of the projector, and thus determine the effects.
"Hold everything. Brother Richardson, I'm not
through yet, I've got something else to say, contrary
to my own statement and I am sure that you will
agree with the following.
"To most people the shutter does not mean a whole
lot, but nevertheless, it is just as important as any
other part on the projector. Let m study the action
of the shutter with regard to the statement I have
just made.
"When the projector is running at a speed of 70
feet per minute, the shutter will make 1120 revolu-
tions admitting the light to the screen intermittently.
Studying the action of the shutter the screen will be
illuminated one half of the total number of revolution,
or 560 revolutions when using a 180 degree shutter.
Then again, if we speed the projector up to 140 feet
per minute, the shutter will make 2240 revolutions,
and again one half of this number the screen will
be black, while with the other half (1120), the screen
will be illuminated.
"It is apparent, that in this explanation there don't
seem to be any increase in the illumination of the
screen, but in my first explanation there does seem
to be an increase of screen illumination.
"About three months ago I started studying the
action of the shutter, considering all its points.
"The statement that I made was the results of my
studies. It already has caused me more worry than
the average manager has when a supply salesman
steps in the front door. Even now I'm beginning to
see squirrels, so I believe in order to get out of this
mess, somebody had better use a photometer."
"I'll close for I'm getting so hungry that I could
almost eat meat. I will be expecting to hear from
you in the near future regarding this matter, but
keep away from the squirrels because one of them
might be me."
Well, gentlemen, I've my own opinion as to
this, but just the same it is most interesting.
as brother Dudiak puts the matter forward.
I'll therefore ask that such of you as may
feel inclined to set forth the facts.
It looks real puzzling and interesting because
— well, I won't say any more but let you
puzzle your brains over it. The answer is
pretty obvious, but I'll admit I had to take
The Princess (the name a lady friend of mine
wished on the new Willys Knight) out and
take a drive along quiet roads before I sud-
denly said unto the surrounding scenery:
"Oh Hell! Of course" and turned around and
drove home again.
Reynolds Takes Over
Korrectolite Company
Announcement has been made by the
Reynolds Electric Company of Chicago, that
it has taken over the Korrectolite Company.
General Manager Oliver of Korrectolite, has
joined Reynolds under the merger.
1,672,352. TWO-PLY CINEMATOGRAPH
POSITIVE FILM. John Edward Thornton,
West Hampstead, London, England. Filed
May 4, 1926, Serial No. 106,731, and in Great
Britain Mar. 18, 1926. 6 Claims. (CI. 88 —
16.4.)
1. A two-color positive cinematograph film
comprising in its construction two triuisparent
supports of the exact width of the film, a layer
of slow drying stiff cellulose cement paste t^
which the supports are joined together, a layer
of colored colloid with images printed in relief
in silver salts on each support, and insoluble
solid margins) at each edge formed of the
printed colloid to the full thickness of the film
material.
^ WJ^
"If You Would Have
The Finest"
COMPLETE THEATRE LIGHTING EQUIPMENT
Footlights Spot lights
Borderlights Service boards
Stage pockets Panel boards
Cove lighting Usher sig^ials
Exit and Directional Signs
Write jar details and estimates
oj^mca
DOWN TOWN CHICAGO
SALES OFFICES
Suits 323 — 155 N. Clark St.
Phone State 7966
NEW YORK CITY
1457 Broadway
Phene Wisconsin 4843
Factory and General Offices
2219-25 West Grand Avenue
Chicago
Phone Seeley 6440-1-2
TOLEDO, OHIO
1220 Madison Ave.
Phone Adams 5318
MILWAUKEE, WIS.
123 Second St.
Phone Grand 1533
HUB PRODUCTS FROM SERVICE TO SOCKET
24
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
.^X\>V>^\
^A.^:
^^ <
'^Jj/leets every requirement for a theatre**
LARGE theatres and small theatres acclaim
j\ the outstanding performance of Page
Unit Organs.
This is natural, because the Page organization
is known for a thorough understanding of
theatre requirements — for concentrated spe-
cialization in organ craftsmanship — and for
a proven ability to construct superb organs of
a wide range of size and function.
These are the reasons why Mr. Macon is so
sincerely enthusiastic in the letter reproduced
here.
Mr. Macon's organ is the famous M-X-40,
ideal for smaller theatres. It is a complete
unit organ with two manuals. It can also be
played by roll, taking two ordinary 88-note
piano rolls. Thus it provides pipe organ
music of high excellence at low cost.
Whether you have a large theatre or a small
one, it will pay you to investigate what a
Page Unit Organ will mean to your success.
THE PAGE ORGAN COMPANY
523 N. Jackson, Street
Lima, Ohio
'yHE best music available is an important
J- element m the success of any theatre.
Good pictures are necessary, but no per-
formance as a whole can be better than the
music that accompanies the pictures.
The Pal Theatre,
Vidalia. Georgia.
ANS
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
MU/IC IN THE THEATCE
itmmmmm
MnsMM
Managers of Yesterday and Today
f
Music critic and feature organist has his say-so about the man
who sits behind the door marked, "Manager's Office."
By HENRY FRANCIS PARKS*
PRIOR to the present era of large circuit
theatre management with its highly
standardized modes of operation, compli-
cated red tape and super-efficiency theatres
were more a matter of local capital and local
talent in the ownership and management. The
relationship (if such a thing actually existed)
between the musical and the purely economi-
cal phases of the theatre was of a distinctly
different character from that of today. And
this prior period bridged the gap between the
present day de luxe house and the itinerant
dramatic stock and repertoire show period of
over a quarter a century ago.
The manager of these early dramatic and
repertoire companies was indeed "Monarch of
all he surveyed." Like the captain of a ship
his word was law and he the last resort in
cases of dispute. Manifold were his respon-
sibilities which included not only the artistic
and business phases of his own company but
the personal problems of many of his em-
ployes. He was, therefore, justly entitled to
the slight despotism he usually flaunted. His
autocratic demeanor was usually superficial as
most of his company knew by intimate experi-
ence. He would give the coat off his back to
another in trouble. Gruff yet genial, a stern
disciplinarian though usually thoughtful and
kind to his Httle family of thespians and musi-
cians he invariably enjoyed the esteem and
affection of his confreres.
* * *
But, with the passing of the stock houses,
airdomes, and shows under canvas there came
a new managerial complex into being — a type
peculiar to his own particular period. Usually
he was a man of considerable and varied
talents. His were the small tasks of meeting
the various travelling film salesmen and of
bargaining for their product at prices com-
patible with his box office potentiality ; design-
ing, writing the copy for, and very often
drawing, the ads ; hiring everyone employed
in the house from the musical director to the
porter; developing and maintaining an orderly
service staff; acting as treasurer and superin-
tending the bookkeeping; planning and pro-
ducing the small specialties and picture pro-
logues necessary; finally, satisfying — -if such a
thing was ever possible — the heterogeneous
mixture of stockholders (each of whom con-
sidered himself an individual boss and as full
of sure-fire ideas as a dog is of fleas) . . .
merchants, real estate men and others of quasi
sympathies towards anything except ledger
sheets in India ink. His job was no easy one.
It is no great surprise that many managers of
this period were well initiated into the mys-
teries of sundry and divers liquid consolations
and immolations. His duties, many and ardu-
ous, weighed heavily upon him and his regard
for those who worked union hours was of
benign contempt if at all temnered but more
often harsh and dictatorial. It is really un-
necessary to state that artistic work by an
orchestra, organist or stage producer was im-
paired under the petty tyranny of such execu-
tives. The nervous tension at all times evi-
dent has burned up the emotional capabilities
of many a person of the aesthetic complex
who lived and worked through this disquiet-
ing phase of the picture theatre's development.
Henry Francis Parks
The building up of vast chains had quietly
been going on contemporaneously with the
activities in other major fields of endeavor —
motors, steel, public utilities, express and
transportation. All commenced to realize
their full significance shortly after the war.
As the number of theatres increased unifica-
tion of management was the natural result.
This metamorphosis has gradually resolved
the industry into two or three highly efficient
chains who have absorbed many an indepen-
dent exhibitor, and are becoming more and
more formidable as time passes. Apace with
standardized film production and exploitation
the circuit has nearly succeeded in standard-
izing the artistic phases.
* * *
So the manager of a chain house today, and
these represent the key houses throughout the
country in most instances, is an entirely dif-
ferent being from any of his predecessors.
He is a rubber stamp with all of the good
qualities of durability and resiliency to cor-
porate policies without the bad phases of indi-
viduality and over-intelligence. He is usually
an exalted usher who can wear his tuxedo
with sophistication and who has plenty of IT.
It is his business to be a handy buffer when
trouble comes up. He has no authority to
hire or fire a musician, stagehand or operator
and very little of the clerical help. He is the
official watchdog. The supreme "yes" man.
With plenty of leisure time on his hands his
Inquisitorial powers attain a high state of
development much to the detriment of sound
efficiency. For, no matter what progress civ-
*Mr. Parks is theatre music critic of the Chi-
cago Daily News, solo organist and assistant
to the musical director, United Artists theatre,
Chicago, and editor of The Aesthete Magazine.
ilization makes, the human element must
always be reckoned with. And the human ele-
ment resents such asinine interference. A
man will have respect for intelligence and ex-
perience but justly resents an overlord whose
Alma Mater was of dubious standing, if at
all, and who is but a slight bit above his for-
mer responsibilities — ushering in a theatre.
Frankly, the theatres would run more effici-
ently without them.
Place a man upon his honor and the greater
percentage of them will be true to the trust.
Show your doubt of him by permitting such
ignominious practices and he becomes but a
sullen human machine doing just what he can
get away with and no more. The modus
operandi of large corporations is to give high-
sounding and empty titles to pacify these man-
agerial incumbents much as do the newspapers
to their various editorial desks. Such choice
exhibits as "Chief of Service," "Superinten-
dent," "Manager," "Secretary," etc., with such
added trinkets in the way of "Health Club"
(sic) memberships, a week's vacation with
pay ... all these buy loyalty and aid in cre-
ating a condition of satisfaction over deserv-
edly small salaries, petty snooping, etc. And
they run away real talent.
* * *
In fact, the hardest part of the job is to
learn the contents of the very imposing and
impressing book of rules governing the con-
duct of everyone in the house which these
pseudo managers must enforce. Of course,
the union help usually laughs this stuff off and
pays little attention to it. But it does engen-
der a highly satisfied air of self importance
and the privilege of walking around the foyer
in a tuxedo has its unpurchasable advantages
in personal prestige and dignity! Such is the
manager of a large corporation house!
But how different in the small city combi-
nation houses and in those in the larger cities
not as yet absorbed. Two outstanding ex-
amples come to mind of these houses — J. Wil-
liam Houck, managing director of the Ken-
osha theatre, Kenosha, Wis., and William
Rudolph, managing director of the United
Artists theatre, Chicago.
In Mr. Houck's case we find a situation
with which many of the managers of the
smaller city houses are quite familiar. Five
changes of vaudeville per week which he must
personally book ; a like amount of film fea-
tures and shorts necessary to be selected;
complete control of the entire personnel from
the humblest janitor to the musical director;
entire responsibility for the cash and general
bookkeeping; arrangement of the entire bill
from stem to stern ; in fact, Mr. Houck runs
the house as though he were the owner. He
is not a manager. He is a theatre impressario
of the first rank. And, because of his intelli-
gence and experience he incorporates a highly
sympathetic comprehension of the various
human complexes which he must harmonize —
aesthetical, practical and economic. He works
with his employes. Hence he gets results and
earns the very high salary he receives.
Then take Mr. Rudolph's case. He man-
ages one of the key houses for United Artists
26
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
The
>«&.
Buck Private
of the
Projection Army
Meet the buck private of the
projection army — THE
LENS. All the rest of the
army, from the light switch to
the shutter, pass the buck to
the lens.
And just as the performance
of an army depends on the
men in it, so does the kind of
pictures a projection machine
produces depend on the lens.
That is why the Cinephor
Lens makes an ideal part of
the projection machine. It is
a well trained, strictly disci-
plined, sharp shooter. It aims
to bring the monies into the
box office till, and it invari-
ably scores a bull's eye.
Once you get a Cinephor "in
the army now" it is in for
good. You pay nothing for
the term of service except the
original purchase price.
If you are looking for a real
recruit, enlist a Cinephor.
Bausch & Lomb
Optical Co*
652 St. Paul St., Rochester, N. Y.
*3EfE
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/4n<i *t777 t/iey come, the {lobular songs inspired hy the perpendicular drama.
And now synchronization is causing patrons to come from ■picture shows whis-
tling a featured song just as they do coming from musical comedies. Surely,
no volume on the American folk song will he allowed to ignore the motion
picture as a nightly source thereof. Above are presented ■^arts of the
choruses of two new theme songs, both adapted from Fox productions, both
written by Erno Ra^ee and Lew Pollack and both published by DeSylva,
Brown and Henderson. "Some Day, Somewhere ' is the theme song of "The
Red Dance," featuring Dolores Del Rio and Charles Farrell, while "Angela
Tdia' inter'prets "Street Angel,'' which, also featuring Charles Farrell, stars
Janet Gaynor.
Corporation. His 34 years of showmanship
experience has carried him through every
phase of its romantic history. He knows
what can be humanly expected from every
department in his theatre. He is never too
busy to adjust the slightest misunderstanding
or grievance. And, he is permitted the lati-
tude to develop his managerial abilities. In
short, he is the manager of the house and not
a puppet on a string. Consequently, he has
unusually high quality in his personnel. Such
characters attract and hold intelligent and
capable people. Oil seeks its higher level and
intelligence only respects the super strata of
its kind. One may disagree with him yet it
does not mean dismissal.
* * *
Maybe your idea is better than his. K so
he uses it and gives you full credit for it.
(He has done this in my case in many in-
stances.) What is the inevitable result?
Whole-hearted cooperation. Because of un-
forseen circumstances I have had him come
to me at rehearsal, 3 :00 a. m., and ask me to
prepare an organ solo for the new bill by
1:15 the same day. In the brief space of 10
hours (including some sleep) I have worked
out a presentable novelty for him. The same
thing is true of our very capable musical
director, A. Leon Bloom. Mr. Rudolph is
imbued with a certain spirit of showmanship
which carries one back to the old days of
personal friendships in the business. He is a
gentleman in every sense of the word, digni-
fied, a man whom you intuitively respect and
treat as you would one above the average in
intelligence and whose experience entitles him
to every consideration. Although not a musi-
cian he instinctively knows the difficulties
under which they labor and treats them with
great cordiality and with sympathetic under-
standing of their problems.
As for the house personnel in general any
one of them can tell you how his outwardly
gruff and politely blunt nature softens wher
that one is in trouble. He has given time
and money out of his own pocket to help the
men and an employe always gets the break.
Of course, he has been imposed upon.
Probably will be again. But he still thinks of
his employes first. With unlimited authority
were he spurious he would have long since
had a closed house. But, as the old phrase
puts it, "He has been ripened by time and
mellowed by experience."
Mr. Rudolph could not chafe under red tape
and produce. The wide latitude given him
has been greatly responsible for the general
reputation of the house summed up in the
words of the very erudite, sophisticated and
critical magazine. The Chicagoan, "The town's
premiere cinema." As long as such men live
and are in control of the theatre destinies we
need not fear standardization or artistic stag-
nation.
September 24 Is Date
of Engineers Meeting
L. C. Porter, Secretary of the Society of
Motion Picture Engineers, announces that the
fall meeting of the society will be held at
Lake Placid, N. Y., the week of September 24.
The spring meeting which was held in
Hollywood in the early part of May attracted
unusual attention to the activities of the
S.M.P.E. and it is believed that the fall meet-
ing will be the largest ever held by the society.
Sentry Safety Control
Goes Into Poli Circuit
Sentry Safety Control announces that the
Poli Circuit of theatres, recently acquired by
Fox, has contracted for the installation of
this safety device on its projection machines.
Installation will be made as soon as possible.
Sentry only recently enlarged its plant m
Philadelphia to handle increased business.
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from
Four Bare Walls
to one of America's finest houses I
TKe IOWA
exemplifies the great advantages of National's
One'Contract Plan ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Calvin Bard
owner of the New Iowa, says:
". . . it was left, without restrictions,
to the National Theatre Supply
Company to start with four bare
walls and accomplish the 100 per
cent perfect job of today.
"I feel glad that I selected this or-
ganization to equip my theatre. I
am glad for the harmony and effi-
ciency which has prevailed during
the installation. The harmony and
smooth working of all details could
not have been possible had I dealt
with half a dozen individual firms.
"My dealings with National Theatre
Supply Company have saved me
time, worry, and expense.
^
^
National's
One-Contract Plan
is the ideal means of producing a
completely and excellently appointed
theatre with minimum expense.
Constant cooperation with the archi-
tects during the construction of each
One-Contract Theatre assures best
results from projection and other
necessary equipment — as well as the
selection and adaptation of various
equipment units to the individual
requirements of the architect's de-
sign.
Another important feature of the
One-Contract Plan is its arrange-
ment for financing in part or com-
plete from the ground up.
s
^
The new IOWA, at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is an excellent illustration of the
many things that make National Service the most complete, the most
effective and reliable, ever available to the theatre industry
S/Vational^heatre Suppl^'^ompau'p
iflf''i#'^
Offices in all
fPvincipal Cities
I III I' -.iiiiiij I ■' '".' 1,1
;i
Si
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In the"JAYHAWK" of Topeka
Here is another of America's modern playhouses in which
the KILGEN Organ holds the place of honor. The man-*
agement of this beautiful theatre seeking the best for its
equipment, wisely chose the KILGEN Wonder Organ.
In the "Jayhawk" — as in your theatre — "The Organ" is
of prime importance. It can make or mar your entertainment.
Only comparison can show the superior vividness with which
the KILGEN Wonder Organ can dramatize your presentations
and musically enhance their charm. / / / Its enduring con--
struction means continued care-tree satisfaction to its owner
Qtfm
Send for Catalog, or write National Theatre Supply (Company, Distributors
GEO. KILGf^rv o 90t^, incy 4v:^o alon M>iva., a»l. LOt>i§, U. S. A.
BRENKERT LIGHT PROJECTION CO.
St. Aubin at E, Grand Blvd., Detroit, Michigan
For Information
Brenkert Light Projection Co.
St. Aubin at Sast Grand Blvd.
Detroit, Mich.
Kindly send me:
n Descriptive literature on Master Breno-
graph
n Complete Brenkert Catalog
Name _ _
Address
Rock-Steady Projection Demanded
for Sound Pictures
HAS NECESSITATED INSTALLATION
OF
SIMPLEX PROJECTORS
IN THE
STRAND THEATRE, NEW YORK
WHICH NOW MAKES
BROADWAY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTOR CORPORATION
90 GOLD STREET, NEW YORK
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
27
1,669,963. METHOD OF TAKING COM-
POSITE MOTION PICTURES. Paul W.
Youngblood, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Feb.
17, 1926. Serial No. 88,844. 1 Claim. (CI.
88—16.)
The photegraphic method consiatincr in mak-
ing a photograph of a scene, making a photo-
graphic enlargement of certain portions of the
photograph, making a second light having a
projection aperture associated therewith, a
projecting mechanism casing having a wall
disposed in front of said film carrying mechan-
ism, a projection lens mounted in said wall,
and an auxiliary light of less intensity than
said projection light disposed between said
film carrying mechanism and said wall so that
the film and aperture may be viewed from
behind said aperture for the purpose of fram-
ing the picture.
1,670,671. MULTICOLOR SCREEN AND
SUPPORT FOR FILMS AND PLATES. John
Edward Thornton, West Hampstead, London,
England. Filed Mar. 24, 1926, Serial No.
97,137, and in Great Britain Mar. 31, 1925.
4 Claims. (CI. 95—2.)
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1. A multi-color-screen and support to carry
a sensitire layer for the production of photo-
graphic and kinematograph pictures compris-
ing two half screens and two supports (one
for each half screen), the completed screen
being formed by cementing the two parts to-
gether thus forming a compound screen upon
a compound support which is capable of being
subsequently sensitized in the usual manner.
Lasher on
Decoration
{Continued from page 10)
allowed to harden, it can be sanded down to
a smooth surface.
Only recently the case of an analine stain
bleeding through two coats of shellac and
four coats of paint was brought up for dis-
cussion in the Illinois College of Painting and
Decorating. Some of the students were
present, several of them from the largest
shops in the country, with years of experience
and now taking up the decorating course, and
they joined in the discussion. Several treat-
ments of the condition in question were
1/ You Show Pictures You Need the
TRANSVERTER
Its superiority of operation — a description of the
various types — the simple rules which assure its
long satisfactory performance — are all contained
in the HERTNER HAND BOOK, just oflf the
press.
A copy will be mailed free to any Theatre Owner,
Manager or Projectionist, sending for it.
Transverters are manufactured
exclusively by
THE HERTNER ELECTRIC COMPANY
1900 W. 114th St.
Cleveland, Ohio, U. S. A.
Distributed in the V. S. A, by
The National Theatre Supply Company
IN ADDITION TO YOUR PICTURES
—GET THIS ADDED PROFIT—
READ WHAT THESE LIVE THEATRE OWNERS ARE
DOING WITH A CRETORS' POPCORN MACHINE
Eagle River, Wis.
I can truthfully say tliat it bas not only paid for Itself, but
paid me a good profit besides. EAGLE THEATRE.
ROSE THEATRE Troy. N. T.
I find it a big money maker and also a great convenience to my
patrons. I feel that if Motion Picture Theatres would look Into
this end of the business, they would find their bank accounts
would show a big increase, Jacob C. Rosenthal,
THE OPERA HOUSE Millersburg. Ohio,
During a thirty-day period, we sold a great deal more corn
than I had any idea we could and my net profit far exceeded my
expectations. Hoy L. RusselL
The Cretors' Way Is Easy To Pay
C. CRETORS & COMPANY
612 W. 22nd St.
CHICAGO
28
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
Theatres that have
eliminated Orchestras
on Account of Installa-
tion of Movietone and
Vitaphone, decorate
their Orchestra Pit
with
REISINQ'S
True to Nature
Artijicial Vlowers
and Vlants
There Are None Better
G* Reising & Co*
227 West Austin Avenue
Chicago, 111.
Write ior Our Catalogue
Would You Buy
The Same Make Screen Again?
A COMFORTABLE majority of Da-Lite owners
do. Owner loyalty and owner boosting is the
best form of advertising and proof of value of any
merchandise.
A reputation for quality does not come by chance.
You must excel to keep ahead in the race that never
ends.
When a million dollar theatre opens you will usually
find a Da-Lite Screen, because they want the best.
Write for sample and catalogue —
DA-LITE SCREEN & SCENIC CO.
922-924 West Monroe Street, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Arcadia Has Special
Type of Lege Seats
One of the Southwest's finest and
most beautiful theatres is the Arcadia in
Dallas, a pictorial story of which was
presented in Better Theatres in June.
Among the many unusual features of
this Dent property are the 31 loge seats
manufactured by the Heywood-JV ake field
Company. These were specially built
seats, and were patterned after the Hey-
wood-Wakefield specially designed loge
seats in the Roxy theatre in New York.
offered. Assuming that the shellac coating is
not capable of being corrected dependably, flat
black ground in Japan thinned with turpen-
tine is quite effective as a sealer. Aluminum
bronze paint is also used extensively. But the
latest, simplest and cheapest sealer is cold
water paint, applied over the surface where
the aniline stains through.
A test was made of this method, it being
the method of the school to test out new
ideas that may prove advantageous to the
decorator. Having some woodwork in one of
our rooms on which the aniline bled through
two coats of shellac and numerous coats of
paint, the instructor applied cold water paint
over the entire surface of the painted wood-
work, allowing it to dry thoroughly, lightly
sanding it, and repainting with two coats
more. The result is that no sign of the stain
has thus far penetrated through.
Tar and grease may be sealed with shellac;
metal rust, with red lead. To eliminate ero-
sive water stains, the rotted plaster should be
removed and the refinishing done with a well
gauged plaster, a coat of flat paint being ap-
plied over this.
As to the most contrary and unconquerable
stain, the salt peter stain (as long as the salt
peter continues bleeding, it remains a blot
wherever it appears), I hope to touch on this
in a more appropriate connection in a future
article. ;
International Holds
Its Annual Outing;
Prizes to Employes
Over 250 employes of the International Pro-
jector Corporation attended the outing of the
company at Belvedere Park, Pearl River, N..
Y., Saturday, July 21.
Ralph Kneuer as in former years was chair-
man of the committee of arrangements and
to him must be given much credit for the
success of the affair.
The entire party went to Pearl river by
bus and private auto with the company band
to make the trip more cheerful. Many ath-
letic contests were held with liberal prizes for
the winners and dinner and supper served to
all those present.
In addition to the many handsome prizes
handed out, Harley L. Clarke, president of
the company, made a liberal cash contribution
which added greatly to the day's enjoyment
by the SO winners in this feature.
Among those who addressed the meeting
were W. C. Michel, vice president and treas-
urer; S. R. Burns, vice president and secre-
tary of the International Projector Corpora-
tion, and W. E. Green, vice president and
general manager of National Theatre Supply
Company.
Mr. Green who was formerly vice presi-
dent of the International Projector Corpora-
tion, made a special trip from Chicago to be
present with his old friends on this occasion.
■HH
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
New KJiegl 125 anf^ere, long range,
S'potlight, floodlight, and effect pro-
jector, com{>letely equi^^ed for
white and color lighting, framing,
fading, standard effects and spot-
light attachments. In a single unit
everything is ■provided that may he
needed in the operation of the pro-
jector. All controls are centralized
to facilitate s{>eedy, convenient,
and easy operation.
Flexibility Is One
Feature of Spot
Devised by Kliegl
GREATER flexibility of operation, more
convenient controls and higher lighting
efficiency are the dominant features of
a new spotlight, floodlight and effect projec-
tion, according to Kliegl Brothers, which has
announced this new product.
This new machine, says the company, em-
bodies a new departure in spot-flood control,
wherein the arc lamp remains stationary and
the lens is made to travel for focusing, the
light beam.
In announcing its new product, the Kliegl
Company says :
"It is a 125 ampere, long-distance projector,
complete in every respect, providing in a single
unit everything required of a projector — spot-,
flood-, and color-lighting, framing shutters,
effects, etc.
"The design is compact, can be accommo-
dated in a comparatively small space, and the
hood is lower at the front than at the rear
so that the operators' line of vision is unob-
structed.
Higher Lighting
Efficiency
"It projects the light any distance up to
ISO feet, and gives anything required from a
4 foot perfectly round spot to a 50 foot spread
with uniform intensity ; providing an intense
white light having all the qualities of strong
sunlight, bringing out brilliant colors in their
true value. Finer adjustments of the arc
afford a greater amount of light projection
for a given current consumption, and a shield
in front of the arc prevents light from the
^Continued on page 32)
Qood Miisic ' ' ' how Cost
Don't make your audi-
ences sorry they came by
giving them poor music
— you can have the best
of classical and the snap-
piest of jazz with the
Selector Duplex at low
cost.
SELECTOR
DUPLEX
ORGAN
Uses a ten tune double
roll which may have a
classic and a jazz, one
on each side. No wait
for rewind, plays con-
tinuously. Plays right,
priced right.
<-.
W/k
Send for com-
hII
plete information
? ^nl
now. Start the
^«>. ■11
new season with
^ ^H
right music.
aS^
NELSON.
Wl G GEN
PIANO
COMPANY
1731-45 Belmont Ave.
CHICAGO
«VT#
EVERY
ROTH
Product
Eeflect^
^High Quality
^ Thought,
^Workmanship
and Materials
ihat go into
Construction
ROTM BR0THEP5 <{CQ
I'+OO W. ADAMS ST.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
NEW YORK OFFICE
52 VESEY ST.
EXPORT DEPT.
44 WHITEHALL ST
NEW rORKCITY
ACTODECTon mmk
inAii
principal citiej
30
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
Two Views That Show
a Theatre Beautiful in
the Sfnrit of T oday.
The Forum,
A Theatre
Modernistic
The -picture above is
of the foyer in the
new Forum theatre in
Frankford, a district
of Philadelphia, while
that below shows a
section of the side
wall in the audi-
torium. Both tell
something of the
modernistic decora-
tive treatment as de-
veloped by the French^
August 4. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
A view of the auditorium, facing the
stage. Here at a glance is French
Modernism in the theatre.
Vrendi l^odernisra — a New Motif in
Photoplay Theatre Design
W. H. Lee, architect of the Forum in Frankford, Philadelphia, introduces a decorative
style of today, into today s 'playhouse.
THE new Forum theatre in Frankford,
Philadelphia, which was opened to
the public on June 25, is said to be
the first theatre in America to employ the
modern French style of decoration. A re-
markable feature of this project is that
the construction of the entire building, to
the night of the public opening, required
but six months and one week.
The community of Frankford, which is
within the city limits of Philadelphia, is
very progressive and is famous the country
over for its professional football team,
known as the Frankford Yellow Jackets.
The Forum Amusement Company, which
operates the new house, was anxious to
have a building designed that would be
modern in treatment as well as in its ap-
pointments and equipment, and would
typify the social and industrial life of the
community. W. H. Lee, the Philadelphia
architect, who has designed twenty theatres
in and around Philadelphia during the past
two years, was commissioned to do the
work.
* * *
The theatre is 92 feet wide and 319 feet
long and seats 1,850 persons on one floor.
It has a thirty-two foot stage, reading loft
and organ console lift. The heating, ven-
tilating and cooling systems are of modern
type, designed to change the air in the audi-
torium once every minute throughout the
year, under heating or cooling conditions.
The auditorium conveys on entering an
impression of richness and spaciousness
which, it is said, would have been difficult
to attain in any other than the modern
French medium. The scheme is simple.
The great expanse of ceiling, which rises
gradually from the side walls, creating a
buoyant effect, is carried on large pylons,
which are capped with lighting fixtures
modern in every respect and in the form
of white glass lanterns suspended from
brackets. A judicious use of ornamental
plaster and the decorative scheme of gold
and silver leaf and pastel colors combine
to make this room very attractive. The
side walls are covered with specially de-
signed modern French damask.
On the center of the side wall panels,
there are two large murals, measuring eight
by 16 feet, one depicting the motion picture
industry in the studio; the other, a circus
scene, including animals, tragedians, etc.
These murals are featured during the show-
ing of a picture through the playing of a
soft glow spot light, which operates from
the ceiling.
The grand foyer is 32 feet wide and 72
feet long. It is colonnaded on two sides to
the full height of the room, and each corner
is fitted with a large spherical-top niche.
Two of the spaces contain modernistic
green and blue tile drinking fountains,
while the other two niches form entrances
to the men's and ladies' retiring rooms.
{Continued on page 42)
32
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
New Kliegl Spot
{Continued from page 29)
flame entering the optical system, eliminating
ghosts and false light.
"All controls, including arc, focusing, shut-
ters, color screens, and directional controls,
are centralized at the rear of the spotlight, in
full view of the operator, and within arms'
length of the operating position, affording the
greatest convenience, speed, and ease of op-
eration.
"The arc lamp remains in a fixed position,
rai
SAVE SEVERAL
THOUSAND DOLLARS
Exceptional ORGAN Bargain
Due to replacement of larger Wurlitzer Organ, we will
have available a splendid organ, w^hich w^e will sacrifice at
an exceptionally low price. Installation is still intact and
may be heard. Delivery may be had September 1 st, or
earlier.
SPECIFICATIONS
Three Manual Twenty-two Stop Divided Organ. Full Percussion, Traps, Drums.
A-1 condition. Installed in Orpheum Theatre, Cincinnati, some two years
where it may now be heard m cctual usage. Will sell for $4,000.00 as is and
where is. Delivery, latter part o£ August.
Wire for further particulars
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company
121 East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio
i^l^^.
ou^^
Wl*-'
Pile Up
Additional
Profits .
BRING YOUR PUBLIC
BACK MORE OFTEN
THEREBY INCREASING
BOX OFFICE RECEIPTS
M>rsrKt Bt/r£A/ti rMlAlt.£RS rMRCVGHOar THE tJMfreD STAffSfnOM
CHICAGO
NEW YORK
126- I30 W. 46™ ST.
LOS ANGELES
lail 5. VERMONT AVE.
SPECIAL SER.VICE
FULLY EQUIPPED TO MAKE
/^NY KIND OF FILM
/^N NOUMCEVIENTS
AF-TiSTiC ANIMATED
: A O E R. S
FOB. FEATURE - COMEDY -NEWS-
; TRADEMAR-KS, ETC.
all focusing is done by moving the lens, caus-
ing no disturbance in the adjustment of the
arc. Arc control handles are fixed in posi-
tion and do not protrude more than a few
inches beyond the lamp housing.
"Arc carbons may be adjusted in every
conceivable way — angularly, vertically, and
horizontally, and the lower carbon holder may
be moved independently of the upper carbon,
in any lateral direction. Six different con-
trols are provided so that the arc can be
quickly and easily centered, irrespective of
any condition that may arise, and the arc
length and crater adjusted to obtain the maxi-
mum effective light. Fibre grips insulate the
arc control handles from the heat of the arc
and protect the operator against burnt fingers.
Focusing
Control
"Condenser lens travel on a movable car-
riage and focus the light without disturbing
the arc lamp. The lens are made to move by
simply turning a handle on the side of the
spotlight. They travel quickly, smoothly, and
freely — stay-put in any set position without
being clamped, and are always ready for in-
stantaneous change of focus.
"One lens takes care of the full range from
a four foot spot to a 50 foot flood. The
simple movement of the lens, backward or
forward, along the optical axis by means of
the control handle, is all that is required. A
pointer on the focusing control handle travels
over a numbered dial on either side of the
spotlight and in plain view of the operator.
It_ indicates the position of the lens and per-
mits setting the lens quickly to any desired
focus.
"The lens carriage slides on two parallel
rods, and is attached to a chain, which passes
over two sprocket wheels, one at the front
and the other at the rear. The shaft of the
rear sprocket extends outside the housing
and to it is attached the control handle.
"To the underside of the chain a counter-
weight is attached which also slides on two
parallel rods, but always moves in a direction
opposite to that of the lens and thereby main-
tains the center of gravity and keeps the spot-
light in perfect balance at all times.
"The frame in which the lens is mounted,
is hinged so that the lens can easily be re-
moved for cleaning or replacement, and is also
so designed as to allow unrestricted expansion.
Color
Lighting
"A color box or boomerang on the front
of the spotlight provides means for changing
the color of the light beam. It contains four
color frames for gelatin mediums, controlled
by levers at the rear of the spotlight, and
ready for operation at all times. There is
a seperate lever for each color frame and
each lever is keyed to correspond with the
color it controls. The position of the handle
indicates the position of the color screen and
a quarter turn throws the screen in or out of
position. The color screen is free of all
mechanical connections and may be readily
removed by simply raising the color box and
lifting the screen out of its slide grooves; or,
if it is to be inserted, simply dropping it into
its proper place. Gradual or quick changes
of color can be produced and one color
blended with another as may be desired.
Framing
and Fading
"A curtain shutter and iris shutter set in
the lamp housing, and independently con-
trolled from the rear, permit light to be
framed to flood the stage or orchestra pit, and
to fade the light on or off at will. They are
quick acting in operation and a quarter turn
of the handle is sufficient to operate the shut-
ters from full-opening to black out, or vice
versa. Guide marks on the back of the hous-
ing indicate the position of the shutters and
facilitate speedy operation.
All Parts
Accessible
"All parts and adjustments are easy of ac-
(Contitiued on page 34)
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
33
Below is floor ■§lan of theatre built
on a ^lot of ground of unusual di'
mensions. At left 7S front of
house.
J—;
To Seat 750 in a House
Costing $42,000
was the problem of
HARRY C. HOLBROOK
(Architect)
^ The lot on which Mr. Holbrook had to work was 41 by 165 feet,
^ a very narrow stretch on which to build a motion picture thea-
tre. Yet, this was accomplished by the architect and Harry V.
Smoot at Washington Court House, Ohio.
WHEN Harry V. Smoot, owner and
operator of the Vine theatre at Mt.
Vernon, O., decided to have another
house, he finally chose Washington Court
House, O., as the right location for it. And
then and there he got himself into a mat-
ter requiring considerable figuring out. He
found it impossible to buy suitable ground
in the main business section of Washington
Court House. Looking around, he dis-
covered a piece of land on which was lo-
cated the oldest residence in the city. The
lot was narrow and long, measuring 41
by 165 feet. That would offer a new prob-
lem, for such a lot is obviously not well
adapted to a theatre of economical seating
arrangement. However, it was only a half-
block from the main street, and so it was
selected.
* * *
Here Harry V. Smoot let down on his
worrying a little and turned the difficulty
over to another Harry— Harry C. , Hol-
brook, Columbus, O., architect. All Hol-
brook had to do was to design a $42,000
theatre for deluxe performances and seating
750 people comfortably and with good
vision of the screen and stage, on a lot
measuring 41 by 165 feet. The accompany-
ing illustration, showing the floor plan, tells
better than words how Holbrook did it.
The Fayette is of Spanish design. The
interior is built of yellow brick and Bedford
stone, with the roof of variegated Spanish
tiles.
Installation is now being made for sound
pictures.
The interior of the Fayette is decorated
in old rose and ivory, with polychrome color
effect worked out in the ornamental plaster.
The draperies are of deep red and gold,
and they cover all openings. The lighting
is by means of special chandeliers and con-
cealed coves. The entrance and outer
lobby are 19 feet wide and have wainscots
of Verde Antique and Mariposa marble.
The floors are of rubber mats and marble
strips.
^ s|s sH
The stage, which is an uncommon fea-
ture of a theatre seating only 750, is fully
equipped for presentations and vaudeville.
The dressing rooms are on the mezzanine
floor on both sides of the stage. The organ
loft is also located there.
The front part of the building contains
two stores for rent, while there are offices
on the second floor. On the second floor
are also retiring rooms. The projection
booth measures 12 by 22 feet.
The seats, supplied by the Andrews Seat-
ing. Company, are of the deep-cushion type,
covered with Spanish leather. The heating
is by means of force blast and hot water
radiation. The organ is a six-stop Page.
The Fayette plays straight pictures five
days a week, with a stage show and pictures
Saturday nights.
34
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
Stage Equipment
Quality - Performance - Economy of Operation
THAT Is the Reason
Peter Clark Equipment Has Been
Selected for the Leading Theatres
Everywhere
PETER CLARK
INC.
544 West 30th Street, New York
Orchestra - Console - Stage Elevators
Counterweight Systems • Fire Curtains
Decoration and Equipment
To
Insure a Successful House
Must
— be designed to harmonize with the architectural scheme
— be carefully selected to secure pleasing comfort and rest-
ful relaxation.
Midwest Unified Service Covers Every Requirement of Building — Dec-
orating— Equipment — Furnishings.
A Scientific Service Harmonizing the Work of Architect — Engineer —
Contractor — Decorator and Equipment Men.
Ornamental plaster — Fainting — Draperies — Rugs — Lighting Effects —
Equipment from the ticket booth to the pipe organ.
One Contract — Speedier Progress — Co-Operative Work
Write for Estimates
MIDWEST
ENGINEERING
6"
CONSTRUCTION
CORPORATION
209 S. Third Street
COLUMBUS, OHIO
Main 2033
Hall 8C Connolly
Lamp Improvement
Up until quite recently the Hall &
Connolly high intensity reflector type
lamps have been equipped with a nega-
tive carbon feed involving the use of a
pilot or third electrode and relay.
This worked well but the exact adjust-
ment necessary to correct operation gave
some trouble. Hall & Connolly there-
fore got busy and have evolved a new
type of negative carbon feed consisting of
a small electrical contactor unit which
attaches to the positive gear shaft under-
neath the mechanism plate.
This small unit may be procured and
installed by the projectionist with but
little trouble. It does away with the third
electrode and feeds the negative carbon
up positively and evenly in precisely the
same way the negative of the straight
Hall & Connolly high intensity lamp is
fed.
We recommend all users of the Hall
& Connolly high intensity reflector lamps
which have the third electrode feed to
procure this new feed, install it and dis-
card the third electrode. The new one is
very much better in every way.
— F. H. RICHARDSON.
Flexibility Is One
Feature of Spot
Devised by Kliegl
(Contmne4 from page 32)
cess. Large self-closing spring doors, on
either side of the lamp housing, permit access
to the arc lamp for changing carbons and
making adjustments. Hinged cover over lens
compartment gives free and easy access to
lens for cleaning or replacing. Hinged cover
over color box permits access to color frames,
and all external adjustments, clamp screws,
etc., are within easy reach.
Well Ventilated
and Light Tight
"Double wall construction, baffles, ducts, and
numerous vents insure a free circulation of
air, ample ventilation, and comparatively cool
operation. Exceptionally large peep holes in
the door, fitted with ruby glass, and provided
with a self-closing shutter, permit inspection
of the arc in operation, and every precaution
has been taken to eliminate light leakage that
may be disconcerting to the operator.
Perfectly
Balanced
"Spotlight is perfectly balanced in every
way. It moves freely and easily in any direc-
tion and remains set in any position. It 'fol-
lows' with remarkable ease. A well designed
base and heavy pedestal upright provide a
rigid and substantial support for the spotlight,
prevent vibration and insure steadiness^ in
the operation. The weight of the spotlight
rests on ball bearings and in effect all fric-
tion between heavy moving parts is elimi-
nated. Practically no effort is required on the
part of the operator directing the light beam.
"Spotlight can be set to any desired angle
within practical requirements — quickly and
easily fixed in position by the turn of a hand
screw. It swings through a vertical angle
of 67° — 45° below the horizontal and
22° above, and turns completely around in the
horizontal plane about its central axis. The
base is telescopic and permits adjustments
in height.
Extra Colors
and Effects
"The customary slide grooves are provided
on the front of the color box and permit
the use of all standard effects, color wheels,
extra color frames, and special apparatus."
August 4. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
35
His Silver
Anniversary
Joe Hornstein
IS the motion picture industry an infant?
Checking on the silver anniversaries of
those in the industry leads one to believe
that the motion picture is a mature young
man.
All of which is introductory to the fact
that Joe Hornstein, New York manager for
National Theatre Supply Company, is now en-
tering upon his twenty-fifth year in this great
industry.
We'll let Joe tell his story for he knows it
better than any one in the world :
"On June 19, 1904, I made my debut in this
industry, by cranking a projection machine in
Billy Inman's Dance Hall at Coney Island.
Believe me, Bo, those were the flicker days.
Twelve dollars a week for 18 hours' work,
seven days a week. When I left them I went
with Pop Rock of the Vitagraph Company on
Nassau street. They shipped me to a small
town in Jersey to crank a few pictures in back
of a beer saloon.
"My third job in the motion picture industry
consisted of singing and projecting illustrated
song slides through the family entrance of a
Groggery in Linoleumville, S. I.
"In 1907 I was made manager, projectionist,
chief mop, sign painter, advertising manager,
cashier and musical director of a honkey tonk
nicollette called the Hippodrome on Fifth and
Washington streets, Hoboken, New Jersey.
Them were the happy days, projecting a pic-
ture without an}^ booth on an old Power's No.
3 projector with a relief machine manufac-
tured by Pop Rock called the Vitagraph, con-
sisting of a wooden baseboard, several gears
and a star and cam thrown together. I soon
tired of this regular routine, and started sell-
ing motion picture supplies, which consisted
of a couple of rolls of tickets under one arm,
a half dozen tension springs, and a sprocket
in my vest pocket, and a dozen carbons in my
coat pocket, — up and down 14th street, which
then was Film Row.
"There used to be an employment agency
for vaudeville artists, piano players, and what
not, called Len Spencer's on 14th street, and
I obtained desk room there, and become sort
of a free agent for everything in the business
— anything from scenery to broken down
NOT A BATTERY
CHARGER
Strong full wave rectifiers
Built solely for motion picture
arcs. Not adapted to the applica-
tion. The lasting results are
proven.
Over 500 in Daily Use
Made and guaranteed by
The Strong Electric Company
2501 Lagrange Street
Toledo, Ohio
((
You can't go wrong with a Strong"
CONT-EL-ARC
MOTOR GENERATORS FOR SMOOTH PROJECTION
DEALERS: A few
territories open. Write
for details
Manufactured By
CONTINENTAL ELECTRIC CO., INC.
325-327 Ferry St. Newark, N. J., U.S.A.
36
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
The Palace Or-
phenm, Milwaukee,
the brightest spot
on "The White
Way."
Signs That Sell!
np HE brilliantly lighted Milne Made
-*- Electric Signs are the signs that sell.
They shout your show message to the
crowds that fill your theatre. They attract
attention for they are built by men who
know and understand "showmanship."
The best Theatres in the country are
using MILNE Signs because they are con-
vinced that this "showmanship" is built
right in.
Send us the name of your theatre and let
us submit a colored sketch to you— no o6-
tigntion on your part.
MILNE ELECTRIC SIGN COMPANY
614-618 Cherry St. Milwaukee, Wis.
Long Distance Phone Grand 7666
Chicago Branch: 4352 Broadway
Craceland 4289
MILNE
SIGNS
Changeable Letter Marquise or Canopies
THE
HIGH INTENSITY
REFLECTOR ARC
For Motion Picture Projection
Type
HJ.R.
The latest and greatest step forward in the development of High Intensity
projection.
Snow White High Intensity Light. 60 Amperes equal in screen illumination to
120 amperes with the older High Intensity Lamps. Gives more and better light for
current expended.
HALL & CONNOLLY, INC.
129 Grand Street New York City
vocalists, and in consideration of the fact that
there were not many Nicolletes at that time,
it was tough going.
"I sold the first projection equipment to
Adolph Zukor, Marcus Loew, William Fox,
Sol Brill, Lee Ochs, William Brandt, Pop
Landau and various others, who were real
pioneers in this business, who are too numer-
ous to mention. Later I became connected
with H. A. Mackey, who opened up the first
supply house, and who was distributor for
the Edison Kinetoscope Projector — working
on a commission basis, which Mackey soon
tired of, to use his own terms, because I was
making more money than he was.
"From Mackey I went to work for Miles
Brothers. Here were the real pioneers in
our industry. Herbert, Harry — now deceased
— and Joe Meyers, including the Van Meters,
and the Lucas Brothers from the South were
encouraging individuals going into the nicol-
lette business. Miles Brothers ran a com-
bined film exchange, motion picture studio,
and motion picture supply house. Then the
first big trust came along, namely, the Pat-
ents Company. Meyers went out of the
picture there.
"I looked around for other fields, and in
consideration of the fact that Chalmers, who
was the publisher of the Motion Picture
World, somehow or other got hold of
Mackey's business, I went to work for a new
company called the Picture Theatre Equip-
ment Company, which was owned by H. T.
Edwards, Walter E. Green, sales manager, and
Joe Hornstein, salesman, chief bottle washer,
etc. I saw the real hard days with this com-
pany. Every time pay day came around, I
loaded the old motorcycle with all sorts of
supplies and brought in the cash so that we
all could have some money to spend and to
take home to our folks and wives.
"The Picture Theatre Equipment Company
prospered in a small way, and later, we had
the first large supply house — the United Thea-
tre Equipment Company. At that time I was
in charge of the New York branch, which
was the nucleus of all the other branches.
"In 1919 I formed the Howells Cine Equip-
ment Company — was president, general man-
ager, sales manager, and what not.
"On June 30, 1926, I joined ranks with the
National Theatre Supply Company. And that,
to date, is that."
Approval Given for
Home Study Course
Of Theatre School
(Special to the Herald-World)
ELMIRA, N. Y., July 31.— D. M. Baltimore,
director of the Moving Picture Theatre Man-
agers Institute, reports that the institute,
which was formerly located in New York
City, operating then as a resident school for
training theatre managers, has received ap-
proval from the New York state department
of education for its home study course in
theatre management.
The course is divided into 34 assignments,
in loose-leaf form, covering every branch of
the motion picture business. The courses em-
brace the following subjects:
Economic structure and historical back-
ground of the motion picture industry, pro-
duction, distribution, projection for managers,
location, design, regulation construction, light-
ing, ventilation of theatres, advertising prin-
ciples, typography, mechanics of printing,
copy, lay-outs, newspaper advertising, pro-
grams and house organs, outdoor advertising,
lobby display and design, exploitation, theatre
organizations, theatre staff and service, pro-
gram building, theatre accounting, law of the
theatre, theatre insurance, goodwill building,
theatre music and stagecraft.
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
The artistic grille over the organ cham-
ber at the Palace theatre at Gary, Ind..
WE had just completed the
journey through the Kilgen
Organ plant, and made an
inspection of the individual parts
of the organ, and had started a
conversation in a quiet office in
the front part of the building.
My host started the discussion
by asking, "Did you ever realize
the importance of the prpper
placing of a theatre organ?"
I mentioned that I knew the
position of an organ and that its
placing had something to do with
organs, but didn't know to just
what extent.
First I was given a little history.
Years ago when buildings were
erected that eventually were to
house organs but no preparation was made
for an organ, the builder later had to fit it in
in any way that he possibly could.
However, as the years went on and with
educational literature sent out by the various
organ manufacturers, it became customary as
it is at the present time in new buildings, to
prepare a space for the organ at the time the
building was planned.
In this respect, the exhibitor should insist
that his architect confer with a reputable and
established builder of organs before the space
is laid out. There are many good reasons for
this ; principally, so that every reasonable
preparation can be made at the time the the-
atre is being planned so that there will be a
minimum amount of alterations of the build-
ing itself when the actual organ arrives.
I Learn About
Organs
The second of these articles on theatre organ construction
and installation deals with the important subject of or-
gan placement and location of grilles. The material for thi^
series was collected through the courtesy of the Kilgen com-
pany.
By JAY M. SHRECK
There are a great many instances en record
in the experience of this firm where the organ
builder was not consulted at the time the
chambers were built, which resulted in an im-
proper setting of the organ. One particular
instance that this firm had experience with was
where the exhibitor, after a rather careful
investigation of the various styles of theatre
organs, had decided that the best organ for
his house would be one costing about $20,000.
But he did not have his architect consult an
organ builder in laying out the chambers, and
when the theatre was built he found that it
was impossible to place an organ anywhere
near the size that he had contemplated, and
the best he could possibly fit in the space he
had provided was an organ costing $10,000,
which was totally inadequate in tone^ and
variety for the house which he
had built. He faced the alterna-
tive of an inadequate organ or of
various expensive alterations in
his house to fit in the proper
organ.
Another theatre in the South
had provided suitable chambers
for a divided organ, plenty large
enough and placed desirably from
every angle. However, in building
the theatre no provision had been
made to run a blow pipe from one
chamber to the other to furnish
wind for both sections of the
organ, and the building was so
constructed that there was no pos-
sible way of running this pipe
through the interior of the build-
ing, and he was told by the organ company
that if this pipe was run on the outside of the
building that the changes in temperature
would always keep his organ out of tune. The
only alternative he had was to buy another
blowing outfit so that each chamber had its
own separate motor and blower, which of
course, increased the price of installation.
There are countless other instances of a
similar nature where additional and unneces-
sai-y expense has been thrown upon the the-
atre because of lack of prac ical expert advice
which the organ builder is always glad to fur-
nish to the architect without obligation. I
was informed that Kilgen main'ains a depart-
ment just for the purpose of helping exhibi-
tors and architec s.
Fortunately, the vast majority of theatre
38
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
architects realize that suitable chambers are
necessary for the proper installation of an
organ. An organ chamber is nothing more
than a room large enough to contain an organ
or a section of it, which is closed on all sides
except on the side facing the orchestra, where
a large rectangular opening is left which is
called the "tone opening." In this tone open-
ing the organ builders place swell or expres-
sion shutters which are controlled from a
pedal in the console or keyboard so that they
may be opened or closed, wholly or in part,
slowly or with great speed, so that the won-
der of the effects of tone shading and accent-
ing may be accomplished by the organist.
There may be one or two or more chambers
housing different sections of the organ, accord-
ing to the size of the instrument. In the
average theatre, there are usually two cham-
bers, one on each side of the auditorium, close
to the proscenium.
The tone of an organ is vitally affected by
the manner in which the chamber is built.
The interior surface of the walls and ceiling
of the chamber should be covered with smooth
hard plaster or finished wood so that the tone
may be thrown out properly in the auditorium.
If a very coarse, absorbent surface is on the
interior of these chambers, a large amount of
the tone of the organ will be absorbed, and
the pipes will not be heard in their normal
strength. In some cases — depending upon the
acoustics of the building — it is necessary to
round corners in the interior of the chambers
in order to obtain proper tone strength. The
chambers' themselves should be constructed in
such a way that they are sound-proof.
The theatre organ in a properly built cham-
ber always speaks with a greater amount of
efficiency, the effects of expression are better,
and incidentally, the organ is always preserved
in a better way from dust and dirt, and this
helps to keep down the maintenance cost and
prolongs the life of the instrument.
In front of the tone openings of these
chambers described in the foregoing para-
graphs, must be some form of exterior decora-
tion of the organ in conformation with the
interior design of the theatre. The usual form
is an artistic grill provided by the architect,
which may be either draped or undraped.
If it is draped, the architect or exhibitor
should confer with- the organ builder on the
manner of draping this tone opening, for in-
stances are on record where by improper drap-
ing of these tone openings, a large amount of
tone has been killed, and the organ does not
speak with its full voice as it should.
An exceptionally attractive way of treating
the chambers has been designed in these mod-
ern "atmospheric" theatres and I found that
TLeft: S{>1 endid exterior decoration
covering the organ chamber at the
Zenith theatre in Jyiilwaukee.
Right: Another method of treating
the exterior decoration of the or-
gan chamber is shown m the
Mont Marte theatre, Brooklyn.
Left: The attractive interior deco-
ration at the En Canto theatre in
Havana, Cuba.
the Kilgen Organ Company had many con-
ferences on this subject with the leading
architects in the country, notably among them,
John Eberson, the originator of the "atmos-
pheric" theatre.
An exceptionally fine example of the proper
treatment of the exterior of an organ will be
found in the Zenith theatre, Milwaukee, the
New Palace theatre, Gary, Ind., the Mont
Martre theatre, Brooklyn, New York, and the
famous El Canto theatre, Havana, Cuba, where
the organ installation has just been completed
by the Kilgen Company.
Another question which is frequently asked
of the organ builder is, "Shall the organ be
divided in the theatre?" This question can
only be answered by taking into consideration
the appearance of the theatre, the floor plan
and design, and of course, the actual tonal
design of the organ itself. Expert advice will
be given by a reputable organ builder on this
subject. A survey should be made of this
before such a question be answered, for there
are times when certain types of organs, good
in themselves, can be ruined by dividing them,
while at other times, there is an absolute
necessity for dividing the organ.
However, if the organ is divided, the cham-
bers should be constructed at an angle so that
the tone of each section will be thrown to
some extent toward the opposite section, and
on out into the auditorium, so that the instru-
ment as a whole will be "drawn together" and
speak with unity instead of as separate sec-
tions.
Great care must be taken in arranging this
relationship between two chambers of an
organ. There are many fine organs in the-
atres that, because of a poor arrangement of
the chambers, speak in their separate sections
almost as individual organs instead of one,
and the effect is the same as taking an orches-
tra and dividing it in half and putting half
of the instruments on opposite sides of the
theatre, when the ensemble of the orchestra
as a whole will be completely destroyed.
Thought and care must be exercised in the
proper placing of the console in relation to the
auditorium, orchestra, and the organ cham-
bers. It should be placed so that it is in direct
line with the tone openings, where the sound
emerges from the organ, for if it is placed
at an angle of the wall, or out of its line, no
matter how quick the action of the organ is,
it will always sound slow to the ears of the
player, and thus the best results of picture
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
playing will not be obtained. If this rule is
followed out, the actual angle of the console
may be in any one of the number of direc-
tions. Some exhibitors and orchestra leaders
prefer that the organist directly face the pic-
ture with his back to the audience ; others
prefer that it be placed obliquely.
Mr. Eberson has been quoted as saying, "I
deem it of great importance to place the organ
console in an oblique position in order that
the audience may get at least a profile of the
organist. The inspiration prompting our art-
ists who are playing organs is not expressed
by back neck wrinkles, the bald spot on the
head or the long curl hanging down the artist's
back ; but rather by facial expression and
natural position of the body while exacting
harmony and sweet tones from the instrument.
To give the audience an opportunity to see the
organist 'in action,' will bring about in natural
psychology, a presentation of the organ num-
ber which cannot be obtained when the
organist turns his back to the audience. This
oblique position suggested for the console will
in no way interfere with the attention which
the organist must pay to the screen, and will
opportune the organist when playing with the
orchestra, to see the leader and observe his
commands."
I had no idea that the position of an organ
or the console, or the construction of the
chambers had so much to do with the success
of the fine organs which I have heard in the-
atres, and after this interview I feel like add-
ing my words to those of the Kilgen Com-
pany, advising exhibitors most strongly to in-
sist that their architects consult the organ
builder on such vital subjects.
In my next article I will discuss the proper
tonal design of the theatre organ as it was
explained to me.
Modern
Installations
The tendency among theatres, both
Targe and small, throughout the
country is to modernize. Evidence
of this encouraging situation is
found in the many installations
of equipment reported by leading
manufacturers.
{Continued from page 16)
North State theatre, S. S- Stevenson
Theatres, Inc., Goldsboro, N. C.
Crystal theatre, R. & R. Enterprises, Dallas,
Tex.
Imperial theatre, G. F. Haven, Forrest Citv,
Ark.
Amuse-U theatre, B. V. McDougald, Monti-
cello, Ark.
Pettit theatre, C. Pettit, Hominy, Okla.
Broadway theatre, A. J. Di Flora, Wilming-
ton, Del.
Strand theatre, Gallup, N. M.
Whitehouse theatre, Milwaukee, Wis.
Princess theatre, H. A. Nelson, St. James,
Minn.
Wade's theatre, H. T. Wade, Morehead
City, N. C.
Isis theatre, Saenger Amusement Companj-,
Houston, Tex.
Palace theatre, H. E. Bruson, Bayton, Tex.
Folly theatre, W. W. Henderson, Camden,
Ark.
Pastime theatre, H. D. Warton, Warren,
Ark.
Juan Kinzler, New York, N. Y.
Consolidated Amusement Company, Hono-
lulu, T. H.
Wild Opera House, M. V. Jackson, Nobles-
ville, Ind.
Zenith theatre. Northwest Amusement Cor-
poration, Milwaukee, Wis.
Empire theatre. Empire Holding Company,
Atlanta, Ga.
BELSON
Makes It Esisy
— For You
Every Belson light is:
1. Made simpler, for better service.
2. Made sensibly, for easier opera-
tion.
3. Made sturdy, for longer life.
4. Made RIGHT, for Better Light.
We put ourselves in your place and
make our products to win and hold your
business and good will. Every little detail
is designed to make the operation fault-
lessly satisfactory.
Light Up Now
For Fall and Winter
Light attracts trade. Dark-
ness drives it away. Let us
help you figure out better
lighting effect. Especially, a
glorious flood-lighting of your
theatre-front.
Floodlights
Footlights
Spotlights
Covelights
Louvrelights
Etc., Etc., Etc.
Our personal co-operation will be
prompt, intelligent, pleasant.
Try us, -whatever your needs —
Representatives
All Over the Country
BELSON MFG. CO.
804 Sibley St., Chicago
Est. 1901
CHICAGO - TIVOLI - UPTOWN THEATRES
VITAPHONE
PICTURE SHEET HANGINGS
CARRIER TRACKS
By
Theatre Decorating
Specialists
New Theatres made More Beautiful
Old Theatres made More Profitable
Continental Studios, Inc.
100 East Ohio St. Chicago
Write for Details and Estimates without obligation.
40
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
CLOSED
The New
EASY
ELECTRIC
HEATER
Automatic Temperature
Controlled
Designed especially for
Theatre Organ Chambers,
Box Offices, etc., but will
prove useful in many
other places.
Write for particulars
Made in 500, 1000, 1500
and 2000 watt capacity
I^USALITE
MFG. CO
8129 Rhodes Ave., Chicago, 111.
The New
FLUSH WALL
AISLE LIGHT
for
Ramps, Stairways and
Corridors in Theatres,
Hotels and Hospitals
Made in two sixes — standard,
and junior for use over tables
in hospital patients* rooms.
SHOWING INTERIOR
OUR STANDARD CHAIR TYPE
PAINE EXPANSION SHELLS
For Anchoring Opera Ctisurs to Concrete Floors
tFill not come loose when properly set
Furnished with bolts and washers ready
to install. I/4" size shell most gen-
erally used for repair work as well as
original installations. The most satis-
factory way to permanently anchor a
chair to concrete.
Send tor samples and prices
THE PAINE COMPANY
Type No. 1
2951 Carroll Ave.
Chicago, 111.
79 Barclay St.
New York, N. Y.
Type No. 3
WARNING
RAVEN }^/\
SCREEN
is covered by
United States and Canadian Patents
Suit under U. S. Patent No. 1,315,743 has been entered in the United States Court,
Southern District of Ne^v York against a New York distributor
and
Legal action will be taken against all persons violating this patent.
RAVEN SCREEN CORPORATION
1476 Broadway
New York, N. Y.
1,670,672. CONSTRUCTION AND MANU-
FACTURE OF MULTILAYER CINEMATO-
GRAPH AND OTHER FILMS. John Edward
Thornton, West Hampstead, London, England.
Filed Mar. 24, 1926, Serial No. 97,138, and
in Great Britain Apr. 17, 1925. 2 Claims.
(CI. 154—40.)
uJlulo/d
Ce/U,tl
1. A process for amalgamating and joining
together two printed colloid films which con-
sists in saturating each printed colloid film
separately with a liquid cement, containing a
gluing agent of a colloid character, a hygro-
scopic agent, an acid and an insolubilizing
agent, drying each saturated film separately;
superimposing the two printed saturated and
dried films with the printed face of one film
upon the printed face of the other film; clamp-
ing and squeezing the two films together;
applying heat to melt the cement in each film
and cause the cement in the two films to fuse
together; cooling the cement thus forming a
temporary, but still fusible joint between the
two films ; and finally converting the fusible
temporary joint into a non-fusible permanent
joint by the gradual action of the hardening
and insolubilizing agent contained in the
cement thus producing a single film the two
parts of which are permanently and indis-
solubly united with the printed images inside
the film.
Auditorium theatre, C. R. Bamford, Ashe-
ville, N. C.
Stevenson theatre, S. S. Stevenson Theatres,
Inc., Union, S. C.
Princess theatre, Arkansas Amusement En-
terprises, North Little Rock, Ark.
Spa theatre, Tri-States Theatre Corpora-
tion, Hot Springs, Ark.
Princess theatre, G. B. Flam, Winnsboro, La.
Australian Films, Ltd., 729 Seventh Ave.,
New York, N. Y.
British Columbia Amusement Company, C.
H. Carter, Vancouver, B. C, Can.
Clinton Carpet Company
Ozite Rug and Carpet Cushion
State theatre, Pawhuska, Okla.
Granada theatre, Milwaukee, Wis.
Imperial theatre, Jacksonville, Fla.
Arcadia theatre. Ranger, Tex.
Pabst theatre, Milwaukee, Wis.
New Antigo theatre, Antigo, Wis.
Roosevelt theatre, Kenosha, Wis.
Parkway theatre, Milwaukee, Wis.
Downer theatre, Downer, Wis.
State theatre, Milwaukee, Wis.
Grand theatre, Madisonville, Tex.
Capitol theatre, Portland, Ore.
J. H. Channon Company
Stage Rigging Hardware
Masonic Temple, Portsmouth, O., stage
equipment, fire curtain and draw curtain
tracks.
Chicago theatre, Chicago, equipment for
Vitaphone picture sheet and tracks for Vita-
phone horn trucks.
Tivoli theatre, Chicago, equipment for Vita-
phone picture sheet and tracks for Vitaphone
horn trucks.
Uptown theatre, Chicago, equipment for
Vitaphone picture sheet and tracks for Vita-
phone horn trucks.
Blackstone theatre, Chicago, additional
counterweight sets.
Colfax theatre, South Bend, Ind., stage
equipment.
Palace theatre, Marion, O., stage equipment
installed by Twin City Scenic Company.
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
Reflections in
the Hall of
J^irrors.
Grand lobby, showing figured capitals and frieze.
The foyer, presenting another view of the mezzanine promenade.
Alabama Is
Civic Dream
Come True
Under construction for
a year, the Alabama
has o-^enei as the home
of splendid afi^oint-
ments and deluxe en-
tertainment long
awaited in Birming-
ham. The theatre seats
3,000 and cost $1,500,-
000. The design blends
a selection of Spanish
ideas.
42
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
Up-to-the Minute Advertising Mats on
VITAPHONE &
MOVIETONE
Are Contained in Our Latest Issues!
If You Do Not Already Know About the
ORIGINAL ADVERTISING MAT
SERVICE FOR THEATRES
Write for our latest circular today.
THEATRE AD MAT SERVICE, INC.
New York Chicago Los Angeles
General Officea and Studios: Penn Theatre Bldg.
UNIONTOWN, PA.
Canadian Branch : 4S5 Craig St., W., Montreal
'Ih
stolen is a magnet!
It draws the burglar and hold-up man
just as irresistibly as the loadstone
draws steel filings-.
The York Burglary Chest — the result
of nearly half a century in expert safe
construction — will bring to your thea-
tre the protection needed.
^XJORK
York Safe
and Lock
Company
York, Pa.
^=^'
,..^g#^
f>=^^s
'^^S^^
When you find this emblem on
lighting fixtures you are immedi'
ately sure of three things: First,
that it is correctly designed for
theatre use. Second, that it is
practical as well as decorative.
Third, that it is priced lower than
the quality would indicate.
VOIGT fixtures soothe your patrons into re-
laxation. They bring to your theatre a subtle
charm that stimulates patronage. They encour-
age a more general appreciation of your house
and its programs. You should know more about
them. Write for the new book "Lighting FiX'
tures for Theatres."
VOIGT COMPANY
Designers and Manufacturers
Decorative Lighting Equipment
For Theatres
1743-49 NORTH 12th STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Say Lad Started Sprinkler
System During Performance
(Special to the Herald-World)
WORCESTER, MASS., July 31.—
Police have arrested 16-year-old Ber-
nard Feeley of this city, charged with
having started the sprinkler system at
the Olympia theatre. Police allege
that Feeley lighted matches and held
them beneath a sprinkler head in the
balcony. Part of the sprinkler system
immediately started and thousands of
dollars of damage was done by the
How of water over the walls and down
into the orchestra while the regular
show was under way. Insurance and
sprinkler company ofRcials made an
investigation and the arrest followed.
The French
Modernistic
(Continued from page 31)
The women's retiring room contains in an
alcove a cosmetic space equipped with four
modern French dressing tables and mir-
rors, and with a maid in attendance. This
room is decorated in three tones of French
gray. The tones are laid on the wall ver-
tically and over-decorated with gold in the
fashion of antique Chinese screens. The
furniture is specially designed in modern
French imported damask coverings. The
men's smoking room is done in old Eng-
lish, with high oak wainscoting and a
barrelled rough stucco ceiling.
At each end of the grand foyer two
murals have been placed over the exit door
entries, depicting the sport activities of the
community. One portrays the famous
Frankford Yellow Jackets football team;
the other, golf and tennis, which are very
popular in Frankford. The entrance lobby
is two stories in height, the ceiling being
supported by four huge quarter-round cor-
bels designed in modern French, with
decorative effects obtained through the
medium of gold leaf and soft pastel tones.
The side walls have been decorated in silver
Japanese tea box paper overglazed in a soft
mulberry tone. Over the three-sheet poster
frame, which is especially designed for this
building, two large modernistic murals have
been placed, depicting the industrial activi-
ties of Frankford, such as shipbuilding and
textile manufacturing.
* * *
Due to the existence of the elevated rail-
road in front of this building, the main
facade has been designed in a simple man-
ner. Special attention, however, was given
to the marquees, sign work, attraction sign
and entrance doors, for advertising pur-
poses. Most of the signs are of the Claude
Neon glass tube type in orange and blue.
Contractors who constructed the Forum
are as follows:
Architect, W. H. Lee; general contractor,
David Lutz & Company; ventilating, heat-
ing and cooling, American Heating and
Ventilating Company; decorations, Harry
Brodsky; plaster work, F. M. Venzie &
Company; electrical work, Elias Nusbaum;
electric fixtures, Joseph C. Frechie & Com-
pany; opera chairs, L. E. & E. C. Stone;
organ, Kilgen; sign work, General Outdoor
Advertising Company; carpets and draper-
ies, Lit Brothers; stage scenery. New York
Studios; marble, Glenwood Tile Company;
electric switch board, Frank Adam Elec-
tric Company; projection room equipment,
stage rigging and steel curtain, National
Theatre Supply Company.
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
The owner pays dearly I
43
#][ The following cases, taken at random from files of the Kentucky
j1 Actuarial Bureau, show some of the ways in which the archi-
tect has slipped up in serving his client by failing to take into
account the insurance requirements while planning the building:
Concrete projection booth built without provision to carry off
the flame and smoke from, burning films. Booth was condemned
and owner put to much expense and loss of rentable space to pro-
vide necessary ventilation.
* * *
Standard wired glass (windows) for protection against a severe
exposure installed in wooden frames. The windows are of no more
value than ordinary glass, and the risk carries a heavy exposure
charge.
* * *
A large building designed for two separate occupants rated as
one risk because blank interior wall does not extend through roof.
* * *
Fuel oil heating system with supply tank improperly installed in
basement. Charge in rate for improper installation.
* * *
Large heating ducts passed through fire wall without automatic
cutoffs. A hazardous feature, as a fire in one section can readily
pass into adjoining section.
« * *
Standard fire doors on communications between two buildings
hung on wooden frames. Fire doors are valueless and both build'
ings rated as one.
* * *
Underground gasoline storage system with fill, vent and inven-
tory pipes inside building. Heavy charge in rate.
Wherein the Architect Ma
In Fire Prevention
THE time to save a theatre from fire
is when the plans are on the drafting
board, says the Kentucky Actuarial
Bureau, in an appeal to architects to co-
operate to the fullest extent in building for
prevention of fire with its resultant heavy
cost to the theatre owner and possible loss
of life.
Insurance executives agree that tirnes
have changed — for the better — in combin-
ing beauty with practicability in the con-
struction of theatres. Frequently archi-
tects consult with insurance men nowadays
before completing specifications for new
structures, a condition unheard of not so
many years ago.
Architects are coming to realize more
and more that they are best serving their
clients when they take into account the
conclusions reached by insurance science
and shape their plans to include as much
safety construction as the budget will
permit.
* * *
Provisions for safety construction are ac-
tually cheapest in the long run in several
respects. Many times inclusion of approved
safety factors in construction means no ad-
ditional original cost whatsoever and no
elimination of features that go to make up
the beauty of the finished structure. And
practically always it is true that where
there may be a slight increase in cost of
original cost of construction, the saving in
insurance rates thus accomplished will
more than offset the higher construction
outlay within a very few years.
It is for these reasons, insurance men
declare, that a great economic mistake is
made when safety requirements are ignored
in the original planning of a theatre. This
is particularly true when one considers the
fact that such neglectful methods of plan-
ning cause an increase in the insurance rate,
an increase which is a permanent charge
against the building and its contents.
Conformance with clauses of the city
ordinance is not enough, insurance officers
point out. While often the ordinance may
be even stricter than the companies' re-
quirements for minimum insurance rates,
the latter are likely to call for some fea-
tures not touched upon by the city fathers,
features which can be included with event-
ual saving to the exhibitor. Likewise, just
as ordinances differ from town to town on
what the councilmen consider necessary for
safe conduct of entertainment, so too the
By ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD
requirements of the insurance companies
for the benefit of lowest costs may vary in
different localities, though they are being
more and more standardized.
While there are more and more evidences
of realization of these facts by architects,
there is much yet to be done in bringing
that fire-consciousness to fullest realization,
executives say.
For example, an elaborate and beautiful
theatre with stage is constructed. The
item of providing a ventilator on the stage
to draw smoke out, in case of a fire, instead
of over the stage into the audience, is
omitted. The risk is great — and so are
the insurance rates, and rightly so. This is
an actual case.
The architect plans a proscenium arch
that is a masterpiece of modern theatre art.
All provisions for fire protection backstage
are made. But there is none to prevent
the jumping of flames into the orchestra
pit and so across to the audience. This also
is an actual case.
In both instances, the theatre owner paid
many times over the cost of providing for
these safety devices, in higher insurance
rates.
It is also to be noted at this point that
reconstruction to add those features often
necessitates a tremendous cost, and in some
instances is practically impossible.
"Of course, we do not build to burn —
purposely!" says the Kentucky Actuarial
Bureau. "Yet, how can we answer in the
negative when we recall our steadily mount-
ing fire loss, which has now reached the
staggering sum of 500 millions a year, —
compared to which loss, that of Europe
fades into insignificance? How can we say
'No' when we compare the 1927 fire rec-
ords of New York City and London, Eng-
land?"
* * *
The Bureau then points out that there
were more than four fires per 1,000 popula-
tion in New York in 1927 as against less
than one in London, with a $3.30 loss per
capita in New York contrasted with 40
cents a person in London. In other words.
New York had eight times the per capita
loss of London.
The chief reason for this, says the Bu-
reau, is inferior construction, an elemental
foe of fire prevention, in the theatre pos-
sibly even more so than in other types of
buildings.
"In the past, many architects have been
chiefly concerned with the three factors of
Appearance, Arrangement and Cost, — giv-
ing little consideration to the element of
Safety," the Bureau states. "Now, however,
the progressive architect is also considering
a fourth important factor, — Safety from
Fire."
Besides the element of possible loss of
life through non-safe construction of the-
atres there is the added factor of continu-
ous unnecessary cost to the theatre owner,
the Bureau warns.
"The designer who is not concerned with
the factor of Safety from Fire not only
jeopardizes the lives of the occupants," it
says, "but fails to protect properly the in-
terests of his client. Nearly all buildings
are insured, and the fire insurance rate is
based upon a careful analysis of the con-
struction, segregation and safeguarding of
fire hazards, protection of exterior and in-
terior openings and the protection afforded
by automatic sprinkler systems, standpipes
and other 'First Aid' devices.
"Failure to consider these features results
in an increased insurance rate, which in-
crease is a charge against the building and
its contents as long as the building stands.
The files of the Kentucky Actuarial Bureau
contain hundreds of surveys which attest
the penalty exacted for inferior construc-
tion."
* * *
Is there any practical saving in anti-fire
construction, despite the lower rate, when
one considers the fact of increased cost of
building in order to include such preven-
tion measures? Definitely, yes. The Bu-
reau points out two cases of very recent
construction — and modern construction.
The architect ignored insurance require-
ments in the first instance, and that was ex-
pensive. In the second instance the archi-
tect consulted the Actuarial Bureau with
the result that the building is fire resistive
and the owner will enjoy a much lower
insurance rate. Though the cases are not
theatres, they illustrate the point and there
are plenty of parallels — too many — in the-
atre construction.
First case:
"The specifications for a $400,000 hotel
building called for standard (light) con-
crete floors, but failed to provide for ade-
quate protection of the columns and gird-
ers resulting in an additional insurance cost
on the building of $2,240 a year. The con-
{Continued on page 46)
Mimmmm\
44
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
Left: The grand
foyer, a sj>acious
high, cnamber.
The ceiling is
barrel • shaded
and rises 35 feet
from the floor.
The stai rcas e
1 e ads to the
mezzanine.
August 4, 1928
Right: The organ
loft — and the
■picture very
effectively shows
that the Emboyd
here {tr e s ent s
one of the most
b e auti f ul e x-
am^les of grill-
work.
Below: A striking curtain, made of -pieces of velvet, each one so arranged as to affect the light differently.
The Emboyd, Blending Italian and Spanish Motifs
This theatre in Fort Wayne, Ind., is owned and operated by the W . C. Quimhy theatrical
interests. The design ada-^ts Italian Renaissance and Spanish Jylission styles.
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
45
At left, a corridor, and above, the
lighting fixture in the mezzanine
music corner.
Above, the mezzanine lighting fix'
tures, and at right, a cozy nook in
the lounge.
H^HT
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Splendor and Room for 3^000 in This
New Small City Theatre
The Emboyd in Fort Wayne, Ind., designed by A. 7d. Strauss and Charles Eberson, is a
house of uncommon s^ace and beauty.
THE small city of Fort Wayne, Ind.,
now has a theatre seating over 3,000
in the new Emboyd erected there and
recently opened by the W. C. Quimby the-
atrical interests. The Emboyd, in which
are fused the architectural and decorative
motifs of Italian Renaissance and Italian
Mission, was desiged by A. M. Strauss of
Fort Wayne, and Charles Eberson of Chi-
cago.
The main auditorium is 80 feet high, with
high arches along the side walls. The lat-
ter are inlaid with marble, while variegated
light plays through ornamental grills. The
same type of elegance continues through-
out the house. The grand foyer, which has
a height of 35 feet, is of the barrel-arch
type, lighted indirectly. Here is the grand
stairway, which leads to the mezzanine
promenade. Off the promenade are the
women's retiring rooms.
A commodious lounge is reached through
the foyer, down steps of black marble. This
room, about 80 feet long, is of Spainsh de-
sign, with a heavy-beamed ceiling and a
floor of colored tiles. Off the lounge are
other women's retiring rooms, and at one
end, a large smoking room with a fireplace.
The building is 180 by 150 feet, is seven
stories high and contains a hotel. The ex-
terior is built of Pennsylvania fire clay
brick, trimmed with pulsichrome terra
cotta. Rectangular in shape, the straight
lines of the building are relieved by a con-
verted pylon treatment at the corners and
over the entrances to the hotel and the-
atre.
The Emboyd presents stage shows as
well as pictures and has a small symphonic
orchestra under the direction of Wilbur
Pickett. The organ is a Page, at which
Percy Robbins presides.
W- C. Quimby, head of the owning and
operating circuit, named the theatre after
his mother, whose name was Emily Boyd.
46
Reserved Seat Tickets: for Theatres and all amuse-
ment enterprises. Folded Machine Tickets: for all
machines. Roll and Book Strip Tickets: for every
purpose. We supply the leading theatres and amuse-
ment enterprises all over the country. Write for
samples and prices.
'WILLlANfS
& LICK
FORT SMITH, ARK.
Specialists in Numbered Printing Since 1898
The Proper Control of Light
On Your Screen
Picture filma vary as well as enrrant eondttions.
Your projectionist can adjust his arc eurrent to
always give you a clear, bright pletur* if you
equip with PERFECTION. Current saving also is
a result o( PERFECTION equipment, for ho naad
not use full current till the actual projection is
started.
PERF$CJiaN
REMOTE CONTROL RHEOSTATS
An Ever Grotdng List of Satisfied Vterti
Boxy Theatre — ^New York
City
Paramount Tlieatre — ^Neiw
Tort Caty
Elalto Tlieatre— New York
City
Rlvoll Theatre— New Yorit
City
Loew's State Theatre— New
York City
Loew's State Theatre — New-
art, N. J.
Loew's Texas Theatre —
HouBton. Texas
Loew's 86th St.— BrooMyn.
N. Y. ^ „
Loew's State— Columbus. O.
A«tor Theatre — New York
City
Proctor's 86th St.— New
York City
Cohan Theatre — ^New York
City
Publix Theatre — Buffalo,
N. Y.
New Caidtol — Binshamton.
N. Y.
Keith's Theatre — Philadel-
phia
Carman Theatre — Phlla<Jel-
phia
P r o o t 0 r's Theatre — New
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Proctor's Theatre — W h 1 1 e
Plains, N. Y.
Fox's Washington — Wash-
ington, D. C.
—and many ethers
Sold by Theatre Supply Dealers
HOFFMANN & SOONS
Mfg. Division
387 First Arenae New York Qty
Ocntracting Electrical Engineers — Moving Pic-
ture Theatre Electrical Specialist!
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
Wherein Architect
May Assist
(Continued from page 43)
tractor states that standard protection could
have been provided for a very small in-
crease in cost."
Second case:
"Plans werefor a $200,000 office building
with metal joists on steel supports; floor
joists to be covered with two inches of con-
crete on expanded metal, protected on the
underside with a ceiling of metal lath and
cement plaster; roof to be constructed in
an equivalent manner; vertical and hori-
zontal supporting members to be protected
with metal lath and plaster cement. After
consulting with this office (Kentucky Ac-
tuarial Bureau), plans were changed to pro-
vide for standard protection of supporting
members at an additional cost of $3,500,
with a resulting fire insurance saving on
building and contents of $1,461 a year."
Only one feature of construction influenc-
ing the rate of construction is illustrated
in the two foregoing examples. Other
cases, more common and drawn from the
files and taken from random from other
surveys are shown elsewhere in this ar-
ticle. For all of them the owner of the
property is paying — and paying dearly,
while all could have been voided by more
careful planning and construction.
"The more progressive architects are
guarding against these errors because they
are taking into account the fourth factor
— Safety from Fire," the Bureau emphasizes
again.
"The medical profession has achieved a
wonderful victory for mankind with its age-
old doctrine of Right Living, Sanitation
and Health. Architects can do an equally
great service if they will preach Fire Pre-
vention, for property destroyed by fire is
gone forever and we as a nation are so
much the poorer."
Meeting 'em on
Broadway
By HARRY E. HOLQUIST
JH. KURLANDER, engineer of the
Brenkert Light Projection of Detroit, was
* a visitor in New York in connection with
a special demonstration arranged for several
hundred projectionists of the new Master
Brenograph. This is the new Brenkert uni-
versal effect projector known as Model F-7.
^ ^ ^
O. F. Spahr, president of Enterprise Optical
Manufacturing Company, was another New
York visitor. Spahr's firm has also just an-
nounced a new Motiograph De Luxe projector
embodying many new principles in construe^
tion.
* * *
Walter Green, general manager of the Na-
tional Theatre Supply Company, came on from
Chicago to attend the annual outing of em-
ployees of the International Projector Cor-
poration, where he boasts a host of old friends.
The aifair, by the way, was held July 21 at
Belvedere Park, Pearl River, N. Y.
* * *
I understand that Dave Solomon of the
National Theatre Supply Company is driving
his new Hupp over the roads of Canada.
Some dealer owes Ed Wolk of the Chicago
Cinema Equipment Company a commission on
that sale. If you want a good ear-full on
what kind of a car the Hupp is, just ask
Wolk.
* * *
Ernest Reif of the Raven Screen Corpora-
August 4, 1928 '
MOT^
OR
COSTS
^^^ER^
^0|?
IS.
^0%
^^c^vZ^ ^
'OSE
No
^'^^Ti
^QOi
£R
^^^Z>
/5
Automatic Devices Co.
737 Hamilton Street
ALLENTOWN, PA.
GRIFFIN FILM
CEMENT
For Studios, Film Exchanges and
Motion Picture Theatres.
Patches made with this cement
will not dry out, buckle up or pull
apart.
Write for descriptive circular.
Manufactured by
F. B. GRIFFIN
Oshkosh, Wis.
MODERN
ELECTRICS
FOR every type of electrical display adver-
tising— exposed lamp, glass letter and Neon
tube — the Flexlume Corporation claims su-
premacy.
In its plant, largest in the world devoted
exclusively to the manufacture of electrics, are
built giant roof-top and other spectacular dis-
plays, building front, marquee and interchange-
able letter signs for outdoors; electric-lighted
directional signs for indoors.
Send for free helpful booklet, "Theatre
Electric Displays," illustrating in colors the
latest and finest electrical advertising. Write
Flexlume Corporation, 1835 Military Road,
Buffalo, N. Y.
Sales and Service
OlHces in chief
cities of tJ. S.
and Can.
Factories also at
Detroit, Los An-
geles, Oakland and
Toronto
FLEXLUME ELECTRIC DISPLAYS
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
ATTENTION PROJECTIONISTS !
New Intermittent Sprocket au»d Pin Press
EBfflffiSl'&ffilffi!^
Patented Nov. 16, 1926, No. 1606830
Every Projectionist can remove and replace worn
intermittent sprockets easily, quickly and effi-
ciently with this new instrument.
CAN BE USED ON ALL PROJECTORS
INCLUDING POWER'S PRICE $8.50
Illustrated booklets with instructions sent free to all
projectionists on request.
Projection Improvement Co.
Drifton, Pa.
"11,222 USERS
CAN'T BE WRONG'
(Illustrating the
Remote Control
Board)
um\m
Reproducing
Pipe Organs
Using the fa-
m o u s Two
Hour-Rolls with
Remote Control
J. P. Seeburg Company
1510 DAYTON SI. CHICAGO, ILL.
Dept. B-l
CJiicaqo
vStXte 591(^
*'''l/«JP"n,^^I,^"'° r R LI MORS
Wbothly 9lcte-New6 for tte- Or^i^t
tion is back at his desk at 1476 Broadway
after an extensive sojourn on the Continent.
4: « 41
Word is being passed around these days to
the effect that the industries technicians will
gather at Lake Placid, N. Y., in September
for the fall convention of the Society of Mo-
tion Picture Engineers.
* * *
R. P. Matthews, vice-president of the Rob-
ert Alorton Organ Company, is back at his
desk at 1560 Broadway following a visit of
several months at the company's plant at Van
Nuys, Cal.
* * *
McMillan, factory manager of the E. E.
Fulton Company, was in New York in connec-
tion with revising the Fulton projector for
talking pictures.
* * ♦
John McCrae of the J. E. McAuley Manu-
facturing Company, Chicago, was another New
York visitor, being here in connection with
business on the new McAuley lamp.
HCAVT OOI
ItEINFOKEO ^
ADJUSTINC StRf^
The New fCnowles Diffuser
New Air Diffuser
Is Announced by
Knowles Company
A new "Aerovalve" mushroom air dif-
fuser which, according to its manufacturer,
embodies a new principle of regulation, is
announced by Knowles Mushroom Ventila-
tor Company of New York City.
In its announcement, the Knowles com-
pany says: "The 'Aerovalve' mushroom air
diffuser is a combination of the architect's
idea, the heating and ventilating engineer's
requisite, and the contractor's demand. It
is our interpretation of the uptodate scien-
tific air unit with the simplest mechanism,
yet giving the maximum of efficiency and
sold for lowest possible price."
This new steel air diffuser is supplied in
three different styles. The company has
issued literature fully describing the new
appliance.
Waxman Ends Vacation
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, July 31.— A. P. Waxman, di-
rector of advertising and publicity for Warner
Bros., is back from a two weeks vacation
divided between Long Beach and Atlantic
City.
Sells Rights to Fejos Film
NEW YORK. — Zakoro Film Corporation has sold
the California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaiian Island
rights to Paul Fejos' "The Last Moment," to the
Supreme Film Company of San Francisco, of which
George Montgomery is president.
To protect your organ from
weather conditions, and to
ward off deterioration caused
by summer dampness and
v^inter coldness install
EVENHEETERS
Cramblet Engineering Corp.
286 Milwaukee St. Milwaukee, Wis.
Designing — Painting — Draperies
Creators of Scenic Effects
SCENIC
STUDIOS
Serving representative presentation
houses throughout the country
307 West 47th St.
New York City
LOU SAMMS
Radium Effects and Novelties
Samples on Request
177 North State Street
CHICAGO, ILL.
fHEATKI^U
Send for
J.KX:lANCY,i«|3yracuseN.Y
48
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
August 4, 1928
New Theatre Projects
KENTUCKY
LEXINGTON— M. Switow & Sons Enterprises. M.
Switow, president, have plans by Frankel & Curtis,
Hernando Building, for proposed theatre, with seat-
ing capacity of 1,000, to be located at 220 East Main
street. Estimated cost, $200,000.
LOUISIANA
OPELOUSAS — Higginbotham Amusement Company,
Baton Rouge, La., plans to erect new theatre at
Main and Bellevue streets.
MASSACHUSETTS
BELMONT— P. R. Winters, 84 Trapelo road, has
plans by G. E. Robinson, 80 Federal street, Boston,
for one and twrf-story brick and concrete theatre,
store and oflfice building, 70 by 170 feet, to be lo-
cated at Trapelo road and Common street. Estimated
cost, $150,000.
HINGHAM — Owner has plans by Krokyn & Browne,
220 Devonshire street, Boston, for two-story brick
and stone theatre, store and office building to be
located at Main and South streets. Estimated cost,
$150,000.
Quiet Electric Ventilator
Good ventilation makes business good. Venti-
lators for all your fresh air requirements.
Write for catalog.
Lakeside Company 223 Main St.
Hermansville, Mich.
EVERYTHING FOR
THE STAGE
IFFI
tenic
TCFIH
B8TABLI8HED 1908
Send for Catalogue
Motion Picture Patents My Specialty
PATENTS
William N. Moore
Patent Attorney
Loan and Trust Building
Washington, D. C.
The first important step is to learn
whether you can obtain a patent. Please
send sketch of your invention with
$5.00, and 1 will examine the pertinent
U. S. patents and inform you Virhether
you are entitled to a patent, the cost
and manner of procedure. Personal at-
tention. Established 35 years.
Copyright your play $5.00
Trade-Mark your goods or titles $30.00
NORTH ATTLEBORO— New England Theatres Op-
erating Company, care M. Pinanski, treasurer, 19 Milk
street, Boston, has plans by Krokyn, Brown & Rosen-
stein, 220 Devonshire street. Boston, for two-story
brick theatre, store and office building, 90 by 125
feet, to be located near post office. Estimated cost,
$150,000.
MICHIGAN
DETROIT—Owner has plans by P. R. Pereira, 714
Polk Directory Building, for two-story brick and re-
inforced concrete theatre, store and office building,
125 by 150 feet, to be located on Michigan avenue.
Estimated cost, $250,000.
DETROIT— A. G. Wilson has plans by Smith,
Hinchman & Grylls, 800 Marquette Building, for
three-story brick and reinforced concrete theatre to
be located on Madison avenue. Estimated cost, $2,-
500,000.
MISSISSIPPI
BAY SPRINGS— W. O. Mason and O. E. Ford plan
to erect cement-block theatre on Fifth avenue, 26
by 60 feet.
CARTHAGE— Dr. W. P. Edwards and George H.
Chadwick will soon let contract for brick moving pic-
ture theatre, 26 by 100 feet.
NEW JERSEY
ELIZABETH — Owner has plans by Eugene De Rosa,
15 West Forty-fourth street. New York, for five-story
brick theatre and office building, 82 by 200 feet.
Estimated cost, $500,000.
NEWARK— A. M. Greenfield, care Philadelphia
Union Building Company, 9 Clinton street, plans to
erect twenty-story theatre, store and office building
at 12-32 Lafayette street and 878-80 Broad street.
Architect not selected. Estimated cost, $5,000,000.
NEW YORK
BROOKLYN — Havemeyer Marcy Corporation, 1560
Broadway, New York, plans to erect theatre, 22 by
100 feet, to be located at 205 Havemeyer street.
Estimated cost, $750,000.
BROOKLYN — Homack Construction Company, A. A.
Schwartz, president, 152 West Forty-second street.
New York has plans by R. T. Short, 370 Macon
street, for two-story brick theatre and store building,
84 by 202 feet, to be located on Voorhies avenue.
Estimated cost, $400,000.
NEW YORK— The Little Picture House, Inc., care
M. E. Perkins, president, has plans by H. Greenley,
129 Ea.st Fifty-fourth street, for proposed new theatre
to be located at 151-53 East Fiftieth street.
NIAGARA FALLS— A. M. Atlas, 307 Falls street,
has plans by J. R. White, 426 Third street, for one
and three-story moving picture and vaudeville theatre,
to include stores and offices, to be located at Buffalo
and Roswell avenues. Estimated cost, $100,000.
PLATTSBURG— W. Mayett. Clinton street, con-
templates erecting theatre and store building at
Marion and Clinton streets. Architect not selected.
Estimated cost, $200,000.
SOUTHAMPTON— Corporation forming, care E. C.
Alexion, 128 West Ninety-fifth street. New York, has
plans by Schlanger & Ehrenrich, 45 West Thirty-
fourth street. New York, for two-story brick theatre
to be located on Main street. Estimated cost, $175,-
000.
OHIO
CIRCLEVILLE— H. E. Clifton has plans by H. C.
Holbrook, 39 West Broad street, Columbus, 0., for
one-story brick moving picture theatre. Site withheld.
Estimated cost, $50,000.
EAST LIVERPOOL — Ceramic Theatre, W. Tallman,
has plans by F. Elliott, 28 East Broad street, Colum-
bus, O., for contemplated new theatre.
LANCASTER — Abrams & Kessler, oare Hippodrome
Theatre, has plans by H. C. Holbrook, 39 West Broad
street, Columbus, O., for one-story brick moving pic-
ture theatre. Site withheld. Estimated cost, $100,000.
SPPRINGFIELD— The Public Amusement Company,
J. G. Gregory, president and general manager, 31
East Main street, has plans by Midwest Engineering
and Construction Company, Interurban Terminal
Building, Columbus, O., for one-story moving picture
theatre to be located on South Fountain avenue, be-
tween Main and High. Estimated cost, $40,000.
OKLAHOMA
HOBART — Mahone & James plan to erect three-
The Gardiner tungar rectifier. This
rectifier, manufactured by the Gar-
diner Comj>any of Columbus, O,, is
for a 110-volt circuit and converts
alternating current to direct current
M^ to 22 amperes.
story theatre, 75 by 140 feet. Architect not selected.
Estimated cost, $175,000.
PENNSYLVANIA
CLAIRTON — Company forming, care J. S. Robb,
207 Catherine street, Duquesne, Pa., has plans by
Charles J. and Chris Reiger, Fulton Building, Pitts-
burgh, Pa., for three-story brick theatre and store
building to be located at St. Clair avenue and Mul-
berry Way. Estimated cost, $135,000.
KULPMONT — Arcade Amusement Company, care
Dr. W. R. Buckley. 8 North Maple street, Mt. Carmel,
Pa., has plans by D. H. Grootenboer, Schuylkill Trust
Building, Pottsville, Pa., for one-story brick moving
picture theatre to be located at Ninth and Chestnut
.streets. Estimated cost, $125,000.
LANCASTER— J. E. Harman, 56 North Queen
street, is preparing plans for brick moving picture
theatre. Owner withheld. Site not selected. Esti-
mated cost, $60,000.
Price $10.50
"Best"
safety shutter
The shutter
drops when
fihn breaks
at
intermittent
BEST
DEVICES
CO.
Film Building
Cleveland, O.
SERVICE
CIRCUS H^RDLO)
0RTfl'PO5T6R5
f EXHIBITORS
Printing Service
711 South Dearborn Street
CHICAGO, ILL.
Protect Your
ORGAN
against deterioration, by maintain-
ing an even temperature in the or-
gan chambers — with the famous
Electric Organ Heater. Write for
further dettdls and prices. . . .
PROMETHEUS ELECTRIC
CORP., 3 54 West 13th Street,
New York.
August 4, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
49
BETTER THEATRES
Information and
Catalog Bureau
"Better Theatres" offers on this page an individual service to
its readers. Detailed information and catalogs concerning any
product listed herewith will be sent to any theatre owner, man-
ager, architect or projectionist. Just fill in the coupon below
and mail to "Better Theatres" Division of Exhibitors Herald
and Moving Picture World. Many of the products listed by
this Bureau are advertised in this issue of "Better Theatres."
See Advertisers Index.
1 Accounting (yitenit.
2 Acouitical Installation!.
3 Adapter!, carbon.
4 Adding, calculating machlnei.
6 Admisilon tignt.
( Addreuing machlnei.
7 Advertising novelties, materials.
8 Advertising projects,
9 Air conditioning equipment.
10 Air dome tents.
11 Aisis lights.
12 Aisle rope.
13 Alarm signals.
14 Are lamps, reflecting.
15 Architectural service.
16 Are regulator*.
17 Artificial plants, flowers.
IB Art title*.
19 Automatic curtain control,
20 Automatic prolection cutouts.
21 Automatic sprinkler*.
B
22 Balloon*. advertUing.
23 Banner*.
24 Baskets, decorative.
25 Bell-buzzer signal systems.
2< Blocks, pulleys, stage-rigging.
27 Blowers, hand.
28 Booking agencies for musicians.
29 Booking agencies (state kind).
30 Boilers.
31 Bolts, Chair anchor.
32 Booths, projection.
S3 Booths, ticket.
34 Box, loge chair*.
35 Bras* grill*.
36 Brau rails.
37 Brokers-Theatre promotion.
38 Bulletin board*, changeablo.
39 Cable.
40 Cabinets.
41 Calolum lights.
42 Camera*.
43 Canople* (or tronts.
44 Carbons.
45 Cartran sharpener*.
46 Carbon wrenche*.
47 Carpets.
48 Carpet cushion.
49 Carpet Cleaning compound.
50 Carpet covering.
51 Cases, film shipping.
52 Cement, film.
53 Chair cover*.
M Chair*, wicker.
55 Chair*, theatre.
56 Change maker*.
B7 Changer over*.
68 Color hoods.
59 Color wheels.
60 Condenser*.
D
61 Data strips.
62 Decorations (state kind).
63 Decorators, theatre.
64 Dimmers.
65 Disinfectants — perfumed.
66 Doors, fireproof.
67 Draperies.
68 Drinking fountain*.
69 Duplicating machines.
E
70 Electric circuit testing Instru-
ments.
71 Electris fans,
72 Electrical flowers.
73 Electric power generating
plants.
74 Electric signs.
75 Electric signaj and control sys-
tem*.
76 Emergency lighting plants.
77 Exit light signs.
F
78 Film cleaner*.
79 Fllmsplicing machine.
80 Film tools (state kind).
81 Film waxing machine,
82 Fire alarms.
S3 Fir* escapes.
84 Fire extinguishers.
85 Fire hose.
86 Fire hos« reels, carts.
87 Fire proof curtains.
88 Fire proof doors.
89 Fire proofing material*.
90 Fixture*, lighting.
91 Flashlights.
92 Flashers, Electrle sign.
93 Flood lighting.
94 Floorllghts.
95 Floor covering.
96 Floor runner*.
97 Flowers, artiflclal,
98 Footlights.
99 Fountains, decorative.
100 Fountains, drinking.
101 Frames- poster, lobby display.
102 Fronts, metal theatre.
103 Furnace*, coal burning.
104 Furnace*, oil burning.
105 Furniture, theatre.
106 Fuse*.
G
107 Generators.
108 Grilles, bras*.
109 Gummed labels.
110 Gypsum products.
H
111 Hardware, stags.
112 Heating system, coal.
113 Haating system, oil.
I
114 Ink, pencils (or slide*.
115 Insurance, Fire.
116 Insurance. Rain.
117 Interior decorating senris*.
118 Interior illuminated signs.
J
119 Janlton' supplies.
120 Labels, film caution.
121 Lamps, decorative.
122 Lamp dip coloring.
123 Lamps, general lighting.
124 Lamps, Incandescent projection.
125 Lamps, high intensity.
126 Lamps, reflecting arc.
127 Lavatory equipment, furnish-
ings.
128 Lavatory fixtures,
129 Ledgers, theatre.
130 Lenses.
131 Lights, exit.
132 Lights, spot.
133 Lighting fixture*.
134 Lighting Installations.
135 Lighting systems, complete.
136 Linoleum.
137 Liquid soap.
138 Liquid soap container*.
139 Lithographer*.
140 Lobby display frames.
141 Lobby gazing balls.
142 Lobby (urnlture.
143 Lobby decoration*.
144 Lubricants (state kind).
145 Luminous numbers.
146 Luminous signs. Interior,
exterior.
M
147 Machines, ticket.
148 iVIaohinet, pop eom.
149 IMachlne*. *anltary vending.
150 Make up, boxe*, theatrical.
151 Marble.
152 Marquise.
153 Mats, leather.
154 Mats and runner*.
155 Mazda projection adapter*.
156 MeUI lath.
157 Metal polish.
158 Mirror, shade*.
159 Motor generator*.
160 Motion picture cable,
161 Musical instruments (stats
kind).
162 Musis publishers.
163 Music rolls.
164 Music itand*.
168 Napklit.
166 Novelties, advertising.
167 Nursery (urniihints and
equipment
0
168 Oil burners.
169 Orchestral piece*.
170 Orchestra pit fittlngt, furnith-
Ing*.
171 Organs.
172 Organ novelty slide*.
173 Organ lifts.
174 Organ chamber heater*.
175 Ornamental fountain*.
176 Ornamental metal work.
177 Ornamental metal theatre
front*.
P
178 Paint, *creen.
179 Paper drinking cups.
180 Paper towel*.
181 Perfumer*.
182 Photo frame*.
183 Piano*.
184 Picture *et*.
185 Player piano*.
186 Plastio fixture* and decorations.
187 Plumbing fixture*.
188 Positive film.
189 Posters.
190 Poster frame*.
191 Poster lights.
192 Poster paste.
193 Portable projectora.
194 Pottery decorative.
195 Power generating plants.
196 Printing, theatre.
197 Programs.
198 Program covers.
199 Program signs, illuminated.
200 Projection lamps.
201 Projection machines.
202 Projection machine parts.
203 Projection room equipment.
R
204 Radiators.
205 Radiator covers.
206 Rails, brass.
207 Rails, rope.
208 Rain insurance.
209 Rectifiers.
210 Reconstruction service.
211 Redecorating service.
212 Reflectors (state kind).
213 Refurnishing service.
214 Regulators, Mazda.
215 Reels.
216 Reel end signals.
217 Reel packing, carrying eases.
218 Resonant orchestra platform.
219 Reseating service.
220 Rewinding film.
221 Rheoetats.
222 Rigging, stage.
223 Roofing material*.
S
224 Safes, film.
225 Scenery, *tage.
226 Scenic artist*' senrise.
227 Screens.
228 Screen paint.
229 Seat coven.
230 Seat Indloatora, vacant.
231 Seats, theatres.
232 Signs (state kind).
233 Signs, parking.
234 Signals, reel end.
235 Sign flashers.
236 Sign-cloth.
237 Sign lettering service.
238 Sidewalk machines, corn pop-
pers.
239 Slides.
240 Slide ink, pencils.
241 Slide lanterns.
242 Slide making outfits.
243 Slide mats.
244 Shutters, metal fire.
245 Soap containers, liquid.
246 Speed indicators.
247 Spotlight*.
248 Stage doors-valances, eto.
249 Stage lighting equipment.
250 Stage lightino systems.
251 Stage rigging-blocks, pulleys.
252 Stage scenery.
253 Stair treads.
254 Statuary.
255 Steel lockers.
256 Stereopticons.
257 Sweeping compounds.
258 Switchboards.
259 Switches, automatl*.
T
260 Talley counters.
261 Tapestries.
262 Tax free music.
263 Telephones, inter-communloat-
ing.
264 Temperature regulation system.
265 Terra Cotta.
266 Terminals.
267 Theatre accounting systems.
268 Theatre dimmers.
269 Theatre seats.
270 TickeU.
271 Ticket booths.
272 Ticket ohoppera.
273 Ticket holders.
274 Ticket racks.
275 Ticket selling machines.
276 Tile.
277 Tile stands.
278 Tool cases, operator's.
279 Towels, paper.
280 Towels, cloth.
281 Trailers.
282 Transformers.
283 Tripods.
284 Turnstiles, registering.
285 Typewriters.
U
286 Uniforms.
V
287 Valances, (or boxes.
288 Vases, stone.
289 Vacuum cleanera.
290 Ventilating fans.
291 Ventilating, cooling system.
292 Ventilating systems, complete.
293 Vending machines, soap, tow-
els, napkins, eto.
294 Vitrollte.
W
295 Wall burlap.
296 Wall leather.
297 Watchman's clocks. ,
298 Water coolers.
299 Wheels, color.
USE THIS COUPON
"BETTER THEATRES" DIVISION
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
407 South Dearborn Street, Chicago
Gentlemen :
I should like to receive reliable information on the following items :
(Refer to Items by Number)
Remarks :
Name. _..
State
Theatre..
. City-
Seating Capacity..
50
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 4, 1928
Advertised in This
BETTER THEATRES
SECTION
(If you desire something not listed here, Exhibitors
Information and Catalog
Bureau published in this issue will get
it for
you.)
Page
Page
Page
AISLE LIGHTS
SLIDES
Kausalite Mfg. Co
8129 Rhodes Ave., Chicago, III.
40
Nelson-Wiggen Piano Co
1731 Belmont Ave.. Chicago, III.
Operators Piano Co
29
22
J. F. Ransley _ _
54 W. Randolph St.. Chicago. III.
47
ANCHOR EXPANSION BOLTS
The Paine Co
2951 Carroll Ave., Chicago, III.
40
715 N. Kednie Ave., Chicago. III.
The Page Organ Co _
24
SOUND REPRODUCING DEVICES
519 No. Jackson St., Lima, Ohio.
The Phototone Company _
21
3. P. Seeburg Piano Co
47
North Vernon, Ind.
AUTOMATIC CURTAIN
1510 Dayton St.. Chicago, III.
CONTROL
Rudolph Wurlitzer Co 2nd Cover, 32
STAGE AND ORCHESTRA UFTS
Automatic Devices Co
46
Cincinnati, O.
Peter Clark, Inc
34
17 N. 7th St., Allentown, Pa.
ORGAN HEATERS
534 W. 30th St., N. Y. C.
DIMMERS
Cramblet Eng. Corp
47
STAGE LIGHTING EQUIPMENT
Cutler-Hammer Mfg. Company
3
286 Milwaukee St., Milwaukee, Wis.
Milwaukee, Wis .
ELECTRIC FLASHERS, COLOR
Kausalite Mfg. Co
8129 Rhodes Ave., Chicago, III.
47
Frank Adam Elec. Co Front Cover
3650 Windsor Ave., St. Louis, Mo.
HOODS
The Prometheus Elec. Corp
356 W. 13th St.. N. Y. C.
48
Belson Mfg. Company „ _
800 Sibley St., Chicago. III.
39
Reynolds Electric Co
18
2651 W. Congress St., Chicago, III.
PATENT ATTORNEYS
Brenkert Light Proj. Co
7348 St. Aubin Ave., Detroit. Mich.
Insert
EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES
National Theatre Supply Co
Insert
William N. Moore
Loan &■ Trust Bldg., Washington. D. C
..... 48
Hub Electric Company
2225 W. Grand Ave.. Chicago, III.
23
624 South Michigan Ave., Chicago, III
POP CORN MACHINES
Kliegl Brothers
19
FILM CEMENT
C. Cretores Co _
27
156 Clinton St., Milwaukee, Wis.
F. B. Griffin
46
612 W. 22nd St.. Chicago. III.
Oshkosh, Wit.
STAGE RIGGING HARDWARE
FIRE PREVENTION DEVICES
PROJECTION TOOLS
J. H. Channon Corp _
39
Sentry Safety Control Corp
20
Projection Improvement Co
47
223 W. Erie St.. Chicago. III.
1229 Vine St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Drifton, Pa.
J. R. Clancy
47
FLOWERS, PLANTS — ARTIFICIAL
PROJECTORS
Syracuse, N. Y.
G. Reising & Co
227 W. Austin Avt., Chicago, III.
28
Enterprise Optical Co 4th Cover
564 W. Randolph St.. Chicago. III.
Peter Clark, Inc _ _
534 W. 30th St., N. Y. C.
34
GENERATORS
International Proj. Corp _
90 Gold St.. N. Y. C.
Insert
STAGE SCENERY
Automatic Devices Co _
46
Allentown, Pa.
Matney Studios „
47
Continental Electric Co
35
RADIUM LIGHT
307 W. 47th Street. N. Y. C.
323 Ferry St., Newark, N. J.
Louis E. Samms Studios _
177 N. State St.. Chicago, III.
47
Tiffin Scenic Studios _
Tiffin, Ohio.
48
Hertner Electric Co _
Cleveland, Ohio.
27
RHEOSTATS
THEATRE BUILDING SERVICE
Roth Brothers & Co
29
1400 W. Adams' St., Chicago, III.
Hoffman & Soons
387 First Avenue, New York City
... 46
Midwest Engfrg. & Const. Corp
209 So. Third St.. Columbus, Ohio.
.... 34
INTERIOR DECORATIONS
Continental Studios, Inc
.... 39
SAFES, THEATRE
THEATRE PRINTING, PROGRAMS
100 East Ohio St., Chicago, III.
York Safe and Lock Company _ .
.... 42
Exhibitors Printing Service
.... 48
LAMPS, HIGH INTENSITY
York, Pa.
711 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, III.
Hall & Connolly, Inc
129 Grand St.. N. Y. C.
36
SAFETY SHUTTERS
Best Devices Company
.... 48
Theatre Ad Mat Service, Inc _...
Vniontown, Penn.
.... 42
LAMPS, REFLECTING ARC
Film Bldg., Cleveland, O.
TICKETS
The L. J. Gardiner Co
1021 West Goodale Blvd., Columbus, 0.
16
SCREENS
Arcus Ticket Co....
.... 16
348 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, III.
Strong Electric Co
2501 Lagrange St.. Toledo, Ohio.
35
Da-Lite Screen Co
922 W. Monroe St., Chicago, III.
.... 28
Weldon, Williams & Lick _
Fort Smith, Ark.
.... 46
Raven Screen Corp
.... 40
LENSES
1476 Broadway, N. Y. C.
TRAILERS
Bausch & Lomb
26
Rochester, N. Y.
SEATS
National Screen Service
.... 32
American Seating Co Third
Cover
126-130 W. 46th St., N. Y. C.
LIGHTING FIXTURES
14 E. Jackson Blvd.. Chicago, III.
The Voigt Company
42
VENTILATING EQUIPMENT
1743 No. 12th St.. Philadelphia, Pa.
Heywood-Wakefield Company _
.... 6
209 Washington St., Boston, Mass.
Blizzard Fan Sales Co _....
.... 47
UGHTING PLANTS
1514 Davenport St., Omaha, Neb.
Kohler Company
Kohler. Wis.
15
SIGNS— ELECTRIC
Lakeside Company -
Hermansville, Mich.
.... 48
Flexlume Corporation „
.... 46
Supreme Heat & Vent. Co
.... 4
ORGANS
Buffalo, N. Y.
1915 Pine St., St. Louis. Mo.
George Kilgen & Son, Inc
Insert
Milne Elec. Co
.... 36
Typhoon Fan Co
.... 21
4016 N. Union Blvd.. St. Louis, Mo.
614-18 Cherry St., Milwaukee, Wis.
345 W. 39th St.. N. Y. C.
F«
• •
\~jy I [lluitrjting intirior
ni extorter of S\tj-
.3ftr/ Tkjtre. St.
I y jCJipb, M$SSOUTt,
Y ^olUr Brothers. Arcfj-
$iictj. CompUfily eq-
iipptd with ijSi
"Amtncjn" chairs —
No. 6o6j. Abijutiful,
comfoTfjbli and Jur-
jhUchatrutthujlnut
uood pjrfj, uphoist-
trtd back and djrk
nd moroccoltne stjt.
Nohiltjj bjll btjrini
hinfc insure: stl:nt
ment. Design and
finish in harmony
u ith decor jtti'i effects
/''~^\ '**t'^ jppotntmints.
'\C
That Makes
Successful Showmen
Exclusive Users of
^^A. S. C." Chairs
QuccEssFUL showmen . . . shrewd
^ buyers . . . keen judges of value
and merit specify "American"
chairs because the price they pay
includes more than the specifica-
tions set forth. With a nation-
wide distributing and installation
system . . . every "American"
purchase includes a service that
never has failed in an emergency
... a service that guarantees to
meet advertised opening dates . . .
an organization big enough to
solve unforeseen problems as they
may arise. That large-scale oper-
ators look to the service as well as
the chair is attested to by their
long years of loyalty to and
patronage of this company.
American Seating(
Company
12 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Illinois
121 W. 40th St., New York City 121 1-H Chestnut St., Phila.
63-D Canal St., Boston
Theatre Chair Builders to toe American Public for Over "yo years
61'/x»/oLessHeat
on The Film
A POSITIVE ACCOMPLISHMENT
ONLY WITH THE NEW MODEL "H"
MOTIOGRAPH DE LUXE PROJECTOR
This modern improvement, the greatest
achievement in years in the building of motion
picture projectors, assures full reproduction
on the screen of the photographic beauty in
the film.
By eliminating the heat, — the warping,
buckling, embossing and drying of the mm —
the enemies of perfect projection are conquered.
FOR GREATEST EFFICIENCY
IN YOUR SOUND PROJECTION
USE THIS NEW MODEL "H"
FEATURE
THE ENTEPRISE OPTICAL MFG. CO.
564 W. Randolph Street
Chicago, 111.
The Motiograph De Luxe
equipped with Movietone Unit.
The Annual Studio and Directors Number
EXHIBITOM
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY-
M-Q-M News in Sound!
M-G-M News is one year old today
MORE satisfied customers in 12 months
THAN others have won in years!
GROWING bigger and bigger—
RESOURCg.^ and staff doubled!
AND nov^— happy birthday—
-G-M MOVIETONE NEWSI
Whnls Vnl 07 Mn fi ^Vnl 7A M« 0\ Entered as second-class matter, August 20, 1917, at the Post Office at Chicago, 111., under the act of March i, i . ■%i into
fTiiuie TOI. ^L, I'NO. O ^,¥01. .J'J, l\0. y) igjg Published weekly at 407 South Dearborn St., Chicago. Subscription $3.00 a year. Single copies, 25 cents. AUgUSl 11, I5>Z»
K
VNIJ
QrJ
901
usic attraction
alesfortiie second^
earl928,fiaveexceeded
any previous similar period, tflerebiji
establisliiii^ a new Mm record.
ilfl9>^l Miitm (/A/r
osition of
^ , »^ ^^ . otits un-^
;app2y>acAed-BoxOffice\^luG. ^
"Radically different from all otfter-J
organs, it is an indispensable attrac-i
tionintlie successful operation of t^
modern motion picture tfieatre.
rAX?f;nnjiiHr.mtiinf i^MjgnfttirtniroKxvi*
unrivaled music feature Jf^is
tfle choice of an increasi ^
majority of pro^ress>ive ai
fi^rsi^hted sfiowmen and
exrviDitors cverywfiere
'Rbberb Morton Console 'V/^
£loeio's 6 United
k Ai-fisfs Oh.io
1^ y/ica-tre^Colum-j
%S bus, Ohio. J
fi^ Coast
to Coas>t
TOriteHoday/
foTOurNQU) /A
PurchasePJ^jt y
mmmmr
KEW IDEA VAUDEVILLE ■ l;|,„
L0ltCH*KEY"'nOCKERV ■ ■,» .,
"Robert Aiorton Coivsole"
inXo eiV 's Itli(31a.n(i «
J/ieatTe, Kansas CHj/^MiM
PPP'^wR^s,
NewYorlt Chicago Los Alleles SanFrancisco
IS60 Sroiidbra^ 624 So-HicluiMk ^4SoVennoiit l6&GoUenGate
KURT.W.
«;»•
^^
J^
PARAMOUNT
PRESENTS
THE WHOLE SHOW
PROGRAM— 1928-9
to the
Whole UNITED STATES
in a
GIANT NATIONAL
NEWSPAPER CAMPAIGN
695 Newspapers!
413 Cities!
100,000,000 Readers!
'"'^^
'•^:
^^
/
/?^1
.^*
ii»a^"-
A.
\
*€.
K*'
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EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
greatest advertising campaign
^??^^'-.--T^7T^''T-S'jj^v-.!l--.'!-'-c'!:!!'..'-!.-^.'-'J^7'-'
■:-'^JAV,!l.r^-:v..-.:;j!,l-.-r-^.',:,l Jl..^-,.,.-.'^^ ^.'Ml.-J
starting »"^,''',.he-
luce W ^'^P Vo^ViUi"" i"'
j,r, .box*'" ^„der/u> "t- P
r, I.. Urn'"* - . r.uiDrr-"* . _ n'
Bub«J V>"-'"'* g^ SHORT
„,,rb."-l; ,.„„iwi-i; „^u-«««-
-»"' M."-f"" """"o-." c.."'-'"
,urf»""- CHI
M»*^ PI .,1, the »evf.
uh the »*="
is Viere • • -.;
, „™ Para*""*" wodr""* _^
I<«i.««"°' , .lie"* '" „ ««ni '» "*
..ft.*"""" „,..!.<--'"'
<1 p»r»»'"'
T.rf;7r^'7p?;:T?^;y!p'?!7;<?;?;Tf^
?'
^ Here are two of the full page news-
paper ads. ^ Special ads on SOUND also!
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
in the history of pictures!
^ First insertion, Sunday, August 12th.
^Blanketing the country. Your town, too!
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
PARAMOUNT
I
goes straight to your customers, in newspapers in your own
city, with the news of all the big specials, the great stars
in The Whole Show Program for 1928-9. fl Backed by 11
years of consistent national advertising in The Saturday
Evening Post, Country Gentleman, Fan Magazines, etc.
Ask your Paramount Exchange for details of
papers^ etc.^ in your town^ ways of tying up^ etc.
Paramount's Whole Show Program
Sold in Advance to Your Public!
WHATS
ALL THE
SHOOTING
FOR?
-that for
calamity howlers
LETS GET DOWN
TO BRASS TACKS
"THERE'S TOO MUCH HOOEY in this
■ business today. A lot of picture people
who spend more time eating lunch than
tending to business are giving out half-
cocked statements on what's happening in
this business- They dorit know!
THE only trouble is that some exhibitors
are puzzled by such hot air. They are
worried by this schmoos. Naturally they
turn to the one organization which has
both feet solidly on the ground!
HERE'S THE
LOW- DOWN I
do reasons why exhibitors are depending on M-Q-M
for their continued prosperity in picture business)
\ HOW ARE YOUR RECEIPTS?
DO YOU KNOW what product on the market is
doing the most business at the box-office? Listen! A
box'office check-up of 500 percentage houses, many
of which play all products, shows that M-G-M pic-
tures have taken the biggest share of all business in
all of these houses. It's natural that M-G-M is the
most sought-after product on the market.
2 STARTING THE NEW SEASON WITH
^ A BANG!
SEPTEMBER 1st M-G-M opens its new releas-
ing season withWilliam Haines in ''Excess Baggage."
Hollywood is already talking about it. Prepare for
one of the greatest pictures that has ever swept an
audience with thrills, heart-throbs andlaughter.Then
M-G-M delivers in rapid-fire succession " Our Danc-
ing Daughters" (with Joan Crawford) of which the
Daily Review says: ''A mop-up any way you look at
it. 100 per cent picture" — Lon Chaney in "While
The City Sleeps," (it could run on Broadway at $2)
— Monta BelPs ingenious mystery thriller, 'The Bel-
lamy Trial" based on the famed Saturday Evening
Post serial and novel. We make this prediction now:
No company on earth is in a position to offer you
productions of this calibre to start off the new sea-
son and M-G-M in 78-29' will again be the Talk
of the Industry.
3
THE PUBLIC WANTS REAL
STARS!
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE between stars offered
you as "identifying descriptions" (stars which have
4
been made because there was no title to sell and
because the mere all-star classification was not enough)
and M-G'M stars, each of which is a star in "draw-
ing power", the greatest group of established marquee
names ever assembled by any company in this indus-
try's history. Compare these big names with other
"identifying description'^ names: Lon Chaney, John
Gilbert, William Haines, Marion Davies, Greta Garbo,
Ramon Novarro, Norma Shearer, Lillian Gish, Karl
Dane & George K. Arthur, Buster Keaton, Lew
Cody &L Aileen Pringle, Tim McCoy. Not to mention
M'G-M featured players whose drawing strength is
greater than the so-called stars ("identifying descrip-
tion") of other companies. A few M-G-M featured
players: Joan Crawford, Lionel Barrymore, Renee
Adoree, Conrad Nagel, Ralph Forbes, John Mack
Brown, Nils Asther, Anita Page, Dorothy Sebastian,
Polly Moran, Marceline Day, Bert Roach, etc.
Extra.' Metro ■ Colduyn ■ Mayer gets the prize stage property of years "The Trial of Mary Dugdn". The vehicle,
'they all were after. The vehicle M-G-M got. 1 1 months on Broadway and still going strong. M-G-M will be
first to synchronize with complete dialogite a current Broadway stage hit, hot from its metropolitan triumphs.
-G-M ATTITUDE ON SOUND
WINS EXHIBITOR CONFIDENCE!
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYERwill lead the field
in Movietone and Vitaphone» Depend on Young
Blood, ever in the forefront of this business. Ours is
a sound sound policy. No rash promises. Delivery!
We're well along right now. Many exhibitors have
congratulated M-G-M on its level-headed handling
of the sound situation, its refusal to stampede ex-
hibitors with exaggerated sound announcements.
M-G'M knows, as all exhibitors know, that it will
be a long time before the majority of theatres are
sound-equipped. Far in advance of that, M-G-M will
be ready with the last word in quality sound pictures,
features, shorts, newsreel and other one-reel novelties.
Meanwhile thousands of exhibitors place their secur-
ity in M-G-M, greatest in resources, greatest in stars,
livest in promotion, to fill theatres week in and week
out with box-office pictures.
5
SOUND STUDIOS COMPLETED
BY M-G-
WE ARE LOOKING BEYOND the novelty stage
in sound. While others have been making elaborate
promises, M-G-M has been rapidly constructing at
its vast Culver City, California, plant the finest and
best equipped stage for sound synchronization in
the world! It's finished. We're all set to go. But as
for making promises— hell no! We'll deliver! That's
M-G-M policy always. And in addition to our West
Coast sound studios watch for the opening of the
great Cosmopolitan Studios in New York City for
the production of sound subjects. This puts M-G-M
in a strategic position for the creation of synchro-
nized subjects since the Cosmopolitan Studios are
more accessible than any others to the talent-sources
of Broadway.
JOHN GILBERT in
"THE COSSACKS"
WILLIAM HAINES in
•TELLING THE WORLD"
MARION DA VIES in
■THE CARDBOARD LOVER"
GRETA GARBO in
•THE MYSTERIOUS LADY"
-G-M CLICKING RIGHT NOW I
THE OUTSTANDING money-making pictures of
the current season are all M-G-M, While other com-
panies talk pictures, M-G-M gives theatres John
Gilbert in *The Cossacks*', which Variety reports
"biggest business on Broadway'\ and held over for
second smash week at Capitol, N.Y. It is a sensation
and is doing the biggest business of every town it
plays. William Haines in "Telling The WorW comes
to theatres with the backing of United Press news-
papers all over the country, enjoying advance pub-
licity worth millions in the form of serials, feature
stories, photographs in the press. It is doing record
business at Warfield, San Francisco; Allen, Cleveland;
Capitol, N. Y., and everywhere. Other big pictures
for coming weeks that insure your business in spite
of any conditions are Marion Davies in "Cardboard
Lover''; John Gilbert in "Four Walls"; Greta Garbo
in "Mysterious Lady", and others. "White Shadows
in the South Seas", which M-G-M exhibitors have
already bought is so good that it is now playing at
the Astor on Broadway at $2, thereby enhancing its
value to you!
7
SHORT SUBJECT SUPREMACY!
DE LUXE HOUSES one after another are cutting
expensive presentations and at the same time stimu-
lating attendance by building their presentations
around Hal Roach M-G-M quality -short- subjects*
No other shorts are of sufficient class to merit this
handling, therefore the "Our Gang", Charlie Chase,
Laurel -Hardy and Roach All Star comedies are
delighting audiences in thousands of theatres,
M-G-M's distinguished Great Events in Technicolor
as well as M-G-M's UFA Oddities are equally
important in the building up of today's programs.
M-G-M Shorts will be further enhanced by the
addition of Movietone. The M-G-M Movietone
News is well under way.
SCREEN
FORECAST
/92s '29
Q PROMOTION DIRECT TO YOUR
^ PUBLIC!
ONCE AN M-G-M EXHIBITOR, always an
M-G-M exhibitor ! Not only because M-G-M's pro-
duct is great but because M-G-M believes in extend-
ing its services after you have signed your contract.
Space permits mention of only a few activities that
reach direct to your public and help sell tickets at
your box-office. This year the valuable M-G-M
SCREEN FORECAST is on the screen. A thrilling
reel has been prepared, showing actual shots from
the big, spectacular M-G-M productions of next
season. A marvelous advance ballyhoo that tells
your public of the bright, popular stars who will
entertain them during the year 78 -79 in glamorous
new hits. THE SCREEN FORECAST contains shots
from many features and shorts, and besides being a
convincing piece of salesmanship it's a brilliant
novelty for any theatre to run. M-G-M continues to
reach millions of fans over the radio, through the
M-G-M Movie Club programs broadcast over twenty-
six nationwide stations. M-G-M fan ad-contests in
the national magazines are engrossing ticket-buyers
the country-over. M-G-M's system of publicity ser-
vices means that by actual check M-G-M leads every
company in the business in the amount of photo-
graphic and press propaganda obtained for M-G-M
stars and pictures.
NEW VOCE E\?.N1N'. JOLRNAL
Ffi[CK[[S UWi
mm] i
WHICH OF THESE "OUR GANG"
CHARACTERS CAN YOU PORTRAY?
r
/«rl
r-f^A
^
AlJt.RESS iUySE ..r^
1 WANTTOCOirPETEtOK ROLK OF
THE AflOVR C(tNTESTANT IS COMIXTING WITS MT
FULL CONSENT.
sicoiinr«'o7p»V-Nt or Ouardwn
9
-G-M GETS BEHIND ITS GREAT
SHORT SUBJECTS!
THE IMPORTANT PROMOTION is done by
M-G'M, not alone in features hut in short subjects.
The National "Our Gang" Movie Talent Test is the
biggest promotion ever put behind a short subject.
Tie-ups with newspapers all over the country, the
i selection of youngsters resembling the various
members of the "Our Gang/^ the actual filming of a
comedy in each contest center with the "Our Gang"
winners in the cast — this represents a stunt of mag-
nitude. Right now, also, M-G-M is extending to ex-
hibitors its services in the promotion of "Joy Week",
fighting hot weather with ideas, giving showmen
free of charge banners, slides, posters to put over
"Joy Week" in their theatres. The tie-up between
Kellogg^s Pep and the "Our Gang" kids is only one
more of the many live ideas which M-G-M week
after week devises to help sell tickets at box-offices.
10
LEO'S WORLD TOUR SELLS
SEATS FOR THEATRES!
BEYOND THE rosiest expectations of M-G-M is
the reception accorded M-G-M*s newest world-wide
promotion event following the Trackless Train. Leo^
the M-G-M lion and company trade-mark, took
Washington, D. C., by storm, continued his trium-
phal march through New York City and is now on
his way across America and thereafter the world.
Pages of publicity attend him, focussing dramatic
attention on M-G-M and its great galaxy of stars
and its imposing line-up for the year 78-79 which
follows:
■I
LoN Cham
JOHN Gilbert
Marion Davies
Greta Garso
Ramon Novarro
Roach All Star
THE IMPORTANT
LINE-UP!
M-G-M in 1028-29
Jwdwc^A
41SPECIALS
SHOW PEOPLE
Marion Davies
William Haines
THE CARNIVAL OF LIFE
John Gilbert
Greta Garbo
SPIES
M-G-M 's Surprise Special
THE LOVES OF CASANOVA
Europe's Current
Roadshow Sensation
4 LON CHANEY
While the City'Slecps
and 3 others
3 GRETA GARBO
** Tiger Skin, Siriglc Standard
and I more
4
4WILLIAIVi HAINES
" Excess Baggage
2
and 3 more
4 DANE-ARTHUR
1
Camping Out
and 3 more
3
3 CODY-PRINGLE
** The Baby Cyclone
and 2 more
2 FLASH
40
The Ama:ing Dog Star
in Grease Painr
and 1 more
gTIM McCOY
*> COSMOPOLITAN
104
-^ PRODUCTIONS
6
Our Dancing Daughters
Breakers Ahead
Mothers and Sons
26
MARION DAVIES
Dumb Dora
and 2 more
RAMON NOVARRO
Gold Braid
and 1 more
JOHN GILBERT
The Devil's Mask
and 1 more
NORMA SHEARER
Ballyhoo
and 3 more
BUSTER KEATON
The Camera Man
and 1 more
LILLIAN GISH
The Wind
ELECTRIC-LIGHT HITS
The Bellamy Trial
The Wonder of Women
The Bridge of San Luis Rcy
HALROACH COMEDIES
10 OUR GANG'
10 LAUREL-HARDY
10 CHARLEY CHASE
10 ALL STAR
M-G-M NEWS
Twice Weekly
M-G-M GREAT EVENTS
Entirely in Techicolor
M-G-M ODDITIES
UFA world-wide gems
Norma Shearer
Lillian GlSH
t
Dane-Arthur
Buster Keaton
Cody-Pringle
Tim McCoy
\
1
KEEP YOUR SHIRT ON!
M-Q-M IS your Theatre Insurance
BEAR IN MIND that U^GM is affiliated with the
finest theatres in America.
OUR BUSINESS is a producing business, but it is
one with the theatre business.
WE MUST PROTECT our investments and your
investments.
WHATEVER PROGRESS is to be made in the
industry M-G-M must make.
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER, first the talk of
the industry, then the top of the industry, is committed
to a policy of dominancey leaderships superiority.
M ETRO - GOI^^^ - MAYER
THE IMPORTANT ^ISHbIB^ COMPANY
August 11, 1928
ONE
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
WITHOUT
VITAPHOME
Jl World Beater
Sither Waif
O^irst of the
IS Special
'ViarnerWinners
18 SPECIAL WARNER WINNERS
HARD BOILED ROSE
WOMEN THEY TALK
THE LITTLE WILD-
ABOUT
CAT
LAND OF THE SIL-
ONE STOLEN NIGHT
VER FOX
THE OUTLAW DOG
CAUGHT IN THE
(Temporary)
FOG
SHE KNEW MEN
THE MIDNIGHT TAXI
NO DEFENSE
BEWARE OF BACHE-
FANCY BAGGAGE
LORS
THE GREYHOUND
KID GLOVES
LIMITED
FROM HEADQUAR-
KING OF THE WIL-
TERS
DERNESS
STOLEN KISSES
STATE STREET
SADIE
DIRECTED BY
ARCHIE MAYO
BASEDOW
THE STOICT BV
MElViaE CR05MAN
SCiXffiSXO BY
E.T.LOWE Jr..
Cam\n6\ "noah'SARK" ,
\^\MtHVtt^ I Madetotot) any picture ever made/
r'^miM/// AL JOLSON
looming ! itirYLE singing fool"
MEMBER MOTION PICTURE PRODUCERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF AMERICA, INC.
8 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD August 11, 1928
Now You Can S
A Synchronized
(No. 598-Straight from the Shoulder Talk by Carl Lai\
AND NOW "THE MAN WHO LAUGHS'' IS READY FOR
you to HEAR as well as to SEE>
NOW YOU WILL HAVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY YOU
ever had to realise how much a glorious picture — perfect in itself — can
be improved by the addition of cleverly directed sounds*
WITH ALL THE WILD TALK ABOUT SYNCHRONIZATION
which has had the whole industry standing on its head, it is no wonder
that confusion has been worse confounded,
AND NOW OUT OF THE CHAOS OF GUESS-WORK AND
gossip, comes the supreme achievement which will prove without the
shadow of a doubt that when even a perfect picture is properly syn-
chronized with all due regard for theatrical effects, it can be made even
better than perfect!
NEVER HAS THERE BEEN A MORE CONVINCING
demonstration of the possibilities of the movietone process than you
will get when you SEE and HEAR "THE MAN WHO LAUGHS".
DURING THE SCENES AT THE FAMOUS SOUTHWARK
Fair, you will hear the cries of the barkers, the shouts of the happy
i August 11, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 9
^e How Perfect
Picture Can Be
nmle. President of the Universal Pictures Corporation)
people, the blowing of their horns and the throbbing of their other
merry-making noise-machines.
THROUGHOUT THE SCENES WHEN GWYNPLAINE IS
is amusing his audience — that audience which rocks with laughter —
you will HEAR the gales of laughter and you will hear the tumultu-
ous cries ^^Gwynplaine! Gwynplaine!''
IN THE MOB SCENES, PANDEMONIUM IS LET LOOSE
and the movie fan does not live who will fail to get a terrific *^kick"
from this grand combination of eye and ear entertainment.
THE MUSICAL SCORE IS A GEM IN ITSELF, BRINGING
out with even extra emphasis the fine points of this exquisitely directed
picture.
AND ONCE MORE I WANT TO SAY TO THOSE EXHIBI-
tors who have no sound equipment in their theatres just this: — Whether
your patrons simply SEE ^*The Man Who Laughs'^ or whether they
both SEE and HEAR it, they will be entertained and uplifted in spirit
as no other picture has aroused them for a long time.
WHETHER THEY^RE SILENT OR WHETHER THEY^RE
otherwise Universal has the pictures I
■!«■■■■ HP*
Nothing like it
HARRISON'S REPORTS
"The Cop" — with William Boyd
(Palhc. August 19. 7,054 jt., 82 to 100 min.)
There is a hold-up scene in this picture which, for realism,
has not been seen in pictures forjicars. I doubt if a true-to-
lifc hold-up scene could give oite greater thrills. It is so
cKvcrly conceived and so well executed that one gasps for
breath until it is all over There is, of course, a master mind
among the crooks, who plans it , and his men carry it out
without a hitch. First, one car, at the appointed time,
drives in front of the armored car that carried thousands
of dollars, and stops it. Then a heavy truck, driven by
another confederate, drives at high speed, bumps against the
armored car and wrecks it, tearing it apart. The crooks
then carry the money away Confederates posted in shops
and rooming houses with machine guns complete the pic-
ture. There are other thrilling situations in other parts
of t!ic picture, but the situation just described is the most
thrillinp The action holds one's mterest from the very
hcginiiing. And one is made to feel friendly toward the
Ikto by proper characterization. In the beginning he is
shown as a draw-bridge tender. At one time he secretes
a crook with a bullet wound in his arm; he had been chased
by the police immediately after a hold-up. But the hero's
kind-heartedness is rewarded by the crook's stealing his
coat and $25. while the hero was out to buy grub to feed
the crook with. The hero becomes tired of his work and
joins the police force. It was during his beat that the
armored car had been held up and the money stolen, and
liis friend, also a cop, killed. He then vows to catch the
murderers, whose leader happened to be the very same
man that had stolen his money and his overcoat. By follow-
ing the heroine, member of the gang, he is able to locate
the hiding place of the master mind. But when he gets into
the house, he finds the master mind gone. However, he
lelephones headquarters to cover the river and to leave the
bridge to him. He then suggests to the heroine, for whom
lie had felt an interest, because of dawning love, that it
would be dangerous for her to go to the bridge that night.
He goes to the bridge, but finds the heroine there. He
realizes that she had gone there not to warn the crooks but
10 tell him (the hero) that his life was in danger In a
pistol duel with the crook, the hero comes out the victor,
he had aimed at and shot the master crook in the head, being
the only vulnerable spot, his body being protected by a
steel jacket. The wounded crook drowns in the river The
heroine promises the hero to give up the "racket" (It is
implied that they married.)
The plot has been founded on the story by Elliott Qaw-
son , It has been directed with great skill by Donald Crisp,
from a screen play by Tay Gamett Mr Boyd does good
work as the hero, Robert Armstrong as the master criminal.
and Jacqueline Logan as the heroine. Alan Hale is good,
too. as the chief of the homicide squad.
Altliough a crook play, it leaves no bad impression.
BOYD
A DONALD CRISP Production
Screen play by Tay Gamett from the story by
Elliott Clawson. Produced by Ralph Block for
DeMille Pictures Corporation
One of the reasons why this
in years
^says Pete Harrison
'"''There is a hold-up scene in this
picture which for realism, has not
been seen in pictures for years. I
doubt if a true-to-life hold-up scene
\\ could give greater thrills. It is so
A cleverly conceived and so well
#6 executed that one gasps for breath."
HarrisoTt's Reports
THE COP"
>vith ALAN HALE,
JACQUELINE LOGAN and
ROBERT ARMSTRONG
Watch for amazing new R. C. A. PHOTOPHONE musical
Note "SI ^^d effect accompaniment on certain forthcoming
PATHE FEATURE PRODUCTIONS Season 1928-1929.
is PATHE S YEAR
Pathe gives ne>v sic
big business boosters on
Famous Director
of Patheseriats "
S P E Nl C ER.
B E IM M ET
TH8
ptOPlt
DireciedJ>
Story b5
Scenario by
Eagle of
the night
featuring
FRANK CLARKE
Greatest of aeroplane stunt fliers
Original story by Paul Cruger
Directed by Jimmy Fulton
T>ATHESERIALS, box-oflSce magic workers for
fifteen years, will be the fireworks this season
for thousands of exhibitors.
The fans like action— mystery—
daring danger! They want to
be kept guessing — talking —
wondering — expecting. They want life in the raw —
realism — red blood — quick twists of plot — changing
fortune — big stakes — colossal rewards — dramatic
dynamite ! These factors never play to empty
seats. Patheserials bring 'em in — keep 'em coming,
fix their interest week after week.
Where a feature may be gone and for-
gotten, the Patheserial goes on gather-
ing momentum — gathering the shekels.
Pathe
News
The Tigers
Shadow
Original story and scenario by
GEORGE
ARTHUR GRAY
Directed by Spencer Bennet
^'''Sinal story anri.
^ARTHUR GRAY
1ha^aiajut7^lce^,^y^o MACK
^PORTtiOHT^^^ SENNETT
^r^'^J/ Super Comedies
TOPICS^!!
the DAY ^^^
M
liif icance to serials
program of super shorts
Pathe has released 71 serials, money
makers all since the golden harvest in
the days of Pearl White and Ruth
Roland. This year sees Pathe's great-
est serial program — new faces, new
ideas, up-to-the-minute titles, gripping themes,
modern stories, thundering climaxes! Snap up
your program with them! You'll be sitting
pretty with repeat customers, and each new
serial will see others join the old familiar faces
at the b. o.
Summer time is serial time. Catch the
fans' interest with the first chapter of
a Patheserial and they will stick to
the finish.
nBlessed-VirgiD and Dad's mboejr Touj^
rkction. But don't ever make that crack aboot^
1 Virgin before Dad — he's half sold on the ide.
1 anyway. Helt be down at the church .trjiiig to
' her over as sure a3 you live."
Natalya, crossing herself devoutly, turned out^the light*
and left the room. Edythe could hear the roar of the .vavcs
breaking upon the Oak Street beach. At last Mori csaia.
to her, took her into his arms, and she drifted awaf vit^
bini, to a. dim ivory tower, where the very breeie. sang:
"Edythe, I love you."
{To he continued)
Magic uords—"To be continued!"
Millions of persons come to the
intriguing climaxes above them in
newspapers and magazines and
eagerly look forwatd to the next
chapter installments. They are
builders of circulation — and what,
they are doing for the cash register
in the publishing office, they will
do for you at your box office if they
follow a thundering climax to a
Patheserial.
Pafh
e
Serials
vm^^'m
H\NDY (
ANDY r
Sxfi'^z>'J^,
AND HIS PALS
B^.
AESOPS
FILM
FABLES
ScoiCi Solid! Bi
Class Mystery Shocker Regales Sweltering Throngs
at NEW YORK RIVOLI with Most Miraculous
Music . . Sound ♦ . and Dialogue Effects yet Recorded !
I
1
1
' 1
1
t
]
'
]
J
Clive
BROOK
Irene
RICH
TULLY MARSHALL
EDMUND BREESE
But FBO has not forgotten the thousands of showmen
who have not yet obtained sound installations . . .
You can have it in SILENT FORM as well.. Sound
or silent "The Perfect Crime" is the outstanding
mystery sensation of^iears.
§niaih
Court room scene in dialogue, most sensational
show smash yet synchronized . . with an amazing
prologue and epilogue with Lynn Overman
and Claire Adams!
Story by WM. LE BARON from
ISRAEL ZANGWILUS novel
DIRECTED BY
BERT GLENNON
A Hit in Silent Form ♦♦/.,,
UNITED ARTISTS, LOS ANGELES
UNITED ARTISTS, DETROIT
But still bigger NOW in SOUND for
showmen who have installations, ^-^
miii'riS'iSSiiBHm' '
16
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
Reading's a
Habit
Reading's a Habit.
There are habit-forming papers and
the other kind.
The habit-forming paper is the one
that makes reading a pleasure.
Composition, display and mechani-
cal convenience are conducive to
reading pleasure — but quality of
subject matter is the thing that fixes
the reading habit permanently.
Everybody reads the Herald- World.
It is more easily, pleasurably and
profitably read than any other mo-
tion picture trade journal. Natu-
rally, it has more readers than any
other.
Naturally, it leads the field.
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
&^ MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
s^^ecping
the
Q>antry
*»*«'^^.o«iceo««t»«e»**'
• 1
Fo%!*®SS
cia»*
S' V-lt ' .*J
don't
tie
W ILLIAM'
FRANK BORZAGE'S
ANCEL
"With
JANET GAYNOR & CHARLES FARRELL
ROXY
FIRST TIME IN HISTORY
OF THAT THEATRE !
1st WEEK-New World's Record
for 4 shows a day!
2nd WEEK—Tremendous!
3rd WEEK— Surprised even the box*
office prophets!
4th WEEK— Watch it break every ex-
isting box-office record
in the ivorld!
At McVicker's Theatre, Chicago, "STREET ANGEL"
broke all existing house records
its first inreek!
Just coinplete4 a 5 "week.
capacity engagement!
teas »»««•«* ^^ance
jo„r sons -^» „ ^,h«..
Mother Mac»»«" _^^^
r yjjs. presents
F. W. MURNAU'S
SUNRISE
with
JANET GAYNOR & GEORGE O'BRIEN
NoMT In its
3rd
Capacity Week
at the
Roosevelt Theatre
Chicago
playing to
Record'Breaking Attendance!
"'Sunrise' is the one picture of a decade
not to be missed."
— Chicago Doily News
^'m
®.ve
A^ILLIAM |?#X c/V<?/fe/2tA
with CHARLES FARRELL and
GRETA NISSEN
Howard Hawks' Romance oE FORBIDDEN LOVE
Hotter than Saharal
CAPACITY WEEKS
at th« GAIETY THEATRE, NEW YORK
to
SENSATIONAL SUMMER
BUSINESS
at $2!
Mjith
Mc C O a M I C
•p resents
OLLEEN
rOORE
m
T I ME
^George titzmamtee
■ -.p. K:'0 U V .C T I O'n":
A FIl^T MtlONAL PICTURE
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The
Independent
Film Trade
Paper
Home
Office:
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
^ MOVING PICTURE 407So,DearbomSt.
WORLD °~
IN THIS ISSUE
Stage's plans to produce own sound pictures add complications to situation already tangled; Actors
Equity instructs members not to act without approval of association ; Copyright problem is declared
to be still unsettled ; Executive secretary of Authors League predicts war ; Woods is enthusiastic over
decision to film stage successes with sound.
COMPLETE INDEX TO CONTENTS
NEWS ADVERTISEMENTS
THE ANNUAL STUDIO AND DIRECTORY NUMBER— Starts THE ANNUAL STUDIO AND DIRECTORY NUMBER— Laura
Page 35 — Eighteen pictures completed; Big Sloman film finished La Plante, Dooley, Vernon and Engle, Doherty, Long and de
at U lot — ^Writer finds sound solution with "double script" idea — Limur, Billie Dove, Mack Sennett, Finis Fox, Colleen Moore,
Christie comedies synchronizing all films "in script" — Nightlife D. W. Griffith, Jack White, George O'Brien, Harold Lloyd,
in Hollywood consists of 18 policemen and watchman at ice plant Clarence Badger, Charles Rogers, Harry D'Arrast, Jean Hersholt,
— O'Brien hailed as artist by world for work in "Sunrise" — On a Mai St. Clair, Gary Cooper, Joseph Henabery, Yola D'Avril,
Lot of the Lots — "Yes or no" on "talkies," by supervisor, player Gladys Lehman, Bodil Hosing, Hoot Gibson, Ned Marin, F. N.
and technician — Niblo warns against stampede in production of Murphy, Frank Tuttle, Clara E-'' Thelma Todd, Frank Lloyd,
sound films — Wanta write titles? — lit's a cinch! Charles Delaney, Junior Coghlan, Lou Seiler, Al St. John, Rufus
McCosh, Eugene Ford, Stephen Roberts, Louis Sarecky, Roy
f^T^'P A ■t>'T'-]|«--j7-[YTrpgi Del Ruth, James Hall, Jerry Drew, Howard Bretherton, Irving
UMliI:J\J\ X iTlJLil X O Cummings, Billy Butts, Arvid GiUstrom, William Holland, Arthur
Synchronized Pictures 31 Stone, Alice White, Reginald Denny, Buddy Rogers, Charles F.
„: „ ' ' _„ Klein, Kathryn Crawford, S. R. Beal, Ken Maynard.
Short Features 79
Presentation Acts 80 ^^^^ ^^^ EQUIPMENT— M G M, Robert Morton Organ, Pa7a-
The Theatre 8o mount, Warner Brothers, Universal, Pathe, F B O, Eastman
Classified Advertising 93 Kodak, First National, Fox, Automatic Ticket Register, Photo-
What the Picture Did for Me 95 tone.
Chicago Personalities by Whit 102
Service Talks by T. O. Service 89 PRESENTATIONS— Fritz and Jean Hubert, Benny and Western,.
„..,£,.. 97 Vale and Stewart, Bill Bennett, Cornelius Maffie, Harry Zimmer-
Fictorial bection z / ^^^^ ^j^.^^ ^^^j^ Feather, Darling Twins, Frankie Masters, Fred)
Letters from Readers 94 Kinsley, Leo Terry, Brooks Costumes, Ransley Costumes, Dean.
Broac waj 22 Stevenson, Leo Feist, L. Carlos Meier.
CHICAGO
407 South Dearborn St. Telephones Harrison 0036-37-3S
Cable Address: Quigpubco
EDWIN S. CLIFFORD, General Manager
JAY M. SHRECK, Managing Editor
GEORGE CLIFFORD, Business Manager
ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD, Sews Editor
LOS ANGELES
5617 Hollywood Blvd. Telephone Gladstone 3754
DOUGLAS HODGES
West Coast Manager
EDITORIAL
AND
ADVERTISING
OFFICES
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
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18
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
i
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
?B^ MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Martin J. Quigley, Publisher <Sv5 Editor
Incorporating Exhibitors Herald, founded in 1915; Moving Pic-
TUBS World, founded in 1907; Motography, founded in 1909; and
The Film Index, founded in 1909
Published Every Wednesday by
QuiGLEY Publishing Company
Publication Office: 407 So. Dearborn St., CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Martin J. Quigley, President
Ebwin S. Cliffokd, Secretary George Clifforb, Asst. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other Publications: The Chicagoan and Polo, class journals; and the follovir-
ing motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exhibitors
Herald and Moving Picture World: Better Theatres, erery fourth week, and
The Buyers Index, published semi-annually.
Whole Vol. 92, No. 6 (Vol. 34, No. 9) August 11, 1928
The Coming Struggle
THE approach of the threatened labor struggle between
the industry and the labor unions identified with the
theatrical trades, which has been frequently referred to in
these columns, apparently is being hastened by the antag-
onism of musicians' unions against the introduction of
sound devices in the theatres.
The appearance of the sound devices, substituting for the
work of musicians in the theatres, was bound to foment a
struggle. It is quite understandable that these unions
should view with apprehension the coming of mechanical
reproduction of music, bringing with it a threat, great or
small, upon their employment.
But long before the introduction of this new angle of the
controversy the motion picture industry had found itself in
an exceedingly trying position relative to the demands and
exactions of labor unions in connection with wages and
working conditions. The labor unions apparently have
been proceeding on the illusion that the picture business
is an inexhaustible gold mine and that with only a little
sacrifice of profits constantly increasing wage scales could
be maintained.
Since the earliest days of the business labor demands and
exactions, in wages and in working conditions, have steadily
and substantially mounted, without recessions and without
compromise in cases where compromise was needed. Re-
peatedly the full effect and influence of labor organization
have been applied on local situations and the invariable
result has been a complete triumph for the labor organiza-
tions, with the industry left to foot the additional bill.
Labor's attitude toward the introduction of sound devices
in the theatres is now hastening the day, which has been
forecast by many close observers in the industry, when the
picture business, unitedly and nationally, must undertake a
movement under which it would seek to work out with the
unions wage scales and working conditions which are rea-
sonable and equitable in light of the existing situation.
Much confusion and difficulty likely will be encountered
before this is accomplished, but there seems no other course
for the industry to take if the economic soundness of the
business, in this respect, is to be safeguarded.
* * *
Pro^cers and Censors
THE attitude generally of producers toward censorship
is a surprising thing and difficult to understand. When
their pictures go through the censorship mill without en-
countering serious harm they lapse into a tolerant or even
approving att'tnde. But when an individual subject suf-
fers deletions ti; it limit the entertainment and attraction
value, they immediately commence to take renewed inter-
est in censorship — for the moment.
Mr. Howard Hughes of Caddo Productions, is now seri-
ously disturbed over what has happened to his production,
"The Racket." It is announced that he is now planning a
campaign against censorship. But it may be noted that
while the censorship evil has long been on the map we
have heard no earlier protests from Mr. Hughes. How-
ever, we level no individual criticism against Mr. Hughes.
In his apparent earlier indifference, and in his present pro-
test, he is simply assuming the attitude which producers
generally indulge in.
The censors' hostility toward "The Racket" is a fine ex-
ample of what may be expected from the system of politi-
cal censorship. Naturally, "The Racket" with its sharp
thrusts at the corrupt political system would rouse the ire
of political censors. . . .
Censorship has long been a serious and menacing prob-
lem of the industry. Constant watchfulness and no let up
in the industry's active opposition toward it is the only
sane and sensible course.
* * «
Rowland's Opinions
MR. RICHARD A. ROWLAND, whose efforts and per-
sonality have left an important mark on the indus-
try virtually since its beginning, in tendering his resigna-
tion as production manager of First National last week,
boiled down into a single paragraph a statement which
the executive heads of the industry might contemplate
with a great deal of profit.
Mr. Rowland said:
"In my opinion the industry faces two economic prob-
lems which must be solved. One is the question of nega-
tive cost and the other and most vital is the overseating
conditions. These two problems cannot be changed except
by the heads of the industry getting together and regulat-
ing them so that the industry will be returned the proper
amount of dividends to which it is entitled for the money
invested."
Mr. Rowland has had a long and intimate contact with
the most important operations of the industry since the
store-front show days and is in a position to formulate con-
clusions which demand thorough and careful considera-
tions.
In informal conversations Mr. Rowland has amplified
the opinions which he recorded in his formal statement.
While in his formal statement he sets down "negative cost"
as the first of the two most important problems facing the
industry it is to be noted he insists that the over-seating
question is the worst feature of the industry's present
situation.
In this connection he points out that various leading
factors in the industry have for several years been plunging
headlong into theatre expansions, reckless as to where this
course was leading. And now that various sections cannot
support the theatre investments that have been plowed in,
these same leading factors are looking elsewhere in the
business for miracles to be performed in order that their
positions may be relieved.
And here Mr. Rowland has made a point that cannot
be escaped.
r^^w
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
19
Stage's Move to Make Sound
Films Adds to Screen Tangle
Equity Orders Members Not to
Act Till Regulations Are Met
Sounds Like Dream of
P. A., but It's heal to
Nabbed Theatre Bandit
He Played in "Wheel of Chance"
Then Played with Receipts
of Portland
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND ORE., Aug. 7.— "The Wheel
of Chance" spun a new destiny for Robert
Nolan, 26, who has admitted the robbery last
week of the Portland theatre.
Young Nolan, in a signed statement, said a
chain of circumstances connected with the
picture prompted him to "take a chance." He
stated he had taken part in the mob scene in
this picture. Drifting into Portland, and
noticing that it was playing, he decided to
see it.
While in the theatre he stepped down to
the smoking room and encountered a girl and
young man carrying apparently the day's re-
ceipts. He went back to his seat and after
viewing another reel, decided that he would
see if he could get the theatre's money.
"Everything just seemed to work out right
that night and I had no great difficulty in
turning the trick," he confessed.
He was picked up by the police after prac-
tically all the money had been spent in a few
days on bootleggers and wild parties, with
only $1.50 left out of $1,176.
He was identified by manager Robert Blair,
Harry Wareham, house manager, S. E.
Cheever, treasurer, and Jorene Healy, cashier.
It's Wonder He Didn't
Give Them the Theatre
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOPKINSVILLE, KY., Aug. 7.— A good
story was told recently on rival theatre own-
ers. Manager Hancock of the Alhambra, at
a meeting of the Rotary club, had a pass for
each Rotarian present. Tom Jones, president
of the club, designated Bill Eliott, of the
Princess, to distribute the passes. Alf Eckles
endeavored to get Bill to write "annual" across
the face of each before delivering it, but Bill
toted fair.
Albany Buying Holds Off;
Schine Circuit Hesitates
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 7. — Motion picture theatre
owners in Albany and in fact throughout this
entire section are still holding off from buying
the new season's product and little activity is
shown along Albany's Film Row these days.
The Schine circuit of over 100 theatres has
yet to book any of the new product, it being
said that the Schine brothers up to the present
time have not signed a single contract.
$80,000 Fire Damages
Garrick at Madisonville
(Special to the Herald-World)
MADISONVILLE, KY., Aug. 7.— Fire at
the Garrick theatre, jointly owned by E. W.
Dozier and F. M. Heleman, caused a loss
estimated at $80,000. The house played pic-
tures and also stage attractions. A $10,000
organ was destroyed. The owners announced
that the theatre was insured and would be
rebuilt.
Copyright Laws Called Inadequate — Authors League
Secretary Forecasts War
By PETER VISCHER
NEW YORK, Aug. 7. — The ingenious plan devised by Al Woods, William A.
Brady and the powerful Shubert organization to combat the growing influence
of the screen, namely to transfer stage plays into talking pictures for nationwide
distribution on their own account, has injected a new and difficult problem into
an already badly tangled situation.
^ Woods Sees Help for Stage Indvistry
Woods, commenting upon the plan, was enthusiastic about the future of talk-
ing pictures. His investigations led him to believe that the public as well as the
owners of motion picture theatres want plays with the spoken words more than
any other type of screen entertainment. He said he was impressed by the prac-
ticability of Vocafilm as a medium for synchronized presentation.
"By forming an arrangement with the New much better. I say emphatically that there
York theatres and other producers," he said,
"we will be able to stem the raid that is now
being made by the prominent picture com-
panies upon the ranks of actors and actresses
of the spoken drama. It will work to the
best interests of the dramatists as well as of
the producers for the reason that stage plays
now will no longer be mutilated when trans-
ferred to the screen."
Equity Demands Final
Enter the Actors' Equity Association. Frank
Gilmore, executive secretary of that organiza-
tion, wasted no time in announcing that con-
tracts with actors who intend to appear in
such screen presentations as Woods had in
mind must be scrutinized and approved by
Equity. Without approval, he said, Equity
will refuse to recognize anything other than
the standard contract now in force.
Members of the Actors' Equity Association
have been instructed not to act for talking
pictures until Equity regulations are agreed
upon, said Paul Dullzell, assistant executive
secretary.
"Undoubtedly this latest move will hurt the
legitimate actors very much," said Dullzell.
"There is a bad time ahead and we must
protect our people. We feel that it will be
only a temporary depression, however, for
once the novelty of speaking films wears off,
people will realize that flesh and blood are
must be some arrangement to compensate
actors and actresses for the loss of road com-
panies during the next two years."
Hammerstein Asks Regulation
Arthur Hammerstein, producer publicly
urged Actors' Equity to insist upon regula-
tions of talking pictures, with the following
statement :
"I am president of the Protective Managers'
Association, which holds a ten-year contract
with Equity. And, although Equity has noth-
ing to do with our motion picture business,
we are desirous of having an agreement with
that association by which all talking movies
will be regulated.
"Exiuity pretends to set down laws for the
legitimate theatre, the musical theatre and the
reviews. As the things now stand, if any of
us wish to make a film it is beyond the con-
trol of Equity.
Authors Up in Arms
"We are, however, perfectly willing to go
into conference with the executives of the
Actors' Equity Association for the protection
of the legitimate theatre, provided that the
same rules we make apply to actors who work
for the big movie producers."
Authors are up in arms over the new plan
as well as actors. E. C. Mills, of the Society
of Authors, Composers and Publishers, is of
{Continued on page 32)
Sapiro Group and T O C C To Affiliate
Under Name of B. S. Moss Circuit, Inc.
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7. — As the result of numerous recent conferences, a plan
is now being drawn up to bring together the Independent Motion Picture Exhib-
itors' Association, headed by Aaron Sapiro, and the Theatre Owners' Chamber of
Commerce. Ben S. Moss is slated to head the new organization under the name
of the B. S. Moss Circuit, Inc.
Sapiro is not to drop out of the afHliated organization, but is expected to become
general counsel. He has by no means lost his interest in the £lm industry, and
it is understood that he rather hopes to fulfill his plan of co-operative buying on
what might be called a national scale, with other units comparable to that already
organized in New York.
The affiliation of the Sapiro group with the T O C C must not be considered
an admission of defeat by either organization, but rather an attempt to provide a
much stronger front for both. Sapiro and Sol Raives, president of the T O C C,
feel that an affiliation would bring about closer harmony and co-operation for
two groups fighting for one thing: independence from outside domination.
Details of the plan are not yet ready for publication. Apparently, if the scheme
goes through, the plan will depend upon an ingenious method of stock distribu-
tion. Moss igures- that the combine will provide a new $50,000,000 corporation.
20
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
S
s
g
X
Mr. Richard A. Rowland
RICHARD A. ROWLAND'S retirement as general and produc-
tion manager of First National takes out of the active forum
of the industry, momentarily at least, one of the most out-
standing personalities which the industry has developed.
Mr. Rowland has been an influential factor in the industry prac-
tically since its inception — in production, distribution and exhibition.
He has had a wide experience in film affairs both on the Continent
as well as in the United States.
As president and principal owner of Metro Picture Corporation
he developed this organization into one of the chief contending fac-
tors in the industry. While directing head of Metro Mr. Rowland
produced "The Four Horsemen," which is generally regarded as
one of the greatest pictures.
« 4> *
Mr. Rowland's chief exhibition interests were in Western Pennsyl-
vania where in association with James B. Clark he conducted the im-
portant Rowland and Clark circuit which eventually became a part
of the Stanley circuit.
Throughout his connection with the industry Mr. Rowland has
displayed an unusual faculty for building an organization and keep-
ing an organization imbued with a fighting spirit. He has held in
a remarkable degree the loyalty of the members of his organization.
* * If
The force of his unusual personality, coupled with an exceedingly
democratic manner, has made him, through his contact with the
business, one of the most popular executives, both among the leading
executives of the business and with the rank and file.
—MARTIN J. QUIGLEY.
Nathan Friedberg Killed
When Auto Strikes Pole;
Was Pittsburgh Pioneer
(Special to the Herald-World)
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 7.— Death of Nathan
Friedberg in an automobile accident marks
the passing of one of Pittsburgh's pioneer ex-
hibitors. He owned three theatres. Fried-
berg's chauffeur also was killed when the car
crashed into a pole.
Friedberg had operated the Alhambra the-
atre for fifteen years, having disposed of the
house two years ago. At the time of his
death he was conducting the Triangle, Garden,
and American.
He was a members of the board of the
M. P. T. O. of Western Pennsylvania and
West Virginia. He at one time was a director
of the M. P. T. O. A.
Portland Chief Requests
Adequate Alarm Systems
To Halt Theatre Bandits
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., Aug. 7.— Chief of
Police L. V. Jenkins has requested the man-
agers and owners of all theatres to install
adequate alarm systems in their playhouses at
an early date in order to facilitate the han-
dling of theatre roibberies. This order was
occasioned by a recent bold robbery at the
Portland.
Yeggs Blow Strongbox of
Merrill, Getting $3,000
(Special to the Herald-World)
MILWAUKEE, Aug. 7.— The Merrill the-
atre was robbed of $3,000, two days' receipts,
last Monday, it vras disclosed today. Arnold
Saxe, manager, left the theatre Sunday night
and everything was all right. However, next
morning yeggs had broken in and blown up
the safe.
Warner Stock Jumps
To New Peak for Year
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Stock of Warner
Brothers Pictures sped up to 59J4 on the curb
market Friday, setting a new peak for the
year, or an advance of almost nine points in
a turnover of 93,500 shares.
T. C. Reavis Marries
(Special to the Herald-World)
SANTA ROSA, GAL., Aug 7.— T. C.
Reavis, part owner of the State and Qine
theatres, married Irene Brady, June 30, at
Carson City, Nev., but news of the wedding
has just leaked out. The couple left last
week on a world tour.
Shauer and Meyer Sail
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— E. E. Shauer, gen-
eral manager of Paramount's foreign depart-
ment, sailed Wednesday with Frank Meyer,
general purchasing agent, for a month in
Europe.
Third in Mae Marsh Family
(Special to the Herald-World)
PASADENA, Aug. 7.— A daughter,
Margaret, born to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Lee
Arms last Tuesday, is the third child of the
former Mae Marsh.
Dorothy Mackaill Divorced
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Dorothy Mac-
kaill, screen star, was granted a divorce from
Lothar Mendes last Friday.
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
21
Regulate Negative
Cost, Overseating,
Rowland Proposes
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Leaders of the in-
dustr>- must get together and regulate negative
costs and overseating before the proper
amount of dividends can be realized on the
investment in the business, Richard A. Row-
land declared in formal announcement last
week of his resignation as general and pro-
duction manager of First National. News
of the retirement was carried in last week's
issue of the Herald- World.
"Two years ago I announced that I would
not renew my contract with First National at
its expiration," Rowland said. "The many
subsequent changes in the company have not
affected this position, even though Mr. Ken-
nedy requested that I remain. I have made
no previous announcement in deference to
the wishes of Mr. Kennedy who requested
that none be made until the expiration of my
contract, Thursday, August 2, 1928.
Calls FN's Position Enviable
"After practically thirty years of motion
pictures, I am anxious to get away from the
trials and tribulations of production and have
more time to myself.
"In the time I have been with First National
I am happy to say it has been established in
an enviable position in the production field,
having previously never produced any motion
pictures. It has one of the finest studios in
the world and one of the greatest aggregations
of stars and an excellent producing organiza-
tion. I am extremely happy that Al Rockett
will continue as head of the studio. First Na-
tional in my opinion has the greatest lineup of
stories of any company, and with Mr. Depinet
in charge of distribution, I am positive that
First National will see its best year.
"In my opinion the industry faces two eco-
nomic problems which must be solved. One is
the question of negative cost and the other
and most vital is the overseating theatre con-
dition. These two problems cannot be changed
except by the heads of the industry getting
together and regulating them so that the in-
dustry will be returned to the proper amount
of dividends to which it is entitled for the
money invested.
Opposes Outside Interference
"Mr. Kennedy is coming into a new era of
things and he, I feel, will be very instru-
mental in solving these conditions in common
with the heads of the other companies. This
would be a step in the right direction. It
would be a fine thing for the industry within
itself to solve these matters rather than have
other powers regulating its affairs.
"I wish to take this opportunity of thank-
ing the many friends and associates I have
within and without the organization. For a
long time I have been wanting a complete
rest — now I am going to take it. Perhaps
after a time I may get the fever again. This
only time can tell."
Fred Flader to Direct
Universal Chain; Paine
Will Remain Associate
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Fred A. Flader has
been appointed general manager of Universal
Chain Theatrical Enterprises, succeeding the
operating cabinet which, for the last six
months, has been directing the more than 300
houses.
Charles B. Paine, formerly head of the cab-
inet, will continue as associate to Flader.
No changes in the executive personnel of
the chain are contemplated.
Chase Bill Would Bring Censor
Tyranny, Petti John Warns U. S.
Federal Commission Would Have Tremendous Power Without
Check, Industry Is Told — Political Hacks Would Draw
Huge Salaries, Create Expensive Bureaus
especial to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7. — The bill seeking the creation of a commission to con-
trol, regulate and dominate the motion picture industry, known as the Hudson
Motion Picture bill sponsored by Canon Chase, reformer-churchman, was sub-
jected to the microscope here today by C. C. Pettijohn, chief counsel for the
Films Board of Trade.
Called Most Radical Ever Offered
Pettijohn considers the bill to be the most radical and revolutionary measure
affecting the film industry ever brought before Congress. It includes the salient
features of the Brookhart bill, which confronted the industry at the last session
of Congress, and also those of the important anti-trust laws, the Federal Trade
Commission Act, and certain portions of the Interstate Commerce Commission
Act. It concludes with provisions for a national censorship.
Canon Chase's bill would create a federal for headquarters in Washington and bureaus
C. C. Pettijohn
Motion picture commission under the De-
partment of the Interior as a division of the
Bureau of Educa-
tion. The commis-
sion would consist
of the commis-
sioner of educa-
tion and six com-
missioners, two of
them women. The
commissioners, ac-
cording to church-
man's plans,
would be intelli-
gent, experienced
and otherwise
qualified for their
pos1;s.
Pettijohn point-
ed out that this
bill would be a radical departure from our
scheme of government, in that the commis-
sioners would be vested with tremendous
power, without check, and hold their jobs for
life. Furthermore, many of the details of
the plan are ambiguous in the bill, according
to Pettijohn, and might place the industry
in the hands of laymen without knowledge of
pictures or experience with them, to say noth-
ing of politics.
Tremendous Power Without Check
The bill would pay the commissioners'
salaries of $9,000 a year, with $10,000 a year
for the chairman. According to Pettijohn,
it would be impossible to obtain qualified ex-
perts at this figure. The industry might well
be turned over to political hacks, who could
not be removed from office for anything so
inconsequential as incompetence.
Another section of the bill would provide
wherever the "public interest" should require.
In other words, pointed out Pettijohn, any
number of bureaus: might be set up, with the
cost of them charged up to the motion pic-
ture industry.
The bill is intended "to protect the motion
picture industry from unfair trade practices
and monopoly." Pettijohn maintained that
the Federal Trade Commission has ample
power to accomplish this end. Indeed, enough
suits already have been brought against the
industry to show that there is no necessity
whatever of creating a new department of the
government to combat the evils of "monopoly"
and "unfair trade practices."
Calls Proposition Ridiculous
The bill would also provide for the "making
of wholesome motion pictures at the source
of production" and for the "proper distribu-
tion and exhibition of non-theatrical as well
as theatrical films." Here, of course, are two
of the industry's great problems. People who
have made a life study of these problems are
still seeking improvements. Pettijohn pointed
out that any six people able to solve these
problems could easily command a lot more
than $9,000 a year. The proposition seems
to be, on its face, ridiculous.
The bill would make the motion picture in-
dustry a public utility, transforming its com-
panies one stroke of the pen into public serv-
ice companies.
Pettijohn considers the bill fundamentally
wrong because it is predicated on the false
premise that the industry is a public utility.
Its terms and provisions he considers vague,
ambiguous and contradictory. The entire plan
he considers unnecessary, expensive, unfair.
Finally, said Pettijohn, "it might modestly be
suggested that the bill is unconstitutional."
Trade Commission Asks Circuit Court
To Enforce Ban on PFL Block Booking
(Washington Bureau of- the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7. — Enforcement of the Federal Trade Commission's
order of July 9, 1927, prohibiting block booking of motion picture films by Para-
mount Famous Lasky Corporation, is asked of the United States Circuit Court of
Appeals for' the Second Circuit, New York, by the Federal Trade Commission in
an application filed with the court last Wednesday.
The £ling of the suit followed failure of the company to submit a satisfactory
report of compliance with the block-booking clause of the order, which prohibits
the corporation and Adolph Zukor and Jesse L. Lasky from continuing the prac-
tice of leasing films in a block or group and compelling picture houses which
show the films to take all pictures in the group, or none at all. without regard
to the character of the pictures or the wishes of the house.
It is expected that the case will come up for trial early in the fall, and undoubt-
edly a decision of the New York court will be followed by an appeal to the United
States Supreme Court.
■■■■HUUfll
22
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
I
;
8
S»
BROADWAY— Some of the boys have
been staying up pretty late. . . They're
trying to sign Texas Guinan. . . Can it be that
she got herself indicted as a publicity stunt?
^Bebe Daniels is due here about the time
this is being read, if it is being read. . . Well,
she'll be here about this time even if this isn't
being read. . . Welcome is on the doormat.
HTwo months for Nat Rothstein. . . That
means the advertising head of Universal is go-
ing abroad for a vacation.
^D. W. Griffith's "Battle of the Sexes" was
slipped into the Loew theatre in New Rochelle
the other night for a preview. . . Reports were
most encouraging. . . Of course we're getting
so used to this sex business in titles that this
sounds like a fight between automobile manu-
facturers.
IfThe presidency of the A. M. P. A. was
finally pinned on to George Harvey of Pathe,
and this time it stuck. . . Bruce Gallup
seconded the nomination. . . With a sigh of
relief you could hear up on top of the Para-
mount Building, where it seemed to be a sixty-
three-mile gale going by.
TISays an enlightened author in the Daily
Review, pipe-dreaming himself to be a film
salesman talking to an exhibitor : "Don't pay
any attention to those ads you see in the
papers about talking pictures, about sound
effects and musical accompaniment, it's all
the bunk even though my boss did put those
ads in." . . Can it be that he is referring to
all those ads published in the Review?
IJThe K-A-0 circuit is installing talking
equipment in its big houses, probably begin-
ning at the Palace. . . Imagine the competi-
tion that will make for the Monday matinee
gabbers !
^Quinn Martin, the w. k. commentator on
things screenic for The World, is vacationing,
alternating between Soundview and Man-
hasset Bay. Jeff Holmesdale, whom less for-
tunate people know as an English lord, Am-
herst is the name, is pinch-hitting.
1[The best argument yet advanced for syn-
chronized pictures was provided by the prop-
erty man at the opening of "Lilac Time." . .
This birdie kept dropping huge hunks of
scenery, or maybe it was steel girders, with
the idea that this sounded like crashing air-
planes. . . It sounded just exactly like a very
annoying guy dropping something on your
foot on a hot night.
llWhen is somebody going to write a theme
song that isn't all sugary, dripping, dripping,
dripping?
ly/oe Kennedy, the intrepid traveler, is due
back in New York, with Bill LeBaron and
other dignitaries. . . He says he is still looking
for a successor to Dick Rowland. . . Appli-
cants will please get into double file on the
right.
^Si Seadler is off on a vacation.
^John Loder, British war hero signed by
Jesse Lasky for Paramount, arrived in New
York the other day. . . A very handsome
lad, according to the ladies.
^Jimmie Gleason has left Broadway for Los
Angeles, with a bag full of dese and dose. . .
Jimmie will work on Vilma Banky's picture
for Samuel Goldwyn and you will remember
that he signed with Universal a little while
back to film his "Shannons on Broadway."
'^Al Woods has a hunch that talking repro-
ductions of stage plays will halt the raids be-
ing made on legit stars by the pictures. . .
Yes and no. . . It might only whet the ap-
petite of some of the reciters.
lIAmericans should study European tastes?
. . Not according to Joe Schenck. . . He sees
the shoe on the other foot.
PETER VISCHER.
Gilbert Plays the Errant Son
THE story of city night life and a young man whom it threatens to
destroy, is "Four Walls," M G M's new vehicle for John Gilbert, in
which the star appears sans Garbo. Joan Crawford has the feminine lead.
The production was directed by William Nigh.
John Gilbert
and Joan Crawford
Gilbert and
Vera Gordon, the mother.
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Flowers for the returning convict — Carmel Myers and Vera Gordon
Religion provides a moment's light amusement — Gilbert and Miss Crawford.
mmmm
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
Trio Charged with
Plct But Officials
Let Bout Film Run
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 7.— Charged with
conspiracy to violate the federal prize fight
film act of 1912, afiidavits were filed Wednes-
day in the United States district court against
Walter Dominique, operator of the Newcomb
theatre, B. F. Lazarus, owner of the building,
and B. F. Everett, of New York City, alleged
to have brought to this city the film of the
Tunney-Heeney fight. According to Edmund
Talbot, assistant district attorney, no effort
will be made to discontinue the showing of
the picture.
Some time ago similar charges were
brought against a group of men who exhibited
the Dempsey-Tunney fight film at the old
Dauphine theatre. The film ran its length
and the government imposed a minimum fine
on the promoters. Capacity audiences were
the rule.
Paramount Stockholders
Approve Capital Boost
To Three Million Shares
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— A proposal to in-
crease from 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 shares the
authorized no par capital stock of Paramount
was approved yesterday by stockholders. The
purpose is to split the stock on a 3 for 1
basis, after the record date of payment of
the third quarter dividend.
The stockholders adjourned until August
25 because of the possibility of changes by
the corporation authorities at Albany, in the
application. The directors, August 13, will
decide the dates of exchange of the stock.
Asher Levey Resigns
As Film Purchaser of
Keith-Orpheum Chain
Asher Levey resigned this week as film pur-
chaser for the Keith-Orpheum circuit, effec-
tive August 31. From his Chicago headquar-
ters Levey stated he was considering several
proposals before making a new affiliation. Be-
fore the present regime entered Keith-Or-
pheum, Levey was also in charge of theatre
operation for the chain. His successor is yet
to be named.
Netoco Buys Gorman
Interests in Portland;
Plans 2,500'Seat House
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, MAINE, Aug. 7.— The Leon
P. Gorman theatre interests here have been
purchased by the New England Theatres
Operating Corporation, giving Netoco control
of the Maine theatre and the proposed 2,500-
seat Netoco State, which will be done in Span-
ish style, with President Samuel Pinanski
supervising decoration. The theatre will be
fitted for sound pictures and presentations.
Dolores Del Rio Given
Luncheon in Chicago
Dolores Del Rio and her director, Edwin
Carewe, were given a luncheon at the Sher-
man hotel in Chicago Saturday. More than
fifty newspaper people and prominent Chica-
goans were present. The director and star
spent several days in the city, after which
they left for New York where they will leave
for an extended trip in Europe.
DeMille Closes Deal with MGM;
Sells Studio Interest to Pathe
Producer-Director Will Take Entire Personal Staff to Culver City
Within Month and Start Series of Productions Soon
Under New Affiliation
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7. — Ten months of speculation as to the future affiliations
of Cecil B. De Mille ended this week when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer formally
announced that contracts had been signed with the producer-director. He sold
his interests in the De Mille studio to Pathe for a consideration reported at
$1,000,000.
Brings Entire Personal Staff
De Mille will take -to M G M his entire personal staff and will make a series
of super-productions, the company announced. The move from the De Mille
studio will be made within a month and production will follow soon after that.
The first picture will be a modern story, it was stated, but the title was not
given.
While it had been predicted that DeMille which scores and synchronizes pictures, an-
was going to join MGM, as late as last week nounces that the company has taken over the
it was said that minor details were holding fifth floor of the Mills building for its library
up an agreement. These details now have of world rights music,
been cleared from the path.
Less than one year ago it became known
that De A'lille would sever connections with
Pathe-De Mille. At that time he began nego-
tiations with Joseph M. Schenck, Nicholas
Schenck and Louis B. Mayer. It was first
believed by the trade that De Mille was cer-
tain to tie up with United Artists.
No denials to anything were forthcoming.
He said nothing, but continued to visit the
production magnates. Up to one month ago
little thought remained that he would accept
the oifer to join MGM.
Sells Studio Interests
After the contracts were signed, De Mille
said :
"I have sold my interest in the De Mille
studio to Pathe, for which company I con-
tinue to have the very highest regard. I joined
MGM because I feel that organization offers
the best producing and distributing facilities.
This made my choice an easy one."
As a producer for MGM, De Mille stated
that it is his intention to specialize on produc-
tions of the size and importance of "The Ten
Commandments," "The Volga Boatman,"
"The King of Kings," and "The Godless Girl."
In commenting upon the new affiliation
Louis B. Mayer, head of the MGM producing
organization in Culver City, said:
"The acquisition of Cecil B. De Mille to
the MGM fold is one of the most important
moves in the history of our company. The
name of De Mille represents a type of enter-
tainment that occupies a warm spot in the
hearts of the motion picture public throughout
the world."
Kennedy Names Glazer
Production Adviser at
F N and Pathe Studios
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Benjamin Glazer
has been engaged by Joseph P. Kennedy as
his personal representative to be production
adviser at First National Studio and Pathe
studio and in sole charge of sound production
of both studios.
Glazer recently completed his contract at
the Paramount studios where he served as a
writer of original stories, adapter and super-
visor. He will assume his new duties at the
Pathe studio at once.
Poli Stays in Advisory
Capacity with Fox Chain
(Special to the Herald-World)
BOSTON, Aug. 7.— S. Z. Poli is to be re-
tained in an advisory capacity with the Fox
theatre circuit in connection with the pur-
chase of the Poli circuit. Poli also states
he will retain a financial interest in the chain.
It is believed this means Keith-Albee will
continue to supply the vaudeville and will
drop its construction plans.
Mills in New Offices
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Irving Mills, presi-
dent of World Wide Music Corporation,
John Barrymore Signed
For First Vitaphone Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— John Barrymore has
been signed by Warner Brothers for his first
talking picture, which is to be made as a spe-
cial Vitaphone production. President H. M.
Warner announced today.
They Tied Bull Outside —
Which Wasn't Bad Idea
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY. Aug. 7.— The
other day a cattle train was wrecked
in the railroad yards of Kansas City.
Many hundreds of cattle were soon
running loose in Kansas City. With
such circumstances prevailing it re-
mained for a large, shaggy bull to
stampede down through Kansas
City's him row. It was there the
bull was captured. Now the point
is this, as most exhibitors see it:
Why the bull on Film Row.'
William DeMille Returns
For P F L Sound Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— William DeMille,
after an absence of two years, again will
affiliate himself with Paramount and will work
on sound pictures, Jesse L. Lasky announced
today.
Fire at Metropolitan
(Special to the Herald-World)
BOSTON, Aug. 7.— About an hour after
Friday night's show closed, fire broke out
backstage at the Metropolitan, operated by
Publix. Damage is estimated at $20,000.
24
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
S
^
Sound Installation Delay Affects
^^ Lilac Times^^^ N. Y. Opening
Two Synchronizations Made But Substituted Effects Consist Chiefly of
Terrific Noises — Unions Deny Dispute
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7. — The difficulty involved in presenting synchronized
pictures at this time was well illustrated at the opening of "Lilac
Time," Colleen Moore's new spectacle, at the Central theatre Friday
evening.
<'T ILAC TIME" was originally synchronized
Sing a Song of Nine Pills
Swallowed in a Bunch
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY. Aug. 7.— Sam
GoldHam, one of Kansas City's vet-
eran film salesmen, had been taking
tablets for an ailing heart. The other
day he tilted the box to his lips,
intending to swallow one pill — and
nine rolled down his throat. The
pills were poisonous, so Samuel was
rushed to a hospital in a hurry and
his stomach was emptied. He now
is all right.
for First National by the RCA method.
Then another synchronization was hurriedly
made by the Western Electric System, in
order to be certain that the proper reproduc-
ing apparatus would be on hand. Both were
said to be thoroughly satisfactory and First
National officials were enthusiastic.
Synchronism Effect Lost
Then it was suddenly announced that the
installation of the sound apparatus had not
been completed in time and that the picture
would therefore be presented with a 25-piece
orchestra and effects, to say nothing of a
chorus. The effect of the synchronization was
lost, and missed too, for the effects consisted
largely of making terrific noises that all but
knocked the spectators out of their seats.
It was then noised about that labor troubles
held up the installation of the reproducing
apparatus. Two unions are involved in the
installation of sound apparatus : the Interna-
tional Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
and Motion Picture Operators and the electri-
cal workers of the Building Trades Union.
Both denied any part in a dispute, but the
apparatus was not installed in time.
"Lilac Time" was seen by quite a large audi-
ence, very friendly to Miss Moore. The pic-
ture was greeted with applause.
Chicago Electrical Strike
Still Shuts Off Sound Films
The Chicago theatre still was showing silent
pictures this week despite the original plan to
open with synchronized films July 30, and at
the United Artists theatre Cecil B. DeMille's
"King of Kings" opened last Friday night
without sound.
This situation was precipitated by the strike
of electrical workers which delayed comple-
tion of installation of sound equipment in the
theatres. As stated last week, it was indicated
that the strike of the installation men was a
part of union labor's general opposition to
talking pictures and mechanical music.
Leaves It to Patrons to
Rule on Reserved Seats
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, Aug. 7.— The Orpheum
theatre, first run motion picture and vaude-
ville house, is up against a perplexing prob-
lem when it opens for the season next fall.
The management — Fred Spear — is undecided
whether the theatre-going public of Kansas
City desires a reserved seat policy at the
house.
Film Stars in Bucket Line
As Fire Threatens Homes
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Stars of
the screen took to the bucket line
when a fire, starting in an unoccupied
house in Laurel canyon last week,
spread to the brush and threatened
their homes. Celebrities joined
neighbors with bucket and hose in
drenching the roofs and in beating
out the brush fire.
Last season the theatre tried out the policy
of reserving seats on Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays only. Therefore, through stories in
daily newspapers, Spear has requested that the
public send letters to the management and ex-
press a desire concerning the question. The
majority will determine the policy. Spear said.
Carnivals Renew Menace
To New York State B, O.
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 7. — Summer carnivals
again are proving a menace to motion picture
theatres in Troy, Watervliet, Cohoes and
Rensselaer. In Watervliet, there have been at
least six carnivals thus far this summer.
Prize fights, staged weekly in Albany and
Troy and attracting thousands, also are said to
have made heavy inroads on the theatre.
Reports reaching Albany from summer re-
sort towns indicate better business done the
past week than at any previous time during
the summer.
General Pictures Is Busy
Shooting at San Mateo
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN MATEO, CAL., Aug. 7.--General
Pictures Corporation, new organization with
Oscar A. Price as president and general man-
ager as well as in direct charge of produc-
tion, went into action recently with the start
of shooting of "The Bachelor's Club," being
made by Richard Talmadge Productions.
General Pictures was formed to produce for
independents and take over the studio proper-
ties in San Mateo, formerly the Graf Broth-
ers Studios. The Graf interests are amalga-
mated in the new corporation.
Fred Stone Badly Hurt
When His Plane Falls;
Both Legs Are Broken
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Fred Stone, veteran
comedian of stage and screen, may be lost
to the theatre for the next year at least as
the result of severe injuries received in the
crashing of his airplane last Friday. Accord-
ing to reports from New London, Conn., the
accident occurred when the motor of the bi-
plane went dead while Stone was making a
solo flight in his biplane and the machine
crashed in a nose dive near Groton airport.
The reported injuries include a double com-
pound fracture of the left leg, fractured right
thigh, fractured lower jaw, dislocation of the
left ankle and right shoulder, and lacera-
tions.
S one, of course, is known primarily for his
work on the stage, but he also made a few
pictures some years ago. including "Under the
Top" and "The Goat" in 1919, "The Duke of
Chimney Butte" in 1921, and "Billy Jim" in
1923.
Air Mail Rates Reduced
To Nickel for One Ounce
Air mail rates were reduced last week to
five cents for the first ounce or fraction and
ten cents for each additional ounce. This
means an addition of only three cents postage
over ordinary mail to send a letter by air mail,
with a saving of one to three days. The old
rate was ten cents for the first half-ounce.
Stanley Appoints Buhler
Pittsburgh District Boss
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 7.— Frank W.
Buhler, directing manager of the Stanley
Company's theatres in the Philadelphia dis-
trict, has been appointed general manager of
the houses in the Pittsburgh district, with
headquarters in Pittsburgh, effective this Fri-
day. Earl L. Crabb becomes the district man-
ager.
Edward Heiman, formerly of the Brooklyn
Strand, and John Firnkoess of the Stanley-
Fabian circuit are added to the Stanley com-
pany cabinet as assistants to A. Sablosky,
vice-president and general manager of East-
ern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey.
Raonl Walsh Reweds
Raoul Walsh, director, flew to Tiajuana
and married Mrs. Lorraine Walker Thursday
the day after the decree of his final divorce
from Miriam Cooper was entered.
Hermann Starr Sails
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Hermann Starr
leaves tomorrow on the Olympic to start
sales drives in London, Paris and Berlin on
the new Warner product.
West Coast Chain Shifts
Portland, Seattle Staffs
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., Aug. 7.— Floyd Max-
well, who has been manager of West Coast
Theatres' Broadway for the past two years'
will assume the management of the Portland
Thursday, succeeding Robert Blair, who will
become manager of the Seattle in Seattle.
Eddie Hitchcock, in charge of advertising and
publicity for the Portland, will head the new
publicity department for the entire Portland
division assisted by Bart Wheeler. F. T.
Thomas, who succeeds Maxwell as manager
of the Broadway, comes from California
where he was closely identified with some
of the leading houses using Afovietone.
Irene Bordoni III
(Special to the Herald-World)
PARIS, Aug. 7. — Irene Bordoni, musical
comedy star, is reported critically ill. She
was operated upon for appendicitis last week.
Exhibitor Hurt in Plane
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 7.— 01 lie Stacey, man-
ager of the Majestic theatre, narrowly escaped
death last week, when an airplane in which
he with others was riding, crashed near Red
Hook, N. Y. Stacey suffered a fractured leg,
a broken collar bone and other injuries.
■f 1
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
MR. QUIGLEY says
Editorially:
"Labor's attitude toward the in-
troduction of sound devices ....
is now hastening the day ....
when the picture business ....
must undertake a movement under
which it would seek to work out
with the unions wage scales and
working conditions which are
reasonable and equitable in light
of the existing situation."
• • *
"Censorship has long been a
serious and menacing problem of
the industry. Constant watchful-
ness and no let up in the industry's
active opposition toward it is the
only sane and sensible course."
* * •
"In informal conversations, Mr.
Rowland has amplified the opin-
ions which he recorded in his
formed statement. While in his in-
formal statement he sets down
'negative costs' as the first of the
two most important problems fac-
ing the industry it is to be noted
he insists that the over-seating
question is the worst feature of the
industry's present situation."
Allied Amusements Picks
A, M. Bowles as Chairman
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 7.— The annual
meeting of the Allied Amusement Industries
of California, Inc., held at the headquarters
of the organization in the Golden Gate The-
atre Building, resulted in the election of the
following as a board of governors : Irving
C. Ackerman, of Ackerman & Harriss ; Joe
Blumenfeld, Blumenfeld Circuit; T. M. New-
man, Golden State Theatre & Realty Co.,
Sam Levin, Levin Theatre Circuit ; Cliff
Work, Orpheum Theatre ; Rodney Pantages,
Pantage Theatre Circuit ; Richard Marshall,
Duffy Theatres; J. C. McCann, T. & D. Jr.
Enterprises, Inc. ; Louis R. Greenfield, Green-
field Theatres ; Sol Levis, Strand Theatre, and
A. E. Arkush, Arkush Circuit.
A. M. Bowles, manager of the Northern
California interests of West Coast Theatres,
was chosen chairman, succeeding Irving C.
Ackerman, who had served several terms ;
Louis R. Greenfield was chosen trustee-treas-
urer, and Thomas D. Van Osten, was chosen
secretary-manager for the ninth consecutive
term.
Saxes and Brachman Sue
Midwesco, Asking $58,500
(Special to the Herald-World)
MILWAUKEE, Aug. 7.— The Midwesco
Company, operating more than a score of
motion picture theatres in Milwaukee and
Wisconsin built by the Saxe company, were
made defendants in three suits by John and
Fred Saxe and Oscar Brachman who seek
a total of $58,500, charging breach of con-
tract.
It is charged that the Midwesco company
agreed to purchase $58,500 worth of stock
from them in the Capitol Amusement Com-
pany at Madison and that the contract has
not been fulfilled.
Reformers "Mentally Sick", Say
Editors; Fight on in Two States
Censor Is as Supreme an Egoist as Could Possibly Exist, Declares
Kansas City Star — Louisville Writer Tells of
"Seeing" Good Sermons on Screen
Tvi^o important editorial denunciations of opponents of Sunday shows, in one
of which the socalled reformers are defined as being "mentally sick," were
evoked last week by agitation in towns in Kentucky and Missouri against the
opening of theatres on the Sabbath.
Kentucky Reformers Hold Whiphand
Efforts to open have made little progress in Kentucky towns where blueness
has been the rule since the beginning of the industry. At Middlesboro war-
rants were served on the personnel of the Gaines theatre. There were arrests
at Paducah. In Louisville, where city and suburban theatres generally are not
interfered with, the community has blocked shows at the Parkland in a section
formerly a separate township.
In Missouri, ministers of Columbia are wag-
ing a Sunday closing war on the theory that
this town is responsible for "moulding the
morals" of 5,000 students at the University of
Missouri. The merchants declare business is
seriously hurt by the young people going to
other cities for their pictures and hold that
90 per cent of the population favors Sunday
shows.
Laid to "Unhappy Childhood"
The Kansas City Star, without referring
to any specific case, says the following re-
garding reformers and censors :
'The average reformer is not a hypocrite.
He is an honest man, driven by the sincerest
convictions to try to regulate the lives of
others. But he is mentally sick.
"The 'cens'or mind' commonly results from
an unhappy childhood. The result is that the
censor-minded person, suffering from such a
childhood fixation, goes into adult life seeing
wrong-doing where the normal man sees only
innocent diversion, and, being unable to adapt
himself to the ways of the world, he tries to
force the world to adopt his own code.
Unqualified to Judge
"He leads a sort of detached and isolated
life, which makes him strikingly unqualified to
judge what the effects of a play or novel or
picture may be upon the morals of the ma-
jority. He is conservative, suspicious of
change, seclusive and out of tune with life.
And just because he has so little knowledge
of the ways of the world, he overvalues his
own limited experiences absurdly. All in all,
the censor is as supreme an egotist as could
possibly exist.
"But why does the 'censor-minded' exert
such an influence in restricting the lives of the
normal majority? It is because he possesses
the single-tracked determination of the fanatic.
Any neurotic compulsion, no matter what its
kind, has more force and energy behind it
than a normal non-neurotic desire. The com-
pulsive neurotic has no peace of mind until he
gives way to his compulsion.
"The normal majority, on the other hand, is
careless of such efforts at regulation until they
have gained force. Being comparatively free
from relentless compulsion it is indifferent.
In that lies its weakness."
"Can't Drive People to Church"
The situation at Parkland, Ky., brought the
following letter, signed by an Ella Snidell, to
the Courier- Journal :
"It seems as though the old fight is on again
as to whether the picture show in Parkland
be allowed to open on Sunday or not.
"I noticed in the paper a few days ago that
'five ministers and five laymen' from Parkland
had called on Mayor Harrison, asking him t&
keep the show closed on Sunday, that the
people of Parkland did not want a Sunday
show.
"In the first place, they made a wrong
statement. They should have said the 'church-
people,' or better than that, 'some of the
church people,' do not want a Sunday show.
"The ministers cannot speak for all of Park-
land a bit more than I can. People that
want to go to church will not go to see a
picture, and if they don't want to go to
church, and do want to see a picture, closing
this one up will not make them go to church.
It will send them uptown to the picture shows.
You cannot make people go to church.
Good Sermons on Screen
"I understand that Sunday is the biggest
day for the picture show and that a show
closed on Sunday cannot afford the best. I
also understand that the management of the
Parkland show plans to show religious pic-
tures on Sunday. I am a church member and
attend church regularly. I would not care to
go to a Sunday show. But for the boys and
girls (and adults) that do go, would it not
be better to have a Sunday show, with suitable
pictures, and good clean shows' all through
the week, than to have the same old cheap,
low-class pictures, and the place not opened
on Sunday?
"And I am broad-minded enough to think .
(Continued on page 94)
J. M, Schenck Brands Retirement Report
As Both ^'Ridiculous and Unwarranted'*
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 4. — Reports that Joseph M. Schenck is retiring from the
presidency and chairmanship of United Artists are "ridiculous and unwarranted."
This is: Schenck's cable reply to rumors that have been circulated in the West.
Schenck is returning next month from Europe.
Besides Schenck's re-election. United Artists announces the following officers
chosen by the stockholders: Vice-presidents, Dennis F. O'Brien, Harry D. Buck-
ley and Alexander Lichtman; Vice-president and treasurer, Arthur W. Kelly; Sec-
retary, Albert H. T. Banzhaf; Assistant secretary, Frank A. Beach; Assistant
treasurer, Mary Rusk. Directors include Schenck, O'Brien, Nathan Burkan,
Banzhaf, Buckley, Christopher J. Dunphy, James A. Mulvey and Bertram S. Nay-
fack. The only new director is Dunphy, New York banker and Eastern business
representative of Gloria Swanson.
26
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
>
^
Paramount Carries Newspaper Ad
Drive to Millions Sunday
Listing of 413 Publications in 695 Cities Shows Campaign Will Extend Into
All Important Centers of U. S.
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7. — Every principal city in the country will be covered
in the nationwide newspaper campaign of Paramount which starts Sun-
day in 695 papers in 413 cities, it is shown in a listing 'of the cities,
the newspapers in the tieup, and their circulation. Millions of readers will bo
reached.
WHERE several papers in one city are be-
ing used, one paper will carry the an-
nouncement, which will measure seven col-
umns in full depth, on Sunda}-, August 12,
another paper a few days later and the third
the following Sunday. There will be different
copy for each paper. Special ads will appear
in all cities where the first-run playing Para-
mount is equipped for synchronization. Atten-
tion also will be called to the eleventh annual
Paramount Week.
Followmg is the list of cities where the
announcement will be carried, with names of
newspapers and their circulation :
BOSTON. — Boston, American 301,689, Herald and
Traveler 262,965, Post 404,661 ; Brockton, Enter-
prise 23,667, Times 11,534; Fall River, Globe 10,295,
Herald-News 22,108; Haverhill, Gazette 16,213; Hol-
yoke, Transcript-Telegram 16,524; Lawrence, Tele-
gram, 8,706, Tribune and Eagle 23,909; Lowell,
Courier Citizen and Leader 20,534; Sun 19,736;
Lynn, Item 16,831, Telegraph-News 17,222; New
Bedford, Standard 29,065, Times 21,373; Northamp-
ton, Gazette 7,365 ; Springfield, Union and Republi-
can 68,534; Taunton, Gazette 9,275; Worcester, Post
29,600, Telegram and Gazette 100,156; Concord,
Monitor-Patriot 6,279; Keene, Sentinel 3,994; Man-
chester, Union and Leader 31,026; Nashua, Tele-
graph 6,366; Providence, 41,763, Bulletin 72,254;
Brattleboro, Reformer 3,336.
NEW HAVEN.— Ansonia, Sentinel 7^083; Bridge-
port, Herald 42,153, Post and Telegram 44,739;
Bristol, Press 4,699; Danbury, News 7,617; Hartford,
Courant 58,713, Times 56,077; Meriden, Record
8,363; Middletown, Press 8,494; New Britain, Her-
ald 13,577; New Haven, Journal-Courier 20,087,
Register 50,846, Times-Union 20,336; New London,
Day 12,887; Norwalk, Hour 6,769; Norwich, Bulle-
tin and Record 13,000; Stamford, Advocate 11,010;
Torrington, Register 5,309 ; Waterbury, Democrat
10,660, Republican and American 28,823; Willi-
mantic. Chronical 3,250.
PORTLAND (Me.).— Bangor, News 29,977; Lew-
iston. Journal and Sun 30,394 ; Portland, Press-Her-
ald and Telegram 75,531.
NEW YORK.— New York, American 1,099,735,
Graphic 282,254, Herald-Tribune 302,365, Journal
680,681, News 1,226,561, Sun 276,668, Telegram
226,984, Times 392,300, Worid 334,482.
NEW JERSEY.— Elizabeth, Journal 25,566; New-
ark, Call 79,253, News 128,394, Star-Eagle 100,032;
Passaic, Herald 15,753, News 15,035; Paterson, Call
19,104, Press Guardian 16,802.
ALBANY.— North Adams, Transcript 10,461;
Pittsfield, Berkshire Eagle 18,308; Albany, Knicker-
bocker Press and News 83,327, Times-Union 46,539;
Amsterdam, Recorder and Democrat 7,532 ; Malone,
Telegram 4,675; Middletown, Times-Herald 10,679;
Oneonta, Star 8,509; Ogdensburg, Republican Jour-
nal 6,032; Plattsburg, Republican 5,338; Schenec-
tady, Gazette 23,196, Union-Star 16,873; Troy, Rec-
ord 23,174, Times 10,121; Utica, Observer-Dispatch
34,771, Press 26,370; Watertown, Standard 18,061,
Times 18,611.
BUFFALO. — Auburn, Advertiser-Journal and Cit-
izen 10,148; Batavia, News 9,365; Binghamton,
Press 36,511, Sun 22,712; Buffalo, Courier-Express
122,531, News 152,684, Times 125,480; Cortland,
Standard 5,736; Dunkirk, Observer 4,415; Elmira,
Advertiser and Star and Gazette 34,686 ; Geneva,
Times 5,725; Ithaca, Journal-News 7,660; Jamestown,
Journal 9,642, Post 12,004; Lockport, Union-Sun and
Journal 8,462; Niagara Falls, Gazette 76,140; Glean,
Herald 4,746, Times 8,600; Oswego, Palladium-Times
10,811; Rochester, Democrat and Chronicle 83,708,
American 65,315, Times-Union 80,441; Syracuse,
American 80,017, Herald 80,846, Post Standard,
59,219.
PHILADELPHIA-WILKES BARRE.— Wilming-
ton, Every Evening 16,902 Journal and News 34,345;
Atlantic City, Press and Union 41,033; Camden,
Courier and Post 64,341 ; Trenton, State Gazette and
Times 59,596; Allentown, Call 33,477, Chronicle and
News 12,186; Bethlehem, Globe and Times 15,160;
Easton, Express 34,884; Harrisburg, News and Pa-
triot 75,032, Telegraph 44,808; Hazelton, Plain
Speaker and .Standard Sentinel 20,685 ; Lancaster,
New Era and Intelligencer Journal 54,000; Lebanon,
News and Times 10,722; Norristown, Times-Herald
13,175; Philadelphia, Bulletin 548,952, Inquirer 277,-
880, News 136,876, Public Ledger 586,371, Record
130,250; Plttston, Gazette 4,700; Pottstown, News
8,566; Pottsville, Journal 10,463, Morning Paper and
Republican 15,109; Reading, Eagle 40,045, Times
31,429; Scranton, Republican 38,503, Times 43,679;
Shamokin, Dispatch 4,952, News 4,758; Shenandoah,
Herald 6,630; Wilkes Barre, Record 26,832, Times
Leader 27,595 ; Williamsport, Sun and Gazette and
Bulletin 29,990; York, Dispatch 20,202, Gazette and
Daily 20,145,
WASHINGTON, D. C— Washington, Herald
135,560, News 57,445, Post 80,691, Star 106,862,
Times 75,767; Baltimore, American 174,485, News
145,011, Post 90,486, Sun 196,611; Cumberland,
Times 14,794; Hagerstown, Herald and Mail 13,264;
Salisbury, Times 3,078; Norfolk, Ledger Dispatch
43,192, Virginia Pilot 44,194; Richmond, News
Leader 67,449, Times Dispatch 60,375; Roanoke,
Times and Wodd New^s 33,251; Bristol, Herald
Courier and News Bulletin 12,396.
« « *
ATLANTA. — Birmingham, News and Age Herald
114,117, Post 63,000; Montgomery, Journal and
Times 22,509, Advertiser 23,037; Atlanta, Constitu-
tion 123,909, Georgian 69,245, Journal 131,186; Au-
gusta, Chronicle 12,344, Herald 14,796; Columbus,
Enquirer-Sun 6,236, Ledger 12,406; Macon, News
15,918, Telegraph 27,552; Charleston, News-Courier
and Post 31,081; Chattanooga, News 32,440, Times
33,496; Knoxville, Journal 32,661, News-Sentinel 36,-
763 ; Nashville, Banner 60,442, Tennessee 31,279.
MEMPHIS.— Fort Smith, Times Record 24,996;
Hot Springs, New Era 3,774, Sentinel-Record 4,489;
Little Rock, Democrat 29,882, Gazette 49,585; Jack-
son, News 17,350; Memphis, Commercial Appeal
165,916, Press-Scimitar 91,949.
CHARLOTTE.— Ashville, Citizen 19,371, Times
17,695; Chariotte, News 20,933, Observer, 42,489;
Durham, Herald 13,018, Sun 7,156; Greensboro,
News 33,722, Record 8,274; High Point, Enterprise
6,255; Raleigh, News and Observer 38,631, Times
12,697; SaHsbury, Post 8,424; Wilmington, News
Dispatch 4,327, Star, 8,302 ; Winston-Salem, Journal
and Sentinel 34,753; Columbia, Record 14,027, State
26,008; Greenville, News 27,183.
JACKSONVILLE.— Daytona Beach, News-Jour-
nal 9,905; Jacksonville, Times-Union 60,236, Journal
20,437; Lakeland, Ledger and Star-Telegram 7,829;
Miami, Herald 38,651, News 32,221; Orlando, Re-
porter-Star 8,860, Sentinel 8,366; St. Petersburg, In-
dependent 9,336, Times 15,559; Tampa, Times 27,804,
Tribune 42,482.
* * ■*
NEW ORLEANS.— Mobile, Register 37,499; New
Orleans, Item 79,845, States 34,080, Times-Picayune
128,689; Shreveport, Journal 20,638, Times 51,721.
DALLAS. — Amarillo, News-Globe 23,606; Beau-
mont, Enterprise and Journal 46,389 ; Dallas, Dis-
patch 35,891, News 99,019, Times-Herald 61,538;
Fort Worth, Press 29,063, Star Telegram and Rec-
ord 124,709; Houston, Chronicle 92,327, Post Dis-
patch 66,023, Press 41,796; Waco, News-Tribune and
Times Herald 30,138; Wichita Falls, Record-News
and Times 46,542.
SAN ANTONIO. — Austin, American-Statesman
19,700; El Paso, Herald and Times 41,403; Galves-
ton, News and Tribune 21,790; San Antonio, Ex-
press 60,673, Light 63,353.
DETROIT. — Battle Creek, Enquirer and News
13,314; Bay City, Times 18,502; Detroit, Free Press
276,016, News 346,876, Times 326,795; Flint, Jour-
nal 43,762; Grand Rapids, Herald 32,642, Press 90,-
684 ; Jackson, Citizen-Patriot 28,647 ; Kalamazoo,
Gazette 28,577; Lansing, State Journal 40,437; Mus-
kegon, Chronicle 18,226; Tontiac, Press 23,234 Port
Huron, Times-Herald 20,630; Saginaw, News 26,980.
CHICAGO. — Aurora, Beacon-News 19,667 ; Bloom-
ington. Paragraph 20,000; Champaign, News-Gazette
13,294; Chicago, American 352,276, Herald-Examiner
1,667,364, News 435,749, Tribune 1,125,721; Danville,
Commercial-News 24,000; Decatur, Herald 26,762,
Review 25,777; Elgin, Courier-News 33,690; Evans-
{Continiied on page 100)
State Ban on Dog Tracks
Aids Louisiana Exhibitors
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 7.— Except
for the many night clubs the thea-
tres will have easy sailing this season
as the state legislature has put out
of existence the dog tracks, not only
in the city of New Orleans but the
entire state as well.
Injunction Asked
In Fight Against
Barring of Minors
(Special to the Herald-World)
MONTREAL, Aug. 7.— The initial step in
the campaign of the exhibitors of the Province
of Quebec against the new law prohibiting
the attendance of children under 16 years of
age at moving picture theatres was taken Fri-
day when legal proceedings were entered to
restrain the court magistrate from hearing
charges against a number of theatre owners
for alleged infractions of the new regulation*.
James Duhamel, proprietor of the Passe
Temps theatre, was the petitioner in the writ
of prohibition. Charges against 50 other the-
atre managers of Quebec cities are being held
over pending the hearing of this test case.
The question raised is whether the Quebec
Provincial Legislature has power under the
British North America Act, which is the Con-
stitution of the Dominion, to legislate in the
sense that it has done in prohibiting the ad-
mission of all children from moving picture
theatres.
Paramount News Fetes
First Birthday with
Host of Well Wishes
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Celebration of the
first anniversary of the Paramount News
brought to Emanuel Cohen, editor, messages
of congratulations from leaders in many
walks of life. Among them were Frank B.
Kellogg, Harry S. New, T. Douglas Robin-
son, E. Trubee Davidson, Everett Sanders,
Rear Admiral W. A. McWitt, T. V. O'Con-
nor, Rear Admiral F. C. Billard, Major C. F.
Thompson, Claude L. Ashley, Maj. Gen.
George S. Gibbs, John T. Alsop, Jr., John
Guild, Governor Vic Donahey, Governor F. D.
Sampson, J. J. Fayette, J. W. English, Sid-
ney M. Nutt, W. T. Murray.
No Casualties When
Colonial Is Bombed
(Special to the Herald-Werld)
SEATTLE, Aug. 7. — Roof timbers were
cracked, the ventilator shaft was cracked and
the plaster was loosened as a result of the
setting off of another bomb in the Colonial
theatre here. It exploded at the end of the
last show and there were no casualties.
This is the second bombing of the Colonial
and the seventh bombing of theatres in Seat-
tle this year directed at John and Joseph
Danz. It is believed by police that the bomb
was thrown from a nearby building.
Kennedy Returning to
New York from Coast
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Joseph P. Kennedy,
president of F B O Pictures Corporation, has
left Hollywood and is returning to New York,
after a four weeks' trip to the West Coast.
Law Repealed for Theatre
(Special to the Herald-World)
TORONTO, Aug. 7.— A bylaw which pro-
hibited the erection of any theatre in the
Vaughan Road section of Toronto has been
repealed to pave the way for erection of a
$80,000 picture house by Bert Grant. Harry
D. Martin has prepared the plans.
Calbeck Leases House
(Special to the Herald-World)
MILFORD, IND., Aug. 7.— N. Calbeck of
the Community theatre, Syracuse, has leased
the Comus theatre here, and will reopen it
again within a week or two.
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
27
^e^
Film News
in Pictures
PICTORIAL SECTION ^tt^
The alert photographer killed two birds with one stone, as it
were, when these two film celebrities were discovered disembark-
ing in New York. And thus we have posing for the not-to-be-
dispenscd-with camera ceremony, Raoul Walsh, the eminent actor-
director, and June CoUyer, who is listed among the rising young
screen actresses and who made such a notable showing in the
Fox production, "Hangman's House."
Back in Hollywood after trips of importance Eastward, John
Monk Saunders, Paramount writer and author of "Wings"; Fay
Wray, Paramount star who has become Mrs. Saunders since
leaving Hollywood to go on location near Chesapeake Bay for
"The Last Kiss"; and Jesse L. Lasky, vice-president of Paramount
in charge of production, who has been talking talking pictures
with the home office executives in New York.
Another traveller of recent date is Hal Roach,
who is pictured above being greeted upon his
arrival in New York by Fred C. Quimby, who is
in charge of the shorts department of M G M,
for which company the comedy producer pre-
pares his laugh-makers. Mrs. Roach accom-
panied her husband.
Face to face with Al Jolson.
Jolson, who made a thrilling
thing of the Vitaphone picture,
"The Jazz Singer," has been
signed to a contract by Warner
Brothers. His next production
is "The Singing Fool."
Have you tried this one yet? You'd better —
it's the latest thing. Looks hard, doesn't it? It
is. 'Tis said, in fact, that to play tennis on roller
skates is just that much harder than without
them. Ruth Taylor, the Paramount blonde of
gentlemanly fame, herewith demonstrates her
prowess.
■Hf W
28
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
S
An aerial shot of a set on the F B O lot, showing how a scene of such large
dimensions is brought to the screen in perfect detail. This night club episode
is in "Sinners in Love," a swift drama of fast life. The cast is headed by
Olive Borden, Huntly Gordon and Seena Owen, while George Melford is
directing.
^
A concentration of unusual people, engaged in what seems
to us an unusually laudable procedure. Bebe Daniels,
Paramount star, is shown as hostess at the studio to the
famous 'round-the-world flyers (left to right), Edward
Schlee, William Brock and George Haldeman.
An imposing photograph of a village of cliff dwellers. This extraordinary
community attained motion picture significance recently as the locale of
sequences in a new release in Universal's 1928-29 series of "Collegian"
stories, the novel shorts introduced by Carl Laemmle, Jr., last year. The tech-
nical staff and cameras are the mites discernible high up at the left.
Louise Fazenda cools off between scenes with what prohi-
bition has made America's greatest rival to the highball.
The noted comedienne, who has just completed a featured
role in Warner Brothers' "Noah's Ark," is now working
in the Vitaphone mystery play, "Terror."
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
Smiles of confidence smiled by James W. Home, director for Buck Jones,
and by the adventurous Buck himself. These broad grins were registered
while on location for "The Big Hop," Jones' initial independent production,
which has just been completed. Distribution is said to have been already
contracted for in all sales districts of the country.
Author and star of Educational's new series of aviation
stories — Thomson Burtis and Reed Howes, on location at
Mojave, Cal. The series, entitled "Russ Farrell, Aviator,"
is adapted from Burtis' tales in The American Boy. The
air sequences are now being shot.
— ^
^^it^^^^t^^^^^^^^^^^^K^'iJi^^
' ^^Sig
A dashing portrait of the effervescent Sally O'Neil, who
has exploited so successfully the many charms of Erin.
Miss O'Neil has the title role in Universal's "The Girl on
the Barge," a Rupert Hughes story starring Jean Hersholt
and directed by Edward Sloman.
Boy, page Mr. Rickard. For it's scenes like this that make pugilism a finan-
cial wow. This one's from M G M's "Beau Broadway," and Hugh Trevor will
be pronounced victor as soon as Jim Jeffries gets through counting. The
production is a Cody-Pringle vehicle directed by Mai St. Clair. Other play-
ers are Sue Carol, Kit Guard and Heinie Conklin.
wmwrnrnmBKlt*
30
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
i
S
s
I
Kennedy Signs Ideal Films Again to
Distribute F BO in Britain
Two Hundred Theatres in Gaumont British Corporation, Affiliated with
Ideal — Third Year of Sales Arrangement
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— F B O product will be distributed in the United
Kingdom for the third year in succession by Ideal Films, Ltd., of Eng-
land, as a result of negotiations just completed by Joseph P. Kennedy,
president of F B O, with Simon Rowson of Ideal Films, one of the oldest and
leading distributors in Great Britain. Ambrose S. Bowling, manager of F B O
Export Corporation, and Sol G. Newman, F B O representative in London, also
were factors in the arrangement.
IT was in September, 1926, that Kennedy
first arranged with Ideal to handle F B O
product. The step was called of material
significance in establishing more friendly re-
lations in the industry between America and
Britain. Then in August, 1927, F B O distribu-
tion by Ideal in the United Kingdom again
was arranged.
200 Theatres in Circuit
Importance of the third year arrangement
is accentuated by the fact that in the past
two years the number of theatres under the
control of Gaumont British Corporation with
which Ideal is affiliated, has risen to 200. First
came the acquisition of the Davis group of
houses, called the largest circuit in Britain.
Next the Denman theatres were acquired, and
then came the amalgamation of General The-
atres and British Gaumont.
The 200 houses include some of the best in
England, and next October a 3,000-seat the-
atre is to be opened at Croydon, in the Davis
chain.
Big Market, Says Rowson
When contracts between F B O and Ideal
were signed, Simon Rowson cabled Dowling:
"The F B O product has met and is meet-
ing with phenomenal success throughout the
United Kingdom. There is as great a market
in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales for
the melodramas, comedy dramas, westerns and
short subjects which F B O is producing as
there is in America.
"The trade in the United Kingdom is keenly
aware of the great progress that F B O has
made under the brilliant leadership of Mr.
Kennedy. The F B O product has met with
such phenomenal success in the United King-
dom during our two years' alliance that we are
looking forward to an even more successful
season than we have had in the past."
Among the outstanding successes in the
United Kingdom this year have been "Not for
Publication," "Shanghaied" and "Clancy's
Kosher Wedding."
The campaign for the distribution of the
FBO 1928-29 product marks the 17th birth-
day celebration of Ideal, which controls fifteen
Colored Medical Films
To Supplant Volumes?
The physician or surgeon of the
future will have a library of colored
motion picture films instead of musty
books. Dr. Franklin H. Martin of
Chicago stated on his arrival in
Paris last week to arrange for the
filming of outstanding operations,
according to newspaper dispatches
from the French capital.
This prediction is in line with the
arrangement made with the Ameri-
can College of Surgeons a year ago
by Will Hays and the motion picture
industry. Dr. Martin is director-
general and president-elect of the
surgeons' association.
exchanges. The management of Ideal, which
operates independently, is under the control
of Simon Rowson and Edward R. Russell.
Simon Rowson is a member of the Board of
the Gaumont British Corporation.
Good Films Will Dominate
Patron Interest Always,
Sam Sax Tells Exhibitors
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Good films always
will dominate the interest of the patrons of
motion picture theatres, and "there never will
be a time when the 'all-talkie' will surpass the
silent drama at the box-office," Sam Sax,
president of Gotham, declared last week in
candidly admitting that such steps as his com-
pany is taking in regard to synchronizing its
pictures are merely by way of swinging along
with the present tide.
"On all sides one senses the sudden halt in
business initiative — both production and exhi-
bition— because of the uncertainty of the fu-
ture silent pictures as opposed to synchronized
films," Sax said. "Apart from the serious
condition this inertia is leading to in the mar-
keting of pictures, the situation is the most
absurd thing in the world. It is no secret that
the vast majority of exhibitors couldn't have
their houses wired for sound installations for
almost a year, even if these were ordered to-
morrow.
"The exact position of sound right now is
that it is something that may possibly be
counted on as a universal thing, somewhere
in the far future. For the present, it is hav-
ing its phase in the headlines just as presenta-
tions had its inning about two years ago. It
stands to reason that unless the present de-
mand for screen fare is attended to, there
will be real cause for tears later, regardless
of whether 'sound' eventually comes to stay
or not. The show must go on."
Coast Exhibitors Tie Up
To Gotham and Excellent
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., Aug. 7.— The North-
west Independent Exhibitors Association an-
nounces a cooperative arrangement with
Greater Features whereby this organization
hereafter will distribute Gotham and Excel-
lent attractions among their 130 members in
the Oregon territory. To J- J. Fleming,
Portland secretary, goes considerable credit
for growth of this Northwest organization.
Dodge Named Manager of
United Artists, Cleveland
(Special to the Herald-World)
CLEVELAND, Aug. 7.— Harry Dodge is
the new manager of United Artists' Cleveland
exchange, which now takes in Pittsburgh,
Cleveland, Detroit and Cincinnati. Indian-
apolis, formerly with Cleveland, now is in
I he Chicago group from Omaha and Minne-
apolis.
At the New York
Theatres
NEW FILMS
PARAMOUNT — "Forgotten Faces," a Paramount
film with Clive Brook, directed by Victor Schertzinger.
CAPITOL — "The Mysterious Lady," a Metr9-Gold-
wyn-Mayer production starring Greta Garbo, directed
by Fred Niblo.
RIVOLI— "The Perfect Crime," an F B O special
with Clive Brook, directed by Bert Glennon.
FIFTH AVENUE PLAYHOUSE— "Shackleton: A
Tragedy of the South Pole," an official film record
of the English explorer's final journey into the Ant-
arctic.
HIPPODROME— "Powder My Back," starring
Irene Rich.
HELD OVER AND REVIVED
STRAND — "Glorious Betsy," with Conrad Nagel, a
Warner Bros, production revived for another week.
RIALTO — "Loves of an Actress," starring Pola
Negri, revived for another week.
CAMEO — "A Woman of Paris," starring Adolphe
Menjou; also "Caligari," revived for another week.
S5TH STREET PLAYHOUSE— "Berlin, the Sym-
phony of a Big City," revived for another week.
CRITERION — "Wings," Paramount, opened August
12, 1927.
EMBASSY — "Tempest," United Artists, opened
May 17, 1928.
WARNERS— "The Lion and the Mouse," Warner
Brothers, opened June 15.
GLOBE — "The Red Dance," Fox, opened June 25.
ROXY — "Street Angel," Fox, revived July 14.
ASTOR — "White Shadows in the South Seas,"
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, opened August 1.
CENTRAI^-"Lilac Time," First National, opened
August 3.
12 European Producers
Open New York Offices
To Spur Booking in U, S.
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Affiliated European
Producers, Inc., is the name of a combine
including twelve Continental organizations
which has established temporary offices at 729
Seventh avenue, with the aim of making spe-
cial eff^orts to place the best European pictures
in American theatres.
M. J. Gourland is direct representative of
the producers. Associated with him is Irvin
Shapiro, Bernard Sholtz will be general sales
manager. Permanent American offices will be
opened in the fall and German and French
producers will be here to formulate a cam-
paign.
The first release will be "Alraune," which
will carry the title "Unholy Love" in its
American distribution.
Skouras Books Fox Solid
Into 32 St, Louis Houses
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 7.— Fox product for 1928-
29 has been booked 100 per cent into the
32 thePlres of Skouras Brothers and Harry
Koplar. James R. Grainger, general sales
manager, completed the deal while here.
Switow Back on Job
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOUISVILLE, Aug. 7.— Michael Switow,
of the Switow Theatrical Enterprises, operat-
ing a string of theatres in Kentucky and
Southern Indiana, has recovered from a nerv-
ous breakdown, and is back on the job again.
Making Trinity Serial
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Harrv Ravier is
directing a ten-episode serial for Trinity Pic-
tures, taken from a Cecil Burtis-Hill original,
"Sailors of the Seven Seas."
Alberta Vaughn Wins
COPENHAGEN.— The Cinema Qub of Copenhagen
has chosen Alberta Vaughn of FBO as its favorite
American star.
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
Y^
SYNCHRONIZED PICTURES
?9.
What About Critics?
We hear a lot of hullabaloo these
days about the poor actors and directors
being out of luck with the advent of
the "talkies," but what about the mo-
tion picture critic? We all know that
many of them write none too intelli-
gently about the silent drama, and now
that the "talkies" are gaining in impor-
tance and numbers will they be able to
hold their jobs?
The question, though of no great im-
portance to the industry, is worth a
bit of idle speculation. Will the film
critic have to give way to a new type
of critic, who has a knowledge of
voice as well as pantomime? Perhaps
an entirely new school of film criticism
will be evolved. It is possible that the
dramatic critics of the legitimate stage
will be drafted to "talkie" criticism.
But what a blow that would be to these
boys. They have always looked down
from a great height upon the moving
picture as the lowest form of art. Well,
we shall see. — Whit.
A I Jolson Signs
Long Term Contract
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Al Jolson has
signed a long term contract to star in Vita-
phone productions for Warner Brothers. His
contract with Warner Brothers, now provides
for his remaining in pictures permanently.
According to Jolson's new arrangement with
Warner Brothers, he will not give up the
stage but will make trips to the studio in
Hollywood at specified intervals in order to
assure a consistent output of his productions.
Riiz in Macon to
Use W. E. System
(Special to the Herald-World)
MACON, GA., Aug. 7.— The Ri:-z theatre
is to be equipped with Western Electric sys-
tem of sound. Installation will be completed
before the end of the month. The equipment
includes not only the synchronous devices but
the double turn-table for non-synchronous
sound devices. It is expected that the first
presentations will be non-synchronous. The
Ritz is operated by United Theatre Enter-
prises, headed by Arthur Lucas and William
K. Kenjins, both of Atlanta.
Alice Day Is Cast in
Denny's First Talking Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Alice Day has
been selected for an important role in "Red
Hot Speed," Reginald Denny's first talking
picture for Universal. Several others also
have been added to the cast, including Thomas
Ricketts, Charles Byer, Fritzie Ridgway and
Burr Mcintosh.
FBO Completes First "Talkie
Now Synchronizing Five Others
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— FBO has completed its first talking picture, "The
Perfect Crime," and is now at work synchronizing five other specials which will
contain synchronized music, sound effects and dialogue. They are "Hit of the
Show," "Gang War," "Blockade," "The Circus Kid" and "Taxi 13." These six pic-
tures may be run on either the Photophone or Movietone systems, it is said.
"The Perfect Crime" has already been dialogue sequences together with mystery
given a two weeks' test engagement at the
United Artists theatre, Detroit, and opened
at the United Artists Publix Rivoli theatre
in New York August 4 for a week's run and
opened simultaneously at the Rivoli in Balti-
more. The picture contains an entire court
room scene in dialogue giving the attack of
the prosecuting attorney, the defense of his
rival, the plea of a condemned boy and other
sound eft'ects.
"The Perfect Crime" was written by
William LeBaron and is based on Israel
Zangwill's story, "The Big Bow Mystery."
Clive Brook and Irene Rich head the cast
which includes Tully Marshall, Edmund
Breese and Gladys McConnell. The produc-
tion was directed by Bert Glennon.
Pathe News^ Features to Have
Sound; Dialogue in "Godless GirV^
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7. — Two RCA Photophone sound recording equipments
have been shipped by the General Electric Company to the Pathe studios at
Culver City, and accompanying the equipment is a staff of engineers. Immedi-
ately upon arrival work will be started retaking some scenes with talk in Cecil
DeMille's special, "The Godless Girl."
This is in line with Pathe's plans for pro-
ducing a large portion of its entire 1928-29
product in sound. Already work has been
begun for applying sound to Pathe News. Ray
Hall, editor of the News, has been working
for weeks on the details of an organization
that will apply sound effects to the Pathe
News.
Every department of production, features
24-Sheets Sing Mammy
Songs! Well, Why Not?
The following note comes from
Dave Bader, accessory sales man-
ager of Universal, and it shows that
among other things Dave has a sense
of humor. And after all perhaps
Dave is right at that!
"Now that the industry is wild
over synchronization, I am expecting
any day that we accessory guys will
have to start worrying about SYN-
CHRONIZED ACCESSORIES.
Photos may soon have to talk, pos-
ters may soon sing, and heralds
chant. Banners may have to croon
mammy songs.
"If so, the poor 24-sheet will have
to be a 100 piece symphony orches-
tra or it won't attract a bit of atten-
tion! Ye Gods! This is a 'sound'
business anyway, so why be 'silent'
about it?"
as well as shorts, has been actively engaged
for months developing plans and perfecting
methods for the application of sound, it is
said.
Features on which musical synchronization
is either under way or else set for early ap-
plication include the following: "Show Folks,"
"The Spieler," "Ned McCobb's Daughter,"
"Annapolis," "N o i s y Neighbors," "T h e
Leatherneck," "Square Shoulders," and
"Listen Baby." "The King of Kings" has al-
ready been synchronized with Photophone.
Second "All-Talkie''
Opens August 15
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— "The Terror," the
second all talking picture produced by War-
ner Bros., will have its world premiere at the
Warner theatre here, Wednesday, August 15.
The production represents a definite step for-
ward in the progress of talking films by being
the first picture in which titles of every kind
are eliminated, it is claimed.
Although "Lights of New York," Warner
Brothers first all talking picture, contained
dialogue spoken by every character, never-
theless there were introductory and explana-
tory titles. In "The Terror," however, even
the name of the picture, the production credits
and the cast of character will be conveyed
through Vitaphone and not a printed word
will be seen from start to finish, according
to the company.
32
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
n
s
k
S:
Universal Plans Expenditure of
$1^230^000 on Sound Buildings
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7. — Carl Laemmle has authorized the expenditure of
$1,250,000 for the construction of four sound-proof stage units in Universal City
and laboratories and studios at Fort Lee in New Jersey for the production of
Universal synchronized pictures. Construction is already under way on Univer-
sal's first sound-stage unit at Universal City.
Universal has already synchronized two of they must be well conceived, well directed,
well enacted and well photographed. All the
music, or sound or talking in the world will
not take the place of the four cardinal prin-
ciples of the motion picture — story — direction
— action — photography."
its specials for the coming season — "Uncle
Tom's Cabin" and "The Man Who Laughs,"
using the Movietone system. Synchronization
Laughs" was also synchronized with an aug-
mented New York Symphony Orchestra and
the Dixie Jubilee singers. "The Man Who
Laughs" was also synchronzed with an aug-
mented New York Symphony Orchestra and
Emo R apee's lyric, "When Love Comes Steal-
ing In," has been used as the theme song.
Laemmle Issues Warning
"Talking pictures will be permanently suc-
cessful only when an entirely new technique
is utilized in their production," says Carl
Laemmle. "There is a novelty, it is true about
hearing the human voice on the screen, which
is a distinctly box-office draw at this moment,
but as soon as the novelty of this phenomenon
has worn off and audiences have become ac-
customed to hearing the characters talk, they
will no longer overlook the crudities of the
technique of what is commonly called the talk-
ing picture of today."
In line with this, Laemmle has issued
a warning to all production forces in regard
to the company's production of silent pic-
tures. It reads as follows:
"The company has formulated definite plans
for a careful and well regulated sound picture
schedule. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and "The
Man Who Laughs" already have been syn-
chronized. The results are marvelous. Our
Sound and Talking Picture activities are be-
ing handled by experts. "Red Hot Speed,"
"The Cohens and Kellys in Atlantic City,"
"Show Boat," "The Last Warning," "Broad-
way," "The Girl on the Barge" and many
others are being or will be made with sound
or synchronized.
Has Already Completed 35
"But all of our pictures will be released to
thousands of theatres unequipped for sound.
No Universal picture must depend upon the
novelty of sound and dialogue to get by.
Each picture must stand on its own feet as
excellent entertainment.
"Universal is fortunate in that 35 of the
promised 67 features for 1928-1929 are already
completed. They are outstanding pictures,
every one of them. We must make sure that
the remainder are of the same high quality.
"This warning is addressed to You, Mr.
Scenario-man, and to You, Mr. Director, and
to You, Mr. Camerman, and to You and You
and You, whatever your job is. With or with-
out sound and talking, Universal pictures must
have good stories with suspense and appeal.
RCA President Says
Sound Pictures Are
Now Interchangeable
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— David Samoff,
president of R C A Photophone, Inc., stated to-
day that complete interchangeability of sound
picture films made by Movietone and Phono-
phone processes have been achieved. Mr.
Sarnoflf's statement was as follows:
"As a convenience to exhibitors and with
a view of obtaining complete interchangeabil-
ity of sound films made by the Movietone and
the Photophone processes, RCA Photophone
has now adopted a sound track 800 mills in
width, but which retains the Photophone
method of recording. Tests made in studio
and theatre with a variety of sound motion
picture subjects prove conclusively that Pho-
tophone films not only play interchangeably on
Movietone projectors but also give normal
and satisfactory speech and musical quality
perfectly synchronized. The 80-mill Photo-
phone sound track requires no modification
whatever of the Movietone sound projector;
neither is the operating procedure of Movie-
tone changed in any way.
"I know of no reason, technical or other-
wise, why sound films recorded by the Photo-
phone process cannot be satisfactorily played
on either Photophone or Movietone machines
installed in theatres. Also, the Photophone
company has no objection to sound films re-
corded by the Movietone process being played
on Photophone machines installed in theatres."
Gloria Selects Byron for
Part in First Sound Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Walter Byron
has been selected by Gloria Swanson as her
leading man in her first synchronized motion
picture, "The Swamp," to be released by
United Artists. Byron, an English actor, is
said to have had considerable stage experi-
ence. The picture will have sound effects and
dialogue sequences.
Herald' World Makes Survey of
Status of Sound Film Market
How great will be the demands for sound pictures during the coming season? To deter-
mine this. Exhibitors HeraldrW orld for the past few weeks has conducted a nation-wide
survey among chain theatres. The results of this survey will be published in the August 18
issue. This survey has brought forth the opinions on sound pictures from the directors of
many of the country's largest and smallest theatre chains. The results of the survey will be
of interest to every person in the industry. Watch for it in the August 18 issue of Exhibitors
Herald-World.
Stagers Film Plans
Clash With Equity,
Adding to Tangle
(Contniued from page 19)
the opinion that existing copyright laws are
inadequate to meet the present situation. Miss
Louise Sillcox, executive secretary of the
Authors League of America, was free to pre-
dict a war.
In this connection it might be noted that
the Authors League has drawn up a new con-
tract for the transference of talking rights.
Under this new contract talking rights have
already been acquired to three Broadway suc-
cesses. Universal has obtained the synchro-
nism rights to "Broadway," having previously
purchased the film rights. Warner Brothers
have acquired talking, in addition to screen
rights, to "The Desert Song," and United
Artists has safeguarded "Nightstick." The
new contract permits the change of dialogue
with the approval of the author. It pro-
vides a 50-50 split between producers and
authors.
Plans Still Tentative
Obviously, the plan still needs to be worked
out. The Shuberts, Woods and Brady have
evolved an elaborate scheme, but it is still in
the experimental stage. For instance, what
are they going to do about the screen rights
to their plays, which sometimes are quite valu-
able. Are these to be thrown away in ex-
change for the chance to make their own?
Incidentally, as announced last week, there
will be associated with the Shuberts, Woods
and Brady several other wellknown producers
whose names, for the present, are withheld.
The new organization has a working agree-
ment with several authors, so that when the
new program goes into production, it is likely
that subjects not seen on the stage will be
screened and recorded by Vocafilm. There
will, necessarily, be a large producing and
technical staff, details of which are to be
announced. Negotiations are underway for
an arrangement with one of the first line dis-
tributing corporations. In the deal, Vocafilm
Corporation was represented by David R.
Hochreich, president. Hochreich will remain
in this capacity.
Stage Productions Listed ,
Among Woods productions on his schedule
for the coming season, which are to be so
treated, are : "Jealousy," starring Fay Bainter
and Glenn Hunter, Florence Reed in "The
Legacy," the new Shipman-Hymer play.
"Fast Life," "A Man With Red Hair," "Scot-
land Yard," "The Great Jewel Robbery" and
"The Censor's Holiday." Other Woods pro-
ductions to be screened are : Florence Reed
in "The Shanghai Gesture," "Crime," "Ann
Harding in "Stolen Fruit" and the Potash
and Perlmutter series.
All of Brady's impending plays are included
in the program, such as "Camera" and Grace
George in "Divorce a la Mode," and in all
probability, those of Brady and Wiman.
The Shuberts, producers of both dramas
and musical works, will present all their forth-
coming productions on the screen. These in-
clude the two Willard Mack plays "Gang
War" and "Paid Off," the Marcin-Shipman
play "Trapped," "Big Pond" in association
with E. H. Knopf and W. Farnsworth and
"Congratulations," the Stanley Weyman oper-
etta, "The Red Robe," "Chopin," the operetta
based on the life and music of the composer
of this name, "A Good Fellow," a musical play
from the French, the new Kalman operetta
now running in Vienna entitled "The Duchess
of Chicago," and numerous others that have
not yet been announced for stage production.
"My Maryland," "Countess Maritza," "Lovely
Lady" and "The Silent House" are also in-
cluded.
L
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTLTRE WORLD
33
7 Detroit Houses
Soon to Be Ready
For Sound Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, Aug. 7.— This talk about syn-
chronization of pictures is no idle talk here.
One by one, the larger houses are having
their auditoriums wired for the different
devices so that they can present talking pic-
tures whenever they desire. Technicians have
arrived here from New York to adapt the
Michigan theatre for the new medium.
Work is progress'ing rapidly at the house,
and is expected to be completed in about two
weeks. Both Vitaphone and Movietone will
be provided, and a novelty is to be introduced
in the form of a device which will allow for
the presentation of voice without film accom-
paniment.
Installation of sound devices already has
been accomplished at the United Artists the-
atre, but no talking films have been shown as
yet. It is expected that "Two Lovers,"
adapted from the novel "Leatherface," will be
the first offering. This film was scheduled for
showing at the United Artists some time pre-
viously, but was recalled from the market so
that the producers could incorporate sound, it
is said. The Hollywood theatre, one of the
largest of neighborhood houses here, already
is wired and waiting for a new battery of
projection machines. When the Fox theatre
opens wide its portals early this fall, audiences
wil find a complete set of talking devices in
operation. As the Capitol, Madison and State
are already wired and presenting talking at-
tractions, it won't be long before the majority
of picture goers here will be confronted with
sound pictures on every side.
LeBaron Goes East
to Confer on Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
"HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— William Le
Baron, vice-president of FBO Pictures Cor-
poration in charge of production, is on his
way to New York for a series of conferences
with Joseph P. Kennedy, president of FBO,
and J. I. Schnitzer, senior vice-president, on
talking pictures. He will remain for several
weeks, mapping out a production campaign
for the "talkies." While in New York, Le
Baron will search for suitable talent for the
talkies.
Serve Refreshments
to Theatre Standies
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Los Angeles as
well as Hollywood is talking about the novel
stroke of showmanship recently applied by
Warner Brothers theatre in Hollywood to
make its patrons comfortable. Cold drinks
and sandwiches are now served at regular
intervals to standers on the sidewalk waiting
to buy tickets at the box-ofhce.
To contribute to the comfort of its guests
until they can gain admission, the theatre now
has a special detachment of employees to
serve them refreshments free of charge.
F IS Has 24 Page Press
Sheet on ^'Lilac Time"
First National has produced a 24 page press
sheet for the Colleen Moore special, "Lilac
Time," which opened August 3 in New York
at the Central theatre. It is said to be one
of the biggest press sheets ever put out by
First National.
Back in 1923
4TT Back in 1923 Dr. Lee De Forest introduced his system of sound pictures.
jj But the country then was not ready for his invention. De Forest tried in
vain to interest capitalists in his Phonofilni. Many considered him as "a
voice crying in the ivilderness." Today, just five years later, his prophesies
have come true. The following article presents interestingly De Forest's views
on synchronized pictures today.
By PETER VISCHER
DR. LEE DE FOREST, pioneer in the field of synchronized and talking pic-
tures, has been observing the film industry's keen interest in sound repro-
duction with mixed feelings. He took occasion here today to point to
an address he delivered on sound films back in 1923, when his Phonofilm made
its first appearance.
the standard projection machines is very sim-
ple and at the same time effective and does
not in any way interfere with the screening
of silent pictures. The amplifying equipment
is contained in one small steel cabinet, taking
up very little space in the booth and gives
ample volume with clarity of tone to fill the
largest theatre so that the audience can hear
equally well in every part of the house. Abso-
lutely no batteries, storage or dry, are em-
ployed."
The litigation between Mr. De Forest and
the Fox-Case Corporation, which was resumed
last month, will not come up again until the
fall. Latest reports here have it that De
Forest will soon begin to make a new series
of Phonofilm feature pictures, utilizing the
old studios on 48th street here.
De Fores't had been reading various opti-
mistic interviews with film leaders on the
possibilities in sound pictures. He noted one
after another who saw a great future in syn-
chronization.
"Five years ago," he commented, "my opin-
ions on the vast possibilities in sound pictures;
met a very skeptical reception. In fact it has
only been in the six months just passed that
anyone, save only the Warner Brothers and
William Fox, has had much confidence in the
future of sound pictures.
Prophesies Come True
"It is naturally a source of satisfaction to
me in re-reading the skeptical statements
made five years ago to realize that what is now
the conviction of the leaders of the film in-
dustry was voiced by W. E. Waddell and by
myself at that early date. The amount to
which sound effects could be successfully ap-
plied to otherwise silent pictures was, I am
sure you will admit, rather carefully pointed
out at that time, as confirmed by the present
success of such pictures as 'The Jazz Singer,'
'Glorious Betsy,' and others.
"The great pity of it all is that there is an-
other instance (not by any means limited to
Phonofilm, for the same thing held in radio
broadcast) when a pioneer who was consid-
ered as that time merely 'A voice crying in
the wilderness' should have ultimately to look
to the federal courts to protect his inventions.
Protection against gigantic aggregations of
capital which he had vainly sought to inter-
est at a time when his opinions on the future
of talking pictures were regarded with entire
skepticism or indifference by the men who are
now seeking to benefit most from those early
inventions.
"In my scrap-book I still cherish a very in-
teresting opinion vented by no less an author-
ity than Quinn Martin in 1924: 'Talking
pictures, it is said, have been perfected — so is
Castor Oil !' I underscored this quotation at
the time with the remark that I hoped Mr.
Martin would live long enough to take large
doses of this same castor oil. I believe he is
thriving on it now!
Phonofilm is Interchangeable
"Phonofilm is the original method of re-
cording and reproducing picture and sound
on the same film and thus securing perfect
synchronization together with, as the Phono-
film is now constructed, perfect reproduction
of sound and naturalness of tone. The sound
equipment is designed to also synchronize
films now being made by the leading pro-
ducers, i. e., Photophone and Movietone, as
well as Phonofilm.
"The Phonofilm is the only method of sound
pictures that comes within the means of the
average theatre owner to install — the original
cost of the equipment being very much less
than that demanded by the makers of other
systems, in fact, one-half to one-third as much.
"The Phonofilm attachment as installed on
"Lights of New York''
Jams Albany House
In Hottest Weather
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 7.— With the mercury
standing in the nineties, the talking picture
"Lights of New York," the first 100 per cent
"talkie" to be shown in Albany, demonstrated
its power of attracting the crowds last vv^eek
at the Mark Strand theatre, and caused more
than one theatre owner in the Albany district
to give serious consideration to what this type
of picture will mean to the theatre in the near
future.
The weather in Albany last week was of
the sort that would ordinarily have left any
motion picture theatre high and dry for busi-
ness. But at the Mark Strand there were
crowds standing nightly that not only jammed
the lobby but extended a block or so into the
street. It was the greatest demonstration of
the drawing power of the talking picture that
could possibly have been given in Albany.
The matinees were also very heavy.
Theatre owners in Albany and Troy are
at their wits' ends these days, not knowing
what to do in connection with the fall and
winter season. Practically every theatre
owner is considering the advisability of in-
stalling the necessary apparatus that will per-
mit him to show talking pictures.
Work Begins on Blue's
First Talking Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Monte Blue's
first talking picture, "Conquest," has gone into
production. The initial scenes were filmed
this week under the direction of Michael Cur-
tiz with H. B. Warner and Lois Wilson play-
ing chief support to the star. This Vitaphone
Road Show concerns itself with a drama of
Arctic adventure.
34
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
I
I
I
I
Paramount Begins New Season;
To Synchronize 40 to 50 of 72
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7. — August 11 marks the beginning of a season for Para-
mount that in many respects is the greatest and most unusual in the long history
of this organization. During this season 72 feature pictures wOl be made, from
40 to 50 of which will be synchronized with sound and in some instances dialogue
effects.
possibilities are unlimited. An entire new
group of actors can now come to the screen.
The old favorites can come back, with the
added attraction of their long silenced voices.
Plays that never lent themselves to screening
can now be filmed with the aid of spoken
dialogue.
"While talking pictures are arousing public
enthusiasm, the non-talking pictures must be
improved to withstand that competition. So
producers who do not concentrate on the
'talking screen' will bend every effort to create
silent drama of higher merit than ever before.
In my 20 years in this business, I have never
seen such enthusiasm on the part of the pro-
ducer. He feels that a big, new development
is dawning in the film industry, or art, or
whatever you want to call it. For all these
reasons, I feel we can honestly predict a really
greater movie season."
At the present time nine productions are
being filmed at the Paramount studios in
HollyAvood, several others are scheduled to
start within the next few days and six more
are being edited, titled and made ready for
release.
Two productions began this week, both of
which will have sound effects. They are Emil
Jannings' "Sins of the Fathers," and the
Richard Arlen-Nancy Carroll picture, a story
of backstage happenings, directed by Dorothy
Arzner, one of the two women directors in
pictures.
Seven units have been at work during the
past month. Five of these productions are
being synchronized with sound. They are
"The Docks of New York," "Moran of the
Marines," "Interference," "The Fleet's In" and
Varsity." Dialogue sequences will also be
heard in "Interference" and "Varsity." The
other two productions are "The First Kiss,"
and "Take Me Home," starring Bebe Daniels.
The Christie studios are at work on the
Douglas MacLean feature, as well as several
two-reel fun subjects, all of which will have
sound effects. Harold Lloyd is selecting a
story for his next vehicle. Thomas Meighan
recently completed "The Mating Call," to be
released by Paramount and to follow "The
Racket."
Chief among the productions in the studio
cutting rooms are "Just Married," from Anne
Nichols' farce, co-starring Ruth Taylor and
James Hall ; "Beggars of Life," the hobo
story with Wallace Beery ; and the part Tech-
nicolor Zane Grey production, "The Water
Hole," with Jack Holt and Nancy Carroll.
"Just Married" and "Beggars of Life" are
being synchronized with sound effects, as are
also "The Patriot," the Ernst Lubitsch pro-
duction starring Emil Jannings ; Erich von
Stroheim's "The Wedding March," with Fay
Wray; and Esther Ralston's "Sawdust Para-
dise."
Warners to Open
Sound Sales Abroad
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Herman Starr,
Warner Brothers executive, sails for Europe
on the Olympic tomorrow for his semi-annual
trip abroad in the interests of Warner's for-
eign distribution. His itinerary will include
London, Paris and Berlin, and in each of
these cities he will inaugurate the sales drives
on Warner Brothers new program of talking
pictures.
Talking Films Bring
More Progress in
Year, Says Trendle
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, Aug. 7. — This year will see the
most interesting progress in screen entertain-
ment ever recorded in any single year in the
last 20 years, in the opinion of George W.
Trendle, vice-president of the John H. Kun-
sky Theatrical Enterprises, Inc.
Trendle's prediction was made in launching
Detroit's annual "Greater Movie Season," sig-
nahzing the opening of the 1928-29 season.
When the motion picture came into existence
it was scoffed at as a novelty that would soon
die away," Trendle said. "But as the years
passed, there were constant improvements and
each development served to give longevity to
the so-called 'fad' of picture-going. Pictures
became more lavish, actors more proficient,
the public support grew, making possible more
elaborate expenditures to make better pic-
tures. In our opinion the screen has reached
a new milestone and the coming year will see
innovations and improvements.
"Chief of these innovations is the talking
picture. It is truly in its infancy, but each
talking picture shows improvement and the
In Two "Talkies," But
Fifteen Years Apart
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Arthur
Housman, a member of the support-
ing cast of Warner Brothers Vita-
phone production, "The Singing
Fool," claims the distinction of hav-
ing had his voice registered for the
first talking picture ever made,
filmed 15 years ago in New York by
the old Edison company. The short
reel showed a minstrel troupe in ac-
tion, with Housman as the interlocu-
tor.
Sparks Houses All
To Be Wired Soon
(Special to the Herald-World)
JACKSONVILLE, FLA., Ausj. 7.— Penin-
sula Theatres, Inc., the operating company
formed by E. J. Sparks to take over the Uni-
versal chain of Florida houses which he re-
cently acquired, will soon have sound equip-
ment in all its houses. The first two theatres
scheduled for sound equipment are the Jeffer-
son, St. Augustine ; and Beacham, Orlando,
both of which are set to inaugurate sound
accompaniment, August 27. Non-synchronous
Western Electric systems will initiate the
"sound" program, although it is expected that
complete synchronous equipment will be in-
cluded in the installation.
This is said to be the first big cooperative
advertising tieup ever put over with the
New York Times. Whether or not this is
true, it is a fine piece of work for the
opening of "Lights of New York" in New
York. Notice the streamer head at the
top of the page. Many theatres over the
country are using the cooperative ad tie-
up for putting over sound pictures with
excellent results.
Lexington House to
Install Photophone
(Special to the Her-ild-World)
LEXINGTON, KY., Aug. 7.— Since the re-
modeled and greatly-improved Ben Ali theatre
reopened a few weeks ago, the Phoenix
Amusement Company is pushing a similar
program of improvement, at the Strand the-
atre. It appears now that considerably more
money will go into the job than was first
anticipated.
The company has just purchased a three
manual Wurlitzer organ. The Strand has not
heretofore had an organ.
Moreover, Photophone equipment is to be
installed. It is expected that the installation
will be completed by the time other work on
the theatre is finished. No definite date has
been set for the opening but every effort will
be made to have the Strand ready for opening
in September. Present plans call for the pres-
entation of "King of Kings" as the initial
offering for the new season.
Warners Complete
Rin-Tin-Tin Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Rin-Tin-Tin's
latest starring picture for Warner Brothers,
temporarily titled "The Outlaw Dog," is fin-
ished with the exception of the sound se-
quences for the Vitaphone print. Director
Ross Lederman is now making these while
the non-Vitaphone print is being assembled in
the cutting room of the Warner Studio.
Curtiz Assigned
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Michael Curtiz
has been designated by J. L. Warner to direct
Dok)res Costello's starring vehicle, "Madonna
of Avenue A," one of the special productions
to reach the screen this year supplemented by
Vitaphone.
The Annual Studio and Directors^ Number of
\^
THE STUDIO
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
''Hollywood."
5 Cents for 5 Minutes
Of Pictures — Ho Hum!
Drop a nickel in a slot and get £ve
minutes' worth of motion pictures.
That's what newspaper dispatches
from New York say will be the
policy of Ave little theatres to start
soon. Ho hum! How short the days
are getting!
Cinemusicomedy Films
To Be Made by Small
Will Feature Notables
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, August 7.— Edward Small
is now entering on a series of productions
-which he calls, briefly, "cinemusicomedy"
vehicles. Fannie Brice, George Sidney, Alex-
ander Carr, Billie Rose, Milt Gross and other
notables are to be featured in the production
of these talkies.
Small reports having signed Fannie Brice
to appear in one feature, in which some of
Tier famous songs will be introduced. Milt
Gross will write an original, to be made en-
tirely in dialogue and which will star George
Sidney and Alexander Carr. Vera Gordon
lias also affixed her signature to a contract to
appear in the Gross story.
Production plans involving the collaboration
of lyric writers, song and melody creators,
"headed by Billie Rose, are also under way,
with Rose already at work.
Estelle Taylor in East;
Completes F B O Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, August 7.— Estelle Taylor
is now in New York to fulfill a contract with
David Belasco to appear on the stage with
her husband. Jack Dempsey, in "The Big
Fight," a play by Max Mercin.
Miss Taylor had planned to leave July 24,
but was delayed in order that she might finish
-work in "The Singapore Mutiny" an F B O
picture in which she is co-starred with Ralph
Ince. When the final scenes were finished,
she found herself with just 30 minutes in
-which to catch her train.
Frances Lee Supporting
Maclean in Sound Film
HOLLYWOOD, August 7.— Frances Lee
has been signed to play Douglas MacLean's
leading woman in his next Christie-MacLean
■vehicle, "The Carnation Kid," which is to be
synchronized with spoken lines and other
sounds. E. Mason Hopper will direct and
Al Cohn will supervise editorially.
The comedian is securing supporting players
-with stage experience.
18 Pictures Completed; Big
Sloman Film Ended at U Lot
Mackaill and Mulhall in Seiter Picture, "Waterfront"; Many Small
Budgets Noted in Survey of Weekly Turnout; Hena-
bery Begins New Tryon Comedy
(Special to the Herald-ll'orld)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Studios turned out 18 pictures last week, with Ed-
die Sloman's, "Girl on the Barge" probably the biggest of the lot. Other big
productions were, "Mask of the Devil" and "Waterfront."
The first is a Universal production made almost entirely in the neighborhood
of New York state ; and the others are Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's and First Na-
tional's, respectively.
Hersholt and O'Neil in U Film
The starring roles in the Universal picture are played by Jean Hersholt and
Sally O'Neil. Sloman followed his own thorough plans in making the picture
one of the finest he has ever directed, it is reported.
Victor Seastrom directed Jack Gilbert and Lederman directs Rin-Tin-Tin in "The Out-
Alma Rubens in the M-G-M opera.
In the First National picture Dorothy Mac-
kaill and Jack Mulhall have the featured roles.
It is another big production which was made
on location. William Seiter spent several
weeks_ with his cast in the vicinity of San
Francisco.
Many of the productions completed last
week are owned by small companies.
Harry Pollard is working on "Show Boat"
with Laura LaPlante and Joseph Schildkraut
heading the cast. Barbara Kent and James
Murray are co-featured in "The Shakedown,"
directed by Willie Wyler. Nat Ross is still
working on "The Collegians" with George
Lewis and Dorothy Gulliver. "The Mystery
Rider," starring WilHam Desmond and di-
rected by Jack Nelson, makes nine pictures in
production at Universal.
Del Ruth Directs "Conquest"
Warner Brothers studio is actively engaged
on five pictures. Roy Del Ruth started
"Conquest," with a strong cast headed by
Monte Blue and Lois Wilson. "My Man,"
the Fannie Brice Vitaphone special, is under
the direction of Archie Mayo ; "The Redeem-
ing Sin" is another Vitaphone special featur-
ing Dolores Costello and Conrad Nagel, di-
rected by Howard Bretherton ; "The Home-
towners," which Bryan Foy is directing, fea-
tures Richard Bennett, Irene Rich, Doris Ken-
yon and Robert Edeson in the cast. Ross
Piano Box Playhouse
Is Honejrmooners' Home
(Special to the Herald-World)
BELOXI, MISS., Aug. 7.— An
oversized piano box transformed
into a child's playhouse is the honey-
moon home of Arch Borge, whose
wages as a New York film theatre
doorman are paying for his painting
study, and Eunice Lyle of the stage.
law Dog." Matty Kemp and Evelyn Pierce
are in the cast.
"Runaway Girls," the one picture in produc-
tion at the Columbia Studios, is being di-
rected by Mark Sandrich. Shirley Mason,
Arthur Rankin, Hedda Hopper and Alice
Lake have featured roles.
De Mille has two pictures working:
"Marked Money," directed by Spencer Ben-
nett, stars Junior Coghlan with Virginia Brad-
ford, George Duryea and Tom Kennedy in
the cast. Howard Higgin is directing Phyllis
Haver and Alan Hale in "Singapore Sal."
Two Pictures at First National
On the First National lot, William Beau-
dine is directing "Do Your Duty" with
Charles Murray, Doris Dawson and Charles
Delaney. "The Haunted House," under the
direction of Benjamin Christensen, features
Flora Finch, Chester Conklin, Thelma Todd
and Larry Kent.
Irving Cummings has started a picture at
the Fox Studios. "The Woman" is the title
and it features Mary Astor, John Boles and
Ben Bard.
Fox has three other pictures in production
this week : "The River," with Charles Far-
rell and Mary Duncan under the direction of
Frank Borzage ; "Riley, the Cop" which John
Ford is directing with Farrell MacDonald in
the leading role, and "Fog," featuring George
O'Brien and Lois Moran with Charles Klein
directing.
"Hell's Angels" Still Working
Howard Hughes is still shooting aerial se-
quences for "Hell's Angels." It is the only
picture in production at the Metropolitan
Studios.
Five productions are occupying the atten-
tion of a like number of directors at the
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. Tod Brown-
ing is making "West of Zanzibar" with Lon
Chaney starred. Jack Conway is directing
{Continued on page 36)
36
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
ON A LOT OF THE LOTS
By FRAZIER
!
HOLLYWOOD. — Richard Aden has graduated from the "sap" school ac-
cording to his own words. He has been feeding the wise eggs in Holly-
wood long enough. In the future when he loses his fine Scotch col-
lie dog, which has his return address on the collar, he does not give a re-
ward, but tells the chap to keep him instead. When the dog gets out, if he
does, he makes a bee-line for Dick's home. So why pay a reward? The dog
has a long pedigree and is a high jumper so he can be depended upon to return
if he gets the chance. This happened once and Dick is waiting for someone
to steal him again to see if it will happen twice.
Watch Bob Elliott Awhile!
Bob Elliott is making great headway in pic-
tures since leaving the well known stage suc-
cess "Broadway." His first work was in
"Lights of New York," which was followed
by "The Ahbi." He was next cast as the de-
tective in Colleen Moor's "Happiness Ahead"
and now has a great part with Irvin Cum-
mings' production tentatively titled "The
Woman." His part is always outstanding and
now may mount to even greater heights in
talking sequences due to his long stage ex-
perience.
Mrs. B. H. Rogers, mother of Charles
(Buddy) Rogers of Paramount studios, ac-
companied by her daughter Mrs. John Bin-
ford, are visiting the young star. They are
from Olathe, Kan. They will spend the re-
mainder of the summer on the coast.
* * *
Brov/ei Becomes a PFL Director
Otto Brower, formerly first assistant under
William Wellman, director for Paramount
studios, has been promoted to director. He
will start on his initial production directing
Jack Holt in "Avalanche." CharHe Barton,
who was also recently promoted, will be Brow-
er's assistant. The picture will be under way
in the next few days.
^ ^ ^
Earle Foxe, the song writing actor, when
not working at the Fox studios, is busy writ-
ing lyrics for sheet music. At this time he
is putting the words to Louis Shurtlifif's "Hot
Ice," a haunting, lingering melody, which will
be published through the cooperation of James
Hall of Paramount, composer of "Mine All
Mine" and several other well known successes.
* * *
Denny Goes Yachting
Reginald Denny, Universal's comedy star,
has departed on a short ocean voyage aboard
his yacht "Barbarine." He will return in a
few days to start work on "Red Hot Speed,"
an original story by Gladys Lehman, which
Joseph Henabery will direct
* * *
Joseph Franklin Poland is spending most
ef his time these days studying the technique
of sound synchronization and various effects
which he intends incorporating in his first su-
pervising effort, "It Can Be Done." Glenn
Tryon is starring. Fred Newmeyer is han-
dling the megaphone.
Although only 22 years old, Lew Sargent
has spent 15 years in pictures. He first
started with Famous Players-Lasky when 7
years of age. He is at present a featured
player with Darmour Productions.
* * *
Walter Camp, president of Inspira-
tion Pictures, Inc., was nominated
for an associate membership in that
nationally famous Tuna Club of Cata-
lina. At a meeting last week, his
name was proposed by William de
Mille, and immediately accepted. He
is now at "Wrigley Isle" on a short
vacation, but secretly endeavoring to
win the much coveted prize — the
gold button.
* * *
Mary Philbin, upon her completion of "Sal-
vage," which Wesley Ruggles directed for
Universal, was selected to co-star with Con-
rad Veidt in "The Play Goes On," according
to announcement from Carl Laemmle, Jr.
Paul Fejos will direct.
^ ^ ^
We are all on our toes waiting the release
of "Hell's Angels," the $2,000,000 aviation
thriller which already has been nine months
in the making, but according to "Line" Quar-
berg publicity director for the Caddo Com-
pany, "it won't be long now." He states the
picture is scheduled for its first showing in
New York in November prior to a nation-
wide road tour.
* * *
Nancy Carrol, will find her work in musical
comedies much to her advantage in "Man-
hattan," which Dorothy Arzner is directing
All Warner Pictures
Shot with 2 Negatives
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK. Aug. 7.— All pic-
tures produced at Warner Brothers
studios are being shot with two do-
mestic negatives, one of which is
cut for the Vitaphone print, the
other for the print designed for show-
ing without Vitaphone. Just as last
year, all Warner pictures will be
available with or without Vitaphone
musical accompaniment.
for Paramount. Her dance steps are being
made in sound, as well as two of her songs,
which were especially written for her by Vic-
tor Schertzinger, composer of "Marcheta" and
several other well known melodies.
* * *
Betty Compson's popularity on the Para-
mount lot is a good example for her large
following in the screen world. Upon com-
pletion of several days' work it is her custom
to give to all who ask, an autographed photo.
She recently autographed more than 100 while
working in "Docks of New York" with George
Bancroft.
* * *
Janet MacLeod, popular Pacadena society
girl, promises to become one of filmdom's
most popular comediennes, according to Mar-
shall Neilan, who engaged her for a part in
Bebe Daniels' current vehicle, "Take Me
Home," which he is directing for Paramount.
Yvonne Howell is assisting Janet in the com-
edy relief.
* * *
Gene Hornbostel, technical director for Tec-
Art Studio, left this week for New York, to
take a course in talking pictures. He will de-
vote most of his time to the study of sound
and talking in connection with colored films.
He plans to be gone about a year.
18 Pictures Completed;
Big Slotnan Film Ended
at U ; Hersholt in Star
{Continued from page 35)
William Haines, Karl Dane and Lionel Barry-
more in "Alias Jimmy Valentine."
"A Woman of Affairs," which co-stars John
Gilbert and Greta Garbo, is under the direc-
tion of Clarence Brown. "Gold Braid," star-
ring Ramon Novarro and directed by George
Hill, is just getting under way, as is "Little
Angel," Norma Shearer's latest, which Sam
Wood is directing.
Dix Working at Paramount
At the Paramount studios five companies
are working at the present time. Marshall
Neilan has completed "Take Me Home" which
starred Bebe Daniels.
Joseph von Sternberg is directing George
Bancroft and Betty Compson in "Docks of
New York." Edward Berger is making "Sins
of the Fathers" with Emil Jannings and Ruth
Chatterton heading the cast. Richard Dix is
starred in "Moran of the Marines:" with
Frank Strayer directing. "Interference," di-
rected by Lothar Mendez, co-features Clive
Brook and Evelyn Brent, and there is an un-
titled picture being directed by Dorothy Arz-
ner with Richard Arlen and Nancy Carroll
featured.
Tiffany-Stahl has two pictures working.
"The Rainbow," directed hyReginald Barker,
with Dorothy Sebastian, Lawrence Gray and
Sam Hardy featured in the cast, and "The
Floating College" with Sally O'Neil and
Buster Collier co-starred under the direction
of George Crone.
Technicolor Feature at Tec Art
"Lief, the Lucky," a Technicolor special, is
the only picture working at the Tec Art
Studios. Roy Neill is directing and the cast
is headed by House Peters, Leroy Mason and
Pauline Starke.
United Artists also has a single picture in
production, the Goldwyn picture which co-
stars Ronald Colman and his new leading
woman, Lily Damita. Herbert Brennon is di-
recting.
Gibson Company to Chicago
Four pictures went into production at the
Universal plant this week. "Red Hot Speed,"
in which Reginald Denny is supported by
Alice Day, is' under the direction of Joseph
Henabery. "It Can Be Done," featuring Glenn
Tryon and Sue Carol, is directed by Fred
Newmeyer.
Paul Fejos is making "The Play Goes On"
with Conrad Veidt, Mary Philbin and Leslie
Fenton. Hoot Gibson is in Chicago produc-
ing his next picture, "King of the Rodeo."
Henry McRae is directing Hoot, and Kathryn
Crawford is playing opposite. Joseph Levi-
gard is directing Ted Wells in a Western
called "Grit Wins."
Studio City Breaks Local
Tax Payment Records
(Special to the Herald- World)
HOLLYWOOD. Aug 7.— The assessed
valuation of the district in which Studio City
is located was $1,466,350 in 1927-28. In 1928-
29 the same district is assessed at $2,922,600,
an increase of $1,505,250, or a 50 per cent
increase in one year. Local records for
prompt payment of taxes have been broken by
this district, delinquencies in the last year be-
ing on 69 parcels of land out of a total of
4,020 parcels.
MGM Buys "Perfecto"
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer has purchased Gouverneur Morris'
Cosmopolitan story, "Perfccto."
Vitaphone Stage Burns,
Loss Estimated at $1000
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Vitaphone stage
number 8 at the Warner Brothers studio
burned last week causing a loss of more than
$1,000. The fire was caused by defective
wiring.
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
COLLEEN MOORFS
^ULAC TIME"
playing two-a-day at $1.50
top Broke the House Record
of the Carthay Circle Theatre
in Los Angeles
by $2,310 in its opening week
It Broke the Second Week
Record by $1,897 and It's
Going to Keep on Breaking
Records.
Here's A Real Box Office
Tonic
38
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928 j
I
5
I
$
BiLLiE Dove
"The American Beauty"
Current Release
"The Yellow Lily"
Coming
"The Night Watch"
mmgmfm
^n^PEL- Ken Maynard-eO-A^ ^^^,rij; , \q^
"«-^ ^If very PO-'" ^e.v ^^^>^ >r>- %
'W«l Raiders.
if s.« "W >»" . V.-- „ -„,„
pat
^ 3 c '5
i >, a O
^|-=< /
.."-"US
«5 2
?-.%.
%.%\
= »r.nTF- Ken Maynar
THE I»^^^^'^,,f U ?o?^ys want West
February 3-4. ^.^ ' j;f J°a real bet. They .
Maynard and y°" " J^^ ;„ a separate class^
and are good ''"d are ^.^^_ ^e ^
better gvve us ^^^j^^eatre. Kimball. S.
Rudolf Duba. Koyai
eral patronage.
;Vd— Z»7o- _
THE UNKNOWN CAVAUER: Ken Maynard—
This gruy makes Fred Thomson look like he needs
a new outfit. We have yet to see a bum Ken May-
nard picture. They please us because they please
the box office. — Halliburton & Burne, Texline theatre,
Te.xline, Tex. — Small town patronage.
i 2.
LET THE BOX OFFICE
TELL THE STORY!!
^ 5-
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6 ^ 3 ■*
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n,
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3.
date
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enoM
-- "" C -/5-o,..^e, ^ B..ht^\\ 40
wes ^^^'Ihis one. _ ^-""^ „ake -jiavn^jj S-P.-5-„gp^3.
'«"*^ °«W mixed ^^J^ ~ - „.p. 1i«^lt.^-e. ^1 S 5- 3 P g « e. ^ 1
Xing that "^ oY '^^ eo°^^!od as }^^ , ac^o «^3&:i^!^3S?
'"^"^ %;ith _
*-""-ned o-\l nard-,-, f^^"-- . Waf !^« •• . if en ^ "_ ^ ^ ° -S ^
^^.
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^•iWi ^^^ -o ^^
WAGON
J\-
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<'s
'-■ ''0'-s7!SLj^^„ytj,
<^an\* ToMti na.w . ■^'ne. w '"^«: ir " - i^ ^ "§ .
V. *'J:wb. 5,"' «•..««
'neatr-
Afa
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Sb
SHOW: ■ -ien"'"M " ' " " '^-t-on' ^"^'"'and
_ ParsoBs^.,.,^. ^jHfe VNKNow^ „ '-«• R- ed th^^lTJ^i^'^l^^ of the field. ,.^'"
GUN GOSPEL: Ken ) h
''eels
stuff
ay.
ve
best wesvei" <=-<•' — »-»cronaD-»
one of Maynard's pictures <. te.
held his report under the heading .-
, m *«.« Tor -3
^.,;j be""a^- oiTe ?„^^U.«: W" m'^""-"' --onlTe:' "''^"'"\d»- ^^^
i-ona^- ^ 'neatro ^.T' Seven *, ""n st^^.^ <i^^ '^^•ci ., ^^*^A\\ ®t„6e
Any exhibitor that uses He can 2^ ^^ attraction"'" ''"'
Maynard is passing up o C\^n ^"'"^ do h\^ " "" after we"'.?" '^e -bellC
<' ^ * S-Tb *
'°nj '/Off
d L^aTa ^urrr^^^arT^e is some no,
r/y you 1" at' him. and as a conibinatio- ^^^
Maynard are h^d to beat. Seven r^>^-'^ x/* " ^
THE RED RAIDERS: Ken Maynard— A v ^"^V
picture, and pleased majority but where <^ ^S^
sends a note by carrier pigeon that ^•. ^ O .^ j; >>,.
'- ' "^ i?' .<o*' a "? - ^ W
bTirzar'd and 20 below temr , {►y-^, ^^^.v^oodroad, | ^" |
• - ." .0 <^v*^ojN-' patronage, g | j flj
SENOR D>- ot:Av^"^V*n Maynard-4 | g ^ .'
^^ ^♦V star. I can't pr ^1 i
,d
-Snia//
towr
\ '"* Is ^ e^ . ^]tv»% ot ^ r,
•Vo-.
■■toe
^^>r^-^s^^°^
i"^°^
senas a note uy >x»i»ici j^.o
a pretty good hand— well, it looks ^' ^ \^<i- .(?■'' _^
for an Indian to be able to '' ,4^^ ^"^ >%?-■' '..t
note in 1868. Seven reels- o^V«°t<^ tXlr^i^
^1.- A ^r,A on y^ir,j,r tomr , ^^k.c^ V ^^iV^uoodroad,
(.n'S'% LAND BEYOND THE LAW: Ken Mav
.i?!s,^ er?.^.?!. March ifi. 17 dii.^ ..TT^ ".enMay
? .» ^ ^■
LAND BEYOND THE LAW: Ken Maynard-.2
March 16-17. All M ,ard shows are good and
^ no exception . ^ ^nt from all other Weste;
IL.^.. "It. ^^ ■ V -^^ % Ken always satisfies ,
4." ?o '^ Give us o"*-^
that's what we
.tf)
V\l
Ken Maynard
King of All Outdoors
ii w J) 4
■\.4;-'
ig^.
Ci"*-
W^^-r
'•■ <-.
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ard-
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e/', '^''-c^^y^a^^^y, "':'""'='■ '• ^' ^-?>-"vy''- star. I can't pr ^ -
"^t J"^ e.^^'tf. ./' this star C^^V^.J*^? picture without ca § ^ S S
•IK ^ S-^\^-^^< •'a' for a Western, and ^-c S*
wert eP,.5>'^.. this onp Ken's hors< .. | S .^
,f," « -—Aubrey -.^ ^ ^njjen, Cres. ^,2-5 5
•-> V'>^ Tex.-^V\\-n patron i^>.^
. '„ f^" Jlfay„
-^V>-.^- if54">%C-iH''-^^^ 't¥/V- V ' 'f"fe'««°^«AIDERZ^GUN-'GSEr>K'^^««.
^-<5.^;ciii t
all shows and •> ^■^ %> ^ - bett<
society sex ^ •* - ■-
Seven tp <^ ^ \'
S. D.- .1,%\t^
' '« " % era"* ^■\'> 'i-- \ \^ •«
^. •, tf 3 o> . . q. •<, ■^ <s,. • ■?> A V "n
sras-s?
:i rt'^'oyal -
o gins, ?
Sth:^'
%
p .'^ S (c E ,
RAIDERS— GUN GOSPEL:
A P :> ? p- 5- „ r
'*^ ^•^ M
■n^
V
> \^^o'
*, s**'
s-.-§p
^^f^^ns
^tiu
■^>iaj^_
c«.^
^'^.i^-^fa.^-^^^
/^'i/ ,;;-.&.
"'«:«i:rout, T.^-*
patronage, -r,?^
'0(t
Jf.
e^tf,
^et.
.^^'^::-^^-''''^
^"tion T^f'-d ai -
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*efl
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a^.
. hi^L *^e.w- ^^'ciL ^s
'°« t?, ^o,
^^/'
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1e {,
las
"'•eiv:
^ -^^ Vbeley- ^^^^ ,e^,_, ^.ppa..^- Oo ^7"- Pretty ^-ar,
P- "'on't t';!"" "-ey ha'' '"^'«t on^rt""^ fro
^;.» theatre. SpS^^eiJ^ ^-^^^B "
^ p - iSeven -"^sn-t „^— sPei." ^^^"ard_jv- ^ ' Minn r^'
a,^'-- ai^**-.- ^ ie a f ^^ftfife' *o^« • ^"'•C 1^ '^■'^^
as '
-^ £ooiTr-£«OH^
eta
•^nera;
i. Set ^''<i ^ y
-4V
*at^o '^
<">.
''a^
^«,^ «lHOW: Ken M Keep it up Ken. Send mc a photo andTJ^ ° 'f' ? ->
THK WAGON SH"7:,,„,n. A exclusive in mv Inl.hv _r i,r T" ,.^"^ i ^'" »'ve it *0„
^^At ;"'■«_ i
■oC"^-
'en,. '•''> ""'an 1 •"^ai.n
■ -fan.
^afla
^H- ^^-•^SnnTstern
aary 13. A — — ^y^t win ^
^kT usual type and one_^ ^ ^.ies,
,,,„. A exclusive in my ,obb7-a W Becker Ele'Ilt' ^'^ '*
tHat^-i^^Jje^Burwell. Neb^General patron^:. ^"''''° ^""^
Charles R. Rogers Productions
Harry J. Brown, Associate
««f*
v»'
J*.»"
^Ji -is'*.
First National Release
The President Group
V >?
p "J* >• w
(ft <i o -?
^ ^ B T"
40
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1927
Ned Marin superrisor
"The
Yellow Lily"
"The
Night Watch"
"Waterfront"
Louis A* Sarecky
Supervising
FBO Productions
Comedy Is Easiest
To Adapt to Sound
In Fraser's Opinion
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— To what type of
picture can sound be more easily applied?
In the opinion of William R. Fraser, gen-
eral manager of the Harold Lloyd Corpora-
tion, the comedy is more adaptable than any
other form of production. He says, in ex-
planation :
"It will take very little change in technique
to adapt comedy as it is produced, for ex-
ample, by Harold Lloyd, to sound synchroni-
zation, except, of course, in the technical
work, such as in photographing and staging.
In looking over the pictures produced by Mr.
Lloyd in the past five years, practically every
one could have been readily adapted to sound
films with virtually no change in their con-
struction.
Doubts Use of Dialogue
"I doubt for the present that any attempt
will be made in the comedy field to go in for
dialogue. It will be unnecessary if sound is
coordinated with action, for the motion pic-
ture comedv is essentially a work of action,
anyway. If too much time is taken for dia-
logue the comedy is slowed up to a point
where it fails to get over with an audience.
Dialogue is splendid for farce comedy, or
comedy drama, but for comedy such as
'Speedy,' 'The Freshman' and others in the
Lloyd list, action is the one ingredient that
matters.
" 'Speedy' would have been made to order
for sound synchronization, with its episodes
in the Yankeee Stadium, Coney Island, and its
thrilling chase through the streets of New
York.
" 'The Freshman' with its big football se-
quences, its dance episodes, and its entire col-
lege atmosphere, would have provided ideal
outlets for sound accompaniment. 'Safety
Last' also would have provided an excellent
setting for combination of film and sound.
As a matter of fact you can take the entire
array of Lloyd productions since 'Grandma's
Boy,' including 'Dr. Jack,' 'Hot Water,' 'Why
Worry,' 'Girl Shy,' 'For Heaven's Sake' and
'The Kid Brother' and they all would have
lent themselves readily to the simultaneous
association of pictures and sound.
Investigate All Angles
"Mr. Lloyd has made no definite plans as
yet with regards sound for his next produc-
tion, on which he will start to work soon.
However, all angles of the situation will be in-
vestigated to meet whatever demands are made
with absolutely the best mechanics possible.
"Mr. Lloyd and his staff have about com-
pleted the outline of his next story and are
most enthusiastic about its possibilities. In
its present form it suggests a wide range of
comedy appeal, and offers the star keen pros-
pects for the type of characterization in which
he appeals most, similar in a measure to his
boy in 'Girl Shy,' 'Grandma's Boy' and 'The
Freshman.' "
Warner Brothers Chooses
Bretherton for Vita Film
(S fecial to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Howard Breth-
erton, now directing "The Redeeming Sin," a
Vitaphone special starring Dolores Costello
with Conrad Nagel in the leading male role,
appears to be launched on an envious career
under the Warner Brothers banner.
Bretherton has been directing less than two
years, but served a long apprenticeship in
various phases of motion picture production.
Before being elevated to full directorship by
Warner Brothers, he was one of their most
able film editors. Before that he was a screen
player and an assistant director.
■^^PW-"!«™^iW
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICT ORE WORLD
41
Lent's *'Last Warning"
Enters Editing Stage;
Unitone Sound Planned
(Special to the Herald-World)
UNIVERSAL CITY, Aug. 7.— Final scenes
of Universal's mystery production, "The Last
Warning," starring Laura La Plante under
the direction of Paul Leni, have been photo-
graphed and the picture is now being edited.
The story is an adaptation of the stage
production of the same name by Thomas F.
Fallon. It revolves around the staging of a
play in a haunted theatre. The picture has
received photographic and story treatment
similar to that in "The Cat and the Canary,"
with the same star-director combination. Odd
camera angles, weird settings and eccentric
acting, in keeping with the mystery plot, are
provided. In addition to this the picture is
expected to have Unitone sound effects.
The production, which was supervised by
Carl Laemmle, jr., has a cast including
Montagu Love, Margaret Livingston, Bert
Roach, John Boles, Roy D'Arcy, Mack Swain,
Burr Mcintosh, Carrie Daumery, George Sum-
merville, Torben Meyer, D'Arcy Corrigan,
Bud Phelps, Tom O'Brien, Fred Kelsey and
others.
Ralph Graves to Play
In Novarro Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Ralph Graves has
been added to the cast of "Gold Braid,"
Ramon Novarro's new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
romance of naval aviation.
Graves will play "Steve," a young naval
officer, in the new picture, which George Hill
will direct. Anita Page is to play the heroine
and a notable cast will appear. Much of the
picture will be filmed in the air, in government
planes.
Premiere of "Vfhite Shadows"
Proves Quite Graumanesque
Sid Makes Debut as Film Actor in Short Reel; Movietone Intro-
duces Players of the Cast; Fox News with
Sound Gets Great Acclaim
By J. M. LOUGHBOROUGH
HOLLYWOOD, August 7. — With a Sid Grauman premiere more
Graumanesque than ever, "White Shadows in the South Seas," Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer's first sound picture, was presented at the Chinese theatre
Friday evening, August 3 at $5 top. Folks fought tD get in, and crowds filled
Hollywood boulevard. A platoon of police was kept busy all evening hold^
ing the curious ones in check.
Sid Makes Debut as Film Actor
It was a magnificent affair in every
the re-opening of the Chinese and lik
exhibitor in the field of the talkies,
picture actor.
A short Movietone served to introduce the
stars of the big production, Monte Blue and
Raquel Torres, and the director, Wm. S. Van
Dyke. In this same film Grauman acted as
master of ceremonies. Sid proved that he is
a good actor as well as a good scout. Talkie
producers would do well to keep an eye on
him. Faultlessly attired, his hair looking like
Paderewski's did 20 years ago, Grauman
swept out from behind plush curtains, faced
the audience and with a Fairbanks smile and
a Conrad Nagel voice, announced the appear-
ance of Monte Blue. Monte movietoned
front and center, and introduced Van Dyke.
Then came Raquel.
O. O. Mclntyre in Rolls
There were many surprising bits of show-
manship in connection with "White Shadows
way, this premiere, which also marked
ewise the entry of Sid Grauman as an
Not only that but Sid appeared as a
in the South Seas," but as Pete Smith of
M G M, was in evidence in the lobby, he and
Grauman get the credit. For instance, there
was a battery of motion picture cameras, sent
by M G M. Directed by James Cruze the
cameramen took pictures of the crowd for
a forthcoming M G M production. Then there
was another battery of movie and still men
taking pictures of the stars, who turned out
with more brilliancy than the stellar show
to be seen on a clear night at the Mount
Wilson Observatory. Also, there were other
celebrities. O. O. Mclntyre for instance
rolled up in his new Rolls Royce and looked
more like a production executive than a
columnist. The eyes of "Once Over" were
full of fire and he acted like a kid. Milt
Gross, the "Nize Baby" boy also came for-
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42
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
f
THELMA TODD
"The Wrecking Boss"
"The Haunted House"
ward, giving the reminder of how Charles
Chaplin looked at Milt's age.
Irene Rich was so full of furi and pep that
she actually did a bit of £eminine "clowning"
before the camera. Karl Dane, looking like
one of Ibsen's characters, got a big hand.
Director Van Dyke entered the theatre with
David Wark Griffith. Louis B. Mayer ap-
peared with his charming wife and their hand-
some daughters. L. B. looked proud, but he
walked in meekly, dodging both radio micro-
phone and cameras. So did H. B. Franklin,
of West Coast Theatres, who brought his
wife and son, the latter a "chip off the young
block." Most of the notables spoke over the
radio, which was in charge of Fred Niblo.
Movietone News Proves "Great"
Fox Movietone News was the first number
Who wouldn't be thinking about Al Smith
these days?
Picture Starts with Punch
"White Shadows in the South Seas" started
out with a tremendous "punch." The situa-
tion : A white man, physician of ability, but
a human derelict on a South Sea Island, re-
senting the intrusion of white traders, who
were corrupting the natives with bad liquor
and bad trading for pearls. There were some
marvelous shots of these natives diving for
pearls, encountering sharks, an octopus, and
untold dangers, only to trade their valuables
for worthless trinkets.
The chief white trader on the Island, re-
senting the denunciations of Dr. Matthew
Lloyd (Monte Blue) the white derelict, has
him kidnaped and lashed to the steering wheel
of a ship filled with the bodies of men killed
by bubonic plague. The ship encounters a
typhoon and Dr. Lloyd is cast on another
South Sea Island, on which the foot of a
white man has never trod. Here Lloyd finds
a veritable garden of Eden, is hailed as a god
by the child-like natives, falls in love W"ith
a South Sea maiden, and takes her as his
wife. All is happiness until the white trader,
Lloyd's old enemy, appears with his crew and
decides to establish headquarters there.
Lloyd starts a fight and is shot and killed by
one of the traders. Thus the Samoan bride
loses her "white god." It is a sad but logical
ending to really marvelous sound picture.
Director Van Dyke, who not long ago was
struggling in the field of the "quickies," has
covered himself with glory in this picture
and now stands in the front ranks of his pro-
fession. In "White Shadows in the South
Seas," one feels that all other pictures dealing
with primitive people have been far over-
shadowed ; that this is something which puts
Flaherty's mighty "Nanook of the North"
into the background. There are scenic shots
which are tremendously impelling. There is
acting which is natural, simple and convincing.
Monte Blue is at his best. Raquel Torres is
the South Sea maid you dream about. Robert
Anderson, as Sebastian the trader, fulfils all
expectations of that type of sea tiger.
Most Varied Program
Undoubtedly this premiere had one of the
most varied programs ever offered in a motion
picture theatre. The idea of having the stars
appear in a special Movietone was original
and done attractively. Another Fox Movie-
tone entertainment was Qark & McCullough
in "'The Interview,' a speaking comedy de
luxe. All of the Movietonp short subjects
proved beyond a doubt that this form of en-
tertainment catches popular fancy.
Credit for the photography of "White
Shadows" goes to Clyde De Vinna, George
Nogle and Bob Roberts. John Colton wrote
the subtitles. Ray Doyle and Jack Cunning-
ham compiled the story from Frederick
O'Brien's novel. This is a Cosmopolitan Pro-
duction.
of the evening. Here is something really
great in the line of talking pictures. A sound
sequence, showing a huge army tank mowing
down a forest, was awe-inspiring. Sid Grau-
man's prologue, dealing with South Sea life,
followed. In this were featured the Brox
Sisters, Kenneth Olds, Hawaiian dancer, and
a troupe of Samoan Chieftains.
Followed then the Marveltone, hailed as
"the motion picture that thinks." What the
audience thought, is another matter. Inter-
esting, but too long. It dealt with the old
"psychic" stuff — two girls blindfolded, one
playing a piano, the other a violin, playing
numbers "by request" of the audiense. Of
course, "Ramona" was first, with "East Side
West Side," coming along in short order.
Laemmle Appoints Kohner
''Ambassador" to Europe
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Carl Laemmle,
president of Universal Pictures Corporation,
announced this week that he has appointed
Paul Kohner, youthful executive of that cor-
poration, as his "ambassador" to Europe.
Kohner will leave immediately and will visit
every important city abroad in order to gain
first hand information on the foreign film
situation. In Russia he will negotiate with
Soviet chiefs with a view to purchasing the
wealth of screenable story material which they
are known to possess and to interchange film
productions.
Kohner's engagement to Mary Philbin was
recently announced and the couple plan to
meet within three months in Germany to be
married.
ri'i Jtm. .^"^^W
Auffust 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
Trade Body Fails
To Prove Charge,
Says West Coast
(Washington Bureau of the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7.— Allegations of
the Federal Trade Commission as carried in
its formal complaint have not been upheld by
the testimony at hearings, say the West Coast
Theatres, Inc., and other organizations named
as respondents in the case. This is declared
in the brief filed with the commission, taking
exception to the report of the trial examiner,
and asking dismissal of the case.
"Before the commission can make any valid
order under Section 5 (of the Federal Trade
Commission Act), it must be shown, first, that
the respondents and their competitor-exhibi-
tors are engaged in interstate commerce, and,
second, that the respondents have been gnilty
of unfair methods in such interstate commerce
with respect to their competitor-exhibitors so
engaged in interstate commerce," it is de-
clared in the brief.
Examiner's Report Attacked
The brief, as announced last week, also
attacks the jurisdiction of the Federal Trade
Commission, declaring that the record con-
clusively shows that the commission has no
jurisdiction of the respondents.
The report of the trial examiner is attacked,
the particular attention of the commission be-
ing called to the finding that "while it made
at times what practically amounted to threats,
threats were not ordinarily necessary to en-
able it to dominate the field of purchase, and
therefore the exhibitor field in southern Cali-
fornia. Its growth toward monopoly was
sufficient."
"How pregnant this findinsr is with surren-
der and capitulation," the brief asserts. "What
subterfuge in the word 'practically.'
Calls Testimony Discarded
"Fully alive to the insufficiency of the testi-
mony of the exhibitor witnesses, and of the
absence of any evidence of threats or with-
drawals of patronage by West Coast, the ex-
aminer in this finding reluctantly but in fact
discards the testimony.
"Casting around with partisan zeal for some
theory of his own upon which to base an
order, regardless of the absence of any evi-
dence of the presence of any conspiracy or
cooperation, regardless of the complete fail-
ure of proof of the charges of the complaints,
the examiner grasps at the theory a tendency
toward monopoly was sufficient to throw out
and diffuse some undefined, intangible, hyp-
notic power which would unconsciously influ-
ence producers and managers to cooperate
with and to carry out the unvoiced suggestion
of respondents.
"This theory is as tenuous as its premise is
unsound and unsupported by the record."
U "Show Boat" Group
Off for Month's Work
On Sacramento River
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYVVOOD, Aug. 7.— Universal's com-
pany filming the super-production of Edna
Ferber's novel, "Show Boat," have left for
a month's location on the Sacramento river
in Northern California, according to an an-
nouncement by President Carl Laemmle.
Part of the Sacramento river was changed
to resemble the Mississippi for long stretches.
Several Mississippi river towns were built
along the shore ; a show boat and a score of
Mississippi river steamers of the period of
1885 have been constructed.
Among the company of several hundred
making the trip are Harry Pollard, director ;
Laura LaPlante and Joseph Schildkraut, who
play the two leading roles of Magnolia and
Yola D'Avril
in
"The Wrecking Boss"
Ravenal, respectively, and Alma Rubens, Otis
Harlan, Emily Fitzroy, Elise Bartlett, Jack
McDonald, Neely Edwards, Gertrude Howard,
Jane La Verne, Ralph Yearsley, George
Cheseboro, Harry Holden, Max Asher, J.
Thornton Baston, Jim Coleman, Carl Herl-
inger, Frank Whitson, Harry Lorraine,
Blanche Craig, Theodore Lorch, Stephen
Fechit, Richard Coleman, Scotty Mattraw and
Joe Mills. Gilbert Warrenton is in charge of
the cameramen while Bob Ross heads the as-
sistant directors, who include Fred Franks,
John Schusterman, Ed Rowe and Sergei Pet-
schnikoff.
»>
Grecian Beauty with U
(Special to th.-? Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Elene Aristi,
Grecian beauty who played in the Paul Leni
picture, "The Last Warning," has been signed
by Universal.
Clifton Will Direct
"The Devils Apple Tree
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Elmer Clifton,
having completed "Beautiful But Dumb,"
starts direction this week of another Tiffany-
Stahl special. "The Devil's Apple Tree,"
starring Dorothy Sebastian. The background
of this picture will reveal picturesque scenes
in the jungle of New Guinea, which Clifton
photographed last year during his trip around
the world. Sound effects will also be added,
such as the cry of the tiger, the tom-tom of
the native drums and many other jungle
noises.
Leni Renews with U
(S fecial to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Paul Leni, director,
has renewed his contract with Universal.
^i
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44
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
''Lilac Time'* Breaks 2nd Week
Record at Carthay Circle Theatre
Henry s Installs Telephone-Camera to Catch Thieves and Refuses to Serve
Film People Empty Glasses; Cemetery Stocks Rise
By DOUGLAS HODGES
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Colleen Moore's "Lilac Time" broke another
box office mark at the Carthay Circle theatre in the second week of its
world premiere. It was a week that incidentally brought the mercury
higher than it has been since I have been in this village.
The margin was $1,825 over any previous second week of the house. The first
week of "Lilac Time" broke the house record and passed it by $2,300.
THE weather has been, as I have said, very
bad; the business conditions in California
are poor; and the showgoing spirit is low.
Despite these handicaps the picture is proving
one of the biggest attractions that has played
a California house in many months.
* * *
If you're studio broken (not broke) you eat
these days at the Montmartre at noon and at
Henry's at night. The Montmartre has its
orchestra and Tom Mix for features; Henry's
has Charlie Chaplin and its pulchritudinous
waitresses.
The morning newspapermen arrive at
Henry's about 1:30 a. m. for their eggs and
bacon. After a deadline last night a red-
headed gal from Thimbleton, Iowa, pointed to
Al Cohn, the scenario writer, and said, "O,
mother, there is Chester Conklin without his
moustache."
This is the same restaurant that placed an
odd looking dial telephone behind the cashier's
box last week. The mouthpiece of the
"phone" is in reality a highly powerful camera
lens with a wire connection to a button under
the cash register. In case a film comedian
suddenly turns real tragedian the cashier
touches the button and the offender is photo-
graphed in his act. The management probably
has had cause to be distrustful of its guests
or else has endeavored to add a Chaplin touch
to the place.
The waitresses will inform you that the
silverware is to be used once and left on the
table upon leaving.
Another rule of the house is that empty
glasses will not be served to patrons. But in
case you empty your water glass in one way
or another the attendant will bring you an-
other glass filled with water, not removing the
empty glass from your table.
Very little liquor is smuggled into the place,
however.
* * *
Tyler Brooke, the film comic, approached
a new gateman at the Fox lot recently and
asked for admission. He simultaneously
stepped through the big iron gate.
The gateman reached for Brooke's coat col-
lar and halted the actor. "No visitors allowed
on this lot. Mister!"
"But," said Brooke, "I am working here in
a picture."
The gateman closed the gate in Brooke's
face : "Stay out of here ! I know who you
are. You^e Larry Semon."
* * *
Says Mary Pickford of the story she is
working on for her next picture: "It will
be a grown up but not over sophisticated
story. There is more tragedy and heartache
in the love of an 18-year-old girl than in that
of world wise elders. Youth lacks the experi-
ence that teaches older people resignation;
youth has not learned that life has consolation
for all sorrows, and that is why young love
is the most tragic."
* * *
Here's another slant on conditions in these
post-merger days:
Reed Howes trudged into court last week
to ask the judge to lop off a chunk of the
alimony.
"When the ruling on alimony was made,"
he said, "I thought I could pay it. But I didn't
figure on the business. In the good old days
pictures cost hundreds of thousands of dollars
and took months to make. Now the producers
are spending $10,000 on one picture and mak-
ing it in a week." The court cut the $500 to
$250.
* * *
Cemetery sextons report that about 1,000
film people are making monthly payments on
mausoleums which they themselves will oc-
cupy. This twist of realism has developed
a hundredfold in Hollywood during the past
18 months, they say.
* * *
Dave Epstein left Thursday for a 10 days
trip to Chicago.
New Christie Writers Busy
HOLLYWOOD. — New writers at the Christie
studio are Henry McCarty, working on the sound
script for "The Carnation Kid," and Reed Heustis
and Harry Freed, writing for Billy Dooley and
"Confessions of a Chorus Girl" stories.
NOW IN Production
"RED HOT Speed"
STARRING Reginald Denny
DIRECTED by Joseph Henabery
ORIGINAL Story by
GLADYS LEHMAN
UNIVERSAL Movietone
1
5
I
46
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
GEORGE O'BRIEN
recently completed the Vitaphone
sequences of "Noah's Ark" at
Warner Brothers.
August 11, 1928 I
^^mm
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
Laura LaPlante
"The Last Warning"
Universal
"Show Boat"
48
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August II, 1928
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"Yes or No" on "Talkies"
■By Supervisor^ Player and Technician-
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7. — The actress says that the stage only carries to the eighth row but that the talking picture is the
most expressive of all histrionic work; the supervisor says talking pictures have a definite limit; and the technician says talk-
ing pictures are an inevitable development of screen art and technique.
Marion Morgan says:
"Sound is the natural evolution of pictures.
"All plastic art tends toward naturalism in
its upward groping — man has only nature to
copy, to imitate. Genius in each of the living
arts, Michael Angelo, Rembrandt, Wagner,
Shakespeare, reached its pinnacle when it
touched nature in its fullest and noblest form.
"God has given us nature and man — that is
our picture book — beyond that we do not see
with these human eyes — beyond that we can-
not go with this human mind. Each inven-
tion that comes daily in this inventive period
is but the rearranged imagings of that which
already is. The airplane is a mechanical im-
itation of the flying bird— wings, head, tail
— with power in its man-made motor instead
of the natural animal power in the bird.
"Man in his primitive cave made guttural
sounds of fear, desire, satisfaction — later he
made pictographs in the rock wall — crude im-
ages of thought — an arrow — an animal — a
stone — then his grunt sounds became more re-
"Wings" Finishes 51st Week
In New York, 20th in London
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7. — Para-
mount's "Wings" is just concluding
its 51st week at the Criterion, and
in London, where it was booked
originally for eight weeks, it has now
done its 20th at the Carlton. Box
office £gures for the 50th week in the
Criterion were given as $11,200. In
Trenton it did $9,755, at Oakland,
Cal., $12,575.
fined — they took definite form so that a war
whoop brought forth all his neighbors with
advanced weapons such as arrows or spears.
He sent his ultimatum on a piece of bark or
skin with pictures that were slowly evolving
into a sound language. The chiefs met and
made sounds to each other that express'ed the
pictures on the tree bark.
"Sight and sound, inseparable in natural
evolution, go hand in hand in the struggle for
complete full expression of man. With human
sound at its f ullest^a Caruso ; with man-made
sound at its highest — the Metropolitan Sym-
phony Orchestra; the human figures on the
stage picturized a story for us. And still the
flowering of expression goes on. The fact
that we have gone far, proves that we shall
still go far — even though human eyes and
human minds may have to release their lim-
ited vision to higher means of thought and its
portrayal.
"The moving picture is the modern inven-
tion of the camera which records the cave
man's wall warrior actually going to war in
place of remaining still. It is man's desire to
express life in his pictographs, and now that
we have an Adolphe Menjou and a Clara Bow
actually moving — loving — dying — we naturally
desire to hear what they say when they are
thrilling us with their loving or dying.
"In this age, creation is expressing herself
through invention and one might as well try
to halt jazz music or skyscrapers — they are
the steps of progress leading toward a fullness
of expression which may only find itself and
its reason for being long after its pioneers
are forgotten.
"I see a complete recording of man in
movement, color, perspective and speech — be-
yond that we can only imagine. This is the
day of the inventive mind, but the visions and
discoveries of the mechanic or scientific crea-
tive mind will be the stage setting for the
creative artist to 'strut his stuff' whether it be
a Barrymore, a Mumau, a Ziegfeld, or a
Reinhardt —
"Let's go with the parade!"
Nancy Carroll, Paramount star, says:
"Talking and sound effects, as known in
screenland, will be one of the biggest innova-
tions ever introduced into one industry and
the change is worry to the complete royster.
"The idea being new, serves to bring out
the 'stay at homes' who would rather listen
to the radio, after a strenuous day at the
office or shop, but to be up on all that is cur-
rent, visit the place that can give them the
most for their money and evening's time.
Pleasure can be had from many angles, but
novelty has the most human appeal. Talking
pictures will not last, but the public will be
greatly improved by sound effects. For in-
stance, many people may not have heard a
steamboat whistle, or the wail of a night bird.
This will all be brought out in sound, with
much acclaim. As an afterthought, think what
it will mean to pictures where it is necessary
to register sound on trains, winds, howls, and
various other noises which will be recorded
into a picture.
"Stage plays in drama or burlesque, or even
grand opera, are handicapped by not being able
to portray the various settings that Avould be
more interesting to the average audience. The
screen is in a position to change the scenery
at will, and also have the desired atmosphere.
The stage, with the best of lighting effects,
cannot bring out the expression of the actors,
beyond the eighth row. The reason for this
is that the average patron cannot see how the
words of the players react on the artists in
the supporting roles. In pictures, closeups
do the work and with talking or sound effects,
the screen is compelled to portray the feel-
ings of those of the cast, if sound is to be
used.
"Printed titles of the past will soon be elim-
inated altogether, but ■will have even a greater
effect when spoken, the voice of the artist will
portray the feeling. There are many ways
of saying a thought, but with expression, there
is no misunderstanding as to the meaning.
"Inasmuch as the complete industry is the-
orizing, we all have our thoughts, but it is
my strong belief that the talking picture is
here to stay."
Corinne Barker Dies
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Corinne Barker,
actress of stage and screen, died in Mount
Sinai hospital yesterday after an operation.
Charlie Furthman, production supervisor for
Paramount, says:
"The talking picture is the greatest thing
ever invented, but will reach its pinnacle in
a few short years, if that long. The color
reels were a great thing when first introduced
into pictures, but lasted only a short while.
The same thing will happen to talking pic-
tures but not so with sound.
"The talking picture is for class and for
class only. Think what it would mean to the
film industry to localize their picture. The
producers could not afford to limit the sale
of their film to the United States alone, with
international exchanges begging for the busi-
ness. The sound must be in tones for the
complete world to understand, and what would
happen if an American actor tried to tell his
story to an Egyptian audience, even though
the thought be the same, the time would take
longer and also expression would be neces-
sary to carry out the thought.
"The public in general does not care to hear
All European Capitab
To See Dolores Del Rio
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD. Aug. 7.— Dolores
Del Rio, now in New York enroute
overseas on a trip sponsored by Ed-
win Carewe, her producer-director,
will be presented in every capital of
Europe. There are fourteen countries
on the itinerary. Traveling in the
party are Miss Del Rio. Edwin Ca-
rewe, Miss Del Rio's mother, Mrs.
J. L. Asunsolo, her maid, Albert Ben-
ham, Carewe's secretary, and Harry
D. Wilson, personal representative.
the actors speak. They have formed an opin-
ion of the stars, and think what would happen
if the big, he-man hero, spoke in a small
squeakjf sotto voice. This happens, at least it
would, if every picture were made in all talk-
ing form.
"Another thought for the general theatre-
goer: Many people are more or less 'hard
of hearing.' Never has it been known these
days and times when you can get a seat in a
popular theatre at the spot a patron would
like. Suppose that talking pictures were at
the height and the details could not be under-
stood unless the complete dialogue was under-
stood? The complete plot would invariably be
lost. The patron has to be satisfied, but with
sound, it would be different for the public is
used to various scenes and would gather the
connection without the sound effects. This
will be a very material difference in the eyes
of patrons thus handicapped.
"Children, one of the biggest box office
angles, will not be able to understand plots
which are depicted in talking sequences, but
understand every known sound, will be one of
the greatest thorns to producers of the talking
picture. They love the sound of the horses'
hoofs, the yell of the Indian or the shooting
of a gun, but will not be able to understand
the great words of a lawyer or the fine words
of an artistocrat. This will all have to be
worked out to gain the revenue once enjoyed
by the original moving picture houses."
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICrURE WORLD
49
NOW: "The Love Song"
50
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928 I
\
Jack White Productions
L
Auffusl 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
Ben Lyon Will Have
Leading Role in New
F B O Air Production
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Ben Lyon, popu-
lar young star, has begun his free lance
career auspiciously. William Le Baron has
engaged him to play the featured lead in
FBO's Gold Bond Special, "The Air Legion,"
under the direction of Bert Glennon.
It would seem that Ben is destined to stay
"up in the air," for he is again a hero air-
pilot after playing for the past nine months
a similar featured lead in Howard Hughes'
Caddo Production, "Hell's Angels." Martha
Sleeper and Tony Moreno are also featured
in "The Air Legion."
Greater Movie Season
Will Begin August IS
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— When Greater
Movie Season opens on August 18, all
branches of the motion picture industry expect
to be solidly united to make it the greatest
possible success. Studio executives, theatres,
actors and directors are all pledged to aid.
The origin of the Greater Movie Season
plan is credited to an executive of the Par-
amount Famous Lasky, Herman Wobber, who
suggested that the industry should celebrate
the coming of a new season with its new
products. The movement has now grown
until it has become one of the most adver-
tised campaigns in any industry.
$1,000,000 Movietone Layout
Will Be Built on Coast by Fox
Winfield Sheehan Also Announces Signing of Players, Writers and
Stage Directors for Synchronized Picture Production;
Construction of Studio Now Underway
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, August 7. — Winfield Sheehan today revealed plans of Fox
Films for a Movietone plant costing $1,000,000, which will cover 40 acres of
ground at the Fox Hills Studios in Westwood. It is the first Movietone an-
nouncement to be made by Sheehan.
Construction has recently begun and will be brought to completion within
a few weeks, it is believed. The plant will include several technical buildings
and an administration building.
Players Are Signed to Contracts
Sheehan also stated that the following players have been placed under con-
tract for Movietone productions : Gilbert Emery, Lumsden Hare, Cliiiford
Dempsey, Robert Clark, Paul McCullough, Sylvia Field, Paul Fung, Ben
Homes, Chick Sale, Arnold Lucy and Helen Twelvetrees.
Writers and stage managers signed today is best known for his work in "The Gorilla."
Seattle Keeps Lead
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Seattle continued to
hold first place in First National's summer
billing dri\e at the end of the eighth week.
include the following : Tom Barry, Edmund
Joseph, Charles Judels, Edwin Burke, Earle
Lewis McGill, David Stampner, Eugene Wal-
ter, Donald Gallagher, Marcel Silver and
Helen Ware.
Shubert Producer on Staff
Miss Ware is author of "Paid in Full" and
Barry is a celebrated writer of plays. Judels
was general stage producer for Shuberts for
five years and produced musical comedies for
that organization.
Burke and Joseph are writers of vaudeville
sketches and Stampner was composer of mu-
sic for all the Ziegfeld shows for the last 10
years. AfcGill was associated with Jed Harris,
producer of "Broadway." Donald Gallagher
Helen Ware will act as coach and director of
the younger players.
Appeared in Freshman Plays
Emery was with Frohmans for years and in
George Tyler's Revivals. Hare, actor and
director, is now staging "Elmer Gantry."
Dempsey played the role of the detective in
"The Gorilla." Sylvia Field is playing in
"The Royal Family." Arnold Lucy is a
prominent character actor on Broadway.
Helen Twelvetrees is a young ingenue con-
sidered a find, and Paul Fung is a graduate
of the University of Kansas and is directing
plays and actors in a Chinese theatre in New
York.
'The Kid's K A T H R Y N "King of the
Clever" CRAWFORD Rodeo"
Charles F. Klein
Directing George O'Brien
and Lois Moran
in
€$
THE FOG
(Tentative Title)
»
Now Under Contract to
Wm. Fox
52
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
((
Legion of the Condemned*'
"Three Sinners"
"The Magnificent Flirt"
Jean deLimur
Continuity
Now Preparing
"Dirigible"
for William Wellman
"Take Me Home"
with Bebe Daniels
Directed by Marshall Neilan
Ethel Doherty
Scenarist
Ernest Vajda's story
Temporary Titled
"Manhattan"
with Richard Arlen
and Nancy Carrol
"Sawdust Paradise"
Directed by Luther Reed
Starring Esther Ralston
Louise Long
Screen Writer
Screen Play with
Hope Loring
"Interference"
with Clive Brook, William Powell
Evelyn Brent and Doris Kenyon
Directed by Lothar Mendez
I
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
53
IN PARAMOUNT' CHRISTIFS
NEW "SOUND" COMEDIES
BILLY DOOLEY
The creator of hilarious fun on land and
sea, in his latest synchronized pictures:
"The Dizzy Diver"
"Oriental Hugs", and
"A She Going Sailor".
BOBBY VERNON
The College Cut Comedian in his latest
comedies now synchronized with funny
sound effects and peppy music.
"Stop Kidding"
"The Sock Exchange"
"Hot Sparks"
BILLY ENGLE
Third season as one of the featured Christie
Comedians, with an inimitable style, all
his own.
Now appearing in the outstanding new
series of backstage humor,
^^Confessions of a Chorus GirP'
I
"■I
54
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928 i
\
t
S
3
Nihlo Warns Against Stampede in
Production of Sound Films
Declares Public Interest in Motion Pictures Will be Jeopardized by
Mediocre Talking Films — "Turn Theatres Into Garages"
By JEROME M. STRAUSS
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7. — Fred Niblo is looking to talking pictures
through anything but rose-colored glasses. "Go slowly and cautiously"
is the advice of this director.
"When I see this great industry plunging blindly into unknown lands, I am
frightened," he said. "Frankly, I am afraid.
' 'T WOULD like to sound a warning against
-'- this stampede. At least, let us take
time to consider where we are going.
"I do not believe that public interest in the
silent film is flagging to the point where in-
novations are demanded. The trouble lies
in theatre overdevelopment, more seats than
can possibly be filled. Turn half our theatres
into garages and there will be no complaint
on the score of patronage.
Mediocre Talking Pictures
"The silent drama has had a great clientele.
Shall we jeopardize this by tinkering with
the type of pictures that has built up this
following? Shall we drive film patrons from
theatres by presenting them with mediocre
talking pictures?
"What of the quality of the conversation
in the 'talkies'? What will the actors say?
Who will write it for them? As it is there
is a shortage of good writers in the industry.
Where will we find Oscar Wildes and Bernard
Shaws to write dialogue for the 'talkies'?
"The public loves youth and beauty on the
screen. Shall we sacrifice youth and beauty
to voice? And a good voice in a talking
picture will be a canned voice, nevertheless.
"What will become of our foreign market?
What will become of our foreign stars, with
imperfect knowledge of our language? And
what will become of some of our greatest
actors, who are not especially favored as to
voice? I fear that many an idol of the silent
drama may have a tongue of clay — or rather
of brass — in talking pictures.
"One of the greatest assets of pictures is the
musical score. Whatever happens, let us re-
tain this, either by sound device or orchestra.
"Motion pictures are modern fairy tales.
They are essentially the art of pantomime.
Music heightens illusion, speech may destroy
it.
Sound Only at First
_"I would suggest that we go in for sound
pictures before embarking upon talking pic-
tures. Reproduction of sounds may be very
effective. I would have liked sound effects
for such scenes in 'Ben-Hur' as the galley
fight and the chariot race.
"I have said I would like to see half our
theatres turned into garages. I would rather
see them turned into juvenile playhouses.
"Second to theatre overbuilding, I regard
the policy of trying to appeal to all types of
minds as the worst curse of the industry. An
intelligent adult may read Schnitzler, his lit-
tle boy 'The Youth's Companion.' But the
intelligent adult and his little boy go to the
same show.
"If we make Schnitzler for the screen, and
eliminate the subtleties for the sake of the
child, we have neither Schnitzler nor 'The
Youth's Companion.'
"If the intelligent adult and his little boy
went to different theatres or to different per-
formances— one with plays for the adult mind,
the other with plays for the juvenile mind —
then we could draw the line somewhere in
making pictures.
"Certain theatres already have made a start
in this direction by giving children's matinees.
"I have done considerable viewing with
alarm," said Niblo in closing. "Despite ev-
erything, I believe the industry rests on a
firm foundation. I want to see it stay there
to continue to rest on the fundamentals that
have made it so great."
Nightlife in Hollywood Consists of 18
Policemen and Watchman at the Ice Plant
And You Oughta See the Windmill in the Center of Town, Says PFL Star;
The Village Is Full of Youngsters
By BEBE DANIELS
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7. — Hollywood is a city with houses and people in it, and
streets running North and South and East and West, and lawns and trees and flowers,
and a Rotary Club. It is Troy, New York, with the exception that its residents make
motion pictures instead of shirts and collars.
Hollywood men wear knickers for the same still pumps water for -the last remnant of a citrus
reason that railroad engineers wear overalls.
They are practical to work in. Hollywood
cafes serve wheat cakes in the morning, pine-
apple and cottage cheese salad for lunch and
desiring patrons can have liver and onions
for their evening meal. Or even corned beef
and cabbage. The drinks are tea, coffee and
milk.
The night life of Hollywood is confined to
18 policemen and the watchman at the ice
plant. There is no third trick operator at
the depot, for Hollywood, having no railroads,
has no station. Every other street light is
turned out at midnight and if revelers and
roisterers want something to eat after that
hour it is just too bad. Unless there is a
snack at home in the ice box.
Hollywood is one of the few cities of the world
ranch that is bravely holding out against the advances
of realtors. In front of the public library, which is
just back from Hollywood Boulevard, there is a
drinking fount for horses. But there are no horses.
Nevertheless the water supply is ever fresh and the
birds like it
Blase Hollywood still cranes its neck every time
an airplane passes overhead. Hollywood's idea of
a perfectly wonderful time is a drive to the beach,
a swim in the surf and a rest on the sand, with
fried chicken or a steak at some roadside "mammy
shack" on the way back home.
Hollywood has more young people than any other
city of corresponding size in the world — and has
less trouble with them. The young folks of Holly-
wood are not idlers. They work for their livings,
and they work hard.
Hollywood has a better horse shoe pitching club
than Long Beach. Repeated tournaments between the
two cities have proved it.
Hollywood's chief topic of conversation, other than
the weather, is "remember when?" "Remember
when that corner could have been bought for $200?"
"Remember when Jesse Lasky took over that old
council passed the ordinance against keeping cows
and hogs within the city limits? " Of course Holly-
wood remembers when. Even the youngest genera-
tion can recall those things. They happened such a
short time ago.
Hollywood loves good music more than any other
town I know. Its series of summertime "symphonies
under the stars," in Hollywood Bowl, are inspiring
examples of what a community can accomplish.
Hollywood is my home town. I get the thrill of
pride whenever I write, "Bebe Daniels, Hollywood,
California," on a hotel register. My Hollywood
friends are loyal friends. I like the way the police-
man at the corner of the Boulevard and Western
says, "Hello!"
Hollywood is a well dressed community because the
Hollywood shops are smart shops and the merchants
are alert. Few women of my acquaintance buy their
outfits elsewhere. Many women whom I know, who
live elsewhere, come to Hollywood for their shopping.
Hollywood dinner parties are a delight, for the
conversation is stimulating and refreshing. No one
has ever been known to leave his bridge partner in
a one no trump, doubled. Seven o'clock in the
morning tennis engagements are kept. And often
the day winds up with a ride over the bridle paths
of Griffith Park.
Hollywood as I know it, is a doggoned nice place.
And I know Hollywood.
Koenig Is Given New
Contract as Warner
General Studio Chief
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Always an ag-
gressive leader and organizer, William Koe-
nig, general studio manager at Warner
Brothers, is one of
the vital personalities
contributing to the
phenomenal progress
made by this studio
during the past few
years.
Only recently the
Warners evinced
their satisfaction with
this executive's initi-
ative and capability
by signing him on a
new contract that in-
sures his continuance
in office for them.
Koenig possesses a
remarkable record of
achievement. Motion picture exhibitor, amuse-
ment promoter, theatre organizer, manager
and circuit manager, he has during his entire
lifetime been identified directly with the thea-
tre. The ramifications of his work have iden-
tified him prominently with musical comedy,
dramatic stock, the circus, opera, carnivals and
sporting events. Each in turn has found him
an aggressive worker and an eager and able
leader.
William Koenig
Thousand Theatres Book
F N*s "Captain Ramper"
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— One thousand the-
atres have booked "The Strange Case of Cap-
tain Ramper," in advance of its release
August 12, Ned E. Depinet, general sales
manager of First National, announced last
week. The picture was made in Berlin by
Defu.
It also was announced that five thousand
theatres have booked Richard Barthelmess'
"The Patent Leather Kid," while Depinet esti-
mates as many more will show it. It opened
a year ago at the Globe at $2 top.
Expects Films to Solve
Fate of Victim in Arctic
Films of the Nobile Arctic expedition will
settle the question of the fate of Dr Finn
Malmgren, said Dr. Adolf Hoel of the ice-
breaker Krassin, according to dispatches from
Norway.
that has a windmill near its center. The windmill barn at Selma and Vine?" "Remember when the
Warrenton Renews
NEW YORK. — Universal has renewed the con-
tract of Gilbert Warrenton, its star photographer.
L
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
with Clara Bow
"RED HAIR^'
with Clara Bow
NOW
"THREE WEEK ENDS"
with Clara Bow
all directed by
CLARENCE BADGER
for Paramount
56
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
^j«**^*^^^>-.
STOP!
LOOK!
and
LISTEN!
For the New
MACK SENNETT
Sound Comedies
Now in Preparation at
STUDIO CITY - CALIFORNIA
L
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
57
FINIS FOX
Screen Author
"RESURRECTION"
"RAMONA - REVENGE"
Norv Preparing
"EVANGELINE"
All Edwin Carewe-Dolores Del Rio Productions
58
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
FRANK TUTTLE
Directed
U
Varsity"
Charles (Buddy) Rogers'
First Starring Picture
For Paramount
JEAN HERSHOLT
Now Starring in an AU-Movietone
Production for Universal
I
^
w
August 11, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD
and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 59
it
Just Completed
Directed by
"The Fleet's In"
Malcolm St. Clair
for Paramount
With Clara Bow
Next Production
^^The Canary
Murder Case^^
"HOOT GIBSON^*
now making
"King of the Rodeo"
At the Annual Chicago Rodeo
for
Hoot Gibson Productions
1
k
60
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1927
Wanta Write Titles? — It's a Cinch!
HOLLY Vy 00 D.— When pictures were
really in their infancy — say 15 years ago —
Dwinelle Benthall and Rufus McCosh decided
to be scenaro writers — just like that.
There was an advertisement which promised
to teach one "How to Write Scenarios"— for
$5.00.
The complete course was bought, duly
studied and the scenarios written per instruc-
tions. They are still for sale. Unfortunately
the Edison, the Lubin and the Imp Studios,
which were in full blast in those days, failed
to appreciate thern — and the romantic dreara
of a picture career seemed over, having cost
$5.00 and a small fortune in stamps. For
them the every day drama of a newspaper
ofiice had to suffice. .Dwindle was on the staff
of the old Baltimore American, one of the
oldest and most conservative papers in
America. She interviewed celebrities, visiting
cardinals, princes, authors, millionaires, seven
day wonders and stars of the stage and
screen.
Rufus didn't care very much about the
stars, but he did like to see pictures — and at
every opportunity he saw pictures and re-
membered them.
Their background was more or less theat-
rical and literary. John T. Ford, owner of
Ford's Opera House in Baltimore and of the
famous Ford's theatre in Washington, where
Lincoln was assasinated was Dwinelle's great
uncle. They naturally became interested in
the little theatre movement and were active
in acting, writing and directing for the Vaga-
bond theatre, one of the first of the little
theatres.
As motion picture editor on The American,
Dwindelle reviewed pictures, sorted and read
the reams of publicity sent out by the various
press agents and studios and "learned about
pictures from them."
Her interest was divided between writing
and acting, and after a year or two, which
took her across the continent twice, she de-
cided to stay in Hollywood one summer.
There was an opportunity to write pub-
licity for Thomas Ince. In the fall there was
an opportunity in the scenario department at
Universal.
Now she was really learning about pictures.
After two years in the scenario department
she reached her goal — titling. "It had always
Dwinelle Benthall
Rufus McCofth
seemed to me one of the most vital things in
pictures," she says, "making words part of
the whole."
"That was five years ago — April Fool's day
— 1923 to be exact. My first assignment was
an Irish comedy directed by King Baggot.
It was a successful picture."
Since then she has been titling pictures coffi-
tinuously. All kinds. Some of the worst and
some of the best — but with it all came facility
— and understanding of cutting and editing —
of construction and reconstruction — a knowl-
edge of films plus the knowledge of words
and the handhng of them which had been
gained in the newspaper world.
Clarence Brown's "Acquittal," "Smoldering
Fires," and "The Goose Woman," were all
titled by her in those Universal years, and
they are still remembered favorably by fans
and the profession.
After "The Goose Woman," she and her
husband decided that titling and editing
could be made a business and run on business
principles. They established their office in
Hollywood and were soon busy on "Tte Lady
of the Harem" and "The Blind Goddess," for
Lasky, followed by numerous pictures for
various studios.
Two years ago they did "The Silent Lover"
starring Milton Sills — for First National and
are just finishing their twentieth picture for
that company— "The Night Watch," starring
Billie Dove, before beginning on Milton Sills'
latest vehicle "Hard Rock."
Pictures titled by this pair include drama,
comedy, folk story and domestic drama. One
point of which the critics have made special
mention is the natural quality of their titles,
whether descriptive narrative, straight drama,
straight comedy, dialect or wise cracks ! All
these have their place in the picture whether
talkies or silent. Trained to write dialogue,
pointed concise and constructive they feel that
the present day title writer has little to fear
from the trend to talkies. It will take some
adjustment, study, harder work for the time
being but rnaking pictures is a business just
like any other business in which those with
the "know how" have the inside track.
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
61
Salomon Is Elevated
By Warner Brothers;
Assistant to Koenig
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOD, Aug. 7.— Appointment of A.
M. "Doc" Salomon as assistant studio manager
at Warner Brothers elevates this capable ex-
ecutive to an impor-
tant position ' in the
talking picture divi-
sion of this studio.
Salomon's new posi-
tion, effective in July,
ranks him next below
William Koenig, gen-
eral studio manager.
As such, Salomon
will figure dominant-
ly in the rapidly ex-
panding talking
picture production ac-
tivities of Warner
^ Brothers.
A. M. (Doe) Salomon
Formerly superin-
tendent of the studio
with duties concerned chiefly with the property
and transportation departments, Salomon has
been identified with Warner Brothers since
their entrance into the film production field.
Previously he was affiliated as a salesman with
J. L. Warner, now vice president in charge of
production, in San Francisco, where the latter
operated a film exchange.
Baker Wins Promotion
After Several Years of
Effort at Clxristie Plant
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, August 7.— Christie Stu-
dios announte the promotion of Eddie Baker,
actor and assistant director, to a co-director.
He is now co-directing a Sandy MacDuff pic-
ture with Walter Graham, veteran of the
Christie forces.
In order to reach this place Eddie literally
had to fight his way up. He has fought Bobby
Vernon, Billy Dooley, Jack Duffy and other
Christie players by the hour. All in fun, with
the cameras cranking, of course, but the mu-
tual bruises and bumps sustained by Baker
and his film enemies have been none the less
painful.
Among his successful roles are the parts he
played with Bobby Vernon in "Short Socks,"
"Footloose Wimmen," "Sweeties" and "Splash
Yourself," and with Billy Dooley in "Row,
Sailor, Row" and "The Dizzy Diver."
f9
Del Rutfi Gets New Kind
Of Drama with "Conquest
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— "Conquest" an
adventure story starring Monte Blue, which is
being produced as a Vitaphone special by
Warner Brothers, is under the direction of
Roy Del Ruth, who has heretofore demon-
strated his talent for light comedy drama.
This is a new type of assi^ment for Del
Ruth and he is said to be ably demonstrating
his versatility. His capable direction of "The
Terror," a highly melodramatic Vitaphone
production, together with his remarkable rec-
ord in the comedy drama field, led to his
selection by Warner Brothers to direct "Con-
quest."
Walsh Weds in Mexico
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Raoul Walsh
chartered an airplane Thursday and flew to
Agua Caliente, near Tia Juana, Mexico, where
he was married to Lorraine Helen Walker by
Judge Marinda in the governor's suite at the
Agua Caliente hotel. The ceremony was in
Spanish and Mr. and Mrs. Allan Dwan were
witnesses. Miss Walker is a motion picture
actress.
s
COTT
R.B
EAL
Unit Manager
George Fitzmaurice Productions
First National Studios
Burbank, Gal.
r
"Lilac Time"
"The Barker"
J
62
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
WARNER BROTHERS ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT
F. N. MURPHY, Electrical Engineer
Vitaphone Division
L. M. COMBS, Asst.
F. N. Murphy (inset)
L. M. Combs
H. Farlow
L. Dowell
G. Satterfield
J. Ohl
C. Ferguson
C. Alexander
J. Murphy
L. Greene
L. A. McCain
E. Fields
B. Harrington
H. Robough
B. Allen
A. Tondreau
W. Beers
A. Munson
G. Beckwith
Al Dwyer
H. Putnam
M. Gustay
T. Kelley
C. Root
G. Mansfield
H. Lockwood
B. Howard
B.I Wagner
B. Clarke
R. Owen
T. Fairbanks
R. Thompson
G. Morton
E. Archer
F. Campbell
H. Gross
G. Allen
R. King
P. Burnett
T. Hale
W. Watkins
J. McCannon
W. Grady
E. Mattieson
P. Wolf
J. Peters
W. Burkholter
C. Hutchison
R. Chase
D. Farlow
B. Rogers
E. Gretton
E. Westcott
J. Evans
"DRY MARTINI"
Just completed for
Fox Studios
Directed by H. D'Abbadie D'Arrast
"Service for Ladies"
"Gentlemen of Paris"
"Serenade"
For Paramount
!
_
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
6?,
Many heads of producing units and stars take part in ground breaking for Metropolitan's all sound film stages and new group of recording
buildings. Thirteen different producing units are affected by the new development at Metropolitan. Left to right: R. E. Ward (Austin
Company), J. P. McGotvan, R. L. Russell (Austin Co.), Francis Ford, Ben Lyon, Douglas MacLean, Phil H. Ryan, manager of Metropolitan,
A I Christie. Buddy Post, Harold Lloyd, Al Cohn, Charles Christie. Howard Huges, head of Caddo Company; J. S. Ward of Electric Research
Products; W. R. Eraser, George Gray, H. C. Humphrey, Electrical Research Products; A. H. Carlos, Burton King, Trem Carr, Renaud Hoffman,
Leo Cahane, Joseph H. Engle, H. D. Edwards.
First of Russ Farrell
Series Is Completed by
C R, Rogers and Brown
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— "The Skyway-
man," the first of the Russ Farrell series of
featurettes being produced by Charles R. Rog-
ers and Harry J. Brown for Educational Pic-
tures and starring Reed Howes, has been
completed.
This is the first of a series of six which
are to be produced using the popular juvenile
fiction character, Russ Farrell, and made fa-
mous by Thompson Burtis in The American
Boy as well as in novel form.
The entire group of pictures are on aviation
with Reed Howes playing the role of the
young daring aviator, Russ Farrell. "The
Skywayman" was made at Universal studios,
the Glendale Airport and Dry Lake, Cali-
fornia. Those who appeared in support of
Reed Howes were Marjorie Daw, Thomas
Santschi, Roy Stewart, and Lieut. Robinson.
Harry J. Brown directed.
tt
Submarine" New Title of
Columbians Holt Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— The picture
which Frank Capra has just completed for
Columbia under the title of "Into the Depths"
will be released as "Submarine." The title
was chosen with the -co-operation of every
member of the Columbia studio staff. It is an
underwater spectacle starring Jack Holt and
will be released with sound accompaniment
within two months.
In a number of the spectacular underwater
sequences, Jack Holt goes below the surface
in a diving outfit. Ralph Graves and Dorothy
Revier have featured roles.
Daughter Born to Actress
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, August 7.— A daughter
was born to Mae Marsh on July 31st at
Pasadena. In private life Miss Marsh is Mrs.
Louis Lee Arms.
Kurt Huber in U, S,
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Kurt Huber, newly
appointed member of the UFA board, is here
visiting F. Wynne-Jones, president of UFA
Films, Inc., in the United States.
Ground Is Broken for Sound
Stage at Metropolitan Studio
Group of Buildings Also Will Be Erected to House the Western
Electric Mechanical Apparatus Required in the Mak-
ing of Synchronized Productions /
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, August 7. — Indicating the rapidly growing activity which
the advent of synchronized and talking pictures is causing in Hollywood, a
large project was started last week when ground was broken for Metropolitan's
two all-sound stages and group of buildings which will house the Western
Electric mechanical apparatus required in the making of all kinds of sound
films.
Representing the dozen or more producing companies which will be affected
by the establishment of sound film stages at Metropolitan a large group of pro-
ducers took part in the first excavations for the buildings. Among these were
Harold Lloyd, W. R. Eraser, Al and Charles Christie, Howard Hughes, Phil H.
Ryan, Joseph H. Engle, A. H. Carlos, J. P. McGowan, Francis Ford, Burton
King, Trem Carr, Douglas MacLean, Ben Lyon, George Gray, Renaud Hoff-
man, L. Cahane, Buddy Post, H. D. Edwards, and others.
Electric Research Products, a subsidiary cor- stalling all sound recording equipment at
poration of Western Electric, which is in-
William R. Eraser (left) of the Harold
Lloyd Corporation, and Charles Christie
plan new sound stages at Metropolitan.
Metropolitan, was represented by J. S. Ward
and H. C. Humphrey; and the Austin Com-
pany of California, which is starting construc-
tion of the new group of buildings, repre-
sented by R. E. Ward and R. L. Russell, su-
pervised the start of work on Hollywood's
first sound stages.
Indicating the fact that work will be speeded
up to take care of actual production of sound
films as soon as possible, work of construc-
tion was actually started by the Austin Com-
pany, contracts having been signed after ap-
proval of the plans by the Christie brothers
only two days previously.
The producing units affected by the estab-
lishment of talking stages and equipment at
Metropolitan are Harold Lloyd Productions,
Christie Comedies, Caddo Productions, Doug-
las MacLean, Pathe, Charles Hutchinson, Bur-
ton King, Trem Carr, Cliff Broughton, First
Division, Batchelor, Mascot, Varco, Nat
Spitzer, Anchor, Carlos Productions, J. P. Mc-
Gowan, H. D. Edwards, Francis Ford and
other unit producers.
The producing of sound pictures at Metro-
politan by the several companies affected will
increase the activity of these studios consider-
ably for the coming season.
64
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
I
DIRECTING
CHRISTIE COMEDIES
Synchronized with sound effects and peppy music.
N
I
■0
WILLIAM HOLLAND
Directing the snappy series of back stage
farces, "Confessions of a Chorus Girl,"
with Frances Lee. Also Billy Dooley in
the adventures of a goofy gob.
ARVID GILLSTROM
Directing some of the snappiest numbers
of the Christie Season: Jack Duffy as
Sandy MacDuff in "Hot Scotch"; Billy
Dooley in "Oriental Hugs"; Bobby Ver-
non in "Footloose Wimmen."
Frank N. Murphy
100% Usage of
New Lighting Is
Urged by Murphy
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Improvements in
lighting directly affecting the quality of mo-
tion pictures photographically, which has been
marked during the
past year, will con-
tinue to exert a vital
influence in the re-
finement of the pic-
ture product, in the
opinion of Frank N.
Murphy, Warner
Brothers electrical en-
gineer.
As one of the most
enthusiastic sponsors
of Mazda lighting,
Murphy contends that
improvement in pho-
tography necessarily
hinges closely upon
general adoption of
this equipment and its more intelligent use for
the reason that it permits the use of vastly im-
proved film stock.
* * *
Recognizing this, Murphy has sponsored the
100 per cent use of this type of lighting, War-
ner Brothers being the first to adopt it for
general use. The production of sound pic-
tures is responsible to some extent for the
rapid change, according to Murphy who states
that the sputter of carbon lights constituted
a definite hindrance to successful recording.
Hence when Warners transferred their Vita-
phone activities to the West Coast, Murphy,
who was assigned to the task, equipped the
soundproof stages with the incandescent light-
ing. Subsequently it was adopted generally
at the studio.
Murphy has been with Warner Brothers
since the earliest days of the organization. He
brought with him a remarkable knowledge of
lighting and electrical engineering, secured
through wide experience as a chief electrician
for Pavlowa and a number of other stage
stars. At present he is in charge of everything
electrical and mechanical at the studio, includ-
ing the film laboratories, the new $3,000,000
Warner theatre in Hollywood, and the studio's
radio station which is one of the most power-
ful and modern on the West Coast.
Incidentally, it is interesting to know that
the electrical equipment at the studio is valued
at $1,000,000.
The late Sam Warner and Murphy were
the initial sponsors of the radio station which
was installed in 1925 and has been improved
and enlarged materially since. It was Mur-
phy who installed it completely in 23 days
after a big electric company had bid to do
the work, asking 16 weeks. It was he also
who designed and supervised the installation
of the new theatre lighting equipment, which
is considered one of the most innovational in
its field.
Murphy, it is interesting to know, attended
school only through the fifth grade. What
has frequently been termed his genius is at-
tributable to a keen mind, long hours of work,
night study and education in the hard school
of experience.
''Potemkin" Director May
Come to America for U A
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— S. M. Eisenstein,
who directed "Potemkin," may come to
America to make a picture for United Art-
ists. Joseph M. Schenck left Berlin f^ Rus-
sia Friday.
August 11. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
65
GARY COOPER
iii •
lilac Time"
First National
"The First Kiss"
Paramount-Famous-Lasky
"Half-A-Bride"
Paramount-Famous-Lasky
Joseph Henabery
Now Directing
"Red Hot Speed"
with
Reginald Denny and
Alice Day
Universal Production
Just Completed
"The River Woman" for Gotham
Starring Lionel Barrymore and
Jacqueline Logan
66
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
CHARLEY DELANEY
"Showgirl"
First National
"The River Woman"
Gotham
Fox Completes Cast for
*'Fog," Crook Melodrama
With O'Brien, Lois Moran
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Five new addi-
tions to the cast of "Fog" yesterday completed
the imposing list of players in that William
Fox production, now being directed by
Charles Klein.
The new names were Fritz Feld, Andy
Clyde, Crawford Kent, Robert E. Homens
and John Kelly. Previously announced, and
occupying the leading roles are Lois Moran
and George O'Brien. Earle Foxe, Don Terry
and Maria Alba have important supporting
parts.
"Fog" is an original crook-melodrama by
Charles Francis Coe, who wrote "Me, Gang-
ster" and other Saturday Evening Post stories,
among them "The River Pirate" soon to be
released by Fox. "Fog" is the first feature
length picture which Charles Klein has di-
rected. The supervision goes to Kenneth
Hawks ; the scenario was prepared by Ewart
Adamson ; Lucien Andriot has been assigned
the position of chief cameraman, and the as-
sistant director is Virgil Hart.
Snell Writes Continuity
For "Cohens and Kellys"
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Earle Snell, Uni-
versal's chief comedy writer, is preparing the
continuity of "Cohens and Kellys in Atlantic
City," which goes into production this month.
This is Snell's first assignment after his re-
turn from a three week's vacation in the
Northern part of the state.
Allen Conceives
Two Story Studio
On Educational Lot
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— From the view
the tourist in Hollywood gets of E^iucationai
Studios, on Santa Monica boulevard, the huge
comedy making plant
appears to resemble
the average studio in
the film city.
But behind the
stucco wall that bor-
ders the sidewalk
there are many nov-
elties and innovations
that make these stu-
dios unique.
The passerby may
notice that the stage
buildings appear
somewhat taller than
the average studio
stage building in
Hollywood. They are
taller — for two of the newest stages on the
grounds are two stories instead of the con-
ventional one story structures found in other
studios.
The two story stage was a conception of
E. H. Allen, general manager of Educational
Studios.
The stages in these buildings are on the
second floor. The lower floors are devoted
to storage rooms, garages, repair and paint
shops and property rooms. By elevating his
stage floors, Mr. Allen provides almost 50,000
square feet of useful covered space to his
studio plant.
A feature that instantly strikes the visitor
to Educational Studios is the exceptional
cleanliness and well kept appearance of the
grounds. Every prop and "flat" not in actual
use is stored in one of the compartments be-
neath a stage building. Trucks, busses,
camera cars and utility cars are always under
shelter. Not even a lumber pile is in evidence.
E. H. Allen
Robert Frazier Cast
For a Part in McCoy's
''Sioux Blood" for MGM
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Robert Frazier
has been cast for the Indian brother in Tim
McCoy's forthcoming starring vehicle, "Sioux
Blood," which Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer will
film in Glacier National Park.
McCoy and Frazier will play two brothers,
separated as babies, one raised by white men
and the other by Indians. Josephine Dunn
will be the heroine of the story and a tribe
of 450 Blackfeet Indians will appear.
John Waters will direct the new picture,
one of two to be filmed at the national reserva-
tion. The other, "Humming Wires," is a
romance of the first transcontinental telegraph.
Chief Big Tree, famous Indian actor, who
appeared with McCoy in "War Paint" will
also appear in "Sioux Blood."
Howard Hughes Lends
John Darrow to M-G-M
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— John Darrow,
Howard Hughes' "discovery," has been lent
to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for an important
supporting role with Ramon Novarro in "Gold
Braid," a naval aviation production.
Darrow recently completed a prominent part
in "Hell's Angels," and is receiving praise for
his' performance as the cub reporter in "The
Racket," Caddo's underworld thriller. He is
under contract to Howard Hughes.
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
67
Loetv and U A to
Open Louisville's
State August 18
Opening of Loew's and United Artists'
State theatre at Louisville, August 18, is one
of the highlights of theatre construction news
of the week. This house, costing around a
million, will be equipped for synchronized pic-
tures.
A new and better Princess theatre is to rise at
Mount Dora, Fla., on the ashes of the structure de-
stroyed by fire, July 4. . . . The Gentilly Amuse-
ment Company at New Orleans has bought a tract
for the first theatre in Gentilly Terrace. . . . The
Parkway theatre of Sylvester Groves and associates
is to open in the fall. . . . Tlie Kevil Theatre Com-
pany has been incorporated at Kevil, Ky., likewise
the Yellow Creek Picture Show Company at
Anco, Ky.
Roy P. Rosser has taken over the Dixie at Aber-
deen, N. C, and the Carolina at Hamlet, N. C, from
Charles W. Picquet. . . . Frank Plagin is planning
a 1,000-seat house on the site of the present Alamo
theatre at Gainesville, Ga.
The old Chrystal theatre at St. Joseph, Mo., is
being remodeled to reopen August 15. . . . The Jef-
ferson at Huntington, Ind., has been purchased by
tlie Principal Theatre Company of California.
Samuel H. Levin has arranged for construction of
a 2,000-seat theatre of Chinese design in San Fran-
cisco. Herb Royster has become manager of the
Clemmer at Spokane. Famous Players Canadian has
made an oflfer of $250,000 cash for the Windsor
Capitol Theatre, Ltd., at Windsor, Out.
Marion Davies Wins
Factor Popularity Contest
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— From a list of
200 popular names, Marion Davies was the
winner of the Max Factor star popularity
contest with a majority of 3800 votes. Miss
Davies, who is at the present time traveling;
in the East, will not be present at the award-
ing of the prize; a make-up set presented to
the winner by Max Factor. This set will be
on display at the Max Factor shrine of make-
up at the Long Beach Pacific South-West
exposition.
Factor will also make a replica of the ac-
tress' dressing room, where make-up demon-
strations will take place under the personal
supervision of Ruth E. Conrad, consultant
cosmetician, and who has assisted Max Factor
in making up some of America's most popular
stars of the stage and screen.
Goulding Resumes Work
With Novarro's "Pagan'
(Special to the Hera'd-World)
CULVER CITY, Aug. 7.— "The Pagan,"
John Russell's storj' of the tropics, with
Ramon Novarro as star, will be Edmund
Goulding's first production since his return
from New York to the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
studios. Goulding will film the play after
Novarro finishes "Gold Braid," his forthcom-
ing vehicle. "The Pagan" is a story of a
young island hero in the tropics, transplanted
to civilization.
Goulding, who directed "Love," in which
John Gilbert and Greta Garbo scored, and
other successful productions, is also a play-
wright of note, and has returned from New
York, where he made arrangements for a
stage play. He is author of "Dancing Moth-
ers," famous both on screen and stage.
Lucien Prival Goes
On Short Hiking Trip
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Lucien Prival,
who is enjoying a short rest between pictures
with Caddo Productions, with whom he is un-
der contract, has gone on a hiking trip with
his brother, Benno Prival, well known New
York artist now visiting in the city.
Howard Hughes Plans to Wage
Fight Against Censor Boards
Youthful Producer Is Seeking the Support of Will H. Hays in His
Nationwide Campaign Which Is Prompted by Inter-
ference with "The Racket"
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7. — Plans for a nationwide battle against municipal
and state censorship of motion pictures are being formulated by Howard
Hughes, 23-year-old producer, as a result of asserted interference with "The
Racket" for political reasons.
Following conferences with his attorney, Neil McCarthy, the producer of
"The Racket" has determined to wage a fight to the finish against the action of
various censors throughout the country.
Hughes has been advised that New York State censors eliminated 25 sub-
titles, that the picture was banned completely in Portland, Ore., and Dallas,
Tex., and that other city and state boards have "mutilated and emasculated"
the picture by unfair censorship.
"Freedom of speech and the press, and
even the stage, is recognized in America, and
certainly it should apply to the screen, as
well," declared Hughes.
The youthful producer is seeking the sup-
port of Will Hays in his battle against the
alleged unfair "political" censorship and has
sent the following telegram to the movie czar
in New York :
"Our picture 'The Racket' which is gener-
ally agreed to be a faithful reproduction of
the stage play and entirely devoid of sex has
been mutilated and emasculated by the New
York state censors who eliminated 20 sub-
titles for purely political reasons. The film
has been completely banned by the Portland,
Oregon, censors, apparently motivated by the
same political self-consciousness. There should
be some legitimate and legal recourse against
such an interference. To prevent further
tampering with 'The Racket' and interference
with the exhibition in various parts of the
country, we propose to carry our fight direct
to the county and state governments resorting
to the courts if necessary. This picture is a
disclosure of dishonest politics only. It is a
portrayal of the fundamental integrity of the
police departments and the politicians inter-
ested in clean government who support the
police. Can we count on your support and the
backing of the producers association against
this obviously unfair and uncalled for censor-
ship? As far as we know this is the first time
in motion picture history that a film has been
disapproved by the censors from lolitical mo-
tives only. It will establish a dangerous prec-
edent if it is allowed to go unchallenged."
AL ST. JOHN
under personal
MANAGEMENT OF
AL ROSEN
Latest Releases
"Call Your Shots"
"Whoopee"
Educational Pictures
68
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
Just finished titling
their twentieth First National picture
"The Night Watch"
Billie Dove
Directed by Alexander Korda
Now at work on
"Hard Rock"
Milton Sills
Directed by Eddie Cline
Stephen Roberts
Starts His Fifth Year
Director of
Educational Comedies
See
^^Call Your Shots''
ROY DEL RUTH
Director
Warner Brothers Pictures
takes this opportunity to compliment
ARCHIE MAYO
on his direction of
**State Street Sadie''
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
69
Eugene J. Forde
director
completing the
fourth Tom Mix
production
F B O Release
Experienced
Movietone
Director
r~
JAMES HALL
Has Just Completed a Feature Role in
"The Fleet's In"
Howard Bretherton
Director
"Caught in the Fog"
Vitaphone
In Production
"Redeeming Sin^^
Dolores Costello^Conrad Nagel
Vitaphone Special
Warner Brothers Releases
^r
70
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
1
I
5
F
O^^rien Hailed an Artist by World
For Work in ^^Sunrise^^
Hollywood Reluctant to Take Us Seriously Until Work Commands It; It
Remained for Europeans to Find Fox Star
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7. — This town is reluctant to take us seriously un-
til our work commands it. George O'Brien's work in "Sunrise" has
proved the turning point in his life. Until that role O'Brien was known
in Hollywood as a juvenile star who was simply handsome, athletic and clean
looking.
After "Sunrise" the world told Hollywood it is cockeyed. O'Brien is one
of the finest actors the place possesses. Hollywood withheld its approval un-
til his work commanded it.
AFTER American directors for years have
been searching vainly for material for
men to portray dramatic things of a serious,
intelligent nature, a German, F. W. Murnau,
came to Fox Studios, and said, "this studio
has, among its own people, one of the best
actors I have ever seen. It is George
O'Brien."
American directors did not find O'Brien. A
German found him. After Murnau found
him and displayed him to the world, another
European, Michael Curtiz, asked for him for
the big role in the picture Curtiz has hoped
to make for 20 years. Curtiz obtained him
and cast him in "Noah's Ark," Warner Broth-
ers' $2,000,000 picture.
Following are excerpts from the press in
Great Britam and Europe, praising O'Brien's
work in "Sunrise."
DER MONTAG: "A play of two people! The
man: George O'Brien; and the wife: Janet Gaynor,
two characterizations of a grand scope. Far above
the average screen portrayal. Through this picture,
both the players vnU become world-renowned.
George O'Brien establishes himself as the outstand-
ing American screen actor, equal to Jannings and
Veidt."
*
LIGHT BILDBUEHNE: "Murnau's direction is
a masterpiece of screen-craft, abounding with pic-
torial and historical finenesses. George O'Brien and
Janet Gaynor act with sincere devotion and with
marvelously restrained expression and gestures."
*
REICHSFILMBLATT: "The players are the
best material in the hands of the director-artist.
George O'Brien, the man vdld in his passion, con-
vincing in his mental agony of evil intention, grip-
ping in his repentful love, full of soul after the
storm."
*
BERLINER MORGENPOST: "The players are
flexible material moulded by Murnau. The Man,
George O'Brien, in other pictures just a sympathetic
juvenile hero, is all soul in his spiritual agony, and
JEascinating in his boyish joy. The delicate, pretty
Janet Gaynor, vidth her bright, wide-open child-like
eyes is a great artist who radiates a striking per-
sonality."
*
BERLINER LOKAL ANZEIGER: "The picture
is the masterpiece of a German director, who mas-
ters his art not only with alert intelligence but also
with an understanding heart. Before our eyes, he
exteriorates the very heart and soul of his players,
so that we can read what is going on within them.
BILLY BUnS
latest releases
"None But the Brave"
Al Ray Picture
Fox Films
"Wild West Romance"
Lefty Hough, Director
Fox Films
In Production
"Alias Jimmy Valentine"
Jack Conway, Director
Metro-Goldw3ai-Mayer
And a different world appears, as his film characters
perceive it. All this is conceived and picturized with
a sincerity and an artistic devotion that keeps the
audience spellbound. And so much more, as the
master-director has two master-players, George
O'Brien and Janet Gaynor, from whom he draws
the most subtle, the highest of screen portrayal —
and with the last fade-out there set in a roaring ap-
plause of an inspired, beatified audience."
*
NEUE BERLINER ZEITUNG: "Murnau cre-
ated a work of inspiring quality and effective moods.
It is amazing what Murnau has accomplished with
George O'Brien — how tfiis player acts, so true, so
human, so full of expression.
*
FILM JOURNAL: "We perceive ingenious op-
tical visions! And in the center of all: two players
who, guided by Murnau's masterly and subtle hand,
have been uplifted to the sublimest performance of
characterization. George O'Brien is heavy and im-
pressive, all heart and soul. Janet Gaynor's per-
formance is utterly touching. Her face is madonna-
like.
*
DEUTSCHE ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Direc-
tion and acting are excellent. First of all George
O'Brien's scenes before he attempts to kill her —
Jannings-like. O'Brien shrinks back and breaks down
when he faces the atrocity of the attempted crime.
Janet Gaynor's portrayal is full of heart and soul,
sincere, human and without any artificiality."
*
BERLINER NACHTAUSGABE: "'Sunrise' is a
great ingenious masterpiece, original as to script,
direction and acting. Novel treatments in many
ways. Optical revelations as we saw them in the
"Last Laugh." George O'Brien and Janet Gaynor
are remarkable."
BRITISH PAPERS
KINEMATOGRAPH: "George O'Brien and
Janet Gaynor are splendid and leave a 'never-to-be-
forgotten' impression."
*
LONDON DAILY MIRROR: "Through their
marvelous acting in 'Sunrise,' two film artists who
previously were little known, have become famous.
They are George O'Brien and Janet Gaynor, the
hero and heroine whom F. W. Murnau selected to
play the parts after testing hundreds of other appli-
cants."
*
EVENING NEWS: "George O'Brien has never
done better work ; he is the farmer. Miss Gaynor is
the wife."
*
THE STAR : "Mr. Murnau in spite of his niew
era aspirations, was sufficiently a story teller to ex-
tract the fullest effect from his two chief characters
and he had the best of material in George O'Brien,
who breaks the ground with his partly tragic role, and
Janet Gaynor, who spems inspired in the pleasant
homeliness of her acting."
*
THE SUNDAY TIMES: "The principal actor,
Mr. George O'Brien, conveys powerfully and with
great theatrical effect, the suggestion of animal pas-
sions, brutality and energy."
*
WEEKLY DISPATCH: "As the man, George
O'Brien is a revelation and Margaret Livingston acts
with a good deal of convincing wickedness as the
woman from the city."
*
REYNOLD'S WEEKLY: "George O'Brien plays
the farmer with restraint and power."
*
DAILY FILM RENTER: "George O'Brien, a
strong farmer man, helpless in the toils of the temp-
tress, then irresolute and then determined, is a well
interpreted study, while minor players, excellently
chosen, give sound interpretations."
Roberts, Ace Director,
Making 16 Educationals
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— With the inaugu-
ration of Education's most ambitious comedy
program it is fitting that Stephen Roberts is
announced as the ace director of Mermaid
comedies under the supervision of Jack White.
During the past three years Roberts has been
conceded one of the most successful comedy
directors in pictures.
This year he has been selected by Educa-
tional to direct no less than sixteen pictures
featuring such comedians as Al St. John,
Monte Collins, Wallace Lupino, George Davis
and Jack Miller. Roberts has just completed
his first two comedies featuring Al St. John.
"Call Your Shots" is the title of the first and
the second is "Whoopee."
Pickford Story Started
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— John Grey and
Allan McNeil are collaborating with Sam
Taylor in writing a dramatic comedy for
Mary Pickford's next.
Ausust 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
71
Lincoln Stedman
Busy As New Head
Of Thalian Society
(Sl'ccial to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD. Aug. 7.— Lincoln Stedman
is busy with his duties as new president of
the Thalians, with \'iolet LaPlante as vice-
president, Diane Ellis recording secretary,
Florence Lake corresponding secretary, and
Charles Bohney as treasurer.
The Thalians, now boasting a membership
of 160, was organized over two years ago. The
members were recruited from the ranks of
film stars, writers, directors' and producers of
the younger set, and unmarried. Raymond
Keane was the first president, and Joan
Crawford, IMadge Bellamy, Jobyna Ralston,
Dick Crawford, George Lewis, Lincoln Sted-
man, Mervyn LeRoy, Cleve Moore and Carl
Laemmle, Jr., were among the chartered mem-
bers.
The latest elections were held July 26 at the
new clubrooms in the Max Factor Beauty
Temple of Hollywood. These quarters have
been especially built and equipped by Max
Factor for the use of the Make-up Artists
Association and the Thalians. It has a seat-
ing capacity of 250, a stage, and a raised
platform, 15x20, for the officers. This room
is very handsomely furnished and draped.
The adjoining room is 24x42 and can be used
for dancing and entertainment. This room
is also equipped for the projection of film.
Former President William Dillon officiated
at the elections. The new board of directors
includes Carl Laemmle, Jr., Martha Sleeper,
Duane Thompson and Ronnie Rondell.
William Dillon is chairman of the membership
committee, and Leonard Smith is publicity
director.
Gloria Swanson Picks
Walter Byron as Lead
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Gloria Swanson's
leading man in her third independently pro-
duced motion picture, tentatively titled "The
Swamp," will be Walter Byron, the young
English actor who was brought to Hollywood
a few months ago by Sam Goldwyn.
Miss Swanson's announcement that Byron
would appear opposite her in the picture,
which was written and is to be directed by
Erich Von Stroheim for United Artists re-
lease, followed the completion of a deal in
which Goldwyn, to whom Byron is under con-
tract, agreed to lend the player for the new
picture.
Poland Supervises Film,
Writes Another in Between
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Joseph Franklin
Poland is doing double duty these days. Be-
sides personally supervising Glenn Tryon's
current production, "It Can Be Done," Poland
is writing an original for Reginald Denny,
the temporary title of which is "Clear the
Deck." It is planned to make this Denny's
next picture following "Red Hot Speed,"
which starts this' week at Universal.
Now with Pathe Review
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— One of Pathe
News most famous cameramen, Tracy Math-
ewson, has transferred from the News to
Pathe Review, it was learned upon his arrival
in New York from Atlanta for a conference
with Terry Ramsaye, editor in chief of East-
ern production for the company.
JERRY DREW
Ideal Comedies
X
Sr, '-^^o' Q.> ./ CoSyo, %Z ^- M°%
Directed by
Charles Lament
IRVING CUMMINGS
"Dressed
To
Kill"
Wm. Fox Films
1^^
72
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
4
s
s
J>
m wnich numor enters into a
oughly good story idea played by people who
can act farce, light comedy or a little broader
type of situations that will require skill. Such
The "Confessions" takes you back stage. Bill Holland is directing the girls from the "Good
News" company in this scene for the second of this new Paramount-Christie series.
Christie Comedies Synchronizing
All Films ''in Script
Pictures Noiv in Production Will Have Talking Sequences Written in;
First Is Dooley Comedy
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, August 7. — With the first group of Paramount-Christie
Comedies already synchronized and ready to play in wired houses, and
complete sound stages and equipment going into the studios in Holly-
wood, plans are under way for rather startling developments along novel lines
before the releasing season of 1928-29 is completed. The first is Billy Dooley
in "The Dizzy Diver," released by Paramount August IL
THE Christie production of cemedies for the pared in which humor enters into a thor-
new releasing year is already well advanced.
Up to the time when recording devices are
installed and working in the studios, completed
comedies are being given a wide variety of
music and sound effects through the medium
of records similar to the Vitaphone discs, pre-
pared by Victor Talking Machine Company in
conjunction with Nat Finston, Paramount' s
musical director. In all of the stories now in
production sound ideas are incorporated into
picture scripts from the ground up, while the
pictures are being shot. This will give to some
of the comedies released in October and
November certain opportunities for sound, in-
cluding talking, music, funny noises and
effects, which can be taken advantage of better
even than in the first group released.
Later in the season, when equipment is all
in, the sound stuff will be recorded directly
during production at the studios through use
of Western Electric's systems of film and disc
recording.
Christie's organization has realized the ne-
cessity of making a form of entertainment
which will be ideally suited to the houses
which are wired and also to the thousands of "SOUNDING OUT" — Al and Charles
theatres which will present the silent versions'. Christie (right and left) and George W.
Therefore, good stories in comedies are even Weeks, who is handling the Eastern office
more in demand than before. The cycle of of the Christie-Paramount product, plan-
slapstick and wild gags is said to have passed, ning the Christie-Paramount sound pro-
and a form of entertainment is being pre- gram for the new year.
comedies are designed to cater to adults and
people of a high degree of intelligence as well
as the juvenile element in theatres. It is this
line of screen material for which the Christie
organization was particularly noted at the time
when Christie comedies began to attain popu-
larity.
It is Christie's contention that sound stuff
has perhaps its greatest field in two reelers.
These pictures have always stood for story,
action and laughs, and it is these elements
which the fans crave in screen entertainment.
The fairly short pictures permit the free use
of dialogue which might perhaps become tire-
some if carried to too great lengths in feature
pictures. Talking, properly handled, will not
slow up the action, but will heighten the in-
terest while speeding the action up.
One of the Christie series on which special
attention is being given to sound effects and
music is the "Confessions of a Chorus Girl."
In one of the series now being made the
chorus of pretty girls from the "Good News"
show appears. The dancing, and audience, also
the action on the stage, heightened by the
music which is laid on the background should
produce the effect of a real musical show and
the proper atmosphere in which these stories
are told.
Likewise Jack Duffy as Sandy MacDuff will
have his bagpipes in the series of Scotch com-
edies, Dooley will have submarines, battleships,
and all of the hundreds of water effects which
go with the nautical comedies.
Staff Is Arrested
Twice in Fight for
Shows on Sundays
(Special to the Herald-World)
COLUMBUS, Aug. 7.— The fight of ex-
hibitors at Martins Ferry, Ohio, for Simday
performances entered into the second week
with continued wholesale arrests of managers
and other employes of the Fenway and Elzane
theatres. Sunday, July 29, the men were held
in jail tmtil habeas corpus proceedings could
be brought. It is believed that Mayor Duff
and Chief Muhleman absented themselves
from Martins Ferry on purpose. Back at the
theatres again they were arrested and released
on bonds.
Grand jury investigation is foreseen, as the
matter was referred to Prosecutor Paul V.
Waddell at St. Clairsville.
At Ashland, much interest centers in the
referendum, August 14, on repealing the anti-
Sunday show. The referendum tickets have
been prepared and the Ashland Theatre Own-
ers Association is waging an active campaign.
Fred Edwards is chairman and Harry Carl,
secretary. The association has sent out a
letter to voters, advising them that unless
proper entertainment is available the city's
industries will not get the best type of em-
ployes.
Lewis Stone Signed for
Role in Gilbert-Garbo Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Lewis Stone has
been signed to play a prominent part in "A
Woman of Affairs" in which John Gilbert and
Greta Garbo are to co-star for Metro-Gold-
wyn-Mayer, it was announced yesterday.
Stone, who appeared in "The Private Life
of Helen of Troy," will play the role of
"Hugh Trevelyan" in the filmization of the
Michael Arlen story which Clarence Brown
is directing. In signing Stone for the pail,
M G M adds strength to the supporting cast
of the new feature which is regarded as one
of the most elaborate productions undertaken
this season.
Stone will join the cast at once, production
already being underway.
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
73
Louise Fazenda Now
In Free-Lance Field;
5 Years with Warners
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Louise Fazenda
has decided to enter the free-lance field with
the completion of her five-year contract under
the Warner Brothers
banner.
While under con-
tract, the popular
comedienne worked
quite freely among
several studios, de-
voting only approxi-
mately half of her
time of late to War-
ner Brothers produc-
tions. Her unique
talent in the feature
production field ap-
peared ceaselessly in
demand.
Now as a free
lance player with au-
thority to choose her roles from the offerings,
the possibility that she may cast aside the
kitchen maid makeup in which she is most
widely known, to embark in "straight" char-
acterizations is openly scouted. As a star in
her own right, and a player who is consistent-
ly "wanted" there appears to be little doubt
that whatever she may elect to do her fans
will see her to advantage regardless.
Playing most recently in her first talking
picture as a member of the all-star cast of
"The Terror" for Warner's, she is rumored
to have attained another sensational achieve-
ment.
Louise Fasenda
Josephine Dunn Chosen
Heroine for Tim McCoy
(Special to the Herald-World)
CULVER CITY, Aug. 7.— Josephine Dunn,
who played opposite William Haines in "Ex-
cess Baggage," has been cast as the heroine of
"Sioux Blood," Tim McCoy's forthcoming
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer play of American In-
dian life. Miss Dunn will play the daughter
of an army ofiicer in a frontier post during
the days of Indian warefare in the Middle-
west. McCoy will play a young officer whose
brother had been adopted in infancy into an
Indian tribe with which he had grown up.
John Waters will direct the new production,
to be filmed at Glacier National Park in Mon-
tana. A tribe of Blackfeet Indians will appear
with McCoy in the new production.
John Mack Brown Gets
''Woman of Affairs" Role
(Special to the Herald-World)
CULVER CITY, Aug. 7. — John Mack
Brown, who just completed the leading role in
"Annapolis," has been assigned to play an im-
portant part in "A Woman of Affairs," in
which John Gilbert and Greta Garbo are co-
starred.
In the filmization of the Michael Arlen
story, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer player will
enact the role of "Davis Furness" under direc-
tion of Clarence Efrown. Lewis Stone, Marc
McDermott and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., also
are in the supporting cast.
it
Paddling Coeds" Finished
For U ''Collegians" Series
(Special to the Herald-World)
UNIVERSAL CITY, Aug. 7.— "Paddling
Coeds," one of Universal's "Collegians" pic-
tures, has been completed, according to Carl
Laemmle, Jr., production supervisor of the
series.
George Lewis and Dorothy Gulliver are ap-
pearing in the leading roles, and in the sup-
porting cast are Eddie Phillips and Churchill
Ross.
JUNIOR COGHLAN
"Let 'er Go Gallegher" por Pathe-DeMille "Marked Money"
LOU SEILER
Directing
FOX FILMS
I i
)
d
74
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
i
^
s
s
t
Writer Finds Scnind Solution With
"Double Script" Idea
George Crone Says Perfection of Sound Pictures Is Jeopardized by Com-
petition and Haste; "Rush Has Become Hysterical"
By DAPHNE MARQUETTE
HOLLYWOOD, August 7. — George Crone, director, has never made a
sound picture.
But this does not confute the statement that George Crone knows a
lot about the amazing possibilities encompassed by the sound-producing device
in picture making, and the tremendous difficulties to be encountered in using it.
'T^HOSE who are engaged in the actual pro- evident. The silent picture loses something on
-*- duction of sound pictures can only predict
a remarkable future for them. They are over-
coming as rapidly as possible the complex
problems which arise on all sides.
Take one side, for instance, the continuity
situation. All are agreed that, for the time
being at least, when a sound picture is made
a silent one will also be made from the same
story for foreign release and for theatres not
equipped with the reproducing device. These
silent pictures will follow their oral twins in
story as closely as practicable and will be shot
simultaneously. However, certain scenes will
be required for the silent picture which will
not 'be necessary where the titles are spoken.
For example : In a bedroom, the doctor
encourages a blind girl by telling her the com-
ing operation is certain to restore her sight.
As he exits from the room, the girl follows
him to the door without his knowing it. She
hears him tell her father, on the other side of
the closed door, that there is only one chance
in a hundred of restoring her sight. The ad-
vantage of the sound picture in staying with
the closeup of the girl while she builds her
emotion over what she is hearing is at once
account of the necessary switch-back to show
the scene in the hall where the doctor is talk-
ing to the father. His message is conveyed
to the audience by a written title. To cover
this scene, the action for the silent picture, the
action for the sound picture and all the spoken
titles should appear on the same page of the
script.
The first scenarios presented for the shoot-
ing of these double pictures led to no end of
confusion for the director. Some of them
needed the aid of an income tax expert, a
Philadelphia lawyer and a crossword puzzle
fiend to help untangle the script.
This complex problem of a scenario which
could carry, in a clear concise manner, both
the oral and silent story presented itself early
to George Crone, who has prepared scenarios
for other directors and who has directed pic-
tures from another's script. In a study of the
difficulties which must necessarily present
themselves in this new departure in picture-
making, Mr. Crone figured that one of the first
steps toward eliminating trouble was to evolve
a different system of writing the double script.
And toward this end he worked. He has now
applied for a patent on an idea which is as
simple as it is unique, and which he believes
will save both time and money for the direc-
tors and producers of sound pictures.
When asked how he happened to hit on his
idea, he replied, "I didn't happen to hit on it.
I've been applying stage technique to picture
stories for 10 years, and this is just a natural
evolution from such a practice."
This young director believes that without
doubt the sound picture is here to stay. He
believes, however, that the competition between
the studios to get them out in a hurry may
cause a terrific set-back in bringing them to an
artistic and money-making perfection.
"The rush to complete sound pictures has
grown to an almost hysterical point," says Mr.
Crone, "and the same mistakes are feeing made
over and over again in many of the studios.
This new era in picture making history should
be approached with painstaking care — almost
with trepidation, and surely with careful
study."
George Crone was with the Douglas Mac-
Lean Productions for several years, acting
both as a director and supervisor.
Ben Lyon Finishes
With ''Heirs Angels
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Ben Lyon's flying
ability, developed while
Angels," Howard Hughes
landed him an important
FBO.
He has been signed to
part in "The Air Legion,"
cial to be directed by Bert Glennon. Lyon has
been playing in "Hell's Angels" since last
October. He completed his role, the biggest
of his career, last week. This also marked the
end of his contract with Howard Hughes, and
the actor is now a member of the free-lance
fraternity.
9f
working "Hell's
air special, has
assignment with
play the leading
an aviation spe-
F
Charles (Buddy) Rogers
Paramount Studios
ALICE WHITE
Now Starring in
"Showgirl"
for First National
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
75
Detroit Designates
August Season of
Greater Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, Aug. 7. — Detroit's 1928-29
"Greater Movie Season" will open here Sat-
urday in virtually all of the local screen the-
atres, with producers and managers announc-
ing many special features for the month of
August. H. M. Richey, president of the Mich-
igan Theatre Owners' Association, in a re-
view and forecast of the past and coming sea-
sons, pointed out that the prediction of a
"great movie season" for this year was ful-
filled.
"The past year brought forth many ex-
ceptionally fine pictures," Mr. Richey said.
"It saw Detroit become more enthusiastic than
ever before over screen entertainment. The
outstanding innovation of the year, of course,
was the rapid rise of talking pictures. There
was, also, an elaboration of stage and musical
features lending new^ attraction to screen
progress. The coming year promises even
more spectacular improvements."
Export Trade in May
Exceeds April Totals
In Quantity and Value
(Washington Bureau of the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7.— Export trade of
the United States in motion picture films in
May, totaling 25,578,169 linear feet valued at
$677,974, exceeded that of April, both in quan-
tity and value, and also exceeded the ship-
ments of May, 1927, in quantity, although fall-
ing slightly below the total of that month for
value, according to figures just compiled by
the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com-
merce.
The May shipments were nearly 2,000,000 feet
greater than those of the preceding month, and the
value showed an increase of over $25,000, while, as
compared with May, 1927, the quantity showed an
increase of over 4,000,000 feet, although the value
was approximately $105,000 less.
Exports of motion picture film in May by classes
were as follows: Positives, 19,112,379 feet valued at
$467,192; raw stock, 6,118,700 feet valued at $136,-
290; negatives, 347,090 feet valued at $74,492. Our
leading markets for positives were Australia, taking
over 1,000,000 feet. The most important markets for
raw stock were France, taking 1,800,000 feet, and the
United Kingdom, taking 1,600,000 feet, while the lat-
ter also qualified as the leading market for ship-
ments of negatives.
>f
Universal Signs Keefe
For "Cohens and Kellys
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Cornelius Keefe
has been signed by Universal for the juvenile
lead in "The Cohens and Kellys in Atlantic
City" which William J. Craft will direct.
In the cast are George Sidney, Vera Gordon,
Kate Price, and Mack Swain. The company
leaves next week for Atlantic City where the
picture will be filmed.
Keefe left for his home in Brookline,
Massachusetts, where he will visit for a few
days with his parents before joining the Uni-
versal company in Atlantic City August 12.
INCORPORATIONS
ALBANY, Aug. 6. — Only six companies incorpora-
ted in the motion picture business in New York
state the past week:
Hi-Mark Han-a-phone Corporation, with Nat Na-
thanson, George K. Rolands, Frank B. Fortes, New
York City; Brooklyn Riviera Theatre, Inc., Solomon
M. Strausberg, Rebecca Strausberg, George M.
Carle, Brooklyn; VanBeuren Enterprises, Inc., $10,-
000, Clayton J. Heermance, S. Whitney Landon,
Ethel Borut, New York City; Hoffberg-Cornfeld, Inc.,
$10,000, Jacob Hoffberg. Blanche Berger, New York
City; Sammie Cornfeld, Berlin, Germany; Fitzer-
Buffalo Corporation, $75,000, Mitchel Fitzer, Nathan
Abelson, James P. Martin, Syracuse; Fielder's Film
Facts, Inc., $10,000, Edward C. Fielder, Ormonde W.
McClave, Ruth A. Conlan, New York City.
Byrd Cameraman Feted
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 1.— Joe Rucker,
head of Paramount's news reel service here
and selected to accompany the Byrd expedi-
tion to the South Pole, was tendered a picnic
by Herman Wobber, Pacific Coast represen-
tative of Paramount, before he left.
Three Directors Signed
For Columbia Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Frank Capra has
been assigned to direct Bert Lytell in "The
Lone Wolf's Daughter" for Columbia. Erie
C. Kenton is signed to direct "The Street
Illusion," and John Adolfi to direct "Sinners'
Parade."
27 Stern Bros. Comedies
For Next Year Are Made
Available for Summer
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— The entire list of
Stern Brothers 27 comedies in two reels on
hand for next season is to be made available
to exhibitors at once for emergency bookings
for the "dog days" of the remainder of the
summer, Vice-president Abe Stern announced
last week.
Doris Dean Sues Ar buckle
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 7.— Doris Dean filed
suit yesterday for divorce from Roscoe
"Fatty" Arbuckle.
ARTHUR STONE
"Chicken A La King"— Fox Featured Player
Reginald Denny
starring
in
"Red Hot Speed"
Universal Movietone Production
Latest Release
"The Night Bird"
/
r
^
76
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
!
5
\
Buddy, born Charles, Rogers, at home in
Hollywood. The Paramount featured player
is shown with the Boggs family, with whom
he lives. It is the family of a fraternity
brother from the University of Kansas, which
"graduated" Rogers into a film career. Pic-
tured are Mrs. Boggs, Buddy, Deane Boggs
and Miss Elva Boggs.
Alberta Vaughn, an outstanding
representative of the lively,
roguish school of charm, who is
being starred in F B O's 1928-29
series of thrillers adapted from
the yarns by H. C. Witwer in
Cosmopolitan Magazine and
serially titled "Racing Blood."
Speaking of "intriguing" smiles — which
we weren't, but why shouldn't we? — here
is Nancy Carroll, one of Paramount's
younger set, and on this occasion, a
Paleolithic flapper. She is opposite Jack
Ho!t in Paramount's "The Water Hole."
Above: A daring
rescue in the turbulent
waters of a Universal
swimming pool. How-
ever, the concrete
won't appear when this
"Collegian" produc-
tion is shown. George
Lewis is the chap res-
cuing Yvonne HowelL
Director Nat Ross is
on the platform with
Eddie Phillips just
below.
Left: Few places in
Europe as popular for
vacations as the moun-
tains, and in Germany
the high altitudes of
Silesia ofier eminent
attractions in coolness
and entertainment.
Here are two film
players enjoying them,
Rina Marsa and Dita
Parlo, UFA stars.
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
77
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
Production Directory
[Number immediately following title denotes production number]
"Marked Money" Spencer Bennett Junior Coghlan
Virginia Bradford
George Duryea
Tom Kennedy
"Singapore Sal" Howard Higgin Phyllis Haver
Alan Hale
Fred Kohler
Dan Wolheim
First National Studios
"Do Your Duty"
"Hie Haunted
House"
William BeaudineCharles Murray
Doris Dawson
Charles Delaney
Benjamin
Christensen
Flora Finch
Chester Conklin
Thelma Todd
Larry Kent
Fox Studios
•The Woman"
"The River"
Irving CummingsMary Astor
John Boles
Frank Borzage
"RUey, the Cop" John Ford
•Fog"
Charles Klein
Ben Bard
Charles Farrell
Mary Duncan
Farrell MacDonald
Nancy Drexel
David Rollins
George O'Brien
Lois Moran
Metropolitan Studios
"Hell's Angels" Howard Hughes Greta Nissen
James Hall
Ben Lyon
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
"West of
Zanzibar"
"Alias Jimmy
Valentine"
"A Woman of
Affairs"
"Gold Braid"
"Little Angel"
Tod Browning
Jack Conway
Clarence Brown
George Hill
Sam Wood
Lon Chaney
Warner Baxter
Mary Nolan
William Haines
Karl Dane
Lionel Barrymore
Greta Garbo
John Gilbert
Ramon Novarro
Norma Shearer
Paramount Studios
"Take Me Home" Marshall Neilan
"Docks of New
York"
•'Sins of the
Fathers"
•"Moran of the
Marines"
•Interference"
Untitled
Joseph von
Sternberg
Edward Berger
Frank Strayer
Lothax Mendez
Dorothy Arzner
Bebe Daniels
Neil Hamilton
George Bancroft
Betty Compson
Baclonova
Km 11 Jannings
Ruth Chatterton
Richard Dix
Ruth Elder
Clive Brook
Evelyn Brent
Williajm Powell
Richard Arlen
Nancy Carroll
STORY
DIRECTOR CHIEF BRAND
PLAYERS NAME
STARTING
DATE
Columbia Studios
"Runaway Girls"
Mark Sandrich Shirley Mason
Arthur Rankin
Hedda Hopper
Alice Lake
July 17
DeMille Studios
July 12
July 17
July 20
July 26
July 25
June 10
July 6
July 30
Nov. 4
June 21
July 2
July 31
August 5
August 4
June 25
June 25
July 7
July 16
July 19
July 26
STORY
DIRECTOR
CHIEF
PLAYERS
BRAND
NAME
Tiffany-Stahl Studios
"The Rainbow"
'The Floating
College"
Reginald Barker Dorothy Sebastian
Lawrence Gray
Sam Hardy
George Crone
Sally O'Neil
William Collier, Jr.
Tec-Art Studios
'Lief, the Lucky" Roy Neill
House Peters Technicolor
Leroy Mason
Pauline Starke
United Artists Studios
'The Rescue" Herbert Brennon Ronald Colman
Lily Damita
Universal Studios
Warner Brothers Studio
'Conquest"
'My Man"
'The Outlaw
Dog"
'The Home-
towners"
Roy Del Ruth
Archie Mayo
Ross Lederman
Bryan Foy
"The Redeeming Howard
Sin" Bretherton
Monte Blue
Lois Wilson
H. B. Warner
Edmu»d Breese
TuUy Marshall
Fannie Brice
"Big Boy" Williams
Edna Murphy
Andre De Segurola
Richard Tucker
Billy Seay
Rin-Tin-Tin
Matty Kemp
Evelyn Pierce
Richard Bennett
Irene Rich
Doris Kenyon
Robert McWade
Robert Edeson
Dolores Costello
Conrad Nagel
Georgie Stone
Lionel Barrymore
Phillip De Lacy
STARTING
DATE
July 16
August 2
July 18
June 20
"The Collegians"
Nat Ross
George Lewis
Dorothy Gulliver
May 14
"Show Boat"
Harry Pollard
Laura La Plante
Joseph Schildkraut
July 16
The Shakedown'
'Willie Wyler
Barbara Kent
James Murray
July 16
"The Play Goes
On"
Paul Fejos
Conrad Veidt
Mary Philbin
Leslie Fenton
July 30
'It Can Be Done'
' Fred Newmeyer
Glenn Tryon
Sue Carol
Jv(ly26
"Red Hot Speed"
Joseph Henaberry Reginald Denny
Alice Day
August 1
"King of the
Rodeo"
Henry McRae
Hoot Gibson
Kathiyn Crawford
July 25
"Grit Wins"
Joseph Levigard
Ted Wells
August 4
"The Mystery
Rider"
Jack Nelson
William Desmond
June 28
July 30
June 19
July 2
July 9
July 14
78
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
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NEW PICTURES
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In "New Pictures" the EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE
WORLD presents in concise form info^r-
mation on current and forthcoming attrac-
tions.
The facts as presented will serve exhib-
itors in booking and in the preparation of
their advertising campaign.
MAN WHO LAUGHS, THE: Universal drama with
Mary Philbln, Conrad Veidt, Julius Molnar, Jr.,
Josephine Ci'owell, Torben Meyer, George Siegmann,
Brandon Huret, Olga Baclanova, Nick de Ruiz, Sam
de Grasse, Stuart Holmes, Cesare Gravina, Edgar
Norton, Charles Puffy, Frank Puglino and Carmen
Costello. Directed by Paul Leni. Released
_ Length 10,185.
TYPE AND THEME: Trenchant with drama is
this story of a titled clown a/nd blin^ girl in the.
reign of Queen Anne in England. Kidnapers aban-
don a boy li'hose face lias been mutilated into a
horrible grin by political enemies of his father.
In the circus van of Ursu^ he finds shelter for him-
self and a motherless baby girl. The girl grows up
to be the beautiful Dea, blind maid, and the boij
is now Givynplaine, famious cloivn. .\n atta.che of
the queen's court finds Owynplaine has a just
claim to a title. Anne sees this as a means to
discipline her half-sister. Duchess Josiana, restores
Gwynplaine to his wealth and tries to force hi.s
marriage to Josiana. The attache reports him dead
and banishes the circus from England. Gwynplaine
renounces the title and hurries after the troupe.
Vrsus' trained wolf brings the pursuing attache to
his merited death, and Gwynplaine reaches his be-
loved Dea.
MATING CALL, THE: Paramount drama with
Thomas Meighan, Evelyn Brent, Renee Adoree,
Alan Rbscoe, Gardner James, Helen Foster, Luke
Cosgrave, Cyril Chadwiek, Will R. Walling. Di-
rected by James Cruze. Released _
Length _
TYPE AND THEME: Meighan comes home to
learn that Evelyn Brent, his war-bride, has an-
nulled their m.arriage and rewed, the party of this
second part being Alan Roscoe. But not so good
for Evelyn. She returns from England with the
knowledge that Roscoe has been unfaithful and
tries to win bajck Meighan which can't be done.
Meighan wa/>its a wife to help him with the farm
and the solution seems to rest with Renee Adoree,
immigrant girl, who agrees to the marriage in
order to get into America. But when they get to
the farm Meighan finds she is a Russian aristocrat
a/nd her supposed parents are really servants.
Roscoe gets back into the plot when Helen Foster,
who has had an unfortunate affair with him, tries
to drown herself in a lake and is rescued by
Meighan and Gardner James, her best friend
Roscoe tries to pin the blayne on Meighan and
incites a secret society to attack him. Evelyn tells
the undercover society the truth and the members
start for Roscoe's office only to find him dead from
a bullet from Helen's father. Meighan meanwhile
has gone to protect Renee, but she has disap-
peared. He discovers her talcing a moonlight swim
in the lake, and despite her charges that he is a
sneak for invading the privacy of her nocturnal
A scene from a new story of the ways of
gangs in today's big cities, "Gang War."
an F B O production directed by Ralph
Ince. Above are shown the featured play-
ers, Olive Borden and Jack Pickford.
dip, he carries her to the house, ivhere all is cleared
up and love is awakened.
* * *
QUICK TRIGGERS: Universal Western with Fred
Humes, Derelys Perdue, Robert Chandler, Wilbur
Mack, William H. Baimbridge, Orpha Alba, Gilbert
"Pee Wee" Holmes, Scotty Mattraw, Dick
L'Estrange and Benny Corbett. Directed by Ray-
mond Taylor. Released July 15. Length
TYPE AND THEME: Horse thieves and love.
Of course they don't always go together, but when
they do there's cu;tion to pay. It seems that Larry
Day (Humes) as foreman of the Three X ranch
loses the trail of a band of horse rustler's but
finds a pretty girl. Which sounds to tis as better
than an even break. The riderless horse of a
rustler is followed to the home of the girl's father
and he is arrested. Between love of Larry and
affection for her father she determines upon a
desperate course of aetion, ivhich includes a final
battle with the desperadoes.
* * *
SUNRISE; Fox drama with George O'Brien, Janet
Gaynor, Bodil Rosing, Margaret Livingston, Far-
rell Macdonald, Ralph Slipperly, Jane Winton,
Arthur Housman, Eddie Boland. Directed by F. W.
Murnau. Released _ Length „
TYPE AND THEME: The characters are
nameless and so is the location, as the story is
supposed to be typical of the times. .4 city siren
tempts a farmer to drown his wife but his con-
science asserts itself and he rows her back to
shore. She flees in horror amd takes refuge in a
church, where a wedding is being performed. She
learns that he can be trusted again and they sta/rt
a second honeymoon. On their return, again in a
rowboat, she disappears in a storm. Reaching
shore in the morning he goes to kiU the siren but
learns that his wife is alive and hurries to her.
STREET ANGEL: Fox drama with Janet Gaynor,
Charles Farrell, Guido Trento, Henry Armetta,
Natalie Kingston, Louis Liggett, Milton Dickenson,
Helena Herman, David Kashner, Gino Conti, Jennie
Bruno. Directed by Frank Borzage. Released
Length
TYPE AND THEME: A story of poverty, jails
and circus, with old Naples as a background. With-
out funds to buy needed medicine for her mother,
Angelina tries to "cruise" the streets, but fuUlely.
Then she attempts to steal change from, a spaghetti
stand and the police spy her. She escapes and is
given refuge with a circus troupe. She becomes a
performer. A young artist across the road draws
her attention and the attraction is decidedly mutual,
for he also joins the circus. He paints her, as a
saint. The sight of two policemen causes her to
lose her balance in an act. She falls, is injured
and the artist, Oino, takes her to Naples. Hopes
and income don't match amd Gino sells the picture
of Angelina. The rent day again comes, as such
things have a habit of doing, and the landlady is
upbraiding Angelina when in comes Gino with an-
nouncement tliat at last he has obtained a com-
mission to paint a mural and that the next day
is reserved for the wedding. But a policeman
comes for Angelina with a warrant for her arrest,
unknown to Oino. She asks an hour of grace,
and then vanishes. Gino goes to pieces and takes
to frequenting low dives. Angelina is released
from prison and hunts him in vain. At last he
sees her, on the waterfront and huddled against a
wall. He believes she has become a woman of the
streets and rushes toward her to kill her. She
runs into a church amd hides behind a pillar at an
altar. On it is the painting he made of her. He
drags her beneath the painting. The candles form
a halo above her head and at last he knows the
truth. They kneel before the altar.
COWBOY KID, THE: Fox Western with Rex Bell,
Mary Jane Temple, Brooks Benedict, Alice Belcher,
Joe De Grasse, Sid Crossley, Billy Bletcher. Di-
rected by Clyde Carruth. Released...„
Length
TYPE AND THEME: A tale of dynamite, bank
vaults and armored cars, in which Jim Barrett
hones for excitement — and gets much. He saves
Janet Orover from a trio of bad men amd gets a
job as bank guard and messenger as a reward,
from her dad. Jim is kidnapped and the bank
vault dynamited. A run on the bank starts and
Grover ivires for funds. A shipment is sent in
an armored car. Jim, returning to consciousness,
hears .Janet's radio appeal for help when the ship-
ment is overdue. He gets to the road in time to
prevent the dynamiting of the armored car, gains
entrance to the car by a ruse, and drives through
the gang, reaching the bank just in time.
This Week's Press Sheet
NIGHT WATCH, THE (First National drama): Here is a
teaser stunt that embodies a comedy angle as well as definitely
lining up with your regular advertising on the picture when it
breaks. The following copy can be effectively employed on
special mailing cards or intensive distribution as throwaways
among the male populace of your city. In the event you cover
the residential districts with the handbills, it will prove a far
more effective stunt if you will enclose them in envelopes bear-
ing the single line of copy: "FOR THE MAN OF THE
HOUSE." Inside the envelope should read: "Do you trust
your wife? If your suspicions have been aroused take advantage
of the 'Night Watch,' a confidential service for husbands. You
can learn full details by phoning (theatre phone number) or
calling at (Street number of theatre)." . . . An interesting,
arousing, advance billing campaign using the following copy for
snipe ones and half-sheets, window and tack cards, will put
over the title of the picture and at the same time act as an
effective teaser stunt: "Lonesome wives, beware. 'The Night
Watch' is checking up on you while your husbands are away."
. . . Two logical tieups present themselves through the use of
two assortments of "The Night Watch" stills, and when attrac-
tively mounted on neatly executed sign-cards with the tieup
copy suggested here, offer excellent attention-arresting window
display material. Stills numbers — 5P, 6P, 7P, and 8P show
Billie Dove in poses with a beautiful life-like baby doll. Your
local merchant can select a similar doll from his stock, name
it the "Billie Dove Doll" and give the same a direct tieup value.
Following copy given here covers dolls in general: "Billie Dove
now at the (name of theatre) helps to popularize dolls for
grownups. It's the fad of the day! You don't have to feed 'em
and there is no over 'The Night Watch.' "
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
79
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THE SHORT FEATURE
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
"Little Pictures with the Big Punch," which has presented news, reviews and exploitation on
short features and serials.
Releases
WEEK OF AUGUST 12
EDUCATIONAL— "Goofy Birds," Bowers, two;
"He Tried to Please," Collins-Hutton, Cameo,
one; "The Peep Show," Hodge-Podge, one.
PARAMOUNT — "Stop Kidding," Christie-Vernon,
two.
PATHE — "The Terrible People," Chapt. 2, two;
"Sunny Italy," Aesop Fable, one; "His Unlucky
Night," Bevan-Dent, Sennett, two; Pathe Reriew
No. 33, one; Topics of the Day No. 33, one.
UNIVERSAL— "King of Shebas," Snappy, one;
"Tarzan the Mighty" No. 1, Adventure, two;
"Busting Buster," Stem Bros., two; "The Getaway
Kid," Western, Curwood, two.
WEEK OF AUGUST 19
EDUCATIONAL— "The Fighting Orphans— Eve-
ning Mist," Bruce Outdoor Sketches, one; "Just
Dandy," Drew, Mermaid, two.
F B O — NewslaflE No. 26, one.
FOX — "Her Mother's Back," Imperial, two.
PARAMOUNT — "The Dizzy Dive," Christie-Dooley,
two.
PATHE — "The Terrible People," Chapt. 3, two;
"A Cross-Country Run," Aesop Fable, one;
"Canned Thrills," Sportlight, one; "Smith's Res-
taurant," two ; Pathe Review No. 34, one ; Topics
of the Day No. 34, one.
UNIVERSAL— "Hot Dog," Oswald, Snappy, one;
"Tarzan the Mighty" No. 2, Adventure, two; "She's
My Girl," Stem Bros., Let George Do It, two;
"The Ruse," Western, Perrin, two.
WEEK OF AUGUST 26
EDUCATIONAL — "Wedded Blisters^" Lupino-Boyd,
Tuxedo, two; "Troubles Galore," Collins-Ruby Mc-
Coy, Cameo, one.
F B O — "Jessie's James," Racing Blood Series, AI
Cooke, two.
PARAMOUNT — "Hot Scotch," Duffy, Sandy Mac-
Duff, Christie, two.
PATHE— "The Terrible People," Chapt. 4, two;
Aesop Fable, one; "The Chicken," Deluxe,^ Sen-
nett, two; Pathe Review No. 35, one; Topics of
the Day No. 35, one.
UNIVERSAL-^"A Hurry Up Marriage," Harold
Highbrow series, one; "Tarzan the Mighty" No. 3;
Adventure, two; "Husbands Won't Tell," Mike and
Ike, Stern Bros., two; "The Danger Trail," West-
ern, Newton House, two.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 2
EDUCATIONAL — "Skating Home," Confessions of a
Chorus Girl series, Christie, two.
PATHE— "The Terrible People," Chapt. 5, two; Aesop
Fable, one; "South Sea Saga," Sportlight, one;
"His Royal Slyness," Harold Lloyd (reissue), two;
Pathe Review No. 36, one; Topics of the Day No.
36, one.
UNIVERSAL— "Sky Scrapper," Snappy, Oswald,
one; "Tarzan the Mighty," No. 4, Adventure, two;
"The Junior Year," Collegians, third series, two;
"Newlyweds' Hard Luck," two; "Speed and Spurs,"
Bob Curwood, Western, two.
Orpheum Billings Grow on
Short Films, Scott Finds
Several of the Orpheum theatres are in-
creasing their bookings of short features,
Harry Scott, Pathe short subjects sales man-
ager, reported to the home office on his re-
turn from his Middlewestern trip.
Business is very good, considering the
stretch of sweltering weather, Scott found.
Theatres having cooling plants have shown
a definite lead in attendance.
First ''Toots and Casper*'
"Toots and Casper" make their screen bow
with "Buttercup" in the first of the series,
just completed by Earl T. Montgomery for
F B O release.
Many Patrons Prefer Shorts^ Says
One; Draw Trade^ Another Finds
"/ believe that there are a number of patrons who are more interested in
SHORTS than they are in the feature. Also know that certain of the SHORTS
are business getters and are entitled to their share of advertising."
"The short feature does help us a lot. We use a comedy every night we show,
which is three nights a week. However, there are some comedies that draw more
than others. . . . Small features draw business."
The first of the foregoing paragraphs is Ray W. Musselman's statement to
this department of his Short Feature Creed. Musselman has the Princess thea-
tre at Lincoln, Kan., "a dot on any map," as his letterhead aptly describes the
town. The second is from Mrs. Hulda J. Green of the Gem theatre at Green-
river, Utah.
These two champions of the short feature
as a necessary element in any well-rounded
program differ in their methods of exploi-
tation and in the amount of advertising prod-
uct they allot to short product, but they
agree with the others whose comment is
being published in this series in the Herald-
World.
Gives Shorts Half of Ads
Musselman gives short subjects 50-50
ranking with long features in his advertising.
Mrs. Green, in a small town with no news-
paper, allots them 14 per cent of space in one-
sheets, programs and heralds.
"In several instances," she writes "when
we have had an Our Gang comedy with
Pola Negri we have had better than the
average house. But if we used Pola Negri
alone without the Our Gang comedy we
would not have had a good house.
"We are in a small town and if we have
a good comedy the children want to come,
so the parents have to bring them.
"We advertise comedies about 14 per cent
of the total advertising. We do .not have a
newspaper in this town, so we advertise them
by one-sheets.
Programs Sent All Patrons
"We also advertise by program. (Mrs Green
enclosed a program for the month of July
which unfortunately cannot be reproduced.
It is 8>2 inches wide by 6 deep, on heavy
orange card, with a blank boxed space in
the center, presumably for home memoranda.
The short feature has practically equal space
with the long, the only difference being that
the title of the long feature is in bold type
and its stars are named.)
"One of these (programs) is s'ent to each
patron along with what heralds we have on
the pictures of the coming month.
"A news reel does not draw much here be-
cause we are so late getting it. Otherwise
small features draw business."
Each Type Has Own Play
An interesting and decidedly worthwhile
bit of comment, that. So, too, is that from
Musselman, who goes into the details of how
he promotes each kind of short feature, com-
pared with the long. After declaring that
"short subjects, in my theatre, are given equal
advertising with my features and specials,"
Musselman writes:
"News (International) — One-sheet is dis-
played for one week previous, as I show
News that is fifteen days old.
"Comedies — Gang, Gumps, Mermaids get
equal publicity with feature.
"Serials — Big exploitation on beginning,
lobby display and newspaper space, along with
feature until the end.
"Novelties — Lobby display in advance, also
newspaper space."
Newspictures
FOX NEWS NO. 90— Gene Tunney quits prizering—
Vienna greets singing society of the world — Airman
in New Jersey plays tag with fast train.
INTERNATIONAL NEWSREEL 101— New Alpine
line opens Bavarian wonderland — Beauties of
France are unfolded to cyclists on race tour —
Device picks up airmail for plane
INTERNATIONAL NEWSREEL NO. 102—30,000
Chinese pledge aid for united nation — Courtney and
three others are rescued on ocean hop — New Jer-
sey honors Wilmer Stutz, pilot.
KINOGRAMS NO. 5418— Pacific Southwest exhibi-
tion opens — German breaks U. S. air glider record
— Blimp rescues men from upturned boat.
KINOGRAMS NO. 5419— German sportsmen hold
biggest fete at Cologne — Saratoga open in all its
glory — Kansas City college swimmer tries for record
circling Manhattan.
M G M NEWS NO. 101— French help Germans set
glider record — Airplane bridge is society women's
latest — Five tons of dynamite tear rock off high-
way.
MGM NEWS NO. 102 — Open pits supplant cages in
European zoo — Movable playgrounds are welcomed
by children — Europe's speed demons race on peril-
ous track.
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. 3— Leo Diegel \vins Do-
minion open gold crown at Toronto for third time
— Tunney quites ring — Return of Italia survivors
closes tragedy of Arctic.
PATHE NEWS NO. 64— German glider stays aloft
for American record — Woman run over by ten
autos just laughs — Bombardment planes maneuver
in clouds.
PATHE NEWS NO. 6S— 400,000 singers hail Schu-
bert anniversary — Sailors play ball on floating fly-
ing field — Bold knights joust for ladies fair.
80
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
Y^
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PRESENTATION ACTS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World Department,
"Stage and Pit"
i You Ought to Accept Suggestions
STAGE SHOWS
New Orleans Saenger
Week Ending August 3
The engineer of "The Fast Mail," the current Pub-
lix show, delivered several good players, notably The
De Groohs, featured in singing, dancing, jesting and
versatile playing of musical instruments, etc.
However, the Foster Girls comprising the chorus
saved the Publix presentation from a flop and with
the aid of Mildred Schmidt, a local girl, and Eddie
Hill, a real comedian, a fairly good bill was presented.
"The Fast Mail" is supposed to represent the devel-
opment of the mail service in the United States be-
ginning with the pony riders, up to and including our
present air mail system, depicted in films.
Art Landry, the personality leader, introduced the
performers as "packages" from foreign countries.
Eva Thornton, a ballad singer, was good. The Phelps
Twins were a fine dance team, and Luster Bros, in
very good acrobatic stunts.
The Foster Girls appeai-ed in many different and
beautiful dances and marches with wardrobe the
finest seen on the Saenger stage in many presenta-
tions.
Eddie HUl is fat, good natured, and looks like a
politician, but despite all this, amused the audience
■with wise cracks and a few tuneful songs, all fresh,
without the taint of the moth ball.
Mildred Schmidt, a local girl, sang and danced in a
graceful manner and has the makings of a finished
presentation artist.
A feature of the entertainment was the farewell
of personality leader Art Landry, who paraphrased
Good Night into Good-Bye, assisted by Miss Schmidt.
Landry sails for New York August 8, being succeeded
by Jack Stanley as personality leader.
Castro Carazo and the Saenger Grand orchestra en-
tertained with Victor Herbert's Impressions, a musical
grouping of selections from his works.
The Movietone made its first appearance in this
city at this theatre this week and is entertaining.
Kansas City Pontages
Week Ending August 3
Mae Murray and her Brazilian band, consisting cf
William Muffa, Alberta Dellena and Bonanova, was
the feature attraction of the Pantages' stage program.
Incidentally the week's attendance hit a new high
mark for summer.
There is nothing to hint of elaborateness in Miss
Murray's number. The curtain rises upon a dimly
lighted stage and the Brazilian string orchestra com-
pletes one number and is well along on another as
Miss Murray comes gliding out. Her entire appear-
ance is confined to lively dance steps and continued
encores from enthusiastic audiences. She handles
herself vrith "pep" aplenty and makes the audiences
feel that she enjoys their presence as much as they do
her — which is probably a fact, at that, considering
that the admission price was raised from 35 to 50
cents at night.
Raymond Bond, with Helen Sullivan & Co., offer a
novel playlette titled "Good Night," which has plenty
of humor. Scott Brothers & Vernon are seen in a
sketch titled "Good Time Charlie," which has several
original lines and goes over well. Alice Melville
proves herself to be a clever ventriloquist with a
pleasing change of voice from soprano to deep bass.
"The Spirit of St. Louis" ie the sketch offered by
Dorothy ImhA & Co.
iContinued on page 82)
Frankie Masters
Old Black Joe surely started something when he
began to strum his banjo many years ago — at that
time banjo music was considered merely a pastime
for tired slave-hands on the levees — today it is con-
sidered one of the best sorts of entertainment on
the presentation stage. Frankie Masters, whose like-
ness appears above, is a graduate of the banjo who
first became popular in Chicago as the singing ban-
joist with Bennie Krueger and his band — now
Frankie heads his own band at the Norshore theatre,
Chicago, as the romantic, singing Master of Cere-
monies.
Stars of the Week
Famous stage and screen names of the week in
Chicago are as follows: Jackie Coogan appearing in
person as an extra added attraction in the B. & K.
theatres, Waring's Pennsylvanians also touring B. &
K. ; Billy Glason and the Darling Twins of musical
comedy fame also with B. & K. ; Orville Rennie
of The Student Prince at the Oriental ; Don Armand
and Capella, John Charles Gilbert and Ruth Marie
Ziegfeld's Follies at the Granada ; while Roseray
and Capella, John Charles Gilbert and Ruth Marie
Marcotte of Blossom Time are at the Marbro.
Margaret Anglin of the legitimate is at the Palace
and Nazimova at the State-Lake.
Others on Staff
May Have Good
Staging Plans
Stores Give Employees Prizes for
Ideas — Same Should Apply
to Show Business
By A. RAYMOND GALLO
It is often said that two minds are
better than one, and no truer words
were ever spoken. However, we be-
lieve that several minds working in
harmony are much better than one or
even two. Since bandshows have be-
come a popular fad in the motion pic-
ture theatres, it has been noticed that
the majority of the productions are
usually conceived and staged by one
man week in and week out. Although
most of the large presentation cir-
cuits have a complete staff of techni-
cal experts, it is very seldom that
their advice and suggestions are put
into use. Usually the final word
comes from the front office or the
production chief who lays out the
show on paper.
It is evident that no business can go on
successfully without a general to lead the
procession on. Nevertheless, it is wise and
also good showmanship to employ the serv-
ices of subordinates. It is surprising, some-
times, how the office boy and the stenographer
can supply the manager with a good idea
worth developing.
Stores Accept Employees' Suggestions
Most of the large manufacturing establish-
ments and department stores make a rule to
accept any and all suggestions offered by their
employees. They even offer a prize for these
suggestions and if you have ever been on a
visiting tour to any of these department stores
and factories, you will notice that some of
them carry boxes with signs offering prizes
for ideas dropped into them.
Although the show business is somewhat
different than the commercial world, it is
nevertheless conducted on a similar basis and
it also offers something for sale. In this
case, it is not merchandise but entertainment
and service which should be carefully planned
and delivered to the customers.
One Man Can't Do It All
In all probability, the larger theatre circuits have
a board of counsellors who go into conference once
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
81
A Real Hit/
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A R,EAL
SWEETHEART
ty Irving Ceasar aCliff Friend
Ifewi NoveU iind Nifty/
4y OUS KAHN
e-TED FlOR_lTO
A Dallad That's Different!
lAST NIGHT
I DREAMED,
YOU HISSED Mt
GusKahn e-Carmen Lombardo
Cute/ ClGderJ Catchyi
^ Nf A MlUta & CHeSTSKCOHtlf
That Great Harmony Ballad/
H Toi^e UP
YOUR PICTURE
WHEN YDU SAID
GOOD BYB'^
V OOUY MORSE &ANDREW DONNEUy
eiLBSR-r ""^ WAYtte
LEO. FEIST, INC
231 w.40^*»ST.
N.YC.
a week or more as to what shall be offered the the-
atre patrons for the next show. However, from the
standpoint of a patron seeing shows every week and
hearing various comments, it is doubted whether
these advisers really take their work seriously, for
it seems that the majority of the stage-shows reek
of sameness. It is not necessarily the fault of
the producer that his shows are not a),ways enter-
taining and correct from the standpoint of .stage pro-
duction. It is even remarkable how he can keep up
the pace of producing a new idea evevy week or
every other week without having a chaos of thoughts.
This is one of the reasons why many of the shows
seen' at the various deluxe picture houses seem to
repeat not only in routines but music theme and cos-
tume, which also covers the scenic effects.
Musical comedy producers carry a large staff of
writers and a research department that enables the
new production to have perfection from every angle.
Sometimes it takes a year or more to successfully
produce one of these musical shows, after combining
the ideas and suggestions which are in other words
a collaboration of thoughts from several writers,
and in some instances include the producers and
players of the piece. All thoughts and energies are
centered on' the aforementioned productions, and in
most cases when completed and shown to the public
are as nearly perfect from the amusement-standpoint
as it is humanly possible. However, the same thing
cannot be duplicated by a producer of presentation
shows, simply for the reason that if working alone,
his creations become hackneyed and are always along
the stereotyped lines with just a mere change of
scenery and costumes and new faces in the roles.
Naturally, the chain organizations must operate a
system whereby practically the same show will rotate
their circuit but nevertheless this does not prevent
them from accepting ideas from the various members
of their several staffs, be it their office force or
technical men. Even when the shows are on the
road they may be improved by a few changes that
can easily be seen by the stage-crew and those from
the front. Sometimes these small changes may im-
prove a particular show 100 per cent and may be
the cause of putting it over successfully.
Public Has Ideas Too
Our advice and suggestions to any exhibitor as
well 3B the production staff to presentation unite is
to accept whatever suggestion is given and let the
man in charge use his judgment which one is the
best to be exercised. The idea of one for all and
all for one should be employed in this business as
well as any other. And the laymen that pay their
admission into your theatre have as much right
to tell you their desires and suggest how your busi-
ness should be run, as your staff, for after all, they
are really the ones that keep you in business.
lOJSAiS
5oTiieibing
about
?Everyo7?e
I PRESENTATION
Greetings! . . . Organists. . . . Band Leaders and
Presentation Acts. . . . Before giving you all an ac-
count of my journey through the beautiful State of
Colorado let me first say that I missed all my friends
last week who are regular members of "Our Friendly
Chat Club" and will try to make up for the last meet-
ing by telling you some real adventures encountered
over the Colorado mountain trails. ... In order to
begin right, let's start from the very first. . . . 'When
we arrived in Denver on the morning of July 23rd,
we made for the nearest hotel to wash some of the
coal off our faces. . . . Then after a fine order of
"ham and" we began to get the mountain fever and
started off by taking a bus ride to Lookout Mountain.
... 65 miles of mountain beauty including the sum-
mer home of George M. Pullman. . . . While up there
we visited Buffalo Bill's tomb and Museum, which is
being managed by Johnny Baker, Bill's foster son.
. . . The erection is a gift of the city of Denver
in memory of the beloved Col. Cody. . . . After hav-
ing lunch in Troutdale-in-the-Pines to Ray Brenden-
burg's music right close by we returned to the city.
. . . That afternoon we had dinner at the well known
Blue Parrot Inn, in Denver. ... A blue and red
parrot very much alive greets you as you enter the
front door. ... An attendant there told us the parrot
was 72 years old and was there since the inn opened
for business. . . . This sort of rounded up our first
day's visit in Denver and the next morning we took
off on the local train to Cheyenne, Wyo., where three
hours later we arrived in time to see the opening day
performance of the yearly Frontier Days show. . . .
Talk about the wild and woolly West. . . . This was
it. . . . We entered a local cafe for lunch and all
around us were cowboys in their regular Western
outfits that made our street clothes feel like a fish out
of water. . . . However, we proceeded to the Frontier
Field in a bus and for the first time in our young
but experienced lives we really and truly witnessed an
honest to goodness Rodeo which is "The daddy of them
all." . . . This sport originated in Cheyenne 32 years
ago and today it still depicts the old West. . . . Ken
Maynard, the First National Western daredevil star,
was the guest of honor and he also did some clever
riding stunts on his fine horse. ... All in all, a good
time was had by everyone and everybody made lots of
"whoopee." . . . The next day we found ourselves
back in Denver sightseeing the city. . . . We must
say that Denver really has some beautiful parks and
homes. . . . One of the interesting sights was the
U. S. mint, where all the silver dollars are made. . , .
At night we visited the Publix theatre called the
Denver and found out that Jimmy Ellard is conduct-
ing the stage band there. . . . 'While there we had a
nice long talk with Irene Taylor, who is featured in
the Publix "Pagodaland" unit. . . . Oh, yes, we for-
got to tell you that we met the Australian Waitea in
Cheyenne. . . . They were playing at the Princess, a
Pantages theatre. . . . And going over Lookout Moun-
tain we ran across Mr. Rehmer from Kansas City,
Murray Bloom's cousin. . . . What a email world this
really is, after all. . . . Oliver Alberti, who was in
Salt Lake City, is now conducting a stagehand at the
Colorado theatre in Denver. . . . Howard E. Tillotson
is musical conductor of the orchestra at the Orpheum
theatre in Denver, and Gordon Roberts the featured
organist. . . . Our next stop wae at Colorado Springs.
. . . Tlie place made famous by its summer and winter
resorts. . . . The city itself is only a village, but the
suburbs are beautiful. . . . After going by the popular
Broadmoor Hotel we decided that our pocketbook was
more in keeping with the "For Rent" class, so we
hiked out to a little town east of the Springs called
"Manitou." . . . Few people know of it. . . . Even
we did not know of such a place. . . . However, it's
very famous to some for its fine spring water. . . .
And so we became natives pro tern of Manitou. . . .
Our room, from which this despatch — or letter — was
written on plain writing tablet is right on top of a
hill at the foot of Mount Manitou, famous for its
scenic incline. ... At night the lights scattered all
over the mountainside are really a sight of beauty.
. . . Manitou is also famous for its bathe and spring
waters. . . . The village is located right at the foot
of Pike's Peak. ... It was named after Chief Man-
itou, an Indian who was the first inhabitant 57 years
ago, when the village was first founded. . . . The
chief is still alive and although he is nearly 90 years
old he ■walks around the streets and sells his photos
to tourists. . . . We had him autograph yours truly
one the other day. . . . Chief Juan Jose, another
old Indian from New Mexico, who lives with the
Manitou tribes, carries a wand given him by President
Lincoln for his share of bravery in the Civil War.
. . . The mountains here are full of Indians. . . .
The old Cliff Dwellings are the present camping
grounds for them. . . . Well, folks, after passing
through the Petrified Forest and Cripple Creek, the
greatest gold mining district in the world, we got
ourselves up enough nerve to go to Pike's Peak. . . .
One morning we started for it in a Pierce-Arrow
with Doc Shepard of Chicago, who drove over every
foot of the 18 mile stretch just as careful as if the
road was on Michigan Boulevard instead of around
the mountain. ... It was thrilling and interesting.
. . . After 10 miles of it we were above the clouds
and oh, boy, it was cold! ... It reminded me of a
wintry day back in old Chi. . . . Anyway, after two
hours we reached the top, just 14,109 feet high and
really the highest auto highway in the world. . . .
The guy that wrote "I'm Sitting on Top of the
World" must have been up to Pike's Peak, for that
is as near to heaven as many, including myself, will
ever expect to get. . . . Oh, yes, we forgot to tell
you that we also visited the Royal Gorge. . . . And it
really is wonderful. ... It is remarkable to see the
many beautiful handiworks of Mother Nature. . . .
And Colorado is without a doubt God's country. . . .
We advise anyone to take their vacation there, for it's
great in every respect. ... A haven' for tired souls.
DEAN STEVENSON
And His Boqts
Featured at the
Marshall Square Theatre
CHICAGO
J .i
w<
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
I
5
^
^
N
I
Presentation
LETTERS
In this open forum those interested in presen-
tation may discuss important matters bearing
upon this phase of theatre entertainment. Only
signed letters will be published.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: I am
leaving Auguet the fourth for a month or six weeks
vacation and expect to visit points in Oklahoma and
Colorado — that is, if the "Collegiate" holds together
that long. Therefore you -nill kindly send my copy of
Exhibitors Herald and- Moving Picture World to the
following address : Jake Hammond, c/o W. F. Ham-
mond, Nowata, Okla.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: Your let-
ter of the 7th reached here while I was away on a
vacation and having just returned, I am answering
same.
Things are going very nicely. We have a new song
called "King for a Day," which looks like an even
more phenomenal song than "Laugh, Clown, Laugh."
"Old Man Sunshine" is already on the way towai-d
being a big hit and I am sure that the new Remick
Music Corp. is going to have a banner year.
Sincerely — Cliff Hess, Remick Music Corp., 219-221
W. 4Gth Street, New York, N. Y.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: I just
placed a new song with Milton Weil called "Will
You Always Call Me Sweetheart?" also one
with Harold Rossiter called "The Song of the
Chimes." Both songs will be plug numbers and
they are going after them right away. They art
at the printers now and as soon ae copies are out
I wish to run an ad as before only mentioning the
above songs.
Sincerely — Eddie Hanson, Chicago, IIU Organist.
THE GREATER DRUNKARD
DANCERS
JEAN
HUBERT
FRITZ
Repeating Publix Theatres as a featured
attraction in
"HULA BLUES''
(A Publix Unit)
DIRECTION WM. MORRIS AGENCY
STAGE SHOWS
(Contitmed from page 80)
Chicago Harding
Week Ending August 4
"Belasco's Follies" was a big hit at the Harding
theatre this week, if you ask us, and it was Al's hard
work throughout the performance that made it what
it was. Belasco is well liked here and on his last
appearance he received a big applause.
The Abbott Girls were first on the program and
they did their usual dance that always gets themselves
a nice hand.
Then from the pit the orchestra played a pretty
melody called "Just Across the Street from Heaven,"
they, too, received a nice hand.
AI did a little comic act in which he introduced
Anita La Pierre, who offered for her first nimiber a
French song. It was Al again that helped put over
this number. Although Anita has a fine voice and
everything that goes with it, Belasco helped out.
Once more the famous Abbott Girls came out, this
time doing a tricky dance on top of a little box. In
this number Scotty Weston also appeared, doing a
few steps.
Belasco next put on a comic act that had the entire
audience in an uproar. No foolin', this number was
good and received a bursting applause.
A comedian whose name was not mentioned or this
reporter missed, was next, but nevertheless, he was
good and was well appreciated.
Chilton and Thomas, two dancers, created a great
deal of interest for their clever dancing. The two
had to come back for an encore.
For the finale, Belasco sang "In a Little Dream
House," with the Abbott Girls and rest of cast on the
stage.
San Francisco Warfield
Week Ending August 3
"Spangles" was the scintillating stage act presented
at the Warfield theatre this week and in arranging
it Fanchon and Marco doubtless had warm weather
in mind, as it proved one of the most undressed
revues yet offered by them.
The stage curtain went up, disclosing a beautiful
spangled net curtain with a black background that
all but concealed the oi-chestra. The Sixteen Pyramid
Beauties, clad in golden spangled attire, came out
dancing and went through their steps with real grace,
after which the net curtain went up, revealing the
orchestra. The colored lighting effects employed to
light the urn-topped marble pillars and stairways
proved unusually effective.
Rube Wolf, as master of ceremonies, introduced
Muriel Gardner, acrobatic toe dancer, who made a fine
appearance in green and gold spangled attire. Her
act was followed by a band number entitled "Beau-
tiful," and which the orchestra has dedicated
to its leader, although Rube declares he does not
know why. The song had much to do with Rube's
caddy and a young man in caddy attire appeared with
a load of golf sticks and sang it. Rube also played
the air as a trumpet solo.
The harrow team drag was next danced by a clever
couple, and this was followed by an act by the simul-
taneous acrobatic dancers, Edith and Evelyn. They offer
a "Parisian Pranks" number in which they wear little
Bill Bennett
Featured Organist
BELPARK
AND
VARSITY
THEATRES
CHICAGO
but a string of beads and an extremely transparent
robe of green gauze, topped by a fanciful headdress.
Tv7o boys from Chicago, where men drink and
shoot straight, arrive on the scene and do a drunken
dance that is delightfully unconventional, ending with
a lively number. We believe their names were
Stanley and Dimes.
Vladimir Rassouchin, a conductor on the Market
Street Railway, and a recent musical find of Rube
Wolf, made his debut as a pianist. He played Rach-
maninoff's "Prelude" in C Sharp Minor and displayed
real artistry, following this with a composition of his
own entitled "When I Was in Spain." He received
a tremendous reception and thanked the audience for
its approval and Wolf for the opiX)rtunity to appear.
The spangled net curtain went down and Max
Bleickwell, tenor, sang while the Sixteen Pyramid
Beauties, in nautch girl attire, posed on the marble
stairways. The curtain went up again on a gorgeous
scene almost blinding in its brilliance. The act eame
to an end with the girls going through a dance, on
the stairways.
Pittsburgh Penn
Week Ending August 4
The stage presentation was the R. H. Bumside
production for Publix entitled "Ocean Blues." The
outstanding entertainment in this offering was the
api>earance of the 20 Foster Beauties, late of Earl
Carroll's Vanities. They proved to be the best look-
ing and best trained chorus seen on any Pittsburgh
stage in many weeks.
Mabel Hollis, billed as "100 Pounds of Blues," made
a big hit when she rendered "Get Out and Get Under
the Moon."
Moss and Frye, the Original Blackbirds, offered a
clever duologue, and wound up their offering with a
"blues" duet which all but stopped the show.
Scanlon, Denno Bros, and Scanlon, "Four Merry
Gobs," scored with songs and dancing. They put on
a classy soft shoe dance ■svhich went big. At the close
of their number, one of the four doffed a wig and
proved to be a woman. This gave the audience quite
a surprise.
An added attraction was Miss Personality, the tal-
ented young winner of the Pittsburgh Press-Publix
opportunity contest. This young lady, Sally Serraff,
offered the "blues" selection, "Dinah," and got a big
hand at every performance.
Detroit Grand Riviera
Week Ending August 4
"Fads and Follies" was the stage presentation at
the Grand Riviera this week. It was devised and
staged by Fred J. Ireland, and was a colorful presen-
tation in an out of the ordinary setting.
"Monk" Watson, that popular and versatile young
man, made his last bow to Detroit audiences before
taking his talent and versatility to other fields. The
Keystone Serenaders, who have performed at the
Riviera for lo, these many moons, are to remain,
according to present plans of the management.
Hazel Kennedy was a petite little miss who offered
musical and dancing specialties, and proved more
than able to live up to her name of a "pocket edition
of musical comedy." Lydell and Gibson announced
themselves as "Just Vaudevillians," and put on a
hodge-podge of musical nonsense that was well liked.
Wright Douglas & Co. had a sketch entitled "The
Handicap," and the Riviera Wonder Girls did a nice
routine of dance numbers. Merle Clark had an organ
specialty.
L CARLOS
MEIER
Featured
Organist
Ascher's
TERMINAL
Theatre
CHICAGO
'^•wt^rr"
UNIFORMS
FOR HOUSE
ATTACHES
COSTUMES
FOR STAGE
PRESENTATIONS
BROOKS
1437 B'waj
N. Y. Citr
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
83
Detroit Capitol
Week Ending August 3
"Levee Lovers." the Publix stage show at the Cap-
itol this week, offered pleasing song and dance in a
Southern setting, with Del Delbridgre, master of cere-
monies, in the costume of "Kunnel Colfax of Virginia,
suh."
The show is built around a talented Negro, George
Dewey Washington, a baritone of exceptional ability.
Washington has been here before, at the Michigan
theatre, and on his first appearance his beautiful
voice and good stage presence placed him at once
with the other fine artists of his race, Roland Hayes
and Paul Robeson.
Even if the rest of the show did take on the appear-
ance of an "Uncle Tom's Cabin," Little Eva and
Simon Legree weren't present. The nearest approach
to that perennial favorite came in the appearance
of the Lucille Sisters, who billed themselves as a cou-
ple of "Topsies," and who sang harmony numbers
nicely.
Then there was Jerrie, a dancing accordionist, and
Jack Joyce, a monopede dancer. Delbridge led his
bandsmen through a number of foot stirring melodies
and the Capitol Girls danced smartly and well.
Samuel Benavie led the Capitol Symphony Orchestra
in "Magic Melodies." with Joan Ruth Price, soprano,
as soloist. Benavie has one of the finest symphony
orchestras in the city, and with the able assistance of
Miss Price, presented a number that was much appre-
ciated.
The Capitol, which has been showing short Vita-
phone subjects in the last few weeks, had another
novelty this week featuring May McAvoy and Richard
Carle. The title was "Sunny California." and it
made a big hit with the audiences. Another added
attraction was the first local showing of the Tunney-
Heeney fight pictures.
Atlanta Howard
Week Ending August 4
The round of the clock has been made again, bring-
ing another new bandmaster, AI Morey, to preside
over the dainties served by the Howard. From four
to five months serve to represent the clock by which
the Howard seems to right about face a new director.
One gratifying thing is that each one brings a ver-
satile personality, thus drawing high favor with
Atlanta audiences.
Al Morey clicked big the first night and upon that
usually hangs the story.
The presentation, "Havana," a colorful mixture of
senors and senoritas, brought a good hand.
Billy Beard, comedian, hailed as "The Party from
the South," enjoyed a rounded ovation, while Wally
Jackson, another headline funster in his baggy togs,
likewise pleased.
Naum Coster and Norma Hewlltt, singers, rendered
a number which went over well. The audience would
have liked more of these two.
Last, but not least, the Petroff Girls showed expert
training in some intricate Spanish numbers.
Al and his orchestra offered a special number alto-
gether satisfactory, judging by the audience's audible
approval.
The Howard's symphony orchestra rendered a neat
piece of work in accompanying a Vitaphone number,
"Chief Caupolican." So deft were they the audience
was a bit puzzled as to whether there was any other
music, that is, Vitaphone synchronization, than con-
ductor Myers Segal and his orchestra. Julia Dawn,
guest organist, continues in popularity with her nov-
elty opuses.
Chicago Senate
Week Ending August 4
"Carnival Nights" is the name given the stageshow
FRANKIE MASTERS
"The
Romeintic
Singing
Band Leader"
Now at the
NORSHORE
Theatre
CHICAGO
(Ealaban & Katz)
Dr. Cottone Becomes
Roxy's Chief
Organist
Before leaving for a fishing trip, S. L.
Rothafel announced the engagement of Dr.
Melchiorre Mauro-Cottone as the chief organ-
ist of the Roxy theatre. New York. Dr.
Mauro-Cottone began his engagement July
28th in the world's largest theatre, coming
from the Capitol theatre of New York for-
merly known as the largest theatre in the
world before the Roxy was built.
Dr. Mauro-Cottone was the first musician
to introduce the interpretation of serious or-
gan-music in motion picture theatres under
Roxy's direction. He is a composer of note
and has many achievements to his credit as an
organist both in Europe and this country.
He holds the degree of Doctor of Music from
the University of California, and the medal
of honor conferred by the Italian government.
The division of popular organ-music at the
Roxy will still remain headed by Lew White
of the White Institute of Organ, while Dr.
Mauro-Cottone will be entirely in charge of
the classiscal division, and will carry on the
broadcasting and Sunday afternoon concerts.
at the Senate this week. The setting is a "water-
street" of Venice all set for a big carnival, but
the gondolas are missing and that rather spoils it.
"Angela Mia" is the featured song and Mark
Fisher, that master of ceremonies leader with the
wonderful personality and clear tenor voice, opens
the show with this. The Senate Ballet followed with
a novel dance routine.
The orchestra next plays a peppy number, "Crazy
Rhythm," and it was just good hot music.
Bee Sarchi came on next singing, "I Ain't Saying
a Word." She is not much of a singer, and after
watching her little tap dance, I can only say her
dancing is little better. She seemed to be undecided
whether to imitate Peggy Bemier or Ginger Rogers.
Maybe after she makes up her mind she'll be a
little better.
Next came the drummer from Mark Fisher's or-
chestra. Jack Peacock Kelly. I was watching him
from the moment the curtain went up and I thought
he was quite clever enough without his xylophone
number. You'll think he's a good drummer, but wait
'til you hear him play the xylophone. His first
number is "Hungarian Rhapsody" and it brought him
an encore. This time he played "Too Busy" and
"When You're Smiling." The crowd wasn't satis-
fied with that so he had to encore "When You're
Smiling" again. I'll bet he can dance too. In fact
he has to do some dancing to get from one end of
that xylophone to the other as fast as he does. He
is really good. Oh I just awf ullly good. Maybe
he'll be a band leader in his own name soon. We
hope so.
Two acrobats, I think their names are Beechi and
Rubaiyat are next. They do the usual acrobatic
stunts and a little slow-motion work which won them
a hand.
The Ballet Girls came on next with a number called
"Sleepy Baby" Bee Sarchi singing the number. The
girls each carried a chair and a doll and did a
few steps. Then they descended the stage stairs, with
the dolls, to the main floor, with the dolls' eyes —
or their heads, I couldn't make out which — illumi-
nated.
The orchestra played "Angela Mia" again and of
course, Mark sang it. He received a deafening round
of applause, so he sang "You're a Real Sweet-
heart." If he sought to quiet the house with that.
he was badly mistaken. They just howled for
more, so he asked what they'd like to hear. "When
You're Smiling" was shouted almost in unison.
They weren't satisfied when he finished that, but
Mark wouldn't sing any more and announced the next
number which nobody heard nor wanted to hear.
Most everybody on the West Side would just as
soon listen to Mark Fisher's singing all evening.
However, the next number didn't need any intro-
duction as it was none other than Buck and Bubbles
and the crowd gave them a big hand. These two
are all right if you see them only once. Their act
is the same thing it was a year ago. Same jokes
and all. Bubbles — the long fellow — does some good
tap dancing though, and Buck — the short fellow —
plays some mean notes on the tin pan piano and
pulls some funny tactics. That's the long and short
of that.
The finale shows the Ballet Girls in some really
gorgeous costumes — the orchestra playing "Angela
Mia" and Mark Fisher singing. It isn't an exception-
ally good show, but Mark Fisher and his drummer
are well worth seeing.
New York Paramount
Week Ending August 11
Paul Oscard's "Pow-Wow" opens this week with a
dramatic prologue "In the Land of the Sky-Blue
Water" and is followed by "The Legend of the
Evening Star."
Paul Keast, Helen Packard, Harry Losee and the
Felicia Sorel Girls contribute to this opening number
to the tune of "Evening Star" introducing singing
and chorus dancing.
Paul Ash and the stagehand offer the "favorite
number" of the Royal Northwest Mounted, which is
the popular "Get Your Man" — enlisting novelty work
by the members of the outfit. The orchestra is
dressed in redcoats and campaign hats, on the order
of the Canadian N. W. M.
Horton Spurr offei's his eccentric acrobatic novelty
dance, finishing with excellent head-work and draw-
ing an encore. He deserves the big hand he gets.
Ginger Rogers, a clever little girl offers a special
song to Paul Ash, called "I Ain't Sayin' a Word."
She goes into a conversation with Ash, and wins the
laughs. "So Will I" is her second number, — a crying
song, — and with a little more baby talk, she leaves a
good impression.
The Felicia Sorel Girls, present an Indian totem-
pole dance — the number is put over in beautiful
FRED KINSLEY
Supervisor of
ORGAN SOLO PRESENTATIONS
For the entire
KEITH-ALBEE-ORPHEUM CIRCUIT
CORNELIUS MAFFIE
Gennett Recording Artist
Now Featured Organist at Publix's
METROPOUTAN Theatre, HOUSTON, TEXAS
SOLOS AND COMMUNITY STUNTS
HARRY ZIMMERMAN
FEATURED ORGANIST
BELMONT ,I^m. CHICAGO
(Orpheum Circuit)
84
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
I
5
s
Indian costumes with scenic background very appro-
priate.
Ed and Morton Beck, the two window cleaners,
oflfer their special singing number "Massaging the
Window Pane" imitating famous musical comedy
stars. One of the partners goes from the ridiculous
to the sublime and offers a dramatic bit in connec-
tion with the popular "Laugh, Clown, Laugh." It
is not the regular recitation written for this song,
but is evidently a special script — it is a very heavy
piece of work, and is one of the finest bits of
dramatic acting ever witnessed at the Paramount.
He goes over for a big hand and stops the show.
A chorus dance and song is offered by the girls,
"White Eagle" and introduces the finale, in which
Paul Keast, Helen Packard, Harry Losee and the
Sorel Girls, all of whom opened the show, now bring
it to a close. Langdon McCormick's forest fire
effect is used for this show, and to members of the
profession, that is enough said.
Chicago Oriental
Week Ending August 4
In the Oriental show this week called "Cairo,"
there is something that may hint of a new form of
appeal in stage presentations. It is the appeal of
bare feminine flesh displayed in a manner similar to
the way the revues do it. Don't get the idea it was
bad, for it wasn't, but perhaps it might be the first
hint of what is to come. Who knows? And the ads
called the show "daring."
"Cairo" is given a beautiful setting, it being a
typical looking street scene in an oriental town.
The show opens with the Kosloff Dancers doing the
same stuff they did several weeks ago. We like their
stuff, but wouldn't care to see it too often. They
got a good hand.
The Darling Sisters follow singing a medley of
"Smile" songs built around "When You're Smiling."
They go into a high kicking dance. They get a fair
hand. They are followed by a band nimiber, "Orien-
tal Fantasy," which is a knockout. Al plays one of
his many instruments during the number. Plenty of
applause.
Al Norman is next with one of the queerest dances
you ever saw. His legs must have universal joints,
and it's hard to tell whether he's coming or going.
Of course he got a big hand for his really novel
dance. Paul Small follows, singing "Ten Little Miles
from Town," "You Have No Idea" and "Halfway to
Heaven." Paul is given quite an ovation, this being
his first appearance at the house in a long time. He
is still the same Paul Small that he used to be. Dur-
ing the rendition of the songs he and Al stood side
by side with their arms locked around each other
like a couple of school girls. The Kosloff Girls follow
with another high jumping, swirling, ducking, dodging
contest.
Then comes Al's first find, Helen McDevitt, singing
"Somebody's Sweet Is Sweet on Me" and "Old Man
Sunskine." She gets a number of encores and seems
to be getting over o. k. with the Oriental patrons.
She is followed by a band number, "The St. Louis
Blues," during which AJ dispenses some hot note's on
his clarinet. Encore.
Billie Giason is next with his usual stuff, much of
it being jokes with whiskers, but he puts them ovei-
for laughs. He sings endless verses of "We Anacr-
icans" for several encores and finishes by making the
audience applaud for Hoover and Smith. Oh, well—
The finale is a slave mart scene, making a very
pretty scene, and here is where the girls with little
on appear. Three of them are grouped in one of
those artistic poses as slave girls. They had plenty
on, but less than is usually noticed in picture houses.
The finale music is "Kashmiri," which is beautiful.
Chicag^o Chicago
Week Ending August 5
They were standing 'em out at the Chicago this
week and the reason undoubtedly was that Jackie
Coogan and his pater were headlined.
Their act was not what one might call exceptional
— ^but it didn't need to be. People were there to see
Jackie and the dad, and that was worth the price —
and a few shekels in the B. & K. pocketbook.
The routine primarily consisted of chatter between
dad and son, with Jack, Sr., reverting to his stage
days and tapping out a few steps. Despite his years
away from the footlights, the pater can throw a
wicked foot. Jackie also did some steps, among them
the varsity drag.
The Coogan routine was mortised into the Publix
unit, "Cameos," which wasn't hard to sit through,
especially the playing by the band under the direction
of Eddie Perry, the harmonizing by the Lett Sisters
and Louise and the work of the 16 Foster Girls.
The Letts and Louise used "When the Morning
Glories Wake Up in the Morning" and "Keep On
Smiling" as two of their selections. This trium-
virate knows its stuff and is an asset to any bill.
The Spider Web novelty of the Foster Girls, in
which they performed on a huge spider web in the
rear of the stage, was great and brought due recog-
nition.
If there was a sour note on the bill, and the audi-
CHIEF EAGLE FEATHER
World's Only American-Indian
TAP DANCER
Making Second Tour of
PUBLIX THEATRES
As a Featured Attraction in
"A Movie Party"
A CHICAGO-PUBLIX UNIT
Direction — Max Turner — William Morris Agency
Leo Terry
Featured Organist
with
GREAT STATES THEATRES, INC.
DARLING TWINS
Now Playing Return Engagements for
Balaban & Katz
O
Featured in "CAIRO" a Chicago Publix Unit
Direction — William Morris Agency
^^a ^^2
ence didn't seem to think so, it was the comedy vio-
linists whose names could not be understood from the
"vantage" point which this reporter occupied. As
stated, the audience howled, so they must have been
good, and after all, it's the audience appeal.
All in all, a good show.
Philadelphia Carman
Week Ending August 4
The etageehow at the Carman this week is entitled
"Rainbow Follies," for just wiiat reason is not
apparent.
The Eight Scrova Girls head the stage attractions
as they gracefully whirled through several difficult
dances. In the first number the girls did a routine
dance in milkmaid costumes with sunbonnets and
milkpails.
The two Horton Sisters dressed as farmerettes in
blue trousers and big hats, sang "Happy Go Lucky
Days" very appealingly. The two girls are easy to
look at and the audience gave them a good hand.
The Serova Gitls, this time in western costumes
with orange shirts and big hats, used their guns
freely in a real Western dance which paved the
way for the "Cowboy Comics," Kirk and Lawrence,
who made a hit at the Stanley last week and whose
antics on two "bucking broncho" hobby horses caused
shrieks of laughter.
The Horton Sisters looking particularly attractive
in orange dresses, sang "That's My Weakness Now."
The next number showed a gypsy camp with the
eight Serova Girls in brilliant costumes with tambour-
ines and flowing ribbons in a gay gypsy dance. The
men grouped in the background around the campfire
proved to be Ben Haraid's Six Red Devils, who
tumbled and whirled about the stage in a remarkable
exhibition of strength and difficult acrobatic stunts,
all i)erformed with evident enjoyment and pride in
their skill which made it a pleasure to watch them.
They got a good hand. - . ,-
The Movietone News reproduced the sound and
movement of a gigantic new army tank plowing
through the trees in a Maryland forest.
Balaban & Katz Change
Policy Also
According to newspaper announcements, Balaban
& Katz are changing the opening days of the fol-
lowing theatres : Chicago, Uptown, and Tivoli, from
Mondays to Saturdays. The reason for this change
has not been made publicly known, but it is be-
lieved the move was prompted by the Marks Bros.,
an independent organization w^ho operate two deluxe
theatres and three small neighborhood houses in'
Chicago.
Marks Bros, also changed their opening days sev-
eral weeks ago from Mondays to Saturdays. One of
their deluxe houses, called the Granada, is just twro
miles north of the Uptown theatre, a B. & K.
house, while their Marbro house is one mile west of
the Senate, an L. & T. house now operated under
the B. & K. management with the Publix affiliation.
Marks Get Fur Show
The annual Fur Show which is usually conducted
by the Chicago Fur Associations in conjunction vrtth
some theatre organization, is being presented this
year by Marks Bros, instead of Balaban & Katz as
heretofore.
In the last year or two, this attraction' has more
or less lost interest in the public eye due to the jKJor
staging and talent surrounding the affair. However,
the event is always of interest to the public and it
is presumed that the attraction will be a considerable
drawing card for the new sponsors.
VALE & STEWART
Direction
Lyons & Lyons
Featured
with
"Dancing Feet"
A Publix Unit
Now on
Tour
Regards to
Max Turner
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
85
For the laet ten summers, the Leland House ax
Schroon Lake in the Adirondack Mountains has been
the haven for the boys in the music business when
they went on their vacations. This year finds the
place as popular as ever, with Cliff Friend, Lewi Pol-
lock, Sam Coslow, Joe Keit, Lou Davis, Joe Higgins
and a good many of the other boys up there. Having
a marvelous golf course, a beautiful lake and won-
derful food seems to be the three outstanding reasons
for the popularity of the Leland House.
• • *
What might be a step back to civilization insofar
as modern dance orchestras are concerned, is Arnold
Johnson's new orchestra, who open again at the Park
Central Hotel next week. This orchestra contains no
brass. The three saxophone players double on violins
and plus the first and second violins, the orchestra
has the possibilities of playing a song with five fid-
dles. Adding a cello, banjo, drums, piano and string
baas, you can easily see how different this orchestra
will sound in comparison to the modern jazz band of
today. It certainly will be a relief and very soothing
to the ears. It reminds me of the days when Joe
Smith and his orchestra, then playing at the Waldorf-
Astoria Hotel, was the reigning monarch of all or-
chestra leaders. I, for one, certainly hope that the
days of string ensembles return, as there are very
few orchestras today that I personally can go for.
• • •
Possibly a precedent in the music business, is the
fact that the music of the new "Earl Carroll Vani-
ties," opeming in New York next week, is being pub-
lished by four different publishers, and what's funny
about the situation is that each one of these publish-
ers are sure that they are publishing the hit of the
show. I have to laugh — because I am publishing it,
and the name of it is "You Alone."
• * •
Arthur Martell still holds sway up in Boston as
one of its leading organists. Originally brought to
the Metropolitan theatre for a two weeks run, he
has been held over now for two years, and has so
imbedded himself into the hearts of all Boston that
they refuse to let him leave. Martell may as well
buy himself a home and settle down in Boston, for it
looks as if he is there to stay.
• • •
Something new in the way of ukulele arrangements
on popular music has been discovered by an enterpris-
ing yomng chap from the Pacific Coast named Ray
Canfield. Heretofore, sheet music issued by the pub-
lishers contained ukulele accompaniment only, but
Caafield has shown them that they can increase their
sales in sheet music by making the ukulele part bear
the melody including the harmony, instead of only
the harmony, as it wae before.
• * •
A young chap who has had a rapid rise in recent
years is Phil Boutelje. Being a corking arranger,
and understanding the music business thoroughly from
all angles, he sits today in the main office of the
Ptiblix Theatres Corporation and directs some 250
odd orchestras playing in the various Publix theatres
throughout the country. Boutelje is very persevering
and exacting in all that he undertakes, and for this
reason he is making such a success of his position.
« « *
Will Osborne and his "Manhatters" are the feature
at that delightful roadhouse, "Hunter Allen Inn."
This organization is composed of eight of the most
versatile musicians in the country, having in their
ensemble an unusually fine vocal trio on the type of
"Paul Whiteman's Rhythm Boys," also several very
fine solo voices and soloists.
• * •
Another change along the "Alley!" George Hall
and his orchestra have replaced Hal Kemp at the
Manger Grill here in New York. George and his boys,
who previously had a three year consecutive engage-
ment at the Arcadia Ballroom on Broadway, sets
quite a record for a run of this kind. They will
broadcast through the National Broadcasting System
four nights weekly.
P. S.— That's all.
STAGE SHO
■ '
Preston Sellers (Chicago Oriental) calls his organ
presentation, "Now We're on the Air," and the
elides contain a line of stuff about broadcasting.
He plays, "Keep on Smiling," "Kamona," as it
sounds on the radio with several other stations cut-
ting in. This drew a good laugh as the audience
tried to sing the mixed up words ; "Laugh, Clown,
Laugh," and next he plays, "Dewey Day," and
"That's My Weakness," at the same time, with the
boys requested to sing one and the girls the other.
He finishes with "Too Busy,' 'and "Chloe." Sellers
goes over well with the Oriental crowd.
Edward House (Chicago Harding) was guest organ-
ist at this theatre and made a big hit with the people
for his clever solo. It consisted of fine songs and
played in the same manner. Some of the songs he
played were "Last Night I Dreamed I Kissed You."
"Too Busy," "I Love You," "Dolores," "Constanti-
nople" and "You're a Real Sweetheart."
John and Betty Hammond (New Orleans Saenger)
have as their organlogue of the week "In a Monastery
Garden," a pretty presentation with many popular
and classic tunes that displayed the versatility of the
two.
Dick Liebert (Pittsburgh, Pa., Penn) had as his
organlogue "The Straw Vote," a clever burlesque on
the election fight. A clever and novel stunt to use
all over the country while the public interest is cen-
tered on the Smith-Hoover campaign.
Tom Grierson (Shea's Buffalo, Buffalo) leaves
nothing to chance in preparation for his solos. He
makes his own arrangements from start to finish,
using merely the theme of most of the music provided.
His latest arrangement of "Ah I Sweet Mystery of
Life," played in waltz time, with variations in thirds
and sixths, has again been the talk of this interesting
little old show town. Grierson, by the way, never
uses sheet music on the console. He is a firm be-
liever in the theory that if a number is worth playing
at all, it is worth rehearsing properly and presenting
in a manner that is not usually accepted as an insult
to the audience.
Les Hoadley (Milwaukee Wisconsin) at the organ
this week played "Pilgrim's Chorus," "Down Where
the Sun Goes Down," and "Little Grey Home in the
West." The numbers were rendered in a fine manner
and the crowd liked it very much.
Henri Keates (Chicago Oriental) is back after his
vacation and his presentation is built around the vaca-
tion idea. He plays "Beloved," a travesty on "Ra-
mona" called "Pneumonia," "In My Bouquet of Memo-
ries," "Laugh, Clown, Laugh," "Get Under the
Moon" and several others. This is one of the best
presentations Keates has had in some time. There
were many laughs caused by a lot of trick verses.
BENNY and WESTERN
And Their
WHISK-BROOM DANCE
Now Featured in
John Murray
Anderson's
"Milady's Fan"
A PUBLIX UNIT
Direction
Wm. Morris
Agency
SI? ?A
BEST SELLERS
"Ramona" — (Leo Feist).
"Angela Mia" — (DeSylva-Brown &
Henderson).
"Girl of My Dreams"— (Jack Mills).
"You're' a Real Sweetheart— (Leo
Feist).
"Just Like a Melody, Front Out of
the Sky" — (Donaldson-Douglas & Gum-
blc).
"Was It a Dream" — (Harms).
"Last Night I Dreamed You Kissed
Me"— (Leo Feist).
"Beloved" — (Irving Berlin).
"Get Out and Gel Under the Moon"
■ — (Irving Berlin).
"Laugh, Clown, Laugh" — (llemick
Music Corp.).
"Thafs My Weakness Now" —
(Shapiro-Bernstein).
"Chlo-E"— (Villa Moret).
GOOGILY GOO— (Leo Feist)— All about a newly
married couple and their love making. It seems the
fellow next door has been eavesdropping and has
heard their conversation, which according to the song,
is quite silly. However, when in love we all act that
way. A cute song written as a fox trot. By Benny
Davis and Dudley Wilkinson.
« « «
YOU CAN'T BLAME ME FOR THAT— (F. B.
Haviland Pub. Co.)— An ain't we got fun type of
song with plenty of extra choruses that should be
good for singing orchestras. The writers have writ-
ten quite a few big songs in the past. By Harry
Pease and Ed G. Nelson.
THE GATEWAY OF DREAMS— (Chappell-Harms)
—A high class song of the type that this firm has
been quite successful with. It's really beautiful and
should get quite a play with the high class singers.
Words by J. Will Callahan, music by Granville
English.
BO-PEEP— (L. B. Curtis Pub.)— A modern version
of the famous fairy tale. The writer is well known
as being resiK>nsibIe for the big orchestra hit San.
A very good idea and well written. Words and
music by Loyal Curtis.
6 « «
DONT YOU REMEMBER SALLY— (Milton Weil)
— We are about due for a Sally hit and it looks like
this song has a chance. This type of song is com-
mercial and should make the publisher some money.
The writers are local boys, as is the publisher. By
Walter Hirsch, Bemie Grossman and Milton Samuels.
• * •
TEN LITTLE MILES FROM TOWN— (Irving Ber-
lin)— A short distance from town and yet so differ-
ent. However, in Chicago ten miles away would
still keep you in town. The lyrics are excellent, as
is usual with the famous Gus Kahn. The melody, too.
is O. K. Music by Elmer Schoebel.
« « «
JUST ANOTHER NIGHT— (Donaldson, Douglas &
Gumble) — A beautiful waltz by the famous Walter
Donaldson, who is also publishing this song. With
his new catalogue Donaldson has proven that he can
write any kind of a song. More power to him.
* * *
MY ARMS ARE OPEN— (Ager-Yellen & Bomstein)
— The hit song of the new Earl Carroll Vanities
which is now playing in the East. A very pretty
song that ought to sell. Words by Ned Washington
and Ed Lowry, music by Michael H. Cleary.
4: « «
DONT WAIT UNTIL THE LIGHTS ARE LOW—
(Forster Music Pub.) — Carmen Lombardo of the
famous Lombardo orchestra is coming to the front
as a hit writer. This orchestra is at present on the
road but will be back on the radio in September.
They will no doubt create a demand for this song, as
it has merit. Words by Howard Johnson.
^t^i^ /3^
86
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
^^
THE THEATRE
5
S
Incorporated in this department of practical showmanship of Exhibitors Herald are the Moving
Picture World departments, "Selling the picture to the Public" and "Better Business Builders."
Olson Puts Personality in Advertising
"The Theatre" has long felt that not enough personality is being put in theatre advertising and exploitation. We
wanted evidence of the fact that personality in advertising will pay big dividends, so we wrote to Hal G. Olson, director
of advertising and ptdjlicity for the Adler Theatre Company of Marshfield, Wisconsin, for we knew that Olson had been
working along these lines for a long time. The result is "The Theatre" presents herewith a story on personality in
advertising that will prove a revelation to many. Olson's story follows:
PUTTING personality in theatre adver-
tising touches a subject very close to my
heart and one that I will sv^ear by in the
small towns at least and I will endeavor to
tell you why.
Years ago when I started selling "shoot-
*em up" in the city grind house I tried every-
thing from soup to nuts and was finally edu-
cated to the fact that my lobby was my one
best bet. So aside from running my theatre
on a business-like basis I concentrated on
this one phase of advertising and preached
it to all and sundry.
Later I was transferred to a suburban house
just a few miles from the city and proceeded
to play my lobby strong as ever but soon
These boys distribute Olson s advertising
matter each week, and they always have
the small sandwich signs on their rounds.
Each one blows a small whistle after
leaving the announcements on a door step.
Doax Fzlendi
For tbe past eeveral montbo I havt
and havs finally hit upon a plan <
that I Imow irlll bo a hug* buoooqi
July 33, 1928.
been trying to nork out a problem
,at should appeal to you -— & plan
If I have youx support In putting
I have long baan undar tha impraeelon that' tl
la the rural dlstrlota have been naglaotad ei
billing le concerned. I toow that a great m;
not subaoriba for tho Uarehfiald Dally. I h.
on TOTloua oooasloaa, but have not heea able to deterislne Juet hon aonj
theatro fans I get to', or how much of thla advertlolng le going to nasti
Horn for oy Inoplratlonl
I plan to write up a nice enappy, newey little latter tuica each month.
This latter will advise you of the coming attraatlona that axe better
than average; but more. It will contain a fund of information relative
Vi Bollyirood, the aoreen atars, eta. It nlll aleo contain bits of eenei
and nonaense 'that will be a reeil Interest to you. I an only too glad
Id give this time In the interest of you, our rural friends, providing
you show enough interest to let me laow that you appreciate tnls eervlci
by cialllng oe a card, telling me to put your najne on my mailing lli
la addition to the features nentionod, I am going to maintain a servloe
department for your benefit. Any queatlono you wleh to aak pertaining
to the Uovle Stare or any phaee of the Uotion Picture Industry will be
answered in the next lasue of our paper.
her betl
you to help rae select a i
vice It will render, you
mall- It to "
Bitting the
theatre.
Owing 1
want to chrlaten t^ls little eheet and want
table' name. Knowing the nature of the ser-
_ji saleot a name you think appropriate and
/o Adler Theatre, MajBhfleld. The patron sub-
ieot will recalT* a "30 d&y puaa to either local
ana«ion, i am goiai
aly list a few of
• outstanding attractions
Son folks, don't lay thle aelde and forget It. 6lt down at onoa ant
drop Die a few lines telling no what you think of my Idea and don't
forget to include a name for our eemi-monthly ohat.
'ith kindest personal regarda, I <
ADLER THEATHE 00.'" ,
Director of Publlolty.
ADLSR THEATRE
TRIO THSiTRI
Won-raes JXay 23-24
Hon. July 23
Ballaoe Beery a, Hay Hatton
SHORTY BDTTOH, Soreen Star
in
and world famoua fancy roper
■WIFE BAVERS"
Id PERSON and on the screen.
Thura. July 28
Frl-Sat July 27-38
BIG CIRCUIT VAODEVILLS
lea Uaynard - •OPLAHD RIDER*
& Deluxe Photoplay
Frl-8at July 27-38
Sun. July 29
Richard Dlx
"MD3LE/ FROU AHMEHTIERES-
•EAaT com EAST CM*
every Uonday — Seata 10-15tf
Clara Bow in Red Hair
Every SelDSaday — ill Seata ICxf
July 30-31 Aug 1
Friday — FHKI CHISA HICHT.
Olson puts personality in his advertising
with this service to rural patrons, sent
out twice monthly. This is the first letter.
It announces the beginning of the service.
found that my prospective patrons passed my
house on street cars bound for the city and
amusement. It was a hell of a pass when 1
was forced to turn from my love to billboards,
heralds and whatnots to get my patrons in-
terested before they digested the ads in the
city daily, but I finally got over that one.
Then to make matters worse, I took to the
small towns for a livelihood and found that
billboards, handbills and street ballyhoos
would never bring forth the shekels I was
called upon to produce and was forced to
turn to the goodwill angle which I had always
considered a very nice thing if it didn't cost
anything. I studied this phase a great deal
and got enough results to assure me that it
was really worthwhile.
After a few months in my first small town
I moved to another and sent my picture to
the weekly paper who published it in a mys-
tifying manner, questioning who I was, why I
was coming to town, etc. The first night I
stood in front of the theatre, half the town
addressed me by my first name. This would
have been forgotten had I not followed it up.
I never passed up a chance to get before the
public, to get mention in the paper or spread
goodwill in every little possible manner. I
was out to make myself so damn well known
that when people thought of the theatre they
automatically thought of me and my theatre.
I know for a fact that a number of my
friends who were forced to go to the opposite
house on account of a tieup on some par-
ticular attraction took a round-about course
so I could not see where they were going.
This town sold me on the importance of good-
{Continucd on page 87)
This flying figure of Hoot Gibson can't
help but attract attention, can it? It's just
one of the 24rsheet cutouts that Olson
makes and uses. Opportunity to use a
poster for a cutout never escapes Olson.
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Put Personality
In Advertising
(Continued from page 86)
will and personality and I have played it to
the limit ever since. I could go on forever
setting forth little stunts designed and exe-
cuted for goodwill but the following two
ideas I have put over will illustrate the value
of personality in advertising.
I have just started a plan to reach the rural
communities. It is a mimeographed letter sent
out twice a month to 1,500 farming people.
This letter is written in a personal style,
chatty and informal. It tells interesting
stories about moving pictures and also what I
call a service department. In this service de-
partment I answer all questions that are asked
in letters from the rural people. The first
letter sets forth the purpose of the weekly
letter. Part of it follows :
* * *
"I plan to write up a nice, snappy, newsy
little letter twice each month. This letter
will advise you of the coming attractions
that are better than average; but more, it
will contain a fund of information rela-
tive to Hollywood, the screen stars, etc.
It will also contain bits of sense and
nonsense that will be a real interest to
you. I am only too glad to give this time
in the interest of you, our rural friends,
providing you show enough interest to let
me know that you appreciate this service
by mailing me a card, telling me to put
your name on my mailing list. That's all —
I'll do the rest and I know that you will
appreciate this little paper as we go along.
"In addition to the features mentioned,
I am going to maintain a service depart-
ment for your benefit. Any questions you
wish to ask pertaining to the movie stars
or any phase of the motion picture in-
dustry will be answered in the next issue
of our paper."
* * *
I also offered a number of free admissions
for suggestions for the best name for the
little paper. During the first week after this
first letter was mailed, I received 89 letters
and they are still coming in. They are all
very sincere and explain that they appreciate
the ser\'ice. Two patrons have offered to pay
postage if I would be sure to continue. The
names suggested for the letter run from the
sublime to the ridiculous and would take a
lot of space were I to list them.
* * *
My mailing list for this service was pro-
cured through the use of a two for one ticket
with which I flooded the territory in June
just before the hot weather hit. After weed-
ing out duplicates I have a list of more than
800 selected names ; in addition to this I
picked 700 from my regular list of all rural
patrons which I procured from a large de-
partment store shortly after coming here.
The 1500 sheets cost me $1.00. My office
girls do the mimeographing on my own
machine ; the letters are sent out second class
at one and one half cents each, making a
total of $23.50 for the 1,500, including stock
and printing.
My second idea for putting personality in
advertising is a weekly chat or column run
each Saturday in the local paper, and it is
proving a great thing. It is simple and un-
pretentious but I find that it gets my message
to that vast army of readers who purposely
shun all direct advertising copy. To test its
worth I used the announcement of our "I
Scream Club" meeting in the column the day
before the meeting without mention in any
other form and we had the biggest turn-out
since the club was organized.
After the second week of the Saturday Chat
SMmmons
1 Main Street. City of Washin
Supreme Court of Entertainment,
of Daviess, State of Indiana:
To rou WHEREVER YOU ARE:
You are hereby summoned to appear at the LIBERTY THEATER. Tuesday '
dpy, JULX. 17 or 18. , 1928 , between the hours of 7 to 11 P. M„ to ;
Witness, of "CHICAGO" ROXIE HART K9. STATE 0*F ILLIUQiS
##. Hart -- Phyllaa Haver to answer the question, "Would you have i
same as ohe did Just for & tbrlll And ad7enture---and LOVE?"
Failure to appear in answer to thu Summons will i
f the true story of a modem JazzH:razed Wife,
I the
1 of 1
m^
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto subseribe my
nante, and affix the seal of the said SUPREME COURT of
Entertainment at my office, in the City of Washington, the
. ISth day of July. .. ,1928 .
«. N. N ELLIS.
LIBERTY THEATER.
Legal looking summons sent by R. L.
Nellis, manager of the Liberty theatre,
Washington, Ind., to members of the bur
and all business men to advertise "Chi-
cago," the Pathe picture, starring Phyllis
Haver.
I began receiving letters, calls and many
stopped me on the street or at the theatre
while a few took their questions to the local
daily. They have come to regard me as a
walking delegate from Hollywood and expect
me to answer everything and anything. For
the most part these questions come from the
younger people of high school age and refer
to the age of stars, whether they are married
or single, and who is or is not related to
whom, etc. Some of the older patrons have
inquired as to the cost of certain productions.
None of them have been very difficult to
answer as I have a lot of that information
on hand.
Movietone Opening
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 7— Western Elec-
tric sound reproducing apparatus has been
installed in the Saenger theatre. New Orleans,
and Movietone News made its debut in that
house July 28. It is expected that Para-
mount's first sound picture, Richard Dix in
"Warming Up" will go into the Saenger with-
in a week or two.
H. J. Thacker, M. B. I. No. 20, and man-
ager of the Hippodrome and Temple the-
atres, Newport, Ky., comes through with
another good lobby display. Recipe for
making it is : Take a "The Circus" 3-sheet
and mount on beaver board. Cut hole
through sheet and board as in picture at
right. Place miniature tent behind hole.
Paint hand pointing toward hole on sheet
with work "look" above hand. Place
clown dolls, borrowed from toy store, in-
side tent, as shown above. Simple, is/i'f
If, but Thacker says the display is the
best attention- getter he has made. People
do like to peek, you know. Anyone can
make this lobby display at practically no
expense for "The Circus."
Texas Theatre Uses
Many Fine Merchant
Tie up s; They Pay
Cooperative advertising is rated at its full
value by the Texas theatre, San Antonio, and
every possible chance for such advertising
in the local papers is taken advantage of by
the theatre. Recently a tie-up was made with
one of the largest local furniture stores where
that institution was to give away every
W^ednesday 3,000 autographed photographs of
the film star appearing at the Texas the cur-
rent week. This stunt is to function for a
complete year with a permanent windov^f dis-
play in the furniture store, which is located
directly across the street from the outstanding
competitor of San Antonio and cooperative
ads run four days a week by the furniture
store carrying mats of the stars.
In addition to the above two methods, the
Household Furniture Company sends out
with every letter and bill an advertisement
of the current picture. This insures the
Texas four cooperative ads throughout the
week other than those which are run by the
theatre itself.
Various other methods of cooperative ad-
vertising are used by the Texas from time
to time. Recently upon playing Paramount's
"Dragnet" three local firms ran advertisements
on the feather turban worn by Evelyn Brent
in that picture and on Dragnet Hosiery, be-
sides putting out 20,000 cooperative ads on the
picture and the product.
Every possible chance for obtaining^ this
type of newspaper and other representations
is grabbed up by the Texas — and this theatre's
success in obtaining more than its share of
cooperative advertising is explained by the fact
that both the theatre and the firm tiein^-up
receive mutual results.
Wiring Loetv 's Grand
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, Aug. 7.— Installation of sound
picture apparatus is progressing raoidlv at
Loew's Grand. Fox Movietone made its debut
in that house on August 6.
88
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
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!
A cutout machine, a projectograph and the work they do! These two machines were made by W. L. Gelling, resident
manager forEast Texas Theatres, Inc., at Nacogdoches, Texas. The first picture at the left shows both cutout machine
and projectograph. The second photograph shows how a sewing machine head is welded on a quarter horse-power
motor for operating the coping saw which is held in the poAtion of the needle. The third and fourth photographs
show ivork turned out by the projectograph and cutout machine. A description of both machines is given on this page.
You Can Easily Construct Own
Machine for Making Cutouts
Perhaps you have been wanting a machine for making cutouts from 24-sheets.
If you have, this article sent to "The Theatre" will tell you how to construct your
own. It comes from W. L. Gelling, resident manager for East Texas Theatres,
Inc., at Nacogdoches, Texas. Gelling also tells how to use a projectograph which
he has constructed. Here's what he has to say in describing his two machines:
I have been reading Exhibitors Herald and
Moving Picture World for over eight years
now and during that time have found many
helpful hints and suggestions in it. I am
therefore taking the liberty of submitting a
couple of ideas of my own which are proving
extremely valuable to me, and others may be
able to employ them to like advantage.
One is a machine, simple and inexpensive
in construction, for making cutouts. This is
easj' to handle and is a whizz when it comes
to cutting out letters, figures, etc. It consists
of a sewing machine head welded to a quarter
horse-power motor, and suspended from a
barn door track with travelers carrying the
weight of the motor. See inclosed photos.
Temperatures!
PORTLAND [City] 98^
PORTLAND [Theater] 72^
BROADWAY Theater 72'
Why Sweller?
Here 'Are Theater Treats
In Cool Retreatt!
What shall we call these young ladies? "Sandwich girls" doesn't seem quite proper. How-
ever, when manager Edward A. Furni sent them out walking all over town with these
painted rain coats, the Palace-Orpheum did good business with the Pathe picture, "Walking
Back," featuring Sue Carol. Sorry we can't show you the girls' pretty faces.
Simple, surely, but effective, assuredly!
What better means could be used in an
ad to get over the "cool" idea to your
patrons? The ad increased patronage for
the twO' West Coast theatres, the Portland
and Broadivay in Portland, Ore. You
might use this idea when the next heat
wave rolls your way.
The whole is counter-weighted and moves up
and down on a three-quarter inch pipe which
in turn revolves in roller bearings at top
and bottom. The block of wood to which the
travelers are attached by screws contains a
roller bearing which makes the motor uni-
versal in motion.
It is possible to move the cutter over
a radius of six feet. The presser foot of the
sewing machine head rests on the beaver board
to be cut out and a coping saw is used in
the position which the needle of the sewing
machine would occupy. The material to be
cut rests on a frame or table made up of three
slats of one by three material. This allows
for the saw cutting through the material to be
cut without interference.
The other idea is a suggestion in connection
with the projectograph described in your
columns a few weeks ago for use in transfer-
ring clippings from press sheets, for example,
and enlarging them for lobby cards. Instead
of using the mirror for correcting the direc-
tion of the print which we found caused dis-
tortion, we fit the clippings in a frame, then
varnish it to make it transparent and place in
projector, using a 400 watt lamp to project the
picture. I enclose some samples of the results
we have thus been enabled to secure.
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
89
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SERVICE TALKS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald, which is a department containing news, in-
formation and gossip on current productions, is the Moving Picture World department, "Through
the Box Office Window."
D
"STATE STREET SADIE"
EAR FOLKS:
As you must know, one who resides in a
given city attaches a certain super-importance
to pictures put forth as representative of that
place. Thus, Mr. De Mille's "Chicago" was of
kneener interest to me than would have been
the same picture captioned "New York," "Los
Angeles" or "Rapid City, South Dakota." And
if any of you, who reside in cities that have
not been duly picturized, are of the opinion
that this intimacy of locale is advantageous
to the picture at hand, you are mistaken. One
goes to the theatre showing such a picture pre-
pared to find it very bad indeed; on the occa-
sion when one does not find it so, logically
enough, it must be concluded that the picture
is extremely good. In either case, an opinion
indited for the attention of exhibitors through-
out these numerous and somewhat United
States is pretty likely to be unreliable. I
always feel better, when aiming my L. C. Smith
at a producer's valuable property, if I have
made this kind of a statement in preface.
I went to the Orpheum theatre to see "State
Street Sadie" on a very warm night. The Or-
pheum is, as theatres average in downtown Chi-
cago, a very warm theatre. And the seats are
narrower, and I invariably find myself wedged
between a 200-pound gentleman on my left and
a 200-pound lady on my right. Under these
circumstances, a picture has to be pretty good.
"State Street Sadie" was. And, of course, is.
One of the reasons, no doubt, lies in the fact
that "State Street Sadie" is not represented as
occurring in Chicago. Instead, the place seems
to be New York. The title of the picture is
merely the nickname applied to Myrna Loy,
who is the girl in the picture. (She might
quite as well have been nicknamed Kansas City
Kate, Missouri Valley Mamie or Boston Blanch,
but that is unimportant. And of course State
Street is supposed to be a more criminal thor-
oughfare than any to be found in any of these
cities.)
The picture is, as you know, another of those
which we may as well characterize as of "the
speaking screen" now as later. (This seems to
me to be the most convenient, graceful and re-
spectable of the designations applied to the new
type of product.) In it the talking is done by
Conrad Nagel, "William Russell and two or
three others. It is well done, too, although, of
course, none of these folks are Lionel Barry-
more, whose speaking for the pictures is as far
above any other screen speaking I have heard
as "The Lion and the Mouse" is above the
T. O. Service
majority of subjects thus far produced for the
speaking screen.
The story is about crooks, burglary, murder,
detection and things like that. It ends with
such a mass attack by police as was used in the
ending of "Underworld."
"RED LIPS"
A
.X^jLL JOLSON used to sing a song with a
snappy chorus which began, "Red lips — come
kiss by blues away," and continued in that vein,
and in the Jolson manner of singing a song,
to a conclusion which always won many en-
cores. Now it isn't at all likely that this first
line of Mr. Jolson's jazz hit had anything to do
with suggesting to Universal the manufacture
of a picture that would do what Mr. Jolson
so urgently requested, but "Red Lips" does
send the blues scooting and it does entertain.
It particularly entertains such an audience as
can be found at any time of afternoon or even-
ing in the Oriental theatre of this town, where
gather the young and quick of pulse and where
performs young Mr. Kvale, a jazzician who has
all but obscured memory of the riot quite so
young Mr. Ash.
The lips referred to in the caption are those
of Miss Marian Nixon. These lips, too, are
extremely prominent in the pictures — that is,
prominent in participation, not in formation or
anything like that, for to the limits of my
knowledge Miss Nixon's are as admirably con-
stituted labial appendages (i. e., osculatory
equipment) as are to be found in a personally
conducted inspection of Hollywood. But, as I
was saying — -
Miss Nixon is, in the picture, a gay young
thing with right enough ideas and forthright
habits. She travels briskly and lightly, al-
though straight, and in her travels she encoun-
ters an extremely capable young athlete who is
Buddy Rogers when off the set. They do
what collegiate youngsters always do, in pic-
tures, and Buddy all but fails to get into the
track meet wherein, at the crucial moment, he
wins the 880 and sends his team to victory over
the despised but frequently victorious rivals.
BODIL ROSING CALLS
JP AITHFUL to the promise made at the con-
clusions of last week's remarks, I shall now re-
late the visit of Bodil Rosing (whose name you
will note I have learned to spiel with complete
accuracy) to this office. It was a very pleasant
affair.
The visit occurred on the morning of July
31, toward noon. Other members of the staff
were at the printery, putting through its final
stages of preparation the book which you read
last week. Left at headquarters to answer
phone calls and things like that (I have the
secret suspicion that I'm regarded as not being
very useful at press time), I sat and talked to
Mrs. Rosing and Mrs. Rosing sat and talked
to me.
Curiously enough, we turned our conversa-
tion to the subject of the speaking screen.
(Let's adopt that as the standard name for it.)
Mrs. Rosing mentioned the status of the new
stages being erected in Hollywood, she nar-
rated interesting incidents pertaining to various
personalities who will or will not take part in
the audible sequences, and I aired a few hith-
erto unpublished views of my own. We got
along famously.
One of the conclusions arrived at seems to
me to be worthy of chronicling. I told her of
my plan to have a tripod and microphone set
up in a stage playhouse and the stage play re-
produced for the widespread public. (This was
before the stage people announced their inten-
tion of doing just that thing.) Mrs. Rosing
thought it would not Work out so well, be-
cause the result would be not a motion picture
at all but a stage play. We talked, then, of
compromises which fnight be worked out, using
this portion of stage play technique and that
portion of screen technique to compose, when
combined, a hybrid entertainment which might
be very good. We agreed, smiling a bit, that
while it would be physically possible to drive
across the stage of a Broadway theatre in slow
succession all the covered wagons used in mak-
ing "The Covered Wagon," it would be very
improbable that any of the payees would be
left in their seats to see the last wagon across.
Despite the precedent of "The Strange Inter-
lude."
And I told Mrs. Rosing how well you like
her work, she accusing me of exaggeration,
exactly as a properly modest actress should,
and she told me the Danish interpretation of
her rather unusual name. I shall not attempt
to tell you that, for names mean so little and
personalities mean so much. Better that you
just look upon Mrs. Rosing's screen mothers
(her next is that of Hoot Gibson's maternal an-
tecedent in "The Big Rodeo") and enjoy them
for what they are. That is enough for anyone.
90
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
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QUICK REFERENCE PICTURE CHART
Incorporated in this department of Moving Picture World is the Exhibitors Herald department,
"Available Attractions."
The key to abbreviations used in denoting the type oj pictures
C"— Comeify
Lh'-'Drama
R — Romance
F Farce
M^—M elodrama
W — Western
My— Mystery
Where the picture is a comedy-drama, comedy melodrama, etc.,
there is a combination of these abbreviations. Stars denote
reissues.
That dates prior to January 7 published under the "Comment"
column are those of the issues of Moving Picture World in which
the pictures were reported. The January 7 and subsequent dates
are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOV-
ING PICTURE WORLD in which "Service Talks" have been
published on pictures.
The dates prior to January 7 published under the "New Pic-
tures" column are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD
in which "New Pictures" information was printed. The January
7 and subsequent dates are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD in which this in-
formation will be printed.
Length Title and Playert
Released
New
Pictures
Ticlier
1928
6400
6450
6500
6300
8000
«QOe
6900
Chesterfield
Adorable Cheat, The, Lila Lee-Mclntosb June 1
Below the Deadline Feb. 28
Campus Knights Aug. 15
Ciroumatantial Evidence Oct. 30
House of Shame, The ;. June 30
Roaring Forties, The Apr. 15
South of Panama Dec. 15
1928
June 9
Columbia
1927
5831 Alias the Lane Wolf (D), Lytell-Wllson Aug. 22
Blood Ship, The (M), Bosworth-Logan. Aug. 10
By Whose Hand (MyD), Cortez-Gllbert Sept. 15
College Hero, The (CD), Agnew-Garon Oct. 9
Fastiion Madness. Windsor-Howes. _ Dec. 8
S843
5432
66 28
B513
5645
5750
6524
5569
5892
1000
5895
6435
6054
6108
6357
6426
6791
Isle of Forgotten Women (D), TearIe-Sebastlan_Sept. 27
Lone Wolf Returns (M), LyteU-Wilson
Opening Night, The (D), Wlndsor-J. Bowers....Nov. 14
Pleasure Before Business (F), Davidson
Sally in Our Alley (M), Mason-Allen Sept. 3
Screen Snapshots _
Siren, The. T. Moore-Revler Deo. 20
Stage Kisses (D), Harlan-Chadwlok. Nov. 2
Stolen Pleasures (CD), Kevier
Jan. 7
Oct. 1
July 23
1927
Dec. 3
Dec 31
Jan. 14
Dec. 3
Jan. 14
.....
....July 31
—
MaT7li
Jan. 14
Aug. 28
Jan. 21 Jan. 21
Jan. 7
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Tlcktr
1928
6860
6600
6305
6536
6600
1927
..._Oct. 21
Sweet Rosle O'Grady (CD), Mason
Tigress, The (M), Holt-Revier
Wandering Girls (CD), Kevler-Agnew _
Warninq, The (M). Hnlt-Rpvier. Nov. 26
Way of the Strong, The (MD), Alice Day-LevrU
Dec. 3
-July 21
1928
5459 After
_...52.72%
1928
6537
6928
6925
the Storm, Hobart-Bosworth
Beware of Blondes (MD), Revler-Matt Moore
Broadway Daddies, Jacqueline Logan..-
Desert Bride, The (MD), Betty Compson
Golf Widows (CD), Keynolds-Ford-
Lady Raffles, Taylor-Drew
Matinee Idol, The (MD), Love-Walker
Modern Mothers (CD), Helene Chadwick.
Name the Woman (D), Stewart-Gnrdon
Say It With Sables (D), Bushman-Cbadwlck _
So This Is Love, Mason-Collier _ _.Feb. 6
Sporting Age, The, Bennett -Herbert Mar. 2
That Certain Thing. Dana-Graves _ Jan. 1
Wife's Relations, The, Mason-Glass Jan. 13
Woman's Way, A, Baiter-Llvingston Feb. 18
_Mar. 26
..Jan. 25
-Mar. 14
-June 9
_Tuly21
Apr. 14
...May 26
Feb. 25
Apr. 7
6440
6464
6047
6350
6472
1927
2000 Angelus, The (D).-
2000 Real Charleston, Lesson Novelty-
Wooden Shoes, International
....Tune 19
. Aug. 4
Feb. 25
Jan. 28
Feb. 11
Mar. 31
Cranfield & Clarke, Inc.
..May 15
..Apr. 24
-May 8
1927
6250 Husbands or Lovers, Jannings..
Emblem Films
1927
1927
1927
5980
6805
6912
6645
6792
7393
6337
6750
5867
Excellent
1927
Back to Liberty (D), Walsb-Hall Nov. IB
Bowery Cinderella. A (D), O'Malley-Hulette. May 1
Broadway Drifter (D), Walsh-Hall Nov. 1
Broadway Madness (D), De la Motte-Keltb
His Rise to Fame (D), Walab-Shaw
Kick-off, The (D), Hyama-Amann
Nest, The (D), Frederick-Herbert _
Striving for Fortune (D), Walsh-Roberta.-.
Winning Oar, The (D). Walah-Hall—
-Apr. 14
Feb. 15
Aug. 1
Jan. 15
June 1
ilar. 17
Your Wife and Mine (F), Haver-Holmei. Sept. 1 Mar. 17
4765
4858
4910
4837
5701
5093
4754
4913
6300
6507
7014
5240
5186
6481
6515
4924
6680
6140
4941
6004
4886
6388
4892
1928
5S72
4893
5583
4869
6267
6375
6320
5511
5984
5063
4770
4804
4758
6148
A Bit of Heaven (D), Washburn-Lee _ May 15
Into No Man's Land, Tom Santschl-J. Norman —
Making the Varsity, Rex Lease-Hulette -July 15
Manhattan Knights, Barbara Bedford Aug 10
Satan and the Woman (D), Windsor-Keefe. Jan. 20
Speed Classic, The, Rex Lease-Mildred Harris July 25
Stronger Will, The (D), Marmont-Carewe Feb. 20
Women Who Dare (D), Chadwick-Delaney Mar. 30
FBO
Aflame in the Sky (M), Luden-Lynn. -...Dec. 18
Bandit's Son. The (W), Bob Steele Nov. 20
Boy Rider, The (W), Buzz Barton Oct. 23
Breed of Courage (D), Banger. Aug. 7
Cherokee Kid, The (W), Tyler-Lynn. — Oct. 30
Clancy's Kosher Wedding (CD), Geo. Sidney — Sept. 17
Coward, The (D), Warner Baxter Aug. 21
Desert Pirate (W), Tom Tyler. Dec. 25
Flying U Ranch, The (W), Tom Tyler- Sept. 4
Gingham Girl, The (C), Lois WUson — Oct. 2
Great Mail Robbery, The (M), Von Eltz-Nelson..Aug. 15
Harvester, The (D), OrviUe CaldweU. Nov. 23
Hook and Ladder No. 9 (D), Ed Hearne. — Nov. 13
Jake the Plumber (C), Jesse De Vorska Oct 16
Judgment of the Hills (D), Darro-VaUi Nov. 6
Little Mickey Grogan (D), Frankie Darro _Deo. 27
Mojave Kid, The (W), Bob Steele -Sept. 25
Moon of Israel (D), Maria Corda -...
Not for Publication (M), Ralph Ince. Aug. 31
Racing Romeo (D), Red Grange
Ranger of the North (D), Ranger Oct. 9
Shanghaied (M), Ralph Ince Oct. 19
Slingshot Kid, The (M), Buzz Barton -Dec. 4
South Sea Love (D), Patsy Miller Dec. 10
Svrift Shadow, The (D), Ranger. Dec. 11
1928
Feb. 25
1927
Dec. 10
Dec 10
Dec. 3 Oct. 8
Nov. 26
Nov. 26
..Sept. 10
..Sept. 10
Nov.
Dec.
Dec.
Nov.
Dec.
July 30
..July 2
Nov. 19
Nov. 26
64.60%
Aug. 20
iug. 6
...July »
—July 23
.Dec
Deo.
Dec.
Dec
Nov.
Dec
Aug. 20
1928
6144
4769
6771
4801
6424
4785
4781
4884
6419
4729
6039
5967
4793
4760
6329
4898
4805
Alex the Great (M), Skeets Gallagher May 13
Bantam Cowboy (W), Buzz Barton - -...Aug. 12
Beyond London's Lights (M), Lee Shumway — Mar. 18
Breed of the Sunsets (W), Bob Steele Apr. 1
Chicago After Midnight (M), Ince-Mendez — Mar. 4
Coney Island (D), Lois Wilson. Jan. 13
Crooks Can't Win (D), Ralph Lewis May 11
Dead Man's Curve (D), Fairbanks. Jr Jan. 15
Devil's Trademark, The (D), Belle Bennett.- Apr. 7
Dog Justice (M), Ranger...- June 10
Driftin' Sands (W), Bob Steele Jan. 1
Fangs of the Wild (D), Ranger Feb. 5
Flghtin' Redhead (W), Buzz Barton July 1
Freckles (D), Stratton-Fox. Jr Mar. 21
Headin' for Danger (MD), Bob Steele —
Her Summer Hero (CD), Blane-Trevor —.Feb. 12
Hit of the Show, The (C), Joe Brown- Olmstead .— — .
Law of Fear (D). Ranger _ -...Apr. 8
Legionnaires in Paris (C), Cooke-Quard. Jan. SI
Little Buckaroo, The (W), Buzz Barton. Mar. 11
Little Yellow House, The (D), OrviUe Caldwell_May 28
Man In the Rough (W), Bob Steele - May 20
Phantom of the Range (W), Tom Tyler...- Apr. 22
Pinto Kid, The (W), Buzz Barton Apr. 29
Red Riders of Canada (M), P. R. Miller. .Apr. 15
Riding Renegade (W), Bob Steele Feb. 19
Sally of the Scandals (M), Bessie Love...- July 15
Skinner's Big Idea (M), Bryant Washburn Apr. 24
Stocks and Blondes (CD), Logan-Gallagher
Texas Tornado, The (W), Tom Tyler Feb. 26
Trail of Cotrrage, The (W), Bob Steele -..July 8
Wallflowers (D), Trevor-Scott - - Feb. 16
When the Law Rides (W), Tom Tyler...- June 24
Wizard of the Saddle (W). Buzz Barton Jan. 22
Feb. 11
May 5
Feb. 11
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Dec. 17
Feb. 11
Dec 17
Mar. 3
June 16
Dec 17
Jan. 21
Feb. 11
Feb. 4
-June 19
Jan. 21
..-July 21
Feb. 11
Dec 10
Jan. 14
June 2
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Feb. 4
Jan. 21
Feb. 18
Mar. 17
Apr. 28
Apr. 14
-July 14
Dec 21
1927 First Division
5400 Comrades, Costello-Hughes Jan. 1
5960 Death Valley (W), CarroU Nye Sept. 1
5600 Eager Lips, Garon Oct. 1
5900 Finnegan's Ball (C), Mack Swain Sept. 15
5800 Ladies at Ease (CD), Garon-Short Nov. 15
5700 Ladybird, Compson - Aug. 1
5750 Naughty, Garon Nov. 1
6700 Polly of the Movies, Short-Robards Oct. 15
6700 Ragtime (D), De La Motte _ _ Sept. 1
5700 Return of Boston Blackle (D), Glenn-PaImer....Aug. 1
5000 Say It with Diamonds, Betty Compson _ -Aug. 15
5700 Temptations of a Shop Girl, Compson Nov. 1
1928
5500 Fagasa, Raymond Wells - Apr. 1
Free Lips (MD), June Marlow -____
6300 Masked Angel, Betty Compson Mar. 1
6200 Souls Aflame, Raymond Wells. Mar. 18
1927
Aug. 20
..Oct. 15
Jan. 7
Nov. 26
Sept S
1928
.July 14
Apr. 7
Apr. 21
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
91
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
1927
6300
6333
6433
6222
6766
8730
7724
6386
6588
6802
5282
7133
6288
6118
6190
6524
6400
6720
5718
5550
5255
7388
BS21
6542
5434
6520
6040
6431
6734
11414
5982
6897
6400
6210
6477
6606
5800
6648
7179
6000
7400
7419
5774
6668
7833
6336
6324
6409
1928
7404
6500
First National
All Aboard (C), Hlnes-Murphy Jilay 8
American Beauty (CD), Dove-Hughes. Oct. 9
An Affair of the Follies (D). Dove-Hughes Feb. 13
Breakfast at Sunrise (CD), C. Talmadge Oct. 23
Broadway Nights (D), Wilson-Hardy May 15
Camille (D), N. Talmadge-Roland _ Sept. 4
Convoy (D), Sherman-MackaiU Apr. 24
Crystal Cup, The (D), JIackalll-Mulhal] Oct. 16
Dance Magic (D), Lyon-Starke. June 12
Drop Kick, The (D), Barthelmess-IleTier. Sept. 25
Framed (D), Sills-Eyngston June 19
Gorilla, The (My). Murray Kelsey _ -Nov. 13
Gun Gospel (W), Maynard-Falre Nov. 6
Her Wild Oat (C), Moore-Kent _ — —Deo. 25
High Hat (CD), Lyon-Brian Mar. 13
Home Made (0), HInes-Daw -Nov. 20
Lady in Ermine, The (D), C. GrlCath-Buahman-jan. 9
Life of Riley, The (C). Murray-Sidney Sept. 18
Lonesome Ladies (CD), Nilsson-Stone July 3
Long Pants (C), Lansdon-Bonner. Apr. 10
Lost at the Front (C), Murray-Sidney May 29
Love Mart, The (D), Dove-Roland Deo. 18
Lunatic at Large, The (C), Errol-Mackalll Jan. 2
Man Crazy (CD). MackalU-Mulhall — Nov. 27
Masked Women, The (D). Nilsson-Blinn-H'nsen-.jan. 23
Naughty But Nice (C). Moore-Reed. June 26
Notorious Lady, The (D), Bedford-Stone -Mar. 27
No Place to Go (C), Hughes-Astor Oct. 30
Orchids and Ermine, Moore-Mulhall Mar. 6
Patent Leather Kid, The (D), Barflmess-O'Day..
Perfect Sap, The (CD), Lyon-Starke Jan. 16
Poor Nut, The (C), Murray-Mulhall Aug. 7
Prince of Head Waiters (D), Stone-Tashman —
Red Raiders, The (W), Maynard-Drew -...July 17
Rose of the Golden West (D), Astor-Roland — Sept. 4
Sea Tiger, The (D), Sllls-Astor. Oct. 2
See You in Jail (C). MulhaU-Day Feb. 27
Smile, Brother, Smile (C), Mulhall-Mackall] Apr. 17
Stolen Bride, The (D), Hughes-Dove -Sept. 11
Sunset Derby (D), Astor-Collier Aug. 14
Tender Hour, The (D), Dove-Lyon June 5
Texas Steer, A (CD), Rogers-Fazenda May 1
Three Hours (D), Qrlfflth-Bowers Dec. 4
Three's a Crowd (C), Langdon-McConnell Apr. 3
Twinkletoes, Moore-Harlan Aug. 28
Valley of the Giants (D), SiUs-Kenyon. Dec. 11
Venus of Venice (CD), Talmadge-Moreno Mar. 20
White Pants Willie (C), Hines-Hyams July 24
...Apr. 2
Nov. 19
Oct. 22
..3Iar. 5
Nov. 12
Nov. 26
...May 21
May 2
May 21
Nov. 12
Oct. 29
Aug. 13
"July 9
Jan. 7
Dec 17
Dec. 3
Mar. 19
Nov. 26
Oct. 29
Jan. 8
...Oct. 1
1927
'47.20%
56.10%
48.00%
65.00%
'61.54%
...Sept. 24
...Apr. 9
...June 25
53.58%
Nov. 26
..J-eb. 5
Nov. 12
Dec. 3
....Feb. 12
....July 16
May 14
....Dec. 10
....Apr. 9
....Aug. 20
—JaiL 22
....Sept. 10
....July 23
....Oct. 15
Oct. 8
...May 14
...Apr. 23
....Sept. 17
....Sept. 3
...July 2
....May 28
Apr. 16
...Jan. 1
...Dec. 3
Jan. 7
....Aug. 6
....Apr. 16
67.90%
70.47%
61.88%
47.00%
38.90%
47.72%
69.92%
68.86%
45.80%
1928
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Ticker
6484 Rich But Honest (CD). Beebe May 22
6870 Secret Studio. The (CD), Borden -...June 19
10726 Seventh Heaven, The (R), Farrell-Gaynor Oct. 30
5467 'Shame (M), John Gilbert Nov. 27
Silk Legs (CD). Madge BeUamy -Dec. 18
Silver Valley (W), Tom Mix _ -Oct. 2
Singed (D), Baxter-Sweet _ Aug. 21
Slaves of Beauty (D), Herbert-Tell June 5
Stage Madness (D), Valli _ Jan. 9
St. Elmo (M), John Gilbert _ -Oct. 9
5446
5009
5792
5412
5620
4943
4675
4299
6293
5510
5620
4953
Dec. 31
Dec. 17
Tumbling River (W), Tom Mix-Dawn. Aug. 21
Truxton King. Gilbert - -Oct. 30
Two Girls Wanted (CD), Janet Gaynor.- -Sept. 11
Upstream (D), Foxe Jan. 30
Very Confidential (CD), Madge Bellamy Nov. 6
War Horse (W), Jones : - Feb. 6
11109 What Price Glory (CD), MoLaglen-Lowe -..Aug. 28
5783 Whispering Sage (W). Jones -..Mar. 20
6629 Wizard, The (MyD), Lowe-Hyams Dec. 11
5531 Wolf Fangs (D), Thunder (Dog) Nov. 27
1928
4612 Branded Sombrero, The (W), Buck Jones Jan. 8
Chicken a la King (CD), Carrol-Francis Lee
4987 Daredevil's Reward (W), Tom Mix Jan. 15
5708 Don't Marry, Moran-Hamilton..._ -.June 3
6566 Dressed to Kill. Lowe-Astor Mar. 18
5109 Escape, The (D). RusseU-ValU Apr. 29
3038 Gateway of the Moon, The (D), Del Rio Jan. 1
5882 Girl in Every Port, A (CD), Victor McLaglen....Jan. 29
6430 Hangman's House, McLaglen-CoUyer. May 13
4618 Hello Cheyenne, Tom Mix May 13
6188 Honor Bound, O'Brien-Taylor -...May 13
4399 Horseman of the Plains (W), Tom Mix. Mar. 11
5782 Love Hungry (CD). Moran-Gray _ Apr. 15
6679 News Parade, Stuart-PhllUps
5071 No Other Woman (D), Dolores Del Rio...- June 10
Painted Post (W), Tom Mix.-
5260 Play Girl, The, Madge Bellamy Apr. 22
Road House (MD), Barrymore-Burke _...
Sharp Shooters (CD), O'Brien-Moran Jan. 15
..June 4
..June 26
..May 28
-Nov. 26
Oct. 29
..July 18
..June 11
..Jan. 29
...Aug. 27
71.33%
Jan. 14
..Feb. 12
..Nov. 12
..Feb. 19
..Apr. 9
Dec. 3
71.00%
50.61%
1928
Jan. 21
.June 23
Feb. 11
June 9
Apr. 14
Apr. 14
Jan. 28
May 12
Apr. 21
Apr. 7
Mar. 10
..May 26
June 23
-JulyT
June 30
Apr. 14
Jan. 21
..May 26
May 19
Feb. 4
June 23
5380
5629
5355
5937
5030
4921
5480
Soft Living (CD), Bellamy-Brown Feb. 5
Square Crooks, Brown-Dwan Mar. 4
Street Angel, Gaynor.... _
Sunrise (D), George O'Brien - _ .'.-
Thief In the Dark, A, Meeker-Hlll-Beebe. May 20
Why Sailors Go Wrong, Phlpps-McNamara...- Mar. 25
Wild West Romance (W), Rex King - June 10
Woman Wise (C), Russell-CoUyer Jan. 8
..Aug. 4
Feb. 4
Feb. 18
Feb. 18
5800
5744
6374
8030
6172
6344
7100
7433
7541
6957
7694
6592
6608
8967
7700
6625
7129
5485
8188
5827
6212
6874
5087
7187
1927
4665
4777
4556
5425
6078
6333
4810
4300
6381
8154
5524
4545
5617
5515
4983
4851
6940
6162
5599
5507
8538
5415
5440
5500
7734
7677
5327
6898
5876
5893
Barker, The (D), SUls, MackaUL
Big Noise. The (CD), Conklin-White Mar.
Burning Daylight (M), Sills-KenyotL -Feb.
Butter and Egg Man, The, Jack Mulhall
Canyon of Adventure (W). Maynard _ Apr. 29
Chaser. The (C). Langdon Feb. 12
Chinatown Charlie (C), Hines-Lorraine - Apr. 15
Code of the Scarlet (W). Ken Maynard
Goodbye Kiss, The, Johnny Burke-SaUy Ellers
Flying Romees (C), Murray-Sidney Feb. 26
French Dressing (CD). Warner-Wilson Jan. 15
Garden of Eden, The (D), Corlnne Griffith. _ -.._
Happiness Ahead (D), Colleen-Moore-Lowe June 30
Hawk's Nest, The (M), Slllton Sills -May 6
Heart to Heart, Lloyd Hughes-Todd
Heart Trouble (CD), Harry Langdon...- _
Harold Teen (CD), Lake-Brian Apr. 29
Heart of a Follies Girl (D), Dove-Kent-
Sherman . _ _ _Mar. 18
Helen of Troy (CD), Stone-Corda-Ccrtez. Jan. 8
Ladies Night (CD), MackaUl-MulhalL Apr. 1
..-.July 14
25
26 Mar. 10
Apr. 7
. July 28
Feb. 11
Feb. 18
.June 23
July?
Apr. 7
Deo. 10
May 26
May 26
JulyT
.July21
Apr. 21
Mar. 10
Dec. 24
Dec. 17
..-Aug. 4
June 15
Aug. 4
Lady Be Good (CD), Mulhall-Mackaill May
Lilac Time (D), Moore-Cooper Apr.
Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come (D), Bar-
theimess-O'Day - Apr.
Mad Hour (D), O'Neil-Kent-Sherman Mar.
Noose, The (D). Barthelmess-Joyce. Jan.
Sailors' Wives (CD), Hughes-Astor Jan.
Shepherd of the Hills (D), Francls-O'Day -Jan.
Strange Case of Captain Ramper, The (D),
Three Ring Marriage (M), Hughes-Astor May
Wagon Show, The (W), Maynard Mar.
Wheel of Chance, The (D), Richard Barthelmess
Whip, The (D), Forbes-MackaiU
Whip Woman, The (D), Taylor-Moreno Feb.
Wright Idea, The (CD), Johnny Hlnes
Yellow Lily, The (D), Dove-Brooks „ May
June 2
Apr. 7
Mar. 17
Deo. 10
Dec. 24
Dec 8
..July 21
Apr. 28
Mar. 17
...June 2
..July 14
Feb. 11
-July 7
Apr. 28
May 12
63.25%
78.23%
July21
Fox
_Nov. 20
—Sept. 25
—Nov. 13
—Mar. 13
_Aug. 28
—Aug. 14
Arizona Wildcat, The (W), Tom Mix..-
Blackjack (W), Buck Jones
Blood Will Tell (W), Buck Jones
Broncho Twister (W), Mir
*Cameo Kirby (D), John Gilbert
Chain Lightning (W), Buck Jones
Circus Ace, The. Mix June 26
Come to My House (CD), Olive Borden Dec. 25
Cradle Snatchers (FC), Fazenda June 5
East Side, West Side (D), O'Brien-Valll Oct. 9
Gay Retreat, The (C), Cohen-McNamara Sept. 25
Good as Gold (W), Jones June 12
Heart of Salome (My), Rubens May 8
High School Hero (C), Phlpps-Stuart Oct. 16
Hills of Peril (W), Jones May 1
•Honor First (D), John Gilbert. Sept. 18
Is Zat So? (CD), O'Brien-Lowe May 15
Joy Girl, The (CD), OUve Borden Sept. 18
Ladies Must Dress (CD), Virginia Valll Nov. 20
Love Makes 'Em Wild (D), Harron „ -Mar. 6
Loves of Carmen (D). McLaglen-Del Rio Sept. 4
Madam Wants No Children, Cordla - Apr. 3
Marriage (D), Valll Feb. 20
Monkey Talks (D), Lemer Feb. 20
Musio Master (D), A. B. Francis Jan. 23
One Increasing Purpose (D), Lowe Jan. 2
Outlaws of Red River (W), Mix
Paid to Love (D), O'Brien-Valli Aug. 14
Pajamas (CD), Borden-Gray Oct. 23
-Nov. 12
-Apr. 2
1927
63.00?
— June 18
Jan. 7
Jan. 7
..June 4
Oct. 22
Tune 11
May 9
Oct. 29
May 14
40.70%
— May 21
Sept. 24
Nov. 19 Dec. 17
..Oct. 8
...Apr. 16
..Jeb. 26
...Mar. 5
-.Jan. 22
...Jan. 15
...Apr. 23
...Aug. 6
-.Dec. 10
48.60%
61.58%
Publicity Madness (CD), Moran-Lowe..
-Oct. 2
1927
6987
5800
6000
6200
5950
6500
6700
6750
1928
5268 Bare
Gotham
Blondes by Choice (C), Claire Windsor Oct. 1
Cheer Leader, The (CD), Graves-Olmstead. —Nov. 16
Final Extra (M). De la Motte
'Frisco Nights (D), Percy Marmont —..Dec. 1
Girl from Rio, The (D), Carmel Myers Sept. 1
Heroes of the Night (M), Landis-Nixon.
Rose of Klldare, The (D), Helene Chadwick. Aug. 15
Satin Woman, The (D), Mrs. Wallace Beld. Aug. 1
May 19
Jan. 28
Dec. 31
-July T
..July21
June 2
1927
Deo. 10
Nov. 26
Sept. 24
..Feb. 6
Nov. 19
Nov. 19
Aug. 13
1928
6000
5900
1927
Knees (D), Corblne - Feb. 1
Branded Man. The (D), Delaney-Marlowe -May
Chorus Kid, The (D), All Star Apr. 1
Danger Patrol, The (D), All Star Apr.
Devil's Tower, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt. May
Hell Ship Bronson, Mrs. Wallace Reid-Beery June 2
Lightnin' Shot, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt May
Midnight Adventure, A (D), Landls-Murphy May
Mystery Valley (W), Buddy Roosevelt July
Trail Riders (W), Buddy Roosevelt _ Apr.
Trailin' Back (W), Buddy Roosevelt Mar.
Turn Back the Hours (M), Myma Loy. Mar. 1
Feb. 11
Krelbar Productions
1927
6199 Broadway After Midnight, Betz Oct. 29
1927
6667
4709
0312
8730
6439
5821
6050
6125
7395
6408
4658
6909
8156
5687
6110
5291
6280
5957
7603
7627
6337
6581
6640
6309
7805
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Cody-Pringla Aug. 27
Adam and Evil (CD)
Adventurer, The (W), Tim McCoy Jan. 14
After Midnight (D), Shearer-Gray Aug. 20
Annie Laurie (D), Lillian Gish _ —Sept. 17
Becky (CD). Sally O'Neil _ Nov. 12
12000 Ben Hur (M), Ramon Novarro —.Oct. 8
12550 Big Parade. The (M), Gilbert-Adoree. Sept. 10
5902 Body and Soul (D), L. Barrymore Oct. 1
Bugle Call, The (D), Jackie Coogan ; Aug. 6
Buttons (CD), Jackie Coogan - Dec 24
Callahans and Murphys (CD), DressIer-Moran..„Jime 18
Captain Salvation (M), Hanson _ May 14
Fair Co-ed, The (CD), Marion Davies Oct. 15
Foreign Devils (W), Tim McCoy _ Sept. 3
Frisco Sally Levy (C), O'Neil Apr. 2
Garden of Allah, The (D), Terry-Petrovitch. Nov. 5
In Old Kentucky (D), H. CosteUo Oct. 29
Little Journey (CD), All Star Jan. 1
London After Midnight (D), Lon Chaney Dec. 3
Lovelorn, The, Sally O'Neil Dec. 17
Lovers (D). Novarro-Terry _ Apr. 9
Man, Woman and Sin (D). John Gilbert Nov. 19
Mockery (M), Lon Chaney.- Aug. 13
Mr. Wu (M), Lon Chaney - Mar. 26
Quality Street, Davies-Nagel — Dec 31
Red Mill (C), Davies — Jan. 29
Road to Romance, The (D), Novarro-Day -...Sept. 24
Rookies (C), Dane- Arthur Apr. 30
Show, The (M), Gilbert-Adoree. _.-Jan. 22
Slide, Kelly, Slide (CD), Haines-O'NeiL Mar. 12
Spoilers of the West (W), McCoy-Daw. Dec 10
Spring Fever (C), William Haines —.Oct. 22
Tea for Three (C), Cody-Prlngle —.Dec 10
Thirteenth Hour, The (D), Lionel Barrymore Nov. 26
Tillie the Toiler (C), Davies —May 21
Twelve Miles Out (M), Gilbert July 9
Understanding Heart (D), Crawford. Feb. 26
Unknown, The (M), Chaney June 4
...Aug. 13
Jan. 14
-..Aug. 27
...May 21
Nov. 26
...Nov. 12 "
Nov. 26
Nov. 19 .
Dec 31 —
-...July 16
July 2
Nov. 10 Oct. 29
6705
6273
5252
6160
7899
6657
5517
1928
6908 Actress, The, Norma Shearer- Forbes Apr. 28
6805 Across to Singapore (MD), Novarro-Crawford—.Apr. 7
5010 Baby Mine. Arthur-Dane _ Jan. 21
6838 Big City, The, Chaney-Compson-Day Feb. 18
6344 Bringing Up Father, Farre*' '"oran-Olmstead. Mar. 17
Apr. 23
Nov. 19 Sept. 10
Nov. 26 Dec 3
Jan. 15
Dec 17 Dec. 17
Dec. 31
May 2
Dec. 3 Dec. 17
Sept. 10
-...June 4
Jan. 7
Feb. 19
Nov. 19
May 9
Mar. 19
Apr. 2
Dec 24
Nov. 12 Dec. 10
Dec 24 Nov. 12
Dec 3 Dec. 3
June 11
...- - July 30
. May 14
. - June 13
1927
62.00%
50.31%
45.63%
95.25%
80.20%
61.57%
53.00%
48.09%
68.70%
5L50%
60.00%
50.90%
43.46%
65.60%
39.20%
39.50%
-May 26
66.83%
"'64.9]%
~68.39%
~67.31%
43.61%
~68.r6%
65.16%
56.93%
68 76%
1928
Apr. 28
Jan. 28 Feb. 11
Feb. 25 Apr. 7
Mar. 31
92
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
I
!
54S2
5661
854S
5482
6057
7300
8340
4987
7743
7045
6402
6760
6395
7365
7289
5014
7745
6476
9566
5901
8134
5011
4433
Certain Young Man, A, Novarro-Day. May
Circus Rookies (CD), Dane-Arthur. Mar.
Cossacks, The, Adoree-Gilbert-Torrence — May
Crowd, The, Boardman-Murray-Boaoli Mar.
Detectives, Dane-Arthur - _...June
Diamond Handcuffs, Boardman-Nagel May
Divine Woman, Garbo-Hanson-Sherman Jan.
Enemy, The, Gish-Dane-Forbes _ _ Feb.
Excess Baggage (0), WiUiam Hainea.
June 2 June 23
Mar. 10
June 9
Forbidden Hours (D). Novarro-Adoree June
Latest from Paris, The, Shearer-Forbes Feb.
Laugh, Clown, Laugh, Chaney-Murphy-Hisle Apr.
Mademoiselle from Armentleres, Bstelle Brody-
John Stuart June
Skirts, Syd Chaplin. ~ - —
Law of the Range, McCoy-Crawford Jan.
Love, Garbo-Gilbert - Jan.
Patsy, The, Davies-Caldwell-Gray Mar.
Riders of the Dark Apr.
Rose Marie, Crawford-Murray. Feb.
Smart Set, Haines-Day-Holt-Bosworth Feb.
Student Prince, The (R), Novarro-Shearer. — Jan.
Under the Black Eagle, Forbes-Dog Flash Mar.
West Point (CD), Haines-Crawford. _ Jan.
White Shadows of the South Sea (MD), Monte
Wickedness Preferred (CD), Cody-Pringle. -...Jan. 28 Feb. 11
Wyoming, McCoy-Sebastian Mar. 24 Apr. 14
14 Jan. 21
18 Mar. 10
June 23
16 Mar. 17
4 Feb. 18
14 Apr. 21
2 May 26
June 2
21 Feb. 4
Jan. 7
Apr. 7
May 5
Feb. 18
Mar. 10
Feb. 25
-July 7
Apr. 28
_.._...
Jtme 2
Jan. 21
May 5
July 28
Mar. 10
May 12
Jan- 14
Apr. 14
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
Mar. 3
Jan. 21
1927
6199
6951
Paramount
1927
5
?
*
5597
5878
7175
6040
6536
6662
5408
T447
6287
6296
5399
6376
6017
6889
6415
7091
6862
6452
8656
7656
6439
7080
6940
6052
6007
5617
8039
7180
6258
6877
5798
4551
6599
6187
6680
6306
6247
69S2
9443
5614
6368
6634
B209
6170
5515
6015
6179
6838
5524
4934
6200
6124
6006
6497
4925
6319
7643
8486
6869
6935
5866
Afraid to Love (C), Vidor Apr. 9
Barbed Wire (D), Negri-Brook — Sept. 10
Beau Geste (M), Colman-N. Beery — Aug. 1
Blind Alleys (M), Meighan. Mar. 12
Blonde or Brunette? (C). Menjou. Jan. 24
Cabaret (CD), Gilda Gray Mar. 26
Casey at the Bat (C), W. Beery- Mar. 5
Chang (D), Special cast - _ Sept. 3
Children of Divorce (D), Bow A.pr. 2
City Gone Wild (M). Meighan-MUlner Nov. 12
•Covered Wagon, The (M), Kerrigan-Wilson Aug. 6
Evening Clothes (C), Menjou— Mar. 19
Fashions for Women (CD), Ralston Mar. 26
Fireman Save My Child (C), Beery-Hatton. Aug. 1
Gay Defender, The (CD), Richard Dli Dec. 10
Gentleman of Paris, A (CD), MenJou-0'Hara...-Oct. 15
Get Your Man (CD), Clara Bow Dec. 10
Honeymoon Hate (CD), Florence Vidor Dec. 3
Hotel Imperial (D), Negri Feb. 26
Hula (CD), Bow-Brook. Aug. 27
It (C), Clara Bow Feb. 19
Jesse James (D), Fred Thomson Oct. 22
•Kid Brother (C), Lloyd. Oct. 4
Kiss in a Taxi (C), Daniels Feb. 26
Knockout Reilly (CD), Dix. _ Apr. 16
Last Waltz, The (D), Special cast Not. 26
Let It Rain (C), MacLean. _ Jan. 3
Love's Greatest Mistake (CD), Brent _.._ Feb. 12
Man Power (D), Dix _ - July 9
Metropolis (D), Special cast Aug. 13
Mme. Pompadour (D), Moreno-D. Gish.- Aug. 13
Nevada (W), Cooper-Todd_ _ Sept. 10
New York (M), Cortez- Wilson Feb. 5
Now We're in the Air (C), Beery-Hatton Oct 22
One Woman to Another (CD), Vidor-Shotwell...Sept. 24
Open Range (W), Lane-Chandler Nov. 5
Paradise for Two (C), Dlx-Bronson. Jan. 17
Potters (CD), W. C. Fields Jan. 31
Ritzy (CD), Eronson _..- Apr. 9
Rolled Stockings (CD), Hall-Brook. Juno 18
Rough House Rosie (C), Bow _ May 14
Rough Riders, The (D), Astor-FarreU Oct. 1
Rubber Heels (FC), Ed. Wynn. _ -..June 11
Running Wild (C), Fields-Brian. Aug. 20
Senorita (F), Daniels Aug. 30
Serenade (D), Menjou-Wray _ - Dee. 24
Service for Ladies (C), Menjou-Carrer. - Aug. 6
Shanghai Bound (D), Dli-Brian...- Oct. 16
She's a Sheik (C), Hebe Daniels...- - Nov. 12
Shootin' Irons (W), Luden-Blane -. Oct. 8
Soft Cushions (C), MacLean-Carol Aug. 27
Special Delivery (C), Eddie Cantor Apr. 16
Spotlight, The (CD), Ealston-Hamilton. - Not. 19
Stark Love (D), Special cast Sept. 17
Swim, Girl, Swim (CM), Daniels-HaU...- Sept. 17
Tell It to Sweeney (C), Conklin-Bancroft Sept. 24
Ten Modern Commandments (CD), Ralston. July 2
Time to Love (FC), Raymond Griffith. June 18
Two Flaming Youths (C), Fields-Conklin. -.Deo. 17
Underworld (M), Bancroft-Brent Oct. 29
Way of All Flesh, The (D), Jannlngs-Beimett...Oct. 1
Wedding Bills (F), Raymond Griffith May 7
Were's All Gamblers (D), Meighan-Mlllner...- Sept. 3
Whirlwind of Youth (D), Lois Moran -Apr. 30
Wings (M). Charles Rogers.- Oct. 29
Woman on Trial (D), Pola Negri..—
Jan. 7
Dec. 31
Nov. 26
..Apr. 23
-Aug. 3
-Mar. 5
-Jan. 15
-May 9
-Apr. 16
-May 2
-May 2
-Dec. 10
-Apr. 9
-Apr. 9
-Dec. 10
-Not. 12
-Oct. 8
Dec. 17
-Jan. 8
-Sept. 10
-Feb. 12
-Oct 22
-Jan. 29
-Apr. 2
-Apr. 23
-Nov. 19
-Mar. 12
-Feb. 26
-Aug. 6
-Mar. 12
Aug. 6
-Feb. 6
-Dec 17
-Sept. 24
57.21%
62.04%
50.84%
41.30%
60.30%
51.86%
68.00%
49.60%
62.63%
67.83%
65.85%
66.77%
65.91%
38.61%
65.61%
55.59%
61.18%
71.00%
70.25%
-Jan. 29
-Jan. 22
-June 25
-July 30
-June 4
-Mar. 19
-July 16
-June 18
-May 14
48.36%
Dec. 31
Jan. 21
-Sept. 3
Not. 12
Not. 26
54.72%
47.60%
57.64%
Jan. 7
-Aug. 27
-May 9
-Dec. 3
-Mar. 19
-Sept 17
Oct. 22
-July 23
-July 9
-Sept. 3
-July 2
-July 23
6960
1928
5897 Adventure Mad (M), UFA. - Mar. 31
6536 Beau Sabreur (M). Cooper-Brent _ —Jan. 7
Beggars of Life (MD), Wallace Beery-Brooks-
Arlen
-June 11
-Aug. 20
Oct. 1
44.08%
66.27%
52.83%
59.78%
57.46%
47.36%
45.90%
1928
6930
6665
7866
6364
6839
6402
6852
6871
6263
6038
6792
1234
Big Killing (CD), Beery-Hatton. May 19
Doomsday, Vldor-Cooper _ Feb. 18
Drag Net, The (MD), Bancroft-Brent-PoweU
Easy Come, Easy Go, Richard Dix. Apr. 21
Feel My Pulse. Daniels-Arlen „ _ Feb. 25
First Kiss, The (D), Wray-Cooper _
Fifty-Fifty Girl. The, Daniels-Hall May 12
Fools for Luck (CD). Flelds-Conklin. May 7
Forgotten Faces (MD), Brook, Brian. „ _ _...
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (C), Taylor- White—.Jan. 28
Half a Bride (D), Ralston-Cooper June 16
Hot News. Hebe Daniels
His Tiger Lady. Menjou-Brent June 9
Kit Carson (MD), Fred Thomson
Ladies of the Mob, Clara Bow _ June 30
Last Command, The (D), Emll Jannlngs Jan. 21
Jan. 14
Jan. 7
-July 7
Jan. 21
-May 26
May 19
Feb. 25
..Aug. 4
Mar. 31
Apr. 7
..Aug. 4
Dec. 10
Mar. 10
Mar. 19
Mar. 19
Aug. 4
Feb. 18
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Ticker
7415
6837
5741
7910
6600
5582
6118
7646
6631
7194
7616
4720
7960
5951
6218
6763
7060
6733
5991
5834
6509
5435
Legion of the Condemned, Wray-Cooper..
Love and Learn, Ralston-Chandler
. — Mar. 10
— Jan. 14
Loves of an Actress (D), Pola Negri
Night of Mystery (D), Menjou. -..Apr. 7
Old Ironsides (D), Beery-Bancroft Mar. 17
Partners in Crime (C), Beery-Hatton...- Mar. 3
Peaks of Destiny -Jan. 28
Pioneer Scout, The (W), Fred Thomson. - Jan. 21
Racket. The (D), Thomas Meighan June 30
Red Hair (CD), Bow-Chandler...._ Mar. 10
Sawdust Paradise, The, Esther Ralston. -...Aug. 25
Secret Hour, The (D), Negri-Hersholt Feb. 4
Showdown, The, Bancroft Feb. 25
Something Always Happens, Ralston-Haniilton....Mar. 24
Speedy (C), Harold Lloyd Apr. 7
Sporting Goods, Dix-Olmstead Feb. 11
Street of Sin (D), Jannings-Wray - May 26
Sunset Legion (W), Fred Thomson Apr. 21
Three Sinners (D), Negri-Baxter Apr. 14
Tillie's Punctured Romance, Fields-Conklin. Feb. 18
Under the Tonto Rim, Arlen-Brian - - Feb. 4
Vanishing Pioneer, The (W), Jack Holt -...June 23
Varsity ( D ) , Rogers-Brian - -
Water Hole, The (W), Jack Holt -
Warming Up, Richard Dix. Aug. 11
Wife Savers (C), Beery-HattoiL Jan. 7
Woman From Moscow, The (D), Negri-Kerry - __
Jan. 21
..June 23
-Apr. 21
Feb. 26
Feb. 18
Feb. 25
Jan. 7
Dec. 10
Feb. 18
Mar. 3
June 9
Feb. 18
Feb. 18
Mar. 3
Apr. 28
Apr. 21
Feb. 18
Feb. 18
Apr. 28
May 26
Apr. 7
■Miy 5
Feb. 25
-June 9
Mar. 31
-June 23
May 26
Jan. 28
July 7
Feb. 4
1927
5596
6553
4335
5326
4875
4512
5100
7500
4933
5478
8586
6599
8002
6403
6568
6859
3303
5867
4968
7913
4750
5990
6035
4620
6788
4890
4076
4864
5324
13300
4131
4752
6472
4576
5750
5736
6421
6903
4575
4692
4497
6000
4828
5844
4542
4375
6303
5880
4562
4546
4338
5397
5670
5921
6198
4485
6610
6447
7820
1928
3996
5753
4803
5927
6589
4833
5408
4530
7996
4526
4480
5398
7056
4155
6630
5888
4600
5659
5054
5494
6626
6902
7040
5423
Pathe
Almost Human (CD), Reynolds Dec 26
Angel of Broadway, The (D), Leatrice Joy Oct 3
Avenging Fangs (M) June 5
Border Blackbirds (WD), Maloney - - Aug. 28
Born to Battle (W), BiU Cody Sept 11
Code of the Cow Country (W), Roosevelt June 19
Combat (D), Walsh Oct 23
Country Doctor, The (D), Schildkraut -..- Aug. 22
Desert of the Lost, The (W). Wally Wales. Dec. 18
Devil's Twin, The (W), Leo Maloney Dec 11
Discord (D). Dagover-Ekman „ —.Nov, 20
Dress Parade (D), Boyd. Not. 11
Fighting Eagle, The (M), La Bocaue-Haver Aug. 29
Flying Luck (C), Monty Banks Dee. 4
Forbidden Woman, The (M), Jetta GoudaL Not. 7
Getting Gertie's Garter (F), Prevost _
Girl from Everywhere (C), PoUard Dec. 11
Girl in the Pullman, The (C). Prevost Oct 31
Gold from Weepah (W), BiU Cody Not. 20
Golden Clown, The (D), Gosta-Ekman. _ Dec. 18
♦Grandma's Boy (C), Harold Lloyd...- Deo. 11
Harp in Hock, A (0), Schildkraut-Coghlan. Oct 10
Heart Thief (D), Schlldkraut-De Puttl -..-
Hidden Aces (M), Hutchison Aug. 7
His Dog (D), Schildkraut -...July 21
His Foreign Wife (D), MacDonald-Murphy Not. 27
Hoof Marks (W), Jack Donovan Not. 13
Interferin' Gent, The (W), Buffalo BlU, Jr. Aug. 21
Jim, the Conqueror (W), Boyd-Paire
King of Kings (D), All Star
Land of the Lawless, The (W), Jack Padjan. Dec. 25
Little Firebrand (C), Thornton _ July 3
Main Event, The (D), Reynolds -..- Nov. 21
Meddlin' Stranger (W), Wales June 12
My Friend from India (F), Pangbom-Fair. Dec. 19
Night Bride (FC), Prevost -
Nobody's Widow (FC), Joy-Hay-Haver..
..Aug. 4
-July 21
May 26
Dec. 24
Nov. 19
1927
Nov. 6
-June 4
-Sept 10
-June 17
-Oct 15
Jan. 14
72.70%
Not. 19
Nov. 5
..Sept. 17
Not. 19
Not. 5
-Feb. 19
-Not. 5
Nov. 5
60.40%
Not. 12
Not. 5
.-May 21
.-Sept. 3
.-July 24
No Man's Law (W), Rex _ May 1
Obligin' Buckaroo, The (W), Buffalo BiU, Jr.-..Oct. 16
Pals In Peril (W). Buffalo BUI, Jr June 26
Phantom Buster, The (W), Roosevelt..- ....Aug. 14
Pieces of China (Travel) _ Aug. 7
Pirates of the Sky (M), Hutchison. May 22
Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary (C), Robson .. -
Ride 'Em High (W), Buddy Roosevelt Oct 9
Roarin' Broncs, Buffalo BUI, Jr Not. 27
Rubber Tires (C), Ford-Love.
Rush Hour, The (C), Prevost -...Dee. 12
Skeedaddle Gold (W), Wales - July 31
Soda- Water Cowboy, The (W), WaUy Wales Sept. 25
Trunk Mystery (M), Hutchison. - - June 12
Turkish Delight, Schildkraut-Paye - Nov. 11
Two-Gun of Tumbleweed (W), Leo Maloney July 17
Vanity (M), Joy _
White Gold (D), Qoudal _
White Pebbles (WD), WaUy Wales Aug. 7
Wise Wife, The (C), Hayer Oct. 24
Wreck of the Hesperus, The (M). Bradford Oct 31
Yankee Clipper (M), Boyd. —
Alice Through a Looking Glass Feb. 12
Apache Raider, The, Leo Maloney Feb. 12
Ballyhoo Buster (W), Buffalo BIU, Jr Jan. 8
Blonde for a Night, Prevost Feb. 27
Blue Danube, Leatrice Joy — Mar. 12
Boss of Rustlers Roost, The, Don Coleman. Jan. 22
Bronc' Stomper, The, Don Coleman Feb. 25
Bullet Mark, The, Jadt Donovan Mar. 25
Chicago (M), Phyllis Haver Mar. 5
Cowboy Cavalier (W), Buddy Roosevelt Jan. 29
Crashing Through, Jack Padjan.. Feb. 6
Desperate Courage (W), Wales - Jan. 15
Hold 'Em Yale, Rod La RocQue. May 15
Laddie Be Good (W), BiU Cody Jan. 1
Leopard Lady, The (M), Logan _ _ Jan. 23
Let 'Er Go, Gallagher! (M), Junior Coghlan Jan. 16
Marlie, the Killer, Klondike
Midnight Madness, Logan.-
Night Flyer, The, Wm. Boyd
On to Reno (D), Prevost-Landla.
-May 21
-Aug. 6
-Oct 8
Jan. 7
.Apr. 9
.-Aug. 6
-Oct 1
—June 11
Not. 19
-July 17
-June 18
-Apr. 9
-Aug. 20
Not. 5
-May 14
61.72%
192S
May 12
Mar. 3
Feb. 18
May 12
Mar. 17
May 19
Dec. 24
Feb. 4
Perfect Gentleman, A (C), Monty Banks-
Red Mark, The (D), Glass, Quartoar
Ship Comes In, A, Rudolph Schildkraut.
Skyscraper, Boyd
-...Mar. 4
-..May 26
—.Feb. 5
—Jan. 2
— Jan. 15
May 19
M»y M
"■
Jan. 28
MajT 17
'
•
Jan 28
Stand and Deliver, Rod La Rocque_
Tenth Avenue, Haver-Varconl
-June 4
-Apr. 9
-Feb. 20
(Continued on page 101)
-July 14
June 16
May IS
-July 14
-Jane 1
i^
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
93
CLASSIFIED
Advertising
Ten cents per word, payable in advance. Minimum charge,
$1.00. Copy and checks should be addressed Classified Ad
Dept. Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, 407 So.
Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
1
i
The Recognized National C 1 assii ied Advertising Medium
Help Wanted
WANTED — Capable musical director and master of
ceremonies for presentation and pit work, principally
pit work. Must have best of references and own
library. Good proposition for right party. Address
295, Exhibitors Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St.,
Chicago, III.
Position Wanted
Projectionist and radio technician familiar with
sound recording amplification and experimental work
is open for a position. Address Box 297, Exhibitors
Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
Theatre Organist, experienced, large library. B. M.,
Yale 1912. Married, sober, union. Good recom-
mendations. Address Box 298, Exhibitors Herald-
World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, III.
OPERATOR — Nine years" experience. Wants steady
position. Address J. T. Kennedy, Gilbertville, Mass.
THEATRE ORGANIST— Experienced on all makes,
has a large library, will go anywhere. Address Box
289, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago. 111.
Attention, Theatre Managers! Are you looking for
an organist, male or female? If you are, why not let
Exhibitors Herald- World find just the kind you want?
Address George Schmidt, Exhibitors Herald- World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, HI.
ORGANISTS thoroughly trained and experienced in
theatre work. Men and women now ready for good
positions. Write salary and other data. Address
Chicago Musical College, 61 E. Van Buren, Chicago.
ORGANIST — Experts thoroughly trained in show-
manship available at all times for first-class positions.
Men and women. No service charge. Write full in-
formation concerning salary, organ, hours, etc. Ad-
dress Vermond Knauss School of Theatre Organ
Playing, 210 N. 7th St., Allentown, Pa.
Engagements Wanted
AT LIBERTY— D. C. Nelson Organize Dance Or-
chestra Versatile Musicians. Red Hot with up-to-
date Dance Rhythm. Will go anywhere. Write or
wire 455 East 42nd Place, Chicago, 111., Phone Oak-
land 4669.
Theatre Wanted
EXPERIENCED EXHIBITOR, FINANCIALLY
RESPONSIBLE, WANTS TO BUY OR LEASE
SMALL TOWN THEATRE. GIVE DETAILS
FIRST LETTER. ADDRESS BOX 294, EXHIB-
ITORS HERALD-WORLD, 407 S. DEARBORN ST.,
CHICAGO, ILL.
Cameras for Rent
AKELEY-Bell Howell (Professional). Rent any-
where. Address Wood, 124 E. Market St., Indian-
apolis, Indiana.
Theatre to Lease
Theatre to lease or trade, 1,000 feet, modern, fully
equipped, with stage. Population 18,000. Great oppor-
tunity for the right showman. Or will sell store, office
and theatre building or trade far other improved
property. Address Box 299, Exhibitors Herald- World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, III.
Theatre for Sale
FOR SALE — Theatre in county seat town of 800.
Open seven nights a week, seats four hundred and
fifty. Address B. F. Schimke, Philip, S. Dak.
FOR SALE — Modern theatre in town of 2,000. No
competition. For particulars write H. W. Van Atta,
Leroy, 111.
FOR SALE— For $14,000, CAPITOL THEATRE,
Montgomery, Ala. House is well equipped with Super
Junior Reproduco Organ, Arctic Nu-Air System, 2
Motiograph DeLuxe Machines, etc., and is advan-
tageously located between two good hotels, with new
10-story hotel, to open September 1, just across the
street. Lease on Capitol is worth $18,000 and thea-
tre cost me $6,000 more than I am asking for it.
Am forced to sell on account of ill health. Address:
J. H. Wheeler, Capitol Theatre, Montgomery, Ala.
Any Real Showman desiring to invest $25,000.00
for business bonded to show 40 per cent return for
capable attention. Address P. O. Box 1306, Atlanta,
Ga. Note — No Competition, showing both Colored-
White, Drawing Population 25,000.
FOR SALE — Theatre in city of fifty thousand
Western New York. Requires little cash for deal. Ad-
dress Box 296, Exhibitors Herald- World, 407 S. Dear-
born St., Chicago, 111.
Films for Sale
"The Dungeon" (7) ;— "Deceit" (6) ;— "Birthright"
(10); — three all star Negro productions;— also — "Truth
About Women" (6) ; — "Temptation" (7) ; — "Marriage
Morals" (7); — Other miscellaneous productions. Come-
dies, Serials, Travel, Educational, etc. Guaranteed
Pictures Company, 729 Seventh Ave., New York City.
Managers Schools
Learn Modern Theatre Management at home, as a
business or vocation. Catalog H shows you how.
Moving Picture Theatre Managers Institute, Inc.,
Elmira, N. Y.
Equipment for Sale
Quitting Business, Selling Everything Cheap. Pow-
ers 6-B Projectors Generator Set, Change Breaker,
Ticket Chopper, Dimmer, Electric Power Plant and
one of the best record Music Amplifiers made. Come
look it over or write what you want. Address T. J.
Watson, Freeport, 111.
FOR SALE — Motion Picture Projectors, parts and
supplies for all type machines. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, III.
FOR SALE — Strong Reflector Arc Lamps and ac-
cessories, also guaranteed rebuilt Powers 6-A and 6-B
and Simplex Heads. Best Prices. Write Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
GET OUR PRICES first on complete Theatre
Equipment and Pipe Organ before buying elsewhere.
You save, we satisfy. Address Southern Theatre
Service, 643 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, La.
CHICAGO CLEARING HOUSE— Our bargain list
on rebuilt Projectors, Powers 6-A Motor driven ma-
chines, including 12 rebuilt Simplex motor driven
machines with latest Simplex type S lamp houses.
Prices ranging from $175.00 and up. Peerless arc
controls $35.00 per pair. Compensarcs all makes,
$20.00 and up. Rebuilt Generators at reasonable
prices. AC and DC Electric fans rebuilt, just like
new. Write for complete list of your needs and
prices. No obligation. Address Illinois Theatre
Equipment Co., 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Chairs for Sale
LARGE STOCK — Used veneered theatre chairs in
5 and 7 ply veneer guaranteed condition, also 1600 up-
holstered chairs newly recovered in brown imitation
Spanish leather, just like new. 500 portable assembly
chairs. Chair prices very reasonable. Write for com-
plete list of your needs and prices. No obligation.
Address Illinois Theatre Equipment Co., 12-14 E.
Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Stationery
SPECIAL! 250 each business letterheads — en-
velopes $3.75 (cash postpaid). "Neargravure" proc-
ess printed. Samples, see difference. Stamp appre-
ciated. Address SoUidays, XH-124, Knox, Ind.
Your Classified Ad Will Do the Work
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World has helped hundreds of Theatre owners in solving many a problem. The
classified advertising department has placed organists all over the country, has helped in obtaining equipment, in selling
equipment, and in solving many another problem that seemed difficult. The rates are but 10c per word payable with
order, 10% discount if run for 3 insertions. See this week's classified pages. Maybe you are in need of something that is
being advertised this week. The cost is small, the results are great.
94
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
I
For Sale
FOR SALE — One Wurlitzer style "O" double roll
pipe organ slightly used. Looks and runs like new.
25 rolls new music. $1,100.00. Address Bonny the-
atre, Mansfield, Mo.
OPERA CHAIRS, seats and backs for all makes,
five ply, at prices that sare you half. Address
Redington & Co., Scranton, Pa.
Organs for Sale
FOR SALE: Bartola Pipe Organ. Used Wurlitzer
Pipe Organ, model U, very reasonable. Cremona
Pipe Organ, used or new Reproduce Pipe Organs,
Address S. B. McFadden. Havana, 111.
Gift Night Souvenirs
GIFT NIGHT MERCHANDISE: Over 300 fine
novelties in our large free catalog at genuine whole-
sale prices. Write today. No obligation. Address
Fair Trading Co., Inc., 140 W. 21st St., New York.
Projector Repairing
BEST GRADE repair work. Prices right. Free
relief heads. Prompt service. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
Our Twentieth Century Repair Shop, with skilled
expert mechanics, specialized tools, precision machin-
ery, assure the very best REPAIR JOBS. Relief
Equipment furnished FREE. Prompt service. Rea-
tonable prices. Progressive Exhibitors over entire
country send their work to "THE OLD RELIABLE."
Monarch Theatre Supply Co., Memphis, Tenn. Estab-
lished 20 years.
SKILLED MECHANICS, specialized tools, and a
shop equipped for but one purpose can offer you
nothing but the best in repair work. That is what I
have, and I can offer you the best in the overhauling
of your motion picture machinery equipment. One
of the oldest repair men in the territory, and serving
some of the largest houses. Relief equipment fur-
nished free. For results bring your work to Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, III.
Equipment Wanted
BEST PRICES paid for projection machines, all
types. Address Guercio & Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, 111.
Miscellaneous
BEAUTIFUL registered Bull Pups, $15.
Address 5U1 Rockwood, Dallas, lexas.
Bulldogs.
8
LETTERS
From Readers
A forum at which the exhibitor is
invited to express his opinion on
matters of current interest. Brevity
adds forcefulness to any statement.
Unsigned letters will not be printed.
Have the Tooth Pulled
NEEPAWA, MAN., CANADA.— To the
Editor : I have been reading your magazine
for some time now and am especially inter-
ested in the reports of "What the Picture
Did for Me." Some are very interesting and
to the point, while others sound as though
the writers had been up late the night before
or were suffering from a sore tooth. But as
a whole they are a benefit to the exhibitor.
The film salesmen say they are the bunk
but then if a person believed all they told
us we'd sure know a lot !
I'll tell you the life of any exhibitor is not
all a bed of roses. One has more competition
than the proverbial cranberry merchant. If
it is not a dance, it is a carnival, or a baseball
tournament, a hockey game or maybe a bene-
fit affair for some institution and in this
country we have about six months or maybe
more of sub-zero weather to contend with,
too.
Had several film salesmen along this week
trying to book us up for the rest of our
natural life and a few dates on beyond. I
think there should be an open season on these
birds.
I'll give you a report on a few of the pic-
tures we have shown recently. — Gibbs &
Shore, Opera House, Neepawa, Man., Canada.
We're Apologetic
EASTON, MD.— To the Editor : On page
33 of your publication of July 21, I note a
cut from a photograph of Mr. Roland V.
Lee, director of Paramount's "First Kiss,"
separating Leslie Fenton from Lane Chand-
ler with a "lobster hook." Now is the time
to announce that we Eastern shoremen get
"all het up" when you refer to oyster nippers
as a "lobster hook."
You might refer to them as bivalve snatch-
ers, tongs, paws or nippers, but never "lob-
ster."
Again, we had the extreme pleasure of
meeting the cast, and amiable and cultivated
director of "The First Kiss" and assure you
most emphatically, that there was nothing
lobsterish about the organization. That any
of them should get in an argument about the
Chesapeake oyster or luscious soft crab might
he within reason and justified, but as to pry-
ing them apart with a "lobster hook"^ — ^never !
Best regards. — E. A. Plummer, New theatre,
Easton, Md.
Reformer '^Mentally III,"
Say Editors; Exhibitors
In 2 States Wage Fight
(Continued from Page 25)
that when the ten men that called on the
mayor and made the statement they did, they
are turning non-church members and goers
against the church.
"Personally, I do not see how Mr. Mayor
can close one picture show without closing
them all. And that will never be done. Let
us have good services for those that want to
go to church, and let us have good, clean, up-
lifting pictures for those that want to go to
see the movies on Sundays. For my part, I
have 'seen' some mighty good sermons on the
screen, and I have heard some mighty poor
ones from the pulpit."
New Orleans Archbishop
Appears Over Movietone
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. _7.— The program
at the Saenger theatre beginning this week
is marked by a voice that has never been
heard in a theatre before, that of Archbishop
Shaw of New Orleans. The consent of the
archbishop to be seen and heard over the
Movietone is regarded as; a signal compHment.
Gotham Specials Booked
By Eastern First-Runs
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— "Hellship Bronson"
and "United States Smith," Gotham specials,
have just been booked by Matty Radin, East-
ern sales manager, into first-runs including
the Mark Strand, Syracuse; Ritz, Albany;
Grand, Pittsburgh ; Eastman's Piccadilly,
Rochester, and the -Fox, Philadelphia.
ti
Street Angel's" Four
Weeks Set Roxy Record
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Fox's "Street
Angel," now in its fourth week at the Roxy,
is setting its own records, being first to run
that long at the Roxy. ReceiDts were esti-
mated at $370,000 for the first three weeks,
with 465,000 attendance.
John Loder, English Star,
Arrives for P F L Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— John Loder, Eng-
lish star, arrived last week on his way to the
Paramount studios in Hollywood. Loder was
signed in Europe last June by Jesse L. Lasky.
Actor Is Found Dead in
Coffin He Made Himself
Victor Kassaj, oldest actor in
Hungary, made his own bed and lay
in it — a coffin, according to news dis-
patches from Budapest. Kassaj was
found dead in the home-made casket
in which he had slept for many years,
fearing death was approaching.
McCawley Asks Exhibitors
To Aid Fight for Governor;
Beat Missouri Seat Tax
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, Aug._ 7.— Potential power
of the screen as a political factor has been
recognized in Missouri. The following letter
signed by Irene Jane Slate, has been sent
to all Missouri exhibitors by campaign man-
agers of Senator Alfred L. McCawley, Demo-
cratic candidate for governor of Missouri :
"To the Movie Theatre Owners of Missouri:
"You v/ill perhaps remember Senator Alfred L.
McCawley, Democratic candidate for governor, who
took such a firm stand in the senate of Missouri
against the passage of House Bill No. 1, which im-
posed a tax of 10 per cent on the price of tickets to
motion picture houses, baseball parks and other
places of amusement.
"Except for the opposition of Senator McCawley it
is generally believed that this bill, having passed
the house at the request of Governor Baker in his
official message, would have passed the senate, also,
and would be the law of Missouri today.
"Senator McCawley in his campaign is stressing
and pledging unalterable opposition to this form of
taxation and to any increase in state revenue taxes
for any purpose. It appears, therefore, that Senator
McCawley's candidacy is virtually a referendum on
that position.
"For years I have been identified with the movie
theatre business. Moreover, I have carefully ob-
served the policies proposed by candidates for state
office, and as far as I know there is no other candi-
date for governor who has taken a stand against the
nuisance tax. Your support of Senator McCawley
will be in favor of fairness to all tax payers and in
opposition to discrimination against our business or
any other."
Fire; New Equipment in
Hurry; Theatre Reopens
(Special to the Herald-World)
FIREBAUGH, CAL., Aug. 7.— The Rex
Theatre was recently partly destroyed by fire,
with the projection equipment a total loss.
Frank Sargosa at once got into touch with
equipment dealers in San Francisco and soon
had the theatre in operation again.
Brower Now Full Director
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD.— Selection of Otto Brower
to direct Jack Holt's "The Avalanche" marks
his promotion to a full directorship.
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
95
Y^
WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Verdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor
CopTright, 192S
Incorporated in this original exhibitors report department of Exhibitors Herald, which was estab-
lished October 14, 1916, is the Moving Picture World department, "Straight from the Shoulder
Reports.**
Columbia
SWEET ROSIE O'GRADY: Shirley Mason— One
of the sweetest pictures I have had the pleasure of
showing. Be sure to have the song sung with the
picture. Good Irish-Jew story. — Adam Hornung,
Victor Opera House, Victor, Mont. — General patron-
age.
ALIAS THE LONE WOLF: Bert Lytell— Fair pic-
ture. Overestimated by producer. Holds intei'est as
well as "The Lone Wolf."— E. T. Mathes, Avalon
theatre, Bellingham, Wash. — General patronage.
THE WARNING: Jack Holt— July 14. Very good
picture. Holt a favorite etar here. Six reels. — Mrs.
C. Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111. — General pat-
ronage.
THE FALSE ALARM: Special cast— Very good fire
picture of ordinary program kind. — Adam Hornung,
Victor Opera House, Victor, Mont. — General patron-
age.
THE CLOWN: Special cast — A very good prograjn
picture and something different, with a circus back-
ground. Six reels. — Adam Hornung, Victor Opera
House, Victor, Mont. — General pati'onage.
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLAR REWARD: Ken
Maynard — July 12. My patrons were disappointed in
this Ken Maynard picture. Several told me it was
not as good as others I had ehown from First
National. Five reels.- — Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre.
Villa Grove, 111. — General patronage.
Excellent
THE NEST: Pauline Frederick— July 14-15. Good
home life picture well worth running. Eight reels.
— H. W. Batchelder, Gait theatre. Gait, Cal.— Small
town patronage.
THE NEST: Pauline Frederick— July 22-23. Rank
— no action — poor plot. Not suitable for first run. —
M. W. Mattecheck, McMinnville, Ore. — General pat-
FB 0
CONEY ISLAND: Lois Wilson— 64%. April 16.
Doesn't show very much of Coney Island, but a good
picture just the same. — H. B. Grice, Aikeri Mills the-
atre, Bath, S. C. — General patronage.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION: Ralph Ince— 60%.
April 9. A fair program picture. Seven reels. —
H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C—
General patronage.
SOUTH SEA LOVE: Patsy Ruth Miller— July
21-22. This picture drew fairly well and that is what
we want but I thought it was one of the most im-
probable pictures that I ever saw. Acting was fairly
good. Seven reels. — H. W. Batchelder, Gait theatre,
Gait, Cal. — Small town patronage.
BREED OF COURAGE: Ranger— July 13. Just a
little dog pictm-e. Will do very well to amuse the kids.
Not worth the price I paid for it as I didn't make
film rental on it. Five reels. — Mrs. C. Knox, Star
theatre. Villa Grove, 111. — General patronage.
THE CHEROKEE KID: Tom Tyler— June 19-20.
Good little Western. Nothing to holler about but
Editor's Note
Percentage ratings given by ex-
hibitors in reports to this depart-
ment are obtained in the following
manner: Average daily gross of
picture reported is divided by
average daily gross of picture hold-
ing house record to determine
relative box office value in terms
of percentage.
EXAMPLE: $75 (average daily
gross of picture reported) divided
by $100 (average daily gross of
picture holding house record)
equals .75 (percentage rating given
picture in report) .
When a picture has received
percentage ratings in 10 reports it
is entered in THE BOX OFFICE
TICKER column of "Quick Ref-
erence Picture Chart."
better than a lot of them. Five reels. — ^H. W.
Batchelder, Gait theatie, Gait, Cal. — Small town
patronage.
RED RIDERS OF CANADA: Special cast— July
19-20. An extra good Northwest Mounted Police
story and picture. In fact, the story is as good as
any Curwood I have ever had and the beautiful
scenery also helps to make it good entertainment.
Seven reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre,
Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage.
DRIFTING SANDS: Bob Steele— July 10-11. Very
good rough and tumble Western. The kids and men
like them and they are about all I get any way
this hot weather. Five reels. — H. W. Batchelder,
Gait theatre, Gait, Cal. — Small town patronage
First National
THE UPLAND RIDER: Ken Maynard— 20%. July
16-17-18. This is the best Maynard we have run in
sometime. Plenty of action, comedy well placed and
a cross country race that makes the grand national
look slow. The only complaint is too much improb-
able stuff. Tarzan does the only real acting in'
this picture. Six reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central
theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town patron-
age.
LADIES NIGHT IN A TURKISH BATH: Mulhall-
Mackaill — 40%. July 17. A fine farce comedy.
Pleased them all. Bert Silver, Silver Family the-
atie, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage. .
HER WILD OAT: Colleen Moore— 73%. April 19.
Just a little disappointing but maybe that's because
we expect so much of Colleen Moore's pictures. You
couldn't call it rotten by the farthest stretch of the
imagination, and it should be a good program pic-
ture for any exhibitor. No special. — H. B. Grice,
Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C. — General patronage.
WHITE PANTS WILLIE: Johnny Hines— 67%.
April 12. A comedy that should please all. It is
very good. — H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath,
S. C- — General patronage.
VAMPING VENUS: Murray-Fazenda— If anyone
could enlighten me why they made this thing I
would be pleased. As a rule we can bank on getting
a good comedy from Charley Murray or Louise
Fazenda, but this thing was simply the worst that
has been stuck on me for some time. The cast
are all good actors and why they let any fool di-
rector stage this thing is beyond me. It is a shame
to take an exhibitor's good money for some fool's
idea of what it takes to make a comedy. That
strong bozo had ought to have hit the director over
the head and put him out for good instead of Mur-
ray which caused Murray to have one of the most
terrible dreams that has ever been recorded on the
screen. If Murray's next picture is not any better
than this one, it is good night, Murray, with me and
I don't mean maybe. About three-fifths of my crowd
got up and walked out and such as that makes a
man wish that he had stayed at Alexandria, Minn.,
until after people had forgotten all about this lenaon.
Miss Thelma Todd, for the love of ■ Mike, put some
clothes on before you start your next picture. Seven
reels. — F. J. O'Hara, Community theatre, Elgin,
Neb. — Small town patronage.
CHINATOWN CHARLIE: Johnny Hines— Good
program comedy drama. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre,
Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
THE LOVE MART: Billie Dove— Say it is a
pleasure to run a picture like this, you don't have
to hide when our people are coming out after seeing
this. I believe that Billie Dove is the most beauti-
ful woman on the screen' today. The clientele are
strong for her here. I have never seen her in one
of those undressed pictures and there is always some
sense to the story and her acting is always first
class and no smutty scenes and titles. Go ahead,
Billie, and stick to good c'.ean stories and Icpve the
smutty stiiff to the putty-headed low-minded type.
And you will be the world's most favorite screen
star when the other type are scrubbing the boards for
you to walk on. Yes, this picture was good and
we want more of that class and a whole lot less
of the other kind of junk. If there is anything
that makes a man feel good it is to run a good clean
picture and see your people come out smiling, you
are sure that they have got their money's worth,
by heck. Nine reels. — F. J. O'Hara, Community the-
atre, Elgin, Neb. — Small to'wn patronage.
THE LOVE MART: Billie Dove— Splendid pic-
ture, but played on our off night so only drew half
%mismsubstitut2MKukm/
96
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
i
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attendance. We have no transient ti-ade so can de-
pend on not mox-e than half our patrons coming to
two shows a week. — DinSmore & Son, Majestic the-
atre, Weiner, Ark. — General patronage.
CANYON OF ADVENTURE: Ken Maynard— Good
Western for Saturdays. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre,
Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
SEE YOU IN JAIL: Special cast— Good comedy
drama. Jack very pleasing, also Alice Day. The
story is interesting from first to last. You can't go
wrong on' this. Not big but enjoyable. — Philip
Band, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patron-
age.
NAUGHTY BUT NICE: Colleen Moor^Good. We
are playing our First National contract on Mon-
day and Tuesday nights and only get half a crowd.
Friday and Saturday are the only real show nights
in our town. If every night could be Saturday night
the exhibitors would be in clover. Dinsmore & Son,
Majestic theatre, Weiner, Ark. — General patronage.
Fox
I
THE PLAY GIRL: Madge Bellamy— 60%. July
14. Good. Peppy and full of laughs. — -C. M. Staples,
Y. M. C. A. theatre, Morenci, Ariz. — General patron-
age.
HANGMAN'S HOUSE: Victor McLaglen— 55%.
July 18. A good picture, but not one to attract a
crowd. Splendid photography but story interest
seemed too much divided between McLaglen in a
minor part and lesser stars in the principal parts.
— G. M. Staples, Y. M. C. A. theatre, Morenci,
Ariz. — General patronage.
BLOOD WILL TELL: Buck Jones— 50%. July
21. A good action picture. Satisfied our Saturday
audience. — -Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
THE GAY RETREAT: Cohen-McNaraara— July 24.
A splendid comedy. Six reels. — Mrs. C. Knox, Star
theatre. Villa Grove, 111. — General patronage.
WHY SAILORS GO WRONG: Cohen-McNamara
— July 27-28. Good in' spots. Silly in places, and
direction about like you expect in a one reel comedy.
At that, om- people seemed to enjoy it from the
laughs we heard. Six reels. — W. C Geer. Princess
theatre, Vermont, 111. — General patronage.
TUMBLING RIVER: Tom Mix— July 21. Just a
fair Western, but Tom Mix always is a good draw.
Five reels. — Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove,
111. — General patronage.
TUMBLING RIVER: Tom Mix— Excellent, was
the verdict of my patrons. Pleased more than any
picture for some time. Mix is popular here. Five
reels. — J. A. Mauler, Liberty theatre, Pleasanton, Neb.
■ — Small town patronage.
PUBLICITY MADNESS: Edmund Lowe— A good,
light, breezy comedy drama. Six reels. — J. A.
Mauler, Liberty theatre, Pleasanton, Neb. — Small
town patronage.
PUBLICITY MADNESS: Edmund Lowe— July 6.
A good comedy drama. Six reels. — E. Pfeiffer, P'rln-
cess theatre, Chilton, Wis. — Small town patronage.
LOVES OF CARMEN: Dolores Del Rio— June
27-2'8. Dolores does good acting and without her,
picture would not be much. Very rough and sug-
gestive and does not appeal to over 50 per cent of
the women. Nine reels. — E. Pfeiffer, Princess the-
atre, Chilton, Wis. — Small town patron'age.
SEVENTH HEAVEN: Special cast— July 17-18-19.
Very good picture, if you can get them. I have no
luck with Fox pictures. I can't get them in. This
picture fell flat for me. The same as "'What Price
Glory." I lost money on both. Print and photog-
raphy okay. Twelve reels. — P. G. Held, Strand the-
atre, Griswold, la. — General patronage.
SHARP SHOOTERS: George O'Brien-July 13-14.
A very good picture which has plenty of comedy and
good action. Contains some smutty scenes which is
common in Fox pictm-es. A poor box office bet for
me. — R. Pfeiffer, Princess theatre, Chilton, Wis. —
Small town patronage.
SILK LEGS: Madge Bellamy— July 8-9. A good
program picture with plenty of legs. Six reels. — R.
Pfeiffer, Princess theatre, Chilton, Wis. — Small town
patronage.
WOLF FANGS: Special cast^Probably above the
average picture of its kind. Six reels. — Giacoma
Brothers, Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General
patronage.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
UNDER THE BLACK EAGLE: Flash— 86%. July
21. A new kind of dog picture. Instead of the usual
cheapness this dog is assisted by a good cast, good
story and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer quality production.
The dog gained the sympathy of the audience, the
villain was properly hissed and altogether the crowd
seemed to enjoy it. — C. M. Staples, Y. M. C. A.
theatre, Morenci, Ariz. — General patronage.
THE CROWD: Special cast— 25%. July 26-27-28.
They call this the big parade of peace. They should
call it the big parade of pimk. Metro sure has their
nerve to call this a special. It's even poorer than
an average program picture. Slow, draggy tale
of every day life. Patrons see enough of this every
day without getting it in the disguise of entertain-
ment. Many walkouts. Nine reels. — S. B. Kennedy,
Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada.— Small town
patronage.
THE BIG CITY: Lon Chaney— 70%. July 12.
Reminds us of "The Unholy Three" and while not
as good, it is nevertheless his best to date this year,
at least for us. — C. M. Staples, Y. M. C. A. theatre,
Morenci, Ariz. — General patron'age.
THE BIG CITY: Lon Chaney— Good crook pic-
ture. Cast does good work. — J. L. Seiter, Selma the-
atre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
THE BIG CITY: Lon Chaney-July 22-23. A
very good picture. Drew better second day than
first. Lon Chaney a favorite star here. Six reels.
—Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111. —
General patronage.
WEST POINT: William Haines— 83%. July 24.
Good to the end. Don't fail to book this one if
you are trying to please your patrons. We did not
get held up on rental which usually takes the joy
out of most good pictures. Nine reels. — Ne'wman &
Gordy, Ne-Go theatre, Toronto, Kan. — General pat-
ronage.
WEST POINT: William Haines— 20%. July 23-
24-25. An' excellent Haines but rather improbable.
The drill scenes at the Academy are impressing and
the humor is smart and ur)-to-date. Think it is
rather time for a character change with Haines, as
the "mean streak" characterizations are doing him
no good. Nine reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central the-
atre, Selkirk, Man'., Canada. — Small town patronage.
THE ACTRESS: Norma Shearer— The bird that
says this is not a good picture is all wet. It is a
mighty fine, splendidly directed, well acted, well
staged production and Norma certainly is sweet
enough to kiss and she gets kissed, plenty ! But,
it's a costume picture, and did not draw. Seven
reels. — ^P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City,
Mo. — General patronage.
BABY MINE: Dane-Arthur — Here is one where
we went wrong entirely. We advertised it this if :
"If you don't want to be shocked, don't come!" and
we drew more than ordinary business. They came
to be shocked maybe one or two prudes were, hut
the crowd laughed their heads off at the silly, ludi-
crous, and absurd situations constantly occurring
throughout the farce comedy as the six reels un-
folded it. It is true, there were a few sub-titles that
might have been subdued a little. They were quite
broad we will admit, but the point is that this is a
broader world than some years back when they really
put over the speaking stage words that were good
and rotten. But from the reports of some of our
brother exhibitors we thought that we would each
need a 45 to protect ourselves after the show was
over, whereas the audience, many of them were still
laughing out loud as they walked down under the
white lights. Six reels. — Giacoma Brothers, Crystal
theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage.
WHAT HAPPENED TO FATHER: Special cast-
July 20. Nothing to it and bordering on the smut.
— M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore.
— General patronage.
THE SMART SET: William Haines — This should
have been called "The Smart Alec" as it originally
was. Boys, he's so dam smart in this one you want
to knock his block off. It's sure a goofy picture, but
they seem to never tire of Haines in this role — so
I hope they don't decide to make a preacher or some-
thing out of him some _ time. Seven reels. — P. G.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General
patronage.
THE LATEST FROM PARIS: Norma Shearer-
July 2'2-23. A pretty good comedy drama. Norma
is no drawing card for me. This fell flat at the box
office. Print and photography good. Seven reels. —
P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — General
patronage.
THE LATEST FROM PARIS: Norma Shearer-
June 29-30. Delightful entertainment. Excellent for
the whole family to see. Not a suggestive situation
or subtitle from beginning to end. Give us many
more like it. Miss Shearer. Six reels. — E. M. Biddle,
Strand theatre, Paoli, Ind. — Small town patronage.
LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT: Lon Chaney—
July 6-7. Chaney at his best. A shivery mystery
drama that scares them to death ; but they like to be
scared. Drew big Saturday crowd. Six reels. — ^E.
M. Biddle, Strand theatre, Paoli, Ind. — Small town
patronage.
IN OLD KENTUCKY: Special cast— July 22-23.
Pretty good race track story. Have had better.
From some of the superlative reports which have
appeared on this picture, it would seem that some
of the boys have been inhaling some of the prairie
mayonnaise with which the Metro press books have a
superabundance. Seven reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf,
Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patron-
age.
THE FRONTIERSMAN: Special cast— A mighty
good Indian frontier story with Tim McCoy doing
good stuff. Claire Windsor makes good heroine.
A good show. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon,
Idaho. — General patronage.
TEA FOR THREE: Special cast— July 17. A good
comedy drama. — R. Pfeiffer, Princess theatre, Chilton,
Wis. — Small town patronage.
SPRING FEVER: William Haines— July 10. A
very good picture which will appeal especially to
golf fans but will also please others. Has plenty of
comedy and a good love story. — E. Pfeiffer, Prin-
cess theatre, Chilton, Wis. — Small town patronage.
Paramount
SUNSET LEGION: Fred Thomson— 80%. July 16.
The best Thomson for some time. Plenty of action
with the old time touches of comedy. Seven reels. — -
C. M. Staples, Y. M. C. A. theatre, Morenci, Ariz.
— General patronage.
THE SUNSET LEGION: Fred Thomson— July
25-26. Fred, old boy, you're great in this. You
draw more of the feminine gender than all the other
Western stars put together. Seven' reels. — E. M.
Biddle, Strand theatre, Paoli, Ind. — Small town pat-
ronage.
TILLIE'S PUNCTURED ROMANCE: Special cast
— 37%. July 10. Oh blah! It started nowhere and
ended farther from anywhere and we all slept peace-
fully in the meantime except for one snicker. — C. M.
Staples, Y. M. C. A. theatre, Morenci, Ariz. — General
patronage.
TILLIE'S PUNCTURED ROMANCE: Special cast
— ^Paramount evidently are not so proud of this one
as I notice they failed to put their life size trade-
mark on the beginning and end as they usually do.
Evidently my patrons knew what to expect and
stayed home. Too bad they fizzled with two good
stars. But they sure did fizzle and then some. Six
reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo.
— General patronage.
HONEYMOON HATE: Florence Vidor— 25%. July
24. A good clean program picture. Entertaining
but no drawing power. — Bert Silver, Silver Family
theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
A WOMAN ON TRIAL: Pola Negri— 34%. July
19. Good for those that like her but we don't care so
much for her. Six reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green,
Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
BARBED WIRE: Pola Negri— 50%. July 18. A
splendid picture, better than a lot of the war spe-
cial features. Star and support fine. Satisfactory —
yes. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
BARBED WIRE: Pola Negri— A very good pic-
ture of prison camps during the war, and hatreds.
A very good love story 'with Clive Brooks and Pola
Negri as the lovers. Clyde Cook supplies the laughs.
Seven reels. — E. Pfeiffer, Princess theatre, Chilton,
Wis. — Small town patronage.
TIME TO LOVE: Raymond Griflith^0%. July
21. A good comedy. Six reels. — Mrs. Hulda J.
Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General pat-
ronage.
UNDER THE TONTO RIM: Special casf^A big
improvement over the last two Zane Grey's. In fact,
in spite of the fact that Jack Holt is missing
I'd class it as way above the usual run of Westerns.
Some fine scenery that I don't remember of seeing
in pictui-es before. Plenty of action and some com-
edy. Six reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas
City, Mo. — General patronage.
UNDER THE TONTO RIM: Special cast— Some
pretty Arizona scenei-y and the usual Zane Grey
Mo Losses \n the Box Office
Ticket Registei^
Automatic Ticket
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723 SEVENTH Ave.New York
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August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
97
story. Six reels. — Giacoma Brothers, Ciystal theatre,
Tombetone, Ai-iz. — General patronage.
FOOLS FOR LUCK: Fields-Conklin — Little pro-
gram picture. Pai'amount asks and gets too much
for this pair. They have no drawing power what-
ever.— J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. —
General patronage.
THE STREET OF SIN: Emil Jannings— July 20-21.
Very good, but cannot compare with this star's
previous releases. Seven reels. — E. M. Biddle, Strand
theatre, Paoli, Ind. — Small town patronage.
THE LAST COMMAND: Emil Jannings— 'Wrote
an opinion on this a few days ago which I don't be-
lieve did the picture justice. After looking at it
through six shows have decided it is one damtfine
picture, even if it is a foreign story and even if
I did lose ten bucks by playing it. Eight reels. —
P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo.^
General patronage.
SPORTING GOODS: Richard Dix— July 24-25.
A good picture, but tent show got all the business.
I lost money on this. Print and photography good.
Six reels. — P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold,
la. — General patronage.
THREE SINNERS: Pola Negri — ^Very good. Pola
Negri's best in some time. — J. L. Seiter, Selma the-
atre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
THE VANISHING PIONEER: Jack Holt— Good
Western production for Saturdays. — J. L. Seiter,
Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — Geneaal patronage.
NEVADA: Gary Cooper— June 29-30. A very
good Western like all Zane Grey's. GaiT Cooper very
good. Was well liked by good Friday and Saturday
audiences. Eight reels. — R. Pfeifler, Princess the-
atre, Chilton, Wis. — Small town patronage.
JESSE JAMES: Fred Thomson— July 20-21. A
very good action picture and drew big business two
nights and pleased all classes. — R. Pfeifler, Prin-
cess theatre, Chilton, Wis. — Small town patronage.
SERVICE FOR LADIES: Adolphe Menjou— July 3.
A good program picture. Our first Menjou was sure
a flivver at the box office. Poorest night this year.
— R. PfeifEer, Princess theatre, Chilton, Wis. — Small
town patronage.
GET YOUR MAN: Clara Bow-^uly 22-23. An-
other good Bow picture to big business. — R.
Pfeiffer, Princess theatre, Chilton, Wis. — Small town
patronage.
MAN POWER: Richard Dix— July 7. Good pic-
ture.— R. PfeifEer, Princess theatre, Chilton, Wis.
. — Small town patronage.
NOW WE'RE IN THE AIR: Beery-Hatton— July
4-5. A good comedy. — R. Pfeiffer, Princess theatre,
Chilton, Wis. — Small town patronage.
EAGLE OF THE SEA: Special cast— Good but a
little too rough to please some of the women and
girls. Personally, we considered it fine. — Dinsmore
& Son, Majestic theatre, Weiner, Ark. — General pat-
ronage.
MAN OF THE FOREST: Jack Holt— Old picture,
but we can say this for Paramount : They never
send any bad, rainy films. Picture pleased extra
well, although it does not resemble the real story in
the least. — ^Dinsmore & Son, Majestic theatre, Weiner,
Ark. — General patronage.
Pathe-P D C
HOLD 'EM YALE: Rod X^Rocque — I put on a
four piece jazz orchestra and just got by. Business
terrible! Had "News" and "Oddity" and gave full
show but couldn't do anything. Too hot, too hot,
too many autos jazzing out into the cool byways.
Can't blame 'em. The play pleased the majority,
and the younger element got quite a kick out of it.
To me it was hugely disappointing. First reel
dark. AH interiors dark at times. The story is
there! The direction only fair. Seemed director
didn't know college stuff. There was no more Yale
background than clothes on the statue of Mercury.
The so-called Yale boys were not dressed like stu-
dents nor young enough. At the boxing match be-
tween Harvard and Yale, the audience was not a
group of collegians but the usual Hollywood "soups,"
men and women — ^not a young face in the crowd.
Mr. Director, better study Carl's "Collegians" and
see how it is done. The main actors are good and
story is good, but somehow the punch isn't there.
There is one mighty clever scene where Rod hides
behind girl and detective sees Rod's hand used in
place of the girl's and what that hand does is a
soream. This saved the day. Not in it with "Brown
of Harvard." You will just get by as a special
and as a program picture it is okay. — Philip Eand,
Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
THE LEOPARD LADY: Special cast— Better than
the average P D C stuff this past year. There is
suspense and thrills. — E. T. Mathes, Avalon theatre,
Bellingham, Wash. — General patronage.
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
MINDEN, NEB., July 29, 1928.
DEAR HERALD-WORLD:
Rain, rain, rain. We are marooned here in Minden with bridges washed out and the
ducks and mudhens are roosting on top of the court house and the bullfrogs are climbing
the telephone poles. Talk about arid countries, Noah would need to take no soundings were
he sailing Southwest Nebraska today, and there isn't a spot this side of Laramie Peak where
his anchor would take hold. The mud reminds us of Southeast Kansas and the weather of
Nashwauk, Minn., and Crockett Brown will understand what that is like. This is the first
time in our experience when our B. V. D.'s in July felt like burlap panties on Christmas
morning, and if it doesn't snow before night it will rain before noon.
Everytime the Democrats get to going right good we have this kind of weather. They are
strong believers in moisture, and we note by the press despatches this morning that Al Smith
and William Allen White of Kansas have locked horns and the elements are weeping all
over the country. When Al steps on the tail of a Jayhawker's coat it is bound to start some-
thing and, if Al had been a student of literature and had read William Allen's "What's the
Matter with Kansas" he'd have been loath to have taken the bat and stepped up to the plate
when there were two out already. It looks now like this presidential ball game is going to
make the World's Series look like a two spot and the Tammany and 407 South Dearborn
street fans will be using mentholatum and wrapping red flannels around their throats before
the game is over. Betcha Jay and Eagle Eye Joe won't be able to speak above a whisper on
November 7, and Thomas 0. Service and Bill Weaver will say, "I told you so."
Rain and cloudy weather aren't without an occasional ray of sunshine, and we had that ray
of sunshine when we called on A. D. Brigner of the Auditorium theatre at Oxford. To meet
"Brig", as the boys all call him, is just like meeting one of the boys who used to go down
to the "Ole Swimmin' Hole" with us back in the Kankakee river in Indiana in 1849, or
thereabouts, and Mrs. Brig's dinner, to which we were cordially invited, was just like a
holiday dinner at the Ambassador when you had tipped every waiter in the house. There
wasn't a thing that could be thought of in the way of good things to eat that wasn't on that
table, not a durn thing, and a Chicago newsboy would have been willing to jump off the
pier into the lake on December 21, to have had that slice of sponge cake and dish of ice
cream that was served as the final course. How we succeeded in getting away from that
table and wabbling out on the front porch to smoke one of "Brig's" perfectos will always
remain a mystery.
Brig has a son, Harry, and Harry is about the age of Eagle Eye Joe only not so old by a
couple or three years, and Harry is a fisherman, and when we described our fishing trip at
Alexandria and the fish Whit pulled out, his eyes bulged out and he told his Dad that the
next time they held that convention up there he had to go, and judging from the smile on
Brig's face there will be at least two of the family represented and it is quite likely that
Mama will be in the party also. If all exhibitors were like Brig and his family we would
want to live long enough to even see another Democratic administration, and that looks
like a long time, although some accuse us of being a Republican, but we can't see where
they get it. We want Harry to occupy one end of our boat and Eagle Eye Joe the other on
one of Minnesota's lakes and after that we don't care what happens.
We often miss a lot in this life by passing up opportunity. We stopped at a filling station
yesterday to get gas and after we had settled the bill an overland excursionist stepped up to
us and said, "My friend, if you will pardon my seeming familiarity, if I mistake not my
earthly horoscope indicates to me that you are sojourning Eastward, and if such be the case,
it occurs to me that two compatible natures, such as ours, could gather a fund of knowledge
by a friendly communion with one another should I occupy a seat at your right in that
beautiful limousine of yours." We gave him the once over and said, "Look here. Dusty, are
you trying to panhandle us for a ride?" and you should have seen the pained expression
that came over his face when he replied, "My dear sir, you do me a great injustice. Pan-
handle is hardly the proper word, for be it known that on various occasions I have been
invited to ride with Royalty, and on some occasions have accepted, but only when I felt
that my counsel and associations would be appreciated, such as I am sure woidd be in your
case." Then we said, "Well, by gosh. Weary, you have won a ride, lay that bandanna bundle
and your walking stick in that back seat and get in there." We looked this bird over and
thought, well here is not only a professional but a character, we may learn something. After
we started out we asked him what profession he had relinquished in order to carry the
encyclopedia of knowledge to a thirsting world, and he replied, "Your question, sir, is a
proper one, coming as it does from one whose voice has no doubt resounded throughout the
halls of congress and whose wisdom and counsel have been the guiding star that has led
this nation out of a morass of ignorance and onto the plane of knowledge and wisdom that
has made this country the envy of all nations on earth and — ." "Cut the bull, Dusty, cut
the bull," we replied, "and go on with your story." "Well," he replied, "to make a long
{Continued on next page)
THE RUSH HOUR: Marie Prevost— July 24. A
dandy comedy drama. — ^M. W. Mattecheck, Lark the-
atre, McMinnville, Ore. — General patronage.
LET 'ER GO GALLAGHER: Junior Coughlan —
Did a good mid-week business. There is real en-
tertainment in the picture. — E. T. Mathes, Avalon
theatre, Bellingham, Wash. — General patronage.
Tiffany-Stahl
THE GIRL FROM GAY PAREE: Special cast-
Absolutely no good for a small town. High brow
stuff, and too much smut to please. Let it alone,
small towns ! Seven reels. — J. A. Mauler, Liberty
theatre, Pleasanton, Neb. — Small town patronage.
NIGHT LIFE: Special cast- Not much to this.
Much ado about nothing that small town patrons
don't care about in' the least. These Tiffany pic-
tures are big city stuff, with the exception of the
Jack London sea pictures. People want entertain-
ment, not drinking and necking parties. Seven reels.
— J. A. Mauler, Liberty theatre, Pleasanton, Neb. —
Small town patronage.
THE HAUNTED SHIP : Special cast— A very good
sea picture by Jack London. It's rough, but it
pleased. Five reels. — J. A. Mauler, Liberty theatre,
Pleasanton, Neb. — Small tov\m patronage.
ONCE AND FOREVER: Patsy Ruth Miller— Only
a fair picture. These Tiffany's don't please a small
town patron. No action, no nothing. Six reels. —
J. A. Mauler, Liberty theatre, Pleasanton, Neb. —
Small town patronage.
98
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
(Continued from preceding page)
journey interesting (as Cleopatra said to Mark Antony) you might not suspect it, but there
is royal blood coursing in my veins, I am a lineal descendant of the Duke of Bilgewater
(he had evidently been reading Mark Twain's 'Huckleberry Finn') and as a member of
royalty I look upon menial servitude with abhorrence and have always shunned the appear-
ance of evil." "Yeah," we replied, "we judge as much from your appearance, and we sur-
mise that your pilgrimage has taken you to many foreign countries as well as to many
back doors," and at this he smiled a little and replied, "Plato, thou reasonest well." At this
point in the dialogue we arrived at the next town and drove up and stopped in front of
a cafe. Dusty read the sign and sighed, "Ah, how that name calls to my mind dear old
Paree, and how my illustrious ancestors would rejoice were I there tonight to revel with
them in wine, women and song." "Say, Duke," we broke in, "how would a platter of
corned beef and cabbage, garnished with a couple of Bermuda onions and surrounded
with a few side dishes of fried potatoes, sweet corn and tomatoes, with a slice of watermelon
as a chaser, listen to you"? The Duke looked at me -with a surprised smile and replied,
"My friend, that question of yours not only convinces me that you are a man of excellent
wisdom but you are a reader of minds as well, and it is a traditional custom of our royal
family never to refuse an invitation to dine, and as near as I can figure distance it is just
45 feet from where this car sits to yon nearest table and I shall humbly follow whither
thou leadest." After lunch we bade the Duke goodbye and said, "Duke, we have come to
the parting of ways, and here's hoping that the fleas will never get through your second
undershirt." The Duke smiled a little and said, "Your anxiety for my welfare is entirely
unfounded, I assure you, for if they should they will encounter the third one." Then he
swung his bundle over his shoulder and sauntered down the street humming "Rosie
O'Grady." Some people might not have gotten much fun out of the Duke but to us he
was a riot, he could talk faster than we could. We have put some garlic and a chunk of
limburger cheese in the car and closed it up tight.
Still it rains. Marie isn't webfooted and she can't swim and the weather man only knows
when we will get out of this town. When we do we are going to start for Kansas and if
Sam Blair of Belleville hasn't fixed up those roads we are going to ask his widow not to
spend all of his life insurance on a tombstone.
We would like to be in Holly^vood tonight, not that we care anything in particular about
the town, but we would like to get a Hollywood sign to go on Marie's front and rear end,
for every California car we meet has a Hollywood sign and they seem to get the right-of-
way over the rest of us. The police in most of these towns will allow a car with a Holly-
wood sign to park in the intersection if they want to.
We have got clear out of the fishing zone and there isn't a thing to look forward to except
a letter from Eagle Eye Joe (which he never writes) and that gathering of the Great Un-
washed at Detroit Lakes next June, and that is a long way off. Christmas among strangers
is about as enjoyable as the hired girl feeding you castor oil when you are getting over
the mumps, she always uses a big spoon, and the only hope we have is that someday we
^vill find a hotel waitress who can say something besides "Roast beef with brown gravy,
roast pork with dressing, stewed chicken with dumplings." The guy that invented stewed
chicken ought to be shot. The only thing a chicken is good for is to eat grasshoppers and
angleworms and muss up the front porch. We haven't got to see many exhibitors the past
week for the whole bunch of durn scallawags have gone to the mountains on a vacation,
and that's where everybody ought to be that have any sense.
A waitress in a cafe said to us the other day, "Excuse me for looking at you so much.
Mister, but you remind me so much of my dear dead husband who passed away four years
ago last November," and we replied, "Isn't that a long time to retain the image of one man
in your memory, seems to us that there would have flitted across your mind the image of
several guys in that length of time, was he white or black?" but she went on, "His name
was Ole and he was a redheaded Swede," and we replied, "Thank the Lord, there is one
Swede less, will you kindly leave your number and bring us another glass of iced tea?"
Every time we think of Kansas mud we are reminded of what Uncle Leazer Biggs said
to Aunt Polly when he broke his leg, "It might be worse, Polly, but I don't know how the
hell it could."
We were out in the wet grass today and we got chiggers, what's good for 'em?
J. C. JENKINS,
The HERALD-WORLD man.
United Artists
THE ORCUS: Charlie Chaplin— 35%. July 19-
20-21. Good, but there is always a "but" in these
United Artists pictures. When Charlie got his wages
I had to look and look for mine. In other words,
they get the money and we get the experience.
Well, I have had my fill. There are plenty of good
stars and good pictures that will make more money
for me. Seven reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central the-
atre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town patronage.
THE CIRCUS: Charlie Chaplin— A mighty good
picture, better I thought than "The Gold RUsh" for
there was not so much Chaplinesque pathos in
"The Circus." People don't like art and pathos in
comedies. They want action. This has it. Drags in
one spot, i. e., the William Tell act, everywhere else
there is speed. We lost heavily. Charlie doesn't draw
any more. Perhaps he comes too seldom before the
public. One picture a year makes Chaplin too dear !
Cost is in the big figures, losses also. If you can get
a decent price book it, but if you play big you may
lose big as I did. We charged 40-20 cents and al-
ways before charged 50-25 cents. — Philip Rand, Rex
theatre, Salmon Idaho. — General patronage.
THE DOVE: Noi-ma Talmadge— 50%. July 22-23.
This is a big picture. Beautiful scenery. The star
too good an actress for the story. Noah Beery stole
the picture. He certainly was great. The picture
satisfied about 50 per cent. Here at box office it
was a failure, a flop. — Bert Silver, Silver Family the-
atre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
THE DOVE: Norma Talmadge— July 15-16. A
good enough picture, but many were disappointed as
they don't like Norma in this tyjie of picture. Much
too rough for Norma's fans. Business satisfactory,
but expected Norma would draw more. — R. PfeifiEer,
Princess theatre, Chilton, Wis. — Small town patron-
age.
RAMONA: Dolores Del Rio — July 1-2. A very
good picture. Will appeal more to women as it is
very sad. Greatest drawing card of the year . Broke
all records for this year. Capacity business on two
hottest nights of the year, Sunday and Monday. A
box oflice natural. Best bet on the market. Eight
reels. — R. Pfeiffer, Princess theatre, Chilton, Wis. —
Small town patronage.
MY BEST GIRL: Mary Pickford— Mary's best in
sometime and gets some extra business. — J. L. Seiter,
Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
MY BEST GIRL: Mary Pickford— July 15-16. A
very pleasing picture. Thoroughly enjoyed by my
audience. — M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinn-
ville. Ore. — General patronage.
TUMBLEWEEDS: William S. Hart— Return en-
gagement. Couldn't make it pay on a Saturday.
Wow ! Darn good picture though. If you have
never played it be sure and get it. — ^Philip Rand,
Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
Universal
GALLOPING FURY: Hoot Gibson— 62%. April
2S, Just a good Western. All Hoot's pictures
can be counted on to give entertainment. Six reels.
— H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C. —
General patronage.
OUT ALL NIGHT: Reginald Denny— 69% April
23. Universal gave us a dandy picture to start our
Complete Service with them. A most delightful
comedy. Six reels. — H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre,
Bath, S. C. — General patronage.
BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY: Renee Adorec^
62%. April 30. Holds its own with previous pro-
ductions of this story. All right. Seven reels. —
H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C—
General patronage.
PAINTED PONIES: Hoot Gibson— 100%. July
24. Ran this on Utah's Pioneer Day to a full
house. The picture is the best Hoot has made to
our notion. Comedy, rodeo scenes and Slim Som-
merville is great. How Jbbout a photo. Hoot? Six
reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre. Green-
river Utah. — General patronage.
PAINTED PONIES: Special cast— All about a
merry-go-round, a rodeo, a village fool with his
everlasting sling-shot, crooks, a murder mystery
and Hoot in some great ridin'. The girl not much.
Lots of action, comedy variety. One of Hoot's very
best. — Philip Rand, Kex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — ■
General patronage.
PAINTED PONIES: Hoot Gibson— July 23-24.
This is an extra good Gibson picture. Some good
Rodeo stuff in it. I would class it above his aver-
age. Six reels. — H. W. Batchelder, Gait theatre.
Gait, Cal. — Small town patronage.
THE BORDER CAVALIER: Fred Humes— 65%.
May 3. It's a pleasure to watch him ride. He
seems part of the horse. A good Western. Five
reels.— H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C.
— ^General patronage.
THANKS FOR THE BUGGY RIDE: Laura La
Plante — 50%. July 19. This is fine comedy drama.
Pleased them all. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre,
Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
THANKS FOR THE BUGGY RIDE: Laura La
Plante — July 17-18. Good little comedy. Nothing
big but clean and all right to show to anyone. Six
reels. — H. W. Batchelder, Gait theatre. Gait, Cal. —
Small town patronage.
GOOD MORNING, JUDGE: Reginald Denny-
July 26. One of Denny's best. Very good. Business
very poor but no fault of the picture. Too much
outdoor amvisements. Six reels. — Mrs. C. Knox,
Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111. — General patronage.
THE SMALL BACHELOR: Special cast— I saw
adverse reports on this one in the Herald-World
columns but did not think that it could be so
lacking in entertainment as it proved to be. Abso-
lutely nothing to it to appeal to my audience.
Thrown together in silly fashion and one that will
probably get you records for walkouts, as it did
for this house. Then Carl says, "You'll be glad
to pay more !" Friend Carl had better look this
one over and shelve it. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia
theati'e, Columbia City, Ind. — General patronage.
THAT'S MY DADDY: Reginald Denny— July 14.
Our thanks to Mr. Denny for his happy thought in
making this picture. We didn't need the numerous
fine comments to make us realize that this was one
of the finest family pictures we had ever played.
The little girl in this would steal the picture from
anyone. Denny seemed to enjoy that fact himself
which made it all the better. Our audience would
August 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
99
have torn the theatre down if that baby hadn't
found her daddy.— C. M. Staples, Y. M. C. A.
theatre, Morenci, Ariz. — General patronage.
RAMBLING RANGER: Jack Hoxie— July 21. A
good Hoxie picture which drew in great shape
against a circue and a road show. Five reels. —
Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. —
Small town patronage.
THE MYSTERY CLUB: Matt Moore— Good crook
picture. Did good business and we bought it right. —
E. T. Mathes, Avalon theatre, Bellingham, Wash. —
General patronage.
THE CAT AND CANARY: Laura La Plante—
Very good mystery stoi-y, spooky,' creepy and has
the audience guessing who the ghost is until the
very end. All characters do splendid work. Eight
reels. — Adam Hornung, Victor Opera House, Victor,
Mont. — General patronage.
A MAN'S PAST: Conrad Veidt— Personally I
did not care for this picture and heard no comment
from anyone except my employees who thought it
pretty fair. It's a rather slow moving story with
a French locale. I'd class it just another picture,
neither bad nor extra good. Played it on a double
bill. — Six reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas
City, Mo. — General patronage.
WILD BEAUTY: Rex— July 20-21. Good Satur-
day night picture, clean and entertaining. The
horse "Thunderhoof" is wonderful. Six reels. —
P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — General
patronage.
FINDERS KEEPERS: Laura La Plante— Good
program picture. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma,
Cal. — General patronage.
LES MISEEABLES: French cast— June 26-27.
A very well acted and interesting picture, but
foreign pictures don't take well here. Eight reels. — •
H. W. Batchelder, Gait theatre. Gait, Cal.— Small
town patronage.
THE COHENS AND KELLYS: Special cast-
July 15-16. Very good picture. Many favorable
comments. It is a pleasure to run good pictures
and have your patrons tell you so. Eight reels. —
Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111.—
General patronage.
THE COHENS AND KELLYS IN PARIS: Spe-
cial cast — Very good. Those who saw it liked it,
but it did not draw any extra attendance. Would
have lost money had I not raised admission. Nine
reels. — Adam Hornung, Victor Opera House, Victor,
Mont. — General patronage.
Warner Bros.
THE DESIRED WOMAN: Irene Rich— 25%.
July 20. Just another picture played. Good pro-
gram, but did not draw expenses. Star and cast
fair. Story not the kind to draw business here. —
Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
THE LION AND THE MOUSE: Barrymore-
McAvoy — We ran this with Vitaphone. It did more
business for us than "The Jazz Singer." It is a
good Vitaphone picture, the best so far, to my notion.
— E. T. Mathes, Avalon theatre, Bellingham, Wash.
— General patronage.
BEWARE OF MARRIED MEN: Irene Rich— This
is the same old plot of the frivolous husband and
his jealous wife, much chasing in and out of bed-
rooms, etc., with Clyde Cook doing a dumb detec-
tive role. It's plenty silly, but just nutty enough
to get a lot of laughs, and darned if I don't believe
most of them liked it. Six reels. — P. G. Vaughn,
Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General p::.tronage.
THE LITTLE SNOB: May McAvoy— July 18-19.
A fair program picture. — R. PfeifEer, Princess thea-
tre, Chilton, Wis. — Small town patronage.
THE LITTLE IRISH GIRL: Dolores Costello—
July 24-25. A story in which a bunch of grifters
get grifted. The picture is better entertainment
than you would guess from the title. Seven reels. —
Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. —
Small town patronage.
BRIDE OF THE STORM: Dolores Costello— A
very good sea picture with some very nice scenes.
Seven reels. — J. A. Mauler, Liberty theatre, Pleas-
anton. Neb. — Small town patronage.
State Rights
many scenes are naturally too much the same.
Played the latter on a very warm night and the
scenes of burning buildings nearly drove ou]- patrons
out. The power of suggestion made them think they
were roasting. Moral — play these in cold weather. —
Dinsmore & Son, Majestic theatre, Weiner, Ark. —
General patronage.
HIS RISE TO FAME: George Walsh— A prize
ring story, well received. Star made better impres-
sion than he did in "The Kick Off." — Dinsmore &
Son, Majestic theatre, Weiner, Ark. — General patron-
age.
THE KICK OFF: George Walsh— Good picture
that would have been much better if Walsh was
better looking, but he can never be called handsome.
Even the small boys asked why they didn't put in a
better looking star for the part. — Dinsmore & Son,
Majestic theatre, Weiner, Ark. — General patronage.
QUARAN-nNED RIVALS: Special cast— This lit-
tle feature pleased a bigger majority of our folks
than many specials. AH parts good and the plumber
was a riot. — Dinsmore & Son, Majestic theatre.
Weiner, Ark.^General patronage.
THE RAT: Mae Marsh— 69%. July 22. A man
traveling through wanted to show this on a 60/40
per cent basis rental. We made a little more than
expenses. The picture is not much in our notion'.
It's a story of Apache love in Paris with scenes
in Paris. Seven reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem
theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
Serials
BACK TO LIBERTY: Edmund Breese— June 30-
July 1. Good picture ; just a bit draggy. A little
too much posing by star but all told I thought it
good. Seven reels. — H. W. Batchelder, Gait theatre.
Gait, Cal. — Small town patronage.
FRENZIED FLAMES, SMOKE EATERS: CuUen
Landis — Two good fire pictures with a likeable young
star. Should not be played too close together as
HEROES OF THE WILD (State Rights) : Special
cast — New serial. Fine film and as good as any we
have run, but serials are not popular in our town.
This ought to do well where Western features go
good, as it shows class. — Dinsmore & Son, Majestic
theatre, Weiner, Ark. — General patronage.
THE MYSTERY PLOT (State Rights) : Special
cast — Pretty good serial but old, consequently, the
film was a little rainy. But as we ran the whole
serial in connection with a good feature and a
newsreel each episode at an admission of five and
ten cents, there were no kicks. We tried out these
five and ten cent nights as an experiment. Got
good crowds but not enough money, so will not do
it again. — Dinsmore & Son, Majestic theatre, Weiner,
Ark. — General patronage.
THE YELLOW CAMEO (Pathe) : Allene Ray-
No. 2. Interesting serial with a pretty smart police
dog helping things out. Two reels. — P. G. Vaughan,
Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.
Short Subjects
COLUMBIA
MAJOR HAMMOND ADVENTURES: One or two
okay, balance were a detriment to our program. —
C. M. Staples, Y. M. C. A. theatre, Morenci, Ariz. —
General patronage.
EDUCATIONAL
BLAZING AWAY: Lloyd Hamilton— A football
game between two rival taxicab gangs. I consider
it pretty weak. Hamilton is about done, I guess,
and evidently Educational knows it. I see he's miss-
ing on their 1928-29 schedule. Two reels. — P. G.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General
patronage.
COUNT ME OUT: There are plenty of good solid
laughs in this little single reeler. — S. B. Kennedy,
Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
DAZE AND KNIGHTS: Felix— Just a cartoon.
Single reel. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Sel-
kirk, Man., Canada. — Small town patronage.
FELIX SWITCHES WITCHES: Felix the Cat-
Very good subject of this series. One reel. — P. G.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General
patronage.
LISTEN SISTER: Lupino Lane — One of the best
comedies we ever played. Two reels. — Bert Silver,
Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General pat-
ronage.
THE LOST LAUGH: Not many laughs in this
one. The title is not misleading. Single reel.—
S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Can-
ada.— Small town patronage.
SWORD POINTS: Lupino Lane— Good.— J. L.
Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General patron-
age.
THERE IT IS: Charlie Bowers— Disappointed.
Not enough laughs but lots of trick stuff. — J. L.
Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General patron-
age.
FBO
BEAUTY PARLOR SERIES: Cooke-Guard— Gen-
erally better than the previous series, "The Wise-
crackers." Eight chapters. "Fresh Hair Fiends"
pulled some good laughs. Two reels. — C. M. Staples,
Y. M. C. A. theatre, Morenci, Ariz. — General patron-
age.
MICKEY'S PARADE: Mickey— July 3-4. This is
one of the best of the Mickey series, kept the kids
yelling any way. Two reels. — H. W. Batchelder,
Gait theatre. Gait, Cal. — Small town patronage.
WANDERERS OF THE WAISTLINE: Three Fat
Boys — These fat men are sometimes good and this is
one of the times. Two reels. — H. W. Batchelder,
Gait theatre. Gait, Cal. — Small town patronage.
FOX
FOX NEWS: A fair news reel only. They rent
them so old that like another exhibitor said, "so
old it's history." One reel. — J. A. Mauler, Liberty
theatre, Pleasanton, Neb. — Small town patronage.
THE KANGAROO DETECTIVE: A very good
animal comedy. Two reels. — J. A. Mauler, Liberty
theatre, Pleasanton, Neb. — Small town patronage.
RUMORS FOR RENT: Helen and Warren— Here
is something mighty clever and funny that will sure
tickle your funny bone. Carries a true, well con-
nected stoi-y. Two reels. — J. A. Mauler, Liberty
theatre, Pleasanton, Neb. — Small town patronage.
THE STEEPLE CHASER: Good comedy. Two
reels. — J. A. Mauler, Liberty theatre, Pleasanton,
Neb. — Small town patronage.
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
BARNUM AND RINGUNG, INC.: Our Gang-
Very clever comedy, not as funny as some of the
others, but they will like it. Two reels. — P. G.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General
patronage.
BLOW BY BLOW: Max Davidson— Only fair.—
J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General
patronage.
DOG DAYS : Oddity— All about trick dogs. Pretty
good but not so darn good. Rather short. — Philip
Rand, R'ex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patron-
age.
EDISON, MARCONI & CO.: Our Gang— A real
old time Gang comedy. When they start out in their
speed wagons things sure hum surefire. Two reels. —
S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Can-
ada.— Small town patronage.
EDISON, MARCONI & CO.: Our Gang— Better
than usual. A real laugh getter. Two reels. — C. M.
Staples, Y. M. C. A. theatre, Morenci, Ariz.^ Gen-
eral patronage.
EDISON, MARCONI & CO.: Our Gang— Very
good, lots of laughs. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre,
Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
40,000 MILES WITH LINDBERGH: Very good.
Very interesting and educational. Every theatre
should run it. Good photography. Three reels. —
Adam Hornung, Victor Opera House, Victor, Mont. —
General patronage.
LADY OF VICTORIES: Agnes Ayree— Very beau-
tiful historical color subject. Glad to see Agnes
Ayres again. She's awfully easy on the eyes, I
think. Two reels. — ^P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre,
Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.
ODDITIES: Well named and for this reason one
of the best one-reel subjects available. — C. M. Staples,
Y. M. C. A. theatre, Morenci, Ariz. — General pat-
ronage.
PASS THE GRAVY: Best comedy I ever saw.
Good plot, finest pantomine, the boy and girl imi-
tating a hen and rooster and a chicken with its head
off. Max Davidson' is in it and how ! Martha Sleeper
is very much in it — watch her. Some girl, that
Martha, pretty as a peach and how she can troupe.
For Pete sake, play this and play "Chick, Chick,
Chicken" on your orthophonic. Only no one will
hear for the house will be in an uproar. Metro has
the best comedies, even better than Paramount and
these two are so far ahead of Universal that Carl
Laemmle ought to be ashamed of himself. If you
want the best, buy Metro, then buy Paramount. —
Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General
patronage.
VIRGIN QUEEN: A colored subject that lends
class to any theatre. The Sid Walter Raleigh story
is ideal and in colors will make many friends.
Many fine comments. Two reels. — S. B. Kennedy,
Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
PARAMOUNT
DR. QUACK: Good. We find nearly all Para-
mount comedies good, without cheap or shoddy back-
grounds. Two reels. — Dinsmore & Son, Majestic
theatre, Weiner, Ark. — General patronage,
THE ELEGY: Philippe De Lacy— This is the first
novelty we've had from Paramount and did not
100
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928
!
n
s
care for it. No comedy and no subtitles. It might
be all right for the ones that can understand it.
Two reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green. Gem theatre. Green-
river, Utah. — General patronage.
MAD SCRAMBLE: A good comedy. Two reels. —
Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
MAD SCRAMBLE: Neal Burns— The title de-
scribes it. Two reels. — Dinsmore & Son, Majestic
theatre, Weiner, Ark. — General patronage.
MOONEY MARINER: Billy Dooley— The hero is
shot out of a projectile on a trip to the moon by
some scientists. He lands in a turkish bath and
radios back his discoveries. Good comedy. Has a
wealth of background and settings. — Philip Rand,
Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. 94: Not so good. Air-
mail, aeroplane, G. O. P. Same old stuff. With
cameramen all over the world why not give us
scenes from everywhere. Washington, D. C., is
played up too much. Paramounts news seems of
late to run one third air stuff, one third submarine
and navy and one-third Washington. Let's have a
change of menu. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon,
Idaho. — General patronage.
SPORTLIGHTS; We have played these continu-
ously for four years beginning with the first issue
and are not ready to discontintie them yet! One
reel. — C. M. Staples, Y. M. G. A. theatre, Morenci,
Ariz. — General patronage.
SWISS MOVEMENT: A funny comedy. Two
reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
SWISS MOVEMENTS: If you don't want to hear
the kids yell, better not play this. The bear episode
in the second reel made them shriek with joy. Wish
some of you small town exhibitors would tell how
to keep the kids and the half-grown boys and girls
fairly quiet without having an official bouncer. We
don't mind legitimate noise, at the proper time, but
the continual disturbance that riles other patrons. —
Dinsmore & Son, Majestic theatre, Weiner, Ark. —
General patronage.
PATHE
DUCK SOUP: Madeline Hurlock— This is pretty
good. Two reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem thea-
tre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
FOR SALE, A BUNGALOW: A very funny one.
Two reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
PATHE REVIEW NO. U: This is certainly one
darn fine subject. The Pathe Review is now one
of the best short subjects on the market. Some
of the stuff is wonderful. One reel. — P. G. Vaughn,
Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.
TIFFANY
MEMORIES: Another solar classic that was good.
One reel. — J. A. Mauler, Liberty theatre, Pleasanton,
Neb. — Small town patronage.
THE KING OF SPORTS: A color classic that
was very good but these are not appreciated by most
small town' patrons, more so in this town. We run
them in place of comedies, but that's a sad mistake.
It can't be done. Patrons demand a good comedy.
One reel. — J. A. Mauler, Liberty theatre, Pleasanton,
Neb. — Small town patronage.
UNIVERSAL
ANDY KNOWS HIS ONIONS: Fair. Too much
vamp stuff. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho.
— General patronage.
BUSTER'S WHIPPET RACE: Fair comedy. Tige
was not in' this, some other dog substituted. —
Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General
patronage.
THE COLLEGIANS: Second series— Slipping
badly. Two reels.— C. M. Staples, Y. M. C. A. thea-
tre, Morenci, Ariz. — General patronage.
FISHING SNOOKUMS: These Snookums comedies
go over good with the little fellows and some of
the older ones. We like to please the little fellows
some of the time, so we run one of these each month.
We like them ourselves because a baby comedy nat-
urally cannot show smut, as so many of the others
think it necessary to do. But they are a little too
high in price for us. Two reels. — Dinsmore & Son,
Majestic theatre, Weiner, Ark. — General patronage.
THE LAST LAP: "Collegians"— This is great.
Two reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre. Green-
river, Utah. — General patronage.
THE NEWLYWED'S SUCCESS: Snookums— Not
as good as the last three or four I've played. Two
reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo.
— General patronage.
OH, WHAT A KNIGHT, NECK'N AND NECK:
Oswald the Rabbit — Two very good cartoons, got a
number of laughs. Half reel. — P. G. Vaughn, Sun
theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.
Cities, Newspapers and Circulations
Listed in Paramount 's National Drive
(Continued from page 26)
ton News-Index 7,541 ; Galesburg, Register-Mail
19,691 ; Joliet, Herald-News 20,213 ; Peoria, Journal
and Transcript 38,286, Star 30,957; Quincy, Herald-
Whig 29,746; Rockford, Register-Gazette 17,434, Re-
public 11,636, Star 18,713; Springfield, State Journal
31,401, State Register 32,008; Elkhart, Truth 13,559;
Gary, Post-Tribune 17,085; Hammond, Times 20,207;
South Bend, News-Times 26,175, Tribune 24,015.
MILWAUKEE.— Iron Mountain, News 6,596;
Marquette, Mining Journal 8,049; Fond du Lac,
Commonwealth Reporter 13,685; Green Bay, Press-
Gazette 16,239; Kenosha, News 10,747; La Crosse,
Tribune and Leader Press 13,809; Madison, Capital-
Times 25,667; Wisconsin State Journal 24,317; Man-
itowoc, Herald-News 8,035, Times 5,262; Milwaukee,
Journal 159,314, Sentinel 184,709, Wisconsin News
110,340; Oshkosh, Northwestern 14,595; Racine,
Journal-News 11,604, Times-Call 10,152; Sheboygan,
Press 14,610.
COLUMBUS.— Columbus, Citizen 89,550, Dispatch
117,077; Mansfield, News 12,078; Marion, Star 14,-
216; Newark, Advocate and American Tribune
14,575; Stuebenville, Herald-Star 18,891; Zanesville,
Times Recorder and Signal 30,094; Charleston, Ga-
zette 26,468 ; Clarksburg, Exponent and Telegram
31,079; Fairmont, Times 8,075; Morgantown, New
Dominion 7,066; Parkersburg, News 8,884, Sentinel
9,896; Wheeling, News 19,466, Register 9,806.
* * *
CLEVELAND.— Akron, Beacon Journal 62,022,
Times-Press 57,882; Alliance, Review 10,373; Ash-
tabula, Star and Beacon 10,444; Canton, News
36,094, Repository 40,350; Cleveland, News 200,269,
Plain Dealer 231,617, Press 229,678; E. Liverpool,
Review 11,882; Elyria, Chronicle-Telegram 8,884;
Findlav, Courier and Republican 11,708; Lorain,
Journal 8,875, Times-Herald 8,342; Sandusky, Regis-
ter 10,612, Star Journal 9,369; Toledo, Blade 124,232,
News Bee 92,498, Times 33,417; Warren, Tribune-
Chronicle 18,639; Youngstown, Telegram 37,666,
Vindicator 36,139.
PITTSBURGH.— Altoona, Mirror 29,117; Con-
nellsville. Courier 8,746, News 6,930; Erie, Dispatch-
Herald 31,012, Times 33,041; Ogdensburg, Review
and Tribune 11,262; Johnstown, Democrat 20,714,
Tribune 32,784; McKeesport, News 16,140; Mead-
ville, Tribune-Republican 8,014; New Castle, News
16,686; Oil City, Derrick 7,507; Pittsburgh, Post-
Gazette 230,397, Press 281,757, Sun Telegraph 324,-
092; Sharon, Herald 7,752, News Telegraph 8,823;
Washington, Observer and Reporter 17,689.
CINCINNATI.— Ashland, Independent 9,130;
Lexington, Herald 18,099, Leader 20,436; Chillicothe,
News-Advertiser 4,776; Scioto Gazette 6,623; Cin-
cinnati, Enquirer 175,136, Post 214,401, Times-Star
160,065; Dayton, Herald and Journal 94,595, News
58,130; Hamilton, Journal 10,959, News 10,440;
Ironton, Tribune 8,794; Lima, News 19,830, Star and
Republican 13,617; Middletown, Journal 6,465, News-
Journal 6,820; Springfield, News 20,402, Sun 16,875;
Bluefield. Telegraph and Sunset News 21,005; Hunt-
ington, Herald-Advertiser 34,960.
* * *
INDIANAPOLIS.— Anderson, Bulletin 10,559;
Herald 11,682; Evansville, Courier-Journal 31,165,
Press 23,135; Fort Wayne, Journal Gazette 41,757,
News-Sentinel 44,699; Huntington, Press 4,795; In-
dianapolis, News 129,480, Star 137,164, Times 65,609;
Kokomo, Dispatch 11,719, Tribune 9,462; Lafayette,
Journal and Courier 22,170; Logansport, Press
10,001, Pharon-Tribune 12,114: Marion, Chronicle
9,124, Leader-Tribune 10,183; Muncie, Star 24,052;
New Castle, Courier 4,641 ; Richmond, Item 32,991,
Palladium 13,448; Terre Haute, Post 20,015, Star
25,199 Tribune 23,236; Vincennes, Commercial 6,007,
Sun 5,022; Louisville, Courier-Journal 135,404, Her-
ald-Fost 71,505.
KANSAS CITY.— Arkansas Citv, Traveler 8,490;
Atchison, Globe 7,275; CoiTeyville, Journal 8,886;
Eldorado, Times 4,665; Emporia, Gazette 6,148;
Hutchinson, Herald and News 27,268 ; Independence,
Reporter 5,314; Lawrence, Journal-World 3,841;
Leavenworth, "Times 6,807 ; Manhattan, Chronicle
and Mercury 4,653; Parsons, Republican 4,513, Sun
4,418; Pittsburg, Headlight and Sun 12,876; Salina,
Journal 11,701; Topeka, Capital, 41,802, State Jour-
nal 20,236; Wichita, Beacon 48,453, Eagle 69,458;
Winfield, Courier and Free Press 4,925 ; Chillicothe,
Constitution-Tribune 4,632; Joplin, Globe and News-
Herald 40,921; Kansas City, Journal-Post 156,623,
Star 284,216; Kirkville, Empress and News 4,833;
St. Joseph, News Press and Gazette, 65,969 ; Sedalia,
Capital and Democrat 8,620 ; Springfield, Leader
26,021, News 21,632.
* « «
ST. LOUIS.— Alton, Telegraph 10,962; Belleville
Advocate 6.942, News Democrat 8,007; Cairo, Cit
zen 4,907; Centralia, Sentinel 6,371; East St. Louis
Journal 12,976; Harrisburg, Register 4,721; Herrin
Journal 2,250; Matoon, Journal Gazette and Com
merical Star 5,813; Mt. Carmel, Republican Regis
ter 3,746; Mt. Vernon, Register-News 6,273; Paris
Beacon-News 5,493; Owensboro, Inquirer 7,024
Messenger 9.126; Paducah, News Democrat 11,446
Cape Girrardeau, So. E., Missourian 7,431 ; Colum
bia, Missourian 3,330, Tribune 4,779; Hannibal
Courier-P'ost 6,722 ; Jeft'erson City, Capital News
7,136, Post-Tribune 6,003; St. Louis, P'ost Dispatch
339,752, Star 122,011, Times 69,482.
OKLAHOMA CITY. — Altus, Times-Democrat
2,592 ; Ardmore, Ardmorite 5,300 ; Bartlesville, En-
terprise 4,576, Examiner 4,252; Blackwell News and
Tribune 13,344; Chickasha, Express 3,705; Frie,
News 9,074; Lawton, Constitution 3,500; McAlester,
News-Capital 3,790; Miami, News Record 7,737
Muskogee, PTioenix and Times Democrat 23,857
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma News 46,795, Oshkosho
man and Times 163,852; Okmulgee, Times 9,960
Pawhuska, Journal 3,152; Ponca City, N'ews 7,125
Shawnee, News 11,096; Tulsa, Tribune 49,618, World
64,602.
DENVER. — Colorado Springs, Gazette Telegraph
11,957; Denver, Post 257,995, Rocky Mt. News 94,-
057; Fort Collins, Express-Courier 4,533; Grand
Junction, Sentinel 4,619; Scottsbluff, Journal 3,387;
Albuquerque, Journal 11,126, N. Mex. State Tribune
12,529.
* * *
SALT LAKE CITY. — Boise, Idaho Statesmen
15,345; Anaconda, Standard 12,035; Butte, Miner
21,487; Great Falls, Tribune 16,437; Missoula, Mis-
soulian 6,768 ; Salt Lake City, Deseret News 36,237,
Telegram 24,926, Tribune 70,393.
SAN FRANCISCO.— Chico, Enterprise 2,383;
Eureka, Humboldt Standard 3,114, Humboldt Times
6,246; Fresno, Bee 25,018, Republican 29,305; Mo-
desto, News-Herald 10,425 ; Oakland, Post-Enquirer
59,427, Tribune 80,239; Richmond, Independent 31,-
150, Record-Herald 3,117; Sacramento, Bee 50,109,
Union 14,111; San Francisco, Call 108,501, Bulletin
81,506, Chronicle 110,036, Examiner 136,372, News
83,748; San Jose, Mercury Herald 19,154; San
Mateo, Times and News Leader 4,036 ; Santa Rosa,
Press-Democrat and Republican 12,442; Stockton,
Record 18,474; Hawaii. Honolulu, Advertiser 15,959,
Star-Bulletin 17,149; Rena, Gazette, 6,568, Nevada
State Journal 7,521.
LOS ANGELES.— Phoenix, Gazette 12,867, Re-
publican 25,750; Tucson, Arizona Star 6,053, Citizen
4,541 ; Bakersfield, Californian 9,765 ; Hollywood,
Citizen 10,216, News 9,495; Long Beach, Sun 14,-
609; Los Angeles, Examiner 422,817, Express 129,-
589, Herald 206,879, Illustrated Daily News 106,777,
Record 54,705, Times 214,092; Pasadena, Star-News
17,379; Riverside, Press 6,009; San Bernardino, Sun
and Telegram 13,045; San Diego, Sun 20,109, Union
34,797 ; San Luis Obispo, Tribune and Telegram
4,314; Santa Ana, Register 10,920; Santa Barbara,
News 6,921, Press 5,644.
SEATTLE. — Lewiston, Tribune 4,925 ; Aberdeen,
World 7,049; Bellingham, 18,370; Centralia, Chron-
icle 3,610; Everett, Herald 14,045, News 4,118;
Hoquiam, Washingtonian, 4,383 ; Seattle, Post In-
telligencer 154,380, Star 67,566, Times 115,271; Spo-
kane, Chronicle 41,962, Spokesman-Review 56,677;
Tacoma, Ledger 31,652, News Tribune 36,392, Times
21,631; Wentachee, World 3,095; Yakima, Herald
10,972, Republic 6,671.
PORTLAND (Ore.). — Astoria, Astorian 2,217,
Budget 2,694; Eugene, Guard 6,709, Register 7,128;
Marshfield, S. W. Oregon News 3,924; Medford,
Mail-Tribune 4,462; Portland, News 48,924 Oregon-
ian 154,673; Oregon Journal 126,353, Telegram 46,-
753 ; Salem, Capital Journal 9,289, Oregon Statesman
6,196; Walla Walla, Bulletin 6,016.
MINNEAPOLIS.— Albert Lea, Tribune 5,357;
Duluth. Herald 42,407, News-Tribune 31,008; Min-
neapolis, Journal 160,012, Star 66,931, Tribune 164,-
160; Rochester, Post-Bulletin 10,151; St. Cloud,
Journal Press 4,366, Times 7,089 ; St. Paul, Pioneer
Press 131,600, News 89,355; Winona, Republican
Herald 12,880; Bismarck, Tribune 4,051; Fargo,
Forum 23,605; Grand Forks, Herald 19,382; Minot,
News and Optic Reporter 7,267 ; Eau Claire, Leader
and Telegram 12,421; Superior, Telegram 21,439.
SIOUX FALLS.— Spencer, News Herald 3,051;
Fairmont, Sentinel 3,743; Worthington, Globe 1,400;
Aberdeen. American News 10,516; Huron, Huronite
5,686; Mitchell, Republican 9,381; Sioux Falls,
Argus Leader 33,839; Watertown, Puljlic Opinion
5,489.
DES MOINES.— Moline, Dispatch 12,600; At-
lantic, News-Telegraph 4,100; Burlington, Gazette
11,856. Hawkeye 13,837; Cedar Rapids, Gazette and
Republican 32.194; Clinton, Herald 21,000; Creston,
Advertiser 4,290; Davenport, Democrata and Leader
and Times 38,040 : Des Moines, Register and Tri-
bune, 224,092 ; Dubuque, Telegraph Herald and
Times Journal, 34,304; Fort Dodge. Messenger and
Chronicle 10.763; Keokuk, Gate City 8.672; Mar-
shalltown. Times Republican 10,303; Mason City,
Globe-Gazette and Times 15,044; Oskaloosa, Herald
5,375; Ottumwa, Courier 27,664; Sioux City, Jour-
nal 50.896, Tribune 56,360; Traer, Star-Clipper
3,526; Waterloo, Courier 17,603, Tribune 13,586.
OMAHA.— Council Bluffs, Nonpareil 16,311; Bea-
trice, Sun 5,247; Falls City, Journal 3,379; Grand
Island, Independent 8,152; Hastings, Tribune 6,777;
Lincoln, Journal 37,336, Star 33,349; McCook, Ga-
zette 2,500; Norfolk, News 8,967; North Platte,
Telegraph 2,400; Omaha, Bee-News 130,761, World-
Herald 115,312.
AuKiist 11, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
101
(Continued from page 92)
Length Title and Players
Released New Comment
Pictures
Ticker
1927 Rayart
5035 Walking Back (M). Sue Carol May 20
6089 Cruise of the Helion (D). All star. — _ _ -
5076 Heroes in Blue (M). Bowers-Eand _...NoT.
5916 Law and the Man. The (D), Santsclii-Rockwell..Dec.
5960 Light in the Window, A (D), Walthal _„
5970 On the Stroke of Twelve (M), D. Torrence Nov.
5502 Silent Hero (M). Bonaparte -
4200 Wanderer of the West, A (W), Tex Maynard....Dec.
1928
1927
..Sept. 24
..Not. 12
-Aug. 29
1928
6673
6076
4533
5976
5853
4797
5262
4548
5608
4571
5906
4627
5490
6260
Branded Man, The (D), Cbas. Delaney-MarloweMay
Casey Jones (CD), Price-Lewis Jan.
Danger Patrol, The (D), Kussell-Fair Jan.
Devil's Tewer, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt..- June
Divine Sinner, The (D), Vera Reynolds-Hllllard.. July
Gypsy of the North (D), Gordon-Hale Apr.
Heart of Broadway, The (D), Garon-AKnew....Mar.
Lightning Shot The (W), Buddy Roosevelt May
Man from Headquarters, The (D), Comeinu
Keefe-E. Roberts Aug.
Midnight Adventure, A (D), Landis-E. Murphy..May
Mystery Valley (W), Buddy Roosevelt July
My Home Town (D), Brockwell-Glass -...Jan.
Painted Trail, The (W). Buddy Roosevelt Mar.
Phantom of the Turf. The (D), Costello-Lease-Feb.
Sisters of Eve (D), Mae Busch _ — Sept.
Sweet Sixteen (D), Helen Foster- Olstead Aug.
Trail Riden (W), Buddy Roosevelt April
Wild Born (W), Tex Maynard Mar.
You Can't Beat the Law, Lee Keefe Jan.
Sterling
1927
5563 Closed Gates (M), Harron-Novak.
5400 Outcast Souls (D), Lewis-Bonner Dec. 15
5500 Pretty Clothes (D), J. Ralston-Walker Oct. 15
Stranded (D), Mason. - Aug. 15
1928
1927
Marry the Girl (CD)..
_May 28
Nov. 12
Deo. 31
Jan. 7 Sept. 10
Feb. 4
Length Title and Players
Released New Comment
Pictures
Ticker
1927
5754
6669
7300
4887
6482
5233
4752
5800
6049
6235
5629
6100
5182
5276
Tiffanv-Stahl
1928
1927
6448
5614
1928
6147
5209
5297
6553
5102
5735
6652
5361
Backstage (CD), Bedford »__
Beauty Shoppe (CD), Busch. _
College Days (CD), M. Day _
Enchanted Island (D) _ - — —
Fools of Fashion (CD), Busch -
Girl from Gay Paree, The (F), Slierman. Sept. 15
Haunted Ship, The (M), Sebastian-M. Love—Dec. 1
Josselyn's Wife (D), Frederlclt
Lightning (W), J. Ralston Sept 1
Night Life (CD), Day-Harron -.-.Nov. 1
Once and Forever (D), Patsy Ruth Miller. Oct. 15
Sin Cargo (D), Mason -
Snowbound ( FC), BIythe - -
Streets of Shanghai (RD), Starke-Harlan...- Deo. 15
Tired Business Man (C) -
Wild Geese (D), Belle Bennett -...Nov. 15
Women's Wares (D). Brent-Lytell Oct. 1
Applause (D), Sally O'Neill Sept. 30
Bachelor's Paradise (R). .<!iiiv O'.NVil Mar 15
Big Top. The (CD), Sally O'Neill Oct. 30
Cavalier. The (D), Talmadge-Bedford Sept.
Clothes Make the Woman (R), Southern-
Pldgeon -. May 1
Devil's Apple Tree, The (D), Dorothy Sebastian.-Sept. 20
Devil's Skipper. The. Bennett i-Vh. 1
George Washington Cohen (CD), Jessel-Palmer.Aug.20
Geraldine Latrd (D), Belle Bennett Nov. 10
Ghetto, The (CD). Jessel-Gwen Lee Aug. 1
Grain of Dust, The (D), Cortez-Windsor July 10
Green Grass Widows (CD), Walter Hagen June 10
House of Scandal (D), Sebastian-O'Malley Apr. 1
Ladies of the Night Club (CD), Cortez-Moran....May 15
Lingerie (CD), White-McGregor _ July 1
Nameless Men, Moreno Feb. 15
Naughty Duchess, The (D), H. B. Warner Aug. 10
Power of Silence, The (D), Belle Bennett Aug. 20
Prowlers of the Sea (D), Cortez-Myers June 20
Queen of Burlesque, The (CD), Belie Bennett... Sept. 10
Scarlet Dove, The (D), Margaret Livingston Apr. 15
Stormy Waters (D), Snuthern-AIcGregor .Tune 1
Squads Right (CD), Gribbon-Stone Nov.
Their Hour (D), Sebastian-Harron .Mar. 1
Tragedy of Youth, Miller-Oollipr Jan. 1.1
Twelve Pound Look. The (D), Eve Southern. Oct 20
Three Keys to a Door (MD), Ricardo Cortez Oct. 10
Toilers. The, Fairbanks. Jr.-Ralston Aug.
Woman Against the World, A _ Jan. 1
....July 9
....July 18
....Nov. 6
....June 25
....Oct. 9
Nov. 27
..Dec. 11
..July 30
Mar. 10
Dec. 24
Dec. 10
1928
United Artists
1927
5000 College (C). Keaton-Cornwall _ Sept 10
7500 General, The (C), Keaton _
7311 Loves of Sonya (D), Swanson _
8550 Magic Flame, The (M), Colman-Banky Sept 24
9120 Resurrection (M), La Rocque..
9000 Sorrell and Son (D), Wamer-Nilsson. _ Nov.
7456 Topsy and Eva (C), Duncan Sisters
8250 Two Arabian Knights (CD), Boyd-Wolheim
8000 Winning of Barbara Worth (D), Banky-Colman_ -
1928
6400 Circus, The (C), Charlie Chaplin.
7000— Devil Dancer, The, Gilda Gray-
— Sept 17
....Feb. 12
-..Mar. 19
Sept. 24
....Apr. 16
—Nov. 19
..-Aug. 13
—Oct 29
Deo. 4
Mar. 3
1927
45.90%
73.65%
1928
9358 Douglas Fairbanks as the Gaucho (M).— June 1
9100 Dove, The (M), Norma Talmadge Jan. 7
8350 Drums of Love (D), JIary PhUbin. Mar. 31
7300 Garden of Eden, The (D), C. Grifflth-Ray. Feb. 4
Two Lovers. Banky-Colman Aug.
7650 Ramona (D), Del Rio Feb. 1
8600 Sadie Thompson (D), Gloria Swanson. Jan. 7
Steamboat Bill, Jr., Buster Keaton
Tempest (M), John Barrymore Aug. 11
Apr. 28
-...Nov. 26
Jan. 7
—July 21
.Tune 16
-.. >rar 26
—July 7
1927
5751
5777
4427
7190
5B23
5503
6929
5711
6958
7713
11000
5S62
6135
6159
5918
6170
5416
6045
7015
6166
4393
6218
4251
7173
5598
4136
5192
6459
4167
1928
4259
6869
4076
6171
4345
4232
7481
6279
4173
6081
4426
5645
4094
6598
5064
4095
6813
6832
4120
5689
4253
4200
4472
5382
5424
6172
5109
5389
8249
6179
6073
4353
6274
5495
4348
9151
5254
1927
5803
6330
0281
5897
6408
5003
6767
6284
5978
6800
6302
5613
6271
5200
6230
5397
5569
6352
6310
6485
7961
6337
5492
6295
5685
6124
6218
6412
7647
5813
1928
6052
5380
Universal
Back to God'i Country (D), Adoree-Frazier— Sept 4
Beware of Widows (FC), La Plante.— June 19
Border Cavalier, The (W), Humes-Pierce Sept 18
Cat and Canary, The (My), La Plante _ Sept. 11
Cheating Cheaters (C), Compson-Harlan Oct. 9
Galloping Fury (W), Hoot Gibson Nov. 20
Held by the Law (M), Lewis - Apr. 10
Hero for the Night, A, Tryon-Miller. Dec. 18
Irresistible Lover, The (CD), Kerry-Moran Dec. 4
Les Miserables (M), Gabrio-Toulont Oct. 30
Les Miserables (M), (Long Version)-.- Oct. 30
Lone Eagle, The, Kent-Keane - Sept. 18
Man's Past, A (D), Veidt-Kent Dec. 2S
Men of Daring (W), Hoxie June 5
On Your Toes (C), Denny-Worth Nov. 27
Out All Night (C), Denny-Nixon. - Sept 4
Painted Ponies (W). Hoot GibsoiL Sept. 25
Painting the Town (FC), Tryon Aug. 7
Sensation Seekers (D). Dove —.Mar. 20
Silk Stockings, Laura La Plante Oct 2
Sky High Saunders, Al Wilson. _ -...Nov. 6
Small Bachelor, The (C), Beranger-Kent Nov. 6
Straight Shootin' (W), Wells Oct 16
Taxi! Taxi! (FC), Horton _ Apr. 24
Thirteenth Juror, The (D), Busliman-Nilsson...Nov. 13
Three Miles Up, Al Wilson - Sept. 4
Wild Beauty (CD), Rex -..Nov. 27
Wrong Mr. Wright, The (F), Hersholt..- Feb. 27
Wolf's Trail, Dynamite, the dog Oct 2
Air Patrol, The (W), Al WUson Jan. 1
Alias the Deacon (CD). Hersholt- Marlowe Jan. 22
Arizona Cyclone (W), Humes May 6
Buck Privates, de Putti - - June 3
Call of the Heart, The (W), Dynamite Jan. 29
Clean-Up Man, The (W). Wells Feb. 12
Cohens and Kellys in Paris (C), Sidney Jan. 15
Count of Ten, The, Ray-Ralston-Gleason. June 6
Fearless Rider. The (W), Fred Humes Jan. 15
Finders Keepers (CD), Laura La Plante Feb. 5
Four Footed Rangers, The (W), Dynamite. Mar. 25
Good Morning Judge _ Apr. 29
Greased Lightning (W) ...July 29
Grip of the Yukon, The, AU star. Aug. 30
Hot Heels, Glen Tryon May 13
Hound of Silver Creek, The (W), Dynamitc.May 20
Lonesome (CD), Tryon-Kent...- — —
Love Me and the World Is Mine, Kerry-Philbin. Feb. 25
Jazz Mad, Herslioit-Nixon-Lewis June 3
Made-to-Order Hero (W), WeUs .Tune 3
Midnight Rose, de Putti-Harian. Feb. 26
Phantom Flyer, The (W), Wilson Feb. 26
Put 'Em Up (W). Humes _ Mar. 11
Quick Triggers (W), Humes July 15
Rawhide Kid (W), Hoot Gibson. Jan. 29
Riding for Fame, Hoot Gibson Aug. 19
Shield of Honor. The, AU star Feb. 19
Society Cowboy, A. Hoot Gibson July 8
Stop That Man, All star Mar. 11
Surrender, Philbin-Mosjukine Mar. 4
Thanks for the Buggy Ride, La Plante-Tryon... Apr. 1
That's My Daddy (C), Denny-Kent Feb. 5
Thunder Riders, The, Wells Apr. 8
13 Washington Squsire, All star _ Apr. 8
Trick of Hearts. A, Hoot Gibson. _ — Mar. 18
Won in the Clouds, (W), Wilson. Apr. 22
We Americans, All star - May 16
Wild West Show, Hoot Gibson. -May 20
Nov. 12
Aug. 6
..May 9
Dec. 17
Nov. 26
Dec. 24
Jan. 14
Deo. 17
Nov. 13
Dec. IT
Jan. 14
Nov. 19
May 14
.Apr. 2
Nov. 26
Nov. 19
..Aug. 27
1927
61.00%
44.10%
67.66%
43.57%
Sept. a
..Apr. 9
Nov. 19
Feb. 4
Dec. 3
..Oct. 1
July 23
..June 25
..Jan. 29
Aug. 20
62.31%
....Feb. 19
45 18%
Dec. 3
Dec. 24
....Mar. 5
1928
.-June 25
.Tune 16
Mar. XO
Feb. 4
Apr. 21
June 30
Jan. 28
Apr. 21
Apr. 28
i
Apr. 28
May 26
.Tune 23
-July 21
Feb. 31
May 19
Aug. 4
Mar. 17
Mar. 17
Jan. 28
Feb. 25
Jan. 14
Apr. 28
May 5
Apr. 21
^
Warner Brothers
Black Diamond Express (M), Blue _
Brass Knuckles (D), Blue-Bronison Dec. 3
Bush Leaguer, The (CD), Monte Blue Aug. 20
Dearest (D), Rich
Desired Woman, The (M), Irene Rich. Aug. 27
Dog of the Regiment, A (M), Ein-Tin-Tin. Oct. 29
First Auto, The, Oldfleld-Miiler - - Sept. 18
Gay Old Bird (FC), Fazenda —
Girl from Chicago, The (M), Nagel-Loy Nov. 5
Glorious Betsy (CD), Dolores Costelio -
Good Time Charley (D), Oland-H. Costelio Nov. 12
Ham and Eggs at the Front (C), Wilson-H.
Conkiin - — Dec. 24
Hills of Kentucky (M), Rin-Tin-Tin.
Husbands for Rent, All star Dec. 31
If I Were Single, McAvoy-Nagel - Dec. 17
Irish Hearts (CD), McAvoy -
-July 23
1927
50.20%
-June 18
July 9
Mar. 12
Dec. 31
May 26
Dec. 31 Nov. 26
— Feb. 26
68.94%
Sept. 17
Jaws of Steel (D), Rin-Tin-Tin—
Matinee Ladies (C), McAvoy..
Mill Bid. A (M), D. Costelio
Missing Link, The (C), Syd Chaplin Aug. 7
Old San Francisco (M), D. Costello-Oland. Sept. 4
One Round Hogan (M), Monte Blue — Sept 17
Reno Divorce, A (D), May AcAvoy Oct. 22
Sailor Izzy Murphy (F), (3eorge Jessell Oct. 8
Sailor's Sweetheart, A (C). Fazenda-C. Coolc-Sept 24
Silver Slave, The (D), Rich-Ferris- - Nov. 9
Simple Sis (M), Fazenda - _
Slightly Used, McAvoy-Nagel - Sept 3
Third Degree (M), D. Costelio
Tracked by the Police (M), Kin-Tin-Tin.
-Apr. 28
-June 11
-Oct 1
-Apr. 23
June 4
May 14
-June 25
Oct. 8
Oct 29
Dec. 10
Oct. 15
-June 11
.-Jan. 8
_ May 21
N
1928
Across the Altantic, Blue-Murphy Feb. 25
Beware of Married Men, Irene Rich Jan. 14
City of Sin, The, Loy-Miljan-Wong..
5164 Domestic Trouble (CD), Cook-Fazenda Mar. 24
7077 Jazz Singer, The, Al Jolson .Feb. 4
Lion and the Mouse, The, L. Barrymore _
5331 Little Snob, The, May McAvoy Feb. 11
61S5 Powder My Back (C), Rich-Ferris Mar. 10
4777 Race for Life, Rin-Tin-Tin .Tan. 28
4820 Rinty of the Desert, Rin-Tin-Tin Apr. 21
6531 Tenderloin, Dolores Costelio
-.-Apr. 14
)
Feb. 18
May 19
-May 19
..Apr. 28
102
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 11, 1928 ij
^^^
y
s
s
s
J
CHICAGO PERSONALITIES
By fFhit
CC. WALLACE resigned as district manager of United Artists Satur-
day. As yet his successor has not been announced by the company.
• According to Wallace, he resigned to take a long vacation and rest, not
having had one in 14 years. He and his family will start at once on an auto-
mobile tour of the East.
who won only because of more experience in
championship tournaments. And maybe you
think Jack is not proud of her! Well, he
should be for he is not only her father, but
trainer as well.
When we read that the disciple of uplift,
Gene Tunney, had tossed away his champion-
ship, we dashed over to the Castle theatre to
see him in his last fight, and the excellent
picture afforded something even better than a
ringside seat. The photography is perfect,
and not one blow is left unseen. The picture
is being distributed for Illinois by Jerry
Abrams, but Mrs. Abrams and Pal have re-
turned temporarily to the exchange to handle
the business. Mrs. Abrams does the work
and Pal barks every time a booking is made.
* * *
Joe Hopp seems to have "hopped" right into
the F B O harness for he has already closed
several spots which have been shut to F B O
for the past two years.
^ ^ ^
Colvin W. Brown and John Flinn of Pathe
arrived in Chicago Saturday to spend a few
days. Joseph P. Kennedy, also of Pathe and
a number of other companies too numerous
to mention, was awaited in Chicago on his way
back to New York from the Coast.
^ ^ ^
The Chicago exchange of F B O has re-
ceived prints of four of the company's big
pictures on the 1928-29 program. They are
"The Perfect Crime," "Hit of the Show,'
"Gang War," and "Stocks and Blondes."
These four pictures are now ready for screen-
ing at the exchange.
* * *
H. H. Burns of Simansky and Miller's
Savoy theatre is driving with his wife and
daughter in their new Chevrolet to Elmira,
New York, and Niagara Falls.
* * *
C. E. Bond returned from New York last
week. Grad Sears, with whom he went, is
still in the Big Town.
^ ^ ^
Stanley Hatch, First National Western
sales manager, stopped over in Chicago last
week on his way to New York.
^ ^ ^
William Rosenthal, special representative
for United Artists, is in the city on a sales
trip that will take him to a number of cities
throughout this territory.
Miss Eugenia Sampson, the 15 year old
daughter of Jack Sampson, recently won
second place in the Michigan State tennis
tournament at Muskegon. She was defeated
by a 25 year old college graduate, and the
Grand Rapids papers in reporting the game
said that Eugenia played a better game and
had a much better stroke than her opponent
Solve Your Music Problems with
PHOTOTONE
Greatest Amplified Reproducer
Ask Any Exhibitor Already Using It
and Get in Touch with
L. V. KUTTNAUER
84S So. 'Wabash Ave., Chicago, III. Harrison 0737
Harry Lubliner has bought the Wilson thea-
tre and will operate it himself.
* * *
Fred Kresler is building a new theatre at
Rensselaer, Indiana.
^ * *
Joe Lyon and his wife are touring through
Canada in their Packard. When the motor
trip is completed they will spend the remainder
of the summer in the woods of Northern
Wisconsin, which is Heaven to Joe.
^ ^ ^
Pathe was honored last week by a number
of visiting executives of the company; among
them were Stanley Jacques, division manager ;
Harry Scott, short subjects sales manager;
and J. C. McAloon, manager of exchange
operations.
^ ^ ^
J. O. Prescott, formerly with the Poli and
Butterfield circuits, has been appointed man-
ager of the Capitol at Whiting by A. J.
O'Breshk.
* * *
The Shubert Theatre Corporation last week
leased the Woods theatre for a period of 15
years. The Shuberts also plan to lease two
more theatres which are to be erected within
the next year. This will give the Shuberts
eight theatres in Chicago.
* * *
Ned (Doc) Rafelsky, who runs the Rogers
and Oak theatres, and his wife have returned
from a fishing trip in Wisconsin.
^ ^ :};
Harry Tague of the Ashland and Madhn
theatres is taking a series of short vacations
this summer, and has just returned from
Madison, Wisconsin. His next trip will be to
Grand Rapids.
^ ^ H^
Henry Goldson, of the Plaza, and his wife
are making a trip to Mount Clemens, Mich-
igan, and then will continue on to New York.
^ ^ H^
Cecil Maberry, who covers more territory
than anybody we know of, was in town last
week.
^ :|c ^
The Polka Brothers expect to open their
Deerpath theatre in Lake Forest in the near
future.
* * s|c
J. G. Kemptgen, office manager of M G M
stepped out on a week's vacation of fishing in
Wisconsin and Minnesota.
^ ^ ^
Max Schwartz is baching it these days while
his wife is spending a few weeks at St. Joseph,
Michigan. We suggest that somebody keep
an eye on Max.
^ ^ ^
We were in the M G M office Saturday and
Eddie Brichetto breezed in with a smile that
Mind Your Queues with
Sandwiches, Says Warner
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— They
want to stand in line now, at the
Warner Brothers theatre here. The
answer is: Cold drinks and sand-
wiches are served to the waiting
patrons at the suggestion of J. L.
Warner, studio head who also super-
vises management of the theatre.
Only one thing remains now to be
served. You guessed it — costs.
would dispel gloom over a radius of fifty
mil-es. That new Ford, which we have re-
ported delivered several times, had at last been
turned over to Eddie. He was as happy as
a boy with a new top.
* * *
Miss Hazel Brown, assistant to Irving Mack,
was severely injured in a taxi accident last
week, while on her vacation. A fractured
skull makes her recovery doubtful.
* * *
Dave Bader of Universal was in Chicago
last week on his vacation.
ifi ^ ^
Harry Miller, formerly manager of the
Admiral theatre, is now manager of the
Englewood.
^ ^' ^
Harry Corbett is the new general manager
of National Theatres, and is resident man-
ager of the Capitol.
Policeman Routs Bandits
After Battle in Theatre
(Special to the Herald-World)
BOSTON, Aug. 7.— More than $700 in cash
in the safe of the Rialto Theatre in the Ros-
lindale section, was saved from bandits by
the prompt action of Patrolman Vaughn McA.
Hewey. Met with several shots, he took
refuge behind a row of seats, emptied his
pistol, then called help. The robbers fled.
Warners Sign Powers
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 7.— Francis Powers,
known for many years as a plajrwright, an
actor and a director, has been appointed by
J. L. Warner as a title and dialogue writer
for Warner Brothers Vitaphone pictures.
To Film Town
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 7.— Joseph Rothman
of Caravel Films, Inc., has gone to Kohler,
Wis., an internationally known village, where
he will make a film showing the activities of
this community.
Hazards of carbon monoxide gas are shown in a
one-reel picture just completed by the United States
Bureau of Mines, Department of Commerce.
Boost Your Business
with Filmack Trailers
The best place to talk to your patrons is
right in your own theatres. And you can get
your message across with wonderful effect if
you let a Filmack Trailer do the talking! We
get up special trailers for all purposes. Write
us about your needs ! The chances are 90
times out of a 100 we have just what you
want in stock. If not, we'll write the special
copy. All trailers shipped same day order is
received. You'll be agreeably surprised at the
high class work and quick service. Filmack
Company, 730 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
—Adv.
Recognizing the fact that changes
in method come in the splendid
advancement of the motion picture
industry, the Eastman Kodak Com-
pany continues its own forward
march and maintains its supremacy
in presenting to the trade
Eastman Panchromatic
emtive
Typ
e 2
— a perfected^ proven product
for the cinematographer
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
J
j:
XHIBITORS iIER.\LD and MOVING PlCTl RE WORL
I
'4
Further Proof of
supremacy;
marks brothers
Chicago's smart showmen also book Fox
Pictures for their 2 De Luxe theatres
The
GRANADA and
MARBRO
CLIMB ABOARD THE FOX SILVER
ANNIVERSARY PROSPERITY SPECIAL
crOU CANT GO WRONG!
^.
P
\«>\
PICTURES ARE
BREAKING RECORDS
From Coast to Coast
v©w
,
!ftA
EX
BDTOM
THE "TALK" OF THE
INDUSTRY!
U^hen the Lion roars the World listens ! M-G-M takes ov er
Cosmopolitan Studio, N* ¥♦, for sound— M-G-M Sound
Studio, largest in world, completed in California— ^^White
Shadows in the South Seas^^ in sound opens^^at $2 at Astor
on Broadway and Grauman^s Chinese Tneatre; Los Angeles,
both absolute sell-outs —"Trial of Mary Dugan^^ is first
jIM-G-M complete dialogue film— M-G-M gife amazing stage
talent for short sound numbers— Hal Roach studios sound
equipped— Milt Gross' ''Nize Baby'' with talking sequences
|-M-G-M Movietone News announced— majority of M-G-M
features and shorts to be synchronized*
UrtJij_irj 09 M« 7 /V^I ^A NT in\ Entered as^secoHd-class-matter, Attguit 20, 1917, at the Post Office at Chicago, III., under the act of March 3, t i to i
nnoie vol. 9£, no. j^VOI. 04, INO. lU; 7479. Published weekly at 407 South Dearborn St., Chicago. Subscription $3.00 a year. Single copies, 25 cents. AUgUSt lO, I
anal
lid^^H
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Box-omcE: Picxui^Er
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1^40 BRO/aDV^X
MEW YORK CITY
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
I August 18, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOV
i2new season
parain<
iiibe
h in
nisi_a^^^U:L
"Warming Up"*
Richard Dix SOUND picture.
Already breaking records.
"Loves of an Actress"*
Pola Negri SOUND love drama with
marvelous operatic score.
"Sawdust Paradise" *
Esther Ralston epic of carnival life
with Hobart Bosworth. SOUND.
ff
k"
Just Married'
Anne Nichols' stage hit.
James Hall, Ruth Taylor.
TModel From Montmartre"
Famous Paris Artists' Ball on the
screen.
JANMNGS-
lABITSCll
"THE
PATRIOT'
In SOUND
In August
"WINGS^
In SOUND
In September
"Forgotten Faces"
Clive Brook, Wm. Powell, Mary
Brian, Baclanova.
"The First Kiss"
Gorgeous romance with Fay Wray
and Gary Cooper.
"The Water Hole"
Zane Grey's greatest story. Techni-
color. Jack Holt, Nancy Carroll.
"Beggars of Life"*
SOUND. Famous hobo saga. Wallace
Beery, Louise Brooks, Richard Arlen.
"Docks of New York"*
SOUND. George Bancroft, Betty
Compson, Baclanova.
VON STROHEIMS
"WEDDING
MARCH"
.iC In SOUND
Coming in October
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
6 Cliris^
soi]^t>
X% otlier VP^^^
Quality
Sliorls
Billy Dooley*
The goofy gob with the fiinny sailor
suit in "Dizzy Diver" and "Oriental
Hugs."
Jack Duffy* ^
and his Caledonian cuties in '^'Hot
Scotch"— "Sandy MacDuff" Con^edy.
Bobby Vernon*
The kollege kut komedian in "Stop
Kidding" and "Sock Exchange."
"Confessions of a Chorus
Girl,"* "Skating Home," with
Frances Lee and Christie Beauties.
^ Plus 12 other de luxe short features in sound in the quality Paramount
style! ^ Whether you play sound or silent prints, PARAMOUNT is the one
company guaranteeing a continuous flow of QUALITY product in 1928-29.
40 to 50 Paramount 1928-29 Features in Sound, Christie Comedies, and
coining: Paramount News in Sound, Paramount Stage Shows on the Screen.
f ''Wings," ^'Wedding March," 35 de luxe Specials, 25 Star Hits, Paramount
News,Quality Short Features in Paramount's Whole ShowProgram for 1928-29!
T*— « *.♦♦♦♦ M>*«W*
NO OTHER COMPANY
STARTS 1928-29 LIKE THIS!
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
And Still
Th^y Rally
Around
Pinklestein & Rubin ~ Publix Theatres
in
cMinneapoUs and St. fPaiil
also the Finklestein & Rubin Circuit
BOOK
FOX PRODUCT
joining the parade of powerful circuits who have
already signed for a banner box-office year!
With 6 $2 Specials ready — proven by Broadway
long runs and popular price engagements— plus a
line-up of Movietone Entertainments that spell
money— plus a smashing hit every week— plus Fox
Movietonews, why shouldn't they?
Vhese smart
showmen must
he right!
Silver Anniversary
begins August 28th—
Celebrate Success with
■sun
THE SCREEN SENSA1
N OF THE SEASON!
I
I
^^ LYA Je Plini
D4)NMVARAD0
WARNER ClAND
I
w^
■:?»*'
♦JfcA
:^i>y
z?^y^^^
■./•■
/■ m
'A
'9^%^
''<*^ ^
Columb/a WW/fave
wMaumm:M
talk shackei
nation wid
Held over. N. Y. RIVOLI. . .
COMING
FBO's SECOND
DIALOGUE SWEEP !
HIT of the #HOM/"
Watch for Further Surprise Announcements!
. . . becond bLLL UU 1
%
• • •
-'' "■^^SS^'' ^^^C^^' v,«^-' V„
/ ^ 4 N
Sound or Silent: "Perfect Crime** is tlie year*s
greatest mystery thriller.,, with smasiiing trial
scene and prologue and epilogue in talk!
But FBO emphasizes again: DONT BE
PANICKED BY SOUND... REMEMBER YOU
ARE STILL IN THE MOTION PICTURE
BUSINESS AND THAT YOU NEED THE
BEST IN SILENT ATTRACTIONS!
6Uve
BROOH
Irene
RICH
TULLY MARSHALL
EDMUND BREESE
Story by WM. LE BARON from
ISRAEL ZANGWILL'S novel
DIRECTED BY
BERT
GLENNON
More NET PROFITS mth FBO PICTURES
^
10
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
W. Ray Johnston
P
^T^&sa^vts
N
UNUSUAL
snroRjv OF"
IiSITR.IGUE:
AKD
:OMANCE
, A RA^ART--
I^ICTURE
"The City of Purple Dreams" — a mystifying title — a colorful story that will fascinate and grip your audience
till the last foot of film is screened. Adapted from the prize winning novel by Edwin Baird. It's a story of
a man who fights against destiny — a story of a beautiful woman — a picture that thrills as well as entertains.
With an exceptional cast including Barbara Bedford, Robert Frazer, David Torrence, Jacquelin Gadsdon and
Paul Panzer.
Directed by Duke Worne
A TREM CARR PRODUCTION
FUSCITART
. PICTURES .1
FOREIGN DISTRIBUTORS:
RICHMONT PICTURES
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
11
€4
nhe Most ^Intelligent Burlesques
in the m Movie World Today'
!tufiirur Xt^onel^fticdie*
Have you ever noticed how the critics' re-
views get stronger and stronger with each
new release? For example, "SWORD
POINTS"; then "FANDANGO," and
"HECTIC DAYS." And now, the greatest of
them all —
"ROAMING V
ROMEO"
"Here's an instance when the
dictionary is referred to to
find a good assortment of
adjectives that will do justice
to the worth of a picture.
You have often been advised
that a picture was good in
words like 'hot stuff,' 'splen-
did program fare,' 'laugh
knockout,' etc. With the ad-
vent of this Lupino Lane
comedy, however, we drag
out the superlatives and ear-
nestly recommend it as one of
the best comedies of the year.
There are loads of laughs.
Y ou stumble over them every
minute or so. The world of
merriment that they have
packed into this short sub-
ject makes it emphatically dis-
tinctive. It is 'the spice of the
program,' all right, and how.
"Lupino Lane is an artist
when it comes to giving a
clever burlesque. He gently
nudges Roman history, its
modes of life and amusements.
Deftly gagged with effective
satiric touches, the comedy
is joyous, genial — a genuine
laugh tonic. . . .
"The story is nicely pat-
terned and embroidered with
the unexpected. Two galley
slaves escape to a Roman
villa, where they pose as gladi-
ators. It is here that the laugh
hysterics begin to creep in,
growing in volume until they
are quite the thing. . . .
"Lane's burlesques are the
most intelligent in the movie
world today. Give his latest
a nice gold star."
, From Motion Picture News
"One of the best bits of burlesque that has
ever been put over in a two-reel comedy . . .
enough to keep 'em rocking with laughter . . .
You can check this off right now as one of
the best short comedies of the season. For
straight burlesque there is nothing any bet-
ter on the screen." . . . ,
EDUCATIONAL FILM EXCHANGES, Inc.
Member. MotioQ Picture Producers and Distributors
of America, Inc., Will H. Hays, President
From Film Daily
L*There are many thrills
I
and the
^ p melodrama • • •
-held in suspense through
I intense suspense • • • the
acting are of the first
cAnother reason whv this is
in this crook
spectator is
out • • • at times
direction and
order '*
HarrisofCs Exports
Pathe's \fear
14
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
"Ask Anybody!"
Packard Says —
"Ask the Man who owns one"
The Herald- World Says —
"Ask Anybody!"
^
SK your friend, our friend, or
even our closest competitor, or
any man in the trade you meet in
the street.
The secret of the Herald-World's
success is that it is no secret at all.
Everybody knows why the Herald-
World leads the motion picture
trade paper field — because every-
body knows the Herald- World.
But perhaps a shorter way to the
same answer is
Ask
Yourself!
One of the REALLY BIG pictures
THE DIVINE LADY
facts ahout LADY HAMILTON, Heroine of
"THE DIVINE LADY"
1
Slapped a King.
14
Saved a nation.
15
Was born in poverty.
16
Became the companion of a Knight.
17
Was next supported by Charles Greville,
son of an Earl.
18
Was "sold" by Greville to his uncle,
19
Lord Hamilton.
Married Lord Hamilton to thwart Gre-
ville.
20
O Became the most celebrated beauty of
her time.
^ Was one of the greatest sirens of history.
1 C^ Was loved by Romney, one of the
■*-^ world's greatest painters.
1-i Is the subject of fifty world-famous paint-
X ings by Romney worth ^100,000 each —
and of perhaps fifty more by other artists.
12
13
Fell in love with Lord Nelson, famous
hero of the Battle of Trafalgar.
Was the scandal of Europe.
21
22
23
Influenced the destiny of nations as the
confidante of famous statesmen.
Held sway through her ravishing beauty
wherever she travelled on the continent.
Enthralled Kings and Queens with her
glorious voice.
Was one of the greatest foreign diplo-
mats in England's service.
Had the most beautiful shoulders of all
the women of England.
Was a favorite at the decadent court of
the King and Queen of Naples.
Induced the King of Naples to lend as-
sistance to Nelson's battered fleet in the
war against the French.
Was scorned by London society and the
English court because of her affair with
Nelson.
Saved her country from defeat by send-
ing Nelson back to the sea to fight the
Battle of Trafalgar, which brought his
death.
Was imprisoned for debt after Nelson's
death.
i^^y Escaped to France.
^ ^ Died in poverty.
T^ICHARD A. ROWLAND presents
CORINNE GRIFFITH in
'THE DIVINE LADY"
with H. B. WARNER and VICTOR VARCONI — a FRANK LLOYD Production
■■y™«fpfc-'fc--.JV
Y^
The
Independent
Film Trade
Paper
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
«i4 MOVING PICTURE
Home
Office:
407 So, Dearborn St,
Chicago
IN THIS ISSUE
Sound installers end strike after four weeks' tieup that prevented premieres of synchronized pictures
at Balazan & Katz's Chicago and United Artists theatre; Talking film equipment development is
credited by editorial writer with placing organiz ed musicians on defensive and saving civic sym-
phony orchestra for Chicago public.
COMPLETE INDEX TO CONTENTS
NEWS
Exhibitors voice desire for all sound pictures produced,
HERALD-WORLD survey shows — Importance of acoustics in
studio — Complete sound pictures announcement.
Joseph P. Kennedy signs to take complete control of First
National for five years — Rumors and rumors of rumors are
exploded.
Law barring interstate shipment of prizefight pictures takes more
blows on chin but remains on statute books.
Radio motion pictures will go on air from KDKA in few weeks
— Lack of projection booth is blamed for prison farm fire.
DEPARTMENTS
Synchronized Pictures 29
The Studio 46
Short Features 51
Presentation Acts 52
The Theatre 58
New Pictures 62
Classified Advertising 61
What the Picture Did for Me 69
Chicago Personalities by Whit 74
FEATURES
Service Talks by T. 0. Service 61
Los Angeles by Douglas Hodges ,....., 46
Pictorial Section 25
Letters from Readers 68
Quick Reference Picture Chart 36
Broadway 18
ADVERTISEMENTS
SOUND, FILM AND EQUIPMENT— Bristolphone, Johns-
Manville, Warner Brothers, Nordicphone, Fox, MGM, Tiffany-
Stahl, Paramount, Pathe, Columbia, Rayart, Educational, F B O,
First National, Thomas Meighan, Charles Lamont, Harold
Beaudine, Excellent Pictures, Automatic Ticket Register, Milton
M. Stern.
PRESENTATIONS— Donaldson, Douglas and Gumble, Inc.,
Harold J. Lyons, Albert F. Brown, Doc Webb, Irene Taylor,
Ginger Rogers, Roy Dietrich, Henri A. Keates, Ransley Studios,
Dean Stevenson, Brookes Costumes, Eddie Hanson.
eaiCAGO
407 South Dearborn St. Telephones Harrison 0036-37-33
Cable Address : Quigpubco
EDWIN S. CLIFFORD, General Manager
JAY M. SHRECK, Managing Editor
GEORGE CLIFFORD, Business Manager
ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD, Netcs Editor
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EDITORIAL
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^
16
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
ajji MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Martin J. Quigley, Publisher 6>o Editor
Incorporating Exhibitors Herald, founded in 1915; Moving Pic-
ture WoRiJ>, founded in 1907; Motography, founded in 1909; and
The Film Index, founded in 1909
Published Every Wednesday by
QuiGLEY Publishing Company
Publication Office: 407 So. Dearborn St., CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Martin J. Quigley, President
Edwin S. Clifford, Secretary George Clifforb, Asst. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other Publications: The Chicagoan and Polo, class journals; and the follow-
ing motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exhibitors
Herald and Moving Picture World: Better Theatres, erery fourth week, and
The BfTYEKs Index, published semi-annually.
Whole Vol. 92. No. 7 (Vol. 34, No. 10) August 18, 1928
Paging the Director
THE man to put over sound pictures has not yet pre-
sented his card. The man who, in the last analysis,
wdll provide definite proof of the value and impor-
tance of synchronized sight and sound is not yet known
to the industry.
So far we know that there are amazing new materials to
work with. We can see their possibilities, or, if we are
cynical or disappointed in love or perhaps nothing more
than just conservative, we can see their hopelessness. We
have executives who see these possibilities with us, or at
the worst executives willing to drift along with the roaring
tide. We have salesmen who can sell synchronized pic-
tures. We have exhibitors who want to buy. We have tech-
nicians w^ho want to improve, actors who want to act.
We have a public eager to see and hear. The experience
of "Lights of New York" alone, without the substantiation
that has come since, makes it obvious that the public is
keen to see and hear sound pictures. So keen, indeed, that
astute observers of the public taste like the Shuberts, Al
Woods, and the sonorous William A. Brady have sniffed
gold in the wind and have announced plans for the trans-
fer of their stage plays into sight and sound. This is, all
too obviously, the beginning of the sound era in pictures.
But we have not yet discovered how to make a talking
picture. We know how to play musical accompaniment for
pictures, yes, or how to make the curly-haired Italian
whistle. We have even, through years of experience in the
Winter Garden, learned how to make Al Jolson sing
mammy songs. But we have not yet learned how to make
our characters talk in pictures. Or if any one of us has
learned these things, then he has not yet put his knowledge
to the test.
It is not difficult to imagine (or perhaps the word should
be "remember") that in the early days of pictures there
were many who saw the hopelessness of the films. So crude
were the early experiments, in the light of our present de-
velopment of the cinema, that it was impossible for some
to imagine motion pictures as the medium of an art, or
even a vulgar means for making money.
However, the films have been made into an art. And
they have been made into box office successes. Though
there was little more than an idea and a mechanical con-
trivance to work with, magnificent successes have been
achieved. It is needless to pursue this line of argument, or
list even a meager half dozen of the monuments along the
road.
The films achieved successes because men were found
with the genius — call it imagination, if you will, or plain
horse sense — to use the materials in their hands. Men were
found with the brains to use mechanics, actors, scripts,
music and a hundred and one odds and ends and mold
them into works of art or money-makers and — Allah be
praised ! — sometimes even into both.
Now, then, we have a new tool to work with. Only a
short-sighted artisan would leave it lying on the ground,
untested. Only a fearful unprogressing workman, satisfied
in the past, would shy away from this new tool.
A great director will grasp at the opportunity to use
sound in his pictures, just as he grasped at every new idea
and every new opportunity that came his way in the past.
He will welcome this new medium of expression, as he wel-
comed the opportunity to use angled camera-shots or any
other development of the modern film.
The picture that will really test the value of sound in
motion has not yet been made. Certainly it isn't a picture
in which sound, music or dialogue, has just been tacked on
to a normal picture. Certainly it isn't a film sjoichronized
three months later in Philadelphia. Certainly it isn't a pic-
ture that will burst upon us full-grown.
The director who will make a great synchronized picture
has not yet presented his card. But when he does, he will
bring something to open the eyes and fears of an incredu-
lous public. He will bring something to be accepted as
definite proof that the films are big enough and forward
enough and progressive enough to use every means at their
command to give the public the best motion picture en-
tertainment that can be made.
Worrying the Actors
T^
kHE Actors Equity Association, through one of its
■ spokesmen, sees bad times ahead for its charges.
J- Equity looks upon the Shubert- Woods-Brady plan
for filming stage plays as they are given in their New York
houses as just another means for cutting into the actor's
opportunities. Such a plan will kill the road, is the fear
of Equity.
Equity might console itself. The road couldn't be much
deader than it is now. The present situation is hardly one
to cling to.
The history of inventions is filled with fears and disap-
pointments. Many new ideas have been greeted with riots,
and yet instead of closing opportunities they invariably
opened new ones. Talking pictures are not likely to make
life more and more unbearable for actors and actresses ; on
the contrary, they will very possibly open new opportuni-
ties for those worthy of them.
Equity can hardly be blamed for keeping a tight rein on
the present situation, for it is hardly one that can be
viewed by actors with equanimity. On the other hand, a
broad-visioned policy of guidance might prove to be far
more helpful than a fearful and nervous clinging to a pre-
carious past.
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
17
Sound Installers End Strike
After 4 Weeks' Chicago Tieup
And There Were Rumors
And Rumors of Rumors
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— An extra-
ordinary number of rumors have
been Boated on Broadway during the
past week, upsetting the industry un-
necessarily. First it was rumored
that the Paramount organization and
Fox were in competition to buy War-
ner Brothers and Vitaphone; this
was denied on all sides but had the
effect of upsetting Warner stock on
the market.
The second rumor of outstanding
importance concerned First National,
Pathe and FBO, and came about
rather naturally as the result of
Joseph P. Kennedy's return from the
West Coast. It was rumored once
more that the three would be drawn
together, possibly under the control
of the Radio Corporation of Amer-
ica. This, too, was denied on all
sides.
The New York Sun prints this line
at the bottom of all prizefight stories:
"Don't Bet on Fights." Anybody
with sound sense ought to keep this
in mind while reading motion picture
rumors: "Don't Believe Rumors."
Exhibitors Active Buying
New Fall Pictures, Say
N. Y, State's Exchanges
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 14. — Several exchanges re-
port that exhibitors in northern and central
Xew York are beginning to buy the new fall
product. The Fox exchange reports business
as being ahead of a year ago this time, while
the First National exchange reports a like
condition. Some of the exchanges say that
exhibitors in the smaller places are showing
more inclination toward buying the new prod-
uct than those in the cities.
''Hole-in-Wair Theatres
Erased, Says ButterReld
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, Aug. 14.— Ten "hole-in-thc
■wall" theatres have been eliminated from
territory served by Butterfield's 80 houses
in i2 Michigan cities through changes of
conditions in the past year, W. S. Butter-
field declared on his return from a two
weeks' vacation.
Butterfield theatres in the principal cities
will be ready to show synchronized pictures
by October 1, installations now being un-
derway, he said.
Macgowan's Father Dies
(Special to the Herald-World)
SPRINGDALE, CONN., Aug. 14.— Eli F.
Macgowan, father of Claude H. Macgowan,
Columbia's general manager, died here at the
age of 84 years.
Murnau Recuperating
(Special to the Herald-World)
PASADENA, Aug. 14.— F. W. Murnau,
Fox director, is recuperating at a hospital
here, following an appendicitis operation.
Musicians Are on Defensive
Now, Says Editorial Writer
Synchronism Credited with Saving Civic Orchestra,
Halting Union's Dictatorship
Resumption of work on installation of sound equipment in Balaban & Katz
theatres last week brought virtually to an end a strike in Chicago which had
reflected the general opposition of labor to synchronization and mechanical
music.
Ends Four Weeks' Delay
While the final terms of settlement were still to be worked out, the effect
was to clear the air of a labor difficulty that began more than four weeks ago
and held up the introduction of synchronized shows at the Chicago theatre
and the United Artists house.
The week also brought forth several edi-
torial articles in newspapers on the probable
effects of sound on the screen and stage in-
dustries. While there was hit-and-miss guess-
ing in the editorials, they also showed a seri-
ous attitude toward the business.
Musicians on Defensive
Synchronization is credited with saving the
Chicago symphony orchestra in an editorial
in the Tribune. Consummation of a new
wage agreement for three years prompted this
comment regarding sound films :
"The development creates an entirely new
situation insofar as the 'movie' theatres and
orchestras are concerned. The musicians'
union, instead of being the musical dictator
of the local motion picture world, has been
suddenly thrown on the defensive. Instead
of seeking new employing groups like the Or-
chestral Association to conquer, Mr. Petrillo
and his associates are facing the hardest kind
of fight to retain their old conquests.
"Under such conditions, it is not amiss to
point out that the real savior of the Chicago
symphony orchestra is the Western Electric
'talkie' plant at Hawthorne."
Marvelous, Terrifying Fact"
Ashton Ste\ens, dramatic critic of the Chi-
cago Herald-Examiner, quotes from the news
story in which the Herald-World informed
the trade of the strike of installers of sound
equipment, in declaring that "it will be a long
time before the talking picture has the circula-
tion of the silent one, and organized labor is
doing nothing to hasten that time."
Stevens holds that "what the 'talkies' will
do to the movies is a serious question," and
that as far as the "legit" is concerned, "the
'talkie' ought to better the stage by putting
a premium on the stage's refinements and
subtleties." Stevens declares that "the 'talkie'
is a marvelous and terrifying fact."
Doubts End of Stage
The Kansas City Star, which has acted as
more or less of a guardian for the motion
picture industry and the stage in the Kansas
City territory, launched into an editorial dis-
cussion the other day concerning the possibil-
ity of talking pictures entirely eliminating the
spoken drama from the stage. The editorial :
"Shall we have even less of the spoken
drama as a result of the talking movies? The
question is pertinent. The spoken drama, na-
tionally speaking, already has been almost sub-
merged by the films and vaudeville, and its
fight to retain a respectable place in the arts
is further hampered by the increased cost of
transportation.
Possible Blow to Stock Seen
"The voca-film is not new, but it has been
greatly extended through the almost perfect
synchronizing of the action and speech. Now
we are informed a group of New York pro-
ducers has gained a virtual monopoly of the
inventions effecting this synchronization, and
that they purpose to make talking movies of
as many as possible of worthwhile new plays
and notable revivals. There is an assumption
in such an enterprise that there will be a sat-
isfactory demand for these filmed plays
throughout the country. If there is, then to
whatever extent the filmed versions shall
supersede the spoken versions, to that extent
the real drama will suffer.
"It is possible that public support of such
films, with their low prices, might make it dif-
ficult for road companies, stock companies and
even the community theatres to keep up the
spoken drama in its national character. We
(Continued on page 68)
'Triskers'' at Frisco Get $1,000 Loot
In Three Robberies Staged in One Week
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 14. — Stickup men have been busy of late, with mov-
ing picture men the victims in three instances, these robberies taking place within
a week.
Rube Wolf, master of ceremonies at the Warfield theatre, was the first victim.
He was held up by two men while putting his car away in a garage, following the
evening performance. The men took a diamond ring valued at $450, a $10 bag
and $210 in currency. Then they locked him in the garage.
A day later Irving C. Ackerman, of Ackerman, Harris & Oppen, operating a
chain of theatres, was held up near his home and compelled to surrender a wrist
watch valued at $75 and his wallet containing $75.
Later in the week two bandits visited the Allendale theatre and robbed the
manager, Edward Gage, as he was counting the box office receipts, making away
with about $300.
18
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
!][ NEW YORK.— The New York World
^ is now publishing reviews of dramatic
openings a full day late. ... To give re-
viewers time to think. . . . This has not yet
been extended to picture reviews nor to
sports, nor to President Coolidge's speeches.
. . . Presumably these little matters don't re-
quire thought.
II Bob Kelley is running around with gen-
erous offers for the ear-muff privilege at sum-
mer houses showing synchronized pictures.
. . . Killing two birds with one stone, as it
were.
H Apparently, judging merely from a pub-
licity gag at the A M P A luncheon, there is
a fairy story about to be filmed.
H More than the usual number of rumors
are flying around. . . . And getting into print.
. . . Paramount is buying Warner. . . . Fox
is tired of buying Warner ... R C A is buy-
ing everybody. ... Is anybody buying a beer?
^ Any old rumor gets on the front page these
days. . . . And about 52 days later, when one
out of a hundred or so blind stabs comes true,
you'll hear the clak-clak of backs being
slapped, like trained seals at the circus.
H Betty Bronson is leaving town soon to go
to Berlin and appear in "Peer Gynt" for
UFA. . . . She will be away about four
months. . . . But we get our break. . . .
Camilla Horn is on her way back
^ Emil Jannings is coming to the Rialto in
"The Patriot" on Friday. Apparently there
won't be more than about 37,862 who want
to see the opening. . . . The patriot is firing
the first gun of the new season. . . . Well,
you can't drive us in from the country so soon.
^Douglas B. Murray, the bright young man
who helped build the Roxy, has been engaged
as Roxy's production manager. . . . His first
job will be on "Four Sons," which finally
pushed "Street Angel" out of the big house.
H "Wings" is the fifth picture to celebrate
a year on Broadway. . . . The others were
"The Ten Commandments," "The Covered
Wagon," "The Big Parade" and "Ben Hur."
^ Understand the bidding is pretty hot for
the motion picture rights to "The Ladder,"
which is enjoying a long run. . . . Maybe "en-
joying" isn't the word, but it's a long run
anyway.
H Joe Kennedy's next step takes him to Eu-
rope. . . . He sails the middle of this month.
. . . Probably going to take over Gaumont,
Argosy and UFA and combine them into
something very snappy.
^Katherine Zimmerman, critic of the Tele-
gram, is in England visiting her folks.
If According to the newsstand boys, the fan
magazines have been having their troubles
this summer. . . . It's not the heat, it's the
talkies.
1[The Motion Picture Club is due for a big
opening about the first of September. . . .
Now you'll know just where to find every-
body, when you want to find everybody.
^ Monta Bell is spending two nights a week
telling the radio bugs all about it.
H It looks like a terrible season for the so-
called legitimate drama, but the pictures aren't
complaining . . . yet.
PETER VISCHER.
So He Took the $20—
(Special to the Herald-World)
MEMPHIS, Aug. 14. — C. G. Lawing, man-
ager of the Ace theatre, reported yesterday
that someone had entered and robbed the safe
of $20. The combination had been worked
but he could not learn how entrance was
gained to the building.
Putting One Over on Nature
■ jT Mother Nature must be rubbing her eyes and wondering if she is dreaming. When
j| Tristram Tapper used three seasons of the year in his "The River", Frank Borzage, Fox
director, and Harry Oliver, technical director, had a problem, unless they were going to take
three-fourths of a year to make the production. They had to combine fall and winter in a
northern construction camp with balmy California summer.
^TT They did it. Oliver built the set shown herewith, with a mountain stream cutting
jj through banks lined with pine trees and with bunk houses against snow-capped peaks.
The houseboat is Charles Farrell's home; Mary Duncan's is a cabin on the shore. Fall se-
quences were started in June. Now the winter scenes are being made, and the illusion of
cold is obvious.
The Boy — Charles Farrell.
I
MAKING THE PRODUCTION— Left to right: Harry Oliver, technical director who
designed the sets; Frank Borzage, director of "The River"; Ernest Palmer, cameraman;
Dwight Cummings, continuity writer; and Tristram Tupper, author.
The Girl — Mary Duncan.
I
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
19
Kennedy Takes Full Control of
First National for Five Years
Continues As Directing Head
Of F B O, Pathe, K A O Chain
Derr Is Expected to Handle Many Details of Operation
of First National
Sound Film "Craze*' to
Last 5 Months, Schenck
Quoted by London Press
Danger Is Public May Be Poisoned,
British Papers Say He
Warned Trade
"I do not believe the present talking-picture
craze is more than public curiosity in a nov-
elty," the British trade press quotes Joseph
M. Schenck, president of United Artists, as
saying in London. "It is a novelty and it is
a badly-done one. I prophesy they will not
last more than four or five months.
Says Public May Be Poisoned
"I have heard Vitaphone features and I find
them artificial and too mechanical. For topi-
cals Movietone — which I like best — and Vita-
phone are excellent. But for full length fea-
ture pictures it is unnatural and robs the pic-
ture of sincerity by its mechanical qualities.
"The danger is that the public may be poi-
soned by the 'talkies.'
"VVe have equipped sound studios for sound
films and synchronized music and sound ef-
fects for which I think there is a great future.
"Dud" Orchestras to Go
"At the same time I do not think that the
big key theatres will ever give up their or-
chestras and musicians need not fear mechan-
ical music in the way some people believe.
"Synchronized music will simply kill the
two-man 'dud' orchestra of small houses.
"Short 'talkies' may take the place of costly
presentations which are a ghastly and expen-
sive failure in America."
James A. Allison Dead;
Headed Coupon Company
(Special to the Herald-World)
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 14.— James A. Al-
lison, whose father, Noah Allison, founded the
Allison Coupon Company, one of the large
makers of tickets and coupons, and who him-
self had charge of the company at one time,
died recently at his estate on the edge of
Indianapolis. He was 55 years old and had
been ill less than a week, bronchial pneumonia
developing from a heavy cold which he con-
tracted while on a business trip in the East.
Allison was also known throughout the
country as one of the founders with Carl G.
Fisher of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,
where each year the 500-mile races are run.
Mysterious Fire Costs
Film Ad Service $110,000
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, Aug. 14.— Fire of un-
determined origin caused $110,000 damage
to the building and property of the United
Flm Ad Service. Burning films threw a
cloud of heavy, black smoke high against
the sky, attracting hundreds of spectators
and motorists, who created a traffic jam
that made it difficult for the fire depart-
ment. The flames are believed to have
started in the developing room in the base-
ment.
Projectionists Get Raise
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 14. — Projectionists in Al-
bany will receive an increase in pay from
September 1, under the provisions of a three-
year agreement entered upon last year, pro-
viding an annual increase of about one dollar
a week.
(Special to the Herald-World) \
NEW YORK, Aug. 14. — After some weeks as advisor in an unofficial capac-
ity, Joseph P. Kennedy signed papers here Friday which give him absolute con-
trol of First National : affairs for the next five years.
Continues in Other Posts
At a meeting of the board of directors of First National held here, Kennedy
signed a contract which puts him in command for the period stated. Announce-
ment of the ;signing was made by Irving D. Rossheim, president of the
company.
Kennedy's contract followed close upon
his return from California, where he closely
inspected the West Coast plant of First
National and instituted a number of re-
forms and reorganizations. Obviously, his
work in the West met with approval.
Derr To Handle Operation
Invariably reticent about his operations,
Kennedy declined to comment upon his
contract. He will continue, of course, as
the directing head of Pathe, F B O, and
the Keith-Albee-Orpheum circuit in addi-
tion to his duties at First National. His
most immediate concern, however, lies in
a trip to Europe with Mrs. Kennedy; they
sail August 18 on the He de France. Pre-
sumably, one so active as Kennedy will
not neglect the opportunity to do business
while abroad.
It is generally understood here that many
of the details of First National operation,
certainly during Kennedy's absence, will
be handled by E. B. Derr.
sound way of doing business, as one party or
the other may die, change positions or break
faith. Any exhibitor who is following this
practice is traveling toward a dangerous situa-
tion.
"Have all special understandings reduced to
the old 'black and white' and see that every
copy of the application reads the same. If
you are buying pictures for one house and
running them in another, by special oral agree-
ment, both yourself and the salesman know
it is wrong. At least, it is unbusinesslike and
your business structure is surely being built
on shifting sands."
Oral Agreements
Unsound, Woodhull
Warns Exhibitors
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— Buying film by
oral agreements with salesmen is all wrong
and an unsound way of doing business, R. F.
Woodhull, president of the M P T O A, ad-
vised exhibitors today.
"I am impelled to sound this warning once
again because of two or three recent decisions
rendered by arbitration boards against exhib-
itors," he said. "In the first place, very few
concerns in any line recognize oral statements
by their representatives ; secondly, it is an un-
Exhibitor, Beaten, Plans
Redress Against Bluecoat
(Special to the Herald-World)
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 14.— Edward G.
Sourbier, owner of the Lyric and other the-
atres, and a former member of the city board
of public safety, is planning to seek legal re-
dress against the policeman who recently
knocked him down and beat him at a down-
town intersection. At three local corners
traffic rules provide for pedestrians crossing
the street only when all other traffic has been
stopped. Sourbier says the policeman became
belligerent when he violated this provision.
Police allege Sourbier was insolent.
Portland Women Quit as
Censor Board Members
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., Aug. 14.— Mrs. Frank
O. Northup and Mrs. Walter Cook have sub-
mitted their resignations as members of the
municipal board of motion picture censors.
No reason was given for their action. Both
thanked the third member of the board, Floyd
Maxwell, representing motion picture theatres,
for his cooperation.
Ohio MPTO Sounds Out Candidates for
Governor on Stand on Sunday Pictures
The MPTO of Ohio has sent out a questionnaire to all candidates before the
primaries for nomination for governor asking their attitude on Sunday motion
picture performances. The questionnaire explains that Sunday shows are per-
mitted in more than 100 cities and towns in over 55 counties of Ohio, representing
80 per cent of the state's population.
James T. Begg assured the exhibitors that he would not oppose any legislation
which sought to modify the blue laws. Edward L. Turner gave the same reply.
Myers Y. Cooper and Martin L. Davey had not as yet seen the questionnaire.
At Ames, Iowa, Joe Gerbracht, manager of the Ames Theatre Company, was
fined $75 and costs by Mayor F. H. Schleiter for showing motion pictures on
July 29 and August 5, Sundays.
20
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
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"Radio movies," newest step in mechanical achievement beyond tele-
vision, is the brain-child of Dr. Frank Conrad, assistant chief engi-
neer, Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. He is
shown here with the television motion picture projector, the scan-
ning disc being directly in front of him.
Above is the "heart" of the television transmitter. The scatming
disc is shown, as well as the dot of light which is thrown upon the
motion picture film, in the center. Above the scanning disc is seen
the synchronizing tube which keeps the disc turning at a predeter-
mined speed.
KDKA Sends Radio Motion Pictures
Regularly Within Few Weeks
Leading Scientists See Successful Test of Invention Conceived Only Two
Months Ago at Westinghouse
(Special to the Herald-World)
EAST PITTSBURGH, Aug. 14.-^Radio motion pictures are an accom-
plished fact. In the mere two months : since Dr. Frank Conrad of the
Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company got a working
idea of combining sight and sound transmission, so rapid has been the develop-
ment that Westinghouse ofificials declare regular sending of motion pictures
from KDKA will start in a few weeks.
LEADERS in radio met here Wednesday to
review the laboratory progress and make
definite plans for expansion of television,
facsimile radio, power tubes', Photophone and
broadcast motion pictures.
The party included RCA — David Sarnoff,
vice president and general manager, E. F.
Alexanderson, Dr. Alfred Goldsmith, C. H.
Taylor and J. L. Ray; National Broadcasting
Company — Merlin Hall Aylesworth, president ;
RCA Photophone, Inc. — E. E. Bucher, vice
president; General Electric — W. R. G. Baker;
Westinghouse, H. P. Davis, vice president,
Dr. Conrad, S. M. Kintner, C. W. Horn and
F. E. Eldredge.
Sees Radio Films for Homes
The first demonstration of radio motion pic-
tures was the climax of the meeting, the radio
waves being picked up on a receiver in the
Westinghouse Television laboratory and re-
produced before the group assembled there.
Davis predicted that there will be a time when
radio listeners can sit in their homes and have
motion pictures projected on their individual
radio receiver.
Radio motion pictures are a step beyond
previous developments in television and re-
quired the invention of a number of appli-
ances in addition to a great deal of scientific
calculation, synchronism of various high-
speed mechanisms, and accurate control of
light and radio waves. Yet the principles
of the art, as explained by Westinghouse en-
gineers, are not beyond ordinary comprehen-
sion.
Photography in its simplest form consists
of the reproducing of spots of light and
shadow in the same arrangement as they ap-
pear in the subject photographed. The screen-
ing of a motion picture, of course, requires
that a roll of film be operated at a speed
which sends sixteen pictures a second before a
projecting beam of light. Because of the
structure of the human eye, if a series of
pictures follow each other at the rate of 16
or more a second, the human eye sees it as a
single moving picture.
Transferred to Radio Wave
All this the broadcasting of radio movies
requires, with the addition that the spots of
light must be transformed into frequencies,
some of which are in the audible range,
transferred to a radio wave and broadcast
as electrical energy. In receiving the pic-
tures, the process is reversed, the electrical
energy is picked up, and the frequencies re-
turned to lights and shadows, which when
viewed present the radio motion picture.
In the first step, a pencil of light traverses
each frame at the rate of 60 times a sixteenth
of a second. This process produces a 60
line picture, as clear as the usual newspaper
halftone illustration.
The pencil of light is produced by a scanner,
which is a disc with a series of minute square
holes near its rim. The disc is so arranged
that all light is excluded from the film except
that which goes through the square holes.
Picture Broadcasting
Regulation Considered
(Special to the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14.— The
Federal Radio Commission has desig-
nated Commissioners O. H. Caldwell
and Harold Lafount to draft regula-
tions for control of the sending of
pictures or facsimiles by radio sta-
tions in the broadcast band.
Caldwell has suggested that picture
transmission be lirnited to daylight
hours, with a maximum of half an
hour after 6 p. m. local standard time.
Sale of German's Radio
Invention to R C A Reported
(Special to the Herald-World)
BERLIN, Aug. 14.— August Karo-
lus, professor of physics at Leipzig
University, is reported to have sold
to R C A his invention for radio mo-
tion pictures which includes the so-
called Karolus cell said to turn light
rays almost instantaneously into
electric current.
The disc turns very fast, and as it turns
passes the beam of light across each frame,
with the result that an individual beam of
light touches every part of the frame.
Rare Metal Used
The beam of light passing through the film
falls upon an electric eye or photo-electric
cell, which is not unlike an oversized in-
candescent lamp. Within the cell, however,
is a metal whose electrical resistance varies
with the light falling on it. Caeseum, a rare
metal, is used in the Westinghouse cell. The
amount of light falling on this cell determines
the amount of current passing through it.
The result is that each individual beam of
light sends an electrical impulse which varies
directly according to the amount of light or
shade in the film through which it passed.
The beams of light have now become elec-
trical impulses and are sent to the broadcast-
ing station. Here the beams assume definite
and varied frequencies, some of which are
audible. Dr. Conrad states that these fre-
quencies range from somewhere near 500 to
approximately 60,000. Since the human ear
is limited to frequencies of approximately 15,-
000, much of the radio motion picture wave
is inaudible.
Can Be Sent Across Continent
At the broadcasting station these frequen-
cies are transposed on a radio wave and trans-
mitted exactly as the ordinary music or voice.
The radio signals now can be sent across a
room, or across the continent. Their distance
range is limited only by the broadcasting sta-
tion's equipment.
In the Westinghouse demonstration, the.
signals traversed a distance of about four
miles ; two miles from the laboratory to the
broadcasting station by wire and two miles
back to the laboratory by radio.
To turn these radio waves back into light,
an arrangement which permits the use of a
mercury arc lamp is used. By this adapta-
tion the weak radio currents control the ac-
tion of the many times more powerful cur-
(Continued from page 68)
i^
11^
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
21
Paul Bern
Paul Bern Starts
Production Duties
At Pathe's Studio
(Sl'ecial to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— Paul Bern starts
work tomorrow as a Pathe producer under
the terms of his new contract. At M G M he
was first scenario
editor-in-chief, then
supervisor of story
production. Before
joining Metro-Gold-
wyn-Mayer he had
been a producer for
Paramount, making
"Flower of the
Night," "The Dress-
maker from Paris"
and two Agnes Ayres
pictures.
His varied training
in the production end
of the industry in-
cludes stock actirig
and stage directorship
on the "legit," film laboratory work, cuttmg as-
sistant film directorship, scenario editing,
script writing. He wrote "The Dove" for
Norma Talmadge and "The Beloved Rogue'
for John Barrymore
In Pathe's production department he will
be associated with WilUam Sistrom and
Ralph Block.
Greater Movie Season
Doubles Detroit B. O,
Over First Week in '27
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, Aug. 14.— Nearly twice as many
persons attended motion picture theatres m
this city the week ending August 11, the first
week of the annual Greater Movie Season
celebration, than attended the opening week of
the season last year.
Figures compiled by H. M. Richey, man-
ager of the M P T O of Michigan show that
the intense heat of the last week here worked
as a stimulus to theatre attendance instead of
deterrent. Those theatres with cooling plants
established high records for August busmess.
"Detroit has become 'sold' on the idea that
the moving picture season opens in August
and that the theatres and producers make a
special effort to provide extraordinary shows
during this month," Richey said. "August,
1928, will be remembered in Detroit as a
month of unusual enthusiasm among motion
picture fans. The presentation of the first
all-talking picture at the State theatre and the
appearance of special features on the stage
all tend to prove to the public that Detroit's
movie season gets under way in August in-
stead of the traditional September."
New Zealand Exhibitors
Oppose British Quotas
(Washington Bureau of the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14.— Leaders of the
industry in New Zealand are reported to be
opposed to proposed enforcement by legisla-
tion of the s:creening of a quota of British
pictures at all New Zealand theatres, on the
grounds of government interference and vio-
lation of all principles of ordinary trade.
British films already are being admitted free.
Columbia Exchange Named
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 14.— Affiliated Distribut-
ing Company is the name given officially to
Columbia's new branch here until further
notice.
Fight Law Takes More Blows
On Chin But It Stays on Books
United States Attorneys at New Orleans Decide to Drop Prosecu-
tions— Showings Continue at Portland, Ore, — Kill
Useless Statutes, Says Paper
Once more the trade is treated to the spectacle of an archaic and inimical
law being permitted to remain upon the statute books despite the ignoring of
that law by officials as a direct result of the opposition of the public to the
measure. The law barring interstate shipment of prizefight films took several
more hard blows on the chin last week in the case of the Tunney-Heeney
pictures.
Decide to Waive Prosecution
United States attorneys at New Orleans have decided to abandon prosecu-
tions of booking agents and exhibitors. At Portland, Ore., the government,
because of lack of evidence, is taking no action to bar the showing at two thea-
tres. The Kansas City Star urges that "there might be more respect for all
laws if these useless ones were lopped off the legal tree."
At Louisville, a theatre manager, alter plead- dence against persons who imported pictures
ing not guilty, was held to the October term
of the federal court.
Waive Conspiracy Charge
Against Small Exhibitors
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, August 14.— Abandon-
ment of prosecutions of booking agents and
exhibitors of prizefight films has been decided
on tentatively by Wayne G. Borah, United
States attorney, and Edmond E. Talbot, as-
sistant United States attorney, following a
series of conferences.
The attitude of the United States attorney
and his staff was said to be that while exhibi-
tors and booking agents could be held tech-
nically guilty of violating the act prohibiting
interstate traffic in prizefight films, other ex-
hibitors and booking agents, equipped with
legal advice, had been able to arrange for
showings in a manner which would not make
them liable to prosecution. While the law
was passed to suppress the showing of prize-
fight films it specifically prohibits the trans-
portation of such films, or prints or pictures
in interstate commerce.
The federal prosecutors will bring indict-
ments against all persons engaged in the di-
rect violation of the law by transporting or
causing to be transported prize fight films,
but will not seek to build conspiracy cases
against these socalled "smaller exhibitors."
Last week department of justice agents filed
charges against Henry Lazarus, operator of
the Newcomb theatre ; Walter Dominique, a
booking agent ; and B. F. Everett, of New
York, charging them with conspiracy to vio-
late the fight film act. The case was referred
to Borah's office and it was brought to the
prosecutor's attention that larger exhibitors
here had arranged subsequent to the arrival of
the films in New Orleans for the showing
of the pictures.
Evidence Lacking,
Screenings Continue
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., Aug. 14.— Lack of evi-
of the Tunney-Henney prizefight into this
state prevents the government from taking
any action against the showing here at the
Rivoli and Peoples theatres, where they are
having a good run, accompanied by other sec-
ond-run pictures at 25 cents top.
There is no law against showing the pic-
tures, according to George Neuner, U. S. dis-
trict attorney.
Lop Useless Laws Off
Legal Tree, Says Paper
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, Aug. 14.— "As the pictures
were prepared for exhibition, we presume that
it will be necessary for the management of
the Gayety theatre to go through all the fool-
ish and necessary maneuvers to circumvent a
law that continues to stand merely because
some forgotten legislator phrased it inaccur-
ately," said the Kansas City Star in referring
to the Tunney-Heeney fight pictures at the
Gayety.
"As we listened to Graham McNamee's vivid
word picture of the fight over the radio we
reflected on the inconsistency of a law that
won't permit the interstate shipment of fight
pictures, yet allows full details to be broadcast
to every home, girls' seminary and lawn social.
There might be more respect for all laws if
these useless ones were lopped off the legal
tree."
Louisville Manager
Held to U. S. Court
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOUISVILLE, Aug. 14.— Through his at-
torney, Walter S. Lapp, Joseph Steurle, man-
ager of the Walnut theatre, Saturday pleaded
not guilty to violation of the prizefight film
act before the United States commissioner,
who held him to the October term of federal
court under bond of $1,000. The case involves
showing pictures of the Tunney-Heeney fight.
The warrant against Steurle was issued Fri-
day and charged transporting and receiving
the films.
Dog Races Slip Back into Texas Despite
Injunction; '^Tip-off" Advertising Is Used
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 14. — Slipping into Texas on the sly, dog racing again is
popping up at various points throughout the state. Three weeks ago, with only
"tip-off" advertising, a track was opened eight rniles from San Antonio on Sunday,
with a turnout of 500. Edwin Seay is promoting the San Antonio races.
In South Bend county, near Houston, when races were started, an injunction
against them was granted. No legal action has been taken against the San Antonio
races, although State's Attorney General Pollard has been notiSed of the fact that
they are in operation, which is an illegality under the state gaming laws.
Representatives of theatre chains are watching with eagle eye.
22
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
Bargain Matinee Made Big Seller
With Novel Drive for Month
Manager of This Theatre Doubles Patronage and Holdouts Before 1 P. M.
Become Regular Thing
(This is the first of a series of articles on "My Greatest Problem and How I Overcame It",
to appear from time to time in the Herald-JForld. While sta:ff- correspondents are contribut-
ing the articles, exhibitors are invited to write direct with their own descriptions of
outstanding shoivmanship experiences.)
(Special to the Herald-World)
S.\N ANTONIO, Aug. 14. — William C. O'Hare, manager, came into the
Texas theatre last February under difficulties. He was confronted with
the problem of constructing a working organization, of making red ink an
unknown commodity to the bookkeeper, and institutionalizing the Texas policy.
But his biggest problem, he was informed, would be to build up the twenty-five
cent bargain matinees.
UP until that time, this institution had been
regarded as merely a morning price and
had not been gi\-en full exploitation as the
biggest appeal to the woman patron. True,
when the theatre first opened a year and one-
half ago, a campaign was put on in a small
wa}- through newspapers and posting.
Month's Campaign Waged
O'Hare called a preliminary meeting of his
entire staff and outlined his plans, telling them
to sleep on the idea for a week and come back
with unusual ideas. One week later, a real
promotion campaign was organized.
The result: After a month and one-half
of driving, with checkup meetings being held
at least three times a week, O'Hare was able
to show that bargain matinee patronage had
doubled and holdouts were being experienced
five days a week before 1 p. m.
Here are some of the mediums O'Hare
used:
A stock 24 sheet was designed in four col-
ors, lithographed, plugging the matinee, leav-
ing space for four-sheet snipe on the current
attraction. The Texas' 50 stands were cov-
ered with this paper, and it is still being used.
A revision slug was used in all newspaper
advertising for one month outlining every fea-
ture the patron could see at the bargain mati-
nee.
Trailers Used Four Weeks
Special trailers over a period of four weeks
were used. One of these was written by John
Friedl, district manager for Publix in Texas.
The first flash shows a package with a line
"Value Sixty Cents" marked out, with a line
"Cost to You Twenty-five Cents." The pack-
age in the next frame opens showing the
various units of entertainment offered.
Every piece of printed matter carried the
bargain matinee slug.
The marquee carried bargain matinee copy
in lights. A huge panel in striking colors was
placed in front of the box office from 8 a. m.
until 1 p. m. Panels were made to hang in
the lounge rooms, rest rooms, mezzanine, patio
and the foyers. An essay contest was held
w-ith the high schools. One thousand 14x44
tack cards were placed. Window cards were
placed in all stores surrounding San Antonio's
five suburban theatres, selling patrons the idea
they obtained about five times as much enter-
tainment for the same price at the Texas.
Special stories were run in the local papers.
Seiter Gives Rigid Tests
For All in New Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD. Aug. 14.— Every
candidate for a role in First Nation-
al's "Outcast" was tested in the cos-
tume, action and setting required for
his or her scenes, under a new theory
of William A. Seiter, who is direct-
ing Corinne Crifhth's latest starring
picture.
A tieup was obtained with a photographer
whereby each morning for a month a coupon
good for one 5x7 photograph was presented
to the first ten women attending the bargain
matinee.
Organizations requesting reservations for
parties were advised that the bargain matinee
was the best to attend. Letters were sent to
all clubs and local women's clubs.
Any theatre, says O'Hare, can take its bar-
gain matinee and with hard, well planned pro-
motion, organize it to such a point that it will
break box office records.
Columbia Starts
$5,000 Contest
On Film Titles
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— A $5,000 title story
contest has just been launched by Columbia
to acquaint the public with the titles of "The
Perfect 36," the product for 1928-29. The
contest will close December 31, with the win-
ners to be announced in March.
The 36 titles are to be woven into a logical
sequence, telling a story of their own. Co-
lumbia officials will be the judges. A 48-page
rotogravure booklet is being distributed by
the Columbia exchanges and through the
mails.
Awards range from $1,000 in cash to $5
consolation prizes. Awards include a new
model sedan, combination Radiola and Vic-
trola, Eastman motion picture camera and
projector. In case of tie, duplicate prizes will
be awarded.
Harding Scene Deleted
From Hoover Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14. — Scenes showing
the late President Harding appointing Herbert
Hoover his secretary of commerce were miss-
ing when the campaign picture prepared by
Will Irwin was shown yesterday. Irwin de-
clared the elimination was made only to cut
down the film to four reels.
Wallace Beery Is Sued
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug, 14.— Blackmail is the
answer of Wallace Beery's attorneys to a
$1,000,000 suit filed by Juanita Montanya,
former extra, who was arrested two years
ago charged w^ith trespassing with a gun near
Richard Dix's home.
Thomas W. Logan Dead
(Special to the Herald-World)
OTTAWA, Aug. 14.— Thomas W. Logan,
manager of the Capitol, London, Out., died
just after the close of the performance Satur-
day night.
Dolores Del Rio and her mother stopped
over in Chicago for a few days last week
on their way to New York and Europe.
While here Dolores was honored with a
luncheon at the Sherman hotel. She was
accompanied by her director, Edwin
Carewe. (Herald-JForld photo.)
F B O's First Sound
Picture Held Over at
Rivoli for Third Week
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— F B O's first syn-
chronized picture, "The Perfect Crime," has
been held over at the Rivoli for the third
week after breaking the theatre's records in
the toughest month of the year. The picture
also is setting new box office figures at the
Rivoli in Baltimore. The trial scene, with
sound, has been particularly well received.
Playing without sound at the United Artists
theatre in Los Angeles and the United Artists
in Detroit, the production also reached new
receipt totals.
Governor Broke Faith
St. Louis Musicians Say
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 14.— Governor Sam
Baker of Missouri and his' police board in
St. Louis were accused of breaking faith with
organized labor by Stephen J. Butler, business
agent for Musicians Union No. 2, at a meet-
ing of the St. Louis Trades and Labor Union
at LTnity Hall, St. Louis, Sunday, August 12.
Butler made his attack on the governor
and police commissioners during a debate on a
resolution against "canned music" in motion
picture houses, theatres and other amusement
places and against an advance in admission
prices contemplated by some theatres in St.
Louis.
Judge Closes Theatre
For Admitting Children
(Special to the Herald-World)
QUEBEC CITY, Aug. 14.— The threat of
the Quebec provincial government that exhibi-
tors who violate the new law forbidding ad-
mission of children under 16 years would be
punished by cancellation of their theatre
license was carried into effect at Quebec City
Friday, when Hon. Judge Lachance abrogated
the theatre operating license of the Arlequin
theatre and also imposed a fine of $10.
Stone Will Dance Again
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW LONDON, CONN., Aug. 14.— Fred
Stone, stage and screen comedian, will dance
again by Christmas, he said Sunday. He was
severely injured in an airplane accident.
Talkie at Loew's State
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 14.— Pola Negri's
"Loves of an Actress," synchronized with
Movietone, opens Sunday at Loew's State.
■B3>^
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
Babies in Arms Barred
From Theatres in Mexico
(Sfccial to the Hcrald-World)
MEXICO CITY, Aug. 14.— Parents
will have to leave their babies with
brother or stay home themselves.
President Calles has decreed in or-
dering motion picture theatres to bar
patrons carrying babies of less than
two years. Calles says theatres in-
terfere with the babies' sleeping and
feeding.
Indian Committee Fights
Preferential Treatment
For British Productions
Suggests Cinema Department, End
of Tax on Low Admis-
sions
(Washington Bureau of the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14. — Preferential
treatment for British films in India is opposed
by the Indian Committee in its report on the
ground that no political or economic justifica-
tion for such a step exists, according to a
report from Trade Commissioner Charles B.
Spofford, Calcutta, to the Department of Com-
merce.
Creation of a cinema department to form
part of a commerce department of India's
Government is recommended in the report of
the committee. The department would consist
of an advisory committee with a central film
bureau as the executive branch. The majority
advisory committee would be made up of non-
Indian officials, with the minority government
officials all nominated by the viceroy. The ex-
ecutive branch would consist of a secretary
and technical staff. Expense of the cinema
department would be met by imposition of ad-
ditional 5 per cent import duty on exposed
film, according to the report. It also recom-
mended the removal of the import duty on
raw film but continuance of existing duty on
studio equipment.
Removal of the entertainment tax on lower
priced admissions and compulsory exhibition
of educational films not exceeding 15 minutes
is also recommended, as well as a central
board of censors located in Bombay to reg-
ister and certify all films, thus preventing
piracy. Government legislation is preferred
if necessary to prevent non-Indians acquiring
large film interests. A majority suggested
imposition of a qualified quota system and
Government loans, but a strong minority
stoutly opposed all such measures.
W, M. James Re-elected
By Amusement Managers
Meeting at Cedar Point
(Special to the Herald-World)
CEDAR POINT, OHIO, Aug. 14.— W. M.
James of Columbus was re-elected president
of the National Amusement Managers' Asso-
ciation at the annual convention last week
with 75 attending. The exhibitors and amuse-
ment managers present were principally from
Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and other Middle-
western states. Others re-elected were Del
Andrews, Muncie, Ind., secretary; and Gus
Sun, Springfield, Ohio, treasurer.
The organization was formed 23 years ago
as a result of efforts of Gus Sun to unite
theatrical managers for the benefit of theatres
of all kinds. Since that time it has become
an organization largely of motion picture the-
atre managers.
Following the business session, the crowd
chartered a lake steamer, going to Pelle
Island, where a general good time was had.
P. J. Wood, manager of the M P T O of Ohio,
was a guest.
New Issues Make Big Turnout
At Toronto Vital, Says WoodhuU
Definite Program Must Be Attained to Settle Problems of Coping
With Synchronism and Labor Challenge, M P T 0 A
Head Tells Exhibitors
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug-. 14. — Exhibitors have an opportunity at the Toronto
convention in October to present a united front for settlement of many prob-
lems which make this year unprecedented in its challenge to successful show-
manship, according to R. F. WoodhuU, president of the M P T O A.
Sound Presents New Problem
Newest of the questions which must be answered is the adaptation of exhibi-
tion methods to synchronism, WoodhuU declared. The labor situation, he
added, also calls for concerted action, with radical economic changes in sight,
and decisions for mutual benefit imperative.
Music tax legislation and overseating are conditions. It is needless to say that as the
among other problems that make a complete
attendance at Toronto of prime importance
to the industry, the M P T O A leader warned.
Definite Program Urged
"There are many intricate situations and
perplexing problems now before the motion
picture industry," WoodhuU stated. "These
can best be solved and differences of opinion
resolved so that a definite program can be
reached through a merging of forces such as
will be presented at the coming ninth annual
convention of the Motion Picture Theatre
Owners of America at Toronto, Canada, on
October 16th, 17th and 18th.
"We have the talking picture situation
which is convulsing the industry. Who can
tell just what it will comprehend in the im-
mediate future, what hitherto stable elements
it will displace and what radical changes in
production and exhibition programs it will
force?
"What about the labor situation in our busi-
ness? Economic conditions in the United
States now leave us in the position that there
are five applicants for every four jobs. No
particular interest or set of individuals is re-
sponsible for this. It is the result of labor
saving devices, efficiency programs for speed-
ing up in industry and kindred causes that
form an integral part of our present day life.
Sees Radical Changes Ahead
"We are due for radical economic changes
and many who must become a part of this
evolution are groping in the dark.
"Labor cannot now logically demand more
than it has and those of its members engaged
in and about our business must yield to the
economic pressure of the new condition. They
are not responsible for the present situation.
Neither are the theatre owners. Therefore
the reasonable thing to do is to face this prob-
lem of natural progress honestly and arrive
at conclusions of mutual benefit.
"Some elements seem inclined to rush
blindly on without considering these changed
Gotta Quit Kickin'
Lasky Bam Around
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— Jesse
L. Lasky might resurrect the old
song and make it "You gotta quit
kickin' my barn around," but it
wouldn't do any good. The old barn
in which "The Squaw Man" was
made 14 years ago, is hunting a new
resting spot on the Paramount lot,
because it had to make room tor
Paramount's new sound projection
stage system. Some years ago it was
moved from its original site to a
proud position on the Paramount
studio property.
wheels of progress turn, the theatre owner
who carelessly increases his overhead or the
craftsman who demands more than the traffic
will bear, will be forced out of the picture.
This question must and will be considered at
this convention. It must be brought to as
close an adjustment as present conditions will
warrant. Theatre owners are urged to come
to Toronto and help solve these two prob-
lems."
"If you have any new ideas on Music Tax
legislation generally, over seating or other
situations, come along with your plans,"
WoodhuU tells exhibitors. "We can settle
things best by pleasing the greater number.
To do this the greater number must state its
position."
Greater Movie Season
Of West Coast Circuit
Starts Rolling Saturday
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 14.— Greater
Movie Season will open Saturday under the
auspices of West Coast Theatres. A. M.
Bowles, division manager, is chairman of the
local campaign and the publicity is being con-
ducted under the direction of Frank Whit-
beck, who recently returned from New York.
Greater Movie Season is credited originally
to Herman Wobber, district manager for
Paramount, and of late years has been made
a feature by West Coast Theatres. This
year's special offerings will be featured by
sound pictures and will thus have a special
significance.
Finney Is Named Head of
U A Exhibitors' Service
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— Vic Shapiro of
United Artists, has engaged Edward Finney
to take charge of the exhibitors' service
division of the advertising and publicity
department. Finney's experience was ob-
tained with Sanj Goldwyn, Metro, Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer and Associated Exhibitors.
Later he was assistant manager of a mail
order concern.
Thomas F. Logan Is Dead;
Headed Advertising Firm
Death of Thomas F. Logan, president of
Lord, Thomas and Logan, advertising agency
with offices in Chicago, New York and Lon-
don, was a shock to his many associates on
both sides' of the Atlantic. He died at his
home at Ardsley-on-Hudson, New York. R
C A Photophone was one of the agency's ac-
counts in the motion picture field.
24
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
Prison Farm^s Lack of Booth Blamed
For Fire; Inmates Near Death
Projectionist in Second Blaze in Texas Pays with Life After Saving
Patrons — Theatre Is Destroyed
(Special to the Herald-World)
DALLAS, Aug-. 14. — Failure of the state prison farm near Hobby, Texas,
to provide proper booth equipment is blamed for a fire Thursday that
brought to several inmates burns and injuries that may prove fatal and
caused heavy loss both in prison properties and in damaged prints.
IN another fire, at the Plastex theatre in
Pleasanton, Texas, Guy Metcalfe, S4-year-
old projectionist, paid with his life for at-
tempting to put out the flames and prevent
disorder among the 100 patrons. He was
covered with a stream of burning celluloid
as he tried to smother a container of burn-
ing films and then jumped from a second-
story window. He was rushed to a hospital
but lost the fight for life. The theatre was
destroyed but no patron was seriously injured.
No Booth at Prison Farm
The state prison farm tragedy was laid in
part to a burning cigaret, tossed to the floor
by a patron. When the flames came into
contact with exposed films, there was a rapid
spread of the fire.
Don Douglas, secretary of the Dallas Film
Board of Trade, declared the prison farm did
not have a booth or other necessary safety
appliances.
Comment from one exchange manager was
that his exchange would refuse to sell any
account not having proper booth equipment.
Damage Adjustment a Problem
How the damage adjustment will be made
is a matter of speculation. Fire regulations
in city ordinances, it was pointed out, are
rigid regarding theatres' handling of film, and
the trade was surprised to hear a report that
prison officials had admitted that because of
other heavy duties at the institution they had
neglected to provide facilities for film opera-
tion.
Major Gale Defies Head
Of Trade Board to Oust
Him from Advisory Unit
Sale of Tivoli Cinema in London
by MGM to PCT Is
Sensation
(By London Correspondent)
LONDON, Aug. 3 (By Mail).— The ballot
arranged by the C E A in order to nominate
candidates for the Films Act Advisorj^ Com-
mittee, on which vacancies occur owing to the
enforced resignations of T. Ormiston, W. N.
Blake and presumably Major Gale, has
resulted in a choice of H. Victor Davie, presi-
dent of the CEA; F. H. Cooper, vice-presi-
dent, E. Trounson of Liverpool, F. W.
Morrison of Newcastle, G; F. McDonald of
Birmingham and R. Bennell of Scotland.
The fly in the ointment is Major Gale, who
maintains that he has not resigned, and that
the president of the Board of Trade has no
power to demand his withdrawal. It is likely,
however, that following an official request
from the President Sir Philip Cunliffe Lister,
Gale will repair the omission and formally
resign. * * *
A report issued by the British Empire Film
Institute, stressing the effects of the British
Quota law, says that since the new system has
been in force 112 British films have been reg-
istered by the Board of Trade against 872
foreign ones. The average number of British
films was 28 a year.
* * *
A theatre sensation was provided by the
sale of the Tivoli Cinema, in The Strand,
London, which has passed out of the control
of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer into the hands of
PCT the pioneer British Circuit with which
Will Evans is associated, together with Lord
Beaverbrook and Lord Ashfield. This hall,
comparatively new, seats 2,000. It was here
that "Ben-Hur" had its premier run, which
lasted a year.
Though it is not known definitely what this
transfer may portend, it is plain that MGM
intends soon to press its new cinema, now
nearing completion on Leicester Square, into
use as a long run house. The New Empire,
as it is to be called, will seat over 3,000 and is
expected to be ready in September. It is un-
derstood that the delay in bringing this hall
along has been occasioned very largely by the
fact that American architects drew the plans,
with the result that the first set were found
to be out of conformity with London County
Council rules, and had to be sent back to the
States for drastic revision.
UFA Releasing First Five
Of 26 Completed Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— Starting to-
morrow, UFA Eastern Division Distri-
bution, Inc., will release five of the 26 com-
pleted UFA pictures for the coming sea-
son. The five are "The Apaches of Paris,"
"Milka of the Snowlands," "Bondage,"
"Guilty" and "When Duty Calls."
John Loder on Coast
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— John Loder,
English screen actor, has reached the studio
country to appear in Paramount pictures.
Two Closing for Repairs
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 14.— The Strand
and Globe, two Saenger first-run theatres,
close Sunday for extensive repairs.
T S Engages Ann Christy
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— Tiffany-Stahl has
engaged Ann Christy to feature in "Love
Charm," a Color Classic.
What's Best Picture to
See as Tooth Is Yanked?
(Special to the Herald-World)
BOSTON, Aug. 14.— And just as
the dentist was about to pull the
wisdom tooth his assistant in the
office projection booth began show-
ing . . .
What we started to say was that
Dr. James H. Daly, in charge of a
summer clinic at Tufts Dental
School, conducted a laboratory ex-
periment to show that motion pic-
tures can do much to distract the
attention of a patient from the dis-
comforts of a dentist's chair.
"Steamboat Bill, Jr." was the picture
shown, says the Boston Traveler.
At the New York
Theatres
NEW FILMS
PARAMOUNT— "Just Married," a Paramount film
featuring James Hall and Ruth Taylor, directed by
Frank Strayer.
FIFTH AVENUE PLAYHOUSE— "Crime and
Punishment," featuring the players of the Moscow
Art Theatre, directed by Robert Wiene.
HIPPODROME — "Harold Teen," a First National
picture with Arthur Lake and Mary Brian.
CAMEO^"Fortune's Fool," produced and starring
Emil Jannings, directed by Rudolph Schunzel, Film
Arts Guild presentation.
RIALTO — "The Patriot," a Paramount special, star-
ring Emil Jannings, directed by Ernst Lubitsch.
EMBASSY — "The Scarlet Lady," a Columbia special
featuring Lya de Putti, directed by Alan Crosland.
WARNER — "The Terror," a Warner Brothers all-
talking special, with Edward Everett Horton and
May McAvoy, directed by Roy Del Ruth.
HELD OVER AND REVIVED
ROXY — "Four Sons," a Fox production. Movietone,
revived for another week.
STRAND — "Glorious Betsy," Warner Brothers, re-
vived August 4. , . ,
CRITERION — "Wings," Paramount, opened August
12 1927
GLOBE — "The Red Dance," Fox, opened June 25.^
ASTOR — "White Shadows in the South Seas,
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, opened August 1.
CENTRAL — "Lilac Time," First National, opened
CAPITOL — "The Mysterious Lady," Metro-Gold-
wyn-Mayer, opened August 4 „ -c- t> r. a
RIVOLI — "The Perfect Crime," F B O, opened
August 4.
Three-fourths of F B O
Product Is Completed;
Seven Others Starting
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— Three-fourths
of the 1928-29 product of FBO has been
completed by William LeBaron, vice-president
in charge of production, in further evidence
of the rapid steps forward being made by the
company under the leadership of Joseph P.
Kennedy.
Seven new pictures are just going into pro-
duction, including "The Air Legion," "Stolen
Love," "His Last Haul," also Tom Mix's
second production, and "Come and Get It"
and "The Freckled Rascal."
Warners* Opening Release
Is "State Street Sadie''
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— Now comes the an-
nouncement of the first four productions to be
released by Warner Brothers on the new sea-
son's list. They are "State Street Sadie,"
Aug. 25 ; "Women They Talk About," Sept.
8; "Caught in the Fog," Sept. 22, and "The
Midnight Taxi," Oct. 6.
'^Scarlet Lady" Premiere
Given at Embassy Theatre
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.^Columbia's "The
Scarlet Lady" is being roadshown, starting
tonight with its world premiere at the Em-
bassy theatre. Lya de Putti, Don Alvarado
and Warner Oland have the leads.
Ambrose Dow ling Sails
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— Ambrose S.
Dowling, manager of F B O Export Cor-
poration, will sail Saturday for an extended
business tour of Europe.
Mexican Distributor Visits FBO
NEW YORK.— Luis Lezama, distributor of F B O
product in Mexico, has been a visitor at the home
office.
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
Y^
M'
Film News
in Pictures
PICTORIAL SECTION
Stories Told
by the Camera
The blind can "see" motion pictures now.
That thought, expressed in an essay con-
test on Movie'^one, staged by Fox, won
for Miss Rosalie Florence Cohen, Cornell
Before returning East "Jimmy" Walker, New
York's genial and sartorial mayor de luxe,
stopped at the First National lot and was a
guest of Colleen Moore, star of "Lilac Time."
Two winners.
The voice that helped make John Barry-
more a sterling stage star will be stilled no
longer. The Warner Brothers player, as
announced, has signed for a Vitaphone
production.
A new mount is the big thrill in the life of a horseman, and
apparently this Arabian mare from the Billington Ranch of Southern
California is every bit as interested in his first picture as was Tim
McCoy, M G M star, whose latest is "Morgan's Raiders."
Looks like "a great time will be had by all of those who are present,"
Richard Dix of Paramount may be saying as he meets Ruth Elder,
first heroine of trans-Atlantic flying. Miss Elder is leading woman for
the star in "Moran of the Marines."
26
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
Presentation personages gather for an im-
promptu chat at Randolph and Dearborn,
Chicago. From his new roadster Al Kvale,
M. C. (Oriental) is viewing some stage handi-
work of Verne Buck, M. C. Seated are
Milton Watson and Peggy Bernier (Mrs.
Watson). Ray Gallo is on the running
board. M. C, of course, means Maestro of
Comedy.
To write the phrase "My Man"
identifies this new screen star as
immediately as do the two words
Fannie Brice. The song which
she "made" contributes the title
of her first Vitaphone produc-
tion for Warner Brothers, which
is as it should be.
Whether she gets to the beach really
doesn't figure in the case; in any event it
was a happy thought that prompted her
to pause beside the car. Who? Oh,
Anita Page, now in M G M's "Our
Dancing Daughters."
-.^^../•^^■
Sunkist! We don't note
any particular tan on
Mary Brian, Paramount
player, so we take that to
refer to the fruit. Roy E.
McKay, left, and Harry
Gordon, president of the
Covina Citrus Association,
are watching George
Anderson do the crating.
Sunkist! Hmmm!
Left: Pedigreed, all. Mrs.
Arthur Stone, wife of the
Fox comedian, is trying
out one of W. K. Kel-
logg's Arabian horses
from the string at his
ranch at Pomona, Cal.,
where he has a score or
so. Stone was featured
%vith Nancy Carroll in
"Chicken a la King."
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
"Wotta life!" We purloin the
graphic phrase from an observ-
ing cartoonist, who could have
interpreted no better the ennui
possible to small comediennes.
This small comedienne is Mary
Ann Jackson of the Roach-
M G M "Our Gang."
Above: An exchange,
its manager and staff
in an interesting corner
of the world, the
Straits Settlements.
The branch is First
National's in Singa-
pore. Joe Fisher, the
manager, is shown at
the center of his group
of aides, including Miss
Fisher, secretary.
Right: Speaking of
Singapore — as we were
— here is a scene from
a piece of screen fic-
tion related to that
region, "The Singa-
pore Mutiny." The
picture shows the set
of the ship's stoke-
hold. The production,
an F B O, stars Ralph
Ince, who also directs.
M
• t
Italian diplomats and their aides visit the
UFA studio at Neubabelsberg, in connection
with the producing and distributing merger
recently effected by that important German
company and Italian Luce. The personages
shown are (No. 1) Director Grau of UFA,
(No. 2) Secretary of State Balbo of Italy,
and (No. 3) Ambassador Marescotti, Italian
envoy to Germany.
There's a white man in the offing, ap-
parently. In fact, we know there is, for
the maid is Raquel Torres in M G M's tale
of matters tropical, "White Shadows of
the South Seas." Monte Blue is the white
28
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
Seven Theatre Bombings in Seattle
Bring Demand for Cleanup
Lucky Escape from Deaths "Twisted Into Excuse for Official Sloth," Says
Times — Guards Protect Danz Houses
(Special to the Herald-World)
SEATTLE, Aug. 14. — Seven theatre bombings in Seattle since the first of
I the year have prompted an editorial demand in the Seattle Times that the
police and sheriff's office put an end to the outrages. Mayor Frank
Edwards has offered a reward of $1,000 for the capture of the man who bombed
the Colonial, latest of the objectives of the terrorists.
CHERIFF CLAUDE G. BANNICK has or business quarrels among men, but they are
•^ placed his forces at the disposal of the po
lice, and John Danz, owner of the Colonial
and other attacked theatres, declared guards
had been stationed around the houses to warn
of possible bombings and every other precau-
tion to safeguard theatregoers had been taken.
Official Sloth Charged
The editorial article stated :
"Once again a Seattle theatre has been
bombed. It is the seventh bombing since the
first of the year, and it makes at least six too
many from any point of view. It is' conceiv-
able that one such demonstration may have
occurred that was unpreventable by the
authorities ; but the fact that all succeeding
similar demonstrations have been directed
against the one 'string' of theatres gives fair
indication of official negligence and fault.
Public Demands Cleanup
"Public opinion in Seattle has never been
tolerant of felonious assault on life or prop-
erty; yet the record of what has been done
throughout this s'eries of theatre bombings
suggests considerable misapprehension of pub-
lic opinion on the part of those agencies upon
which we depend for the protection of life
and property. It is only by the mercy of God
that no one has been maimed or killed ; and
yet that kindly dispensation of Providence
seems somehow to have been twisted into ex-
cuse for continued official indifference and
s'loth. The record reads as if the authorities
were determined not to be stirred to effective
action by anything short of tragedy.
"This will not do, gentlemen of our city
and county governments. Though happily the
tragedy for which we seem to have been wait-
ing has thus far been averted, the people of
Seattle now make peremptory demand that
you shall wait no longer. They are not con-
cerned about the inward details of individual
Mae Murray's "Sesame"
Fails to Open the Books
(Special to the Herald-World)
MEMPHIS, Aug. 14.— Mae Mur-
ray, screen star appearing in a week's
vaudeville engagement at Pantages
theatre, created a sensation at the
matinee Tuesday by declaring, "This
will be my last appearance on a
Pantages stage."
This announcement is said to have
resulted from the management's re-
fusal to allow Miss Murray to ex-
amine its books for the last six
months. A spokesman for Pantages
declared he regarded Miss Murray's
actions as an outburst of tempera-
ment.
"We agreed to let her see the
books covering the week of her en-
gagement and we told her she might
place as many checkers on the door
as she desired," he stated.
Matters evidently were adjusted.
Miss Murray appeared at both
evening performances.
very gravely concerned for their own protec-
tion and for the reputation of their city,
which already has suffered serious injury.
"In the first place, of course, it is the busi-
ness of the police department of Seattle to
put an end to these outrages; to take such
steps right now that nothing of the kind shall
again occur. But we also recall that it was
not very long ago that the county sheriff and
his' forces were making much stir within the
city limits against other violations of law ; and
we would suggest that here is opportunity for
the sheriff and his men to be of real service
in case of police failure or refusal to insure
the safety of the people in every place of pub-
lic assemblage and at all times.
"The rights and wrongs of this matter ad-
mit of no debate. There is no room for any
argument. Bombing must cease. No issue
of any kind with which our officials have to
deal calls as loudly for instant and conclusive
action. The people of Seattle will not stand
for any more palliation or paltering."
ff
"Wings" to Be Released
In September; "Patriot/
"Wedding March" Follow
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— Despite the fact
that Paramount considers "Wings" good for
a long time yet for roadshowing though just
having completed a year at the Criterion Sun-
day, the aviation epic will be releas'ed gener-
ally the third or fourth week of September.
The roadshow department will cancel road-
show bookings. Full synchronized accompani-
ment will be provided.
"The Patriot," ■with Emil Jannings, will be
released at about the same time. It has its
premiere in the Rialto theatre Friday. Erich
von Stroheim's "The Wedding March" will
be released the first week of October.
More than 11,000 individuals have paid $1.10
for standing room to see "Wings" at the Cri-
terion, according to A. Griffith Grey, head of
the Paramount roadshow department. "Wings"
also holds the record of a $32,000 advance
sale, or two weeks' capacity of the theatre.
Electrical Trade Opens
Trade Show in October
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14— The motion pic-
ture business is expected to be well rep-
resented in the electrical trade show open-
ing in October, particularly in view of the
synchronization developments of the past
year. Electrical contractors, wholesalers,
retailers and buyers will participate in this
first electrical trade show, to be held Octo-
ber 17-19 at the Grand Central Palace.
James Pierce Weds
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14— James Pierce,
who played ape man in motion pictures, has
just married Joan Burroughs, daughter of
Edgar Rice Burroughs, who wrote the Tarzan
series.
Every Child Likes a Fire
But Not in His Theatre
(Special to the Herald-World)
LAFAYETTE, LA., Aug. 14.— Fire
which broke out in the Royal theatre
while 350 school children were attend-
ing the Saturday matinee caused dam-
age estimated at $5,500, partly covered
by insurance, and threatened for a
time the destruction of the business
section of Lafayette. The fire started
in the projection booth. Good judg-
ment in the conduct of the staff of
the theatre averted disorder.
New Resonant Cement
Wall Tested; Invention
Originates New Sound
Panels Honeycombed with Disc-like
Air Spaces by Emile Berliner
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 14.— A resonant
cement wall, creation of Emile Berliner, which
marks a new departure in theory of acoustical
construction for theatres, won the approba-
tion of scientists at a test at Drexel Institute
last week. Experts on acoustics agreed that
further experimentation was warranted, as
they coincided in the opinion that the inven-
tion improved reception at the Drexel audi-
torium.
Panels Honeycombed by Cells
William A. Heilprin, local representative of
Berliner, whose workmen had prepared pan-
els that took up about one-fourth of the side
wall space of the auditorium, declared, as pos-
sible explanation of the invention:
"The panels, of fireproof permanent mate-
rials, present a smooth, sanitary _ surface, sus-
ceptible of being painted or finished to imi-
tate stone. Outwardly flat, these panels are
virtually honeycombed with disc-like air spaces,
or cells; and the flat portion of the wall in
front of the circular spaces is in reality a large
diaphragm that vibrates when vocal or mu-
sical sounds strike it.
New Sound Originated
"Sound waves which strike these panels are
not reflected in beams or shafts of sound as
would be the case with masonry or plaster
walls. Nor are these sound waves absorbed
as they would be by hair felt or draperies.
The sound is thrown back to your ears in a
diffused form, ampHfying the volume, without
disagreeable reverberation caused by the be-
lated arrival of reflected sounds.
"The diaphragms reflect some of the sound
in the thoroughly diffused sprays, while some
of the sound energy is transmitted into me-
chanical vibratory motion, which actually orig-
inates new sound, having the identical pitch.
This alteration of sound wave energy_ into
beneficial form is the vital point of this in-
vention. The old method obliterated the major
portion of the sound; the new method con-
trols and utilizes it."
The invention is viewed as of particular sig-
nificance in view of the rapid development of
film synchronization.
Heat Overcomes Nine
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— The heat in
Death Valley is reported to have overcome
nine members of the troupe of Tiffany-Stahl
making "The Rainbow," including Reginald
Barker, director.
Hamlin Is Recovering
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— Thomas Hamlin,
publisher of "Film Curb," is in the country
recuperating and will return to his desk
August 27. He was operated upon May 27.
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
Y^
SYNCHRONIZED PICTURES
Wired Theatres Will Play All Available
Sound Films, Herald- World Survey Shows
By WILL WHITMORE
All we can get!
This is a typical answer to the question, "How many sound pictures will you play during the coming season?" This is
one of the questions asked in the Herald-World survey recently conducted to determine the status of sound pictures today.
Results show a wide variance of opinion among exhibitors, especially the small town exhibitors, most of whom have adopted
a policy of watchful waiting.
But this extensive survey conducted among
chains and independent exhibitors, both
large and small, shows one thing definitely
and conclusively — houses that are now
wired and those that will be wired this
season will play the sound picture this
season — all of the product that is available
for them. At present more than 600 houses
are wired and are showing sound pictures.
By the end of the year there will probably
be 1,000 theatres wired for sound. Electrical
Research Products Corporation, alone, will
be in a position to equip at least 2,000 addi-
tional theatres during the coming year.
RCA has made no definite announcement
concerning its production plans for Photo-
phone, but it is believed that the company
will be producing equipment on a much
larger scale within a short period. Photo-
phone and the Western Electric reproduc-
ing system are now interchangeable for the
reproduction of sound pictures, according
to David SarnofF, vice-president and general
manager of RCA.
Here's What They Say
In regard to the demand for the sound
picture during the coming season, let's see
what some of the chain theatres have to say.
"We will play as many feature length sound
pictures as are available," reports the Inter-
state Theatre Corporation, Boston. This
company has contracted for two Western
Electric systems. "We believe the talking
picture will replace the silent drama, and
regard the sound picture as the salvation
of the small town houses. They can now
compete with the key cities."
Alfred Gottesman Theatres in New York
City are exhibiting sound pictures in three
theatres at present and will need as many
sound films this year as can be bought. This
company believes the sound picture will re-
place the silent picture. The Nolan Theatre
circuit, Denver, Colorado, is now operating
two wired theatres and has contracted for
two Western Electric systems. This circuit
reports it will need three feature sound pic-
tures weekly.
Publix reports that sound pictures are
now being shown in 85 theatres throughout
its huge chain, and that contracts have been
made for all theatres to be wired. To the
question, "how many feature length pictures
will you play during the coming season,"
the Publix reply is, "All we get." This
organization believes the talking picture will
replace the silent drama, according to the
answer made to the Herald- World survey.
Cohen Brothers circuit, Detroit, has con-
tracted for one installation and reports it
will play all of the sound pictures for the
coming season. This circuit does not be-
lieve the sound picture will replace the
silent variety.
The Twin Cities Theatre Circuit, Cen-
tralia, Washington, reports that it will
probably play 25 sound pictures in one thea-
tre this year. It is the belief of this circuit
Sound Offers
New Problems
For Solution
By PETER VISCHER
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— The most
significant development in the motion
picture industry in recent years, the
synchronization of sound with screen,
has brought up innumerable questions
of pressing importance.
All sections of the country are taking
to_ sound, as the public demands to see
this latest curiosity of the film industry.
Taken somewhat unawares by the start-
ling suddenness with which the demand
for sound pictures arose, the industry
is attempting to give the public what it
wants.
Most of the leaders of the industry
are frank in their enthusiasm for sound
pictures'; they feel that the new devel-
opment is here to stay, will lead to bet-
ter and greater pictures, will attract
more people than ever before into the
nation's growing cinema houses. Those
leaders of the industry who are in-
clined to be more conservative, who are
not ready at this time to express their
confidence that sound pictures are a
permanent feature of the industry, are
nevertheless going along with the tide.
As' a result there has been feverish
activity all along the line. The produc-
ers have prepared some synchronized
pictures, and still have many excellent
silent pictures to sell. The exhibitors
want sound pictures but many of them
lack equipment. The equipment houses
were and are working overtime trying
to supply the demand for their products.
An extraordinary number of difficul-
ties have arisen. Actors and directors
are needed who will be competent to
{Continued on page 44)
that "the producers are producing too many
sound pictures this year and that they will
wear off the novelty and kill it."
Will Need 52 Pictures
;G. L. Hooper, president of the National
Theatres Company of Topeka, Kansas, re-
ports that one installation has been con-
tracted for and that 52 pictures will be
needed. "No, emphatically," says Hooper,
"the sound picture will not replace the
silent one."
A lengthy report comes from L. H.
Grandjean of Dent Theatres, Inc., of Dallas,
Texas. This circuit is now showing sound
pictures in El Paso, Waco, Wichita Falls
and Amarillo, Texas, and contracts have
been made for Western Electric systems in
10 additional towns. "Practically the entire
product of sound pictures will be used,"
reports Grandjean. "Emphatically no," is
his reply to whether or not the sound pic-
ture will replace the silent picture, and he
backs up his statement with the following:
"Explaining the emphatic NO to this
question — those of us who have been here
long enough to remember the 10, 20, 30
stock days know that it was not only the
price of the legitimate shows that handi-
capped the spoken drama. The legitimate
stage show never did and never will have
mass appeal — regardless of box office tariff.
And it is too much to expect that the reten-
tion of dialogue and substitution of shadow
shape for the flesh and blood actor will
more than effect a compromise.
"Certainly the talking picture will have
far greater audiences than the stage play
and certainly it is here to stay and to be-
come a great cultural asset — a greater cul-
tural asset than the silent drama could ever
be. And here lies the reason why it shall
probably never attain the universal appeal
of the silent drama. The person of limited
intelligence sees a motion picture, places his
own construction on it and probably enjoys
the evening as well or better than his more
intelligent neighbor. There is no effort —
it's a great recreation for everybody. Sound
effects will not disturb this appeal. It may
indeed enhance it.
"But language — that's another matter.
The Hal Reid melodrama crowd, the Avery
Hopwood bedroom farce crowd — will they
stand for a talky Lonsdale play? Will they
react to the whimsicality of Barry? Will
they — but why greater length? Assuredly
they will not.
"The talking movie will have its appeal
and will undoubtedly lure to the movie
houses hundreds and thousands who pre-
{Continued on page 44)
30
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
The Acoustical Problem in Sound Film
Producing Studios
10
IF sound films or talking movies are to be
reproduced in the average moving pic-
ture theatre with any degree of fidelity
to the original source of entertainment it
is essential that the acoustics of the pro-
ducing studio shall be adjusted to a very
precise standard.
Fortunately, the problem of architectural
acoustics has been reduced to an exact and
practical science through the researches of
the late Wallace Clement Sabine, formerly
Hollis Professor of mathematics and nat-
ural philosophy, Harvard university, and
the soundness of the science has been
proven through very nearly 18 years of
practical experience in de-
signing and correcting the
acoustical properties of prac-
tically every conceivable
type of building interior.
Furthermore, the acousti-
cal problem in sound film
studios is not unlike the
acoustical problem in radio
broadcasting studios, the
difference being largely a
difference in scale, so that
it would be well for sound
film producers to take ad-
vantage of the broadcasting
background and simply
carry it through to its logi-
cal conclusion.
* * *
Sound produced by any
source spreads in spherical
waves in all directions and
its loudness or intensity
diminishes as the square of
the distance from the
source. In a sound film
studio the sound of music
and speech should reach the
recording apparatus without
any distortion which might
be produced by reflection
from adjacent walls or
screens or from the walls,
floor and ceiling of the
studio itself.
Therefore, we can con-
ceive of an ideal studio as
being an open spot in the
country where recording can be done in the
open air and without some of the disadvan-
tages that enclosures produce.
However, bearing in mind the law of
diminishing intensity, it is evident that the
outdoor studio would possess one great
disadvantage, in not producing sufficient in-
tensity at the microphone for sounds pro-
duced at varying distances from the micro-
phone. The effect of the walls, floor and
ceiling of a room is to confine sound energy
within a given area which would otherwise
be lost in the open air. Since all building
materials possess the quality of reflecting
sound to a high degree, it is evident that
any sound produced within a confined space
must go through a process of multiple re-
flection, from walls to ceiling, ceiling to
floor, floor to walls again, many times, be-
fore the sound energy is completely dissi-
pated. Due to the relatively low velocity
of sound, this reflecting process, which has
been given the technical name of reverbera-
tion, requires the element of time. It re-
sults in the accumulation of sound energy,
and has a distinct advantage in producing
a condition of almost equal intensity or
loudness throughout even good sized
rooms.
By RAYMOND V. PARSONS*
The open air studio would possess an-
other great disadvantage in that it would
be difficult to exclude extraneous noises —
the noises of traffic, railways, industrial
noises — from the microphone.
The disadvantage of confining walls, floor
and ceiling lies in the fact that modern in-
terior finishes reflect too much sound, and
in a recording studio, particularly, this re-
flected sound has the effect of blurring and
distorting the original sound, with the re-
sult that reproduced speech and music bears
all the earmarks of reverberation and dis-
tortion.
At the average pitch of speech and music
FRE( iUENCT - CYCJ ,ES PER SECQ ID
64
128
C„
256 512 1024
SCIENTIFIC MnSICAL PITCH
2048
C^
(a frequency of 512 cycles per second)
cement floors and walls absorb only iy2
per cent of sound — 98^ per cent of the
sound striking them being reflected.
At the same frequency, unpainted brick
walls absorb 3 per cent of sound — 97 per
cent being reflected. Painted brick walls
absorb only 1J<J per cent; gypsum plaster
on hollow tile absorbs 2 per cent; unpainted
wood floors absorb 6 per cent; varnished
wood floors absorb 3 per cent; glass 2^ per
cent, and linoleum 3 per cent.
However, all of these materials absorb
varying amounts of sound depending upon
the pitch of the sound and, generally speak-
ing, most modern interior finishes absorb
considerably more sound of frequencies
above 512 cycles per second than at fre-
quencies below 512' cycles.
All sound produced in the course of or-
dinary speech and music is complex in na-
ture in that it consists of the fundamental
tones — the predominating frequency — and
several over tones of higher frequencies.
The relative intensity and number of these
over tones determines the quality and
* Acoustical Engineer, Johns-Manville Corporation.
character of the sound. They are, in fact,
distinguishing marks which enable us to
identify different musical instruments and
individuals. Consequently, it is essential
for satisfactory reproduction that the rela-
tive intensity of all the over tones, either
in speech or music, should be maintained
and recorded with their original character-
istics. Thus, there should be a nice balance
in a recording studio between sufficient re-
flection to secure adequate loudness and
uniformly distributed intensity, and suffi-
cient absorption to relieve distortion of any
kind, and the absorption should be nearly
uniform over the entire scale of pitch.
There are a great many
materials which possess high
sound absorbing character-
istics that can be substituted
for the usual interior fin-
ishes of buildings. Some of
these must be immediately
rejected for recording
studios because they are
combustible. Others possess
the quality of absorbing
from two to three times as
much sound between fre-
quencies of 500 to 4000
cycles per second than they
do between frequencies of
60 and 500 cycles per sec-
ond, and thus they have a
tendency of washing out
over tones and partials, de-
stroying that important
characteristic which we
know as tone quality.
* * *
Sound is absorbed by the
qualities of porosity and
flexibility in a material, the
porosity of the mass and
the flexibility of the mass as
a whole. Generally speak-
ing, high pitched sounds are
absorbed more through sur-
face porosity, and low
pitched sounds through the
yielding of the interior fin-
ish as a whole. Polished
marble, for instance, has
very little surface porosity
yet it absorbs 1 per cent of sound at a fre-
quency of 512 cycles per second. There
is sufficient energy in sounds of ordinary
speech intensity to cause a wall of solid
marble to yield under the impact of the
spoken voice.
The sound absorbing qualities of practically
all modern building materials have been de-
termined, and most of them have been
measured over the entire scale of pitch, so
that if the exposed area of all the materials
comprising the interior finish of a studio
is known or can be measured, it is simply a
mathematical problem to determine the
acoustical effect of the interior finish upon
sounds of all frequencies.
In the accompanying graph the period of
reverberation in seconds has been plotted
against the frequencies in cycles per second
and the scientific musical pitch for a typ-
ical sound film studio in which ordinary
building materials have been used for the
interior finish.
We are assuming that this typical studio
would be 75 feet wide x 150 feet long and
that it would have an average height of
48 feet from floor to ceiling, which would
{Continued on page 45)
4096
I August 18, 1928 EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 31
WM. H. BRISTOL TALKING
PICTURE CORR
ANNOUNCES
THE BRISTOLPHONE
(A Disc System)
The only patented synchronizing and reproducing
apparatus embodying a unique electrical re-synchro-
nizing device.
PRODUCERS!
BRISTOLPHONE studios and laboratories are fully equipped
to record and synchronize your productions!
EXHIBITORS!
THE WILLIAM H. BRISTOL TALKING PICTURE CORP.,
manufacturers of BRISTOLPHONE, is prepared to equip your
theatre with complete apparatus for the presentation of all sound
pictures on disc records!
INTERCHANGE ABILITY !
BRISTOLPHONE records are interchangeable with leading
disc-recording systems.
SIMPLICITY!
The mechanical simplicity of BRISTOLPHONE insures a fool-
proof presentation of all synchronized sound films.
COSTS!
Economy is the w^atchw^ord of BRISTOLPHONE. Low^ cost of
installation is only one of the many features w^hich make
Bristolphone the
World's Foremost Synchronizing Device!
— 0 —
Producers and Exhibitors are invited to inspect
'The Bristolphone'^
Wm* H* Bristol Talking Picture Corp*
Waterbury, Conn*
Telephone: Waterbury 216
For details and further information, write, wire, or telephone
32
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
22 Features on Fox Program
for '28-29 Will Have Sound
Fox Synchronized Features
PRODUCTION
"Street Angel"
"The River Pirate"
"Four Sons"
"Fazil"
"Mother Knows Best"
"Plastered in Paris"
"Me, Gangster"
"The Air Circus"
"Mother Machree"
"Sunrise"
"The Baggage
Smasher"
PLAYERS
Janet Gaynor
Charles Farrell
Victor McLaglen
Lois Moran
Nick Stuart
Margaret Mann
June Collyer
James Hall
Charles Farrell
Greta Nissen
Madge Bellamy
Louise Dresser
Barry Norton
Sammy Cohen
Jack Pen nick
Ivan Linow
Lola Salvi
Don Terry
June Collyer
Farrell Macdonald
Louise Dresser
David Rollins
Sue Carol
Arthur Lake
Belle Bennett
Victor McLaglen
Janet Gaynor
George O'Brien
Victor McLaglen
June Collyer
DIRECTOR
Frank Berzage
William K. Howard
John Ford
Howard Hawks
J. G. BIystone
Benjamin Stoloff
Raoul Walsh
Howard Hawks
John Ford
F. W. Murnau
James Tinling
PRODUCTION
"Making the Grade"
"The Red Dance"
"Joy Street"
"Dry Martini"
"Riley the Cop"
"Captain Lash"
"The One Woman
Idea"
"Wise Baby"
"All Velvet"
"False Colors"
"Strong Arm"
PLAYERS
Edmund Lowe
Lois Moran
Dolores Del Rio
Charles Farrell
Ivan LInow
Lionel Barrymore
Maria Alba
Arthur Stone
Mary Astor
Matt Moore
Sally Eilers
Farrell Macdonald
Nancy Drexel
David Rollins
Louise Fazenda
Victor McLaglen
Mary Duncan
Farrell Macdonald
Edmund Lowe
Mary Duncan
Earle Foxe
Madge Bellamy
Victor McLaglen
Nancy Carroll
Edmund Lowe
Margaret Mann
Lois Moran
George O'Brien
Lois Moran
DIRECTOR
Alfred E. Green
Raoul Walsh
Irving Cummlngs
Harry D'Arrast
Jobn Ford
John Ford
Howard Hawks
James Tinling
Howard Hawks
William K. Howard
J. G. BIystone
* * *
(Special to the Herald-World)
^^ ^^ NEW YORK, Aug. 14. — Comprehensive plans for Movietone produc-
^O^^ tion covering the season of 1928-29, have been announced by Fox Fihn
Corporation. The organization will have a million dollar Movietone
plant covering 40 acres at Fox Hills, Cal. Work is being rushed to completion on
four new sound stages and a group of administration and technical buildings.
These stages are in addition to those already in use at the company's Hollywood
and New York studios.
Twenty-two of the new season's fifty-two
features announced for release will have
Movietone synchronization. The major por-
tion of these are already completed. These
include the Broadway specials "Street Angel,"
"Four Sons," "Frazil," Mother Machree,"
"The Red Dance" and "Sunrise."
Bellamy in One
Among others to be seen and heard early
next season are "Mother Knows Best," with
Madge Bellamy, Louise Dresser and Barry
Norton ; "The River Pirate" with Victor Mc-
Laglen, Nick Stuart and Lois Moran ; Sammy
Cohen and Jack Pennick in "Plastered in
Paris" ; "Me, Gangster" with Don Terry, June
Collyer and Arthur Stone directed by Raoul
Walsh ; Howard Hawks' "The Air Circus"
with Louise Dresser, David Rollins, Sue Carol
and Arthur Lake; "Making the Grade," a
George Ade story with Edmund Lowe and
Lois Moran which has just been completed ;
"Dry Martini" directed by Harry D'Arrast
with Mary Astor, Matt Moore and Sally Eilers
featured; John Ford's production, "Riley the
Cop" with Farrell Macdonald, Nancy Drexel,
Louise Fazenda and David Rollins.
To further its ambitious sound program the
company last week signed a stage producer
and 21 leading Broadway writers, directors
and players who will turn their talents to the
sight and sound films. Albert Lewis, who
staged "The Jazz Singer," "Rain" and other
outstanding successes, is the producer. Some
of the others are Charles Judels, Donald Gal-
lagher, Marcel Silver, Eugene Walters, Tom
Barry, Edwin Burke and Dave Stamper.
Helen Ware, long a stage star, will act as
coach in developing talent for Movietone.
Among the prominent players are Chic Sale,
Clark and McCuIlough, Lumsden Hare, Sylvia
Field and Gilbert Emery.
Silent Comedies "Out"
Twenty-six Fox comedies, hitherto an-
nounced by Fox Film Corporation, have been
withdrawn from the program and in their
place will be released two reel Movietone
comedies, of which three have been completed.
These are "The Family Picnic" with Raymond
McKee and Kathleen Key, now showing at
the Globe theatre in New York in conjunction
with "The Red Dance" ; "Four A. M." with
Sammy Cohen, Jack Pennick, Marjorie Beebe,
Ben Bard and Tyler Brooke ; and "Mystery
Mansion," written and directed by Harry Delf,
with Sumner Getchel, Toy Gallagher and Ford
West in the cast.
Fox Movietone News now has increased its
field units to twenty-one outfits stationed
throughout the world covering news events
every day. To date thirty-six weekly issues
have been completed.
Twenty-six short Movietone entertain-
ments are now ready for release. In these
subjects appear such personalities as George
Bernard Shaw, Col. Charles A. Lindbergh,
Benito Mussolini, Robert Benchley, Richard
Bonelli of the Chicago Civic Opera Com-
pany, and the following stage headliners :
Gertrude Lawrence, Beatrice Lillie, Chic
Sale, Raquel Meller, Winnie Lightner, Ben
Bernie and his orchestra, the Kentucky Jubilee
Choir, Pat Rooney, Marion Bent and Pat
Rooney, 3rd, Clark and McCuIlough, Ruby
Keeler and Joe Cook.
Town of 10,000 to
Have Sound House
(Special to the Herald-World)
GOSHEN, IND., Aug. 14.— It is claimed
by Goshen that it will be the first city of
10,000 population to install talking picture
equipment. Oscar Hansen, manager of the
Jefferson theatre, has announced that he has
arranged for the installation of Vitaphone
and Movietone equipment, but though the
contract was signed with the makers, it is
expected to be January before the equipment
is received, due to the rush of business.
Movietone Shorts
Following Is a short description of each of the Fox
Movietone short releases to date:
1. Lindbergh take off and reception in Washing-
ton. Picture shows historic take off at Mitchell
Field, L. I. reproducing the whirling of the
motor and the shouts of approbation from the
crowds. Then follows the reception and speeches
in Washington: his meeting with Coolidge and
politically great.
2. Gertrude Lawrence singing "I Don't Know."
"Ranger Song" sung by J. Harold Murray and
"Spring Fever" a piano duet by the Rio Rita
girls.
3. Voices of Italy. St. Peters Vatican Choir sing-
ing sacred music. Medieval Latin Chants.
Benito Mussolini, dictator of Italy and founder
of the Fasclsti movement speaks in Italian and
English of the bond between this country and
his own.
4. American Legion Im Paris. Speeches by Marshall
Foch and General Pershing and the great parade
down the Champs Elysees amid the cheers of
former French comrades in arms.
5. Chic Sale in a characteristic comedy sketch
entitled "They Are Coming to Get Me." He
portrays an escaped lunatic who lands in the
pulpit of a church and delivers the sermon of
a tardy minister.
6. Raquel Meller appears in two Movietone shorts.
In the first she sings "Flor de Mai" and
"Corpus Christi Day" and in the second she
sings "La Mujer del Torero" and "Noi de La
Mare."
7. Winnie Lightner — Songs, "Nagasaki Butterfly"
and "Everybody Loves My Girl."
8. Ben Bernie's Orchestra plays the following:
"A Lane in Spain," "Are You Going to Be
Home" and "Scheherazade,"
9. West Point Drill — Speech by Colonel March B,
Stewart, superintendent of the academy followed
by the clocklike drill and parade of the Cadets.
10. Kentucky Jubilee Choir singing "Old Kentucky
Home." and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"
11. Nina Tarasova singing "There Once Were Happy
Days."
12. Anatole Friedland's Ritz Revue, "On the Beach
in Atlantic City."
• ♦ *
13. "The Treasurer's Report" featuring Robert
Benchley. the well known author of "Love
Conquers All" and dramatic critic of "Life."
In this picture Benchley plays the part of a
church treasurer. Benchley will also appear in
"The Sex Life of the Polyp" an animal which
has the same startling properties as the Amoeba
— that of repraducing itself by separating into
two parts, which parts separate into two again,
etc.
14. "The Hut" featuring Nina Tarasova and the
Russian Cathedral Choir, A musical production,
15. Beatrice Lillie, comedienne, singing "Rambling
Along the Highway" and "The Roses Have
Made Me Remember."
16. "In a Music Shoppe" a musical production
based on the life of the American composer,
Stephen Collins Foster,
17. Pat Rooney, Marion Bent and Pat Rooney,
3rd, In a series of songs and dances typical of
the Rooney family.
18. George Bernard Shaw, celebrated Irish play-
wright, in a short speech in which the gifted
Shavian imitates Mussolini and makes a few
pertinent remarks about the impression his
readers get of him,
19. Richard Bonelli, leading baritone of the Chi-
cago Civic Opera Company, singing the Pro-
logue from "Pagliacci,"
20. "The Family Picnic." with Kathleen Key and
Raymond McKee. The first two-reel comedy to
be made with full sound effects.
21. Clark & McCuIlough, celebrated stage comedi-
ans in a farce, "The Interview,"
22. Ruby Keeler, dancer doe« a tap dance showing
the adaptability of this form of entertainment
on the screen.
23. Joe Cook, star of "Rain or Shine" in a short
sketch, "At the Ball Game."
24. Betty Compson, featured in the Broadway
musical success "Funny Face" in a series of
dances.
25. "Four A. M," with Marjorie Beebe, Sammy
Cohen. Tyler Brooke. Ben Bard and Henry
Armetta. A two-reel comedy with full sound
effects directed by William Conselman,
26. "Mystery Mansion," with Sumner Getchel, Toy
Gallagher and Ford West, written and directed
by Harry Delf.
Horn beck Theatres
To Be Sound Wired
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOGANSPORT, IND., Aug. 14.— Murl B.
Hornbeck, secretary-treasurer of the Horn-
beck Amusement Company of Logansport, has
announced that his company's theatres in this
city all will be equipped shortly with Movie-
tone and Vitaphone.
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
33
Johns 'Manville
offers its 1 7 years
of sound control experience
to the
Talking Picture Industry
Upon accurate control of sound depends the success of the
production of the talking picture in the studio — and its
reproduction in the theatre
"T
HE science of acoustics is an exact
one . . . The control of noise, the
-1- barring of reverberations and
echoes, the exclusion of sounds from out-
side— all are absolutely essential to the
proper production of sound films.
Casual treatment of studios with ma-
terials intended for other uses is virtually
useless so far as any effective control ot
sound is concerned. Instead it is essen-
tial to use proper acoustical treatment
carefully and scientifically designed for
its purpose, and applied by experts.
The trained acoustical engineers of
Johns-Manville, when dealing with sound
in a studio, can control it completely
from origin to film or record.
In fact, it is possible today to design
producing studios which are very nearly
ideal from an acoustical standpoint, and
to design or correct theatres so that sound
films may be reproduced in them under
very nearly ideal conditions, almost
regardless of the size of the audiences
present.
Johns-Manville's position as experts, as
leading technicians in acoustics, is un-
questioned. For years we have applied
our treatment in auditoriums. Many im-
portant radio broadcasting studios have
Johns-Manville Sound ControlTreatment.
Our engineers have made a special study
of the proper methods of correcting acous-
tics and controlling sound, not only in
studios producing sound films, but also in
theatres showing such pictures. We wel-
come inquiries, and will be glad to discuss
any such problems with those interested.
Address Johns-Manville Corporation, 292
Madison Ave., New York City.
)|oh
^ ACO
MASTER
M ASBESTOS 0 "IT
anvill<
ns-ivianviiie
OUSTICAL AND SOUND
CONTROL TREATMENT
34
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
Paramount^ With Big Program^
Definitely Committed to Sound
^ ^ ^
Among Paramount's Synchronized Features
•Wings"
"The Wedding March"
•'Loves of an Actress"
"Burlesque"
"me ouudry Murder Case"
"The Carnation Kid"
"The Patriot"
"Warming Up"
"Interference"
"Abie's Irish Rose"
"The Woman from Moscow"
(Special to the Herald-World)
p* f\ NEW YORK, Aug| 14. — With the release within the next few weeks
'^11 of "Wings," "The Patriot" and "The Wedding March," all with syn-
%^ \y chronized sound effects. Paramount will give to motion picture theatres
equipped for sound projections its three most important productions in recent
years.
The general release of these specials, together with the announcement that of
the 70 feature pictures on Paramount's new schedule, 50 or more will be synchro-
nized, many of them with talking sequences, indicates the company's thorough
commitment to go the limit with sound.
Sound and talking picture production al-
ready is under way at the Hollywood studio,
and sound-proof stages are expected to be
completed within a few days at the Long
Island studio.
Two Negatives on Each Film
S. R. Kent, general manager of Para-
mount, in a statement has just pointed out
that as sound production goes forward
vigorously, theatres without sound equip-
ment will be taken care of just as before.
Both sound and silent prints will be avail-
able for all the 50 pictures made with
sound. Air Kent said:
"Each individual attraction is being made
to sell profitably to the public either silent
or in sound. In either form they are Para-
mount box office quality to the last foot.
"The Christie Comedies output of i2 short
features can be played either silent or
sound. Paramount News will soon appear
in a sound edition. But Paramount News
in its present form, which in a year, has
become the industry's leading news reel,
will continue to be available to all houses.
Additional shorts, silent and sound, will be
announced.
"Paramount's guarantee to the 19,000
theatres not now equipped with sound, as
well as those with installations, is continu-
ous flow of the best pictures this company
has ever released."
Paramount's decision to release its three
specials to picture houses was made to
give them productions of the highest class
with sound, where they are equipped for it,
at the opening of the season when they are
most in need of such quality films.
Complete Score with "Wings"
"Wings" will go out with the complete
musical score and battle sound effects as
shown during its current run of more than
a year on Broadway. "The Patriot" will
have its individual score, effects and dia-
logue. "The Wedding March" will have
music and effects, and also will have se-
quences in technicolor.
"Wings" will be released either the third
or fourth week in September, according to
the announcement. "The Patriot" will have
its world premiere at the Rialto theatre,
Times Square, on August 17. "The Wed-
ding March" is to be released the first week
in October.
A week ago Jesse L. Lasky announced
the organization of a new department to
produce short features with sound at the
Hollywood studios. This will be the first
time in Mr. Lasky's career as a producer
that he has created such a department.
Short feature types will be expanded and
varied far beyond present limitations, he
indicated. Among the first short features
at the Long Island studio will be stage
unit presentation acts for smaller theatres.
William De Mille, director and film pro-
ducer and distinguished author of legiti-
mate stage plays, has just been retained by
Paramount to contribute his highly special-
ized knowledge to sound pictures. De
Mille was one of the earliest associates of
Mr. Lasky in his productions, and has been
away from Paramount two and a half
years, being with his brother, Cecil De
Mille. He will be associated with Roy J.
Pomeroy, director of sound effects at the
Hollywood studio. Paramount's major
sound production will be on the West
Coast.
In the Long Island studio, which will be
devoted almost exclusively to sound pic-
tures, Monta Bell, production executive, re-
cently announced the appointment of Owen
Davis as editor in chief. Mr. Davis is one
of the most prolific and one of the most
successful writers of stage plays in America
and he has been in the Paramount organi-
zation the greater part of the time in re-
cent years and has a wide knowledge of
pictures.
Paramount's first releases with sound
were "Warming Up," the Richard Dix base-
ball picture, and the later "Loves of an
Actress" with Pola Negri. Other releases
W'ith sound are to follow rapidly, the com-
pany announces.
"Interference" now in production, with
plans calling not only for synchronized mu-
sic and effects but dialogue as well. This
is the play which was one of the outstand-
ing Broadway hits behind the footlights
last season and has a cast headed by Clive
Brook, Evelyn Brent, William Powell and
Doris Kenyon. Lothar Mendes is directing.
"Burlesque" to Be Sounded
"Burlesque," which played throughout
the season on Broadway with smashing-
success will be made later with sound. The
material is considered particularly suitable
for such use. Other pictures now in work
which will be released with sound are Anne
Nichols' "Abie's Irish Rose;" "The Canary
Murder Case" from the best selling mystery
story by S. S. Van Dine, starring William
Powell as the detective; and Pola Negri's
"The Woman from Moscow." Douglas
MacLean, the comedy star, has just com-
pleted casting for "The Carnation Kid,"
first feature length picture to be made by
him at the Christie studio for Paramount
release. It will have full sound effects and
dialogue.
Paramount will make a sound trailer for
each feature length picture so equipped.
The first completed trailer, made up as ad-
vance agent for "Warmingi Up," included
His Eyes Are Crossed
But Tonsils Are O.K.
(Special to the Hcrald-World)
KANSAS CITY, Aug. 14.— "Bah.
I'm not worried about those talking
movies'' said Ben Turpin here the
other day. "Not I. Listen, I have
a voice. The other actors go to
speaking classes. I took my lessons
on a huckster wagon. You have to
talk plain in selling 've-ge-tables'
and 'bah-na-noes.' "
excerpts from the sound prologue, inci-
dental music, vocal rendition of the theme
song and sounds from the carnival and
baseball game.
Sound picture production is expected
to bring even closer together the Para-
mount and Publix organizations. In the
past they have concentrated on their indi-
vidual functions of production and ex-
hibition, respectively. Now the Publix
organization will be used to produce sound
features for Paramount.
Approximately 50,000 musicians are em-
ployed in Publix theatres, among whom _
are about 1,000 who have gained wide at- "
tention for creative ability. Heading the
list is Nathaniel W. Finston, chief of the
music department, who formerly spent
seven years with various talking machine
companies including Victor and Columbia.
In the organization also are Frank Harling,
composer of the widely sung "Deep
River;" Dominicko Savina, composer; Wal-
ter Donaldson, one of the most successful
in his field; L. Wolfe Gilbert, who has
many popular song hits to his credit, and
Dave Stamper, for fifteen years with Zieg-
feld's Follies.
Other outstanding music and production
men in the Publix organization, now to
become available for Paramount sound pic-
tures are, Herman Hand, orchestrator for
Sousa; Paul Whiteman and Walter Dam-
rosch, Einar Swan and Adolph Deutsch,
jazz arrangers, and George Drumm, who
has been writing motion picture music
score for twenty years.
The distribution of Paramount sound pic-
tures will be made through nine special
sound exchanges to be located strategically
throughout the country. They will operate
separately from the present exchanges, al-
though in the same buildings. Their loca-
tions will be Boston, New York, Philadel-
phia, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Cincinnati,
Kansas City and San Francisco.
Criterion Reopens
With Long-Run Policy
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 14.— Harold B.
Franklin, president of West Coast Theatres,
this week announced that the Criterion thea-
tre, would reopen on August 16, and would
play a long run policy at popular prices.
Among the attractions already booked are :
"Street Angel," "Wings," "Wedding March,"
"King of Kings," "The Patriot" and "Lost in
the Artie." The Criterion will have a 20 piece
orchestra under the direction of Bakaleinikoff.
It also will feature short talking subjects,
the first of which will be William Fox's "The
Family Picnic." Movietone News Weekly will
be used. The Criterion is to be known as the
banner long run popular price West Coast
theatre. The Metropolitan theatre, Los
Angeles, this past week played its first sight-
sound production, when "Caught in the Fog,"
a Warner Brothers Vitaphone production
opened. Many West Coast theatres have
already been, and others are being, equipped
with "talkie" devices.
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
35
How Publix Put Over Sound in Texas
Five Publix theatres in Texas recently inaugurated sound pictures and the state is still resounding with an adver-
tising and publicity campaign that ranks as one of the greatest the state has ever seen. On Saturday, July 28, these
five theatres, the Worth, Fort Worth; the Texas, San Antonio; Palace Dallas; Metropolitan, Houston, and the Queen,
Austin opened simultaneously with the Paramount picture, "Warming Up," starring Richard Dix.
IN Fort Worth patrons formed lines out-
side the theatre an hour before the theatre
opened. The Palace in Dallas did the big-
gest opening day in the history of the theatre.
The other houses did business on a compara-
tive scale.
The campaigns in all houses were under the
supervision of John J. Friedl, district man-
ager of Publix deluxe houses in Texas. Ad-
vertising budgets were cast to the four winds
and the publicity directors of each house were
instructed to put on campaigns regardless of
cost, within reason, of course.
The huge compaigns began three weeks in
advance, resorting, in large measure to insti-
tutional advertising. Advertising and publicity
copy was carried in small towns as distant as
300 miles in one instance.
The campaign of the Texas theatre, San
Antonio, is a good example of those run in
the other cities and was used as the criterion
in the building of campaigns in Dallas, Fort
Worth and Houston. This campaign follows :
. Billing
Regular fifty 24 sheets posted four days
advance. Thirty-five special block 24 sheets
from N. Y. posted week advance. Two hun-
dred block three sheets posted'' week in ad-
vance. One hundre;] tack cards posted around
local ball parks on week advance. Five 22x
28's one week in advance and current. One
hundred inserts current. Two 24 sheets posted
on stand in .'ro it of grandstand at ball park
during doi'.ble header game.
Advance Lobby
Three weeks advance shadow box effect in
p3*-io announcing the coming of perfected
Movietone and Vitaphone. Two weeks ad-
vance colorful cutout panel in lobby, with
metallics and selling copy on coming of sound
pictures. Huge cutout circle in back of box
office one week in advance on Paramount's
first sound picture, using stills and striking
color effects. Fifty cutout star stills of Dix,
mounted on poster board with panel for sell-
ing copy one week in advance in prominent
spots throughout theatre, copy reading "Next
week Paramount's first sound picture — you'll
see — you'll hear — you'll talk!" Two 10 foot
panels on pilasters in front of theatre facing
patrons as they leave theatre, announcing the
new sound picture and coming attraction.
Eight foot shadow box in patio one week in
advance using tissue letter on cutout compo
board in various colors with lights behind.
Current Lobby
Banner extending across Houston Street
from the Texas to opposite building with sell-
ing copy on Dix in first Paramount sound
picture. Red and white awning, five feet eight
inches deep, hung entirely around three sides
of marquee, painted in dark green lettering
with selling copy on sound picture and the
first sound attraction. Strings of red and
white lights hung from top of theatre marquee,
carrying out general color scheme of the
front. Additional illumination on front of
theatre furnished by two spot lights on op-
posite building from theatre, focused on front
of theatre.
Illuminated letters hung under front arch
of theatre— "See and hear Richard Dix in
'Warming Up' Paramount's first sound pic-
ture." Triangular effect box covering tem-
perature recording thermometer in front of
theatre — about seven feet high with copy on
the three sides on stage show, picture and
sound. This box to revolve by motor. Two
pilasters in front of theatre, boxed in with
compo board in striking and harmonious color
effects with sales copy on sound pictures, leav-
Advertising used by the Texas theatre, San Antonio, Texas, as a part of the huge campaign
that introduced sound pictures and the Paramount picture, "tFarming^ Up," starring Richard
Dix, to the Texas patrons: The "Texas News" page shown was a special stunt circulated
in advance by newsboys as an "extra." In the center is shown a sticker used in San
Antonio's soda fountains. The other illustrations are advance ads used in the newspapers.
ing open for the display of regular one and
three sheet frames. Extra emergency box
office in front of theatre in anticipation of
crowds — ^this stunt paving way for additional
stories and cuts in local newspapers.
Newspapers
Stories in all papers on Sunday two weeks
in advance of opening, announcing the instal-
lation of perfected sound equipment in the
Texas. Stories of Paramount's first sound
picture again Sunday, one week in advance
of opening elaborating upon the inauguration
by the Texas of the world's greatest pictures,
synchronized with sound effects and music.
Advance advertising began one week in ad-
vance in special announcement and in Sun-
day's papers and in announcement slug in
regular Texas ad. Special announcement ads
run throughout week in all papers, emulating
those ads which were run by Paramount thea-
tre, New York. Small ads run on sport
pages of all papers on Sunday after opening
on Saturday.
Stories on all sport pages throughout ad-
vance and current week on various features
of the new Dix picture. Layouts Sunday in
all papers, exclusive of the regular Sunday
layout, on the magnificent program being of-
fered by the Texas and the innovation of
sound pictures in addition to all other units of
its great program. Quarter page ads in
Classified Section of the Light — free of
(Continued on pageAS)
t
PICTURES Inc.
Dominate the-
TalhifK^ Picture Field
ACTS. Only Vitaphone can give you, now, more than
400 completed acts. Acts with Stage Stars, acts with Opera Stars, acts
with Concert Stars, acts with Picture Stars, acts with Radio Stars and
acts with Ja2z Band Stars. Only Vitaphone is in actual production of
a steady supply of such acts each and every week.
TALKING PICTURES. Only Warner Bros, can give
you, now, Vitaphone Talking Pictures that talk winter profits during
summer weather. Only Warner Bros, can continue to give you box
office Talking Pictures week after week throughout the entire year.
TALKING TRAILERS. Only Warner Bros, supply
Talking Trailers on each Talking Picture. These Talking Trailers are
supplied at cost. They have been unanimously acclaimed as the most
effective exploitation in all the history of motion pictures.
TWO NEGATIVES. Only Warner Bros, make every
picture with two negatives. One for Vitaphone Theatres and one for
Non-Vitaphone. No picture is screened at all unless the story war-
rants the assurance that it can stand on its own merits as a picture.
It must merit value at the box office as a Warner Bros. Picture before
it is made into a Warner Bros. Vitaphone Picture. That is the test.
r
FUTURE. Vitaphone exhibitors can rest assured of
a continuous supply of Talking Pictures. Non-Vitaphone exhibitors
can rest assured that they will not be neglected and that they will
have a consistent supply of money-making pictures. Warner Bros,
and Vitaphone were the pioneers of Talking Pictures. They led the
field. They lead the field. They have given Exhibitors and will con-
tinue to give them a continuous supply of continuous successes.
BROS
Yf^^WE^lC^^
MEMBER MOTION PICTURE PRODUCERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF AMERICA, INC.
38
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
^
I
L
Speech^ Music and Effect to
Be Used in FB O Productions
F B O's Synchronized Features
'The Perfect Crime"
"Taxi 13"
"Gang War"
"The Hit of the Show"
"The Circus Kid"
"Blocltade"
6 NEW YORK, Aug 14. — Six talking pictures have been scheduled by
F B O Pictures Corporation on its 1928-29 program. The six pictures which
will have musical, talking and sound accompaniment are all specials, and
include "The Perfect Crime" already completed and now in its second week at
the Rivoli theatre. New York; "The Hit of the Show," "Taxi 13," "The Circus
Kid," "Gang War" and "Blockade."
The RCA Photophone is being used for on either Photophone or Movietone machines
the sA'nchronization of F B O pictures. Com- installed in theatres. Also, the Photophone
plete interchangeability of sound hlms made by company has no objection to sound films re-
I^Iovietone and Photophone processes has al- corded by the Movietone being played on
ready been achieved, according to a recent
statement issued by David Sarnoff, president
of R C A Photophone, Inc., Mr. Sarnoff said :
"As a convenience to exhibitors and with a
view of obtaining complete interchangeabil-
ity of sound films made by the Movietone and
the Photophone processes, RCA Photophone
has now adopted a sound track 800 mills in
width, but which retains the Photophone
method of recording. Tests made in studio
and theatre with a variety of sound motion
picture subjects prove conclusively that Photo-
phone films not only play interchangeably on
Movietone projectors but also give normal
and satisfactory speech and musical quality
perfectly synchronized. The 800 mill Photo-
phone sound track requires no modification
whatever of the Movietone sound projector;
neither is the operating procedure of Movie-
tone changed in any way.
Sees No Objection
"I know of no reason, technical or other-
wise, why sound films recorded by the Photo-
phone process cannot be satisfactorily played
Photophone machines installed in theatres."
"The Perfect Crime" is the first talkie pro-
duction in which an entire court room trial
scene is reproduced in dialogue. The attack
of the prosecutor, the defense of his rival, the
plea of the condemned boy, the collapse of the
girl wife, the shrieks of newsboys, the verdict
of "guilty — first degree!" are all reproduced
with a fidelity and reality that has never yet
been heard or seen on the screen. In addition
to the talking sequences, thrilling mystery ef-
fects have been incorporated in the produc-
tion, including the groan and rush of the
wind and the crack of lightning and roll of
thunder.
"Crime Is Forerunner"
"The Perfect Crime" is only a forerunner of
what exhibitors may expect from F B O in its
lineup of talking pictures. For these exhibi-
tors who already have installations and are
able to run synchronization pictures, F B O,
with its six specials, is prepared to furnish an
imposing lineup of show merchandise.
Re-synchronizing Device Is Feature
of Bristolphone; Set to Cost $4,500
(Special to the Herald-World)
WATERBURY, ^ CONN., Aug. 14.— The
Bristolphone, the simple and practical motion
picture and sound device invented by William
H. Bristol and manufactured here by his com-
pany, has a feature that will catch the atten-
tion of all interested in synchronized pictures.
The Bristolphone has an electrically controlled
re-synchronizing device, which makes it possi-
ble in a flash to get the picture and the sound
back in harmony should they ever get out.
One of the difficulties with synchronization
centers about this all-important point. Many
a time a picture and its sound have been tem-
porarily divorced, and there is nothing to do
but run the film through all out of gear and
start in again, hoping for better luck next
time.
With the Bristolphone this bugaboo of the
cinema is done away with. Should the pic-
ture and its sound get momentarily out of
accord, which is not impossible, all the opera-
tor has to do is to turn a little wheel and
bring the two back into synchronization. This
is accomplished in such a manner that it is
hardly noticed by the audience, for the ad-
justments are made by speeding or slowing up
the film — not the sound.
The Bristolphone is being made at the great
factory of the Bristol Company here, a vast
plant in operation for 35 years manufacturing
Bristol recording instruments for tempera-
ture, pressure, time and electricity. Literally,
hundreds of thousands of these instruments
have been sold and their fame is world-wide.
Mr. Bristol, the inventor of the Bristol-
phone, was a professor of mathematics at
Stevens Institute of Technology from 1888 to
1908. About 12 years ago he began intensive
research in electrical and mechanical engi-
neering looking toward the development of
synchronized pictures, and the Bristolphone
is the result.
The Bristolphone, according to its inventor,
is not complicated at all. It can be applied to
any good projector. If attached to a Stand-
ard Simplex, for instance, the synchronizing
motor goes on a shelf attached to the side of
the machine, attached with bolts in holes al-
ready existent. On a turntable alongside, at-
tached only by a flexible cable, appears an-
other synchronizer and a small motor. This
device is easily attached.
Mr. Bristol said, in an exclusive interview
here, that all details regarding prices and in-
stallations have not yet been arranged. He
rather expected that the complete outfit would
cost $4,500 to install, with a moderate charge
for rental. The device, he added, will be in-
terchangeable with the leading systems. — P. V.
Wire Seattle House
(Special to the Herald-World)
SEATTLE, Aug. 14.— M. H. (Mike) New-
man, managing director of Universal's chain
of theatres in the Northwest is authority for
the statement that effective September 1, the
Winter Garden theatre here will be equipped
with sound-reproducing devices, and the
future showing of pictures there will be en-
hanced by spoken lines and synchronized
musical scores with no increase in prices.
The Bristolphone
All Future Christie
Comedies to Have
Dialogue Sequences
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— All Christie
comedies to be produced from the present
date forward will be filmed with actual talk
included as well as the synchronized mu-
sical and sound effects, production now be-
ing stopped on all pictures which do not
include actual dialogue sequences.
During the first part of the production
season the comedies which have already
been filmed include sound effects and mu-
sic throughout, especially created on rec-
ords synchronized with the film by Victor
Talking Machine Company and Para-
mount's musical department.
Christie's own machinery and other
equipment for recording in the studios in
Hollywood is being shipped this week from
the East and work is progressing rapidly
on the sound-proof stages. In the period
while installations are being made, all pro-
duction of two-reel comedies will be
stopped in order that as much of the prod-
uct as possible can be recorded directly in
the stud'os with talk and other original
sound effects.
It is expected that this lull in production
will be over by October 1 and that on that
date the actual start of talking comedies
will be made. During this period the
Christie studios will be closed in prepara-
tion for the filming of talking pictures and
completing story material for them.
"Lights of New York''
Given 4 Weeks Run
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., Aue. 14.— Denoting
the tremendous popularity of the 100 per cent
all-talking offerings in the Northwest, "Lights
of New York" continues to draw the big
crowds in its fourth week at the popular
"Blue Mouse" houses in Portland, Seattle and
Tacoma.
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
Progressive, But
Not Hysterical, Is
Policy of Schenck
H^ ^ ^
U A Sound Pictures
"Nightstick"
"The Rescue"
"The Awakening"
"Two Lovers"
"The Woman Disputed"
"Lummox"
"She Goes to War"
"The Iron Mask"
"The Swamp"
"The Love Song"
"Tempest"
"The Battle of the Sexes'-
"Revenge"
"Three Passions"
"City Lights"
"Heil's Angels"
(Special to the Herald-World)
-| Q NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— United
I y\ Artists' sound policy has: been out-
-'-^^ lined by Joseph M. Schenck, president,
as "progressive but not hysterical." Thus 18
new pictures will be synchronized with music
and sound effects, both Western Electric de-
vices being employed ; but dialogue will be
used in fewer films' and only one picture now
is announced as a complete talkie. This is
"Nightstick," which Roland West will film.
Gloria to Be Heard
Voices of Gloria Swanson and Ronald Col-
man will be heard in "The Swamp" and "The
Rescue," respectively. Lily Damita, Samuel
Goldwyn's imported French player, will be
heard in "The Rescue" also. Lupe Velez will
sing an Irving Berlin song in "The Love
Song," new David Wark Grififlth production ;
and 1,000 voices of film soldiers' will sound
"La Marseillaise" through the movietone
microphones for this picture. "Marie," an-
other Berlin song especially written for the
occasion, will be sung in Vilma Banky's "The
Awakening." Berlin has been signed by
Joseph M. Schenck to an exclusive contract to
write songs for United Artists' Pictures.
Hugo Reisenfeld also has been signed by
United Artists in connection with sound in
pictures. This conductor has scored "Temp-
est," "Two Lovers," "The Battle of the
Sexes" and other new United Artists: pic-
tures, with music and many sound effects. He
will also score "The Rescue," "The Awaken-
ing" and other Samuel Goldwyn pictures.
Mary Pickford's new picture. Norma Tal-
madge's "The Woman Disputed," Dolores del
Rio's "Revenge," John Barrymore's Ernst
Lubitsch production, Herbert Brenon's "Lum-
mox," Rex Ingram's "Three Passions," Henry
King's inspiration production, "She Goes to
War," and other United Artists pictures will
be scored also.
Sound for "City Lights"
Charlie Chaplin may have an Irving Berlin
song in "City Lights" but in any case the
picture will have sound effects and synchro-
nized score. Douglas Fairbanks's "The Iron
Mask" will have synchronized score and novel
uses of sound, according to the star, who was
a famous stage actor before he entered films ;
there will be no dialogue in it. "Steamboat
Bill, Jr.," the Buster Keaton-Ernest Torrence
comedy, has not been synchronized. "Hell's
Angels" will have sound effects, color, and a
score.
The following personalities in United
Artists pictures have had stage experience:
Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas
Fairbanks, John Barrymore, Ronald Colman,
Louis Wolheim, Walter Byron, Lupe Velez,
Lily Damita. The following directors have
been associated with the stage : D. W. Griffith,
Morris Gest, Fred Niblo, Herbert Brenon,
Edwin Carewe, Roland West, Ernst Lubitsch.
The following personalities of United Artists
spoke by radio to millions of people, in the
Dodge Hour: Norma Talmadge, Charlie
Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, Dolores del Rio,
John Barrymore, David Wark Griffith. Miss
del Rio also sang "Ramona" on a Victor
record, in English and in Spanish.
Sound stages costing $250,000 are now being
installed at the United Artists in Hollywood.
Announcing
The
NORDICPHONE
\ NEW Swedish sound device, for
the synchronizing of pictures.
The recording of the human voice,
and sound effects. The Nordic-
phone is of the disc type, and uses
the fiber stylus.
THERE IS NO SCRATCH
NO MECHANICAL GRIND
'T'HE Nordicphone will be dem-
onstrated to the trade as soon
as an auditorium can be secured.
Look for future announce-
ments in the trade press.
NORDICPHONE CO.
Stockholm
/'
^
U. S. Representative
N. Hanson
)
40
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
Producing Vitaphone Films
Equipment for recording the sound upon wax records.
The sound-proof camera booth.
Vitaphone Projection equipment.
Microphones suspended above actors pick up their voices.
Vitaphone Is Now
In Its Third Year;
All Films Effect
* * *
Synchronized Warner Product
TITLE
PLAYERS
DIRECTOR
"The Jazz Singer"
Al Jolson
Alan Crosland
"Tenderloin"
Dolores Costello
Michael Curtiz
"The Lion and the
May McAvoy
Lloyd Bacon
Mouse"
Lionel Barrymore
"Glorious Betsy"
Dolores Costello
Alan Crosland
"Lights of New York'
Helene Costello
Cullen Landis
Bryan Foy
"The Terror"
May McAvoy
Edward Everett
Norton
Roy Del Ruth
"The Singing Fool"
Al Jolson
Lloyd Bacon
"My Man"
Fannie Brice
Archie Mayo
"The Desert Song"
All-star
"Conquest"
Monte Blue
Michael Curtiz
H. B. Warner- Lois
Wilson
"The Redeeming Sin"
Dolores Costello
Howard Bretherton
George M. Cohan's
Richard Bennett
Bryan Foy
Great Success "The
Doris Kenyon
Home Towners"
"Madonna of Avenue
A"
"Stark Mad"
Dolores Costello
Michael Curtiz
H. B. Warner
Lloyd Bacon
Louise Fazenda
Third Dolores Oostello
Archie Mayo
Picture "State Street
Myrna Loy
Dolores Costello
Sadie"
Conrad Nagel
"Women They Talk
Irene Rich
Lloyd Bacon
AlMUt"
Audrey Ferris
"Caught in the Fog"
May McAvoy
Conrad Nagel
Howard Bretherton
"The Midnight Taxi"
Helene Costello
Antonio Moreno
John Adolf)
"Land of the Silver
Rin-Tin-Tin
Ray Enright
Fox"
"Beware of Bachelors'
Audrey Ferris
Roy Del Ruth
William Collier,
Jr.
"Kid Gloves"
Conrad Nagel
"From Headquarters"
Monte Blue
"Stolen Kisses"
May McAvoy
Ray Enright
"Hard-boiled Rose"
Myrna Loy
F. Harmon Weight
William Collier.
Jr.
"The Little Wildcat"
Audrey Ferris
James Murray
Ray Enright
"One Stolen Night"
Betty Bronson
John Adolf)
William Collier,
Jr.
"The Million Dollar
Rin-Tin-Tin
Ross Lederman
Collar"
"She Knew Men"
"No Defense"
Monte Blue
"Fancy Baggage"
Audrey Ferris
"The Greyhound
Monte Blue
Howard Bretherton
Limited"
"King of the Wilder-
Rin-Tin-Tin
ness"
* * *
(Special to the Herald-World)
^^ NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— Vitaphone had
"S/S its second anniversary on August 6 of
this year. It was on that night in 1926
that the new device for synchronizing motion
pictures was presented to the public at the
Warner theatre in New York City. Devel-
oped by the Bell Telephone Laboratories and
the Western Electric Company, Vitaphone pro-
duced, electrically, the music, song and speech
of artists and performers on a screen as they
appeared to render it.
The introduction of Vitaphone to the public
required courage and imagination. Today as
the entire industry is accepting the arrival of
sound into pictures, Warner Brothers and
Vitaphone are advancing, fortified by two
years of actual production knowledge and the
optimism of the pioneer.
In August, 1926, Warner Brothers, as
licensees of the Western Electric Company,
proclaimed themselves ready to present for
public approval the most epoch-making devel-
ment in screen history. Previous experiments
in talking pictures from time to time had
proved commercial failures and it was sus-
pected that this demonstration would be just
one more like the rest. But it was no shallow
interest that Warner Brothers had in Vita-
phone. They backed the dexHce to the limit
— expending tireless efforts and vast resources
and their own reputation. The immediate tri-
umph of Vitaphone, both as a scientific and
(Continued on page 48)
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
Incorporations Hit
Slump in New York
As Result of Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, N. Y., Aug. 14.— The influence
of talking pictures is making itself felt these
days in the Department of State at Albany
through which all companies incorporating file
their papers. During the last two or three
months, there has been a very noticeable
slump in the number of producing companies
that incorporate week by week.
The same holds true with companies in-
corporating for the erection of a motion pic-
ture theatre. A year or so ago, each week
witnessed the incorporation of from five to
ten producing companies and two or three
theatres. At the present time new companies
incorporating in New York state are few and
far between from the producing end, and there
are very few new theatres incorporated and
in course of erection.
Theatre owners in central and northern
New York are about divided these days as
to the advisability of installing the necessary
equipment that will permit the showing of
"talkies." While there has been plenty of dis-
cussion of late relative to the drawing power
of talking pictures, there have been no theatres
in this section which have really reached the
point of installing equipment.
South Bend Gets
New House, Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
SOUTH BEND, IND., Aug. 14.— The new
Colfax theatre here, got away to an auspicious
start and incidently showed that city the first
talking pictures. The New York Paramount
theatre orchestra was secured for the opening
under the direction of Nathaniel Finston.
"Loves of an Actress" was the film used for
opening.
The theatre will give two shows' each eve-
ning. The theatre was built by the H. G.
Christman Company and is operated by Pub-
lix. The house is equipped for Vitaphone
and Movietone. Maurice A. Baker will be
managing director. He goes to South Bend
from Richmond, Virginia, where he had
charge of the Mosque theatre.
State, Detroit, Has
Midnight Matinee
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT Aug. 14.— The State theatre
here, first house in Detroit to be devoted
exclusively to talking pictures, followed the
example of many burlesque houses by giving
an added midnight performance this week.
The occasion was the opening of the first all-
talking picture, "Lights of New York." An-
ticipating record-breaking attendance, due to
the great interest here in sound pictures, the
State management arranged for a midnight
show an Saturday, August 11, the opening
date. And the house was well nigh filled
for the midnight show.
Artclass Officials to
Consider Use of Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— A conference
of all Artclass officials has been called to
consider the feasibility of embodying sound
pictures in their program for the coming
year, according to an announcement of Max
Weiss, president and general manager.
''Trial of Mary Dugan " to Be
MGM's First All Talking Film
* if; :{i
Among M G M's Sound Features
'Whit* Shadows in the South Sea»"
'Excess Baggage"
"The Trial of IHary Dugan"
"Nize Baby"
"Dancing Daughters"
"While the City Sleeps"
"The Bellamy Trial"
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14. — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, after exhaustive tests, has de-
cided upon both the disc and film methods of synchronization to use in producing
its sound pictures for this season. No sooner had this been decided upon than
every branch of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer producing and distributing organiza-
tions made the slight but necessary changes which were required to handle in
the most satisfactory way this new addition to the entertainment value of motion
pictures.
The Cosmopolitan studios in New York
recently were acquired by the Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer company, and are now being remodeled
for use as a sound studio. Here M G M will
make short entertainment features, utilizing
the talent from the vaudeville and speaking
stage. No feature pictures will be made here,
it is said, except those which would be pro-
duced in whole or in part in New York any-
how.
Large Stage Being Built
On the West Coast, even more important
constructive steps are being taken. One of
the largest stages in the world entirely de-
voted to sound synchronization is now being
erected at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios
in Culver City. Here those Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer pictures which will be partially or en-
tirely fitted with sound accompaniment will
be made.
In the comedy field for Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer, Hal Roach has bent every effort to
make the plop of the hurled pie heard in the
land.
"White Shadows in the South Seas," is
Metro-Goldwyn-A'Iayer's debut in the sound
picture field. This Cosmopolitan production,
now showing to a $2 top at the Astor thea-
tre, New York, and in Sid Grauman's Chinese
theatre, Los Angeles, was synchronized with
music and effects by David Mendoza and Wil-
liam Axt under the supervision of Major Ed-
ward Bowes. It was immediately hailed as a
sensation by press and public. Short subjects
in sound were also included in the program at
both these theatres.
"Mary Dugan" All Talkie
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's first all-talking pic-
ture will be "The Trial of Mary Dugan." Pur-
chase of the screen rights to this popular
play, including Movietone and Vitaphone
rights, was announced a few weeks ago, after
contracts had been signed by Al Wood, the
producer, and Nicholas M. Schenck, head of
Herald-World Is Aid
To Sound Ad Writer
Exhibitors Herald-World,
407 S. Dearborn Street,
Chicago, Illinois.
Gentlemen:
Thanks a lot for letting me use
your £les on Vitaphone and Movie-
tone. The material in your sections
on SYNCHRONIZED PICTURES
is a great help in preparing complete
copy for trailers, posters, and heralds.
Yours very truly,
William H. Adler,
Dept. of Adv. and Publicity,
Lubliner & Trim Theatres, Inc.,
Chicago, Illinois.
the film concern. Bayard Veiller, the author,
will supervise the motion picture adaptation,
which will be produced in the near future.
The picture probably will be made by the film
method of sound projection.
The cinema "Mary Dugan" will reach the
screen at the same time that the Broadway
play is being given first runs in every section
of the country. The Woods office has already
announced that at least six road companies
will begin individual tours of the stage pro-
duction early in the fall, in addition to the
companies now presenting the piece in New
York and Los Angeles.
Product Is Announced
Almost all of the more important of the
forthcoming Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer releases
will be synchronized with musical and sound
effects. "Dancing Daughters," "Excess Bag-
gage," "While the City Sleeps," "The Bellamy
Trial" and "Nize Baby" are definitely an-
nounced for musical and sound synchroniza-
tion.
Short features tentatively announced for
synchronization include "Imagine My Embar-
rassment," "Early to Bed," "The OF Gray
Horse," an Our Gang comedy, "School Be-
gins," also an Our Gang, and probably 30
more comedies from the Hal Roach studios.
All of the Great Events series will be pro-
duced with sound. All the Oddities will also
be handled with unique sound accompaniment
and effect*.
Vocalized short features, handled by the
film method of producing sounds, will include
a special variety program, with selections from
the following: iVIary Eaton and Oscar Shaw,
Louise Groody and Eddie Allen, Keller Sis-
ters and Lynch, Mabel Wayne (composer of
"Ramona"), Colonial Sextette, Lucas Sisters,
Sunshine Sammy, Walter Roesner and the
Capitolians, Paul Tiesen's string orchestra,
Arnaut Brothers (musical clowns), Elsa Ersi
and Nat Ayer, and Miller and Lyle.
The M G M News will also be produced in
connection with Movietone.
F N to Start Work
On First Dialogue
Picture, ' 'Changeling ' '
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— First National
is preparing to start work on the first talk-
ing picture from this studio. "Changeling,"
a George Fitzmaurice production featuring
Dorothy Mackaill. It is from an original
story by Donn Byrne, and opens in a
courtroom where a woman is on trial for
murder, where the talking sequences of the
picture will start. A shipwreck, a desert
island sequence and scenes aboard ocean
liners offer other opportunities for unique
sound effects in the story.
42
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
Colleen Moore ^s "Lilac Time^^
Is FN^s Initial Effect Picture
^ ^ ^
Among F N's Synchronized Features
"Lilac Time"
"The Divine Lady"
"The Whip"
"The Squall"
"Paid For"
"Scarlet Seas"
"The Night Watch"
"The Other Tomorrow"
"Hard Rock"
"The Eagle's Trail"
"Show Girl"
"Seven Footprints to Satan"
"Changeling"
"The Barker"
"The Goodby Kiss"
"Outcast"
"Saturday's Children"
"Diversion"
"The Heart of a Princess"
"Pleasure Bound"
"The Spotter"
"Captain of the Strong"
"The Haunted House"
"Sh! The Octopus"
^ -4 NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— "Lilac Time," a special George Fitzmaurice
"^ I production starring Colleen Moore, is the first sound picture released
%^ JL by First National. It opened with sound effects at the Carthay Circle,
Los Angeles, July 16, and is still running to packed houses. As soon as the equip-
ment is properly installed, there will be a sound accompaniment for the run of
"Lilac Time" at the Central theatre. New York, where it opened August 3.
Other important "Lilac Time" bookings with "Diversion" and two others ;
sound are the Roosevelt theatre, Chicago;
New Grand Central, St. Louis, and the Madi-
son theatre, Detroit, all on August 10; Burns
theatre, Colorado Springs, August 12 ; Stanley,
Pittsburgh, August 13 ; Stillman, Cleveland,
August 18; Aztec, San Antonio, September 1,
and the Liberty, Wheeling, September 10.
"Changeling" Will Talk
The first dialogue picture to be produced by
First National will be "Changeling," Donn
Byrne's story to be directed by George Fitz-
maurice. This will go into production within
Now We'll Hear Those
Funny Fables Animals
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— The roars,
barks and meows of elephants, dogs
and cats are soon to be a part of
theatre entertainment, it seems, for
the Van Beuren Enterprises has an-
nounced that "Dinner Time," one of
the "Aesop's Film Fables," has been
synchronized with RCA photophone.
All the animals of the jungle as
pen-and-inked in animation in
Aesop's Fables will annunciate aloud
in their more or less natural "voices,"
it is said. A background of orches-
tral music is offered throughout the
reel.
Billie Dove in "The Night Watch," "The
Heart of a Princess," "The Other Tomorrow,"
"Pleasure Bound" ;
Milton Sills in "Hard Rock," "The Spotter,"
"The Eagle's Trail" and "Captain of the
Strong" ;
Alice White in "Show Girl," J. P. McEvoy's
story of backstage life;
Three mystery dramas, "The Haunted
House" by Owen Davis ; "Seven Footprints to
Satan," W. A. Merritt's mystery novel, and
"Sh! The Octopus," a recent Broadway suc-
cess.
"First National doesn't contemplate sound
production in the East at this time," said Irv-
ing D. Rossheim, president of the company.
"We are sure that the finest equipment and the
best talent can be secured in Los Angeles and
that Hollywood will soon be built up as a
center of sound production as it now is the
center of motion picture production."
a week or so at the West Coast studios, where
the necessary equipment is being installed.
Among the First National pictures now be-
ing prepared for the new process, are three
Colleen Moore specials in addition to "Lilac
Time" ;
Corinne Griffith in "The Divine Lady," in
which the Battle of Trafalgar will be repro-
duced in sound ;
"The Barker" with Milton Sills, Dorothy
Mackaill and Betty Compson, in which all the
sounds and dialogue of the carnival will be
reproduced ;
"The Whip" with Dorothy Mackaill ;
Dove in Sound Special
A Eillie Dove special, directed by George
Fitzmaurice ;
"The Good-Bye Kiss";
"The Squall," made from the famous Broad-
way play;
"Changeling," Donn Byrne's story;
Corinne Griffith in "Outcast," "Paid For,"
"Saturday's Children" and one other as yet
untitled ;
Richard Barthelmess in "Scarlet Seas,"
Louisville Is Strong
For Sound Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOUISVILLE, Aug. 14.— It appears that
all first run theatres in Louisville are turn-
ing to Vitaphone. Vitaphone at the Strand
theatre has now been a strong success for
many months. Fred Dolle recently an-
nounced that he intended putting in Vita-
phone at the Alamo theatre, Louisville, and
has already wired his twc^ new suburban
houses, the Uptown and Parks. It is also
reported that Libson on behalf of the
Keith interests, has arranged to put Vita-
phone in at the Rialto, Majestic and Mary
Anderson.
Warners Complete
3 More Road Shows
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— Three War-
ner Brothers' road shows for release this
season were completed this week. All of
them are pictures in which Vitaphone
sound will figure prominently. The first
to be finished was "The Singing Fool," with
Al Jolson, directed by Lloyd Bacon. Fan-
nie Brice has also completed work on "My
Man" in which the comedienne makes her
first motion picture appearance. This has
been directed by Archie Mayo. The third
is "The Redeeming Sin," starring Dolores
Costello.
The signing of the contract which will
give everybody a chance to see and hear
Ted Lewis, the tragedian of Jazz, in a
Warner Brothers Vitaphone road show,
"Is Everybody Happy?" Sam. Morris,
general manager of distribution for War-
ners, is seen closing the contract with
Ted.
i6TT99
C/" Has Several
Sound Features
Ready for Screen
* * *
Among Universal's Sound Films
"The Minstrel Man"
"The Man Who Laughs"
"The Last Warning"
"Man, Woman and Wife"
"Red Hot Speed"
"Broadway"
"The College Hero"
"Uncle Tom's Cabin"
"Lonesome"
"The Girl on the Barge"
"Give and Take"
"Cohens and Kellys at Atlantic
City"
"Showboat"
* * *
(Special to the Herald-World)
■< Q NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— Universal is
I r\ letting no grass grow under its feet
■^^^ in the sound picture field. Compre-
hensive plans long have been under way and
the present finds the Carl Laemmle organiza-
tion with several synchronized pictures ready
for the screen and a munber of others near-
ing the market. Also, several all talking pic-
tures are in the making or about to enter pro-
duction.
Universal is using the Movietone sound on
the film method. One complete sound stage
unit already is in operation at Universal City
and three more have been okayed by Mr.
Laemmle for immediate construction.
"Uncle Tom" Sounded
The first big step taken by Universal was
the synchronization of its two biggest pic-
tures, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and "The Man
Who Laughs." Work on these pictures has
been completed. The synchronized version of
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" was previewed by New
York exhibitors at the Globe theatre, Broad-
way and 46th street, last week and hailed as
a marvelous rendition. A noted and aug-
mented New York symphony orchestra was
used in supplying the musical setting. Also,
the Dixie Jubilee singers were recorded in
the plantation melody scenes. The baying of
bloodhounds, the harmonious whistle of the
steamboats, and other sounds of ante-bellum
life in the South were incorporated. The pic-
ture is being booked now.
The synchronized version of "The Man
Who Laughs," made under similar conditions,
will be ready for previewing in a few days.
Universal also is taking steps to include
talking sequences in "Lonesome," the remark-
able picture made by Dr. Paul Fejos. It also
will be supplied with musical backgrounds and
sound effects.
Mystery to Be Synchronized
Four other Universal pictures, on which
camera work has been completed, will be sjm-
chronized in the immediate future. They are
"The Last Warning," the Laura La Plante-
Paul Leni mystery picture, just completed at
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
"LIGHTS OF
NEW YORK"
The First All-Talk Morion
Picture To B« Made!
The Screen's GrKiiwsi
AcKicv:ment!
OLYMPIC
THEATRE STtUflENVILLE OHIO
AUG. 13-18-1928
*LieHT/
NOV
Two sides of an envelope used as a stunt
for "Lights of New York," the Warner
Brothers' all-talking picture, by W^illiam
L. Hendricks, managing director of the
Capitol and Olympic theatres, Steuben-
ville, Ohio. In the envelope were placed
several packs of matches. The envelopes
and matches were supplied to all stores
in town selling tobacco a week in ad-
vance of the run and during the run of
the picture. This is a "sure-fire" gag that
will create a lot of attention.
the Coast; "The Girl on the Barge," just com-
pleted from the Rupert Hughes story; "Man,
Woman and Wife," the latest Eddie Laemmle
picture ; and "Give and Take," a recent fea-
ture with George Sidney and Jean Hersholt.
Then, Universal will supply sound and talk-
ing sequences to two important pictures just
going into production. Much of the dialogue
and sound will be made at the same time as
the pictures. They are "Red Hot Speed,"
Reginald Denny's new picture, just starting at
the Coast, and "The Cohens and Kellys at
Atlantic City," which will go into production
next week at Atlantic City.
Other Universal pictures will be announced
for sound effects, music and dialogue within
the next month, it is stated.
It also is interesting to note that a novelty
two-reeler is now in production at Universal
City as an all-talkie. It is "East Side," being
directed by Leigh Jason, with Jean Hersholt
and an all-star cast.
Universal, however, is going ahead vigor-
ously with its silent picture program, and as-
sures a steady supply of good pictures for
1928-1929.
Summary of Plans
Universal has announced that 18 features of
the 1928-1929 release schedule will be syn-
chronized, some with music and sound effects
only and some as all-talking pictures.
Definite information has been announced
about the following nine :
Music and sound effects :
"Uncle Tom's Cabin." Synchronization com-
pleted.
"The Man Who Laughs." Synchronization
completed.
"The Last Warning." Picture now being
synchronized.
"The Girl on the Barge." Picture now being
synchronized.
"Man, Woman and Wife." To be synchro-
nized soon.
"Give and Take." To be synchronized soon.
Music and Sound, plus Talking Sequences :
"Lonesome." Talking sequences being made.
All Talking Pictures :
"Red Hot Speed" (Reginald Denny). En-
tering production.
"The Cohens and Kellys in Atlantic City."
Soon to enter production.
In addition: Universal promises some short
subjects with sound.
"East Side," a novelty 2-reeler, is now being
made at Universal City with an all-star cast
headed by Jean Hersholt. A talkie.
It is also contemplated that "Showboat" and
"Broadway" will be made with sound, and
Universal also is preparing for the production
of two big sound pictures, probably for re-
lease in 1929, "The College Hero," screen
musical comedy, and "The Miracle Man."
It's All a Fake
The Sound Game Is a Bag of Tricks
By DAVID H. BROCKMAN
Synchronising Coiidnctor for Recording Laboratories of America
WHILE the ink is drying on this issue of
the Herald-World more than one mo-
tion picture producer is getting ready
to pay five figures to find out what you already
know if you have read the title of this article.
The business of recording synchronized
sound for theatre reproduction requires an
endless bag of tricks, and everyone who goes
in for recording will spend a lot of somebody's
money finding out what these tricks are.
]\Iusical sense, dramatic sense and horse
sense are indispensable to the recording con-
ductor, but they are not sufficient. The opti-
mists who are gaily embarking on the sea of
sound armed only with these old fashioned
virtues will pay a high price to learn that
experience is needed also.
It is not enough to have a "feeling" for
what is right and wrong in sound. One must
know how the microphone is going to feel
about it.
The microphone is a highly sensitive hearing
de\ice. But the microphone is not an ear.
The sound that goes into this remarkable de-
vice is not necessarily the sound that will
come off the record. In order to reproduce a
desired sound effect, much different sound
frequently has to be introduced. It is the syn-
chronizing conductor's business to know which
wrong sound will reproduce a right effect, or
something near it.
A great many common errors and methods
of overcoming them have been card indexed
by those who have made an intensive experi-
mental study of synchro-sound during the past
few years. Without his catalog of flukes and
fakes the conductor is lost. And most of the
catalog must be carried in his head, for the
varieties of trouble are too complex to be ade-
quately indexed.
I was with Vitaphone from its inception and
worked on many sound experiments over a
period of three years. In the early days
trouble was infinite. Expensive sequences were
frequently done over a dozen or more times
with the greatest care, but each time ruined
through some slight lack of foresight or
knowledge.
The entire overture of "The Better 'Ole,"
recorded at a cost of perhaps $10,000, had to
be shelved and was never released.
One day a record was made of Eddie Con-
rad and Marian Eddv in a comedy skit. At
the climax of the act Marian serenaded Eddie,
who expressed his appreciation of her art by
stepping to the edge of the balcony above her
and pouring a pail of water down her throat.
Something went wrong with the recording
apparatus and the actress had to put on dry
clothes and do it over. The second time some-
bodv dropped something and spoiled the rec-
ord again. Eight times the skit had to be acted
and recorded. The eighth time it went off as
smooth as a whistle and everybodv went home.
When it was reproduced the falling water
sounded like popping corn.
It has since been discovered that a cymbal
at a distance from the microohone would have
given the right effect, but this could be used
only in a silent picture later timed to sound.
In a thoughtless moment I used the phrase,
"as smooth as a whistle." Which reminds me
that there is nothing rougher than a whistle.
High piping instruments are death to the re-
cording microphone. An orchestra must be
seated so that flutes and first violins are at a
distance if used at all. A shrill note will some-
times blast the microphone and spoil the re-
sult of hours of recording. This loss runs into
venerable figures with musicians at fifty dollars
a day and overhead to match.
The silverbell note of the glockenspiel is
another terror. The sound of breaking glass is
the signal to throw the record in the ashcan
and begin over.
Kettle drums are fairly safe but bass drums
cannot be used unless they are mounted on
springs to prevent their vibrations from being
taken up by the floors and walls. This effect,
unnoted by the human ear, is equivalent to an
earthquake to the "mike."
Recording pitfalls number into the thou-
sands. Some of them have been overcome. The
others must be avoided. One must be aware
of the hundreds of things that can't be done
before playing tag on a tightrope. The record-
ing conductor is in the same fix. He treads a
narrow path. He needs to know the limita-
tions of his instrument and contrive to get the
result he wants within the scope of its charted
possibilities.
Reisenfeld Scores
U A Pictures for
Music and Effects
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— Synchronized prints
on "Tempest," the John Barrymore film for
United Artists, v«ll be available to exhibitors
on August 25. Hugo Reisenfeld has com-
pleted the score and sound effect synchroniza-
tion, which will be heard for the first time
when the picture is shown at popular prices
at the RivoH, New York, August 18. On Sep-
tember 7 synchronized prints on "Two Lovers,"
final Colman-Banky picture, will be available.
Dr. Reisenfeld has also scored this Samuel
Goldayn picture.
All United Artists Pictures will be released
on announced schedule time, Al Lichtman says,
and sound is keeping pace with production and
distribution so that no delays will ensue.
Eighteen pictures are being synchronized with
scores and sound effects, either on film or
disc. D. W. Griffith's "The Battle of the
Sexes," completed, now is being scored by
Reisenfeld. Next he will do Norma Tal-
madge's "The Woman Disputed." Both of
these films will be ready with sound for Sep-
tember release nationally.
Stories for two new United Artists pictures
have just been selected. Both are based on
Russian tales, the first written by Alexander
Pushkin, the second by Nickolai Gogol. Both
pictures will be filmed vdth sound, with dia-
logue. Rod La Rocque will be featured in
"The Shop," based on the Pushkin story.
"Taras Bulba," Gogol's storj', will be filmed
as a United Artists special.
''Titanic, ''Caddo Film
To Be Synchronized
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— The Caddo Com-
pany has decided to incorporate the latest
sound innovations in its projected ocean spec-
tacle, "Titanic." The decision to add sound
effects to the sea film, which will be based on
an original story by Wilson Mizner and Carl
Harbaugh, and will be directed by Lewis Mile-
stone, will delay production on the picture un-
til fall.
44
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
When Sound Hits Great Open
Spaces of Accessories
Mammy songs will be the order of the
day, and heralds will sing arias, etc.
By DAVE BADER
Accessory Sales Manager, Universal
SOUND, oh sound, where is thy sing
We accessory guys are having our worries right now! Day and night
we're haunted by the thought that maybe 100 piece orchestras will have to
be engaged to make our 24 sheets attract attention! Only the other day I called
up a vocalist and asked her fee in case we need a mezzo — not mess-o — soprano
to sing for our 1 sheets.
Five-piece jazz bands may be needed for
banners, a banjoist and saxophonist will prob-
ably have to be engaged for the large roto
heralds and maybe we can get by with just
a cornetist for our smaller heralds. I hope
so, because I know a cornetist can attract lots
of attention. We have one near us who prac-
tices every night until after midnight. If I
can get him, I can use him single-handed for
the 14 sheets !
* * *
There is only one thing I am afraid of.
Blue-law fanatics may pass a law against sax-
ophones being used in connection with post-
ers. Of course, I don't really blame them —
but then a saxophonist must live. Accessories
will naturally keep up with synchronization
— and I'm thinking that the sound of flying
hoofs on hard gravel is going to sell a lot
of extra western paper. Then the aviation
paper can be improved a great deal by the
sound of shirling propellers — and posters for
baby pictures will certainly be very effective
if baby talk is introduced. Now and then, a
good loud baby yell — will do wonders. It will
certainly wake up a lot of wood whittlers in
some of the smaller towns. Think what it
will mean to the exhibitor who has a circus
for competition. Cowboys whooping — show
girls singing — comedians cracking wise — will
all help to compete with the circuses IF
That "IF" makes me shudder, for if the
circuses get on to the value of synchronized
accessories it's curtains to the theatres when
they (the circuses) hit town. Just imagine if
Barnum and Bailey's circus came into town
and posted about 5,000 lurid posters — WITH
SOUND. Can you visualize in your wildest
fancy what the screams of monkeys, the yells
and roars of lions and tigers and the wild
sounds of elephans will do to the movie busi-
ness? I shiver just thinking about it! Ten
different bands will play together from their
places on the boards, the wagons will bump
and bounce from their places on the posters
and the whole blooming circus will march to
the tune of synchronized paper. The small
exhibitor might just as well close up his house
when the circus comes to town — UNLESS
VITAPHONE OR MOVIETONE refuses to
sell them synchronization rights on accessories.
* * *
Only the other day I saw a couple of acces-
sory managers out to lunch with someone who
looked like Paul Whiteman, and I figured
right then and there that maybe Paul's going
to be landed by the poster boys. Morgan
Litho. will be tying up Belle Baker, Irene
Franklin, Vincent Lopez, the Vanities, Follies,
and other entertainers so that they can be used
in connection with the preparing of posters.
Morgan isn't asleep, by any means. Neither
are the other lithographers. No doubt the
herald printers, the makers of colored lobbies,
etc., will be going out into the open market
for talent in connection with colored and roto
heralds, 11 x 14 and 22 x 28 photos and they'll
find competing with them the lithographers
of banners and window cards. What would
be more logical than a window card calling
people's attention to the windows they are
placed in. Synchronization, dear readers, will
do it ! Window cards made up for comedians
can make these so-call comedians say funny
things like, "Who was that lady I saw you
with last evening?" Banners and window
cards made up for crook stories can draw a
lot of attention to the theatre using them
by having a gun go off every 10 seconds or
thereabouts. A Chicago machine gun might
be used effectively if exact 10-second require-
ments are needed for this novel way of at-
tracting attention.
Accessories for a love story can be en-
hanced many times over when the day of
synchronized accessories dawns. What could
be sweeter than having the hero sing a love
ditty to his heroine — and she in turn sings
her answer to him in a high contralto voice?
The possibilities on synchronized accessories
are tremendous !
Dog and horse pictures are fortunate in that
unusual accessories can be prepared. Photos,
as well as posters and heralds, can have syn-
chronized "bow-wows" and "neigh-neighs."
Rin-Tin-Tin's and Rex's popularity should be
enhanced 1,000 times when the big day comes
for us accessory guys !
College pictures are going to go over like
two or three hurricanes, without a doubt. Ev-
erywhere accessories will be heard cheering
and yelling, and this should certainly help get
'em in. "Sic 'em Harvard! — kill 'em Yale!"
and other soul-stirring cries will rend the air
everywhere, and thousands upon thousands of
college grads and other folks are going to be
thrilled to the bone. The result will be thou-
sands upon thousands of new customers ! A
new era for the motion picture industry.
* * ♦
All in all, the possibiHties are so tremendous
I grow dizzy as I think about them. As a mat-
ter of fact, synchronization has such outstand-
ing merits as far as advertising is concerned,
that it is unlimited. Publix presentations may
soon be brought to one's home on an envelope
and fan magazines will tell you the stories of
our stars. Writers will become orators, town
criers, and synchronized announcers. True
confessions, interviews, etc., will scintillate
with gossip Enough of that, for we'll
have plenty to worry about thinking of the
talking heralds, the singing posters, the croon-
ing banners and the symphony orchestra bill-
boards. Mammy songs will be the order of
the day, night and all other time. Arias from
"Faust," "The Barber of Seville," "La Tosca,"
and so forth will help sell accessories as
never before when the inventor of this thing
we accessory guys are worrying about, gets
out of the State Hospital for the Mentally
Unbalanced.
I know I'll do my little bit to keel) him
there, because accessory managers will then
have to have a lot of histrionic talent to sell —
and I can't even play a harp!
Wired Theatres to
Play All Ava ila h le
Film, Survey Shows
(Continued from page 29)
viously disdained the screen. But the vast
legions of simon pure screen fans will prob-
ably want theirs minus language. Let's
see what we shall see."
Boon to Small Towns
D. E. Fitton, president of the Ozark The-
atres Corporation, Harrison, Arkansas, has
the following to say:
"I do not believe sound pictures will sup-
plant the silent drama. There will have to
be great improvements in present sound
pictures, as I see it, before the cities will
consider them after the present craze is
over. I do not believe patrons in the cities
will be satisfied with "canned" music inside
of a few months. I predict a falling off in
business where talking movies are used. I
do believe this would be a boon to the small
towns, if they could be installed at a reason-
able price, since the small towns cannot
afford to maintain orchestras, and this
would give them excellent orchestration.
Talking movies in my opinion will not come
to stay. Personally I am not going to 'rock
the boat' and by this time next year, it
should be demonstrated without a doubt,
what is what."
The results of the survey show that the
small exhibitor is intensely interested in
sound pictures, but he frankly admits he
does not know what to expect. He is a bit
nervous over the new development, and
many of them are inclined to be skeptical.
C. R. Metzger, treasurer of the Allen and
Metzger circuit in Indianapolis says, "The
talking picture is a temporary fad and only
partially clicking. I hear as many unfavor-
able comments to the sound pictures as
favorable and favorable only as to 'talkie'
novelty." On the other hand an official of
the Phoenix Amusement Company of Ari-
zona, Phoenix, reports it is his belief the
talking picture will replace the silent one,
"but at same time am waiting to see results
in large houses."
Among the smaller houses this waiting
policy seems to be quite general. The sur-
vey shows that this waiting policy is a
result of the price of installation now
charged.
Sound Offers
New Problems
For Solution
Australian Sales Officer Arrives
NEW YORK. — F B O home office is entertaining
William Scott, representative in Australia.
{Continued from page 29)
use the new medium, to say nothing of special
soundproof stages where they can work. The
Actors Equity Association has become inter-
ested, anxious to protect its charges. The
musicians have protested, fearful that syn-
chronized pictures would mean the end of
orchestras. Electricians have been concerned.
Stage carpenters have wondered where they
get off.
The situation has been further complicated
by a decision on the part of certain managers
of legitimate stage productions — led by the
powerful Shubert organization, with its many
houses, Al Woods, and Wilham A. Brady — to
jump into sound pictures while the jumping
was good. They have decided to make talking
pictures of their stage productions as given in
New York to be shown through the country at
low prices, and expect to make their first soon.
The situation in regard to synchronized pic-
tures is by no means clear. But it is all-
important, and for that reason this issue of
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture
World is devoted to it.
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
45
Acoustic Problem
In Sound Picture
Producing Plants
include
trusses.
Curve
{Continued from page 30)
the height of the exposed steel
A shows the acoustical condition
that would exist if the floor was unpainted
wood, the walls unpainted common brick
and the ceiling finished with common
plaster on tile. It has been further assumed
that there would be approximately 25,000
square feet of scenery exposed in the room
and that 150 persons are present.
It will be noted that under these condi-
tions the reverberation is very high at a
frequency of 125 cvcles and rather high at
2000 cycles, but that at 500 cycles, the
average pitch of speech and music, rever-
beration is much lower though still too
high for clear, distinct audition. If this
room were to be used as an auditorium,
the reverberation should not exceed 1.9
seconds. For studio purposes the rever-
beration should not be greater than one
second and preferably less.
Curve B represents the acoustical condition
that would exist if all the walls and ceiling
were finished with a cattle hair felt Y^ inch
thick protected with an open porous fabric
like canvas or burlap. Such an absorbent
because of its high surface porosity absorbs
a great deal more sound in the upper reg-
ister than in the lower register, and as will
be seen, by the graph, the reverberation
at 128 cycles would amount to Z.?) seconds,
while at 512 cycles it would be reduced to
0.78 seconds. This type of treatment was
used in the first radio broadcasting studios,
and it is apparent from a study of the
curve why these studios were called dead
and lifeless by speakers and singers alike.
The cause is not too much absorption but
rather unbalanced absorption. Radio engi-
neers would speak of reproduced speech or
music in such a studio as going "bass," and
this same characteristic is the most notable
fault of the first sound films that were pro-
duced.
Curve C represents the installation of ap-
proximately 70,000 square feet of an insu-
lating lumber on the walls and ceiling of
this same studio. While most insulating
lumbers have exceptionally fine straight line
absorption characteristics in their raw state
and if they are installed under proper condi-
tions, it is evident that they are not suffi-
cient to reduce the reverberation to the re-
quired degree.
Curve D represents the installation in the
same studio of a sound absorbing interior
finish composed of a 2 inch thick acoustic
felt made of asbestos fibre and hair in
which the surface has been finished with a
special acoustical paint to reduce its sound
absorbing efficiency in the upper register and
provide straight line absorption characteristics.
(The paint would at the same time produce
excellent light reflecting characteristics.)
Such a studio would be very nearly ideal
acoustically for recording purposes because
the reverberation would be very nearly the
same over the entire scale of pitch, yet all
of the walls, floor and ceiling would still
possess sufficient reflecting qualities to pro-
vide an adequate average intensity through-
out the studio. Adequate, scientifically de-
signed absorption of this nature is expen-
sive in first cost, but it not only makes
possible true, vibrant records, but also pro-
vides a certain amount of flexibility in the
arrangement of microphones in relation to
actors that will economize time. And it
would be "soprano-proof."
In many shots, actors, microphones and
cameras must be, to a certain extent, con-
fined within small areas by the sets, and
under these conditions the effect of the
sound absorbing finish of the studio proper
will only be effective over what might be
considered the ceiling area of the set.
Thus, the confining walls and screens of
the set would have the effect of producing
reverberation even in an acoustically cor-
rected studio. The remedy, of course, is
to use this same acoustical or sound absorb-
ing finish for the screens and setups. The
acoustical felt background can be papered
or painted as effectively as any other type
of background.
Sound-absorbing screens should also be
mounted on rollers to form backgrounds
for the recording apparatus, and in many
cases flexible sound absorbing mats and flys
should be used to augment the sound ab-
sorbing interior finish of the space. For-
tunately, such a sound absorbing finish
lends itself well to this flexibility. Fortu-
nately too, it is possible to compute mathe-
matically, and with a considerable degree
of accuracy, the acoustical condition of
such a setup so that a great deal of time
need not be wasted in "cutting and trying"
to determine the acoustical condition of the
setup.
Not only must the acoustical condition
of the setups be properly designed, but all
extraneous sounds should be eliminated
from the studio. The walls, floor and ceiling
of the studio building should be very mas-
sive and heavy if single wall and single
ceiling construction is contemplated. The
sound insulating efficiency of any wall or
ceiling construction is almost proportional
to its weight. Thus, heavy brick walls and
concrete slab ceilngs should be used if the
studio must be located on streets where
traffic and industrial noises exist.
If lighter forms of construction must be
used from a standpoint of economy, double
walls and double ceilings should be used —
in other words, the studio should be in the
nature of a box within a box, and it is es-
sential that the inner and outer walls should
rest on independent foundations and that
the roof of the outer wall should be abso-
lutely independent of the ceiling of the stu-
dio which should be supported by the inner
wall. There must be no tie of any nature
between the separate walls and ceilings.
Electrical conduits and water pipes should
be brought in underground and the floor
of the studio proper should preferably be
built on a mat of sand to prevent the
transmission of vibrations from adjacent
street car lines and traffic through the soil
into the studio.
If the studio is to be lighted by windows,
heavy, double-glazed windows of plate glass
or thick wire glass should be installed in
both the inner and outer shells. The ven-
tilating equipment should be so designed as
to prevent the noise of the rush of air and
the noise of the mechanical equipment from
entering the studio. Entrance to the studio
should be through double doors and the
door framing should not be in nature of a
tie between the inner and outer walls. The
inner door should be supported by the inner
wall, and the outer door should be sup-
ported by the outer wall and these doors
should be practically air-tight if they are
to be sound tight. Otherwise, sound ab-
sorbing vestibules should be installed at all
entrances and exits.
The actual construction of the sound-
film studio is just as important as the
selection of the materials entering into it,
so that construction superintendents should
be selected who have thorough understand-
ing of the problems and who will make it
their business to see that the theories in-
volved are religiously observed in the ac-
tual building construction.
So much for the production end of the
business.
This phase of the problem was covered
in the July 7 issue of the Better Theatres
section of Exhibitors Herald and Moving
Picture World, under the title of "Acoustics
and the Talking Picture."
Puhlix Puts Sound
Across in Texas
With Big Campaign
{Continued from page 35)
charge — announcing the two modern miracles
— sound pictures at the Texas and Light Clas-
sified Advertising, both of which bring maxi-
mum results. Autographed baseball from
Richard Dix sent to Sport Editor of Light,
insuring stories and cuts, ball photographed
held by one of the acts from stage show,
run in paper during current week.
Screen
Announcement trailer on the installation of
perfected sound devices in the Texas, run
three weeks advance. First announcement of
Paramount's first sound picture run two weeks
in advance on Texas screen. Special Movie-
tone trailer with Sam Katz's speech, together
with New York Richard Dix trailer run one
week in advance as separate unit of program.
Addition trailer on stage show and other units
of program put in policy trailer spot for that
week.
Miscellaneous
Three hundred baseball caps given out by
Earl Abel at Saturday morning Organ Club
to kids. These caps imprinted with copy on
sound picture. Stories in papers to the effect
that all kids seen on street by Texas theatre
officials during week with these caps on will
be presented with a pass to see "Warming
Up." Tie-up with American Bell Telephone
Company whereby they send out slips in all
correspondence one week in advance of open-
ing picture, announcing the greatest achieve-
ment in the history of this organization, the
development and perfection of sound picture
devices.
Tabloid newspaper put on streets two days
before opening, this sheet distributed by local
boys as if it were an "extra," 30,000 printed.
Tieups with all music stores on "Out of the
Dawn" theme song of picture, during advance
and current week, together with window dis-
plays and newspaper advertising and heralds
in packages. Stickers given to every newsboy
in town, pasted on the corner of front pages
of their papers, one day before picture opens
at Texas. "Out of the Dawn" organ slides
plug "Warming Up" featured by Earl Abel
at the organ one week in advance of opening
of picture. Hangers on front of 100 street
cars, announcing the inauguration of sound
pictures.
Fifty local boys, members of Knothole
Gang, organized into Publix Boys Club for
the distribution of heralds throughout city.
These boys furnished card admitting them to
the theatre any time. Club to be maintained
regularly for the distribution of heralds.
Forty thousand on the innovation of sound
picture, distributed throughout city on Wednes-
day, preceeding opening, by Publix Boys Club.
Forty thousand follow up heralds distributed
by Publix Boys Club throughout city on Fri-
day, stressing further the importance of the
inauguration of sound pictures in the Texas.
Announcement one week in advance opening
on Paramount's first sound picture over local
radio station. Fifteen minute talk on sound
pictures at the regular Tuesday night Texas
theatre broadcasting hour. Tieups with three
local laundries, whereby shirt boards for a
period of two weeks were imprinted with
sales copy on sound pictures at the Texas.
Double truck in San Antonio Light on mod-
ern miracle, introducing the innovation of
sound pictures in the Texas. Stickers on all
soda fountains in town, on Richard Dix
Sundae, with sales copy on sound picture.
Trailers run on Princess and Empire screen
one week in advance and current on sound
pictures at the Texas. All luncheon clubs and
hotel boxes made with slips on innovation of
sound pictures.
46
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
Y^
THE STUDIO
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World departmenty
^'Hollywood:*
Christie to Make Balance of Films
With Sound; Brief Shutdown
Warners Buy "On Trial" for All Talking Piece; Sheehan Announces
Five Dialogue Pictures Ready January 1 ; Russian Ban Lifted
By DOUGLAS HODGES
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14. — Christie Studios will close at the end of this
week until September 1, it was announced today. The purpose of the
closing is to halt all production until sound equipment is installed
which will enable the company to shoot all the comedies with effects or with
dialogue.
CONSTRUCTION is underway at the
A'letropolitan studios for the soundproof
stage, which has been leased by Christies.
This stage is expected to be ready for use
within 17 or 18 days.
Practically half the year's product of 32
comedies has been made at the old Sunset
boulevard plant. Equipment will be placed in
this studio also for the making of sound pic-
tures.
Christie will also be using the Studio City
property for production after September 1 but
the regular headquarters of the company will
not be moved to that studio until several
months from now when the Sunset location
is abandoned.
^ H^ ^
Pauline Starke and Lytell
to Appear in Vita Talker
V/arner Brothers today announced the pur-
chase of "On Trial," stage play, which will
be screened on a big scale as an all-talking
Vitaphone picture.
Production will begin before September 1.
The cast will include Pauline Starke, Bert
Lytell, Lois Wilson, Holmes Herbert, and will
be directed by Archie Mayo. The picture was
w-ritten a few years ago by Elmer Rice.
Five Fox Talking Pictures
for Release January 1
Winfield Sheehan announced today that
Fox Films will have completed five big Movie-
tone productions by January 1, 1929. The pur-
chase of the stories has recently been com-
pleted and work on them has begun.
The five include : "Behind That Curtain,"
"Through Different Eyes" and "Badges." The
fourth is an underworld story with no title
determined ; and the fifth is a drama, un-
titled.
"Behind That Curtain" is a stage play that
has already been scenarized and is in produc-
tion at the Western avenue lot.
Sheehan bought "Through Different Eyes"
outright, screen rights, stage play rights' and
all. It is possible that the story will be
given a New York presentation on the stage
after the Movietone has been made, but that
is merely one of Hollywood's vague rumors.
"Badges" as I recall it is the excellently
liked stage play that Gregory Kelly appeared
in for a long run, following "The Butter and
Egg Man." If so it is the last play he ever
did before his death and was probably among
the best he ever had.
Lloyd Films Win Lift of
Ban by Soviet Decision
William R. Eraser, general manager of
Harold Lloyd Corporation, received a cable
today from Moscow, Russia, stating that the
ban on American made pictures has been
lifted to some degree. Eraser was informed
in the message that four Lloyd pictures are
now to be released throughout the Soviet.
The decision was made by Sovkino, the of-
ficial body on motion picture affairs, and re-
fers to the following comedies : "Safety
Last," "Dr. Jack," Grandma's Boy," and
"Sailor Made Man."
Dan J. O'Brien, San Francisco's chief of
police, and a cinema father as well, has joined
the forces against censorship which have been
organized by Howard Hughes, Caddo pro-
ducer.
His letter to Hughes follows:
"I have learned that 'The Racket' has
been marred in some cities on the assump-
tion that it protrayed the actual work of a
police department in an unfair manner.
"Perhaps after 20 years in police work the
last eight having been spent as chief in a
city that is well knovsni and enjoys an en-
viable reputation throughout the world, my
mind is not so keen. Be that as it may I
saw 'The Racket' on the_ legitimate stage
more than once and, as in the picture, I
thought it showed to a superlative degree
the havoc that is wrought by allowing poli-
tics to enter into any police department.
"It is not my desire to argue with the
heads of any other police departments, as
each has its own responsibilities, but I could
not resist the temptation of communicating
with you when I learned of the picture being
barred and giving you my personal impres-
sions and reactions regarding it."
Jack Cohn Heads Studio
While Brother Is Abroad
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— Jack Cohn,
treasurer of Columbia, arrived from New
York last week, to take charge of produc-
tion during Harry Cohn's absence. The
latter announces that the studios will con-
tinue to function to capacity under the
supervision of his brother. Jack, while he
himself is abroad.
— and the Student,
Alas, Has Come Into
His Own at Studios
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— Paramount
took the lead on their competitors when
they engaged four young writers from Yale
to write stories and dialogue for future
talking films. These boys have all had ex-
perience in a practical way, and to finish
from the Yale School of Fine Arts, means
a thorough trained man.
Pride Completes Two
Leo Pride was the first of the four to
arrive. He immediately started to write
originals. At the present time he has com-
pleted two features, which are awaiting ap-
proval.
T. J. Ahearn has also a couple to his
credit.
J, Audrey Clark has recently completed
a story which will star Clara Bow, if ac-
cepted.
Writes Jannings Vehicle
Bill Robson, former director of publicity
for the Yale Dramatic Association, has re-
cently submitted a story for Emil Jannings,
which if accepted will show Jannings in a
complete new light.
Studios are always seeking new faces and
ideas for productions, and with talking pic-
tures all the vogue, new writers with orig-
inal stories are in demand. Yale has turned
out some of the most brilliant writers of
the day, men who are familiar with dia-
logue, diction and all details necessary to
the picture world.
Small to Make Dialogue
Dialect Film with Sidney
(Special to the Herald-World) ""
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— Edward Small
is preparing to produce a new type film which
will feature George Sidney, Alexander Carr
and Vera Gordon. Milt Gross is on an orig-
inal story in which the well-trained talents
of his three players will be given new scope.
Small's "Idiomatic film" will be a unique, all-
dialogue production.
Billy Rose, song writer, is working on new
songs for a "cinemusicomedy" feature which
Small plans to produce along unprecedented
lines.
Caddo Pilot in Maynard
Plane on "Fast Return"
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— C. K. Phillips,
veteran pilot in the $2,000,000 Caddo produc-
tion, "Hell's Angels," returned to Hollywood
Thursday after a record-making flight to Den-
ver. Phillips, flying a light-powered sport
biplane owned by Ken Maynard, flew over the
regular air mail route, making the return flight
in 16 hours.
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
"THE MIRACLE MAN" was GREAT
«
THE RACKET
Is Greater
99
Ag^ 1^ 1-1 A 1-1^ STAR CAST
CjKL A 1 PICTURE
^^ DIRECTOR
THOMAS MEIGHAN
IN THE GREATEST OF ALL UNDERWORLD PICTURES
LOUIS WOLHEIM
GEO. E. STONE
SUPPORTED BY
MARIE PREVOST
LEE MORAN
SKEETS GALLAGHER
LUCIAN PRIVAL
Directed by LEWIS MILESTONE
A CADDO Production Released by Paramount
It's the same story
EAST — WEST — NORTH — SOUTH
•* 'The Racket" makes a motioa pic-
ture play of really worthwhile pro-
portions, and I advise the film
patrons of this town to go without
delay and see a motion picture actor
playing sensibly and with fine, dig-
nified control in a story which seems
almost to fit him in every detaiL It
is a pity that so able a performer as
Mr. Meighan does not find more
often the opportunity to show what
he can do.*'
— Quinn Martin in the New York
World.
•*Mr. Meighan does his best work in
several years in ^ha Racket,* and
proves again that he is a realistic
actor without a rival."
—John S. Cohen, Jr., in New York
Sun.
*^The high mark for melodramatic
aspirants to shoot at."
— New York Times.
** *The Racket' is one
of the crook films.'*
of the best
-Harrison Carroll in Los Angeles
Herald,
'* *The Racket' is Thomas Meighan's
best film in many a day."
■ — Cleveland News.
*'A corker. Mark it down as one of
the best of the underworld films that
are flooding the market. A Class
A attraction."
— Film Daily.
**A good story plus good direction
plus a great cast is responsible for
another great underworld film.
Thomas Meighan has his best role
in years."
■ — Variety.
''Thomas Meighan has regained his
pristine halo due to his wonderful
showing in *The Racket.' "
— Duluth Herald.
"Thomas Meighan is presented in the
most logical and picturesque role of
his screen career in *The Racket.' "
— Bangor, Me., Commercial.
**One of the outstanding stories of
the year."
— New York Evening Post.
"Splendidly entertaining. Keen, a:rld,
truthful, speedy."
• — New York American.
"Lines three deep in front of the
Paramount Theatre on hottest day
of year I"
— Harrison's Reports.
"There's a picture, 'The Racket,' at
Loew's State this week."
— New Orleans States.
"Out of the maelstrom of under-
world pictures there has come one
splendid picture, 'The Racket.* "
— Louisville Times.
"Best picture that ever p'ayed
Paramount Theatre since it o pened.
One of best pictures of year I"
— New York Journal.
"For sheer entertainment, gripping
and absorbing, this picture may ba
heartily recommended.'*
— New York Mid-Week Pictorial.
"More genuine than 'Underworld.'
Best Meighan in five years."
—New York World.
I
h
48
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
IN CONFERENCE
By BOB EARLY ■ ■ i
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14. — Having suddenly acquired a "sound" basis, the
motion picture industry is in the most chaotic condition in its brief but
turbulent history. And of course sound is the cause of it all. Were it
not fraught with tragedy the situation would be comical, what with producers
running around in circles trying to find a short cut to talking pictures, sound
"experts" springing up all over the back and front yards like mushrooms, theat-
rical producers hilariously welcoming a millennium and distributors wiring
frantically to Hollyw^ood for something, anything — just so it has noises, vocal
sounds preferred.
nPHE latter gentlemen seem to have
-•• started it all — those boys back East
who know just what the public wants and
who are wonders at giving advice, and usu-
ally awful flops when they are given a hand
in production. It is they who have brought
about this hysterical era. "We don't want
old fashioned silent pictures" they cry;
"give us talkies and give 'em fast." And
the poor producer always willing to give
the selling boys what they want tries vainly
to make a talking picture without any of
the tools to make 'em with.
_ Meanwhile the Western Electric con-
tinues to sign up producers for "talkie"
equipment for huge sums of money and
promising nothing except that equipment
will be provided when possible. No matter
what happens to the picture business, Wes-
tern Electric will fare well financially. It
costs $100,000 before cards are dealt which
is some stiff ante, and after that there is
a royalty of $500 a reel. Nearly all of the
studios are building studios to house equip-
ment but only two of them will have the
necessary machinery when their buildings
are completed — ^Christie and Metro-Gold-
wyn-Mayer. The Christie boys got the
bulge on the other producers by being put
on Western Electric's preferred list and
M G M already has part of its equipment
on the ground but not installed. The
Christies will be ready for talkie production
in a few weeks and as they will conduct a
leasing business in conjunction with their
Metropolitan studio, producers are flocking
to them with requests for talkie service. It
is understood that Al Cohn who is super-
visiting the Christies' current talkie feature
starring Douglas MacLean will be placed
in charge of all sound productions turned
out by Christies for Paramount or anyone
else.
Paramount and Fox are the only two
companies on the Coast actually putting
vocal sound into pictures, except of course
Warners, but neither of those companies is,
so far as known, working on an a.11 talkie
production, so that it is more than likely
that the Christie-MacLean picture "The
Carnation Kid" will be the first all talkie
released by any of the big companies. Para-
mount is to have it.
STAGE PRODUCERS PROVIDE COMEDY
Announcement that the big New York
stage producers headed by Al Woods are
to withhold their material from the picture
industry and make their own talkies out
of their stage pieces, furnished some of the
comedy relief for the situation. The an-
nouncement was taken quite seriouslv by
somd in the business who are unfamiliar
with the trick of making a talking movie.
Those in the know nearly laughed their
heads off. No stage play can be put on the
screen without meticulous preparation, ac-
cording to those who have given the sub-
ject the closest scrutiny. They cite the
recent case of an abortive attempt to film
"Burlesque" by Paramount in New York.
The first act of the play was filmed just as
played on the stage with all of the dialogue
and music as done before the footlights.
The result was terrible, they say.
WE ARE KNOCKING WOOD
A survey of the crime situation in Los
Angeles (including Hollywood) shows that
31 murders were committed since the first
of the year and in not a single case was
anyone in the picture business even slightly
involved. And in not one instance was it
even hinted that the movies had inspired
the crime.
A STAR THAT NEVER SHONE
It looks very much as though a palpi-
tating public is not to see the Marquis
Henry de Falaise on the screen, outside of
the news weeklies. Some weeks ago it was
announced that the Marquis, who is the
husband of Gloria Swanson, had been
signed to star in a series of pictures. Tests
had been made of "Hank" and it was said
that he "screened like a million." The at-
titude of Mrs. Falaise was a subject of
much speculation and some of her friends
declared that she was averse to having
Hank on anybody's program. A few days
ago announcement was made that the Mar-
quis had been appointed by Joseph P. Ken-
nedy as a "good will ambassador" or some-
thing of the sort, to Europe. According to
the story he is to spend the next six months
or so boosting Hollywood's chief product
"over there." Mr. Kennedy is financial
sponsor of Gloria's next production, so it
is barely possible that there is some con-
nection between the two announcements.
C. B.'S NEW HOME
Announcement that C. B. DeMille would
go to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer brought about
the wise-crack that forty bucks would be
cheap for a ringside seat at the first con-
ference between C. B. and L. B.
Kennedy Sails Saturday
For Vacation in Europe
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— Joseph P. Ken-
nedy, president of F B O, sails Saturday for
a trip to Europe with Mrs. Kennedy.
CHARLES LAMONT
Directing the First of
the Dorothy Devore Series
For Educational
Vitaphone Is Now
In Its Third Year;
All Films Effect
{Continued from page 40)
artistic achievement, is recorded in the press
of the country and is universally known.
The system and apparatus employed by Vi-
taphone are the result of many years' re-
search by the engineers of the Bell Telephone
and the Western Electric Company. Through
their discoveries it is now possible to repro-
duce music, song and speech of characters on
a screen ; music especially played to accom-
pany a certain picture is electrically repro-
duced in synchronism with the action on the
screen ; and, in general, the visual and audible
presentation of performers is given mechan-
ically and electrically at any place or at any
time, without their actual presence in the
theatre or hall.
Microphones, which are placed out of the
range of the camera and yet within a few
feet of the players, pick up the sound vibra-
tions created by the music of an orchestra or
the speech of an individual. Where the ren-
dition is that of a single player or singer,
one microphone is sufficient, but in the per-
formance of a large orchestra like the New
York Philharmonic, six or more microphones
may be used.
* * *
From the microphone the fluctuating elec-
trical current passes through wires to the con-
trol room where it passes through an ampli-
fying system. Amplifier panels of the West-
ern Electric Address System type are used in
this connection. Because the current set up
by the fluctuations of sound pressure at the
diaphragm of the microphone are too minute
to operate the registering device which cuts
the grooves on the soft wax disk which serves
as a master record, the amplifier system is
introduced to take the small current at its
input end and by means of distortionless vac-
uum tubes, amplify it to the requisite strength.
There is also a monitoring system here used
in connection with regulating the volume of
sound, a volume indicator, and panels for
testing purposes which have nothing directly
to do with the registering equipment.
From the ampHfying system the current
passes to the recorder. Here the fluctuating
current is translated into mechanical vibra-
tions. These mechanical vibrations — faithful
facsimiles of the sound vibrations which re-
acted on the diaphragm of the microphone — •
are recorded on a disk of soft wax by means
of a stylus made of sapphire and shaped oval-
fashion like the end of a spoon. By means of
mechanical filters all extraneous vibrations are
eliminated and the movements of the stylus
are so governed that all tones are registered
with fidelity.
^ ^ ^
Two alternating current motors, of the
synchronous type, made to run at the same
speed, give the camera and the turntable, on
which a master disk revolves (in another part
of the studio building) motive powers to syn-
chronize the picture and the music perfectly.
To record, the motors are started and gain
full speed together and continue to run _ to-
gether. Connected to the recording arm is a
suction tube which draws the cut wax particles
up and away from the disk.
It is comparatively simple and easy to op-
erate the reproducing apparatus. The average
motion picture operator can be taught how to
handle a Vitaphone show in a week or less,
while the average theatre electrician can easily
be taught to replace a bad vacuum or make
minor adjustments in the apparatus. The
turntable is located immediately adjacent to
the picture projector, both of which are driven
by the same motor, the speed of which _ is
controlled by speed-control mechanism which
keeps the tempo constant.
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
49
Sax Announces Plans
For 10 Audio Films;
Device Deal Pending
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug 14.— Coincidental
with the signing of pending contracts in
New York between Lewis J. Selznick and
Sam Sax for the use of Picturetone, a new
sound device, Harold Shumate, supervising
producer for Sam Sax and Gotham Pro-
ductions, last week announced a $4,000,000
production program.
Thirty-six pictures have been planned
and among the players already signed are:
Jacqueline Logan, Alice Day, Barbara Bed-
ford, Noah Beery, Lionel Barrymore, Betty
Bronson, Charles Delaney and John Miljan.
Ten films, including five specials, will be
synchronized fully with others on the pro-
gram utilizing sound effects. "A Modern
Sappho," by Seville Dorian, is to be filmed
with a symphonic score conceived espe-
cially for the picture in collaboration with
dialogue already prepared by Harold
Shumate.
Clifton, Flood and Crone
on Tiffany-Stahl Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14. — Tiffany-Stahl
studios are engaged in the production of three
pictures. Elmer Clifton is shooting an untitled
story of the South Seas, featuring Patsy Ruth
Miller and Malcolm McGregor. James Flood
has started "The Family Row," starring Claire
Windsor, with Roy D'Arcy in the supporting
cast. Sally O'Neil and Buster Collier are
floating in and around Ensenada, where George
Crone is making "The Floating Cottage."
Garnett Directs Original
With Hale in "Spieler''
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14. — Immediately
upon completion of his co-featured role oppo-
site Phyllis Haver in "Singapore Sal," Alan
Hale will start work on "The Spieler," in
which he is to do the title role. Tay Garnett
will direct this Pathe-De IMille feature from
his own script.
Ten with Sound Effects Now in
Production; Five Are "Talkies"
50 Pictures in Shooting Stage on West Coast; D. W. Griffith Starts
"Love Song" as First with Synchronization; Warner
Brothers Begin Two Vocals
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14. — Despite the clamor for sound and talking pic-
tures only ten scripts now in production call for actual sound effects, accord-
ing to announcements of studio officials.
Five Said to Be Talking Pictures
Five of these are Warner Brothers films which have talking sequences.
The other five are said to have no talking sequences but will have sound
effects.
The five Warner pictures are "Conquest,"
with Monte Blue, "My Man" with Fannie
Brice, "The Outlaw Dog" with Rin-Tin-Tin,
"The Hometowners" with Irene Rich, and
"The Redeeming Sin," with Conrad Nagel.
First National's "The Haunted House" in
which Chester Conklin and Thelma Todd ap-
pear is to have sound effects only. Reginald
Denny's current opera, "Red Hot Speed," is
a sj'nchronized picture for Universal release.
Joseph Henabery directs.
"Shakedown" in Sound
Another sound picture at Universal is "The
Shakedown," in which James Murray and
Barbara Kent are working under the able
direction of Willie Wyler.
Of the 50 pictures working, 13 were started
within the last five days. "The Love Song,"
which D. W. Griffith is making at United
Artists, will be synchronized with singing and
sound practically all the way through, with
accompaniment but with no talking sequences.
Bill Boyd, Jetta Goudal and Lupe Velez are
in the cast. Lupe is the vocalist.
Warners Start Two
Warner Brothers started two Vitaphone
productions this week : "Stolen Kisses," di-
rected by Ray Enright, features May McAvoy
and Reed Howes, with Claude Gillingwater,
Arthur Hoyt and Edna Murphy in the cast.
"Hardboiled Rose" is under the direction of
F. Harmon Weight and the cast includes
Myrna Loy, William Collier, Jr., John Miljan
and Gladys Brockwell.
William J. Cowen began shooting on "Ned
McCobb's Daughter" at the DeMille studios.
Irene Rich is the star and is supported by
Robert Armstrong, Theodore Roberts and
Carol Lombard.
The second recent Corinne Griffith picture
to be made at First National went into pro-
duction under the direction of William A.
Seiter. Edmund Lowe is playing opposite
Corinne.
Columbia started two : "Street of Illusion,"
directed by Erie C. Kenton, with a cast which
includes Virginia Valli, Ian Keith and Ken-
neth Thomson; and "Sinner's Parade," with
Dorothy Revier and Victor Varconi, under
the direction of John Adolfi.
Storm Directing Ranger
Jerome Storm is directing the dog, Ranger,
in a picture called "Tracked" at the F B O
studio ; and Lynn Shores started "Stolen
Love" with Marceline Day and Owen Moore.
A Universal company, under the direction
of William Craft, has gone to Florida, where
they have started shooting on "The Cohens
and Kellys in Atlantic City." Mack Swain is
with George Sidney in this new "Cohens
and Kellys" picture. Kate Price and Cornelius
Keefe are in the cast.
Of the remaining three, Tiffany-Stahl has
two and Paramount one. Otto Brewer is di-
recting Jack Holt and Doris Hill in "Ava-
lanche" on the Lasky lot. James Flood
started work on "The Family Row" for
Tiffany-Stahl. Claire Windsor is the star of
the picture. Elmer Clifton is directing Patsy
{Continued on next page)
Harold Beaudine
at Liberty
Five Years Directing
Christie Comedies
50
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
Jack White Outlines Policy of Both
Audible and Silent Comedies
'''Talking Pictures Diversion from Silent Pictures Only — Will Never Take
Place of Pantomime" Producer Declares
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14. — "There is no danger of the dialogue replacing
two reel silent comedies with audible short features," said Jack White,
short feature producer, today. "There is no need to be 'dubious.' Short
feature producers may well choose a definite policy and stick to it.
<<tT is true that dialogue injected into a sometimes it is extremely difficult. Of course,
fast two reel comedy would retard the
action to a degree that would be greatly in-
jurious. But there is and will always be a
big market for two reel comedies without
dialogue.
"Dialogue has its place in short features
and will be a way to a greater market. But
the short reels that have dialogue will de-
pend on words rather than action for their
humor. There will be a greater field for both
types of comedy in the future and which un-
questionably will replace the terrific over-
heads of presentations.
^ ^ ^
"Audiences demand that their entertainment
offer a new idea with every snow. That de-
mand results in the fundamental axiom of
the show business — diversion. Programs must
be varying and diverting.
"An exhibitor who shows two reel dialogue
pictures will also be called upon to show two
reel silent comedies regularly. Dialogue com-
edies, rather than replacing any part of the
program, are material that will add to the
program. Each is in an individual class.
"Producers must await the general reaction
of the theatre-going public to know best what
is wanted. There will be various demands of
the public and we must, as we always have,
provide the audience with exactly what they
request.
"Despite all the excitement in the minds and
hearts of performers and patrons it remains
that the element of pantomime is greater than
the element of dialogue in creating entertain-
ment. But we can have both talking and silent
pictures as diversion from each other.
"At present less than 2 per cent of the total
number of motion picture houses in the United
States are equipped for talking pictures ; the
others _ can't get talkie equipment for some
indefinite time. For the present, we are con-
centrating on greater silent pictures for the
majority, so they may compete successfully
with any other forms of entertainment."
One-Eyed Connollys
Meet Their Nemesis
At Paramount Gate
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— A new species
has grown and flourished in Hollywood, cap-
ital of filmland. It is the genus gate crasher.
In dealmg with gatemen, however, the gate
crasher is dealing with no ordinary person.
Such a nemesis is Harvey Pugh, head of the
information department and postmaster at the
Paramount studios in Hollywood.
Decides 400 Requests Daily
Pugh passes on an average of 400 requests
a day for entrance into the lot. Of this num-
ber it is estimated that almost a third have
no real business there. Two other gates, be-
sides the infor;mation desk, are presided over
by Pugh's forces, and they also turn away an
imposing quota of applicants each day.
"Usually, it is easy to spot the gate crasher,"
Pugh remarks in discussing the situation, "but
we have to be careful and courteous at all
times, as a goodly proportion of the people
who come, have real business in the studios.
Many others whom we are forced to deny
entrance, only want to wander around or per-
haps transact personal business, in some in-
stances, only to have a star autograph a photo.
Do Not Discourage Genius
"Fake cards, bearing high sounding titles,
used to be a favorite device of the gate crasher,
but we have learned that important people
make arrangements from studio officials be-
fore coming out."
Hollywood studios do not discourage the
real geniuses. There are many ways of get-
ting interviews with the right people, if there
is good reason, or cause. The casting heads
take care of aspiring stars, and department
heads are assigned to possibihties along other
lines.
But gate crashing is an art and very few
successful ones can boast of "putting it over"
on Harvey Pugh, the eagle-eyed overseer of
the Paramount studio.
Ten with Sound Effects
Are Now in Production;
Talking Scenes in Five
(Conti'iiucd from preceding page)
Ruth Miller and Malcolm McGregor in an
untitled picture on the same lot.
Six pictures were completed this week. Tod
Browning finished "West of Zanzibar" for
M-G-AI. It is a Lon Chaney picture with
Warner Baxter and Mary Nolan in the cast
"Alias Jimmy Valentine" was also completerl
at M-G-M. It is the latest William Haines
vehicle.
\Varner Brothers finished two, "The Out-
law Dog," a Rin-Tin-Tin picture under the
direction of Ross Lederman, and "The Home-
towners," which Bryan Foy has been direct-
ing with Richard Bennett, Irene Rich and
Doris Kenyon heading the cast. Both were
Vitaphone productions.
Mark Sandrich has completed "Runaway
Girls," his first feature production for Colum-
bia studios. Shirley Mason and Arthur Rankin
are the featured players.
"Wright Idea*' Opens
On Coast September 2
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— "The Wright
Idea," Johnny Hines' latest picture, will com-
mence its first Los Angeles showing at the
Hillstreet theatre September 2.
Lon Young Back East
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.— Lon Young is
back from the coast with the negative and
first print of "The House of Shame,"
second release of Chesterfield, of which he
is production supervisor.
ON A LOT
OF THE LOTS
Regarding :
Bob Yost
Max Autrey
Emmett Flynn
Lia Tora
Douglas Doty
Ray Flynn
R. William Neill
John Ford
Al Green
Paul Leni
William deMille
Irving Cummings
Al Santell
Mai St. Clair
Otto Brower
Jack Holt
Doris Hill
Charlie Barton
Estelle Richeter
Frank Roderick
Lucille Lyon
L. Gregory Dowling
Charles R. Rogers
"Tex" DriscoU
Pauline Starke
LeRoy Mason
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— Fox's publicity depart-
ment is handicapped, due to a vacationing staff.
This is all in preparation for Greater Movie Season,
starting: August 18. Those enjoying the beaches,
mountains, etc., are Anna Mae Hart, secretary to Bob
Yost, Tammie Johnson, Harry Collins, Max Autrey
and Frank Murray.
*
Emmett Flynn, Fox director, is preparing an un-
titled feature starring Lia Tora, the Brazilian beauty,
whom Fo.x recently signed under a long term contract.
The story is an original by Flynn and Douglas Doty
and is classed as a new type of sophisticated melo-
drama. The cast has not been announced. Ray Flynn
will assist in directions.
*
Directors on sets, in many instances, have
articles or traits, which vdll identify them.
For instance : R. William Neill, a rocking
chair; John Ford, his pipe; Al Green, a stick;
Paul Leni, a Chinese cymbal ; William deMille,
a slouch hat; Irving Cummings, a two-piece
string musical unit. Al Santell encourages
his cast by clapping his hands at the finish
of a scene. Mai St. Clair, shakes his assist-
ant's hand, and so it goes.
*
Otto Brower, with his staff, is in Arizona seeking
locations for his first directorial effort under the Para-
mount banner. He will start soon on "Avalanche,"
starring Jack Holt, with Doris Hill. Charlie Barton
is the assistant director.
Estelle Richeter, Fox studios, has been transferred
from the accounting office to the casting department
as assistant to Frank Roderick. She replaces Lucille
Lyon, who has gone East.
*
L. Gregory Dowling, for four years secretary to
Charles R. Rogers, First National studios, will leave
tomorrow for St. Louis to take charge of a bank.
He is the son of John Dowling, president of the St.
Louis Savings and Trust Company. Accompanied by
his wife, who was formerly Carol Murray of Kansas
City, they will drive through, stopping over a few
days to visit the parents of Mrs. Dowling.
*
"Tex" Driscoll, well known cowboy around the
"w.iter-hole" (the picture puncher's hangout), has
been added to the cast of R. William Neill's "The
Thrall of Leif the Lucky," which he is directing at
Tec-Art studio. Pauline Starke and LeRoy Mason
have the leading roles. This is the first sound-color
picture ever to be filmed.
FRAZIER.
Al Rogell Returns from
Cheyenne with Maynard
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— Al Rogell is
shooting interiors on two Ken Maynard pic-
tures for Charles R. Rogers Productions.
Rogell recently returned from Cheyenne,
Wyo., where he shot the exterior scenes for
the two pictures. In Cheyenne he photo-
graphed the famous pioneers' rodeo held an-
nually in that town. The second picture, "The
Glorious Trail," is a story based on the build-
ing of the telegraph.
Gibson Returns from Rodeo
In Chicago; with Company
-(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14.— Hoot Gibson
arrived here late last week after a three
weeks visit to Chicago where he and his
company shot scenes for "King of the Rodeo."
A company of 25 accompanied him.
Paramount Fetes Bar Association
HOLLYWOOD. — The Paramount studio played host
to 100 members of the American Bar Association in
convention in Los Angeles.
.2s>i
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August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
Y^
THE SHORT FEATURE
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
"Little Pictures with the Big Punch" which has presented news, reviews and exploitation on
short features and serials.
Releases
WEEK OF AUGUST 26
EDUCATIONAL — "Wedded Blisters," Lupino-Boyd,
Tuxedo, two; "Troubles Galore," Collins-Ruby Mc-
Coy, Cameo, one.
F B O — "Jessie's James," Racing Blood Series, Al
Cooke, two.
PARAMOUNT — "Hot Scotch," Duffy, Sandy Mac-
Duff, Christie, two.
PATHE — "The Terrible People," Chapter 4, two;
Aesop Fable, one; "The Chicken," Deluxe, Sennett,
two; Pathe Review No. 35, one; Topics of the Day
No. 35, one.
UNIVERSAI^— "A Hurry Up Marriage," Harold
Highbrow series, one; "Tarzan the Mighty" No. 3;
Adventure, two; "Husbands Won't Tell," Mike and
Ike, Stern Bros., two; "The Danger Trail," West-
ern, Newton House, two.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 2
EDUCATIONAI^-"Hot Luck," Big Boy Juvenile,
two; "Thrills of the Sea," Our World Today, one.
PARAMOUNT — "Skating Home," Confessions of a
Chorus Girl series, Christie, two.
PATHE — "The Terrible People," Chapter 5, two;
Aesop Fable, one; "South Sea Saga," Sportlight,
one; "His Royal Slyness," Harold Lloyd (reissue),
two; Pathe Review No. 36, one; Topics of the Day
No. 36, one.
UNI VERS AI^-" Sky Scrapper," Snappy, Oswald, one;
"Tarzan the Mighty," No. 4, Adventures, two; "The
Junior Year," Collegians, third series, two; "Newly-
weds' Hard Luck," two; "Speed and Spurs," Bob
Curwood, Western, two.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 9
EDUCATIONAL — "Pirates Beware," Lupino Lane,
two; "Girlies Behave," Jerry Drew, Ideal, two;
"Cook, Papa, Cook," Murdock-Hutton, Cameo, one;
"On the Move" Hodge-Podge, one.
PATHE^"The Terrible People," Chapter 6, two;
Aesop Fable, one; "The Campus Carmen," Sennett,
two; Pathe Review No. 37, one; Topics of the Day
No. 37, one.
UNIVERSAL — "Hollywood or Bust," Arthur Lake,
Snappy, one; "Tarzan the Mighty," No. 5, Adven-
ture, two; "Rubber Necks," Let George Do It, Stern
Bros., two; "Riders of the Woods," Cobb Western,
two.
Newspictures
FOX NEWS NO. 91— Wrecked Polish fliers are
picked up swimming off Portuguese coast — Coolidges
see iron ore taken from Mesaba Range in Minnesota
— Great throng sees Ninth Olympiad in Amsterdam.
KINOGRAMS NO. 5420— Forty-six nations join in
Olympic games — Courtney and flying crew are
brought back on rescue ship — Pullman autobus is
last word in luxury.
KINOGRAMS NO. 5421 — France keeps Davis tennis
cut as Tilden fails — Crash kills Brouhin, French
ace, on eve of ocean hop — Shoe-bill stork is expert
of slow motion.
M G M NEWS NO. 104 — American yacht wins race
across Atlantic for Queen of Spain cup — Nobile
homeward bound after Arctic tragedy — Rare
orangutan for Calcutta zoo.
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. 4— Coolidge sees world's
largest iron pits at Hibbing, Minn. — Capt. George
Wilkins inspects plane for trip to Antarctic — •
Former steeplejack climbs Chimney Rock, N. C,
1,000 feet.
PATHE NEWS NO. 66— Dog show crowds see whip-
pets race at East Hampton, L. I. — Pawnee, Kan.,
relives its frontier days — -Big thermos bottle pours
molten steel.
INTERNATIONAL NEWSREEL NO. 63— Courtney
and aids reach New York after plane rescue in
midsea — White sails sparkle at Marblehead (Mass.)
regatta — Santa Barbara fetes Spanish days.
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. 5— Commander Byrd,
introduced by Mayor "Jimmy" Walker of New
York, bids goodby over the air before flying to
South Pole — Olympic records fall — ■ Courtney
reaches U. S.
Neglecting Short Films Is Mistake^
Experiences of Exhibitors Prove
Some Theatre Owners Thank Lucky Stars They Have Short Features to
Save Day When Long Pictures Fizzle, Review
of Letters Shows
Any exhibitor who neglects short features, whether in shaping his program
or in advertising that program, is making a serious mistake, in the light of the
experiences of successful exhibitors whose letters to this department of the
Herald- World have been appearing in a series for the past month and a half.
Find Short Features Direct Aid to B. O.
Long since these exhibitors have found that using short product merely as
filler has a deadly effect on business. And they have learned more than that.
The box office has shown them that when they give the short film its proper
proportion of their newspaper advertising there is a building of patronage and
consequently a higher return in receipts.
Presuming that an exhibitor is on the look-
out day in and day out for ways and means
to increase his business — and if he can afford
to run a theatre without caring whether he
makes as much money as possible, he's too
fortunate to be classed as an exhibitor — the
findings of these theatre owners who have
made short features pay by paying attention
to them should be decidedly of value.
Localities Have Special Problems
It is obvious:, of course, that different lo-
calities have their peculiar problems. This
department has had comment from a few the-
atre owners that their special campaign on
a particular short picture has not brought the
public reaction expected. Exhibitors who
have had uniform success with such cam-
paigns will tell them that they have missed a
bet somewhere in their exploitation.
There also have been isolated instances of
exhibitors who have stated flatly that the
short feature meant nothing on their pro-
Rrams. Yet in one of those cases, mentioned
in a previous series in this department, an
illuminating response by the exploitation di-
rector of one of the large distributors, who had
been visiting one of these exhibitors, showed
that the latter did not even know what short
feature was playing at that moment inside the
door!
One is tempted to wonder how many such
there are, and to what extent their views or
even their receipts are of any value as an in-
dicator of the drawing power of any kind
of production. One wonders how even a one-
year-on-Broadway picture would fare under
such conditions in his town.
Re'urning to the series at hand, the briefest
recapitulation of the findings' of exhibitors
who are thanking their lucky stars that they
have had short features to rescue the show
from a fizzling long production presents some
interesting angles of the business of showing
pictures at a profit. Here are some of them :
"Short features are business getters and busi-
ness builders . . . and deserve space in your ad
along with the feature." — Paul B. Hoffman,
Legion theatre, Holyrood, Kan.
"Even in our short experience we have had
more than one program saved by good short
features. We are going to devote probably
about one-third of our advertising to shorts." —
Tivenan & Wolje, Screenland, Nevada, Ohio,
"I have certain patrons that I make a prac-
tice of notifying by phone or a personal call,
that I have a comedy with a certain star on
such a date, and they never fail to come out." —
Stanley B. Kennedy, Central, Selkirk, Manitoba.
"My successful operation of eight theatres
has been largely due to the careful selection of
short subjects. . . Some short subjects receive
as much newspaper space as my feature." —
P. G. Vaughan, Sun, Kansas City.
"Funny comedies and late newsreels are a
necessity nowadays to make any picture pro-
gram complete." — P. G. Held, Strand, Griswold,
Iowa.
"If one could be assured of first-rate com-
edies they would, undoubtedly, prove a valu-
able asset to one's program." — Frank E. Sabin,
Majestic, Eureka, Mont.
"Short subjects, in my theatre, are given equal
advertising with my features and specials." —
Ray W. Musselman, Princess, Lincoln, Can.
"Small features draw business." — Mrs. Hulda
J. Green, Gem, Greenriver, Utah.
And so on. Note that these cases cover all
parts of the country, so there is no territorial
preference. Note also that some ask for im-
proved product.
Now this question presents itself, and it's
one for you exhibitors to answer. To what
extent does special exploitation of outstand-
ing short features speed up the box-office?
Your comment will be treated frankly and
completely by this department.
)
52
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
Y^
PRESENTATION ACTS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World Department,
"Stage and Pit"
Are You Pleasing Your Patrons?
STAGE SHOWS
Boston Metropolitan
Week Ending August 17
Gene Rodemieh and the Publix Playboys stage
revue, "Bitter Sweet Blues," with Wilson and Wash-
bum, Wells and Winthrop, Grace Duffay, and Dezso
Retzer, with an accompanying chorus, offered an
exceptional presentation. The program was han-
dled in musical comedy style, with Gene Rodemieh
acting as master of ceremonies, and with action
intermingled with clever dancing, singing and
entrancing music.
The show opened with the Wilson and Washburn
duo singing "Bitter Sweet Blues," four boys and
four girls appearing as the chorus from side stage.
Dressed in glittering spangles the chorus went
through a series of clever dance steps led by the duo.
Wilson and Washburn a sister team were the fea-
t\ire of the program putting on a series of highly
entertaining song numbers and clever impersonations.
They are brought on the stage in one number in a
huge imitation oyster shell, wheeled by two attend-
ants. Wilson played the small piano enclosed while
Washburn sat on top of the piano and sang.
Wells and Winthrop ne.rt entered doing a fast
whirlwind dance consisting of a series of clog steps
in perfect unison. Wilson came on' singing only to
be interrupted by Gene Rodemieh and a series of
word jests followed. Immediately following. Wash-
burn came on dressed in a man's full evening dress
and rendered "Goodby Broadway, Hello Montreal."
Her imitation of an inebriate was so well done that
she was forced to take several encores in front of
a drop to calm the patrons.
The "eerpintine" dance with 12 blonde beauties
and four males took a great hand. Their spangled
suits with the wonderful lighting effects added much
to their reception.
Grace Du Faye feature dancer of the show, per-
formed wonderfully. Her series of slow motion
steps were done with superb control, and the
twists, backrolls, kicks, and stunts she performed
held the patrons spell bound, so she did not receive
a hand until she had completed her act, then she
received a tremendous ovation. She was the sweetest
of the "Bitter Sweet Blues" as said Gene Rodemieh
when introducing her.
Entering into the finale, Dezso Retzer was intro-
duced as the funniest man on the stage today. He
lived up to his name by holding the patrons in a
const&nt uproar by his funny antics and humorous,
but clever, acrobatic stunts. Assisted by Gene Rode-
mieh he carried on an amusing byplay of words.
The hit of the evening occurred when he staged a
wrestling match with himself, which is clever, and
of the highest order, nevertheless exceedingly hum-
orous.
The grand finale started with an orchestra selec-
tion by (Jene Rodemieh and his Publix Playboys
featuring a number arranged by the pianist, Sam
Liner. Following this rare bit of music, the entire
cast appeared with Wells and Winthrop in the lead,
after which Wilson and Washburn appeared to take
the lead. The curtain dropped with a series of
whirlwind backward summersaults by Dezso Retzer
and Grace Du Faye.
The bill was much above the average and coupled
with high class talent and exceptionally elaborate
lighting effects was 100 per cent. Gene Rodemieh
deserves commendation for his continued originality.
Added features were Geissler and the Grand Or-
chestra.
Good Kickers!
Jack Spangler is seen here attempting to hold his
sisters foot so that Kay will not kick — however Kay
Spangler is a good dancer and an extra fine kicker
and both have proven their abilities as terpischorean
artists in many musical shows — the Spanglers are
late features of Earl Carroll's Vanities and just com-
pleted a tour of Publix and now are resting before
returning to Broadway to again embark on the
musical comedy ship.
Keith-Orpheum to Renew
Unit Road Shows
The Tower theatre, located on Harper and 63rd
Street, Chicago, L. & T.'s south side house operated
in conjunction with the Keith-Orpheum circuit, re-
sumes its vaudeville and picture program policy
this week after several months of musical stock. Ac-
cording to newspaper announcements, the neighbor-
hood has requested that the former policy be re-
sumed and hereafter a policy of feature pictures and
high class vaudeville will be presented at popular
prices.
It is also expected that the annual units travel-
ing as a road show will be resumed and shall ro-
tate over the Keith-Orpheum circuit. This is in the
form of a presentation, or what is better known as a
stagehand show working together as one complete
evening's entertainment.
The Show World
A livays A nswers
Public Demand
Nearly All Theatres Now Offer
Some Sort of Film and
Stageshow
By A. RAYMOND GALLO
A question has arisen from a letter
sent to a dramatic critic of a Louis-
ville newspaper by an exhibitor who
is voicing the desires and demands of
his patrons. The letter, which is pub-
lished at the end of this article, is an
appeal seconded by the attendance of
a certain theatre in the same town.
The argument opens up again an old
problem that has puzzled exhibitors
for many years, since the present
form of stage entertainment has come
into use. The outcome is obvious,
for it is rather hard to tear down
something that has taken years to
build up, but when one takes into con-
sideration the sudden growth and
change in the amusement world, it is
reasonable to assume that the old can
easily be replaced by the new, in this
day and age.
Although there should be no cause for
alarm, the question in mind is yet serious
enough to stir up considerable agitation with
audiences unless the matter is given proper
attention. The manner in which the afore-
mentioned exhibitor and newspaper are han-
dling the situation is one worthy of considera-
tion and should by all means be given a trial.
Twenty-five or thirtj^ years ago, vaudeville
was the chief pastime for the average wage-
earner to seek pleasure in the theatre. At
that time, for a mere sum of 25 cents and
even less in some parts of the country, it was
possible to witness what is now termed a
"big-time show." However, the amusement
world has gone through considerable changes
since that time, and what was at one time
considered "big-time" and "small-time" attrac-
tions are now no longer classified in two
different groups, but come all under the head-
ing of "amusement."
Speciality artists from all over the world
were discovered and brought to this country
by the various executives of the leading vaude-
ville circuits for the sole purpose of enter-
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
53
taining their audiences and giving them some-
thing new each week. Then, novelty acts such
as acrobatics, jugglers and other sorts of
silent performers were the rage of the variety
stages and required real artistry to hold their
own spot on any bill. Today, these same
types of performers, with the aid of a stage
producer, the costuming and scenic depart-
ments as well as the orchestral effects, give
the specialty acts considerable support and
background that enables them to stand out
from the stage production. It means that no
artist is a specialist any longer except, of
course, in his own individual field of acting
for entertainment, as a rule, whether it be
in a musical comedy theatre or in a deluxe
picture house, is now sold on the basis of
audience satisfaction with the show as a whole.
Variety Was Always the Spice of Life
The late B. F. Keith, founder of the Keith
Circuit, now recognized as one of the largest
circuits of variety sponsors, conceived the idea
that variety is the spice of life and therefore
vaudeville was born. The word itself, in the
French language means variety, and since the
inception of the Keith circuit it has been
known as such even in the rival circuits.
In those days, motion pictures were still a
matter of the future and not until the begin-
ning of the twentieth century did they threaten
to give the stage keen competition. In the
earlier stages, the films were ridiculed and not
much alarm was shown simply because of the
belief that they would be short-lived. Al-
though the motion picture business is now
about 25 years old and about fifth in the field
of industries, it is still in its infancy but
quite a healthy child.
As a rule, every so often the public be-
comes fickle and demands a change whether
it be styles, living conditions or entertainment,
and of course when that time comes, which in
this case it has, something radical has to be
done to please them. Thus the stage band-
show policy came into its own about four
years ago and from it branched forth the
■present form of stage presentations or what
is better known as motion picture prologues.
Vaudeville Trys a Come-Back
It has been evidenced that vaudeville is
trying to stage a come-back — that is, the
regular two-a-day policy is making every
attempt possible to keep its little nook "in the
light of public favor," and for this reason the
heads of the various vaudeville organizations
are to be complimented for the wonderful
stand they have taken in this matter, but
public trend cannot so easily be swayed after
becoming accustomed to the liberal programs
offered by the deluxe motion picture theatres.
Motion picture theatres have made it pos-
sible for the masses to see at popular prices
stars who hitherto have been reserved for the
classes, and that accounts for the over-
whelming popularity of picture house pro-
grams all over the country, which is so hard
to supplant overnight. However, it is wise
for exhibitors to watch very carefully the
theatre situation in their own community in
order to prevent the greatest danger in the
theatre world that is now menacing the motion
picture industry, and that is overseating your
town.
For your benefit, we are reproducing a por-
tion of the letter which appeared in one of
the local Louisville newspapers :
"Aproyos of this question, the following
letter was received this week:
"Dear Boyd Martin: I hope your paper
will use its influence to restore the reserved
seat system in our vaudeville theatre. I
have talked to many of my friends who,
like myself, were former regrulars at Keith's
Mary Anderson in the old days of big-time
vaudeville and two shows a day. We were
subscribers and occupied the same seats
weekly. Now we have to take a chance ; stand
in line and perhaps get seats together when
once inside. The result is we seldom go any
more.
"I feel certain there is a very great de-
mand, in our community at least, for a re-
turn to the reserved seat for all performances.
"Won't you publish this letter in your Sun-
day dramatic column? I feel certain others
will write on the same question and I should
like to hear how other vaudeville fans feel
about the idea. Very respectfully,
DAN C. METZ."
Presentation
LETTERS
In this open fomin those interested in presen-
tation may discass important matters bearing
npon this phase of theatre entertainment. Only
signed letters will be published.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: Are here
in Luzern, Switzerland, and having a wonderful time.
How is everything in Chicago? Are playing at the
Kwisaal theatre. Hope you are feeling well and
don't work too hard. Best wishes. — Dick & Edith
Barstow, % American Express Co., 11, Rue Scribe,
Paris (9E) France.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: We are
opening a new picture show house here in' Grants-
burg ; will have an electrograph, and records will be
mostly pipe organ. We came here from Chicago
and have heard a great deal of community singing
— and love it. That is something positively un-
known here ; it would be brand new. Here is my
question : Is it possible to put community singing
across with an Electrograph furnishing the music ?
I wrote the Ransley Studios about elides but
could not find their street address so do not know
whether n\y letter will reach them or not. Thank-
ing you, I am, respectively — Jesse I. Whipple, Grants-
burg, Wis.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: I used
for my organ solo last week the set of slides called
"Songs of Yesterday and Today" featuring "Can't
You Hear Me Say I Love You." I used this novelty
in connection with an old time vaudeville and movie
show which we had on the stage and called
"Nicholedeon." On account of its being so very ap-
propriate, it went over very well. In addition to this
I named my radio program for those days "Songs
of Yesterday and Today" which helped to stimulate
interest in the entire show. Sincerely,
Melvin Peacock, Sheboygan, Wis.
DONALDSON-DOUGLAS & GUMBLE, Inc.
- WALTER DONALDSON'S SONGS -
Now Represented in CHICAGO by
WILLIE HOROWITZ
Pay us a visit or write to us at
308 Woods BIdg.— 54 W. Randolph St.— Tel. Dearborn 7025
You should be using these TWO BIG HITS:
"Just Like a Melody Out of the Sky" and "Because My Baby Don't Mean
Maybe Now"
LOS41IS
about
Everyone
EXHIBITORS! ... the current issue of the
HERALD-WORLD should be of great interest to you
... it carries the first complete synchronized prod-
uct announcements and also results of an exhaustive
survey among the E.xhibitors conducted by the HER-
ALD-WORLD . . . speaking of talking films we
have word from Mark Fitzgerald, production manager
of the Alexander Film Co., that they are considering
the sound effects at their new studio in Colorado
Springs . . . the firm is one of the leading producers
of advertising films and the writer recently visited
their plant ... J. Don Alexander is president and
E. S. Winship is in charge of advertising and pub-
licity . . . C. E. Olson is the chief art director and
C. J. Shaw is in charge of the art work ... all the
films are directed by Sidney Morris after Paul
Whitaker the Editorial chief gives his okay for the
story to be screened . . . while still on the subject of
"Sound" let us say that Movietone has made a great
scoop by synchronizing Herbert Hoover's acceptance
speech which is of interest to the entire country . . .
Marks Bros, of Chicago have signed up the foUovring
talking pictures for their theatres: "Sunrise" . . .
"Four Sons" . . . "The Singing Fool" . . . "Mother
Machree" . . . "Capt. Lash" . . . "Tenth Ave." . . .
and the 100 per cent talking films "The Terror"
and "The Time, the Place and the Girl" . . . they
also have several stage stars contracted to appear in
person . . . among them are John Steele and Julian
Eltinge . . . "Our Gang" kids are now making per-
sonal appearances in presentation theatres ... so are
Jackie Coogan "the kid" and Francis X. Bushman,
Jr., . . . the American^ Venus Beauty Contests now
being held in Chicago by 30 theatres is coming to a
close . . . the city-wide semi-finals is being conducted
at the L & T Congress theatre . . . Sam Herman is
supervising the event . . . Al Belajsco has been
transferred to the Branford theatre in Newark . . .
Jack "Peacock" Kelly has replaced him as M. C.
and band leader at the Senate and Harding theatres,
Chicago . . . Jack was drummer for Mark Fisher
and now he will rotate with him . . . Lou Kosloff
is leading the stage band at the Uptown until Verne
Buck takes his place with B & K as band leader
. . . Lou's place at the Chicago is being taken by
Eddie Perry until he returns ... it is understood
that Buck and Bennie Krueger will rotate at the
Uptown and Tivoli theatres . . . Nell Kelly, the
first woman to act as Master of Ceremonies on the
Coast is now playing B & K theatres . . . Paul
Small is back at the Oriental theatre, Chicago . . .
Ginger Rogers is being held over at the Paramount
theatre, New York . . . Paul Ash is responsible for
the success of both Paul and Ginger and in fact
many others in the presentation field . . . Ruth Etting
is making a few limited appearances in picture houses
before rehearsing for her new Ziegfeld Follies . . .
Bob Nelson is starred with Charles Kaley this week
at the Granada theatre, Chicago ... in the cast
Rector and Cooper are featured . . . the Darling
Twins are back in Chicago and are filling in a few
weeks with B & K before getting ready for another
show . . . Kerenoff and Maree are now featured in
"Kat Kabaret" a Publix unit . . . Harm and Nee,
known as the two Cadets open' with B & K next
week . . . Ruth Marie Mareotte was the featured
soprano in Marks Bros.' Fur Show presentation . . .
Arthur J. Lamb, composer of "Asleep in the Deep"
has passed beyond ... so has the father of Bernard
Cowham . . . "may their souls and the souls of all
faithful departed .through the mercy of God rest in
peace" . . . word comes from Pauline Gaskin's
mother advising us that Pauline is ill . . . Douglas
B. Murray has replaced Max Manne as production
manager at the Koxy theatre . . . Arthur Richter
is enjoying a much needed rest in the sunny land of
California . . . Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson have
been commissioned by Eddie Cantor to write his next
Ziegfeld show . . . Bemie Grossman is now in charge
of Spier & Coslow's Chicago office . . . Willie
Horowitz in Charge of Donaldson's Chicago office
will move into larger quarters soon.
54
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
I !w
STAGE SHOWS
San Francisco Granada
Week Ending August 10
Frank Cambria's "Galloping On" wae this week's
stage offering at the Granada Theatre, and a lively
act it -was, although it was the specialties that made
it the hit it proved to be. Incidentally, the act was
different from anything offered of late in that the
principals wore a lot of clothes, the character of the
offering calling for a lot of wearing apparel.
The curtain went up on an elaborate scene repre-
senting the interior of a baronial hall, with six
couples in hunting costume singing a rollicking song
of the chase. At the conclusion of this the fine
old hall vanished into thin air revealing Frank Jenks
and his Red Hot Band, also in hunting attire, play-
ing "A Hunting We Will Go."
Felicia Sorel's Dancing Girls, clad as nymphs of
the wood, danced as only nymphs do, and were fol-
lowed by a couple from the chorus, who offered a
musical love scene.
Frank Jenks announced that the act was "Gal-
lopin' On," or hunting foxes in the woods and hors-
ing around in general, although there were neither
foxes nor horses in sight.
He then led his band through a rendition of the
new Villa Moret offering "Ready For the River,"
giving it a real indigo cast. He not only recited the
words to slow music, but sang them, as well. Mem-
bers of the orchestra were asked what river they
preferred as a resting place and a violinist spoke in
favor of the Missouri, (rendering the "Missouri
Waltz." Another selected the Mississippi, playing
a banjo solo, another the Swanee River, and still
another the Danube. The Ohio also came in for
attention, each selection being accompanied by ap-
propriate music.
Ben Blue was introduced and presented his fam-
ous dying duck and skating dances among others.
He received a great hand. The Singing Blacksmiths
offered a medley of Irish airs, ending with "The
Anvil Chorus," of Verdi.
Alfred Latell, as the comic-strip dog "Bonzo,"
offered some lively pup pranks that were well re-
ceived. The act came to a close with an old English
Festival following the fox hunt, a feature being the
old-time songs and the bright costumes.
St. Louis Missouri
Week Ending August 3
On the stage Frank Fay's "Encore" again feature-d
Ruth Petty, who won the St. Louis Star's Person-
ality Girl contest. Miss Petty has signed a contract
with the Publix chain. The show concluded with a
very clever finale consisting of scenes from popular
motion pictures.
Chicago Uptown
Week Ending August 5
This week marks the second w:eek of the Uptown's
policy of symphonic orchestra presentations under the
direction' of Ulderico Marcelli, and from the fine ap-
plause received at this show it appears that the policy
is meeting with the entire approval of the Uptown
patrons. The entire presentation is built around the
symphonic arrangement of "Old Folks at Home,"
■which is rendered by the large orchestra which rises
from the pit. This is followed by a cornet solo of
"Old Kentucky Home." Mrs. Preston Sellers accom-
panies the orchestra on the organ.
At the end of the overture, the curtain parts to
reveal la decorative scrim behind which a chorus of
voices is heard singing "Deep River." The scrim
rises to disclose a huge reception or music room of a
colonial plantation home. A balcony runs the length
of the stage below tall windows which appear to open
out on a moonlight night. Stairs at either side lead
down from the balcony to the stage level. A group
of singers are seen on the balcony and the ballet are
on the stairs at either side.
Kathryn Lewis and Charles Chesney sing "Swanee
Moon," and then the ballet girls descend to do a tap
routine. AH are dressed in Southern colonial cos-
tumes. This is followed by a violin solo of "Carry
Me Back to Old Virginia," rendered by Ben Simon,
assistant orchestra conductor. Then for no good rea-
son at all, it seems, two young fellows, Gus and Wells,
enter in comic soldier attire and do a soft shoe mili-
tary dance. The number, although fairly good, is
thoroughly out of place and breaks the spirit of the
entire presentation. Next three couples sing "Blame
It on the Moon," with Chesney and Lewis leading.
For the finale the ballet enter, each carrying a
banjo and chair. As they are seated the entire com-
pany sing "Swanee Moon," with all of them playing
their banjos. A huge moon is seen glowing in the
sky through the tall windows.
It is a fine presentation worthy of any house. The
rest of the show consists of Waring's Pennsylvanlans,
which was reported in these pages before.
Detroit Grand Riviera
Week Ending August 11
The Keystone Serenaders and Fred J. Ireland's
Riviera Wonder Girls took a vacation this week,
and so, instead of the usual band show, there were
five acts of vaudeville at the Grand Riviera.
The bill was headed by the Butler-Santos Co. with
samples of modern varieties of songs and dances.
It proved to be a good tabloid revue, with lots of
flash.
Mr. and Mrs. Norman Phillips and Norman
Phillips, Jr., shared honors in a laughable skit
"Parents." Have you any children? That's where
the laughs came in, Mr. and Mrs. Phillips' trials and
tribulations with the irrepresible Junior being good
for much comedy.
The Hungarian Troupe demonstrated the proper
method of putting on risley acrobatics. Brooks and
Ross, as "Two Boys and a Piano," harmonized well
and Lane and Harper, in "Bits of Wit," had a new
refreshing line of humor.
Pittsburgh Penn
Week Ending August 11
The Publix Unit, "West Point Days," staged by
Frank Cambria, was the attraction here this week.
A beautifully dressed offering, with a large com-
pany, and scored a big hit.
The Gamby-Hale Girls in several dance ensembles,
and the Cadet Male Chorus with several vocal offer-
ings proved to be well-trained and injected real
class into the presentation.
Joseph Griffin, owner of a beautiful tenor voice,
scored with his rendition of "A Faded Flower."
Born and Lawrence, billed as "Clowns in Clogs,"
appeared in grotesquely funny costumes, and stopped
the show on' several occasions with their side-split-
ting dances. Also a short duologue with new gags
which went big.
Sally Sarraf, winner of the "personality" contest
COMMUNITY SINGING
ORIGINAL ORGANLOGUES
HAROLD J. LYON
ORGANIST-SOLOIST
MILLION DOLLAR STATE THEATRE— JOHNSTOWN, PA.
Organ Recitals broadcast daily through Station WHBP
IRENE TAYLOR
(The "IT" of Blues)
Featured in Publix "PAGODALAND" Unit
Playing Entire PUBLIX Circuit
Direction — Wm. Morris Agency
was held for a second week, and sang "St. Louis
Blues."
Elias Breeskin, one of the country's most famous
violinists, this week took charge of the Penn Sym-
phony Orchestra, his first offering being "Marche
Slav." His appearance at this house was hailed
with delight.
New York Capitol
Week Ending August 11
"Winter Sports" a Boris PetrofE stage revue, opens
with the orchestration of "Winter" played by the
Capitolians and Walt Boesner at the baton. It is
danced by the Juvenile Steppers, a class from a local
dancing school who show much promise of talent.
Eight of this class, four boys and four girls, offer
a tap chorus dance to finish off this number.
Joseph Regan, noted Irish tenor, offers "Mary
Ann," "Was it a Dream" and "Irish Eyes" the last
being a much deserved encore.
Steve Savage, a pantomimic and eccentric danter
is making his New York debut, puts over his series
of novel steps and makes a hit.
A group of twelve Alexander Oumansky dancing
girls appear in a special fencing number — their dance
and sword-play is quite entertaining, and their cos-
tumes beatuiful.
The Capitolians offer "In My Bouquet of Memories"
with vocal and electrical novelties interwoven' about
the theme. The stage is darkened, and the orchestra
boys carry flower lights to accentuate each stanza
of the song, making an attractive number.
Fuzzy Knight, a pianist whose "pianologues" are
original and full of clever comedy, prompts the
query as to where his keeper is. The man's absolute
insane and nonsensical "comedy" is absolutely dis-
couraging to lovers of the human race. For some
reason, his stuff made a hit with the rest of the
audience so we kept our peace and let him ride. He
works ■with a small piano, and tries to sing a song
— his work baffles reporting except to say, it's not
funny, but impossible. Credit him with scoring for
big applause.
The Alexander Oumansky Girls do a "Snow Flake"
toe dance, with good high kicking and ample dis-
play of feminine limb-charm. The dance can be
readily called artistic and gets over big.
The big finale, true to Capitol style, is another
extravaganza of scenic and lighting effects and beg-
gars description. Suffice to say it's a snow-storm,
with a big snow-man in the background, the music
being the theme.
Salt Lake Capitol
Week Ending August 4
The Fanchon and Marco stage presentation of-
fered at the Capitol theatre of this city during the
past week has been of an exceptionally high order.
Diminuitive and attractive Sally Rand, who is a
Baby Wampus star from Hollywood, with her com-
pany present the act titled "Sally From Hollywood."
Featured in this act were Harvey Karles who as-
sisted with the numbers especially featuring Miss
Rand. Treen and Barnet, a comedy team, the Crosby
Brothers who offered some splendid entertainment in
the form of step dancing, and a male ensemble of
twelve who pleased the audience imensely with their
step dancing.
Ralph Pollock, who is now^ master of ceremonies at
the Capitol theatre, with his band offered some very
pleasing numbers, featuring "Dream House" and "I
Can't Do Without You," which latter number was
sung very artistically by Pollock.
HENRI A. KEATES
'The Organist Who Put Community
Singing on o:^^^^ the Map"
Oriental Theatre, Chicago
UNIFORMS
FOR HOUSE
ATTACHES
COSTUMES
FOR STACS
PRESENTATIONS
BROOKS
1437 B'way
N. Y, OlF
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
New York Paramount
Week Ending August 18
The etageehow for the current week at the Para-
mount opens with "Russian Fantasy" staged by Paul
Oscard, directed by Joseph Klein, and enlisting the
talent of Stepanoff of the Russian Imperial Ballet.
Russian Meistersingrers Quartette, Paramount Dance
Ensemble, Fomin Brothers and the Paramount Or-
chestra.
The revue follows, entitled "Bitter Sweet Blues"
with Paul Ash as master of ceremonies.
Wilson and Washburn, a sister act, sing "Bitter-
sweet Blues" in stage set in two, candy-box scene,
their close harmony voices blending sweetly. The
number is danced by the Dave Gould Boys and Girls.
"Constantinople" is offered by the stage-orchestra,
and comedy effects are supplied by members of the
band.
Wilson and Washburn are wheeled in, sitting in-
side a big candy box, and offer their singing with
piano numbers. Their wow number was "Get Out
and Get Under the Moon."
Wells and Winthrop are programmed,
caught at this show.
Washburn leads the chorus boys and
"Sugar Cane Stomp" a nifty dance in
breviated costumes.
Ginger Rogers does a bit of talk with Paul Ash,
introducing her trained-flea joke, then goes into an-
other nameless song. She clicks favorably.
Paul Ash and the stagehand offer "If You Don't
Love Me," which is a cleverly executed selection, and
receives Iwunteous applause.
Grace Du Faye puts over some acrobatic contor-
tion dancing which is immediately pronounced as a
roaring success.
Wilson, of Wilson and Washburn, can be called
the hit of the show, in her impersonation of a
drunk singing "Good-bye Broadway, Hello Montreal"
— one of the cleverest young girls seen' here for
some time. Stopped first and second show Saturday.
Deszo Retter, acrobat, dancer, and what-not, offers
the comedy to the unit with his clever falls and
pantomine nonsense. He doesn't feel well, but other-
wise has his five senses.
The finale was a big candy-box scene enlisting
the entire ensemble. Paul Ash is not programmed or
advertised for next week, in Joe Santley's musical
comedy unit "Wonderful Girl."
but not
girls in
cute ab-
Milwaukee Wisconsin
Week Ending August 4
A California garden is the scene for "Sun Kissed
Kapers," this week's offering by Richy Craig and
His Gang. It opens with Bebe Barri's Rockets com-
ing onto the stage and doing snappy dancing. The
background shows long rows of orange trees and a
big moon. The orchestra is dressed in black overalls
and straw hats. A couple of cases of oranges are
out on the stage.
First is Maxine Lewis who sings a couple of popu-
lar numbers among them "I Wonder" and "That's
My Weakness Now." She has lots of pep and the
crowd encores time and again. The Barri Girls then
come on for another short, snappy dance that has
lots of i>ep to it.
Jack Joyce, one legged dancer and einger gets
the most encores of anyone on the program. With
his one leg he certainly shows people how to dance.
He's lighter on one foot than lots of people are on
two. He can sing and joke well, too, and knows
the art of love making.
The Gang then plays "Some of These Days" with
Jack Richmond, tenor, singing the chorus. He's
dreeed in a Spanish costume and the Barri Dancers
come out toward the end and dance while he sings.
Next is George Dewey Washington, dramatic singer.
ROY DIETRICH
"The Silver
Voiced Director"
Featuring
STAGEHAND
PRESENTATIONS
At the
"Playhouses of the
World"
Rotating
Between
CAPITOL and AVALON
CHICAGO
Our Gang in Person
a Great Draw
By special arrangement with Hal Roach
and M G M, Publix Theatres Corporation are
presenting the original members of Our Gang
Comedies. The popular kids, Farina,
"Fatty," Joe Cobb, Mary Ann Jackson, Harry
Spear, Jean Darling, Wheezer, and Pete the
dog, are making personal appearances in the
deluxe picture houses of both Publix and
Loew key city theatres.
Starting this week. Our Gang begin a
three-weeks engagement for Balaban & Katz
in their Chicago, Uptown and Tivoli theatres.
From past reports, it is learned that this
extra attraction has drawn considerable
crowds in all the theatres they have played
so far, and this goes also for all the bad
weather performances through the south-
eastern time. This, in addition to Jackie
Coogan, Sunshine Sammy and several other
motion picture stars who are now miaking a
tour of presentation theatres, helps establish
the "Greater Movie Season" idea in the minds
of the picturegoers.
who is a big favorite here. He sings a number of
popular songs among which is "Down Where the
Sun Goes Down."
Jerry, a boy who plays an accordion' certainly
shows them how to dance while playing the accordion.
He works in lots of medleys on the instrument and
gets a big hand from the crowd.
The finale is the Barri Girls dancing and the
orange garden all lighted up. Thousands of oranges
can be seen on the many orange trees. A good
program with plenty of snap.
Kansas City Mainstreet
Week Ending August 11
Walter Hires in a skit entitled, "A Large Party
From Hollywood," headed the stage presentation at
the Mainstreet. Hire's number consisted of dialogue
entirely, but the audiences seemed to like him and
his jokes and sense of humor went over in good
style.
Davison's Louisville Loons, the stage orchestral
attraction, rendered an overture and novelty num-
ber with Harlan Christie, titled "A Movie Party."
Christie was seen as a newsboy, selling papers to
Davison, who looked in the theatre section' for news
concerning each prior to its appearance. The stunt
seemed to go over well with the audiences all week.
Shapiro and O'Malley offered a skit entitled "How
Does He Stand It?" in which humor and a bit of
everything were blended. Geraldine and Joe were
conceded by daily newspapers to be the best child
act which has come along in many a moon. The
youngsters, in song, dance and jokes are clever —
nothing else. Margie Clifton and Partner — the part-
ner being the husband — are seen in a balancing act
which consists of several feats that are a bit more
difficult than the average run.
Indianapolis Circle
Week Ending August 10
Dick Powell leads the stage presentation, a Publix
show called "Seeing Things." Musical numbers are
provided by Allan Raymond, a singer. John Max-
well has a novelty piece and comedy is offered by
Castleton and Mack.
Another interesting feature of the program is the
marionette show of Les Klicks.
Detroit Capitol
Week Ending August 10
This week was designated as "Greater Movie
Week" in Detroit theatres, so what could be more
natural than for Del Delbridge, that popular master
of ceremonies, to name his show "A Greater Movie
Party ?"
Del had a group of exceptional group of Publix
stars for his party, and the stage setting was un-
usual. Headline honors were split equally between
Chief Eagle Feather, the one and only aborigine tap
dancer, and Murray and Alan, that darn fool pair,
with their 1,001 odd verses about "Three Thousand
Years Ago."
Eagle Feather, a chief of the Cherokee tribe, ap-
peared in his beautiful doeskin costume, with its
marvelous headdress of ermine skins. He is a dog-
gone good tap dancer and puts over his steps as no
one else can, except perhaps, his teacher, George
Primrose, the old-time minstrel.
There is much to be said for Murray and Alan.
As comedians and singers they are in a class by
themselves. Like the lamented team of Gallagher
and Shean, the boys have a song nXimber which
goes over big, but which, when analyzed, proves to
be merely a number of verses of nonsense kidding
historical events. The boys have played here before,
always get a big hand and it is to be hoped they
will be back soon. The audiences cheer them on'
every performance, hoping to hear all the verses of
the song. Maybe the team will take so many en-
cores some day, they will nin out of verses. The
supply seems unlimited, however.
The other acts on the program were of high stand-
ard, too. There was Blair Stewart, who won a
large following with his sweet tenor voice ; the Janet
Sisters, who sang and danced prettily ; and Rose
■Valyda with some new "blues" songs. The Capi-
tolonians, under Delbridge's direction, played melo-
dious tunes and the Capitol Girls danced delightfully.
Samuel Benavie directing his symphony orchestra,
had a fascinating Spanish number as his overture.
Atlanta Howard
Week Ending August 11
Distinctively beautiful in costumes and scenery,
backed with first class performers, "Dancing Feet,"
Publix's offering went over fine at the Howard this
week.
Al Morey took a step higher with his second week's
work and his personality fitted the presentation un-
usually well.
Headlining was Henry Rose, Broadway funster who
proved himself originality plus with his puns.
Harry 'Vale and Willie Stewart clearly showed
themselves apt steppers from the big city and drew
good hands for their intricate dance novelties.
Martha Vaughn was placed in an exquisite tableaux
picture and rendered "An Old Fashion Melody."
Her voice was well liked. This skit stood out for
its lovely settings and colonial costumes. Eight
chorines interpreted the melody as Miss Vaughn sang.
Lead by Al. the Howard's stage orchestra gathered
a good hand with "So Tired." The show clicked
well.
Portland Portland
Week Ending August IS
A refreshing stage show, another Fanchon and
Marco idea, "College Capers" brought good business
to the popular playhouse, and included Halfred
Young, late star of Student Prince who was most
acceptable with new songs ; Nita Martion Trio regist-
ered well, and Jack Kates and Sterling Ward with a
line up cherry patter.
Both Don and Iris Wilkins, did their share to
make 'em happy, on the giant organ.
Albert F. Brown
Featuring ORGAN-SCRIM Presentations
"REPRESENTS THE NEW ERA OF DE LUXE THEATRE ENTERTAINMENT"
Granada and Marbro Theatres, Chicago
BALABAN
AND KATZ
CHICAGO
EDDIE HANSON— SOLO ORGANIST
Composer, "WILL YOU ALWAYS CALL ME SWEETHEART?" published by Milt Weil;
"THE SONG OF THE CHIMES," published by Harold Rossiter Fellow Organists send
for Copies and Slides Am Vacationing till September in the Wilds of Wisconsin with
Bernie Cowham and Al Gullickson, two more pedal pushers who have long been my pals
Address until September First,
EDDIE HANSON — 132 East Forest Avenue — NEENAH, WISCONSIN
56
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928 I
New York Roxy
Week Ending August 18
Fantasie De Papillon, an asthetic dance with
Nicholas Daks, Patricia Bowman, and thp Rosy
Ballet Corps.
Henri Therrien, heard here before and well loved
for his excellent voice, sings "I Passed by Your
Window" assisted by Irene McBride. Scenery to fit the
lyric of the song.
Berinoif and Eulalie in "Adagio Chinois" — which
means adagio dancing in Chinese costumes and
scenery, are already as successful at Roxy's as the
Grand Orchestra, are assisted by M. Vodnoy and the
Misses Herman, Malfatto, Kildentoft and Lainer.
A La Chasse, using "A Hunting We Will Go" for
the musical score, is danced by our favorite preci-
sion geniuses, the 32 Markert Roxyettes. They are
as good as ever, in their red jackets, and the forest
set is well put on.
The prologue for the film, "Four Sons" is titled
"Mutterchen" (meaning little mother) which is the
musical theme throughout the movietone picture —
and is offered by Gladys Rice, Harold Van Dnzee
and the Roxy Male Quartette, behind a scrim drop
with special lighting effects.
Detroit Michigan
Week Ending August 10
Frank Beaston headed another good Publix show
at the Michigan this week entitled "Step This Way,"
in which little Mitzi Mayfair showed the way to
step. The little girl was good and did some very
clever acrobatic dancing.
Frank, as usual, took an important part in the
production and gave his regular weekly lesson in
syncopation with that dance piece with the stirring
march rhythym "Constantinople."
One little girl, introduced as a local lady, didn't
have her name in the ads, but her work as a petite
little commedienne certainly warranted it. Exhaus-
tive research by your reporter disclosed that she is
Elinor Charier, and that she hopes to rise high in her
profession. If she keeps up to her present high
standard of comedy, her wishes undoubtedly will be
fulfilled.
Another charming lass is Edith Griffith, blues
singer, who comes from the musical comedy fold
to sing songs for the Michigan customers. High
class harmony was supplied by the Dictators Quartet,
and variety was furnished by Bob, Bob and Bobbie.
A clever canine is Bobbie, for he proves to be a
juggler of no mean ability.
R. H. Burnside created the production for Publix,
and he added one novelty in the way of dance rou-
tine which was much appreciated. The Foster Girls
have long been welcomed here for their dancing, so
Burnside proceeded to surprise the weekly audiences
with a mixed ensemble of Foster Girls and Boys.
It's a better than usual dance act.
Eduard Werner, conducting his Michigan Sym-
phony Orchestra, selected for the overture "Caprice
Italienne," in which he was assisted by Arch Cannon,
a tenor, who displayed a splendid voice in the ac-
companiment.
Philadelphia Stanley
Week Ending August 4
The pictuie at the Stanley this week was good
and the show as a whole was up to the usual stajid-
ard, but in spite of the delightful temperature of
the theatre, the audience showed the effect of the
heat.
The stage presentation', entitled "It Might Happen,"
was in charge of Jack Kaufman, master of cere-
monies. The decorations were futuristic in char-
Roxy Stageshow Uses
"Four Sons'* Theme
S. L. Rothafe], manasring director of the
Roxy Theatre, New York, assisted by his pro-
duction staff, arranged a stage presentation
last week that conformed with the photoplay
called "Four Sons."
The presentation was called "Mutterchen,"
a dramatization from the theme-song of the
film which in our language means "Little
Mother." The prologue was elaborately
staged with novel scenic and costume effect
that was atmospheric of the film. The cast
was headed by Gladys Rice and Harold Van
Duzee, soloists, assisted by the Roxy male
quartet.
acter and the costumes of the Eight Ada Kaufman
Girls as they appeared in different dances suggested
the imagined dress of the women of 2028. They
first appeared in pantelets ruffled from waist to
ankle, with pointed ruffled caps. The street cos-
tume of 2028 was represented as being quite scant
with narrow rufiies for skirts while the bustle was
also shown as having returned to favor.
John Steel, the well known American lyric tenor
in person was featured this week. He was accom-
panied by Oliver Gushee at the piano. Mr. Steel has
one of those delightfully sympathetic tenor voices that
express the feeling of the song so well. He sang
"Roses of Picardy," an Irish lyric and "Eili, Eili."
The audience called him back again and again but
after two encores he only bowed his appreciation.
Cogert and Motto offered an original imitation of a
jazz band, using only their hands and voices. They
also imi)ersonated the Duncan Sisters and Siamese
Twins and their falsetto voices and kittenish actions
drew a laugh.
Reckless Recco made a great many futile attempts
to do something in the way of acrobatic stunts but
never accomplished anything. The effect was sup-
posed to be humorous but it became monotonous and
ineffective.
Billy Rolls can do hand turns as easily as most of
us walk. He did some difficult stunts with chairs
and the audience applauded heartily, which means
something on a hot night.
Grace Johnson sang several "blues" songs in the
usual harsh, unmusical manner. Dolores did some
tap dancing which was good but nothing out of the
ordinary.
Chicago Sheridan
Week Ending August 18
The show at the Sheridan this week opens with a
ballet routine and follows with a band number, "Too
Busy," with Verne Buck playing the sax. Good ap-
plause. Bob Allen follows singing "You Remember
Sally," to a good hand, part of which may be ac-
counted for by his good looks.
The Wills Twuis follow singing "I Must Be Dream-
ing," and then go into a fair tap dance, following
with a tap Varsity Drag. This is followed by a
dance by a young lady dressed as a jockey and an-
other doing a gypsie dance. The show takes on new
life when Harm and Nee, the two young blues sing-
ers come out to do their stuff. They could have gone
on endlessly as far as the audience was concerned,
and as it was they sang "Old Man Sunshine," "You're
a Real Sweetheart," "Get Out and Get Under the
Moon," and as a final encore "Pretty Little Baby."
These boys have been at the Sheridan many times.
GINGER ROGERS
"A Rarebit of Spice"
Again with PAUL ASH, this time at the PARAMOUNT
THEATRE, NEW YORK
Staying over for a while
Thanks to ihe WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY
44
DOC" WEBB
Original Organ Novelties
at the
MARSHALL Square Theatre, CHICAGO
and their popularity seems to grow each time they
step on the stage. No, doggonit, they sang "We'll
Think of You" ae the final encore.
This is followed by a band number, "Just Like a
Melody Out of the Sky," with Verne and a member of
the band singing it to a big applause. A very
pretty number excellently rendered by the band.
The Sheridan Girls on again doing a gypsie rou-
tine with the two girls mentioned above doing a
gypsie and a Russian dance. They put a lot of
pep in the finish and we thought the finale had
come. This number seemed a bit out of place for
some reason. This is followed by a blackface act.
We didn't get his name and after he was through,
we weren't much interested. He attempts to put
over a bit of wise cracking that fails to crack very
much and sings "Laugh, Clown, Laugh," and a comic
song, "Oh My Operation." We'll leave it at that.
The band next goes into a very beautiful arrange-
ment of music from "Blossom Time," with Bob Allen
singing "Song of Love" to a girl in his arms. As
he finishes a scrim is lowered and the feature pic-
ture, "Heart to Heart" is flashed on the scrim.
This makes a very good prologue finish for the
picture.
Chicago Chicago
Week Ending August 11
There's nothing but cats in the show this week, it
being called "Kat Kabaret." The setting is a roof
of a large building with a night background of build-
ings and lights, quite effective. As the show opens
two men dressed in cat costumes enter to go through
all the regulation meows, screams, spittings, and
maneuvers of a couple of cats making love. This
drew a good laugh. Then the Albertina Rasch Girls,
also dressed in cat costumes do a clever routine.
Nagel and Omar, the two "cats" who opened the
show, are on again in the same costumes to give
more antics perfectly imitative of cats. One jumps
through a hoop and the other does good hand balanc-
ing stunts. Their motions and actions are startingly
cat-like. The act ends with a whirlwind finish for
a good hand.
Eddie Perry and the band follow with a band num-
ber, "Last Night I Dreamed You Kissed Me," during
which Ned Miller, tenor, sings the lyric. The Pat-
terson Twins follow with the usual high-kicking team
dance. They take one bow for a fair applause.
Kcrenoff and Marcc follow with a fine adagio num-
ber. They are dressed as a cat and canary. Marie
is rolled on the stage in a huge gilded cage by
Nagel and Omar and Kerenoff. When Maree as the
canary is released from the cage the dance begins.
There are some spectacular dives and the act finishes
for a good hand.
The Albertina Rasch Girls are on again in another
"cat" routine. Six are costumed ;n black cat cos-
tumes, the other six in white. This toe routine is
one of the best seen lately. Jack North follows with
his regular number of songs sung to the tune of his
banjo, the songs being "Sophie," "Vegetables," and
"I'm in Love With You Again." For encores he
does an imitation of Jack Barrymore doing the
Charleston and ends with another comic song.
The show ends with all the acts on for a short
routine and with everybody singing "Krazy Kat."
Note: Eddie Perry shows much more confidence on
the Chicago stage and speaks his lines far better than
he did when he appeared several weeks ago.
$3950.00 WURUTZER
UNIT ORGAN
Wurlitzer Unit Organ consisting violin,
flute, trumpet, vox humana, xylophones,
chimes, glockenspiel, drums, with com-
plete effects such as fire gong, steamboat
whistle, siren, etc. Organ can be heard
now playing in theatre. Delivery can be
made approximately September 15.
Terms. Telephone Harrison 0893 or
write O. J. Harm for specifications, 624
So. Michigan Ave., Room 1219, Chicago,
111.
DEAN STEIi^ENSON
And His Boys
Featured at the
Marshall Square Theatre
CHICAGO
^a^m
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
57
U P ^pd "^ ORGAN SOLOS
'fi
ID ALLE>L
I'ti
Known as the "human dynamo" and loved by
everyone in the music business, Al Beilin, the main-
stay of the Irving Berlin firm in this country, takes
a crack at this column. Here's what Beilin has to
say:
• * •
"Was up fishing for a couple of days up to Lake
Geneva, where Henri Keats and wife spent three
weeks vacation and of all the all around outdoor
sportsmen, Keats holds it. As a golf player — we
played the New Country Club, at Lake Geneva and
right behind us was a foursome of farmers planting
potatoes where Keats got through with a shot.
• * *
"When fishing he's the only man that can fall
asleep with a half-pound of minnows on his hook.
As a three cushion billiard player, he made one and
has never gotten through talking about it. Milton
Watson was with us with a brand new set of clubs
and an old ball, but lost the ball and went home.
Watson also fished all morning and caught three
carloads of weeds and pickled herring.
• • *
"I know everybody will be glad to hear that Harry
Robinson, who has been with Remick's for years, has
joined the Chicago office of Irving Berlin, Inc. Am
certainly happy to have him with me, as Harry is
one man in the business that is a small man with a
lot of big friends.
• • •
"Sid Berman just came back from his vacation
and he looks like the 'Primrose Four.' He was fish-
ing in a lake that has been minus fish for the last
seventeen years and the only thing he caught was a
good sunburn and a lot of rest.
• • «
"Walter Donovan, professional manager of our
Chicago ofHce, has finally got a plug song with Irv-
ing Berlin, Inc., entitled: 'Somebody Sweet Is Sweet
On Me' — Gus Kahn wrote the lyric. Speaking of
Gus— I just finished talking to him on the 'phone,
and he is leaving for New York to write the Eddie
Cantor show with Walter Donaldson. Gus is leaving
Sunday, and he only has fifty seven songs to finish
before leaving — it looks like he will finish the last
manuscript as the Century leaves Chicago.
• • *
"However, speaking of fishing. Max Winslow has
been fishing since the first of the summer up at the
Thousand Islands, and from good reports I under-
stand Irving Berlin, Saul Bomstein and Max Wins-
low went fishing last week and after they got
through they opened up a fish store where they
feature 'can salmon.'
• * •
"Murray Ritter just came back from his vacation
and Joe Santly left the mintue he put his foot in the
door and Joe Hiller is waiting at the door for Santly
to come back so he can jump.
• « «
"Johnny Farrell, the new national open champion
has the reputation of being the best dresser in
America, but along side of Milton Charles he looks
like a comedian in a double act.
• • •
"The best golf remark that I have heard was
made by Henri Keats, organist at the Oriental The-
atre, he made the remark : 'not to hit the ball so
far and you can find it.'
• * •
"This is my first attempt at writing, so if Larry
Spier, the boy that writes this column every week
accepts my coltunn, it will be a miracle I
• • •
"In conclusion, let me send my best to the Ashs
at the Paramount, hope their baby is getting along
fine, also the Crawford Trio and their organs.
• * •
"If Ben Rocke reads this column, I feel siire if he
sees Mr. Ash and Mr. Crawford, there is a positive
sale for him in a cheap nice looking double breasted
felue suit."
AL BEIUN.
P. S. — And the above is typical "Alabeilin." Some
day in the near future, I'll get Al to give us a few
more laughs.
Larry Spier.
Arthur Martel (Boston Metroiwlitan) at the con-
sole offered an unusual solo for "The Song of the
Builder," an unusual shoi't film made from the poem
of Edgar A. Guest. This as well as all his solos was
enjoyed by the patrons.
Arthur Gutow (Detroit, Mich., Michigan) moved
to the stage with his portable console to offer his
organ number. The solo proved to be Eubenstein's
"Reve Angelique," a Russian arrangement of haunt-
ing beauty. Carl Pavese, harpist assisted in the
number.
Donald Miller (Detroit, Mich., Capitol) presented
for this week's stunt "My Window of Dreams" a
clever organ offering featuring many of the late
song hits. Mr. Stewart assisted in the selection by
giving a vocal solo.
Alexander Schreiner (Salt Lake City, Utah, Capi-
tol) completed the high class program by presenting
fine music and selections that were in accord with
the stageshow and the photoplay "Forgotten Faces."
Dick Leibert (Pittsburg, Pa., Penn) scored as usual
with his clever weekly organloque. This week it
was entitled "It Happens in the Best of Families."
The crowd really enjoyed it and let Dick know it
by being kind with applause.
Julia Dawn (Atlanta, Ga., Howard) still continues
to draw crowds and applause here as guest organist.
This week she offered a fine solo that blended well
with the stage presentation.
Merle Clark (Detroit, Mich.. Grand Riviera) gave
his weekly organ stunt and this one rounded out a
good musical selection for the entire presentation of
stage and screen attractions that really pleased.
Melvin Peacock (Sheboygan, Wis., Sheboygan) re-
ports that his organ solo for last week was called
"Songs of Yesterday and Today" with slides that
featured "Can't You Hear Me Say I Love You."
He used this as a novelty in connection with an old
time vaudeville bill and films at this theatre that
went over with a bang. The stage show was called
"Nichelodeon." The entire program was very ap-
propriate and received considerable newspaper com-
ment in addition to his regular radio tieup.
Eddie Hanson (Chicago, Tivoli) reports that he
used a stunt called "Stage Struck" last week for
his solo that won considerable laughs and applause.
The program consisted of "You're a Real Sweet-
heart," "Too Busy," "My Darling," "Constantinople"
and "Will You Always Call Me Sweetheart," one
of his own com^position. The solo was for com-
munity singing purposes only and how they sang.
Chaunccy Haines (Chicago, Norshore) used a
stunt called "Writing a Song" for his solo last week.
Milton' Charles had something like it a few weeks
ago also. The tunes played were all popular to
special lyrics that gave Milt Ager and Jack Yellen
song writers a nice send off. The songs played with
slides were "If You Don't Love Me," "My Darling,"
"Ready for the River," and "Constantinople."
Although it was a community sing very few had the
pep or the inclination to sing at the show reported.
Milton Charles (Chicago Chicago) plays "That Old
Sweetheart of Mine," during which three beautiful
scrim scenes are shown with a boy and girl posing
and singing. The first scrim represents the spring-
time of a young couple's love, the second the summer
and the third the autum. The presentation ends
with the couple seen in the center part of the scrim
floating in a cloud effect, as if they are going on
through eternity loving one another. The way the
presentation has been worked out and staged, it is
quite clever and beautiful. First of its kind seen
at the Chicago in some time.
SIP S4
atout
BEST SELLERS
"Raniona" — (Leo Feist).
"Girl of My Dreams" — (Jack Mills).
"You're a Real Sweetheart" — (Leo
Feist).
"Last Night I Dreamed You Kissed
Me" — (Leo Feist).
"Just Like a Melody Out of the Sky"
— (Donaldson-Douglas & Gumble).
"Laugh, Clown, Laugh" — (Remick).
"That's My Weakness Novo" — (Sha-
piro-Bernstein).
"Angela Mia" — (De Sylva-Brown &
Henderson).
"Beloved" — (Irving Berlin).
"Get Out and Get Under the Moon"—
(Irving Berlin).
"Evening Star" — (Leo Feist).
"Was It a Dream?" — (Harms).
"Chloe"— (Villa Moret).
JUST A DANCE PROGRAM OF LONG AGO—
(Al Piantadosi) — Three waltzes out of six prove
that this is a very old program. Every dance with
the same one also proves the old idea. A very
pretty ballad that reminds one of "Among My
Souvenirs." By Lou Hercher, Don Rockwell and
George A. Kelley.
* * *
ANGELA MIA (My Angel) — (D« Sylva, Brown &
Henderson) — The theme song of the "Street Angel,"
a Fox film special, has jumped until now it is one
of the best sellers in this territory. The writers
have been making theme songs a specialty, being
responsible for "Diane" and "C^armaine." Music
by Erno Rapee, lyric by Lew Pollack.
* • •
SOMEBODY ELSE (May Be Telling Her Some-
thing She'd Love to Hear from You) — (Harold Ros-
siter) — A very good title with a waltz melody. The
title being quite long tells the story. Well written.
Words by Joe Goodwin, music by Larry Shay.
* » »
WHY (DO I LOVE YOU LIKE I DO)— (Spier
and Coslow) — A question that is tough to answer.
That's love and nothing or no one can change it.
A good foxtrot with an appropriate lyric. Words
and music by Gold-Hays and Rockwell.
« « «
WILL YOU ALWAYS CALL ME SWEETHEART
— (Milton Weil) — The writer is a local organist for
Balaban & Katz. He has written' a very good song
that should sell. It's of the old fashioned type. By
Eddie Hanson.
» * «
WHAT'S THE REASON— (Harms, Inc.)— From
reports this show is very big in the East and this is
one of the big songs in the show. The writers are
very well known as production writers. From Green-
wich Village Follies. Lyrics by Max and Nathaniel
Lief. Music by Perkins.
* * •
'TAINT SO, HONEY, 'TAINT SO— (Irving BerUn)
— A modern song based on a Negro spiritual. Has
a very catchy melody and should be great for singing
orchestras. By Willard Robison.
* * »
EVENING STAR (HELP ME FIND MY MAN)—
(Leo Feist) — A beautiful song that really should be a
hit. The music and lyric are both perfect and with
the proper exploitation should go to the top. Both
writers are well known. Words and music by Roy
Turk and Fred E. Ahlert.
* « *
HALLELUJAH I'M A BUM— (Bibo-BIoedon &
Lang) — Why one should be happy about being a
bum is beyond me, but then everyone has his
o'wn idea of life. This song is already out on all
records and this will no doubt create a demand for
the sheet music. Version' by Jack AVhite.
« * •
HALF WAY TO HEAVEN— Waterson-Bcrlin &
Snyder) — This is not the story of the Wrigley bldg.
or Tribune tower but is a description of what these
boys think of their home. It's paradise to them.
One of the writers will be remembered for his "Girl
That Men Forget" and the other for his "Mary Lou."
Words by Al Dubin. Music by J. Russell Robinson.
C^ ^.
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
Incorporated in this department of practical showmanship of Exhibitors Herald are the Moving
Picture World departments, "Selling the picture to the Public" and "Better Business Builders.'*
Analyze Your Business; Plan for 1928-29
By Will W hitmore
The beginning of the new season is upon us. Serious, progressive exhibitors are asking themselves right now, "What
am I going to do with the new season?" Not, "What is this season going to do to me?" They are analyzing last sea-
son's business to find the leaks so that they may be stopped this year. They are studying every phase of their business,
and they are right now laying their plans to eliminate every weak spot, to cut out every unnecessary expense and to
strengthen and build up every factor in their operation that has proven worthwhile in the past. They are planning
right now for a more successful 1928-29 season.
FEW businesses have succeeded without
definite plans of action. Few individual
triumphs have been achieved without plan
and a definite campaign of action. Lind-
bergh's great flight from New York to Paris
was achieved only because he had a plan to go
by. He knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Every phase of his flight was planned mi-
nutely; he was prepared to meet every emer-
gency. He mapped his course and won ! Have
you mapped your course for 1928-29?
We know of any number of exhibitors w"ho
conduct their business along these lines. They
study their business to eliminate each fault
individually. This can be done only by thor-
ough analysis, and the tackling of each prob-
lem individual K".
For instance, probably every theatre in the
coimtr\- has one day in the week that is con-
sistently bad, week in and week out. This is
a definite leak. It causes serious inroads on
the annual profit. Here is a definite concrete
problem. Can business on that day be built
up? A chain of theatres in Wisconsin was
confronted with that very problem. It has
solved it in a very successful fashion by giv-
ing away silverware to women on that par-
ticular night each week over a period of 26
weeks.
Boosts Business of Entire Week
Right now that poor night shows as much
or more profit than the other nights of the
week. And throughout this chain business has
been boosted for the week as a whole bj' this
one campaign. It was found that trailers run
on this night enticed people into the theatre
the following nights of the week. Here was
a concrete problem. It was met very success-
fully by a definite plan of action. The pro-
gressive exhibitor is tackling every problem in
just this individual way. It requires an analj--
sis of the business and then a plan of action
to overcome the trouble.
Another exhibitor saw that poor Fridaj'
nights were eating into his profits. He began
studying and found that high school activi-
ties were keeping his patrons away. If it
wasn't a dance, it was a basketball game or
something else. To eliminate this, he started
Friday night stunt nights for high school
students. He gave part of his receipts on
several Friday nights to the athletic fund of
the school. He began to boost student activi-
ties and to cooperate with the students in all
their affairs. His student patronage has in-
creased tremendously. Analyze your business
from every angle. Find the weak spots and
THE CAPITOL TIMES
A weekly netispaper published by the
Capitol theatre, Iron Mountain, Mich.,
which is a neivspaper first and a theatre
house organ second. It varies in size
from four to six pages, and is chock full
of advertising. Its strength lies in the
fact that it is full of local news. It has
a circulation of 4.500 homes.
then plan to eliminate them. That is the way
the real showman goes about it. .
How About the Old Folks
Now let's study the business from another
standpoint. Are you getting proper patronage
from all ages of people. Perhaps the old folks
are not coming in the right number. Perhaps
you haven't been showing enough pictures that
appeal to matured patrons. Well, that takes
a lot of study. Perhaps you can determine
this by getting out a questionnaire to all pa-
trons. Mix with your patrons. Learn their
likes and dislikes, and book your pictures
accordingly.
But there are other ways to appeal to the
grownups, as exhibitors have demonstrated.
How about the church groups. Let's see if
we can't appeal to them. It can be done by
tying up with the church organizations. Put
on benefits for the Woman's Bible class.
Probably the Baptist or Presbyterian church
wants new carpets. All right ofler to have a
special show for them and donate a percent-
age of the receipts. That'll bring in a lot of
people who have got out of the habit of visit-
ing your house. Get them started and they'll
keep coming.
Then there are the lodges, the American
Legion, the woman's club, and a dozen other
organizations to play to and cooperate with.
This is important. It builds goodwill and
goodwill builds the box office. Plan to get the
older people this year. There's a way and you
can do it, as many of you have found.
An exhibitor in Northern W^isconsin found
that too many of his patrons were not learn-
ing what his shows were in time to plan to
see them. He was not reaching the public
with his advertising. People were constantly
telling him, "I hear you had a good show last
night. I'm sorry I missed it, but I didn't
know it was coming in time to plan for it."
Something had to be done.
More Readers Help Business
He realized he had not been using enough
readers in the local paper. He had been negli-
gent in giving the paper the stories. The
paper was willing to run more, in fact they
wanted more material about pictures, so the
exhibitor got busy. Now he sends the paper
each week a certain amount of copy each week
on a certain day, so that the paper can de-
pend upon him. He has been doing this
rehgiously for the last six months and his
business has shown a good increase.
Bringing in the rural patrons is always a
problem. One exhibitor has solved it by get-
ting out a mimeographed letter twice a month
to a list of 1,500 people in the rural territory.
Another_ has the mailman stick a program in
each mailbox along his route each week. This
exhibitor has found that the rural people will
come to his theatre if he shows some interest
in reaching them and telling them what his
program is.
As every exhibitor knows, there are many
individual factors in theatre operation that
can be improved upon. Take them up indi-
vidually. Study and analyze them from past
experience, and plan to better each condition.
Think it over. Make a thorough analysis
of your business this last season and make
your plans now for 1928-29.
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
59
Wisconsin Houses
Fight Hot Weather
With Good Stunts
In the territory in and around Milwaukee
you will find some real showmen. These are
hitting the old summer slump idea right in
the eye with many good campaigns and stunts
which are successfully enticing patrons into
their theatres. Probably no where in the
world is there country more tempting to out-
door life, yet these exhibitors are bringing in
the patrons because they are planning and
using means for bring them to their theatres.
Following are a few of the stunts these show-
men are using :
Road Signs Boost Trade
Special signs being used by Midwes'co the-
atres in Wisconsin calling the attention of
tourists and motorists to the fine shows play-
ing the town at Alidwesco theatres, and this
idea is working out very well. Good shows
are also scheduled which further helps to get
the tourist business. The result is that the
houses are having the best summer on record.
CHlCAGO*DAn.Y TR1BU>T:;. THURSDAY. AUGUST 9. 19M.
Prizes Helps Summer Trade
Otto Lang, manager of the Venetian the-
atre, Emil Franke, manager of the State the-
atre and Robert L. Gross, manager of the
Riviera theatre, all of the Milwuakee theatre
Circuit, Inc., are boosting summer attend-
ance with an excellent exploitation stunt.
They have all formed a tieup with a few
radio dealers and during the hot summer days
radios, ukuleles, and other musical instru-
ments are given away. The radio dealer
gets excellent publicity on the event as' his
name is posted all over town and the theatre
gets a lot of increased trade in its respective
section.
Boosts Matinee B. O.
Playing upon the desires of children to
possess dogs of their own, S. Gross, manager
of the Downer theatre, Milwaukee, recently
increased the attendance at his Kiddies Satur-
day matinees by giving away a fine police
dog. The stunt was given a lot of publicity
two weeks prior to the awarding date and
when the day came there were a lot of ex-
cited kids attending the Downer theatre.
Birthday Idea Attracts Attention
Eugene Arnstein, manager of the Lake the-
atre, Milwaukee, is running a Birthday Con-
test idea in connection with the Advance, a
weekly newspaper on the south side of Mil-
waukee. Every person who has a birthday
can fill in a blank which appears' in the news-
paper, mail it to the theatre manager, and
on the day of his or her birthday will be
admitted free to the theatre.
This plan which has been in operation for
about two months has been very successful.
Good newspaper stories are run on it in the
Advance, and hardly a day goes by but what
Arnstein gets 12 to 15 letters from people
on the idea.
German Signs Help
When "The Raider Emden" played in Mil-
waukee, A. Saxe of the Merrill theatre used
a good promotional idea in order to boost at-
tendance. He had the majority of his adver-
tising in the front of the theatre in German
which attracted a lot of attention from all
passersby.
Furthermore the theatre went into the
German newspaper advertising columns rather
heavily with the result that the theatre was
packed every day. The stunt went over big
because the advertising staff of Midwesco the-
atres and Saxe realized that there is a very
large German population in Milwaukee and
that they patronize all German plays in large
numbers. The idea worked out very well and
even those who could not read German were
attracted by the German signs. It brought to
them the breath of Germany.
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Chicago Theatre Advertising
Takes Another Turn for Worse
Chicago theatre advertisers seem to go
get drunk on black ink and dizzy with
ads go on one page is almost startling at
Mix them together, and what have you
Well, perhaps it isn't as bad as that, but
we'll leave it to you. Take a look at the
reproduction above, of the full page of the-
atre advertising clipped from the Chicago
Tribune. Rather terrible, isn't it? And we
haven't picked out the most horrible example,
either. This page is more or less typical of
the pages which have been hitting the Chi-
cago public between the eyes when it opens
its morning paper for the last few weeks.
Some time ago this publication had quite a
few words to say about Chicago theatre adver-
tis:ing. Soon after that the theatre page in
Chicago papers took on an altogether differ-
ent appearance — more attention being paid to
proper use of white space and sensible layout.
Then gradually things took a turn for the
worse, until the pages now look like the one
above.
What's the cause of it all? From a careful
study, it would appear that the whole trouble
is caused by most everyone playing the little
game of follow the leader. This has been
on periodic sprees ever so often. They
weird layouts. The result when all the
times. The ads, singly, are bad enough,
got ? — Monstrosity.
especially evident the last few months'. Let
one fellow come out with an original layout
and immediately the whole flock trails right
in behind. If one advertiser makes a splurge
of black ink, the next morning's paper will
be a riot of black splotches.
Let's take a look at the reproduction above
again. As far as readability and attrac-
tiveness are concerned, the Keith-Albee-Or-
pheum ad in the lower right hand corner is
the best ad on the page. It is really a good
ad, presenting in small space the programs
of five theatres. Compare it with several of
the other ads, with their jumble of circles,
ben dey backgrounds, half tones and line
drawings. No advertiser, of course, is in-
terested in how the page as a whole will look.
His one interest, naturally, is to get a play
for his own ad, but if each advertiser would
give some thought to the entire page, he would
probably in the end be successful in getting
the play he wants and that he does not get by
trying to beat the other fellow in the use of
black ink and dizzy layouts.
y
60
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
MATRIMONY WEEK!
NOTE: — During the past few weeks in New England states alone thousands have been divorced
and many others have gained some kind of legal separation. Notwithstanding this fact hundreds
have been married to try what others have failed at. With this thought in mind, the Management
of the Amherst Theater have booked a series of pictures dealing with this subject, namely Matri-
mony. We have put aside the Week of August 6 — 11 and will call it Matrimony Week.
Far be it from us to claim the solution of this great problem ; but if we have done something to
get closer to the solution and at the same time give our patrons six pleasant and enjoyable days of
entertainment we shall be more than satisfied. The Management.
Mon=Tue,Aug.6=7 Wedn'day Aug. 8 Thu=Fri, Aug 9-10 Saturday, Aug. II
Be honest with your-
selves Married Folks !
how many times
ha\ e vou said or thought
Oh, Girls ! Heavens Sake
Watch ^'our Step !
"inifRESINOU" "BEWARE OF
When a young wife and
hubby sigh — "If 1 were
only single!" and then act
as though they were
That's Flirting'
Let MAY McAVOY and
CONRAD NAGEL
take you thru an hour of
delightful romance
Screened at 3-30 and 8-30
AND
Si;eets Gallagher
ALEX THE GREAT
:^c^eened at 230 and 7-30
Comedy News
ice auto votes with each paid
admission
?>
Starring
H:„ IRENE rich
Screened at 2-50, 7-ioand-S5o
Cartoon Scenic News
500 auto votes with each paid
admission
MARY ASTOR
and
LLOYD HUGHES
in
i;ring
^ marriage
Action of a 3-ring circus
drama of an underworld
gang fued, thrills of a big
top love story. Three
great shows in one.
Screened at 2-50, 7-10 and S-J5
Comedy News
100 auto votes with each paid
admission.
What do you do while
Hubby plays goif "'
Are you a
"GOLF
WIDOW
You don't have to under
stand golf to enjoy this
picture. A golf mad
hubby helps a beautiful
blonde out of a water
hazard but lands in the
rough with friend wife.
Cast includes \'era Rey-
nolds and Harrison Ford.
Screened at 2-50, 7-10 and 8-45
Comedy News
100 auto votes with each paid
admission
FREE! Sat. Eve.. August 11 at 8-15 the Management will positively give away to any
one wants it. FREE, a Real, Live, Bottle Fed Baby for adoption— NOT a Cat, Dog or Doll.
Best of Parentage. Who wants to adopt him and take him home'' When you see him
you will want him. All applicants must be present when he is presented.
Raymond E. Smith, manager of the Amherst theatre, Amherst, Mass., found at the last
moment he had pictures for one whole week dealing with marriage, but that didn't bother
Smith. No, Sir. He used his head, and ns a result the town had a lot to say about his
"Matrimony Week." That's good showmanship.
Flower Matinee Is
Goodwill Builder for
Sheboygan Theatre
Reinhold Wallach, managing director of the
Sheboygan theatre, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, re-
cently staged a very good exploitation stunt
in connection with "That's My Daddy" fea-
turing Reginald Denny. It is similar to one
reported recently in "The Theatre" and used
by Fred E. Johnson of Cambridge, Ohio.
During the time that the picture played at
the theatre, Wallach advertised that every
child who would bring a bouquet of flowers
to the theatre would be admitted free. If
anyone doubts that this idea didn't bring the
kiddies down to the theatre, he certainly
should have been there to witness the crowd
of hundreds of kids who took advantage of
the event.
A parade was also staged which attracted
a lot of attention, the kids all marching on
the streets around the theatre. After the
show was over, Wallach took all the flowers
and brought them to A Home for the Aged
in that city and gave them to the inmates.
The newsrpapers of the city considered it a
very charitable event and gave him some fine
stories on the act. In this way Wallach
boosted the patronage of his theatre and also
created a lot of good will.
Remember the story "The Theatre" carried about Fred E. Johnson of the Colonial theatre,
Cambridge, O., and his flower matinee. Well, Reinhold Wallach, manager of the Sheboygan
theatre at Sheboygan, Wis., has since tried it with equally good results, as the photo above
shows. Children were admitted at the matinee for the price of a bouquet of flowers. The
flowers later were taken to an old folks home.
Four Pictures in Row
On Marriage; Smith
Has Matrimony Week
What would you do if you discovered that
all your pictures for one week dealt with the
subject of matrimony?
That's the problem which recently con-
fronted Raymond E. Smith, manager of the
Amherst theatre, Amherst, Massachusetts.
"The pictures were booked in, and only when
I started to write the program copy did I
realize that they all hit on the subject of
marriage," says Smith. "It was too late then
to cancel them so I thought that perhaps we
could make a few extra dollars by using our
difficulty by playing to the curious."
Here's what Smith did. He simply called
the week "Matrimony Week." Now that's
using the head for something besides a hat-
rack. In his weekly program he put the fol-
lowing at the top of the page :
"Note — During the past few weeks in New
England states alone thousands have been
divorced and many others have gained
some kind of legal separation. Notwith-
standing this fact hundreds have been
married to try what others have failed at.
With this thought in mind, the manage-
ment of the Amherst theatre has booked a
series of pictures dealing with this subject,
namely, Matrimony. We have put aside
the week of August 6 to 11 and will call it
Matrimony Week. Far be it from us to
claim the solution of this great problem;
but if we have done something to get
closer to the solution and at the same
time give our patrons six pleasant and
enjoyable days of entertainment we shall
be more than satished."
How is that for taking advantage of a bad
situation? It shows that Smith can use his
head, and that he knows more than a little
about showmanship. It also shows what can
be done when any theatreman will use his
head.
There's another idea here. Why not do
something like this with intention. That is
book pictures of the same general subject for
one week and then boost the idea. It ought
to be a good stunt, at least for one time.
He Tells Town of
"Telling the World''
When G. E. Braddock, manager of the
Tivoli theatre, Michigan City, Indiana, played
the M G M picture, "Telling the World," he
must have used the title of the picture as a
motto for putting over the picture, for he,
without doubt, told everybody in the world
about him that the picture was playing the
Tivoli. Here's what Braddock has to say:
"I thought you would be interested to know
how I put "Telling the World' over. I got
busy with the Evening Dispatch and secured
their cooperation with a three-quarter page
tieup and a four column, 10 inch reader on
Monday, and carried the story in serial form
every day until the day of showing. This was
put over without cost. I also had printed
small heralds, like a savings bank book, and
had these distributed by stuffing in a weekly
called 'Smiles.' These were placed in every
home. This was with the cooperation of the
Citizens' Bank, Michigan City, Indiana. They
paid half the cost of printing and distributing.
"I also tied up with the telephone company.
Their girls, during the dinner period, would
call up people and tell them about the fine
picture coming to the Tivoli. This was done
with the cost of a few passes. I also tied up
with a radio store. The outcome of this ex-
ploitation was a packed house, matinees and
nights. With a little trouble and practically
no expense, anyone can put it over."
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
61
V^
SERVICE TALKS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald, which is a department containing news, in-
formation and gossip on current productions, is the Moving Picture World department, "Through
the Box Office Window.*'
"LIGHTS OF NEW YORK"
JJeAR FOLKS:
If you've been subjected to the trade whisper
which says, in undertones, that "Lights of New
York" is terrible — and if you haven't heard it
you must have been away — prepare to be told
that there is no ground for the rumor and
that the picture is extremely good. I did not
expect to see anything so good come of the
speaking screen for at least another year. And
I, as I may or may not have mentioned pre-
viously, belong to the old school and am of
the belief that motion pictures should be seen
and not heard.
The picture that is called "Lights of New
York" is in many respects like a stage play.
There are fewer changes of scene, less outdoor
stuff, and of course not nearly so many captions
as are to be found in the standard motion pic-
ture. There are about as many actors as usual,
though, and the fact of their speaking didn't
seem to me to interfere with their acting. The
story is one of those underworld yams with
which we are at least adequately supplied at
this time and it is about as good as the next
one, or a little better.
I saw the picture at McVickers, which is a
good theatre, with a representative Chicago
audience, which is a good audience. I had a
very pleasant evening. I see, for the first time,
that there is a definite field for the speaking
screen and that it is being invaded intelligently
and carefully. There is a musical accompani-
ment that runs along with, never against, the
dialogue. The scenic changes are managed
adroitly. The performers are good enough,
without being too good, and the general effect
is excellent. I gather the impression that who-
ever started the rumor about the picture be-
ing terrible was speaking with something other
than the picture — or the welfare of the business
— in mind.
"FOUR WALLS"
XTLNOTHER crime story of the week is
"Four Walls." John Gilbert is the chief crimi-
nal in this one, until he reforms, and Joan
Crawford is the chief criminal's chief sweetie.
The place is probably New York.
Mr. Gilbert is excellent, of course, as the
dominant gangster of the early scenes, but he
is excellent, too, as the reformed and sorely
tempted young man in the later and more im-
portant sequences. Miss Crawford's reforma-
tion occurs at the end of the story, and of
T. O, Service
course she is vivid, compelling and believable
all the way through.
I did not believe that a picture which has
as its theme — or, if you will, moral — the re-
formation of criminals by dint of imprison-
ment, could be made entertaining. This one
is. The sermonizing is brief, as to words, effec-
tive as to whole, by reason of its being phrased
almost entirely in action.
"THE FOREIGN LEGION"
X CANNOT tell you how relieved I am to
discover that they have discontinued the public
bathing of Mr. Norman Kerry's no doubt quite
interesting torso. He bathes, visibly at least,
in neither this picture nor "Man, Woman and
Wife." Isn't that splendid?
Well, "The Foreign Legion" is a story about
a soldier who gets into all sorts of trouble be-
cause of a woman who is the sort of woman
who gets a soldier into all sorts of trouble.
Norman Kerry is the soldier, Lewis Stone is
his commanding officer and — unknown to him
until much too late to do anything about it —
his father. And the place is the desert, with
its sandstorm and its delightfully contrasted
native cities which always seem to be made up
entirely of cafes where everybody drinks all
the time and nobody gets drunk.
Mr. Kerry is very good in this, as is Mr.
Stone — or perhaps the gentlemen should be
named in the reverse of that order — and the
other people in it are good, too, and that seems
to make it a pretty good picture. Perhaps the
fact that I intend to join the Foreign Legion
when my hair gets a little whiter, and my sins
find me out, prejudices me in favor of these
pictures.
"MAN, WOMAN AND WIFE"
±\S stated above, Mr. Kerry does not bathe,
publicly, in "Man, Woman and Wife," either.
Therefore, so to speak, both of these are good,
clean pictures, paradoxical as that may be. My
present concern, however, is that I cannot for
the life of me remember what Mr. Kerry does
do in "Man, Woman and Wife." Nor, for that
matter, what anyone else does. (It's induit-
ably the humidity.)
Which goes to show, you see, that one should
not see five pictures in one week if two of the
pictures contain the same star, for one is likely
to get all balled up and forget everything ex-
cept that Mr. Kerry didn't scrub his tummy.
I seem to be positive of that.
I
"LILAC TIME'
F the person signing himself "a paid sub-
criber" and addressing to the New York office
of this paper a letter disagreeing with my praise
of Colleen Moore in "Happiness Ahead" wUl
take off the cheaters and give me his address,
I will write him a personal (plenty) letter stat-
ing that he ain't seen nothin' yet. I'll say that
he should see "Lilac Time" and then, if still
out of harmony with this infallible index to
what's what in screen entertainment, he may go
his dreary way to the special hell that contains
people who write anonymous letters.
Miss Moore, I repeat, made in "Happiness
Ahead" the best picture of her consistently bet-
tered series beginning with "The Ninety and
Nine" and ending, I trust, never. Miss Moore,
I add, has made in "Lilac Time" a bigger pic-
ture, a more actionful picture, a greater pic-
ture— I suppose — and a picture almost as good
as "Happiness Ahead." Perhaps the sound ef-
fects, as I believe they're called, got in my
way. Anyway, the other picture seemed to be
a little warmer, a little truer, and a little more
like the human kind of picture Miss Moore
ought to have.
This, curiously enough, with no discredit at
all to "Lilac Time" or its effects. The picture
is very good, in the sense that "Wings" and
"The Legion of the Condemned" were good,
and the sound effects are good in the sense
that any other sound effects are good. And
Gary Cooper is good as ever as the airman, as
are the others who constitute the personnel
of the squadron, the citizenry and the foe.
With good luck, and health. Miss Moore will
make many more pictures and I shall see them.
I can think of nothing at this time, barring
blindness, which will keep me from looking,
in turn, at each and every pictiure in which
this lady appears. But if she abandons these
elaborate, expensive, pretentious and showy
productions to those stars who need that sort
of thing to get them across, and continues in
intimate, pithy, personality pictures like "Hap-
piness Ahead" — wherein the Moore girl is more
important that the scenery, the story or any-
thing and everything else — I shall look at each
of her pictures twice and loudly direct all
within sound of tongue or typewriter to do
likewise.
62
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
Y^
NEW PICTURES
In "New Pictures" the EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE
WORLD presents in concise form infor-
mation on current and forthcoming attrac-
tions.
The facts as presented will serve exhib-
itors in booking and in the preparation of
their advertising campaign.
FLYN' COWBOY, THE: Universal Western with
Hoot Gibson, Olive Hasbrouck, Harry Todd, Wil-
liam Bailey, Buddy Phillips, Ann Carter. Directed
by Reaves Eason. Released. Length
5109.
TYPE AND THEME: There's quite a combina-
tion gathering at the Bar-X Dude ranch — Bill Ham-
mond, a regular fellotv; Connie Lamont, an East-
ern girl, and two Chicago thugs, who ' ivant
Connie's pearls. Bill stages a fake kidnaping for
fun. Connie pretends to hate Bill for the trick
and plays up to one of the gentlemien thugs. When
Bill puts on a one-man Wild West show, Connie
goes away with the crook, and has a friend tell
Bill she has been kidnaped. The girl, however,
tells the truth, and Bill gives the crooks a sound
lacing. They escape. Then Bill learns they have
stolen the jewels. He trails them and recovers the
gems, and incidentally Connie.
BEYOND THE SIERRAS: M G M Western with
Tim McCoy, Sylvia Beecher, Eoy D'Arey, Polly
Moran, Richard R. Neill, J. Gordon Russell. Di-
rected by Nick Grinde. Released _
Length
TYPE AND THEME: Department of Justice
operatives and land thieves in pioneer days of
Southern California. Tim McCoy tries to warn
Don Carlos del Valle, brother of the beautiful
Rosa and holder of a Spanish lamd grant on which
is a gold mine, that Owens is planning to steal
the hacienda,. Like^vise he attempts to warn Rosa
but at this moment Owens et al break in and claim
the property on a forged deed. Owens forces
Don Carlos to a duel with pistols but McCoy, in
a mask, takes his place and kUls one of Owens'
conspirators. Don Carlos is assassinated in the
midst of a duel with rapiers with Owens. Owens
takes over the ranch and mine while Rosa still
believes McCoy is a thief. Finally the latter under
mask and cloak woos her. Meanwhile McCoy takes
ea^ch gold shipment from Owen's gu/vrds. So the
thief kidnaps her. McCoy makes the rescue and
then doffs the disguise which he had used while
courting Rosa because he knew of her antipathy to
Americans.
* * *
NONE BUT THE BRAVE: Fox comedy romance
with Charles Morton, Sally Phipps, Farrell Mac-
donald, Sharon Lynn, Tom Kennedy, Billy Butts,
Alice Adair, Tyler Brooke. Directed by Albert
Ray. Released Length.
TYPE AND THEME: CoUege cockiness versus
the he-m^an's job of winning a place in the world.
Charlie Stanton's campus trophies don't mean much
in business but finally he lands an insurance job
and is assigned to "write" John Craig, to whom
insurance men are anathema and nothing else but.
He wins Craig's confidence, however, and drives
One of the moments in Universal's com-
edy-drama, "How to Handle Women,"
when the drama gets the upper hand on
the comedy. Shown in this scene are the
featured players, Glenn Tryon and
Marian Nixon.
him. to the seashore when Craig's chauffeur is taken
ill. They help Mary across a railrodd track with
her aged flivver but Charlie forgets Craig's car.
Which is why the train smashes it and Craig de-
nounces him. Charlie taJces the finest rooms at the
hotel, for appearances' sake, but his company cuts
him off. He turns life guard. Charlie falls in love
with Mary, who operates a hot-dog stand, but he
quarrds with her and she blames him when she
fails to win a beauty contest. A boy of eight who
tries to tell Charlie what's what is brushed aside,
falls and is hurt. Charlie makes a last bid to
amount to something by entering an obstacle race.
He sacrifices victory to sajve the life of another
contestant. Craig, who promoted the race, gives
Charlie a substantial reward, all of which proves a
good starter for Charlie, Mary and the boy.
WILD WEST ROMANCE: Fox Western with Rex
Bell, Caryl Lincoln, Neill Neely. Billy Butts, Jack
Walters, Fred Parke, Albert Baffert, George Pearce
and Ellen Woodsten. Directed by R. Lee Hough.
Released April 8. Length . — .
TYPE AND THEME: The first of the Rex
Bell Westerns. Here's the plot: As Phil O'Malley,
Bell is a cowpuncher. And the first thing he does
is to rescue a boy thrown off a train on which he is
snitching a, ride. Phil adopts him and calls him
Kid. They witness a holdup, and Phil suspects that
the gang leader is Martin, the town's young bad
man. But when he tries to prove it, Martin gets
out of it, making Phil look ridiculous. 'They become
greater enemies when both fall in love with Ruth,
daughter of a traveling preacher. Soon Martin pulls
another holdup. This time the sheriff pursues him.
Martin races to Phil's tent and puts some of the
bonds in his pocket. But the Kid sees and transfers
them to Martin's, where the sheriff finds them.
Ruth decides that she was wrong in thinking Phil
ridiculous.
• « *
JUST MARRIED : Paramount comedy with James
Hall, Ruth Taylor, Harrison Ford, William Austin,
Ivy Harris, Tom Ricketts, Maude Turner Gordon,
Lila Lee, Arthur Hoyt, Wade Boteler and Mario
Carillo. Directed by Frank Strayer. Released
Length _
TYPE AND THEME: A comedy of mixed
staterooms and honeymooners, and about-to-be-
honeymooners. It's a tough break for LUa Lee,
dress m.odel in a Parisian shop, when she learns
that Ruth Taylor, for whom the shop is making a
trousseau, is about to be wed to William Austin,
ivho jilted Lila. When Ruth and Austin set sail
for New York for the wedding Lila boa/rds the
ship, to break up the affair. So does James Hail
who fell in love with Ruth at the dock. Hall's
friends, Harrison Ford amd Ivy Harris, also are
on the liner, starting their honeymoon. Through a
mistake Ruth and Hall are given the same state-
room; he is brought in slightly over-alcoholic while
she sleeps, and in the morning there is a real
awakening. Hall borrows a suit from Harrison
Ford, and on the back of it has been chalked
"Just Married." Gossip says Hall and Ruth are
posing as honeymooners, and Ruth also hears that
Hall is the husband of Lila. Ruth breaks her en-
gagement to Austin, who tells her aunt and uncle.
Meanwhile Ldla has slipped into the stateroom. She
meets Austin and tells Ruth's relatives all about
him. Hall proves his true love for Ruth.
VIRGIN LIPS: Columbia drama with Olive Borden,
John Boles, Marshall Ruth, Alexander Gill, Rich-
ard Alexander, Etne Veo, Harry Semels, Arline
Pretty and William Tooker. Directed by Elmer
Clifton. Released Length
TYPE AND THEME: Oil and mining interests
send Barry Blake, American ace, to help the San
Puerto government capture Carta, bandit leader.
Garcia, a spy for Carta, disables Barry's plane
just as the aviator learns that Carta is near the
town of El Diablo. Barry makes the spy ascend
with him anyway. The plane crashes near the El
Diablo cafe, and the spy is unconscious. Barry
names Norma, an American girl tricked to Central
America by promise of a dancing engagement, to
be nurse for the spy. Barry disguises himself as a
bartender and joins the bandit. Barry gets a
phone message through to the aviation field and a
company of cavalry hotfoots it off for the rescu^e.
The spy reveals his true identity and goes to tell
the bandit but Barry seizes him. The bandit
orders Barry executed but Norma soajcs him, and
the bandit instead becomes the prisoner. Then
the three battle the bamdit band until the cavalry
arrives. Which proves Cupid arrows straighter
than bandit bullets.
This Weeh's Press Sheet
DANGER STREET (F B O drama) : A street flash cam-
paign is suggested, to be put over in the week before the
showing is to start. It can be put over alone, but of course
if the cooperation of the local police and town officials is ob-
tainable, why so much the better. One plan is to get a tennis-
court marker and fill it with red paint. Have a youngster
push this around town, leaving a red trail in each street, and
with each trail leading to the theatre. Another method is to
get your job printer to strike off a few thousand red arrows
and tack them to every post and building where permitted.
Then have signs printed with the following copy, substituting
the word "arrows" for "trail" if you use the former method:
"DANGER STREET lies at the End of 'The Red Trail!'
See this great drama of the one-way road Adventure at the
(theatre name)."
Another street flash is achieved by getting permission from
the chief of police to place the wrecks of three or four autos
at the most dangerous comers in town. The only cost likely
is just in hauling the wreckage from a junkyard to the thea-
tre and back after the showing. Leave a placard with the
following message in the middle of the wreckage:
"WARNING! This is the reward for those who play on
DANGER STREET. See This Great Drama at the (theatre
name)."
Another suggestion is to get permission from the authorities
to place a banner across the ends of your street changing its
name to "Danger Street." This can tie up with posters read-
ing, "This Way to Danger Street."
Au<iust 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
63
Incorporated in this department of Moving Picture World is the Exhibitors Herald department,
"Available Attractions."
The key to abbreviations used in denoting the type of pictures
C— -Comedy F^-^Farce
M—^Melodranta
O^Drama
R^Romanem
W — Western
My— Mystery
Where the picture is a comedy-drama, comedy melodrama, etc.,
there is a combination of these abbreviations. Stars denote
reissues.
That dates prior to January 7 published under the "Comment"
column are those of the issues of Moving Picture World in which
the pictures were reported. The January 7 and subsequent dates
are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOV-
ING PICTURE WORLD in which "Service Talks" have been
published on pictures.
The dates prior to January 7 published under the "New Pic-
tures" column are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD
in which "New Pictures" information was printed. The January
7 and subsequent dates are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD in which this in-
formation will be printed.
Length Title and Ptayen
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
1928
MOO
5450
B500
S39e Circumstantial Evidence
Chesterfield
Adorable Cheat, The, LUa Lea-McIntoslL.
Below the Deadline
Campus Knights
1928
8000
<00«
S900
House of Shame, The....
Roaring Forties, The
South of Panama
June 1
Feb. 28
— Aug. 15
Oct. 30
— June 30
Apr. 15
— Dec. 15
1927 Columbia
5831 Alias the Lane Wolf (D), Ljrtell-Wilscn. Aug. 22
Blood Ship, The (IVI). Bosworth-Logan. Aug. 10
By Whose Hand (IHyD), Cortez-Gilbert Sept. 15
College Hero, The (CD), Agnew-Garon Oct. 9
Fashion Madness, Windsor-Howes. Deo. 8
Isle of Forgotten Women (D), Tearle-Sebastlan_Sept. 27
Lone Wolf Returns (M), LyteH-Wilson
1927
Opening Night, The (D), Wlndsor-J. Bower8_.NoT. 14
Pleasure Before Business (F), Davidson
Sally in Our Alley (M), Mason-AUen Sept. 3
Screen Snapshots „
6843
S432
6628
S513
564S
5730
6524
6569
5892
1000
5996
6435
6054
6108
6357
6426
5791
Way of the Strong, The (MD), Alice Day-Lemls
1928
5459 After the Storm, Hobart-Bosworth..
Beware of Blondes (IMD), Revier-Matt Moore
5537 Broadway Daddies, Jacqueline Logan
5928 Desert Bride, The (IHD), Betty CompsoiL Mar. 26
Golf Widows (CD), Reynolds-Ford
Lady Raffles, Taylor-Drew Jan. 25
Jan. 7 Oct. 1
Dec. 3 July 23
Dec. 31
Jan. 14
Dec. 3
Jan. 14
Jan. 14
..July 31
..May 14
Siren, The, T. Moore-Kevier Dec 20 Jan. 21
Stage Kisses (0). Harlan-Chadwlck. Nov. 2 Jan. 7
Stolon Pleasures (CD), Bevler _
Sweet Rosie O'Grady (CD), Mason
Tigress, The (M), Holt-Eevier- Oct. 21
Wandering Girls (CD), Eevler-Agnew..
Warning, The (M), Holt-Rcvier _
..Aug. 28
Jan. 21
..Oct. 2
..52.73%
..Nov. 26
Dec. 3
-July 21
July 21
1928
5925
S440
5464
6047
6350
6472
Matinee Idol, The (MD), Love- Walker Mar. 14
Modern Mothers (CD), Helene Chadwick. June 8
Name the Woman (D), Stewart- Gordon-
Say It With Sables (D), Bushman-Cbadwlek.
So This Is Love, Mason-Collier Feb. 6
Sporting Age, The, Bennett-Herbert Mar. 2
That Certain Thing, Dana-Graves Jan. 1
Wife's Relations, The. Mason-Glass Jan. 13
Woman's Way, A, Baxter-Uvingston Feb. 18
Apr. 14
-.May 26
Feb. 25
Apr. 7
—June 19
.Aug. 4
Feb. 25
Jan. 28
Feb. 11
Mar. 31
1927
2000 Angelus, The (D)
2000 Real Charleston, Lesson Novelty.
Wooden Shoes, International
Cranfield & Clarke, Inc.
....May 15
..Apr. 24
_May 8
1927
6250 Husbands or Lovers, Jannlngs-
Emblem Films
..Dec. 3
1927
5980
6805
6912
6«4S
E792
Excellent
7393
63ST
6760
6867
Back to Uberty (D), Walsh-Hall Nov. 16
Bowery Cinderella. A (D), O'Malley-Hulette May 1
Broadway Drifter (D), Walsh-Hall Nov. 1
Broadway Madness (D), De la Motte-Keith
His Rise to Fame (D), Walah-Skaw Feb. 15
Kiek.olT, The (D), Hyams-Amann
Neat, The (D), Frederick-Herbert Aug. 1
1927
1927
1927
-Nov. 26
.Apr. 14
Striving for Fortune (D), Walsh-Boberta Jan. 15
Winning Oar, Th» (0), Walsh-Hall Juno 1
Your Wife and Mine (F), Haver-Holraei Sept. 1
Mar. 17
Length Title and Play^*
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
TIolMr
1928
6860
6600
6305
6536
6600
A Bit of Heaven (D), Washburn-Lee May 15
Into No Man's Land, Tom Santschi-J. Norman
Making the Varsity, Rex Lease-Hulette July 15
Manhattan Knights, Barbara Bedford Aug 10
Satan and the Woman (D), Wlndsor-Keefe. Jan. 20
Speed Classic The. Rex Lease-Mildred Harrl3._July 25
Stronger Will, The (D), Marmont-Carewe Feb. 20
Women Who Dare (D), C^iadwick-Delaney Mar. 30
1928
Feb. 25
Feb. 25
1927
FBO
1927
4765
4858
4910
4837
5701
5093
4754
4913
6300
6507
7014
5240
5186
6481
6515
4924
6680
6140
4941
6004
4886
6388
4892
1928
5872
4893
5583
4869
6267
6375
6320
5511
5984
5063
4770
4804
4758
6148
Aflame In the Sky (M), Luden-Lynn. _...Dec. 18
Bandit's Son, The (W). Bob Steele __ Nov. 20
Boy Rider. The (W), Buzz Barton Oct. 23
Breed of Courage (D). Ranger. — Aug. 7
Cherekee Kid. The (W), Tyler-Lynn. Oct. 30
Clancy's Kosher Wedding (CD), Geo. Sidney Sept. 17
Coward, The (D), Warner Baxter -Aug. 21
Desert Pirate (W), Tom Tyler— Dec. 25
Flying U Ranch, The (W), Tom Tyler Sept. 4
Gingham Girl, The (C), Lois Wilson Oct. 2
Great Mail Robbery, The (M), Von Eltz-Nelson..Aug. 15
Harvester, The (D), Orvllle Caldwell..- Nov. 23
Hook and Ladder No. 9 (D), Ed Hearne. Nov. 13
Jake the Plumber (C), Jesse De Vorska Oct. 16
Judgment of the Hills (D), Darro-Talli Nov. 6
Little Mickey Grogan (0), Frankie Darro —Dec. 27
Mojave Kid, The (W), Bob Steele -Sept. 25
Moon of Israel (D), Maria Corda— —
Not for Publication (M), Ralph Ince. Aug. 31
Racing Romeo (D), Red Grange...- - _ — — -....
Ranger of the North (D), Ranger. Oct. 9
Shanghaied (M), Ralph Ince...- Oct. 19
Slingshot Kid, The (M), Buzz Barton...- -Dec. 4
South Sea Love (D), Patsy Miller Dec. 10
Swift Shadow, The (D), Ranger Dec. 11
Dea 10
Dec 10
Dec. 3 Oct 8
Nov. 26 —
Sept. 10
Sept. 10
Dec. 24
Nov. 26 July 30
July 2
Nov. 19 Nov. 19
Nov. 26
Aug. 20
Aug. 6
July 9
July 23
..Dea. 10
Deo. 3
Dec. 3
Dec 10
Nov. 12
Dec. 10
54.60%
Aug. 20
1928
5144
4769
5771
4801
6424
4785
4781
4884
6419
4729
6059
5967
4793
4760
6329
4898
4805
Alex the Great (M), Skeets Gallagher. May 13
Bantam Cowboy (W), Buzz Barton _ -.-Aug. 12
Beyond London's Lights (M), Lee Shumway Mar. 18
Breed of the Sunsets (W), Bob Steele-.- Apr. 1
Chicago After Midnight (M), Ince-Mendez. Mar. 4
Coney Island (D), Lois Wilson...- Jan. 13
Crooks Can't Win (D), Ralph Lewis May 11
Dead Man's Curve (D), Fairbanks, Jr Jan. 15
Devil's Trademju-k, The (D), Belle Bennett Apr. 7
Dog Justice (M), Ranger.... June 10
Driftin' Sands (W), Bob Steele Jan. 1
Fangs of the Wild (D), Ranger. - Feb. 5
Fightin' Redhead (W), Buzz BartoiL July 1
Freckles (D), Stratton-Fox, Jr Mar. 21
Headin' for Danger (MD), Bob Steele -
Her Summer Hero (CD), Blane-Trevor Feb. 12
Hit of the Show, The (C), Joe Brown-Olmstead
Law of Fear (D), Ranger. _ Apr. 8
Legionnaires in Paris (C), Cooke-Buard. Jan. 31
Little Buckaroo, The (W), Buzz Barton. -.Mar. 11
Little Yellow House, The (D). Orvllle CaldweU-May 28
Man in the Rough (W), Bob Steele - May 20
Phantom of the Range (W), Tom Tyler Apr. 22
Pinto Kid, The (W), Buzz Barton - Apr. 29
Red Riders of Canada (M), P. R. Miller. Apr. 15
Riding Renegade (W), Bob Steele - Feb. 19
Sally of the Scandals (M), Bessie Love July 15
Skinner's Big Idea (M), Bryant Washburn. Apr. 24
Stocks and Blondes (CD), Logan- Gallagher.
Texas Tornado, The (W), Tom Tyler Feb. 26
Trail of Courage, The (W), Bob Steele July 8
Wallflowers (D), Trevor-Scott - _ Feb. 16
When the Law Rides (W), Tom Tyler June 24
Wizard of the Saddle (W), Buzz Barton Jan. 22
Feb. 11
May 5
Feb. 11
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Dec. 17
Feb. 11
Dec 17
Mar. 3
June 16
Dec 17
Jan. 21
Feb. 11
Feb. 4
.June 19
Jan. 21
.July 21
Feb. 11
Deo. 10
Jan. 14
June 2
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Feb. 4
Jan. 21
Feb. 18
Mar. 17
Apr. 28
Apr. 14
.July 14
I
1927
5400
5960
5600
5900
5800
5700
5750
6700
6700
5700
5600
5700
First Division
1927
Comrades, Costello-Hughes
Death Valley (W), CarroU Nye
Eager Lips, Garon— -
Finnegan's Ball (C), Mack Swain
Ladies at Ease (CD), Garon-Short
Ladybird, Compson
Naughty, Garon
Polly of the Movies, Short-Robards
Ragtime (D), De La Motte-
Sept. 1
— . Oct. 1
..JLUg. 20
Sept. 15
Nov. 15
Aug. 1
Nov. 1
OoL 15
Sept. 1
Return of Boston Blackie (D), Glenn-Palmer— Aug. 1
Say It with Diamonds, Betty Ctompson Aug. 15
Temptations of a Shop Girl, Compson Nov. 1
..OcL 15
Jan. 7
Nov. 26
Sept. 3
1928
5500 Fagasa, Raymond Wells..
1928
Free Lips (MD), June Marlow-
6300 Masked Angel, Betty Compson-
620O Souls Aflame, Raymond Wells.-
-Apr. 1
-Mar. 1
-Mar. 16
-July 14
Apr. 7
Apr. 21
y
llj
64
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
Lsngth Title and Playen
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
1927
(300
6333
6433
6222
6765
«T30
7724
63S6
6588
esoe
6282
T133
«2S8
SllS
6190
6624
8400
6720
6718
6550
5255
7388
(521
6542
6434
8520
6040
(431
6734
11414
6982
6897
(400
6210
6477
6606
58O0
6548
7179
6000
7400
7419
5774
5668
7833
6336
6324
<40d
1928
T404
6500
First National
All Aboard (C), Hlnes-Murphy May 8
American Beauty (CD), Dove-Hughes. Oct. 9
An Affair of the Follies (0), Dove-Huglies Feb. 13
Breakfast at Sunrise (CD), C. Talmadge Oct. 23
Broadway Nights (D), Wllson-Haidy May 15
Camille (D), N. Talmadge-Eoland _ —Sept. 4
Convoy (D), Sherman-Mackalll Apr. 24
Crystal Cup, The (D), MackaUl-MulhaU Oct. 16
Dance Magic (D), Lyon-Starke June 12
Drop Kick, The (D), Barthelmess-Eevler Sept. 25
Framed (D), Sills-Kingston June 19
Gorilla, Tho (My), Murray Kelsey —Nov. 13
Gun Gospel (W), Maynard-Faire. Nov. 6
Her Wild Oat (C), Moore-Keift. Deo. 25
High Hat (CD), Lyon-Brian Mar. 13
Home Made (C), Hlnes-Daw. _ —Nov. 20
Lady in Ermine, The (D), C. Qrlflltli-Bushman-jan. 9
Life of Riley, The (C), Murray-Sidney Sept. 18
Lonesome Ladles (CO), Nllsson-Stone juiy 3
Long Pants (C), Langdon-Bonner. Apr. 10
Lost at the Front (C), Murray-Sidney May 29
Love Mart, The (D), Dove-Roland- Dec. 18
Lunatic at Large, The (C), Errel-MackaU] Jan. 2
Man Crazy (CD), MackalU-Mulhall Nov. 27
Masked Women, The (D), Nllsson-Bllnn-H'nsen_jan. 23
Naughty But Nice (C), Moore-Reed. June 26
Notorious Lady, The (D), Bedford-Stone Mar. 27
No Place to Go (C), Huglies-Astor Oct. 30
Orchids and Ermine, Moore-Mulhall Mar. 6
Patent Leather Kid, The (D), Barflmeas-O'Day..
Perfect Sap, The (CD), Lyon-Starke Jan. 16
Poor Nut, The (C), Murray-Mulhall _ Aug. 7
Prince of Head Waiters (D), Stone-Tashman „
Red Raiders. The (W), Maynard-Drew. July 17
Rose of the Golden West (D), Astor-Roland. Sept. 4
Sea Tiger, The (D), SUls-Astor. Oct. 2
See You in Jail (C), Mulhall-Day Feb. 27
Smile, Brother, Smile (C), Mulhall-Mackalll Apr. 17
Stolen Bride, The (D), Huglies-Dove —Sept. 11
Sunset Derby (D), Astor-Collier „ - Aug. 14
Tender Hour, The (D), Dove-Lyon _ June 5
Texas Steer, A (CD), Eogers-Fazenda May 1
Three Hours (D), Grifflth-Bowers Dec. 4
Three's a Crowd (C), Langdon-McConnell Apr. 3
Twinkletoes, Moore-Harlan „ Aug. 28
Valley of the Giants (0), SlUs-Kenyon. Dec. 11
Venus of Venice (CD), Talmadge-Moreno Mar. 20
White Pants Willie (0). Hines-Hyams July 24
..Apr. 2
Not. 19
Oct. 22
..Ma.1. 5
Nov. 12
Not. 26
..May 21
..May 2
..May 21
Nov. 12
Oct. 29
Aug. 13
July 9
..Jan. 7
Dec. 17
Dea 3
Not. 26
Mar. 19
Oct, 29
. Jan. 8
..Oct. 1
_Sept 24
..Apr. 9
..June 25
1927
47720%
56.10%
48.00%
65.00%
61.64%
53.58%
..Feb. 5
Not. 26
Not. 12
Dec. 3
...Feb. 12
...July 16
May 14
...Dec 10
...Apr. 9
...Aug. 20
...Jan. 22
...Sept. 10
...July 23
...Oct. 15
Oct. 8
...May 14
...Apr. 23
-.Sept 17
...Sept. 3
...July 2
...May 28
Apr. 16
...Jan. 1
...Dec. 3
Jan. 7
...Aug. 6
...Apr. 16
6800
6744
6374
i030
6172
6344
71O0
7433
Barker, The (D), SUls, MacfcallL
Big Noise, The (CD), Conklln-Whlte _ Mar.
Burning Daylight (M), Sllls-Kenyon. —Feb.
Butter and Egg Man, The, Jack Mulhall _ _
Canyon of Adventure (W), Maynard Jlpr.
Chaser, The (C), Langdon „ Feb.
..July 14
Mar. 10
67.90%
70.47%
61.88%
47.00%
38.90%
47.72%
69.92%
68.86%
45.80%
1928
Apr. 7
.July 28
29
12
Apr. 16
Chinatown Charlie (C), Hines-Lorralne...
Code of the Scarlet (W), Ken Maynard.
Goodbye Kiss, The, Johnny Burke-Sally EUeri _
Fkying Romeos (C), Murray-Sidney Feb.
French Dressing (CD), Wamer-Wllson Jan.
Garden of Eden, The (D), Corlnne Grlfflth
Happiness Ahead (D), Colleeu-Mooro-Lowe June
Hawk's Nest, The (M), Milton Sills May
Heart to Heart. Lloyd Hughes-Todd.
7541
6957
7694
6592
6608
8967
7700
6625
7129
5485
8188
5827
6212
6874
6087
7187
1927
4665
1777
1556
6425
6078
63S3
4810
4300
6381
8164
6524
4645
5617
6515
4983
4851
6940
6162
659»
6507
8538
6415
6440
6500
7734
T677
6327
(898
6876
5883
Heart Trouble (CD), Harry Langdon _ _
Harold Teen (CD), Lake-Brian Apr. 29
Heart of a Follies Girl (D), Dove-Kent-
Sherman _ Mar. 18
Helen of Troy (CD), Stone-Corda-Cortez. Jan. 8
Ladies Night (CD), MackaUl-MulhalL Apr. 1
Lady Be Good (CD), Mulhall-MackaiU May 12
Lilac Time (D), Moore-Cooper. _...Apr. 22
Little Shepherd of Kingdom C^me (D), Bar-
thelmess-O'Day Apr. 8
Mad Hour (D), O'Neil-Kent-Sherman Mar. 4
Noose, The (D), Barthelmess-Joyce Jan. 29
Sailors' Wives (CD), Hughes-Astor _ Jan. 22
Shepherd of tiie Hills (D), Francis-O'Day -Jan. 1
Strange Case of Captain Ramper, The (D), -
Three Ring Marriage (M), Hughes-Astor. May 27
Wagon Show, The (W), Maynard Mar. 11
Wheel of Chance, The (D), Richard Barthelmess
Whip, The (D), Forbes-MackalU _
Whip Woman, The (D), Taylor-Moreno Feb. 5
Wright Idea, The (CD), Johnny Hlnes
Yellow Lily, The (D), Dove-Brooks _. May 20
Feb. 11
Feb. 18
-June 23
..July?
Apr. 7
Deo. 10
May 28
May 26
_July7
..July21
Apr. 21
Mar. 10
Dec. 24
Deo. 17
„Aug. 4
June 16
Aug. 4
Feb. 4
June 2
Apr. 7
Mar. 17
Dea 10
Dec 24
Dec 8
..July 21
Apr. 28
Mar. 17
..June 2
..July 14
Feb. 11
-July?
Apr. 23
May 12
.. 63.25%
Jan. 21
78.23%
July21
Fox
Arizona Wildcat, The (W), Tom Mis..
Blackjack (W). Buck Jones..._
Blood Will Tell (W), Buck Jones
Broncho Twister (W), Mix.
•Cameo Kirby (D), John Glll)ert
—Nov. 20
—Sept. 25
-Not. 13
-Mar. 13
-Aug. 28
1927
63.00%
Chain Lightning (W), Buck Jones Aug. 14
Circus Ace. The, Mix June 26
Come to My House (CD), Olive Borden Dec. 26
Cradle Snatchers (FC), Fazenda June 5
East Side, West Side (D), O'Brien-VaUl Oct. 9
Gay Retreat, The (C), Cohen-McNamara Sept. 25
Good as Gold (W), Jones _ _ Jime 12
Heart of Salome (My), Rubens May 8
High School Hero (C), Phlpps-Stuart Oct. 16
Hills of Peril (W), Jones _ May 1
•Honor First (D), John GUbert.- _ Sept. 18
Is Zat So? (CD), O'Brien-Lowe May 15
Joy Girl. The (CD), OUve Borden Sept. 18
Ladies Must Dress (CD), Virginia VaUl. Nov. 20
Love Makes 'Em Wild (D), Harron. Mar. 6
Loves of Carmen (D). McLaglen-Del Rio _...Sept. 4
Madam Wants No Children, Cordia Apr. 3
Marriage (D), Valll. „....Feb. 20
Monkey Talks (D), Lemer Feb. 20
Muilc Master (D), A. B. Francis Jan. 23
One Increasing Purpose (D), Lowe Jan. 2
Outlaws of Red River (W), Mix..
Jan. 7
Jan. 7
..June 4
Oct 22
Nov. 19
—Tune 11
.-May 9
-Oct 29
.-May 14
-May 21
-Sept 24
Dec. 17
40.70%
Paid to Love (D), O'Brlen-VaUl Aug. 14
Pajamas (CD), Borden-Oray Oct. 23
Publicity Madness (CD), Moran-Lowe Oct. 2
...Oct. 8
...Apr. 18
..Jeb. 26
...Mar. 5
...Jan. 22
...Jan. 15
..JLpr. 23
...Aug. 6
...Dec. 10
48.60%
61.58%
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticksr
54 8«
5870
10726
5467
5446
5009
5792
5412
6620
4943
4675
4299
6293
5510
5620
4953
11109
5783
5629
6531
1928
4612
Rich But Honest (CD), Beebe-
Secfet Studio, The (CD), Borden..
..May 22
-June 19
Seventh Heaven, The (R), Farrell-Gaynor Oct. 30
•Shame (M), John Gilbert Not. 27
Silk Lefls (CD), Madge Bellamy Dec 18
Silver Valley (W), Tom Mix. Oct 2
Deo. 31
Dec 17
Singed (D), Baiter-Sweet
Slaves of Beauty (D), Herbert-TeU.-
Stage Madness (D), Valll
Aug. 21
June 5
Jan. 9
Oct 9
.—..Aug. 21
Oct. 30
Sept 11
4987
5708
6566
5109
S038
6882
6430
4618
6188
4399
5782
6679
5071
5260
5380
5629
5355
St. Elmo (M), John Gilbert
Tumbling River (W), Tom Mix-Dawn
Truxton King, Gilbert _...
Two Girls Wanted (CD), Janet Gaynor
Upstream (D), Foie _ Jan. 30
Very Confidential (CD), Madge Bellamy Not. 6
War Horse (W), Jones...- Feb. 6
What Price Glory (CD). McLaglen-Lowe Aug. 28
Whispering Sage (W), Jones Mar. 20
Wizard, The (MyD), Lowe-Hyams. Dec. 11
Wolf Fangs (D), Thunder (Dog)._ Nov. 27
Branded Sombrero. The (W). Buck Jones. Jan. 8
Chicken a la King (CD), Carrol-Francis Lee
Daredevil's Reward (W), Tom Mix Jan. 15
Don't Marry, Moran-Hamilton June 3
Dressed to Kill. Lowe-Astor Mar. 18
Escape, The (D), Russell-Valli Apr. 29
Gateway of the Moon, The (D), Del Rio -...Jan. 1
Girl in Every Port, A (CD), Victor McLaglen....Jan. 29
Hangman's House. Mcliaglen-Collyer May 13
Hello Cheyenne. Tom Mix. May 13
Honor Bound, O'Brien-Taylor _ May 13
Horseman of the Plains (W). Tom Mix...- Mar. 11
Love Hungry (CD). Moran-Gray. _ Apr. 15
News Parade. Stuart-PhUlips.
No Other Woman (D), Dolores Del Rio..— June 10
Painted Post (W), Tom Mix
..June 4
-June 25
-May 28 71.33%
-Nov. 26
Oct 29 1
-July 16 .
-June 11
..Jan, 29
-..Aug. 27
-J-eb. 12
-JIOT. 12
...Feb. 19
..Apr. 9
Dec 3
71.00%
60.61%
Jan. 21
-June 23
Feb. 11
Junes
Apr. 14
Apr. 14
Jan. 28
1928
Apr. 14
Jan. 21
6937
5030
4921
5480
1927
6987
6800
6000
620O
5950
6500
6700
6750
1928
5268
Play Girl, The, Madge Bellamy
Road House (MD), Barrymore-Burke
Sharp Shooters (CD), O'Brlen-Moran
Soft Living (CD), Bellamy-Brown.
Square Crooks, Brown-Dwan
Street Angel, Gaynor.
Sunrise (D), George O'Brien.
Thief In the Dark. A, Meefcer-HiU-Beebe.
Why Sailors Go Wrong, Phlpps-McNamara
Wild West Romance (W), Rex King.
Woman Wise (C). BusseU-Collyer
May 12
Apr. 21
Apr. 7
Mar. 10
7 28
June 23
JuIyT
..May 26
May 19
Feb. 4
June 23
Apr. 22
-Jan. 15
-Feb. 5
..Mar. 4
-Aug. 4
Feb. 4
Feb. 18
Feb. 18
..May 20
-Mar. 25
..June 10
..Jan. 8
May 19
-JnlyT
_July21
June 2
Gotham
Blendes by Cholee (C), Claire Windsor Oct. 1
Cheer Leader, The (CD), Graves-Olmstead. Not. 16
Final Extra (M), Do la Motte.
'Frisco Nights (D), Percy Marmont- Dec. 1
Girl from Rio, The (D), Carmel Myere Sept 1
Heroes of the Night (M), Landls-Niion.
Rose of Klidare, The (D), Helene Chadwlct Aug. 16
Satin Woman, The (D), Mrs. Wallace Beld Aug. 1
1927
Dec 31
-Jeb. 19
Dec. 10
Not. 26
Sept. 24
-Feb. 5
Not. 19
Not. 19
Aug. 13
1928
6000
6900
1927
6199
1927
6667
4709
6312
8730
6439
12000
12550
5902
5821
6050
6126
7305
6408
4658
6909
8156
5687
6110
5291
6280
5957
7603
7627
6337
6581
6640
6309
7865
6280
6705
6273
5252
6160
7899
6657
5517
1928
6998
6805
6010
6838
6344
Bare Knees (D), Corblne Feb. 1 Jan. 7
Branded Man, The (D), Delaney-Marlowe. May
Chorus Kid, The (D), All Star Apr. 1
Danger Patrol, The (D), All Star Apr.
Devil's Tower, The (W), Buddy Rooseyelt May
Hell Ship Bronson, Mrs. Wallace Beid-Beery June 2
Lightnin' Shot, The (W), Buddy Rooseyelt -May
Midnight Adventure, A (D), Landls-Murphy May
Mystery Valley (W), Buddy Roosevelt — July
Trail Riders (W), Buddy Roosevelt Apr.
Trailin' Ba'ck (W), Buddy Roosevelt Mar.
Turn Back the Hours (M), Myma Loy. Mar. 1 Feb. 11
Krelbar Productions
Broadway After Midnight, Betz.. _
1927
Not. 26
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Adam and Evil (CD), Cody-Prlngle. - Aug. 27
Adventurer, The (W), Tim McCoy Jan. 14
After Midnight (D), Shearer-Gray Aug. 20
Annie Laurie (D). Lillian Qish Sept. 17
Becky (CD), Sally O'NeU _ Not. 12
Ben Hur (M), Ramon Novarro _ Oct. 8
Big Parade. The (M), GUbert-Adoree. Sept 10
Body and Soul (D). L. Barrymore - Oct. 1
Bugle Call, The (D), Jackie Coogan _ Aug. 6
Buttons (CD), Jackie Coogan Dec 24
Callahans and Murphys (CD), Dressler-Moran.-.June 18
Captain Salvation (M), Hanson.- - May 14
Fair Co-ed, The (CD), Marion Davles Oct 15
Foreign Devils (W), Tim McCoy _ Sept. 3
Frisco Sally Levy (C), O'NeU Apr. 2
Garden of Allah, The (D), Terry-Petrovitch. Nov. 5
In Old Kentucky (D), H. CosteUo Oct. 29
Little Journey (CD), All Star Jan. 1
London After Midnight (D>, Lon Chaney Dec. 3
Lovelorn, The, SaDy O'NeU Dec. 17
Lovers (D), Novarro-Terry _ Apr. 9
Man, Woman and Sin (D), John Gilbert Nov. 19
Mockery (M), Lon Chaney _ Aug. 13
Mr. Wu (M), Lon Chaney Mar. 26
Quality Street, Davies-Nagcl...- -.Dec 31
Red Mill (C), Davles - Jan. 29
Road to Romance, The (D), NoTarro-Day -...Sept 24
Rookies (C), Dane-Arthur _ Apr. 30
Show, The (M), GUbert-Adoree —.Jan. 22
Slide, Kelly, Slide (CD), Halnes-O'NelL Mar. 12
Spoilers of the West (W), McCoy-Daw Dec 10
Spring Fever (C), William Haines Oct. 22
Tea for Three (C), Cody-Prlngle -...Dec 10
Thirteenth Hour, The (0), Lionel Barrymore Not. 26
Tillie the Toiler (C), Davles —May 21
Twelve Miles Out (M), GUbert- July 9
Understanding Heart (D), Crawford. Feb. 26
Unknown, The (M), CSianey June 4
-_Ang. 13
1927
62.00%
50.31%
45.63%
Actress, The. Norma Shearer-Forbes Apr. 28
Across to Singapore (MD), NoTarro-Crawford—.Apr. 7
Baby Mine, Arthur-Dane Jan. 21
Big City, The, Chaney-Compson-Day Feb. 18
Bringing Op Father, FarreP"oran-01mstead. Mar. 17
.-Not. IJ
95.25%
80.20%
Not. 26
Not. 19 .
61.57%
Dec 31
-July 16
63.00%
Nov. 10
-July 2
Oct 29
48.09%
68.70%
61.60%
..Apr. 23
60.00%
Not. 19
Sept. 10 .
Dec 3
..Jan. 15
Not. 26
50.90%
43.46%
Dec. 17
Dec. 31
Dec 17
65.60%
Dec. 3
...May 2
Deo. 17
Sept 10
39.20%
39.60%
.-June 4
66.83%
Not. 19
..Feb. 19
54.91%
..May 9
-Mar. 19
68.39%
Nov. 12
Dec 24
..Apr. 2
.-Dec 24 .
Dec. 10
Not. 12 .
Dec. 3
..June 11
-July 30
-May 14
..June 13
67.31%
43.61%
Deo. 3
68.15%
65.16%
68.93%
68 76%
1928
Apr. 28
Jan. 28
Feb. 25
Mar. 31
-May 26
Feb. 11
Apr. 7
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
65
Luigth Title and Playeri
New
Picture*
Comment
54S3
5661
8S48
5482
«057
7300
8340
4987
T743
1045
IM02
II760
IK95
TS65
rS89
6014
T745
6476
9566
5901
8134
8011
4435
Certain Young Man, A, Noy»iTO-D»y May 19
Circus Rooliie* (CD), Dane-Arthvu'. Mar. 31
Conackf , Tlie. Adoree-GUbert-Torrence. May 12
Crowd, Tlie, Boardmaa-Murray-Boacb Mar. 3
Oetectlvn, Dane-Arthur — June 9
Diamond Handcufli, Boardman-Nagel May 6
DiviBa Woman, Garbo-HaoBOD-Sberman Jan. 14
Eaeray, The, Glsh-Dane-Forbes. TeX>. 18
Exceu Baggage (D), William Hainea
Forbidden Hours (D), Norarro-Adoree — June 16
Latest from Pari*. The, Sbearer-Forbes.- Feb. 4
Laugli. Clown, Laugh, Chaney-Murpliy-Hisle.- Apr. 14
Mademoiselle from Armentleres, Estella Brody-
Jobn Stuart Juno 3
Sldrts. Syd Chaplin.
Law of the Range, McCoy-Crawford Jan. 21
Love, Gartw-Gilbert Jan. 2
Patsy, The, Davies-Caldwell-Oroy Mar. 10
Riders of the Oark Apr. 28
Rose Marie, Crawford-Murray. Feb. 11
Smart Set, Halnes-Day-Holt-Bosworth Feb. 26
Student Prince, The (R), Novarro-Shearer Jan. SO
Under the Blade Eagle, Forbes-Dog Flash Mar. 24
West Point (CD), Haines-Crawford. Jan. 7
White Shadow* of the South Sea (MO). Ubate
Blue
Wickedness Preferred (CD), Cody-Pringle. Jan. 28
Wyoning, McCoy-Sebastian Mar. 34
1927 Paramount
«199 Afraid to Love (C), Vldor_ Apr. t
6951 Barbed Wire (D), Neeri-Brook Sept. 10
8879 Beau Geste (M), Colman-N. Beery Aug. 1
M97 Blind Alleys (M), Meighan. Mar. IS
H78 Blonde or Brunette? (C), Menjou Jan. 24
1175 (Jabaret (CD), GUda Gray Mar. 26
•040 Casey at the Bat (C). W. Beery Mar. 5
•536 Chang (D), Spedal cast Sept. 3
•662 Children of Divorce (D), Bow Apr. X
C408 City Gone Wild (M). Melghan-Mlllner Nov. 12
1447 'Covered Wagon, The (M), Kerrigan- WUson. Aug. 6
•287 Evening Clothes (C), Menjou. Mar. 19
•296 Fashions for Women (CB). Balston. Mar. 26
•399 Fireman Save My Child (C), Beery-Hatton Aug. 1
•376 Gay Defender, The (CD), Kichard Dlx. Dec. 10
•017 Gentleman of Paris, A (CD), MenJou-0'Hara..-Oct. 15
•889 Get Your Man (CD), CUra Bow Dec. 10
•415 Honeymoon Hate (CD), Florence Vldor....- Deo. 3
»091 Hotel Imperial (D), NerrI Feb. 26
•862 Hula (CD), Bow-Brook Aug. 27
•452 It (C), Clara Bow Feb. 19
8656 Jesse James (D), Fred Thomson Oct 22
7656 'Kid Brother (C), Lloyd. Oct. 4
6439 Kiss In a Taxi (C>, DanleU. Feb. 26
7080 Knockout Reilly (CD). Dtx.....„ Apr. 16
6940 Last Waltz. The (D). Special cast Xov. 26
6052 Let It Rain (C), MacLean..._ Jan. S
6007 Love's Greatest Mistake (CD), Brent Feb. 13
5617 Man Power (D), DLx _ July 9
8039 Metropolis (D), Special oast Aug. IS
7180 Mme. Pompadour (D), Moreno-D. Glsh Aug. 13
8258 Nevada (W), Cooper-Todd. Sept. 10
6877 New York (M). Cortez-Wllson. Feb. 6
5798 Now We're in the Air (C), Beery-Hatton. _..Oct 22
4551 One Woman to Another (CD), Vldor-ShotwaL..Sept. 24
6599 Open Range (W), Lane-Chandler. Nov. 6
6187 Paradise for Two (C), Dlx-Bronson Jan. 17
6680 Potters (CD), W. C. Fields Jan. 31
6306 Ritzy (CD). Bronson. Apr. 9
6247 Rolled Stockings (CD), HaU-Brook June 18
6952 Rough House Rosie (C), Bow May 14
•443 Raugh Riders, The (D), Astor-Farrell Oct 1
6614 Rubber Heels (FC), Ed. Wynn. June 11
6368 Running Wild (C). Fields-Brian. Aug. 20
6634 Senorita (F), Daniels Aug. 30
•Z09 Serenade (D), Menjou-Wray Dee. 24
6170 Service for Ladies (C), Menjon-Carver. Aug. 6
5515 Shanghai Bound (D), Dlx-Brlan. Oct. 15
6015 She's a Sheik (C), Bebe Daniels Nov. 12
6179 Shootin' Irons (W), Luden-Blane Oct. 8
6838 Soft Cushions (C), MacLean-Carol Aug. 27
5524 Special Delivery (C), Eddie Cantor Apr. 16
4934 Spotlight, The (CD), Ealston-HamUtotL Not. 19
6209 Stark Love (0), Special cast Sept 17
6124 Swim, Girl, Swim (CM), Danlela-Hall Sept IT
6006 Tell It to Sweeney (C), Conklln-Bancroft Sept 24
6497 Ten Modern Commandments (CD), EaUton. July 2
4926 Time to Love (FC), Raymond Griffith. June 18
6319 Two Flaming Youths (C), Fielda-ConMln. Dec 17
7643 Underworld (M), Bancroft-Brent Oct. 29
•486 Way of All Flesh, The (D), Jannlngs-Bennett..Oct. 1
•869 Wedding Bills (F), Eaymond Griffith May 7
6935 Were's All Gamblers (D). Melghan-MiUner. Sept 3
5866 Whirlwind of Youth (D), Lois Moran. .A.pr. 30
Wings (M), Charles Rogers Oct 29
5960 Woman on Trial (D), Pola Negri
1928
5897 Adventure Mad (M), UFA. Mar. 31
6536 Beau Sabreur (M), Cooper-Brent Jan. 7
Beggar* of Life (MD), Wallace Beery-Brooks-
Arlen
6930 Big Killing (CD), Beery-Hatton. May 19
6665 Doomsday, Vldor-Cooper Feb. 18
7868 Drag Net, The (MD), Bancroft-Brent-Powell
6364 Easy Come, Easy Go, Richard Dlx. Apr. 21
6889 Feel My Poise, Danlels-Arlen Feb. 25
First Kiss, The (D), Wray-Cooper
6402 Fifty-Flfty Girl. The, Daniels-Hall May 12
6852 Fools for Luck (CO), Fields-Conklia May 7
Forgotten Faces (MD), Brook, Brian.
6871 Gtntiemen Prefer Blondes (C). Taylor- White_ Jan. 28
•263 Half a Bride (D). Balston-Cooper June 16
Hot News, Bebo Daniels
6038 His Tiger Lady. Menjou-Brent Jtme 9
Kit Carson (MD), Fr»d Thomson
•T9S Ladies of the Mob, Clara Bow .^une 30
•234 Last (^mnand, Tha (D), Smll Jannincs. Jan. 21
June 2 June 23
Mar. 10
June 9
Jan. 21
Mar. 10
.June 23
Mar. 17
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
May 26
.June 2
Feb. 4
Jan. 7
Apr. 7
May 6
Feb. 18
Mar. 10
Feb. 35
—July 7
Apr. 28
Jan. 21
-JulyT
Feb. 11
Apr. 14
Jan. 7
Dec. 31
Nor. 26
Jan. 14
Dec. 31
Jan. 21
-JulyT
Jan. 21
-May 26
May 19
Feb. 25
-Aug. 4
Mar. 31
Apr. 7
..Aug. 4
Dec. 10
-June 9
Mar. 31
-Jane 23
May 26
Jaa. 2S
-.Jime 2
Jan. 21
May 6
July 28
Mar. 10
May 12
Jan 14
Apr 14
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
Idar. 3
67.41%
-Apr. 23
.Aug. 3
1927
67.21%
62.04%
50.84%
41.30%
60.30%
51.86%
68.00%
-Mar. 5
-Jan. 15
-May 9
-Apr. 16
-May 2
-May 2
-Dec 10
-Apr. 9
..Apr. 9 -. -
-Dec 10 49.60%
-Nov. 12 62.63%
-Oct 8 _ _
67.83%
Dec 17
-Jan. 8
-Sept 10 65.85%
-Feb. 12 66.77%
-Oct 22
-Jan. 29 65.91%
-Apr. 2 38.61%
-Apr. 23 65.61%
-Not. 19
..Mar. 12 56.69%
-Feb. 26
-Aug. 6 61.18%
-Mar. 12
Aug. 6
-Feb. 6
-Dec IT
-Sept 24
71.00%
70.25%
-Jan. 29 -.
-Jan. 22 48.36%
-June 25
-July 30
-June 4
-Mar. 19 54.72%
-July 16
-June 18 47.60%
-May 14
67.64%
-Sept. 3
Not. 12
Not. 26
-Aug. 27
-May 9
-Dec. 3
-Mar. 19
-Sept 17
Oct. 22
-July 23
-July 9
44.08%
66.27%
-Sept. 3
-July 2
-July 23
Jan. 14
Jan. T
-June 11
-Aug. 20
Oct 1
62.83%
59.78%
57.46%
47.36%
45.90%
1928
June 16
Mar. 10
Mar. 19
Mar. 19
Aug. 4
Feb. IS
June 16
July I
Feb. 4
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
T415
6837
5741
7910
6600
6582
6118
7646
6631
7194
7616
4720
7960
5951
6218
6763
7060
5733
5991
5831
6509
6435
Legion of the Condemned, Wray-Cooper Mar. 10
Love and Learn, Balston-Chandler. Jan. 14
Loves of an Actress (D). Pola Negri
Night of Mystery (D), Menjou. Apr. 7
Old Ironsides (D). Beery-Bancroft Mar. IT
Partners in Crime (C), Beery-Hatton Mar. 3
Peaks of Destiny Jan. 28
Pioneer Scout The (W), Fred Thomson. Jan. 21
Racket. The (D), Thomas Meighan June SO
Red Hair (CD). Bow-Chandler. Mar. 10
Sawdust Paradise. The, Bstber Ralston. Aug. 25
Secret Hour, The (D), Negri-Hersholt Feb. 4
Showdown, The, Bancroft Feb. 25
Something Always Happens, Ralston-Hamllton-.Mar. 24
Speedy (C), Harold Lloyd. Apr. 7
Sporting Goods. Dlx-Olmstead Feb. 11
Street of Sin (D). Jannings-Wray May 26
Sunset Legion (W), Fred Thomson. Apr. 21
Three Sinners (D), Negri-Baxtor - Apr. 14
Tillie's Punctured Romance, Fields-Conklln. Feb. 18
Under the Tonto Rim. Arlen-Brlan _ Feb. 4
Vanishing Pioneer. The (W), Jack Holt June 23
Varsity ( D ) . Rogers-Brian
Water Hole. The (W). Jack Holt
Warming Up. Richard DLi. Aug. 11
Wife Savers (C), Beery-Hatton. Jan. T
Woman From Moscow, The (D). Negrl-Kerry
Jan.
21
June 23
Feb.
18
Feb.
25
Jan.T
Dec.
10
Apr. 21
Feb. 26
Mar. 3
June 9
Feb.
18
Feb.
18
Mar
3
28
Apr.
Apr.
21
Feb.
18
Feb.
18
Apr.
28
May 26
Apr. 7
May 5
Feb. 25
..jLXLg. 4
— July 21
May 26
....June 19
-Feb. 18
1927
5596
6555
4335
6326
4875
4512
5100
7500
4933
5478
8586
6599
8002
6403
6568
6859
3303
5867
4968
7913
4750
5990
6035
4620
6788
4890
4076
4864
5324
13500
4131
4762
6472
4576
5750
5736
6421
6903
4575
4692
4497
6000
4828
5844
4542
4375
6303
5880
4562
4546
4338
5397
5670
5921
6198
4485
5610
6447
7820
1928
3996
5755
4805
5927
6589
4833
6408
4550
7996
4526
4480
5398
7056
4155
6650
5888
4600
5659
5954
6494
6626
6902
7040
5423
Pathe
Not. 6
-June 4
-Sept 10
-Dec. 10
Not. 5
..Sept. 17
Almost Human (CD), Reynolds. _ Deo. 26 Dec. 24
Angel of Broadway, The (D), Leatrlce Joy Oct. 3 Not. 19
Avenging Fangs (M) June 5
Border Blackbirds (WO), Maloney Aug. 28
Born to Battle (W), BlU Cody- - Sept. 11
Code of the Cow Country (W), Roosevelt June 19 Jime 17
Combat (D), Walsh. Oct 23
Country Doctor, The (D). Schildkraut Aug. 22
Desert of the Lost, The (W). Wally Walea Dec. iS Jan. 14
Devil's Twin, The (W), Leo Maloney Dec 11
Discord (D). Dagover-Ekman. __ -...Nov. 20
Dress Parade (D), Boyd. Nov. 11 Not. 19
Fighting Eagle, The (M). La Rocque-HaTer Aug. 29
Flying Luck (C). Monty Banks Dec. 4 — —
Forbidden Woman. The (M). Jetta GoudaJ. Not. 7 Nov. 12
Getting Gertie's Garter (F), PreTost
Girl from Everywhere (C), Pollard Dec. 11 — —
Girl in the Pullman, The (C), Prevost Oct 31 Not. 19
Gold from Weepah (W). BUI Cody - Not. 20
Golden Clown. The (0). Gosta-Ekman Deo. 18
'Grandma's Boy (C), Harold Lloyd...- Dec. 11
Harp in Hock. A (0). Schildkraut-Coghlan. Oct 10 Not. 12
Heart Thief (0). Schlldkraut-De Puttl -
Hidden Aces (M). Hutchison. Aug. 7
His Dog (D). SchUdkraut „ July 21
His Foreign Wife (D), MacDonald-Murphy Nor. 27
Hoof Marks (W), Jack Donovan. „ _ Not. 13
Interferin' Gent, The (W), Buffalo Bill, Jr. Aug. 21
Jim, the Conqueror (W), Boyd-Faire •
King of Kings (D), All Star - _ -
Land of the Lawless, The (W). Jack Fadjan. Dec. 25 Jan. 14
Little Firebrand (C). Thornton _ __ Julys
Main Event. The (D), Reynolds _.._ _...Not. 21 Not. 19
Meddlin' Stranger (W). Wales June 12
My Friend from India (F). Pangbom-Falr. Deo. 19 Dec. 24
Night Bride (FC), Prevost .-
Not. 5
..Feb. 19
..Not. 5
Not. 5
Not. 6
-May 21
..Bept. 3
..July 24
-Aug. 2T
..Jan. 1
-Mar. 10
-July 2
Not. 5
-June 12
Nobody's Widow (FC). Joy-Ray-HaTer.
No Man's Law (W). Rex May 1
Obligin' Buckaroo, The (W). Buffalo Bill. Jr.....Oet. 16
Pals In Peril (W). Buffalo BUI, Jr „ June 26
Phantom Buster. The (W), Rooseyelt -...Aug. 14
Pieces of China (Trarel). _ _ Aug. T
Pirates of the Sky (M). Hutchison - May 22
Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary (C). Robson.
Ride 'Em High (W). Buddy Roosevelt Oct 9
Roarin' Broncs. Buffalo Bill. Jr. Nov. 27
Rubber Tires (C). Ford-LoTe - _
Rush Hour, The (C), Prevost Dec. 12
Skeedaddle Gold (W), Wales July 31
Soda-Water Cowboy, The (W). Wally Wales Sept. 25
Trunk Mystery (M), Hutchison. June 12
Turkish Delight. Schildkraut-Faye Nov. 11
Two-Gun of Tumbleweed (W), Leo Maloney July 17
Vanity (M), Joy _
White Gold (D), Goudal
White Pebbles (WD). Wally Wales Aug. 7
Wise Wife, The (C), Hayer - Oct. 24
..May 9
..Jul 16
..May 2
..Oct. 8
..June 25
..Aag. 20
..May 21
-Aug. 6
-Oct. 8
Jan. 7
..Apr. 9
-Aug. 6
..Oct 1
-June 11
Not. 19
Wreck of the Hesperus, The (M).
Yankee Clipper (M), Boyd.
Bradford. Oct 31
-July 17
-June 18
..Apr. 9
-Aug. 20
Not. 6
-May 14
Alice Through a Looking Glass
Apache Raider, The. Leo Maloney
Ballyhoo Buster (W). Buffalo BUI. Jr
Blonde for a Night. Prerost
Blue Danube. Leatrlce Joy._
Boss of Rustlers Roost. The. Don Coleman..
Brone' Stomper. The, Don Coleman.
Bullet Mark, The, Jack Donovan
Chicago (M), Phyllis Hayer
Cowboy Cavalier (W). Buddy Roosevelt.
-..Feb. 12
— Feb. 12
Jan. 8
Feb. 27
—Mar. 12
Jan. 22
....Feb. 36
—Mar. 35
May 12
-...Mar. 5
—Jan. 29
Feb. 5
-...Jan. 15
—.May 15
...Jan. 1
....Jan. 23
Let 'Er Go. Galiagherl (M), Jnalor Coghlan Jan. 16
Marlie, the Killer. Klondike Mar. 4
Midnight Madness, Logan May 26
Mar. 3
Feb. 18
May 12
Mar. 17
May 19
Dec 24
Feb. 4
Crashing Through, Jack Padjan
Desperate Courage (W), Wales —
Hold 'Em Yale, Rod La Rocauc-
Laddie Be Good (W). BiU Cody-
Leopard Lady, The (M). Logan.-
May 19 May 26
Jan. 28
Jan. 23
Night Flyer. The. Wm. Boyd
On to Reno (D). Prerost-Lsuidla
Perfect Gentleman. A (G), Monty Banks-
Red Mark. The (D), GUss. (Juartoar
Ship Comes In, A, Rndolph Schlldkrant.
Skyscraper, Boyd-
Mar. 17
..Feb. 5
-Jan. 3
-Jan. 16
Stand and Deliver, Bod La BooqosL.
Tenth Avenue, HaTar-VarconL-— ___
-Juns 4
-Apr. 9
-Feb. 20
-July 14
Jon* 16
May 13
-JulyU
-June 3
1927
-Oct 15
72.70%
60.40%
M.<0%
61.72%
192«
X
11
66
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
Length Title and Playeri
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
t:
1927
S035
6089
5076
5916
6960
6970
6502
4200
1928
6089
6673
6076
4633
Rayart
1927
6976
5853
4797
5262
4548
5608
4571
5906
4627
5490
6260
Walking Back (M), Sue Carol
Cruise of the Helion (D), All star _ _.
Heroes in Blue (M), Bowers-Rand _ —..Nov.
Law and the Man. The (D), Santschi-Eockwell..D€C.
Light in the Window, A (D), WalthaJ _
On the Stroke of Twelve (M), D. Torrence Not.
Silent Hero (M), Bonaparte _ -..
Wanderer of the West, A (W), Tex Maynard....Dec.
Branded Man, The (D), Clias. Delaney-MarloweMay
Casey Jones (CD). Price-Lewis - Jan.
Danger Patrol, The (D), Russell-Fair Jan.
Devil's Tewer, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt — ,Tune
Divine Sinner, The (D), Vera Reynolds-HUllard.. July
Gypsy of the North (D), Gordon-Hale -...Apr.
Heart of Broadway, The (D), Garon-Agnew....Mar.
Lightning Shot The (W), Buddy Roosevelt. May
Man from Headquarters, Tha (D), ComeUni
Keefe-E. Roberts lug.
Midnight Adventure, A (D), Landis-E. Murphy-May
Mystery Valley (W). Buddy Roosevelt July
My Home Town (D), Brockwell-Glass _...Jan.
Painted Trail, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt Mar.
Phantom of the Turf. The (D), Costello-Lease.Feb.
Sisters of Eve (D), Mae Busch Sept.
Sweet Sixteen (D), Helen Foster-Olstead Aug.
Trail Riders (W), Buddy Roosevelt April
Wild Born (W), Tex Maynard Mar.
You Can't Beat the Law, Lee Keefe. Jan.
Jday 20 Jan. 28
Sept. 24
-Aug. 29
1928
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
Sterling
1927
6563 Closed Gates (M), Harron-Novak. _ _
5400 Outcast Souls (D), Lewis-Bonner Dec. 15
5500 Pretty Clothes (D). J. Ralston-Walker. Oct. 16
Stranded (D), Mason. Aug. 15
1928
Marry the Girl (CD) _.. _
1927
6754
5669
7300
4887
6482
5233
4752
6800
6049
6235
5629
6100
5182
5276
Tiffanv-Stahl
6448
5614
1928
6147
5209
5297
6553
5708
6102
6735
6652
6361
6283
Backstage (CD), Bedford
Beauty Shoppe (CD), Busch. _ _
College Days (CD), M. Day _ -
Enchanted Island (D) —
Fools of Fashion (CD). Busch..._
Girl from Gay Paree, The (F), Sherman Sept. 15
Haunted Ship. The (M), Sebastian-M. L0Te....Dec. 1
Josselyn's Wife (D). Frederick
Lightning (W), J. Ralston Sept. 1
Night Life (CD), Day-Harron _ _. Nov. 1
Once and Forever (D), Patsy Ruth Miller. -..Oct. 15
Sin Cargo (D), Mason
Snowbound (FC), Blythe - _
Streets of Shanghai (RD), Starke-Harlan...- Dec. 15
Tired Business Man (C) -
Wild Geese (D). BeUe Bennett -...Nov. 15
Women's Wares (D), Brent-Lytell - Oct. 1
Applause (D). Sally O'Neill Sept. 30
Bachelor's Paradise (R). Sally O'Neil Mar. 15
Big Top. The (CD), Sally O'Neill Oct. 30
Cavalier, The (D), Talmadge-Bedford Sept.
Clothes Make the Woman (R). Southem-
Pldgeon — May 1
Devil's Apple Tree, The (D), Dorothy Sebastian..Sept. 20
Devil's Skipper, The. Bennett Feb. 1
George Washington Cohen (CD), Jessel-Palmer.Aug.20
Geraldine Laird (D), Belle Bennett - Nov. 10
Ghetto. The (CD), Jessel-Gwen Lee - Aug. 1
Grain of Dust, The (D), Cortez-Windsor .July 10
Green Grass Widows (CD), Walter Hagen June 10
House of Scandal (D), Sebastian-O'Malley Apr. 1
Ladies of the Night Club (CD), Cortez-Moran..-May 15
Lingerie (CD), White-McGregor .Tuly 1
Nameless Men, Moreno Feb. 15
Naughty Duchess, The (D), H. B. Warner Aug. 10
Power of Silence, The (D), Belle Bennett Aug. 20
Prowlers of the Sea (D), flortez-Myers June 20
Queen of Burlesque, The (CD), Belle Bennett....Sept. 10
Scarlet Dove, The (D), Margaret Livingston Apr. 15
Stormy Waters (D), Southern-McGregor -...Tunel
Squads Right (CD), Gribbon-Stone Nov.
Their Hour (D), Sebastian-Harron Mar. 1
Tragedy of Youth. Miller-rollier - Jan. 15
Twelve Pound Look, The (D), Eve Southern. Oct. 20
Three Keys to a Door (MD), Ricardo Cortez Oct. 10
Toilers. The. Fairbanks. Jr. -Ralston — Aug.
Woman Against the World, A _ .Tan. 1
-May 28
Nov. 12
Dec. 31
Jan. 7 Sept. 10
..July 9
..July 16
..Nov. 6
..June 25
-Oct. 9
1927
1928
1927
-Dec. 11
..July 30
Mar. 10 -...
Deo. 24 Dec. 10
1928
1927
6000
7500
7311 Loves of Sonya (D), Swanson...
United Artists
1927
College (C), Keaton-Comwall Sept. 10
General, The (C). Keaton
sf
8550 Magic Flame, The (M), Colman-Banky Sept. 24
9120 Resurrection (M), La Rocque
9000 Sorrell and Son (D). Wamer-Nilsson. _ Nov.
7456 Topsy and Eva (C), Duncan Sisters -
8250 Two Arabian Knights (CD), Boyd-Wolheim
8000 Winning of Barbara Worth (D), Banky-Colman.
1928
640O Circus. The (C), Charlie Chaplin.
7000 — Devil Dancer, The, Gilda Gray _ _
9358 Douglas Fairbanks as the Gaucho (M) June 1
9100 Dove, The (M), Norma Talmadge Jan. 7
8350 Drums of Love (D). Mary Philbln. Mar. 31
7300 Garden of Eden, The (D). C. Grlfflth-Ray Feb. 4
_ — Two Lovers, Banky-Colman Aug.
7650 Ramona (D), Del Rio - Feb. 1
8600 Sadie Thompson (D). Gloria Swansea Jan. 7
Steamboat Bill, Jr., Bu/iter Keaton
-Sept. 17
-Feb. 12
-Mar. 19
-5ept. 24
Apr. 18
Nov. 19
Aug. 13
Oct. 29
Dec. 4
45.90%
73.65%
1928
Apr. 28
Nov. 26
-...Jan. 7
July 21
Tempest (M), John Barrymore
-Aug. 11
-.June 16
-.May 26
-July 7
1927
5751
5777
4427
7190
5623
6503
6929
5711
6958
7713
UOOO
5862
6135
6159
5918
6170
5416
6045
7015
6166
4393
6218
4251
7173
5598
4136
5192
6459
4167
1928
4259
6869
4076
6171
4345
4232
7481
6279
4173
6081
4426
5645
4094
6598
5064
4095
6813
6832
4120
5689
4253
4200
4472
5382
5424
6172
5109
5389
8249
6179
6073
4353
6274
5495
4348
9151
5254
Universal
Back to God's Country (D), Adoree-Frazier— Sept. 4
Beware of Widows (FC), La Plante. June 19
Border Cavalier, The (W), Humes-Pierce Sept. 18
Cat and Canary, The (My), La Plante Sept. 11
Cheating Cheaters (C), Compson-Harlan Oct. 9
Galloping Fury (W), Hoot Gibson Nov. 20
Held by the Law (M), Lewis — Apr. 10
Hero for the Night. A, Tryon-Miller Deo. 18
Irresistible Lover, The (CD), Kerry-Moran Dec. 4
Les Miserables (M), Gabrio-Toulont Oct. 30
Les Miserables (M), (Long Version) Oct. 30
Lone Eagle, The, Kent-Keane Sept. 18
Man's Past, A (D), Veidt-Kent Dec. 2S
Men of Daring (W). Hoxie June 5
On Your Toes (C), Denny-Worth Nov. 27
Out All Night (C). Denny-Nixon Sept. 4
Painted Ponies (W). Hoot Gibson Sept. 25
Painting the Town (FC), Tryon Aug. 7
Sensation Seekers (D), Dove Mar. 20
Silk Stockings, Laura La Plante -..Oct. 2
Sky High Saunders, Al Wilson - Nov. 6
Small Bachelor, The (C). Beranger-Kent Nov. 6
Straight Shootin' (W), Wells Oct. 16
Taxi! Taxi! (FC), Horton - Apr. 24
Thirteenth Juror, The (D), Bushman-NiIsson...Nov. 13
Three Miles Up, Al Wilson. Sept. 4
Wild Beauty (CD), Rex Nov. 27
Wrong Mr. Wright, The (F), Hersholt Feb. 27
Wolf's Trail, Dynamite, the dog. Oct, 2
Not. 12
Aug. 6
-May 9
1927
6L00%
44.10%
Dea 17
Nov. 26
Dec. 24
Jan. 14
Dec. 17
May 14
67.08%
..Apr. 2
Nov. 26
Nov. 19
..Aug. 27
43.57%
Nov. 13
Dee. ir
Jan. 14
Nov. 19
Sept. a
..Apr. 9
-Oct. 1
July 23
..June 25
..Jan. 29
Aug. 20
62.31%
Dec. 3
Dec. 3
.-Feb. 19
45 18%
Dec. 24
Mar. 5
Air Patrol, The (W), Al WUson. Jan. 1
Alias the Deacon (CD), Hersholt-Marlowe Jan. 22
Arizona Cyclone (W), Humes .May 6
Buck Privates, de Putti - June 3
Call of the Heart, The (W), Dynamite Jan. 29
Clean-Up Man, The (W), Wells _ -..Feb. 12
Cohens and Kellys in Paris (C), Sidney Jan. 15
Count of Ten, The, Ray-Ralston-Gleason June 6
Fearless Rider, The (W), Fred Humes Jan. 15
Finders Keepers (CD), Laura La Plante Feb. 5
Four Footed Rangers, The (W), Dynamite. Mar. 25
Good Morning Judge Apr. 29
Greased Lightning (W) - -.-July 29
Grip of the Yukon, The, AU star. _ Aug. 30
Hot Heels, Glen Tryon - May 13
Hound of Silver Creek. The (W), Dynamite-.May 20
Lonesome (CD), Tryon-Kent...-
Love Me and the World Is Mine. Kerry-Phllbin. Feb. 25
Jazz Mad. Hersholt-Nixon-Lewis June 3
Made-to-Order Hero (W), WeUs June 3
Midnight Rose, de Putti-Harlan Feb. 26
Phantom Flyer, The (W), Wilson Feb. 26
Put 'Em Up (W), Humes Mar. 11
Quick Triggers (W), Humes July 15
Rawhide Kid (W), Hoot Gibson. Jan. 29
Riding for Fame, Hoot Gibson Aug. 19
Shield of Honor, The, All star Feb. 19
Society Cowboy, A, Hoot Gibson July 8
Stop That Man, AU star - Mar. 11
Surrender, Philbin-Mosjukine. Mar. 4
Thanks for the Buggy Ride, La Plante-TryoiL-.Apr. 1
That's My Daddy (C), Denny-Kent _ Feb. 5
Thunder Riders. The, WeUs...- ; Apr. 8
13 Washington Square, All star..- Apr. 8
Trick of Hearts, A, Hoot Gibson Mar. 18
Won in the Clouds, (W), Wilson. Apr. 22
We Americans, All star. May 16
1928
.-.Tu"e 25
Mar. 10
Feb 4
Apr. 21
Jime 30
Jan. 28
Apr. 21
Apr. 28
-
Apr. 28
May 26
.Tune 23
-July 21
Feb. 31
May 19
Aug. 4
Mar. 17
Mar. 17
Feb. 25
Jan. 14
Apr. 28
Wild West Show, Hoot Gibson
May 20
May 5
Apr. 21
1927
5803
6330
6281
5897
6408
5003
6767
6284
5978
6800
6302
5613
6271
5200
6230
5307
5569
6352
6310
6485
7961
6357
5492
6295
5685
6124
6218
6412
7647
5813
1928
6052
5380
Warner Brothers
Black Diamond Express (M), Blue
Brass Knuckles (D), Blue-Bronson Dec. 3
Bush Leaguer, The (CD), Monte Blue. Aug. 20
Dearest ( D), Rich -
Desired Woman, The (M), Irene Rich. Aug. 27
Dog of the Regiment, A (M), Rln-Tin-Tin Oct. 29
First Auto, The, Oldfleld-Miller...- _ Sept. 18
Gay Old Bird (FC), Fazenda. - -
Girl from Chicago, The (M), Nagel-Loy Nov. 5
Glorious Betsy (CD), Dolores Costello
Good Time Charley (D), Oland-H. Costello Nov. 12
Ham and Eggs at the Front (C), Wilson-H.
ConUlin - — — Dee. 24
Hills of Kentucky (M), Rin-I'in-Tin
Husbands for Rent, All star Dec. 31
If I Were Single, McAvoy-Nagel Dec. 17
Irish Hearts (CD), McAvoy _.
-July 23
1927
50.20%
-June 18
-July 9
-Mar. 12
Dec. 31
-May 26
Nov. 26
Jaws of Steel (D), Rln-Tin-Tin -Sept. 17
Matinee Ladies (C), McAvoy -
Mill Bid. A (M), D. Costello —
Missing Link, The (C), Syd Chaplin Aug. 7
Old San Francisco (M), D. Costello-Oland Sept. 4
One Round Hogan (M), Monte Blue Sept. 17
Reno Divorce. A (D), May AcAvoy Oct. 22
Sailor Izzy Murphy (F), (Jeorge Jessell- Oct. 8
Sailor's Sweetheart, A (C). Fazenda-C. Cook...Sept 24
Silver Slave, The (D), Rloh-Ferris Nov. 9
Simple Sis (M), Fazenda - - -
Slightly Used, McAvoy-Nagel Sept. 3
Third Degree (M), D. Costello.-
Tracked by the Police (M), Rin-Tin-Tln...-
Feb. 26 68.94%
Apr. 28
June 11 -
Oct. 1
Apr. 23 _
June 4
—-May 14
„___Jtme 25
Oct. 8
Oct. 29
Dec. 10
Oct. 15
-June 11
-Jan. 8
.May 21
5164
7077
5331
6185
4777
4820
6531
Across the Altantic, Blue-Murphy -Feb. 25 Feb. 18
Beware of Married Men, Irene Klch Jan. 14 Feb. 11
City of Sin, The, Loy-MllJan-Wong
Domestic Trouble (CD), Cook-Fazenda Mar. 24 Apr. 14
Jazz Singer, The. Al Jolson Feb. 4
Lion and the Mouse, The, L. Barrymore
1928
Little Snob, The, May McAvoy Feb. 11
Powder My Back (C), Rioh-Ferris Mar. 10
Race for Life. Rin-T^n-Tin .Tan. 28
Rinty of the Desert, Rin-'Kn-Tin - Apr. 21
Tenderloin, Dolores Costello .'.
May 19
Feb. 18
May 19
-Apr. 28
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
67
CLASSIFIED
Advertising
Ten cents per word, payable in advance. Minimum charge,
$1.00. Copy and checks should be addressed Classified Ad
Dept. Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, 407 So.
Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
The Recognized National Classified Advertising Medium
Position Wanted
Projectionist and radio technician familiar with
sound recording amplification and experimental work
IS open for a position. Address Box 297, Exhibitors
Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
OPERATOR — Nine years' experience. Wants steady
position. Address J. T. Kennedy, Gilbertville, Mass.
THEATRE ORGANIST— Experienced on all makes,
has a large library, will go anywhere. Address Box
289, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
Attention, Theatre Managers! Are you looking for
an organist, male or female? If you are, why not let
Exhibitors Herald- World find just the kind you want'
Address George Schmidt, Exhibitors Herald- World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
ORGANISTS thoroughly trained and experienced in
theatre work. Men and women now ready for good
positions Write salary and other data. Address
Chicago Musical College, 61 E. Van Buren, Chicago.
ORGANIST — Experts thoroughly trained in show-
manship available at all times for first-class positions.
Men and women. No service charge. Write full in-
formation concerning salary, organ, hours, etc. Ad-
dress Vermond Knauss School of Theatre Organ
Playing, 210 N. 7th St., Allentown, Pa.
ORGANIST — Competent, desires change of city.
Complete library. Union, experienced. Address Box
284, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
ORGANIST — Ten years experience, union, married.
Can cue pictures just right. Was broadcasting organ-
ist for Station WIBA at Madison, Wis. Can give
best of references. Character excellent. Address Box
300, Exhibitors Herald- World, 407 S. Dearborn St.,
Chicago, III.
Experienced Powers-Simplex movie operator wants
steady position. Age 28. Married. Methodist. Sat-
isfactory references. Address Leslie Grove, Newark,
O.
Partner Wanted
Can get choice A-1, long time lease, house 35x100.
Must have $5,000. Write or wire for particulars. J. C.
Rood, 27 Church St., Ashtabula, O.
Theatre Wanted
WANTED — To buy or lease small town picture
theatre, Wisconsin only. Experienced showman. Ad-
dress Edwin Rogers, Adler Flats, Marshfield, Wis.
Theatre to Lease
Theatre to lease or trade, 1,000 feet, modern, fully
equipped, with stage. Population 18,000. Great oppor-
tunity for the right showman. Or will sell store, office
and theatre building or trade for other improved
property. Address Box 299, Exhibitors Herald-World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
FOR RENT — An unusual opportunity to rent a
new 1,600 seating capacity theatre, located in Bethle-
hem, Pa. Population 68,000, only vaudeville house in
the city. Fully equipped. Long term lease. Address
A. Potruch, 94 W. Broad St., Bethlehem, Pa.
Theatre for Sale
First $2,000 cash gets completely equipped, going
theatre in good town. Apopka theatre, Apopka, Fla.
FOR SALE— For $14,000, CAPITOL THEATRE,
Montgomery, Ala. House is well equipped with Super
Junior Reproduco Organ. Arctic Nu Air System, 2
Motiograph DeLuxe Machines, etc., and is advan-
tageously located between two good hotels, with new
10-story hotel, to open September 1, just across the
street. Lease on Capitol is worth $18,000 and thea-
tre cost me $6,000 more than I am asking for it.
Am forced to sell on account of ill health. Address:
J. H. Wheeler Capitol Theatre, Montgomery, Ala.
Any Real Showman desiring to invest $25,000.00
for business bonded to show 40 per cent return for
capable attention. Address P. O. Box 1306, Atlanta,
Ga. Note — No Competition, showing both Colored-
White, Drawing Population 25,000.
FOR SALE— Theatre in city of fifty thousand
Western New York. Requires little cash for deal. Ad-
dress Box 296, Exhibitors Herald- World, 407 S. Dear-
born St., Chicago, 111.
Films for Sale
■'The Dungeon" (7); — "Deceit" (6); — "Birthright"
(10); — three all star Negro productions; — also —
"Truth About Women" (6);- — "Temptation" (7); —
"Marriage Morals" (7); — Other miscellaneous produc-
tions. Comedies, Serials, Travel, Educational, etc.
Guaranteed Pictures Company, 729 Seventh Ave., New
York City.
Managers Schools
Learn Modern Theatre Management at home, as a
business or vocation. Catalog H shows you how.
Moving Picture Theatre Managers Institute, Inc.,
Elmira, N. Y.
Equipment for Sale
FOR SALE — Motion Picture Projectors, parts and
supplies for all type machines. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
FOR SALE — Strong Reflector Arc Lamps and ac-
cessories, also guaranteed rebuilt Powers 6-A and 6-B
and Simplex Heads. Best Prices. Write Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
GET OUR PRICES first on complete Theatre
Equipment and Pipe Organ before buying elsewhere.
You save, we satisfy. Address Southern Theatre
Service, 643 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, La.
CHICAGO CLEARING HOUSE— Our bargain list
on rebuilt Projectors, Powers 6-A Motor driven ma-
chines, including 12 rebuilt Simplex motor driven
machines with latest Simplex type S lamp houses.
Prices ranging from $175.00 and up. Peerless arc
controls $35.00 per pair. Compensarcs all makes,
$20.00 and up. Rebuilt Generators at reasonable
prices. AC and DC Electric fans rebuilt, just like
new. Write for complete list of your needs and
prices. No obligation. Address Illinois Theatre
Equipment Co., 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, III.
Chairs for Sale
LARGE STOCK^-Used veneered theatre chairs in
5 and 7 ply veneer guaranteed condition, also 1600 up-
holstered chairs newly recovered in brown imitation
Spanish leather, just like new. 500 portable assembly
chairs. Chair prices very reasonable. Write for com-
plete list of your needs and prices. No obligation.
Address Illinois Theatre Equipment Co., 12-14 E.
Ninth St., Chicago, 111,
Stationery
SPECIAL: 250 each business letterheads — enve-
lopes $3,75 (cash postpaid), "Neargravure" process
printed. Samples, see difference. Stamp appre-
ciated. Address Sollidays, KH 124, Knox, Ind.
For Sale
OPERA CHAIRS, seats and backs for all makes,
five ply, at prices that save you half. Address
Redington & Co., Scranton, Pa.
Organs for Sale
FOR SALE: Bartola Pipe Organ. Used Wurlitzer
Pipe Organ, model U, very reasonable. Cremona
Pipe Organ, used or new Reproduco Pipe Organs.
Address S. B. McFadden, Havana, III.
Gift Night Souvenirs
GIFT NIGHT MERCHANDISE: Over 300 fine
novelties in our large free catalog at genuine whole-
sale prices. Write today. No obligation. Address
Fair Trading Co., Inc., 140 W. 21st St., New York.
Projector Repairing
BEST GRADE repair work. Prices right. Free
relief heads. Prompt service. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
Our Twentieth Century Repair Shop, with skilled
expert mechanics, specialized tools, precision machin-
ery, assure the very best REPAIR JOBS. Relief
Equipment furnished FREE. Prompt service. Rea-
sonalDle prices. Progressive Exhibitors over entire
country send their work to "THE OLD RELIABLE."
Monarch Theatre Supply Co., Memphis, Tenn. Estab-
lished 20 years.
SKILLED MECHANICS, specialized tools, and a
shop equipped for but one purpose can offer you
nothing but the best in repair work. That is what I
have, and I can offer you the best in the overhauling
of your motion picture machinery equipment. One
of the oldest repair men in the territory, and serving
some of the largest houses. Relief equipment fur-
nished free. For results bring your work to Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Equipment Wanted
BEST PRICES paid for projection machines, all
types. Address Guercio & Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, 111.
Miscellaneous
BEAUTIFUL registered Bull Pups, $15.
Address 501 Rockwood, Dallas, Texas.
Bulldogs.
Your Classified Ad Will Do th^ Work
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World has helped hundreds of Theatre owners in solving many a problem. The
classified advertising department has placed organists all over the country, has helped in obtaining equipment, in selling
equipment, and in solving many another problem that seemed difficult. The rates are but 10c per word payable with
order, 10% discount if run for 3 insertions. See this week's classified pages. Maybe you are in need of something that is
being advertised this week. The cost is small, the results are great.
/'
68
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
LETTERS
From Readers
A forum at which the exhibitor is
invited to express his opinion on
matters of current interest. Brevity
adds forcefulness to any statement.
Unsigned letters will not be printed.
— and Now Sound
HAZEN, ARK., To the Editor: Having
been a theatre operator since the days when
a two reel serial and a one reel comedy made
a complete show, and having been a consistent
reader of your valuable paper since it was
first published, I should like to say a few
words in regard to the much discussed subject
of sound with pictures.
As regards to small town theatre, I see
where some of the boys are getting excited,
and no wonder with the talk of equipment
costing thousands of dollars, and rentals go-
ing to the sky, it looks like all their patrons
would be run off to the cities, and the small
towner would be entirely out of luck and
patrons.
In my opinion it is going to be a great
thing for the small house. We have been
unable to stand the expense of organists or
orchestras, and have been compelled to depend
entirely on mechanical music of some kind,
which it was difficult or impossible to get to
follow the picture. With music and sound
effects on the film this will be eliminated and
proper music or effects will naturally follow
the picture without trouble or mistakes.
Now as to expense, don't worry. Regard-
less of the great sums that are being paid to
get this in the large houses, the cost to the
small theatre is going to be very nominal
indeed. Nothing is needed but a radio push-
pull amplifier, using A. C. tubes, a powerizer
for "B" power and your horn or speaker.
The turn tables for use with Vitaphone may
be constructed by yourself for a few dollars,
and there you are.
As regards to the Movietone system, it ■
Would be necessary to have a small attach-
ment for your machines which should not
cost to exceed the price of a reflector arc
unit.
Rentals on sound films for the smallest
houses will be no more than for the silent
variety. It will not cost the producers a cent
more to make a print from the sound nega-
tive than it does from the other, and as the
smallest houses never did pay a rental that
was large enough to pay very little more than
the cost of the prints, it will be the same with
sound.
Of course, I am refering above to the very
smallest houses who gross from $50 to $100
per week.
Now a word of warning to you exhibitors
in the above class. Do not be stampeded into
putting a mortgage on the family homestead
in order to install equipment for sound, you
will get it in due time and get it cheap, in the
meantime saw wood and advertise. You will
continue to do plenty of business with the
silent films. — F. L. Clarke, Cozy theatre,
Hazen, Ark.
Censor Explains Stand
WINNIPEG, MAN., To the Editor: In
your issue of July 14th, 1928, there appears an
article entitled "Censors Vary in Opinion on
'Dawn' in Canada." The last paragraph of
the article sta'e.s' that Gladstone declines to
give his reason for banning the picture out-
right.
Now I want to say that this statement is
en'irely at variance with the facts of the case
and to convince you how misleading the state-
ment is I am herewith enclosing a carbon
copy of the form on which my reasons for
rejection are stated.
This picture was viewed for censorship on
June 25th and on June 26th I handed the
original of this copy to Mr. Chalu, manager
of the Canadian Educational Film Exchange,
Ltd., who submitted it for censorship and who
happened to be in the office at the time it
was taken from the typewriter.
I have no idea whatever how this impres-
sion was gained because in every case the
reasons for rejection are given to the Film
Exchange interested as soon as the decision
is arrived at.
I have no desire whatever to start any con-
troversy over this matter, but I think you
will agree with me that it puts me in rather
a false light in the eyes of the public and I
hope you will accept this explanation in the
same spirit in which it is offered. — W,. E^
Gladstone, Winnipeg, Man.
"What Should We Do?"
CALHAN, COL.— To the Editor: I have
been reading your Herald for the past two
years and can say I enjoy every issue.
No doubt the above is old stuff to you as
undoubtedly all exhibitors feel the same about
the Herald, but here is the question that I
feel should come out in the Herald. "What
Is the Small Town Exhibitor to Expect in
Talking Movies?" By small town, I mean the
house with 150 or 200 seats.
I would like to see the Herald prophet's
article on this subject. — R. H. Ries, Calhan
theatre, Calhan, Col.
See "S3mchronized Pictures"
BURLINGTON, lA.— To the Editor: I
would like to see a discussion in your pub-
lication on the advisability of acquainting the
public with the de ails of sound pictures. That
is — should the public be acquainted with the
mechanism or should it be left a mystery for
them to puzzle over, discuss and figure out the
best they can.
There are many exhibitors who are now
planning advertising campaigns on the sound
pictures to whom this discussion should be
enlightening. — H. D. Barnes, Rialto theatre,
Burlington, la.
Sound Installers Close
4 Weeks' Chicago Strike
(Continued front page 17)
might, in time, find a good drama in any but
the largest cities about as rare as grand opera.
"However, we do not believe such a possibil-
ity should be really disturbing. When motion
pictures have been able to reproduce clamor,
mechanical noises, the impressive din that sup-
plements great visual demonstration, they have
achieved excellent results. But the reproduc-
tion of speech has not been satisfying, al-
though interesting as a novelty. The spoken
word, which we are accustomed to hear in the
theatre with fine shadings of intellectual and
emotional meaning,- is comparatively hollow
when reproduced mechanically. We believe
there always will be a demand for the spoken
drama sufficient to maintain it on a respect-
able plane of dignity and public appreciation.
"If mechanically relayed speech were suf-
ficient to supply our wants, there would be
no end to which we might not go. Perhaps
we should get along with a very few preach-
ers, for the films could choose the best of
them — or those who might 'register' best —
picture them in action and reproduce their
sermons, so that all a church would need
would be a good screen and motion picture
machine. Now if the preacher or lecturer
would be .unable to deliver his spiritual or
intellectual message in this manner, neither
would the actor be able to deliver his tragic
poetic or humorous message. Aside from
other considerations, we believe the demand
for good speech in itself would lie sufficient
to maintain the spoken drama, whicli furnishes
our best example of spoken diction."
"Face On Bar Room Floor"
Now Favorite Film Star
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 14. — A new use
for a bar room has been found at
Greenwich, N. Y., where a hotel is
being made into a moving picture
theatre by H. L. Mausert. The booth
housing the projection machines is
being erected in the former bar room.
Radio Motion Pictures
ToGoOutfromKDKA
Within Next Few Weeks
(Continued from page 20)
rent operating the arc lamp. This action
may be compared to the action of a radio tube,
where the weak radio current on the grid of
the tube controls the action of the independent
and more powerful plate current.
Scanning Discs Synchronized
Thus the mercury arc lamp goes bright or
dim as fast as the current changes and its
light at any instant is in proportion to the
light that the electric eye sees in the same
instant. To return the dots of light to their
original pattern, another revolving disc or
scanner is also used which is similar to the
transmifang scanner.
The use of a mercury arc lamp permits the
radio pictures to be thrown upon a ground-
glass or screen, the first time this has been
done with television apparatus.
Both these scanning discs turn at exactly
the same speed ; the hole in the receiving
disc must be exactly in the same relative
position as the corresponding hole in the trans-
mitting disc. In other words, they must be
synchronized.
Synchronism by Radio
Westinghouse engineers were the first to
develop a feasible method of synchronism and
their method was by means of radio. From
transmitting equipment, which may be located
in the broadcasting station, they transmit a
constant frequency wave of 5,000 cycles. This
wave is produced by a tuning fork and trans-
mitted over a special carrier wave from the
broadcasting station. The constant frequency
note is received on a special receiver and by
means of special apparatus controls the speed
of synchronous motors, which drive the scan-
ning discs of both transmitting and receiving
radio motion picture equipment.
Westinghouse officials state that the ap-
paratus, when produced commercially, will be
sold through the Radio Corporation of
America.
F BO Is Booked Solid
Into Comerford Circuit
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 14.— F B O prod-
uct has been sold 100 per cent to the Comer-
ford circuit, with its 94 theatres in Pennsyl-
vania. This deal, called the largest in F B O
history, was completed by Jerome Safron,
manager here.
Kohner Sails Soon
(Special to the Herald-World)
UNIVERSAL CITY, Aug. 14. — Paul
Kohner is sailing soon for Germany where he
will be_ Carl Laemmle's personal representa-
tive, with headquarters at L^niversal's office,
Mauerstrasse 83-84, Berlin.
Benton's Mother Dead
(Special to the Hcrald-World)
ALBANY, _ Aug. 14.— William Benton, of
Saratoga Springs, who owns' a number of mo-
tion picture theatres along the border of
northern New York, lost his mother by death
last week.
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
69
Y^
WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Verdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor
Copyright, 1928
Incorporated in this original exhibitors report department of Exhibitors Herald, which was estab-
lished October 14, 1916, is the Moving Picture World department, "Straight from the Shoulder
Reports."
Columbia
OPENING NIGHT: Claire Windsor— 30%. July
26. A good picture of tlie dramatic type but not
too heavy. E. Alan Warren is good in his part.
Six reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Green-
river, Utah. — General patronage.
WHERE TRAILS BEGIN: Johnnie Walker— 60%
July 25-26. This Silverstreak is getting a "rep"
here. He is a wonderful, good dog actor and they
are giving him good stories. I have always been
"off" dog pictures but these Silverstreak pictures
are having so many favorable comments that I
guess there are two kinds of dog pictures — just dog
pictures and "Silverstreak" pictures. Six reels. —
J. W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre, Corning, Ark. —
General patronage.
MEN OF THE NIGHT: Gareth Hughes— July 31.
Good crook story. Didn't have much of a crowd.
Six reels. — Andrew Rapp, Theatorium, Emlenton, Pa.
— General patronage.
FASHION MADNESS: Claire Windsor— Some nice
scenery in this but I would like to know how the
producers expect the public to believe the fact that
two women were supposed to pull a big he-man like
Reed Howes on a sled over 10 miles of rough dirt.
— Frank Johnson, Opera House, Louisville, Neb. —
Small town patronage.
F B 0
THE MOJAVE KID: Bob St,eele— 90%. June 30.
Very good Western. Scenery good, film good, action
is good. I consider it one of my best Westerns.
Six reels. — F. A. Roiss, Grand theatre, Orrin, N. D.
— General patronage.
THE GREAT MAIL ROBBERY: Special ca«t—
60%. July 2'8. This picture is interesting, but one
reel was in bad condition. Seven reels. — F. A. Reiss,
Grand theatre, Orrin, N. D. — General patronage.
BREED OF COURAGE: Ranger— 6%. July 25.
Fine picture to poorest business in some time.
Ranger is a great dog and the supporting cast did
very well to make this a good everring's entertain-
ment. Five reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kim-
ball, S. D. — General patronage.
CONEY ISLAND: Special cast— July 18. My
audience- enjoyed this picture showing inside workings
of Coney. The girl dancer was the hit of the even-
ing.— F. E. Sabin, Majestic theatre. Eureka, Mont. — ■
Small town patronage.
THE TEXAS TORNADO: Tom Tyler— July 21.
Good Western. Lots of action. Five reels. —
Andrew Rapp, Theatorium, Emlenton, Pa. — General
patronage.
WIZARD OF THE SADDLE: Buzz Barton-
July 7. Fair Western. Will get by. Buzz Barton
is going to be a great Western star. Five reels. —
Andrew Rapp, Theatorium, Emlenton, Pa. — General
patronage.
First Division
DEATH VALLEY: Special cast— 10%. July 18.
Very fine picture which brought us a regular mid-
week ci'owd against a tent attraction, so we feel more
Editor's Note
Percentage ratings given by ex-
hibitors in reports to this depart-
ment are obtained in the following
manner: Average daily gross of
picture reported is divided by
average daily gross of picture hold-
ing house record to determine
relative box office value in terms
of percentage.
EXAMPLE: $75 (average daily
gross of picture reported) divided
by $100 (average daily gross of
picture holding house record)
equals .75 (percentage rating given
picture in report).
When a picture has received
percentage ratings in 10 reports it
is entered in THE BOX OFFICE
TICKER column of "Quick Ref-
erence Picture Chart."
than pleased. Story good and well acted. Six reels.
—Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.— Gen-
eral patronage.
First National
HAPPINESS AHEAD: Colleen Moore— 94%. July
19-20. One of the finest pictures Miss Moore ever
made. Entirely different from anything she has
done before, and made many new friends for her.
Thanks to Colleen for another fine picture liuring
the dull season. Eight reels. — E. F. Ingram, In-
gram's theatre, Ashland, Ala.— Small town patron-
age.
THE UPLAND RIDER: Ken Maynard— 90%.
July 14. Like all the other Maynards, this one had
about everything a good Western should have. The
cross country race in this one is also a new idea
in Westerns and was very good. You can't go
wrong in playing any of the First National May-
nards. Seven reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's the-
atre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town patronage.
THE GORILLA: Charles Murray— 85%. July 28.
As an' experiment. I tried out this spooky mystery
detective comedy picture on Saturday night in place
of usual Western program. The results were be-
yond expectations. I drew almost capacity house
while competitor with Western program suffered.
The picture is good and will please 'em all — hard-
boiled or soft — they all like it. The advertising will
draw. Eight reels. — J. W. Crabtree, Joyland the-
atre. Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
THE NOOSE: Richard Barthelmess— 82%. July 5.
Very good picture with a poor ending. Barthelmess
sure carries his part well. Very sad story in some
places. Eight reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre,
Indian Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
LITTLE SHEPHERD OF KINGDOM COME: Rich-
ard Barthelmess — 80%. Patrons disappointed due to
insincere acting by all concerned. Dick's name will
pull 'em and we think this picture will jeopardize
his prestige. Eight reels. — Geo. Cohen, Princess the-
atre. West Union, la. — General patronage.
HOME MADE: Johnny Hines- 70%. July 13-14.
Good and my patrons like it for a change from
Westerns on Friday and Saturday. Hines has a
good line of comedy, light but amusing and his pic-
tures are clean most of the time. — Ray W. Mussel-
man, Princess theatre, Lincoln, Kan. — Small town
patronage.
ORCHIDS AND ERMINE: Colleen Moore— 70%.
July 30-31. It drew business and seemed to satisfy
as there were a number of clever subtitles that
brought forth the laughter. I would rate it as good
and believe that it will please better than the ordi-
ary run of program pictures. Seven reels. — Ray W.
Musselman, Princess theatre, Lincoln, Kan. — Small
town patronage.
FLYING ROMEOS: Murray-Sidney— 62%. Aug. 2.
Personally, thought it silly, but seemed to satisfy
the patronage. Seven reels. — John' Kamuda, Grand
threate, Indian Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
LITTLE SHEPHERD OF KINGDOM COME:
Richard Barthelmess — 56%. July 25-26. Very good,
and while the picture doesn't end as the book. It
is one that will please. The cast, as a whole, did
very good work in the picture and I would advise
anyone to buy and book it. Eight reels. — Kay W.
Musselman, Princess theatre, Lincoln, Kan. Small
town patronage.
HOME MADE: Johnny Hines— 55%. July 30-31.
Crowd much disappointed with this. Considerably
below Hines' usual standard in comparison with all
I have played before. Can't figure what's wrong
with it, but it doesn't click. Second night with
favorable weather and no competition', fell way off
usual business. It pleased about 40 per cent. Seven
reels. — J. W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning,
Ark. — General patronage.
THE POOR NUT: Jack Mulhall— 40%. July 25.
A good program picture. The star great. I did
not think he could do it. But he did, and satisfac-
torily at that. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre,
Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
ALL ABOARD: Johnny Hines— July 7. Good
little comedy. Johnny's pictures are always good.
Good print. Seven reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny
theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage.
THE BLONDE SAINT: Special cast— Story a bit
disconnected, but in my opinion good. The outside
scenery around the old temple and the mountain'
scenery did much to help the picture after a bad
)
70
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
AdelineLeitzbach's splen-
did story of the sublime
climax of a tempestuous
love-affair. The radiance
of the supreme hour
transmuted into a heart-
thrilling picture. En-
grossing, lovely, superb!
V/^ PICTURES CORPORATION
SAMUEL ZIERLEI^ president
NEW Y O P_ K-.
-SEASON-
start. This is not a picture for the whole family,
however. — Frank Johnson, Opera House, Louifiville,
Neb. — Small town patronage.
THE CANYON OF ADVENTURE: Ken Maynard
— Consider this one of the best of this season's
Maynards. Glad to see Al Rogrell back on the job
as director. Those directed by Harry J. Brown fell
way below the standard set by Rogell. Six reels. —
P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. —
Neighborhood patronage.
THE DROP KICK: Richard Barthelmess— Good.
Better than program quality. — Frank Johnson, Opera
House, Louisville, Neb. — Small town patronage.
THE LAND BEYOND THE LAW: Ken Maynard
— July 24. This is a dandy Western. Ken May-
nard excellent. Tarzan, the horse, is wonderful.
Pleased all my patrons. Seven reels. — Andrew Rapp,
Theatorium, Emlenton, Pa. — General patronage.
NAUGHTY BUT NICE: Colleen Moore— July 10.
This is the best Colleen Moore picture we have had
yet. My patrons all liked it. Colleen, I would like
an autographed photo of you. Seven reels. — Andrew
Rapp, Theatorium, Emlenton, Pa. — General patron-
age.
THE POOR NUT: Special cast— July 13-14. Ju=t
an ordinary program picture. Not a special at all.
Good acting but didn't like Jack Mulhall in such a
part. Will always think of him as a "Poor Nut"
and he was one of my favorites too. It's too bad.
Seven reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny theatre,
Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage.
SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS: Special cast-
July 29-30. Well, boys, this is a natural. Holds
my house record for the year and a few of the big
ones played this year include. "What Price Glory,"
"Seventh Heaven," "Ben Hur" and "The Big Par-
ade." I have never played a Harold Bell Wright
picture that wasn't a bell ringer. Eight reels. —
Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis.
— Small town patronage.
THE YELLOW LILY: Billic Dove— This drew
well and apparently pleased. But personally, I'd
like to see Billie in a few pictures dealing with
American life. I'm sick of Russia. Clive Brook
is stiff as a ramrod in this one. I wanted to kick
him to see if he'd come to life. Seven reels. — P. G.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighbor-
hood patronage.
Fox
SEVENTH HEAVEN: Special cast— 100%. A
little late, yes. We turned this picture over to the
local American Legion on a percentage and showed
to over 600 people. The population of the town
is officially 640. Use your own judgment. Our gross
on this picture will never be surpassed. Compared
with our previous high gross, this picture would
rate at about 250 per cent. — Frank Johnson, Opera
House, Louisville, Neb. — Small town patronage.
EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE: Special cast— 80%.
July 6-7. A very good picture. A little better than
some specials. Everybody pleased. Nine reels. —
F. A. Reiss, Grand theatre, Orrin, N. D. — General
patronage.
SILVER VALLEY: Tom Mix— 78%. July 20-21.
Good and can be classed with the general run of
this star's pictures. Plenty of action and comedy
for all and with an Animal Comedy added, it made
a good Saturday program. Six reels. — Ray W.
Musselman, Princess theatre. Lincoln, Kan. — Small
town patronage.
HANGMAN'S HOUSE: Victor McLaglen— 72%.
July 29. A fair picture, but not good enough with
a star like McLaglen. Personally, thought it punk.
Seven reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre, Indian
Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE: George O'Brien— 34%.
July 16-17. Good, but didn't get the business. Guess
they thought this was one of the old ones and they
wouldn't turn out. — Ray W. Musselman, Princess
theatre, Lincoln, Neb. — Small town patronage.
CHAIN LIGHTNING: Buck Jones— July 26-27.
Good Jones picture. All Jones' pictures are good
this year. Six reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags
theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage.
THE DARE DEVIL'S REWARD: Tom Mix— Very
good Western. Drew as much for us on July 20 and
21 as the biggest specials do in the winter season —
Frank Johnson, Opera House, Louisville, Neb. —
Small town patronage.
EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE: O'Brien-Valli— July
6-7. Another Fox picture that iileased all that saw
it. — Gibbs & Shore, Opera House, Neepawa, Man.,
Canada. — General patronage.
FLEETWING: Special cast— July 2«. A horse and
sheik picture with a locale out in the desert. In-
teresting picture and proved good entertainment.
Different than the ordinary run of Saturday right
stuff. Seven reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf. Trags the-
atre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage.
HANGMAN'S HOUSE: Victor McLaglen— Would
call this only a fair program picture. Sort of an
Irish proposition that didn't seem to impress my
audience very strong. Not a good role for McLaglen.
Seven reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas
City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
HELLO CHEYENNE: Tom Mix— July 2-3. Just a
good Western and that is about all I can say. Our
patrons like Mix, and especially Tony. — Gibbs &
Shore, Opera House, Neepawa, Man., Canada. — Gen-
eral patronage.
THE NEWS PARADE: Nick Stuart— July 31-
August 1. A neat and entertaining picture of the
trials and tribulations of a newsreel cameraman.
Nick has a pleasing personality and Sally Phipps
doesn't hurt the picture any by her presence. If
you can get 'em with that title, you please 'em.
Seven reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre,
Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage.
SEVENTH HEAVEN: Gaynor-Farrell— July 20-21.
A real good picture from any viewpoint. We boosted
this one and were not ashamed to be seen as our
patrons passed out after the show. Unanimous
opinion was that this was the best picture we have
shown in a long time and Fox did not want the
whole house, lock, stock and barrel, for it. — Gibbs &
Shore, Opera House, Neepawa, Man., Canada. — Gen-
eral patronage.
THE SHARPSHOOTERS: George O'Brien— I, per-
sonally, thought it poor, but had some good com-
ments. Six reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre,
Indian Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
Gotham
THE GIRL FROM RIO: Carmel Myers- 65%.
July 23-24. This Carmel is sure the candy! Picture?
Huh ! who cares what the picture is like when there's
a good lookin' Carmel in it ? Picture is good, how-
ever. Starts off in technicolor, and has very artistic
settings throughout the picture. Photography fairly
good. Advertising exceptionally good. Picture will
please. Seven reels. — J. W. Crabtree, Joyland the-
atre. Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
BARE KNEES: Virginia Lee Corbin— 8%. July 24.
Good little show of the now-a-days modern flapper
and, oh boy, it's interesting from start to finish.
Hot weather and too many tent shows to compete
with. Six reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kim-
ball, S. D. — General patronage.
BLONDES BY CHOICE: Claire Windsor— 8%.
July 31. Dandy little program for a good time to
be had by all. Claire sure is as good as any on
the screen in this one and the girls came to see
her. Six reels. — ^Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kim-
ball, S. D. — General patronage.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
TELLING THE WORLD: William Haines— 85%.
July 29-30. Great. Haines never misses. His name
is box office. Seven reels. — Geo. Cohen, Princess the-
atre. West Union, la. — General patronage.
LOVELORN: Sally O'Neil— 78%. August 3. Very
good picture but fell flat at the box office. Some
good acting in this picture. Seven reels. — John
Kamuda, Grand theatre, Indian Orchard, Mass. —
General patronage.
RIDERS OF THE DARK: Tim McCoy— 65%. July
27-28. Pretty poor. Tim sure is a fightin' son-of-a-
gun in this and he could lick the world, if they
stood waiting to be dry popped, as that gang of
bad men did in this picture. Boy, how he bowled
them over. I have one more Tim McCoy to run
and hope it is better. Six reels. — Ray W. Musselman,
Princess theatre, Lincoln, Kan. — Small town patron-
age.
THE BIG CITY: Lon Chaney— 47%. July 29-30.
Well, what'll we say ? This is a good picture — if
you like it. Don't think it quite hit the spot with
our Sunday crowd, as most of them marched out
looking down their noses. Chaney draws them in
Mo Losses in the Box Office
WITH
T, /02)tll)
ICKET ~
\B\^
Automatic Ticket
Register Corp.
723 Seventh Ave.New York
TuCRCTS_^ Every PuKposeof Lowest Market Prices
■"""""■"■"""'"■■■'""■■' i"im.Jiiii)nim<S^g^Smmill,llll,llllli,MIMI»llll|i|,lll,«llllllllllllllll,»M
August 18, 192{
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
71
for UB. but frankly, didn't like him in this role so
well. First reel etarte the picture off like a con-
tinued chapter in a serial. This was another Metro
that we could not show up well with our light. Eieht
reek. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada,
O. — Small town patronage.
BRINGING UP FATHER: Farrell MacDonald—
40%. July 23-24. Not so good. Some comedy, some
that wasn't. I think that Metro should buy a paper
with these characters in it and cast accordingly.
Their idea of Jiggs, Maggie and Dinty Moore is a
poor one. — Ray W. Musselman, Princess theatre,
Lincoln, Kan. — Small town patronage.
FOREIGN DEVILS: Tim McCoy— 40%. July
27-28. Fair. Tim should have remained in the
army. Print in jioor shape. Five reels. — Geo. Cohen,
Princess theatre. West Union, la. — General patron-
age.
MADEMOISELLE FROM ARMENTIERES: Spe-
cial cast— 39%. July 22-23. Well, this is a Gau-
mont-British, so we did not expect too much and
were, therefore, not disappointed. British films are
evidently, quite evidently, not made with the ,primai-y
design of pleasing the Yankee taste. By no means
another "Big Parade," although it would have been
fine with American treatment. Very good paper on
this, and with the title it rates about 100 per cent
drawing power. Majority of patrons satisfied. Six
reels. — Tivenan' & Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada,
O. — Small town patronage.
THE ACTRESS: Norma Shearer — Not as good as
"Latest from Paris." Not good for small town.
Just "perhaps" for city. Too slow. — Frank John-
son, Opera House, Louisville, Neb. — Small town
patronage,
ANNIE LAURIE: Lillian Gish— Good Scotch story
with some good settings. Did not draw the crowd.
Eight reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre, Indian
Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
THE BIG CITY: Lon Chaney — Disappointing both
in pulling power and satisfaction. Am afraid it
hurt Chaney to give him a weak picture like this.
Scarcely took in enough to cover film rental Wednes-
day and Thursday, with no competition, heavy ad-
vertising and good weather. — Geo. E. Fuller, Play-
house theatre, Fairhope, Ala. — General patronage.
THE BUGLE CALL: Jackie Coogan — A good pic-
ture, but not quite up to the Coogan standard. The
name of Jackie Coogan drew them in. Six reels. —
S. R. Cook, Althea theatre, Dunseith, N. D. — Gen-
eral patronage.
CIRCUS ROOKIES: Dane-Arthur— July 27-28.
A fairly good comedy, but nothing to write home
about. Played it Friday and Saturday and had two
good crowds. They all come out for the weekend
shows anyway. Karl Dane is well liked, but the
majority don't fall for Arthur. — Gibbs & Shore,
Opera House, Neepawa, Man., Canada. — General pat-
ronage.
DETECnVES: Dane- Arthur— August 3. Rather
cheap. Six reels. — J. S. Walker, Texas theati-e,
Grand Prairie, Tex. — Small town patronage.
THE DIVINE WOMAN: Greta Garbo— July 26.
Just a fair picture. Not much good for small towns.
Metro wants too much for these pictures. Seven
reels. — Andrew Rapp, Theatorium, Emlenton, Pa. —
General patronage.
THE LATEST FROM PARIS: Norma Shearer-
Had many favorable comments. One of Metro's best
pictures. Seven reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre,
Indian Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT: Lon Chaney— A
very good mystery story based on impossible facts.
Pleased and business was fair. Seven reels. — S. R.
Cook, Althea theatre, Dunseith, N. D. — General pat-
ronage.
LOVE: Gilbert-Garbo — Not bad, but certainly has
no box office kick. — Russell C. Dey, Reedville, Movies,
Reedville, Va. — General patronage.
THE LOVELORN: Sally O'Neil— July 28. This is
a good picture. Well liked by my patrons, espe-
cially the younger set. Six reels. — Andrew Rapp,
Theatorium, Emlenton, Pa. — General patronage.
ROSE MARIE: Joan Crawford— Good. At last
we receive a real special in this day when all pic-
tures are supposed to be specials. — Frank Johnson,
Opera House, Louisville, Neb. — Small town patron-
age.
ROSE MARIE: Joan Crawford— July 25-26. If
you believe it, it is so! We made them believe it
on this one, but between us I don't believe it is so.
Eight reels. — J. S. Walker, Texas theatre. Grand
Prairie, Tex. — Small town patronage.
SKIRTS: Syd Chaplin— Was very much surprised
at the drawing power of this picture, and it certainly
got the laughs. I consider it a good "nutty" com-
edy, even if it was made in Ehigland. Directing
and photography very good. Six reels. — P. G.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighbor-
hood patronage.
SPOILERS OF THE WEST: Tim McCoy— August
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
RED CLOUD, NEB., August 3, 1928.
DEAR HERALD-WORLD:
And the Lord said to Noah, "Prepare an ark and take therein thy family and all the living
things of the earth," or something like that, and then it set in and rained for 40 days and
40 nights and Noah cruised around for the better part of the baseball season before he
found a place to land. That was some years back, but that would be good advjce today out
here in Southern Nebraska and Northern Kansas. One flood has to hurry up to make room
for the next one, otherwise they would overlap. We drove into Bellville, Kan., expecting
to cover that state and had to drive right back onto Nebraska's gravel roads or else wallow
in Kansas mud. Here we are in Red Cloud and last night it rained 1.83 inches and is still
raining with no prospects of letting up and no place we can drive except over territory
we have already covered. Whatalife, whatalife.
Sam Blair at Bellville is erecting a big hole in the ground and we accuse him of going to
build a theatre over it. Sam won't talk much about it, only smiles when he is interviewed,
but he talks louder when he smiles than when he talks. He can't think of anything but his
new theatre and his wife told us that he is so wrapped up in his theatre project and has
become so absent minded that she feeds him sawdust for corn flakes and he doesn't know
the difference. We advised against this, for suppose that sawdust would go to Sam's head,
then what? The Lord knows that it is woody enough now. Anyhow, Sam has plans for a
showhouse that will be the chief topic of conversation for all Northern Kansas when it is
completed. Sam is all right on rough details but we surmise that Mrs. Blair is the one who
will work out those finer touches that will add beauty and comfort to the place.
The recent rains have removed any doubt in Nebraska of the biggest corn crop in the
history of the state. In any direction one goes he sees a sea of corn as far as the eye can
reach. It is all tasseled out and the ears are forming and with this abundance of moisture
all danger of hot winds has passed and now the only thing to worry about is a place to
store the corn, all of which indicates that business will be good.
We ordered our mail sent to Norton and Phillipsburg, Kan., and now the only way to
get there is by airplane and there would be no place to land when we got there. Wish
Noah was here.
We saw a bunch of colored boys playing Jungle Polo in the basement of the hotel and
one boy said, "Peers like dese bones am gone democratic, ah jes caint win nuffin no mo,
come on heali Herb Hoover, do yo stuff for papa." If you want some fun just listen to
a bunch of colored crap shooters, they talk to the bones like a mother talks to the baby.
A few nights ago we saw Norma Talmadge in "The Dove" and we want to go on record
as saying that what we don't know about pictures would make several large sized volumes.
We are making this admission for two reasons, one that it is a fact and the other that it
may forestall anything Thomas 0. Service might want to say bearing on that point after he
reads what we have to say about "The Dove."
"The Dove" opens up in the first two reels with a scene in a dive on the "Red Coast"
wherein a bunch of one-fourth clad women with a three-fourths souse are doing the tango,
and other contortions, for the edification of a motley gathering, the most of whom belonged
South of the California line, and one of the principal swaggers around the room trying to
make love to Norma on the oft repeated statement that, "I'm the best damn caballero on
the Red Coast." He was about as repulsive a looking Greaser as the screen has recorded in
many a day and Miss Talmadge seemed to have no serious disposition to discourage him in
his attempted lovemaking.
We have always had Miss Norma placed at the head of our list of screen favorites and
to see her in such stuff as "The Dove" is not only shocking to us but painful as well, for to
us it seems to be pulling an idol down to the level of the dance-hall debutant.
Just why the picture was made we haven't discovered. What uplifting thought there was
in it, if any, must have gone over our head, and the fact that it passed the board of censors
is another proof of the inefficiency and uselessness of that body. Now we have proven
what we said in the first instance, that we know nothing about pictures, which you no doubt
discovered ere this, but our individual guess is — and we would very much dislike to see that
time come — that if they continue to put Miss Talmadge in such pictures as "The Dove" the
time is not far off when she will be classed among those who once were but who now aren't.
Miss Talmadge is capable of the best roles on the sceen. She has been a strong factor
in the building up of screen entertainment, more so in our judgment than any other actress,
and to see one of our screen idols playing such roles as in "The Dove" makes us stop and
meditate on the frailties of the human race. We wouldn't call it depravity on part of
the casting director, but a misconception as to what constitutes screen entertainment.
{Continued on next page)
4. Very refreshing after a siege of ordinary West-
erns. No mortgage, no crooked foreman, no mines,
no rustlers. A pleasure to show these. Six reels.
—J. S. Walker, Texas theatre. Grand Prairie, Tex.—
Small town patronage.
THE STUDENT PRINCE: Novarro-Shearer— July
11-12. This is a wonderful picture. Had a pretty
good crowd on first day but didn't get many on
the second day. Ten reels. — Andrew Rapp, Theato-
rium, Emlenton, Pa. — General patronage.
THE STUDENT PRINCE: Novarro-Shearer— July
13-14. A fair picture but not what it was cracked
up to be. If Metro had made it in seven or eight
reels instead of 10. our audience would have liked
it better. No box offiee attraction for us. Just av-
erage receipts for a so-called special. — Gibbs & Shore,
Opera House, Neepawa, Man., Canada. — General pat-
ronage.
THE THIRTEENTH HOUR: Special cast— An-
other good story of scares and gasps. Drew fairly*
well. Five reels. — S. R. Cook, Althea theatre, Dun-
seith, N. D. — General patronage.
WEST POINT: William Haines— Well, the direc-
tor and scenario writer took many liberties with
this picture, but reel one carried an endorsement of
the war department of the United States, so if they
are satisfied to put over the "bologna" that way
it's all okay with us — with the exception that it
was overdone in the effort to get over the point in
the picture. There is this to say, it was a very
interesting picture and well acted, and brought
much laughter, but we would like to sit right back
of two army officers who were graduates of West
Point and hear their comments on this picture. We
imagine their comments would make an Indian cigar
sign laugh. Eight reels. -^Giacoma Bros., Crystal
theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage.
WEST POINT: William Haines— Very good. The
best we have had from Metro. — Russell C. Dey,
Reedville Movies, Reedville, Va.
a^.' .ZT": ■''.''JT""~.,j
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
(.Continued from preceding page)
Should they put our favorite actress in another picture like "The Dove" we are going to
kick about it whether they like it or not, we can't stand for it.
Did you ever read Arthur Brisbane's column of Philosophy? Well, you ought to read it.
Every time Arthur takes his typewriter in hand he says several mouthsful. For instance
he said the other day, "Science offers an idea in prohibition enforcement. It is not
necessary to break down the speakeasy door. Simply shoot a little gas through the keyhole
and the speakeasyites will come hurrying out of their own accord, but the simpler way is to
jail the bootlegger's customers. The bootlegger can square things with the police and
prohibitioni officers but the millions of bootleggers' customers couldn't do it. Jail the
customers who buy the alcohol and you will stop the buying." Rather drastic but it looks
logical to us. We always did feel that the vendee of an outlawed product was equally
guilty with the vendor, for without vendees there could be no vendors.
Then Arthur cuffs the prize fight game a little. He says, "Gene Tunney, whom certain prize
fight fans don't like because he has brains and they haven't, will retire from the ring.
That, it is said, will 'hurt the game,' which is too bad. No matter what champion they
may develop to collect money from fools, it could never be proved that he could have beaten
Tunney." Ouch, when Arthur hits 'cm he hits 'em right between the eyes.
The time was when they put people in stocks in the public places for trivial offenses and
tied old women to the stake and whipped them, and in some instances, burned them on
some trumped-up charge of witchery, and we are wondering when fifty or seventy-five
thousand people gather in a room reeking with the fumes of bad whiskey and worse
language at from five to fifty dollars per to see a couple of pugs maul each other for 30
minutes, if we have wandered very far afield from those old Puritanical days. We boast
of our "Advanced Civilization" but we are a nation of boasters. Look Arthur Brisbane
and Tex Rickard over and take your choice, we picked ours quite sometime back.
Some wisecracker said, "They used to wear 'em down to their insteps but now they wear
'em up to their step-ins," which reminds us to say that if things keep on going up we will
have to get some green goggles or get off the road. Our eyesight is as good as it ever was.
It won't be long now until the pumpkins begin to turn yellow, the fodder will be in the
shock, the katydids will be rasping their wings together, the blackbirds will be flocking
preparatory to emigrating, the bluewing teal will come down with the first "norther" and
this scrivener of damphoolishness will be wandering hither and yon preaching the gospel
that it is better to read the HERALD-WORLD and win than to argue with your mother-in-
law and lose, and otherwise disturbing the peace and tranquillity of a bunch of guys who
ought to have sense enough to know the condition of their iceboxes before we call. There-
fore, BE IT RESOLVED, that since we haven't had a thing to eat since morning, an
anxious public will have to hold its breath — (and nose) — until we have supplied the wants
of the inner man. We smell corned beef and cabbage and the only thing to mar our
happiness is the absence of the "Duke of Bilgewater" to join us in a regular feed.
Some lady just rang our room and said, "Hello, are you asleep?" and we replied, "Well
not that you can notice, we are as wide awake as we ever were in our life," and she
inquired, "Is this Charles?" and we answered, "No ma'm we are sorry to say it isn't,
Charles isn't half as handsome a man as we are," and she said, "Oh, excuse me," and we
did. We are wondering if she saw us in the lobby and thought our name was Charles.
From this on it's "Charles."
We've got a hunch, and when we get a hunch it is evidence conclusive to our mind at
least that there is something in our gourd besides space. You may not agree with this
theory, most people don't, but whether you do or not makes no particular difference to us,
as we are rated by those who know us best as a rather independent sort of a cuss anyway,
our wife will tell you that much, for she says that if we don't want to change our undershirt
this week we won't do it until next, and maybe not then, depends altogether on how we
feel about it, but our hunch is that before they make a success of talking pictures the
casting directors will have to give some heed to the quality of the voice and the intelligence
behind it as well as to pretty faces and shapely limbs. "Bathing Beauties" offer no assurance
that talking pictures will be a success, but they might be at that, let's try 'em out and if
they fail we can still pick 'em according to shape. Then, too, we've got another hunch (we
are full of 'em tonight, that lady just rang us again and insisted that we are Charles) and
that is that Jay will resort to profanity if we don't ring off, and Jay is a good Methodist but
he don't work at it much this hot weather, therefore, out of consideration for Jay, etc., etc.
J. C. JENKINS,
The HERALD-WORLD man.
Paramount
HOT NEWS: Bebe Daniels— 80%. July 12-13. A
really fine picture from Bebe. Consider it her best
in a long time. Plenty of action", thrills and comedy.
Out of the ordinary and will please all classes.
Seven reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's theatre, Ash-
land, Ala. — Small town patronage.
THE SPOTLIGHT: Esther Ralston— 66%. July 21.
Not as good as some of her other pictures, but it is
not a bad picture .at that. Six reels. — Paul B. Hoff-
man, Legion theatre, Holyrood, Kan'. — ^Small town
patronage.
HONEYMOON HATE: Florence Vidor— 65%. July
16-17. A good program picture. William Austin
ai?ain very clever. Six reels. — B. F. Ingram, In-
gram's theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town patron-
age.
LADIES OF THE MOB: Clara Bow— 60%. July
,29. "Ladies of the Mob" as an underworld play is
well consti-ucted and the cast is complete. Richard
Arlen wins the approval of an audience for his act-
ing and they rather like him as a crook. But this
play has an added interest for us on account of the
rising fame of Clara Bow, of whom the public has
been disposed to make a pet because, it is said, this
is a new role which has been made for her, possibly
for the reason of injecting some contrast in her
acting so as to maintain her present ascendancy and
to save from staleness the coquetries which dis-
tinguish Clara Bow, including also a feminine charm
coupled with an energy and female ingenuity de-
scribed by Elinor Glyn by the inane title "It." As
a woman of the underworld who delineates the
passion and fierce attachment to her lover for which
it is said women in that strata of life are noted,
what is her art value in this role ? She looks the
part and plays it well ; and she is good wherevea-
you place her, yet there are half a dozen actresses
on the screen who, in a role of that kind, can do
quite as well. It is my observation' that she has
reached her zenith and perhaps she will do better
'with Clara Bowettes or Elinor Glyniums than in
familiar roles of the underworld. As to her box
office value in this role (which is not new to her),
the drop in receipts is not entirely explainable by
the weather. — A. J. Gibbons, Illinois theatre. Me-
tropolis, 111. — General patronage.
THE VANISHING PIONEER: Jack Holt— 50%.
July 26. This is a mighty good picture. Story good.
Star always good in any picture. — Bert Silver, Silver
Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patron-
age.
SPOTLIGHT: Esther Ralston— 47%. July 28.
A good picture, but not as good as her other pictures
where she does not wear a wig. "We are looking
forward to her next one. Thanks for the picture,
Esther. Six reels. — ^Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem the-
atre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
METROPOUS: Special ca6t-^0%. July 27. This
is a wonder. Splendid story, fine acting. If you
haven't played it buy it and your patrons will be
well satisfied. It's so big there isn't room to tell
it. You have got to see it. — Bert Silver, Silver
Family theatre,, Greenville, Mich. — General patron-
age.
METROPOLIS: Special cast— 30%. July 22. This
sure was good and different from any other story
along the regular run. Inventions, science and
prediction of future to come. Realistic inventions
to replace a human body with a steel machine and
get the work done just the same. Eight reels. —
Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General
patronage.
KNOCKOUT REILLY: Richard Dix— 17%. July
27-28. Good picture with Dix and we think they
were all satisfied. No comments, no kicks, so that's
that. Seven reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
BEAU SABREUR: Special cast— July 18-19.
Played two days to very poor business. They just
don't care for this type of picture. The picture
itself is well acted and directed, but it was just a
flop for us. — Paul B. Hoffmann, Legion theatre,
Holyrood, Kan. — Small town patronage.
EASY COME, EASY GO: Richard Dix— Very light
story, which seemed to please, but Paramount will
have to dig up more story material for this fel-
low or it won't be long till he will be in Thomas
Meighan's class. Six reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun
theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
FOOLS FOR LUCK: Chester Conklin W. C. Fields
— Just a very ordinary program picture. Seven reels.
— Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. —
General patronage.
NEVADA: Cooper-Todd— July 25-26. A real good
Western that went over good. Cooper has a good
horse and he knows his onions. This picture was
not full of that high speed action that one sees in
most Westerns. Some wonderful scenery too. —
Gibbs & Shore, Opera House, Neepawa, Man., Can-
ada.— General patronage.
NIGHT OF MYSTERY: Adolphe Menjou— July
30-31. Rather dull. Six reels.— J. S. Walker, Texas
theatre. Grand Prairie, Tex. — ^Small town patron-
age.
OLD IRONSIDES: Special cast— A mighty fine
production from every angle, and historically in-
teresting for all good Americans. While the sea
battles are a bit confusing at times, nevertheless, I
call it first class entertainment for young and old.
Did not draw. Very hot nights and streets torn
up — probably the reason why. Eight reels. — P. G.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighbor-
hood patronage.
RED HAIR: Clara Bow — All it takes to make a
Clara Bow picture a howling success is to have her
take off a few clothes. In this picture she takes
everything off — so you know it must be good — and it
is. In' fact it's her best picture since "It." Clar-
ence Badger did a neat job of directing. Seven reels.
— P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. —
Neighborhood patronage.
THE SECRET HOUR: Pola Negri— July
23-24. I could find only one report on this
and that exhibitor said it was "smut," so
taking his word for it, together with the tille
and remembering some of the star's pictures
of a few years ago, I thought I had a hot one
and advised my family patrons to stay away.
Instead of doing it, they all came and brought
their friends and then they got to see a darn
good clean picture that could be shown in any
church. Eight reels. — J. S. Walker, Texas
theatre, Grand Prairie, Tex. — Small town pat-
ronage.
SHOOTIN' IRONS: Jack Luden— July 10. Just
a fair Western. Nothing to brag about. Star un-
known, consequently it didn't draw. We are used
to the Ken Maynard Western and are spoiled for
any other kind. Six reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny
theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage.
SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS: Esther Ral-
ston— July 27. A very pleasing little picture. Five
1^
August 18, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
73
reels. — J. S. Walker, Texas theatre. Grand Prairie,
Tex. — Small town patronage.
SWIM, GIRL, SWIM: Bebe Daniels— July 17. This
is one of the best comedies I ever saw. Just full
of thrills and laughs and absolutely clean. A brigrht.
clear print too. but didn't have any crowd. Can't
see why. Seven reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny
theatre. Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage.
Pathe-P D C
DRESS PARADE: William Boyd— July 21. This
was an attractive picture but I'd rather see Bill
Haines do the same kind of stuff. — F. B. Sabin,
Majestic theatre. Eureka, Mont. — Small town patron-
age.
THE LEOPARD LADY: Jacqueline Logan— Did
not pull especially well, but it gave general satis-
faction. Foreign circus atmosphere and plausible
story with good direction and A-1 photography make
this a special. — Geo. E. Fuller, Playhouse theatre,
Fairhope, Ala. — General patronage.
Rayart
THE RETURN OF BOSTON BLACKIE: Strong-
heart — 15%. July 20-21. Dandy mystery drama with
Strongheart doing his best, suppoi-ting cast very good.
Should please any audience. Direction splendid,
story vei-y interesting from stai't to finish. Seven
reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. —
General patronage.
Tiffany-Stahl
SIN CARGO: Shirley Mason— Just another pic-
ture of its kind. Created no impression, favorable
or unfavorable, as we listened in on the audience
passing out. Seven reels. — Giacoma Bros., CiTStal
theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage.
United Artists
RAMONA: Special cast— 100%. July 29-30. If
there ever was a 100 per cent picture this is one.
Stars and cast splendid. Satisfied them all. — Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
RAMONA: Dolores Del Rio — General comment
favorable and it pulled better than expected. — Geo.
E. Fuller, The Playhouse theatre, Fairhope, Ala. — -
General patronage.
THE CIRCUS: Charles Chaplin— This is a flop
in a small town. Believe this is due partly to the
fact that as a circus picture it is too drab and de-
pressing and it is not what people expected. Also
had frequent criticism of Charlie's domestic troubles.
I will not play him again. — Geo. E. Fuller, Play-
house theatre, Fairhope, Ala. — General patronage.
Universal
WE AMERICANS: Special cast— 80%. July 25-26.
One of the best in our house for quite a spell. It's
a melting pot picture and okay. Step on the adver-
tising. Nine reels. — Geo. Cohen, Princess theatre.
West Union, la. — General patronage.
THE FLAMING FRONTIER: Special cast— 58%.
July 27-28. Very good. A happy blend of historical
fact and fancy which i-esults in a de luxe Western.
Many patrons expressed satisfaction. We hardly feel
justified in calling this a special, although we paid
more than usual for it and feel that we got plenty
foi" our money. Were handicapped in having this
on premium night, for which we have a set price.
A little of the photography under par, otherwise
okay. Nine reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland
theatre. Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
GALLOPING FURY: Hoot Gibson— 50%. July 28.
A good Western Saturday picture. Lot of good
comedy. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
FAST AND FURIOUS: Reginald Denny— 44%.
July 20-21. Well, this was fair. Not up to expecta-
tions after Universal's ballyhoo and Denny's reputa-
tion. Got by all right, but as this was the open-
ing gun of our "China Night" campaign, would have
preferi-ed something to make our patrons enthuse a
little more. Our first experiment with premiums and
started off well, considering torrential rains after
blistering heat. Think it will help us through the
doldrums. Six reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland
theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
WE AMERICANS: George Sidney— 20%. July
29-30. Very good picture that should please all, but
we just wonder if it did. Nobody said anything to
knock it or praise it and the second night was very
poor, so we just don't know how to get them in.
Maybe a free show would get them, but we feel
sorry for we can't run on reputation only. There
is some expense to every business. Nine reels. —
R'udolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General
patronage.
THE CAT AND CANARY: Laura La Plante—
Very good program picture, but did not draw. Seven
reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre. Indian Orchard,
Mass. — General patronage.
GREASED LIGHTNING: Ted Wells— Just a clean
Western which seemed to satisfy the people. Five
reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre, Indiana, Or-
chard, Mass. — General patronage.
A HERO FOR A NIGHT: Glenn Tryon— July 28.
Laughable comedy of a goofy mail order aviator.
No rhyme nor reason' but quite funny. — F. E. Sabin,
Majestic theatre, Eureka, Mont. — Small town patron-
age.
THE MIDNIGHT SUN: Laura La Plante— Old,
but — no, I'm not going to say it's "old but good,"
because it isn't. A big flop here, and bought and
played it as a special. Eight reels. — S. R. Cook,
Althea theatre, Dunseith, N. D. — General patronage.
PAINTING THE TOWN: Glenn Tryon— A riot.
Tryon absolutely cannot be beat as a comedian.
Although a dandy picture it is not quite as good as
"A Hero for a Night." — S. R. Cook, Althea theatre,
Dunseith, N. D. — General patronage.
THE RAWHIDE KID: Hoot Gibson— Beet Hoot to
date and a dandy Western. Six reels. — S. R. Cook,
Althea theatre, Dunseith, N. D. — General patron-
age.
THE SHIELD OF HONOR: Ralph Lewis— July 14.
Fairly good program picture of the Los Angeles air
patrol and what happens to crooks who oppose its
lone flyer. — F. E. Sabin, Majestic theatre. Eureka,
Mont. — Small town patronage.
THE SHIELD OF HONOR: Ralph Lewis— Dandy
air-police picture with some good scenes of police
troops. Six reels. — S. R. Cook, Althea theatre, Dun-
seith, N. D. — General patronage.
THE THIRTEENTH JUROR: Special cast-
August 1-2. An old stoi-y told in an entirely new
manner. Very satisfactory. — J. S. Walker, Texas
theatre, Grand Prairie, Tex. — Small town patron-
age.
THE WILD WEST SHOW: Hoot Gibson— A very
good program picture with a few laughs. Very good.
Book it now. Six reels. — John Kamuda, Grand the-
atre, Indian Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
Warner Bros.
TRACKED BY THE POLICE: Rin Tin Tin— 68%.
July 18-19. Good and Rin Tin Tin always gets me
some extra business. He can do his stufl! consistently
and can get them in for me, so I will run all of
his pictures so long as he can make good at the box
oflice. — Ray W. Musselraan, Princess theatre, Lincoln,
Kan. — Small town patronage.
HEART OF MARYLAND: Special cast— 44%.
July 28. Didn't go at all and had many unfavor-
able comments on it. Not much of a story and not
much action. Seven reels. — Paul B. Hoffmann,
Legion theatre, Holyrood, Kan. — Small town patron-
age.
SLIGHTLY USED: May McAvoy— A rollicking tale
of young love. A good picture for any night. Seven
reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre, Indiana
Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
Serials
BLAKE OF SCOTLAND YARD: (Pathe) Hayden
Stevenson — First of series. Started off well. This
is a new department for us, as we have never
before run a serial. A large class of our patrons
are taking to it like a thirsty Dutchman to a stein
of — well, you know what ! — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screen-
land theatre, Nevada, O. — ^Small town patronage.
THE SCARLET ARROW: (Universal) Francis X.
Bushman', serial — Good serial. Plenty of outdoor
scenery which is what goes good here in the small
town. Have just finished fourth episode and crowd
is slowly slipping, though it is no fault of the
serial. — Frank Johnson, Opera House, Louisville, Neb.
— Small town patronage.
Short Subjects
COLUMBIA
STRICTLY KOSHER: Izzi and Lizzi— Fair comedy,
but too much of one kind of action and not many
laughs. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
EDUCATIONAL
BETWEEN JOBS: Lloyd Hamilton— The best
Hamilton we have played in a long time. Two reels.
—Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
KITCHEN TALENT: A good pie throwing com-
edy. Two reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre,
Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
NEVER TOO LATE: Larry Semon— Fair Cameo
comedy. One reel. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre,
Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
THE STUNT MAN: Larry Semon— Sure glad
Larry only made two comedies for Educational. He
and Lloyd Hamilton have gone to the dogs for some
reason or other. Two reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun
theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
F B O
ASSORTED NUTS: Jack Luden— AH the Bill
Grimm Progress series have been good. Two reels.
— Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greertriver,
Utah. — General patronage.
MICKEY'S MINE: Mickey McGuire— Good. Pleased
the children. Two reels. — Andrew Rapp, Theatorium,
Emlenton, Pa. — General patronage.
PANTING PAPAS: Three Fat Boys— Plenty of
fun with the fat boys at any time, and this was no
exception. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
FOX
TOO MANY COOKIES: A comedy. Two reels.
— Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
METRO-GO LDWYN-MAYER
DUMB DADDIES: Max Davidson— Whoop la 1 An-
other one that tickled their funnybones. One of the
best we have had from Max. "Spec" O'Donnell is
entitled to some of the laurels. Two reels. — Tivenan
& Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small
town patronage.
THE FIGHT PEST: Charley Chasc^One of the
best comedies I've played this year. It certainly got
the laughs. Two reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun the-
atre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighlx)rhood patronage.
FIGHTING FATHERS: Max Davidson— Good. Too
expensive for small towns. Two reels. — Andrew
Rapp, Theatorium, Emlenton, Pa. — General patron-
age.
A HAPPY OMEN: Oddity— Sorfie more South
America and the jolly underclad natives. All about
boiled caterijillars, witch doctors, and "sich-like."
Some fair scenic shots — otherwise boresomely educa-
tional. One reel. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland
theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING: Laurel-Hardy— It did
— and pepped up an otherwise mediocre program.
Would perhaps have been better if this expressive
pair could have pulled a few laughs from our pessi-
mists in the first reel. They got most of the kick out
of the traffic cop's unruly pants in the second reel.
Two reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland theatre,
Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
THE LION HUNT: Oddity— Not much good. Too
dry. One reel. — Andrew Rapp, Theatorium, Emlen-
ton, Pa. — General patronage.
NATURE'S WIZARDRY: Oddity — Just fair.
\yould never have been missed, although better than
textbook education. One reel. — Tivanan & Wolfe,
Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patron-
age.
PERFUME AND NICOTINE: Oddity— Rather dry.
One reel. — Andrew Rapp, Theatorium, Emlenton, Pa.
— General patronage.
PUTTING PANTS ON PHILLIP: Laurel-Hardy—
Good. Two reels. — Fi-ank Johnson, Opera House,
Louisville, Neb. — Small town patronage.
THE VIRGIN QUEEN: Based on the story of
Sir Walter Raleigh laying his coat over the mudhole
for the queen to walk upon. A very fine subject.
I consider it one of the best of the series. Two
reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City,
Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
PARAMOUNT
DR. QUACK: Jimmie Adams — Fair. Two reels.
— Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver,
Utah. — General patronage.
NIFTY NAGS: Jack Duffy — Jack sure makes 'em
laugh, and that is what we like to hear. We know
they are enjoying the show. Two reels. — Rudolf
Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patron-
age.
SWISS MOVEMENT: Jimmie Adams — Just a fair
comedy, nothing to rave about. Two reels. — Rudolf
Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patron-
age.
PATHE
HUBBY'S QUIET LITTLE GAME: Pretty good
comedy. Ran this with "Student Prince." Two
reels. — Andrew Rapp, Theatorium, Emlenton, Pa. —
General patronage.
(Continued on next page)
)
^Ki^Sfii^aMBHiMiaC^
74
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 18, 1928
Y^
CHICAGO PERSONALITIES
By Whit
CLYDE W. ECKHARDT, division manager for Fox Films, was elected
president of the Chicago Film Board of Trade at the annual meeting of
the board held last Tuesday. Other officers elected are N. F. Agnew.
Paramount manager, vice-president ; Irving W. Mandel, manager of Security
Pictures, secretary ; Earl Silverman, manager of Warners, treasurer..
Eckhardt, H. S. Lorch, Mandel, C. Harthill, Felix Mendelssohn and Earl
Silverman were chosen as a board of directors. J. D. Abramson was appointed
executive secretary for the seventh consecutive term.
Jack Sampson has resigned as sales' man-
ager for Jerrj' Abrams and is now manager
of the Palace and Parthenon theatres, two
of the string of theatres under the opera'.ion
of the Chicago Title and Trust Company.
Clarence W. Phillips, formerly with Tiffany-
Stahl in Chicago, has succeeded Sampson as
sales manager for Jerry Abrams. He is well
known along the row and to Illinois exhibi-
tors.
* * *
The first Monday of "The King of Kings"
run at the United Artists theatre broke all
Monday records for the house with the excep-
tion of one Monday's record made by "The
Circus." And by the way have you seen that
cloth banner on the theatrs'? Dan Roche says
it's the biggest clolh banner ever exhibited on
a theatre. Well, it is a whopper, and covers
one whole side of the building. Four hun-
dred negro school kids will see the picture
some time this week.
* * *
Bob Lucas reports that Tommy Greenwood
has broken the course record on a golf layout
in DeKalb. It seems Tommy made a 28,
18, and 10 on the first three holes. However,
Lucas bought the "King of Kings" so perhaps
Greenwood's game was not so disastrous after
all.
^ ^ ^
Frank Schaefer was ill last week with an
attack of yellow jaundice.
* * *
Nate Ru.tenberg of the Panorama and Key-
stone theatres has just returned from a vaca-
tion trip to Denver, Salt Lake and Yellow-
stone.
* * *
Arthur Schoenstadt and Mis's Gwendolyn
Marie Straus were married las! week at the
Ambassador in Atlantic City. The bride is
the niece of S. W. Straus. They are spending
their honeymoon at Lake Louise and Banff.
^ ^ ^
George Miller, his wife and Tess Heraty
spent the week end at Jack Miller's summer
home in Lake Geneva.
* * *
Mrs. Len Ullrich, her daughter, Gertrude,
and son Leonard, left Saturday on a four
weeks' motor trip through the East.
:l= * *
Those young film cut-ups of the "Our
Gang" comedies distributed by M G M come
to Chicago Saturday to begin appearances at
the Chicago, Uptown and Tivoli theatres.
MILTON M. STERN
The Row's Insurance Man.
Life, Accident, Auto, Fire &
Casualty Lines
1180 E. 63rd St. Phone Fairfax 7200
While here they will be given a luncheon at
the Morrison hotel,
^ ^' ^
We had an interview with Harry Rapf,
associate producer for M G M, Saturday. He
was returning to Hollywood from New York
where he spent a great deal of time s.udying
sound production. Rapf is very enthusiastic
over the sound pictures', but says that as
soon as the novelty wears off, pictures will be
judged by their merit alone, and that the
sound picture must be as good in every way
as the silent picture in order to make good.
^ ^ ^
The first "Curiosities," a product of the
VanBeuren Enterprises, released through
F B O, goes into the LTnited Artists' theatre
during the run of "The Tempest."
^ ^ ^
First National's special, "Lilac Time," star-
ring Colleen Moore, began a run at the
Roosevelt theatre doing between $4,100 and
$4,500 the first day. The picture has been
. given one of the most attractive lobby dis-
plays even seen in Chicago. The picture is
synchronized with the Western Electric disc
method.
* * *
Irving Mack is spending a 10 days' vaca-
tion at Poynette, Wisconsin.
* * *
S, E. Pirtle of Birdstown was a visitor to
the First National exchange last week.
* * *
Marks Brothers have con'.racted for Fox
pictures for the 1928-29 season. Final con-
tracts were also closed with B & K and Fox
last week.
* * *
Harry Balaban, of the Balaban and Katz
Theatrical Enterprises, and Miss Marian Rice
Avere married last Tuesday evening. Miss
Rice is the daughter of David Rice, who has
just recently been made division manager for
Universal's California Theatres, with head-
quarters' in Los Angeles.
^ ^ ^
The Evening American has conducted a
prize contest to determine the best name for
talking pictures, and the word, "talkies," was
chosen.
* * *
A $1,500,000 building is to be constructed in
Lombard, construction starting the first of
next month, which will house a theatre, of-
fices, and apartments. The project is being
undertaken by a syndicate headed by A. B.
Knight.
* * *
Phil Reisman, general sales manager of
Pathe, has just closed a deal with the Cos-
ton Circuit for all Pathe features and short
subjects. The Coston Circuit includes
about 75 houses and the Pathe pictures go
into all of them 100 per cent. Another im-
portant booking was with Marks Brothers
for the Granada and Marbro co\ering fea-
The Vote's the Thing;
It Creates Interest
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY. Aug. 14.— The
Orpheum theatre will keep its re-
served seat policy if it listens to the
requests of its patrons. About one
week ago Fred Spear, manager, an-
nounced through the daily newspa-
pers that he would permit the patrons
to determine the future policy of the
house, which shows first run pictures
and presents vaudeville. The result
was overwhelming. The real goal,
however — the creation of additional
interest in the theatre on the part of
patrons — was reached with colors
flying.
ture product and embracing both synchro-
nized and unsynchronized pictures.
* * *
Harold Murphy, formerly with National
Theatres, has just become affiliated with the
Stanley-Fabian Theatre Corporation and is
now handling the Hudson county houses for
the company in New Jersey.
WHAT THE PICTURE
DID FOR ME
(Contifiued from page 73)
LOVE MY DOG: Our Gang— Fine little comedy
with plenty of laug-hs and clever gags. Two reels.
— F. E. Sabin, Majestic theatre, Eureka, Mont. —
Small town patronage.
PLAYING HOOKEY: Our Gang— A good Gang
comedy. Two reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family the-
atre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
WHEN A MAN'S A PRINCE: Ben Turpin— Not
so funny. Two reels. — F. E. Sabin, Majestic the-
atre. Eureka, Mont. — Small town patronage.
UNIVERSAL
ANY OLD COUNT: Murphy-Tincher— Very good
mirth provoker. Caused more laughs than the usual
Gump comedy. We have only one kick, could not
get a bright picture with our light. Two reels. —
Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. —
Small town patronage.
BRAND OF COURAGE: Newton House— Fine little
Western that filled in the program dandy. Plenty
of action. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
BRIGHT LIGHTS, NECK N'NECK, BANKER'S
DAUGHTER. HAREM SCAREM, EMPTY SOCKS:
Oswald the Rabbit — All good comedies, in fact our
best one reel comedies. A cheer is always sent up
when these comedies are flashed on the screen. —
S. R. Cook, Althea theatre, Dunseith, N. D.— Gen-
eral patronage.
MODEL GEORGE: Sid Saylor— A good comedy,
better than the usual George. Two reels. — S. R.
Cook, Althea theatre, Dunseith, N. D. — General pat-
ronage.
THE NEWLYWEDS' FRIENDS: Just about holds
up the average of Newlyweds comedies. By no means
a knockout, although it drew some laughs. Sunny
McKeen (Snookums) is 95 per cent of the picture.
Two reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland theatre,
Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
PICKING ON GEORGE: Just a fair comedy. Two
reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. —
General patronage.
SEALED ORDER: Jack Perrin— Fine two reel
Western which filled the program dandy and made
them feel satisfied. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal
theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
WHEN GEORGE HOPS: A funny comedy. Two
reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
MISCELLANEOUS
THIS TICKLISH PREDICAMENT: It came in
two reels, and the reels came in two, so it must have
been rotten. Pretty punk slapstick mostly. Two
reels. — J. W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning,
Ark — General patronage.
Recognizing the fact that changes
in method come in the splendid
advancement of the motion picture
industry, the Eastman Kodak Com-
pany continues its own forward
march and maintains its supremacy
in presenting to the trade
Eastman Panchromatic
Negative
Type 2
— a perfected^ proven product
for the cinematographer
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
-^r_
EXIIinnORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
ADVICE/
«HE ne^wsreel of today, SPEAKS as
' ifvell as pictures the s'w^if t moving
panorama of ivorld events.
By January 1st, Fox Movietone^rs
ivill have creMrs throughout the
ivorld covering Europe, South
America, Africa, Asia and every im-
portant key city in the United States.
A fortune has been invested in de-
veloping sound for neifvs ^rork and
sound recording iipparatus — to ob-
tain, speedily and accurately, inter-
esting neivs from the remotest
corners of the gl<ibe«
HAVE YOU HE^Ril THE NEWS?
You can ^ you book
FOX
MOVIETONEWS
''It speaks for Itself!**
EXeiBITOIR
V«B^
GREAT AS M-G-M PICTURES HAVE
BEEN AND ARE, IN 1928-29 THEY WILL
BE EVEN GREATER-
The Septemher releases are now ready
screening. Both SOUND and SIL^
WILLIAM HAINES IN EXCESS BAGGAGE. Without
doubt one of the finest pictures to See, Hear (ot^ botfi) that has
ever been made*
OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS with JOAN CRAWFORD. A sensation
in previews. The Biggest Hit Syracuse and Baltimore have had in a season.
Both exceptional pre-release engagements.
LON CHANEY in ''WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS," as thrilling,
fascinating and unusual as "The Unholy Three/'
THE BELLAMY TRIAL. The greatest courtroom drama ever
enacted (talking sequences now being added to make it even greater). AND
OODLES MORE OF GREAT ENTERTAINMENT IN THE PRODUCT THAT GLORIFIES
THE AMERICAN SCREEN.
L
ETRO-GOLDWi
AYER
Whnli> Vnl Q9 Nn S/Vnl 1A Mn 11\ Entered as second-class matter, Auyust 20, 1917, at the Post Office at Chicago, III., under the act of March 3, i . «r iaio
•iiioie »oi. 3^, 1>0. O^VOI. 54, INO. li; 1S79. Fublished weekly at 407 South Dearborn St., Chicago. Subscription $3.00 a year. Single copies, 25 cents. AugUSt Z5, 19Z8
iMi
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
PARAMOUNT "^^^ wedding March" and "The
Patriot," all available in the next
POLICY 1928-29 .hree months
^ Fifty or more of these features will be synchronized, most of them
with talking sequences.
^ Both silent and sound prints will be available on all 50. Each in-
dividual attraction is being produced to sell profitably to the public
either silent or in sound. In either form they are Paramount box-
office quality to the last foot.
^ The Christie Comedies output of 32 class short features can be
played either silent or in sound. Paramount News will soon appear
in a sound edition. But Paramount News in its present form, which
in a year has become the industry's leading news reel, will continue
to be available to all houses. Additional shorts, silent and sound,
will be announced.
^ Paramount guarantees to the 19,000 theatres not now equipped
with sound as well as to those with installations a continuous flow
of the best pictures this company has ever released.
^ Whether you need sound or silent pictures, or both. Paramount is
your one backbone service, your one main reliance, in 1928-9.
:^
¥'--
S-5 -.'
^
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Atigust 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
I
WiNGS
11
^Paramount
picture
TRADE^-^C^T^if w MARK
Cparamount
\iidures
celebrates this week ONE SOLID YEAR
OF CAPACITY BUSINESS AT $2 at the
Criterion Theatre, New York. ^ ■^ 4- 4-
will be released to picture houses
IN SOUND in September, Set your
dates now! •J•4-•^^4••^>^•^•^•^4•*
THE GREATEST BOX-OFFICE ATTRAC-
TION IN MOTION PICTURE HISTORY!
And, of course, PARAMOUNT! •^ ^ * 4-
Lucien Hubbard Production Directed by William Wellman Clara Bow, Charles Rogers, Richard Arlen, Gary Cooper
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
GREAT pictures do
GREAT business
"BACLANOVA is one of the
coming great stars of the
screen." — Jesse L. Lasky
in any season
?
Available NOW for all
theatres everywhere.
NOTE THESE DATES!
August
Gala $5 N. Y. Premiere
JANNINGS -LUBITSCH
"THE PATRIOT"
September
"WINGS"
October
VON STROHEIM'S
"THE
WEDDING MARCH"
^ Turnaway business all week
at the Paramount Theatre
despite terrific heat and strong-
est opposition of the year.
I
as usual, has the great pictures!
Member Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc. Will H. Hays, President.
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Gentlemen
UNIVERSAL S
MARVELOUS
BANQUET /
IS SERVED/
■HHiilll
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Augost 25, 1928
NOW GOING ON mah
NatkmVlide Jknumstn
RECENT developments in the industry place UNIVERSAL so far ahead in the short subject field that there
is now not even a close second. For 22 years UNIVERSAL has topped the entire field. For 22 years
thousands of exhibitors have looked to and depended entirely on UNIVERSAL for these subjects, and now
with Carl Laemmle himself on the firing line at the studios, every exhibitor throughout the Nation, leu-ge and
small alike, can look to and depend entirely on UNIVERSAL for the highest quality super shorts of the in-
dustry: Shorts that have following of millions of people — that are famous for their drawing power at the box
office.
Beginning immediately — at every Universal Exchange from coast to coast — a great QUALITY DEMON-
STRATION of SUPER SHORTS is now taking place. See these short subjects with your own eyes — COM-
PARE THEIR QUALITY — the pictures themselves will do ALL the talking.
COLLEGIANS
Millions everywhere know Carl Laemmle Jr.'s
Collegians. Booked by such representative first
run houses as The Indian Theatre, Indianapolis;
Strand, Montreal; Majestic, Shamokin, Pa.; Strand,
Akron; Regal, Hartford. A Super-Short Series
shown in lights all over the country. The biggest
short subject money getter in the world — nothing
compares with them.
SNOOKUMS
Stern Bros. Newlyweds baby, "Snookums" the box-
office baby. A hit with millions of people. A
definite, cash-in-the-box Super Short. Here are
two additional first run theatres to book "Newly-
weds"; Orpheum Theatre, New Orleans; Majestic
Theatre, Shamokin, Pa.
LET GEORGE DO IT
Another sure-shot newspaper cartoon comedy, by
Geo. McManus, that's pepper for the program.
"Let George Do It" is another Universal Short
booked by such first-run houses as Keith's Theatre,
Toledo, and the Majestic, Shamokin.
BUSTER BROWN
Stern Bros. "Buster Brown" comedies are so well
known that to merely mention the name is enough.
This super-short is first run fare and no mistake
Buster and Tige are sure-fire! Shown now in
thousands of theatres.
PIRATE OF PANAMA
Bad Men in the Exotic Jungles of Panama. Full
of thrills and adventure. Each one of the 12
episodes will sit 'em on the edge of their chairs.
Absolutely sure-fire — just can't miss.
GO TO YOUR UNIVERSAL EXCHANGE
MIKE AND IKE
Mike and Ike Comedies, Rube Goldberg's cartoon
characters in films — are fast-sure-fire fun that al-
ways keeps the house filled. The Orpheum The-
atre, New Orleans, and Keith's Theatre, Toledo,
are the type of houses booking these Universal
Shorts. Both important first-run theatres.
FINAL RECKONING
One of the best hung-together serijJs ever offered.
One chapter pulls 'em in for the next. From the
writings of the greatest boys' author who ever lived,
G. A. Henty. Far and way above the average
serial in quality.
MYSTERY RIDER
Another gripping mystery story in 10 chapters.
The first starts them — the other nine keeps them
coming. Crammed with speed and Western action,
the kind that keeps the crowds excited.
TODAY AND SEE THESE SUPER-SHORTS
j August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Mversal Exdmnges -
on cf UNIVERSAi* S
TARZAN THE MIGHTY
These big first-run houses tell the tale of "Tarzan":
Keith's 105th St. Theatre, Cleveland; New Garden,
Baltimore; Skouras' Indiana, Indianapolis; The
Alhambra, Sacramento; The Broadway, Richmond;
The Capitol, Dallas. "Tarzan the Mighty" is on
its way.
LAEMMLE NOVELTIES
Now being booked by the country's biggest first'
run theatres. A few include Roxy Theatre, New
York; United Artists Theatre, Los Angeles; United
Artists Theatre, Detroit; El Capitan Theatre, San
Francisco. What additional evidence is needed?
OSWALD
The Lucky Rabbit. First choice cartoon strip
comedy for all first-run theatres. Used for kid-
appeal, "supper shows" and program pepper. Will-
mer and Vincent, Allentown, one of hundreds of
recent Oswald bookings.
Tenderfoot Thrillers
One of the greatest lines of 2
reel western ever conceived and
filmed. Production costs were
second to quality — ^which has re-
sulted in a real de luxe edition
of Short Westerns. Your box
office will tell the tale.
Diamond Master
A serial by that great author,
Jacques Futrelle. One of the
most dramatic chapter plays ever
screened. Suspense is its key-
note. A hair raiser for your
patrons.
HORACE IN HOLLYWOOD
This great series of 1 3 one-reelers with the original .
"Harold Teen" in the person of Arthur Lake is
big-league. Lake is a big bet everywhere — a fea-
ture star in short subjects for you.
JACK HOXIE (Re-issues)
The demand from many sources for these Jack
Hoxie re-issues has been too great to ignore. The
fans simply had to have them. Every one is sure
to ring the bell! Action — action and more action.
Harry Carey (Re-iss.)
Has gone over big in his recent
feature picture, "The Trail of
'98," and his other successes.
His Universal re-issues are "nat-
urals" and just had to be.
Book them!
FOREST RANGERS
Like the "Stunt Cowboy" and "Tenderfoot Thrill-
ers," the "Forest Rangers" are pictures that have
been built and filmed for the express purpose of
making them the best possible to produce. A
smashing adventure series.
I
STUNT COWBOY SERIES
Real money was spent on this series of 12 cow-
boy shorts. Everybody loves these fast riding and
hard shooting pictures. Wonderful for the regular
or supper show business.
INTERNATIONAL NEWSREEL
"On the job when it happens" would be a good
slogan for "International Newsreel." The greatest
film news gathering organization insures Inter-
nationaJ the livest, most interesting big-breaks hot
off the griddle! Strictly first-run fare for hundreds
of leading theatres.
Members of Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America — WILL H. HAYS, President
Ls
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G3mpany can give you
2 Road Show specials
Such as —
/TCEET ANGEL
ECLR f€NS
EA Z I L
XLNCI/E
MOTHER MACHCEE
THE RED DANCE
TDE AID CIDCDX
H€TDED DNCWT DETT
Aing //.
"FOUR SONS^^
SMASHES World's Record at the
ROXY— $143,906.75 net
for one week-
tops "What Price Glory" j
f
Scores
Hit at
Mark
Strari
N.Y.
Hot, July iveather— the
period oS vacations —
Against these odds, Rod LaRocque in "Hold
*Em Yale" breezed through a week at the
Strand, packing 'em in, standing 'em up in
the lobby, lining 'em up in the street and
sending them away from the theatre as happy
as a Yale crowd after a Yale victory on the
gridiron.
"Hold *Em Yale** has everything* The critics
laud it in the language of the hox'office —
■^ ,v
im&v':>if^'jm
^■«sfm>^-i'}ta3k
ocQue
\
\
with
JEANETTE LOFF, TOM KENNEDY,
JOSEPH CAWTHORN and HUGH
ALLAN
A HECTOR TURNBULL PRODUCTION
ADAPTED BY GEORGE DROMGOLD FROM "AT
YALE" BY OWEN DAVIS
Directed by EDWARD H. GRIFFITH
DeMILLE STUDIO PRODUCTION
Bland Johaneson in
the Netu York 'Mirror,
"Rod is a riot in 'Hold *Em Yale.' Harold
Lloyd, Harry Langdon, all the big'time
comedy boys, can take some lessons from
LaRocque, erstwhile romantic actor, who
plays some of the funniest comedy which
has hit the screen .... The picture opens
with a laugh, closes with a laugh, and is
drenched in laugh all through the middle."
Mark Barron in
New York Herald'Trihune
"A humorous, whimsical romance of
college life."
New York Evening Graphic
"Should be a box-office success for Pathe . .
Packed with excitement, carries a pleasing love
story."
Regina Cannon in tKe Neiv York American
** 'Hold 'Em Yale' is the most entertaining of the
new pictures on Broadway . . Has its quota of
thrills, laughs and love interest."
New York Telegraph
"Saturday night they were standing six deep
waiting for seats . . and the crowd that the pic-
ture attracted thoroughly enjoyed it . . The trade-
mark rooster has something to crow about."
This Is Pathe's Year— Hit After Hit Right Through The Seasons
WATCH FOR AMAZING NEW R. C.
II A. PHOTOPHONE MUSICAL AND
EFFECT ACCOMPANIMENT ON
CERTAIN FORTHCOMING PATHE
FEATURE PRODUCTIONS SEASON
1928—1929
Pathe
©ve \jyer
^
with JEANETTE LOFF,
/^ TOM KENNEDY— MARY CARR
A Hector Turnbull Production
Original story and adaptation by
George Dromgold &. Sanford Hewitt
Directed by Edward H. Griffith
Produced by Pathe Studios, Inc.
r"*
ii
With newcham|)ion$forthe
HERE THEYARE*^
Now readyFirst release in each
\\
TIRED BUSINESS MAN SERIES
KITCHEN"
Featuring
BILLY BEVAN
the barrel-shaped beau brummel comedian
■with
Nalalic Joyce, Irving Bacon and Alice Ward
Directed by Phil Whilman
HANDY ANDY SERIES
'W DliMB
WAITER'^
Featuring
JOHNNY BURKE
famous vaudeville star
wilh
Vernon Dent, Elhcl Gray Terry and Connie Lamont
Directed by Harry Edwards
il
THEYLIBETHETALkOI
■^s^BBm
season's laugh marathon
SHOWMEN/
scintiilaf inq series
DAN THE TAXI MAN SERIES
\TAXI/&aTWO
Featuring
JACK COOPER
creator of a sensational new character role
-wilh
An<ly (llydc, Virginia Vance and Olio Fries
Directed by Del Lord
//
Glamourous, glittering
two-reelers fresh from
the Capital of Comedy,
the new and up-to-the-
minute Mack Sennett
Studios. 18 fast ones, 6
each — "THE TIRED BUSI-
NESS MAN", "DAN THE TAXI-
MAN", "HANDY ANDY".
Beauts for the box-office.
Laughs and lassies in
the Sennett style.
P
arne
Comedies-
THE TOWN OVERNIGHT
)
iby.
/
(/
FBO's
SECOND TALKER
WALLOP :
*'HIT OF THE SHOW
Already a hit in silent form at Roxy, N. Y.
D ON'T BE PANICKED BY SO UND !
"^oweriaq
MONEY-GETTEK:
THREE SMASH WEEKS
AT NEW YORK RIVOLI
*
New House
Record in
Los Angeles
i5arrymore drew
em in in droves
giving United Arti*
Theatre its ^reate§t
gross
cy^H
arieh
£
7ts n WEEK
run at the Embassy
New Tork was
a sensational
success from
every standpoint
One of the .
GREAT 19 ' ^
-prom A
l^ITED A
proves it's a
business pid
for any the.*
As straight film drama it has few
equals. Its performance record in
New York and Los Angeles prove
that.
Now with SOUND effects it will be
a new sensation. We predict New
York will send it to new records
when it opens at the Rivoli — United
Artists August 25th.
<f
But— SILENT or with SOUND
You Have in '^Tempest" a Positive
Box-Office Picture.
iOh N
r^ SOUND Prints
I / Available August
25th—
ISTS for your best l9
OS
at
Joseph M..Sc1iencK
*^ ' presents
Americals most
distinguished actor
-^witK
Camilla Horn
Louis WoUieim
jk.
SAM TAX LOR
production
Supervised by
Joliii W. Cdnsidine Jr.
X8-l9a9
Already Dated
for the following:
OLYMPIA— New Haven
SHEA'S— Buffalo
HAMMONDS— Atlanta
TENNESSEE— Knoxville
TIVOLI— Chattanooga
FLORIDA— Jacksonville
STRAND— Birmingham
GARDEN— Milwaukee
RIVIERA— Omaha
DES MOINES— Des Moines
PALACE— Dallas
ROYAL— Little Rock
METROPOLITAN— Houston
TEXAS— San Antonio
CALIFORNIA— San Francisco
DENVER— Denver
COLUMBIA— Portland
STATE— Boston
REGENT— Harrisburg
COLONIAL— Reading
NORV A— Norfolk
LOEWS— Richmond
LOEWS— Minneapolis
VENDOME— Nashville
ALLEN— Cleveland
LOEWS— Canton
LOEWS— Toledo
OHIO— Columbus
LOEWS-U. A.-PENN— Pittsburgh
LOEWS— Indianapolis
MIDLAND— Kansas City
STATE— St. Louis
CAPITOL— Cincinnati
UNITED ARTISTS— Detroit
GARDEN— Milwaukee
LOS ANGELES
critics said^^
TIMES: "'Tempest'
quality feature. Barry-
more production draws
large crowds. His per-
formance is one of the
best he has given. Camilla
Horn has the type of at-
tractiveness that one does
not easily forget."
RECORD: ' Tempest'
has crowds at opening.
Barrymore is going to
need a supplementary
battalion of secretaries to
handle the fan mail that
this picture is sure to
bring. The line that
stretched down the side-
walk yesterday went in
eager and came out sigh-
ing and starry-eyed. To
those who are seeking en-
tertainment 'Tempest'
will be one of the picture
events of the year. High
school, stenographers and
shoppers will besiege it."
EXAMINER: "John
Barrymore scores new
triumph in 'Tempest.'
Remarkable picture. The
story, the action and un-
usual photographic ef-
fects all contribute to
making 'Tempest' one
grand movie."
HERALD: "Barry-
more's 'Tempest' a hit. It
would not surprise me if
it proved the most popu-
lar he has ever made."
EXPRESS:" A picture
that will delight his ad-
mirers. Remarkable per-
formance. Believable,
moving, dignified. Ca-
milla Horn proves a
worthy addition to the list
of imported players."
\n
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15
LONG RUN
ENGAGENENTS
already bookedr
includini* —
MADISON, Detroit
The BUFFALO, Buffalo
STILLMAN, Cleveland
DES MOINES,
Des Moines
STANLEY, Baltimore
i RIVIERA, Omaha
AZTEC, San Antonio
EMPRESS,
Oklahoma City
COLUMBIA, Davenport
national
PicturGA
FlkCIH THE irCKY By— JAWC COVl AMD J/%ME IMUI^FIIV
presenfof/hy JOHN Mi:4:illKMIi:i4
aG[€RGI HTZIHAURICE .»^a«.
Member / Motion Picture PMducets tmd Distributors of America Ina'«» Will H.Hays J^utent
DtGCEEt
UOT IN
bCTROIT
B U T t E l^r
AND E€C m^W
"In spite of extrcmcl > ..v^ •. - - L^.icr
opened at Michigan Theatre to
exceptional business considerably^
above average."
President Qroup Sped
HEART ro HEAR'
Played Capitol Theatre to best
business house has had in months.
[THE BARKE
I
Full page review in 'Liberty
Magazine'* calls this President
Group Special '*one of the year's
best pictures... gorgeous and color
ful drama... excellent acting."
uet-
I
WHEEL OF CHANC
Richard Barthelmess vehicle by
New York Daily News as one of
the six best on Broadway in July.
» ' • ^
"THE NIGHT WATCH"
^ft A Billie Dove President Group 1
^ production rated "wonderful
story— good directing — profitable
to exhibitors" by H. W. Chotiner,
pre-view exhibitor.
"THE PATENT
LEATHER Kl
Mopping up wherever it plays
Five thousand bookings to date.
Scores of return diucs. Ha
YOU played it again .'
I
4
DtLIVERtD
AT
Tilt
MICHIGAN
AND Tilt
CAPITOL
1
Membtr ^ Motion Picture Producttt ««< DlstribuWri of America Inc. -~ Will H.Haye Pmtdnt
i
v^
The
Independent
Film Trade
Paper
Home
Office:
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
Sb4 moving picture 407So.De«rbcmSt.
WORLD
IN THIS ISSUE
Sound picture movement is not retarding booking for 1928-29 season, investigators for "Herald-World"
find ; Actual increase in buying activity is reflected from both coasts ; Territories where signing of new
product has been slowing up attribute fact to causes other than advent of synchronized pictures and
production plans.
COMPLETE INDEX TO CONTENTS
NEWS
Williams organizes new international company to distribute im-
ported product in United States and Canada; Hammons is on
directorate of World Wide Pictures.
St. Louis musicians offer to accept wage reduction of $4 a week;
Move is considered first break in fight against synchronism.
Universal's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is barred from Atlanta after
conference of mayor and representative of review board after
preview.
Censors' demands for last word on sound productions may prompt
referendum by industry, Pettijohn warns Portland, Ore., Council.
DEPARTMENTS
Synchronized Pictures 36
The Studio 39
Short Features 43
Presentation Acts 44
The Theatre 50
Classified Advertising 59
What the Picture Did for Me 61
Chicago Personalities by Whit 66
FEATURES
Service Talks by T. 0. Service 53
Los Angeles by Douglas Hodges 40
Pictorial Section 33
Letters from Readers 60
Quick Reference Picture Chart 55
Broadway '. . 28
ADVERTISEMENTS
FILM AND EQUIPMENT— Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Robert Mor-
ton Organ Company, Paramount, Universal, Fox, Pathe, F B O,
United Artists, First National, Eastman Kodak Company, Jack
Ford, Wesley Ruggles, Charles Clarke, Nick Musuraca, Mark
Sandrich, United Studios, Automatic Ticket Register, L. V.
Kuttnauer (Phototone), Irving Hamlin (Sound Proof Doors).
PRESENTATION— Francis X. Bushman, Jr., Leo Feist, Inc., Vale
and Stewart, Billy Pond, Dean Stevenson, Ransley Studios,
Brooks Costumes, Cecil Davidson, George Pantzer.
;
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1"^
24
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
arv
d MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Martin J. Quigley, Publisher ^>o Editor
Incorporating Exhibitors Herald, founded in 191S; Moving Pic-
TURB World, founded in 1907; Motography, founded in 1909; and
The Film Index, founded in 1909
Published Every Wednesday by
QuiGLEY Publishing Company
Publication Office: 407 So. Dearborn St., CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Martin J. Quigley, President
Edwin S. Clifford, Secretary George Clifforb, Asst. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other Publications: The Chicagoan and Polo, class journals; and the follow-
ing motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exhibitors
Herald and Moving Picture World: Better Theatres, erery fourth week, aijd
The Buyers Index, published semi-annually.
Whole Vol. 92, No. 8 (Vol. 34, No. 11) August 25, 1928
Selling the Public
DESPITE popular belief, and in face of the fact that
they are drawing vast crowds into theatres all over
the country, synchronized pictures have not yet been sold
to the public.
Interest in this new and brilliant development of the
motion picture industry has been intense. Every film
conversation, every argument, every controversy, concerns
sound. A curiosity quite unparalleled even in the spec-
tacular motion picture industry has been aroused by these
new pictures which catch the ear as well as the eye.
Looking at the situation with the cold view of an ob-
server, impartial and critical rather than blindly enthusi-
astic, one is compelled somewhat reluctantly to the opinion
that synchronized pictures have by no means been sold
to the public. People are interested, yes, and eager to
buy, but so far this is the result rather of curiosity and
hope than of conviction.
The reason is not hard to find. The public has not yet
been sold on sound pictures because the public has not yet
seen one that it could take to its heart without reservation.
The possibilities of the new development have been clearly
shown. Intensely interesting experiments have been made
with success. Good pictures have been made with sound,
but the sound has been an afterthought of one sort or
another.
Let us consider "The Patriot," for example. Here is a
superb picture, thoroughly intelligent, gripping in its
drama, magnificently done. Its premiere at the Rialto
theatre in New York quite lived up to the glowing reports
received for months past from an excited West Coast.
"The Patriot" was shown in New York with a synchro-
nized score, finished only a few days before the showing of
the picture and therefore the latest thing in synchroniza-
tion. When the picture started, the Rialto's symphony
orchestra filed from its seats into the wings.
The synchronized music of "The Patriot" was good.
But no one with any ear for music, no one with any taste
for sound, would dare say that it was as good as the Rialto's
orchestra. In other words, for a house as big and affluent
as the Rialto, the synchronized score was nothing more
than a curiosity. If it had any effect upon the strength of
the picture at all, then candor compels the statement that
it detracted rather than added.
The same is true of all synchronized sound. Bonelli, the
opera singer, is supposed to have made perhaps the most
perfect of all sound recordings to date — and there were
moments when his voice in some parts of the theatre was
far from natural. Nearly every other recording of voice
or instrument (with the possible exception of the extra-
ordinary George Bernard Shaw) has, quite frankly,
sounded electrical, or scratchy, or tinny, or something off
the normal.
Undoubtedly, synchronized pictures were brought to the
public before they were quite ready, or let us say, before
they had achieved the state of perfection that will some
day be theirs. This is in itself not objectionable, because
all things have to start sometime, but it does involve a
danger.
It is by no means impossible that the public's interest
and curiosity may turn into distaste before a good sound
picture is made and shown. Unquestionably, the future
holds synchronized pictures that will truly deserve the
description "great." Undoubtedly, the day will come when
sound — music, dialogue, effects — will advance a picture
enormously, rather than retard it.
But it is also true that making experiments in public
will be something like the traditional washing of linen.
Wise producers wdll not allow themselves to be rushed
into making sound pictures for no other reason than to
have sound. True, there is money available today in sound
pictures, but there will be more profit in the long run if
synchronization is made in such a manner that the public
will really like it.
In this connection, the film companies have a right to
expect something from the manufacturers of recording and
reproducing equipment. You can hear on all sides sly
charges to the effect that the big electrical companies have
put the film industry in their pockets. Nothing could be
further from the truth. The electrical companies are
working for the motion picture industry and the industry
has a right to expect their product to improve until it be-
comes an asset of marketable value, not merely a curiosity
of impenetrable possibilities.
Liaison
10JJD critics' cries and lesser grumbles from the public
^ indicate that strong stories are not a glowing factor
in the popularity of the talking pictures. Such is inevi-
tably the case at the beginning. Exhibitors will not have a
worry until months have worn off the novelty of voices;
then they will cash in on the product of far-sighted pro-
ducers.
A few of the producers are looking ahead. They realize
that experts in the legitimate theatre have forgotten more
than the film industry will learn in the next year about
the expression of dramatic emotion by word of mouth.
Certain of these experts are being added to the studio
payrolls.
Even truer is the feeling at some studios that more
necessary than ever before is close contact with New York
and, to a lesser extent, Europe. New York is the center of
dramatic and literary ideas in America. The producer
who puts himself in immediate touch with these ideas
either by travelling himself or by selecting a contact man
of highest intelligence will afford the greatest profit to the
exhibitor. For the first time in the history of pictures he
will be able to avail himself of the talent of playwrights
and directors who know his business better than he him-
self can possibly know it for at least a year.
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
Synchronism Fails to Retard
Booking in Country As Whole
Actual Increase in Film Buying
Is Registered on Both Coasts
Marquise Sign Flashing
at 3 a.m. Calls Police,
Saves $1,500 Receipts
Lights Accidentally Turned on. Say
the Authorities — Pleads Not
Guilty
DETROIT, Aug. 21.— The lights of a
marquise display sign over the Tuxedo thea-
tre, a neighborhood house here, flashed at
3 o'clock one morning last week, and neigh-
bors called police, who, according to the
authorities, found William C. Fisher, 33
years old, burning a hole through the office
safe with an acetylene torch and arrested
him. Fisher, needing light for his work,
had switched on some of the lights inside
the theatre, and in doing so accidentally
pulled the switch turning on the sign, police
declare.
About $1,500 was in the safe, the incident
taking place on a Monday morning, when
two days' receipts were on hand.
Fisher pleaded not guilty when arraigned
in police court and was held for trial under
$6,000 bond. He told police he came here
from California four months ago.
The house is owned by the Munz The-
atrical Enterprises, which also operates the
Grand, Riviera and LaSalle Gardens.
British Intn Buys
FN'Pathe Control;
Maxwell Chairman
(Special to the Herald-World)
LONDON, Aug. 21.— (By Cable.)— Brit-
ish International has acquired the control-
ling interest in First National Pathe which
was formerly held by Provincial Cinemato-
graph Theatres.
John Maxwell has been named successor
to Will Evans as chairman of the board.
British International, it is announced, will
make First National's quota pictures.
No Sunday Racing Edict
Revives Blue Law Issue
(Special to the Herald-World)
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 21.— Whether
Bedford, Ind., and the county surrounding
is to have closed Sundays is an issue there
for the second time within six months.
The sheriff has announced that there will
be no Sunday racing. The Sunday show
question was in court there some time ago
when an affidavit was filed against the
manager of the Von Ritz theatre. The case
was permitted to die out and shortly after-
ward the other theatre there started show-
ing on Sundays.
The management of the Bedford motor
speedway says that if he can not operate
on Sunday, he will see that the blue laws
are enforced in both the city and county.
The sheriff holds that races are not in a class
with Sunday shows and shopping, inasmuch
as injuries might occur at a Sunday race, and
he personally would be held liable.
Grainger on Coast
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 21.— James Grainger,
Fox sales manager, arrived here yesterday,
occur at a Sunday race, and he personally
would be held liable.
Leaders in Sections Where Exhibitors Hold Off Blame
Condition to Other Factors
By ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD
Synchronization is not retarding the buying of product for the 1928-29 sea-
son, in the country as a whole. This fact, contrary to reports which have been
current in the trade, is established by surveys by Herald-World investigators
in territories as widely separated as New York State and San Francisco.
Bookings Grow on Coasts
Actual advance of bookings over a year ago is announced by leading ex-
changes in San Francisco, and buying activity is on the increase at Albany. In
districts where there has been a falling off, the general response was that factors
other than sound pictures are the cause. In only one instance did the exchange
manager attribute a slowing up of buying to synchronized product, and that
only in the case of theatres whose patronage is being attracted by other houses
that have synchronized equipment.
Following is the status in various sections:
Film Bookings Grow,
Say Leading Exchanges
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 21.— That film
bookings in this territory are further advanced
than was the case a year, ago is the report of
some of the leading exchanges. Some of the
independent exchanges report exactly the re-
verse and admit that they have not been able
to book their product far in advance and that
ihey have been just about breaking even for a
long time.
The satisfactory showing of the larger ex-
changes is attributed to the fact that they are,
in many instances, closely allied with the the-
atre circuits, which are steadily expanding
their interests. The theatre circuits are buy-
ing less than ever from independent producers
and distributors and the film they do buy is
largely for immediate use.
Doubt Sound Is Factor
Opinion, seems to be general among both
exchange and theatre interests that synchron-
ization, although causing much discussion and
uneasiness in the industry, is having little
effect on the buying of film.
A comparatively small number of theatres
in Northern and Central California have been
equipped for the use of sound films and this
number will not be increased materially dur-
ing the next nine or ten months. Orders for
equipment placed now cannot be filled before
next March or April, and exhibitors are shy-
ing at the expense and at the heavy advance
payments demanded.
Bookings as Usual
Rumors regarding sound film are simply
pouring out of Hollywood and with predic-
tions rife that equipment purchased now may
easily be obsolete by the time it is installed,
exhibitors are in no hurry to place orders.
One of the large circuits has made arrange-
ments for installing sound film equipment in
a few of its largest houses, but the first of
these installations will not be in readiness for
at least eight months. In the meantime, silent
films must be used and these are being con-
tracted for, as usual.
General Conditions at
Kansas City Blamed
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, Aug. 21.— Sound films
have little to do with the fact that the buying
of film in Kansas City is much slower than
(Coniinued on page 60)
Paramount Named in $600,000 Damage
Suit Brought by Former Theatre Man
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, Aug. 21. — Suit for $600,000 damages was Hied here last week against
Paramount by Philip Gleichman, at one time proprietor of the Broadway-Strand
here. Gleichman alleges failure on the part of Paramount to provide him with
films.
In his bill of complaint, Gleichman states that on September 29, 1919, he became
a party to a contract with the film company in which the producers promised to
furnish motion pictures sufficient for the Broadway-Strand programs. The con-
tract was for one year and was renewable, Gleichman says. The promised £lms
were not forthcoming, according to the bill of complaint, and Gleichman says that
in consequence he was deprived of large profits. The theatre, he says, was forced
to operate at a loss.
The Broadway-Strand has had a long and varied history. When £rst built, it was
one of the most popular of the downtown theatres. The house, however, is a con-
siderable distance from the main thoroughfare. Woodward Avenue, and its popu-
larity declined as the present theatre district farther to the north and closer to the
shopping district was developed.
The most recent venture in the house was a combination of stock burlesque,
vaudeville and motion pictures. This too, proved unprofitable and the house is
now dark with the probability that it will not be reopened.
imjm . ,.,jjj
P^
0^
26
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
Williams Organizes World Company
To Sell Imported Films in U. S*
Hammons on New Directorate of World Wide Pictures — EducationaVs
Sales Policy Remains Unchanged
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21. — ^J. D. Williams, long a forceful and vivid person-
ality in the film industry, has just completed lengthy negotiations for
the distribution of World Wide Pictures. After several trips back and
forth across the Atlantic, he announced here today that he had completed the
formation of an international company, to distribute imported pictures of the
highest quality throughout the United States and Canada.
\X7ILLIAMS foresees in the formation of no wise interfere with that company's short
»» the new company a new source of
feature film supply for the new world and
J. D. WiUiams
E. W. Hammons
a far-reaching change in international
motion picture commerce.
The new officials of World Wide Pic-
tures, Inc., are:
J. Douglas Watson, president; J. D.
Williams, vicepresident ; John Maxwell and
E. W. Hammons, directors. Mr. Watson is
chairman of United Motion Picture Pro-
ducers, Ltd. of London; John Maxwell is
internationally known as the head of
British International Pictures, Ltd.
For the first time in the history of the
industry adequate national American dis-
tribution of imported productions direct to
theatres throughout a channel devoted ex-
clusively to their sale and exploitation is
assured. All overseas product regardless
of country or origin will be handled.
Internationally Financed
"Our company is internationally financed;
one of London's strongest groups have co-
operated with a powerful American banking
institution to obtain the capital," said
Williams.
"All World Wide Pictures will be sold
on merit on an individual basis. We pro-
pose to give all countries' producers an
equal chance. World Wide Pictures, Inc.,
our importing and distributing concern, will
function as the sale and exploitation agency.
A national sales staff is in process of
formation.
"Educational Film Exchanges will phys-
ically distribute our product. This will in
subject business.
"While this new source of film supply
will most benefit American exhibitors, the
proposition as a whole is certain to favor-
ably affect the entire world industry. We
will bring novelty and variety of entertain-
ment from the lands of romance overseas.
We will provide an open market for pro-
ducers of other countries so they can no
longer complain that their pictures have no
chance in America. Entertainment value
will hereafter gauge the salability of im-
ported pictures just as it does American
films. European countries are energetically
developing their own film industries for
national reasons. Some fine, novel pictures
are sure to result. We shall select only
those which promise profit to American
theatres. We expect to offer 30 to 40 im-
ported pictures a year from the outset."
Educational Keeps Sale Policy
Arrangements for the physical distribu-
tion of World Wide Pictures' feature sub-
jects through Educational's exchanges will
not in any way affect the sale policy of
Educational Film Exchanges, Inc., which
always has been and will continue to be a
specialist in short subjects exclusively, ac-
cording to E. W. Hammons, president of
Educational.
Supplementing the statement of J. D.
Williams that World Wide Pictures' ar-
rangements with Educational for physical
distribution would "in no wise interfere
with that company's short subject busi-
ness," Hammons said:
"Educational has a splendidly organized
system of exchanges, including thirty-six
branches in the United States and Canada,
which have the room and physical equip-
ment necessary for the handling of this new
line of feature pictures.
"The executive and sales staffs of the two
companies have nothing to do with each
other. World Wide will sell and exploit its
own product, for which purpose its staff is
now being organized. Outside of the addi-
tion of such inspectors, shippers and others
as may be required in some of Educational's
exchanges to take care of the increased
amount of film being handled, there is to be
no change in Educational's organization."
Fire Destroys Famous Resort's Only
Picture House; Estimated Loss $30,000
(Special to the Herald-World)
LAKE GEORGE, N. Y., Aug. 21. — The Arcade theatre, owned and operated by
Mrs. W. H. Carpenter and the only picture house here, was destroyed in a £re last
week that consumed a business block and which for a time threatened to sweep a
large section of this famous summer resort. The theatre was located in a block
owned by Mrs. Carpenter and occupied by both stores and apartments.
The fire was discovered about one o'clock in the afternoon and spread with such
rapidity that a call was sent to Glens Falls and Warrensburg, each of which re-
sponded with a pumper. Mrs. Carpenter places her loss at about $30,000, with
about one-half covered by insurance. Hundreds of summer visitors assisted in
Bghting the blaze. > . ,j ■
Pathe and FB O
Sign With RCA to
Make Sound Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— Pathe and F B O
have signed up with the Radio Corporation of
America for the production of their extensive
list of synchronized pictures. Details were
effected by Joseph P. Kennedy before he sailed
for Europe, putting to rest irresponsible
rumors that he had broken off relations with
David Sarnoff, head of RCA.
Colvin W. Brown, active head of Pathe, an-
nounced his organization as well as F B O
would have its own recording laboratory in
New York in general charge of Robert T.
Kane, who recently has been active as Ken-
nedy's representative in the RCA organization.
Brown is now conferring with William
LeBaron on sound features. Mack Sennett is
completing a deal with Photophone which will
gave Pathe a lineup of synchronized comedies.
"The King of Kings," already shown with
special sound and synchronized musical effects
at the Rivoli theatre in New York, received
considerable attention. "The Godless Girl"
will have a complete musical synchronization
and in addition there will be certain dialogue
sequences. Eight special features also have
been selected for sound accompaniment.
Editor Ray Hall of Pathe News is very
enthusiastic over the use of sound for news
films. President Amedee J. Van Beuren of
the Van Beuren Enterprises has announced
that "Aesop's Film Fables" in sound will be
available to all theatres equipped for sound
projection and that "Dinner Time," the first
fable recorded, has exceeded expectations.
Harold Lloyd to Start
Shooting September 4
On First Sound Picture
Story Is Laid in San Francisco' s
Chinatown — Seeking Feminine
Lead
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21. — After several
months of preparation Harold Lloyd is slated
to start shooting September 4 at the Metro-
politan studio in Hollywood on his latest pro-
duction and the first of the sound era. This
will be exactly five years to a day since Lloyd
started on "Girl Shy," his first feature as an
independent producer.
Where previously the bespectacled comedian
has started production with but a thread of a
story, on the current production he has spent
much more than the usual time allotted to
"preparing" in outline his story in complete
detail. This has been necessitated by the
growth of the sound picture.
While purposely avoiding the much over-
worked underworld theme, a considerable por-
tion of the new Lloyd story will be set in
San Francisco's Chinatown. Much stress will
be laid in the mystery element. Lloyd is to
be seen as the son of a famous police officer
feared yet loved by the Chinese while the boy
is more interested in flowers.
The gates are ajar for a leading woman for
Lloyd. The comedian is pursuing a policy of
selecting a new feminine lead for each picture,
and John L. Murphy, his production manager,
is preparing to make tests. Lloyd faces a
doubly hard task for the quality of her voice
will have to be considered.
Lloyd is not as yet prepared to make a
definite statement as to his plans regarding
dialogue in his films. He has given every
angle of this situation most careful scrutiny.
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
27
Kennedy Rips Up F N Contract
After Clashing Over Control
Abandons Position As Advisor;
Rossheim Takes Full Charge
Laemmle Addresses
U Berlin Convention
From Beverly Hills
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 21.— Carl Laemmle,
president of Universal, sitting in his Beverly
Hills home, addressed the German sales man-
agers and salesmen of the Universal organ-
ization, assembled at dinner at the Hotel
Kaiserhof in Berlin. It was the longest talk
ever made, although it lasted only a few
minutes. Laemmle's voice was routed by wire
across the United States, from New York by
cable, and then by land wire to Berlin. Loud
speakers in the banquet hall made his talk
heard easily. Laemmle addressed the men in
their native tongue.
This was the first time a convention speech
had been made at such a distance. It broke
by far the recent record of a sales convention
talk between London and Ohio. Due to the
difference in time between Los Angeles and
Berlin, Laemmle had to make his speech at
10 a. m., Los Angeles time, in order to catch
the salesmen at dinner in Berlin.
Joe Friedman, Universal general manager
in Europe, engineered the long distance
speech.
$350,
)flOO Net Profit of
Consolidated Film Equal
To 50 Cents on Common
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— The report of
ConsoHdated Film Industries, Inc., for the
quarter ended June 30, 1928, shows a consoli-
dated net profit of $350,032 after deductions
for depreciation, federal taxes, etc. This is
the equivalent, after dividend requirements on
the $2 participating preferred stock, to 50
cents a share on 400,000 no-par shares of com-
mon stock, comparing with $351,344 or 50
cents a share on the common in the preceding
quarter.
For the six months ended June 30, the net
profit totaled $701,376, after deductions for
depreciation, federal taxes, etc., or $1 a share
on the common stock.
Boy Dies of Burns He
Received Trying to Put
Out Fire; Theatre Razed
(Special to the Herald-World)
OKLAHOMA CITY, Aug. 21.— Herman
Mathis, 14-year-old employe of the Dow
theatre at Dow, Okla., was mortally burned
while attempting to put out a fire which
started in the theatre just as he entered the
building with films for the evening perform-
ance. The theatre and several adjoining
residences were destroyed.
A Bit of Fall Weather
Helps Summer Business
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 21.— Despite the hot
weather of last week, motion picture thea-
tres in Albany and Troy report business
as being satisfactory. When the weather
became cooler Friday night, there was an
immediate response in patronage at prac-
tically every theatre. Exhibitors declare
■that such is a forerunner of what may be
expected this fall.
Decision Follows Long Conference with Skouras, Barney
Balahan and Waddell Catchings
By PETER VISCHER
NEW YORK, Aug. 2L — After an official announcement had been issued
reporting the signing of a five-year contract with Joseph P. Kennedy by First
National Pictures, Inc., all negotiations were broken off between the two.
Kennedy sailed for Europe on the He De France on Friday and let it be known
that he was through with First National.
Had Vast Prestige, Not Free Hand
Kennedy was called in to advise First National some weeks ago, after
obtaining control of Pathe, F B O and the Keith-Albee-Orpheum Circuit. His
power seemed to be growing enormously and it was said freely that he would
bring First National, Pathe and F B O into a single great organization to rival
the existing powers of the film industry.
Those in the know were skeptical of any been acting in an advisory capacity for
such alignment, particularly when it became
known that Kennedy was not under con-
tract when he went to the West Coast to
inspect First National facilities. His posi-
tion was that of an "unofficial advisor," not
unlike America's representatives at the
League of Nations. He had vast prestige
and some power, but by no means a free
hand.
Contract Tom Up
When Kennedy came back to New York,
propositions between him and influential
members of the First National organization
flew back and forth. A five-year contract
was drawn up. Apparently things were so
nearly settled and signed on the dotted line
that an announcement was broadcast to the
effect that Kennedy had been placed under
contract.
The final meeting was set for Friday,
just before he was to be off to Europe.
After hours of negotiations he went into
conference with the powers of First Na-
tional, particularly Spyros Skouras, Barney
Balaban and Waddell Catchings. When the
conference was over, Kennedy left the room
free from all responsibility to First
National. The contract was torn up and
thrown away.
Split on Control
The disagreement between First National
and Kennedy, which may be said to have
concerned matters of control rather than of
salary, was verified by Irving D. Rossheim,
president of the corporation. He announced
today, in a cryptic typewritten statement,
that "by mutual consent the board of
directors of First National Pictures and
Joseph P. Kennedy had terminated an
agreement under which Mr. Kennedy had
First National Pictures for several months."
It is understood that Rossheim will be in
control of First National affairs for the
present. Whether some advisor other than
Kennedy will be brought into the company
could not be learned yesterday. Apparently
the company will continue to function at
top speed during any reorganization that
may be attempted.
$100,000 Company Being
Formed to Stage World
Bathing Beauty Contest
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 21.— A company
is being organized in this city with a capital
stock of $100,000, of which the major por-
tion has already been subscribed, for the
purpose of staging an international bathing
revue during the summer of 1930 on the
shores of Lake Pontchartrain. The levee
board is spending millions of dollars to im-
prove the shores of Lake Pontchartrain,
which lies a short distance from the city,
and expects to complete its work early in
the spring of 1930.
Miss Gladys Moore will direct the revue,
the title to be the Gladys Moore Interna-
tional Bathing Revue.
UFA Expedition Returns
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— U F A's expedition
to the provinces of Bessarabia and Dodrucha
of the Roumanian government has just re-
turned to Berlin with a number of unusual
pictures.
Disgruntled Employes Blamed in Attack
On Theatre; $1,200 Loot from Another
(Special to the Herald-World)
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 21. — Two Indiana theatres were broken into last week,
one by vandals said to be labor malcontents, the other by thieves.
Persons of unknown identity entered the Paramount at Kokomo during the early
morning hours, according to the police, and hurled stench bombs about, slashed the
screen to shreds and otherwise damaged the interior to the extent of several hun-
dred dollars. Trouble between the management and former employes, particularly
projectionists, is believed to be the primary cause. The theatre had been the vic-
tim of burglars just a few days previous.
The Pantheon at Vincennes was broken into by thieves, who pried off the com-
bination-wheel of the safe and escaped with $1,200.
— -- '' '
..=.,jijsm
28
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
|]T NEW YORK.— Probably the biggest
^ event of the early season was the open-
ing of "The Patriot," starring Emil Jannings,
at the Rialto. . . Why, the event got almost
as much attention as the doorman at the
Paramount.
1[No theatre ought to hire a doorman now-
adays unless they find out first if he paints,
or sings, or something. . . . He ought to be
unmarried, too, leaving all sorts of oppor-
tunities.
Vohn Spar go is beginning to flutter just a
bit about the approaching opening of the Mo-
tion Picture Club. ... It promises to be
quite an event.
^Paula Gould is off on her vacation, which
makes the telephone seem just a dull and
drab article of commerce. . . . She had the
estimable Joe E. Brown entertaining at the
Astor just before going away for the big
rest.
IfParamount is making a picture without
a single extra. . . . What's that. . . . The
trick nowadays is to make a picture without
a single sound.
HThe Hippodrome is being sold again. . . .
They've been tearing that thing down ever
since I crawled under the seats the time they
showed how Grant took Richmond, or what
have you.
1["White Shadows" seems to be packing
them in, which accounts somewhat for the
smile on Howard Dietz's countenance.
ilFan mail is costing Hollywood $2,000,000
a year. . . . We knew there must be some
reason for the big salaries. . . . Fans should
be answered on postcards. . . . No charge
for that idea.
'^Wells Root, erstwhile reporter in New York,
came to New York just long enough to get
married to the charming and beautiful Lin
Segal. . . . They'll be on their way back to
the Coast soon, provided they survive the
Great Neck weekend.
HThe South is barring "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
. . . Ho hum, I thought that war was over
anyway.
^Harry Warner hasn't sold the company
yet. . . . Apparently the Frank Munsey of the
motion picture profession hasn't arrived yet.
. . . Tell that to Mr. Joseph P. Kennedy.
1[The Roxy seems to be all set to run the
big Fox pictures for the rest of the year. . . .
or maybe it's forever. . . . The crowd just
doesn't seem to know when it's all over.
'^John S. Robertson and his wife are back
in New York, after a stop in Europe. . . .
Hunt Stromberg, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer pro-
ducer, is back too.
IfCuriously, the Shuberts are all set to give
the boys some hot competition in the talking
picture field. . . . The first thing they did was
rent the hallowed old Winter Garden to War-
ners. ... So Al Jolson can be back in the
old place.
1["Lilac Time" has its new synchronization
all installed. . . . They say it's great.
'^Padere-djski is reported to have been offered
$150,000 to play a couple of pieces for the
sound screen. . . . George Gershwin is turning
his nose up at $100,000 (and George has a
nose) for a musical piece written especially
for sound.
'^Martha Wilchinski, who runs the Roxy
more or less, is off on a vacation.
1[Jack Dempsey, the well known thespian,
has been around quite a little. . . . Apparently
he never heard of the fight business. . . . Ex-
cept maybe as a piece of publicity.
^Bruce Powell, a smart young feller if ever
there was one, has been snatched by Sam
Katz for the Publix organization.
PETER VISCHER.
1928-29 Melodrama by FB O
IN three pictures now being completed
for the 1928-29 program, F F O offers
melodrama with a variety of theme and
locale. "Singapore Mutiny" is of the sea,
"The Perfect Crime" is of the well-dressed
and felonious, while "Son of the Golden
West" is of Tom Mix — no better descrip-
tion is possible. "Singapore Mutiny" stars
Ralph Ince, with Estelle Taylor, "The
Perfect Crime" co-stars Clive Brook and
Irene Rich.
Above and at right are three
scenes from "Singapore
Mutiny," showing Ralph Ince
and Estelle Taylor.
W—'^\
1'^
*''^
4 ^
{ {
f^m
Clive Brook is shown at left in "The Perfect
Crime." Below is pictured the filming of a scene
for the Mix picture, with Tom on Tony and
Eugene Forde directing.
A
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
St. Louis Musicians Offer to
Accept $4 a Week Cut in Pay
Al Christie Weds Film
Player, Shirley Collins
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2L— Al Christie, the
noted producer of short comedies, and Shirley
Collins, Christie comedienne, were married
last Wednesday at
Yuma, Ariz. Miss
Collins' real name
was Fern Crum.
The ceremony is
the result of a studio
romance which is
said by friends to
have begun a year
ago. Mr. and Mrs.
Christie are now in
the East on a honey-
moon trip.
Miss Collins has
been appearing in
featured roles in the
comedies which
Christie makes for
the Paramount short subjects program, and
is considered one of the most beautiful players
in a field that goes in for the exploitation of
beauty very heavily.
AI Christlfl
A. 5. Davis Resigns as
Director for Stanley
(Special to the Heraid-World)
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 21.— A. S. Davis,
director of theatres of the Stanley-Davis-
Clark Corporation, has resigned. Al-
though he had not made known his future
plans, he intimated to a Herald-World rep-
resentative that he would soon again be
connected in some manner with either the
theatre or the exchange end of the business.
Davis was formerly manager of the First
National exchange here, later becoming
general manager of the Rowland and Clark
theatres, which were absorbed a year ago
by the Stanley Company.
Earl L. Crabb, district manager for Stan-
ley in Pittsburgh, has been transferred to
Philadelphia and will be succeeded here by
Frank W. Buhler.
Governor Recommends
''Greater Movie Season"
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 21.— Governor
C. C. Young of California has called upon
the people of the state to support the
"Greater Movie Season" inaugurated this
week by West Coast Theatres, Inc.
"The greater the public demand for bet-
ter motion pictures, the more pictures of
this kind we will have," he said. "Better
motion pictures mean an influence for
greater educational good, a most important
feature of our community and social life."
Dorothy Devore Loses
Patience, Gains $1,750
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 21.— Dorothy De-
vore, Educational featured comedienne, who
has been waiting a long time to play a part
according to a contract, for the Krellberg
Pictures Corporation, quit waiting last week
and collected her pay. The court in which
she had brought suit awarded her $1,750.
Move Seen As First Break in
Fight Against Sound Pictures
Projectionists* Demands Threaten Closing of Buffalo
Downtown Theatres — Get Increase at Milwaulzee
First break in the demands of organized musicians' fight against synchronized
pictures is seen in the offer of St. Louis union pit men this week to accept a
wage reduction of $4 a week. The offer was made to 58 neighborhood thea-
tres, Fred Wehrenberg announced for the exhibitors, A similar proposal was
made recently to three large theatres. Five of the large houses in St. Louis
now have sound equipment.
Buffalo Shutdown Threatened
At the same time that the St. Louis situation seemed on the way to clearing
up, the wage question with projectionists was springing to the fore in several
parts of the country. At Buffalo, N. Y., a closing of downtown theatres was
threatened in protest against their demands. Kansas City exhibitors named a
committee to confer with the booth men. The Milwaukee Theatre Owners As-
sociation agreed on a higher scale.
A deadlock has been reached at Buffalo,
according to the dispatches. Projectionists
are demanding $100 a week and seven men
in the booths. The maximum increase would
be $45 a week, the present scale being $55,
$65 and $75. The exhibitors' association,
through President H. M. Addison, has offered
a flat rate of $75 which has been turned down.
Six projectionists now are being employed
whereas the exhibitors say they could operate
efficiently with only four.
$20 Increase Offer Refused
"I feel sure that there isn't a theatre in
Buffalo that netted a single dollar last year,"
s'aid Addison, who operates the Great Lakes.
"On the verge of another season that promises
no profits, we are facing staggering demands
of union organizations. One of these units
demands an annual increase of approximately
$150,000 in the downtown theatres.
"In an effort to play fair with the union
men, the managers of leading downtown the-
atres have come to the front with an offer
of a $20 weekly increase in the operators'
envelopes but the proposal promptly was re-
jected. Sooner or later the public will have
to be called upon to meet these unfair de-
mands. Under present conditions, and I am
referring to all the prominent downtown
houses, the increases simply cannot be met
with any degree of success."
Booth Costs $270 Now
W. M. Raynor of the Lafayette theatre
pointed out that it now costs $270 weekly to
operate the Lafayette booth and if the increase
were granted this particular overhead would
soar to $500 each week.
Vincent McFaul of Shea's Buffalo charac-
terized the salary increase of $45 weekly
sought as entirely unfair.
Higher Wage Scale
Adopted at Milwaukee
(Special to the Herald-World)
MILWAUKEE, Aug. 21.— Last week
marked a very important event in theatre
circles here when motion picture projectionists
and the Milwaukee Theatre Owners Associa-
tion agreed on a higher wage scale for opera-
tors. For some time the operators have been
stating that they should have higher pay, due
to the fact that sound devices mean a lot more
work and responsibility for them.
Believe K. C. Union
Will "Listen to Reason"
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, Aug. 21.— Kansas City's
annual question — the projectionists' wage
scale — has come up again. A committee, con-
sisting of R. R. Biechele, president of the
M.P.'T.O. Kansas-Missouri; Lee Vaughn,
Neptune and New Centre theatres; E. E.
Weber, Strand, and K. S. Duncan of the
Alamo, Roanoke and Broadmour, has been ap-
pointed by the exhibitors' organization to con-
(^Continued on page 60)
Chicago Electrical Workers Still Refuse
To Work on Synchronization Installations
Electrical workers installing synchronization apparatus in Chicago theatres are
still persisting in their walkout, persisting also in keeping their purpose, beyond
the assertion that there is no wage controversy, still veiled in mystery, despite the
completion of installation at B & K houses.
Paraphernalia in the United Artists theatre, partly installed when the walkout
occurred three weeks ago, remains as it was then, although under a 24-hour agree-
ment, as reported in last week's issue, the men completed their jobs at three
Balaban & Katz houses, the Chicago, Uptown and Tivoli. The United Artists
theatre had planned to run sound pictures by this time. B & K inaugurate the
policy at the Chicago on Saturday, with Paramount's "Warming Up."
That the electrical union's walkout has all the appearances of an attempt to
discourage mechanical music in theatres, in accordance with the attitude of union
musicians, is admitted by the executives of both the theatre interests which have
been thus far most affected. James C. Petrillo, head of the Chicago musicians,
has stated that he is in no position to discuss the walkout as regards his organiza-
tion. Michael Boyle, business agent of the electrical workers, left Chicago last
week for the East, expecting to be gone more than a week.
30
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" Is Barred
From Exhibition to Atlantans
Decision Follows Conferences Between Mayor and Secretary of
Review Board After Three Days of Speculation —
Pohtical Muddle Called One Factor
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald- World]
ATLANTA, Aug. 21.— "Uncle Tom's Cabin" will not play in Atlanta. Defi-
nite announcement to that effect was made Wednesday following conferences
between Mayor L N. Ragsdale and Mrs. Alonzo Richardson, secretary of the
x\tlanta Board of Review.
Follows Private Showing to 1,100
The decision brought to an end three days of speculation wherein strong re-
sentment against the Harriet Beecher Stowe novel was revived. The whole
thing started Sunday afternoota when 1,100 people attended a private showing
of the picture at Loew's Grand, as the especially invited guests of Carl Laemmle
and Universal Pictures Corporation.
There was no demonstration during or
following the screening, but there was
plenty of discussion. How strong the feel-
ing against the picture mounted is indi-
cated in the fact that a group of women
called upon the mayor Monday morning
and asked him to take a hand in the matter.
Call Exhibition Unwise
As secretary of the local Board of Re-
view, Mrs. Richardson appealed to the
mayor to aid the board in suppressing the
showing of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in Atlanta.
Sentiment generally was to the effect that
an exhibition of the picture would be
unwise.
It was pointed out that the story itself
is not only highly emotional, but that it
paints a false and exagp-erated picture of
the South and the institution of slavery,
making an isolated case of brutality appear
as typical, and that there could be no ex-
cuse for perpetuating the story that had
served as a firebrand to plunge this country
into the War Between the States.
Political Situation Held Factor
Many who saw the picture declared that
there could never be any excuse for pre-
senting "Uncle Tom's Cabin," but they
emphasized the point that the already high
tension existing in this section between
white Democrats and black Republicans
and the political complications incident to
the pending presidential election argued
mightily against a public showing of the
picture at this time.
Following the final conferences held in
the mayor's office Wednesday it was defi-
nitely announced that "Uncle Tom's Cabin"
will not be shown in Atlanta.
United Artists Names
Release Dates for 5
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— David Wark
Griffith's "The Battle of the Sexes" will be
released nationally October 13; Norma Tal-
madge's "The Woman Disputed" will be dis-
tributed October 20 ; and November 3rd is the
M G M to Make Film
With All-Negro Cast
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD. Aug. 2L—King
VidoT announced yesterday that he
soon will direct a picture for M G M
which will contain an all-negro cast.
It will be made in Georgia. Nothing
official has been said about sound, but
it is thought a great opportunity lies
in this production for negro folk
songs.
date set for Dolores del Rio's "Revenge." All
three of these United Artists pictures, which
are completed, will be synchronized.
John Barrymore's "Tempest" is set for na-
tional release August 25, with synchronized
prints, while "Two Lovers," the final Colman-
Banky picture, goes out to the country Sep-
tember 7, also with sound.
Beauties to Be Picked
For F B O'Macfadden
Contest Finals Aug, 25
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— Eliminations in
the "American Venus Beauty Contest"
sponsored by F B O and conducted in
Physical Culture Magazine, New York Eve-
ning Graphic and the Philadelphia Daily
News, will be held in the Loew Houses
August 25. Over 5,000 girls have participated
in the contest, which started several months
ago. The winner will be awarded a trip to
Hollywood with her chaperone and a ten
week contract by F B O at $150 a week. In
the event that she makes good, she will be
retained permanently on the F B 0 lot, it is
stated.
The contest is open until August 31. Girls
wishing to participate must send their photo-
graphs taken in a bathing suit to Venus Con-
test Editor, Macfadden Publications, 1926
Broadway, New York, with name, address,
coloring, height, weight, neck, bust, arm, leg,
waist and wrist rneasurements noted on the
back of the photograph. Age restrictions are
between 16 and 25.
The judges will be William Le Baron, vice-
president of F B O in charge of production ;
Bernarr Macfadden, Major Edward Bowes,
Florenz Ziegfeld, Ruth Eastman and Brad-
shaw Crandell, the latter two artists.
Signs to Write for M G M
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 21.— Bess Mere-
dyth, screen author of "Sea Beast," "Don
Juan" and other notable masterpieces, this
week signed with M G M to write scenarios
for a period of years. She recently com-
pleted "A Woman of Affairs" for the com-
pany.
Clayton Sheehan Sails
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— Clayton Sheehan
is on his annual tour of Europe as manager of
the foreign department of Fox. He returns
the middle of October.
At the New York
Theatres
NEW FILMS
PARAMOUNT — "The First Kiss," a Paramount pro-
duction featuring Fay Wray and Gary Cooper,
directed by Rowland V. Lee.
HIPPODROME — "Beware of Blondes," featuring
Matt Moore, Roy D'Arcy and Dorothy Revier.
CAMEO^ — "Two Brothers," a U F A picture featur-
ing Conrad Veidt.
STRAND^"Out of the Ruins," a First National pro-
duction starring Richard Barthelmess, directed by
Francis Dillon.
CAPITOL — "Four Walls," a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
starring John Gilbert and Joan Crawford, directed
by William Nigh.
HELD OVER AND REVIVED
ROXY — "Four Sons," a Fox production, Movietone,
revived August 11th.
CRITERION — "Wings," Paramount, opened August
12, 1927.
GLOBE — "The Red Dance," Fox, opened June 25.
ASTOR — "White Shadows in the South Seas," Merto-
Goldwyn-Mayer, opened August 1.
CENTRAL — "Lilac Time," First National, opened
August 3.
RIVOLI— "The Perfect Crime," F B O, opened Au-
gust 4.
FIFTH AVENUE PLAYHOUSE— "Crime and Pun-
ishment," Moscow Art Theatre players, opened Au-
gust 11.
EMBASSY — "The Scarlet Lady," Columbia, opened
August 14.
WARNER— "The Terror," Warner Brothers all talk-
ing picture, opened August IS.
RIALTO — "The Patriot," Paramount, opened August
17.
GAIETY — "Lost in the Arctic," Fox, opened July 25.
Sunday Shows Lose in
Ohio Town Referendum
By 1,539 to 2,059 Vote
(Special to the Herald-World)
ASHLAND, O., Aug. 21.— The referen-
dum held in this city August 14 on the
question of repealing the Sunday closing
law as it applied to motion oicture theatres,
resulted in defeat for Sunday shows by a
vote of 1,539 to 2,059. Only three of the
17 precincts in the city voted in favor of
repeal. The vote was exceptionally large.
The Ashland Theatre Owners Associa-
tion, headed by Fred Edwards, chairman,
and Harry Carl, secretary, pushed the cam-
paign for repeal.
Valentino Suit Ends
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 21.— Private settle-
ment of the suit of Alberto Gugglielmi and
Mary Valentino against George Ullman is be-
lieved the reason for the withdrawing of the
action over the Valentino estate from the
superior court calendar.
INCORPORATIONS
ALBANY.— Six companies incorporated in New
York state the past week. These companies included:
Wildhone Productions, Inc., capitalized at $50,000,
with Sidney Kalfus, Bertha Safier, Rae Monsky, of
Brooklyn; Hyman Productions, Inc., $20,000, Hor-
tensem Florence and Lionel Hyman, New York City;
Arden Productions Co., Inc., William Edelson, Louis
Feldman, Emma Dresdner, New York City; E. & L.
Theatrical Corporation, $25,000, Lewis and Elies
Moses, Hanna Graubord, Stapleton, L. I.; Kader
Productions, Inc., Merwin F. DeVine. Albert E.
Marks, Herman Roth, New York City; Brown, Pow-
ell & Deering, Inc., $40,000, Arthur G. Brown, George
T. Powell, Ralph H. Deering, Lewiston, N. Y.
Radin Books Stanley House
WASHINGTON.— Gotham's "United 51.1165 Smith"
has been booked into Stanley-Crandall's Metropolitan
by Matty Radin.
"Felix the Cat" Has Now
Become Music Record
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— Paul
Whiteman and his band have made a
Columbia record, "Felix The Cat," a
song and instrumental number in-
spired by the "Felix the Cat" ani-
mated cartoon comedies released by
Educational.
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
Fox Productions Help
Fete 25th Birthday by
Ringing Cash Register
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— The Silver Anni-
versary year of Fox, which officially began
August 19, is proving to be one more than
in name, according to that company's busi-
ness reports. Last week John Ford's "Four
Sons" did the greatest business in the his-
tory of the Roxy theatre, grossing $143,906.
A four weeks run of "Street Angel" did
more than $480,000.
The records of theatres in four West
Coast states were broken a week ago by
four Fox pictures, "Street Angel," "Fazil,"
"The Red Dance" and "Four Sons." "Sun-
rise" played to $80,000 in four weeks at the
Roosevelt, Chicago.
Two more specials are to come, "The Air
Circus" and "Mother Knows Best." Both
have Movietone synchronizations, while
"Mother Knows Best" has talking se-
quences.
Paramount Declares $2
On Common; to Arrange
Stock Split-Up Sept. 26
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— The board of di-
rectors of Paramount has declared the regu-
lar quarterly dividend of $2 per share on
the common stock, payable October 1, 1928,
to stockholders of record at the close of
business September 7, 1928. The books will
not close, it is stated.
The board has selected September 26,
1928, as the date for concluding arrange-
ments for the proposed split-up of the com-
mon stock on a three-for-one basis. Cer-
tificates may be surrendered to the transfer
agent at any time thereafter.
1928 Shows Increase in
Censorship in Germany
(Washington Bureau Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21.--Censorship
of feature films in Germany during the first
six months of 1928 showed a considerable
increase over the corresponding period of
last year, according to a report to the de-
partment of commerce. During this period,
299 long features were censored, as com-
pared with 246 during the first six months
of 1927, or an increase of 53 features.
The American share of the 299 films was
140, or 46.8 per cent, as compared with 42
per cent during the first half of 1927. The
German share, on the other hand, was 160
films, or 38.8 per cent, as compared with
40.5 per cent during the first half of 1927.
On the other hand, foreign feature films
other than American censored during the
1928 period, totaled 14.3 per cent, as com-
pared with 17.5 per cent for the first six
months of 1927, a decline of slightly over
3 per cent.
New York's Film Center
Begins to Look Like One
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— The Film Center
Building is rapidly assuming its identity as a
film building. Each day as the structure pro-
ceeds towards completion, the special features
which take it out of the class of ordinary
buildings, become more prominent. The net
work of flues, the film vaults, projection
rooms, shipping and inspection rooms, imme-
diately typify it as a made to order building
for the film industry.
Abe N. Adelson, president of Film Center,
Inc., owners of the building, states that the
building will be completed ahead of schedule.
Censoring Sound May Prompt
Referendum, Pettijohn Warns
Film That Will Picture and Record in One Is Coming Within 18
Months, Portland, Ore., City Council Is Told — K. C.
Censors Demand Dialogue Be Submitted
[By Special Correspondeilt of the Herald-World]
PORTLAND, ORE., Aug. 21.— Threat that the motion picture industry will
undertake a referendum on the entire question of censorship, if Portland and
other large cities in the Pacific Northwest try to censor the new talking pic-
tures, was made before the city council by C. C. Pettijohn of New York, gen-
eral counsel for the Film Boards of Trade.
"We have tried that in two or three places and have not lost yet," Pettijohn
declared. "We believe that the motion picture industry is now as clean as any
other business, and cleaner than some. We do not believe in censorship because
we do not believe it necessary. Your city has censorship, and of course that is
your own afifair
"With the advent of the new talking pic-
tures, which are synchronized, the picture
with the record, we believe that a new
problem has arisen. Within 18 months we
will have a film that will picture and record
in one. When that time comes we will take
the position that censorshin on such pic-
tures will be unnecessary and impossible,
and if censorship is insisted upon it may
be necessary to ask a referendum on the
whole question."
Permission was granted Pettijohn to out-
line to the city council the stand of the
industry, taken because of the revolution in
the industry that new pictures will bring
about.
K. C. Censors Demand
Copies of Spoken Words
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, Aug. 21.--Hollywood
directors might as well be notified now as
later that they should be careful of the
words thev put into the mouths of a villain
or scoundrel in talking motion pictures.
Yes, the Kansas State Censor Board must
know and hear all. Copies of the words in
talking pictures must accompany the films
when they are sent to the censor's office,
Miss Emma M. Viets, chairman of the cen-
sorship board, has announced.
one at Bloomington, one at Bedford, two at
Greencastle and two at Crawfordsville. He
takes possession of the Crawfordsville
theatres September 1.
Robert Mellis, who has been manager of
the Liberty theatre at Washington, Ind.,
will go to Crawfordsville as assistant
manager of the enterprises there.
The Liberty theatre in Washington, Ind.,
will be operated under lease by the McCarrell
enterprises, owners of the Indiana theatre, in
the future, and the Granada theatre in Green-
castle, owned by the same company, has been
leased to Vonderschmitt. Under the new sys-
tem, Vonderschmitt will control the Green-
castle theatres, and the McCarrell Enterprises
will have charge of the Washington houses.
Vonderschmitt Adds 2
To His Indiana String
(Special to the Herald-World)
INDIANAPOLIS. Aug. 21.— Two thea-
tres in Crawfordsville, Ind., the Strand and
Art, have been added to the string of
Indiana playhouses controlled by Harry P.
Vonderschmitt. With the addition of these,
Vonderschmitt has an interest in six houses.
Texas Guinan to Play
Texas Guinan in Talky
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— Warner Brothers
has signed Texas Guman, this town's best
idea of a "clubwoman," to a contract which
calls for her to appear in a Vitaphone all-
talking picture.
The title will be "Queen of the Night
Clubs," a story written especially for her by
Addison Burkhart and Murray Roth. The
script, from which Bryan Foy will direct, is
now in preparation.
Logan Estate $20,000
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— The entire estate
of "over $20,000" of Thomas F. Logan, of
Lord, Thomas and Logan, was willed to his
wife.
MP TO Offers $1,000 Reward to Find
Flinger of Stench Bomb in Labor Fight
(Special to the Herald-M^orld)
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 21.— -Payment of a $1,000 reward for the apprehension of
the person or persons who threw the "stench bomb" in the Brentwood theatre
here, August 9, has been authorized at a special meeting of the M P T O of West-
ern Pennsylvania. The bomb was thrown during the evening performance and is
believed to have been the result of a dispute in connection with the employment
of a union miner as projectionist, instead of a member of the operators' union.
Four hundred persons were forced to leave the theatre.
Shortly after the incident, Mrs. John E. Snyder, wife of the proprietor of the
theatre, who was selling tickets, answered a telephone call and was informed that
the theatre would be bombed. An all-night vigil by police prevented the carrying
out of this threat.
Snyder, who has conducted the theatre for the past three years, was approached
recently by a man who represented himself as business agent of the operators'
union. He ordered Snyder to hire a member of the local operators union. The
latter refused.
"Why should I discharge him? He does his work and had been here before I
bought the place," Snyder is reported to have said, and the stench bombing is be-
lieved the result.
32
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
Amateur Cameraman Qets Break
On Flier^s Midocean Crash
Aboard Liner When SOS from Courtney Is Snatched from Air — Gets
Complete Pictures of Rescue
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21. — An amateur cameraman, a 16-millimeter ma-
chine, a disappointing European search for thrills — ^then an SOS.
And F. A. D. Hancock had the "break" which every newspaper man
prays for but has no hope of experiencing. Hundreds of theatres showed the
film through Pathe News.
HANCOCK was returning from overseas, used by a number of the independent houses
aboard the S S Minnewaska, when Frank in the state of Washington.
Courtney began his ill-fated flight toward Exhibitors who have joined the associa-
American shores. There was no connection tion during the past week are Carlin & But-
between the facts at that time. Hancock had ler, operating the Senate in Portland; and
made many a picture, but all for his own fun L. E. Partridge, who operates the Coliseum
and that of his friends. He had developed at Tilamook, Ore.
his own technique and had gone to Europe to
try it out on foreign subjects. Interesting,
truly enough, were the shots he had taken,
but that was all.
On Liner as S O S Comes
While the Minnewaska was in midocean
there came the faint call for help from the
radio of the British flier and his comrades,
forced down with their plane ablaze. The
liner went to the rescue, but it was eighteen
hours of battling with the waves for the air-
men before the steamer reached the scene.
It was Hancock's chance, and how he did
avail himself of it! He was cranking his Cine
when the crew lowered the lifeboat. He was
still at it when the craft drew up beside the
plane. He was grinding while the fliers were
being rescued from the water-ridden aircraft
and while the boat was being hauled to the
deck of the steamship.
Turns Over Films to Pathe News
Hancock turned over the films to Pathe
News on his arrival. They were developed,
raised to standard size, and immediately re-
leased to all parts of the world.
Pathe News gave the amateur cameraman
full credit, in the newsreel, in its publicity
and in a check. But the thrill is what Han-
cock will remember long after the check has
gone the way of all checks.
Six Pictures Assigned
To Pathe's Bern Unit;
"Geraldine" Initial One
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 21.— Productions
assigned tentatively to the unit of Paul
Bern, former M G M executive who recently
joined Pathe, are "Noisy Neighbors,"
"Square Shoulders," "The Flying Fool,"
"Listen, Baby" and "The Getaway." "Ger-
aldine" has been definitely assigned as the
first picture, featuring Eddie Quillan and
Jeanette Loff.
The other productions will have one or
more of these players: Junior Coghlan, Wil-
liam Boyd, Lina Basquette, George Duryea
and Robert Armstrong.
Houses Book Clara Bow,
Pauline Frederick Films
From New Owner Group
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., Aug. 21.— The
Northwest Independent Exhibitors' Asso-
ciation, through its secretary, J. J. Fleming,
announces that "My Lady of Whims," with
Clara Bow, has been taken for first run by
Pantages; for second run, by The Rivoli,
and for a later run, by the new Capitol.
It is also announced that Pauline Fred-
erick in "The Nest" will be shown at the
Capitol in the near future, and later will be
M P T O Commemorates
Nathan Friedherg Death
(Special to the Herald-World)
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 21.— The M P T O of
Western Pennsylvania, commemorated the
passing of Nathan Friedberg, member of the
organization's board of directors who died
recently, with a resolution sent to Friedberg's
family and to the press. The statement says
in part:
"Be it resolved that we make public ex-
pression of the high esteem in which our
fellow member was held and attest in this
permanent form our recognition of those fine
qualities of personal character and business
integrity which endeared him to all with
whom he came in contact."
h
Towns Give Free Shows
To Attract Shoppers
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 21.— Many of the
smaller villages in New York state
are providing free shows one night
each week and attracting thousands of
persons from the surrounding coun-
try. The merchants keep their stores
open on such nights and they report
business as being brisk. One night
last week over 10,000 persons flocked
to the village of Schoharie for the
free pictures. A large sheet was
erected in the center of the city and
on this the pictures were thrown.
Paramount to Release
'*Soul of France" in U, S.
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— "The Soul of
France," produced by Jacques Haik on the
battlefields of the Great War and already
distributed as "La Grande Epreuve" in France,
and England as well as in Belgium, Egypt and
Holland, will be released in the United States
and Canada by Paramount.
Biechele Routs Illness
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, Aug. 21.— R. R. Bie-
chele, president of the M. P. T. O. Kansas-
Missouri, who has been confined to his
home because of illness, is back on the job
again — just in time to allow Mrs. June Med-
calf, his secretary, to go on her vecation
to southern Missouri.
WiUiam DeMiUe Weds
Scenarist Aboard Train
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBUQUERQUE. Aug. 21.— Wil-
liam DeMiUe, director and brother
of Cecil DeMiUe, and Clara Beran-
ger, scenarist, were married aboard
a westbound Santa Fe train as it
stopped here last Tuesday, The di-
rector arrived here from Los An-
geles to meet his bride, who was
returning to Hollywood from New
York. They returned to the Coast
together.
Fox to Start Work
Soon on $1,250,000
Building at Camden
Fox will start work within a few weeks
on a theatre and office building at Hudson
and Federal streets, Camden, N. J., op-
posite the new $6,000,000 city hall and court-
house. Lackey & Hettel, Camden archi-
tects, have drafted plans for the structure.
The building and equipment, it is estimated,
will cost about $1,250,000.
The Royal at New Castle, Del., has been taken
over by E. F. Goldhahn, Inc., and the Rialto at Lew-
iston. Pa., by Mrs. Mary Check. The Comerford
circuit opened the new Parsons at Parsons, Pa., last
week, after closing the old Parsons. . . .
S. J. Stebbins has been appointed managing director
of the new Fox theatre at Detroit, W. S. Scott house
manager and treasurer, and Meyer Davis in charge
of the 70-piece orchestra. Remodeling of the Ashland
at Wellington, Kan., is to be completed by September
1. At Ravenna, Ohio, the Ravenna Theatres, Inc.,
has been incorporated by B. D. Gordon, E. L. Mueller
and C. R. Berne. . . .
Harold Evans has been transferred from Kansas
City to be manager of Loew's Grand in Atlanta.
Otto Lang has been shifted to the Riviera at Mil-
waukee and Leo Ames has taken Lang's place as
manager of the Venetian. Contracts have beeti com-
pleted for construction of a Spanish theatre in the
new Masonic Temple at Henderson, Ky., with Princi-
pal Theatres Corporation holding the theatre lease.
Vitaphone will be installed. The Empress and the
Bleich at Owensboro are to be remodeled. . . .
R. N. Smith's Mission at Mission, Tex., has been
remodeled, as are the Palace at Dallas and the Lyric
at Greensville, Tex. Southland Theatres has pur-
chased the Palace at Dilly, Tex. The Palace at
Merkel, Tex., opens soon. Frank Jungemann is con-
structing a new house at Falfurrias, Tex. The Palace
at Royce has reopened after a fire. Marion Amuse-
ment Company has been incorporated at Oklahoma
City. . . .
Jules B. Reisman is to be manager of West Coast's
houses at Bremerton, Wash. Golden State Theatre
and Realty Company will open the Parkside in San
Francisco early next month. H. A. Stone plans a
SOO-seat house at McGill, Nev. Redwood Theatres
has taken over the Liberty and United at Fort Bragg,
Cal. A H & O will open the 1, SOO-seat Amazon thea-
tre in San Francisco about September 1, while at
Pittsburg, Cal., a $100,000 theatre is to be con-
structed. John Hamrick has completed negotiations
for the Liberty at Portland, Ore. He will redecorate
and reopen it in October as the Music Box, with
sound equipment.
Change Two Directors
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 21.— Scott R. Dunlap
is directing "One Stolen Night" for Warner
Brothers and John Adolfi "Fancy Baggage,"
a reversal from original assignment.
Jannings Signs Again
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 21. — Paramount
again has the signature of Emil Jannings,
German star who now is making "Sins of the
Fathers."
FB O All Set in Philippines
NEW YORK.— Acme Films, Inc., of Manila has
signed with Ambrose S. Dowling, manager of F B O
Export Corporation, to distribute all F B O product
in the Philippines.
Warners Sign Shackelford
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— Warner Brothers
has signed Floyd Shackelford to appear in two
pictures.
August 25, 1928 .
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
33
V^
Film News
in Pictures
PICTORIAL SECTION
Stories Told
by the Camera
Three intimately connected with the success of
Colleen Moore's new First National vehicle,
"Lilac Time," at the Carthay Circle, Los An-
geles. They are Roy Miller, advertising man-
ager; Fred Miller, managing director; and John
McCormick, husband of the star and producer.
Meet Billy, maid of the comedies —
Educadonal's Ideal comedies, to be
exact. Her last name? Lehman.
And now Billy Lohman, not these
words, deserves your attention.
Chips off the old block? Harry Rapf, MGM
studio executive, is shown with his two sons in
a snap-shot recently taken at his home. Rapf is
now in New York making screen and voice tests
for prospective MGM sound pictures, of both
the long and short variety.
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And still the camera brings us American film folks abroad. Hunt
Stromberg, MGM supervisor, is this one overtaken by the pho-
tographer, as he paused in his European travels to observe people
and affairs at the UFA studio in Neubabelsberg, Germany. Strom-
berg is shown at the left, with Albert Sander of UFA, who stands
between Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan of Australia.
If you go in for the collection of "big names," ^lere's a thrilling
picture for you. Pictured on M G M's "War in the Dark" set, are
Fred Niblo, the director; Phoebe Foster, star of "The Trial of
Mary Dugan"; Guthrie McClintic, the stage director; Kathryn Cor-
nell, celebrated stage actress; Conrad Nagel, film star; and Bayard
Veiller, famous playwright and stage producer.
1
34
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
Note the grace. And here's why: Louise Brooks,
Paramount featured player, whom we present
about to make a vigorous return at tennis, used
to be a dancer on the stage. And the result in
this instance is action as the "still" camera rarely
catches it.
Above: The wonders of
the little disc with the big
voice are shown in the
process of being explained
to Virginia Lee Corbin.
The explainers are Mike
Simmons, Gotham's min-
nesinger; Arthur E.
Schwartz, Miss Corbin's
attorney; and Alexander,
WPCH announcer. Miss
Corbin has started a tour
with Gotham's "Bare
Knees," in which she stars,
making personal appear-
Left: A demonstration of
the perils of great phys-
ical magnitude. Also
illustrating the classic ob-
servation, "It never rains
but it pours." Being
somewhat huge, Oliver
Hardy thus pays the price
thereof, with Stan Laurel,
his fellow comedian in
Roach-M G M shorts, and
their sister comedienne,
Mary Byron, confirming
the alleged fact that bur-
dens never come singly.
The title of this one is: "The Noble Art of Make-
up; or, assistances bestowed on one featured come-
dienne by another." At left is Muriel Evans, leading
woman in Educational Ideal comedies; at right,
Estelle Bradley, feminine lead in Educational comics
of the Mermaid brand.
Two scenes from Buck Jones' first independent
production, "The Big Hop," an air thriller. Buck
is shown at left before the said hop, taking leave
of Jobyna Ralston, his leading woman; and above,
again with Miss Ralston.
^^mA.
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
35
This, we suggest, is an international afiair. For
the gentleman is the great German actor and
Paramount star, Emil Jannings, at his American
home, with his four chinese pets, (left to right)
Wu Pei-fu, Chiang Kai-shek, Lady Chang and Sun
Yat Sen.
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What, what? Is slap-srick ceasing to be low-comedy?
And yet, with everything else going up these days,
slap-sdck dares be as elevating as possible. This is a
case in point — Al St. John atop a skyscraper for an
Educational comedy scene, with Stephen Roberts
directing.
Above: Mary Pickford
points to the spot where
for many years the Pick-
ford curls resided. And
other matters of impor-
tance in this picture are
those in it, three super-
celebrities visiting the Par-
amount studio, and Bebe
Daniels, Paramount star.
Though it must be un-
necessary, we'll name
them — Marion Davies,
Constance Talmadge, Bebe
and "America's Sweet-
heart."
Right: Star and feminine
lead in a feature-length
comedy made by the
Prince Film Producing
Company. Cassio, Ital-
ian comedian, heads the
cast of "Whom Am I?"
in which he is supported
by Natacha Rambova,
widow of Valentino, who
is shown with Cassio here.
The picture is the first of
a series being directed by
John L. McCutcheon.
Two scenes from a new Universal vehicle for
Reginald Denny. The picture is "The Night
Bird." At right Denny is shown in the midst of
battle at a masquerade, and above with his fem-
inine lead, Betsy Lee.
L
J
36
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
Tell Public How Sound Film Clicks!
Tell your public how the apparatus clicks that gives them the marvel of synchronized motion pictures. It
should create additional interest and should build up new patronage — and that means increased reve-
nue. That is this department's answer to the question of H. D. Barnes, of the Rialto theatre at Burlington,
Iowa, who asks: "Should the public be acquainted with the mechanism?"
Synchronism has brought far more to
the motion picture theatre than a new
diversion to the regular theatregoer.
To him it is true that the sound pro-
duction is another thrill. It has brought
a quickened pulse to those who were
satisfied with the silent picture, and has
made them stronger-than-ever enthu-
siasts.
Peps Up Appetite
, There are those also — and a bit of
candidness at this point will not be
amiss — whose appetites have become a
trifle jaded by the week-by-week dish
of productions. Not that they are en-
tirely justified in their attitude, for it
is indeed a shortsighted patron, par-
ticularly in the cities, who cannot shop
around and find a good motion picture
whenever he starts for an evening's
screen entertainment. In the small
towns, however, more than one exhibi-
tor in the past season has complained
at the comparative mediocrity of week-
l|»y-week program product. These ex-
hibitors are reflecting the opinions of
their audiences.
. To such patrons, then, the sound pic-
ture presents immediately the avenue
to a revived interest in the screen. To
them the sound picture means truly
sound entertainment. Of course the
synchronized production has yet to
reach the small town patrons, but they
are going to the large town to see
them, many of these patrons, and they
are demanding them of their local ex-
hibitors, as letters to this department
from theatre owners abundantly tes-
tify.
Their Day Coming
Furthermore, the end of the season
of 1929-30 will see the sound equipment
quite well established in small theatres,
if the predictions of both producers and
makers of the apparatus are borpe out.
What such patrons have not seei^'-jn
theatres they have rqad in newspapers
and magazines, a^d the entire subjedt
is a keen and imthediate one to them.
'■' Hence the reawakened interest among
1)hat class.
The third and probably most impor-
tant group concerned at the moment
includes those who rarely attend the
motion picture theatre and those who
through either a kink in their own
makeup or faulty exploitation have de-
liberately passed by the screen in their
search for entertainment. The name of
this type is legion, despite the fact that
the motion picture has crowded both
legitimate stage and vaudeville into the
background of popular favor.
This class at once represents the
greatest objective of field work of the
industry today, and by that same token
presents the greatest problem of ex-
ploitation. To the non-theatregoer the
synchronized motion picture is a chal-
lenge. Why is it that in the main the
sound films of the new season's prod-
uct are attracting attendance which is
setting new totals on the books? Is it
because the pictures themselves are so
much better than their predecessors?
Granting that in general the product
is better, we doubt that even that is the
complete answer. We believe that the
invention itself is a considerable fac-
tor. Furthermore, we believe that a
sizeable share of that increased attend-
ance comes from the non-theatregoing
class.
Hardest to Reach
That class includes socalled high-
brows who until the advent of synchro-
nization had refused to follow the
progress of the motion picture away
West Coast Managers
Get Manual on Sound
Detailed and complete informa-
tion regarding installation and op-
eration of Movietone and Vita-
phone equipment is contained in
a manual which is distributed by
West Coast Theatres, Inc., to each
theatre showing synchronized pic-
tures.
F. H. Richardson, editor of the
Better Projection department of
BETTER THEATRES, is the
author of an article on "Cleaning
Movietone Film," which appears in
the manual.
from the nickelodeon days. This group
wants to know the why of things, has
to be shown. Will such a patron be
kept in line simply by the fact of seeing
and hearing a picture at the same time?
He will not. He will demand the in-
formation, and if his own theatre does
not supply it he will go to the theatre,
newspaper or popular magazine that
will. And as in any other matter per-
taining to the industry, which is the
better source of correct information,
the newspaper or the theatre itself?
Romance of Sound
At the same time, this does not mean
that the theatre owner must become an
encyclopedia of sound. No one be-
lieves there would be anything accom-
plished by handing out manuals of
sound equipment and installation at
the door, nothing accomplished, that is,
except an epidemic of trypanosomiasis,
which would be a manual's way of say-
ing "sleeping sickness."
The story of the romance of sound
equipment is yet to be written, and
when it is written it will be as intri-
guing as the story of the motion picture
itself. Flashes of that romance, how-
ever, can be written by any wideawake
exhibitor and written for the theatre-
goer to the enhancepient of the box
office. Who would not be interested
in the fact that a wavy line on the mar-
gin of a motion picture film determin-
ing the presentation of the spoken
word at the exact mdtneht the speaker's
lips open on the screen? Who would
not be interested by a 'Simple, every-
day-man's-language description of how
a wave of- sound can be Houdini-ed intO'
a wave of light, and then switched back
into sound in the theatre, a change that
would make a chameleon'ashamed of
himself? ^;
Illusion Saved-
And we are taking int6 full con-
sideration the traditional fact that the
entire life of the screen is prefaced by
creating an illusion and maintaining-
that illusion. Interesting explanation
of the operation of the sound equip-
{Continued on page 38)
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
How RCA Photophone Times Synchronism
Exact timing of picture and sound is photographed and fixed in the RCA Photophone system, a detailed description
of the synchronization device shotvs. While the sound accompaniment may be musical, such as the recording of an or-
chestra or band, it may also be in the form of incidental sound effects. Four illustrations of the descriptive article
appear on this an in the continuation of the article, on Page 54. ^
THE component elements of a Photophone
film are shown in Figure 1. Examination
will show that this picture has the same pro-
portions of height to width as the standard
motion picture. On the right side of this il-
lustration is shown the type of sound record
used by RCA Photophone. It will be seen that
this is a narrow black band, the inner edge of
which (that nearest to the picture) has a
wavy outline. This outline constitutes a faith-
ful record of the air vibrations in the original
music or speech. Its minute and complex con-
tours are literally the permanent and accurate
signature of the original sound waves. The
combined picture and sound record shown
demonstrates how picture and sound are
bound together on every RCA Photophone
film.
One advantage of the variable width sound
track is the comparative independence from
extreme precision of exposure during the
recording or printing of the film and from ex-
actness in time of development of either the
negative or positive.
The exact timing of picture and sound is
photographed and fixed regardless of any han-
dling of the film or the projector and irre-
spective of any cutting or splicing of the film.
A few frames of film can be lost and the film
be spliced without any noticeable effect on
either the picture or the sound reproduction.
In brief, RCA Photophone films are just as
flexibly handled and as simply projected a
product as ordinary "silent films."
Interchangeability
RCA Photophone projectors have the sound
head mounted below the picture-projection
head and as the sound is twenty frames ahead
of the picture it is interchangeable with other
synchronous sound-picture systems such as
Movietone.
The four principal types of RCA Photo-
phone equipment for theatres have the follow-
ing type designations, and will serve audiences
of the following number of persons in any
average auditorium or theatre :
Type A up to 6,000 persons
B up to 3,000 persons
C up to 1,500 persons
D up to 750 persons
The preceding ratings are conservative and
may be exceeded in some cases. This equip-
J
V
V. W •V.f.'.g'-'
k
Figure 1.
Invents Device to
Adjust Synchronism
An invention for compensating
for any error in synchronization
has brought a provisional patent
to Charles Goreley of Canterbury.
The principle is explained as fol-
lows :
If the record is, say, a quarter
of a turn in advance of the posi-
tion required for correct synchro-
nization, the arm carrying the
sound-box could be moved a
quarter of a turn forward by the
device, the current being tempo-
rarily switched off while the ad-
justment is being made. Rotating
the arm sufficiently often in the
required direction would bring ad-
justment of any degree of error.
r
ment is designed to give spectacular effects
when such are called for, and it therefore has
a considerable over-load capacity.
The projector is rugged and of the highest
grade, and is shown in Figure 2. The sound
reproducing head plays all existing types of
synchronized sound films. The entire gear sys-
tem of the projector runs quietly in a forced-
feed oil bath, thereby insuring long life for
the gears and quiet operation, together with
freedom from the annoyances incident to fre-
quent overhauling of the projector. The film
is carefully shielded from oil or dust in this
projector. The film path is clearly indicated
by conspicuous guide lines within the machine,
to facilitate rapid and accurate threading. The
optical system is of the highest quality.
Through special arrangements of the optical
system and position of the shutter, flickerless
projection is obtained without overheating of
the film. An important advantage claimed for
the RCA Photophone projector is that the
heating of the film is considerably less than
in most other projectors, thereby preventing
buckling of the film, lack of registration and
blurring of the image on the screen, and in-
jury to the quality of the sound produced.
The path of the sound light beam which in
the j)rojector, passes through the slit optical
system and film sound track, falls on the pho-
to-electric cell. In this cell the varying light
gives rise to the electric currents which, after
being greatly magiiified by the amplifiers used
in this system, operate the loudspeakers that
reproduce the original sound on the stage. The
action of reproducing the sound is instan-
taneous, and the sound reproducing system is
entirely automatic in operation.
The lights which are used to illuminate the
sound track are provided in duplicate, and if
one burns out during a performance, the touch
of a lever brings a second prefocused lamp
into position and lights it on automatically
without causing interruption in the perform-
ance.
Amplifiers
The initial amplifier is connected to the out-
put of the photo-electric cell, and amplifies
this output electrically through a series of
vacuum tubes until sufficient power is avail-
able to operate the final or power amplifier.
The initial amplifier is always placed in the
projection room in a convenient location, gen-
erally at a porthole, so that the projectiojiisj.
at the amplifier control board may view the
screen. The placing of the equipment will be
different for each installation because of locaB
conditions. A typical arrangement of equip-
ment is shown in Figures 3 and 4. (Page 54),
The amplifier shown in Figure 3 represents-
a product developed following extensive ex-
perience in the construction of high quality
high power amplifiers. In all sizes of RCA
Photophone equipment larger than Type D the
initial amplifier is provided in duplicate. These
initial amplifiers are handled like an ordinary
radio receiver, and consequently it takes very
little time for the projectionist to master the
few adjustments of such equipment. In all
forms of the final power amplifier, the equip-
ment is open and accessible, permitting easy
replacement of the vacuum tubes when neces-
sary.
An important point in these equipments is
that by the use of special circuits and group-
ing of unit parts, the burning out of an in-
dividual tube or even the unusual development
of a fault in an amplifier unit in general does
not stop operation but merely modifies either
the quality or the volume of the sound to some
extent, thereby directing the attention of the
projectionist to the need for a tube replace-
ment or other change in operation without,
however, totally interrupting the performance.
RCA Radiotrons are used in all Photophone
equipment.
Loud Speakers
The final or power amplifier supplied in the
RCA Photophone system may be placed either
in the projection room, in a room closely ad-
jacent to the projection room, or back stage,
as may prove most convenient and desirable.
This feature will be appreciated in the thea-
tres where the projection rooms are of limited
dimensions and where "every inch counts." In
such cases, the flexible RCA Photophone sys-
tem permits the separate power amplifier to be
installed wherever there is most room for it.
The power amplifier is connected to the
loudspeakers which it actuates. These consist
of electro-dynamic loudspeaker cone units
combined in banks, or groups, as required. A
bank of four is shown in Figure 4 (Page 54.)
Each loudspeaker group produces a wide,
smooth fan of sound, instead of a narrow
beam. In addition, in larger theatres, several
{Continued on page 54)
J
^
Figure 2.
N
r
38
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
Chain Equips l^SOO-Seat Houses
For Sound; Third Is Remodeled
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOUISVILLE, Aug. 2L — That sound pictures are not merely a proposition
for the large theatres of 2,500 seats and up, and exclusively for downtown thea-
tres, is the claim of the Fourth Avenue Amusement Company, Louisville,
which has sound pictures in two of its theatres and is equipping a third.
• Third Theatre Being Remodeled
This company showed the first sound pictures in Louisville at its Strand
theatre, which has a seating capacity of 1,600, exclusive of its gallery. When
it completed its new Uptown theatre, a suburban house, it showed sound pic-
tures there also.
Recently its Alamo theatre, on Fourth
Avenue, less than two blocks from the Strand,
was closed and work started on remodeling
the house and installing Movietone and Vita-
phone equipment.
Says Sound Has Come to Stay
C. F. Koch stated that the Alamo was being
completely redecorated and would rank in
appointments with any theatre in the state.
Contract for the entire job has been placed
with the American Motion Picture Co., of
Louisville. New projection machines also are
being installed.
Koch stated that the sound pictures had
come to stay. They did well at the Strand,
and have done well at the Uptown, suburban
house, and are expected to do well at the
Alamo. The latter has a seating capacity of
1,000; and the Uptown has 1,340 seats.
This shows that sound pictures are not
merely a problem for the big theatres, Koch
says.
The Fourth Avenue Amusement Company,
and allied companies operate about 20 subur-
ban and downtown theatres in Louisville, and
also have houses in Terre Haute and Indian-
apolis, Ind. President Fred Dolle is now in
Indiana in connection with pending deals for
taking over six more Indiana theatres, located
in two cities of that state. Sound pictures
are being used in the Indianapolis and Terre
Haute houses, which are not classed as big
theatres.
The Alamo theatre will be completed and
placed in operation on September 1, showing
"State Street Sadie," in its iirst performance.
Firm Formed to Film,
Sermons, Bible Stories
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— A company
called the Religious Film Trust has been
organized to make motion pictures on re-
ligious subjects with synchronization, for
use in churches. Plans call for sermons by
noted clergymen and also for the sending
of a company of players to the Holyland
to make pictures of bible stories in their
historical environment.
Rev. Dr. L. Eugene Wettling of Chicago
is said to have conceived the idea.
Hamlin Sound-Proof Doors
for yiovie-T alkies
More and more studios for speech and music
are being equipped with the famous Hamlin
Sound'Proof Doors. For years universities,
broadcasting studios, auditoriums, modern sky
scrapers, public buildings, schools, colleges, hos'
pitals, churches, hotels and other classes of
buildings have realized the necessity for "Ham-
linized" sound-proofing. There are thousands of
these doors in use, in hundreds of different
buildings.
Now Come the "Movie-Talkies"
The Hamlin Sound-Proof Door solves the
problem of sound deadening. It is a sound-
deadened door, plus hermetical sealing of the
cracks at jamb and floor. The Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer Corp., the Famous Players, and the Radio-
phone Corporation have been equipped. The
National Broadcasting Corporation studios in
New York and Chicago are also equipped, like-
wise the Stewart-Warner studio in Chicago.
Leading architects recommend the Hamlin.
Send us your specifications
or write for catalog
IRVING
HAMLIN
Manu/acturers of SOUXD-PROOF DOORS and
FOLDIHG PARTiriOHS
One of the Hamlin doors on an elevator
machinery room in the Cleveland Ter-
minaU Tower
2406 Jackson Ave.
Evanston, 111.
Tell Your Patrons
How Sound Films
Work in Theatre
{Continued from page 36)
ment in the theatre has nothing to do
with the matter of creation of mainte-
nance of illusion. Rather, that illusion
of the production of sound pictures
will be heightened by placing before
the patron what takes place within the
theatre.
As well to say that the sale of the
phonograph was destroyed when the
man of the house learned how to
change needles. Just as that would be
ridiculous so it is illogical to assert that
the value of a sound picture would be
impaired by acquainting the audience
with the fact of the presence of a disc
behind the stage. As well to state that
the camera became a total loss as a
sales medium when individuals learned
how to snap their own pictures, and
even to develop and print them. As
well to charge that radio sales were
doomed the moment the young hope-
ful in the family learned how to change
tubes or charge batteries.
Just as Barnes states in his letter :
"There are many exhibitors who are
now planning advertising campaigns
on the sound pictures." To them this
department believes the reply is this:
You will build a greater interest and
bigger B. O. by informing your pa-
trons, in interesting language that they
can understand, how the sound produc-
tion clicks.
Movietone News
Twice a Week Is
Anniversary Move
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— Fox Movietone
News will be issued twice a week beginning
October 3. This was announced in celebra-
tion of the iirst anniversary of the sound
reel. Thirty Movietone news crews are now
operating in all parts of the world.
On October 1, 1927, the first Fox Movie-
tone News reel was issued. This release
and the eight following were used only in
Fox theatres. William Fox desired to see
first whether it was possible to issue weekly
a Movietone News, and second, if there was
a field for it. The answer to both these
questions being emphatically yes, it was de-
cided to place the reel on the market, which
was done Dec. 3, 1927. Since that time
additional news crews with Movietone
equipment have been sent throughout the
world to gather news events in sight and
sound.
Winter Garden to
Show Sound Films
I (Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— Vitaphone pic-
tures are to be shown at the Winter Garden,
starting in September with Al Jolson's "The
Singing Fool," President H. M. Warner of
Warner Brothers announced this week.
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
V^
THE STUDIO
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
"Hollywood."
Harry J. Brown
Producer-Lawyer—
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 21.— Not all the
scholars are pedagogs. The show business
claims a few.
Harry J. Brown, associated with Charles
R. Rogers in the company bearing his name,
found that the show business was practical
and profitable at a time when "profit" meant
tuition. That time was when Harry J.
Brown was a student at Ann Harbor^ — ■
1913, 1914, 1915. "Putting on" shows for
the University of Michigan provided him
with the cash that kept him in school.
It was obviously practical, because he
completed his "Lit" course and straightway
went to the University of Syracuse, where
he got his degrees in Law.
But lawyers lead an uncertain existence
and so often turn out real estate salesmen,
thought "Joe," that he continued in the
stage show field after receiving his degree.
He staged and produced plays success-
fully until the war came. That subtracted
him from his work long enough for him to
make a lot of trouble for Germany. But
no sooner was he out of it than he turned
back to the show business. Motion pictures
were creating a stir in 1919; and he tried
it. His first cinema work was at the
Rothacker plant in Chicago. He acted, later
directed, and is now producing pictures.
It is Brown's agile mind that has been
responsible for many of the finest successes
turned out by Charles R. Rogers Produc-
tions. He is associate producer of all the
Ken Maynards.
NOTE: This is the first of a series of per-
sonality sketches that will appear at "regular
or irregular intervals" in this section of the
Herald-World. They will run indefinitely, or
as long as the material in Hollywood holds
out.—D. H.
Berman Is Title Editor
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 21.— Pandro Ber-
man was appointed film and title editor of
Columbia, according to announcement made
by Harry Cohn preceding his departure for
the East and for Europe.
14 New Films Begun; Seven at
FBO;Neilan on "The Last Haul"
Jack Ford Completes Comedy Drama, "Riley the Cop"; George
Sidney in Big Role of Cohens Picture at Universal;
Expensive Mix Western Started
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 2L— FBO went into action last vi^eek with five
pictures being launched in production. Two others are in shooting.
Ford Completes Fox Film
Very few pictures were turned out last week however. Jack Ford completed
scenes for "Riley the Cop," for Fox; Howard Higgin finished "Singapore Sal"
at De Mille-Pathe, and Hoot Gibson completed "King of the Rodeo" at Uni-
versal.
Marshall Neilan's current picture at FBO,
which was started two days ago, is "The Last
Haul." (Sounds like a thieving thing.) Bob
De Lacy began one starring Tom Mix that is
declared to be a Western with a proposed ex-
penditure running into six figures. Sally
Blaine is the fortunate youngster this time
who plays opposite our old friend Tom.
Ben Lyon makes his first FBO appearance
in "The Air Legion."
Antonio Moreno has been chosen for a fea-
tured part. That will probably be welcome
news to a lot of theatres who haven't had a
chance to "marquee" Tony for sometime.
Lyon a Licensed Pilot
Lyon is probably given this air picture as
a result of his excellent experience in "Hell's
Angels" in which he has been starring for 11
months at the Metropolitan lot. It is a fact
that he has become a licensed pilot and that
he can do plenty of things with a ship and a
lot of air.
The other two new ones begun at FBO
are a Bob Steele film and a?Buzz Barton. The
Steele picture is called "Come and Get It."
Now that FBO is a "Neilan lot" that title
reminds one of that old picture he made sev-
eral years back called "Go and Get It." A
co-incidence of course.
Ford's latest at the Fox lot is the copper
story that stars Farrell MacDonald and Louise
Fazenda. The picture is an Irish-ly colored
comedy drama in which, among other things.
MacDonald is sent by the New York police
board to Germany. Louise is the German
maiden who charms his soul.
Sam Wood began the Norma Shearer pic-
ture called "The Little Angel" at M G M.
More will be heard of this in the near future.
Sidney in "Cohens and Kellys"
Universal began what is regarded as a big
time production last week under the direction
of William Craft. It is "The Cohens and
Kelleys in Atlantic City." George Sidney is
in the main comedy role with a cast made up
of Mack Swain, Kate Price, Cornelius Keefe
and others. Mr. Sidney has' been convalescing
from an illness in the East where he had
signed for a vaudeville tour. It is reported
that he is again in good trim and ready to
face the arcs and Mazdas.
Paramount began only one picture last
week. It is "Avalanche," under the direction
of Otto Brower. Jack Holt and Doris Hill
are in the leading roles of the picture.
Mines Will Be MC at
Smith Booster Show
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 21.— Johnny Hines
will be master of ceremonies at a big Al
Smith Boosters' Show to be held in the Holly-
wood Bowl September 11. Among those who
will contribute to the program are Tom Mix,
Charlie Murray, Bebe Daniels, Sally O'Neil,
Molly O'Day and Lois Wilson.
UNITED STUDIOS, Inc.
M. C. Levee, President
1(X),0CX) square feet of props, garnered Let us supply the props for
from the four comers of the globe. your next production.
UNITED STUDIOS, Inc.
5341 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, Calif.
40
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
DeMille^s Newest Opus Pronounced
Worthy Successor to ^^Kings^^
Prevost and Quillan Do Greatest Work of Their Career in "The Godless
Girl," Declares Douglas Hodges
By DOUGLAS HODGES
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 21.— Cecil B. DeMille's latest million dollar pro-
duction, "The Godless Girl," opened last night at the Biltmore thea-
tre. The world premiere of the picture drew a large crowd of motion
picture celebrities and theatre people who pronounced the picture a worthy-
piece to follow "King of Kings." The acting of the cast throughout the pic-
ture together with the superb DeMille touches proved highlights of
the production.
TT is built upon the theme of the Atheism
-'- invading the pubhc schools to such an ex-
tent that the idea becomes a community prob-
lem of huge proportions. In Mr. DeMille's
picture the high school students become in-
volved in a terrific riot that results in the
death of one of the girls. Following this
scene, which is truly a remarkable stroke of
direction, come the many sequences devoted to
life in the reformatory.
Inmates are Lina Basquette, Marie Prevost,
Eddie Quillan and George Duryea. Probably
the greatest work ever done by either of them
is achieved by Prevost and Quillan. Both have
roles of impish youngsters who believe in God
and work at it.
Prevost has a thousand talents which have
never been revealed until her work in "God-
less Girl." Quillan's tricks learned on the
stage and in two reel comedies have been em-
broidered with new turns and all combined in
this picture to relieve it of its somberness.
Mr. DeMille gives all the quartette a great
opportunity to act throughout the picture and
near the end brings the story to a highly
dramatic climax with his own ingenious art as
a director. This climax is the scene of the
reformatory fire which outdoes any and all of
the other fire scenes ever done by anyone in
any and all pictures preceding this one. Not
only in this but in several preceding scenes
Noah Beery plays the role of the menacing
head guard with amazing skill.
It strikes many that the premise of the story
is difficult to believe and that high school chil-
dren are rarely if ever given the severe treat-
ment that these receive when they reach the
reformatory. The picture holds closely to
its teachings and serves to lay a great moral
forcefully before its audience.
* * *
Sid Grauman Tries Mind «
Reading on Hollywood
Sid Grauman's Marveltone had a brief but
novel stay in the Chinese theatre. It made
its first appearance at the opening of "The
White Shadows of the South Seas" two weeks
ago. A few mechanical difficulties arose
which caused it to be taken from the bill.
Marveltone made its next appearance Tues-
John Ford
Director
Next Release
Made for
Fox Film Corp.
"Riley, The Cop"
day night when several newspapermen at-
tended a private midnight showing.
George Lovett, of erstwhile vaudeville
fame, introduced the number with a few
words and went into his act. The screen
showed two young women blindfold. After
Lovett passed cards to the audience he col-
lected them one by one and instructed the
images on the screen to not only speak the
questions but also to answer them.
It was eerie. The young women (images)
addressed the audio-audience in clear voices.
When songs were called for they played them.
But Lovett spoke no words except the word
which commanded action.
It's the same old "mind reading" racket
except that the screen replaces the stage. The
actors appear only as projected from a lens.
Their voices are heard but the flesh is absent.
What's more the act apparently "worked."
It kept everyone awake.
The solution that everyone agrees is logical
is something of the following order:
There is no Movietone or Vitaphone ma-
chine. The effect of two women speaking
from the screen is gained by a backstage ar-
rangement. It is likely that the performers
stand in the midst of a complex set of mir-
rors behind the scrim. Their figures are re-
flected to the scrim from backstage. As they
speak the result is very much as if the sound
emerged from a mechanical record. One no-
ticeable element that is lacking is the mechan-
ical quality in the tones you hear. The most
perfect sound contrivances have never elimi-
nated that artificiality.
But anyhow, Sid gave it a good trial.
* * *
Tryon-Crawford Team Is
Good; So Is Jacobson
Glenn Tryon and Kathryn Crawford did
themselves proud Friday night, but no more
so than did Sam B. Jacobson. Glenn is hero
in a funny comedy previewed at the Alex-
ander theatre in Glendale. (They always pre-
view Glenn's pictures in Glendale.) Kathryn
is a beauteous young woman, recently signed
by Universal and is perfectly suited to Tryon's
histrionic behavior. (This is not a preview-
review.) Sam Jacobson is the author of a
novelty that was also previewed. He does not
appear in the picture. It is one reel called
"Prodigal Pups." (I know a man who is go-
ing to become an exhibitor so he can buy that
reel.)
Mr. Jacobson, who is publicity director for
Universal about 23 hours every day, spends
the other hour thinking up ways to make
things run smoothly.
A forthcoming issue will print comments on
both pictures by our redoubtable and profes-
sional "previewer."
* * *
Schneiderman Gets Head
Post on Fox Technical Staff
A cameraman, George Schneiderman, for 13
years with Fox Film Corporation, has be-
come head of the technical department of
Movietone. He has been on Jack Ford's staff
for a long while, having shot first camera on
many of the biggest successes Ford has made.
* * *
Rowland V. Lee will direct "Wolf of Wall
Street" for Paramount. It will be the next
picture to star George Bancroft. The an-
nouncement was made today,
Charles (Chuck) Reisner has been selected
by Pathe to direct "Noisy Neighbors." It is
one of the first pictures to be produced under
the supervision of Paul Bern, lately come to
the company from a post at M G M.
Bern incidentally, plans to go to New York
in a few weeks to confer with Joseph P.
Kennedy upon the latter's return from
Europe.
Anne Nichols 111
NEW YORK. — Anne Nichols, writer of "Abie's
Irish Rose," returned from Europe under the care of
two physicians and two nurses following a nervous
collapse.
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
Jackie's a Busy Girl;
One ''Talkie'' and Two
Other Films Scheduled
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 21.— Jacqueline Lo-
gan has signed with Warner Brothers to
appear in "Stark Mad," her first talking pic-
ture, in which she will be co-featured with
H. B. Warner and Louise Fazenda. She
has also been signed by Columbia to star
in "Driftwood," which Christy Cabanne will
direct.
Besides these two pictures Miss Logan
is to make "The Spieler" for Pathe-De Mille,
in which she will be co-featured with Alan
Hale. This picture will go into production
within a day or two, and "Stark Mad" is
planned for September 5. "Driftwood" will
be started two weeks before or immediately
following "Stark Mad."
New Burr-Hines Film
Will Be "A// Talkie";
Sees New Distribution
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 21.— C. C. Burr has
announced that Johnny Hines next comedy,
will be "all talkie," a screen version of "A
Pair of Sixes." The Western Electric system
will be used in producing the picture.
Mr. Burr, from the Tec-Art studios, states
that both a well known stage director and a
well known motion picture director will be
used in making the attraction.
It is probable that the picture will be road-
showed, and in this connection Mr. Burr
stated that he is now working on a plan which
he believes will "revolutionize motion picture
distribution."
Lillie Hay ward to Adapt
Columbia's "Driftwood"
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 21.— Lillie Hay-
ward, who has completed work on "Run-
away Girl," has been assigned to adapt
Richard Harding Davis' story, "Driftwood,"
for production by Columbia.
Jacqueline Logan will have the leading
feminine role in this story, which deals
with the love of a beachcomber for an out-
cast daughter of his own race.
Luther Reed Is Given
Supervision by Sheehan
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 21.— Luther Reed has
been signed by Winfield Sheehan to supervise
productions for Fox. He is to have exclusive
supervision of several units, from the pur-
chase of the slory to the editing of the picture.
Reed was chosen for this job because of his
all-around experience in motion pictures and
his knowledge of the stage and dialogue.
BHI
pp^^
^Ak^-:i.A^aBi«l
CH
ARLES G. CLAE
KE
A. S. C.
Photographer of
"RILEY, THE COP"
"FOUR SONS"
"THE RED DANCE" for Fox
ON A LOT OF THE LOTS
By FRAZIER
REGARDING
W. G. Fairbanks
Pell Mitchell
George O'Brien
F. W. Murnau
Charlie Farrell
Mary Duncan
Jack Pennick
Dawn O'Day
Warren Burke
Bill Keefe
Russell Coles
Craig Hutcheson
Virginia Roye
Nita Cavalier
Al Jolson
Gary Cooper
Richard Cooper
Richard Wallace
Thelma Todd
Charlie Chaplin
Charles Furthman
WG. FAIRBANKS, the genial host of the
, Crescent Bay Yacht Club, at Santa Monica,
is preparing for a heavy rush of friends, over Labor
day. During the summer, more than 20,000 people
have visited the club. The club has been a gather-
ing place for studio workers since its inception.
Pell Mitchell, business manager for Darmour,
F B O productions, with eyes always on money mat-
ters, remarked a few days ago of the vyonderful
opportunities the club offered for the making of a
picture. The remark was prompted by the fact that
stars, leading women and ingenues, as well as second
people and juveniles are in the group. Directors
are also represented. Mitchell stated that he has
found several people who were "just the t3^e,"
while spending a few hours at this ocean side villa.
*
FOUND — the most difficult person in the world to
talk to on any studio lot. Same being George
O'Brien, Fox star. George was trying to tell me
how he injured his toe while making "Noah's Ark"
for Warner Brothers. Ordinarily it would ha'se taken
five minutes to tell it. But he spent 30 minutes and
to this day I don't know just what happened.
The conversation was so often interrupted by his
friends that he finally let the matter slide and I was
as much pleased as he was to let it be. Here's the
dope anyway. In some manner his big toe was caught,
and hurt. He paid little attention to it, until the
nail began to pain him. He went to a chiropodist
who told him that the nail had grown back crooked.
It had to be removed. George is a regular fellow and
knows everyone. Naturally they are all interested in
his welfare.
He can call more people by first name than Frank
Roderick, the casting director; and that is phenomenal.
Even before leaving the hospital, F. W. Murnau,
Fox director, is planning . his next picture, "Our
Daily Bread." He has sent 19 of the group of 65
already ahead to Pendleton, Ore., where they vyill
prepare the outdoor setting for the film. The crew
will build sets preparatory to the arrival of the cast,
and will also be schooled in using farm implements.
To date the cast includes Charlie Farrell. Mary
Duncan, Jack Pennick, Dawn O'Day, and Warren
Burke. The principals of the cast will leave vnth
the director about August 24, to start work on the
picture.
Bill Keefe, Eddie Branstatter's publicity man for
the Montmartre Cafe in Hollywood, was injured last
week by a woman driving an automobile. He was
talking to Eddie near the place, when a woman
drove over the curb, bumping Bill on the knee.
The driver's first words were, "Oh, I believe that
I hit you." Bill said, "I know damwell you
did." Nothing serious.
Russell Coles, who was picked from the extra
ranks a few months ago, is making fast headway
in the comedy field. _ He has recently completed
"Two Youths" in which he played the lead under
the direction of Craig Hutcheson. Virginia Roye
and Nita Cavalier were in the supporting roles.
Russell has also appeared in Vitaphone roles, with
speaking parts, for Warner Brothers, the latest
being "The Singing Fool" starring Al Jolson.
Gary Cooper, Paramount star, is leaving in a few
days for his ranch in Montana, near the Yellow-
stone Park. This is to be in a form of a short
vacation prior to his starting "The Hard Boiled
Angel," which Richard Wallace vnW direct.
Thelma Todd, First National star, gave Charlie
Chaplin and Charles Furthman their first thrill in
several months. She purchased a Kriss Kraft speed
boat. She was having a trial spin, in company with
the instructor, and after getting the motor up to
40, attempted to turn. The boys gave a gasp. The
boat made a "U" turn. And how! They are no
pikers but suggested, in a forceful way, that the in-
structor do the piloting on the balance of the ride.
f "'^ jgg^
j ^■l^p
DEAR EXHIBITORS:
i m^9
I Think I've Found A New Masculine
h r Jg
Star for You. He's in My Next Picture.
WESLEY RUGGLES
MARK SANDRICH
Has Just
Completed
((
Runaway
Girls"
for Columbia
Starting
"Nothing to
Wear"
Nick
Musuraca
is photographer
of
"When the
Law Rides"
"VaUey of
Superstition"
"Terror
Mountain"
FBO Studios
A. S. C.
42
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
Production Directory
[Number immediately following title denotes production number]
STORY
DIRECTOR CHIEF BRAND
PLAYERS NAME
STARTING
DATE
Christie Studios
"The Carnation
Kid"
E. Mason Douglas MacLean
Hopper Frances Lee
Lorraine Eddy
Fiancis McDonald
July 31
Columbia Studios
Street of
Earl C. Kenton
Virginia Valli
Illusions"
Ian Keith
Kenneth Thomson
Sinner's
John Adolfi
Dorothy Kevier
Parade"
Victor Varconi
John Patrick
Edna Marion
DeMille Studios
"Ned McCobb's
Daughter"
William J.
Cowen
Irene Rich
Robert Armstrong
Theodore Roberts
Carol Lombard
F B O Studio
' ine Air
Legion"
"The Last
Haul"
"Drum of
Araby"
"Come and
Get It"
"The Freckled
Rascal"
"Stolen Love"
"Tracked"
Bert Glennon
Marshall
Neilan
Robert DeLacy
Wallace Fox
Louis Kins
Lynn Shores
Jerome Storm
Antonio Moreno
Ben Lyon
Martha Sleeper
Seena Owen
Toom Moore
Tom Mix
Sally Blane
Bob Steele
Mary Mabery
Buzz Barton
Marceline Day
Owen Moore
Ranger
Sam Nelson
Caryl Lincoln
First National Studios
'Do Your Duty"
"The Haunted
House"
"Cheyenne"
"Outcast"
William
: Beaudine
Benjamin
Christensen
Albert Rogell
William Seiter
Charlee Murray
Doris Dawson
Charles Delaney
Flora Finch
Chester Conklin
Thelma Todd
Larry Kent
Ken Maynard
Gladys McConnell
Corinne Griffith
Edmund Lowe
Kathryn Carver
Gwen I^e
Huntly Gordon
Fox Studios
"The Woman" Irving Mary Astor
Cummings John Boles
Ben Bard
"The River" Frank Borzage Charles Farrell
Mary Duncan
"Riley, the John Ford Farrell MacDonald
Cop" Nancy Drexel
David Rollins
"Fog" Charles Klein George O'Brien
Lois Moran
"Homesick" Henry Lehrraan Sammy Cohen
Harry Sweet
Gotham
"Through the
Breakers"
Joseph Boyle
Margaret Livingston
Holmes Herbert
Clyde Cook
'Natalie Joyce
Metropolitan Studios
"Hell's Angels"
"The Isle of
Lost Men"
Howard Hughes Greta Nissen
James Hall
D»ke Worne
Ben Lyon
Tom Santchi
Patsy O'Leary
Maude George
Allen Connors
James Marcus
Caddo Pro-
ductions
Trem Carr
Productions
August 4
August 6
August 3
August 13
August 10
August 10
August 10
August 10
August 8
August 8
July 20
July 26
August 8
August 2
July 25
July 6
July 30
July 21
August 13
November 4
August 14
STORY
DIRECTOR
CHIEF
PLAYERS
BRAND
NAME
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
"A Woman of Clarence Brown Greta Garbo
Affairs"
John Gilbert
Gold Braid"
George Hill
Ramon Novarro
Anita Page
The Little
Sam Wood
Norma Shearer
Angel"
Honeymoon"
Herman
Polly Moran
Raymaker
Eddie Gribix)n
Flash
Paramount Studios
"Avalanche"
"Sins of the
Fathers"
"Moran of the
Marines"
"Interference"
Untitled
Otto Brower
Edward Berger
Frank Strayer
Lothar Mendez
Dorothy Arzner
Jack Holt
Doris Hill
Emil Jannings
Ruth Chatterton
Richard Dix
Ruth Elder
Clive Brook
Evelyn Brent
William Powell
Richard Arlen
Nancy Carroll
Tec-Art Studios
'Lief, the
Lucky"
Roy Neil!
House Peters
Leroy Mason
Pauline Starke
Technicolor
Tiffany-Stahl Studios
"The Rainbow" Reginald Barker Dorothy Sebastian
Lawrence Gray
Sam Hardy
Sally O'Neil
William Collier, Jr.
Georgia Hale
Claire Windsor
Lawrence Grey
Roy D'Arcy
Patsy Ruth Miller
Malcolm McGregor
"The Floating
College"
"The Family
Row"
Untitled
George Crone
James Flood
Elmer Clifton
United Artists Studios
"The Rescue^'
'The Love
Song"
Herbert Brennon Ronald Colman
Lily Damita
D. W. Griffith Bill Boyd
Jetta Goudal
Lupe Velez
Universal Studios
"The Collegians"
"Show Boat"
"The Shake-
down"
"Eric, the
Great"
"It Can Be
Done"
"Red Hot
Speed"
"King of the
Rodeo"
"The Cohensl and
Kelleys in At-
lantic City"
Nat Ross
Harry Pollard
Willie Wyler
Paul Fejos
Fred Nevraieyer
Joseph Henabery
Henry McRae
William Craft
George Lewis
Dorothy Gulliver
Laura La Plante
Joseph
Schildkraut
Barbara Kent
James Murray
Conrad Veidt
Mary Philbin
Leslie Fenton
Glen Try on
Sue Carol
Reginald Denny
Alice Day
Hoot Gibson
Kathryn Crawford
George Sidney
Mack Swain
Kate Price
Cornelius Keefe
Warner Brothers Studio
"Conquest"
Roy Del Ruth
"Stolen Kisses" Ray Enright
'HardboUed
Rose"
F. Harmon
Weight
Monte Blue
H. B. Warner
Lois Moran
TuUy Marshall
May McAvoy
Reed Howes
Helen Cooley
Claude Gilling-
water
Myrna Loy
William Collier, Jr.
John Miljan
Gladys Brockwell
STARTING
DATE
July 31
August 5
August 13
August 11
August 10
July 7
July 16
July 19
July 26
July 18
July 18
August 10
August 10
August 10
June 20
August 6
May
14
July
16
July
16
July 30
.Tuly
26
August 1
July
25
August
10
July 30
August 6
August 6
Au^st 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
^^^
THE SHORT FEATURE
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
''Little Pictures with the Big Punch,** which has presented news, reviews and exploitation on
short features and serials.
Releases
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 2
EDUCATIONAr^-"Hot Luck," Big Boy Juvenile,
two; "Thrills of the Sea," Our World Today, one.
PARAMOUNT — "Skating Home," Confessions of a
Chorus Girl series, Christie, two.
PATHE — "The Terrible People," Chapter 5, two;
Aesop Fable, one; "South Sea Saga," Sportlight,
one; "His Royal Slyness," Harold Lloyd (reissue),
two; Pathe Review No. 36, one; Topics of the Day
No. 36, one.
UNIVERSAi:^"Sky Scrapper," Snappy, Oswald, one;
"Tarzan the Mighty," No. 4, Adventure, two; "The
Junior Year," Collegians, third series, two; "Newly-
weds' Hard Luck," two; "Speed and Spurs," Bob
Curwood, Western, two.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 9
EDUCATIONAL — "Pirates Beware," Lupino Lane,
two; "Girlies Behave," Jerry Drew, Ideal, two;
"Cook, Papa Cook," Murdock-Hutton, Cameo, one;
"On the Move" Hodge-Podge, one.
PATHE — "The Terrible People," Chapter 6, two;
Aesop Fable, one; "The Campus Carmen," Sennett,
two; Pathe Review No. 37, one; Topics of the Day
No. 37, one.
UNIVERSAL— "Hollywood or Bust," Arthur Lake,
Snappy, one; "Tarzan the Mighty," No. 5, Adven-
ture, two; "Rubber Necks," Let George Do It, Stern
Bros., two; "Riders of the Woods," Cobb Western,
two.
WEEK OF SEPPTEMBER 16
EDUCATIONAL— "Call Your Shots,'- Al St. John,
Mermaid, two.
UNIVERSAL — "Mississippi Mud," Oswald, Snappy,
one; "Tarzan the Mighty" No. 6, Adventure, two;
"Calford vs. Redskins," Collegians, Junior Jewel,
two; "Half Back Buster," Stern Bros., two; "The
Galloping Ace," Hoxie, Western, two.
40 More Towns Enter
Our Gang Talent Hunt as
Camera Shoots Winners
Winning doubles of Hal Roach's Rascals
this week are playing their first motion pic-
ture roles in comedies being made in differ-
ent towns by special crews in the national Our
Gang talent hunt, under supervision of Terry
Turner, Loew publicity director.
Hal Roach, now in New York, will make
the final selection there. The winner of the
final contest will get a contract and his parents
a trip to Culver City.
Besides the 25 cities in the original contest,
4Q more are to stage the talent hunt as a
result of the reception of the contest.
Joy Week Wins at El Reno ;
Spreads to Other Towns
Joy Week, an M-G-M variant of Laugh
Month — and by the way, what did happen
to Laugh Month? — went over so well at the
Criterion theatre in El Reno, Okla., that plans
immediately were undertaken for similar cam-
paigns in Kingfisher, Pauls Valley and Mays-
ville, Okla., the company reports.
Three days were set aside for M-G-M com-
edies at the Criterion. Trailers at the Cri-
terion and the Woods prepared the way for
seven days. Slides at the Empress helped.
Teasers were used for nine days in two
papers.
Abundant, Varied Short Product
Available Despite Sound Spread
Several New Series Going Into Release Show Producers Are Recognizing
Exhibitors' Needs — Eleven Subjects in September
Open EducationaVs Season
Educational's announcement that it will release eleven new pictures in Sep-
tember, virtually launching its product for the 1928-29 season, is of impor-
tance in view of the developments in synchronizaion and the consequent un-
certainty that exhibitors have felt.
Several New Series Start
The fact that several new series are being presented for the first time in
these opening releases shows that an abundance of short product will be avail-
able for theatres not yet equipped with sound apparatus, and that the produc-
ers are not permitting the sound development to interfere with availability of
silent pictures. It shows more than that. It shows an even greater variety of
pictures produced.
"Girlies, Behave." Drew, who was featured
in Mermaid Comedies, continues his drol-
leries in this first Ideal Comedy. The girls
include Muriel Evans, Ruby McCoy and
Amber Norman.
Aviation Series Starts
"The Sky Ranger," the first two-reel
aviation romance in the series of "Russ
Farrell, Aviator" pictures, features Reed
Howes in one of the Russ Farrell stories
from the pen of Thomson Burtis. The
aviation sequences were made at the Glen-
dale Airport and Dry Lake, Cal. Other
sequences were made at the Universal
Studios by Charles R. Rogers and Harry J.
Brown, producers of the series. Marjorie
Daw, Tom Santschi, Roy Stewart, Lieut.
Earl Robinson, Henry Barrows and Buck
Black head the supporting cast. Al St. John
is back in the initial Mermaid of the new
season, "Call Your Shots."
Monty Collins, who was in Mermaid and
Cameo comedies last season, is featured in
"Polar Perils," another Mermaid. Collins
takes a flight by airplane in search of the
North Pole. Stephen Roberts directed.
New Film Magazine
Two Cameo Comedies are scheduled for
the month. In one, "Cook, Papa, Cook,"
Henry Murdock and Lucille Hutton appear
in a farcical story of a young married
couple and a hen-pecked husband. Robert
Graves, who is best known for his character
roles, branches out as a comedian in "Wife
Trouble." Muriel Evans is seen as the sales-
woman, while Amber Norman and Adrienne
Dore head the supporting cast.
"Thrills of the Sea," the first issue of
the film magazine, "Our World Today,"
another new group, supplies entertainment
through unusual shots of varying moods
of the sea, pictures of Mrs. Harry Payne
Whitney, celebrated sculptor, and shots of
a huge wild horse ranch.
"On the Move" is the new Lyman H.
Howe's Hodge-Podge.
The eleven September releases, exclusive
of Kinograms, include six two-reel come-
dies, one two-reel aviation thriller, twp
one-reel comedies and two one-reel novelty
or magazine subjects.
"Big Boy's" first starring vehicle for
1927-28, "Hot Luck," sees him in the role
of mascot of a fire station house. Charles
Lamont, who has directed the youngster in
all of his successes, again was at the mega-
phone on this two-reel Big Boy-Juvenile
production.
Lupino Lane starts the new season with
a pirate picture titled "Pirates, Beware," in
which he is pictured as an involuntary pi-
rate chief.
Jerry Drew, starting the new series of
Ideal Comedies in which he is to be the
star, has a sophisticated comedy treat in
Newspictures
FOX NEWS NO. 93 — Italy hails Nobile, saved from
Arctic — Atlantic aerial service is inaugurated with
French steamer launching seaplane from mid-
ocean to U. S. — Chiropractors select most beautiful
back in Los Angeles contest.
KINOGRAMS NO. 5422— Hundred girls swim two
miles in river race at Chicago — Motorcycles speed
through dust clouds in daredevil contest at Palatine,
111. — Chiropractors hold bareback follies at Los
Angeles..
M-G-M NEWS NO. 1 (VOL. 2)— Girls seek crown
for perfect back — Navy oarsmen race for Pacific
fleet title — Airplane shot from French ship brings
trans-Atlantic mail a day earlier.
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. 6— War weary Chinese
gather at tomb of Dr. Sun Yat-sen to celebrate
Nationalist victory — Hurricane from West Indies
leaves $5,000,000 destruction along Atlantic sea-
board— Nations fight it out in windup of Olympiad.
INTERNATIONAL NEWSREEL NO. 64— Pacific
yacht meet brings scenes of rich beauty — Outboard
motor racers are sprayed by rough seas at Long
Beach, Cal. — New speed record is set at opening
of harness racing season, Goshen, N. Y.
INTERNATIONAL NEWSREEL NO. 65— Plane
shot from ship reduces trans-Atlantic mail time by
16 hours — Camp goes to sea, with oceans of fun
for youngsters — -Vauitie leads way home at Astor
Cup regatta.
44
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
^^W
PRESENTATION ACTS
Organists! Do Not Fear Talkies
STAGE SHOWS
Chicago Harding
Week Ending August 18
This week's stage presentation was called "Pacific
Breezes." but in reality it should have been called
"The Hula-Hula Girls." Due to the fact that this
show was reported a few weeks ago at the Oriental,
we cannot go into details except to state that most
of the routines offered by the ballet was pretty risque
and reminded you more of a burlesque lineup rather
than a neat picture house ballet.
Jack "Peacock" Kelly, former drummer of Mark
Fisher's band, made his debut this week as band-
leader of the Novelty Syncopators in place of Al
Belasco. Hereafter, Kelly will have the ceremonial
duties as well as vrielding the baton at both this
house and the Senate in alternation with Mark
Fisher.
The new leader received quite a reception at the
opening when he made his appearance and proved
to this reiwrter that the management has a good bet
in him as the successor of the last leader. In addi-
tion to being dynamic in personality, he is a capable
artifit on the xylophone and more than proved this
by offering the "Second Hungarian Rhapsody," a
not-too-easy piece for anyone to play. Kelly also
paid a great tribute to his former master, Mark
Fisher, and for this the audience liked him better,
for Mark is still the idol of this theatre.
Reed and Duthers, a clever pair of dancers ; Ruth
Darrell, a fine soprano ; and Earl and Bell, the in-
strumental harmonists, were the artists on the bill
who supplied an entertaining program.
The band numbers offered were an arrangement
of "Losing the Blues" and "My Baby Don't Mean
Maybe Now," which were played in real hot style.
St. Louis State
Week Ending August 11
"Gold and Black Revue" was the stage offering of
the week under the clever guidance of Nat Nazarro,
Jr., master of ceremonies.
The Five Locust Sisters did their part to make
Nazarro's final week at the State a big one. Loew's
plans to show sound pictures in the future and to
avoid any advance in admissions is eliminating its
stage entertainment.
Kirk Frederick directed the State orchestra in the
overture.
Ernst Hares presided at the organ.
Nope! you're all wrong he is not Dr. Rockwell
of stage fame but our own Edmund C Fitch, one
of the most popular young organists in these big
United States — friends just call him Eddie and mem-
bers of his "Whoopee Club" address him as "Dear
Ed" — well anyway Fitch has been featured organist
at Ascher's Sheridan in Chicago since the house
opened and is a very big favorite — you have our
word for it if that means anything and it should.
Murtagh at Paramount
Henry B. Murtagh, formerly featured organist of
the Chicago Theatre, Chicago, a Balaban & Katz
house, and recently a guest organist for the Loew
circuit, is now taking the place of Jesse Crawford,
at the Paramount Theatre, New York. Mr. Mur-
tagh will substitute for Crawford until he returns
from his annual vacation.
GEORGE PANTZER
PRESENTATIONS
FOR THE INDEPENDENT PICTURE THEATRES
Complete Presentations — Scenery — Costumes — Talent — Deliv-
ered Intact — and Designed to Meet the Requirements of the
Independent Exhibitor.
Three Seasons Production Manager for Henry Santrey & Co.
Season 1925-26, Production Manager, Rialto Theatre, Cri-
terion Theatre, Broadway, New York.
Season 1927, Production Manager, Breuiford Theatre,
Newark, N. J.
New York Office: 1607 BROADWAY, Room 217
PHONE: CHICKERING 4646
Picture Houses
Always Require
Organ Music
Exhibitors Should Not Neglect
to Feature Orchestras
and Organists
By A. RAYMOND GALLO
In the July 7th issue of "Better
Theatres," we carried a story by Al-
bert F. Brown called "Why Be
Alarmed." Mr. Brown, who is one of
the leading featured organists of the
country, tried to set at ease the many
minds who are fearing the growth of
talking pictures. It is natural for
people to talk and become worried
whenever something new crops up in
the way of mechanical entertainment,
but there never was as much comment
on any other invention as there is on
Vitaphone and Movietone. The big
question in the minds of many organ-
ists is that sooner or later the talking
films will take their jobs away.
Although it is never wise to cross
your bridges before you come to
them, it is still poor business for al-
lowing yourselves to even think that
such a catastrophe would ever hap-
pen.
We will go Al Brown one better. Instead
of saying "Why be alarmed," we will tell you
not to be alarmed, for there never will be
the day when any deluxe motion picture the-
atre can operate without organ music con-
trolled by human hands. Organs in theatres
are a very big attraction and what was con-
sidered at one time an extra feature and
extravagant, is now a necessity to a program.
Another good feature that should not be
overlooked is a pit orchestra that is capable
of rendering overtures. Many of the deluxe
theatres have found this form of entertain-
ment very profitable and the diversified pro-
gram keeps a steady flow of patrons always
coming in to them. The symphony orchestras
were eliminated a few years ago when the
sudden craze of stagehand shows hit the
country. However, in the last few months
exhibitors as well as theatre-owners have
found out that too much of one thing not
only tires the public but actually keeps them
away from the theatres.
Pit Orchestras Returning
Now the pit orchestra is coming back into
its own in many houses. In fact, several of
them are running both a stagehand and an
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
45
overture conducted from the pit. This is
wise not only from the point of standard en-
tertainment, but because for the varied tastes
attending your theatres, as one group may Hke
a peppy, jazz-like show, while the other group
may want good music in more of the classical
manner, and so by offering both you are en-
deavoring to please all.
Coming back to the subject of organ, let
us again go on record for saying that there
is no cause for alarm now, nor will there
ever be. Organists are no longer in the back-
ground as mere pieces of instruments that
serve to accompany films. They are a fea-
tured attraction whose solos are worthy of
exploitation and are responsible to a great
extent for a number of people attending your
theatre. The style of solos or the class of
music offered depends entirely upon the class
of people you cater to and the location of
your theatre. In any event, now more than
ever, exhibitors should be very careful in not
overlooking the fact that an organ in their
theatre represents quite an investment and
should be used advantageously.
All Theatres Installing Organs
Even vaudeville theatres, that have been
constructed in the last two years, have pro-
vided space for organs. Does this not signify
that the men behind these great organizations
foresee a great development in the field of
motion picture theatres and their presenta-
tions?
Such successful screen productions as
"What Price Glory," "Seventh Heaven," "The
Street Angel," and "Four Sons," offer un-
usual possibilities not only to orchestras and
stagehands but to organists who desire to give
something novel and outstanding in the way
of organ presentation. The theme songs of
these photoplays have sufficient color and
music to comprise a miniature production or
prologue to the film. It is these types of
solos that will establish you firmly as an
organist and insure your future in the deluxe
motion picture theatre field.
Presentation
LETTERS
In this open fonun those interested in presen-
tation may discnss important matters bearing
npon this phase of theatre entertainment. Only
signed letters will be published.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: Say
Eddie just went back to see Ruth Etting and y'know
she's lookin' prettier n'ever. She had on a pretty
li'l gringrham dress and — well I stared so hard my eyes
are etill weak. Went out for a ride and the car
stalled four or five times stoppin' traffic n 'everything.
Do you suppose it was because she was in the car —
I think she lost weight.
Sincerely Esther Rosenthal, 4557 N. Hamlin Ave.,
Chicago, IL
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: Mr.
Fitzgerald, our production manager, asked me to
write you and see if you could get us some informa-
tion on talking pictures. We would like to know
how much the studios are preparing for them and
also the theatres, as there is a possibility that we
might go in for sound pictures in our studio.
Any information you could send us on this sub-
ject would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely yours, C. E. Olson. Alexander Film Co.,
Inc., Colorado Springs, Colo.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: We
have been advised by one of the organists in Vaca-
ville, California, of a review appearing in the Ex-
hibitors Herald of Victor Schertzinger's new ballad
"Chalita," a copy of which we are enclosing here-
with. We would be very pleased to have you favor
us with a copy of the issue containing this review.
Yours very truly, R. Hall, Chappell-Harms, New
York.
A Correction
LOSAYS
Soweihing
about
Every one
Listen, Folks. . . . Especially organists. . . . Don't
get panicky over the "Talking Films" situation. . . .
No matter how many pictures are synchronized short
or feature lengths there will always be a large de-
mand for organ music played by human hands. . . .
That also goes for Orchestras either on the stage or
in the pit. . . . So, Mr. Theatre Manager, do not
make the sad mistake that some exhibitors are mak-
ing in overlooking your organ and orchestra pit.
... Go slow in your moves and be sure you don't
step too far in the novelty field. . . . The Milwaukee
Journal is conducting a popularity contest for the
theatre organists in the city. ... A tieup over
their radio station WTMJ enables every player to
show his stuff every Wednesday for one hour. . . .
John Hammond, featured organist of Saenger's in
New Orleans is back after a three weeks vacation
near the Gulf. . . . Roy McNamara took his place
for the three weeks. . . . Frank Manzo, trumpeter
of the United Artists theatre orchestra of Chicago
plays a fine solo at each performance of "King of
Kings." . . . The solo is an arrangement of "The
Holy City." . . . Bennie Krueger has blossomed
forth again as a song-writer, and we don't mind
saying he has several hot tunes on the market. . . .
Ben Bornstein of Ager-Yellen & Bornstein paid the
Chicago music trade a visit last week. ... So did
Jack Diamond of Spier & Coslow. . . . Marvin Lee
of Milton Weil's office has taken to the road again
for another long trip. . . . Chick Castle, Chicago
manager for Harms, Inc., had trouble with his
tonsils so he ordered them shot at sunrise. . . .
Joseph Knecht, director of the Goodrich Silvertown
orchestra replaced Dan Russo at the Hotel Schroeder
in Milwaukee. . . . E. Lambert, one of the stage
producers for Marks Bros., has been staging all his
ballet routines from a wheel chair since an auto
accident months ago. . . . That's pluck for you. . . .
It proves the well known saying "that a man may
be down, but never out." . . . Al Kvale has never
missed a sljow since becoming a band leader with
B & K. ... He opened at the Norshore a year ago
this month. . . . Miss Flower, working under the
name of Kosloft's Flower, leads the Kosloff Ballet in
Chicago stageshows. . . . The Darling Twins and
their mother Mrs. Anna Darling were robbed of $500
worth of jewelry last week in their hotel room. . . .
Paul Small was married to Melba Lou Cordes, a
pretty little Abbott dancer from Chicago. . . . The
affair took place in New York on July 17 with Paul
Ash as best man. . . . Charles Lenzen has joined the
staff of Donaldson-Douglas & Gamble, Chicago office,
of which Willie Horowitz is in charge. . . . Lindsey
Stephens, formerly of Villa Moret's Chicago office is
back in town after a tour of the west. . . . Fred
Strause and Joe Manne are looking after the duties
of DeSylva-Brown & Henderson's Chicago office while
its manager Joie Stool is recovering from a recent
illness. . . . Mike Cozzie former musical conductor
of the American theatre in Chicago, an Orpheum
house, is now completing a three years engagement
at the Pathenon in Berwyn. . . . Walter Hawley,
manager of the Chicago N. V. A. Club is away on
his vacation. . . . Mrs. Hawley is taking care of
the place until he returns. . . . Dean Stevenson
closed a successful two year engagement at the
Marshall Square theatre in Chicago as musical con-
ductor and has joined Armin Hand's orchestra at
the Piccadilly. . . . George Pantzer, for many years
production manager of the Rialto, Criterion and
many other New York theatre organizations is now
offering presentation acts from his own office to
independent exhibitors. ... Be sure to read his
advertisement on page 44. . . . Raymond Q. Dalton,
former producer for Marks Bros., is now in the in-
surance business. . . . There is some talk that Paul
Ash may open the new Paradise theatre in Chicago.
. . . And still we are of the firm belief that Mark
Fisher will have the honor. . . . Jack Lavin, man-
ager of Villa, Moret's Chicago office is offering a
prize to anyone who can suggest a good place to
spend a vacation. . . . Whoa I organists and band
leaders, don't get killed in the rush. . . . Orville
Rcnnie has been put on the staff of B & K as a guest
tenor. . . . With the new policy of orchestral pro-
ductions tenors and sopranos should now come into
their own. . . . Teddy Joyce, M. C. of Loew's Penn
in Pittsburgh has renewed his contract.
You Can't Co Wixonc
With AnyFEIST Song'
A NEW HIT^
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tHIQUITA'
L. WOLFE GILBERT
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MABEL
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REAL
SWEETHEARTi
Big Smash/
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^^vttT^S. WAYNE
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FRED >^HLERTX^ iiflfiL^ '
In the last issue we carried an advertisement for
Donaldson-Douglas & Gumble, Inc., and gave their
Chicago address as 308 Woods Theatre Building. It
should be Room 908 instead. Willie Horowitz is in
charge.
JPoxTrot
LONESOME IN,
bEMOONLIGH'T
i> BENEE RUSSELL //^jS
j?urfABEL BAER. X .^^ , ,
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ly NED MILLER, and^
CHESTER COHN^
LEO. FEISTiNc
23lw.40isT. NEW YORK
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46
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
STAGE SHOWS
San Francisco Warfield
Week Ending August 17
Following an absence from San Francisco of al-
most two years. Eddie Peabody returned this week
to the Warfield theatre in a vehicle made especially
for him in the studios of Fanchon and Marco and
aptly named "Ban joy Ideas." He is the same old
Eddie, with the same shock of unmanageable hair,
the same Jumping Jack whale-bone activities, the
same lot of funny clothes, the same mastery of
string instruments and a whole bag of new tricks.
The curtain went up on a stage setting of huge
banjos and Eddie slid out in his inimitable way
and made a neat speech, telling how glad he was
to be back, where he made his Pacific Coast debut,
and almost before the audience knew it had the
orchestra presenting "S\veet Sue."
This number was followed by the Electric Duo,
Dorothy and Leona, of San Francisco, whose
acrobatic dancing and tumbling was a revelation.
Eddie assisted in this act by performing on the
violin.
Robert Ziegler, concert pianist, introduced as a
protege of Queen Wilhelmina, of Holland, offered
"Fantasy Impromptu," and this was followed by a
violin solo by Eddie Peabody, with piano accom-
paniment. As an encore Eddie played the "Mocking
Bird," with novel variations.
Gloria and Walter, introduced as the Two Rays of
Sunshine, sang "Maybe It's You," following this
with a classical dancing and posing act that was
well executed, but rather out of place for a girl of
eight and a boy of ten years.
Jimmie Maisel, banjoist, assisted Eddie in playing
a duet, the offering being "Ready for the River,"
which was also sung. This was followed by "I'm
Crying for I Know I'm Going to Lose You" and
"Barcarolle from Love Tales of Hoffman." Eddie
then demonstrated how one banjo can substitute for
a whole orchestra in the "Rhapsody in Blue," an
offering which brought him a thunderous round of
applause. As an encore he played numbers called
for by admirers, weaving these into a sort of musical
salad rather highly spiced. As a special treat he
sang and played "St. Louis Blues." The act came
to an end with him and Jimmie Maisel offering
"You're a Real Sweetheart." each doing the fingering
on the banjo played by the other.
The show was rather different from recent offer-
ings at the Warfield, being put on without the usual
beauty chorus, and consisting of specialty acts. But
it was largely a one-man show, with Eddie Peabody
here, there and everywhere. This was specially in
evidence at the end of the act. The stage was dark-
ened for a moment at the conclusion of the banjo
number and when the spot came on again there
was Eddie off near the wings and playing away
for dear life.
Milwaukee Wisconsin
Week Ending August 12
This week marks the first appearance of Nat Na-
zarro, Jr., who succeeds Richy Craig at the Wisconsin
as master of ceremonies. The name for the presenta-
tion is "Persian Nights." It opens with a scene
representing a Persian rug. The orchestra then plays
"Persian Rug" and Billy Meyers comes out and sings
it. He gets a good hand. Then Nat Nazarro enters
the stage and is given a big reception.
The stage setting is a scene in a Persian garden,
elephants standing by and all that. Bebe Barri's
Rockets then do a clever dance. Sanna and Wallace,
dancers who are different then perform and make a
hit. They are small, but can do a lot of graceful
dancing.
Next on the scene is the orchestra playing "You're
Wonderful," and Billy Meyers sings the chorus. Then
comes Rose Valyda, double voiced songstress. She
sings a few popular numbers and does them well.
The crowd gives her a big hand.
Again the Barri Girls, dressed in red and in boots,
do a sort of clog dance that has snap to it. The
crowd likes it very much. Evans and Perez, a couple
of high class acrobats, do their thrilling stuff and
have the crowd gasping. It's very good and the
crowd gives them a big hand. Next is the orchestra
playing "Will You Remember Me." Nat Nazarro
sings this and then dances afterward. The boy is
clever with his feet.
Murray and Alan singing "3,000 Years Ago," and
dressed in Egyptian costumes, prance around and
sing. The words of the song are catchy. They get
considerable applause and add a few more verses
to it.
Finale consists of the Barri Girls dancing and
Nat Nazarro being lifted on an elephant's trunk.
It's a well balanced program.
New York Paramount
Week Ending August 25
The musical comedy revue, entitled "Wonderful
Girl" is laid in four scenes, 1. Deck of the S. S.
Berentania, 2. On the Dook, 3. Stage of the Zieg-
bert theatre, and 4. In front of a church. The
story deals with a Broadway show troupe on the
way home from London, whose leading lady elopes
in a "blimp" with her aviator friend, leaving the
show without its principal. A little emigrant girl,
Rosetta, begs for a chance, and wins the favor of
the producer and director.
The cast includes AI and Ray Samuels, George
Riley, Marie Pauli, WUlard Hall, Helene Heller,
C. J. Bloemker, Frank Ruhf, Edward Richardson,
Flo Stetler, Edward Hill, and the Dave Gould Girls.
The revue is made up of the usual singing-talking-
dancing comedy specialties, and the numbers used
are "Sailin' On" by the Paragon Quartette, "We'll
Explain the Plot" by the Samuels boys, dancing by
the Gould Girls, Helene Heller, and George Riley
contributing to Scene 1.
Scene 2 is a reprise of the theme song "Wonder-
ful Girl" sung by Willard Hall (leading man) and
the quartette.
Scene 3 opens with a syncopated hand and arm
drill by the Dave Gould Girls, and Paul Ash (an
author) is introduced with the stagehand, which was
absent during the first two scenes which used the
pit orchestra, and plays "If You Don't Love Me."
Helene Heller and George Riley (the producer) sing
"Kiss and Make-Up." The Samuel Brothers offer
a military tap dance, which leads on to Scene 4.
The Wedding March, in which the little emigrant
and the leading man of the supposed production get
married. New style of stageshow at the Paramount,
and very entertaining.
Atlanta Howard
Week Ending August 18
Howard's presentation this week, "Fast Mail"
proved a colorful opus.
Using a novelty introduction via flashes on the
screen of the different modes of transporting mail,
thence to the engine effect through lighting arrange-
ments on lift of the curtain, the bill got off to a
good start. Everything went smooth sailing until
the very last when an unusually abrupt ending left
the audience waiting for more.
Six Foster Girls did two numbers which drew
applause. Their costumes conveyed the atmosphere
nicely and brought much comment.
Eddie Hill, funster gathered some laughs with his
his nonsense songs, while the Luster Brothers, acro-
bats, received an encore for their skill. They were
called back.
Eva Thornton, singer, possessed a sweet voice and
her number virent over well.
Back drops and stage effects representing postage
stamps from different countries were highly favored
and interesting.
Al Morey and the Howard stage orchestra did their
bit well and received a good hand. Julia Dawn,
guest organist and singer assisted them.
Salt Lake City Capitol
Week Ending August 11
The Capitol theatre of Salt Lake City offered a
stage presentation of unusual merit and distinction
this week in the form of Fanchon and Marco's
"Radio-Television Idea," which opens with musical
numbers being broadcast to the audience by means
CECIL DAVIDSON
Master of Ceremonies
Puttins; Over the
NORTH CENTER THEATRE, CHICAGO
With His Gang
of a loud speaker, and high in the background of
the attractive stage setting is seen the performer.
Francis St. George, soloist, thrills his audiences
with his splendid renditions of "blues songs" as
does Henry Bnrman in his incomparable rendition
of "Laugh, Clown, Laugh," which he sings dressed
in the original clown suit and cap worn by Lon
Chaney when impersonating this well known char-
acter in the picture by this same name.
Other noted stars of radio land seen and heard
in this unusual act include: West, Lake and Hane,
mediums of eastern fame ; The Pearl Twins, in dance
and song numbers ; Nat Specter, who entertains de-
lightfully with his banjo and "fiddle" ; Ina Mitchell
Battler, songster, and West as woman impersonator
and comedian, who was very well received.
Alesander Schreiner at the organ, and Ralph Pol-
lock and his Capitol band complete a very high class
bill. Pollock also offers a song number very suc-
cessfully.
The feature picture shown in this connection was
"See You in Jail."
Detroit Capitol
Week Ending August 17
They named the Publix stage show at the Capitol
this week "Del's Follies," in honor of Del Delbridge,
Detroit's own good looking master of ceremonies.
Del presided gracefully over the show, and intro-
duced a heap of talent.
The bill was headed by Chilton and Thomas, that
whirlwind dancing team discovered by Paul Ash
when he was at the McVicker's theatre in Chicago.
They have a fine dancing act and their agile work
is something to marvel at, considering they knew
comparatively little about the show business when
Ash first booked them for his show only three years
ago.
Anita La Pierre, a pretty madamoiselle, sang some
snappy "blues" numbers, and then one in her native
French. It was a good song, even if 99 per cent of
her audiences, or possibly more, couldn't follow the
words and meaning.
Kirk and Zion had an acrobatic novelty and Scotty
Weston did some exceptional character dancing. Cole-
man Goetz, the master singing comedian, star of
more than one musical comedy, was well liked by
the audeinces and gave generously of his talents.
The Capitol Girls stepped cleverly, as usual.
A Vitaphone novelty won the interest and approval
of the audience. It was a comedy titled "Miss In-
formation," with Edward Everett Horton and Lois
Wilson, stage and screen stars respectively, in the
featured roles. Miss Wilson's voice registered well,
and she should prove to be a success in the talking
films.
Kansas City Pantages
Week Ending August 17
Mario and Rosita, the former a South American
Indian, and their Argentine orchestra occupied a
prominent place on the stage program at the Pan-
tages. Mario is adept at the tango and Rosita is a
little dancer with dramatic ability. Their orchestra
sings in a wild manner that gives exotic flavor to
music.
Chase and Latour have a 1-act sketch with more
of an idea to it than one expects to find ordinarily.
The audience missed none of the humor and irony.
Roger and Edna Hurst have some effective, rough
knockabout comedy that pleases the audiences.
Eddie White, a Semitic comedian, sings well and
has some good stories. Paul Kodak and his sister,
balancers, have an act which combines several good
stunts.
The Pantages orchestra, under the direction of
Louie Charninsky, director, rendered popular selec-
tions as an overture.
Indianapolis Palace
Week Ending August 10
"The Hoosier Frolics" is a happy concoction of
mirth, melody and dancing with Mr. Fox as usual
delighting his hearers with his song numbers. Collins
and Peterson are comedians with a sophisticated
laugh-provoking line which they augment with a bit
of song and a cornet solo.
Vestoft and Vaughn dance expertly and entertain-
ingly and Eddie Allen, late feature of "Hit the Deck"
entertains with eccentric dances, songs and patter.
Emil Seidcl and his band are heard from the pit
with Dusty Rhoades as soloist.
Philadelphia Fox
Week Ending August 11
This was rather an off week at the Fox theatre.
{Continued on next page)
UNIFORMS
FOR HOUSE
ATTACHES
COSTUMES
FOR STAGE
PRESENTATIONS
BROOKS
1437 B'wmy
N. Y. aty
r
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
(_C(»ttinued from preceding page)
The overture, "High Lights From the Classics,"
with a colorful stage interpretation of the finale,
the quartette from "Rigoletto," by the Milano Con-
cert Singers, was one of the most enjoyable features
of th« bill.
The Williams Sisters, in striking costumes of
orange silk and rhinestones stamped and pranced
through "Since Somebody Answered Yes" and "It
Won't Be Long Now," in a manner characterized
chiefly by noise and ex^penditure of energy, but the
audience seemed to enjoy it, judging from the ap-
plause.
Harland Dixon, creator of Five Step Rhythm, and
one of the best dancers on the stage, demonstrated
his particular kind of gliding dance as he chatted
genially with the audience. He then introduced Theo
Van Tassel, who he said learned to be his partner
for the five step in four days. These two form a
remarkable dancing duo, as they glide through a
series of rapid and difficult steps. Miss Van Tassel
is a dancer of real ability.
Frank De Voe, assisted by James Steiger, accom-
panist, proved one of the most popular of the en-
tertainere, with his amusing songs and lively con-
versation. "You Have No Idea" and "I'm Looking
at the World Through Rose Colored Glasses" were
favorably received but he won his most enthusiastic
response for "That's My Mammy." The audience
gave him a great hand.
New Orleans Saenger
Week Ending August 16
"Tick-Tock" the current offering of the Publix
Shows presented an innovation this week startling to
thousands who visited the playhouse in search of
comfort and amusement. The members of the chorus
were com.pleteIy clothed, in stockings, tights and all
that goes to hide "the sldn you love to touch" — the
latter phrase swiped from a soap ad sounds good.
"Tick-Tock" probably takes its title from two im-
mense clocks, right and left, with pendulums swing-
ing gently to and fro, as if keeping time to the
music of the stage band and later to a catchy song
sang by Sonia Meroff who received many hands.
The bill opens with the stagehand, this time di-
rectly facing the audience, directed by Jack Stanley
a newcomer who has to overcome the tremendous
lead made by Ralph Pollock who made his first bow
August 11, one year ago followed by Ben Black and
later by Art Landry. Stanley is young, good looking,
an excellent stage presence and makes his announce-
ments in a clear tone of voice which can be heard
at the extreme end of the house. Scarce two weeks
in the city yet an enterprising soda fountain man
has named a new drink, a Jack Stanley Hi-ball which
is in great demand among the drug store cowboys
and ladies of the lii>-stick. It looks as if Stanley
will be as big a hit as any of hie predecessors.
There is one thing in his favor, he does not play
the saxophone, though he dallies a trifle with the
violin and coaxes some sweet music from it.
The bill opens with the Albertina Rasch Girls who
are prominent throughout the entire entertainment in
a series of dances, marches and drills which are
marvelous not only in graceful movements but from
the wealth of wardrobe displayed, and which the
young ladies know how to wear to advantage.
An interpretation of the Argentine Tango with
Bernard and Rich proved an enjoyable number and
showed that both were artists of the first rank.
For about the nuttiest pair of comedians seen in
New Orleans for some time the biscuit must be
passed to Bayes and Speck who lived up to their bill-
ing as The Assassins of Sorrow. They were really
good.
Back with us again are Steve and Mack, members
of the stage band who find time to entertain with
songs. These gentlemen, have returned from a short
trip over the Saenger circuit and have met with
appreciation in all houses played.
An outstanding feature was the work of Vit
Lubowski, pianist of the band who played several
exquisite selections.
Castro Carazo and the Saenger Grand Orchestra
present as their overture "Voices of Spring," sup-
plemented by John Hammond at the organ with the
"Venetian Love Song" and Berlin's "Beloved."
The Vitaphone had as its feature Anna Chase in the
Metropolitan Opera Chorus Spanish Fiesta, while the
Movietone presented topics of the day. The sound
pictures seem to be going over good in New Orleans.
Detroit Michigan
Week Ending August 17
If Fred Waring brings his Pennsylvanians to your
town pack up your work, your troubles and your
cares for the evening and go to see and hear them.
The boys are there !
Fred and his merry bunch made their syncopated
debut in Detroit six years ago last February or
March. Waring had just organized the band and
they had but few rehearsals at the time they were
booked for a week at Kunsky's Madison theatre.
"Plane" Advertising
for Stageshow
By an unusual publicity tie-up arranged
by Dick Powell, master of ceremonies of the
Circle Theatre in Indianapolis, it was pos-
sible for shoppers of that city to see
without cost the new stageshow called "Keep
Cool." This attraction, in addition to the
film "Hot News," appeared at the Circle The-
atre last week and the theatre staff, in con-
junction with Powell, conceived the idea of
exploiting the program by releasing balloons
from an airplane over the downtown dis-
trict.
The balloons contained passes admitting the
bearers to the theatre during the entire ap-
pearance of the advertised attractions. The
airplane which was extensively advertised in
the dailies was distinguished by its blue
color.
weeks ago with "Wanning Up," which was simply
an arrangement of music and sound effects, the
Riviera last week was graduated into "The Lion and
the Mouse," with a more realistic sound arrangement
in that is is pai-t talkie. This week the house
will show "Lights of New York," all talkie.
Radio broadcasting was in its infancy then, and
most every singer or orchestra was clamoring to play
for the radio audiences to get the publicity accruing
therefrom. So Fred and his bunch were booked by
Station WWJ, The Detroit News radio station.
Your reporter was then engaged in writing radio
news for The News — putting forth articles on the
gentle art of making a radio set out of a bed spring
and a hunk of crystal rock — when Fred and his
musicians brought their instruments into the radio
studio for their final rehearsal.
The Broadcasting was a success. Such a success,
in fact, that Fred and his boys stayed at one or
another of Kunsky's theatres for 10 weeks or more,
before going on to other fields. Their fame eventu-
ally carried them to Paris where they played dur-
ing the Summer, and now they are headed for a
musical revue.
Well, to get back to the present show. Fred and
his boys are dressed in white flannels and white
collegiate sweaters. Their drop curtain is a gorgeous
affair of black with flashing squares of metal plate
which reflect the light. Most of the original band
still is with Fred, but Tom Waring, Fred's brother,
he of the hot piano breaks and the mournful solos
on a musical saw, is in Paris studying voice.
Fred carries 17 pieces in his band, including two
pianos, and the boys can harmonize vocally as well
as tease foot seducing sounds out of their instru-
ments.
St. Louis Ambassador
Week Ending August 10
"Flapperettes" was the title of Ed Lowry's stage
show for the week. Prominent in its cast were
Billie Gcrber, male impersonator ; Ruth Denice ; Luley,
Mealy and Crocker, comedy acrobatic dancers ; the
Rio Brothers, collegiate steppers, and the 12 Foster
Girls.
Dave Silverman orchestra played the overture.
A Movietone feature "Warming Up" was on the
screen and had its own music accompaniment.
Omaha Riviera
Week Ending August 16
The second week of sound pictures at the Riviera
brought big crowds, which not only enjoyed the
talkies, but also the presentation acts "Roman
Nights." The feature of this Publix entertainment
offered by Paul Spor, stage master, was a chorus of
roamin' knights, not of the Appian way, but of the
alleys. The hoboes presented comedy stuff, but could
dance when occasion demanded.
As graceful as the male chorus was uncouth, the
Roman girls specialized in a cymbal dance. A
chariot race with real sure-enough horses was a
climax of the days of gladiators.
Acts on the program included Mildred La Salle,
"blues" singer and Russell and Marconi, accordion
and violin, George Johnson's organ selection was
"Write Your Own Lyrics" and the pit orchestra
number, under Spor, was "Southern Melodies," which
included the Kentucky Jubilee choir in Vitaphone.
Opening its Vitaphone and Movietone additions two
Chicago North Center
Week Ending August 19
This theatre, which has changed hands several
times in the past two years, is now presenting the
policy of feature pictures and stage shows Saturday
and Sunday. Tommy Sacco is the producer and Cecil
Davidson is the master of ceremonies and bandleader.
The opening band number was a very good ar-
rangement of "Down Where the Sun Goes Down,"
a popular tune that is fast coming up to the front
as a hit song. (And, by the way, Verne Buck, one
of our most popular Chicago bandleaders, is the
composer.) Davidson directed this arrangement in
fine style.
Fox and Fox and two children followed next in
an eccentric dancing revue which seemed to please
some. Audrey Carnes, an acrobatic dancer, was
next. She also got her share of the meager ap-
plause. Another band arrangement followed, called
"You're Wonderful," with die Moe, the first saxo-
phone player, singing a chorus. This chap has a
fairly good voice and seems to be popular here.
Jack, Joe and Betty were the next speacialty
artists who offered a comedy-playlet with a lot of
hokum. Four Hi-Lo Merrymakers, a quartet in a
series of harmony songs, were next to closing, and
they appeared to be the best specialty on the bill,
according to the applause. •
The finale was the band arrangement of "Down
Where the Sun Goes Down" with the entire cast
assembled on the stage. Davidson, who is one of the
youngest leaders in this town, is now entering his
second season at this house under the new manage-
ment. His popularity induced the new management
to re-engage him.
Glendale Alexander
Week Ending August 11
Sol Lowe, master of ceremonies during the absence
of Ted Mack, sponsored a well balanced program,
with a small group, but fanciful entertainei-s. The
show started with a band number "Fantasy Oriental"
which was followed by Ergatti and Herman, in a
novelty surprise, the man being small appears to
come out of a hat box which the girl carries. He
dances and wise cracks and does a few acrobatic
stunts, but failed to register with the masses. He
appeared to please the younger set.
Betty and Uhla, two girls at the piano, opened
their number with a piano and song number, "Ain't
She Sweet." Betty, the comedian, sang "The Vulgar
Boatmen" in character (and what a character). She
had the audience laughing constantly with the funny
gestures and her original style of comic. She and
her partner were very deserving of the heavy hand
of applause.
Walters and Russell, two fast hoofers and a pair
of chairs, with stairs as their background, pleased
the crowd. Their taps on the steps, leading up and
down, brought out the audience in full. They took
two curtain calls.
The finale stai-ted with a violin solo from the
master of ceremonies, "Dream Kisses," the orchestra
joining in. After playing several bits from well
known hits, Sol finished with his violin, alone. Tak-
ing a great hand for the entire troup. Sol is a
master at the violin, but his announcements were
rather weak, and not clear enough for this large
house. His gags were good and well liked.
New York Capitol
Week Ending August 25
The Boris Petroff production, "Argentine Nights,"
featuring Dorothy Berke, and with the inimitable
Walt Roesner and the Capitolians, is this week's
title for the stageshow at Major Bowes' theatre.
Frank Stever opens the show with the song
"Chiquita" sung behind a scrim drop.
The boys in the orchestra introduce Walt Roesner,
who leads a snappy dance number for the Chester
Hale Girls, who offer a Spanish tango dance, cos-
tumed in beautiful shawls and little else.
{Continued on next page)
BILLY POND
SOLO ORGANIST
STATE THEATRE
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
48
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
(Continued from preceding page)
Triana Sisters do a Spanish Castanet dance while
the Hale Girls remain on the stage for the finish.
The Capitolians select "Get Out and Get Under
the Moon" for their next feature, vocal accompani-
ment by Frank Stever.
Wally Jackson and his comedy dance lends a
lighter trend to the atmosphere, and his endeavor to
lead the orchestra draws many hearty laughs.
Lonise Bave sings a light Spanish, or rather
Argentinish, opera number, which is highly appre-
ciated and calls for three bows.
Dorothy Bcrke and Mario Naldi offer the original
and authentic Argentine Tango which does not seem
difficult until the final steps. They go over for a
big hand.
The Novella Brothers, well known everywhere, offer
their acrobatic clowning violin feature, following
with their big-time imitation of two love birds.
They have been the feature on vaudeville stages for
yeai-s and are as good, if not better, than before.
Eight of the orchestra boys sing a comedy number
with tambourines, followed by good clowning of the
tango dance.
A chorus dance is offered by the Chester Hale
Girls, and is followed by the theme song sung from
a stage-balcony, "Chiquita."
Philadelphia Forum
Week Ending August 11
The new Forum theatre, the first modern French
theatre in America, featured Walter Clinton and
Julia Rooney with their orchestra in the stageshow.
The theatre is futuristic in design and decorative
scheme and the unique futuristic curtains and drops,
illuminated at the sides and with light shining
through, form a striking setting for many of the
acts. The slogan of the theatre is "Something Dif-
ferent in Entertainment and Fun." The program is
changed twice weekly and there is a complete stage
show and organ recital at each performance.
First on the bill was a Vitaphone feature, Gus
Arnheim and his Ambassadors. Eddie VoUmer's Con-
cert Orchestra rendered the overture "Down South,"
by Myddleton.
This was followed by Hammer and Hammer, who
might well be called the human knots, in a song
and dance act. The girl in a striking brown velvet
costume lined with orange danced, sang and tied
herself up in knots in a sui-prising manner. But
when it came to knots the man had her beaten a
mile for there seemed to be no position into which
he could not twist himself, with his arms and legs
tied in actual knots that made one ache to look
at him.
Gorinne Arbuckle made a hit with her songs
"Happy Go Lucky Days," "You Have No Idea" and
"Laugh Loud, Laugh."
Clinton and Rooncy's ten "Stepping Tunesmiths"
in bright green coats and caps and gray trousers,
appeared before a scrim curtain singing "When Good
Fellows Get Together." At the close of this song
the boys stepped behind the curtain, the house was
darkened and lights turned on back of the scrim.
Walter Clinton in a little song introduced charming
Julia Rooney, in white tulle. Julia did a clog dance
very cleverly and the orchestra played an arrange-
ment of "Mary Ann." The tenor of the orchestra
sang "My Bouquet of Memories" and as a request
number, "Ramona." Several members of the orches-
tra sang stanzas from the comedy song "Everybody
Loves My Girl," representing different characters, to
the great amusement of the audience. Julia Rooney,
in blue, danced another clog and the audience gave
her a good hand.
Alma Soraerville, guest organist, then played
Sousa's "El Capitan" on the ascending Kilgen organ,
a very popular feature of the bill.
VALE & STEWART
Just Completed
a Second
Tour of.Publix
Will Soon Open
in a
New York
Production
Direction
Lyons & Lyons
Delbridge Scores Big
Hit in Detroit
Del Delbridge, band conductor and master
of ceremonies, vjio dropped into the Michigan
theatre, Detroit, a little less than a year ago
and made himself popular in a short time, has
signed a contract which will keep him here
for the next year, or possibly two.
Del stayed seven months at the Michigan
theatre before he moved over to the Capitol,
where he has been for the last eight weeks.
If Del remains there to complete his newly
signed contract, he will set a record in a
matter of sustained popularity. Fred Stritt,
his nearest rival, stayed nine months at the
State theatre, and Delbridge already has
equaled that record.
Delbridge was born at Jackson, Mich., the
town famous for its State Prison, and gradu-
ated from the University of Michigan. His
first job in the entertainment line was in
Chicago where he played a piano in a music
publishing house. Al Short discovered him
and asked him to play with his pit orchestra
at the Tivoli theatre.
Short took Del to the Capitol theatre with
him, and Del ended a three year association
with Short when he struck out for himself to
become master of ceremonies at the Stratford,
a Chicago neighborhood house. Then Del took
his o>vn orchestra to the Capitol theatre, with
a result that he shortly was booked by
Balaban & Katz and came to the Michigan
here.
While things look rosy for Del, Frank
Beaston is not doing so well as master of
ceremonies at the Michigan. Frank has found
that being master of ceremonies is not kind
on the general health.
He has suffered a nervous breakdown and
is temporarily away from the stage. This is
the second time that the young man of the
big smile has been overcome by the demands
of his work, as not so long ago he was com-
pelled to rest for a week. Arnold Segall is
taking Frank's place for the present, but if
Frank's illness is of long duration, Paul Leash
will be called in to fill the gap, according
to the Michigan management.
Film Director-Composer
Victor Schertzinger, prominent motion-picture di-
rector and composer of the international song hit,
"Marcheta," has repeated his success by writing the
lyric and melody in a new composition called
"Chalita." This number is published by Chappell-
Harms, Inc., well-known music firm of New York.
It is a very pretty tune that can easily be used as a
theme for motion-picture accompaniment.
Mr. Schertzinger, before becoming noted in the
motion-picture field, was a renowned musician and
owes a great deal of his directorial success to his
dramatic and musical knowledge gained from his
musical training.
Still at It
Charles Kaley, featured band-leader for Marks
Bros., operators of the Granada and Marbro the-
atres of Chicago, announces his engagement to
Frances Williams, late featured artist of George
White's "Scandals." If this purported matrimony
goes through, it will be Kaley's third adventure.
The first one was annulled, and the second is going
through the divorce courts. Immediately upon' the
receipt of his papers, it is believed that Kaley and
Miss Williams will be married.
It has been learned that Frances Williams and
Charles Kaley have been sweethearts for many years,
and in spite of the fact that he was married, there
was always a strong feeling between' the two which
in all probability has led them to eventually come
together.
Going Over?
Word comes from Dick and Edith Barstow, who
are playing in' France, that considerable pi-esentation
work is available for high class artists. Dick and
Edith have just concluded their Parisian engage-
ment and are on their way to Switzerland, playing
around the Kursaal theatre resort, well-known to
tourists.
In the past few months there have been' a number
of American acts booked for Europe, among which
Maxwell and Lee and Dick and Edith Barstow are
only two of the well-known standard teams who are
finding favor in the music halls across the foam.
Andy Gump in Person
Joe Murphy, who in real life is the exact image
of Andy Gump, the Sidney Smith character in car-
toons, is now making personal appearances in a
number of picture houses in and around the suburbs
of Chicago.
Mr. Murphy also starred in a series of short films
produced by Universal from the cartoon adaptation.
Bushman, Jr., on Keith-
Orpheum Circuit
Francis X. Bushman, Jr., son of the former mati-
nee idol of the screen, is now touring Keith-Albee-
Orpheum Circuit in a playlet entitled "The Third
Door," a mystery-comedy with four people.
Mr. Bushman, Jr., recently completed the role of
Franz, the oldest son in "Four Sons," reported to
be one of the most successful screen productions
ever made.
Leo Feist Publishes Theme
Song to "Lilac Time"
Nathaniel Shilkret, popular recording manager of
the Victor Phonograph Company, and also noted
for his orchestra, has contributed to the music world
a tune called "Jeannine I Dream of Lilac Time."
L. Wolfe Gilbert, one of the writers of "Ramona"
set the lyrics to this song which is being published
by Leo Feist, Inc., as the theme song for the motion
picture called "Lilac Time."
Judging from the tremendous success of other film
theme songs such as "Diane," "Ramona," and
"Laugh, Clown, Laugh," it is quite evident that this
song will become one of the outstanding hits in the
popular class.
L & T Theatres Featuring
Mystic Artist
Lubliner & Trinz have engaged Marjah, a mystic
artist whose offering is of considerable interest to
the ladies who attend matinee i)erformances in pic-
ture houses.
Marjah, who is called the "Apostle of Mental
Science" and exix)nent of "Yogi philosophy," answers
various questions of domestic and professional af-
fairs. Considering the amount of space devoted in
the advertising pages, it seems that the theatres pre-
senting this attraction are really cashing in at the
box office.
Ginger Rogers Held Over
at Paramount
Ginger Rogers, Texas songstress who appeared at
the Paramount theatre a few weeks ago with Paul
Ash in the Publix stage show, "Pow Wow," scored
such a success she has been held over indefinitely.
Miss Rogers, a seventeen year old girl who first
came into prominence two years ago as the Charles-
ton champion of Texas, is making her first appear-
ance on Broadway. A year ago she gave up her
dancing act and turned to singing in a vaudeville
vehicle billed as "Ginger Rogers and Her Redheads."
Miss Rogers is the third "Personality Singer" to be
held over at the Paramount since the advent there of
Paul Ash as master of ceremonies.
Publix Starts New
Style Stageshow
The Paramount theatre ■will deviate from its 'usual
policy in stage shows this week when it offers
"Wonderful Girl," a Publix production conceived and
staged by Joseph Santley, former star of the legiti-
mate stage who recently joined the Publix production
staff.
"Wonderful Girl" is a pocket edition of a legiti-
mate musical comedy with book, lyrics and score by
Santley in collaboration with Harry Ruskin, author
of numerous musical comedy song hits.
Paul Ash and the Paramount stage orchestra will
be featured and others in the cast include Helene
Heller and George Riley, Al and Ray Samuels, the
Paragon Quartet, popular radio artists composed of
Eddie Hill, Fi-ank Ruhf, Edwai-d Richardson and
Clarence Blomaker ; Willard Hall, Marie Pauli and a
Dave Gould ensemble of dancing girls.
New Organ School
The National Organ Studios, Inc., of San Fran-
cisco, has been incorporated with a capital stock
of $200,000 by Ralph B. Banderob, Bertram Hopps
and C. Richard Lange.
The plan is to conduct a chain of studios for
the training of organists for moving picture theatre
work. Banderob has been conducting a studio.
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
49
ORGAN SOLOS
From a jockey on one of Chicago's race tracks,
to one of the biggest and most powerful executives
in the music business has been the rise to fame
and fortune of Bobby Crawford.
At the helm of DeSylva, Brown and Henderson,
Inc., Bobby Crawford gives you the following col-
umn for this week.
« * «
"Bobby" Crawford "sub-ing" for Larry Spier.
A "pinch-hitting columnist"!!! That's what
Larry Spier has asked me to be. I know that in
baseball a "pinch-hitter" is supposed to have a bat-
ting average of three hundred and thirty-three,
otherwise he has not made good. I am very doubt-
ful if I can reach that high average, but Larry is
such a nice fellow, and this column has always been
so interesting to me that there is nothing left for
me to do except to step up to the plate and do the
beet I can. Here goes Larry — and if I strike out
you will at least have to say that I tried hard.
# * «
Being a music publisher, it is only natural that
I make some comment about the eongs that DeSylva
Brown and Henderson, Inc., publish. Just to be a
little different from the other publishers, I won't
rave about the marvelous, excellent, phenomenal
catalogue that we have at the present time. I will
only state that we have the best catalogue of eongs
in the counti-y. Mind you, if it weren't for my
overwhelming modesty, I'd really praise our songs.
« * *
To me about the most interesting thing of the
moment is the wonderful progress that has been
made by the new publi£hing firm of Walter Douglas,
Mose Gumbic — and one of the greatest song-writers
that ever lived, namely Walter Donaldson. Their
main song, "Just Like a Melody Out of the Sky,"
is heard wherever music is played, and it looks like
it will develop into as great a hit as Donaldson's
"Sundown" song. Some of their other numbers such
as "Out of the Dawn," "Anything You Say," "Be-
cause My Baby Don't Mean Maybe" also look like
"ready money."
« * *
Of great interest to all motion picture exhibitors
is the fact that so many of our greatest films have
been so phenomenally successful because of their
affiliation with great songs. "What Price Glory"
was assisted in its grasp on public fancy by the
song "Charmaine" ; "Seventh Heaven" by "Diane" ;
"Ramona" by the song of the same name ; "Street
Angel" by "Angela Mia (My Angel)"; and now the
"Red Dance" by "Someday, Somewhere." In the
ca£e of "Ramona," the song was already a hit be-
fore the film was released. Here was a case of a
picture being sold to a public before they had even
seen it. No doubt, it was a film worthy of suc-
cess, but there is no denying that a possibility was
turned into an actuality because of the momentum
created by the song. It is the wise exhibtior who
see the value of a theme song to his film attraction,
and takes full advantage of the tie-ups made possi-
ble by the publisher of that song. The possibilities
which these tie-ups create are inestimable.
« * «
If I may, I would like to place a nomination be-
fore Larry Spier of Rocco Vocco for "column con-
ductor" of an early issue of this magazine. I have
known Rocco Vocco for many years, during which
time I have seen him rise to one of the foremost
positions in the music business, with a list of friends
beyond number. I am sure that he could give us
some very interesting slants on the music business,
and spin a few yams like only he can.
« * «
Isn't it strange how many things a person can
discuss during the course of a conversation, and yet
run out of conversation when he has "put it in
writing" ?
Bobby Crawford.
• • »
P. S. : And there now, you have heard from
Bobby Crawford
« « *
Now that my colleague Raymond Gallo has gotten
himself married, all that I can say is that it is Mb
own fault, and he will have to suffer the conse-
quences. I hope all hie children grow up to be col-
umists.
LARRY SPIKR.
Marsh McCurdy Joins
Bowes' Staff
Major Edward Bowes, managing director of
the Capitol theatre. New York, has selected
Marsh McCurdy, well known organist and
president of the New York Society of Theatre
Organists, as one of the feature console
artists.
Mr. McCurdy owes his past training and
success entirely to American methods and al-
though still a young man, he has played
organ in the Marcus Lowe theatres for the
past ten years. He studied under such noted
masters as T. Tertius Noble and Pietro Yon
of the Vatican in Rome.
Mr. McCurdy is under exclusive contract
to Columbia Record Company and is also fea-
tured over a national broadcasting chain. As
a composer, McCurdy has such well known
songs to his credit as "High Water," "You,"
and "Sunset."
Edward House (Chicago Uptown) offered a novel
community singing stunt last week that started off
as a radio broadcast representing the national po-
litical chamber in which House informed the public
that Hoover and Smith were nominated, and that
he was the thii-d party and would be thankful for
their votes. The idea was very clever and brought
forth many laughs as well as a well-deserved ova-
tion. The songs used were "Sidewalks of New
York" for Smith, "Over There" for Hoover, and
"I Still Love You" for House, intermingled with
"My Pet" and "If You Don't Love Me" with a
vocal chorus by House.
Bill Bennett (Chicago Belpark) offered for a com-
munity solo a stunt called "Favorites Old and New"
which consisted of "Some of These Days," "An Old
Guitar and an Old Refrain," "Sweetheart, I'm
Sorry," "Angela Mia," "Constantinople," and "Too
Busy." Bennett's popularity compelled him to take
an encore, a usual occurrence at this theatre.
Eddie Meikel (Chicago Harding) presented for last
week's organ solo a series of poular songs inter-
mingled with the birthday song which is always
sung for the members of Eddie's club. As usual,
a list of names wias flashed on the screen and the
audience gave them the club cheer. The numbers
used were "I Wonder What's Become of Sally,"
and the new Sally song called "Don't You Remember
Sally." Parodies on "Too Busy" and "Dolores" were
put over with clever cartoon illustrations, and
"You're a Real Sweetheart" closed the bill. For an
encore, "Constantinople" was played for the happy
crowd.
Arthur Gutow (Detroit Michigan) took the much
played overture "Poet and Peasant" for his organ
solo recently and showed how it can be combined
artistically with other musical compositions. After
playing a portion of the overture, Gutow played
"Chloe," this number being illustrated with slides.
Then more of "Poet and Peasant," and then "King
for a Day," the words of the latter being flashed on
the screen. More of the "Poet" was used to close.
The combination went over in great order.
DEAN STEVENSON
Completing His Second Year
at the
Marshall Squeure Theatre
Permanent Address
7415 N. Robey Street, Chicago
9tatc.59l8
r/05
Ddndolph St
Oliicato
Art you (getting RUMORS
MoollV Ttb&Kio fer tic. a^
SqmC$
BEST SELLERS
"Ramona" — (Leo Feist).
"Girl of My Dreams" — (Jack Mills).
"You're a Real Sweetheart" — (Leo
Feist).
"Get Out and Get Under the Moon" —
(Irving Berlin).
"Was It a Dream" — (Harms).
"Angela Mia" — (DeSylva-Brown &
Henderson).
"Last Night I Dreamed You Kissed
Me"— (Leo Feist).
"Just Like a Melody Out of the Sky"
— (Donaldson-Douglas & Gumhle).
"Laugh, Clown, Laugh" — (Remick).
"That's My Weakness Now" —
(Shapiro-Bernstein).
"Constantinople" — (DeSylva-Brown &
Henderson).
" Chiquita"—(Leo Feist).
"Down Where the Sun Goes Down" —
(Leo Feist).
"Jeanine, I Dream of Lilac Time" —
(Leo Feist).
"Too Busy" — (Leo Feist).
"I Can't Do Without You"— (Berlin).
I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT LOVE—
(Jack Mills, Inc.) — This is the hit song of the New
York production Blackbirds of 1928. From Eastern
reports, the music is excellent and the show is a big
hit. It has an all colored cast. Lyrics by Dorothy
Fields, music by Jimmy McHugh.
ffi * :;:
A CANOE AND YOU— (Forster Music Pub. Co.)
— A pretty idea especially for this time of the year.
In case of an argument it is very easy to topple
over. A very pretty fox trot with an appropriate
lyric. Words and music by Stephen Gaylord.
i-f « ij:
KING FOR A DAY— (Remick Music Corp)— The
follow up song to Laugh, Clown, Laugh. Ted
Fiorito the melody writer is responsible for both
these eongs. This song looks like a real hit. Writ-
ten as a waltz. Lyric by Lewis and Young.
* « *
MY TREASURES — (Harms, Inc.) — A high class
number of the type that this firm is famous for.
The lyric writer is the well known cartoonist Rube
Goldberg. Both lyric and melody are excellent.
Music by Lewis E. Gensler.
* * «
THE FIRST KISS— (Watcrson-Berlin & Snyder)—
The theme song of the picture now playing at the
Chicago theatre. Well written by two writers who
need no introduction. Their past songs speak for
themselves. By Al Dubin and J. Russell Robinson.
* * «
SINCERELY I DO— (Villa Moret, Inc.)— A pretty
fox trot and also lyric by two well known writers.
Should be commercial. Lyric by Benny Davis, music
by Joe Burke. « « *
I'D RATHER CRY OVER YOU (Than Smile At
Somebody Else) — (Ager, Y'ellen & Bornstein) — These
writers, all well known, have turned out a sure fire
song for the public to buy. Written as a fox trot
with a very good lyric. Words by Jack Yellen and
Phil Ponce, music by Dan Dougherty.
* « *
TWELVE O'CLOCaC WALTZ— (Remick Music
Corp.)^ — A very pretty waltz that reminds one of the
famous Midnight Waltz. Should get a big radio plug
as a signing off number. Words by Billy Rose and
Mort Dixon, music by Harry Warren.
« * *
OUT OF THE DAWN — (Donaldson -Douglas &
Gumble) — The theme song of the first Paramount
sound picture Warming Up. This song is already
selling on its own merit. With the picture opening
at the Chicago theatre it should develop into the
hit class. Words and music by Walter Donaldson.
« * *
THAT STOLEN MELODY— (Empire Music Com-
pany)— ^The writer of Dardanella is resironsible for
this song which is different and on that account
alone it hits the eye.
j/^ /3.
50
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
^^^
THE THEATRE
Incorporated in this department of practical showmanship of Exhibitors Herald are the Moving
Picture World departments, "Selling the picture to the Public,*' and "Better Business Builders."
Tying Up With Press Pays; Here's Proof!
The value of playing along with your newspaper, emphasized and re-emphasized so many times in this department,
gets 18-carat confirmation this week in the pages of the Brillion News, published by Otto J. Zander at Brillion, Wis.
Joe J. Ecker, manager of the Auditorium theatre, wins the editorial bouquet from the newspaper and we rise from
our bootstraps to pin our own ribbon around the floral contribution.
We have mentioned the advisability
of staying as close to the editor of your
newspaper as the proverbial kitten
does to a hot brick. Now there are
many reasons for this, and we're speak-
ing now of course from the experiences
of exhibitors who have written in to
this department.
First of all, the newspaper represents your
town, and represents it, in the majority of
instances, more truly than any other single
agency. That means that the newspaper is
an integral part of the community, and if it
represents the community, certainly your the-
atre as a definite part of that community must
be represented in the newspaper. We don't
recall — and don't care, either — whether that
falls under the category of true logic accord-
ing to the books we used to have in school.
It's a fact, regardless.
Two Sides to Any Dispute
Certainly we recall instances — rare though,
praise be ! — of an exhibitor writing in that he
didn't get any cooperation from the paper, the
editor didn't treat him right, and anyway his
advertisements in the paper didn't help his
gross a bit.
Well, mebbe so, though the chances are
that 'way back yonder there was some mis-
understanding that could have been cleared
up to the benefit of both parties. That's usu-
ally the way such things happen.
Generally there are two sides to a question,
as the Zouave recruit found out when he
shinnied up the wall — and tumbled off. There
was the editor of a newspaper in a city of
about 30,000 who told us he was getting gray
hair over his dealings with the theatre folk.
They wanted the whole paper — and even the
margins — for publicity, and it was all straight
"lift" copy that the editor felt he could not
use as news. And they wanted their adver-
tising for practically nothing. So he said.
Well, that situation has been cleared, and
we modestly add that we may have had some-
thing to do with the settling of it.
Something for Nothing?
Expecting something for nothing may or
may not be good business. Usually not. You
get proportionately as you give, but the better
the cooperation you give the better your re-
turns. Translating that into theatre terms, if
you play along with your newspaper you'll
get a far better break when a special cam-
paign comes along, and if you study the likes
and dislikes of the editorial department of
your newspaper, it's surprising how much ma-
terial you can give the editor that he really
wants, and with little effort.
There's only one more angle we want to
touch upon here, before we get back to Ecker
and the Auditorium theatre. Institutional ad-
vertising and exploitation time and again has
proved valuable in dollars and cents at the
box office. Get out among your people, talk
about the things they talk about, do the things
they do, offer the use of your theatre for
worthwhile events, make use of every oppor-
tunity that comes your way to give talks be-
fore different groups in your town. In other
words, let your town know who you are.
Other exhibitors who have done that have
found a mighty gratifying answer on the
books.
Newspaper Helps a Lot
Now how can that be accomplished without
having the benefit of the news columns of
your community paper? Well, it possibly can,
but it's foolish to pass up the bet of letting
the newspaper help publicize yourself and
your theatre. That's obvious. Exhibitors
have found it so, and experience talks best.
Now let's return to Ecker. The Brillion
News, Friday, carried the article on coopera-
tion with newspapers, as already mentioned,
and then stated, on the first page, mind you :
"The article presents an interesting and
somewhat new viewpoint, but, as a piece of
advice, is wasted on Joe J. Ecker, manager of
the local movie house.
Ecker Rings the Bell
"Joe has been a steady advertiser in the
News for years, in fact ever since he went
into the business. While we do not know how
much he loves the editor, we do know that
our relations with him have been of the best.
"We especially appreciate his cooperation in
meeting our shop requirements in the matter
of early preparation of his advertising copy.
We often envy those of our fellow editors
who make an ironclad rule that advertising
copy must be submitted not later than a cer-
tain hour or day, and actually get away
with it.
Editor Appreciates It
"We haven't enough iron in our soul to
carry out such a policy as strictly as we ought,
feeling that, after all, we should give any
local enterprise the best possible service, even
Visiting Sailors
Taken to Theatre
When His Majesty's Australian warship,
the Australia, paid a visit to Montreal, Que-
bec, Manager Harry Dahn of the Capitol
theatre, hustled the whole crew to the theatre
to see "White Shadows in the South Seas."
at a sacrifice. But we doubly appreciate an
advertiser who, like Mr. Ecker and others, is
willing to cooperate with us in a matter such
as every editor has to contend with, involves
no sacrifice or inconvenience on the part of
the advertiser, but means much in the weekly
routine of the average country printshop."
So you note that Ecker cooperates even to
the extent of respecting the newspaper dead-
lines, and the editor appreciates that fact.
Patronizing the Paper
The article which prompted these compli-
ments to the theatreman read as follows, with
the heading, "might hate editor but would
advertise" :
"If we had a movie house in a small town
we would patronize the local paper even
though we might hold the editor in particular
detestation. We should feel that we couldn't
afford to be left out of the representation.
It would be bad enough if we had the only
picture house in town, but with an opposition
that does get representation we should get
into the advertising columns if we had to use
a court order to obtain the space.
"It would not matter in the least if the
advertising did not sell a single ticket from
one New Year's to the next, if the paper was
so hopelessly poor that it would not influence
the sale of a single ticket, we still would want
to be represented if for no other reason than
as a matter of civic pride. We should not
want to have people think we were too poor or
too stingy or too ignorant to advertise. We
would advertise in the local paper, for the
sake of our own self respect.
Helps Make the Town Better
"The local paper is a part of every com-
munity. Often it is a very important part.
Sometimes, through lack of ability, the editor
is a nonentity, and his product is colorless,
but still, it is a part of the town, and an
exhibitor should be a part of every local en-
terprise calling for support. The newspaper
is a part of the town and as much deserving
of recognition
"When the town is large enough to support
only a weekly, this support is doubly impor-
tant. People may overlook portions of a
daily, or may prefer the newspaper from the
nearest large city, but the weekly sheet is
home news and everyone will read it. And
they will read it straight through, patent medi-
cine ads and all. And we should want to be
among the advertisements to be read. We
would want to be in the paper whether the
editor was all that was abhorrent to us. We
wouldn't have to kiss him. The more you
strive to become a part of the life of your
town, the more important your enterprise be-
comes, whether you sell shoe strings or super-
features."
August 25, 1928
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
WANTED! ^^^^*^^ P^y^ ^«^* ^«^^ ^/
Patrons; Builds Goodwill^ B. O.
For DISTURBING THE PEACE ».» u.,^„
STEAUNG *.-.
CAUSING A RIOT -.,f.„
KILLING -c,«,„
REaNAlB DENNY
GOOD MORNING, JUDGE"
Starting Friday^ June 22nd
Boulevard Theatre
Clever ad used by Monty Salmon, nunu
ager of the Boulevard theatre, Los An-
geles, for the Universal picture, "Good
Morning, Judge," starring Reginald
Denny. Small ads as clever as this one
often have more value than an ad several,
times this size. It pays to use snappy ads
similar to this one occasionally.
House Organ
Exchange
R. H. Zerbel, Delft theatre, Marquette,
Mich.
Albert Sindlinger, Majestic theatre,
Athens, Ohio,
L. W. Carroll, Majestic theatre, Bur-
lington, Vermont.
Montague Salmon, Boulevard theatre,
Los Angeles.
Publix News, Riviera theatre, Omaha,
Nebraska.
H. M. Addison, Great Lakes theatre,
Buffalo, N. Y.
John Goldstone, Empire Picture House,
Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England.
Wener & Green, Russell theatre. Glace
Bay, Nova Scotia.
Charles P. Gilmore, Orpheum theatre,
Oswego, N. Y.
Verner Hicks, Arcadia theatre, Olney,
III.
Kenneth Tallmadge, Temple theatre,
Saginaw, Mich.
Wally Nordby, Indiana theatre, Indi-
ana, Pa.
The Lark Tales, Lark theatre, McMinn-
ville. Ore.
L. D. Everett, Saenger theatre. Mobile,
Ala.
Hal D. Neides, Grauman's Egyptian
theatre, Hollywood, Cat.
William T. Meeks, Shorewood theatre,
1535 Oakland Ave., Milwaukee, JFis.
Reinhold Wallach, Sheboygan theatre,
Sheboygan, Wis.
L. O. Gardner, Neptune theatre, 39th
and Bell, Kansas City.
Vic Walker, West Coast-Walker, Santa
Ana, Cal.
0. M. Linn, Y. M. C. A., Coatesville,
Pa.
1. G. L. Drummond, Hippodrome thea-
tre, BP. Aukland, County Durham, Eng-
land.
Ben Mueller, California theatre, Santa
Rosa, Cal.
F. M. Boucher, Empire-Colonial-Win
Theatres, Winchester, Va.
The Rex theatre, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, has a good idea to induce people
to come to the shows whether the weather is good or bad. The management
of the theatre runs advertising to the effect that it will offer free taxi service
to its patrons who desire to come to the theatre in groups of five or six. If
five or six patrons assemble at one spot and take a taxi to the theatre, they
just have to present their meter receipt to the box office and the theatre will
refund the amount of the ticket.
this. A simple way is to announce the
first edition of the house organ in your reg-
ular newspaper theatre ad, especially if you
are located in a small town, and to include
a coupon to be filled in by all those want-
ing to be put on the list. Have printed
forms made up and put them in the lobby
of your theatre so that people can sign
them, requesting the house organ. Also
for one week have your ushers give every
patron as he enters the theatre one of the
blanks. Use a slide or trailer announcing
the first issue and state that those not on
the list should make the request.
One theatre each year when it begins its
house organ sends out post cards to be
filled by all those wanting to receive the
house organ for the ensuing year. The
list is made up of those who return the
cards. This gives a good selling talk to
the advertisers.
Remember, if you want to know what
the other fellow is doing, and if you want
new ideas, you can accomnlish this by join-
ing "The Theatre's" House Organ Ex-
change. Sign the coupon below.
The idea has already boosted attendance
of the theatre on rainy nights and on nights
when people are holding parties. Many
people do not care to go to the trouble
of taking their cars down town and look
around for a parking station. That's
another reason why the taxi service of the
Rex theatre is proving popular.
There's food for thought in this idea.
The plan has boosted attendance for the
Rex on rainy nights. What would it do
for you? It might pay you to think it over.
But before you jump into anything like
this, consider it carefully from all angles.
The first thing to consider is, can you
afford it. Go to your taxi company in town
and find out what the average taxi fare
would be. The taxi company might even
give you a discount on all bills that you
pay.
If you find you can profitably offer this
service, be sure to state the terms of your
offer definitely — number of people in party
necessary — whether just on rainy nights or
at any time, etc.
Such a service beside the box office in-
fluence, is a definite goodwill builder, so
if you do go in for it, play it up from that
angle, as a service to patrons, etc.
Have You Planned
A House Organ for
The Coming Season
Many of you have not published your
regular house organs during the hot, sum-
mer months, but it is now time to begin
planning for your house organ this season.
Many of you no doubt have already gone
to press with the first issue of this season.
Others of you will start house organs for
the first time this fall.
One of the best ways to get ideas for
your house organ is to see what other ex-
hibitors are doing. For this reason "The
Theatre" has the House Orp-an Exchange.
Exhibitors belonging to this exchange have
found that exchanging house organs is one
of the best means for keeping their own
house organ alive and fresh. Below you
will find the members of the House Organ
Exchange listed and also a coupon for
membership. If you would like to be a
member just sign the coupon and send it
to "The Theatre." In signing the coupon
you agree to exchange house organs with
any other member.
Three new members are added to the list
this week. They are: I. G. L. Drummond,
Hippodrome theatre, BP. Auckland, County
Durham, England; Ben Mueller, California
theatre, Santa Rosa, California, and F. M.
Boucher, Empire-Colonial-Win Theatres,
Winchester, Virginia.
Those of you who are renewing your
house organs again this fall are probably
now going over your mailinsr list. It's a
good idea. There are probably many names
on the list that have become out of date.
Check over this list carefully and weed out
all the bad names. This will save you a
lot of work, postage and printing.
You perhaps will want to increase the
mailing list. There are many ways to do
Take-Chance Week
Staged at Ottawa
The first time in Ottawa, Ontario, that a
"Take-A-Chance Week" has been presented
by a combination theatre was last week when
a mystery program was offered by Manager
J. M. Franklin of B. F. Keith's Theatre. Not
one announcement gave any clue as to the
film subjects on the program and, on top of
that, there was no identification of the five
vaudeville acts on the bill.
9?
Here 's an Idea for
"Freedom of Press
When the Columbia theatre, Portland,
Oregon, played the Universal newspaper
picture, "Freedom of the Press," the picture
was dedicated to the Portland Telegram as
a "tribute to its fearlessness in editorial
policy." In connection with the showing
the Telegram and Columbia theatre offered
a $50 prize for the best letter descriptive
of the picture.
The nature of this picture offers an
opportunity for many good tieups with
your local newspaper. The dedication
angle is a good idea. If you work it right
with your local paper, it should result in a
great deal of free publicity.
Exhibitors Herald
and
Moving
Picture
World,
407 S. Dearborn St.
Chicago, III.
"The Theatre":
Please enroll me
as a
member
of The
House Organ Exchange.
I will exchange 1
house organs with other members
Name
Theatre
Address
52
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
Just a big fish net and a few painted lobby and marquee signs, and look what a marquee
flash you can have for "The Dragnet" Paramount picture with George Bancroft and Evelyn
Brent. The dragnet here, 100 feet long and 20 feet wide, was used at the Texan theatre,
Houston, Tex., one of a string of theatres operated in Houston by Will Horwitz.
Dancing Marathon
Between Theatres
Draws Large Crowd
Floyd Maxwell, now manager of the
Portland theatre, Portland, Oregon, has
again hit the bulls-eye in putting over
unique advertising for this popular house in
staging a dance Marathon from the Holly-
wood theatre, in the suburbs to the Port-
land, a distance of two miles.
Ten couples started in the Collegiate
Drag Marathon, the only one ever staged
in the West, and they were followed by a
cheering crowd of thousands. Refresh-
ments of various kinds were offered the
contestants by enthusiastic spectators and
proved the downfall of several contestants.
Three couples finished and first prize
went to Charlotte Ashby and John LaPorte,
$75, second prize, $25, and third prize, season
pass to the Portland. Vic Christensen,
Portland dance instructor, and Earl Sim-
mons, Northwest representative for Fan-
chon & Marco, acted as judges. Music
for the dancers was broadcast by West
Coast Theatres station KWJJ and received
by autos fitted with loud speakers along
the course.
Ad Stunt Produces
Many Good Letters
The Fischer Fond du Lac theatre. Fond du
Lac, Wisconsin, recently gave free tickets to
all the readers of a certain advertisement who
could successfully give the meaning of certain
underworld terms such as "rod," "rock," "dip,"
etc. Thereby testing their knowledge of read-
ing underworld plays and seeing underworld
pictures. The stunt was a great success and
the manager of the theatre received hundreds
of letters from theatre patrons giving their
definition of all and some of the terms.
Lobby Football Dummy
Helps Push This Film,
Everyone knows what a football dummy is.
The Hill Street theatre in Los Angeles cap-
italized on that fact in placing in the lobby a
dummy with a huge head and appropriate
football togs, for the playing of Pathe's "Hold
'Em Yale."
^^Built Like Skyscraper"
Slogan Brings Good Tieup
Management of the Regent theatre at
Grand Rapids, Mich., saw an opportunity
when Pathe's "Skyscraper" was billed, and
hooked up with a steel file store, the Shaw-
Walker Company. It was a "natural," be-
cause "Built Like a Skyscraper" is the slogan
of Shaw-Walker. The company gave a good
window display.
Uses Auto Stunt
to Pack Theatre
The Fischer Portage theatre at Portage,
Wisconsin, recently capitalized on a news event
to get a big crowd to the theatre. Miss Stella
Southern and Daredevil Frank of Detroit were
driving a car in a 200 hour endurance test and
ended their run right on the stage of the
theatre. Needless to say everyone came to
see the two.
LIGHTS OP NEWYORK
FBlkenbcts DiamcHKli
K- FALKENBERC
Hart Schaffncr &
■Om of Hvm't W«y
UnoN Bun i TtusT (0.
The FIRST ALL TALKING P/ctare
LIGHTS >/ NEW YORK
{ TtieniostsensatjonaJ innovation In tJie J
t entire hlstoij of the screen/ j
^ ^ See andJl^Eveiy QiaractCT/^
POSITIVELY
tZ'.t FOR FIVE DAYS ONLY
SPECIAL CLE AN, up SALE
OF WOMEN'S AND GIKLS'
FOOTWEAR
q95
t/£t/'cirr-&/<^ ti *&o
A COOL DR1NK7
A GOOD SMOKE?
SOMETHING u> READ?
A BOX OF CANDY?
Book Nook Drugs
"Ujhli o( Now Yor
Poll)rann» Cafeteria
Cooperative page ad used by Frank B.
Hill of Inland Theatres, Inc., Walla
Walla, Wash., for "Lights of New York,"
Warner's first "all-talkie." This ad
marked the culmination of an advertising
campaign that began three weeks in ad-
vance of the opening.
B & K Returns to
House Organ Field
With New Magazine
Balaban & Katz, Chicago, has returned to
the house organ field. The first issue of Vol-
ume 3 of the Balaban & Katz Magazine has
just been issued. While the publication is
smaller than the former one, it reflects much
of the same emphasis in its articles and taste-
ful art.
The eight pages, two of which are adver-
tisements in addition to three pages of ads
in covers, contain a lead story on "The Gods
of Luck and Philippe DeLacey" (By Belle
Bennett), "Lucky Little 'Scandals' Girl"
(Helene Costello), a double spread of art on
bathing suit fashions, with screen stars pos-
ing, an editorial page, and "Kisses Are Most
Difficult to Photograph" (By George Fitz-
maurice). The front cover is of Colleen
Moore in "Lilac Time."
The magazine, as stated on the editorial
page, is "planned and produced" by the Max
Lau Colortype Company.
Texas Chain Uses
36 Girls to Learn
What Public Wants
Because the life of show world is that con-
tinual digging in for business with new ideas,
stunts and appeals, Jefiferson Amusement
Company at Beaumont, Texas, has launched
a census campaign, employing thirty-six girls,
to go into homes and find out what sort of
stories, films and stars are preferred by fans
and potential theatregoers.
Information as it is collected is filed for
use in a general plan which, it is believed,
will control future buying of film and pro-
grams as they are presented in various thea-
tres dominated by Jefferson Amusement
Company
The girls, who are trained in their work,
also give a talk on the problems of Beaumont
theatres and their vigilance in the selection
of suitable attractions. A list of Beaumont
babies is also taken by the censors in con-
templation of a baby show which the Jeffer-
son theatre will soon stage.
Baby Contest Is
Big Hit in Theatre
That it pays to cater to mothers has been
proven in the case of the Rex theatre, Sheboy-
gan, Wisconsin, which has been running an
excellent baby contest recently. For every
mother who wants her baby to enter the con-
test the theatre management has arranged to
have a photographer take a picture of the
baby and will present one to the mother free
of charge. The contest was climaxed by judg-
ing the prettiest baby and there were a number
of awards distributed to make the kids happy.
The theatre was crowded on the night the
winners were declared.
Traffic Drive Tieup
Helps "The Enemy''
A traffic drive was put over with the
Kiwanas Club and the Chamber of Com-
merce, when the Palace theatre, Lawton,
Oklahoma, played "The Enemy." Four hun-
dred tack cards were used, with this caption,
"Speed is your worst enemy. Drive slowly
and save your loved ones." The bottom of
the card carried the ad for the production.
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
53
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald, which is a department containing news, in-
formation and gossip on current productions, is the Moving Picture World department, "Through
the Box Office Window."
"THE CARDBOARD LOVER"
J_JeAR FOLKS:
I have seen Marion Davies' "The Cardboard
Lover" and confess myself uninformed as to
whether it is or is not, or ever was, the play
that was given on the stage as "Her Cardboard
Lover." I am of the impression, however, that
it is not, this impression emanating from hazy
recollection of synopses breathed at me by
people who go to plays with that kind of titles
and insist upon telling the plots to their ac-
quaintances. It does not matter, however, for
Miss Davies' picture is not at all like I thought
it would be when I read the title.
Miss Davies' picture is another of those in-
creasingly merry farces in which she has come
to belong so completely. In it she is a nice
girl in love with a guy who employs her to
keep him away from a girl who is not so nice
but with whom he feels sure he is in love.
Jetta Goudal is the second girl, which makes at
least two stars for the cast.
The events centering about this arrangement
are swift, gay, pleasant to look upon. Some of
the gag captions are excellent, and one of them
is older than Mack Sennett. All of the sets are
engagingly designed. It is all quite pleasant
and I feel sure it is much better than it would
have been had they tried to make the picture
almost anyone would have tried to make to go
under the title of the stage play.
I
THE MATTER OF MUSIC
SEE no reason for keeping secret the fact
that I am typing this some hundreds of miles
away from the accustomed desk. It is a not
unpardonable leniency on the part of this paper
to send its eye-weary reporter out of town for
a spell each year. Indeed, it is probably very
good business, for I am notoriously a nuisance
around the office after I have survived the
annual 351 days in and about the cinemas. If
it were not for the other 14 days, I'm sure
they'd be more inclined to oust me than to
rest me.
This admission of corporeal absence made, I
can now go into a subject which has been on
my mind for the past several weeks. This is
the matter of musical accompaniment for pic-
tures and the probable development of the
same. If it will make matters any simpler, I
will add the hitherto unpublished information
that a great part of my admittedly ill-spent
youth was given over to the business of making
T. O. Service
music while pictures were being projected. I
have, therefore, perhaps a little more than what
might be termed a lay interest in the subject.
Although I have never quite felt the same
toward Balaban & Katz since they permitted
Mr. Albert Hay Malotte to leave their employ
— and Chicago — I have gone along quite com-
fortably until the more recent departure of
Mr. Jesse Crawford, who got to be a pretty good
musician as well as showman before going East
to the Paramount and a sort of fame. When
Crawford had left, there was still — and still is
— Milton Charles. There are several others, too,
whose manner with the manuals make my thea-
tregoing less monotonous than it would be if
there were nothing but symphony orchestras to
listen to, but I hear Mr. Charles more often
than the others by reason of his extremely
central location.
My concern at this time, however, has to do
with the future. I attended McVickers the
other night, first going to the trouble of waiting
in line for half an hour, and in the 150-minute
performance I heard no single note from the
magnificent organ with which the house is
equipped. This, too, despite the fact that I
had given the courteous (no wonder!) little
lady at the wicket the full price, 75 cents, in
exchange for my ticket. I felt, when I left, that
I might have been justified in telling the gaudy
gentleman in the gold lace that I've been used
to getting more for my money — ^but that would
have been unprofessional, not to say futile.
The thing that worries me is what we'll do
for music if all the showmen do what Balaban
& Katz did in this case. (They do not do it
regularly, I should add, and I do not think
they will.) I have heard of a plan to manufac-
ture organ solos for the reproducers — the film
showing the organist at work, the wax emitting
the sounds — but I hope the idea flops. With
the possible exception of the Mr. Malotte men-
tioned before, who probably wouldn't stand for
the thing, I know of no personality so for-
tunately linked with musical ability as to make
the plan a success. But, anyway, it isn't a very
human idea.
As I have used several hundred thousand
words to declare in those issues of this paper
which were being published when the great
organs of the present time were being devised,
the Monarch of Instruments is also, plainly and
for innumerable reasons, the Monarch of
Motion Picture Accompaniments. I have never
heard an orchestra do for a picture what almost
any organ can do. The orchestra is not facile,
varied, swift enough to perform the admirable
accompaniment. Too, there are the directors,
always in the way and almost always ridiculous.'
(Pardon plain speaking; I used to lead an
orchestra, too.)
It would be a sad state of affairs, indeed, if
the exhibitors now faced with the prospect of
various rearrangements were to suddenly as-
sume, as exhibitors have a way of sometimes
doing, that this is a great chance to settle this
nmsician thing once and for all. I am not, I
am happy to say, a musician at this time; but it
is a very bad musician indeed who does not
know more about music than even a very good
exhibitor. (Mr. Tragsdorf of Neillsville, Wis.,
and Mr. S. L. Rothafel are specifically excepted
in this statement.)
But of course I am only one. There may be
people who would rather hear a comet. And
there may be people who would rather listen
to a radio than a Malotte. There may even be
people who buy gramophone records of organ
solos. (I doubt this latter, but I do see ads
for the things, so somebody must be buying
them.) If these are numerous enough, then no
doubt the thing to do is to get rid of the organs
and their operators and kick out of the cinemas
the few million of us old mossbacks who
thoughtlessly acquired a certain amount of
musical taste and appreciation in our youth and,
so, prefer at least a decent portion of our music
first hand.
I
SOUND PICTURES JOKES
HAVE had a letter or two, and several com-
ments, on the subject of jokes brought out as
pertaining to the sound pictures. It seems
there is concern in some quarters as to the
effect these will have upon the eventual welfare
of the reproducing devices.
I think there need be no such concern. Mr.
Ford has made a good many million dollars,
depending very largely upon the Ford joke for
his word-of-mouth advertising. Indeed, I con-
tribute, at no cost, the suggestion that it would
be a very good idea if the producing companies
were to detail some of their higher-powered
press agents — who are well accustomed to writ-
ing comic stuff, anyway — to the production of
some really funny jokes on this theme. It is
very good advertising, and free.
54
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
^
ure 3.
RCA PHOTOPHONE
r
(^Continued from page 37)
groups of RCA Photophone loudspeakers can
be utilized, thereby covering the theatre with
a number of smooth fans of sound. The loud-
speaker system used by RCA Photophone con-
stitutes a basic and fundamental advance in
the acoustic art.
For the theatre owner or other sound motion
picture exhibitor who is interested in details
of installation, it may be stated that the in-
stallation of RCA Photophone loudspeakers
on the stage is a simple and flexible matter.
A group of loudspeakers may be placed on
each side of the screen. The groups may be
mounted permanently on the side of the screen
and flyed with the screen when it is lifted,
leaving the stage clear for other performances,
or presentations. Or, alternatively, the loud-
speaker groups can be mounted on either or-
namental, or inconspicuous, towers and
wheeled onto the stage from the wings. The
complete loudspeaker group is easily handled
and practically no more difficult to move than
a section of an ordinary set. The outside di-
mensions are 75 in. high by 21 in. wide by 21
in. deep, and the weight of a group is 250
pounds.
The ordinary wiring of the arc or incandes-
cent lamp of the motion picture projector is
identical with that used in any projector.
Only the additional wiring incidental to the
sound reproduction in the RCA Photophone
system need be considered. The wiring of the
sound-reproducing circuit consists of: A con-
nection from the sound head of the projector
to the initial amplifier in the projection booth.
thence to the final amplifier, and thence to
the loud speaker groups on the stage. The
wiring can readily be arranged in cable form
which can be run in existing theatres in al-
most every instance by a local electrician un-
der the supervision of a RCA Photophone
engineer.
A small amount of additional power and
battery wiring and wires to the driving motor
of the projector and its starter are required.
All RCA Photophone equipment and wiring
methods are of types approved by the Under-
writers' Laboratories.
For reference there are presented in the
following table essential data on the number
of units and general performance of the sev-
eral types of RCA Photophone reproducing
outfits.
J
Watts Output
Number of
Minimum
of Power
Loudspeaker
Size of
Amplifier
Cones
Audience
80
16
6,000
40
12
3,000
20
8
1,500
10
4
750
Number of
Number of
Initial
Type
Projectors
Amplifiers
A
2
2
B
2
2
C
2
2
D
2
1
During the projection of films, an absolute
minimum of adjustment is required. The op-
eration, in fact, is almost exactly the same as
that of an ordinary motion picture projector.
A moderate and reasonable amount of super-
vision of the equipment to keep it in normally
clean and efficient condition is all that is re-
quired of the projectionist. Changeover from
one projector to another at the end of a reel,
when the point corresponding to changeover
is reached as indicated on the cue sheet, is
taken care of by the mere turning of an ac-
cessible handle.
Attachment for Disc Records
In addition to the equipment for project-
ing synchronized sound picture film there is
available a Photophone disc attachment for
the projection of synchronized sound pictures
which have the sound effects on disc records.
This disc attachment is a part of the projector
and it is thus possible for the owner of Photo-
phone projection equipment to take advantage
of all synchronized sound pictures with disc
attachments now being offered in the market.
The music or sound effects contained on the
disc is amplified through the regular Photo-
phone amplifying equipment and projected into
the house the same as synchronized sound
film.
Non-Synchronous Phonograph
Another additional piece of equipment which
is part of the RCA Photophone system is a
double turn-table electric pick-up phonograph
by means of which non-synchronized music
can be played during a performance, as an
overture between performances, or at any
other time. Music from non-synchronized
phonograph records is also amplified by the
regular Photophone amplifying system and
projected out into the house from the loud-
speakers mounted on the stage. This phono-
graph will also have a means whereby an
announcing microphone can be cut into the
circuit by the throw of the switch by means
of which announcements can be made to the
audience.
Electrical Power Requirements
Standard Photophone equipment has been
designed to operate on 115 volts direct cur-
rent, on 220 volts 3 phase alternating current
and on 110 volt single phase alternating cur-
rent. Where direct current only is available
as a source of power supply and also in the
case of Oasses "A" and "B" equipment, a
four unit motor generator will be required in
addition to the standard equipment for pro-
V.
m
^
Figure 4.
r
jection purposes. The motor generator can be
mounted either in the basement or in some
part of the building where any noise made
by it will not be heard in the auditorium and
connected to the projection system by means
of cables run through conduits. Equipment of
Classes "C" and "D" does not require a motor
generator, providing 220 volt 3 phase alternat-
ing current and also 110 volt single phase al-
ternating current is available.
The motor generators referred to are for
the purpose of furnishing voltage for the
large tubes in the amplifier section of the
projection equipment and are not to be con-
fused with the power supply for the arc for
projecting the picture part of the film. As
outlined previously in this pamphlet, the light
chamber and the lens now in use in any mo-
tion picture theatre are retained in service
and merely transferred to the new projectors
which are furnished as a part of Photophone
equipment.
Development and Research
RCA Photophone is the result of many
years of research and development in the
laboratories of the greatest electrical and radio
broadcasting organizations in the world — The
Radio Corporation of America, the General
Electric Company, and the Westinghouse Elec-
tric & Manufacturing Company.
All RCA Photophone equipment is licensed
under the patents of the Radio Corporation
of America, the General Electric Company,
the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company, the American Telephone and Tele-
graph Company, the Western Electric Com-
pany, and RCA Photophone, Inc.
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
Y^
QUICK REFERENCE PICTURE CHART
Incorporated in this department of Moving Picture World is the Exhibitors Herald department,
"Available Attractions."
The key to abbreviationt used in denoting the type of pictures
C— Comedy F — Farce
O^-^Drama
R — Romance
M'^Melodram a
W— Western
My Mystery
Where the picture is a comedy-draina, comedy melodrama, etc.,
there is a combination of these abbreviations. Stars denote
reissues.
That dates prior to January 7 published under the "Comment"
column are those of the issues of Moving Picture World in which
the pictures were reported. The January 7 and subsequent dates
are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOV-
ING PICTURE WORLD in which "Service Talks" have been
published on pictures.
The dates prior to January 7 published under the "New Pic-
tures" column are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD
in which "New Pictures" information was printed. The January
7 and subsequent dates are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD in which this in-
formation will be printed.
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Comment
1928
6400 Adorable Cheat, The, LUa Lee-McIntoBh_
S450 Below the Deadline
6500 Campus Knights
6300 Circumstantial Evidence
Chesterfield
1928
(000
<eoo
House of Shame, The
Roaring Forties, The_
6900 South of Panama„
J>ine 1
Feb. 28
Aug. 15
-Oct. 30
-June 30
-Apr. 15
-Dec. 15
Columbia
1927
5831 Alias the Lone Wolf (D), Lytell-Wilson Aug. 22
Blood Ship, The (IH), Boswortli-Logaii Aug. 10
By Whose Hand (MyD), Cortez-Gllbert Sept. 16
College Hero, The (CD), Agnew-Garon Oct. 9
Fashion Madness, Windsor-Howes. _ Dec. 8
1927
6843
5432
6628
5513
5645
5700
6524
5569
5892
1000
5996
6435
6054
6108
6367
6426
5791
Jan. 7 Oct. 1
Dec. 3 July 23
Dec. 31
Isle of Forgotten Women (D), Tearle-Sebastian_Sept. 27
Lone Wolf Returns (M), Lytell-Wilson
Opening Night, The (D), Wlndsor-J. Bowera—Nov. 14
Pleasure Before Business (F), Davidson
Sally in Our Alley (M), Mason-Allen Sept. 3
Screen Snapshots _
Siren, The, T. Moore-Revier. Deo. 20
Stage Kisses (D), Harlan- Chadwlck. Nov. 2
Stolen Pleasures (CD), Eevier
Sweet Rosie O'Grady (CD), Mason
Tigress, The (M), Holt-Kerier Oct. 21
Jan. 14
Dec. 3
Jan. 14
....July 31
Jan. 14
-May 14
Jan. 21
Jan. 7
..Aug. 28
Jan. 21
..52.72%
Wandering Girls (CD), Eevter-Agnew
Warning. The (M), Holt-Ttevier- - Nor. 26
Way of the Strong, The (MD), Alice Day-Lenle
1928
5459 After the Storm, Hobart-Bosworth
Beware of Blondes (MD), Revier-Matt Moore ___
6537 Broadway Daddies, Jacqueline Logan.
5928 Desert Bride, The (MD), Betty Compson. Mar. 26
Golf Widows (CD), Eeynolds-Ford.
_ Lady Raffles, Taylor-Drew-
Dec. 3
.July 21
1928
-lujy 21
..Jan. 25
Matinee Idol, The (MO), Lore-Walker. Mar. 14
Modern Mothers (CD), Helene C!hadwlck. June S
Name the Woman (D), Stewart-Gordon
Say It With Sables (D), Busbman-Cbadwlck.
Se This Is Love, Mason-Collier Feb. 6
Sporting Age, The, Bennett -Herbert Mar. 2
That Certain Thing, Dana-Graves Jan. 1
Apr. 14
-May 26
Feb. 25
Apr. 7
Wife's Relations, The. Mason-Glass
Woman's Way, A, Baiter-Llvlngston
6440
5464
6047
6350
6472
1927
2000 Angelus, The (D).-
2000 Real Charleston, Lesson Novelty-
Wooden Shoes, International
-.June 19
. Aug. 4
Feb. 25
-Jan. 13
-Feb. 18
Jan. 28
Feb. 11
Mar. 31
Cranfield & Clarke, Inc.
1927
May 15
.-.Apr. 24
-.May 8
1927
6250 Husbands or Lovers, Jannlngs..
Emblem Films
-Dec. 3
1927
5980
6805
5912
6646
6792,
Excellent
Back to Liberty (D), Walsh-Hal] Nov. 15
Bowery Cinderella, .A (D), O'MaUey-Hulette. May 1
Broadway Drifter (D), Walsh-Hall Nov. 1
Broadway Madness (D), De la Motte-Keith
His Rise to Fame (D), Walsb-Skaw Feb. 15
Kick-off, The (D), Hyams-Amann..
1927
1927
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
TIekw
1928
6860 A Bit of Heaven (D), Wasbbum-Lee May 15
6600 Into No Man's Land, Tom Santschl-J. Norman
6305 Making the Varsity, Rex Lease-Hulette July 15
Manhattan Knights, Barbara Bedford Aug 10
1928
6400
6536
6600
Satan and the Woman (D), Windsor-Keefe. Jan. 20
Speed Classic, The, Rex Lease-MOdred Harris._July 25
Stronger Will, The (D), Marmont-Carewe. -..Feb. 20
Women Who Dare (D), CHiadwiclc-Delaney. Mar. 30
Feb. 25
Feb. 25
1927
FBO
1927
4765
4838
4910
4837
5701
5093
4754
4913
6300
6507
7014
5240
5186
6481
6515
4924
6680
6140
4941
6004
4886
6388
4892
1928
5872
4893
5583
4869
6267
6375
6320
5511
5984
5063
4770
4804
4758
6148
Aflame in the Sky (M), Luden-Lynn. Deo. 18
Bandit's Son, The (W), Bob Steele Nov. 20
Boy Rider, The (W), Buzz Barton Oct. 23
Breed of Courage (D), Banger...- — Aug. 7
Cherokee Kid, The (W), Tyler-Lynn Oct. 30
Clancy's Kosher Wedding (CD), Geo. Sidney — Sept. 17
Coward, The (D), Warner Baxter. -Aug. 21
Desert Pirate (W), Tom Tyler. Dec. 25
Flying U Ranch, The (W), Tom Tyler. — Sept. 4
Gingham Girl, The (C), Lois Wilson Oct. 2
Great Mail Robbery, The (M), Von Eltz-Nelson..Aug. 15
Harvester, The (D), OrviUa CaldweU Nov. 23
Hook and Ladder No. 9 (D), Ed Hearne. — Nov. 13
Jake the Plumber (C), Jesse De Vorska Oct 16
Judgment of the Hills (D), Darro-ValU..- _-Nov. 6
Little Mickey Grogan (D), FranWe Darro —Dec. 27
Mojave Kid, The (W), Bob Steele Sept. 25
Moon of Israel (0), Maria Corda.
Not for Publication (M), Ralph Ince Aug. 31
Racing Romeo (D), Red Grange
Ranger of the North (D), Ranger.
Shanghaied (M), Ralph Ince.
Slingshot Kid, The (M), Buzz Barton
Dee. 10
Deo. 10
Dec. 3
Nov. 26
Oct 8
.Sept. 10
..Sept. 10
Nov. 26
Nov. 19
Deo. 3
Dec. 3
Nov. 12
Dec. 17
July 30
..July 2
Nov. 19
Nov. 26
Aug. 20
64.S0%
South Sea Love (D), Patsy MtUer..
Swift Shadow, The (D), Ranger.
-Oct. 9
-Oct 19
-Dec 4
-Dec. 10
..Dec. 11
5144
4769
5771
4801
6424
4785
4781
4884
6419
4729
4793
4760
6329
Alex the Great (M), Skeets Gallagher. May 13
Bantam Cowboy (W), Buzz Barton -...Aug. 12
Beyond London's Lights (M), Lee Shumway — Mar. 18
Breed of the Sunsets (W), Bob Steele Apr. 1
Chicago After Midnight (M), Ince-Mendez-.- Mar. 4
Coney Island (D), Lois Wilson..... Jan. 13
Crooks Can't Win (D), Ralph Lewis May 11
Dead Man's Curve (D), Fairbanks. Jr -Jan. 15
Devil's Trademark, The (D), BeUe Bennett Apr. 7
Dog Justice (M), Ranger...- June 10
Driftin' Sands (W), Bob Steele Jan. 1
Fangs of the Wild (D), Ranger _ Feb. 5
Fightin' Redhead (W), Buzz Barton. - July 1
Freckles (D), Stratton-Fox. Jr.— Mar. 21
Headin' for Danger (MD), Bob Steele
Her Summer Hero (CD). Blane-Trevor..- Feb. 12
Hit of the Show, The (C), Joe Brown-Olmstead
Law of Fear (D), Ranger. - Apr. 8
Legionnaires in Paris (C), Cooke-Guard. Jan. 31
Little Buckaroo, The (W), Buzz Barton. Mar. 11
Little Yellow House, The (D), Orville Caldwell. May 28
Man In the Rough (W), Bob Steele - May 20
Phantom of the Range (W), Tom Tyler. Apr. 22
Pinto Kid, The (W), Buzz Barton Apr. 29
Red Riders of Canada (M), P. E. Miller. Apr. 15
Riding Renegade (W), Bob Steele - Feb. 19
Sally of the Scandals (M), Bessie Love.— July 15
Skinner's Big Idea (M), Bryant Washburn Apr. 24
Stocks and Blondes (CD), Logan-Gallagher.
Texas Tornado, The (W), Tom Tyler Feb. 28
Trail of Courage, The (W), Bob Steele -..July 8
Wallflowers (D), Trevor-Scott - _ Feb. 16
When the Law Rides (W), Tom Tyler. June 24
Wizard of the Saddle (W), Buzz Barton Jan. 22
-.Dec 10
Dec. 3
Dec. 3
Dec. 10
Nov. 12
Dec. 10
Feb. 11
May 5
Feb. 11
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Dec. 17
Feb. 11
Deo. ir
Mar. 3
June 16
Dec. 17
Jan. 21
Feb. 11
Feb. 4
-Jime 19
Jan. 21
.-July 21
Feb. 11
Dec. 10
Jan. 14
June 2
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Feb. 4
Jan. 21
..Aug. 6
..July »
-.July 23
Aug. 20
1928
Feb. 18
Mar. 17
V
Apr. 28
Apr. 14
_Ju]y 14
Feb. 4
1^
Comrades, Costello-Hughes
Death Valley (W), CarroU Nye.
Eager Lips, Garon -
Finnegan's Ball (C), Mack Swain...
bv. 26
-Apr. 14
-Mar. 17
7393 Nest, The (D), Frederick-Herbert Aug. 1
6337 Striving for Fortune (D), Walsh-Roberts. Jan. 15
6760 Winning Oar, The (D), Walsb-HaU June 1
5867 Your Wife and Mine (F), Haver-Holmes. Sept 1
1927
5400
5960
5600
5900
5800
5700
5750
6700
6700
5700
5600
5700
1928
5500 Fagasa, Raymond Wells
Free Lips (MD), June Marlow
6300 Masked Angel, Betty Compson
6200 Souls Aflame, Raymond Wella.
First Division
1927
-Jan. 1
-..Sept. 1
..-Oct 1
.Sept. 16
-Aug. 20
Ladies at Ease (CD), Garon-Short Nov. 15
Ladybird, Compson Aug. 1
Naughty, Garon Nov. 1
Polly of the Movies, Short-Robards- Oct. 15
Ragtime (D), De La Motte - - _ Sept. 1
Return of Boston Blackie (D), Glenn-Palmer..-Aug. 1
Say It with Diamonds, Betty Compson Aug. 15
Temptations of a Shop Girl, Compson Nov. 1
Apr. 1
Jan. 7
Oct 15
Jan. 7
Nov. 26
Sept. 3
1928
-July 14
.Mar. 1 Apr. 7
-Mar. 16 Apr. 21
^an
56
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
Length Title and Playen
Released New Comment
Pictures
Ticker
1927
6300
6333
6433
6222
676S
8730
7724
6386
6588
6802
5282
7133
6288
6118
6190
S524
6400
6720
B718
6550
6255
7388
6621
5542
6434
6520
6040
6431
6734
First National
All Aboard (C), Hlnes-Murpby-
..May 8
American Beauty (CD), Dove-Hughes. Oct. 9
An Aifair of the Follies (D), Dove-Hughes Feb. 13
Breakfast at Sunrise (CO), C. Talmadge Oct. 23
Broadway Nights (D), Wilson-Hardy May 15
Camilla (D), N. Talmadge-Koland Sept. 4
Convoy (D), Sherman-MackalU Apr. 24
Crystal Cup, The (D), MackaUl-Mulhal] Oct. 16
Dance Magic (D), Lyon-Starke June 12
Drop Kick. The (D), Barthelmess-Eevier Sept. 26
Framed (D), Sills-Kingston June 19
Gorilla. The (My). Murray Kelsey -Nov. 13
Gun Gospel (W). Maynard-Faire. Nov. 6
Her Wild Oat (C), Moore-Kent. Deo. 25
High Hat (CD), Lyon-Brlan. Mar. 13
Home Made (C), Hlnes-Daw _ - -Nov. 20
Lady in Ermine, The (D), C. Grtfflth-Bushman_jaiL 9
Life of Riley. The (C). Murray-Sidney Sept. 18
Lonesome Ladies (CD), Nllsson-Stone July 3
Long Pants (C). Langdon-Bonner. Apr. 10
Lost at the Front (C). Murray-Sidney May 29
Love Mart, The (D), Dove-Eoland Dec. 18
Lunatic at Large, The (C), Errol-MackalD Jan. 2
Man Crazy (CD). Mackaill-Mulhall...- Nov. 27
Masked Women. The (D). Nilsson-Blinn-H'nsen_jan. 23
Naughty But Nice (C). Moore-Reed- June 26
Notorious Lady, The (D), Bedford-Stone Mar. 27
No Place to Go (C). Hughes-Astor Oct. 30
Orchids and Ermine, Moore-Mulhall Mar. 6
Nov. 19
Nov. 12
...Apr. 2
Oct. 22
„MaT. 5
Nov. 26
...May 21
.-May 2
...May 21
Oct. 29
...Aug. 13
"July 9
...Jan. 7
Dec. 17
Dec 3
...Mar. 19
Oct. 29
...Jan. 8
...Oct. 1
...Sept. 24
...Apr. 9
„.June 25
1927
"47!20%
66.10%
48.ij6%
65.00%
61.54%
53.58%
..J'eb. 6
Nov. 26
Nov. 12
Perfect Sap, The (CD), Lyon-Starke Jan. 16
Poor Nut. The (C), Murray-Mulhall Aug. 7
Prince of Head Waiters (D), Stone-Tashman — _
Red Raiders, The (W), Maynard-Drew.— -...July 17
Rose of the Golden West (D), Astor-Boland. — Sept. 4
Sea Tiger, The (D), Sllls-Astor. Oct. 2
See You in Jail (C), Mulhall-Day Feb. 27
Smile, Brother, Smile (C), Mulball-Mackail] Apr. 17
Stolen Bride, The (D), Hughes-Dove Sept. 11
Sunset Derby (D), Astor-Collier — Aug. 14
Tender Hour, The (D), Dove-Lyon June 5
Texas Steer, A (CD). Rogers-Fazenda May 1
Three Hours (D). Grlfflth-Bowers Dec. 4
Three's a Crowd (C), Langdon-McConnell Apr. 3
Twinkletoes. Moore-Harlan Aug. 28
Valley of the Giants (D), Sills-Kenyon. Dec. 11
Venus of Venice (CD). Talmadge-Moreno Mar. 20
White PanU Willie (C), Hines-Hyams July 24
Barker, The (D), Sills. MaokallL July 14
Big Noise. The (CD). ConMln-Whlte Mar. 25
Burning Daylight (M), Sills-Kenyon. -Feb. 26 Mar. 10
Dec. 24
...Feb. 12
...July 16
May 14
...Dec. 10
...Apr. 9
...Aug. 20
....Jan. 22
..-Sept. 10
...July 23
...Oct. 15
Oct. 8
-May 14
._Apr. 23
...Sept. 17
.-Sept. 3
...July 2
...May 28
Apr. 16
...Jan. 1
...Dec. 3
Jan. 7
.-Aug. 6
...Apr. 16
67.90%
70.47%
61.88%
47.00%
38.90%
47.72%
69.92%
68.86%
45.80%
1928
■7641
IS967
?694
6692
6608
8967
7700
6625
7129
5486
8188
Butter and Egg Man. The, Jack Mulhall..
Canyon of Adventure (W), Maynard Apr. 29
Chaser, The (C). Langdon Feb. 12
Chinatown Charlie (C). Hlnes-Lorraine _ Apr. 15
Code of the Scarlet (W), Ken Maynard
Goodbye Kiss, The, Johnny Burke-Sally EUeri _
Ffying Romeos (C), Murray-Sidne.v _„ Feb. 26
French Dressing (CD), Warner-Wilson Jan. 15
Garden of Eden, The (D). Corlnne Griffith
Happiness Ahead (D), Colleen-Moore-Lowe— June 30
Hawk's Nest, The (M), Milton Sills May 6
Heart to Heart, Lloyd Hughes-Todd
Heart Trouble (CD), Harry Langdon —
Harold Teen (CD). Lake-Brian Apr. 29
Heart of a Follies Girl (D), Dove-Kent-
Sbermsn ..._ Mar. 18
Helen of Trpy (CD), Stone-Corda-Cortez. Jan. 8
Ladies Night (CD), MackaUl-Mulhall Apr. 1
Lady Be Good (CD), Mulhall-Mackaill —May 12
Lilac Time (D), Moore-Cooper Apr.
Apr. 7
-July 28
Feb. 11
Feb. 18
.June 23
..July?
Apr. 7
Deo. 10
May 26
May 26
-July?
_July21
Apr. 21
Mar. 10
Dec. 24
22 June 2
Dec. 17
Aug. 4
June 16
Aug. 4
Length Title and Players
New
Piotures
Comment
Ticker
648e Rich But Honest (CD), Beebe May 22
6870 Secret Studio. The (CO), Borden June 19
10726 Seventh Heaven. The (R), Farrell-Gaynor Oa. 30
5467 "Shame (M), John Gilbert Nov. 27
Silk Legs (CD). Madge Bellamy Dec 18
Silver Valley (W), Tom Mix. Oct. 2
Singed (D), Baiter-Sweet Aug. 21
Slaves of Beauty (0), Herbert-Tell June 5
Stage Madness (D), Valll Jan. 9
SL Elmo (M), John Gilbert Oct. 9
Tumbling River (W), Tom Mli-Dawn Aug. 21
Truxton King, Gilbert Oct. 30
Two Girls Wanted (CD), Janet Gaynor Sept. 11
Upstream (0), Foxe Jan. 30
5446
5009
5792
5412
5620
4943
4675
4299
6293
5510
5620
4953
Dec 31
Dec 17
-June 25
-May 28
-Nov. 26
TX.83%
Oct. 29
...July 18
—June 11
.-Jan. 29
..Aug. 27
Very Confidential (CD), Madge Bellamy Nov. 6
War Horse (W), Jones...- Feb. 6
11109 What Price Glory (CD), MoLaglen-Lowe Aug. 28
5783 Whispering Sage (W), Jones Mar. 20
5629 Wizard, The (MyO), Lowe-Hjams. Dec 11
6531 Wolf Fangs (D), Thunder (Dog) Nov. 27
1928
4C12 Branded Sombrero, The (W), Buck Jones Jan. 8
Chicken a la King (CD), Carrol-Francis Lee
Daredevil's Reward (W), Tom Mix Jan. 16
Don't Marry, Moran-Hamilton June 3
Dressed to Kill, Lowe-Astor Mar. 18
Escape. The (0). KusseU-ValU Apr. 29
..Jeb. 12
..Jiov. 12
— Feb. 19
-Apr. 9
Dec 3
7LO0%
EO.61%
4987
5708
6566
5109
5038
5882
6430
4618
6188
4399
5782
6679
5071
5260
5380
5629
5355
Gateway of the Moon, The (D). Del Rio Jan. 1
Girl in Every Port, A (CD), Victor MoLaglen..„Jan. 29
Hangman's House, MoLaglen-CoUyer. May 13
Hello Cheyenne, Tom Mix. May 13
Honor Bound, O'Brien-Taylor- _ .May 13
Horseman of the Plains (W), Tom Mix. Mar. 11
Love Hungry (CD), Moran-Gray Apr. 15
Jan. 21
...June 23
Feb. 11
June 9
Apr. 14
Apr. 14
Jan. 28
1928
June 30
Apr. 14
Jan. 21
News Parade, Stuart-Phillips _
No Other Woman (D). Dolores Del Blo.~
Painted Post (W), Tom mit
5937
5O30
4921
5480
1927
Play Girl. The. Madge Bellamy _ Apr. 22
Road House (MO), Barrymore-Burke
Sharp Shooters (CO), O'Brien-Moran.
Soft Living (CO). BeUamy-Brown.-
Square Crooks. Brown-Dvpan..
Street Angel, Gaynor
Sunrise (D). George O'Brien.
Thief In the Dark, A, Meeker-Hlll-Beebe. May 20
Why Sailors Go Wrong, Phlpps-McNamara Mar. 25
Wild West Romance (W), Bex Bang June 10
Woman Wise (C), Bussell-Collyer. Jan. 8
May 12
Apr. 21
Apr. 7
Mar. 10
May 26
-June 10 June 23
JulyT
-May 23
May 19
Feb. i
-Aug. 4
Feb. 4
Feb. 18
Feb. 18
-JulyT
_July21
May 19 June 2
Gotham
Blondes by Choice (C). Claire Windsor Oct. 1
Cheer Leader. The (CD). Graves-Ohnstead Nov. 16
Final Extra (M). De la Motte
1927
5827
6212
6874
5087
T187
Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come (D), Bar-
thelmess-O'Day - - Apr. 8
Mad Hour (0), O'Neil-Kent-Sherman Mar. 4
Noose. The (D). Barthelmess-Joyce Jan. 29
Sailors' Wives (CD). Hughes-Astor - Jan. 22
Shepherd of the Hills (0). Francls-O'Day -Jan. 1
Strange Case of Captain Ramper, The (D), - -
Three Ring Marriage (M), Hughes-Astor. May 27
Wagon Show, The (W), Maynard Mar. 11
Wheel of Chance, The (0), Richard Barthelmess
Whip, The (0). Forbes-Mackalll - -
Whip Woman. The (D). Taylor-Moreno Feb. 5
Wright Idea. The (CO), Johnny Hlnes
Yellow Lily, The (0), Dove-Brooks May 20
Apr. 7
Mar. 17
Deo. 10
Dec. 24
Dec 8
..July 21
Apr. 28
Mar. 17
..June 2
.July 14
Feb. 11
.July 7
Apr. 28
Feb. 4
May 12
Jan. 21
63.26%
"78.23%
July21
'Frisco Nights (0), Percy Marmont J)ec. 1
Girl from Rio. The (0). Carmel Myers . Sept. 1
Heroes of the Night (M). Landis-Niion
Rose of Kildare, The (0), Helene Chadwlck. Aug. 16
Satin Woman, The (0), Mrs. Wallace Held. Aug. 1
5800
6000
6200
6950
6500
6700
6750
1928
5268 Bare Knees (D), Corblne
Branded Man. The (0). Delaney-Marlowe.™
6000 Chorus Kid, The (D), All Star
Danger Patrol, The (D), All Star.
Devil's Tower. The (W)
Hell Ship Bronson. Mrs.
Dec. 10
Not. 26
Sept. 24
-Feb. 6
...Feb. 1
-.May
Apr. 1
-.Apr.
Buddy Roosevelt. May
Wallace Reld-Beery-...June 2
Lightnin' Shot. The (W), Buddy Roosevelt May
Midnight Adventure. A (0), I.andl3-Murpby May
Mystery Valley (W), Buddy Roosevelt July
Trail Riders (W), Buddy Roosevelt Apr.
Traiiin' Back (W), Buddy Roosevelt .Mar.
Turn Back the Hours (M), Myma loy. Mar. 1
Nov. 19
Nov. 19
Jan. 7
Aug. 13
1928
Krelbar Productions
Broadway After Midnight, Betz Oct. 29
Metro - Gold wyn-May er
Adam and Evil (CD), Cody-Prlngle Aug. 27 iug. 13
Adventurer, The (W). Tim McCoy Jan. 14
After Midnight (0), Shearer-Gray Aug. 20
Annie Laurie (0), LllUan Glsh Sept. 17
Becky (CD). Sally O'NelL Nov. 12
Nov. 20
Sept. 25
Blood Will Tell (W), Buck Jones. Nov. 13
Broncho Twister (W), Mix. Mar. 13
•Cameo Kirby (D). John Gilbert .Aug. 28
Chain Lightning (W). Buck Jones.
Circus Ace, The. Mix _
Come to My House (CD), Olive Borden....
Cradle Snatchers (FC). Fazenda —
East Side, West Side (D), O'Brien-Valll-
Gay Retreat. The (C). Cohen-McNamara...
Good as Gold (W), Jones -
1927
4665 Arizona Wildcat, The (W), Tom MU.
4777 Blackjack (W), Buck Jones —
4556
6425
6078
6333
4810
4300
6381
8164
6524
4645
6617
6515
4983
4851
6940
6162
6699
6607
8638
6415
6440
6600
7784
T677
6327
«S98
6876
U93
Fox
1927
-Not. 19
Nov, 12
-..-.......-
..Apr. ?,
63.00%
— June 18
Jan. 7
Jan. 7
-.June 4
Oct 22
Heart of Salome (My), Rubens May 8
High School Hero (C), Phlpps-Stuart Oct. 16
Hills of Peril (W). Jones May 1
•Henor First (D), John GUbert Sept. 18
Is Zat SoT (CD), O'Brien-Lowe May 15
Joy GIri. The (CO), OUve Borden. Sept. 18
Ladies Must Dress (CO), Virginia Valli Nov. 20
Love Makes 'Em Wild (D), Harron— Mar. 6
Loves of Carmen (0). McLaglen-Del Bio Sept. 4
Madam Wants No Children, Cordla Apr. 3
Marriage (D), Valll Feb. 20
Monkey Talks (0), I^emer Feb. 20
Music Master (0), A. B. Francis Jan. 23
One Increasing Purpose (0), lowe— Jan. 2
Outlaws of Red River (W), Mix
Paid to Love (0), 0'Brien-V»!
Paiamu (CO), Borden-Qrsy-
June 11
May 9
Oct. 29
_ ~— May 14
40.70%
-May 21
-Sept. 24
Nov. 19 Dec 17
Publlolty Madneu (CO). Moran-Lowe-
-Ang. 14
-Oct. 28
-Oct. a
Oct. 8
Apr. 16
JTeb. 26
.Mar. 5
Jan. 22
Jan. 15
Apr. 23
Aug. 6
Dec. 10
48.60%
"61.68%
5900
1927
6199
1927
6667
4709
6312
8730
6439
12000 Ben Hur (M). Ramon Novarro - Oct. 8
12550 Big Parade. The (M). Gilbert-Adoree. Sept. 10
5902 Body and Soul (0), L. Barrymore Oct. 1
5821 Bugle Call. The (0), Jackie Coogan Aug. 6
6050 Buttons (CD), Jackie Coogan— Dec 24
6126 Callahans and Murphys (CD), Dressler-Moran Jime 18
7395 Captain Salvation (M), Hanson.- May 14
6408 Fair Co-ed, The (CO), Marlon Davles Oct. IE
4658 Foreign Devils (W), Tim McCoy Sept. 3
6909 Frisco Sally Levy (C), O'Nell Apr. 2
8156 Garden of Allah, The (0), Terry-Petrovltch. Nov. 6
6646 In Old Kentucky (D), H. CosteUo Oct. 29
Little Journey (CD), All Star. Jan. 1
London After Midnight (0), Lon Chaney Dec 3
Lovelorn, The, Sally O'NeU Dec 17
Lovers (0), Novarro-Terry Apr. 9
Man, Woman and Sin (0), John Gilbert Nov. 19
Mockery (M), Lon Chaney Aug. 13
Mr. Wu (M), Lon Chaney Mar. 26
Quality Street, Daries-Nagel Dec 31
Red Mill (C), Davles _ Jan. 29
Road to Romance, The (0), Novarro-Day Sept 24
Rookies (C). Dane- Arthur Apr. 30
Show, The (M), Gilbert-Adoree...- Jan. 22
Slide, Kelly, Slide (CD), Halnes-O'NeU. Mar. 12
Feb. 11
1927
1927
61.00%
6088
6687
6110
5291
6280
5957
7603
7627
6337
6581
6640
6309
7865
6280
6705
6273
5252
6160
7899
6657
6517
1928
6998 Actress, The, Norma Shearer-Forbea Apr. 28
6805 Across to Singapore (MD), Novarro-Cravrford Apr. T
6010 Baby Mine. Arthur-Dane Jan. 21
6838 Big City, The, Chaney-Compson-Day Feb. 18
6344 Bringing Up Father, FacieP-^'oran-Olnutead. Mar. 17
Spoilers of the West (W), McCoy-Daw. Deo. 10
Spring Fever (C), William Haines Oct. 22
Tea for Three (C). Cody-Prlngle Dec 10
Thirteenth Hour, The (0), Lionel Barrymore. Nov. 26
Tiille the Toiler (C), Davles May 21
Twelve Miles Out (M), GUbert-..
Understanding Heart (D), Crawford...
Unknown, The (M), Chaney
_ July 9
_Feb. 26
.June 4
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
57
LMigth Titia and Playtn
Fteltaied
New
Picture!
Comment
Ticker
M8S
HSl
8S48
6482
605T
7300
8340
4987
7743
7045
•402
B760
1K95
7365
7289
6014
7745
6476
9566
5901
8134
soil
4435
Certain Young Man, A, Norarro-Dar —
Circus Rookiet (CO), Dane-Arthur
Couacki, The, Adoree-GUbert-Torrence.-
Crowd, The, Boardman-ilurrsy-lloaoh —
Detectives, Dane-Arthur _ —
Diamond Handcuffs,
.Mar. 31
May 12
Mar. 3
June 9
Boardman-Nage] May 5
Divine Woman, Garbo-Hanfon-Shennan Jan. 14
Enemy, The, Glsh-Dsne-Forbei Feb. 18
Excess Baggage (D), William Hatne*
Forbidden Hours (D), Novarro-Adoree June 16
Latest from Paris, The, Shearer-Forbes Feb. 4
Laugh, Clown, Laugh, Chaney-Murphy-HlsleL Apr. 14
lUademoiselle from Armentleres, Estelle Brody-
John Stuart June 2
Skirts, Syd Chaplin.
Law of the Range, McCoy-Crawford..
Love, Oarbo-OUbert .
.May 1» June 2 June 23
Patsy, The, Davles-Caldwell-Gray.
Riders of the Dark
Rose Marie, Crawford-Murray
Smart Set, Hainei-Day-Holt-Boswortb.
Jan. 21
Jan. 2
.Mar. 10
.Apr. 2t
.Feb. 11
.Feb. 26
Student Prince, The (R), Novarro-Shearer. Jan. 30
Under the Black Eagle, Forbes-Do( Flaib Mar. 24
West Point (CD), Haines-Crawford. Jan. 7
White Shadow* of the South Sea (MD), Honte
Blue
Wickedness Preferred (CD), Cody-Prlntle. Jan. 28
Wyoming, McCoy-Sebaatlan Mar. 24
1927
6199
eS51
9879
5697
H78
1175
•040
•536
•662
(408
(447
•387
•296
(399
•376
•017
•889
(415
7091
•862
•452
8656
7656
6439
7080
6940
6052
6007
5617
8039
7180
S258
6877
5798
4561
6599
6187
6680
6306
6247
6952
•443
6614
6368
6634
B209
6170
5515
6015
6179
6838
5524
4934
6200
6124
6006
6497
4926
6319
7643
I486
1869
6936
5866
S960
1928
6897
6636
Paramount
AfraU to Love (C), Vldor
Barbed Wire (D), Negrl-Brook.
Beau Qeste (M), Colman-N. Beery-
Blind Alleys (M), Meighan..
Blonde or Brunette? (C), MenJou_
Cabaret (CD), GUda Gray Mar. 26
Casey at the Bat (C), W. Beery Mar. 5
Chang (D), Special cast Sept. S
Children of Divorce (D), Bow &.pr. 2
City Gone Wild (M), Melgban-Mlllner Nov. 12
'Covered Wagon, The (M), Kerrigan- Wilson ~Aa(. 6
Evening Clothes (C), Menjou Mar. 19
Fashions for Women (CD), Balston Mar. 26
Fireman Save My Child (C), Beery-Hatton Aug. 1
Gay Defender, The (CD), Blctaard Dli. Dec. 10
Gentleman of Paris, A (CD), MenJou-O'Hara — Oct. 15
Get Your Man (CD), Clara Bow Dec. 10
Honeymoon Hate (CD), Florence Vldor Dec 3
Hotel Imperial (D), Negri Feb. 26
Hula (CD), Bow-Brook Aug. 27
It (C), Clara Bow — Feb. 19
Jesse James (D). Fred Thomson. Oct. 22
•Kid Brother (C), Lloyd. Oct. 4
Kiss In a Taxi (C), Daniels. Feb. 26
Knockout Rellly (CD), Dlx...... Apr. 16
Last Walte, The (D), Special cast Nor. 26
Let It Rain (C). MacLean Jan. 3
Love's Greatest Mistake (CD), BrenL Feb. 13
Man Power (D), Dlx. July 9
Metropolis (D), Special cast Aug. IS
Mme. Pompadour (D), Moreno-D. Glsh Aug. 13
Nevada (W), Cooper-Todd. Sept. 10
New York (M), Cortoz- Wilson. Feb. 5
Now We're in the Air (C), Beery-Hatton. Got. 22
One Woman to Another (CD), Vldor-Shotwell...Sept. 24
Open Range (W), Lane-Chandler Not. 6
Paradise for Two (C), Dlz-Bronson Jan. 17
Potters (CD), W. C. Fields Jan. 31
Ritjy (CO), Bronson Apr. 9
Rolled Stockings (CO), Hall-Brook June 18
Rough House Rosie (C), Bow May 14
Rough Riders, The (D), Astor-Farrell
Rubber Heels (FC). Ed. Wynn.
Running Wild (C), Fields-Brian.
Senorlta (F), Daniels..
-OoL 1
-June 11
Serenade (D), MenJou-Wray_
Service for Ladies (C), Menjou-Carrer..
Shanghai Bound (0), Diz-Brian
She's a Sheik (C), Bebe Daniels.
Shootin' Irons (W), Luden-Blane.
Soft Cushions (C), MacLean-Carol
Special Delivery (C). Eddie Cantor
Spotlight The (CD), Balston-Hamllton_
-Aug. 20
-Aug. SO
-Deo. 24
-Aug. 6
- Oct. 18
- Not. 12
• Oct. 8
- Aug. 27
- Apr. 1«
-Not. 19
Sept 17
Sept IT
Stark Love (0), Special cast
Swim, Girl, Swim (CM), Danlels-HalL.-
T(ll It to Sweeney (C), Conklln-Bancroft Sept 24
Ten Modern Commandments (CD), Balston. Jnlr 2
Time to Love (FC), Raymond Grilllth Jon* 18
Two Flaming Youths (C), Fltlds-ConMln.-
Underworld (M), Bancroft-Brent-
-Dea IT
-Oct. 2»
Way of All Flesh, The (0), Jannlngs-Bennett-Oct 1
Wedding Bills (F), Kaymond Qrlfflth. May T
Were's All Gamblers (0), Melghan-MlUner Sept S
Whirlwind of Youth (D), Lois Moran Apr. SO
Wings (M), Charles Eogers Oct 29
Woman on Trial (0), Pola Negri
Adventure Mad (M), TXFA..
Beau Sabretir (M), Cooper-Brent.
Beggars sf Life (MD), Wallace Beery-Biooks-
Arlen
-Mar. 31
-Jan. T
1930
6665
T866
5364
ltS9
•4oi
U52
ml
•MS
Big Killing (CO), Beery-Hatton. May 19
Doomsday, Vldor-Cooper Feb. 18
Drag Net, The (MO), Bancroft-Brent-Powell
Easy Come, Easy Go, Bichard Dlx. Apr. 21
Feel My Pulse, Danlels-Arlen. ____-.Feb. 25
First Kiss, The (D), Wray-Cooper.
Fifty- Fifty Girl, The, Daniels-Hall May 12
Fools tor -Lack (CD). Fields-Conklln. May T
Forgotten Faces (MD), Brook, Brian-
Gsntlemen Prefer Blondes (C), Taylor- White— Jan. 28
Half a Bride (D), Balston-Ck)oper June 16
Hot News, Bebe Danlels.
(038 His Tiger Lady, Uenjou-Brent
Kit Carson (MO), Fred Hiomson-
•T9a Ladies of the Mob, CUra Bow
tSSi Last Coaawid, Tba (0). BmU Ja
.June 9
.June 30
Mar. 10
June 9
-JolyT
Apr. 28
Jan. 21
Mar. 10
.June 23
Mar. 17
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
May 26
_Tune 2
Feb. 4
Jan. 7
Apr. 7
May 6
Feb. 18
Mar. 10
Feb. 25
—June 2
Jan. 21
May 6
Jan. 21
-JnUT
Feb. 11
Apr. 14
Jan. 7
Dec 31
Not. 28
Jan. 14
Jan. T
-JulyT
Jan. 21
-May 26
May 19
Feb. 25
-Aug. 4
Mar. 31
Apr. T
-Au(. 4
Dea 10
-June 9
Mar. 31
.lone 2S
May 26
J»M.U
July 28
Mar. 10
May 12
Jan. 14
Apr. 14
Feb. IS
Apr. 21
Mar. 3
67.41%
1927
-Apr. 23
-Aug. 3
_Mar. 5
-Jan. 15
-May 9
-Apr. 16
-May 2
-May 2
-Dec. 10
57.21%
62.04%
50.84%
41.30%
60.30%
51.86%
68.00%
-Apr. 9
-Apr. 9 -. —
-Dec. 10 49.60%
-Not. 12 62.63%
-Oct 8 -
67.83%
Dec. 17
-Jan. 8 - ~
-Sept 10 65.85%
-Feb. 12 66.77%
-Oct 22 - -
-Jan. 29 65.91%
-Apr. 2 38.61%
-Apr. 23 65.61%
-Not. 19
-Mar. 12 56.69%
-Feb. 28
-Aug. 6 61.18%
-Mar. U
Aug. •
-Feb. 6
-Dec 17
-Sept 24
71.00%
70.26%
-Jan. 29
-Jan. 22
-June 25
-July SO
.June 4
-Mar. 19
-July 16
-June IS
.May 14
Dec 31
Jan. 21
-Sept 3
Not. 11
Not. 26
48.36%
64.72%
47.60%
57.64%
-Aug. 27
-May 9
-Dec. 3
-Mar. 19
-Sept 17
Oct 22
-July 2S
-July 9
44.08%
66.27%
-Sept 3
-July 2
-July 23
-June 11
-Atu. 20
Oct 1
1928
June 16
Mar. 10
Mar. 19
Mar. 19
Aug. 4
Feb.lt
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
JoneK
JnlyT
Feb. 4
7415
6837
5741
7910
6600
6582
6118
7046
6631
7194
7616
4720
7960
5951
6218
6763
70«0
5733
5991
5834
Legion of the Condemned, Wray-Ck>oper_
Love and Learn, Ralston-Chandler
6509
6435
-Mar. 10
-Jan. 14
Loves of an Actress (0), Pola Negri
Night of Mystery (0), Menjou. -..Apr. 7
Old Ironsides (D), Beery-Bancroft Mar. 17
Partners In Crime (C), Beery-Hatton Mar. 3
PcEiks of Destiny Jan. 28
Pioneer Scout, The (W), Fred Thomson Jan. 21
Racket, The (0), Thomas Slelghan June 30
Red Hair (CD), Bow-Chandler....- Mar. 10
Sawdust Paradise, The, Esther Balston. Aug. 25
Secret Hour, The (0), Negri-Heisbolt Feb. 4
Showdown, The, Bancroft „ Feb. 25
Something Always Happens, Ralston-Hamilton....Mar. 24
Speedy (C), Harold Lloyd Aiff. 7
Sporting Goods, Dix-Olmstead _ Feb. 11
Street of Sin (0), Jannings-Wray May 26
Sunset Legion (W), Fred Thomson Apr. 21
Three Sinners (D), Negri-Baxter...- Apr. 14
Tiilie's Punctured Romance, Flelds-Conklln. Feb. 18
Under the Tonto Rim, Arlen-Brian Feb. 4
Vanishing Pioneer, The (W), Jack Holt June 23
Varsity (0), Eogers-Brlan
Water Hole, The (W), Jack Holt
Warming Up, Richard Dii. Aug. 11
Wife Savers (C), Beery-Hatton Jan. 7
Jan. 21
..June 23
Feb. 18
Feb. 26
Jan- 7
Dec. 10
-Apr. 21
Feb. 26
Feb. 18
Mar. 3
June 9
Mar. 17
Feb. 18
Mar. 3
Apr. 28
Feb. 18
Apr. 28
Apr. 21
Feb. 18
May 26
Apr. 7
Feb. 25
May 5
.-Aug. 4
-July 21
May 26
Feb. 18
..- Woman From Moscow, The (D), Negri-Kerry
1927
5596
6565
4335
6326
4875
4512
5100
7500
4933
5478
8586
6599
8002
6403
6568
6859
3303
5867
4968
7913
4750
5990
6035
4620
6788
4890
4076
4864
6324
13500
4131
4752
6472
4576
5750
5736
6421
6903
4575
4692
4497
6000
4828
5844
4542
4375
6303
5880
4562
4546
4338
6397
5670
5921
6198
4485
5610
6447
7820
1928
3996
5755
4805
5927
6589
4833
6408
4550
7996
4526
4480
5398
7056
4165
6650
5888
4600
5659
5954
5494
6626
6902
T040
6423
Pathe
Almost Human (CD), Reynolds - Dec 26
Angel of Broadway, The (D), Leatrice Joy- Oct. 3
Avenging Fangs (M) June 6
Border Blackbirds (WO), Maloney Aug. 28
Born to Battle (W), BlU Cody Sept 11
Code of the Cow Country (W), Roosevelt June 19
Combat (D), Walsh Oct 23
Country Doctor, The (0), SchUdkraut Aug. 22
Desert of the Lost, The (W), Wally Wales. Dec. 18
Devil's Twin, The (W), Leo Maloney Deo. 11
Discord (0), DagOTcr-Ekman -...Nov, 20
Dress Parade (0), Boyd. Not. 11
Fighting Eagle, The (M), La RocQUe-Haver _.Aug. 29
Flying Luck (C), Monty Banks - Dec. 4
Forbidden Woman, The (M), Jetta Goudal Not. 7
Getting Gertie's Garter (F), Prevost _ -
Girl from Everywhere (C), Pollard- -Deo. 11
Girl in the Pullman. The (C), Prevost Oct 31
Gold from Weepah (W), BUI Cody Nov. 20
Golden Clown, The (D), Gosta-Ekman Dec. 18
•Grandma's Boy (C), Harold Lloyd Dec. U
Harp In Hock, A (D), Soklldkraut-Coghlan..._.„Oct 10
Heart Thief (0), Schlldkraut-De Puttl..
Hidden Aces (M), Hutchison. Aug. T
His Dog (D), Scitlldkraut July 21
His Foreign Wife (0), MacDonald-Murphy Nov. 27
Hoof Marks (W), Jack Donovan. _ Nov. 13
Interferin' Gent, The (W), Buffalo BlU, Jr Aug. 21
Jim, the Conqueror (W), Boyd-Falre
King of Kings (0), AU Star - — .
..June 19
Dec. 24
Not. 19
1927
Not. 6
-June 4
-Sept 10
-June 17
-Oct 15
Jan. 14
TJ.70%
-Dec 10
Not. 19
Not. 6
-Sept. 17
Not. 12
Not. 5
..Feb. 19
-Not. 5
60.40%
Not. 19
Not. 5
Not. 12
Not. S
~
-May 21
-Sept. 3
-July 24
Land of the Lawless, The (W), Jack Padjan. Dec. 26
Little Firebrand (C), Thornton - July 3
Main Event The (0), Reynolds —..Not. 21
Meddlln' Stranger (W), Wales -...June 12
My Friend from India (F), Pangbom-Fatr. Deo. 19
Night Bride (FC). Prerost .
Nobody's Widow (FC), Joy-Bay-Harer. —
No Man's Law (W), Rex _...May 1
Obllgln' Buckaroo, The (W), Buffalo Bill, Jr.....Oct. 16
Pals In Peril (W). Buffalo Bill. Jr. June 26
Phantom Buster, The (W), RooseTelt— Aug. 14
Pieces of China (Trarel)- Aug. 7
Pirates of the Sky (M), Hutchison. May 22
Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary (C), Robson.
Ride 'Em High (W), Buddy Roosevelt Oct 9
Roarin' Bronot, Buffalo BUI, Jr Not. 27
Rubber Tires (C), Ford-Lore _
Rush Hour, The (C), Prerost Dec 12
Skeedaddle Gold (W), Wales. July 31
Soda-Water Cowboy, The (W), Wally Wales Sept. 26
Trunk Mystery (M), Hntoklson. June 12
Turkish Delight, Schildkraut-Faye Not. 11
Two-Gun of Tumbleweed (W), Leo Maloney July 17
Vanity (M). Joy
White Gold (D), Goudal
White Pebbles (WD), WaUy Walea.-
Wiso Wife, The (C>, Harer— .
Aug. 7
Oct. 24
Wreck of the Hesperus, The (M), Bradford Oct 31
Yankee Clipper (M), Boyd
Not. 10
-May 14 61.72%
192t
Alice Through a Looking Glass
Apache Raider, The, Leo Maloney.
Ballyhoo Buster (W), Buffalo BUI, Jr.
Blonde for a Night, Prerogt—
Blue Danube, Leatrice Joy
Boss of Rustlers Roost, The, Don Coleman Jan. 22
Bronc' Stamper, The, Don Coleman
Bullet Mark, The, Jack Donoran
Chicago (M), Phyllis Harer.
Cowboy Cavalier (W), Buddy Roosereli
Crashing Through, Jack Padjan
Desperate Courage (W), Wales-.
Hold 'Em Yale, Rod La Rocqnei
Laddie Be Good (W), BlU Cody.
Leopard Lady, The (M), Logan
Stand and Deliver, Bod La BooQSa
Tenth Avenue, Havar-Taroaol
^
Let 'Er Go, Gallagher! (M), Junior Coghlan Jan. 16
Marlie, the Killer, Klondike Mar. 4
Midnight Madness, Logan May 28
Night Flyer, The, Wm. Boyd Feb. 5
On to Rene (0), Pr«TOit-I«ndls Jan. S
Perfect Gentleman, A (C), Monty Banks Jan. 16
Red Mark, The (D), Glass, Qoartoar.
Shl» Cones In, A, Bodolpli Sehlldkrant
Skysaraper, Boyd.
X
hbi
!'
58
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
Length Title and Players
Pictures
Comment
Ticlter
1927 Ray art
6035 Walicing Bacli (M), Sue Carol May 20
6089 Cruise of the Helion (D), All star _. _
6076 Heroes in Blue (M), Bowers-Rand _ Nov.
5916 Law and the Man, The (D), Santsclii-Rockwell..Dec.
6960 Light in the Window, A (D), Walthal
6970 On the Stroke of Twelve (IH), D. Torrence Nov.
6502 Silent Hero (M), Bonaparte _ - -
4200 Wanderer of the West, A (W), Tex Maynard....Dec.
1928
6089 Branded Man, The (0), Clias. Delaney-MarloweMay
6673 Casey Jones (CD), Price-Lewis - Jan.
6076 Danger Patrol, The (D), Russell-Fair Jan.
4533 Devil's Tower, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt — June
Divine Sinner, The (D), Vera Reynolds-HUllard.. July
5976 Gypsy of the North (D), Gordon-Hale -...Apr.
5853 Heart of Broadway, The (D), Garon-Agnew Mar.
4797 Lightning Shot, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt May
Man from Headquarters, Tha (0), ConieUas
Keete-E. Roberts Aug.
5262 Midnight Adventure, A (D), Landls-E. Murphy _May
4548 Mystery Valley (W), Buddy Roosevelt July
5608 My Home Town (D), Brockwell-Glass _...Jan.
4571 Painted Trail, The (W). Buddy Roosevelt Mar.
6906 Phantom of the Turf, The (D), Costello-Lease_Feb.
Sisters of Eve (D), Mae Busch Sept.
Sweet Sixteen (D), Helen Foster-OIstead Aug.
4627 Trail Rider* (W), Buddy Roosevelt April
5490 Wild Born (W), Tex Maynard _ Mar.
6260 You Can't Beat the Law, Lee Keefe Jan.
1927
. — Sept. 24
Nov.
12
— •
_...
...-
—
.M.Allg
29
....
1928
-
.._.
-••
—
.....
.....
Sterling
1927
6563 Closed Gates (M), Harron-Novak.
5400 Outcast Souls (D), Lewis-Bonner. _ Dec. 15
6500 Pretty Clothes (D), J. Ralston-Wallter. Oct. IS
Stranded (D), Mason. Aug. 15
1928
1927
_-May 28
Nov. 12
Dec. 31
Jan. 7 SepL 10
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Comment
Universal
Marry the Girl (CD)..
1927
6754
5669
7300
4887
6482
5233
4752
6800
6049
6235
5629
6100
5182
5276
Tiffanv-Stahl
1928
1927
Backstage (CD), Bedford
Beauty Shoppe (CD), Busch
College Days (CD), M. Day
Enchanted Island (D)
Fools of Fashion (CD), Busch..._
Girl from Gay Paree, The (F), Sherman
Haunted Ship, The (M), Sebastian-M. Love..
Josselyn's Wife (D), Frederick—
.Sept. 15
.Dec 1
....July 9
...July 16
....Nov. 6
...June 25
....Oct. 9
-JJov. 27
Sept 1
Nov. 1
Oct. 16
...Dec. 15
6448
6614
1928
6147
6209
5297
6553
6102
6735
6662
6361
Lightning (W), J. Ralston. _ _
Night Life (CD), Day-Harron...
Once and Forever (D), Patsy Buth Miller...
Sin Cargo (D), Mason
Snowbound (FC), Blythe.
Streets of Shanghai (RD), Starke-Harlan..-
Tired Business Man (C) -
Wild Geese (D), BeUe Bennett ...Nov. 15
Women's Wares (D), Brent-Lytell Oct. 1
Applause (D), Sally O'NeUl Sept 30
Bachelor's Paradise (R). Sally O'Nell... Mar. 15
Big Top, The (CD), Sally O'Neill ...Oct. 30
Cavalier, The (D), Talmadge-Bedford Sept.
Clothes Make the Woman (R), Southem-
Pldseon - — May 1
Devil's Apple Tree, The (D), Dorothy SelJastlan..Sept 20
Devil's Skipper, The, Bennett Feb. 1
George Washington Cohen (CD), Jessel-Palmer-Aug.20
Geraldine Latrd (D), Belle Bennett Nov. 10
Ghetto, The (CD), Jessel-Gwen Lee Aug. 1
Grain of Dust, The (D), Cortez-Windsor July 10
Green Grass Widows (CD), Walter Hagen. June 10
House of Scandal (D), Sebastian-O'Malley Apr. 1
Ladies of the Night Club (CD), Cortez-Moran...May 15
Lingerie (CD), White-McGregor July 1
Nameless Men, Moreno _ Feb. 15
Naughty Duchess, The (D), H. B. Warner.... Aug. 10
Power of Silence, The (D), Belle Bennett ...Aug. 20
Prowlers of the Sea (D), Cortez-Myers.. .Tune 20
Queen of Burlesque, The (CD), Belle Bennett..Sept 10
Scarlet Dove, The (D), Margaret Livingston Apr. 15
Stormy Waters (D), Southern-McGregor .....Time 1
Squads Right (CD), Gribbon-Stone Nov.
Their Hour (D), Sebastian-Harron Mar. 1
Tragedy of Youth, Miller-Collier Tan. 15
Twelve Pound Look, The (D), Eve Southern. Oct. 20
Three Keys to a Door (MD), Rlcardo Cortez. Oct. 10
Toilers, The, Fairbanks, Jr. -Ralston *"e
Woman Against the World, A Ian. 1
.Dec. 11
..July 30
Mar. 10
Deo. 24 Dec. 10
1928
1927
5751
5777
4427
7190
5(i23
5503
6929
5711
6958
7713
UOOO
5862
6135
6159
5918
6170
5416
6045
7015
6166
4393
6218
4251
7173
5598
4136
5192
6459
4167
1928
4259 Air Patrol, The (W), Al Wilsoa Jan. 1
6869 Alias the Deacon (CD), Hersholt-Marlowe Jan. 22
4076 Arizona Cyclone (W), Humes May 6
6171 Buck Privates, de Puttl June 3
4345 Call of the Heart, The (W), Dynamite Jan. 29
4232 Clean-Up Man, The (W), WeUa. Feb. 12
7481 Cohens and Kellys in Paris (C), Sidney Jan. 15
6279 Count of Ten, The, Ray-Ralston-Gleason June 6
4173 Fearless Rider, The (W), Fred Humes Jan. 15
6081 Finders Keepers (CD), Laura La Plante. Feb. 6
4426 Four Footed Rangers, The (W), Dynamite. Mar. 26
5645 Good Morning Judge Apr. 29
4094 Greased Lightning (W) July 29
6598 Grip of the Yukon, The, AU star Aug. 30
5064 Hot Heels, Glen Tryon May 13
4095 Hound of Silver Creek, The (W), Dynamitc.May 20
Lonesome (CD), Tryon-Kent
Back to God's Country (D), Adoree-Frazier.
Beware of Widows (FC), La Plante
Border Cavalier, The (W), Humes-Pierce
Cat and Canary, The (My), La Plante
Cheating Cheaters (C), Compson-Harlan.
Galloping Fury (W), Hoot Gibson
Held by the Law (M), Lewis
Hero for the Night, A, Tryon-MlUer.
Irresistible Lover, The (CD), Kerry-Moran
Les Miserables (M), (Jabrio-Toulont
Les Miserables (M), (Long Version)
Lone Eagle. The, Kent-Keane
Man's Past, A (D), Yeidt-Keat
Men of Daring (W), Hoiie
On Your Toes (C), Denny- Worth
Out All Night (C). Denny-Nlxon.
Painted Ponies (W), Hoot Gibson
Painting the Town (FC), Tryon
Sensation Seekers (D), Dove.
Silk Stockings, Laura La Plante
Sky High Saunders, Al Wilson
Small Bachelor, The (C), Beranger-Kent
Straight Shootin' (W), Wells
Taxi! Taxi! (FC), Horton
Thirteenth Juror, The (D), Bushman-NUsson..
Three Miles Up, Al Wilson
Wild Beauty (CD), Rex.
Wrong Mr. Wright, The (F), Hersholt
Wolf's Trail, Dynamite, the dog.
-.Sept 4
..June 19
...Sept. 18
...Sept. 11
...Oct. 9
...Nov. 20
..Apr. 10
...Dec. 18
-Dec. 4
..Oct. 30
..Oct. 30
..Sept 18
-Dec 2S
...June 5
...Nov. 27
...Sept. 4
...Sept. 25
...Aug. 7
..Mar. 20
.Oct. 2
...Nov. 6
..Nov. 6
.Oct 16
-Apr. 24
.Nov. 13
-Sept. 4
.Nov. 27
-Feb. 27
-Oct. 2
Not. 12
Aug. 6
..May 9
1927
5L00%
44.10%
Dec 17
Nov. 26
Dec. 24
May 14
67.06%
Jan. 14
Dec. 17
.Apr. 2
Nov. 26
Nov. 19
.Aug. 27
43.57%
Nov. 13
Dec U
Jan. 14
Nov. 19
Nov. 19
Feb. 4
Deo. 3
Dec. 3
Dec. 24
Sept 9
...Apr. 9
..Oct. 1
July 23
-June 25
..Jan. 29
Aug. 20
62.31%
Feb. 19
46 18%
1928
-June 25
June 16
Mar. 10
Feb. 4
.Apr. 21
Jan. 28
-Apr. 21
Apr. 28
United Artists
College (C), Keaton-ComwalL.
General. The (C), Keaton
Loves of Sonya (D), Swanson.
Magic Flame, The (M), Colman-Banky Sept. 24
Resurrection (M), La RocQue
Sorrell and Son (D), Wamer-Nilsson Nov.
Topsy and Eva (C). Duncan Sisters
Two Arabian Knights (CD), Boyd-Wolhelm.
Winning of Barbara Worth (0), Banky-Colman_„
1927
6000 College (C), Keaton-ComwalL Sept. 10
7500
7311
8550
9120
9000
7456
8250
8000
1928
6400 Circus, The (C), Charlie Chaplin.
7000 — Devil Dancer, The, Gllda Gray _ .„
9358 Douglas Fairbanks as the Gaucho (M) June 1
9100 Dove, The (M), Norma Talmadge Jan. 7
8350 Drums of Love (D). Mary PhUbln Mar. 31
7300 Garden of Eden, The (D), C. Grifflth-Ray. Feb. 4
Two Lovers, Banky-Colman Aug.
7650 Ramona (D). Del Rio Feb. 1
8600 Sadie Thompson (D). Gloria Swan.<ion Jan. 7
Steamboat Bill, Jr., Buster Keaton
Tempest (M), John Barrymore. Aug. 11
1927
Sept. 17
Feb. 12
Mar. 19
Sept. 24
Apr. 15
Nov. 19
Aug. 13
-Oct 29
-Dec. 4
45.90%
73.65%
1928
-Mar. 3
Apr. 28
_ Nov. 26
Jan. 7
July 21
June 16
...May 26
-July 7
6813
6832
4120
5689
4253
4200
4472
5382
5424
6172
5109
5389
8249
6179
6073
4353
6274
5495
4348
9151
5254
Love Me and the World Is Mine, Kerry-Phllbin. Feb. 25
..June 3
June 3
Feb. 26
Feb. 26
..Mar. 11
-July 15
..Jan. 29
..Aug. 19
..Feb. 19
-July 8
Stop That Man, All star Mar. 11
Surrender, Phllbin-Mosjukine..- ...Mar. 4
Thanks for the Buggy Ride, La Plante-Tryon... Apr. 1
That's My Daddy (C), Denny-Kent - Feb. 5
Thunder Riders, The, Wells Apr. 8
13 Washington Square, AU star. Apr. 8
Trick of Hearts, A, Hoot Slbson Mar. 18
Won in the Clouds, (W), Wilson. Apr. 22
We Americans, All star. May 16
Wild West Show, Hoot Gibson May 20
Jazz Mad, Hersholt-Nixon-Lewls
Made-to-Order Hero (W), WeUa
Midnight Rote, de Putti-Harlan
Phantom Flyer, The (W), Wilson
Put 'Em Up (W). Humes..
Quick Triggers (W), Humes
Rawhide Kid (W), Hoot Gibson..
Riding for Fame, Hoot Gibson
Shield of Honor, The, AU star
Society Cowboy, A, Hoot Gibson.
Apr. 28
May 26
June 23
-July 21
Feb. 31
May 19
Au.g. 4
Mar. IT
Mar. 17
Jan. 28
Feb. 26
Jan. 14
Apr. 28
May 5
Apr. 21
1927
5803
6330
6281
5897
6408
5003
6767
6284
5978
6800
6302
5613
6271
5200
6230
5397
5569
6352
6310
6485
7961
6357
5492
6295
5685
6124
6218
6412
7647
5813
Warner Brothers
..Dec. 3
-Aug. 20
Black Diamond Express (M), Blue
Brass Knuckles (D), Blue-Bronson
Bush Leaguer, The (CD), Monte Blue..
Dearest ( D), Rich. -
Desired Woman, The (M), Irene Rich. Aug. 27
Dog of the Regiment, A (M), Rin-Tin-Tln Oct. 29
First Auto, The, Oldfleld-Miller Sept. 18
Gay Old Bird (FC), Fazenda.
Girl from Chicago, The (M), Nagel-Loy. Nov. 5
Gtorious Betsy (CD), Dolores Costello
Good Time Charley (D), Oland-H. CosteUo Nov. 12
Ham and Eggs at the Front (C), Wllson-H.
Conklin _ Dec 24
Hills of Kentucky (M), Rin-Tin-Tln.
Husbands for Rent, AU star Dec. 31
If I Were Single, McAvoy-Nagel Dec 17
Irish Hearts (CD), McAvoy
-July 23
1927
50.20%
-June 18
-July 9
-Mar. 12
Dec. 31
Dec. 31
-May 26
Nov. 26
68.94%
Jaws of Steel (D), Rin-Tin-Tln Sept. 17
Matinee Ladies (C), McAvoy
Mill Bid, A (M), D. Costello
Missing Link. The (C), Syd Chaplin Aug. 7
Old San Francisco (M), D. Costello-Oland Sept. 4
One Round Hogan (M), Monta Blue Sept 17
Reno Divorce, A (D), May AcAvoy Oct. 22
Sailor Izzy Murphy (F), George JesselL Oct 8
Sailor's Sweetheart, A (C), Fazenda-C. Coot.Sept 24
Silver Slave, The (D), Rioh-Ferris.... Nov. 9
Simple Sis (M), Fazenda.
Slightly Used, McAvoy-Nagel Sept 3
Third Degree (M), D. CosteUo
-Apr. 28
-June 11
-Oct 1
-Apr. 23
-June 4
-May 14
-June 26
-Oct. 8
-Oct. 29
-Dec. 10
-Oct. 15
-June 11
Tracked by the Police (M), Rin-Tin-Tln....
1928
6052 Across the Altantic, Blue-Murphy .Feb. 25
Beware of Married Men, Irene Rich Jan. 14
City of Sin, The, Loy-MiUan-Wong
Domestic Trouble (CD), Cook-Fazenda. Mar. 24
Jazz Singer, The, Al Jolson Feb. 4
Lion and the Mouse, The, L. Barrymore...
.Jan. 8
.May 21
1928
5380
5164
7077
..... Feb. 18
Feb. 11
.-Apr. 14
May 19
5331 Little Snob, The, May McAvoy - Feb. 11 „
6185 Powder My Back (C), Rioh-Ferris. Mar. 10
4777 Race for Life, Rin-Tin-Tln. Jan. 28 Feb. 18
4820 Rinty of the Desert, Rin-Tin-Tin. Apr. 21 May 19
6531 Tenderloin, Dolores Costello Apr. 28
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
59
CLASSIFIED
Advertising
Ten cents per word, payable in advance. Minimum charge,
$1.00. Copy and checks should be addressed Classified Ad
Dept. Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, 407 So.
Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
1
The Recognized N ational C ! assiiied Advertising Medium
Position Wanted
Projectionist and radio technician familiar with
sound recording amplification and experimental work
is open for a position. Address Box 297, Exhibitors
Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
OPERATOR — Nine years' experience. Wants steady
position. Address J. T. Kennedy, Gilbertville, Mass.
THEATRE ORGANIST— Experienced on all makes,
has a large library, will go anywhere. Address Box
289, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
Attention, Theatre Managers! Are you looking for
an organist, male or female? If you are, why not let
Exhibitors Herald- World find just the kind you want?
Address George Schmidt, Exhibitors Herald-World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
ORGANISTS thoroughly trained and experienced in
theatre work. Men and women now ready for good
positions. Write salary and other data. Address
Chicago Musical College, 61 E. Van Buren, Chicago.
ORGANIST — Experts thoroughly trained in show-
manship available at all times for first-class positions.
Men and women. No service charge. Write full in-
formation concerning salary, organ, hours, etc. Ad-
dress Vermond Knauss School of Theatre Organ
Playing, 210 N. 7th St., Allentown, Pa.
ORGANIST — Ten years experience, union, married.
Can cue pictures just right. Was broadcasting organ-
ist for Station WIBA at Madison, Wis. Can give
best of references. Character excellent. Address Box
300, Exhibitors Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St.,
Chicago, 111.
Experienced Powers-Simplex movie operator wants
steady position. Age 28. Married. Methodist. Sal>
isfactory references. Address Leslie Grove, Newark,
O^
ORGANIST — Man 28 years old desires position.
Thoroughly trained at American Conservatory.
Large library. Familiar with all organs. Address
Box 301, Exhibitors Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn
St., Chicago 111.
Theatre Wanted
WANTED — To buy or lease small town picture
theatre, Wisconsin only. Experienced showman. Ad-
dress Edwin Rogers, Adler Flats, Marshfield, Wis.
Theatre to Lease
Theatre to lease or trade, 1,000 feet, modern, fully
equipped, with stage. Population 18,000. Great oppor-
tunity for the right showman. Or will sell store, office
and theatre building or trade for other improved
property. Address Box 299, Exhibitors Herald-World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago. 111.
FOR RENT — An unusual opportunity to rent a
new 1,600 seating capacity theatre, located in Bethle-
hem, Pa. Population 68,000, only vaudeville house in
the city. Fully equipped. Long term lease. Address
A. Potruch, 94 W. Broad St., Bethlehem, Pa.
Theatre for Sale
First $2,000 cash gets completely equipped, going
theatre in good town. Apopka theatre, Apopka, Fla.
FOR SALE— For $14,000, CAPITOL THEATRE,
Montgomery, Ala. House is well equipped with Super
Junior Reproduco Organ, Arctic Nu-Air System, 2
Motiograph DeLuxe Machines, etc., and is advan-
tageously located between two good hotels, with new
10-story hotel, to open September 1, just across the
street. Lease on Capitol is worth $18,000 and thea-
tre cost me $6,000 more than I am asking for it.
Am forced to sell on account of ill health. Address:
J. H. Wheeler Capitol Theatre, Montgomery, Ala.
Any Real Showman desiring to invest $25,000.00
for business bonded to show 40 per cent return for
capable attention. Address P. O. Box 1306, Atlanta,
Ga. Note — -No Competition, showing both Colored-
White, Drawing Population 25,000.
Films for Sale
"Sins of the World" (6);— Foolish Virgin" (6);—
"In Old Kentucky" (7); — "Lure of the Orient"(6);
— "Unchastened Woman" (7) ; — ^also other Features,
Westerns, Serials, Comedies, Educational, Travel, etc.
Address GUARANTEED PICTURES COMPANY,
729 Seventh Ave., New York City.
Managers Schools
Learn Modern Theatre Management at home, as a
business or vocation. Catalog H shows you how.
Moving Picture Theatre Managers Institute, Inc.,
Elraira, N. Y.
Equipment for Sale
FOR SALE — Motion Picture Projectors, parts and
supplies for all type machines. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
FOR SALE — Strong Reflector Arc Lamps and ac-
cessories, also guaranteed rebuilt Powers 6-A and 6-B
and Simplex Heads. Best Prices. Write Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
GET OUR PRICES first on complete Theatre
Equipment and Pipe Organ before buying elsewhere.
You _ save, we satisfy. Address Southern Theatre
Service, 643 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, La.
CHICAGO CLEARING HOUSE— Our bargain list
on rebuilt Projectors, Powers 6-A Motor driven ma-
chines, including 12 rebuilt Simplex motor driven
machines with latest Simplex type S lamp houses.
Prices ranging from $175.00 and up. Peerless arc
controls $35.00 per pair. Compensarcs all makes,
$20.00 and up. Rebuilt Generators at reasonable
prices. AC and DC Electric fans rebuilt, just like
new. Write for complete list of your needs and
prices. No obligation. Address Illinois Theatre
Equipment Co., 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Chairs for Sale
LARGE STOCK — Used veneered theatre chairs in
5 and 7 ply veneer guaranteed condition, also 1600 up-
holstered chairs newly recovered in brown imitation
Spanish leather, just like new. 500 portable assembly
chairs. Chair prices very reasonable. Write for com-
plete list of your needs and prices. No obligation.
Address Illinois Theatre Equipment Co., 12-14 E.
Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Stationery
SPECIAL: 250 each business letterheads — enve-
lopes $3.75 (cash postpaid). "Neargravure" process
printed. Samples, see difference. Stamp appre-
ciated. Address Sollidays, KH 124, Knox, Ind.
For Sale
OPERA CHAIRS, seats and backs for all makes,
five ply, at prices that save you half. Address
Redington & Co., Scranton, Pa.
Fine Theatre lot in Pampa, Texas. Address Mc-
Manus, Texan Hotel, Pampa, Texas.
Organs for Sale
FOR SALE: Bartola Pipe Organ. Used Wurlitzer
Pipe Organ, model U, very reasonable. Cremona
Pipe Organ, used or new Reproduco Pipe Organs.
Address S. B. McFadden, Havana, 111.
Gift Night Souvenirs
GIFT NIGHT MERCHANDISE: Over 300 fine
novelties in our large free catalog at genuine whole-
sale prices. Write today. No obligation. Address
Fair Trading Co., Inc., 140 W. 21st St., New York.
Projector Repairing
BEST GRADE repair work. Prices right. Free
relief heads. Prompt service. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
Our Twentieth Century Repair Shop, with skilled
expert mechanics, specialized tools, precision machin-
ery, assure the very best REPAIR JOBS. Relief
Equipment furnished FREE. Prompt service. Rea-
sonable prices. Progressive Exhibitors over entire
country send their work to "THE OLD RELIABLE."
Monarch Theatre Supply Co., Memphis, Tenn. Estab-
lished 20 years.
SKILLED MECHANICS, specialized tools, and a
shop equipped for but one purpose can offer you
nothing but the best in repair work. That is what I
have, and I can offer you the best in the overhauling
of your motion picture machinery equipment. One
of the oldest repair men in the territory, and serving
some of the largest houses. Relief equipment fur-
nished free. For results bring your work to Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Equipment Wanted
BEST PRICES paid for projection machines, all
types. Address Guercio & Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, HI.
Miscellaneous
BEAUTIFUL registered Bull Pups, $15.
Address 501 Rockwood, Dallas, Texas.
Bulldogs.
Your Classified Ad Will Do the Work
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World has helped hundreds of Theatre owners in solving many a problem. The
classified advertising department has placed organists all over the country, has helped in obtaining equipment, in selling
equipment, and in solving many another problem that seemed difficult. The rates are but 10c per word payable with
order, 10% discount if run for 3 insertions. See this week's classified pages. Maybe you are in need of something that is
being advertised this week. The cost is small, the results are great.
^■•"■"BS^^^KSSKSHSS^
60
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
LETTERS
From Readers
A forum at which the exhibitor is
invited to express his opinion on
matters of current interest. Brevity
adds forcefulness to any statement.
Unsigned letters will not be printed.
Bet Jaysee Challenges Him
LINCOLN, KAN.— To the Editor: I sup-
pose you might be interested to know that
J. C. Jenkins is still out hustling for business
and was here Wednesday, August IS. We
had a very enjoyable visit that lasted far into
the night, but as it was a hot night we might
as well have stuck it out until morning. When
he left here he had his mind set on getting to
Goodland, Kan., for Sunday and I suppose
that he is out teUing Grasshopper Sprague a
lot of lies about that convention.
The "old man" (Editor's Note: Whattaya
mean, Old A'lan. Be careful or Jaysee will
put on the gloves with you.) was all put out
'cause his girl was out of town when he was
here and, of course, I couldn't go and get her
'cause she was with her mother on a visit.
However, she is starting to school this fall
and when she gets so she can write, I will
have her tell Grandpa Jenkins just why she
wasn't home when he called.
Anyway, I sure enjoyed his visit, renewed
my subscription, promised to be at Detroit
Lakes next summer, and signed the pledge
again. — Ray W. Musselman, Princess the-
atre, Lincoln, Kan.
Noted Composer to Do
Synchronization Music
(Special to the Hcrald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— Irving Mills,
president of the World Wide Music Cor-
poration, announces that the firm has se-
cured Mortimer Wils®n to write a series of
numbers which will be particularly suitable
for motion picture synchronization pur-
poses. Wilson was winner of the prize of-
fered for the best American overture in 1921,
with his "New Orleans Overture."
Wilson has also achieved considerable
fame in motion picture circles as the com-
poser of the symphonic scores for the
Douglas Fairbanks films, "The Thief of
Bagdad," "Don Q" and "The Black Pirate."
He also wrote the special overture and most
of the music for "The Covered Wagon."
His overture, "My Country," was produced
at the Capitol theatre.
Columbians "Submarine"
Is to Be Road-Shown
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— Columbia's
"Submarine," starring Jack Holt, Dorothy
Revier and Ralph Graves, will be a road-
show. The same company's, "The Scarlet
Lady" with Lya de Putti, Don Alvarado
and Warner Oland, is now at the Embassy
theatre here for an indefinite run.
Columbia has another picture current at
Broadway houses this week "Beware of
"Blondes," a George B. Seitz production
which is at the Hippodrome.
Tiffany-Stahl August
Drive Proving Success
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.— Tiffany-Stahl,
which designated August as a month in which
to hold a collection and play date drive in
honor of E. J. Smith, general sales manager,
reports that the testimonial drive already
shows excellent results, besides much splen-
did energy, spirit, good will, and faith in the
product, on the part of the sales force.
Synchronism Fails to
Retard Bookings Over
U, S., Survey Reveals
(^Continued from page 25)
it has been in the last two years. That is the
opinion of many exhibitors and exchange
representatives. A general business depression
in Kansas City, which has made itself felt in
golf clubs, baseball parks and other places, is
the principal cause of slow buying insofar as
the Kansas City district alone is concerned,
it is said.
There is no question but that most theatre
owners are looking with interest at the result
of the sound pictures, and their effect upon the
public, but the sound picture as a universal
form of entertainment in theatres, is too far
away yet to affect any present bookings, most
exhibitors and exchange men agree.
"The sound pictures of course will cause
some change in the markets," said R. R. Bie-
chele, president of the M.P.T.O. Kansas-
Missouri, "but just now there is no cause for
slow buying except general business conditions
in the Kansas City territory."
Business Picks Up
Along Albany Row
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 21.— Buying of the new
fall product is beginning to manifest itself
at the Albany film exchanges, although some
of the big fellows are still holding off. Ex-
change managers are maintaining silence as
to exactly who is buying pictures, although
admitting that business has picked up during
the last two or three weeks.
Slow at New Orleans;
Not Due to Sound Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 21.— Buying of
films in the New Orleans territory is slower
than two years ago for the .following reasons :
There are fewer houses in New Orleans
proper than two years ago ; right now four
houses in the business section are closed for
repairs ; several of the neighborhood theatres
are also closed; country theatres that ran,
say, five nights a week are having a hard time
to fill the houses two nights because of a
shortage of money due to crop failures and
the flood.
Oregon Exhibitors
Cautious Buyers
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., Aug. 21.— J. J. Flem-
ing, secretary of the Northwest Independent
Exhibitors Association, declared that "our
exhibitors have made but few purchases of
the synchronized film, as their houses for the
most part are not equipped to exhibit same;
Oregon exhibitors are not buying heavily on
futures, and for the most part will hereafter,
of course, buy films distributed by or endorsed
by the association as a body."
Theatres With Sound
Draw from Other Houses
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 21.— In the south-
west Texas territory sound pictures have
slowed up general purchase of product for
the first three months of selling, as com-
pared to the same period of last year, ac-
cording to Harold E. Pickett, Paramount
branch manager.
"In smaller towns exhibitors are holding
up buying because of the fact that adjacent
large cities equipped with sound devices, in
their opinion, are draining the town of a
large percentage of theatre patronage,"
Pickett said. "While these small towns
are for the most part considering the pur-
chase of sound installation, they are at
present are waiting until convinced that
sound equipment is necessary for them.
For that reason, they are seeking a cheaper
product during the intermediate period."
Show Color Pictures
Made by New Process
(Special to the Herald- World)
NEWARK, Aug. 21. —Color pic-
tures made by a new process were
shown for the £rst time by Natural
Color Pictures, Inc., in this city last
week. The process, which is the
creation of Frederick T. O'Grady of
Newark, is said to utilize a gelatin
with the seven colors of the spec-
trum. No shutters are used on the
cameras, it is stated.
Musicians at St. Louis
Offer to Accept Cut of
$4 in Fight on Sound
(Continued from page 29)
fer with the projectionists. With business
having been none too good in the Kansas City
territory of late it is believed the projection-
ists will "listen to reason" at the meeting.
Destroying Musical
Advance, Says Unionist
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 21.— "The movie
business has done much to foster appreciation
of good music ; now it is proposed to take a
step that would destroy this musical advance,"
an official of Musicians Union No. 6 said last
week in commenting on the possible effects of
mechanical musjc.
"We readily admit that our peculiar interest
in opposing such substitution is that it might
cost us our positions.
"From a community point of view, is it not
preferable to have resident artists drawing
and spending their salaries here to having the
money sent out of town?"
Westco Signs for Prior
Rights to FN Product
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 21.— A contract
has been signed by West Coast and First
National that will give the theatre organiza-
tion first call on that studio's output in
important keypoints, such as Los Angeles,
San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. The
contract also gives West Coast representa-
tion of all other First National product in
all other cities in which West Coast theatres
operate.
She's Champion Swimmer
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 21. — Mrs. James Papaya-
nakos, wife of the owner of the Gralyn
theatre in Gouverneur, N. Y., is the cham-
pion woman swimmer of northern New
York. One day last week she swam two
miles at Sylvia lake in a trifle under one
and one-half hours.
UFA Opens in Philadelphia
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 21.— UFA East-
ern Division Distribution, Inc., has just
opened a branch office at 1220 Vine street,
in charge of Jack Meyers, who opened the
firm's New York office last year.
Chosen Roundup Queen
(Special to the Herald-World)
PENDLETON, ORE., Aug. 21.— Queen
Mary I will reign at the 1928 Pendleton
Roundup September 19 to 22. "Queen
Mary" is Mary Duncan, who starred in
Fox's "Four Devils."
August 25, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
61
Y^
WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Verdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor
Copyrighi, 1928
Incorporated in this original exhibitors report department of Exhibitors Herald, which was estab-
lished October 14, 1916, is the Moving Picture World department, "Straight from the Shoulder
Reports."
Columbia
THE TIGRESS: Special cast— 39%. August 8-9.
Advertising failed to draw them in. Gypsies are
not much thought of in this country. Jack Holt
disappointed what few did come. No story for
his type. Story was improbable and impossible.
Acting wae fair considering what they had to do
•with. Photography was too "artistic" and hazy
though well rendered. Did not draw anything second
night, so consider this picture not extra for small
town material. Six reels. — John W. Crabtree, Joy-
land theatre, Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
THE MATINEE IDOL : Johnny Walker— 10%.
Good show for your off night. As there isn't any-
thing to it much, the less people you get in the
better you'll like it. Only good for one night,
that's all. Not a Saturday picture for small towns.
Ran to poorest business on Saturday in four years.
Six reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball,
S. D. — General patronage.
F B 0
FRECKLES: Special cast— 60%. July 30. A
very fine picture much better than "The Harvester."
Whole cast does nice work. Watch Gene Stratton,
she is good. Seven reels. — G. B. Orne, Richmond
theatre, Richmond, Vt. — ^General patronage.
A FLAME IN THE SKY: Special cast— 40%.
July 17. Good show which we had to play against
tentshow and no one came to see it. Well, that's
the way it goes. Six reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal
theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
THE FIGHTING REDHEAD: Buzz Barton— 25%.
August 3. A good kid Western. Children liked it. —
Bert Silver, Silver Faanily theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
THE CHEROKEE KID: Tom Tyler— August 4.
A fair enough Tyler picture, but they gave us a lot
of hooey that Frankie Darra was going to be in
all of 'Tom's pictures this year. Well, he sureinell
wasn't in this one and a lot of the kids wanted to
know why. Five reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags
theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage.
THE HARVESTER: Special cast— August 7-8-9.
The best program picture I have played for a long,
long while. A family picture from every stand-
IX)int. This pleased as near to 109 per cent as
any. Print and photography good. Seven reels. —
P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — General
patronage.
First National
THE YELLOW LILY: Billie Dove — 80%. July
27-28. Drew the usual Billie Dove crowd, but failed
to please as well as her other pictures. Our patrons
are "burned out" on mythical kingdom stories, and
when they don't like Billie Dove in anything there
is something wrong. Oh ! for some relief from
underworld and mythical kingdom stories. Eight
reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's theatre, Ashland,
Ala. — ^Small town patronage.
THE HAWK'S NEST: Milton Sills— 60%. August
5-6. This picture drew good for a hot summer night.
Editor's Note
Percentage ratings given by ex-
hibitors in reports to this depart-
ment are obtained in the following
manner: Average daily gross of
picture reported is divided by
average daily gross of picture hold-
ing house record to determine
relative box office value in terms
of percentage.
EXAMPLE: $75 (average daily
gross of picture reported) divided
by $100 (average daily gross of
picture holding house record)
equals .75 (percentage rating given
picture in report).
Wh^i a picture has received
percentage ratings in 10 reports it
is entered in THE BOX OFFICE
TICKER column of "Quick Ref-
erence Picture Chart."
And is about as good a crook stoi-y as we have had,
suspense and thrill, spiced with humor, and we're
ready to take on another Sills picture. — ^C. W. Veseth,
Palace theatre, Malta, Mont. — General patronage.
VAMPING VENUS: Charlie Murray— 35%.
August 6-7. Absolutely rotten. There is no ex-
cuse for this kind of trash, and your patrons will
wonder why it was forced down their throats. I
talked against it before second day's showing and
made friends by so doing. Pay for it and leave it.
Seven reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's theatre, Ash-
land, Ala. — Small town patronage.
BROADWAY NIGHTS: Lois Wilson— 10%. July
11. All who saw it were well pleased as there were
no walkouts on this one. We call this a dandy pro-
gram picture and is good for Sunday also. Seven
reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. —
General patronage.
HAROLD TEEN: Arthur Lake— Very good. High
school boys and girls will eat this up. A little foot-
ball in it. We played it too soon, schools being
closed. Best time to play this picture is in October.
—J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal.— General
patronage.
THE HEART OF A FOLLIES GIRL: Billie Dove
— As usual, Billie does some fine acting and while
there are some shots that could just as well have
been eliminated, or at least they could have put
more clothes on Billie, the picture went over very
good. It seems that the producers can't get away
from the dance hall stuff, or the nude scene. Seven
reels. — F. J. O'Hara, Community theatre, Elgin,
Neb. — General patronage.
LITTLE SHEPHERD OF KINGDOM COME:
Richard Barthelmess — "Our Dick" has come back to
life. This is the first picture this year that has
moved me to words. There have been many at-
tempts to reach the so-called heights, but they simply
soar in this one. Barthelmess does the finest work
I am very sure since "Tolable David," and he has
set a mark that will be hard to shoot at. Molly
O'Day is admirable. I don't believe anyone could
have done as well. Gillingwater, who can always
be relied upon, comes up to his part in a wonderful
way. All others in the cast were right up to ex-
liectations. I say again, this is the greatest picture
of 1928. Seven reels.— W. H. Brenner, Cozy theatre,
Winchester, Ind. — ^General patronage.
THE MAD HOUR: Sally O'Neill— Good picture,
but did not draw an extra nickel in the box office. —
J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General
patronage.
THE NOOSE: Richard Barthelmess— July 29. A
very good picture. One that you can be proud to
say, "I have played it." Bight reels. — ^Mrs. C.
Knox, Star theatre, Villa Grove, III. — Small town
patronage.
THE NOOSE: Richard Barthelmess— Here is a
wonderful (picture that will get yovu- goat. After
the fourth reel you could hear a pin drop at any
time during the rest of the show. And say, you can
talk about actresses, but there is not one who could
have taken the place of Alice Joyce in this picture.
Get it and step on it. Eight reels. — F. J. O'Hara,
Conamunity theatre, Elgin, Neb. — General patronage.
THE POOR NUT: Special cast— Pregram comedy
drama. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. —
General patronage.
Fox
THE GATEWAY OF THE MOON: Dolores Del
Rio — 85%. July 26. Just a jungle railroad con-
struction melodrama, but particularly well staged
and proving again that Dolores is an actress. Pic-
ture was well liked by majority. Six reels. — C. M.
Staples, Y.M.C.A. theatre, Morenci, Ariz. — General
patronage.
A GIRL IN EVERY PORT: Victor McLaglen—
70%. August 1. Victor McLaglen surrounded by
pretty girls — it couldn't help but be good. Bob
Armstrong also did his bit very creditably. Six
reels. — C. M. Staples, Y.M.C.A. theatre, Morenci,
Ariz. — General patronage.
THE GAY RETREAT: Cohen-McNamara— 60%.
July 30-31. One of the funniest comedies we have
ever played. Far ahead of "Rookies" and not so
vulgar. The finish is a scream, and we looked over
the house for damage after the final fadeout as it
was rocked with laughter. You oan't go wrong in
62
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
playing this one. Six reels. — ^E. F. Ingram, Ingram's
theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town patronage.
A WILD WEST ROMANCE: Rex Bell— 40%.
August 4. Did not eee this new star for Fox, but
everyone said good and compared favorably with
Jones and Mix. Did not pull so big, but of course is
new to the fans. Five reels. — G. B. Orne, Richmond
theatre, Richmond, Vt. — General patronage.
SOFT LIVING: Madge Bellamy— 25%. August 2.
A good program picture. Star and cast fine. — Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
FLEETWINGS: Special cast — Although the cast
are unknown here the picture seemed to please.
There was some very good acting for that kind of
a picture. The pictirre is jumbled up with a lot
of supposed Arabs, sand dunes and an old white
horse who could hardly run in the deep sand. You
may get by with it. Seven reels. — F. J. O'Hara,
Community theatre, Elgin, Neb. — General patronage.
THE GAY RETREAT: McNamara-Cohn— August
3-4. Oh boy, this sure clicked at the box office.
The best drawing picture I have played since
"Rookies." Many of my patrons liked it better.
From a comedy standpoint it is a scream. I wish
the producers would make more comedy like this.
If any of you exhibitors have not played this, be
sure and do so. Seven reels.— P. G. Held, Strand
theatre, Griswold, la. — General patronage.
HORSEMAN OF THE PLAINS: Tom Mix— Tom
in the usual hokum but I have failed to iind any
star to compete with him at the box office on
Saturday. This is better than the average Mix. —
A. J. Sass, Star theatre. Willow Springs, Mo. —
Small town patronage.
PUBLICITY MADNESS: Special cast— Nothing to
complain about, nothing to shout over in this
picture. Just a regular program offering. Six reels.
— Giacoma Brothers, Crystal theatre. Tombstone,
Ariz. — General patronage.
THE SHARPSHOOTERS: George O'Brien^Just
a lot of celluloid wasted. Nothing to it, George
used to be a good drawing card for me, but they
have been sticking him in a lot of this class of
pictures lately and his name don't mean anything
to me at the box office. Better let it alone. Seven
reels.— F. J. O'Hara. Community theatre, Elgin,
Neb. — General patronage.
VERY CONFIDENTIAL: Madge Bellamy— Opened
a new house with this and it went over big. One of
the best comedy dram'as we have played in a long
time. Full of laughs and thrills and Miss Bellamy
was fine. Six reels.— A. J. Sass, Star theatre. Wil-
low Springs, Mo.— Small town patronage.
Gotham
BARE KNEES: Virginia Lee Corbin — 65%.
AuETUst 6-7. Good advertising. Good picture. An
excellent comedy drama with a well balanced cast.
Miss Corbin got over fine and made many friends.
Here is a picture that will stand advertising and
will "deliver the goods." Snappy, catchy title. Use
the photo stills and llxl4s on this. It's a box
office "sure thing." Six reels. — John W. Crabtree,
Joyland theatre, Coi-ning, Ark. — General patronage.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
THE SMART SET: William Haines— 85%. July
30. The action and wise-cracks in this kept the
audience laughing almost continuously. Seven reels.
— C. M. Staples, Y.M.C.A. theatre, Morenci, Ariz.- — •
General patronage.
THE ENEMY: Lillian Gish— 75%. August 9.
Previous comment made us doubtful but we were
agreeably surprised. Somewhat sombre but most
excellently staged and directed with a cast that
measured up to the job. Audience reaction very
good. Nine reels. — C. M. Staples, Y.M.C.A. theatre,
Morenci, Ariz. — General patronage.
LAUGH, CLOWN, LAUGH: Lon Chaney— 75%.
August 5-6. A very fine picture. One hundred per
cent satisfaction. Lon Chaney is in a class by him-
self. The east in this picture extra good. — Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
BRINGING UP FATHER: J. Farrell MacDonald—
60°/o, July 24. Good comedy in spots, but generally
disappointing. There have been so many comedies
of this type that people seem to have tired of them.
Seven reels. — C. M. Staples, Y.M.C.A. theatre, Mor-
enci, Ariz. — General patronage.
THE LATEST FROM PARIS: Norma Shearer—
50%. August 3. A sweet little picture. Rather
long for the story, but keeps them interested on a
hot night. Eight reels. — G. B. Orne, Richmond the-
atre, Richmond, Vt. — General patronage.
ACROSS TO SINGAPORE: Special cast— Good
sea drama, nothing big. — J. L. Seiter, Selma the-
atre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
THE ACTRESS: Norma Shearer— August 9. A
very good picture but not the type for Norma
Shearer. Business only fair.— E. E. Gailey, Crystal
theatre, Wayne, Neb. — Small town patronage.
THE ADVENTURER: Tim McCoy— Fair action
picture. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. —
General patronage.
THE BIG CITY: Lon Chaney— August 5-6. A
fair program picture of one bunch of gyppers
gypping another bunch of gyppers. This under-
world stuff may be entertainment in the cities, but
it is the unvarnished hooey out in the thickets.
Personally, think Chaney is the most over-rated bird
in pictures. Eight reels. — Wm E. Tragsdorf, Trags
theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage.
CIRCUS ROOKIES: Dane-Arthur— If Metro keeps
being successful with this pair as comedians they will
have to come better than this one. It is slapstick
and a lot of it. All right as a two reeler, but too
much buffoonery for a feature length picture and
then there was "Baby Mine." "Baby Mine" was
just plain vulgarity served up in such a way that it
offended. At least we received more adverse com-
ments on this particular picture than anything we
ever played. — Columbia theatre, Columbia City, Ind.
— General patronage.
THE DETECTIVES: Dane-Arthur— Not so good
and has some smut in it. But not quite as smutty as
"Baby Mine." Business fell flat second night. —
E. E. Gailey, Crystal theatre, Wiayne, Neb. — Small
town patronage.
DIAMOND HANDCUFFS: Special cast— One of
those pictures in three acts. A different cast in each
act. Would consider it a good progi-am picture. It
travels from the South African diamond mines to
the underworld of New York and winds up with a
big gun battle. Six reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun the-
atre, Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.
LAUGH, CLOWN, LAUGH: Lon Chaney— August
5-6. Very good. Chaney a favorite star here.
Many favorable comments. — Mrs. C. Knox, Star the-
atre. Villa Grove, 111. — Small town patronage.
LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT: Lon Chaney—
Here is a picture that drew well and interested the
audience right up to the last shot. Seven reels. —
Giacoma Brothers, Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz.
— General patronage.
LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT: Lon Chaney—
It's a peach of a mystery drama. Clean and enter-
taining. Business good. — E. E. Gailey, Crystal the-
atre, Wayne, Neb. — Small town patronage.
ROSE MARIE: Special cast — Sold as super
special, delivered as a fair program and didn't get
any extra money in the box office. — J. L. Seiter,
Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
SPOILERS OF THE WEST: Tim McCoy— Fairly
entertaining and interesting Indian-soldier picture
of the early days. Well photographed and well
staged. McCoy means less than nothing at the
box office. Wonder why Metro-Goldwyn don't get
Fred Thomson or Buck Jones. Wish they would.
Five reels. — ^P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas
City, Mo. — General patronage.
SPOILERS OF THE WEST: Tim McCoy— This
is good. While it is built on history it is enter-
taining as well. Tim does his stuff to iperfection as
well as the rest of the cast. The Indians were pretty
well trained to put the picture over in the shape
they did. Tim is a master in his line and always
pleases the crowd. Seven reels. — F. J. O'Hara, Com-
munity theatre, Elgin, Neb. — General patronage.
TEA FOR THREE: Cody-Pringle — A fair pro-
gram picture which failed to draw anyone past the
wicket. Seven reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags
theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage.
TILLIE THE TOILER: Marion Davies— August
2-3. Due to the comic strip drevf good and pleased.
Seven reels. — Wm. B. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre,
Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage.
THE THIRTEENTH HOUR: Rex the Dog-
August 10-11. A dandy comedy, mystery drama.
Not much of a drawing card, but pleased those who
came. Print and photography good. Six reels.—
P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — General
patronage.
WEST POINT: William Hainei^-July 31-August 1.
Good program picture, about the best Haines has
made. I played the Point boys in conjunction with
this and had a fair turn out. Print and photography
good. Seven reels. — P. G. Held, Strand theatre,
Griswold, la. — General patronage.
WEST POINT: William Haines— This is one
sweet picture. Taken at West Point. I had several
people who had been at West Point and they said
that everything was true to life there. I don't re-
member ever having more good comments on a
picture than on this one. Play it, please them. Not
an unclean scene in this picture. Nine reels. —
F. J. O'Hara, Community theatre, Elgin, Neb. —
General patronage.
Paramount
EASY COME, EASY GO: Richard Dix— 90%.
August 4. Pleased everyone. Six reels. — C. M.
Staples, Y.M.C.A. theatre, Morenci, Ariz. — General
patronage.
THE FIFTY-FIFTY GIRL: Bebe Daniels— 90%.
July 28. Bebe's pictures seldom fail to entertain
and while this one is not her best to date, it
pleased the crowd. — C. M. Staples, Y.M.C.A. the-
atre, Morenci, Ariz. — ^General patronage.
BARBED WIRE: Polo Negri— 85%. August 4.
Don't be afraid of this one. I have held off of
Negri's pictures because, in the past, she has had
such poor roles. This is, without doubt, one of the
best that she has ever made and it is one of the
best we have played for some time and this in-
cludes specials. My only regret is that I didn't
make a special out of this one. It received more
favorable comments than any picture that we have
played for months. Eight reels.— Paul B. Hoffman,
Legion theatre, Holyrood, Kan.-^Small town pat-
ronage.
THE DRAG NET: George Bancroft— 85%. August
2-3. Another underworld picture, but a good one.
Was on the set when some of it was shot and en-
joyed seeing the finished product. Do not consider
it as good as "Underworld," although some said
better. Eight reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's the-
atre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town patronage.
LADIES OF THE MOB: Clara Bow— 75%. July
23-24. Vei-y poor picture, and Clara badly out of
place in this kind of story. It may be true that
she wanted to prove that she can really act, but
her followers don't give a whoopee about it. They
want her in the peppy stuff, and they don't mean
maybe. Had several of her most loyal boosters say
she was rotten in this. Snap out of it, Clara, and
get some more good ones like "It" and "Red Hair."
Movie fans everywhere are "burned out" on under-
world or crime pictures and we are sorry you were
cast in this. Seven reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's
theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town patronage.
SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS: E^sther Ral-
ston— 75%. July 23. An entertaining combination
of spooky thrills and comedy. Five reels. — C. M.
Staples, Y.M.C.A. theatre, Morenci, Ariz. — General
patronage.
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— 70%. Autrust 6.
Usual Lloyd picture. Not so many laughs as "Kid
Brother" or "The Freshman," but a real comedy
at that. Eight reels. — G. B. Orne, Richmond theatre,
Richmond, Vt.^ — General patronage.
THE VANISHING PIONEER: Jack Holt^-45%.
August 8. The Holt-Grey combination did not draw
as I thought it would due to the story being so new.
A good picture and pleased. Six reels. — G. B. Orne,
Richmond theatre, Richmond, Vt. — General patronage.
THE LAST WALTZ: Special cast — 42%. August
4. Good for a foreign picture. This is a good
comedy. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre. Green-
river, Utah. — General patronage.
SERVICE FOR LADIES: Adolphe Menjou— 39%.
August 2. Good comedy drama. Seven reels. — Mrs.
Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. —
General patronage.
LADIES OF THE MOB: Clara Bow— 30%. Why
don't they leave underworld stories to George Ban-
croft? This is the wrong type of picture for Clara
Bow, and it doesn't take a genius to figure that out
either. At the present time the underworld picture
proposition is being over done, so why not limit
the number and star Clara Bow in something suitable
to her. Every patron was disappointed. — ^Wm Fair-
child, America theatre. Fort Collins, Col. — General
patronage.
RUNNING WILD: W. C. Fields— 20%. July 31.
A fair program picture. The star is funny. Those
who understood his comedy liked it. — Bert Silver,
Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General
patronage.
CITY GONE WILD: Thomas Meighan-July 29-
30. Very good crook drama, but no drawing card.
^o Losses in the Box Office
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«' "I"'""""""" ■" liwiiiiiiuimt^^p^'jiimiiiii m iiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiii imn
August 25, 1928
eAiIBITORS herald and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
63
Meighan pictures mean nothing to me. Print and
photography good. Seven reels. — P. G. Held, Strand
theatre, Grdewold, la. — General patronage.
DOOMSDAY: Florence Vidor— August 5-6. A
fine little program picture. Just the thing for Sun-
day. Clean and entertaining. Print and photog-
raphy good. Six reels. — P. G. Held, Strand theatre,
Griswold, la. — General patronage.
EASY COME, EASY GO : Richard Dix— Not much
to this. About as light as Richard Dix has been in,
according to our way of thinking. It is light and
feathery, clean and musters through as entertain-
ment, but would not stand criticism of a severe
nature. Just one glance at one particular abstu-dity.
A friend of the president of the railroad gives a
note to him to hand to a conductor authorizing the
conductor to stop at a certain sjnall stop that is
not regular for this particular train. The friend
gets on the train and hands the note to the con-
ductor who reads the note and HANDS IT BACK
to the friend of the president. Now can anyone
imagine that? But that's not all. In the first
place that little thing would not be done that way
on ANY RAILROAD IN THE WORLD, but what's
the use of trying to get directors to do these things
right, they just won't and that is what increases
the number of punk pictures. Six reels. — Giacoma
Brothers, Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General
patronage.
THE GAY DEFENDER: Richard Dix-^ust a
picture. Dix is fading fast in my town. Don't
promise too much on this one. Seven reels. — A. J.
Sass, Star theatre. Willow Springs, Mo. — ^Small town
patronage.
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES: Ruth Taylor
— Excellent comedy drama which would have been a
knockout with a better star. Pleased my crowd.
Seven reels. — A. J. Saes, Star theatre. Willow
Springs, Mo. — Small town patronage.
JESSE JAMES: Fred Thomson— From a pro-
duction standpoint and as to entertainment value this
picture rates high, but as a box office attraction it
has proven to be a lemon for all who have played
it here in K. C. that I've talked to. It certainly
died for me. It should be bought reasonable and
played one night only. I made the mistake of
playing it two nights. Women will like it. It
is not a blood and thunder picture like you would
expect. Seven reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre,
Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.
LOVE AND LEARN: Esther Ralston— Pretty
good little program picture. Plenty of light comedy
and considerable action all the way through. Wish
they were all as good as this one. Six reels. — P. G.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General
patronage.
OLD IRONSIDES: Special cast— A good picture
of its kind, but no drawing power. Will please the
better class if you can get themi in. I couldn't.
Splendid to tie up with school. Nine reels. — A. J.
Sass, Star theatre. Willow Springs, Mo. — Small town
patronage.
PARTNERS IN CRIME: Beery-Hatton— It is a
crime to put this kind of a thing out and bill it as
a comedy. If this is comedy I have sure forgot my
lines. I have not played those birds before, and
thought from the noise that Paramount was making
that this was a wow. But I have shown so many
better pictures that were not boosted so high that
possibly I could not see the fine points in this.
Eight reels. — F. J. O'Hara, Community theatre,
Elgin, Neb. — ^General patronage.
RUNNING WILD: Fields.^Conklin— A fair pro-
gram picture. Too draggy for a comedy di-ama.
Will get by, that is all. Seven reels. — A. J. Sass,
Star theatre. Willow Springs, Mo. — Small town
patronage.
SWIM, GIRL, SWIM: Bebe Daniels— A real good
comedy drama, the kind that appeals to all classes.
Bebe gets better and better and this one should
please any audience. Seven reels. — A. J. Sass, Star
theatre. Willow Springs, Mo. — Small town i>atronage.
THREE SINNERS: Pola Negri— Myself and pa-
trons considered this the best Negri picture ever
turned out by Paramount. Of course, it's of for-
eign atmosphere, but it held their attention to the
very last. Seven reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre,
Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.
UNDER THE TONTO RIM: Special cast — Very
good but not so good as some Zane Grey's. Business
only fair. — E. E. Galley, Crystal theatre, Wayne,
Neb. — ^Small town patronage.
Pathe-P D C
CHICAGO: Phyllis Haver— 25%. August 1. A
good picture that did not draw here. Not as dan-
gerous as some report it. — Bert Silver, Silver Family
theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
ALMOST HUMAN: Vera Reynolds— August 3.
One of the poorest pictures I ever played. Too much
dog in it. Took in just $6 at the box office and
had many walk out on this. Very poor and I don't
mean maybe. Six reels. — Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre.
Villa Grove, 111. — ^Small town patronage.
Rayart
THE DRIFTIN' KID: Tex Maynard— 96%. July
28. A good little Western. Five reels. — E. F. In-
gram, Ingram's theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town
patronage.
CASEY JONES: Ralph Lewis^5%. July 15.
Best show we ran for some time. It has everything,
laughs, tears and action from start to finish.
Thanks to the independent producers who made a
good picture like this. You have a good show, boys,
and don't have to mortgage your theatre to play it.
Step on it hard and play it two nights if you can
becaruse it will satisfy. Seven reels. — Rudolf Duba,
Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
THE WHEEL OF DESTINY: Forest Stanley—
10%. August 7. Good program and it pleased the
ones that are hard to satisfy at any time so that is
saying a lot for us as we already thought that
there isn't any picture that could please our audi-
ence, but this one did, only business was poor — no
fault of the picture however. Six reels. — Rudolf
Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.— General
patronage.
United Artists
RAMONA: Dolores Del Rio— 85%. August 6-7-8-9.
Grab this one. A sure box office natural. Held it
over one day and sure did the business. S.R.O. sign
out every night but one and in the hottest days of
the summer at that. A beautiful Indian love lyric
that holds them spellbound. But be sure you have
good music as it is half the show. Don't forget to
tie up with your Victor dealer, and use the Ortho-
phonic ae the picture starts. You can't lose. Eight
reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man.
— Small town patronage.
THE CIRCUS: Charles Chaplin— 50%. August
7-8-9. No good at all either as a picture for Chaplin
or as a box office bet. But it's a safe bet you'll lose
jack on United Artists prices. — C. W. Veseth, Palace
theatre, Malta, Mont. — General patronage.
SORRELL AND SON: Special cast-^0%. July
30-31-August 1. Adjectives fail to describe this
wonderful picture. Drew crowds to my house, some
of whom I have not seen out for some time. H. B.
Warner gives an exceptionally fine performance as
Sorrell and the support did fine work also. An
interesting story from start to finish. Ten reels.—
S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man.—
Small town patronage.
THE WINNING OF BARBARA WORTH: Special
cast— 30%. August 2-3-4. Not nearly as interesting
as the book and none of the cast do any work that
compares with previous efforts. The photography is
the poorest I have had this year. The fact that
the book has been largely read, alone, saved the
day for me. Nine reels.— S. B. Kennedy, Central
theatre, Selkirk, Man.— Small town patronage.
THE MAGIC FLAME: Ronald Coleman-Vilma
Banky— 25%. August IL Ran this on Saturday
night and lost $7. People looked at the advertising
and stayed away. Nine reels.— G. E. Wendel, Opera
House, Smithland, la.— Small town patronage.
RAMONA: Dolores Del Rio— August 8-9. One
of the very best pictures I have shown for a long
time. Play it by all means.— Mrs. C. Knox, Star
theatre. Villa Grove, 111.— Small town patronage.
Universal
THE ARIZONA CYCLONE: Fred Hume— 50%,
August 4. A good Western for Saturday. The
star is a comer.— Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre,
Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
A TRICK OF HEARTS: Hoot Gibson-48%.
August 1. About the usual Gibson. Some fun, some
riding, a fight and everyone went away pleased.
Six reels. — G. B. Orne, Richmond theatre, Richmond,
Vt. — ^General patronage.
THE COHENS AND KELLYS IN PARIS: George
Sidney — 27%. August 5-6. The best comedy, fea-
ture or special, we have run yet and they don't like
comedies here so much. But this one pleased and we
got some business on Monday that we never had
before on any picture except "Ben Hur." Play
this one and make yourself some money if you buy
it right. Eight reels.— Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D. — ^General patronage.
THE RAWHIDE KID: Hoot Gibson— 13%.
August 1. Good Western for small towns. Hoot
is better than usual and he fought a good little
fight in this one and got the girl too. Six reels. —
Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General
patronage.
THE COUNT OF TEN: Charles Ray— 10%.
August 10-11. About as poor a feature as Universal
FRANCIS X. BUSHMAN, Jr.
Appearing in _
"FOUR SONS"
JH^
The Picture that broke WF.F,K-END records at the
ROXY THEATRE, NEW YORK
Now Making Limited Tour Over KEITH-ORPHEUM Circuit
in "The Ihird Door," a Mystery Comedy Playlet
AVAILABLE FOR TALKING PICTURES
Personal Direction of
Harry Weber — Palace Theatre Bldsf.. New York z
# %' ■i'pr ^
: .
rmr acv ?^*ti "j-BiJiaa
64
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
FALLS CITY, NEB., August 12, 1928.
DEAR HERALD- WORLD :
Did you hear Herb's speech out at Palo Alto, Cal., last night? Boy, but wasn't that a
ringer? Betcha Al will have to step on the gas now. It just seemed like Herb plowed
up the whole field and didn't leave a mnllen stalk nor Russian thistle in sight.
We heard James G. Blaine make a campaign speech at Lafayette, Ind., back in the days
when they wore bustles and bloomers, and when they didn't turn off on the side roads,
and we have always considered that speech a masterpiece, and from that day to this we
have never heard anything that could measure up to it until we heard Herb last night,
and all during his speech we kept thinking of Blaine.
We were especially pleased with his pronouncement against "Nullification of the Con-
stitution" and his plea for "Religious Tolerance" and if Al will come out as square-toed
on these, and other issues, as did Herb (and we don't doubt but that he will) the country
will be safe no matter which way it goes. We would like to vote for Herb and Al both
but we can't do it under the Australian ballot system, therefore, after Al makes his
speech we will pick one of 'em and trust to luck. While Herb was making his speech
there was a hayracker turned to us and said, "Who's that guy and what is he talking about
anyway?" and we replied, "You can search us brother, but you won't find much, but from
what we can gather that's a chap by the name of Hoover and he has just been notified
that he was nominated by some party at Kansas City for president of the United States,"
and the fellow turned around and started away and said, "Hell, I heard about that two
months ago." That illustrates how far a campaign speech will get under the hide of some
people.
York, Neb., needs a guardian. By making a close count of noses we presume York
could show an aggregate of something like 5,000 exclusive of the cemetery, and York has
two theatres in operation. O. C. Taylor operates the Dean which has a capacity of 600 and
is a very creditable theatre, and with Mr. Taylor, a most congenial gentleman as its manager
and his esteemable wife in the box office, York has nothing to kick about. The Dean,
together with the Opera House, has all the capacity necessary to meet the requirements
of the town, but the North end of "Main street" wanted to put one over on the South end
so they are just completing a new theatre at a cost said to be $75,000 and the South end
is going to go the North end one better and has commenced the erection of one that it is
said will cost $100,000, and the asylum is located at Hastings and a good gravel road all
the way.
Someday somebody will have an opportunity to buy a theatre in York awfully cheap, but
it would have to be cheap before anybody with horse sense would buy it, that's why York
needs a guardian. Besides that York is a town of retired farmers, and you know what
that means to the theatre business. Outside of that it's none of our business what York
does, but we just thought we'd tell you about it.
* * *
We are going to remember Nehawka a long time, and Mrs. J. M. Palmer and her dinner
is responsible for it. Mrs. Palmer is the lady who tells J. M. when to get up and light
the fire in the furnace and put the tea-kettle on and J. M. is the man who furnishes Nehawka
with highclass amusement at the city Auditorium, J. M. says there is always a scrap at
the Palmer home when the HERALD-WORLD comes in to see who will get to read our
colyum first, that's the only weakness we could delect in the Palmer family. We hope to
go back someday and we hope Mrs. Palmer will still have supervision in the dining room.
* * •
At Perue we met three delightful people, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Whitfield who operate the
Crystal theatre, and Colonel Tom Majors. We stayed up at Whit's delightful home and sat
on his front porch and visited with this couple until 1 a. m. before we had sense enough
to go back to our hotel and let those folks go to bed.
The next day Whit drove us down to Brownville. We wanted to go to Brownville
because that was the first town organized in Nebraska.
Brownville isn't what it used to be, it is but a faint shadow of its former greatness and
the shadow is liable to grow dimmer as time goes on. This historic town is located on
the banks of the Missouri river and there has been built on its once main street a stone
monument with a tablet which marks the spot where the first company of Nebraska
soldiers was formed for the Civil War.
Colonel T. J. Majors was the Colonel of Nebraska's first regiment, as we understand it,
and the Brownville company was a part of his regiment. The Colonel has long since
retired and is spending his declining days in his delightful residence in Perue. We met
the Colonel at a Nebraska picnic at Tucson, Ariz., last winter and were most delighted to
call on him at his home in Perue. The Colonel and the writer occupied seats in many a
state convention in the days agone when we thought that unless our parly was successful
the country was on the down grade to ruin, but we have come to learn that the old Ship
of State still sails on no matter what the political complexion of the Skipper on the bridge
might be. Yes, we are glad we went to Perue, yes we are, darned if we ain't.
* * *
A few evenings ago we saw a picture. We wouldn't mention the fact only since seeing
it we have been in hopes that somebody would start another war and that some actors and
actresses and a director or two might be drafted. We are not going to tell you what picture
{Continued on next page)
Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111. — Small
town patronage.
STOP THAT MAN: Arthur Lake— The scenario
department didn't have to stay up all night writing
thifi one. Suitable for children up to 16. Too silly
for anyone older than that. However, Universal
always did make pictures sviitable for the mentality
of a 10 year old child. Guess they figure we never
grow up. Six reels. — ^P. G. Vaughn, Sun theatre,
Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.
THANKS FOR THE BUGGY RIDE: X^ura La
Plante — ^August 7. Not much to this picture. No
business and part of those that came left before
the picture was through. Six reels. — Mrs. 0. Knox,
Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111. — Small town patron-
age.
TRICK OF HEARTS: Hoot Gibson— August 4.
Very silly, poor picture, but it got the Gibson fans
and they didn't kick so why should I? Six reels. —
Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111.—
Small town patronage.
has turned out for some time. Guess Uncle Carl
is beginning to make up on the C.S.C.— C. W.
Veseth, Palace theatre. Malta, Mont. — General
patronage.
THE CAT AND CANARY: Laura La Plante—
Played this late, but it went over to big business.
If you have paseed this up pick it up as it is a
very good mystery picture and much better than
the average of that type. Nine reels. — A. J. Saes,
Star theatre. Willow Springs, Mo. — Small town
patronage.
THE FLYIN' COWBOY: Hoot Gibson— Good for
Saturdays. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. —
General patronage.
A HERO FOR A NIGHT; Glenn Tryon— Airplane
comedy, slapstick style. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre,
Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
LOVE ME AND THE WORLD IS MINE: Special
cast — August 1-2. I bought this picture for a special
and gave just three times more than I pay for
program pictures, and found I had bought just a
very ordinary program picture. I sure got gypped on
this one as the salesman sold it to me for more
money than I sold it to the public. Seven reels. —
Warner Bros.
ONE ROUND HOGAN: Monte Blue— 50%. Au-
gust 11. Have just begun to use Blue this sum-
mer and my patrons like him fine. A snappy ring
drama with a good story and enough action to
please a Saturday night crowd. Seven reels. — G. B.
Orne, Richmond theatre, Richmond, Vt. — General
patronage.
FIVE AND TEN CENT ANNIE: Pazenda-Cooke
— 30%. August 10. Not 60 bad, not so good. Just
an ordinai-y picture that got by fairly well. Five
reels. — G. B. Orne, Richmond theatre, Richmond, Vt.
— General patronaeg.
HILLS OF KENTUCKY; Rin "Hn Tin— 21%.
August 3-4. Best Rin Tin Tin picture we have run
yet and they are always good so don't be afraid to
run this one. Little late to run it, but when they
are good we should always play them if we get
good print. Seven reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal thea-
tre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
Miscellaneous
DUGAN OF THE DUGOUT; Paulino Garon—
55%. August 4. Here is a real comedy and one
that will please to the utmost. Unusual comedy
and good story. Well acted. You won't go wrong
on this. Only objection is war angle. Army pic-
tures are okey if they are "unhooked" from war
connection. Six reels. — John W. Crabtree, Joyland
theatre. Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
THE OLD CODE: Special cas1^50%. Au^st 1-2.
A picture taken from James Oliver Curwood's story
of the North. Went over very well with my crowd.
Story fair, photography excellent, acting fair. A
good program picture of it's kind. Six reels. — John
W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark. — Gen-
eral patronage.
STACKED CARDS: Fred Church— 40%. August 3.
Didn't see this but my little boy said, "Nothin' to
holler over," so I presume it wasn't. A fellow is
wasting time and money playing unknown "off
brand" stars and productions when known stars
from known companies cost but little more. — John
W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark. — Gen-
eral patronage.
Serials
BLAKE OF SCOTLAND YARD (Universal):
Have just finished this serial. It proved a mighty
good box office attraction during all twelve weeks.
Book iti— Isabelle M. Arquette, Town Hall, Parish-
ville, N. Y.— Small town patronage.
BLAKE OF SCOTLAND YARD (Universal):
This serial seems to draw the kiddies but the adult
patronage has fallen off since starting this one. —
C. W. Veseth, Palace theatre, Malta, Mont. — (Jen-
eral patronage.
THE GOLDEN STALLION (Universal): A very
good serial for rural communities. Plenty of action,
good story and will pull. Two reels. — G. B. Orne,
Richmond theatre, Richmond, Vt. — General patron-
age.
THE SILENT FLYER (Universal) : Opened last
week to a very nice business. This serial looks like
the goods. — E. W. Greene, Star theatre, Constable-
ville, N. Y. — General patronage.
THE YELLOW CAMEO (Pathe) : Allene Ray-
Starts out like a considerable improvement over the
last two or three Pathe serials which we have
found very disappointing as to audience reaction.
"The Masked Menace," "The Man Without a Face"
and "Mark of a Frog" all seemed to be cut from
the same pattern — the dull monotony of the same
kind of pursuits, captures, escapes and stereotyped
thrill episode endings, without a particle of comedy
for relief. The latter has seemed to us to be one
of the most necessary elements to make a serial en-
tertaining and has been entirely lacking. What is
the reaction of other exhibitors? — C. M. Stades,
August 25, 1928
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
65
Y. M. C. A. theatre, Morenci, Ariz. — General pat-
ronage.
Short Subjects
COLUMBIA
EASY STREET: Charles Chaplin-^ust another
of Chaplin's comedies that did not look funny to us
only in one spot and that's all. Two reels. — Rudolf
Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General pat-
ronage.
WORKING WINNIE: Perry Winkle— An honest
to goodiiess two reels of fun. This one has Chaplin's
claeeics beat 50 miles and that's going some. I
will take Perry anytime instead of Charley. Two
reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. —
General patronage.
EDUCATIONAL
LISTEN SISTER: Lupino Lane— Fine comedy
that made them laugh till they couldn't laugh any
more, so must have pleased them this time. Two
reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. —
General patronage.
QUEENS WILD: Jack Miller— Fine comedy but
not so very many laughs so it passed fair. Two
reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.—
General patronage.
RACING MAD: At St. John— Very funny and
exciting comedy. Two reels. — P. G. Vaughn, Siun
theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.
SCARED SILLY: Just silly all the way through
and the spooks have anything beat on the screen
today. Two reels. — ^Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
THREE TOUGH ONIONS: Monte Collins— A good
Oameo comedy. One reel. — P. G. Vaughn, Sun thea-
tre, Kansas City, Mo. — General (patronage.
UP IN ARMS; One of the best comedies we have
played in a year. Two reels.— Bert Silver, Silver
Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
FBO
HEAVY INFANTS: Three Fat Men— Not so good
as some of their others. Guess folks are tiring of
their same old stuff.— G. B. Orne. Richmond theatre,
Richmond, Vt.— General patronage.
HELEN OF TROY. N. Y.: Cooke-Guard— Oood
two reeler. Plenty of fun and all to ourselves. No
business against tentshow. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba,
Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.— General patronage.
FOX
FOX ANIMAL: Run very good. Better than av-
erage. Two reels. — G. B. Orne, Richmond theatre,
Richmond, Vt.— General patronage.
OLD WIVES WHO KNEW: Just a comedy. Two
reels.- Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre. Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
CRAZY HOUSE: Our Gang— This is a dandy with
a whiz bang ending. Play it. Two reels. — S. B.
Kennedy, General theatre, Selkirk, Man. — Small town
patronage.
THE CZARINA'S SECRET: Photography and
staging beautiful as are all the "Great Events," but
this one seems to lack the sort of story interest that
would iplease the crowd. Two reels. — C. M. Staples,
Y. M. C. A. theatre, Morenci, Ariz. — General patron-
age.
THE FAMILY GROUP: Charlie Chase— Good.
Two reels.— C. M. Staples. Y. M. C. A. theatre,
Morenci, Ariz. — General patronage.
THE FAMILY GROUP: Charlie Chase— A weak
sister, conipared to the rest of this series. Too much
of the same thing for two reels. Two reels. — P. G.
Vaughn, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General pat-
ronage.
LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING: A knockout. Two
reels. — C. M. Staples, Y. M. C. A. theatre, Morenci,
Ariz.— General patronage.
PARAMOUNT
FIGHTING FANNY: A very fair funny comedy.
Two reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
PARAMOUNT NEWS: The finest and classiest
news out, and furnished as bought, not a couple of
weeks older.- — G. B. Orne, Richmond theatre, Rich-
mond, Vt. — General patronage.
SHORT SOCKS: Bobby Vernon — ^Another good
Paramount comedy. Two reels. — ^Mrs. Hulda J.
Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General pat-
Tonage.
PATHE
A BLONDE'S REVENGE: Ben Turpin— Good.
Two reels. — ^Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre,
Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
{Continued from preceding page)
it was nor who made it because the Branch Manager who circulates it is a good friend
of ours and might get sore about it, but they are all good friends of ours and therefore you
will be entitled to guess what picture it was.
After seeing this picture if we could be arrested and convicted for what we think, the
Jailer's grandchildren would be asking grandpa what they were keeping that old man in
there so long for. It is said that the world hates a kicker, and we are not .-strong for 'em
ourself, but you remember what Patrick Henry did, and what a rumpus he kicked up, and
you no doubt recall when Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked the lamp over in Chicago and started
a smudge that kiUed every mosquito around Lake Michigan and ran all the rats out of
the basement at 407 South Dearborn street (we saw that fire, and it was a himidinger) and
the main reason for mentioning this is to prove to you that Pat and Mrs. O'Leary were
Irish, and whenever you want something started just call on the Irish, and if
you don't think they can start things just try rubbing the fur the wrong way on
Frank O'Hara's back and see what happens. We are not Irish, but we are Welsh, and
that's probably a whole lot worse. Anyhow, we want you to know, Gertie dear, that nor-
mally we are not a kicker, that we have the sweetest and most angelic disposition of any
guy who ever allowed you to steer the flivver off the main road and step on the brake.
Speaking gastronomically (as Thomas O. Service would say) we are very fond of dill
pickles, and occasionally when we overindulge in those delicacies we are apt to have a
sour stomach, at which times we are willing to admit that we are not so prone to try to
prove to you that you are the first, and only, girl we ever loved, and this will probably
convince you, Gertie, that we have been eating dill pickles. Our only excuse for writing
about this picture is to fill space, for if we don't fill just so much space each week Jay
will put us on a diet of icicles with salt and pepper on 'em. But getting back to that
picture. We sat through the first reel and then bought a sack of popcorn, after the second
spool we went out and bought us a bromo selzer, but when they unwound the third
skein and the Undertaker started carrying 'em out we didn't care whether the ship went
down or not, in fact we were rather in hopes it would. We won't teU you what picture
it was but if you can guess it we will send the HERALD- WORLD to you free of charge
for two years, and so that you may have something to base your guess on we will say
that it was that picture where the hero had the shero wrapped in his arms and was kissing
her for the last 400 feet of film while the flappers in the audience held their breath until
two of 'em choked to death, you remember the picture, don't you Gertie?
« * •
Auburn has two theatres, one in operation and the other in process of construction. Both
wiU be operated by Mr. Bennett of the Bennett Amusement Company. Auburn might be
able to scratch up 3000 people but it is doubtful, possibly 3500 at the most, and yet there
is to be the third theatre built in the to'wn. Auburn is too far from Hastings.
« * «
We have had the pleasure of another visit with our old friend J. F. Mullin who operates
the Electric theatre. We assume from the name that J. F. is Irish, and we assume also, from
the pleasant way he greets the folks that he is one of Nebraska's most popular theatre men,
his business shows that, and we assume also that J. F. meant it when he urged us to come
and see him everytime we were in this neighborhood, which we expect to do.
« * «
We were invited out to dinner this evening to the home of Arthur J. Weaver, Republican
candidate for Governor. We didn't talk politics much, in fact one can't talk much politics
and do justice to Mrs. Weaver's dinner at the same time. After dinner we took a spin
around town with Mrs. Weaver at the wheel and during the drive Art brought up the sub-
ject of politics. We told Art that we weren't much of a politician but since our grand-
father, Mitchel Robinson, was one of the committee that met under the Oaks at Jackson,
Mich., and helped form the Republican party we still felt qualified to mark an intelligent
ballot after we got into the booth and that we hoped to be in the state on election day.
We don't know where he got the idea but he accused us of being a Republican.
If * «
When they put Lionel Barrymore, May McAvoy, William Collier Jr. and Alec Francis,
four well known stars, in an old classic like "The Lion and the Mouse" there is just one
result, a full house with a lot of folks standing outside, and that's what happened tonight
at the Rivoli. Possibly the popularity of Glen Carver, the manager, had something to do
with it, anyhow, that helped some, but when those four stars don't pull 'em in its time
to call the Sexton and order crepe.
Tomorrow we are going to bid the United States goodby and go into Kansas. Kansas is
where the sunflowers and ragweeds grow and we will bet four dollars against a bull pup
that we'll get the hay fever within the next 10 days. Wire us a remedy for hay fever.
/. C. JENKINS,
The HERALD-WORLD Man.
DO DETECTIVES THINK: A good slap stick
comedy. Two reels. — ^Bert Silver, Silver Family thea-
tre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
UNIVERSAL
ANY OLD COUNT: Fair comedy. Two reels.—
Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
BUSTER'S WHIPPET RACE: Buster Brown— A
sad attempt by Universal to make a Gang comedy.
We need soime new faces and different types of
comedies from Universal or the C. S. C. is going to
be a cataistrophe with the same old line. Give us
more cartoons in place of this two reel stuff that
isn't funny. Two reels. — C. W. Veeeth, Palace thea^
tre, Malta, Mont. — General patronage.
A FULL HOUSE: These Jones' are the bunk in
this town. Nothing to talk about at all. Two reels.
— Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — Gen-
eral patronage.
HIGH AND MIGHTY: Puffy— Very ordinary single
reel. One reel. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre,
Selkirk, Man. — Small town patronage.
SOCIAL LYONS: Ben Hall-^ust a thousand feet
of nothing. One reel. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D.- — ^General patronage.
THEY CALL IT LOVE: Edwards— Not a bad
single reel. One reel. — S. B. Kennedy, Central thea-
tre, Selkirk, Man. — Small town patronage.
MISCELLANEOUS
LARRY SEMON COMEDIES: These old Vitagraph
comedies pleased my patrons and they can be bought
right. Good prints out of Albany. — G. B. Orne,
Richmond theatre, Richmond, Vt. — General patron-
age.
66
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
August 25, 1928
^^^
CHICAGO PERSONALITIES
THE United Artists theatre seems to be the principal sufferer from the
Movietone installers' aversion to this newest of the labor-saving devices.
Other houses are not putting the contraption in, of course, but B. & K.
succeeded in getting the men to finish installations in the Chicago, Uptown,
and Tivoli, under a 24-hour agreement which the management of the U. A.
house knew nothing about.
As to what it's all about, those "in the know" sum the walkout up as a mani-
festation of the fact that labor is "agin" the thing. The results, if any, will be
fully given in some forthcoming issue, if at all.
CHICAGO is manifesting interest of the
record-breaking variety in "Lights of
New York." This fact may not be of such
tremendous significance to the industry at
large, inasmuch as Chicago is merely the
third or fourth city of the world and has
only four or five million people in its metro-
politan territory. However, Midwestern
money is legal tender, so Warner Brothers
are to be congratulated on the success of the
first all-talking picture at B & K's compara-
tively small McVickers, where the production
grossed $48,000 in the first week of its run,
breaking all records for that house, which
just before had played Fox's "Street Angel"
to enormous business, and has numbered
among its attractions the departed but never-
to-be-forgotten Paul Ash.
Among those present among us this week
is "Our Gang" — and this being the city it is,
perhaps one should add that the gang men-
tioned is Hal Roach's bunch of comedy kids.
M G M staged a suitable reception for them
last Friday, when they arrived for an engage-
ment at the Chicago theatre. Max Schzvartz,
who was one of the reception committee, re-
ports that Joe Cobb was the most readily
identified by the Chicago kids who came to
greet the gang, while Farina was at once
sought out by the representatives of the Negro
newspapers.
* :■( H^
Jerry Abrams of the Gotham exchange,
who has the local territorial distribution rights
to the Tunney-Heeney fight pictures, reports
that according to bookings, the public is still
refuting the government's persistent conten-
tion that it is not interested in fight pictures.
Marks Brothers is presenting them at its
two deluxe neighborhood houses this week.
i}c :(! ^
Mighty glad tidings of the week were those
concerning Walter Brown of F B O, who re-
cently suffered the bursting of a blood vessel
near an optic nerve. Physicians at first be-
lieved that the sight of the affected eye would
be entirely and permanently destroyed, but
Walt states that the vision is gradually re-
turning and that the medicos expect it to be
completely restored.
^ i{; siJ
E. M. Saunders, M G M Western sales man-
ager, was in town a few days last week, ar-
riving from the East.
* * *
An old theatrical landmark has disappeared
ORDER YOUR
PHOTOTONE
NOW
L. V. KUTTNAUER
845 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago, III. Harrison 0737
as a result of the construction of Paddy Har-
mon's huge sports arena. It is Aaron Saper-
stein's Lincoln theatre, located at 1846 West
Madison Street and one of the early picture
houses. It was dark for about a year prior
to its recent razing.
* * *
The F B O organization had an outing last
Saturday, going to Elgin for the afternoon.
Golf was on the schedule for the men, with
bridge and swimming slated to occupy the
feminine constituency.
H^ ^ ^
Many along the Row and elsewhere, will
be grieved to learn that John Wideman, aged
father of Allan Wideman, proprietor of the
Centennial theatre at Warsaw, Ind., died last
week.
H^ ^ ^
Charles Scribana, who has been operating
the Palais Royal, on Madison Street near
Ashland, has closed the house.
* * *
Peter Kalleres has just installed Photo-
tone in his Cosmo theatre at Gary, Indiana,
and Arthur Lugg has done likewise in his
Gem theatre at Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
L. V. Kuttnauer, who distributes Photo-
tone in Illinois, reports that more than 200
theatres throughout the country are already
equipped with this new musical device.
* * *
Incidentally — though importantly for Pathe
— Fitzpatrick & McElroy has closed for the
rooster brand of product. Butterfield, which
took over the F & E houses in Michigan, has
also contracted for the Pathe 1928-29 pro-
gram.
* * *
Have you a little bathing beauty contest in
your theatre? Maybe you haven't a theatre.
Nevertheless, the question seems to be inter-
esting most everybody these days — and bathing
suits being what they are, why shouldn't it?
But what we started out to say is that the
Northwest Side has stepped in line, the Cham-
ber of Commerce of that section having
sponsored a popularity and bathing beauty
contest in the business places. To what extent
the theatres are involved is not definitely
stated in our information. But beauty con-
tests being, according to one successful ex-
ploitation expert, the best theatrical publicity
stunt yet conceived, their logical place is in
the theatre.
* * *
The commuters — and otherwise — of Crystal
Lake will be able to view the not-so-silent
drama in a 1,000-seat theatre costing $165,000
after about next February, we learn. Local
business men have formed the Crystal Lake
Theatre Corporation, which will begin con-
struction of such a house the first of next
month. It will be of Spanish Mission archi-
tecture and decoration.
— G. S. (Batting for Whit.)
Talk About Talkies,
Then Mix With Mix
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 21.— Will
Morrissey and his wife were conEned
in the county jail Sunday night as a
result of altercation at their home
which is said to have resulted from
an argument with Tom Mix regard-
ing talking pictures. Mix is alleged
to have struck both Morrisseys when
he left the Morrissey home early
Sunday morning following a quarrel.
Morrissey is said to have claimed
that talking pictures would bring an
end to the popularity of Westerns.
Two warrants for Mix were issued.
Critic Is Dubious About
Stage Producers Filming
Their Plays with Sound
"If our throats must be cut, let's cut
them ourselves," are the words Ashton
Stevens, dramatic critic of the Chicago
Herald and Examiner, puts in the mouths of
the stage producers, to express their attitude
toward the rise of synchronized pictures. The
critic, writing in Sunday's issue, referred to
the statements of the stage men that they
might film their own plays with sound. And
Stevens is dubious about it, declaring:
"Owning and leasing theatres is a business,
ticket speculation is a business, printing the-
atre programs is a business, acting is a busi-
ness, but producing plays is just shooting
craps in a big way.
"I say, God help the producing manager
with his hunches and his hates when he goes
against the huge, impersonal and almost per-
fect machine — Business."
$5ft00 Sought in Suit
Charging Fall on Dark
Stairs Caused Injury
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., Aug. 21.— Charging
that she was injured January 13 when she
fell on a landing in the Blue Mouse theatre,
M. L. Smith today filed suit in circuit court
seeking damages of $5,478 from John Ham-
rick, operator of the theatre. The plaintiff
claimed the landing was not lighted and
that she did not see the step leading to it.
Frank Sells at Waterloo;
Opening York, Neb,, House
(Special to the Herald-World)
WATERLOO, IOWA, Aug. 21.— Alexander
Frank has sold his interest in the Plaza and
Rialto theatres here to the Waterloo Orpheum
Building Company. Early in September he
will open the $125,000 York theatre at York,
Neb., first of a chain of four to be built this
season in Nebraska cities of 6,000 to 15,000.
The 1,000-seat York theatre will have a full
stage and all modern improvements. It will
be wired for sound and will offer three acts
of vaudeville on Fridays and Saturdays and
dramatic stock every other Monday.
Actress Wed to Author
Efforts of Mrs. Carol Frink MacArthur
Chicago screen critic and former wife of
Charles G. MacArthur, playwright and author,
failed to prevent his marriage to Helen Hayes,
actress, in New York.
Designer in M G M Fold
NEW YORK. — Gilbert Adrian, style creator, has
joined the M G M organization and is designing
gowns for Greta Garbo in "A Woman of Affairs."
Recognizing the fact that changes
in method come in the splendid
advancement of the motion picture
industry, the Eastman Kodak Com-
pany continues its own forward
march and maintains its supremacy
in presenting to the trade
Eastman Panchromatic
Negative
Type 2
— a perfected^ proven product
for the cinematographer
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
. tJJJ"IL^_*;ii-*S4S!
jv^dss^
Hoifvarcl Haw^ks'
FAZIL
with
Charles Farrell
and
Greta Nissen
Knocked 'em cold
at
LOEW^S
WARFIELD
to the tune of the greatest week's
receipts ever obtained in any theatre in
SAN FRANCISCO
RE-LIVE THE DAYS OF '49
IN YOUR BOX-OFFICE
has the box-office
nuggets^get yours ▲
EXHIBITOM
"\ — w '\
LOUD SPEAKER
"Our
Dancing Daughters"^
with ravishing Joan
Crawford makes b.o. his-
tory in Syracuse, Baltimore,
etc. Sound or silent it's
the loud speaker
for Septem-
ber!
in
M-G-M
Hal Roach comedies
for new season greater
than ever. Plus sound!
M-G-M Movietone News
in preparation. Laugh
those off!
The
industry marvels at
M-G-M sound progress.
Sound studios East and
West. Broadway's biggest
acts in M-G-M Movietone.
Shorts and features
in sound all set
to go!
M-G-M
line-up for new
season is talk of the in-
dustry. "Excess Baggage,"
"Our Dancing Daughters"
— and Lon Chaney in
"While the City Sleeps"
are just appe-
tizers!
The
outstanding business
is being done by M-G-M.
"Mysterious Lady"(Garbo)
"Four Walls" (Gilbert) each
held over 2 weeks at Capitol.
Marion Davies in "Card-
board Lover" another
riot! Hot damn!
THE LION ROARS!
ETRO-GOLDWYN-MAY
50LDWY\^
^. J^
Sole Vol. 92 No 9<'Vol ^4 Nn 1?"» ^S^"^^^ r?\f-^i''^^''^^'^^u, "'""/J:; August 20, 1917, at the Post Office at Chicago. III., under the act of March J, c . i , ,noo
wuie TUi. ;>£., i^v. g v^voi. jn, no. IC) is/9. Published weekly at 407 South Dearborn St.. Chicago. Subscription S^.OO a year_^ Sh<:^jopies._2i_cents\ aeptembcM^ 1928
BB
tueTOILEWJ*
/
I
TIFF<lNy-</>Tfll-IL PRODUCTION</> IMC.
1^40 BRO^lDV^y
MEW yoi^K ciT.y
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 3
Fm proud
to lie In tlie
wleture bni^lnei^i^
^ I'm proud because this business, and this
business only, can produce a masterpiece of
entertainment like "THE PATRIOT" and give
it to the millions of the earth for their delight.
^ I'm proud because my industry can earn words
of praise like this for one of its products :
"A trio of geniuses have evolved a cinema
masterpiece. Jannings, Lubitsch and Stone.
I It is the perfect film of 1928. Out of fairness
to the cinema industry you owe it to yourself
to see The Patriot' ". —N. Y. Daily News
"You who make it a point to keep lists of the
year's greatest pictures, just chalk down 'The
Patriot', for there'll be few screen plays this
season which will surpass it". — N. Y. Eve. World
\ ''One of the finest things we have seen on the
I
n:
screen m many years «
-Brooklyn Eagle
"A magnificent motion picture. Nothing can
rob The Patriot' of its place in the all-too-
limited category of great and permanent mo-
tion pictures
— Film Daily
"For absorbing acting and direction, don't
miss seeing The Patriot'.— iV. Y. Eve. Journal
'^'The Patriot' should be remembered when
all the so-called bonder-pictures' are forgot-
ten. It is magnificent".
— Exhibitor^s Daily Review
/
If-
K
?■«*'
■^
Macker/' etc.
<
life ^r'.t.^^to
'-^ , fe^iM-
Stomng H
NATAUE KINGSTON
and FRANK MERRIXX
Directed by Jack NelsoR
%.
^iVSiMCCi
J
%\
>o
^•<s. J" jT ^
'*^ \
■^-. -#^
UM^,
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
^y^fteT%p
BIG BOY
in
^'Hot Luck
ft
What a kid! And what
a comedy! It will set
any audience oh fire
with enthusiasm.
TKe stveetest sound of all to tke sKoivman's
ears is tke roof-raising lau^k of a crotvdled
house. Sygv^eet sounds, too, are tlie "ol&s" and
"aks" krou^kt ky a kreatk-taking tkrill.
Tkousands of skoivnien kave keen ^ettin^
tkese sy^eet sounds— and sweet profits— ^«vitk
Educational Pictures for more tkan
ei^kt years. Tkis year tkere ivill ke anotker
REED HOWES
"The Sky Ranger'
The first of the new" Russ
Farrell, Aviator" group. A
half hour of high adven-
ture and romance.
That rare asset, a beautiful girl
who can be really funny.
(f^^dcuUxUcnaJ U uZuajU-^
■, <V
-THE SPICE OFTHE PROGRAM"
'TROUBLES GALORE"
with Monty Collins ''
CAAIEO COMEDIES
These Cameo Comedies have been unfailingly hitting
the ball for many seasons. And Collins is one of the
most promising of the younger comedians.
Lyman H. Howe's
HODGE-PODGE
Boasts more ideas to the foot than
any other release on the market.
MEMBER , MOTION PICTURE PROPOCERS
^*^-^--
1
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
"CALL
YOUR
SHOTS"
with
Al St. John
JMERMAID
COMEDIES
Faster and funnier
than ever ! And
MERMAIDS have
for years been the
most consistent of
all fast action com-
edies.
=C\3=
KINOGRAMS
Twice-a-week NEWS
Enthusiasm in the young and vigorous
Kinograms staff is reflected in consis-
tent service and ranking quaHty.
.AND DISTRIBWTORS OF AME.RICA .Inc. WILL H-HAYX. ^/J^S'/^^'VTr
GIRLIES BEHAVE"
with
Jerry Drew
IDE/iL COMEDIES
Motion Picture News says of Drew :
"He is a comer . , . and he gives every
assurance that his new series, the
Ideal Comedies, will swing the laugh
pendulum vigorously."
^^^a^
kii&d of soand witkEDUCATIONAL PICTURES.
For Educational, of course, will lead tke
-way in siync]ironi;Ked[ SKort Features. But,
first of all. Educational Pictures will be
tke hest pictures in tke short subject field.
Look over tkis line-up tkat begins tke season.
Tkey'U krin^ to your ears tine sweetest sound
of all!
LUPINO LANE
in
"Pirates Beware"
A comedy masterpiece be-
ginning another group of
splendid burlesques by
the greatest of all two -
reel comedy stars.
J
"WEDDED BLISTERS"
with Wallace Lupino
TUXEDO COMEDIES
A new angle on the old mother-in-
law triangle that will make'em
howl with glee. And a fine new
comedy star revealed!
EDUCATIONAL
FILM EXCHANGES, Inc.
TfT
10
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
Warning !
The Name Vitaphone is a registered
Trade Mark owned exclusively by The
Vitaphone Corporation, which is owned
One Hundred per cent by Warner Bros.
Pictures, Inc.
No one is permitted to use the word
"Vitaphone" except in connection with
the product leased from The Vitaphone
Corporation or Warner Bros. Pictures,
Inc.
Anyone using the name Vitaphone in
any other connection infringes this Trade
Mark and will be proceeded against ac-
cordingly.
THE VITAPHONE CORPORATION.
H. M. WARNER,
President.
i^
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
11
CLASS OF SERVICE
SYMBOL
Day Message
Day Letter
Bhie
Night Meesage
Ntte
Night Letter
NL
H none d theee three eymtwls
aopears after the cheek (number of
words) this la a day mesaage. Other-
wise Its character is Indicated l>y the
•ymiMl appearing after the check.
WEST^iK. UNION
AM
TVnnl201
N8WOOMB CARLTON. nwsiocNT
OeOROE W. E. ATKINS. nitBT VICK-MtCSIOCMT
CLASS OF SERVICE
Day Mastage
Day Letter
WIQHt W6mfl6
SYMBOL
Blue
Nlla
WlflhtLetter ^W L
If nona of these three ayinbola
appears after the check (numlMr of
words) tttels a davmes8age.0thefw
wise tocharacter ts!indiGaled by tha
syrobol appearing after tha chadb
RECEIVED AT
1928 AUG 9 PM 6 43
NA 75 37 - DETROIT, MICH 9 608P
GOLVIN BROWN,
PATHE EXCHANGE, INC., 35 W. 45th ST. ^
DELIGHTED TO ADVISE YOU THAT WILLIAM BOYD IN THE GOP AT
CAPITOL THEATRE PLAYED TO MJD SEASON BUSINESS IN HOTTEST
WEATHER OF SUMMER STOP PICTURE GREATLY PLEASED ALL PATRONS
STOP HOPE HIS NEXT PRODUCTION IS AS GOOD.
GEO W. TRENDLE
WHEN SHOWMEN TURN
PRESS AGENTS
IT MUST BE PATHOS YEAR
s
'''*ADe M^**
^mmFmmmmmm
Pathe's
PICTURES
OF MONTH
James R. Quirk, Editor of Photoplay, gives Pathe' top
honors in ^""The Best Pictures of the Month." 6 Winners
selected. 2 OuT Of Six, Pathe' Hits— 4 for all other com-
panies combined— "CraiG'S Wife" and "POWER" chosen
from hundreds of films as supreme entertainment.
Critics^ Editors^ Showmen and the Public are all in favor
of the Pathe^ Platform— Super Pictures plus Super Service.
n\
I
new program clicks
Two of the season's big ones pass critical
test and walk away with first honors on
Photoplays' s list of best pictures of month.
^WIILIAM BOYD
i
IN
POWER
with JAQUELINE LOGAN and ALAN HALE
**'T^HIS picture is classed as one of the best of the month for no par-
A ticular reason except that it keeps you laughing throughout.
Bill Boyd again appears as a humanly humorous smart aleck,
which seems to be the type the public demands of him. This time
Boyd and Alan Hale are teamed as 'Hwo-fisted workers on both dams
and feminine hearts." They swing back and forth over the highest
dam in the world without the bat of an eye, but when the girl "look-
ing for 'clucks' with loose jack" comes to town, they fall like weak-
lings and are both duped by the same gold-digger.
Jaqueline Logan very capably plays this girl of "Quaker mien and
crafty heart." There are thrilling fights and near-accidents, but the
picture is essentually a comedy." Photoplay
CRAIG S WIFE
with IRENE RICH
and WARNER BAXTER
*'^|7ILLIAM DEMILLE gives a brilliant picturization of a Broadway
»» success, completely avoiding spectacular melodrama and forced
situations. It starts quietly enough, but with a sure, smooth tempo,
builds to a tensely dramatic finish. The director has surpassed him-
self in his unique power to portray the intrinsic drama of the ordi-
nary human frailties.
Irene Rich, as a woman who married wisely, but too well, has a
rare opportunity to show her gift for intimate characterization.
Warner Baxter plays the role of the slightly henpecked gentleman
with marvelous sympathy and restraint. A simple story, yet its
handling makes it drama of the highest order." Photoplay
A Ralph Block Production
Story and continuity by Tay Garnett
Directed by Howard Higgin
A WILLIAM C. DEMILLE
Production
Adapted by Clara Beranger
from the stage play by George Kelly
Pathe (#) Pic tu re s
'■'MOE M^*''"
I
14
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
I
WARNER BROS.
PICTURES, Inc.
NOT FOR SALE!
Do not be \
misled
by what
sales-
men for
other
companies
may
tell you!
Our
Product
will
only be
sold
through our own
sales organiza-
tion.
W E HAVE felt greatly flattered by the
^ many reports that have filled the press
regarding the sale of Warner Bros, and
Vitaphone, Inc. to other organizations.
All this has emphasized Warner Bros, out-
standing leadership. For it is obvious that
people do not seek to buy failures.
However we feel that this institution is
much more than a personal business. You
have had a vital part in creating Warner
Bros, success. And this we recognize as an
obligation not to be lightly cast aside.
As we did not fail you in the days of strug-
gle, we WILL NOT fail you in the days of
success. Therefore to all who are in any
way concerned, we wish to say emphati-
cally and publicly —
WARNER BROS. PICTURES, Inc.
and VITAPHONE CORPORA-
TION ARE NOT FOR SALE.
August 24, 1928
WARNER BROS. PICTURES, Inc.
By H. M. WARNER, President
Why^*^"^^
flockingto
LS amuel
Torgan
L
lUCL
»"•»,
ro
"e^v
•^'xo
"Ou„
"^ '•" *. Or ,
''''m^,''"^^y""^^ for .
^ ^^«M959 ou7^**io«e ,ri^"*^«ecj ff *^ to
-""Ml,
^^^^^
*^We cannot reconcile ourselves to the belief that 'we
could further our interests • • • "without the aid of such
box office stimulants as the ne^w FOX productions*'
Another shreivd sfao'winaii books FOX 100% — Another sho^rman
ivho knows iw^ho has the jump on everybody in sight and sound
has €9 $2 Specials
^^ Ready
for your prosperity M^
Ne»
.▼
f
^hese SIX Specials with the Marvelous Photophone
'The Perfect Crime'
Clive Brook, Irene Rich
Story by William he Baron
Directed by Bert Glennon
'HIT OF the show
Ralph Ince Production
with Gertrude Olmsted and
Joe E. Brown
'GANGWAR'
Olive Borden, Jack Pickford
Directed by Bert Glennon
"BLOCKADE"
Starring Anna Q. Nihson
Directed by George B. Seitz
'THE CIRCUS KID'
Frankie Darro, Helene Costello,
Joe E. Brown, Poodles Hanneford,
Directed by George B. Seitz
Chester CONKLIN
"TAXI 13
Marshall Neilan Production
»
I
erne
Six great Special Attractions...
two of which are ready now....
will comprise FBO's program of
sound and dialogue productions
for 1928-29.
These have been and will con-
tinue to be synchronized by the
miraculous RCA Photophone-—
conceded the best of all motion
picture sound devices.
TOPHONE
W
The gigantic linking of FBO Master
Showmanship with the mighty scientific
and industrial organizations that stand
behind PHOTOPHONE is of deepest
significance to showmen everywhere.
Communicate at once with your nearest FBO
Exchange and obtain complete details of the FBO
SYNCHRONIZED PHOTOPHONE pictures.
V
'e^Z^^>^
'^e t'J^^^
^^3;;l5 ^e
*fesss,.
Ecnr «ie mst tiine (m ai^ scteea -
Colleen as a switnmev
CoUeen as a Imiglar
Colleen as a paifbr maid
CdHeen as a^'lai- V
cyVow, while the country is ringing
with praise of her performance in
"Lilac Time", you can give them—
Ifew and Di^^^eid^
1
Scfnario by
A R E Y
in L S O N
Directed hv
MERVYN
L E R O Y
COUXEM HG9RE S
Presented by JOHN NcCORNICK
A carnival of comedy from one
of the biggest musical comedy
successes Broadway has ever known
Gut it today frovn
FIRST NATIONIiL
f
\
With Dorothy Nac-
kaillf Ralph Forbes^
Anna Q. Nilssonr
Lowell /herman. A
Charles J. Brabin
Production.* Pre-
sented by Richard
A . Rowland.
All the thrills of horse racing
In a ding-dong battle down the
stretch! 1 * U*
separate big scenes in.
one — ""^ "^^
special^
notional
Pictures
mm
■MffMHHkktflM
^
■T'5 GOT EVERYTHING includinq SOUND
Whether if out- theatre is Wired or not -^—
riQN PICTURES
are a bOUND investment /
Y^
The
Independent
Film Trade
Paper
Home
Office:
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
^ MOVING PICTURE 407So.DearbomSt.
WORLD ~"
IN THIS ISSUE
Musicians at Saenger theatre in New Orleans strike in sympathy with organists at Tudor, remodeled
with sound equipment; Stagehands at Loew's State quit work; Complete tieup September 1 is pre-
dicted ; Installations at score of houses in Indiana are delayed by walkout of electrical workers ; Chi-
cago union demands minimum of six musicians and organists in addition be employed in non-deluxe
theatres showing synchronized pictures.
COMPLETE INDEX TO CONTENTS
NEWS
Law barring minors from theatres in Quebec is killed as exhib-
itor is granted writ preventing prosecution — Toronto showmen
form cooperative buying association.
Exhibitor rescues Indian tribe from extinction and is made agent
for red men — Final Fox-Poli papers are signed.
European exhibitors organize to contest U. S. film control — Simon
Legree is transformed into Northerner so picture can show in
Dallas.
Canadian buying is not affected by sound; Slow at St. Louis —
Four Gregory & Bernasek theatres in Chicago are added to
chain operated by receiver.
DEPARTMENTS
Synchronized Pictures 37
The Studio 41
Short Features 45
Presentation Acts 46
The Theatre 53
Classified Advertising 59
What the Picture Did for Me 61
Chicago Personalities 66
FEATURES
Service Talks by T. 0. Service 52
Los Angeles by Douglas Hodges 42
Pictorial Section 31
Letters from Readers 60
Quick Reference Picture Chart 55
Broadway 26
ADVERTISEMENTS
FILM AND EQUIPMENT— M G M, Tiffany-Stahl, Paramount,
Fox, Universal, Educational, Columbia, Pathe, United Artists,
F B 0, Warner Brothers, First National, Charles Lamont, George
Sidney, John Stone, Victor Schertzinger, Alfred E. Green, Auto-
matic Ticket Register, Eastman Kodak, Vitaphone.
PRESENTATIONS— Maxwell and Lee, McNeil Smith, Ulderico
Marcelli, Milton Slosser, Bob Billings, Ramon Berry, Sunshine
Sammy, Henri A. Keates, Brooks, Costumes, Ransley Studios,
Jack Martin, Lew White.
CBICACO
407 South Dearborn St. Telephones Harrison 0036-S7-33
Cable Address : Qnigpubco
EDWIN S. CXIFFORD, Genvral Manager
JAT M. SHRECK, Maaaging Editor
CEOBCE CLIFFORD, Business Manager
E3U«B9T A. ROVELSTAD, JVeics Editor
LOS ANCELES
'5617 Hollywood Bird. Telephone Gladstone S7S4
DOUGLAS BODGES
ITest Coast Manager
EDITORIAL
AND
ADVERTISING
OFFICES
NEW YORK
565 Fifth Avenue Telephones Vanderbilt 3612-36<13
JAMES BEECROFT, Nea York Advertising Manager
PKl'EU VISCBESt, New York Editor
LONDON
THE BIOSCOPE
(J. Caboum, Editor)
Faraday House
8-10 Charing Cross Rd., W. C. 2
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: United States and possessions — $3.00 per year, Canada — $4.50 per year. Other points of the world — $6.00 per year. Single copias, 25 eonu.
Advertising rate cards and Audit Bureau of Circulations statements furnished upon application.
22
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS ,
HERALD
ali
i MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Martin J. Quigley, PublishercS^Editoir
Incorporating Exhibitors Herald, founded in 191S; Moving Pic-
TUBi World, founded in 1907; Motography, founded in 1909; and
The Film Index, founded in 1909
Published Every Wednesday by
Quigley Publishing Company
Publication Office: 407 So. Dearborn St., CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Martin J. Quigley, President
Edwin S. Clifford, Secretory Geobge Clifforb, Asst. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulation*
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
AH editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other Publications: The Chicagoan and Polo, class journals; and the follow-
ing motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exhibitors
Herald and Moving Picture World: Better Theatsxs, every fourth weelc, and
The Buyers Index, published semi-annually.
Whole Vol. 92, No. 9 (Vol. 34, No. 12) September 1, 1928
"Don't Insist on Sounds'
RECENTLY we were present at a conference between
the head of an important theatre circuit and a group
of his executives. In this discussion of the existing situa-
tion with his associates this theatre owner very obviously
aimed primarily to still the apprehensions of his executives
and get them out of the somewhat confused state of mind
which seems to be affecting a considerable part of the
trade. The position assumed by this owner is worth noting
carefully.
In taking up the situation lightly he first assured his
men that there is certainly no cause to worry now that the
industry has at last attained his great objective; that is,
that it has finally gotten on a sound basis. For a moment
it appeared as if he was simply going to join with Mr.
Hays in asking for "confidence and cooperation" but he
presently turned to the main import of his message, which
was as follows:
DON'T INSIST UPON SOUND PICTURES.
This owner frankly and fully recognizes the advent of
the sound picture and further recognizes the import of
this development as far as the future of motion picture
theatre entertainment is concerned. Rut with a shrewd
eye to the season at hand he — very wisely, we think — in-
sists that during the transformation in product which is
taking place the standard of entertainment which the
public has been accustomed to must be maintained and
that a good picture without sound will continue to hold a
most important position in the industry, at least during
the coming season if not indefinitely.
We think that no better or more timely advice could
be offered to buyers than not to insist upon sound pic-
tures. Novelty always has been and probably always will
be a great factor in the amusement business, but sound
pictures do not mean simply the introduction of a novelty;
they mean a radical transformation of the business from
one end to the other. This transformation cannot be ac-
complished in a week or a month and meanwhile the
public must be served and served in keeping with its
requirements.
Of course, it hardly need be mentioned that sound pic-
tures will be great attractions during the coming season.
A great public interest in these pictures is being created
and a buying public for them will be at hand. But sound
pictures cannot maintain attendance on novelty alone;
unless they amount to quality entertainment the exhibi-
tors' mad dash to obtain them will be a hollow victory.
And — it may be noted — there cannot possibly be more
than a limited quantity of meritorious sound pictures
available or showable during the coming season.
The point which we think should be most strongly em-
phasized is that exhibitors at this time should adopt a
policy which will save their business from serious dis-
turbance during the coming season. And such a policy is
contained in the advice: "Don't insist upon sound pic-
tures." Let them be used where facilities are available
and when they are of proper quality, but remember that
there will be plenty of unsynchronized product which will
maintain and build attendance and which must be used!
* -& *
Censors and Sound
MR. CHARLES C. PETTIJOHN, general counsel of
the Hays organization, made very plain in an ap-
pearance last week before the city council of Portland,
Ore., that the industry has some very positive ideas on the
subject of protecting itself against the extension of censor-
ship to the audible part of synchronized pictures.
There is no question that the politically entrenched
proponents of censorship will seek to have their say about
the spoken parts of sound pictures, but in doing this the\
are very likely to create a situation in which, if the in-
dustry properly handles its case, a widespread and per-
manent triumph over the whole matter of the censorship
evil may be realized.
It has been an unfortunate fact that throughout the
entire history of the censorship fight there have been cer-
tain elements among the exhibitors which have been either
lukewarm or plainly on the wrong side of the fence. It is
to be hoped that with the re-opening of the censorship
question, which is certain to be precipitated by the
sound picture, the entire body of exhibitors will show
an united front, lining up with whatever other efforts
the industry may be able to put forth to down censorship
once and for all time.
Exhibitors may be warned that as bad as has been the
censorship annoyance and evil with the silent picture it
is bound to be many times worse with the sound picture
— in annoyance and in actual loss.
IN a number of irresponsible quarters in the industry
there is a lot of ridiculous talk going on about tele-
vision and the new evil for the trade that it is supposed to
represent. It does seem that in practically any quarter of
the industry at this time there are enough grounds for
worry about real and existing problems to leave no room
for this type of ghosting.
\ GRAPHIC illustration of the confused state of mind
l\ that exists here and there in the trade on the subject
of sound pictures may be seen in a recent advertisement
of one of the film companies in which, on a single page,
the company both announced a new sound picture and
warned against sound pictures.
* «• *
MR. JOSEPH M. SCHENCK insists upon making the
record clear as to his position on sound pictures.
Again, upon his return from abroad, he re-stated his posi-
tion that dialogue must be a handicap and not an ad-
vantage to pictures. It may be, after all, that Mr. Schenck's
position is really similar to that of Mr. Jesse L. Lasky who
remarked his regret that sound had not awaited the com-
ing of the next generation as he had found the silent pic-
ture alone quite troublesome enough without the added
complication of synchronization.
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
New Orleans Musicians Out;
Stagehands Also Quit Work
Complete Tieup Threatened;
Indiana Installations Halted
Chicago Union Demands Six Musicians in Non-Deluxe
Theatres Using Sound
LABOR SITUATION
AT A GLANCE
NEW ORLEANS.— Musicians at Saen-
ger theatre walk out in sympathy with
organists at Tudor — Stagehands strike at
Loew's State. Cityivide tieup September
1 is predicted, with projectionists refus-
ing to work open shop.
INDIANAPOLIS.— Sound installations
in scores of Indiana houses are delayed
by electrical workers' strike. Musicians
are dissatisfied but contract extends until
September, 1929.
CHICAGO. — Installations of sound
equipment still are tied up by electrical
ivorkers' strike. Musicians union de-
mands minimum of six men, exclusive of
organists, be employed in theatres with
sound equipment, and organists must be
retained. Strike at "legit" house.
DETROIT.— Projectionists demand 30
per cent wage increase and reject exhibi-
tors' counter proposal.
''VieW'With- Alarm "
Folk Use Television
As Latest ''Menace''
Science is injecting a lot of controversy
into the already quite controversial motion
picture industry, even if it isn't doing any-
thing else. And it is. First came radio,
now synchronization, while television will
— but maybe it won't. Lee De Forest of
Phonofilms has had something to say on
television, in a telegram responding to a
request for an opinion from Popular Me-
chanics Magazine. Forest opined as fol-
lows :
"Satisfactory television in the home is
a very long way off. For the next few
years radio fans will derive much interest
from unclear silhouette effects. All this
talk about motion pictures by radio in the
home as being just around the corner is
the veriest bunk." And other words to
that end.
Meanwhile, television and synchronization
companies are beginning to form. Last
week in New York State, although no pro-
ducing companies were formed (an unusual
thing), the Photo-Television Corporation,
the Perfection Synchronizing Service, and
the Filmtone Corporation, all of New York
City, took out papers.
Moreover, L. Bamberger & Company, op-
erators of station WOR, Newark, last week
presented a drama by television. The re-
sults, however, are said to be such as to
warrant none of the alarm expressed last
week by Milwaukee exhibitors over motion
pictures in the home.
Joseph A. Wallace Dies
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 28.— Joseph A. Wallace,
who one time conducted a chain of motion
picture theatres, died last week at his home.
Ke was 67 years old.
The issue between labor and sound pictures is rapidly heading toward a
climax — and showdown. At New Orleans a complete closing- up of theatres
September 1 is likely, with several walkouts already in effect, starting with a
controversy over employment of organists in theatres using synchronized
music.
In Indiana, scores of sound installations have been delayed by the strike of
electrical workers. In Chicago, the musicians have presented demands that
in all Class Six houses, which do not include the deluxe theatres, a minimum
of six musicians, exclusive of organists, must be employed in any theatre using
synchronization, and the organists must be retained. The audience at the Illi-
nois, Chicago "legit," was dismissed, when musicians and stagehands struck
after a demand that 13 musicians be used for "Whispering Friends," a non-
musical play.
Several Strikes at
New Orleans Start
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 28.— Charging that
the management had failed to live up to a
$1,400 contract for two relief organists at the
Tudor theatre, twenty-three musicians — pit,
stage and organists — walked out of the new
Saenger theatre Friday night after the last
performance in a sympathy strike. The Tudor
closed July 28 for repairs. When the Tudor
reopened, the organ was abolished and Movie-
tone and Vitaphone substituted. The musicians
declare that the organists should be paid
under iheir contract whether working or not.
Negotiations were futile. Then the musicians
issued an ultimatium demanding that the or-
ganist salary be paid by Saturday or they
would quit.
This notice then was posted on the bulletin
board :
"We accept the challenge. Why wait till
tomorrow? Walk out tonight. We are glad
to know our friends, when particularly you
had recourse through civil suit or arbitration."
(Signed) E. V. Richards, Maurice Barr.
G. Pipitone, business agent of Local 174,
issued the call for a walkout. The Saenger
then obtained sound films and synchronized
presentations by airplane from Atlanta and
billed the program as a 100 per cent sound per-
formance. The Saenger theatre features its
symphony orchestra and organists. That the
audience were disappointed was evidenced by
a falling off of business. Nevertheless, the
Saengers notified the organists of affiliated
suburban houses not to report Saturday.
Friday afternoon a controversy between the
stagehands of Loew's State and Rodney
Toups, resident manager, caused a walkout
of stagehands. Later, the Loew's musicians
(Continued on page 60)
Scores of Indiana
Theatres Affected
(Special to the Herald-World)
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 28.— Installation of
sound picture apparatus in scores of theatres
throughout Indiana has been delayed as a
result of the walkout of union electrical work-
ers which began to take on national sig-
nificance several weeks ago and has similarly
delayed installations in Chicago and elsewhere.
Inauguration of sound pictures at Loew's State
theatre at Indianapolis will be postponed a
week or more, according to Wallace R. Allen,
manager.
From headquarters of the musicians union
come reports of dissatisfaction over the pres-
ent agreement with the theatres here, com-
plaints being based on the present rise of
synchronization. The musicians are begin-
ning to blame their own officials for making
the agreement, which does not expire until
September, 1929, for so long a period.
Meanwhile, the exhibitors are "sitting tight,"
the consensus being that the musicians can
do nothing about the situation until the pres-
ent contract expires.
Chicago Issue Rises ;
Musicians Make Demands
In Chicago, where the electrical union
struck several weeks ago, the sound pic-
ture labor situation remains the same.
The houses installing or intending to install
synchronization apparatus are still unable to
tell when they will be able to begin sound
pictures. The United Artists theatre in the
Loop is using the synchronization screen which
had been substituted for the regular screen
when the walkout took place.
No comment whatever as to possibilities of
an agreement between the theatres and the
(Continued on page 60)
L. W. MacClintock Marries
DALLAS. — L. W. MacClintoc, booker of the
Dallas Paramount exchange, married Miss Bemice
Bacon of San Antonio last week.
Making Simon Legree into Northerner
Passes ''Uncle Tom 's Cabin '' at Dallas
(Special to the Herald-World)
DALLAS, Aug. 28. — Private showing of Universal's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" —
Delegation from United Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy protests — Simon
Legree becomes Yankee — Presto! Show goes on.
Atlanta barred the picture, but it's O K in Dallas provided — the North is made
responsible for the villain, the "cruelty" footage is reduced, a prologue is added
to explain that some of the occurrences were not customary, and the time becomes
during the "war between the states" instead of the "Civil War."
24
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
wtm
0NEVV YORK.— George White is thinking
jl of forgetting all about his "Scandals" to
take up the production of sound pictures. . . .
Comedies. . . . This is an age of mechanization,
he pronounces with considerable dignity,
which is more than some people can just pro-
nounce.
IJThey finalh- landed Texas Giiiiiaii. . . .
JVanier's is sending her to the West to record
her golden voice. . . . She got quite a fare-
well luncheon at Sardi's but who wants to
wait an hour even for Texas?
IJThe drama complains that the talking pic-
tures have swiped all the actors and actresses.
. . . Now it develops that the screen has, on
the contrary, given the drama a lot of actors
and actresses. ... It seems that plenty of
picture players suddenly out of jobs are
around the managers' offices looking for work
and the big opportunity to learn how to use
your voice.
IjTin Pan Alley is sitting pretty these days.
. . . Anybody who ever wrote a tune, with one
finger or ten, is being signed up for the
musical pictures.
1[The Marx Brothers will probably make
their skits into sound comedies for Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer. . . . That won't cost so much.
^Nat Rothstein, having just published a
thoroughly informative book entitled "How to
Make Money With Serials," is on his way to
Europe for a vacation, . . . Isn't going to miss
a thing.
'^George Abbott, who put on "Broadway"
and nearly everj'thing else last season, is
about to go West with a fat contract to in-
dulge his whim for talking pictures. . . . He
just staged "Gentlemen of the Press" and
probably wants to get as far away as possible.
^The new Van Vechten book is all about
Hollywood. ... So they say.
^The Roxy is having a swell time with the
big Fox pictures. They finally had to throw
"Street Angel' out of the place, before it took
over the house for a roadshow run, and now
"Four Sons" is in its third week.
^"The Patriot" seems to have almost unani-
mous approval from everybody, including the
critics. . . . That was almost too much to hope
for.
^The sigh of relief that swept to sea the
other night like a tornado was nothing more
or less than a deep breath at the First Na-
tional studios Joseph P. Kennedy hasn't
signed up anybody in England yet, but then
as this is \vritten he hasn't landed yet.
^PJtil Reisman, genera) sales manager of
Pathe, is back from Canada full of optimism.
'^Jack Co'ogan, in person if you please, is to
appear at the Paramount theatre early in
September. . . . He will be with his dad in a
song and dance routine.
^Mrs. Edgar Lenjis was in town. . . . On a
business trip for her husband, the w. k. di-
rector of Los Angeles.
^Gtendon Allvine, director of publicity and
exploitation and what have you over at Fox,
came back from a Western trip, reporting all
well.
flThe final papers have just been signed be-
tween Fox and Poll. . . . Signing on the dotted
line apparently is still a feature of some busi-
ness operations. . . . Even if all announce-
ments are already out.
^Television in the home is still a couple of
weeks off, so Dr. Lee de Forest tells us. . . .
That certainly is a relief. . . . The way people
have been talking, one might have been
pardoned for the suspicion that it was coming
in next week.
PETER VISCHER.
Those Who Live to Amuse Us
''T^HE heading would be equally true, of course, if stated the other way around. It's
•*- about stage folks, this new M G M vehicle for William Haines, and bears the same
title, "Excess Baggage," as its prototype, a stage farce which had long runs in New
York and Chicago. James Cruze directed.
The "movie" star gives a dinner — Josephine Dunn and Ricardo Cortez (both standing).
William Haines and Josephine Dunn.
Greta Granstedt, Kathleen Clifford.
Kane's depression comes in for discussion — Kathleen Clifford, Neely Edwards and Haines.
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
$17,800,000 Ticket Law Barring Minors Is Killed;
Tax in 1928 Under Prosccution of Exhibitor Fails
Collections in 1927 Quebec Children Are Free to Attend Any Theatre with Aduh
(Special to the Hcrald-World)
\\'ASHINGTON, Aug. 28.— New York,
with a total of $7,646,068, and Illinois, with
$2,146,366, contributed more than 50 per cent
of the total admission taxes collected by the
federal government during the fiscal year
of 1928, according to figures just compiled by
the bureau of internal revenue. The total col-
lections from this source during the year
ended June 30, last, were $17,724,952, a reduc-
tion of $215,684 from the $17,940,636 collected
in 1927. These collections were made under
the old exemption of 50 cents, the increased
exemption provided under the latest revenue
law not going into effect until the end of the
fiscal }'ear.
Other leading states in admission tax collec-
tions were: California, $1,315,313; Pennsyl-
vania, $1,308,927; Massachusetts, $871,557;
Ohio, ^3,038; Michigan, $511,740; New
Jersey, ^ill,?-!?,; and Alissouri, $352,998.
U. S. Films Continue to
Draw Well in Europe,
Reports U Executive
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., Aug. 28.— American
films are playing to excellent business in
Europe, and reports that they are being boy-
cotted on the other side are erroneous, de-
clared Fred A. Flader, general manager of
Universal Theatres Corporation, while here
inspecting the Alultnomah chain, a sub-circuit.
Flader recently returned from an extended
tour of Europe.
"There is a great deal of speculation about
the talkies," Flader added, but they are wait-
ing for the United States to give them the
goods. All we need over here is not to get
too excited over talking pictures, for after
all, the talkie is simply a picture. I am sure
the talking picture is the thing and is here to
stay."
According to Flader, synchronization equip-
ment will be installed in the twelve houses of
the Multnomah circuit in Portland and A'icin-
ity.
Newspaper Descriptions
Aid Amusement Places
(Special to the Hcrald-U'orld)
COLUMBUS, Aug. 28.— Theatres in De's
Moines get a lot of publicity from the Des
Moines Register, according to T. Stickles,
manager of the Retail Merchant's Association
of Columfcus, who has made a study of con-
ditions in that section.
According to Stickles, the Des Moines Reg-
ister has a Des ^loines Hospitality Club, which
lists all the entertainment places in Des
2\Ioines. Every week the newspaper describes
each interesting place. This practice has
brought many people into Des Aloines and has
practically helped every retail business in the
city. Stickles says.
Projectionist Receives
Burns in Booth Blaze
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., Aug. 28.-
-Fire
breaking out in the booth of the Arco the-
atre last week, severely burned the opera-
torfi Joe McManus, and destroyed a print
of "The Man From Oklahoma." McManus
was a relief projectionist. Damage to the
theatre was slight, and the small audience
remained calm.
Pending British Decision at Least
Two Years Distant
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
OTTAWA, Aug. 28. — Enforcement of the Quebec Motion Picture Act, pro-
hibiting the admission of children under 16 years of age from motion picture
theatres, was suspended Friday. Proceedings against a number of Montreal
exhibitors for alleged violations of the act were dropped, following the render-
ing of a judg'ment by Justice Weir in superior court, Montreal, granting a writ
of prohibition against the prosecution of Raoul Rickner of the St. Denis theatre
on the charge of admitting children to the theatre.
Act Now Inoperative
As a result, the situation is largely back where it was before the Quebec
legislature passed the measure last spring barring juveniles from the moving
picture theatres. The act is now entirely inoperative until the Quebec Govern-
ment obtains a decision from the Privy Council at London, England, as to the
validity of the statute. Such a judgment would not be forthcoming until two
years hence and, in the meantime, the children are free to attend any theatre
when accompanied by an adult.
The petition for a writ of prohibition on under 16 years and students under 20 years
the Rickner case in the criminal court was
taken by the exhibitors largely as a test of
the proceedings. The application was vigor-
ously opposed by Aime Geoffrion, K. C, rep-
resenting the attorney-general's department of
Quebec, on the ground that the writ would
suspend the act. Gustave Monette, repre-
senting the exhibitors, argued that the la\
of age will be forbidden to attend motion
picture theatres in Esthonia, the department of
commerce is advised. The article states that
the ministry of the interior and the ministry
of education are in agreement on this subject
and that an official degree will soon be issued
which will make it necessary for exhibitors
of motion picture films to secure special per-
was ultra vires in that the Quebec legislature mission to exhibit them to children and stu-
had trespassed on the rights of the Canadian dents.
Federal Parliament. The decision means that
the constitutionality of the new law under
the British North America Act, the consti-
tution of Canada, must be decided.
Immediate Appeal Denied
The request for an immediate appeal from
the present judgment was dismissed by Jus-
tice Weir, with the result that the wheels of
the British court system must grind their full
course before the issue is settled. In the
meantime, exhibitors are legally permitted to
admit minors to theatres without restriction.
Because of the extreme unpopularity of the
new Motion Picture Act, there is just a possi-
bility that the matter may never be pressed
further by the Quebec Government.
To Bar Picture Shows
to Children, Students
(Washington Bureau of the Hcrald-U'orld)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28.— Article appear-
ing in ReiHiler Bote indicates that children
Theatres Benefit from
Rain at Smith Speech
(Special to the Hcrald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 28. — Instead of lessening
patronage at the motion picture theatres here,
the notification exercises at the state capitol
last Wednesday evening, at which Governor
Alfred E. Smith outlined his platform as the
Democratic presidential candidate, served to
pack the theatres.
Rain fell continuously throughout the day,
preventing the exercises from being held on
the front steps' of the Capitol. The assembly
chamber in which the notification took place,
could accomodate only about 1,500 persons,
with the result that thousands hurried to the
motion picture theatres, where the program
was received by radio. Quite a number of
the theatre owners had been farsighted
enough to install and advertise the radio
receivmg apparatus and they cashed in
hea\'ily.
Exhibitors' Cooperative Film Buying
Organization is Formed in Toronto
(Special to the Herald-JVoiid)
TORONTO, Aug. 28. — An exhibitors cooperative buying organization, the Ex-
hibitors Cooperative, Ltd., has been formed, with headquarters here, under a
charter for the "mutual protection and benefit of exhibitors."
According to an official statement, the corporation is "organized on a basis of
collective buying of films and supplies in order to obtain the strength in combined
buying power, to obtain fair treatment and to maintain fair competition. No power
whatsoever will be taken away from the individual exhibitor. The cooperative
can only buy for him what he specifies and desires and at a price with which he
is satisfied."
Following a general meeting of the company here, almost 50 out of the 104
theatre managers in Toronto joined.
W. Adam Baillie, for years proprietor of the Cumhac theatre here, is president,
and Nathan Taylor, formerly proprietor of the Monarch theatre here, is secretary
and treasurer. J. Earl Lawson, local lawyer, candidate for parliament, is chairman
of the executive board.
Bud Lennon of Toronto, for many years a film exchange manager, film salesman
and exhibitor, has been named as the buying agent.
f
26
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTLTRE WORLD
September 1, 1928
Cletn F. Fain,: Jr. (left), exhibitor of Livingston, Texas, and friend of the Alabama Indian
tribe of that section, is a fullfledged chieftain, second in power to Chief Sun-Kee (right) as
a result of his work on behalf of the reservation red men.
Exhibitor Rescues Tribe of Indians
From Extinction; Made Agent
Clem F. Fain, Jr., Wins Appropriation for Poverty-Stricken Texas Red
Men — Now Makes Plea for Church Building
[How an exhibitor took upon himself the task of helping an Indian Tribe is told in the
following interesting article by Jack Underwood, salesman of the Liberty Special Film
Company at Dallas. Clem F. Fain, Jr., is the exhibitor.]
(Special to the Herald-World)
DALLAS, Aug'. 28. — Clem F. Fain, Jr., exhibitor in Livingston, Texas, and
owner of the Happy Hour theatre, one of the oldest picture houses in
the state, having been in operation for more than 18 years, is an exhib-
itor who has demonstrated his worth to his community and state in a civic and
social way.
FAIN has long realized in presenting the
best of motion pictures to his patrons he is
rendering a valuable service to his community,
but he has not been satisfied with his record
as such — he believes that every exhibitor
should forge to the front in civic activities
because they are in a position to render a
greater service than the average business in
that the exhibitor has a better opportunity of
meeting "all" the people — and that is what
Fain has done with reference to the only tribe
of Indians in the state, the Alabama Indians
of Polk county, who have been in a state of
abject poverty for over half a century.
Only 255 Left in Tribe
The Alabama Indians are located on a
meager reservation 16 miles east of Livingston
on the Livingston-Woodville road, and Fain
has known the members of the tribe all of his
life. These Indians are known as the "Lost
Tribe'' as they are so few in number, num-
bering only 255, and as the Federal Govern-
ment had never recognized them, until re-
cently, as members of the great family of
American Indians. About two years ago.
Fain decided that if the citizens of Texas ex-
pected the Government to do anything for
these people, someone would have to put a
shoulder to the wheel and push, and he gave
abundantly of his time and means to inform
the people of the state and nation of the con-
ditions existing among these aboriginal mon-
archs.
As a result of his efforts a splendid display
of Indian handiwork was exhibited in a booth
at the 1927 Dallas State Fair, and little pam-
phlets were distributed to the visitors ex-
plaining the purpose of the exhibit and urging
the citizenry to cooperate in every way to
bring these people to the attention of the
federal authorities. Fain collected the ex-
hibit and spent ten days of his time at the
booth distributing literature and discussing
needs and plans with all who came to the
exhibit. It is estimated that more than 200,000
stopped at the Alabama Indian Exhibit booth.
Made Full Fledged Chieftain
In January of this year the tribe adopted
Fain into the tribe and made him a full
fledged chieftain, giving him the office next
in power to Chief Sun-kee, and honoring him
with the title of Mikko-See, or Second Chief.
This was done in appreciation of what he
had accomplished for the Red Men of Big
Thicket.
Fain then went to work to raise the funds
to take a delegation to Washington to see the
Great White Chief in the interest of his
"^brothers." With the assistance of the press
of the state he raised the necessary amount
and he accompanied Chief Sun-Kee and
Free Shows on Plantation
Required to Keep Workers
(Special to the Herald-World)
THIBODAUX, LA., Aug. 28.— A
free moving picture house has been
opened on the South Coast Georgia
Plantation for the white and negro
laborers on the place. The owners
of the plantation found this step ne-
cessary in order to keep the Negroes,
especially, and a few of the white
help, from straying to other sections
for employment and amusement.
Chieftain Mconico Battiste to the capital city.
This delegation appeared before the Com-
mittee on Indian Affairs, the commissioner of
Indian Affairs and the President of the
United States.
As a result of this mission Congress appro-
priated $40,000 for present relief, and pledged
that the Texas Indians would be honored as
American Indians and be granted the same
considerations.
Appoiiited Indian Agent
In May of this year, Governor Dan Moody
appointed Fain as Indian agent, the only office
of its kind under the chief executive, and Fain
has carried out the duties faithfully and with-
out pay.
Fain is greatly pleased with the results of
his work, but he says there is much more to
be done. Recently he addressed the student
body and faculty of the Sam Houston State
Teachers College at Huntsville, and stressed
the fact that while the National Government
had shown a disposition to assist the tribe,
Texas should not consider she had been re-
leased from her obligation to the Indians.
At present, Fain states that the outstanding
need is for a church building. The old church
is in a terrible condition. The roof is leaking,
floors sagging, windows falling out, and the
entire structure on the verge of a collapse.
Sees Parallel in Flood Fund
"Wouldn't it be splendid if the exhibitors
of the state would take an interest in this
matter and raise the funds of $4,000 for the
new Indian church," Fain remarked recently,
"like they responded to the flood sufferers
'Call.' I believe that Texas exhibitors raised
$150,000 for that purpose, and I know they
could build this church if they only get in-
terested."
Fain states that he will be glad to answer
any letters concerning the Indians, and will
be happy to have any of his fellow exhibitors
visit" f^f Pi=spr\">t!on. and he will be "hanoier"
to hear from a hundred or more exhibitors
who would like to give a benefit show for
the church fund for Texas' onlv Indian tribe.
Saenger Sued for $75,000
After Stagehand's Death
(Special to the Herald-World)
MERIDAN, MISS., Aug. 28.— Charles H.
Mapp, Jr., has brought suit against the
Saenger Amusement Company, Inc., Plaza
Amusement Company and Harry W. Rice for
$75,000 damages following the death of his
father, Charles H. Mapp, Sr., who died from
injuries suffered when he fell through a trap
door in the new Temple theatre in Hamasa
Temple Mosque, June 18. The senior Mapp
was employed as a stagehand.
Exchange Cashier Gives
Bail in Fund Shortage
(Special to the Herald-World)
SEATTLE, Aug. 28.— J. M. Allen, cashier
of the Universal Film Exchange here, who re-
cently was charged in Justice Chester A.
Bachelor's court with grand larceny, sur-
rendered to deputy sheriffs and was released
under $2,500 bail.
In the complaint filed by Martin Schiff,
traveling auditor for Universal exchanges,
Allen is said to have admitted there was a
shortage of approximately $1,500 in his books.
Television Catches Face
Of Al Smith During Talk
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 28.— Al Smith's features
were put on the air by television during the
delivery of his acceptance address last
Wednesday, General Electric having provided
the special setup. WGY made the television
broadcast.
Theatres opened their doors at 8 a. m. the
day of the ceremonies to provide shelter for
the rain — refugees.
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
27
Pictures Are Made of
Signing of "No War" Pact
(Special to the Herald-World)
PARIS, Aug. 28. — Motion pictures
were made of the joint conference
yesterday in the French foreign
office on the Quai D'Orsay when
diplomats from fifteen nations met
to sign Secretary Kellogg's multi-
lateral treaty for the renunciation of
war. The event also was broadcast
on the radio.
Old "Uncle Toms" Come
Out of Graves As U's
Classic Starts in Detroit
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, Aug. 28.— Motion picture "pi-
rates" are reported to be busy throughout
Michigan, now that Carl Laemmle has his ex-
pensive version of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" ready
for general release. There are at least three
oldtime screen productions of the Civil War
classic, and "slickers" are offering them to
exhibitors at cheap rates.
Ray Moon, Michigan representative for
Universal has issued a bulletin to exhibitors
and public, calling attention to this unfair
competition. Laemmle has parted company
with many thousands of dollars in exploiting
the new picture and now the 10-year-old re-
issues shake their bones out of the closet to
reap some of the profits.
Harold Heffernan, motion picture editor of
the Detroit News, points out that "exhibitors
who buy the old material with the idea of
tricking the public into believing it is the new
version are merely digging their own box
office graves. Recalling some of the oldtime
movie 'Uncle Tom's' we should say that an
exhibitor should be liable to a jail sentence
for running one."
Chatkin Made Manager
Of Eastern Division for
Publix Theatres Chain
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— D. J. Chatkin, for-
merly buyer of short features for the Publix
circuit, has been appointed Eastern Division
manager, with supervision over the Rivoli,
Rialto, Paramount, Metropolitan (Boston),
Shea's Buffalo and Shea's Hippodrome, both
in Buffalo, the Olympia in New Haven and
the new Minnesota in Minneapolis. He will
continue to deal with the buying of short
product.
William Rosenthal New
United Artists District
Sales Head in Midwest
William Rosenthal has been appointed by
Al Lichtman of United Artists as ^ district
manager of the Middle West, embracing Chi-
cago, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Omaha
exchanges.
European Exhibitors Organize
To Contest U. S. Film Control
Florence Vidor Wed to
Heifetz, Noted Violinist
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Marriage of Flor-
ence Vidor, screen star, to Jascha Heifetz,
the noted violinist, on August 20, was made
known last night by George Engles, Heifetz's
manager.
Delegates
from 17 Nations Form International Federation —
America Not Invited — Convention Votes to
Bar "Hate" Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28. — A newly created International Federation of Exhibi-
tors is the challenge of seventeen European countries, including Turkey and
India, to America's supremacy in the motion picture business.
Aim to Protect European Interests
The International Federation, organized at the European film congress, which
opened in Berlin Wednesday, was formed "to protect European exhibitors and
European film interests against present dangers," and by these "dangers" the
delegates meant chiefly American domination. The advent of the Federation
reflects the decision of exhibitors to follow the lead of European producers and
distributors in presenting a united front against films from America.
The United States was not represented at
the congress, called by the Association of
German Exhibitors, with other European dele-
gations invited for the first time. Well-wishes
were sent the convention, however, by a num-
ber of American stars and other sources.
English and French delegations were very
much in evidence, in the movement to develop
the European industry as a competitive factor.
One decision of the convention was to
pledge the exhibitors of the Continent against
showing socalled "hate" films, such as "Dawn,"
which delegates declared a menace to the
amity of nations.
This decision was championed by Leopold
Gutmann, president of the German exhibitors'
organization, as one of the outstanding objec-
tives of the meeting.
Calls Industry Foremost
Ludwig Klitsch, speaking for the Berlin
chamber of commerce and theatre managers
of that city, said the motion picture industry
now is foremost from both the cultural and
ethical standpoints as well as the financial.
"European films must be safeguarded now,"
said H. Victor Davis, representing the British
exhibitors. "Europe has richer and more in-
teresting stories and literature on which to
base films, and Europe can use money as well
as Hollywood, which takes 60 per cent of the
money made by the movies in England."
The motion for formation of the Federa-
tion was presented by the French delegation.
On its unanimous passage, a committee of
three was formed to start the work of the
organization. The committee consists of ex-
hibitor leaders of England, France and
Germany.
were effective as of August 20 and were an-
nounced after the arrival in Atlanta of Gen-
eral Sales Manager Paul S. Swift, of Vita-
phone, who was on a tour of the company's
branches.
Fulton will have supervision over the At-
lanta and Dallas, Texas, branches and the
Southwestern and Southeastern territories.
The Atlanta office will service all accounts in
North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida,
Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisi-
ana. C. D. Tuchon has been named manager
of the Dallas exchange.
Vitaphone Names Fulton
Southern Division Head
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, Aug. 28.— W. B. Fulton, man-
ager of Vitaphone's Atlanta office since its
establishment the early part of June, has been
appointed Southern division manager of the
company. Following his promotion, Fulton
announced appointment of H. P. Rhodes as
head of the Atlanta office. Both appointments
Berlin Will Write
Story of and in
Ragtime for U-A
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Irving Berlin
has signed a contract with Joseph M.
Schenck, president of United Artists, to
write the story, lyrics and complete musical
score of a talking picture to be called "Say
It with Music," to star Harry Richman,
musical show star. Berlin said he intends
to interpret the birth and evolution of the
popular song as a part of America's mod-
ern civilization.
Schenck, just back from Europe, has an-
nounced that the Soviet Government has
loaned S. M. Eisenstein, director of "Po-
temkin," to United Artists for one picture.
He will leave for Hollywood in October.
Schenck sold Sovkino, Soviet picture or-
ganization, seven United Artists pictures,
"Tempest," "Little Annie Rooney," "The
Gold Rush," "The Circus," "The Beloved
Rogue," "Don Q" and "The General." He
said his company would release in the
United States any Sovkino-made picture
with a subject likely to appeal to the Amer-
ican people.
Commenting on conditions in Russia,
Schenck said Russia's working people are
better paid and better fed than they were
under the regime of the Czar.
Joins Paramount Writers
HOLLYWOOD. — Hugh Herbert, novelist and scen-
arist, has joined the writers of Paramount.
Final Papers in Fox-Poli Deal Are Signed;
Installation of Movietone Is Underway
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28. — Final papers have been signed between William Fox
and Sylvester Z. Poli, and the Poli New England theatre circuit is now under
the complete possession of the Fox Theatres Corporation.
The Poli properties now are turned over to the Fox circuit free of any encum-
brance except the purchase money mortgage. Fox declared. He added that a new
policy is being developed for the newly acquired houses for September and work
has started on remodeling and on installation of Movietone.
28
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
Aviation Will Thank Film Industry
For Aid at Dinner Sept. 24
Hays Will Deliver Print of Feature Length Picture of Lindbergh Flights
at Testimonial Event
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28. — The motion picture industry, represented by
executives of the M. P. P. D. A., will be the official guest of honor of the
aviation industry at a testimonial dinner to be given by the Aeronautical
Chamber of Commerce September 24 at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in recog-
nition of the large role played by the motion picture in the development of
aviation.
aircraft not only as the most speedy but
also as a thoroughly reliable and safe
means for transportation for the benefit of
all business and social intercourse.
"In fact, the whole course of business
history has been quickened as a result of
the camera's worldwide influence."
MORE than a thousand men and women
representing the governments of the
world and captains of industry are expected
to attend the dinner, at which for the first
time will be shown a special feature length
film of the trans-Atlantic flight made by
Col. Charles A. Lindbergh and his subse-
quent goodwill hops.
Hays Will Deliver Film
Will H. Hays will deliver the film, com-
piled by the M. P. P. D. A., to Major
Lester D. Gardner, president of the Aero-
nautical Chamber of Commerce. The pic-
ture later will be presented to the United
States Government and the governments
of foreign countries visited by Lindbergh,
as a permanent record.
Major Gardner is to sail for Europe im-
mediately after the dinner on a special mis-
sion to present prints to the Kings of Eng-
land and Belgium and the president of
France. Government officials are expected
to receive the print for the Washington
archives at the dinner, while the copies for
Mexico, Cuba and the Central American
countries are to be delivered later.
Interest in Aviation Aroused
"For many years we have been con-
scious of the benefits derived by aviation
and other industries from motion pictures,"
said Major Gardner in announcing plans of
the dinner, "but only with the filming of
Lindbergh's Atlantic flight and subsequent
trips were these benefits to aviation defin-
itely fixed.
"As a result of the screenings of millions
of feet of Lindbergh film, the entire world
has been made acquainted with that won-
derful series of epochal events and with
the young American who executed them.
People everywhere have had their interest
in aviation aroused; landing fields have
sprung up overnight; familiarity with fly-
ing as depicted in pictures has established
H
Branham at Detroit to
Pull Oriental Out of Red
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, Aug. 28.— One of the
pioneers in motion picture showman-
ship returned to Detroit this week in
the person of Charles Branham, who
has been engaged by the receivers
of the Oriental theatre to fan this
financially sick house back to its feet.
The Oriental was built in the heart
of the downtown district for the
showing of three-a-day vaudeville
and pictures, and was opened last
fall amid the fanfare of trumpets and
the drolleries of Joe Cook. The
house soon went into a decline, and
not long ago into the hands of re-
ceivers.
Mr. Branham was making a study
of motion picture presentation at the
time Roxy was coming into his own
at the Capitol, New York. They are
much the same type of showmen.
Lilac Time" Brings High
Praise to Fitzmaurice
(Special to the Herald-World)
BURBANK, Aug. 28.— George Fitzmaurice,
director of "Lilac Time," First National spe-
cial starring Colleen Moore, has received
many wires and let-
ters of congratula-
tions over his splendid
direction and the gen-
eral quality of this
production from lead-
ing executives and
exhibitors who have
seen the picture. One
of the most interest-
ing wires is the fol-
lowing from Charles
P. Skouras, of St.
Louis, who has just
opened a two day run
of the picture at $1.50
top, at the Grand
Central :
"Heartiest congratulations on the direction
and showmanship of 'Lilac Time.' I believe
you have contributed what will prove to be
outstanding attraction of the year. Audience
reaction to production most enthusiastic we
have ever encountered and Grand Central is
breaking records. Picture is set for a long
and profitable run. Just wanted to congratu-
late you personally."
George Fitzmaurice
Cassia's Second Prince
Picture to Have Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Cassio, Italian-
American stage and screen comedian and
cousin of the late Rudolph Valentino, is to
star in "That's Nothing," a sound picture and
the second feature comedy of a series in which
he is now being starred by the Prince Film
Producing Company. His first is "Who
Am I?"
Natacha Rambova, widow of Valentino,
who plays opposite Cassio in "Who Am I?,"
will also be his leading lady in the talkie,
which will be directed by John L. Mc-
Cutcheon, who directed "Who Am I?"
Morrissey Is Convicted;
Mix Pleads Not Guilty
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28,— Will Morrissey
was found guilty on a charge of intoxication
in municipal court following a fistic conversa-
tion with Tom Mix August 19. Mix pleaded
not guilty to two complaints of assault and
battery.
At the New York
Theatres
NEW FILMS
PARAMOUNT— "The Sawdust Paradise," a Para-
mount production starring Esther Ralston, directed
by Luther Reed, synchronized with sound.
HIPPODROME— "The Butter and Egg Man," a
First National picture featuring Jack Mulhall and
Greta Nissen, directed by Richard Wallace.
STRAND — "Oh Kay," a First National production
starring Colleen Moore, directed by Mervyn Le-
Roy.
FIFTH AVENUE PLAYHOUSE— "The Vortex,"
an English production featuring Willette Kershaw
and Ivor Novello.
EMBASSY — -"Submarine," a Columbia special featur-
ing Jack Holt and Dorothy Revier, directed by
Frank Capra.
HELD OVER AND REVIVED
CAMEO — "Dawn," revived for another week.
RIVOLI — "Tempest," United Artists, revived for
another week.
ROXY — "Four Sons," a Fox production, Movietone,
revived August 11.
CAPITOL — "Four walls," a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,
opened August 18.
CRITERION — "Wings," Paramount, opened August
12, 1927.
GLOBE— "The Red Dance," Fox, opened June 25.
ASTOR — "White Shadows in the South Seas," Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer, opened August 1.
CENTRAL — "Lilac Time," First National, opened
August 3.
WARNER— "The Terror," Warner Brothers all talk-
ing picture, opened August IS.
RIALTO — "The Patriot," Paramount, opened August
17.
GAIETY — "Lost in the Arctic," Fox, opened July 25.
Dave Thompson Named
Movietone Studio Chief;
New Plant Opens Oct, 1
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— Dave Thomp-
son, who joined Fox last week, will become
studio manager of Movietone, according to
plans learned today. Maitland Rice becomes
casting director on Movietone.
All members of Movietone unit will remove
their offices to Foxj Hills, October 1, when
more headway will have been made with con-
struction there.
Judge Warns Rowdies
in Theatre from Stage
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN LEANDRO, CAL., Aug. 28.— Theatre
patrons in San Leandro will enjoy their shows
in the future without being annoyed by the
rowdies who have been disturbing shows for
some time. Efforts of theatre managers to
hold the rowdies in check seemed unavailing
until Judge William J. Cannon mounted the
stage one evening and issued a warning. He
declared that it was known who were creating
the disturbances and warned them that if
they were brought before him he would mete
out the stiffest sentences under the law.
Secretaries of Film
Boards in New Places
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 28.— Miss Edna Pfister, of
Cleveland, O., who has been secretary of the
Albany Film Board of Trade for the past
year or so, and who has been in Montreal for
the past seven weeks conducting the affairs
of that board, returned to Albany last Satur-
day.
Mis's Emmeline Fineberg, of Pittsburgh,
who has been handling the Albany office dur-
ing Miss Pfister's absence, has been trans-
ferred to the Winnipeg board. Miss Ruth
Doyle of Indianapolis, is now in Montreal, in
charge of the board there.
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
^e^
Film News
in Pictures
PICTORIAL SECTION
Stories Told
by the Camera
As Secretary of War Davis visited the Paramount
studio, where the party saw portions of "Varsity,"
Paramount's first dialogue picture. Shown are Mrs.
Fred Bectson, Davis, Miss Cynthia Davis, J. H. Hol-
liday, Mrs. Burton Fitts, Fred Beetson, secretary of
producers' group; Miss Alice Davis and Beetson's son.
^"^p^j
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Two Als — but with different thoughts. The Al on
the right, we trust, needs no special identification
more than that he's governor of New York and
Democratic candidate for President. The other Al
is Al Gold, Fox News cameraman, who is "cover-
ing" the nominee.
Obviously, something in this section of town that
His Majesty, King Public, wants to see. The town
is New York, and the gathering — no, it's a crowd,
for observe the policeman — is "storming" the Em-
bassy for the opening of "The Scarlet Lady," Colum-
bia special starring Lya de Putti.
Leading woman in the
first Buck Jones picture
produced by Buck Jones.
Jobyna Ralston is opposite
the star in "The Big
Hop."
A "talky" gives this for-
mer Ziegfeld beauty, Ag-
nes Franey, her first screen
role, in Warner Brothers'
second Al Jolson picture,
"The Singing Fool."
In tribute to Carl Laemmle. Universal's chief ex-
ecutive is shown at the dinner in his honor given
by the foreign correspondents of Los Angeles, at
the Hotel Roosevelt. With the veteran producer
above are his daughter, Rosabelle, and D. W.
Griffith, one of the many film notables attending.
1
i
30
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
f
k
Engaging studies of two of Paramount's
younger players. Ruth Taylor is shown at
left, beneath a great Spanish arch over the
walk leading to the Tower of Prayer at the
Pacific Southwest Exposition in Long Beach,
Cal. A new portrait of Mary Brian is
presented above.
Reclaiming the waist-land. In D. W. Griffith's
new United Artists picture, "The Battle of the
Sexes," Jean Hersholt needs must be less rotund
than usual. Hence the war on fat — which, it
seems, is quite a battle of the sexes itself, these
days.
Above: A hard directorial
task assigned to Charles
Lamont, who, as you see,
is coaching a bevy of
beauties for an Education-
al Ideal comedy. They
are Evelyn McCoy, Am-
ber Norman, B e r n i c e
Snell, Billy Lohman, Mu-
riel Evans and Ruby Mc-
Coy.
Right: Two new Tiffany-
Stahl people who are as-
sociated in a forthcoming
production as director and
star. Norman Taurog,
former Educational direc-
tor, is he at left, shown
with George Jessel. Tau-
rog is directing Jessel in
"The Ghetto."
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
Two scenes are presented from Colleen
Moore's new First National production,
"Oh, Kay." At right, the comedienne, hav-
ing fainted in a swimming suit, wakes up in
pajamas, with Ford Sterling embarrassingly
near. Above, Colleen and Lawrence Gray
"play" bride and groom to avoid a "jam."
Jt^mSH^ V .^SSRr--' ,■■--: L_J
^S^^^^^^^^j^^^^Kl^tmm C^^^^^Kr '^B^^ ■hjL^ w' , ) ;
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rfiv
Above: Drinking up the
props used in a scene for
Warner Brothers' "The
Singing Fool," Al Jolson
"talky." Pictured are Jack
Warner, Betty Bronson,
Darryl Francis Zanuck,
production chief; Director
Lloyd Bacon, Jolson and
William Koenig, studio
manager.
Left: Ruth Elder, heroine
of the air, takes her ini-
tial flight in histrionics.
She is shown with Brooks
Benedict, playing in her
first scene of her first pic-
ture, Paramount's "Moran
of the Marines," which
stars Richard Dix.
Elegance to furnish a fitting setting for Claire
Windsor. Tiflany-Stahl is producing one of the
best of the "best-sellers" of the past, "The Grain
of Dust," and it is thus that Miss Windsor ap-
pears in it. She and Ricardo Cortez are the fea-
tured players.
32
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
Didnh Know What Film Looked Like
But Made First Theatre Pay
J. M. Franklin, K. A. O.'s New General Manager for Canada, Gave Domin-
ion Its Initial Feature 18 Years Ago
IWidespread comment on the "Pop" Dibble story of the early days of the industry, as
was told in the columns of the "Herald-W orld'' prompts the series of articles on "oldtimers"
which starts herewith. Other articles will appear from time to time.]
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
OTTAWA, Aug. 28. — Joseph Mitchell Franklin is one who has just nat-
ally grown up with the motion picture theatre business in Canada. He
was 20 years of age when he bought his first moving picture theatre
and when he signed his name on the dotted line he did not even know what a
projection machine or» a reel of film looked like. But he made a success of
that first venture, which was the Gayety theatre in Port Arthur, Ont. That was
18 years ago. An indication of his immature knowledge of the amusement"
business is seen in the fact that, before he bought the Gayety theatre, he had
been a stenographer and secretary with a business firm for several years but
he immediately became a successful exhibitor. At that time one reel pictures
were the only thing.
AFTER a few years at Port Arthur, Joe
■ Franklin, as he is popularly known,
decided that Halifax, N. S., had a big future
and moved there, starting the Imperial
theatre, an upstairs hall, in 1914, just before
the outbreak of the war.
War Gave Him Break
As luck would have it, Halifax became
an important war port and it was very
much occupied with the debarkation of
troops and the shipping of huge quantities
of munitions. When he opened the old
Imperial, the people of the Maritime
Provinces had never heard of Charlie
Chaplin, and Joe Franklin soon began to
popularize the early pictures of the screen
comedian. Early Zukor releases were also
quite the rage and Franklin well remem-
bers when he made a big splash with a pic-
ture in which Sarah Bernhardt was the star.
"Helen of Troy" was also a big money-
maker.
Joe Franklin eventually built the Strand
theatre at Halifax and also constructed the
Strand at Sydney, Nova Scotia, both of
which were the latest word in picture pal-
aces. To these he added the Opera House
at St. John, N. B., giving him a chain of
three houses. Furthermore, he booked
attractions regularly into numerous other
Cultural Value to Decide
Amount of Picture Tax
(Washington Bureau of the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28.— A new
regulation has been issued by the
president of the Polish Republic ac-
cording to which the amount of cin-
ema entertainment tax is to be fixed
according to the artistic, moral and
educational value of films, declares a
report to the department of com-
merce. There will be five categories
of films, and it will be for the censor
bureau to decide in which category
a picture is to be classi£ed. The cen-
sorship organ is composed of repre-
sentatives of the ministries of the
interior, finance and public educa-
tion. Up to now, cinema taxes were
fixed arbitrarily by the local authori-
ties in each city or village. In the
future, they will be only authorized
to apply the highest rate of taxes to
the fifth category of films. If sev-
eral films are exhibited in the same
show, the tax will be calculated by
means of the arithmetical medium of
their length.
theatres of Nova Scotia and New Bruns-
wick. Incidentally, he still has a financial
interest in the Community theatre, Halifax,
which he later acquired.
Then, in 1923, Joe Franklin cast his eyes
over the Dominion for further fields to
conquer and decided that there was an
opening in Ottawa, the Canadian capital,
particularly where B. F. Keith vaudeville
could be presented along with a moving
picture program — in spite of the fact that
Ottawa had a Loew house seating 2,600
persons. He leased the Old Family theatre,
a downtown theatre with 1,100 seats, that
had been considered a "lemon" for a num-
ber of years. He operated this for a year
with first run features and Keith vaude-
ville and then what happened? He was
instrumental in the acquisition of Loew's
Ottawa theatre in August, 1924, and
changed its name to B. F. Keith's, becoming
the manager. Some months later, Keith-
Albee purchased the big Ottawa house
outright.
J. M. Franklin is believed to be the first
to run a two-reel feature in a regular mov-
ing picture theatre in Canada; the first to
use lithographed paper out in front of a
theatre in the Dominion; first to have a
Canadian theatre with two projection ma-
chines. And he has also paved the way
with other things.
Golfer, Art Connoisseur
Today Mr. Franklin is one of the most
popular and best-known citizens of Ottawa.
He is a director in the Rotary Club of
Ottawa; a director of the Ottawa Humane
Society; vice president of the Ottawa Thea-
tre Managers Association, which is affiliated
with the Retail Merchants Association of
Canada, and is identified with other orders.
He takes an active personal interest in
community life and is a devotee of .music.
He has become an enthusiastic golfer, be-
ing a member of the Chaudiere Golf Club,
Ottawa. He is an art connoisseur and
startled the art world by his discovery of
a valuable oil painting by Erskine Nicol,
famous Scottish artist whose paintings are
hanging in the big galleries of Great Britain
and the United States.
Joe Franklin is the proud and happy
father of a talented daughter and son while
his wife is a splendid little woman. The
daughter is a gifted violinist, a gold-
medalist, and first violin with the Ottawa
Symphony Orchestra. His young son, Mit-
chell, gives much promise as a pianist and
is also making his mark as a youthful
hockey player.
Franklin was recently honored by his
selection as general manager of all Keith-
Albee-Orpheum interests in the Dominion.
Writ Against Periodical
Is Another Censor's Drejun
Another outbreak of censorship
rash among lawmakers, this time
against periodicals, is deplored as
"tyranny" by an editorial writer of
the Chicago Herald-Examiner in the
following words:
"The State of Minnesota has
passed a law permitting an injunction
against future issues of any periodi-
cal if any issue is, in the opinion of
a judge, 'malicious, scandalous and
defamatory.' In other words, any
judge who disagrees with an editor
can shut him up and, in effect, con-
fiscate his property. The law will,
of course, be carried to the supreme
court. A periodical which is scan-
dalous and defamatory should, of
course, be punished. There are plenty
of existing laws which provide for
such punishment ; they are the laws
concerning libel. They do not need
to be supplemented by any provision
which puts property and personal
freedom at the mercy of a judge's
taste."
European Moves to End
U, S. Film Control Are
Doomed, Orman Declares
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— Advancement in
public appreciation of motion pictures was
the subject of the third of a series of radio
talks being given by Felix Orman from KFI
on Thursday afternoons.
In his talk on "The World Force of Ameri-
can Motion Pictures," the second of the series,
Orman, who recently returned from the Euro-
pean field, declared that "motion pictures have
become the democracy of entertainment be-
cause they appeal to all types and classes of
people alike, and because they can be shown
at prices that make them accessible to even
the poorest working family."
Orman said he did not expect the various
national movements overseas to combat the
world dominance of the screen by American
pictures would ever develop into a serious
menace.
Society Woman Named
to Censorship Board
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, ORE., Aug. 28.— Mrs. Pat
Allen, prominent in society and sports and
music, and Robert M. Mount, manager of
the Better Business Bureau, were named as
the new members of the municipal motion
picture censor board. Floyd Maxwell,
manager of the Portland theatre, is the
third member of the board.
Air Mail Takes 15 Reels
Daily, Declares Writer
"From Hollywood the air mail carries an
average of fifteen reels of film_ a day," says
an editorial writer in the Chicago Herald-
Examiner. "Air mail, which means speed,
saves large sums for producers who use it.
The picture costs anywhere from $100,000 to
$1,000,000 and earns nothing until it gets into
distribution. Each day lost represents thou-
sands of dollars in box office receipts."
Villa Turned Over to Film Body
WASHINGTON.— The Villa Falconieri at Fras-
cati (near Rome) has been turned over to the Inter-
national Institute for Cinematoraphic Education,
according to a ministerial degree. This organization
was created by the League of Nations.
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
33
WeU, What Harm Could
They Do? We Ask You!
A woman entering one of the lead-
ing picture theatres at Portland,
Ore., was stopped by the usher.
"Excuse me, madam, but you can't
take your dog inside," he told her.
"How absurd!" she protested.
"What possible harm could the
'movies' do to a tiny dog like this?"
Cooperation Makes
1928 Greater Movie
Season Best of All
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28.— Not since
"Greater Movie Season" became an annual
movement on the Pacific Coast has there
been the enthusiastic response from the
exhibitors, the studios and the public as
this year's campaign provoked. Many out-
side exhibitors joined vi^ith West Coast this
year to make the season a success. In all
cities competing exhibitors buried the
hatchet in the common cause of bringing
the people to the theatres. The movement
was led by Harold B. Franklin, president
of West Coast Theatres, with Jeff Lazarus,
director of advertising and publicity for
West Coast, as chairman of the central
committee.
Mayor George Baker of Portland, Ore.,
the governor of California and other execu-
tives indorsed the movement.
Gaumont-British
Canadian Concern
Will Distribute 24
(Special to the Herald-World)
TORONTO, Aug. 28.— Entry of British
interests into the American field is seen in
the granting of a Canadian federal charter
to the Gaumont-British Corporation of Can-
ada, Ltd., the charter being for production,
distribution and exhibition. Lieut. -Col. A.
C. Bromhead, C.B.E., chairman of the
board of the Gaumont-British Pictures Cor-
poration of London, is president of the new
concern. Arthur A. Lee is vice-president,
Reginald C. Bromhead is treasurer and Ed-
ward Auger is managing director.
Branch offices will be established in St.
John, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary and
Vancouver. The company will release 24
to 30 pictures a year.
Alberta Vaughn Engaged
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— Alberta
Vaughn has announced her engagement to
William Lait, young steel man of Pasadena
and Pittsburgh.
John L, Aldridge Is Dead
(Special to the Herald-World)
OKLAHOMA CITY, Aug. 28.— John L.
Aldridge, veteran exhibitor of Blair, Okla-
homa, died at his home on July 26.
Priscilla Bonner to Wed
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— Priscilla Bon-
ner, actress, will be married September 1
to Dr. E. Bertrand Woolfan.
Canadian Buying Not Affected
By Sound; Slow at St. Louis
Synchronism Will Benefit Box Office, Says One Toronto Distribut-
ing Executive — Unemployment Factor in
Southern Illinois
Sound films have had very little effect on buying by exhibitors in Canada.
In the St. Louis territory, however, there has been a decidedly adverse effect in
some quarters. At the same time, the St. Louis buying situation is due to many
other strictly local conditions. Unemployment has been a big factor in the
large cities, while in Southern Illinois the fact that the working of the coal
mines has been irregular has slowed up buying. These conclusions regarding
buying status in Canada and the St. Louis trade zone were reached by Herald-
World investigators.
Little Effect Noted
On Canadian Buying
(Special to the Herald-World)
OTTAWA, Aug. 28.— Interesting points
have been brought out by leading film dis-
tributors of Canada with regard to the in-
vasion of the Dominion by the sound pictures
and their effect upon the moving picture busi-
ness of the country. On the whole, it is
pointed out, the audible films have made very
little difference thus far in film buying by
the exhibitors, and, at the same time, there is
little prospect that many houses will be wired
during 1928-29.
Little Excitement, Says Hague
Clair Hague, general manager of the Cana-
dian Universal Film Co., Limited, Toronto,
declared :
"On account of the very few theatres being
able to get installations for sound films, they
have not caused any great amount of excite-
ment as far as the buying of pictures in
Canada is concerned. From what I can find
out, there will not be very many installations
before the first of the year. I understand
that the circuit houses have contracts for the
equipment. There are a few independent ex-
hibitors who are interested but nothing has
been done that is in anyway affecting the buy-
ing to any great extent.
J. P. O'Loghlin, Canadian district manager
of Fox Film Corp., Ltd., Toronto :
"It is a little early to comment on the effect
of sound pictures in Canada. The first in-
stallation will be completed for the Palace
theatre, Montreal, September 1, and I under-
stand that there will be not more than 15 in-
stallations in the whole of Canada before the
first of the year.
Sees Beneficial Effect
"Personally, I feel that the introduction of
sound pictures in Canada is going to have a
very beneficial effect upon the box-office — not
merely from the point of view of novelty but
more especially because this class of entertain-
ment is, in my opinion, far superior to the
silent film. Buying activities on the part of
(Continued on page 66)
St. Louis Status Blamed
To Sound, Other Factors
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 28.— That the sound pic-
ture has had a decidedly adverse effect on
buying in some quarters must not be denied —
it can't be.
In playing up the sound variety of pictures
the producers have discounted the value of
the old style of pictures and the exhibitors are
contending that they should not be called upon
to pay as much for the silent film dramas and
short features as formerly. On the other hand,
many of the smaller theatres of the big cities
and the leading houses in smaller communities
are not in a position to make the capital out-
lay required to install sound picture devices.
There are, of course, many other strictly
local situations that undoubtedly have had
their effect on buying of pictures this year.
Closed Mines Hit Buying
In the Southern Illinois coal fields the the-
atre owners have been taking a lot of real
punishment the past few years and they are
not in a position to pay top notch prices for
either sound or silent pictures. Here and
there you encounter an optimistic note from
some film exchange managers and salesmen,
which only goes to prove that apple sauce is
still America's greatest product. The facts
are that Southern Illinois is not buying pic-
tures as early or as well as it did when the
mines were working regularly and the motion
picture houses were doing good business.
Unemployment Is Factor
In St. Louis and other large cities of this
trade zone the unemployment question has
been a very decided factor. Business is bad,
very bad for most of the neighborhood shows
here and in all the industrial towns outside of
St. Louis. And the buying of motion pictures
has been affected.
Most exhibitors are buying to fill their pres-
ent needs and shaving prices whenever pos-
sible. They are gauging their outlays by the
box office returns, which are small for most
of them these dog days.
Four Gregory & Bemasek Theatres
Added to String Operated by Receiver
Four more theatres were added last week to the string of over 40 Chicago
houses now being operated under a receivership by the Chicago Title & Trust
Company. The lour are the La Grange in that suburb, the Parthenon, Berwyn;
the Palace, Cicero; and the Milo, Chicago, owned and operated by Gregory and
Bernasek, for which firm the trust company was appointed receiver in an action
brought in Circuit court by stockholders of the circuit.
The theatre company owns a half interest in a house now under construction
in Gary and recently sold the Illinois and Gayety theatres in Ottawa. Jack Samp-
son is managing the houses in receivership.
The Austin State Bank was appointed receiver for the Ambassador theatre, an
M & R Amusement Company house, against which foreclosure action was brought.
Only the building is involved. The house is dark, but the receiver expects to
open it within two weeks, with E. L. Klein remaining as manager.
34
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
Premier of Canada Is Invited to
M P T O Toronto Convention
Outstanding Representative of American Government Also Likely to
Attend and Complete Bond of Goodwill Between Nations
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28. — The premier of Canada, William Lyon Mackenzie
King", has been invited to attend the ninth annual convention of the
M. P. T. O. A., which is to be conducted at Toronto, October 16, 17 and
18. The premier will accept the invitation in all probability, according to a
telegram to the national organization's headquarters from J. C. Brady, president
of the Canadian Division of the theatres owners' association.
THIS will be an outstanding event and
the first time the first man of Canada
appeared before an exhibitor body of an
international character, saj^s the M. P. T.
O. A. announcement.
"Because of the fact that the motion pic-
ture is now generally recognized as one of
the world's greatest mediums of expression,
considerable importance attaches to Pre-
mier King's probable presence at the con-
vention, as it cannot but have a most fav-
orable effect on the relations between the
United States and Canada.
Better Relations Seen
"In conjunction with this Canadian move,
it is likely that an outstanding represen-
tative of the American Government will
also attend and thus complete the bond of
official good will.
"This convention will be entirely con-
structive in character and it can and will
be made of definite benefit to the whole
industry and also open the way to wider
and more advantageous trade and other re-
lations between both countries."
**Dawn" Gets Third Airing
Before Ontario Censors
(Special to the Herald-World)
TORONTO, Aug. 28.— Hon. Dr. J. D.
Monteith, Ontario provincial treasurer, has
announced that the Ontario Board of Moving
Picture Censors will once more examine the
British production, "Dawn," for a reconsider-
ation of its decision. This will make the third
time that the feature will have been ofiicially
viewed in Ontario. It was seen by Ontario
Government officials before it was sent on to
Fake Fire Alarm ; Presto !
Saws and Hammers Vanish
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, Aug. 28.— If the work-
men employed on the new Fox the-
atre here ever meet up with the per-
son, or persons, who have been
sending in false fire alarms from the
theatre building, there is going to be
trouble. And how!
The first alarm was sent in one day
last week, shortly after the day's
work had begun. The workmen
dropped tools and hurried over to
the southeast corner of the building
to see what was on fire, leaving the
north section unguarded. When they
returned, they found that thieves,
operating under cover of the excite-
ment, had stolen 14 steel tool boxes.
The second alarm was turned in
two days later, and the workmen
again went to look for the fire. Some
of them had become wise, however,
and took tool boxes with them.
Those who didn't, lost them again.
The irate workmen announced that
the thieves, if caught, would go to
the hospital before they were booked
at police headquarters.
the censor board. The latter rejected it in
entirety for presentation in Ontario theatres,
despite the protests of many branches of the
Canadian Legion.
Shea's Buffalo Starts
Radio Symphonic Hours
(Special to the Herald-World)
BUFFALO, Aug. 28.— The inaugural pro-
gram of the new Shea Buffalo Symphonic
Hours, sponsored by the Evening News and
to be broadcast through station WGR, Buf-
falo, was sent into the ether lanes Thursday,
at midnight, under the direction of Herbert
Straub, who, for this initial program, had
arranged both classical numbers and popular
selections, played b.v the stage band, under his
direction. The programs will be chiefly selec-
tions by the orchestra, and will be introduced
and closed each week by the playing of part
of Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony."
The program Thursday night was opened
with Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance"
march, followed by Brahm's Valse Suite,
Opus 38. Then came Rachmaninoff's "Pre-
lude in G Minor," Haendel's "Largo," Bizet's
"Suite from the Opera, 'Carmen'," and Erwin
Glucksman's arrangement of "Poet and the
Peasant." Among the lighter numbers were
"Salty," "Driftwood," and "Jeannine."
Maj
ior John Zanft Weds
Hattie Carnegie in East
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 28.— Major John
Zanft, vice-president and general manager of
the Fox theatre chain, married Miss Hattie
Carnegie here last week. The bride, a native
of Austria, was formerly the wife of Ferdi-
nand Fleischmann.
Irving Briskin Becomes
Sterling Vice-President
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Irving J. Briskin,
with Sterling Pictures since its inception, has
been promoted to vice-president. His new du-
ties will give him complete handling of all
matters concerning domestic and foreign
sales.
Race Officials Are Held
For Violating Blue Law
.\LTOONA, PA., Aug. 28.— The blue laws
of 1794 were brought into play when five
ofiicials of the Speedway here were cited to
appear at a hearing following the running of
the International Sweepstakes on Sunday.
War Film Plays Germany
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— "The Battles of
Coronel and Faulkland Islands," produced in
association with A. E. Bundy of London,
which played a four-week's run at the Cameo,
has had its initial showing in Germany.
Radio Reports Maggie,
"Nanook" Eskimo, Dying
(Special to the Herald-World)
OTTAWA, Aug. 28.— News of a
tragedy of interest to the film world
has reached the civilized world
through a radio message from Port
Harrison, on Hudson's Bay in North-
ern Canada, that Maggie, the Eskimo
woman whose personality was a fea-
ture of M C M's "Nanook of the
North," was dying at the Eskimo
camp there as the result of an injury
to her spine. Her condition was dis-
covered when an exploration schoon-
er called at Port Harrison to arrange
for a base for an expedition. The
medical officer attached to the party
gave all professional assistance pos-
sible.
Educational Names the
Lane Contest Victors;
Newman Wins 1st Prize
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28.— Winners are
announced by Educational in the contest for
the six best examples of short feature adver-
tising and exploitation on behalf of a Lupino
Lane comedy during a sixteen-week period,
over the entire West Coast circuit. The first
prize of $125 goes to Frank Newman, West
Coast theatre, Long Beach, Cal., and the five
other awards of $100, $75, $50, and two of
%2d each, go to the following managers :
Second prize, Harry W. Woodin, California
theatre, Anaheim, Cal. ; third prize, C. L.
Laws, U. C. theatre, Berkeley, Cal.; fourth
prize, Robert Harvey and Phil Phillips, T & D
theatre, Oakland, Cal; fifth prize, George F.
Sharp, Wilson theatre, Fresno, Cal. ; sixth
prize, H. A. Gillespie, Liberty theatre, Yak-
ima, Wash.
Newman _ made an especially commendable
showing with consistent plugging of Lupino
Lane in "Fandango," in a well planned series
of newspaper and program ads and publicity
copy. _ He succeeded in placing much pictorial
publicity as well, and had a Lupino Lane cut-
out, considerably larger than life-size, in his
lobby.
Brandon Withdraws Suit
Against Board at Atlanta
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, Aug. 28.— Cancellation by
Thomas A. Branon, head of the Eltabran
Film Company, with headquarters in Atlanta,
of his injunction suit against the Atlanta Film
Board of Trade to prevent the board from
expelling him from membership, this week
brought to an end the differences which have
existed between the distributor and the trade
board. The suit was instituted some months
ago but never has come to trial. Shortly
after it was filed, the board rescinded its
action looking to expelling Branon, thereby
restoring him to membership. The board had
claimed that the distributor had violated cer-
tain of the rules of the organization.
In his petition to the court, Brandon de-
clared that the action of the board was illegal,
claim being made that it was not in accord-
ance with certain specifications embraced in
the bvlaw.
Fairbanks Cameraman
Held in Slaying Quiz
(Special to the Herald-World)
TUCUMCARI, N. M., Aug. 28.— Leroy
James, who called himself a cameraman for
Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, was
jailed here in connection with the slaj'ing of
\A'endt Schmidt.
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
35
''Lilac Time" Show
Aboard Plane Ends
In Plunge in Harbor
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Eleven persons
aboard an airplane waved their handker-
chiefs for help for three hours and were
answered only with return waves and smiles
from ferry boats.
The eleven in the plane did not see and
hear "Lilac Time" in synchronized film, as
had been planned, because the airplane
burned out a motor and skilful piloting
brought it to rest on the water a mile out
from the Statue of Liberty, where an anchor
was thrown out. After many unheeded
calls for help, relief came from a passing
motorboat which gave the plane a tow to
shore.
First National's publicity department also
had arranged with WGBS to broadcast the
music for the picture.
Pathe Buys Full
Hold on Producers
International Body
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28. — All minority
stockholders' interests in Producers Inter-
national Corporation have been purchased
by Pathe and the Pathe export department
will be merged in Pathe International Cor-
poration, 100 per cent subsidiary of Pathe
Exchange, Inc., Colvin W. Brown, executive
vice-president, announced yesterday.
William Vogel remains with the company
as vice-president and general manager.
Arthur Rousseau, who has managed the
Pathe export department for 12 years, con-
tinues with the company as vice-president.
Hughes Loans Milestone
To Paramount for Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— Lewis Mile-
stone has been loaned to Paramount by
Howard Hughes to direct a feature produc-
tion. Upon completion of his special as-
signment he will return to Caddo, where he
is scheduled to direct a million-dollar ocean
epic.
Large Australian Chain
Signs to Play Pathe Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Hoyts Theatre,
with 90 houses in Australia and others in
New Zealand, will play Pathe productions as
first runs in all key cities through an arrange-
ment just concluded with Producers Interna-
tional Corporation, foreign distributorsi of
Pathe.
Firemen Use Fire Escape
To Reach Theatre Blaze
(Special to the Herald-World)
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 28.— Damage esti-
mated at $1,000 was done to the Granada the-
atre in Anderson, Ind., recently by a fire
which started on the roof and burned its way
into the building. Firemen were forced to use
fire escapes to get at the blaze.
Garsson Sails to England
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Murray W.
Garsson, president of the Buck Jones cor-
poration, will sail for England, where he
will make arrangements for a production
starring Buck Jones.
St. Louis Exhibitors Agree to
Musicians' Offer, Says Agent
Union Concession for $4 a Week Reduction Presented to Permit
Smaller Houses to Keep Orchestras and Not
Use "Canned Music"
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 28. — Steve Butler, business agent for the St. Louis
Musicians Mutual Benefit Association, in a report submitted to the St. Louis
Central Trades and Labor Unions at Unity Hall, Sunday afternoon, stated the
owners of 59 theatres controlled by members of the Independent Motion Pic-
ture Theatre Owners of St. Louis, through Fred Wehrenberg, president, have
declared their willingness to sign a new contract with the musicians union
effective on September L
700 Theatres Affiliated
Butler pointed out that there are in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois
more than 700 theatres affiiiated with the Motion Picture Theatre Owners
association of which Wehrenberg is the president. These houses principally
charge 10, 15 and 20 cents admissions.
In order to permit many of these smaller
houses to retain orchestras composed of
union players and to refrain from installing
various "canned music" equipment, Butler
explained, his union had made very liberal
concessions. Not only did the musicians
accept a $4 a week per man cut in the
larger houses, such as the Ambassador,
Missouri and Loew's State, but in the small
houses other special concessions were made
such as the extra charge when musicians
play two instruments and the 50 per cent
increase when on occasions the musicians
sang on the stage.
Work Hours Raised 30 Minutes
The hours of work in the smaller houses
were increased by thirty minutes.
Butler pointed out that the musicians
have brought about conditions which will
enable the theatres and other amusement
places to employ more musicians and many
members of the union now idle will get
work.
"Belief in certain principles of unionism
may serve a purpose, but understanding is
better, as has been proved in our fight
against 'canned music,' " Butler said. "Our
fight was at one time stopped by the police.
Police Favor Neutrality
"But following our suit for damages
against members of the Board of Police
Commissioners, that body has adopted a
declaration in favor of neutrality in con-
troversies between labor and employers,
which is another victory of which we should
be proud. Park concerts in the future will
depend on organized labor and a special tax
of a fraction of a mill would provide a fund
of $300,000, sufficient to provide concerts
for every neighborhood park, where they
are most needed."
Butler also announced that the Musicians
Union will arrange a special benefit concert
program to help offset the loss experienced
by the Municipal Opera Association during
It's Hot, So Staff Has
Confab and Gets Hotter!
(Special to the Herald-World)
CHATHAM, ONT., Aug. 28.— A
one-theatre "convention" was held
recently during a hot spell when
Manager A. P. Drohan of Griffin's
theatre, called the whole staff to-
gether for a round-table discussion
of all details of theatre management,
service and presentation. Sugges-
tions were noted and a "go-getter"
spirit was instilled into all em-
ployees, Drohan states.
the season which closed on Sunday, August
26. It was the first time since its initial
season that the opera experienced a deficit.
While the musicians union have shown a
willingness to cooperate with the St. Louis
theatre owners in reducing their overhead
costs, the motion picture projectionists em-
ployed in the 58 neighborhood theatres in-
dependently operated in St. Louis have
declined to accept a 10 per cent reduction in
wages. The proposition was put to a vote
of members of Moving Picture Operators
Local Union No. 143 and defeated.
Projectionists Fight Cut
This proposal from the theatre owners
was a counteraction to the demands of the
operators for an increase September 1 in
their present wage scale from $54 to $63
a week, based on the seating capacity of the
theatres.
Fred Wehrenberg, representing the thea-
tre owners, addressed the projectionists and
told them that many theatres in the city
must reduce their overhead expenses if they
hope to remain open. He also pointed out
the concessions made by the musicians
whereby musicians in the smaller theatres
voluntarily accepted a cut in wages from
$48 to $44 a week, and also reduced the
minimum requirements of players in some
instances.
The executive committee of the operators
union was authorized to conduct further
negotiations with the theatre owners.
Wehrenberg, Oscar Lehr, treasurer, and
Clarence Kaimann and Williams Reeves,
member of the executive committee of the
motion picture theatre owners, have met the
union men.
Tiffany-Stahl to Make
Ten Using Photophone
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— R C A Photo-
phone will be used for Tiffany-Stahl sound
pictures which are to be known as Tiffany
Tone Productions, according to an an-
nouncement today. Ten productions are
planned with sound.
It was also announced that Gloria
Swanson's new picture, "Queen Kelly," to
be handled by United Artists, will be made
with Photophone.
Soviet-German Company
In Affiliated Producers
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— The newest re-
cruit of the Affiliated European Producers,
Inc., is Drussa, Soviet Government-German
film trust combine. This is the fifteenth com-
pany to enter the new organization.
36
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
Y^
SYNCHRONIZED PICTURES
Kennedy Organizes Eastern Sound Studio
Old Pathe Plant Is Acquired;
Equipment Also Sent to Coast
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28. — Joseph P. Kennedy takes another of his many and
rapid strides forward in the industry with organization of Sound Studios, Inc.,
for production of sound pictures in the East. The new company has acquired
the Pathe studios at 124th street for equipment with RCA Photophone.
Robert Kane will be president of Sound
Studios', Inc., and the vice presidents are to be
Joseph I. Schnitzer, vice president of F B O,
and Colvin W. BrowTi, executive vice president
of Pathe.
Stage Stars to Be Signed
"Located in the heart of the legitimate pro-
ducing field" says the announcement, "it is
planned to make use of stars whose names
are outstanding and whose screen personality
is surefire. The productions to be made will
be filmed from outstanding plays, novels or
stories which lend themselves naturally to
dialogue and sound effects and yet will con-
tain those pictorial qualities and elements
which will score as effectively in the silent
field as they are expected to store in the talk-
ing field."
W'hile this development was being made
known, four RCA engineers were leaving for
the F B O Hollywood Studios with a baggage
car full of paraphernalia with which to equip
a stage for Photophone. The engineers were
to be met by Lee Clarke, in charge of the tech-
nical sound division.
What It Takes to Equip Stage
Exhibitors have heard much about the cost
of equipment for production of sound films,
but have not had much information as to
just what apparatus is required. The cost is
easily understood when one knows the parts
necessary. Here is a list of the apparatus
shipped in the baggage car bound for the
F B O studio on the Coast :
2 recording machines, 2 recording tables, 8 1000
ft. magazines, 6 microphones, 6 michrophone stands,
6 michrophone amplifiers, 2 power amplifiers, 2 500
V. motor generator sets, 2 monitor loudspeakers com-
plete with amplifier, 6 complete Breast transmitters
and headphones for intercommunication, 4 camera
markers, 4 Cine motors for camera operation, 2 mo- ■
tor generator charging outfits, 4 storage batteries.
Radiotrons as follows: 6 UX 240, 6 UX 201 A, 6
PJ 8, 4 PJ 21, 4 UX 281, 2 UX 250, 2 indicating
lamps, 2 photometer lamps, 2 exposure lamps.
Spare parts as follows: 2 vibrators, 1 tool kit, 2
rewind belts for recorder, 4 sets of spare fuses, 4
sets motor generator brushes for both motor generator
sets, Radiotrons as follows: 6UX 240, 6 UX 201 A,
6 PJ 8, 4 PJ 21, 4 UX 281, 2 UX 250, 4 camera
marker lanps, 2 indicating lamps, 4 exposure lamps,
2 photometer lamps, 6 michrophone amplifier bridles
and fittings, 2 trunks for spare parts, 4 loading bags
for 1000 ft. magazines, 3 michrophones, 3 michrophone
cables, 3 shielded S-lead cables.
One Phototone reproducing equipment as follows:
2 sound projectors less lamp housing and lenses, 1
complete \'oltage amplifier and power amplifier rack,
8 loudspeaker units, 1 monitoring loudspeaker, 1 input
control panel, 1 visual signaling system, 1 motor
generator charging equipment, 4 Exide storage bat-
teries, 4 UX 281 Radiotrons, 4 UX 250 Radiotrons,
12 UX 210 Radiotrons.
Dry batteries as required for initial installation,
spare equipment as follows: 6 UX 210 Radiotrons,
2 UX 281 Radiotrons, 2 UX 250 Radiotrons, 1 com-
plete set of indicating lamps, 2 spare loudspeaker
cones.
Shooting of the first all-talker is to start
at the Hollywood plant within three weeks.
It is to be a melodrama and William LeBaron,
vice president in charge of production, is re-
ported to have signed half the cast after hav-
ing been in touch with stage stars before he
left New York for the Coast.
LeBaron is considering organization of a
permanent company of stock players to appear
exclusively in F B O synchronized product,
these to be chosen largely from stage players.
Hear Smith Address
Before He Gives It
(Special to the Herald-World)
BUFFALO, Aug. 28.— Patrons at the
Great Lakes theatre heard Governor Al
Smith start his acceptance address even be-
fore the candidate began speaking. The Fox
Movietone special was put on the screen
exactly at the official time to release, whereas
at Albany the rain had necessitated a delay
of actual delivery while rearrangement was
being made for holding the ceremony in-
doors. Of course it was a shorter version
on the Movietone, but it was quite a scoop
for Manager H. M. Addison.
This Theatre Not Wired
But It Had Sound Effects
The Blane moving picture theatre
in Chicago is not equipped for sound,
but the other night it was wired with
vocal chords and some startling
sound effects were heard issuing
from it. There were plenty of talk-
ing sequences too, with a great deal
of yells and screams. Volume was
perfect, but the synchronization
seemed a bit off. Neighbors who in-
vestigated thought the theatre must
be rehearsing one of those gang pic-
tures with sound, but when they en-
tered the theatre about dawn, they
found young Robert Andrew who
had fallen asleep during the evening
performance and had slept until al-
most dawn. He was returned to his
frantic parents.
Cheer Up! They'll
All Have Their Fling
The farm editor seems to be about
the only departmental writer on
newspapers who has not been called
in yet to act as critic of sound pic-
tures. The reviewers of dramatics
were the nrst to step to the aid of
the motion picture critic. Then
came the music critic to add his dis-
cussion and now we have even the
art critic getting into the game, as
well as the book critic.
When Paramount's, "The Patriot"
opened at the Rialto in New York,
for example, music critics went into
serious discussion of the sound ac-
companiment.
Sound Pictures Open
Big Despite Lack of
Extensive Advertising
(Special to the Herald-World)
SHREVEPORT, LA., Aug. 28.— Without
any extravagant outlay of money for ad-
vance advertising, Saenger's Majestic theatre
here began showing sound pictures last Fri-
day, and drew enormous business on the open-
ing day. Attendance held to a high level all
week. The house seats 932. The feature was
Warner Brothers' "Glorious Betsy."
Surrounding the feature were several Vita-
phone acts — Will Hays in his speech welcom-
ing Vitaphone ; Conrad Nagel in the general
trailer ; Mary Lewis, Metropolitan Opera star ;
Waring's Pennsylvanians and Van and
Schenck. Another short subject chosen was a
Fox Movietone reel of Mayor O'Keefe of
New Orleans.
"Warming Up ''Is First
Sound Policy Feature
(Special to the Herald-World)
JACKSONVILLE, FLA., Aug. 28.— Begin-
ning Sunday, sound pictures were added to
the attractions of the Florida theatre, Jack-
sonville's largest playhouse. The feature is
Paramount's first picture with sound, "Warm-
ing Up," starring Richard Dix. Movietone
News and a Movietone act are added attrac-
tions. Other pictures scheduled, include Emil
Jannings in "The Patriot," Esther Ralston and
Hobart Bosworth in "The Sawdust Paradise"
and Pola Negri in "Loves of an Actress."
Vitaphone presentations will be offered from
time to time. Vitaphone features will be pre-
sented only at the Imperial.
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Twenty-five Houses
In Atlanta Territory
To Be Wired Soon
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, Aug. 28.— Twenty-five addi-
tional theatres in this immediate territory
have closed contracts for Western Electric
equipment and are soon to be wired for
Vitaphone and Movietone. Several important
installations are now in progress and others
will be completed just as rapidly as engineers
can handle the work.
Fifteen of these installations are scheduled
for theatres in Florida, the group including
every town where E. J. Sparks is operating.
That seems particularly appropriate since
Sparks pioneered in this section with Vita-
phone and made a great success of it before
it became so widely and favorably established.
Florida houses now being wired, or soon
to be wired, include the Republic, Jackson-
ville; Rex, St. Petersburg; Jefferson, St.
Augustine; Star, Arcadia; Beacham, Orlando;
Milane, Sanf ord ; Arcade, Ft. Myers ; Palace,
Bradentown; Capitol, Plant City; Florida,
Gainesville; Dreka, Deland ; Howell, Palatka;
Sunrise, Ft. Pierce; Sarasota, Sarasota; Sun-
set, Ft. Lauderdale.
New Canadian House
To Show Sound Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
OTTAWA, Aug. 28.— p. J. Nolan, propri-
etor of the Rex and Columbia theatres, an-
nounced this week that his handsome new
suburban house, the Avalon, scheduled to open
in September, will be wired for the presen-
tation of sound track films. Nolan claims
that the Avalon will be the first moving pic-
ture house in the Dominion to offer sound
pictures as a permanent feature. He has an-
nounced that the installation of the special
equipment is costing in the neighborhood of
$20,000.
MGM Production
Opens Next Month
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— Installation of
the sound stages, recording apparatus and
electrical instruments at the M G M studios is
nearing completion and production of talking
pictures will start in September.
Two stages, each 98 by 70 feet give a total
of 6,860 square feet of floor space, besides
their monitor rooms, with 3,500 square feet
of space each. The recording building has
12,000 feet of floor space. The value of the
sound stages will approximate half a million
dollars, according to the engineers in charge.
Gotham Puts Final
Touches on Plans
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Negotiations for
synchronizing Gotham productions have been
practically completed. President Sam Sax de-
clared just before leaving for the Coast fol-
lowing a month of conferences with Vice
President Budd Rogers.
Artclass Heads to Meet
On Entering Sound Field
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Max Weiss of
Artclass Pictures will leave for an extended
sales trip in Europe following a conference
with Adolph Weiss and Louis Weiss this
week to consider entering the sound field.
CAROLINA
THEATRE
An example of how exJiibitors are using the department of SYNCHRONIZED PICTURES
in the Herald-World as an aid in preparing advertising on the sound picture. The two pages
shown above are part of a special newspaper section announcing the introduction of sound
pictures at the Carolina theatre, Greensboro, N. C. The right hand page was originally
used by H. E.. Jameyson of the Palace theatre, Wichita, Kan., and later reproduced in the
Herald-World as shown above. At that time Jameyson offered to supply readers of the
Herald-World with jnats of the page at cost.
Stanley Reopens Regent
With Vitaphone Installed
(Special to the Herald-World)
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 28.— The Stanley
Company reopened the Regent theatre in East
Liberty for the new season recently. Vita-
phone was installed here some time ago.
Loew will reopen the Aldine in downtown
Pittsburgh on Labor Day. Vitaphone and
Movietone are being installed, and it is likely
that the sound short features will be featured
in conjunction with vaudeville bills.
The Harris Theatres: probably will install
Vitaphone and Movietone in their Sheridan
Square theatre. East Liberty and the South
Hills theatre, Dormont.
''Jazz Singer^ ^ Packs
Tudor, New Orleans
(Special to the Herald-World)
NE\V ORLEANS, Aug. 28.— "The Jazz
Singer," featuring Al Jolson, is packing the
Tudor theatre to the doors. The Vitaphone
vaudeville includes: The Ingenues, Ziegfeld
Follies Stars and a quartet in "A Monastery
Cellar."
Sound and Color
In Same Film Is
Tiffany-Stahl Aim
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Tiffany-Stahl is
now synchronizing "The Toilers" and "The
Cavalier," to be ready for showing September
1. Eight others also will be synchronized.
A feature of Tiffany-Stahl's plans is the
release of color pictures with synchronization.
These are "In a Persian Market," October 1 ;
"The Toy Shop," November 1 ; "The Hawaiian
Love Call," December 15 ; "A Japanese Car-
nival," January 1 (picture to be taken in nat-
ural colors in Tokio, during the coronation of
the Emperor) and "In A Chinese Temple
Garden," February 15 (all scenes to be photo-
graphed in China).
1 5 Day and Date Showings
Arranged for "Tenderloin^'
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 28.— The
Vitaphoned "Tenderloin" is playing
fifteen Philadelphia theatres this
week as well as four surrounding
towns, through bookings of Joseph
Hebrew, Warner Brothers branch
manager.
The Rivoli in Baltimore aban-
doned a one-week policy to hold over
two consecutive pictures, with Vita-
phone dialogue, "State Street Sadie"
and "Women They Talk About."
Alamo Closed for
Sound Installing
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOUISVILLE, Aug. 28.— Manager Fred
Dolle, president of the Fourth Avenue Amuse-
ment Company, announced last Saturday that
the Alamo theatre would be closed for three
weeks. During this: time both Vitaphone and
Movietone equipmenr will be installed. The
theatre will have new lighting fixtures, new
draperies, and new wall treatments in order
to perfect the reproduction of the sounds from
Vitaphone and Movietone, also a new venti-
lating system.
The lobby will be redecorated and ampli-
fiers will be placed at vantage points in the
auditorium.
Write Original Songs
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK,^ Aug. 28.— Two original
songs by Victor Schertzinger will be sung by
Nancy Carroll in her sound picture of New
York stage life.
38
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
Advance poster used by the Carthay Circle theatre in Las Angeles for the
run of "Lilac Time," the First National picture starring Colleen Moore, and
F Ns' first sound picture, using the Photophone system. A poster such as
this will arouse curiosity concerning both the picture and Photophone.
"Lilac Time '' Gets Big Campaign
at Carthay Circle^ Los Angeles
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28. — The exploitation campaign used for the world pre-
miere of First National's special, "Lilac Time," starring Colleen Moore, at the
Carthay Circle theatre, Los Angeles, was big-time from every angle. It carried
the message to nearly every resident of Southern California that "Lilac Time"
was opening at the Carthay Circle on July 16. Following are listed some of the
highlights of exploitation employed for this purpose.
A wrecked airplane was placed in a wire
enclosure in the forecourt of the Carthay Cir-
cle theatre. The entire plane was of tan color
linen, including wings, fuselage, etc. Letters
and numbers were in black, the U. S. A. in-
signia in red, white and blue. A signboard
explained the wrecked airplane. This at-
tracted tremendous attention. Theatres hav-
ing no forecourt can use the wrecked airplane
on the marquee.
A de luxe teaser 28-sheet billboard with
copy reading, "It will soon be LILAC TIME
in Los Angeles" was used in various sections
of the city. The poster had a lilac background,
with black and white letters. Later a narrow
strip was posted across the large letters of
"Lilac Time" reading, "And then you'll hear
Photophone." The stand was made from
block fetters. The teaser 28's were covered
with local 24-sheet stands just before the pic-
ture opened. A similar 6-sheet with white let-
ters on a lilac background was employed.
Flock of Planes Painted
Eight painted de luxe boards, hand painted
by the outdoor advertising company, proved
excellent attention arresters. A flock of air-
planes and a large head of Colleen Moore
were painted on each.
The chain of 80 Owl Drug Stores in Los
Angeles and suburbs gave excellent displays
of the Colleen Moore toilet articles which it
merchandises, together with stills, photo en-
largements and special cards on the "Lilac
Time" showing at the Carthay Circle. Twenty
of these displays occupied the full wifidow —
the best for advertising purposes in the city.
The 20 big window displays remained up for
two weeks. The Owl Drug Store also got up
a special Colleen Moore vial of perfume.
These vials were given away to ladies attend-
ing the matinee performance. A special sundae
was also put out by the Owl people. A photo-
graph of Colleen Moore eating one of the
sundaes, with a description of how the sun-
dae is made, was pas:ted on the windows of
all 80 Owl drug stores as well as on the mir-
ror back of the soda fountains. The soda
dispensers also wore small silk badges recom-
mending the sundae.
Prior to the opening, the theme song, "Jean-
nine, I Dream of Lilac Time," was broadcast
over the radio. The opening itself went over
the radio from station KNX. The first 500
persons who wrote into the station regarding
the reception of the song received a photo-
graph of James Montgomery Flagg's new
sketch of Colleen
Statuettes of her as Jeannine in "Lilac
Time" were placed in the ticket booth of the
theatre, in all branch ticket offices and other
advantageous places.
Klieg Lights Line Blocks
One of the most effective stunts that was
put out was the lining, for two blocks, of the
avenue between Wilshire boulevard and the
Carthay Circle theatre, with Klieg lights, using
a lilac tinted glass which gave a very beauti-
ful effect.
A small enclosed truck, carrying a loud
speaker set and a Brunswick Panathrope ma-
chine which played music as the truck pro-
ceeded about town was an effective street
ballyhoo. A second truck followed the loud-
speaker wagon, carrying an electric sign, with
white lights on a lilac background, with the
title "Lilac Time." This ballyhoo got a lot of
attention.
Stickers, about the size of the Red Cross
seal, with white letters on a lilac background,
were used on all correspondence going out
from the theatre and from First National's
Burbank studios. The copy on the stickers
read: "It will soon be Lilac Time," the two
latter words being in large type. These were
followed by another sticker after the opening
of the picture reading: "It's Lilac Time."
The title of the picture was placed on all
the sculptural advertising used by the theatre
along the highways of Los Angeles and south-
ern California. A small model of the Carthay
Circle theatre is mounted on a cement pedes-
tal, the whole being about 10 or 12 feet high.
The name of the theatre and "Now Playing"
were lettered on the base, with a space be-
tween for inserting the title of each new at-
traction to play the theatre.
The Western Union Telegraph company
placed a special telegraph office just outside
the theatre to handle the volume of telegraph
messages sent by guests at the premiere of
the picture. "Telegraph your friends what
you think of 'Lilac Time' " was the sign
painted on a board covering the front of the
telegrapher's desk. Another framed sign
read : "Congratulatory telegrams may be filed
here."
Ten special Neon light signs were placed at
various street intersections. An arrow pointed
the way to the Carthay Circle theatre. The
name of the theatre appeared in a large circle
at the top of the lamp post, while an illumi-
nated sign attached about eight feet up on the
post carried the title of the picture.
Vitaphone^s Debut
In Greensboro, N. C
Is Well Heralded
(Special to the Herald-World)
GREENSBORO, N. C, Aug. 28.— Vita-
phone made its debut in Greensboro last week
at the Carolina theatre, owned and operated
by Publix-Saenger, with "Glorious Betsy"
offered as the feature picture.
Keen interest was manifested by the public
and a capacity house enthusiastically ap-
plauded the "see and hear" picture. Large
audiences throughout the week insure Vita-
phone's success at the Carolina.
Effective publicity was given Vitaphone by
the management of the Carolina several weeks
in advance. On Sunday, August 12, the
Greensboro Daily News devoted several
columns of space to interesting news and fea-
ture stories pertinent to sound pictures, be-
sides carrying a full page announcement by
the theatre of its new policy and an addi-
tional quarter-page announcing coming Broad-
way stars and attractions. Messages of con-
gratulations to the Carolina were carried in
all local ads, ten in number, appearing in the
four-page theatre section of the newspaper.
The opening sound program consisted of an
inaugural address by Will Hays, short
sketches by Eddie Peabody, Mary Lewis and
Bert Swor and the feature pictures.
Eva La Gallienne to
Play inMGM Talkie
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Eva Le Gallienne,
founder and director of the Civic Repertory
theatre here, has signed a contract with
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to appear in talking
motion pictures. Miss Le Gallienne's arrange-
ment is in line with her recent statement that
she believes firmly in the future of the talking
motion picture.
Although this will be Miss Le Gallienne's
first appearance before the moving picture
camera, screen tests were dispensed with in
her case. She has appeared in "Not So Long
Ago," "Liliom," "The Swan," revivals of
Ibsen, and during the last two seasons, reper-
toire productions at the Civic Repertory the-
atre.
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
British Exhibitors
Are Skeptical Yet
Nervous on Sound
{By London Correspondent of Herald-World)
LONDON, Aug. 28.— British exhibitors
are, in the main, very skeptical toward
sound pictures, and a state of nervousness
is abroad. Alany of them remember talk-
ing pictures of 20 years ago, and the effects
these, though novelty made them a tem-
porary success, does not inspire confidence.
The C. E. A. has set a special committee
to examine the whole situation and to re-
port, and in the meantime it is unlikely that
sound film projection apparatus will mai'ce
inroads among British cinemas.
Paramount is negotiating with Otterson
of Electrical Research Products who is
here on a short visit, and has already de-
cided to put in Movietone at the Plaza, its
West End key theatre. Jury Metro are
also to install this system in their new Em-
pire on Leicester Square which is now
nearly completed. It is also on the cards
that Paramount will arrange to produce
sound films in this country within a few
months from now, and these will probably
be on Movietone.
Deforest Phonofilms is to be taken over
by a new British company to be called
British Talking Films, Ltd., and having a
capital of 500,000 pounds, which is already
subscribed. This company is sitting tight
on its 26 patents and is awaiting the result
of the Deforest-Movietone action in the
U. S. A. before proceeding to challenge the
position here.
It is highly probable if Movietone loses
this case, that immediate action will be
started by De Forest in this country with
a view to restraining Movietone. British
Acoustics which is the sound device spon-
sored by the Gaumont British Corporation
is soon to be demonstrated to the trade.
This is a film recording system, but the
sound strip is separate from the picture
film. It is also reported that British Acous-
tic sound devices will be used by Gains-
borough Pictures, Ltd., of London in its
feature "The Wreckers," which is now in
production. Anthony Asquith's picture for
British Instruction Films, Ltd., of London,
of which he is both author and director,
will have Phototone (a British device) or-
chestral and sound effect accompaniment.
"Stark Mad'' to Be
Vitaphone Special
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— The next Vita-
phone special to be started at the War-
ner Studio will be "Stark Mad" by Jerome
Kingston. H. B. Warner, Louise Fazenda,
and Jacqueline Logan will head the lineup
and others featured will be Henry B. Wal-
thall, Claude Gillingwater, Warner Rich-
mond, Andre Beranger, John Miljan and
Lionel Belmore. Lloyd Bacon will direct.
M G M Sign Adrian
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Gilbert Adrian,
noted style-creator, was signed to a long
term contract last week by Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer. Before going to the West Coast,
Adrian designed costumes for many New
York reviews. According to the terms of
his agreement with M G M, Adrian, in ad-
dition to his work as a costume designer,
will probably assist in the presentation and
staging of reviews and spectacle sequences
for forthcoming sound productions.
Advertising "Lights of New York/^ the first "all talkie," produced by
Warner Brothers. The ads shown above were used by the McVickers theatre, Chicago, a
Balaban & Katz loop house, in putting over die picture. Ads used three days in advance
of the opening and those used for seven consecutive days during the run are shown.
Simple Apparatus for
Synchronizing Films
Registered in England
(Washington Bureau of the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28.— New inven-
tions recently registered at the British Pat-
ent Office have attracted much attention, ac-
cording to Trade Commissioner George R.
Canty of Paris.
The first application defines the scope of
the invention by explaining that the mech-
anism already provided in musical instru-
ments or film machines is used to drive and
obtain uniform running of the subsequent
addition of supplementary parts.
The second application applies to a sys-
tem by which the amplifier used for sound
pictures might also be used for the recep-
tion of broadcasting.
German Producers
Form Association
(Washington Bureau of the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28. — Germany's
latest cartel, that of talking motion picture
companies, is called the "Deutsches Tonbild
Film-Syndikat," Assistant Trade Commis-
sioner Douglas Miller, Berlin, writes.
Nearly all the German producers of talk-
ing picture films are represented in the new
cartel, which has a capital of about $2,500,-
000. Organizers of the cartel have not yet
disclosed how it proposes to work in the
industry or what patents are planned for
development. However, it appears, Berlin
observers declare, that its organizers are
trying to get together on the basis of the
best available system, rather than develop
competing types.
40
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
Sound Films Add Impetus to
Producer Backing of "Season ^^
By BOB FRAZIER
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28. — Greater Movie Season, now in full sway, has won
extraordinary support among production people. The very definite though
baffling movement towards talking pictures fits appropriately into the plans of
'"Season" promoters on the Coast. Sound devices provide an added instrument
for demolishing that damning phrase, '"in their infancy."
The consensus of production people indi-
cates that synchronized pictures open greater
opportunities for the motion picture industry,
but skepticism regarding a headlong rush for
all-talkie pictures is manifest.
Sound Effects to Stay: Bancroft
"Twenty years ago I found people wanted
talking pictures," says George Bancroft, Para-
mount star. "But people paid for them only
so long as they remained a novelty. I had
heard of the idea and thought I would try it
out. When I exhibited a picture with a small
cast I stood in the pit and spoke the lines
for the comic, the hero or the villain. A
woman spoke for the heroine. The idea went
over big. I worked one show each night for
some time, but after all it was a novelty and
died out." Bancroft at that time (1908) was
owner of two houses in Cape Aiay, N. J.
Bancroft says the talkies cannot last, but
sound effects will.
Guy Oliver is also an oldtimer. He traveled
in the New England states, and "talked" the
pictures on the stage. The idea was put into
action by Adolph Zukor and Marcus Loew,
who engaged Oliver and Eleanor Stone (now
Mrs. Oliver) to talk the script as the scenes
were shown. Sometimes they would be in
the pit, other times on the side and often back
of the curtain. But Oliver is not very en-
thusiastic regarding the future of talking pic-
tures.
Can't Stop 'Em Says Neill
R. William Neill, Tec-Art, who is directing
the first sound and color pictures says, "You
cannot stop progress."
Milton Sills, First National star, says,
"Talkies will be permanent."
Billy Bevan, comedian, feels that sound will
add materially to films, will be great for his
line of work, but will never be able to induce
talking in many vehicles.
John Ford, eminent Fox director, likes
sound effects but says talking will only last
for a short while.
Paul Jones, assistant director. Paramount,
says the advent of talking pictures has com-
pletely torn down ideals of the public re-
garding stars, which took years to build up.
"Sound will last possibly five years."
Stage Directors "Making Hay" '
Many of the former stage directors are
making hay while the sun shines and are
capitalizing on this new turn in the picture
world. Either they are instructing the actors
or accepting contracts to direct sound or talk-
ing films.
So with producers, directors, and assistants
or all descriptions doing all they can, Greater
Movie Season has never had such cooperation.
Hamlin Sound'Proof Doors
for Movie-^Talkies
More and more studios for speech and music
are being equipped with the famous Hamlin
Sound-Proof Doors. For years universities,
broadcasting studios, auditoriums, modern sky-
scrapers, public buildings, schools, colleges, hos'
pitals, churches, hotels and other classes of
buildings have realized the necessity for "Ham-
linized" sound'proofing. There are thousands of
these doors in use, in hundreds of different
buildings.
Now Come the "Movie-Talkies"
The Hamlin Sound-Proof Door solves the
problem of sound deadening. It is a sound-
deadened door, plus hermetical sealing of the
cracks at jamb and floor. The Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer Corp., the Famous Players, and the Radio-
phone Corporation have been equipped. The
National Broadcasting Corporation studios in
New York and Chicago are also equipped, like-
wise the Stewart-Warner studio in Chicago.
Leading architects recommend the Hamlin.
Send us your specifications
or write for catalog
IRVING
HAMLIN
Manufacturers of SOUHD-PROOF DOORS and
FOLDIHG PARTITIOKS
2406 Jackson Ave.
Evanston, 111.
One of the Ha-mlin doors on an elevator
machinery room in the Cleveland Ter-
minals Tower
Six Sound Service
Stations Started
By United Artists
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— The film main-
tenance department of United Artists has
established six sound service stations in ex-
changes in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Dal-
las, Kansas' City and San Francisco, and all
are in operation.
New York is servicing Buffalo, New Haven,
Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, New York
and Pittsburgh territories. Chicago will serv-
ice Detroit, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Cincin-
nati, Minneapolis and Chicago regions. At-
lanta will cover itself, Charlotte and New
Orleans territories. Kansas City will service
St. Louis, Omaha, Kansas City and Denver.
Dallas will be handled by Dallas. San Fran-
cisco will embrace Los Angeles, San Fran-
cisco, Seattle and Salt Lake City.
Certain persons in the service stations have
been trained and designated to handle sound
films and records and to render prompt and
expert service to exhibitors who book United
Artists' Pictures synchronized with scores
and sound effects or movietoned with voice
and songs.
United Artists plan to open up other sound
stations to serve exhibitors, as rapidly as wire
equipment is installed by showmen and the
volume demand for sound films increases.
Warners Remodel
Vitagraph Studio
At $500,000 Cost
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— The old Vita-
graph studio in Brooklyn has "gone Vita-
phone." After remodeling the building at
a cost of $500,000, the plant will be reopened
by Warner Brothers for the production of
Vitaphone talking pictures. The improve-
ments will include two large stages with
latest apparatus, soundproof walls and in-
candescent lights.
The resuming of activity at the Vitagraph
Studio will greatly augment Warner Broth-
ers' production capacity for sound pictures.
The Warner organization is now putting
sound effects, dialogue and synchronizations
into the Vitaphone print of every feature
produced by them. This, in addition to a
steady output of Vitaphone shorts, has ne-
cessitated increasing their studio space, and
that will be amply provided for by the
future use of the Vitagraph plant.
Octavus Roy Cohen
Negro Stories Will
Get Sound Dialogue
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug 28.— Dapper Florian
Slappey and Sis Callie Fukers are going to
tell about it in synchronized pictures made
lay the Christie Company for release by Para-
mount.
The contract with Octavus Roy Cohen, au-
thor of the famous Saturday Evening Post
stories of Birmingham Negro life, gives the
Christies exclusive rights with synchronism.
Sound Cartoon Shown
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Called the first
animated cartoon subject in sound, the Pathe
Aesop Film Fable "Dinner Time" is showing
at the Mark Strand.
k ^-.^
1
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
Y^
THE STUDIO
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
*' Hollywood.'*
Hoover Goes East, But
Not Without His "Movies"
(Sfccial to the Hcrald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28.— Her-
bert Hoover had his "movies" all the
way on his trip East. Having ex-
pressed a desire for pictures, the Re-
publican candidate for President was
able to see Fox's "Fazil" and "Four
Sons," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "Her
Cardboard Lover," "Tell It to the
Marines," "The Student Prince" and
"The Enemy"; and Paramount's
"Forgotten Faces," while Washing-
ton-bound. Harold B. Franklin,
president of West Coast Theatres,
was responsible for the installation.
Fred Newmeyer Now a
Free Lance Director
(Special to the Hcrald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— Fred Newmeyer
has joined the ranks of free lance directors.
This marks the first time in six years that
Newmeyer has not been under long term con-
tract to an organization. During that time he
has directed Harold Lloyd in many box office
successes and has been loaned to Paramount
on various occasions, directing Richard Dix's
two biggest box office successes, "The Quarter-
back" and "Warming Up."
Newmeyer also directed Reginald Denny in
"That's My Daddy," "On Your Toes" and
"The Night Bird" for Universal and only re-
cently completed "It Can Be Done," a Glenn
Tryon production.
Sheehan of Fox Named
Coast Vice-President
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— At a quarterly
meeting of the Association of Motion Picture
Producers last week Winfield Sheehan of Fox
was elected first vice-president and Jack L.
Warner, Warner Brothers, was elected sec-
ond vice-president. Henry King was elected a
director in the association to represent In-
spiration Pictures, Inc., which company was
^ected to membership. Arthur J. Ball was
selected to head the technical bureau of the
association.
Voices in Rogers, Conklin
Filmof PF L, "Varsity"
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— "Varsity,"
Buddy Rogers' first starring picture for Para-
mount, will have dialogue and other sound
effects. Dialogue for the picture was written
by Wells Root, author of the story. The
voices of Rogers, Chester Conklin, Mary
Brian and Phillips R. Holmes as well as at-
mospheric effects will be heard.
Schertzinger Begins PFL Film;
Fitzmaurice Directing Mackaill
"Redskin" Is Current Dix Opus With Seven Weeks Schedule;
Warners Launches "On Trial," All Talking Picture With
Pauline Starke in Leading Role
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug-. 28. — Paramount began production today on the big-
Richard Dix piece, "Redskin," under the direction of Victor Schertzinger.
Schertzinger left yesterday with the complete cast for the Navajo reserva-
tion 90 miles south of Gallup, N. M., where he will remain for five weeks
working on exteriors. Two weeks is planned for inside work upon the return
of the company to Hollywood.
The entire picture is being shot in color. It
is also planned as a synchronized film. Talk-
ing scenes have not been contemplated.
Louise Brooks, who accompanied the troupe
on location, is cast in the leading feminine
role.
George Fitzmaurice last week began work
on "The Changeling," featuring Dorothy
Mackaill. It was originally planned to team
Mackaill with George O'Brien on the picture
but production plans at Fox prevented
O'Brien's loan to First National for the role.
The player for the part will be Milton Sills.
Leaves for Honolulu
The company left yesterday for Honolulu
where it will begin shooting South Seas shots
at once. Scott R. Beall accompanied the out-
fit as production manager.
Tay Garnett began the direction of "The
Spieler," a Pathe-DeMille production co-fea-
turing Alan Hale and Renee Adoree last week.
A M G M company left this week for Gla-
cier National Park where John Waters will
direct two Tim McCoy pictures. Marian
Douglas is cast opposite McCoy in "Sioux
Blood" and Dorothy Janis has the leading
feminine role in "Humming Wires."
Archie Mayo is directing "On Trial," a
Warner Brothers Vitaphone special starring
Pauline Frederick. The cast includes Lois
Wilson Bert Lytell, Holmes Herbert and
Jason Robards.
"A Slice of Life" went into production at
Fox yesterday with Conrad Nagel in the star-
ring role. Ray Cannon is directing.
Christy Cabanne started one at Columbia a
day or so ago. It is "Driftwood" with Jacque-
line Logan heading the cast.
Columbia Completes Two
Two pictures were completed at Columbia
during the week; "Street of Illusions," which
Earl C. Kenton directed, and "Sinner's Pa-
rade" under direction of John Adolfi.
On the F B O lot, Louis King completed the
Buzz Barton feature, "The Freckled Rascal,"
and Lynn Shores completed "Stolen Love"
with Marceline Day and Owen Moore.
At First National, William Beaudine has
completed the Charles Murray vehicle, "Do
Your Duty," and Al Rogell has finished shoot-
ing on "Cheyenne," a Ken Maynard picture.
Joseph Boyle has completed "Through the
Breakers" for Gotham Productions, with
Margaret Livingston and Holmes Herbert.
Tram Carr's "Lost Men"
The Trem Carr production which Duke
Worne was directing on the Metropolitan lot
was completed this week. The cast included
Tom Santchi, Patsy O'Leary and Maude
George. It is called "The Isle of Lost Men."
The two completed at Tiffany-Stahl are
"The Rainbow" with Dorothy Sebastian and
Lawrence Gray; and "The Floating College,"
co-featuring Sally O'Neil and William Col-
lier, Jr.
Henry McRae completed the shooting of
Hoot Gibson's "King of the Rodeo" at Uni-
versal. Two other pictures completed on that
lot were the Glenn Tryon feature, "It Can Be
Done" ; and "The Shakedown" with Willie
Wyler directing Barbara Kent and James
Murray.
Rice in "Big Time" Now
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— Frank Rice has
been signed by M G M to play a comic role
in "Humming Wires," a Tim McCoy picture',
to be filmed in Glacier National Park under
the direction of John Waters.
CHARLES LAMONT
Directing the First of
the Dorothy Devore Series
For Educational
42
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
M Q M Takes Editors to San Diego
by Air; Courageous Stunt
Pete Smith Lauded for Most Novel Scheme of 1928 in California — Film
Stars Evade Autograph Hounds
By DOUGLAS HODGES
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— Pete Smith undertook one of the most cour-
ageous publicity stunts since the transcontinental flight of Leo when
he engaged two Maddux airships last week and loaded them with
Hollywood scribblers. It was the most novel publicity scheme of the year
in California film circles. And it was handled under auspices of Metro-Gold-
wyn-Mayer.
chance to make a lot of dirty cracks and get
out without a scratch.
Among the guests were Wade Werner of
Associated Press, George Schaefer of Chicago
Tribune, Arthur Ungar of Variety, Louella
Parsons of International News Service, Wil-
liam McCormack of the News, Dan Thomas
of N.E.A., Jimmie De Tarr of the Examiner,
Dorothy Herzog of King Features, and sev-
eral fan writers who were accused as afore-
said of putting the news scribes on the pan.
Their names I have never been able to re-
member now nor then.
But whether Pete knew it he staged one of
the most enjoyable parties for the press of
the year. It was courageous but it was exe-
cuted thoroughly. Some of us are still won-
dering how much of it was planned and how
much was the real thing.
Before I forget it let me squeeze this in:
The party was given in the interest of "Gold
Braid" which stars Ramon Novarro, sup-
ported by Anita Page and Ralph Graves under
the direction of George Hill for Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer on location near San Diego,
Gal. (I promised Pete we'd use this.)
THE ships took these editors and corre-
spondents towards the border — that border
famed for excitement 82 years ago. It took
them between 90 and 190 miles an hour. It
took them 3,500 feet above the sea.
Those who did not get ill slept part of the
way to San Diego. Pete remained wide awake.
The purpose of the trip was to show these
e. and c. how pictures are made, or, particu-
larly, how "Gold Braid" is being made at the
naval air station on North Island. During the
30 minutes spent on North Island the guests
inspected 1,000 new planes lying here and
there about the hangars and took a close look
at the Admiral's beard.
There was still time to shake hands with
George Hill, the director, and for a word or
two about "wheredja get all 'at sunburn?"
before scampering away to the Coronado for
big doings.
These newspaper boys and girls enjoy a
rumpus. Things livened up a bit when one
of the feminine writers said she'd love noth-
ing so well as a nice game of cards at the
hotel. Pete said, "That's easy," and began
arrangements. But the writeress declared
that one of the men in the party was an aw-
ful pest and couldn't be trusted in a nice game
of cards. She feared he would spoil every-
thing in his next issue by libelling the various
guests present.
Whereupon a tiny voice cracked wise that :
"He ain't the only egg on this party that puts
us on the pan. There's three others in the
same room with you, dearie." A few un-
pleasant but thoroughly enjoyable words fol-
lowed before the party quieted down.
The party was a cinch. Everybody had a
While in San Diego the papers announced
that Jacqueline Logan had been married to a
stock broker in Agua Caliente, across the bor-
der from San Diego. Later papers reported
she would be charged with breaking federal
laws because her interlocutory decree of di-
vorce does not become effective for seven
months. Rumors spread.
A statement appeared yesterday however
which quieted those rumors. The district at-
torney's office declared : "We are entirely
Pathe Immigrant Fibn
Gets Expert Praise
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.—Patbe's
"A Ship Comes In" was given an acid
test showing at the N. V. A. dinner
tendered Chief Frederick A. Tuttle
of Ellis Island, when this story of
immigrant life, featuring Rudolph
Schildkraut, was shown before a dis-
tinguished audience of several hun-
dred officials in charge of the han-
dling of immigrants, as well as
representatives of Porto Rico and
several South American countries
and executives of the leading steam-
ship companies engaged in the trans-
portation of newscomers to the
United States. The concensus was
that it was a truthful depiction of
immigrant life.
uninterested in the private affairs of Miss
Logan."
* * *
In Hollywood many film players cannot be
found in the Los Angeles Telephone Direc-
tory. The Evening Herald printed an inter-
view this week with one of the Paramount
players who explained her reason for having
a confidential number. "It is because I want
to escape salesmen and curious fans who want
my photographs," she said.
Very few players endeavor to escape ad-
mirers. Many of them endeavor to escape bill
collectors. It is often an autograph that is
wanted, but it is wanted on a bank check
rather than on a portrait.
* * *
Al Rockett, in charge of First National
Studios, left yesterday for New York. He
will discuss the company's plans for talking
pictures.
* * *
Carmel Myers who has been posing as a
black haired young woman since her entry in
pictures, has discontinued the application of
black hair dyes and is now appearing on the
street and in pictures with her natural red
hair.
Mrs. Strauss' Duties Expand
NEW YORK.— Mrs. Florence Strauss, head of
First National's scenario department, has been allotted
the added duties of cooperating with Al Rockett in
the buying of story material.
VICTOR SCHERTZINGER
Is Starting Work on the Big
Richard Dix Picture, "Redskin"
for Paramount Release.
His Latest Release Is
"Perfumed Trap"
THE SHOWDOWN: George Bancroft— Plenty of action.
Well staged and well directed. Eight reels. — P. G.
Vaughan, Sun Theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood
patronage.
THE SHOWDOWN: George Bancroft— March 26-27.
Very good picture, that will stand exploitation. — B. V.
McDougall, Amuse-U Theatre, Monticello, Ark. — General
patronage.
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
Byrd Takes "Picture
Theatre" to Antarctic
NEW YORK. Aug. 28.— Comman-
der Richard E. Byrd has determined
that his forthcoming expedition to
the Antarctic is not to be one oi "all
work and no play" for the 60 adven-
turers who are to accompany him on
his latest scientiSc exploit. Com-
mander Byrd is taking with him a
motion picture projection machine
and a well stocked £lm library. For
several weeks the National Board of
Review of Motion Pictures, of which
Commander Byrd is a member, has
been organizing a library of £lms.
Pictures included in the library are
Chaplin, Langdon and Hamilton
comedies; Fox's "Lost in the Artie,"
Universal's "Hunting Big Game in
Africa," Paramount's "Chang,"
"Grass" and "Moana" ; United Art-
ists "Don Q," Warner Brothers'
"Across the Atlantic" and many
others.
ON A LOT OF THE LOTS
Artclass Sells Comedy
Rights in 5 Districts
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Territorial sales
on the three Artclass comedy series, starring
Ben Turpin, Poodles Hanneford and Snub
Pollard, are closing rapidly, according to
Louis Weiss, vice-president of Weiss
Brothers' Artclass Pictures Corporation. Each
series will consist of ten two-reel comedies,
three of which are now completed and ready
for delivery to exchanges, with a full line of
accessories. Sales for the current week are
reported as follows :
Michigan, Favorite Film Company ; Western
Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Columbia Film
Service, Inc. ; Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New
Jersey and Delaware, Liberty Film Corporation ;
Washington, Oregon and Idaho, Greater Features,
Inc. ; California, Arizona and Nevada, Cooperative
Film Exchange.
Ready for delivery now are "She Said No,"
"Taking the Covint," and "Why Babies Leave
Home" starring Ben Turpin ; "Help Wanted,"
"Fare Enough" and "Circus Daze," starring
Poodles Hanneford ; and "Thick and Thin,"
"Once Over" and "The Big Shot," with Snub
Pollard.
Stone, B, O, Writer, on
Last of "Black Gang"
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— John Stone, Fox
scenarist, will complete the scenario of "Black
Gang" next week. At that time it will go into
production under the direction of J. G. Bly-
stone.
Victor MacLaglen has been selected for the
male s:tar. In other roles are Claire Windsor,
Albert Conti and Clyde Cook. Stone has
written scenarios of many of the biggest box
office successes of the past two years. One
of his early releases is "Home Sick" in which
Sammy Cohen has the lead comic role.
Three Broadway Theatres
Play Vitaphone This Fall
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Three Broadway
theatres, at least, will show Vitaphone produc-
tions this fall. These include the Winter Gar-
den, the Mark Strand and the Warner theatre.
"The Terror" is now at the Warner, "The
Singing Fool" starts at the Winter Garden in
September, and "State Street Sadie" opens
September 1 at the Mark Strand.
By FRAZIER
Regarding :
Victor Schertzinger
Richard Dix
Dorothy Arzner
Lou Breslow
Arthur Stone
Norman Taurog
Junior Coghlan
Spencer Bennett
Bill Conselman
Gladys Lehman
Reginald Denny
Earl Snell
Bill Gibbs
Murnau
Baclanova
Otto B rower
Jack Holt
Doris Hill
George Bancroft
Oscar Smith
T N an after lunch discussion at Paramount
•^ studio last week, several directors and offi-
cials were discussing sound and talking pic-
tures. Among the group was Victor Schertz-
inger, director, who is now making tests for
"Red Skin," starring Richard Dix. It was
suggested that inasmuch as he has written
musical scores for pictures, prominent among
which was the one for "Robin Hood," that
he compose the score for his forthcoming pro-
duction as well as his future ones.
This would be a good idea, as he has several
big successes to his credit. "Civilization,"
which is now being featured by the most
prominent symphony orchestras, would make
a great score, and "Just an Old Love Song."
"Marcheta," an outstanding hit, is still en-
joying a big sale. With the aid of his new
$17,000 pipe organ which he has recently in-
stalled in his home, he composed "Another
Kiss" and "Gotta Be Good." The songs will
be used in Dorothy Arzner's "Manhattan"
which will have sound effects being sung, in
a stage sequence by the star.
Lou Bres!ov/s gags are funny but strenuous at
times according to Arthur Stone, who Is starring in
"The Farmer's Daughter," which Norman Taurog
is directing for Fox. The last scene in the picture
was being taken when something slipped and Stone
fell several feet on his head. He was stunned for
several minutes, but when he recovered he started
his famous grin and soon was up and going again.
*
Junior Coghlan, Pathe-DeMille's juvenile star, is
taking a two weeks' rest in a boy scout camp, near
Mount Baldy. He has just completed "Marked
Money," appearing in a featured role. Spencer
Bennett handled the megaphone.
Bill Conselman, supervisor at Fox studio, will
leave September 1, on a four weeks' vacation
in Canada. Bill also told me in his own mod-
est way, that his comic strip, "Ella Cinders,"
is now running in 190 papers daily, and he is
making preparations to market his "Ella Cin-
ders" doll, which is being prepared for the
Christmas trade.
*
Gladys Lehman, Universal scenarist, who recently
completed "Red Hot Speed," is working on the screen
play, "When the Devil Was Sick," for Reginald
Denny. Earl Snell is assisting Miss Lehman. The
director has not been assigned,
*
Bill Gibbs, of the Fox publicity staff, left
this week for Pendleton, Oregon, to handle
the press work for Murnau's unit while they
are making "Our Daily Bread."
*
Baclanova, Paramount's most recent acqui-
sition, is playing a featured role in Otto
Brower's first directorial effort, "Avalanche,"
starring Jack Holt with Doris Hill. She has
recently completed "Dock's of New York"
with George Bancroft. Brower also added
Oscar Smith, the colored comedian, who made
such a hit in "Warming Up," starring
Richard Dix.
"Making the Grade"
Just Completed for
Fox Film Corporation
Alfred E. Green Productions
44
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
ffi
Finis Fox Signs Long Term Contract
with Carewe Productions
Now Rated Among Highest Paid Scenarists in Industry; Work on
"Raniona" '^Resurrection" and "Revenge" Rewarded
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28. — Finis Fox yesterday signed a contract with
EdAvin Carewe Productions, the figures of which make him one of the
highest paid scenario writers in the industry. It was his work, accord-
ing to reports, on "Ressurrection," "Ramona" and "Revenge," which won for
him the long term contract.
"LJE has directed his entire attention of late
■'--*■ to themes, settings and dramatic forces
that will serve Dolores Del Rio in her rising
wave towards world-
wide fame.
The star herself
declares that it is his
ability as an audi-
ence psychologist that
has contributed
strongly to the suc-
cess of the three big
pictures mentioned
above. She adds that
he has studied her as
an analyst would.
"No writer," she
says, "understands
my emotions as he
does. He creates dis- Finis Fox
tinct situations and
characterizations that will bring out for Edwin
Carewe the finer qualities of soul that the
screen reflects."
It is all true and it is also true that Fox's
work on these three pictures has been en-
hanced by the fact that he is thoroughly
sincere in the star and in her welfare.
He is preparing the script of a stage play,
"Revenge" which will have a New York and
Chicago run. ]\Iiss Del Rio will appear in
the starring role.
He has also begun and is well under way
with the scenario of Miss Del Rio's next
screen attraction, "Evangeline," which will be
produced for United Artists release.
Allen, Grange
Sears, Liberty
Liberty Theatre,
LOBBY PHOTO ALBUM
Herewith are names of players together with
exhibitors requesting their autographed photos.
RENEE ADOREE — John E. Allen, Grange
Theatre, W. Webster, N. Y.
MARY ASTOR — Alburn Drace, Kevtesville, Mo.
CLARA BOW— A. Barnett, Loyola Theatre, 5027
Loyola Ave., New Orleans, La.
CLARA BOW— John E. Allen, Grange Theatre,
West Webster, N'. Y.
VILMA BANKY— John Allen, Grange Theatre,
West Webster, N. Y.
MARY BRIAN— John E. Allen, Grange Theatre,
West Webster, N. Y.
MARY BRIAN — Alburn Drace, Keytesville, Mo.
MADGE BELLAMY — John E. Allen, Grange
Theatre, West Webster, N. Y.
LOUISE BROOKS— John E.
Theatre, West Webster, N. Y.
EVELYN BRENT— James L.
Theatre, Hmnansville, Mo.
SUE CAROL— James L. Sears
Humansville, Mo.
JOAN CRAWFORD— John E. Allen, Grange
Theatre, W'est Webster, N. Y.
GARY COOPER— J. E. Cunningham, Waskanut
Community House, Farnmnsville, Mass.
JACKIE COOGAN — A. Barnett, Loyola Theatre,
5027 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, La.
CHARLIE CHASE — A. Barnett, Loyola Theatre,
5027 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, La.
LON CHANEY— A. Barnett, Loyola Theatre, 5027
Loyola Ave., New Orleans, La.
RICHARD DIX— Robert K. Yancey, Bonny The-
atre, Mansfield, Mo.
RICHARD DIX— John Allen, Grange Theatre,
West Webster, N. Y.
KARL DANE & GEO. K. ARTHUR— A. Bar-
nett, Loyola Theatre, New Orleans, La.
DOLORES DEL RIO— John Allen, Grange The-
atre, West Webster, N. Y.
FRANKIE DARRO— L. L. Netzer, American
Legion Theatre, Lena, Wis.
CHARLES FARRELL — Alburn Drace, Keytes-
ville, Mo.
DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS— John Allen, Grange
Theatre, West Webster, N. Y.
JANET GAYNOR— Alburn Drace, Keytesville,
Mo.
JANET GAYNOR— John E. Allen, Grange The-
atre, West Webster, N. Y.
JANET GAYNOR— James L. Sears, Liberty The-
atre, Humansville, Mo.
JOHN GILBERT— A. Barnett, Loyola Theatre,
5027 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, La.
WILLIAM HAINES— John Allen, Grange The-
atre, West Webster, N. Y.
WILLIAM HAINES— E. Ehrlick, Fern Theatre,
New Orleans, La.
PHYLLIS HAVER— J. E. Cunningham, Waska-
nut Communitv House, Farnumsville, Mass.
JAMES HALL — Alburn Drace, Keytesville, Mo.
LLOYD HUGHES— Alburn Drace, Keytesville,
Mo.
MADELINE HURLOCK— James L. Sears, Lib-
ertv Theatre, Humansville, Mo.
LLOYD HUGHES— A. C. Betts, Heights The-
atre, 1650 Broadway, New York City.
JOHNNY HINES— A. C. Betts, Heights The-
atres, 1650 Broadway, New York City.
JACQUELINE LOGAN— J. E. Cunningham,
Waskanut Community House, Farnumsville, Mass.
BERT LYTELL— A. C. Betts, Heights Theatres,
1650 Broadwav, New York City.
HAROLD LLOYD— John E. Allen, Grange The-
atre, West Webster, N. Y.
PATSY RUTH MILLER— John E. Allen, Grange
Theatre, West Webster, N. Y.
PATSY RUTH MILLER— A. C. Betts, Heights
Tlieatres, 1650 Broadway, New York Citv.
JOHN
STONE
No^v Working on
Adaptation and
Scenario of
"The Black
Gang"
for Fox
DOROTHY MACKAILL— A. Barnett, Loyola
Theatre, 5027 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, La.
DOROTHY MACKAILL — Alburn Drace, Keytes-
ville, Mo.
JACK MULHALL — A. Barnett, Loyola Theatre,
5027 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, La.
COLLEEN MOORE — A. Barnett, Loyola The-
atre, 5027 Lovola Ave., New Orleans, La.
WALTER ' MILLER — A. Barnett, Loyola The-
atre, 5027 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, La.
KEN MAYNARD— John Allen, Grange Theatre,
West Webster, N. Y.
SHIRLEY MASON — Alburn Drace, Keytesville,
Mo.
DOUGLAS MAC LEAN — Alburn Drace, Keytes-
ville, Mo.
EDNA MURPHY— Alburn Drace, Keytesville,,
Mo.
TOM MOORE — A. C. Betts, Heights Theatres,
1650 Broadwav, New York City. N. Y.
JAMES MURRAY— James L. Sears, Liberty, The-
atre, Humansville, Mo.
BARRY NORTON — H. V. Smoots, Vine Theatre,
Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
BARRY NORTON — J. E. Cunningham, Waska-
nut Community House, Farnumsville, Mass.
MARION NIXON — John Allen, Grange Theatre,
West Webster, N. Y.
MOLLY O'DAY — Alburn Drace, Keytesville, Mo.
ESTHER RALSTON— J. E. Cunningham, Waska-
nut Community House, Farnumsville, Mass.
GILBERT 'ROLAND — Alburn Drace, Keytes-
ville, Mo.
DOROTHY REVIER— Alburn Drace, Keytes-
ville, Mo.
BUDDY ROGERS — Alburn Drace, Keytesville,
Mo,
ALLENE RAY — A. Barnett, Loyola Theatre,
5027 Lovola Ave., New Orleans, La.
NORMA SHEARER— A. C. Betts, Heights The-
atres, 1650 Broadwav, New York City.
GEORGE SIDNEY— A. C. Betts, Heights The-
atres, 1650 Broadway, New York City.
LEWIS STONE — A. C. Betts, Heights The-
atres, 1650 Broadway, New York City.
BLANCHE SWEET--A. C. Betts, Heights The-
atres, 1650 Broadwav, New York City.
GLORIA SWANSON— James L. Sears, Liberty
Theatre, Humansville, Mo.
RIN-TIN-TIN— Anna Stecula, 101 Highland
Ave., Chester, P'a.
RIN-TIN-TIN— A. Barnett, Loyola Theatre,
5027 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, La.
CONSTANCE TALMADGE— A. C. Betts, Heights
Theatres, 1650 Broadway, New York City.
VIRGINIA VALLI— A. C. Betts, Heights The-
atres, 1650 Broadway, New York City.
FAY WRAY— J. E. Cunningham, Waskanut
Commimity House, Farnumsville, Mass.
FAY WRAY— Alburn Drace, Keytesville, Mo.
GEORGE SIDNEY
'The Cohens and Kellys in
Atlantic City"
In Preparation
for Universal
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
45
W^
THE SHORT FEATURE
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
'^Little Pictures with the Big Punch" which has presented news, reviews and exploitation on
short features and serials.
Releases
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 2
EDUCATIONAI -"Hot Luck," Big Boy Juvenile,
two; "Thrills of the Sea," Our World Today, one.
PARAMOUNT — "Skating Home," Confessions of a
Chorus Girl series, Christie, two.
PATHE — "The Terrible People," Chapter 5, two;
Aesop Fable, one; "South Sea Saga," Sportlight,
one; "His Royal Slyness," Harold Lloyd (reissue),
two; Pathe Review No. 36, one; Topics of the Day
No. 36, one.
UNIVERSAL — "Sky Scrapper," Snappy, Oswald, one;
"Tarzan the Mighty," No. 4, Adventure, two; "The
Junior Year," Collegians, third series, two; "Newly-
weds' Hard Luck," two; "Speed and Spurs," Bob
Curwood, Western, two.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 9
EDUCATIONAL — "Pirates Beware," Lupino Lane,
two; "Girlies Behave," Jerry Drew, Ideal, two;
"Cook, Papa, Cook," Murdock-Hutton, Cameo, one;
"On the Move" Hodge-Podge, one.
PATHE— "The Terrible People," Chapter 6, two;
Aesop Fable, one; "The Campus Carmen," Sennett,
two; Pathe Review No. 37, one; Topics of the Day
No. 37, one.
UNIVERSAI^-"Hollywood or Bust," Arthur Lake,
Snappy, one; "Tarzan the Mighty," No. 5, Adven-
ture, two; "Rubber Necks," Let George Do It, Stern
Bros., two; "Riders of the Woods," Cobb Western,
two.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 16
EDUCATIONAL— "Call Your Shots,'- Al St. John,
Mermaid, two.
UNIVERSAL — "Mississippi Mud," Oswald, Snappy,
one; "Tarzan the Mighty" No. 6, Adventure, two;
"Calford vs. Redskins," Collegians, Junior Jewel,
two; "Half Back Buster," Stern Bros., two; "The
Galloping Ace," Hoxie, Western, two.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 23
EDUCATIONAL— "The Roundup on the Rio
Grande," Reed Howes, Russ Farrell, Aviator series,
two; "Wife Trouble," Robert Graves, Cameo, one.
PARAMOUNT — "The Sock Exchange," Vernon,
Christie , two.
UNIVERSAL — • "Handicapped," Cameo, Laemmle
Novelty, one; "Tarzan the Mighty," No. 7, Adven-
ture, two; "Just Wait," Mike and Ike, Stern Bros.,
two; Western, -Chandler, Tenderfoot Thriller series,
two.
Newspictures
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. 8— Kellogg sails for
France to sign "world anti-war pact." — "Cincin-
nati" beats "America" in match for Ohio Race
supremacy — Lindbergh's flying field opened in San
Diego, California.
KINOGRAMS NO. 5424 — Gobel spans U. S. for
new non-stop record — Prince of Wales attends
services for "Remembrance Day" at Ypres —
Planes roar welcome to Lindbergh field.
INTERNATIONAL N^WSREEL NO. 67— Helen
Wills conquers man who beat Tilden — Art Gobel
shatters record, flying across U. S. in 19 hours —
250 planes thrill throngs at dedication of airfield
named for Lindbergh.
PATHE NEWS NO. 70— President of Ireland at-
tends horse show at Dublin — Large crowd sees
biggest U. S. lines take to water at Newport--
Prince of , Wales attends memorial dedication in
France.
M G M NEWS NO. 3 — Crowds cheer Hoover as he
starts on trip East — Art Gobel shatters record,
flies around U. S. in 19 days — Germany celebrates
birthday of Republic with martial pomp.
FOX NEWS NO. 95— San Diego dedicates Lind-
bergh air field — Neighbors see Curtis notified as
nominee for vice-presidency — British vets honor
their dead comrades on old battlefield.
Dangles Head Down 500 Feet Up;
Gets Own Thrill to Provide Thrill
Paramount News Cameraman and Machine Are Lashed to Ferris Wheel
For Eight Minutes of Steady Grinding During
Complete Revolution
The fact that a cameraman dangled head down at 500 feet above the
ground in order to make some special shots for a newsreel may be "all in a
lifetime" in the experiences of a motion picture photographer, but it is impor-
tant to the theatre owner.
Opportunity to Inform Public
Too often, it is evident, the exhibitor neglects opportunities to tell his
patronage just what is being dared and done to give the public a new thrill,
ignores a chance to help the people to appreciate to what lengths the indus-
try goes to provide the few minutes' entertainment afforded by a show.
Any newspaper man would see a story in at Blackpool, near Liverpool, rising 500 feet
the feat of Tom Cummins of the London
office of Paramount News, in riding around
a 500-foot ferris wheel while lashed upside
down to its rim, and the exhibitor who played
such a picture and did not get the story of it
into the paper would scarcely deserve ranking
as a showman.
Cameramen Conceive Thrill
Here's what Emanuel Cohen, editor of Para-
mount News, says of Cummins' achievement :
"Cummins and E. Hawkins of our London
office, had received word that the ferris wheel
Tom Cununins of Paramount News made
his own original circuit of a ferris wheel
to get some original shots. He did.
above the street, was to be overhauled by
steeplejacks. They at once started out to
cover the story and on the way conceived the
idea of developing the event into the picture
that they did.
"The pictures that Cummins' made on his
upside-down swing through space are suffi-
ciently weird in themselves to deserve a place
in any newsreel, and give the impression of
having been made from a stunting airplane,
which had done a combination of loop the loop
and falling leaf.
One Photographs the Other
"Equally interesting are the pictures that
Hawkins made of Cummins while he was
cranking upside down. Both of them made
general views, odd angles and climbed up to
the top of the 500 foot tower, dragging their
cumbersome cameras after them to take the
ordinary run of thrill picture. Practically
all the film is excellent and shows the steeple-
jacks climbing about the steel work at dizzy
heights, Swinging from one car to another,
and teetering across the big main axle of the
wheel while it was in motion.
"Then the two cameramen descended from
the framework and the wheel was stopped.
Cummins' camera was set up on the inside
rim of the wheel near the ground and
securely bound to one of the upright brace
cables. Then Cummins was elaborately bound
to another of the cables just far enough away
to give him room to work his camera. A few
extra turns were taken about both Cummins
and his camera, the legs of both being particu-
larly tightly fastened to the framework of
the wheel, and the wheel was started.
Shoot Wheel's Complete Circuit
"The complete circuit of the wheel took
eight minutes but to the crowd which had
gathered below it seemed more like eight;
hours. Slowly Cummins started out grinding
away at his camera as he turned from a per-
pendicular position to one parallel to the
ground. From this angle he finally swung
back to the perpendicular, but this time com-
pletely upside down."
46
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
^e^
PRESENTATION ACTS
Chicago Venus Contest a Success
Viola Allin Is
STAGE SHOWS
Chicago Uptown
Week Ending August 25
Bennie Krneger and his band gave some snappy
musical arrangements tliis week in a Publix unit
called "Flapperettes," MarccUi conducted his fort-
nightly orchestral production overture called "Neo-
politana" with vocal accompaniment by Miss Frcitag.
Judging from the tremendous applause, it is quite
evident that the Uptowners really like and appre-
ciate this claes of music.
The unit went off as follows : It opened with a
girl singing as the ballet presented a novel routine
that reminds one of Tommy Wonders show-stopping
dummy-dance number. In fact, the ballet was split
up equally, one-half representing boys and the other
girls, each carrying a dummy partner for the dance
step.
Gene Shelton, a foolish boy with a banjo, was next
and proved the laugh hit of the bill with his com-
edy antics. He was followed by the Dean Brothers
who gave a series of eccentric and novelty steps in
first class shai)e. These boys are now making
their second appearance in deluxe theatres and seem
to grow more popular each time.
The next specialty was a special band arrange-
ment of Victor Herbert's melodies played by Bennie
Krueger's band, and right here and now we wish to
say that Victor Young, the arranger, and Bennie de-
serve a great deal of credit for the wonderful way
it was put over. In our conception, this concert
arrangement was one of the best ever heard in any
picture house.
BUlie Gerber, the little girl who insists on being a
boy, was next in a brand new offering of song and
dance, and in spite of her fine work, received a
rather lukewarm hand.
She was followed by Paul Remos Midgets who
really had a clever act and presented the best en-
tertainment of the bill. The next ballet routine
was unique and in the form of shields with each
girl bearing one, and as they were all put together it
spelled out the word "Flapperettes." They danced
a few steps to the tune of "Get Out and Get Under
the Moon" as a girl singer pranced up and down for
no reason at all. In fact, the producers could have
saved her salary as there was no real call or need
for her being in the show.
The best part of this show, with the exception of
the Herbert arrangement was the finale, which was
really picturesque and quite effective from the front.
However, they will have to make thdm better if
Publix expects picture house goers to patronize them.
"Doubles in"—,
Salt Lake City Capitol
Week Ending August 18
On the stage at the Capitol theatre this week in
addition to the feature picture, is being offered the
Fanchon and Marco "Great White Way Idea," one
of the most sterling innovations in lighting and make
up yet to be introduced by Fanchon and Marco
here.
Verdi and Record are featured in this gala stage
program, and are assisted by Vina ZoUe and Elmer
Harling, Betty and Marguerite who are proteges of
Fanchon and Marco, and who introduce several of
their acrobatic creations.
Ralph Pollock and the Capitol Band present some
beautiful arrangements of popular music and Alex-
ander Scbreiner at the organ complete this musical
offering.
The picture production being shown this week in
conjunction with the above is "The Mating Call"
starring Thomas Meighan.
Cecil Davidson, now conducting both stage and pit
orchestras at the North Center theatre, Chicago, is
one of the youngest musical directors in the windy
city. Before joining the staff of the North Center,
Cecil was wielding the baton for Lnbliner & Trinz
at their Windsor theatre, also a Chicago house.
Every Saturday and Sunday this young leader moves
his musicians onto the stage and becomes master of
ceremonies and stagehand leader for the weekend
presentation shows.
Another Chicago House
Goes Burlesque
Keith-AIbee-Orpheum Circuit and Lubliner &
Trinz, co-owners and operators of the Diversey
theatre, Chicago, have leased the theatre to Jones,
Linlck & Schaeffer and the Anschell Brothers. The
new management vidll sponsor a policy of stock bur-
lesque and photoplays.
Since the house opened, the operators have com-
plained of continuous losses due to the great amount
of competition in the locality of this theatre. Pre-
vious to this change, it was offering presentations
and films, and before that a straight vaudeville bill
with pictui-es.
Acts Help Film Theatres
The Coston Circuit, operators of more than 100
neighborhood picture houses in Chicago, have secured
the Chicago rights for the personal appearance
of Lone Eagle, the movie dog, and his director, Burt
King, and his pal Teddy, a straggly Airedale.
Lone Eagle, who was named in honor of Col.
Lindbergh, has appeared in a number of motion
pictures and is quite popular among the children.
Joe Murphy, the original Andy Gump of the
movies, is also making personal appearances over the
Coston Circuit, and in accordance with managers'
reports, both these attractions have helped swell the
box office receipts considerably.
Final Choice
At Oriental
Thirty Theatres Took Part in
the Search for Chicago's
American Venus
By A. RAYMOND GALLO
The American Venus beauty con-
test which has been carried on in
more than thirty deluxe theatres in
Chicago operated by Lubliner &
Trinz, Balaban & Katz and other cir-
cuits affiliated with Publix came to
a close Saturday evening, August 25,
at the Oriental theatre, Chicago. The
finals were held at this house with
each winner of the semi-finals of the
neighborhood theatres competing for
honors. An extensive search was
made by the managers of the various
theatres in the preliminaries in order
to give each and every girl in their
particular neighborhood an equal op-
portunity to enter this contest.'
Twenty-six girls were awarded a one week's
conducted tour to Colorado in addition to the
three leading prizes. The first prize consisting
of a thirty-two day trip to Europe with an es-
cort was won by Viola Allin, who up to the
time of the last selection was Miss Norshore.
The judges awarded her the title of A'liss
American Venus.
The finals were conducted in a very fair
and square manner by the managerial staff of
the Oriental who invested the final word to
their Master of Ceremonies, Al Kvale, who in
turn merely acted upon the desires of the au-
dience and was prompted by their applause.
New Group Each Day
Each day a group of new girls were as-
sembled on the stage of the Oriental and the
girl winning the largest amount of applause at
each performance for the entire day was se-
lected and set aside as Miss Monday, Miss
Tuesday and so en. At the last performance
Saturday evening each winner of the day's
honor was grouped and after careful scrutiny
that lasted for several minutes the audience
decided that the most qualified in every way
was Miss NoBshore. The young lady who
won this great honor is a very attractive young
blonde who seemed to possess fine spirits all
through the contest from the time of the
preliminaries until the final award.
It is presumed that before Miss American
Venus starts on her European trip that she
will make personal appearances under her new
acquired title in all the L. & T. and probably
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
B. & K. deluxe houses in Chicago. The rea-
son for this behef is that by the time her trip
abroad would be over the interest and publicity
would lose its value upon the picturegoers.
Contest Made Money for Theatres
From all reports received so far from
exhibitor's and disinterested parties the bath-
ing beauty stunt has won considerable prestige
for the theatres and has increased their box
office receipts any way from twenty-five to
forty per cent on bad days as well as nights.
It seems that everything worked out fine this
year inasmuch as the national beauty pageant
usually held in Atlantic City was for some
reason or other dropped. Therefore, Publix
decided to conduct a pageant of their own and
were well compensated for their efforts.
Sam Herman, widely known novelty contest
man and a popular Chicago showman, per-
sonally selected each girl in the preliminaries
and supervised the contest from beginning to
end.
Presentation
LETTERS
In this open forum those interested in presen-
tation may discuss important matters bearing
upon this phase of theatre entertainment. Only
signed letters will be publbhed.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: Last
week for my organ solo I used an original novelty
which I called "Fan Mail," using gag slides be-
tween the following songs : "My Pet," "Sorry for
Me," "Beloved" and "Wonderful You," that last
number being by Milton Charles and making one
of the greatest hits I ever had. This week am using
a straight version of "Just Like a Melody From
Out of the Sky." Using it with a singer, and owing
to this number being so good we had to give encore
on it. I am leaving on my vacation in about two
weeks and expect to be gone a little over a month,
making a big tour by car, through Colorado and
then east to Chicago. Will be in Chicago the latter
part of September and will come around and get
acquainted. With best wishes and kindest regards,
I am, sincerely — Jce Brite, Organist, Elks Theatre,
Rapid City, S. D.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: Thank
you very much for reporting my organ eolo. In
your late article in the Herald about forming an
organ club. Mr. Ed Meikel wrote me a very helpful
letter and I am busy ti-ying to get the club started.
In one of my programs called "Can You Guess the
Song Title" I had over 100 answers sent in and am
going to use these names as a starter for my club.
This week for my solo I used Berlin's slides on "The
Straw Vote." Being a very timely novelty even the
newspaper commented on it. Went over good.
Sincerely — Mclvin Peacock, Sheboygan theatre, She-
boygan, Wis.
STAGE SHOWS
Detroit Capitol
Week Ending August 24
Baby Peggy, the one and only original 9-year-old
child wonder of the films, sang, danced and clowned
her way through "Carnival Nights," the Publix pres-
entation that came to the Capitol this week.
With her father, J. P. Montgomery, Baby Peggy
performed charmingly. And the young lady proved
to have an advantage some other children of the screen
and stage lack. She was perfectly natural and had
none of the sophistication of the "spoiled" child.
In fact, so well did her act go over at the Capitol,
that the Kunsky interests booked her for an extra
week to tour their neighborhood theatres.
Peggy's father, in a little talk as the act opens,
explains that she is not a prodigy but just a bright
little girl who has learned how to obey instructions.
Which is nice for Dad to say, but it is evident that
Peggy is endowed with an unusual store of personality
and mentality.
Del Delbridge and his Capitolians behaved in their
usual engaging fashion, and clever acts were pre-
sented by Bee Sarche, a blues singer ; Beehee and
Rubyatte, acrobats ; George Boyce, a dancer ; Trout
and Heff, blackface comedians, and the lightly step-
ping Capitol Girls.
LOSAYS
about
Every one
Seems like every film producer and exhibitor has
gone "talking mad" . . . However don't lose sight
of the fact that organs and orchestras were the
first means of real good musical entertainment and
without the slightest doubt shall continue to be the
chief source. ... Of course novelties were always
a fad and in spite of the fact that "Sound" films
have helped a great many theatres, they will never-
theless be just a part of any program. . . . Balaban
& Katz have wired their Chicago and starting this
week they vrill also present synchronized pictures in
their Uptown and Tivoli theatres. . . . Just like the
bandshow craze Exhibitors will kill the goose that
laid the golden egg by giving too many talking pic-
tures in one city or locality. . . . Marks Bros., have
secured the rights to Eddie Cantor's personal appear-
ance for two weeks at a nice fat sum. . . . While
on the subject of personal appearances let us also
say that the James Coston Circuit are playing Joe
Murphy, the original Andy Gump of the movies and
Lone Eagle the movie dog as the extra added at-
tractions for their theatres and we don't mind saying
that B. O. receipts are swelling on account of their
draw. . . . Marjah, known in vaudeville circles as
the mystic marvel is making a tour of Lubliner &
Trinz theatres in Chicago. . . . The New Regent
theatre on Chicago's South Side is sponsoring a new
device called "Dramaphone," which features Dolores
del Rio's voice in the film "Ramona" singing the
song of the same name. . . . Not a bad stunt. Ex-
hibitors, look into this. . . . The Diversey, formerly
an Orpheum theatre in Chicago has been turned into
Burlesque and pictures starting this week. . . .
Frank Fay the well known stage comedian, now
acting as master of ceremonies at the Missouri the-
atre in St. Louis, was married last week to Barbara
Stanwick, also a stage star. . . . Joseph Brite, or-
ganist from Rapid City, S. D., is now on a month's
rest tour and is driving through the beautiful moun-
tain lands of Colorado. . . . Jack Martin is now
playing organ solos at the Uptown theatre in Mil-
waukee, a Midwesoo house. . . . Jack Benny is be-
ing held over at the Chicago Palace this week as
master of ceremonies. . . . Word comes from Harry
Lenetska of the William Morris Agency, that the
firm has established a department to book and repre-
sent anything and anyone for talking pictures. . . .
Amelia Earhardt, the girl "Lindy," has been put on
the editorial staff of the Cosmopolitan Magazine.
. . . Florence Vidor, ex-wife of King Vidor, just
married Jascha Heitetz the famous violinist. . . .
Sam Baum, drummer in Bennie Krueger's band is
the proud daddy of a baby girl. . . . Milton Herth
writes that he is now pushing pedals at the Empress
theatre in Decatur, the Lincoln Square his former
hangout has changed policy. . . . Here's a good idea,
fellows. . . . When you show the film "Ramona,"
run a Kiddie contest and offer prizes to anyone who
can either sing, play or dance to the tune of "Ra-
mona." . . . Clever isn't it? . . . Well Uncle Wickkie
of the Adelphi, Chicago, is responsible for it. . . .
Speaking of stunts Joseph McKcown, manager of the
Broadway-Strand, one of Marks Bros., neighborhood
houses in Chicago, is offering Free Air Rides to his
patrons. . . . That's a novel way to sight-see your
city. . . . Bob Billings, featured organist of the
Crystal, a Chicago community theatre belonging to
the SchaefEer Bros., was a HERALD-WORLD visitor
this week. . . . Bob says that talking films don't
bother him "atall." . . . That's the way all organists
should feel. . . . Ben Green is now conducting the
orchestra at the Chicago Embassy, formerly a Marks
Bros., theatre. . . . Abe Olman, "the grand old man"
of the music business is in New York looking after
the new interests of his firm. . . . William Adler,
a P. A. recently with L & T is now with Marks
Bros., as an associate of J. J. Hess, Publicity and
Advertising Director. . . . Well, boys. Viola Allin,
Miss Norshore won the title of Miss American Venus
in the recent Publix Bathing Beauty Contest. . . .
Harry Robinson, formerly with Remick is now with
Berlin's Chicago office in the organ solo department.
. B & K are conducting a Miss Paradise contest
for the opening of the new theatre. . . . And by the
way another B & K house opens next week at
Chicago's South Side. . . . It's called the Maryland
and is on the site of the old Woodlawn theatre.
Chicago Capitol
Week Ending August 25
The Capitol theatre presented a very fine show
to its patrons this week called "Kiddies Jazz Town
Frolics." The entire stage show consisted of juven-
iles that ranked high in their talents. Roy Detrich,
the popular band leader helped put the show over
in a fine manner.
The presentation opened with the Kiddies Ballet
doing an interesting dance that was very tricky. They
earned themselves a bursting applause. It must be
said about this ballet that they don't just dance but,
do clever tricks that are noticeable.
Roy Detrich appeared on the stage and led the or-
chestra through "Missouri Swamp." The number
went over.
Then the Lotte Sisters, two charming girls put
their dance over in a fine style. The girls had the
people sitting up in their seats all through the act.
Another kiddie, Norman Perry, something on the
George Givot style sang "I Ain't Saying a Word."
He also showed dancing ability.
Once morel the Kiddies Ballet stepped upon the
stage and again they stopped the show with the
clever steps.
Then to give the people a good measure Roy
Detrich sang "My Kid." In this particular number
Roy had most of the people in tears. An encore
was necessary and Roy sang the chorus again.
Detrich is the big hit at this show and that's easy to
see.
Irene Walton, another kiddie, sang "Someone Is
Sweet on Me." and then went into a dance that got
herself a nice hand.
Next came Donald Henry, who sang "My Angel."
The boy has a pleasing voice that is easy to listen
to. We could have sat through three more numbers
like this. He also took an encore.
Detrich introduced a very young girl, this one on.
the Peggy Bernier style. She sang "Cause My Baby
Don't Mean Maybe." The little tot was very atract-
ing and a big applause was given to her.
Tommy Wonder, the boy wonder, danced himself
to bursting applause as like he always does. Tommy
took three encores and still they wanted more.
He's good.
Then the entire cast of kiddies came upon the
stage each doing their bit to close the number in
a fine manner. The people seemed to be well
pleased with the Kiddie show and this one was ex-
ceptionally good. They are a big drawing power.
HENRI A. KEATES
'The Organist Who Put Community
Singing on .,^s^^^. the Map"
Oriental Theatre, Chicago
SUNSHINE
SAMMY
Star of
"OUR GANG"
Signed for
Talking
Short M-G-M
Films
After
Completion of
LOEW TOUR
Direction — Abe I. Felnberg
48
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
STAGE SHOWS
Los Angeles Metropolitan
Week Ending August 24
John Murray Anderson's "Knick Knacks," proved
to be one of merit, with so many features, it is hard
to say vnth sincerity which is outstanding'. The
lighting effects and the designing of the Get, was
equal to that of the most famous producers.
The show opened with the band number, "What are
you waiting for Mary." The girls, in line singing
the number, six of whom were covered as chairs, and
doing a dance in harmony with the line.
The Lee Sisters followed, Mildred and Muriel,
dressed in "Bell Hop" suits. Their tap dancing did
credit to the bit and took a good hand. Many kind
comments were spread regarding Laura HoSman,
the colorature soprano, who followed. Her number
"Je Vous Aime" called for an encore. She is of
pleasing appearance and put over her songs in an
excellent manner.
PhU Lampkin, the master of ceremonies, who has
one of the most wonderful ways of selling his
people, came in with a band number, "That's My
Weakness Now," Phil singing and making wise
cracks. He is a very good announcer, but could im-
prove with a closer attention to clearness.
Klravavaeft, a tap dancer, gave the audience much
above the average. He is one of the fastest and most
original I have ever seen. He has been bringing
other hoofers all week, to the theatre who are in-
terested in new steps. He returned twice, and after-
wards took a curtain bow.
Winfred and Mill, two colored boys, made up as a
Chinaman and blackface, followed, doing a skit be-
fore a "drop." The blackface dressed as a sailor,
was being towed over the city in a "Chinese taxi,"
and their line of hokum regarding the fare was
comical. The boys each did some dancing and ended
with a good hand from the house.
The Lee Sisters returned and did a dance to "The
Man I Love" which opened the finale. The line
girls entered from the sides dressed as Roman
gladiators with spears and helmets. After doing a
dance to "The Grand Processional March" they
paraded to staire on the side, marching to the rear
of the stage where the curtain was raised back of
the orchestra showing large shields with the girls.
The hearty applause of the house was equal to the
reception given Eddie McGill, the phenomenal tenor,
who has been at the "Met" 15 weeks. This Publix
revue did credit to Greater Movie Season.
William Morris Agency
to Book Talkies
Talking motion pictures have caused the
William Morris Agency to establish a de-
partment in their world-wide booking institu-
tion which will specialize in the field of
synchronized films.
This department is under the personal di-
rection of Harry Lenetska, who makes his
headquarters in New York. The Los Angeles
office as well as the Chicago office will co-
operate in every way with the head of this
department.
At present the William Morris Agency is
specializing in the personal representation of
picture house artists and seem to be the
official agency for Publix and their affiliated
circuits. Nearly every worthwhile act, whether
it be from vaudeville, musical comedy, or any
other branch of the shov,- business, has either
an exclusive or limited contract with the
William Morris Agency. Recently a European
office was established with Arnaud and Lar-
tigue as the managing directors.
Taking into consideration the large de-
mand for artists possessing speaking voices,
as well as ability in performing certain par-
ticular routines that have become recognized
on the stage as standard attractions, the talk-
ing field should offer unlimited possibilities
and considerable revenues to the thousands
now making personal appearances in presenta-
tion theatres.
Chicago Piccadilly
Week Ending August 26
This south side deluxe picture house is still offer-
ing a policy of pictures and orchestra accompaniment
during the week, and a stagehand show on Sunday
only.
Armin Hand, well known in Chicago for his ball-
room and hotel orchestras, is the musical conductor
here who also acts as master of ceremonies for the
stageshow.
This Sunday's bill opened with a band arrangement
of "Do You Don't You Love Me" and followed with
a Spanish dance routine portrayed by Dotzell and
Fuller. Next a cornet player sang a chonis of
"You're a Real Sweetheart" while the band played
a soft arrangement of same.
This was followed by Idrena, a young lady con-
tortionist who offered a series of Oriental twists and
turns. Dotzell and Fuller came on again, this time
doing their own version of the "Varsity Drag."
This was followed by a violin solo called "Rosette"
and played by Arthur Hand. Arthur, when the
opera season sets in, is a soloist with the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra and proved himself worthy of
holding such a position by his fine, masterful way
on this arrangement. Idrena came on again, this
time with a comedy dance routine.
Dean Stevenson, the newly-acquired drummer, sang
a comedy-parody of "There Ought to Be a Law
McNEIL SMITH
Featured Orgeuiist
MARQUETTE Theatre, CHICAGO
Photoplay and Solo SpecieJties
ULDERICO MARCELLI
MUSICAL CONDUCTOR
BALABAN&KATZ
Uptown and Tivoli Theatres, Chicago
Solos and Community Sings
BOB BILLINGS
Solo Organist
CRYSTAL THEATRE, CHICAGO
Against That" and was assisted with considerable
horseplay by the saxophonist and cornet player
The next specialty on the bill was two young
men called Miller and Peterson who gave a very
clever comedy interpretation of tap dancing This
seemed to be the best-liked act on the bill, judging
from the applause.
_ The finale coni5isted of a fine band arrangement of
bweet Sue which was snappily conducted by Armin
Hand who is quite a favorite of this house with
nis weekly musical selections.
Atlanta Howard
Week Ending August 25
An all-round strong program of exceptional merit
registered unmistakably at the Howard this week
Backing up the feature picture, "Glorious Bet=y "
which with its Vitaphone talking sequences, came
m tor a full share of praise, was the Publix
unit show, "Snap Shots," which Al Morey, the en-
gaging bandmaster, put over with speed and skill.
J'lrst honors go to Lillian Bernard and Flo Henri
a clever team of girls who made a big hit in their
songs done according to the best Van and Schenck
traditions. Next in favor were Mills and Shea with
their amusing dances and comic pantomime. The
boys were something of a riot in amazing red-
plaid suits of exaggerated collegiate variety
T ?,""c'^.[^'"'"' '"''"'^'^ ^" t^^ cigarette song while
Lolly Selba, who is easy to look upon in her sequin
and tulle ballet costume, turned out a graceful toe
dance.
At pleasing intervals the chorus of eight Gould
Girls executed some new dance routines which struck
the fancy of cash customers. The finale brought a
gorgeous tableau with the aforesaid Gould girls
costumed to suggest the three brands of cigarettes
Don Trailkill eulogized in his song— Egyptians, Rus-
sian, and Virginia.
The special Vitaphone presentation introduced
Karj-1 Norman, the Creole Fashion Plate.
Portland Portland
Week Ending August 23
The second big attraction during Greater Movie
Season brought the Fanchon and Marco's "Spangles"
idea, which included a company of 16 spicy and
talented girls in a French revue, which captivated
record houses at every performance.
Don Wilkin was master of ceremonies, and hie
band rendered many entertaining numbers.
On the screen Colleen Moore in "Oh Kay," a racy
rhapsody of love and comedy, which also went over
with a big "O. K."
San Francisco Granada
Week Ending August 24
"Rio Romance," a Publix stage revue arranged by
Frank Cambria, was the stage offering this week at
the Granada theatre, with Frank Jenks as band con-
ductor and master of ceremonies. The stage setting,
act and costumes were typical of South America
and the offering was well received.
Following the opening number, a lively Spanish
air, ten girls in costumes of the wide pampas, of-
fered a tango, and the Cansinos, Elisa and Edouardo,
already popular here, danced with the fire and aban-
don which has won them fame, the dance being punc-
tuated with some lively snapping of a cattle whip.
Frank Jenks came forward to announce that the
band would offer the new waltz "Chiquita," but be-
fore he could complete the announcement had to
answer the questions of Joe Penner, a personality
comedian, who wished to sell a duck.
Johnny Dunn, a prepossessing ukulele player,
strummed out the "Stars and Stripes Forever" and
"Let Me Call You Sweetheart," following these with
a novelty number in which he played and danced
at the same time, with the dancing effort the best
of the two.
Joe Penner, former vaudeville star, and chiro-
practic singer, or one who "sings in all the joints,"
offered a number which won him a goodly measure
of applause.
Frank Jenks and his band offered a red hot inter-
pretation of "You Have No Idea," with the popular
conductor enlivening the XJ^rformance with a trom-
bone solo, as well as singing the words to which
some up-to-date additions have been made.
Philadelphia Stanley
Week Ending August 20
Cecil Lean and Cleo Mayfield, those popular stage
stars, need no introduction to Philadelphia audiences
and their popularity was demonstrated by the attend-
UNIFORMS
FOR HOUSE
ATTACHES
COSTUMES
FOR STAGE
PRESENTATIONS
BROOKS
1437 B'way
N. Y. City
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
49
ance at the Stanley this week. An unusually lonsj
film stole some time from the presentation acts. Al-
though the time allotted to Cecil Lean and Cleo May-
field was short, they presented five numbers, "Hello,
Everybody," "Buck & Wing Patter," "Happy-Go-
Lucky Lane," "William Tell" and "Society Gossip,"
all in the short space of thirteen minutes. They
recited and sang these clever poems in unison at a
rapid rate of speed in their own inimitable manner
and their act was all too short to suit the enthusias-
tic audience. Miss Mayfleld is as graceful and charm-
ing as ever and Mr. Lean was obliged to make a
cui'tain speech of appreciation.
Conrad Nagrel in a Vitaphone number spoke of the
rapid advance made in motion pictures and advertised
the first all-talking picture, "Lights of New York,"
to be shown at the Stanley next week. He is ims-
sessed of a clear, resonant voice and is one of the
best talkers among screen artists.
Wiring has recently been completed at the Stanley
and sound as well as silent films will be shown there
from now on.
Boston Metropolitan
Week Ending August 17
Gene Rodemich's revue, "Rosette," with Heller and
Riley, AJ and Ray Samuels, the Gould Girls, and the
Paramount Quartet, offered a light, pleasing presen-
tation. The program was handled in musical comedy
style with Gene Rodemich as master of ceremonies.
The show opened with the Paramount Quartet sing-
ing from the bridge of a ship, while on the lower
deck Heller and Riley sang a song introducing the
members of the cast. They omitted the chorus of
12 dancing girls who came forward to sing a song
and dance which introduced themselves. Babs, as
"Rosette," then appeared to sing and dance, featur-
ing the song "Rosette." While singing, "Flo Ziegfeld"
discovers her and asks her to join his chorus. She
assents.
The scene shifts to the dock in New York City.
Heller and Riley present a clever dance specialty
which is accorded an ovation by the patrons, neces-
sitating two encores. At the dock, "Flo Ziegfeld's"
leading lady announces she is leaving to be married.
Without a leading lady for his show, he turns to
Babs, who does a singing and dancing act, supported
by the leading man and the Paramaunt Quartet.
The chorus, di'essed in colors going from red to blue,
like the rainbow, staged a clever exhibition of dance
steps.
The scene shifts to a theatre. Gene Rodemich
and Publix Playboys favor with a hot, jazz number,
after which the chorus of 12 beauties put on the hit
of the evening, a set of gymnastics and hand mo-
tions performed simultaneously. Throughout the re-
vue, byplays on words is used in conversation be-
tween Samuels and Rodemich. The revue closes with
the announcement by Rosette that she is to miarry
the leading man and quit the show. The chorus ap-
pea.T in snowy white bridal costumes to stage the
grand finale.
Pola Negri in "Loves of an Actress" was the fea-
ture picture.
Kansas City Mainstreet
Week Ending August 25
The Mainstreet's stage program was made up of
interesting" acts which stood out individually. Joe
Cody and his brother throw hats at the audiences
in an entertaining comedy skit. Ada Brown proves
she still is up to her usual standard in singing
"Blues" songs, "Real Estate Papa, Don't You Try to
Sub-divide Me" being one of her best hits.
The Pierson Brothers do some remarkable tap danc-
ing and are worthy of the many encores they re-
ceived. Edgar Bregen and Co., have a comedy ven-
triloquist number to offer, while Hatcher and Moran
have a unique little sketch titled "Studies in Art."
Davidson's Louisville Loons, the theatre's stage or-
chestral attraction, offer a musical program titled
"Follies of 1928," in which Harlan Christie is fea-
tured as master of ceremonies and several vocal
numbers.
Detroit Michigan
Week Ending August 24
"Ocean Blues," the Publix presentation at the
Michigan this week, turned out to be a good hot
weather show ; singing and dancing acts being promi-
nently displayed before a back drop of dancing blue
waves.
Moss and Fryc, billed as the "Original Black-
birds," were capable comedians in burned cork, of-
fering their well known vaudeville line about "How
high is up?" Mabel Hollis was a hotsy-totsy blues
singer with some good numbers and Scanlon, Denno
Brothers and Scanlon were tap dancers extraordi-
nary, garbed, as was fitting in such an oceanic pro-
duction, as "gobs."
Musical Marriages Are
Happiest, Says
Organist
DETROIT, MICH.: This city is the home of
one woman who believes it possible for a
woman to have both a husband and a career
and to make a success of life.
The woman is Mrs. Marguerite Werner,
organist at the United Artists Theatre. Her
husband, Eduard Werner, is conducter of the
symphony orchestra at the Michigan theatre.
"I think it is absurd for any woman to get
the idea that marriage will interfere with the
work she likes best to do," Mrs. Werner says.
"On the contrary, 1 have proved that the
husband finds a wife all the more attractive
if she is not entirely occupied with the home
or with him.
"Anybody who could see Eduard and me
rehearsing our favorite modern piece, 'All
That She Is and Old Fashioned Girl,' would
realize how close to each other our music
draws us. Besides it seems to me that musical
marriages should be the happiest of all, for
music is the gentlest of the arts."
Indianapolis Indiana
Week Ending August 25
Charlie Davis, master of ceremonies returned this
week from a pseudo trip to New York, where his
enthusiastic press agents declared he went for two
weeks to make talking machine records. He returned
amid a lot of manufactured acclaim with the mayor
and chief of police heading the reception commit-
tee. He descended majestically from the elevated
ramps of the Union Station and was rather a guest
of honor. However, these same pulicity enthusiasts
admit now that he never had been in New York,
had been on a vacation at some little lake in Indiana,
returned the day before the parade instead of step-
ping off the train ignorant of the reception that had
been promoted for him.
Th© stage show, however, was all to the good,
some excellent entertainment being on the program.
Chester Fredricks is one of the wild careless fel-
lows who dances all over the stage and for sheer
vitality and rhythm in motion, he is a master.
Prosper and Moret have another splendid act in
their athletic work. Seemingly impossible things are
done by these two men. Evans and Mayer are a
couple of eccentrics, who freely admit that one
couldn't guess what they were by looking at them.
They have some fair comic songs. A dozen xylo-
phones played in a symphonic arrangement make a
novel finale for the stage show.
The program was dominated by a smai-tly-
schooled troupe of Foster Girls. They were billed
as direct from Earl Carroll's Vanities, and there
were 21, count 'em boys, 21 in a dancing, prancing
line.
The stage band now is known as the Michiganers.
Which only goes to prove the paraphrase of the old
line about "sounding as sweet under any other
name."
Maestra Eduard Werner offered an operatic
pot-pourri, built around "The Barber of Seville" as
the opening overture, and he was assisted by two
splendid soloists, Eusiblo Concialdi and Fanny Coles
Sample.
Philadelphia Carman
Week Ending August 18
The Girls' Band Revue, this week's stage show
at the Carman, was a breezy and enjoyable act.
Bert Earle and his Melody Girls, featuring Meredith
Thatcher, form an instrumental ensemble which com-
pares very favorably with other similar acts. Their
selections ranged from jazz to popular melodies and
each number was well received. Bert Earle makes
his banjo seem almost human and Meredith Thatcher
in her comedy dance proved to be a popular enter-
tainer.
Mary Goodwin and Edmund Fitzpatrick sang paro-
dies and choruses of current popular melodies.
The Three Slate Brothers, eccentric dancers, con-
tributed several original dances.
Marjorie White and Eddie Tierney won many
laughs with their "Classic Bits of Nonsense."
Chicago Sheridan
Week Ending August 25
"Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow" was the title
of Verne Buck's show at this theatre. Though the
management does not give Buck any exploitation
whatsoever. He still continues to be main drawing
card here.
Orchestra behind scrim opens with "Way Back
When," as Verne and Maurice, one of the perform-
ers enter on a tandem bicycle starting the show
with a lot of laughs. S'crim raises to full stage as
Alice Gilray offers a clever acrobatic tap, earning
two encores of a stomp and tap. Her work was very
well done and her two encores were perfectly justi-
fied.
A clever arrangement of "Sweet Sue," played by
the orchestra and sung by Verne Buck was well re-
ceived. Verne earned two encores.
Maurice and Vincent, comedy acrobats were next
on the bill. They pleased some of the audience
with their funny antics.
Bartell and Gould follow with an act somewhat
different than the average inasmuch as they included
xylophone playing. As they played popular tunes
on the xylophone they both do a good tap. They
next offer a good eccentric tap dance that was well
received and which earned Miss Gould an encore
of a very well done Varsity Drag.
"Chicquita," next played by the orchestra won a
very fine hand. Frank Wilson sang a chorus of
this number and as usual was forced to take two
Dick
Marjorie
MAXWELL and LEE
"T/ie Most Versatile Dance Team of the Age"
HELLO AMERICA!
We are now playing the best in Europe under the fine di-
rection of Arnaud & Lartique, of Paris, France, and the
Foster Agency, of London, England. With many thanks to
all members of the William Morris Agency.
MILTON SLOSSER
Solo Organist
Fifth Year at the
MISSOURI THEATRE, ST. LOUIS
E
50
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
In the finale Buck and the orchestra offered their
conception of music twenty-five years ago. From
now on while the band played Bix Beiderbach's "In
a Mist," a panorama scene of Chicago in 1950 was
shown. This number really did not get the hand it
deserved because it was so modern.
New York Paramount
Week Ending August 31
Frank Cambria devised and staged the current
week's attraction at the Paramount, entitled "Teeing
Off."
The show opens with a set of Gamby-Hale Girls
in golf outfits, in a dance called "Fore" — each girl
putting eight fluffy golf balls out into the audience.
The program does not follow schedule, the fol-
lowing number being "You Have No Idea" played by
Paul Ash and the stage orchestra. Introduced at this
theatre by Helen Kane, it is an old favorite.
Daffin and Draper offer a contortion doll dance,
boy and girl, who put over some very good acro-
batic work. Very pleasing act.
Alice Wellman and the Gamby-Hale Girls con-
tribute a dancing number entitled "Rose of My
Heart."
Earl LaVere offers the comedy for the revue, with
a rapid-fire dialogue with Paul Ash, then after a few
Scotch joke interruptions, gives his accordion si)e-
cialty. He pulls some fast ones and gets a lot of
laughs.
Slavonic Rhapsody is presented by the stagehand,
as a classical selection, and they play the number
very well.
Rome and Dunn, Broadway songsters, offer a few
appropriate selections including "When You and I
Were Young Maggie Blues" and the latest hit by
the author of "Laugh, Clown, Laugh," entitled "King
for a Day."
The finale, by the entire company, is based around
the musical theme of "King for a Day" and has a
big flash close.
Chicago Granada
Week Ending August 31
"Kiddie Jazz Revue" is the name of one of the
best kids' shows ever seen. It opened with two little
girls singing, they then joined the kiddie dancing
chorus to do a tap routine. Charles Kaley then
entered and his orchestra played, "Just a Night to
Meditate." This was well done.
Orville Detrich sang next. The young Tochman
Sisters did some of the best team work ever seen.
They received much deserving applause. Reinhardt
Elester next on the bill played a couple of numbers
on the xylophone, he is a fairly good little player,
and received a good hand.
The Abbott Dancers then did a pretty ballet num-
ber.
Kaley's Band played a symphonic arrangement of
"I'd Rather Cry Over You," with Charley singing the
chorus. He sang this better than he has done in a
long time. Beverley Allen sang a Dutch song and
did a very clever tap Dutch dance. Received much
applause.
Donald Henry, one of the hits of the show. He
sang "Angela Mia." This boy has a wonderful
sweet tenor voice. For his encore he sang "Somebody
Like You," ably assisted by one of the young Ab-
botts.
Darlene Walden sang "That's My Weakness Now"
in a cute little blues voice. Her encore was the
"Varsity Drag." She's some little stepper too.
Bobby Boyd, the baby of the show played the Sax
— And How! She did a Spanish dance too. She
sure made a hit.
Uncle Wickkie Runs
"Ramona" Contest
with Film
Ludwig Sussman, owner and manager of the
Adelphi theatre of Chicago, a neighborhood
picture house, is staging a novel contest dnr-
img the showing of the photoplay "Ramona."
Mr. Sussman, who is known on the radio
as "Uncle Wickkie," and very popular with
the children in the neighborhood, is offering
valuable prizes to any child that can show its
wares either by singing, dancing or playing an
instrument, or in fact any type of entertain-
ment that can be offered to the tune of
"Ramona" — thereby making it exclusively a
"Kiddie Ramona Contest."
During the showing of this picture, the
orchestra and organist will play the theme
song also called "Ramona," and published by
Leo Feist, the publishers of "Jcannine, I
Dream of Lilac Time."
While on the same subject, we wish to state
that the Regent theatre, a neighborhood pic-
ture house also located on Chicago's south
side, is offering this week in conjunction with
the film "Ramona" an arrangement that en-
ables Dolores Del Rio's own recording of the
song to be transmitted in a reproducing horn.
The amplifier works along the lines of a
phonograph reproducing machine and is being
exploited by the management as the "Drama-
phone."
The two girls who sang in oi)ening of show sAng
again, this time, "Happy Go Lucky." The ballet
then did an acrobatic routine with the entire cast
coming out for a beautiful Finale.
This week's show was one of the best shows the
Granada has had.
Milwaukee Wisconsin
Week Ending August 31
Nat Nazarro, Jr., and the Gang present "Behind
the Scenes" this week. It shows just how back stage
looks with stars rehearsing their parts. The affair
opens with the Barri Girls in their dressing room,
talking about beaus, movies, etc. They are leaving
this week and tha Carla Tornay Girls take their
place.
Then Nat raps at the door, enters and the girls
get ready for their day's performance. The scenes
go up and we see a sort of high boy affair. You've
got to run up the steps to get to the orchestra.
Looks like back stage all right.
The Patterson Twins, two excellent dancers dressed
in short red gowns, come on the stage. They dance
well and put lots of snap into it. Next the orchestra
plays "Angela Mia," theme song of "Street Angel."
The crowd likes it real well and applauds.
Ad Nordlund, Milwaukee personality night dis-
covery, is next and sings a lot of ditties while play-
ing his banjo. The boy is good, though a little nerv-
ous. He smiles a lot, an infectious smile and the
crowd applauds. The boy has the makings.
Bert Nagcl and Omar, the catnips, dressed as cats,
cut a lot of caters. They're good, because they're
different. The crowd likes them.
Next we hear Jerome, a juvenile who plays the
xylophone and does it nobly. The boy is fast with
JACK MARTIN
Featured Organist
MID-WES-CO'S UPTOWN THEATRE, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
Solo Presentations — — Photoplay SjTichronizing
RAMON BERRY
Solo Organist
Second Successful Season
ALAMO THEATRE, CHICAGO
his fingers and makes the sticks hum. The crowd
applauds a lot.
Harold Morova, tenor, then comes on and sings the
chorus to "You're a Real Sweetheart." The crowd
likes it real well. Then Nat Nazarro and the Barri
Girls do a dance. Nat tries to stump them but
can't.
Finale is all the crowd on the stage, Barri Girls
dancing and the two cats hopping about. The show
was snappy and the crowd liked it.
Chicago Oriental
Week Ending August 25
Louis McDermott, the old standby, gave the Ori-
entallites a little touch of Frisco's Chinatown last
week when he staged an entire musical comedy show
around the Honorable Mr. Wn.
In addition to Mr. Wu, our good friend Al Kvale
and Frank Melina & Company were also quite con-
spicuous. The stage show is too long to go into
detail, but we will say that each and every part of
it, vpith the exception of a few spots, ran very
smoothly and seemed to entertain.
The novelty part of the bill is the fact that every
player with the exception of Al and Melina were
Chinese. Picture yourself in a theatre witnessing a
I)erformance of a jiopular musical comedy with some
of your favorites in the leading roles, and then
just visualize this same pantomime and music be-
ing enacted by an entirely Oriental cast, that is,
Chinese, of course.
One good feature about this show is that Al Kvale
conceived a new way of keeping himself out of the
show and yet in it enough so that the continuity
of the story was always there. In the plot he was
an American tourist visiting Chinatown, and in be-
tween specialties acted as master of ceremonies.
We must say that his clever introductions and
witty remarks were a considerable help to the show.
One of the outstanding band arrangements was
"Shanghai Dream Man," in which Al gave a solo on
a long brass instrument resembling a cornet, wliile a
man sang a chorus as a background transformed into
a Chinese den.
Mr. Wu in his many impersonations and his troupe
of clever artists were enjoyed very much, as were
also Frank Melina and his company of tumblers and
wisecraekers.
Mayor and Officials
Greet Davis* Return
Mayor L. Ert Slack, of Indianapolis, other civic
and municipal officials took part in a welcome home
parade for Charlie Davis, master of ceremonies at
the Indiana theatre when he returned to Indianapolis
Aug. 18 after a two weeks vacation. Police Chief
Worley authorized the use of a squadron of motor-
cycle police and a detail of mounted i)olice led the
parade. High iK>lice officials also took part in the
parade.
The Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce took an
important and welcoming committees were selected
by the Kiwanis and Optimists clubs. The Indian-
apolis Boy Scout executive arranged a color guard
and a guard of honor and 85 young seamen who are
attending the Junior Naval Reserve encampment
were in the parade. Dick Powell, master of cere-
monies at the Circle theatre, the dancing ensemble
and a 20 piece military band also was seen.
Anniversary Cast
The National Playhouses, Inc., of Chicago, are
celebrating this week the first anniversary of the
Avalon, their south side deluxe house.
The stageehow featuring Roy Dietrich and his band
has a cast of wellknown artists headed by Bob Nelson,
Lang and Voelck, George Boyce, and Al and Gussie
Bloom.
Billy Mills, associate producer for the organization,
is responsible for the musical arrangements and
part of the staging.
Service for Exhibitors
After several years as production manager, George
Pantzer has finally decided to produce stage unite
for the independent motion theatres. Mr. Pantzer
held the position of production manager with Henry
Santrey for three years ; he also held a similar posi-
tion at the Rialto and Ci'iterion theatres in New
York as well as the Branford theatre of Newark.
With thg ever-increasing popularity of stageshows
in picture houses, the new service inaugurated by
Mr. Pantzer will no doubt meet with the many
demands of the independent gxh^bitor.
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
Congratulations are in order, to the Victor Talking
Machine Company. They have secured the services
of my partner, Sam Coslow, to make vocal lecords
exclusively for them. Coelow's first two releases are
"A King for a Day" and "You're a Real Sweetheart,"
both tunes being back to back. Coslow has a dis-
tinctive style, insofar as recording is concerned, and
the Victor Conipany are enthused to such an extent
that they are getting behind all his releases 100
per cent.
And talking about the Victor Company, it will no
doubt interest hundreds of Joe Higgins' friends to
know that his responsibilities at the Victor Company
have been doubled, since Nathaniel Shilkret's entrance
into the Movietone field, which is also a big factor
in the recording field today. Incidentally, it was
Joe Higgins who first "discovered" "My Blue
Heaven," and is indirectly responsible for the tre-
mendous hit that that song was.
« « 4
I doubt very much whether there is another
organist in the United States today who does as
much bi'oadcasting as Emil Velazco, who is featured,
sometimes as often as twice in one day, on that
powerful radio station W O R. His programs are
decidedly interesting, and they come over the air
in a very beautiful style. Radio Station W 0 R
verifies the fact that Velazco has many ardent ad-
mirers due to his progi-ams.
» * *
From a very authentic source, I understand that
Feist's next plug ballad is entitled : "Wild Oats Are
Watered With Tears," which, incidentally, was writ-
ten by another good organist, Jesse Crawford, and
George Little. The song is a great song, and Feist
should have no trouble whatsoever in putting it over
for a big hit.
* * *
Johnny Marvin was in town last week and it
was quite an event in his life, for he made his first
Movietone. Statistics show that at the present time
Mai-vin is the second best selling vocal artist the
Victor Talking Machine Company has on their pay-
roll, and justly so, because his voice is as clear
as a bell, and his consistent traveling in vaudeville
throughout the country has gained him a million
friends.
« * #
Irving Berlin (a song writer) has been induced,
for a tremendous amount of money, to write the
musical score for a Movietone production, which
will feature the well-known Harry Richman. This
is the second production of this kind on record to
date. The first being a musical production, the
score being written by George Gershwin, who it is
understood received ?50,000 in real honest-to-goodness
cash for his compositions.
« « *
Judging from the above, the talking pictures are
evidently here to stay, and have ceased to become
a question insofar as their appeal to the public is
concerned. One of the leading Broadway theatres
reports the fact that during a certain day at their
theatre, no less than 355 people inquired at the box-
office whether there was a talking picture within the
theatre that day, and being informed in the nega-
tive, they turned away and went elsewhere.
« * «
Frank Helton's many friends out at the Pacific
Coast will be glad to know that he is on his way
there again after an absence of four years. He is
representing Spier & Coslow, Inc., and should have
an easy time putting over their catalogue at this
time, for they consist of two very big songs, en-
titled: "My Window of Dreams" and "Heartbroken
and Lonely."
* * *
Next week I will have the column written by
another elite of the music world, which I am sure
you will find as interesting as those you have read
belonging to Bobby Crawford, Al Beilin, Lester
Santley, Martha Wilchinsky, etc.
ORGAN SOLOS
Henri A. Keates (Chicago Oriental) gave a wed-
ding bell solo this week in which he played a number
of popular tunes for the benefit of the married and
unmarried folks out front. Some of his tunes were
"Beloved," "Get Out and Get Under the Moon,"
"Just Like a Melody Out of the Sky," and several
others which were coupled with very clever comedy
lyrics illustrated by funny slides.
Arthur Gutow (Detroit, Mich., Michigan) popular
organist here brought his wife, Doris, along with
him for this week's presentation in which they
offered cadenzas and sweet melody on a two console
organ.
Mclvin Peacock (Sheboygan, Wis., Sheboygan) re-
ports that his radio program called "Can You Guess
the Song Title" furnished the necessary names for a
proposed organ club. His solo called "The Straw
Vote" a Berlin specialty was very timely and unique
and secured him considerable newspaper comment.
Joseph Britc (Rapid City, S. D., Elks) reports that
for last week's solo he used an original novelty
called "Fan Mail" utilizing comedy slides between the
songsr "My Pet," "Sorry for Me," "Beloved," and
Milton Charles' "Wonderful One." For the latter
part of the week he used a straight version of
"Just Like a Melody Out of the Sky" with a singer
and was compelled to repeat the number.
Julia Dawn (Atlanta, Ga., Howard) the golden
voiced organist, whose popularity has increased dur-
ing the several weeks of her engagement, contributed
a charming organ slide singing number finishing
with "Rain or Shine" taken from the show of the
same name.
Earl Abel (San Antonio, Tex., Texas) is still
continuing! his Saturday Noon Club and has more
than tripled the patronage since it has been function-
ing. One good thing about Abel is that his presen-
tations are always new and interesting and full of
gags. He also awards anyone who has sufficient
nerve to go up to the organ and sing while he
renders the tune. This stunt is delighting the com-
munity singers.
Lcs Hoadley (Milwaukee Wisconsin) at the organ
this week played "You're a Real Sweetheart," but
interspersed the love melody with a lot of good paro-
dies on the Republicans and Democrats. It was
funny stuff and got lots of laughs from the crowd.
VITAPHONE and MOVIETONE
Will Not Eliminate
THE SPOTLIGHT ORGANIST
TjT THp The Average or Mediocre Organist's
XjLJ X I Future Is Not Assured
ARE YOU PREPARED?
A Master Theatre Course Under the
Supervision of
LEW WHITE
Will Prepare You for Future Demands
THREE MONSTER KIMBALL
ORGANS
Students have enrolled from all sections of the
country
AT THE
White Institute of Organ
1680 Broadway New York City
CSI jSr 54W.DdndolphSt
al>oat
BEST SELLERS
"Rdmona" — (Leo Feist).
"Girl of My Dreams" — (Jack Mills).
"You're a Real Szveetheart" — (Leo
Feist).
"Angela Mia" — (DeSylva-Brozvn &
Henderson).
"Get Out and Get Under the Moon" —
(Irving Berlin).
"That's My Weakness Now"—
(Shapiro-Bernstein).
".leanine I Dream of Lilac Time" — •
(Leo Feist).
"Last Night I Dreamed You Kissed
Me"— (Leo Feist).
".Just Like a Melody From Out of the
Sky" — (Donaldson-Douglas & Gmnble).
"Beloved"' — (Irving Berlin).
"Was It a Dream"- — (Harms).
"Laugh, Clown, Laugh" — (Remick).
JUANITA— (Villa Moret, Inc.) —A Spanish love
song that is written as a waltz and very pretty.
This is not a theme song and will be strictly on its
merit. By Ben Black, Paul Corbell and Walter
Smith.
GIRL OF MY DREAMS— (.Tack Mills, Inc.)— The
mystery song of the music business. Credit for this
song must go to the radio. It is one of the out-
standing hits of the business, proving again that if
the song is there it will find its way into the best
sellers. Lyric and melody by Sunny Clapp.
FOREVER— (Agcr, Yellen and Bornslein)— A high
class song by these two hit writers. The lyrics are
beautiful and are in a class with "Waiting for Shii)s
That Never Come in" by the same writer. Jack
Yellen. The music also to be praised is written as a
waltz by Milton Ager.
* * *
SOME NIGHT WHEN YOU'RE LONELY— (Joe
Morris Co.) — These two writers will be remembered
for "Oh How I Miss You Tonight," Benny Davis
and Joe Burke. A Fox trot with a lyric that is
not outstanding and yet is of thei type that will
surely sell.
JUST KIDS— (Remick Music Corp.)— A song that
brings back memories. Our childhood is always a
bright thought in our minds. Well written both as
to words and music. Words by Sidney Clare and
Charles Tobias, music by Jimmie Monaco.
* * *
YASCHA MICHAELOFFSKY'S MELODY— (Irving
Berlin, Inc.) — When Irving Berlin writes a song it
must get attention. This writer who is in a class
by himself has written a song that is far away from
the type he has been writing in the past few years
but reminds one of the older Berlin songs such as
"Mysterious Rag" and "On Your Violin." The mel-
ody has a Russian strain running all through it.
Can't help but sell.
» » »
SUNBEAMS BRING DREAMS OF YOU— (Shapiro-
Bernstein & Co.) — The theme song of "Loves of an
Actress" starring Pola Negri. How long these theme
songs will be big sellers no one knows but at present
they seem to be leading the list of big hits. Lyrics
by J. Keirn Brennan, music by Karl Hajos.
LADY FINGERS— (Al Piantadosi)— A piano solo
that is very interesting and quite tricky. It's about
time we had another big solo like "Kitten on the
Keys" and this might be it. By Jack Glogau and
Joe Zimmerman.
* « *
THE BUM SONG— (Villa Moret, Inc.)— The Bum
songs are beginning to flood the market. This is
supposed to be the original and the one that is re-
corded and that should make it the best seller among
all of these songs. Words and music by Harry
McClintoek.
j/^ /3.
52
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
Y^
SERVICE TALKS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald, which is a department containing news, in-
formation and gossip on current productions, is the Moving Picture World department, '^Through
the Box Office Window.*'
I
'TEMPEST"
CONTINUE, as no doubt I shall indefinitely,
in the belief that Mr. John Barrymore is the
best screen actor. I go to each new picture of
him in high anticipation. Very infrequently
(in fact this is the first time it has happened, if
memory plays me no tricks) I am disappointed.
"Tempest," in other words, isn't picture enough
for Barrymore.
I think that last sentence tells all about it.
The scene is Russia before, during and after
the break. It is pictured at great expense and
picturesquely. It is acted well, too. But the
story isn't big enough for the setting (if you
get what I mean) and so it doesn't hit. The
drama of Russia's crumbling is so much greater
drama than the drama of Barrymore's pictured
experiences therein that the latter become in-
significant. Too bad, too, for Barrymore makes
far too few pictures at best.
Camilla Horn is the young woman in the
picture and I hear people saying she is great,
beautiful, an actress of immense ability, an
eminent addition to the screen and things like
that. I have even heard that she is a greater
asset to "Tempest" than Barrymore. Of course
this is ridiculous, but it is quite true that tlie
lady looks well and gets around in practiced
and competent manner. No doubt my failure
to become ecstatic about her is due to the same
fundamental weakness of the picture which
makes even Barrymore seem unnecessary.
"WARMING UP'
J[ HAVE seen and heard the first Paramount
picture with built-in sound equipment and I
again declare that persons who have final say
about Paramount pictures are, generally speak-
ing, just a little smarter than other persons.
Which is another way of saying that "Warming
Up" is the best example of sound application I
have seen, save in one or two pictures where
the principal characters speak. They do not,
in this one, but it is fully equipped, neverthe-
less, with words and music.
Richard Dix is the raw recruit who pitches
the Yankees to a world championship in
"Warming Up." I have an idea that the picture
would be good (it's one of those ninth-inning
things) without the records, but it's better with
'em. They are used to providing music all the
way and to providing mob rumbles, containing
many a wisecrack good for laughs, at the ball
T. O. Service
park and at a carnival which is one of the
important sets.
I admire Paramount's judgment in selecting
a straight hokum picture for their first break
into audibility, for making the picture in such
manner that the audibility adds something to
it, and for the general good sense displayed in
the whole undertaking. I hadn't thought of it,
but if I had, I'd have expected Paramount to
show just this kind of good sense, just as it
always has.
things like that. The gags and the acting car-
ries it over.
I
'THE FIRST KISS"
HAVE heard a gentle rapping, betokening
disapproval of "The First Kiss" by persons who
read a story it is said to be based upon, which
appeared in a nickel weekly of famous circula-
tion. Unwarped by any such acquaintance with
the picture's antecedents — for I am not one of
the alleged two million — I enjoyed it all the
way through and I believe it is a pretty good
picture.
The scene is Maryland and the players are
good, as is direction and general production.
I'm sure Gary Cooper's better in it than he's
been in anything else. In fact, I'm sure it's a
very good picture, the above mentioned rapping
to the contrary notwithstanding. (People who
go to movies shouldn't read, anyway, and vice
versa.)
I
"JUST MARRIED"
'D have said there were no complications left
unused by the makers of plots wherein unmar-
ried people are made to profess matrimony and
get themselves involved thereby. Yet there are
complications in "Just Married" which I do not
remember witnessing previously. And they
make a quite engaging comedy.
James Hall and Harrison Ford are the two
young men to whom the mishaps happen. Lila
Lee is one of several young women involved.
I don't remember who the others are, but I do
remember that Lila shouldn't be doing the sort
of roles this one is. Beside the point, of course.
The action occurs on board ship, for the most
part, although a drunk enjoyed by Messrs. Ford
and Hall prior to getting aboard is one of the
funniest and therefore most important inci-
dents. After that it's a case of running around
without pants, sleeping in wrong beds, and
I
"OUT OF THE RUINS"
F I have not previously stated my admiration
for Richard Barthelmess, particular as a dough-
boy, let me do it now. With this stated, and
very sincerely, I can inquire, without fear of
misinterpretation, why Mr. Barthelmess should
permit his good time to be devoted to anything
so futile as "Out of the Ruins." Futile, I think,
is the correct word to describe it.
"Out of the Ruins" is a story about a French
soldier who deserts to spend a few days with
the girl he'd marry if circumstances would per-
mit— as, of course, they ultimately do — and
then goes back to face a firing squad which
shoots but doesn't kill him "because they were
my comrades and didn't shoot very straight."
After one sits through Mr. Barthelmess' serious
enunciation of that subtitle, there is nothing left
to do but wonder how come. I am so engaged
at this time.
Aside from the fundamental absurdity of the
story, the picture is admirably constituted. It
has good settings, acting and things like that.
But they don't mean anything.
"THE MIDNIGHT TAXI"
1 HE MIDNIGHT TAXI" is a different
sort of crime picture. In it Antonio Moreno
and William Russell are engaged in the booze
racket, Moreno virtuously, Russell villainously
— if you can draw a distinction. More plainly,
Mr. Moreno is an honest beer runner and Mr.
Russell is a dishonest one. Mr. Russell at-
tempts to frame Mr. Moreno and get him con-
victed of a burglary which Mr. Russell has
committed. Miss Helene Costello is Mr.
Moreno's girl, although he doesn't know it
until the finish, and Miss Myrna Loy is Mr.
Russell's. Another actor who stammers is
responsible for a great portion of the enter-
tainment.
This stammering fellow, who- does it so well
that I — an expert in these matters — cannot be-
lieve it is not a natural talent, provides im-
mense humor. So far as I know, this is the
first really important attempt to use the vocal
aspect of the sound picture for laugh-getting
purposes. I yell, shout and in other stentorian
ways proclaim that it is a great idea, done,
this time, splendidly.
"The Midnight Taxi" is a hit picture.
V
September 1, 1928
^.^
EXHIBIro2>= HER>LD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
53
Incorporated in this department of practical showmnnship of Exhibitors Herald are the Moving
Picture World departments, "Selling the picture to the Public,'* and "Better Business Builders.**
Cut Yourself Some Big Birthday Receipts!
Are you overlooking; the exploitation possibilities of the anniversaries of your theatre? If so, not so good, because if
there ever was an opportunity to get in solidly with your community and your newspaper a theatre birthday is IT. It's a
"natural" for publicity and you can go just as far as you like in putting it over.
One merit that the anniversary cam-
paign has of itself is the fact of dignified
news. After all, exploitation divides into
two general classifications, institutional
and the flash variety for particular pic-
tures. Anniversary campaigns essen-
tially are institutional advertising, and
well that they are.
Your theatre is a definite part of community
life and therefore deserves a definite place in
the reporting of the activities of the com-
munity. Your newspaper recognizes that fact
and will co-operate if you go only a third of
the way.
Reaching All Classes
Furthermore, there is a group in any com-
munity that will consider throwaways, hand-
bills and the like as just so much more waste-
paper to sweep off the porch. To them a
dignified emphasizing of what the theatre has
done for the public in the past year and what
it means to the town is a method of approach
that reaches home.
And while we think of it, it's not such a
bad idea for the theatre owner at anniversary
times to check up on himself on the same
basis of service to community and how that
has reflected on the box office figures. We
firmly believe that in direct proportion as he
has served his town well, so the town uncon-
sciously shows its appreciation by attendance.
Get Special Program
The first thing in planning for an anniver-
sary celebration is, of course, to get the right
kind of program, and that means an espe-
cially good show. If you don't have some-
thing special to offer you're not only wasting
time by mentioning the birthday but you ac-
tually are hitting yourself kerplunk at the
nape of the neck, because it's become the
natural thing to expect something for nothing
from the celebrant. You pass cigars on your
birthday or you don't tell the world you have
one.
There's a natural reaction in favor of that,
too. Yes, we have a "third floor back" in
which are reposing a number of neckties and
galluses and sleevebands and the like that have
accumulated as fast as the birthdays. We may
cuss them openly, but at heart we're thankful
we were remembered. That's perhaps why
they haven't been thrown out.
By that same token it's well to give them
something for nothing in the way of oppor-
tunities to obtain free tickets. Even the old
method of mailing or handing out letters with
"You are invited to my birthday party" and
so on, with the infinite twists apparent for
originality, can be dragged in and put to
work.
The newspapers will be good for at least
one extensive story, and in that connection
don't forget the value of photos for that pur-
pose. Then in the matter of advertising, the
theatre anniversary will suggest itself — with
or without coaxing — to the newspaper ad-
vertising department as a basis for a page
or two-page ad taking in other business units
that have just passed another milestone.
Scoring at Montgomery
These are only the beginnings of the cam-
paign, but they click. Witness the space al-
lotted the Empire theatre at Montgomery Ala.,
in the Advertiser a week or two ago, when
the theatre feted its eleventh year.
This three-column advertisement in the
Montgom,ery Advertiser announced the
Anniversary Week at the Empire theatre.
A dignified and tasteful ad it is.
Signalizing the birthday anniversary, the
Advertiser published in its Sunday edition,
a long and interesting story of the Empire
and its contribution to the city. Three full
columns were given to the story and the at-
tractive layout, made up of photographs' of
major Publix officials, with the photo of
Hoxey C. Farley, manager, occupying the
center position.
Institutional Ad Run
In the same issue of the newspaper the
Empire theatre carried a special three-column
ten-inch institutional ad thanking its thousands
of patrons and friends for their patronage and
goodwill. Particularly attractive was the bor-
der, showing parted stage curtains ; and the
huge birthday cake, at the bottom, with eleven
lighted candles'. The message closed with the
words, "We pledge our sincere efforts to
more than please you in the years to come."
While the event marked the eleventh an-
niversary of the present Empire, and the
seventh year of Publix ownership, the theatre
has been a Montgomery institution for twenty
years. The first Empire theatre stood upon
the site on Commerce street now occupied
by the Morrison Cafeteria; the second Em-
pire stood on Bibb street. The third and
present Empire was built eleven years ago.
At that time it was considered the last word
in theatre construction, and though many im-
provements have come about, the Empire has
kept pace. Before the elaborate and expen-
sive refrigeration systems came into general
use the Empire built its' own cooling plant
on that principle.
Farley Outstanding Showman
The history of the Empire is inseparable
from the record of one man whose leader-
ship and showmanship are responsible for its
success — Hoxey C. Farley. Long before the
South became the center of chain theatre de-
velopment, Farley was the outstanding show-
man of this' city and was recognized not only
throughout the state but throughout the South
as a pioneer and leader.
When the Empire passed to the ownership
of the Publix Theatres Corporation, Farley
was given the post of city manager, with
supervision over that house and three other
Publix-owned theatres. A native of Mont-
gomery, he is as much a Montgomery in-
stitution as is the Empire theatre.
So are you, Mr. Theatre Owner, an insti-
tution of your community and your com-
munity should know it.
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVINgI' ^^^JLWE WORLD
September 1, 1928
W ho wouldn't feel like going inside to keep cool and comfortable
uith an inviting, summery front like this on the theatre? This
is the way the Strand at Fort Madison, Iowa, was togged out dur-
ing the showing of M G M's "The Cossacks." Note the plants on
the pillars of the porch railing.
Extensive use of lobby fronts and displays is one of the keynotes
of the success of W. Ebinger, manager of the Strand, Orpheum
and Columbia theatres at Fort Madison. Here is the futuristic
front of the Strand for the exhibition of Paramount's "Ladies of
the Mob,'' starring Clara Bow. It's odd and attractive.
You Don ^t Have to Have Big City
Theatre to Be Real Showman
When a theatre manager has the fullest cooperation of every member of his
staff there must be a reason — and a good reason. One way to obtain that
cooperation is to show that you are on your toes every minute, awake to every
possibility for bettering both program and patronage. Apparently that is just
what is being done by W. Ebinger, manager of the Strand, Orpheum and
Columbia theatres at Fort Madison, la.
Three illustrations on this page show how
Ebinger carries out his up-to-the-minute
policy of boosting both his theatre and his
community.
For one thing, there is the effect of making
a real, comfortable vacation out of a visit
to the show, accomplished by placing a sum-
mery front on the theatre. Then there is the
trick of calling attention to the coolness of
the house by painting huge signs on sheds
and other available places on all the roads
leading into the town. And a third angle is
changing the theatre front to fit the atmosphere
of the particular picture showing.
Knows Community Cooperation
On the matter of community cooperation,
also, Ebinger has his head working. Slides
advise the townfolks to trade at home. Other
slides carry the message to the people that
they should go to church Sundays. These
ideas bear fruit. Fred H. Decker, chief pro-
jectionist of the three theatres, says in a
letter to this department that "The Fort
Madison theatres have the indorsement of the
clergy, to say the least." Let's read Decker's
letter together:
"I wish to call your attention to a small
city of ten thousand and its progressive the-
atres.
Summer Slump? No
"The summer slump means little other than
extra added efforts. The accompanying photo-
graph (shown at the bottom of the page) is
a replica of those found on all main roads
leading into the city, for a radius of ten
miles.
"New forms of exploitation are used every
week. Good Will matinees. Neighbor nights.
Family nights. Labor nights, Legion nights,
and Father and Son nights. Private screen-
ings are held one night a week, to which we
invite representative citizens, the clergy, and
one or two people from some of the city's
various industries.
"Many booster slides are run, asking the
people of the community to trade at home,
thereby reducing taxes. Slides are also run
asking people to go to church on Sundays,
which actually brings the various denomina-
tions of the local clergy in our theatres to
see the shows. Much can be accomplished in
this manner. The Fort Madison theatres
have the indorsement of the clergy to say
the least.
Attracts Attention to Ads
"Attention is constantly attracted to the
newspaper ads by inserting girls' names in
the Strand ads, and family telephone numbers
in the Orpheum ads. This creates an interest
beyond expectation, as many people call the
theatres, oft'ering favorable comments.
"Our bookings are always up to standard,
as we play pictures occasionally before they
are shown in some of the key cities. All
pictures are given proper exploitation through
the extensive use of lobby displays and;
fronts. The accompanying photograph with
the futuristic front was used on 'Ladies of
the Mob.'
"The theatres are kept scrupulously clean
and cool. We carry out a green cool lighting
effect in and out of the theatres. The sum-
mer efforts also help the theatres in the fall,
when going after capacity business, as much
goodwill has been obtained throughout the
summer.
"W. Ebinger, who is manager of the Strand,
Orpheum and Columbia theatres, has a well
trained crew of technicians and courteous em-
ployes, who are always in a cooperative mood
and willing to assist in his daily problems."
How Do You Like
These Slogans to
Bring Customers ?
Press agents of various theatres at New
Orleans are vying with one another in catchy
slogans to lure patrons to their houses.
The publicity department of the Saenger
Amusement Company started the ball rolling
with "Cool as a Cave" for the Saenger.
"Every Seat a Cool Retreat" nowi features all
advertisements for the Tudor.
Not to be outdone, Roy Aymond of Loew's
State coined, "Where Winter Spends the Sum-
mer."
Victor Meyers, manager of the Orphetun
theatre, is now wearing out paper and pencil
and midnight oil in an effort to outdo his
competitors.
Hot weather still continues in that district,
but business has been uniformly good in the
few houses remaining open in the downtown
section — the Saenger, Tudor, Loew's State,
Orpheum and the Lyceum — and the population
of New Orleans is 460,000.
Keeping a theatre cool and comfortable is a great thing in itself. Acquainting the public
with that fact, as a part of the attraction, is another problem. The Strand at Fort Madison
doesn't miss any bets on that point. All main roads leading into town from a radius of
ten miles are posted with signs like the one herewith.
45-43 Puzzle Does
the Trick Again at
Garrick at Duluth
The 45-45 puzzle, printed in this department
in the issue of July 14, not only has brought
several requests from exhibitors for details
but also has been put to use with success.
One of the several exhibitors who have put
the puzzle to work for the box office is P. F.
Schwie, manager of the Garrick at Duluth,
Minn.
The Duluth Herald reported receiving 650
replies to the puzzle, presented in connection
with the showing of M G M's "The Mysterious
Lady." One hundred tickets were given to
100 patrons solving the problem. A double-
truck ad was obtained by the newspaper, the
theatre having the center position. Ten thou-
sand envelopes were distributed by Schwie.
September 1, 1928
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
^^^
QUICK REFERENCE PICTURE CHART
Length Title and Playeri
Released
New
Picture*
Comment
1928
6860
6600
6305
Incorporated in this department of Moving Picture World is the Exhibitors Herald department,
"Available Attractions."
The key to abbreviations used in denoting the type of pieturet
C — Comedy F — Force
U— Drama M-^^-Melo drama
R— Romance W^Weatern
My^—Mytery
Where the picture is a comedy-drama, comedy melodrama, etc.,
there is a combination of these abbreviations. Stars denote
reissues.
That dates prior to January 7 published under the "Comment"
column are those of the issues of Moving Picture World in which
the pictures were reported. The January 7 and subsequent dates
are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOV-
ING PICTURE WORLD in which "Service Talks" have been
published on pictures.
The dates prior to January 7 published under the "New Pic-
tures" column are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD
in which "New Pictures" information was printed. The January
7 and subsequent dates are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD in which this in-
formation will be printed.
Length Title and Playen
Releated
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
1928
6400 Adorable Cheat, Tha, LUa Lee-Mclnt08h
6450 Below the Deadline
6500 Campus Knights ...„ _,
6300 Circumitantial Evidence
Chesterfield
1928
8000
6000
69»0 South of Panama _ _....
House of Shame, The....
Roaring Forties, The..
—June 1
Feb. 28
-Aug. 15
Oct. 30
June 30
Apr. 15
Deo. 16
June 9
1927
6831
6843
5432
6628
6513
6645
6750
6524
6569
6892
1000
6996
6435
6054
6108
6357
6426
6791
Columbia
Alias the Lone Wolf (D), Lytell-Wilson Aug. 22
Blood Ship, The (M), Bosworth-IiOgan Aug. 10
By Whose Hand (MyD), Cortez-Gilbert Sept. 16
College Hero, The (CD), Agnew-Qaron. Oct. 9
Fashion Madness, Windsor-Howes _ Dec. 8
isle of Forgotten Women (D). Tearle-Sebastlan_Sept. 27
Lone Wolf Returns (M), Ljtell-WUson
Opening Night, The (D), Wlndsor-J. Bowerfl....Nov. 14
Pleasure Before Business (F), Davidson _
Sally in Our Alley (M), Mason-Allen Sept. S
Screen Snapshots _
Siren, The, T. Moore-Revier. „_ Dec 20
Stage Kisses (D), Harlan-Chadwlct..- Nov. 2
Stolen Pleasures (CD), Revler _
Sweet Rosie O'Grady (CD), Mason _
Tigress, The (iVl), Holt-Revler _ Oct 21
Wandering Girls (CD), Revler-Agnew
Warning, The (M), Holt-Revler _ Not.
Way of the Strong, The (ItID), Alice Day-Lewis
1927
Jan. 7 Oct. I
Dec. 3 July 23
Dec. 31
Jan. 14
Dec. 3
Jan. 14
..July 31
May 14
Jan. 14
Aug. 28
Jan. 21 Jan. 21
Jan. 7
..Oct. 2
...52.72%
Tldur
6400
6536
6600
1927
Dec. 3
-July 21
1928
6459 After the Storm, Hobart-Bosworth..
1928
6537
6928
6925
Beware of Blondes (IHD), Revler-Matt Moore
Broadway Daddies. Jacqueline Logan.
Desert Bride, The (MD), Betty Compson
Golf Widows (CD), Reynolds-Ford
Lady Raffles, Taylor-Drew
Matinee Idol, The (MD), Love-Walker.
Modern Mothers (CD), Helene Cbadwlck.
Name the Woman (D), Stewart-Gordon..
Say it With Sables (D), Bushman-Chadwlck..-
So This Is Love, Mason-Collier. _ _
Sporting Age, The, Bennett-Herbert
That Certain Thing, Dana-Graves
Virgin Lips (D), Olive Bordea..
.Iuly21
.Mar. 26
6440
6464
6047
6350
6472
1927
2000 Angelus, The (D) _.
2000 Real Charleston, Lesson Novelty..
Wooden Shoes, International
Wife's Relations, The, Mason-Glass
Woman's Way, A, Baiter-Llvingston
.Jan. 25
.Mar. 14
.June 9
.Feb. 6
-Mar. 2
.Jan. 1
.Aug. 18
.Jan. 13
-Feb. 18
Apr. 14
.-May 26
Feb. 25
Apr. 7
—June 19
.Aug. 4
Feb. 25
Feb. 11
Mar. 31
Cranfield & Clarke, Inc.
..May 15
..Apr. 24
-May 8
1927
6250 Husbands or Lovers, Jannings
Emblem Films
1927
1927
..Dec. 3
Excellent
1927
5980 Back to Liberty (D), Walsh-Hall Nov. 16
6805 Bowery Cinderella, A (D), O'Malley-Hulette May 1
6912 Broadway Drifter (D), Walsh-Hall Nov. 1
6645 Broadway Madness (D), De la Motte-Keith
1927
-Nov. 26
6792
His Rise to Fame (D), Walah-Skaw-
Kick-off, The (D), Hyama-Atnann..
-Apr. 14
-Feb. 15
_Mar. 17
7393 Nest, The (D), Frederick-Herbert..
6337 Striving for Fortune (D), Walsh-Robei
6760 Winning Oar, The (D), Walsh-HalL.
6867 Your Wife and Mine (F), Haver-Holmea.-
Aug. 1
Jan. 16
__June 1
Sept. 1
Mar. 3
4765
4858
4910
4837
5701
5093
4754
4913
6300
6507
7014
5240
5186
6481
6515
4924
6680
6140
4941
6004
4886
6388
4892
1928
6872
4893
5583
4869
6267
6375
6320
5511
5984
5063
4770
4804
4758
6148
iiii
4769
5771
4801
6424
4785
4781
4884
6419
4729
6059
5967
4793
4760
6329
A Bit of Heaven (D), Washburn-Lee May 15
into No IVlan's Land, Tom Santschi-J. Norman. _
IWaking the Varsity, Rex Lease-Hulette July 15
Manhattan Knights, Barbara Bedford Aug 10
Satan and the Woman (D), Windsor-Keefe Jan. 20
Speed Classic, The, Rex Lease-Mildred Harris—July 25
Stronger Will, The (D), Marmont-Carewe Feb. 20
Women Who Dare (D), Cbadwick-Delaney Mar. 30
FBO
Aflame In the Sky (M), Luden-Lynn _...Dec. 18
Bandit's Son, The (W), Bob Steele — Nov. 20
Boy Rider, The (W), Buzz Barton Oct. 23
Breed of Courage (D), Ranger Aug. 7
Cherokee Kid, The (W), Tyler-Lynn. —Oct 30
Clancy's Kosher Wedding (CD), Geo. Sidney — Sept IT
Coward, The (D), Warner Baxter -Aug. 21
Desert Pirate (W), Tom Tyler Deo. 26
Flying U Ranch, The (W), Tom Tyler Sept. 4
Gingham Girl, The (C), Lois Wilson — —Oct 2
Great Mail Robbery, The (M), Von Eltz-Nelson..Aug. 15
Harvester, The (D), OrviUe Caldwea Nov. 23
Hook and Ladder No. 9 (D), Ed Hearne Nov. 13
Jake the Plumber (C), Jesse De Vorska Oct. 16
Judgment of the Hills (D), Darro-Talli Nov. 6
Little Mickey Grogan (D), FranWe Darro Dec. 27
Mojave Kid, The (W), Bob Steele _ -Sept. 25
Moon of Israel (D), Maria Corda _
Not for Publication (M), Ralph Ince Aug. 31
Racing Romeo (D), Red Grange -...
Ranger of the North (D), Banger Oct. 9
Shanghaied (M), Ralph Ince Oct 19
Slingshot Kid, The (M), Buzz Barton -Deo. 4
South Sea Love (D), Patsy Miller Dec. 10
Swift Shadow, The (D), Banger. Dec. 11
1928
Feb. 26
1927
Dec. 10
Dec 10
Dec. 3 Oct 8
Nov. 26 ...-
Sept. 10
Sept. 10
Dec 24
Nov. 26
Nov.
Dec.
Dec.
Nov.
Deo.
.Dec
Dec.
Dec.
Dec
Nov.
Dec.
July 30
...July 2
Nov. 19
Nov. 26
Aug. 20
lug. 6
...July 9
-July 23
64.60%
Aug. 20
1928
Alex the Great (M), Skeets Gallagher May 13
Bantam Cowboy (W), Buzz Barton - ....Aug. 12
Beyond London's Lights (M), Lee Shumway — Mar. 18
Breed of the Sunsets (W), Bob Steele Apr. 1
Chicago After Midnight (M), Ince-Mendcz...- Mar. 4
Coney Island (D), Lois Wilson...- Jan. 13
Crooks Can't Win (D), Balpk Lewis May 11
Dead Man's Curve (D), Fairbanks, Jr -Jan. 15
Devil's Trademark, The (D), Belle Bennett Apr. 7
Dog Justice (M), Ranger— June 10
Driftin' Sands (W), Bob Steele Jan. 1
Fangs of the Wild (D), Ranger - Feb. 5
Fightin' Redhead (W), Buzz Barton July 1
Freckles (D), Stratton-Fox. Jr Mar. 21
Headin' for Danger (MD), Bob Steele
Her Summer Hero (CD), Blane-Trevor Feb. 12
Hit of the Show, The (C), Joe Brown-Olmstead
Law of Fear (D), Banger. — - Apr. 8
Legionnaires In Paris (C), Cooke-Quard Jan. 31
Little Buckaroo, The (W), Buzz Bartoru Mar. 11
Little Yellow House, The (D), Orvllle CaldweU_May 28
Man In the Rough (W), Bob Steele May 20
Phantom of the Range (W), Tom Tyler .Apr. 22
Pinto Kid, The (W), Buzz Barton 4pr. 29
Red Riders of Canada (M), P. R. Miller. Apr. 15
Riding Renegade (W), Bob Steele _ Feb. 19
Sally of the Scandals (M), Bessie Love-.. July 15
Skinner's Big Idea (M), Bryant Washburn Apr. 24
Stocks and Blondes (CD), Logan-Gallagher
Texas Tornado, The (W), Tom Tyler Feb. 26
Trail of Courage, The (W), Bob Steele July 8
Wallflowers (D), Trevor-Scott _ Feb. 16
When the Law Rides (W), Tom Tyler. June 24
Wizard of the Saddle (W), Buzz Barton Jan. 22
Feb. 11
May 5
Feb. 11
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Dec. 17
Feb. 11
Deo. 17
Mar. 3
June 16
Dec 17
Jan. 21
Feb. 11
Feb. 4
-June 19
Jan. 21
-July 21
Feb. 11
Dec. 10
Jan. 14
June 2
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Feb. 4
Jan. 21
Feb. 18
Mar. 17
Apr. 28
Apr. 14
July 14
First Division
— Jan. 1
— Sept 1
....Oct 1
Mar. 17
1927
5400
5960
5600
5900
5800
5700
5750
6700
6700
5700
5600
5700
1928
5500 Fagasa, Raymond Wells
Free Lips (MD), June ^nrlnw
6300 Masked Angel, Betty Compson Mar. 1
6200 Souls Aflame, Raymond Wells.... Mar. 15
Comrades, Costello-Hughes
Death Valley (W), CarroU Nye
Eager Lips, Garon —
Finnegan's Ball (C), Mack Swain Sept. 15
Ladies at Ease (CD), Garon-Short -..Nov. 15
Ladybird, Compson Aug. 1
Naughty, Garon Nov. 1
Polly of the Movies, Short-Robards. Oct 15
Ragtime (D), De La Motte - Sept. 1
Return of Boston Blackie (D), Glenn-Palmer..„Aug. 1
Say It with Diamonds, Betty Compson Aug. 15
Temptations of a Shop Girl, Compson Nov. 1
Apr. 1
Dec 24
..Aug. 20
1927
-..Oct 15
Jan. 7
Nov. 26
Sept. 3
1928
July 14
Apr. 7
Apr. 21
56
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
1927
8300
6333
6433
6223
6766
1730
7724
6386
6588
680e
6282
I1S3
6288
6118
6190
6824
S400
6730
6718
6550
6265
T388
6621
6642
6434
6520
6040
6431
6734
First National
All Aboard (C), Hlnes-Murphy May 8
American Beauty (CD), Dove-Hughes. Oct. 9
An Affair of the Follies (D), Dove-Hughes Feb. 13
Breakfast at Sunrise (CD), C. Talmadge Oct. 23
Broadway Nights (D), Wilson-Hardy May 15
Camille (D), N. Talmadge-Roland Sept. 4
Convoy (D), Sherman-MaclialU Apr. 24
Crystal Cup, The (D), MackalU-MulhaU Oct. 16
Dance Magic (D), Lyon-Starfee June 12
Drop Kicic, The (D), Barthelmess-Berler Sept. 26
Framed (D), Sills-KJngston June 19
Gorilla. The (My), Murray Kelsey Nov. 13
Gun Gospel (W), Maynard-Falre Nov. 6
Her Wild Oat (C), Moore-KenL Dea 25
Hioh Hat (CD), Lyon-Brlan Mar. 13
Home Made (C), Hlnes-Daw _ Nov. 20
Lady In Ermine. The (D), C. Grifllth-Bushnian_jan. 9
Life of Riley, The (C). Murray-Sidney Sept. 18
Lonesome Ladles (CD), Nllsson-Stone July 3
Long Pants (C), Langdon-Bonner Apr. 10
Lost at the Front (C), Murray-Sidney May 29
Love Mart, The (D), Dove-Boland. Dec 18
Lunatic at Large, The (C), Errel-MackaiU jan. 2
Man Craiy (CD), Mackalll-Mulhall Nov. 27
Maslced Women, The (D). Nllsson-BIinn-H"nsen_..ian. 23
Naughty But Nice (C), Moore-Beed June 26
Notorious Lady, The (D), Bedford-Stone Mar. 27
No Place to Go (C), Hughes-Astor Oct. SO
Orchids and Ermine, Moore-MulhaU Mar. 6
Nov. 19
Nov. 12
Nov. 12
..Apr. 2
Oct. 22
..iUr. 5
Nov. 26
..May 21
-May 2
..May 21
Oct. 29
Aug. 13
56.10%
48.00%
65.00%
61.64%
63.68%
Nov. 26
Nov. 12
..Feb. 5
11414 Patent Leather Kid, The (D), Barflmeas-O'Day..
6982
6897
6400
6210
6477
6606
6800
6648
7179
6000
7400
7419
6774
6668
7833
6336
6324
6409
1928
7404
6500
.'Jan. 16
Perfect Sap, The (CD), Lyon-Starke
Poor Nut, The (C), Murray-Mulhall Aug. 7
Prince of Head Waiters (0), Stone-Tashman. _ _
Red Raiders, The (W), Maynard-Drew..._ July 17
Rose of the Golden West (D), Astor-Boland Sept. 4
Sea Tiger, The (D), Sills- Astor Oct. 2
See You in Jail (C), Mulhall-Day Feb. 27
Smile, Brother, Smile (C), MulhaU-MackalU Apr. 17
Stolen Bride, The (D), Hughes-Dove Sept. 11
Sunset Derby (D), Astor-CcUler Aug. 14
Tender Hour, The (D), Dove-Lyon June 5
Texas Steer, A (CD), Rogers-Fazenda May 1
Three Hours (D), Qrlfflth-Bowers Dec 4
Three's a Crowd (C), Langdon-McConnell Apr. 3
Twinltletoes, Moore-Harlan _ Aug. 28
Valley of the Giants (D), SiUs-Kenyon Dec. 11
Venus of Venice (CD), Talmadge-Moreno Mar. 20
White Pants Willie (C), Hlnes-Hyams July 24
Barker, The (D), Sills, MaokallL
Dec. 3
„..Feb. 12
...July 18
May 14
...Dec. 10
....Apr. 9
....Aug. 20
„..JaiL 22
_.S8pt. 10
_..July 23
....Oct. 16
Oct. 8
„May 14
...Apr. 23
__SepL 17
_Sept. 3
....July 2
...May 28
Apr. 16
....Jan. 1
...Dec. 3
Jan. 7
....Aug. 6
....Apr. 16
67.90%
70.47%
61.88%
6800
6744
6374
mo
6172
6344
7100
7433
7641
6967
7694
6692
6608
8967
7700
6625
7129
5486
8188
Big Noise, The (CD), Conklln-Whlte Mar. 25
Burning Daylight (M), Sllls-Kenyon. -Feb. 26
Butter and Egg Man, The, Jack MulhaU
Canyon of Adventure (W), Maynard Apr. 29
Chaser, The (C), Langdon _ Feb. 12
Chinatown Charlie (C), Hines-Lorraine Apr. 15
Code of the Scarlet (W), Ken Maynard _
Goodbye Kiss, The, Johnny Burke-SaUy EUers
Fkying Romeos (C). Murray-Sidney Feb. 26
French Dressing (CD), Wamer-Wllson Jan. 15
Garden of Eden, The (D), Corlnne Grlfflth
Happiness Ahead (D), Colleen-Moore-Lowe June 30
Hawk's Nest, The (M), Milton Sills May 6
Heart to Heart, Lloyd Hughes-Todd-
-July 14
47.00%
38.90%
47.72%
69.92%
68.86%
45.80%
1928
Apr. 7
..July 28
Feb. 11
Feb. 18
.June 23
.July 7
Apr. 7
Dea 10
Dec. 17
-Aug. 4
5827
6212
6874
Heart Trouble (CD), Harry Langdon
Harold Teen (CD), Lake-Brian Apr. 29
Heart of a Follies Girl (D), Dove-Kent-
Sherman Mar. 18
Helen of Troy (CD), Stone-Corda-Cortei. Jan. 8
Ladies Night (CD), MackaUl-Mulhall _ Apr. 1
Lady Be Good (CD), MulhaU-Mackaill May 12
Lilac Time (D), Moore-Cooper. _ _ Apr. 22
Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come (D), Bar-
thelmess-O'Day _ Apr. 8
Mad Hour (D), O'Neil-Kent-Sherman Mar. 4
Noose, The (D), Barthelmess-Joyce Jan. 29
Sailors' Wives (CD), Hughes-Astor Jan. 22
Shepherd of the Hills (D), Francis-O'Day Jan. 1
Strange Case of Captain Hamper, The (D)
Three Ring Marriage (M), Hughes-Astor May 27
Wagon Show, The (W), Maynard -....Mar. 11
Wheel of Chance, The (D), Richard Barthelmess
Whip, The (D), Forbes-MackaUl - _
Whip Woman. The (D), Taylor-Moreno - Feb. 5
Wright Idea, The (CD), Johnny Blnes-
May 26
May 26
-July 7
.July21
Apr. 21
Mar. 10
Dec. 24
June 16
Aug. 4
June 2 Aug. 18
7187 Yellow Lily, The (D), Dove-Brooks..
..May 20
Apr. 7
Mar. 17
Deo. 10
Dec 24
Dec 8
.July 21
Apr. 28
Mar. 17
...Tune 2
.July 14
Feb. 11
-July 7
Apr. 28
May 12
Jan. 21
63.25%
78.^%
July21
1927
4665
1777
4556
5425
6078
63S3
4810
4300
6381
8164
6524
4645
6617
6516
4983
4851
6940
6162
6699
8607
8838
6416
8440
6600
77S4
78T7
6327
<8»8
6876
U9S
S4M
Fox
Arizona Wildcat, The (W), Tom Mix-
Blackjack (W), Buck Jones.
Blood Will Tell (W), Buck Jones.-
Bronoho Twister (W), Mix....
Cameo Kirby (D), John GUbert-
1927
-Nov. 20
-Sept. 25
-Nov. 13
..Mar. 13
-Aug. 28
-Aug. 14
_.lune 26
.Dec. 26
..June 6
..Oct. 9
-Not. 19
-Nov. 12
-Apr. 2
63.00%
Chain Lightning (W), Buck Jones
Circus Ace, The, Mix. -.
Come to My House (CD), Olive Borden
Cradle Snatchers (FC), Fazenda
East Side, West Side (D), O'Brlen-VaUi..
Gay Retreat The (C), (Johen-McNamara Sept. 25
Good as G»ld (W), Jones June 12
Heart of Salome (My), Rubens May 8
High School Hero (C), Phlpps-Stuart Oct. 18
Hills of Peril (W), Jones May 1
•Honor First (D), John Gilbert Sept. 18
Is Zat So? (CD), O'Brien-Lowe May 15
Joy Girl, The (CD), OUve Borden. Sept. 18
Ladles Must Dress (CD), Virginia Valll Nov. 20
Love Makes 'Em Wild (D), Harron Mar. 6
Loves of Carmen (D). McLaglen-Del Elo Sept. 4
Madam Wants No Children, Cordii Apr. 3
Marriage (D), Valll Feb. 20
Feb. 20
Jan. 23
Jan. 2
— June 4
Jan. 7 Oct 22
Tune 11
May 9
40.70%
Nov. 16
-May 21
-Sept 24
Dec. 17
Monkey Talks (D), Lemer
Muslo Master (D), A. B. Franofa
One Increasing Purpose (D), Lowe-
0(rtla«r* of Red River (W), mit
Paid to Love (D), O'Erlen-ValU
Pajanu (CD), Borden-Oray.
Publlelty Madness (CO), Uoran-Lone_
Rich But Honest (CD), Beebe
-Aug. 14
..Oct. 23
-Oct. 2
-May 22
...Oct. 8
_.Apr. 16
_ JTeb. 26
...Mar. 5
_Jan. 22
Jan. 15
Apr. 23
_Atig. 6
48.60%
61.68%
-June 4
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
10726 Seventh Heaven, The (R), FarreU-Gaynor-
6467 'Shame (M), John GLtben
5446 Silk Legs (CD), Madge Bellamy
5009 Silver Valley (W), Tom Mix
5792 Singed (D), Baxter-Sweet
5412 Slaves of Beauty (D), Herbert-Tell
4943 St. Ehno (M), John Gilbert.
4675 Tumbling River (W), Tom Mix-Dawn
4299 Truxton King, Gilbert
6293
Oct 30
Nov. 27
Dec 18
— Oct 2
Aug. 21
June 5
Oct 9
Aug. 21
Oct. 30
Sept. 11
— Aug. 28
-.-Mar. 20
Deo. 31
Dec. 17
-May 28
-Nov. 28
n.ss«
Oct 29
-July 16
-June 11
-Aug. 27
Two Girls Wanted (CD), Janet Gaynor.
11109 What Price Glory (CD), MoLaglen-Lowe..
5783 Whispering Sage (W), Jones
5629 Wizard, The (MyD), Lowe-Hyams Dec 11
5531 Wolf Fangs (D), Thunder (Dog) Nov. 27
1928
4612 Branded Sombrero, The (W), Buck Jones. Jan. 8
Chicken a la King (CD), Carrol-Francis Lee
Daredevil's Reward (W), Tom Mil. Jan. 15
Don't Marry, Moran-Hamllton June 3
Dressed to Kill, Lowe-Astor Mar. 18
Escape, The (D), Russell- VaUl . Apr. 29
-Apr. 9
Dec i
4987
5708
6566
5109
5038
5882
6430
4618
6188
4399
5782
6679
5071
5380
5629
5355
6937
5030
4921
5480
Gateway ot the Moon, The (D), Del Rio Jan. 1
Girl in Every Port, A (CD), Victor McLaglen.-.Jan. 29
Hangman's House, McLaglen-OUyer May IS
Hello Cheyenne, Tom Mix May 13
Honor Beund, O'Brien-Taylor May 13
Horseman of the Plains (W), Tom Mix Mar. 11
Love Hungry (CD), Moran-Gray Apr. 15
News Parade, Stuart-Phillips.
No Other Woman (0), Dolores Del Rio June in
None But the Brave (C), Morton-Phlpps Aug. 18
Painted Post (W), Tom iOx .
Jan. 21
-June 23
Feb. 11
June 9
Apr. 14
Apr. 14
Jan. 28
June 30
Apr. 14
Jan. 21
-l^y2e
May 12
Apr. 21
Apr. 7
Mar. 10
.May 26
June 23
May 19
Feb. 4
June 23
-JulyT
-Apr. 22
-Jan. 16
-Feb. 5
-Mar. 4
Play Girl, The, Madge Bellamy.
Road House (MD), Barrymore- Burke
Sharp Shooters (CD), O'Brlen-Moran
Soft Living (CD), Bellamy-Brown
Square Crooks, Brown-Dwan ;
Street Angel, Gaynor
Sunrise (D), George O'Brien
Thief In the Dark, A, Meeker-HiU-Beebe. May 20
Why Sailors Go Wrong. Phlpps-McNamara Mar. 25
Wild West Romance (W), Rex King. June 10
Woman Wise (C), RusseU-CoUyer. Jan. 8
-Aug. 4
Feb. 4
Feb. 18
May 19
-July I
-July21
June 2
1927
Gotham
C500
1928
526S
G9Sr
5SU0
6000
5950
6700
6200
6750
5900'
1929
Catch as Catch Can, William Fairbanks Sept.
Down Grade, The, William Fa.irbanks Oct.
Silent Avenger. The, "Tliuuder" Delaney Nov. 1
Sinews of Steel. Alberta Vaughn. Oct. 1
When Dajiger Calls, William Fairbanks Nov.
Woman Who Didn't Care, The, Tashman-Rankin Dec. 1
Hero's of the Night, Marion NLxon-Landls Jime 1
Bare Knees, Virginia Lee Corbin June
Blondes by Choice, Claire Windsor. March
Cheer Leader, The, Graves-Olmstead April
Chorus Kid, The, Faire-Washbum .Tune
Girl from Rio. The. il.vers-Pidgeon Feb.
Head of the Family. The, A^rginia Ijee Corbin_Oct.
Hell ship Bronson, Ben'y-Reid May
Midnight Life, Francis X. Bushman. Aug.
Rose of Kildare. The, Chadwick-C'Malley Jan.
San Francisco Nights, Percy Marmont .May
Satin Woman. The. Mrs. WaUace Beid. Jan.
Through the Breakers, Livingston-Herbert Sept.
Turn Back the Hours, Myrna Ley .Tuly
United States Smith, Gribbou Iiee July
Father and Son, Noah Berry-Noah Berry. Jr
Knee High, Virginia 3>e Corbin Oct.
IModern Sappho, A, Betty Bronson Sept.
River Woman, The, Logan-L. Barrjmore Aug.
Times Square, Alice Day-Lubin_ — Sept.
1927
6199 Broadway After Midnight, Betz-
Krelbar Productions
...Oct. 29
Adam and Evil (CD), Cody-PringleL-
Adventurer, The (W), Tim MoCoy..
After Midnight (D), Shearer-Gray-
Annie Laurie (D), LUllan Glsh
Becky (CD), SaUy O'NelL
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
.Aug. 27
-Aug. 20
.Sept 17
.Nov. 12
1927
6667
4709
6312
8730
6439
12000 Ben Hur (M), Ramon Novarro Oct. 8
12556 Big Parade, The (M), GUbert-Adoree. Sept 10
5821 Bugle Call, The (D), Jackie Coogan Aug. 6
Buttons (CD), Jackie Coogan Dec 24
Callahans and Murphys (CD), Dressler-Moran — June 13
Captain Salvation (M), Hanson May 14
Fair Co-ed, The (CD), Marion Davies Oct 16
Foreign Devils (W), Tim McCoy Sept. 3
Frisco Sally Levy (C), O'Neil Apr. 2
Garden of Allah, The (D), Terry-Petrovltch Nov. 5
In Old Kentucky (0). H. (3osteUo Oct 29
London After Midnight (D), Lon Chaney Dec 3
Lovelorn, The, Sally O'NeU Deo. 17
Lovers (D), Novarro-Terry Apr. 9
Man, Woman and Sin (D), John Gilbert Nov. 19
Mockery (M), Lon Chaney Aug. 13
Mr. Wu (M), Lon Chaney Mar. 26
-Jan. 14
-Aug. 13
-Aug. 27
-May 31
Not. 2«
Quality Street, Davles-NagcL-
Red Mill (C), Davies. —
Road to Romance, The (D), Novarro-Day....
Rookies (C), Dane- Arthur
Slide, Kelly, Slide (CD), Haines-O'NeU
Spoilers of the West (W), McCoy-Daw _
Spring Fever (C), William Haines
Tea for Three (C), Cody-Prtngle
-Dec 31
-Jaa 29
_Sept 24
6050
6126
7395
6408
4658
6909
8158
6646
6687
6110
6291
6280
5957
7603
7627
6337
6581
6640
7865
6280
6705
6273
5252
6160
7899
6657
6517
1928
6998 Actress,
6805 Across to Singapore (MD), Novarro-Crawford — Apr. T
6010 Baby Mine, Arthur-Dane Jan. 21
Beyond the Sierras (W), Tim McCoy.... Aug. 25
6838 Big CUy, The, Chaney-Compson-Day Feb. 18
6344 Bringing Op Father, PaiTeV-»*^oran-01mstead — Mar. IT
Dec 31
July 18
July 2
Nov. 10 Oct 29
Nov. 19
Not. 28
Deo. 17
Dec. 31
-Apr. 23
Sept. 10
Dec 3
Dec 17
Dec. 3
-.May 2
Dec 17
-Sept 19
-June 4
JaiL 7
Not. 19
-Feb. 19
.-Apr. 30
_Mar. 12
-..Dec 10
...Oct. 22
—Dec 10
Thirteenth Hour, The (D), Lionel Barrymore — Nov. 26
Tillie the Toiler (C), Davies May 21
-May 9
-Apr. 2
-Dec 24
Twelve Miles Out (M), GUbert-
Understanding Heart (D), Crawford...
Unknown, The (M), (Chaney
The, Norma Shearer-Forbes-
-July 9
-Feb. 26
.June 4
-Apr. 28
Nov. 12 Dec 10
Dec 24 Not. 12
Dec 3 Dec 3
June II
July 30
May 14
Jim« 13
Apr. 28
Jan. 28
.ilvSB
Feb. 11
Feb. 28
Mar. 31
Ata.l
71.00%
eo.61%
1928
1927
1928
1929
1927
1927
81.00%
50.31%
48.83%
96. »%
SO.20%
81. 57%
SS.00%
«-09%
88.70%
81.60%
60.00%
80.90%
80.80%
39.20%
S9.S0%
66.83%
84.81%
«S.S9%
61.31%
43.61%
88.18%
88.16%
60.93%
5»T8%
1928
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
57
Ltngtli Title and Player*
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Tidier
548J Certain Yeunj Man. A. NOT»rro-D»y May 19
5661 Clrous Rooldes (CD). Dane-Arthur Mar. 31
Co»acI(i, The. Adoree-Qilbert-Torrence May 12
8548 Crowd. The, Boardman-Murray-Boacli Mar. S
6482 Detectives. Dane-Arthur June 9
6057 Diamond Handcuffs, Boardman-Nagel May 6
7300 Divine Woman, Garbo-Hanson-Sherman Jan. 14
8340 Enemy, The, Glsh-Dane-Forijes. Feb. 18
Excess Bageags (D), WUUam Hatnei
4987 Forbidden Hours (D), Norarro-Adoree June 16
Four Walls (MD), Gilbert-Crawford. Aug IS
_ Her Cardboard Lover. Marion Davies Aug. 18
7743 Latest from Paris. The, Shearer-Forbes Feb. 4
7045 Laugh, Clown, Laugh, Chaney-Murpliy-Hisla. Apr. 14
9402 Mademoiselle from Armentleres, Estelle Brody-
John Stuart Juno 2
5760 Skirts, Syd Chaplin
11895 Law ot the Range, McCoy-Crawford Jan. 21
tS65 Love, Garbo-GUbert —Jan. 2
7289 Patsy, The, Davles-Caldwell-Gray Mar. 19
6014 Riders of the Darli Apr. 28
7745 Rose Marie, Crawford-Murray Feb. 11
6476 Smart Set. Halne«-Day-Holt-BoiwortIi Feb. 25
9566 Student Prince, The (R), Novarro-Sliearer Jan. 30
5901 Under the Black Eagle. Forbe*-Dog Flaab Mar. 24
8134 West Point (CD), Haines-Crawford Jan. 7
Whits Shadows of the South Sea (MD), Ubnte
Blue •
8011 Wickedness Preferred (CD), Cody-Prlnfle. Jan. 28
4435 Wyoming. McCoy-Sebastian Mar. 24
1927 Paramount
ei99 Afraid to Love (C). Vldor Apr. I
6951 Barbed Wire (D), Negrl-Brook. Sept. It
9879 Beau fleste (M), Colman-N. Beery Aug. 1
6697 Blind Alleys (M), Melghan. Mar. 11
C878 Blonde or Brunette? (C), Menjou Jan. 24
fl75 Cabaret (CD), GUda Gray_ -Mar. 28
•040 Casey at the Bat (C), W. Beery Mar. 5
•636 Chang (D), Special cast Sept. S-
•662 Children of Divorce (D), Bow ipr. t
•408 City Gone Wild (M), Melghan-MlUner Nov. 12
»447 'Covered Wagon, The (M), Cerrtian-WUson 4.u«. 6
•287 Evening Clothes (C), Menjou Mar. 19
•296 Fashions for Women (CD), Ralston Mar. 26
•399 Fireman Save My Child (C), Beery-Hatton Aug. 1
•376 Gay Defender, The (CD), Richard Dlx. Deo. 10
•017 Gentleman of Paris, A (CD), MenJon-0'Hara__Oct. 15
•889 Get Your Man (CD), Clara Bow Deo. 10
6415 Honeymoon Hate (CD), Florence Vldor. Dea 3
rooi Hotel Imperial (D), Negri Feb. 26
1862 Hula (CD). Bow-Brook Aug. 27
•452 It (C), Clara Bow Feb. 19
8656 Jesse James (D), Fred Thomson Oct. 22
7656 *Kld Brother (C), Lloyd. Oct. 4
6439 Kiss In a Taxi (C), Daniels. Feb. 26
7080 Knockout Reilly (CD), Dix. Apr. 16
6940 Last Waltz, The (D), Special cast. Nor. 26
6052 Let It Rain (C), MacLean..._ Jan. 3
6007 Love's Greatest Mistake (CD), Brent Feb. IS
5617 Man Power (D), Dlx. July 9
8039 Metropolis (D), Special cast Aug. IS
7180 Mme. Pompadour (D), Moreno-D. Glsh Aug. 13
6258 Nevada (W), Cooper- Todd _..- Sept. 10
6877 New York (M), Cortez-Wllson Feb. 5
5798 Now We're In the Air (C), Beery-Hatton. Oct. 22
4551 One Woman to Another (CD), Tidor-ShotwelL..Sept. 24
6599 Open Range (W), Lane-CHiandler Not. 5
6187 Paradise for Two (C), Dli-Bronson Jan. 17
6680 Potters (CD), W. C. Fields Jan. 31
6306 Ritzy (CD). Bronson Apr. 9
6247 Rolled Stockings (CD), HaU-Brool: June 18
6952 Rough House Rosie (C), Bow May 14
9443 Rough Riders, The (D), Astor-FarrelL...^ Oct. 1
5614 Rubber Heels (FC), Ed. Wynn. June 11
6368 Running Wild (C). Fields-Brian -Aug. 20
6634 Senorita (F), Daniels Aug. 30
8209 Serenade (D), Menjou-Wray Deo. 24
6170 Servieo for Ladies (C), Mcnjou-Carrer Aug. 6
5515 Shanghai Bound (D), Dlx-Brian. Got. 16
6015 She's a Sheik (C), Bebe Daniels. Nor. 12
6179 Shootin' Irons (W), Luden-Blane. Oct. 8
6838 Soft Cushions (C), MacLean-CaroI Aug. 27
6524 Special Delivery (C), Eddie Cantor Apr. 18
4934 Spotlight, The (CD), Balston-HamUton. Nor. 19
6200 Stark Love (D), Special cast _ Sept. 17
6124 Swim, Girl, Swim (CM), Danlels-HaU Sept. 17
6006 Tell It to Sweeney (C), Conklln-Bancroft Sept 24
6497 Ten Modern Commandments (CD), EaMon. July 2
4928 Time to Love (FC), Raymond GrllBth June 18
6319 Two Flaming Youths (C), Fields-Conklln Dea 17
7643 Underworld (M), Bancroft-Brent _Oct. 29
•486 Way of All Flesh, The (D), Jannlngs-Bensett_Oct 1
5869 Wedding Bills (F), Raymond GrUflth ^May 7
6936 Were's All Gamblers (D), Meigtian-MUlner Sept. S
6866 Whirlwind of Youth (D), Lois Moran Apr. 30
Wings (M), Charles Rogers Oct. 29
B960 Woman on Trial (D), Pol* Negri.
1928
5897 Adventure Mad (M), UFA Mar. 31
•536 Beau Sabreur (M), Cooper-Brent Jan. 7
Beggar* at Lift (MD), Wallace Beery-Biooks-
Arlen
5930 Big Killing (CD), Beery-Hatton May 19
5665 Doomsday, Vldor-Ojoper Feb. IS
7866 Drag Net, The (MD), Bancroft-Brent-Powell
6364 Easy Come, Easy Go, Richard Dlx Apr. 21
6889 Feel My Pulse, Daniels-Arlen Feb. 25
First Kiss, The (D), Wray-Cooper.
«40J Fifty-Flfty Girl, The, Danlels-Hall May IJ
5852 Fools for Laok (CD), Fieldg-ConkliiL May 7
Forgotten Faces (MD), Brook, Brian
6871 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (C), Taylor- White— Jan. 28
•S6S Half a Bride (D), Balston-C^ooper June 16
Hot News. Bel)e Daniels
5038 His Tiger Lady, Uenjou-Brent June 9
Just Married (CD), Hall-Taylor-Ford. Aug. 18
Kit Carson (MO). Fred Tbomaon
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
May 26
June 2
Feb. 4
Jan. 7
Apr. 7
May S
Feb. 18
Mar. 10
Feb. 25
Jan. 21
.JnlyT
Feb. 11
Apr. 14
Not. 26
Jan. 14
Jan. 14
Jan. 7
.July 7
June 23
Mar. 10
June 9
-July 7
Apr. 28
Jan. 21
Mar. 10
.June 23
Mar. 17
-June 2
Jan. 21
May 6
July 28
Mar. 10
May 12
Jan. 14
Anr '*
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
Mar. 3
67.11%
1927
-Apr. 23
.Aug. 3
.Mar. 6
.Jan. IS
-May 9
-Apr. 16
-May 2
-May 2
-Dec 10
67.21%
62.04%
50.84%
41.30%
60.30%
51.86%
08.00%
Apr. 9
Apr. 9
Dec 10 49.60%
Not. 12 62.63%
Oct. 8
Jan. 7 67.83%
Dec 31 Dec 17
Jan. 8 -
Sept. 10 65.85%
Feb. 12 66.77%
Oct. 22
Jan. 29
-Apr. 2
-Apr. 23
-Not. 19
-Mar. 12
-Feb. 26
-Aug. 6
-Mar. 12
Aug. 6
-Feb. 6
-Dec 17
-Sept. 24
65.91%
38.61%
55.61%
56.69%
61.18%
71.00%
70.25%
-Jan. 29
-Jan. 22
-June 25
-July 30
-June 4
-Mar. 19
-July 16
-June 18
-May 14
Dec 31
Ian. 21
-Sept. 3
Not. 12
Not. 28
48.36%
54.72%
47.60%
67.64%
-Aug. 27
-Mays
-Dec 3
-Mar. 19
-SepL 17
Oct 22
-July 23
-July 9
44.08%
66.27%
-SepL 3
-July 2
-July 23
-June 11
-Aug. 20
Oct 1
62.83%
69.78%
67.46%
47.36%
45.90%
1928
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
TIeka
(791
•234
7415
6837
5741
7910
6600
65S2
6118
7646
6631
7194
7616
4720
7960
5951
6218
6763
7060
5733
5991
5834
6509
6435
Jan. 21
-May 26
May 19
Feb. 2S
.Aug. 4
Mar. 31
Apr. 7
.Aug. 4
Dec 10
June 16
Mar. 10
Mar. 19
Mar. 19
Aug. 4
Feb. 18
-June 9
Mar. 31
June 16
Ladies of the Mob, Clara Bow June 30
Last Command, The (0). Emll Jannlngs. —Jan. 11
Legion of the Cendemned, Wray-Cooper Mar. 10
Love and Learn, Ralston-Chandler Jan. 14
Loves of an Actress (D), Pola Negri.
Night of Mystery (D), MenJou- Apr. 7
Old Ironsides (D), Beery-Bancroft Mar. 17
Partners in Crime (C), Beery-Hatton Mar. 3
Peaks of Destiny Jan. 28
Pioneer Soout, The (W), Fred Thomson Jan. 21
Racket. The (D), Thomas Meighan June 30
Red Hair (CD), Bow-Chandler Mar. 10
Sawdust Paradise, The, Esther Ralston Aug. 25
Secret Hour, The (D), Nogri-Heraliolt Feb. 4
Showdown, The, Bancroft Feb. 25
Something Always Happens, Balston-HamUton Mar. 24
Speedy (C), Harold Lloyd.- Aiw. 7
Sporting Goods, Dix-Olmstead Feb. 11
Street of Sin (D), Jannings-Wray May 26
Sunset Legion (W), Fred Thomson. Apr. 21
Three Sinners (D), Negri-Baiter 4pr. 14
Tillie's Punctured Romance, Fields- Conklln. JFeb. 18
.Under the Tonto Rim, Arlen-Brian Feb. 4
Vanishing Pioneer, The (W), Jack Holt June 23
Varsity (D), Rogers-Brian
Water Hole, The (W), Jack Holt
Warming Up, Richard Dix. Aug. 11
Wife Savers (C), Beery-Hatton. Jan. 7
Woman From Moscow, The (D), Negri-Kerry
May 26
Jan. 28
Jan. 21
.June 23
Feb. 18
Feb. 26
Jan. 7
Dec 10
JnlyT
Feb. 4
-Apr. 21
Feb. 25
Feb. 18
Mar. 3
June 9
Mar. 17
Feb. 18
Mar. 3
Apr. 28
Feb. 18
Apr. 28
Apr. 7
Feb. 25
Apr. 21
Feb. 18
May 26
May 5
-Aug. 4
July 21
May 26
1927
5596
6565
4335
6326
4875
4512
5100
7500
4933
5478
8586
6599
8002
6403
6568
6859
3303
5867
4968
7913
4750
5990
6035
4620
6788
4890
4076
4864
5324
13500
4131
4752
6472
4576
5750
5736
6421
6903
4575
4692
4497
6000
4828
5844
4542
4375
6303
5880
4562
4546
4338
5397
5670
5921
6198
4485
5610
6447
7820
1928
3996
5755
4805
5927
6589
4833
5408
4550
7996
4526
4480
5398
7056
4155
6650
5888
4600
5659
5954
6494
6626
Pathe
Almost Human (CD), Reynolds Dec 26
Angel of Broadway, The (D), Ijeatrice Joy Oct. 3
Avenging Fangs (M) June 5
Border Blackbirds (WD), Maloney Aug. 28
Born to Battle (W), BlU Cody Sept 11
Code of the Cow Country (W), Roosevelt June 19
Combat (D), Walsh. Oct 23
Country Doctor, The (D), Schildkraut Aug. 22
Desert of the Lost, The (W), WaUy Wales. Dec. 18
Devil's Twin, The (W), Leo Maloney Deo. 11
Discord (D), Dagover-EkmaiL _...No». 20
Dress Parade (D), Boyd. -...Not. 11
Fighting Eagle, The (M), La Rocque-HaTer -.Aug. 29
Flying Luck (C), Monty Banks _ Dec. 4
Forbidden Woman, The (M), Jetta GoudaL Not. 7
Getting Gertie's Garter (F), Prerost —
Girl from Everywhere (C), Pollard Dec 11
Girl in the Pullman, The (C), Prevost Oct 31
Gold from Weepah (W), Bill Cody Nov. 20
Golden Clown, The (D), Gosta-Ekman. - Dec. 18
•Grandma's Boy (C), Harold Lloyd.— ....Dec 11
Harp in Hock, A (D), ScUldkraut-Coghlan. Oct 10
Heart Thief (D), Schlldltraut-De Puttl
Hidden Aces (M), Hutchison. Aug. 7
His Dog (D), SchUdkraut ..- July 21
His Foreign Wife (D), MacDonald-Murphy- Nov. 27
Hoof Marks (W), Jack Donovan. - Nov. 13
Interferin' Gent, The (W), Buffalo Bill. Jr Aug. 21
Jim, the Conqueror (W), Boyd-Faire.
King of Kings (D), All Star - -
Land of the Lawless, The (W), Jack PadJan.„...I>ec. 25
Little Firebrand (C), Thornton .Julys
Main Event, The (D), Reynolds Not. 21
Meddlin' Stranger (W), Wales -...June 12
My Friend from India (F), Pangbom-Fair. Dec 19
Night Bride (FC), Prevost-. -
Nobody's Widow (FC), Joy-Eay-Haver.
No Man's Law (W), Rex _ May 1
Obligin' Buckaroo, The (W), Buffalo Bill. Jr.— Oct. 16
Pan In Peril (W), Buffalo Bill, Jr -..June 26
Dec. 24
Not. 19
-Feb. 18
Not. 5
-Jtine 4
-Sept 10
-Jime 17
-Oct 15
Jan. 14
-Deo. 10
Not. 19
Not. 5
-Sept. 17
Not. 12
Not. 6
..Feb. 19
-Not. 6
-May 21
-Sept. 3
-July 24
Jan. 14
-Aug. 27
-Jan. 1
-Mar. 10
Not. 19
Dee. 24
-Jnlyl
Not. 6
-June 12
Phantom Buster, The (W), RooseTelt
Pieces of China (Trarel)- _
Pirates of the Sky (M), Hutchison
Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary (C), Robson...
Ride 'Em High (W), Buddy Roosevelt
Roarin' Bronos, Buffalo BUI, Jr
Rubber Tires (C), Ford-Lore
Rush Hour, The (C), Prevost
Skeedaddle Gold (W). Wales
....Aug. 14
Aug. 7
May 22
-May 9
-Jan. 15
..May 2
-Oot 8
..June 26
-Aug. 20
..-Oct 9
—Not. 27
-May 21
-Aug. e
-Oct 8
.Dec 12
.July 31
Soda-Water Cowboy, The (W), WaUy Wales Sept 25
Trunk Mystery (M), Hutchison. June 12
Turkish Delight, Schlldkraut-Faye Not. 11
Jan. 7
-Apr. 9
-Ang. a
-Oot 1
-Jnna 11
Two-Gun of Tumbleweed (W), Leo Maloney-
Vanity (M), Joy _
White Gold (D), Goudal
-July 17
White Pebbles (WD), WaUy Wales. Aug. 7
Wise Wife, The (C), HiTer Oct. 24
Wreck of the Hesperus, The (M), Bradford. Oct 31
Yankee Clipper (M), Boyd
Not. 10
-July 17
-Jons IS
-Apr. 9
-Ang. 20
Not. 5
-May 14
Alice Through a Looking Glass...-
Apache Raider, The, Leo Maloney
Ballyhoo Buster (W), Buffalo BlU, Jr..
Blonde for a Night, PreTost
-.Feb. 12
-Feb. 12
—Jan. 8
— Feb. 27
Blue Danube, Leatrice Joy Mar. 12
Boss of Rustlers Roost, The, Don Coleman Jan. 22
Bronc' Storaper, The, Don Coleman Feb. 26
Bullet Mark, The, Jat* DonoTan
Chicago (M), Phyllis Haver
Cowboy Cavalier (W), Buddy Roosevelt-
Crashing Through, Jack Padjan
Desperate Courage (W), Wales
Hold 'Em Yale, Rod La Rocque.
Laddie Be Good (W), BlU Cody
Leopard Lady. The (M), Logan
Let 'Er Go, Gallagherl (M), Junior Ck>ghlan-
Marlie, the Killer, Klondike-
Midnight Madness, Logan..
-Mar. 25
-Mar. 6
-Jan. 29
-Feb. 5
-Jan. 15
-May 15
May 11
Mar. 3
Feb. 18
May 12
Mar. 17
May 19
Dec 14
Feb 4
Night Flyer, The, Wm. Boyd-
6902
7040
6423
On to Reno (D), Prerost-Landla
Pertect Gentleman, A (C), Monty Banki-
Red Mark, The (D), Qlasa, Quartoar
Ship Comes In. A, Endolph Sohildkraat-
Skyierapsr, Boyd
■ Jan. 1
-Jan. 23
-Jan. 18
-Mar. 4
-May 28
-Feb. 5
-Jan. 1
-Jan. 15
Stand and Deliver, Rod La RooqneL.
Tenth Avenue, Ham-Vannfil
-Jun* 4
-Apr. •
-July 14
June It
May U
.JuIyU
-Janel
1927
73.70%
60.40%
Not. 19
Not. 6
Not. 12
Not. 6
u.«o%
61.72%
1921
May 19
M.y M
Jan. IS
Jan. n
Mar. 17
— _
Jan. IS
~
58
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
Length Title and Playert
Releaied
Kew
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
1927
6035
6089
5076
5916
6960
6970
Rayart
1927
Wall(ing Back (M), Sue CsroL.
Cruise of the Helion (D), All star
IHeroes in Blue (M), Bowers-Rand Nov.
Law and the Man, The (D), Santschi-Rockwell..Dec.
Light in the Window, A (D). WalthaU _
On the Stroke of Twelve (M), D. Torrence Nov.
.Mar 20 Jan. 38
-.Sept. 24
6502 Silent Hero (M), Bonaparte _.
4200 Wanderer of the West, A (W), Tex Maynard....Dec
-..Nov. 12
Aug. 29
1928
60S9
6673
6076
4533
6976
5853
4797
5262
454S
5608
4571
6906
4627
5490
6260
Branded Man, The (D), Chaa. Delaney-MarloweMay
Casey Jones (CD), Price-Lewis _ Jan.
Danger Patrol, The (D), Bussell-Faii Jan.
Devil's Tower, The (W), Buddy EoosevelL June
Divine Sinner, The (D), Vera Eeynolds-HUllard.. July
Gypsy of the North (D), Gordon-Hale —.Apr.
Heart of Broadway, The (D), Garon-Agnew....:\Iar.
Lightning ShoL The (W). Buddy Roosevelt. May
Man from Headquarters, Tha (D), Comelltu
Keefe-E. Roberts Aug.
Midnight Adventure, A (D), Landls-E. Murphy .-May
Mystery Valley (W), Buddy Roosevelt July
My Home Town (D), BrockweU-Glass _...Jan.
Painted Trail, The CW), Buddy Roosevelt Mar.
Phantom of the Turf. The (D), Costello-Lease_Feb.
Sisters of Eve (D), Mae Busch Sept.
Sweet Sixteen (D), Helen Foster-Olstead Aug.
Trail Riders (W), Buddy Roosevelt _. April
Wild Born (W), Tex Maynard..._ Mar.
You Can't Beat the Law, Lee Keefe _ -Ian.
1928
5
Length Title and Playeri
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
Sterling
1927
5563 Closed Gates (M), Harron-Novak. _ _
5400 Outcast Souls (D), Lewis-Bonner Dec. 15
5500 Pretty Clothes (D), J. Ralston-Walker Oct. 16
Stranded (D), Mason Aug. 15
1928
Marry the Girl (CD) _.. _ _
1927
1927
6754
6669
7300
4887
6482
5233
4752
6800
6049
6235
5629
6100
5182
5276
Ti£fanv-Stahl
6448
6614
1928
6147
6209
6510
6297
6553
6102
6735
6652
5361
6283
Backstage (CD), Bedford _ ____.
Beauty Shoppe (CD), Busch „ _
College Days (CD), M. Day _
Enchanted Island (D) _
Fools of Fashion (CD), Busch. _ _
Girl from Gay Paree, The (F), Sherman Sept. 15
Haunted Ship, The (M), Sebastian-M. Love....Deo. 1
Josselyn's Wife (D), Frederick _
Lightning (W), J. Ralston. Sept. 1
Night Life (CD), Day-Harron _ Nov. 1
Once and Forever (D), Patsy Ruth Miller Oct. 15
Sin Cargo (D), Mason. _
Snowbound ( FC) , Ely the _ _
Streets of Shanghai (RD), Starke-Harlan.... Dec. 15
Tired Business Man (C) -
Wild Geese (D), Belle Bennett „ -...Nov. 15
Women's Wares (D), Brent-LyteU - Oct. 1
Applause (D), Sally O'NeUl Sept. SO
Bachelor's Paradise (R). Sally O'Neil Mar. 15
Big Top, The (CD), Sally O'Neill Oct. 30
Cavalier, The (D), Talmadge-Bedford Sept.
Clothes Make the Woman (R), Southem-
Pldgeon _ May 1
Devil's Apple Tree, The (D), Dorothy Sebastlan..Sept. 20
Devil's Skipper, The, Bennett _.. Feb. 1
George Washington Cohen (CD), Jessel-Palmer..Aug.20
Geraldine Laird (D), Belle Bennett _ Nov. 10
Ghetto, The (CD), Jessel-Gwen Lee Aug. 1
Grain of Dust. The (0), Cortez-Windsor— July 10
Green Grass Widows (CD), Walter Hagen. June 10
House of Scandal (D), Sebastian-O'Malley Apr. 1
Ladies of the Night Club (CD), Cortez-Moran....May 15
Lingerie (CD), White-McGregor July 1
Nameless Men, Moreno _ Feb. 16
Naughty Duchess, The (D), H. B. Warner...- Aug. 10
Power of Silence, The (D), Belle Bennett..- Aug. 20
Prowlers of the Sea (D), Cortez-Myers Tune 20
Queen of Burlesque, The (CD), Belle Bennett-.Sept. 10
Scarlet Dove, The (D), Margaret Livingston Apr. 15
Stormy Waters (D), Southern-McGregor. — Jtme 1
Squads Right (CD), Gribbon-Stone - Nov.
Their Hour (D), Sebastian-Harron MaT. 1
Tragedy of Youth, MUler-ColIier Jan. 16
Twelve Pound Look, The (D), Eve Soutliem. Oct. 20
Three Keys to a Door (MD), Ricardo Cortez Oct. 10
Toilers, The, Fairbanks, Jr. -Ralston Aug.
Woman Against the World, A Jan. 1
May 28
Nov. 12
Dec. 31 -
Jan. 7 Sept. 10
Feb. 4
July 9
July 16
—Nov. 6
June 25
Oct. 9
1928
1927
1927
6751
6777
4427
7190
6623
6503
6929
5711
6958
7713
UOOO
5862
6135
6159
5918
6170
5416
6045
7015
6166
4393
6218
4251
7173
5598
4136
5192
6459
4167
1928
4259
6869
4076
6171
4345
4232
7481
6279
4173
6081
4426
Universal
Back to Ged's Country (D), Adoree-Frazier.
Beware of Widows (FC), La Plante
Border Cavalier, The (W), Humes-Pierce
Cat and Canary, The (My), La Plante
Cheating Cheaters (C), Compson-Harlan
Galloping Fury (W), Hoot Gibson
Held by the Law (M), Lewis
Hero for the Night, A, Tryon-MlUer.
Irresistible Lover, The (CD), Kerry-Moran
Les Miserables (M), Gabrio-Toulont
Les Miserables (M), (Long Version)
Lone Eagle, The, Kent-Keane
Man's Past, A (0), Veidt-Kent
Men of Daring (W), Hoxie...-
On Your Toes (C), Denny-Worth
Out All Night (C), Denny-NUon.
Painted Ponies (W), Hoot Gibson
Painting the Town (FC), Tryon
Sensation Seekers (D), Dove
Silk Stockings, Laura La Plante
Sky High Saunders, Al Wilson
Small Bachelor, The (C), Beranger-Kent
Straight Shootin' (W), Wells - -
Taxi! Taxi! (FC), Horton
Thirteenth Juror, The (D), Bushman-Nllsson.
Three Miles Up, Al Wilson
Wild Beauty (CD), Rei. _
Wrong Mr. Wright, The (F), Hersholt
Wolf's Trail, Dynamite, the dog
-Sept. 4
-.June 19
.-Sept. 18
...Sept. 11
-Oct. 9
...Nov. 20
-Apr. 10
-Dec. 18
-.Dec. 4
...Oct. 30
...Oct. 30
...Sept. 18
Dec 25
...June 5
...Nov. 27
...Sept. 4
...Sept. 25
-.Aug. 7
...Mar. 20
...Oct. 2
...Nov. 6
...Nov. 6
..Oct. 16
...Apr. 24
..Nov. 13
.. Sept. 4
-Nov. 27
-Feb. 27
-Oct. 2
Not. 12
Aug. 6
-May t
1927
6L00%
44.10%
Dec. 17
Nov. 26
Dec. 24
Jan. 14
Dec. 17
May 14
67.05%
-Apr. 2
Nov. 26
Not. 19
-Aug. 27
«.5T%
Not. U
Dec. ir
Jan. 14
Not. 19
Nov. 19
Feb. 4
Deo. 3
Sept a
-Apr. 9
.-Oct. 1
July 23
...June 25
-.Jan. 29
Aug. 20
62.31%
Air Patrol, The (W), Al Wilson.
Alias the Deacon (CD), Hersholt-Marlowe-
Arizona Cyclone (W), Humes
Buck Privates, de Puttl
Call of the Heart, The (W), Dynamite
Clean-Up Man, The (W), Wells.
Cohens and Kellys in Paris (C), Sidney. —
Count of Ten, The, Ray-Ralston-Gleason
Fearless Rider, The (W), Fred Humes-
..Dec. 11
..July 30
Mar. 10
Dec. 24 Dec. 10
1928
Mar. 31
r
1927
6000 College (C). Keaton- Cornwall
7500 General, The (C), Keaton
7311 Loves of Sonya (D), Swanson...
United Artists
—..Sept. 10
8550 Magic Flame, The (M), Colman-Banky Sept. 24 _.
9120 Resurrection (M), La Rocque
9000 Sorrell and Son (D), Wamer-Nilsson Not.
7456 Topsy and Eva (C). Duncan Sisters
8250 Two Arabian Knights (CD), Boyd-Wolhelm
8000 Winning of Barbara Worth (D), Banky-Colman _____.._
1928
6400 Circus, The (C), Cltarlle Cbaplin..
7000 — Devil Dancer, The, Gilda Qray..
_Sept. 17
Feb. 12
'. Mar. 19
-..5ept. 24
...Apr. 16
__Nov. 19
—Aug. 13
—Oct. 29
Dec. 4
9358 Douglas Fairbanks as the Gaucho (M) June 1
9100 Dove, The (M), Norma Talmadge . Jan. 7
8350 Drums of Love (D), Mary PbUbln . Mar. 31
7300 Garden of Eden, The (D), C. Grlfflth-Ray Feb. 4
Two Lovers, Banky-Colman Aug.
7650 Ramona (D), Del Bio - Feb. 1
8600 Sadie Thompson (D), Gloria Swanson Jan. T
-Mar. 3
Apr. 28
Nov. 26
Jan. 7
July 21
1927
45.90%
73.65%
1928
Steamboat Bill, Jr., Butter Keaton-
Tempest (M), John Barrymore
-Aug. 11
—June 16
-..May 26
-July 7
5645
4094
6598
5064
4095
6813
6832
4120
5689
4253
4200
4472
5382
6424
6172
5109
5389
8249
6179
6073
4353
6274
5495
4348
9161
5254
1927
5803
6330
6281
5897
6408
5003
6767
6284
6978
6302
5613
6271
5200
6230
5397
5569
6352
6310
6485
7961
6357
5492
6295
5685
6124
6218
6412
7647
5813
1928
6052
5380
5164
7077
Finders Keepers (CD), Laura La Plante -
Four Footed Rangers, The (W), Dynamite
Flyin' Cowboy, The (W), Hoot Gibson.
Good Morning Judge
Greased Lightning (W) _ — —
Grip of the Yukon, The, AH star
Hot Heels, Glen Tryon
Hound of Sliver Creek, The (W), Dynamite.
Lonesome (CD), Tryon-Kent
Love Me and the World Is Mine, Kerry-Philbin.
Jazz Mad, Hersholt-NLxon-Lewis
Made-lo-Order Hero (W), Wells.
Midnight Rose, de Putti-Harlan
Phantom Flyer, The (W), Wilson.
Put 'Em Up (W), Humes
Quick Triggers (W), Humes.
Rawhide Kid (W), Hoot Gibson-
Riding for Fame, Hoot Gibson
Shield of Honor, The, AH star
Society Cowboy, A, Hoot Gibson...
Stop That Man, AU star.
Surrender, Pliilbin-Mosjuklne...-
Thanks for the Buggy Ride, La Plante-Tryon..
That's My Daddy (C), Denny-Kent
Thunder Riders, The, Wells-..
13 Washington Square, All star
Trick of Hearts, A, Hoot Sibson
Won in the Clouds, (W), Wilson.
We Americans, AU star
Wild West Show, Hoot Gibson
.Jan. 1
.Jan. 22
.May 6
-June 3
-Jan. 29
.Feb. 12
.Jan. 15
.June 6
.Jan. 15
.Feb. 6
.Mar. 26
..Aug. 18
.Apr. 29
-July 29
.Aug. 30
.May 13
May 20
Feb. 25
June 3
June 3
Feb. 26
Feb. 28
Mar. 11
July 15
•Jan. 29
..Aug. 19
..Feb. 19
..Julys
.Mar. 11
..Mar. 4
Apr. 1
.Feb. 5
Apr. 8
.Apr. 8
Mar. 18
.Apr. 22
.May 16
.May 20
Feb. 19
45 18%
Dec. 3
Dec. 24
—Mar. 6
1928
—June 25
Mar. 10
Feb. 4
—Apr. 21
June 30
Jan. 28
Apr. 21
Apr. 28
Apr. 28
May 26
June 23
.July 21
Feb. 31
May 19
Aug. 4
Mar. 17
Mar. 17
.Tan. 58
Fph 9j;
.Tan 14
Apr. 9Ji
Mar. 17
May 5
Apr. 21
Warner Brothers
Black Diamond Express (M), Blue-
Brass Knuckles (D), Blue-BronsorL.
-July 23
-Dec. 3
..Aug. 20
1927
50.20%
-Aug. 27
-Oct. 29
• Sept. 18
Bush Leaguer, The (CD), Monte Blue
Dearest (D), Rich
Desired Woman, The (M), Irene Rich.
Dog of the Regiment, A (M), Rln-Tin-Tln.„
First Auto, The, Oldfleld-Mlller
Gay Old Bird (FC), Fazenda.
Girl from Chicago, The (M), Nagel-Loy Nov. 5
Good Time Charley (D), Oland-H. Costello Nov. 12
Ham and Eggs at the Front (C), WUson-H.
Conklin Dec 24
Hills of Kentucky (M), Rin-Tin-Tiu
Husbands for Rent, All star Dec. 31
If I Were Single, McAvoy-Nagel Dec 17
Irish Hearts (CD), McAvoy
Jaws of Steel (D), Bin-Tin-Tin Sept 17
Matinee Ladies (C), McAvoy
Mill Bid, A (M), D. Costello
Missing Link, The (C), Syd Chaplin...- Aug. 7
Old San Francisco (M), D. Costello-Oland Sept. 4
One Round Hogan (M), Monte Blue Sept. 17
Reno Divorce, A (D), May AcAvoy Oct. 22
Sailor Izzy Murphy (F), George JesselL. — Oct. 8
Sailor's Sweetheart, A (C), Fazenda-C. Cook.-5ept 24
Silver Slave, The (D), Rioh-Ferris Nov. 9
Simple Sis (M), Fazenda. -
Slightly Used, McAvoy-Nagel - -...Sept 3
Third Degree (M), D. Costello _
-June 18
-July 9
-Mar. 12
Dec. 31
Dec. 31
Nov. 26
-Feb. 26
-Apr. 28
-June 11
-Oct 1
-Apr. 23
68.94%
5
-June 4
-May 14
-Jime 26
-Oct. 8
-Oct. 29
-Dec. 10
-Oct. 15
-June 11
Tracked by the Police (M), Rin-Tin-Ttn.-
5331
6185
4777
4820
6531
Across the Altantic, Blue-Murphy - -Feb. 26
Beware of Married Men, Irene Rich Jan. 14
City of Sin, The, Loy-Miljan-Wong
Domestic Trouble (CD), Cook-Fazenda. Mar. 24
Jazz Singer. The. Al Jolson Feb. 4
Lion and the Mouse, The, L. Barrymore — .
Little Snob, The, May McAvoy — Feb. 11
Powder My Back (C), Rich-Ferris Mar. 10
Race for Life, Rin-Tin-Tln...- - Jan. 28
Rinty of the Desert, Bin-Tin-Tin Apr. 21
Tenderloin, Dolores Costello
-Jan. 8
.May 21
-Feb. 18
1928
-Apr. 14
Feb. 18
May 19
-May 19
—Apr. 28
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September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
59
CLASSIFIED
Advertising
Ten cents per word, payable in advance. Minimum charge,
$1.00. Copy and checks should be addressed Classified Ad
Dept. Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, 407 So.
Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
The Recognized National C lassiiied Advertising Medium
Position Wanted
THEATRE ORGANIST— Experienced on all makes,
has a large library, will go anywhere. Address Box
289, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
Attention, Theatre Managers! Are you looking for
an organist, male or female? If you are, why not let
Exhibitors Herald- World find just the kind you want?
Address George Schmidt, Exhibitors Herald-World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, III.
ORGANISTS thoroughly trained and experienced in
theatre work. Men and women now ready for good
positions. Write salary and other data. Address
Chicago Musical College, 61 E. Van Buren, Chicago.
ORGANIST — Experts thoroughly trained in show-
manship available at all times for first-class positions.
Men and women. No service Charge. Write full in-
formation concerning salary, organ, hours, etc. Ad-
dress Vermond Knauss School of Theatre Organ
Playing, 210 N. 7th St., Allentown, Pa.
Theatre Wanted
We are interested in acquiring theatres of 900 seats
or over in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and
Ohio. Will buy or lease for long term. Address
Box 283, Exhibitors Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn
St., Chicago, 111.
Theatre for Sale
First $2,000 cash gets completely equipped, going
theatre in good town. Apopka theatre, Apopka, Fla.
Films for Sale
"Sins of the World" (6); — "Foolish Virgin" (6); —
"In Old Kentucky" (7):— "Lure of the Orient" (6);
— "Unchastened Woman" (7); — also other Features,
Westerns, Serials, Comedies, Educational, Travel, etc.
Address GUARANTEED PICTURES COMPANY,
729 Seventh Ave., New York City.
Equipment for Sale
FOR SALE — Motion Picture Projectors, parts and
supplies for all type machines. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
FOR SALE — Strong Reflector Arc Lamps and ac-
cessories, also guaranteed rebuilt Powers 6-A and 6-B
and Simplex Heads. Best Prices. Write Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
CHICAGO CLEARING HOUSE— Our bargain list
on rebuilt Projectors, Powers 6-A Motor driven ma-
chines, including 12 rebuilt Simplex motor driven
machines with latest Simplex type S lamp houses.
Prices ranging from $175.00 and up. Peerless arc
controls $35.00 per pair. Compensarcs all makes,
$20.00 and up. Rebuilt Generators at reasonable
prices. AC and DC Electric fans rebuilt, just like
new. Write for complete list of your needs and
prices. No obligation. Address Illinois Theatre
Equipment Co., 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
GET OUR PRICES first on complete Theatre
Equipment and Pipe Organ before buying elsewhere.
You save, we satisfy. Address Southern Theatre
Service, 643 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, La.
FOR SALE — 400 Opera Chairs. 1 Film Cabinet,
1 Enclosed Motor Rewind, 2 Late Type Simplex Pro-
jectors with 2 Standeford Low Intensity Lamps, 1
Roth 25-25 3-Phase Generator, etc.. Curtain, Ticket
Chopper, 2 Imported Lenses. All in perfect condition
and worth just double what we are asking. Our price
$3,000. Address Box 302, Exhibitors Herald-World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
Chairs for Sale
Just received 4,000 highest grade spring constructed
upholstered Theatre Chairs, less than 2 years old, at
very reasonable prices. Also several other lots of up-
holstered and veneered Theatre Chairs, as well as 500
Portable Assembly Chairs. Write for complete list
and description of all equipment. You are under no
obligation. Illinois Theatre Equipment Co., 12-14 E.
Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Stationery
SPECIAL: 250 each business letterheads — enve-
lopes $3.75 (cash postpaid). "Neargravure" process
printed. Samples, see difference. Stamp appre-
ciated. Address Sollidays, KH 124, Knox, Ind.
For Sale
OPERA CHAIRS, seats and backs for all makes,
five ply, at prices that save you half. Address
Redington & Co., Scranton, Pa.
1 NATIONAL CASH REGISTER MACHINE in
perfect order. This machine has been used but 18
months and is completely overhauled and in good
running order. Price $50.00. Address M. Fitzer,
Manager, Rivoli Theatre, Syracuse, N. Y.
PORTABLE PROJECTOR — American Projecto-
scope, mazda lamp, 110 volt Universal motor, com-
plete. First $75.00 takes it. Address Box 564,
Greenwood, Mississippi.
Chair backs and seats made to order, any shape,
big saving. Address Preddey, 188 Golden Gate Ave.,
San Francisco, Cal.
Organs for Sale
FOR SALE: Bartola Pipe Organ. Used Wuriitzer
Pipe Organ, model U, very reasonable. Cremona
Pipe Organ, used or new Reproduce Pipe Organs.
Address S. B. McFadden, Havana, 111.
Gift Night Souvenirs
GIFT NIGHT MERCHANDISE: Over 300 fine
novelties in our large free catalog at genuine whole-
sale prices. Write today. No obligation. Address
Fair Trading Co., Inc., 140 W. 21st St., New York.
Miscellaneous
BEAUTIFUL registered Bull Pups, $15.
Address 501 Rockwood, Dallas, Texas.
Bulldogs.
Projector Repairing
BEST GRADE repair work. Prices right. Free
relief heads. Prompt service. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
Our Twentieth Century Repair Shop, with skilled
expert mechanics, specialized tools, precision machin-
ery, assure the very best REPAIR JOBS. Relief
Equipment furnished FREE. Prompt service. Rea-
sonable prices. Progressive Exhibitors over entire
country send their work to "THE OLD RELIABLE."
Monarch Theatre Supply Co., Memphis, Tenn. Estab-
lished 20 years.
SKILLED MECHANICS, specialized tools, and a
shop equipped for but one purpose can offer you
nothing but the best in repair work. That is what I
have, and I can offer you the best in the overhauling
of your motion picture machinery equipment. One
of the oldest repair men in the territory, and serving
some of the largest houses. Relief equipment fur-
nished free. For results bring your work to Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Projector repairing by experts. Work guaranteed.
Largest shop in West, rebuilt projectors and equip-
ment. Low prices. Address Preddey, 188 Golden Gate
Ave., San Francisco, Cal.
Equipment Wanted
BEST PRICES paid for projection machines, all
types. Address Guercio & Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, 111.
WANT SEVERAL MERCURY RECTIFIERS,
good, bad or incomplete, cheap. Address Preddey,
188 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, Cal.
Professional Services
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT — Many years experience
as auditor in all branches of the motion picture indus-
try, including leading theatres, large exchanges, pro-
ducers' and distributors' home office, can give his
personal attention to several more clients. Consulta-
tion free. Address Auditor c/o Box 1,000, Exhibitors
Herald-World, 565 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y.
State Rights for Sale
LOOK! READ! ACT! — ROAD
Showmen, State rights for sale. The true life of
"The Younger Brothers," featuring Cole, Bob and Jim
Younger and the James Boys, in five reels, and
Younger's Historical Events, in one reel. This pic-
ture as a popular-priced road show is no experiment.
It has been tried and true, has played against all
kinds of competition under all conditions. Has always-
gotten the money. With each State or sale we_ fur-
nish free one new complete Lobby Display, consisting
of new Prints of Film, three new Wax Figures, stand-
ing, life size, of Cole, Bob and Jim Younger, true to
life, dressed in cowboy style, big boots, etc.; 500 One-
Sheets, 100 Slides, 10 Photo Lobb^ Boards, extra 100
small Photos, 6 Banners, lettered in flashy oil colors,
enough to fit any theatre front. Everything ready to
go. Hurry. It will pay you to buy the king of all
road shows. Address E. L. Humphrey, Miami, Okla.
Your Classified Ad Will Do the Work
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World has helped hundreds of Theatre owners in solving many a problem. The
classified advertising department has placed organists all over the country, has helped in obtaining equipment, in selling
equipment, and in solving many another problem that seemed difficult. The rates are but 10c per word payable with
order, 10% discount if run for 3 insertions. See this week's classified pages. Maybe you are in need of something that is
being advertised this week. The cost is small, the results are great.
60
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
LETTERS
From Readers
A forum at which the exhibitor is
invited to express his opinion on
matters of current interest. Brevity
adds forcefulness to any statement.
Unsigned letters will not be printed.
SCOTTSBLUFF, NEB.— To the Editor:
We certainly appreciate the writeup you gave
us in your "Better Theatre Section" on our
Egyptian Theatre. We beheve that Mr. Jen-
kins covered about everything. We would,
however, appreciate it, if you would send us
a half a dozen copies and also send us the
cuts you used or the mats which ever the case
may be.
Since your writeup appeared we have had
numerous requests for estimates and costs and
also many nice comments on the same which
goes to show that your publication attracts a
great deal of attention all over the country.
Many of our ideas were taken from your
"Better Theatre Sections" and we believe that
your paper is by far the outstanding paper in
the theatrical field today.
Whatever the charge may be for the extra
editions, please advise us and we will be glad
to send you a check. — W. H. Ostenberg, Jr.,
Midwest Amusement and Realty Company,
Scottsville, Neb.
7^070 operators Needed
For Sound, Says Unionist
(Special to the Herald-World)
BIRMINGHAM, Aug. 28.— Ralph A. Root,
vice-president of the Alabama State Federa-
tion of Labor, in an article appearing in "The
Labor Advocate," declares that "two opera-
tors are absolutely necessary to give a proper
performance," of sound pictures.
"Two machines are in service in the operat-
ing room and when one reel is nearly over,
the other machine is started, and the fader is
changed from one to another. It is important
that all the work be done at the exact time,
so that there will be no break in either the
picture or the music. The fader is on the wall
in front of both machines and changes the
sound from one machine to the other. It also
regulates the volume of sound and has to be
lowered, or raised, at certain parts of the
picture to obtain the desired effects. So it can
well be seen that two operators are absolutely
necessary, to give a proper performance."
UFA in Austrian Council
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— The Austrian
Minister of Commerce and Traffic has ap-
pointed W. Karol, UFA representative, as
a member of the new Austrian advisory
board of motion pictures.
Hergesheimer Signs
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Joseph Herges-
heimer, novelist and short story writer, has
signed a contract with Samuel Goldwyn to
write a story for Ronald Colman.
Isidore Wolfe Marries
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 28.— Isidore
Wolfe of the Universal Exchange married
Miss Nina Medley, also of the exchange,
last week.
Chicago Musicians
Ask Sound Houses
Keep Six on Payroll
(Continued from page 23)
Striking electrical workers would be made at
union headquarters.
Theatres Planning for Sound
Other theatres in the Chicago territory
which have announced the presentation of
sound pictures as soon as the apparatus is
available, are :
Oriental, Loop house ; Harding, Howard,
Norshore, Senate, Buckingham, Lexington,
Broadway Strand, Oakland Square, Piccadilly,
Regal, Rosewood, State and 20th Century, all
in Chicago; Varsity, Evanston ; Majestic, La
Salle; Palace, Peoria; Rialto, Aurora; Ter-
race, Danville ; New Bucklen, Elkhart, Ind. ;
Indiana, Indiana Harbor ; Lincoln, Lincoln ;
and Jefferson, Goshen, Ind.
Demand Six Musicians
The new demands of the musicians' union
in Chicago, which raise no question of wages,
are the direct result of synchronization. The
proposals do not concern the deluxe houses,
the contract with which does not expire for
another year.
The theatres now affected, designated as
"Class 6" houses, are called upon by the new
demands to employ six musicians exclusive of
organists in the event that synchronization
is used. This is two more musicians than
need be employed by theatres not having the
device.
The proposals also declare that theatres
which have been employing organists during
1927-28 and which install synchronization, must
retain the organists.
Conference Called Wednesday
No statement would be made by Jack Mil-
ler, president of the Chicago Exhibitors' Asso-
ciation, pending a conference over the de-
mands this Wednesday. The new proposals
were presented by James C. Petrillo, head of
the musicians' local, to Aliller and the ex-
hibitors' executive board last Friday.
The other demands are as follows :
The 50 theatres involved must employ
for periods varying from 44 to 35 weeks,
a minimum of four musicians exclusive
of organists.
Any new theatre having over 800 seats
must employ four men, exclusive of or-
ganists, for a period to be agreed upon.
Notice of dismissal must be four weeks
in advance, instead of two.
Musicians who are dismissed within the
period named by the contract must re-
ceive two dollars a day as back salary.
Musicians in "Class 6" theatres are receiv-
ing a minimum of $53.90 for Z2 hours.
Vancouver Shows **Dawn"
(Special to the Herald-World)
VANCOUVER, Aug. 28.— "Dawn" was
opened at the Dominion theatre last week.
Let Your Physician Tell
You !f You Like the Show
(Special to the Herald-World)
CINCINNATI, Aug. 28.— Does
your pulse remain normal while you
watch a motion picture you like?
Then you don't like it. At least,
that is what physicians conducting a
test here would tell you. The Misses
Florence Haw and Bernice Ahi were
used as subjects in an experiment
conducted at the Lyric theatre, dur-
ing the showing of United Artists'
"Drums of Love." Florence said she
liked the D. W. Griffith production.
She was wrong, said the physicians.
For her pulse remained normal.
Bernice, on the other hand, liked the
picture — really, officially, scientific-
ally and how! For her pulse shot up
from normal 72 to 108!
William James Injured
When Struck by Golf Ball
(Special to the Herald-World)
COLUMBUS, Aug. 28.— William
M. James, president of the M P TO
of Ohio, and formerly head of the
James theatre interests of Columbus,
was severely injured when struck by
a golf ball while playing in a four-
some at the Columbus Country Club.
He was unconscious for an hour and
later removed to his home. He has
fully recovered.
New Orleans Faces
Complete Tieup at
Theatres Sept. 1st.
(Continued from page 23)
went out in sympathy. As a result the vaude-
ville and "musical acts" were presented with-
out music. Actors shoved their own "sets."
The performance was a flop.
Contracts with the Allied Stage Crafts will
expire at midnight August 31. The town will
be tied up September 1, as the projectionists
will not work open shop. It looks like a fight
to the finish.
Maurice F. Barr, managing supervisor of
Saenger's, had "nothing to say." Neither did
Toups.
The Orpheum, with music, is packing them
in.
Attorneys say that the musicians acted
hastilj' and without asking them to pass on
the contract. They also say that the stage-
hands and musicians are the aggressors in
the walkout inasmuch as they did not ask
for arbitration.
Projectionists Strike
In Offing at Detroit
(Special to the Herald-World)
DE'TROIT, Aug. 28.— Detroit faces the
possibility, however remote it may be, of its
motion picture houses being dark because of
a strike of projectionists.
Contracts of operators here expire on Sep-
tember 1, and the men have demanded a 30
per cent increase in their salaries. The thea-
tre owners, particularly the owners of neigh-
borhood houses, have stated flatly that they
cannot pay such an advance. A counter pro-
posal by the M. P. T. O. for a reasonable
increase was refused. At the offices of the
owners' association it was said the projec-
tionists' probably would accede, but others
said there is a possibility of a general strike
of operators here.
"The projectionists have not definitely said
they will walk out unless their demands are
met, but they indicated that such would he
their procedure," was the comment of H. M.
Richey, manager of the association.
The controversy is not entirely over the
rise of sound pictures, Richey said, but rather
a decision to demand a wage increase.
Theatre Manager Dies
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND, Aug. 28.— F. M. Ham-
burger, manager of the Circle theatre, died
at St. Vincent's hospital. He was 54 years
old.
Henry Sturche Dead
'(Special to the Herald-World)
CONCORD, CAL., Aug. 28.— Henry A.
M. Sturche, owner of the Majestic theatre,
died last week.
Dan Totheroh With Paramount
IvTEW YORK. — Dan Totheroh has been added to
the writing department of the Faramount studios in
Hollywood, according toi announcement from B. P.
Schulberg.
r
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
61
^e^
WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Verdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor
Copjright, 1928
Incorporated in this original exhibitors report department of Exhibitors Herald, which was estab-
lished October 14, 1916, is the Moving Picture World department, "Straight from the Shoulder
Reports."
FBO
CROOKS CAN'T WIN: Special cast— 40%. July
27. Just another crook story below the averag-e. —
E. C. Arehart, Auditorium theatre. Laurel, Neb. —
General patronage.
THE HARVESTER: Special cast— 75%. Very good
picture. — Walter C. Schultz, Walt's theatre, Keneeaw,
Neb. — General patronage.
THE FLYING U RANCH: Tom Tyler— August 1.
Quite a good Western. Drew well. — Frank Sabin,
Majestic theatre. Eureka, Mont. — Small town patron-
age.
THE BANDIT'S SON: Bob Steele— August 11.
Good little Western for Saturday night. Five reels.
— Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis.
— Small town patronage.
First National
HAROLD TEEN: Arthur Lake— 80%. August 5-6.
A comic strip comedy. Just another one of those
things. Seven reels. — George Cohen, Princess theatre.
West Union, la. — Mixed patronage.
FLYING ROMEOS: Murray-Sidney— 30%. August
8. Another good comedy by these popular comedians.
Satisfied. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
CODE OF THE SCARLET: Ken Maynard— 95%.
August 18. Another good one from Ken. It seems
he will never make a poor one. Everybody liked this
one for a change from the usual Western. Was on
the set with Ken when some of the scenes were shot
in this one and, of course, enjoyed seeing it myself.
Six reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's theatre, Ashland,
Ala. Small town patronage.
THE WHIP WOMAN: Special cast— 60%. August
13-14. A fair program picture. Six reels. — E. F.
Ingram, Ingram's theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town
patronage.
CHINATOWN CHARLIE: Johnny Hines— 45%.
August 8-9. This picture pleased a fair crowd, and
Johnny Hines gets me about as much business as the
others. There are a number of laughs in this picture,
and I would class it as good entertainment. Seven
reels. — Ray W. Musselman, Princess theatre, Lincoln,
Kan. — Small town patronage.
BURNING DAYLIGHT: Milton Sills— 60%. Au-
gust 10-11. Good story, good acting. Fast moving.
Excellent Friday and Saturday picture for smaller
towns. Seven reels. — George Cohen, Princess theatre.
West Union, la. — Mixed patronage.
THE LIFE OF RILEY: Sidney-Murray— 55%. Au-
gust 13-14. A comedy-drama that will more than
please, and all comments were very favorable. There
are not many laughs in this one. It is just one big,
loud laugh from start to finish. Sure wish that this
pair could be kept together, as they are a good bet
in this town. Seven reels. — Ray W. Musselman,
Princess theatre, Lincoln, Kan. — Small town patix>n-
age.
THE LIFE OF RILEY: Murray-Sidney— Satisfac-
tory comedy feature. — ^W. O. Doyle, Capitol theatre,
Huntsville, Mo. — Small town patronage.
ORCHIDS AND ERMINE: Colleen' Moore— 60%.
July 30-31. Very good and much better than "Her
Editor's Note
Percentage ratings given by ex-
hibitors in reports to this depart-
ment are obtained in the follcwing
manner: Average daily gross of
picture reported is divided by
average daily gross of picture hold-
ing house record to determine
relative box office value in terms
of percentage.
EXAMPLE: $75 (average daily
gross of picture reported) divided
by $100 (average daily gross of
picture holding house record)
equals .75 (percentage rating given
picture in report) .
When a picture has received
percentage ratings in 10 reports it
is entered in THE BOX OFFICE
TICKER column of "Quick Ref-
erence Picture Chart."
Wild Oat." Glad she got it sowed and out of her
system. "Orchids and Ermine" a much better picture,
and it satisfied my patrons. It is old, but I believe
that some of the older pictures are by far the best,
and you won't be any loser by showing this one.
Eight reels. — Ray W. Musselman, Princess theatre,
Lincoln, Kan. — Small town patronage.
VALLEY OF THE GIANTS: Milton Sills— August
12-13. Good small town entertainment. Scenery of
the big redwoods very fine. Only thing against it is
the long drawn scrap at the end of the picture. Why
do they put so much eye gouging and other uncalled
for blood curdling stuff in a picture? Seven reels. —
Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. —
Small town patronage.
CANYON OF ADVENTURE: Ken Maynard— Au-
gust 9-10. Ken'ri pictures are all good, and they are
better than that if he stays in straight Westerns and
away from the Mexican stuff. Put on a couple
Dutchmen playing accordians and concertinas along
with Ken and knocked everybody loose from their
back teeth. Boys, if you want to hear some real
music and have a good drawing card, put on this
pair of sourkrauts and they will break your house
record. They are hitting northern Wisconsin, Min-
nesota and Michigan. Seven reels. — Wm. E. Trags-
dorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town
patronage.
THE NOOSE: Richard Barthelmess— Consider this
very good. Barthelmess at his best. — W. O. Doyle,
Capitol theatre, Huntsville, Mo. — ^Small town patron-
age.
FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE: Ben Lyon— July 28.
An extra good picture. Has a good moral and is
very entertaining. Seven reels. — Robert K. Yancey,
Bonny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage.
THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS: Special cast
— ^Has been overdone. Played it too cold. A good
bet if you buy it right. I bought it too high, and
that's that! Eight reels.— Abe Shafer, Jr., Shafer's
Airdome, Edgerton, Mo. — General patronage.
SYNCOPATING SUE: Corinne Griffith— July 21.
A dandy little picture. FXiU of entertainment and
pleased our crowd. Had a good, bright print from
First National. Thank you. Seven reels. — Robert K.
Yancey, Bonny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General pat-
ronage.
THE DUCHESS OF BUFFALO: Constance Tal-
madge — August 4. Dandy good picture, which seemed
to please. Had a storm just before show time, but
had a pretty good crowd anyway. Good print. Seven
reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny theatre, Mansfield,
Mo. — General patronage.
Fox
THE NEWS PARADE: Sally Phipps— 75%. Not
so much. — Walter C. Schultz, Walt's theatre, Kene-
saw. Neb. — General patronage.
DRESSED TO KILL: Special cast— 40%. August
1. Good crook story and holds attention, yet a flop
as to quarters rolling in. The stars don't draw
here. Most all scenes supposed to be at night, and
film dark. — E. C. Arehart, Auditorium theatre. Lau-
rel, Neb. — General patronage.
CHAIN LIGHTNING: Buck Jones— 65%. August
3-4. Good. Buck usually rings the bell for me, and
I consider him one of my best Western stars because
he is not superhuman. Can figure on him getting
one good man to contest him in his fights, not ten
or twelve. This picture has a veiy good story, with
enough comedy to make it go over. Six reels. — Ray
W. Musselman, Princess theatre, Lincoln, Kan. —
Small town patronage.
ARIZONA WILDCAT: Tom Mix— 90%. August
18. A good Saturday picture. Pleased the Mix fans.
Five reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram',3 theatre, Ashland,
Ala. — Small town patronage.
ANKLES PREFERRED: Madge Bellamy— Rather
old, but worth running. Madge Bellamy dees very
good acting, and my i>eople found no objections to
the entertainment. — W. O. Doyle, Capitol theatre,
Huntsville, Mo. — Small town patronage.
THE BRANDED SOMBRERO: Buck Jones— Au-
gust 11. Fair. Five reels. — J. S. Walker, Texas
theatre. Grand Prairie, Tex. — Small town patronage.
Gotham
HELL SHIP BRONSON: Noah Beery— They have
raved about Wallace Beery, and now it is time to
rave about Noah. In this picture he does a big part
and does it more than well. "Hell Ship Bronson" is
a picture, and if you are casting about for immedi-
62
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
LINCOLN, KAN., August 15, 1928.
DEAR HERALD-WORLD:
There, what did we tell you last week? We knew we'd get that darned hayfever, and now
you owe us that bull pup and you can send him by express prepaid.
August 15 is "Hayfever Day" here in the Sunflower state and it is more important than
the Fourth of July, for when a Jayhawker wakes up on the morning of the 15th, and finds
that he has the hayfever he knows that everything is regular and the state is running on
schedule and he immediately starts celebrating by blowing his horn.
Kansas is noted for four things, tall corn, the home of the next vice president, hayfever
and Grasshopper Sprague, either one of which would make any state famous. As we have
been driving over the state we have noticed the "Maud MuUers" out raking hay, pulling
the weeds out of the turnip patch, digging potatoes for the threshers, dinner and otherwise
proving that this is no state for flappers, and we are reminded of what Doc Bixby said
when he wrote this poem:
* * *
Maud Muller, on a summer's morn
Jerked the suckers from the corn.
And walloped the striped bugs that flew
From the melon vines in the morning dew.
While her father, an honest and kind old jay.
Was out in the meadow raking hay,
And trying to lift with his brawny arm
The Mortgage that covered the dear old farm.
Doc wrote some more verses about the kind-hearted old judge that fell for Maud which
have slipped our mind for the time being, but if we had been writing that poem we would
have finished it up something like this (and of course spoiled it):
Now Maud, dearest Maud, we dislike to see you
Get your tootsies all wet in this cool morning dew.
And you go tell your Daddie that it's likely he may
Catch a dose of hayfever from raking the hay.
Before you get the ha>'fever everything seems rosy. The sky is blue, the bees are hum-
ming in the clover, the air is scented with the perfume of ragweed and dogfennel and you
feel like you want to kiss the hired girl every morning before breakfast, but after that
malady grabs you your wife need have no worries about you while you are away from home,
for you are as safe as a grass widow in Hollywood. We know what we are talking about for —
We've got the hayfever b'gosh
And it makes our head feel like a squash,
Our eyes are all red, we're run down at the heel.
Our digestion is shot, we can't eat a square meal,
But it's nobody's business how damnedornery we feel
For ive've got the hayfever b'gosh.
Well that's that, and that's all there is to it, and, as that red-headed girl in Chicago said
to Eagle Eye Joe when he kissed her that time, "That's aplenty of it such as it is."
Ray Musselman who operates the theatre here in Lincoln says he is ashamed of himself
for not attending that convention at Alexandria, Minnesota, last June. He and his wife took
a vacation but went to Arkansas instead of Minnesota and he has been kicking about it
ever since. He says he wiU be there next year and, since Sam Blair of Belleville will be
busy building his new theatre and will be unable to attend, we will suggest to Andy Ander-
son that he put Ray on the list as committeeman from Kansas instead of Blair.
SMITH CENTER, August 17.
Smith Center is the county seat of Smith county and is located in the exact geographical
center of the United States. Smith county was discovered by a man by the name of Smith,
but we didn't learn whether it was Al or Bill, but it must have been Bill for Smith Center
always goes Republican. Fatty Arbuckle was born here but that wasn't Fatty's fault, he
didn't have much to say about it, and Smith Center takes to herself some litde credit on
that account although there were but few of the citizens that had anything to do with it.
Kansas is the mother of several noted celebrities, to wit: Fatty Arbuckle, Clara Windsor,
Phylis Haver, Buddie Rogers, Ben Turpin, Sockless Jerry Simpson and Carrie Nation, and
still Kansas holds her position as one of the foremost states of the union, although Nebraska
on one side and Oklahoma on the other have helped her over many a mudhole, influence
is a great help. Wherever one goes he sees this sign "Ladies rest room." Must be the
women do all the work out here.
We had dinner today with Mr. and Mrs. W. V. Pennington who operate the People's
theatre and it was one of those typical Kansas dinners, just like we used to get when we
went over to grandma's for Thanksgiving dinner and she had roast turkey, pumpkin pie,
doughnuts, fresh cider, apple dumplings, custard and ice cream and we hated to go home
before supper. That's the way they feed you out here in Kansas and that's the reason why
(Continued on next page)
ate relief from rotten pictures, book in "Hell Ship
BronBon." Seven reels. — ^W. H. Brenner, Cozy thea-
tre, Wincheeter, Ind. — General patronage.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
DETECTIVES: Dane-Arthur— 48%. August 12-13.
Compare the percentage with what we got on "The
Crowd." Theee boys draw for us second only to Lon
Chaney. Probably because we've been lucky in hav-
ing only their best efforta. Thie one went across
good, and our crowd was hugely entertained. Some-
thing different — comedy with a mystery angle. While
some of the scenee were a little too dark for our
projection, the general iilm condition was excellent
as usual with Metro. Seven reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe,
Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small towTi patron-
age.
MADAMOISELLE FROM ARMENTIERE : Special
ca6t-^0%. August 27-28. First of all, this did draw,
and those who saw it the first night helped keep the
regular Saturday crowd away. — ^J. A. D. Engesather,
Movies theatre. Brocket, N. D. — Rural patronage.
THE COSSACKS: Gilbert-Adoree— 40%. August
15-lG. It was much too long, and patrons were
tired of it before the story got started ; excess foot-
ing detracted from the interest. There were three
real stars and their work was fine, and those who
stayed until the finish were rewarded, because the
last few reels were very good and pleased the fol-
lowing of this star. Will probably get a report from
J. C. on this, as he was among those present. Ten
reels. — Ray W. Musselman, Princess theatre, Lincoln,
Kan. — Small town patronage.
TELLING THE WORLD: William Haine&— 50%.
August 9. This is an extra good entertainment. Star
great and story good. — Bert Silver, Silver Family
theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
THE CROWD: Special cast— 26%. August 5-6.
Look at that percentage ! Wouldn't it make you
rave ? Good weather, no competition, extra advertis-
ing, and still they would not come. Positively no
drawing power for this small town. Very good show
aside from a couple of minor inconsistencies and
apparently liked by those that saw it. Barely made
the distributor's end on this, and overhead found an
empty till. We're about done with these confounded
alleged specials. Too good for our crowd. Nine
reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada,
O. — Small town patronage.
THE CROWD: Boardman-Murray— Pleased gen-
erally.— W. O. Doyle, Capitol theatre, Huntsville, Mo.
— Small town patronage.
THE BIG CITY: Lon Chaney— 60%. August 17-
18. A very good crook story, but it did not do the
business nor get the comments that "London After
Midnight" received. — J. A. D. Engesather, Movies
theatre. Brocket, N. D. — Rural patronage.
CIRCUS ROOKIES: Dane-Arthur— 65%. August
10-11. This picture is not in the class of "Baby
Mine" or "Rookies," and while it does contain a
few laughs it will not please generally. Six reels. —
Ray W. Musselman, Princess theatre, Lincoln, Kan.
— Small town patronage.
CIRCUS ROOKIES: Dane-Arthur- 25%. August
7. A good comedy circus picture. If you like them,
this will satisfy. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre,
Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
WYOMING: Tim McCoy-U5%. August 7. The
kids ate this up, but the rest of the crowd had very
little to say for it. — J. A. D. Engesather, Movies
theatre. Brocket, N. D. — R'ural patronage.
THE SMART SET: William Haines— A dandy
program picture. Good anywhere. More like Mr.
Haines and company. — G. Carey, Strand theatre, Paris,
Ark. — General patronage.
BABY MINE: Dane-Arther — Some of the crowd
seemed to think it was pretty good, but to me it
seemed too silly. I hope the next one will be better.
Six reels. — J. B. Carter, Electric theatre. Browning.
Mo. — Small town' patronage.
THE ACTRESS: Norma Shearer— August 14-15.
This is an A-1 picture for the class of people who
care for that sort of stuff. However, it is custom
peiriod stuff and as such has a tendency to keep
people away from the box office. Why do they have
to resurrect some old stage play filled with custom
bunk? The few you can get in to see it will say
it is a very good picture. I try to give my people
entertainment, and this is not entertainment ; and
you can paste that in' your hat. Eight reels.— Wm.
E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small
town patronage.
MAN, WOMAN AND SIN: John Gilbert— August
17. Not the type of feature for small to'wns. Some
good acting, some praise, but failed, we feel, to
please the majority. Would not class this as a fam-
ily picture. Six reels. — W. O. Doyle, Capitol theatre,
Huntsville, Mo. — Small to-wn patronage.
LOVELORN: Special cast — ^A good regular pro-
gram picture. Six reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal
theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage.
BUTTONS: Jackie Coogan — Jackie Coogan is a
safe bet. Many may not praise highly, but few, if
any, will criticise. This feature was good and will
please all the little folks much and will pass with
older. — W. O. Doyle, Capitol theatre, Huntsville, Mo.
— Small town patronage.
BUTTONS: Jackie Coogan— August 11. Good
program picture, which drew a good crowd. Good
print and photography. Seven reels. — ^Robert K. Yan-
cey, Bonny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patron-
age.
LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT: Lon Chaney—
Fine mystery drama. Lon' Chaney in somewhat dif-
ferent role. Better than usual program featiu'e. —
W. O. Doyle, Capitol theatre, Huntsville, Mo. — Small
town patronage.
QUALITY STREET: Marion Davies— Sold to me
as a special. No. Use it as a program only. — G.
Carey, Strand theatre, Paris, Ark. — General patron-
age.
THE GARDEN OF ALLAH: Alice Terry- Shown
two nights, but they all came first night. This kind
no good in small Southern' towns. — G. Carey, Strand
theatre, Paris, Ark. — General patronage.
ri fe
r
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Paramount
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— 75%. August 18. The
greatest comedy we have ever played. Failed to
draw as it should, and we did not make any money.
If you can buy it right, play it. It will please all
clasees. Eight reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's thea-
tre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town patronage.
SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS: Esther Ral-
ston— 25%. August 10. A fine mystery story. A
satisfactory program picture. — Bert Silver, Silver
Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
THE BIG KILLING: Wallace Beery— 90%. Our
patrons just love Wallace Beery. As long as Beery
stays in the kind of pictures that he has made this
season he is getting along okay. — Walter C. Schultz,
Walt's theatre, Kenesaw, Neb. — General patronage.
OPEN RANGE: Chandler-Broneon- 50%. August
18. Dandy Western. It has a little of everything,
Indians, cattle rustling, rodeo, cattle stampede, fights,
comedy and, above all, clear photography, as do
most of Pararaountfi. Film good. However, when
it is all said and done it's a Western, and they get
too much money for them. Six reels. — -E. C. Arehart,
Auditorium theatre. Laurel, Neb. — General patronage.
OPEN RANGE: Special cast — A good, snappy
Western that went over in good shape to a good
Saturday crowd. In fact, the only good house for
some time, as the hot weather has killed business.
This Western has plenty of thrills and about the
right amount of comedy. EveiT Western picture
should have enough comedy to brighten it up and
keep the audience in good humor. Six reels. — J. B.
Carter, Electric theatre. Browning, Mo. — Small town
patronage.
THE FIFTY-FIFTY GIRL: Bebe Daniels— 75%.
Sure is a dandy picture. This star always goes
good here. — Walter C. Schultz, Walt's theatre, Kene-
saw, Neb. — General patronage.
THE FIFTY-FIFTY GIRL: Bebe Daniels— This
seemed to satisfy. Seven reels. — Giacoma Bros.,
Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage.
THE LAST OUTLAW: Special cast— 55%. Au-
gust 10-11. The title drew a fair crowd, and they
seemed to enjoy it. — J. A. D. Engesather, Movies
theatre. Brocket, N. D. — Rural patronage.
THE DRAG NET: George Bancroft— August 6-7.
One of the very best. — J. S. Walker, Texas theatre.
Grand Prairie, Tex. — Small town patronage.
WARMING UP: Richard Dix— August 15-16. First
of new Paramount contract, and if they would all
be as good we could retire after a year. Baseball
theme, but good all through.— P. G. Estee, S. T.
theatre, Parker, S. D. — Small town patronage.
HONEYMOON HATE: Florence Vidor— August 14.
Very good and interesting, but didn't draw. Didn't
even make expenses. Can't get them out on Tuesday
except on a Western or special. Good print. Six
reels. — -Robert K. Yancey, Bonny theatre, Mansfield,
Mo. — General patronage.
NOW WE'RE IN THE AIR: Berry-Hatton— A fair
comedy, but no business on account of hot weather.
Paramount should get the prices down on the Berry-
Hatton, as they are no better than the average run
of good program pictures. Six reels. — J. B. Carter,
Electric theatre. Browning, Mo. — Small town patron-
age.
THE SUNSET LEGION: Fred Thomson— A real
good Western off the beaten path. One of the best
ones that Fred and Silver ever made. Seven reels. —
J. B. Carter, Electric theatre. Browning, Mo. — Small
town patronage.
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES; Ruth Taylor
— ^August 6-7. Just an ordinary program picture.
No special at all. Just drew the young r>eople, and
not so many of them. Paid such a big price I had
to raise admission. Good print. Seven reels. — Rob-
ert K. Yancey, Bonliy theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — Gen-
eral patronage.
THE PIONEER SCOUT: Fred Thomson— July 31.
Good Western and drew a good crowd. Don't see
anjrthing the matter with Silver King, as some ex-
hibitors say. Seems to me he did plenty of wonderful
tricks. Seven reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny thea-
tre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage.
HULA; Clara Bow— July 23-24. A good picture,
but wasn't worth what we paid for it and it didn't
draw for us. Colleen Moore is the best drawing
card we have and her pictures don't cost so much.
Six reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny theatre, Manfi-
field. Mo.- — General patronage.
FORLORN RIVER, A MAN OF THE DESERT:
Jack Holt — ^Usual Zane Grey stories, with Jack Holt
doing his part well. Will please all who like this
type of picture. — W. O. Doyle, Capitol theatre, Hunts-
ville. Mo. — Small town patronage.
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
{Continued from preceding page)
we want to stay here. Mr. and Mrs. Pennington are the popular people of the town, which
is evidenced by the receipts at the box office. We were invited back there when in Kansas
which makes them very popular with us.
OBERLIN, KAN., August 19.
This is the town where we were caught in a hotel fire two years ago which occurred
about 3 o'clock a. m., and we saw more kinds of pajamas than we supposed were ever
made. Some were blue, some striped, and a few flesh colored ones. We are carrying
green goggles now for just such emergencies.
Messrs. Beardsley & Stephenson operate Oberlin's two theatres and they are just like all
these other Kansas theatre men, they are chock full of optimism. It is a common saying
out here, "No, business is not the best, as we haven't raised a crop here for three years but
we are going to have a good crop next year and things will come out all right." When we
hear these Kansas boys talk about business we are reminded of what a theatre manager told
us about business in Akron, Ohio, last fall. Akron has a population of 225,000 and one
manager told us business had fallen off something terrible because one of the rubber com-
panies had laid off 2,000 men. Think of it, business closing up like a clam when 2,000
men out of a population of 225,000 had been laid off. Out here if a theatre man sees a
rain cloud coming up from the Northwest he goes and signs up for another group of pic-
tures. That's one of a thousand reasons why we like Kansas. They can't whip these Jay-
hawkers out anyway they can fix it.
We have been asked a thousand times by theatre men — well, maybe not a thousand
times, but 998 times — what effect the sound pictures would have on the small theatres and
in 998 times we have replied that we didn't know a thing about it, that it was anybody's
guess and one guess was as good as another, but if we were operating a small town theatre
we'd just be bullheaded enough to go ahead showing good pictures and let the other fellow
experiment. To us, from the standpoint of entertainment, talking pictures are like trying
to improve huckleberry pic, it can't be done except by more pie. If they will put a couple
of good stars in a sensible story under the direction of a director of ability and then some-
one will brain the bat who tries to tune in on a jazz selection, we will go home thinking
we had cheated the box office out of 50 per cent of what was due, no matter what the price.
If they can synchronize jazz music to pictures and make the public like it, then we can
learn to eat chop suey and lobster salad and call it good. Our belief is that synchronization
of good music to good pictures will be a wonderful advancement in entertainment, but we
balk at tin-pan dialogue. Our views on the subject aren't worth a nickel and we are not
charging anything for them. We are simply trying to start an argument.
Whenever you find two people who can run a theatre and operate a railroad at the same
time you will have to come out to Kansas to find them. We found two such at Almena,
Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Rabourn. We found Mr. Rabourn at the Rock Island depot and when
we introduced ourself he grabbed up the telephone and called his wife and told her to
come down, that there was a guy he wanted her to meet. She came down and we met her,
and we are glad we did, and we noticed that she could report trains as well as A. S. could.
The Rabourns and Charley Curtis are two more reasons why Kansas is a great state, and,
as we said before, you can't beat her no way you can frame it up.
We noticed a squib in the Kansas City Star today saying that one of the movie stars in
Hollywood had been found weeping, and on being asked what the trouble was, replied that
she had to divorce her husband. When asked if she didn't love him she replied, "Yes I do,
but my business manager demands it." They have been divorced out there for a darnsight
less reason than that.
It looks now like this presidential campaign is going to settle down to a fight between the
wets and the drys. If the drys should win it will make it mighty tough for those Southern
mint julep colonels around the capitol building. Of course, it won't affect Chicago, no
matter which way it goes, they never heard of the Eighteenth Amendment down there.
Ask Gallo, he knows.
Why don't somebody make a picture along the lines of "Over the Hill" and "The Old
Nest?" You remember what those pictures did at the box offices all over the country.
If they will make a few pictures of "Home Life" instead of "Bawdy Life" the public will
have more respect for the industry. When did they make a picture like "Womanhood" or
"Madame X?" Why not bring "Josh Whitcomb" back in "The Old Homestead?" Haven't
we anyone who could play "Rip Van Winkle?" Doggone if we wouldn't like to see "Uncle
Josh Spruceby" in the "Old SawmiU" scene again. We played these oldtimers years ago on
the stage and had 'em hanging on the rafters, and they would do it again in pictures. We'd
walk a mile to see Aunt Samantha running a spinning-wheel and the slicker trying to get
Uncle Josh to sign a mortgage on the old homestead. A little love stuff between the neigh-
bor's boy and Susy wouldn't be bad, and a picture of the old sow and her litter of pigs
would add a touch of realism that would be refreshing. Cut out this big town flapper stuff
and give us something with a cornfield flavor and business will pick up. Think it over,
but don't think too hard, it might go to your heads.
J. C. JENKINS,
The HERALD-WORLD man.
Pathe-P D C
J. B. Carter, Electric theatre. Browning, Mo. — Small
town patronage.
THE WRECK OF THE HESPERUS: Special cast
— August 4. Fine storm scenes. The old gray mare
in the rescue scene got a laugh. It was rather far
fetched. — Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre, Eureka,
Mont. — ^Small town patronage.
GOLD FROM WEEPAH: Bill Cody— A good, en-
tertaining little Western. I have found these Pathe
Westerns with Bill Cody, Buffalo Bill, Jr., and Buddy
Roosevelt to be about the best Westerns on the mar-
ket. They have plenty of action and comedy to
please and are just the right length. Five reels. —
Tiffany
LIGHTNING; Special cast — Not much to complain
of in this picture for a Western. Seven reels. — Gia-
coma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — Gen-
eral patronage.
BROKEN GATE: Special cast — Good. Several
said so. The three or four features that I have used
from Tiffany have proven satisfactory. — W. O. Doyle,
Capitol theatre, Huntsville, Mo. — Small town patron-
age.
64
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
United Artists
^/i
RAMONA: Dolores Del Rio — July 14-15. Bought
right, it is a money-maker for a small town. It will
please 100 per cent. Feist will send you music free,
and if you have an orchestra that can play, don't
overlook this bet. Nine reels. — Abe Shafer, Jr.,
Shafer's Airdome, Edgerton, Mo. — General patronage.
Universal
FLYING COWBOY: Hoot Gibson— 50%. August
11. A fine action picture. Played Saturday and
gave satisfaction. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre,
Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
GOOD MORNING, JUDGE: Reginald Denny— 75%.
August 12-13. Good Sunday film. Otis Harlan steals
the picture. Six reels. — George Cohen, Princess thea-
tre. West Union, la. — Mixed patronage.
THE SILENT RIDER: Hoot Gibson— 44%. August
10-11. Good show as Gibsons go. Personally thought
it very good and most of our older patrons like
Hoot's pictures, but it seems there is too much com-
edy and not enough blood-and-thunder action in these
to suit our genuine-dyed-in-the-wool Western fans. In
other words, Gibsons are mighty nice, but don't quite
hit the spot as Westerns. Print and photography
both satisfactory on this one. Six reels. — Tivenan &
Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town
patronage.
THE CHINESE PARROT: Marion Nixon— 47%.
August 3-4. We had this one set in in place of
"Michael Strogoff," but don't think we helped matters
any by doing so. A very mysterious mystery and,
like most of these mysteries, a little dark for us.
Might very well have been one of Universal's serials
compressed into seven reels. Not a bad picture if
you like this kind. Good work by Sojin. Free china
to the ladies boosted our percentage, not the picture.
Seven reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland theatre,
Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
PAINTED PONIES: Hoot Gibson— 70%. August
11. A very good Western with some of the best
rodeo scenes that you will ever get in pictures. Boy,
the steers in this were wild ; also the broncs. It is
real Western entertainment, and as I had to drive 50
miles to get it on account of the flood I felt repaid
and was sure glad to have a picture and save a dark
house. Six reels. — Ray W. Musselman, Princess thea-
tre, Lincoln, Kan. — Small town patronage.
SILK STOCKINGS: Laura LaPlante— 20%. Au-
gust 8-9. Laura had better return to stenography.
The few customers who come in are still wondering
who told her she could act. We agree with 'em.
Six reels. — George Cohen, Princess theatre. West
Union, la. — Mixed patronage.
HOW TO HANDLE WOMEN: Glenn Tryon— Au-
gust 10-11. Clean and has a few laughs, but Glenn
Tryon and Marion Nixon should have better material.
Six reels.— P. G. Estee. S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D.
— Small town patronage.
HOT HEELS: Glenn Tryon— August 10. Nice lit-
tle picture. Six reels. — J. S. Walker, Texas theatre.
Grand Prairie, Tex. — Small town patronage.
ON YOUR TOES: Reginald Denny— August 11.
Good prize fight feature. Denny and his gang of
pugs get several laughs in the dance scene. Not as
much comedy as Denny usually pulls. — Frank Sabin,
Majestic theatre. Eureka, Mont. — Small town patron-
age.
HOME, JAMES: Laura LaPlante — August 12.
Splendid comedy drama, with the charming Laura
Soviet and German
producing combine
has joined with
Affiliated
European Producers
Inc.
729 Seventh Avenue
New York City
at her best. Charles Delaney good in support. Seven
reels.- P. G. Estee, S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D. —
Small town patronage.
13 WASHINGTON SQUARE: Hersholt-Joyce^Au-
gust 8-9. If anyone ever figures out the reason for
making this, please write me. — J. S. Walker, Texas
theatre, Grand Prairie, Tex. — Small towTi patronage.
to get it the same week. It would be a good iserial
to buy and will please serial fans. Ten episodes. —
Ray W. Musselman, Princess theatre, Lincoln, Kan.
— Small town patronage.
Warner Bros.
OLD SAN FRANCISCO: Dolores Costello— 50%.
August 12-13. This is a good big picture. Star and
cast fine. Story good, but not a box office success
for me. Second night terrible flop. — Bert Silver, Sil-
ver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General pat-
ronage.
A RACE FOR LIFE: Rin-Tin-Tin— August 8.
Rinty gets 'em in, especially the kids. Just a fair
dog picture. — Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre. Eureka,
Mont. — Small town patronage.
State Rights
HAZARDOUS VALLEY: David Torrence— Con-
sider this a meritorious production of the logging
camp type. Pleased a nice crowd. Six reels. — W. O.
Doyle. Capitol theatre, Huntsville, Mo. — Small town
patronage.
THE ROAD TO RUIN: Special cast— August 2.
Public did not take kindly to it. Roadshows seem
to hurt business for days after. Consider "Road to
Ruin" an educational picture. — S. R. Cook, Althea
theatre, Dunseith, N. D. — ^General patronage.
THE ROAD TO RUIN: Special cast^JuIy 25-26-
27. A washout. Pulled them in for miles. Stood
them up three days in' a town of 537. Consider it
a dangerous picture to play unless it is advertised
right. Nothing really objectionable in the picture.
It's a box office attraction, but have a comedy with
it. Six reels. — Abe Shafer, Jr., Shafer's Airdome,
Edgerton, Mo. — General patronage.
WOMEN MEN LOVE: Alice Lake— This feature
will compare very favorably with the regular run
of program features. Alice Lake's work good. I
believe it will please most picture show fans. — W. O.
Doyle, Capitol theatre, Huntsville, Mo. — Small town
patronage.
Serials
BLAKE OF SCOTLAND YARD (Universal): Hay-
den Stevenson — No. 2. Interest is still sustained,
but it won't be long until it's dead if we get another
print like this. Quite dilapidated. Believe us, small
towners don't like a black screen any more than city
slickers. Don't let it happen any more, Universal,
or we'll love you not ! Twelve chapters. — Tivenan &
Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town
patronage.
BLAKE OF SCOTLAND YARD (Universal) : Hay-
den Stevenson — No. 3. Well, this time we drew a
print in decent condition, the chapter was pretty
good, and a good crowd was on hand, so everything
is lovely yet. Thanks, Universal, for your attention.
Twelve chapters. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland thea-
tre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
HEROES OF THE WILD (Universal) : Jack Ho.xie
— Just about like the average run of serials. In
my estimation, there hasn't been a real, good serial
(that is a money-maker) on the market since "The
Green Archer." The plots are too much alike and
too impossible. The hei'o and heroine don't more than
get out of one thing until they get into something
else. Of course, that's to be expected to some extent,
but why can't they be a little "smoother" with it.
Keep the audience guessing. You can't pull the same
gags all of the time and get by with it. Ten chap-
ters.— J. B. Carter, Electric theatre. Browning, Mo. —
Small town patronage.
THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE (Pathe) : Walter
Miller — This serial was similar to the "Green Archer"
as to story, but it was a business getter for me, and
they stayed with it until the end. Nearly missed
out on last episode because of the flood, but managed
^o Losses in ihe Box Office
ICKET REGISTEI^
Automatic Ticket
Register Corp.
723 Seventh Ave.New York
TuCRETS^r Every Purpose^ tOWtST Market Prices
^airmii
Short Features
EDUCATIONAL
FANDANGO : Lupino Lane — These comedies of
this comedian are in a class by themselves. All extra
good. Two reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre,
Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
FOX
CAPTAIN KID'S KITTENS: This is one of the
best comedies that I ever ran. It's on the order of
the Gang comedies and went over fine. It's different
and will please any audience. Two reel comedy (ani-
mal).— J. B. Carter, Electric theatre. Browning, Mo.
— ^Small town patronage.
DAISY WON'T TELL: Just a comedy. Two reels.
— Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— ^General patronage.
TWENTY LEGS UNDER THE SEA; It is just
another comedy and has a few laughs. Lots of
pretty girls and lower extremities exposed to view.
Two reels. — Ray W. Musselman, Princess theatre,
Lincoln, Kan. — Small town patronage.
METRO-GOLD WYN-MAYER
THE FINISHING TOUCH: Hooray! Cheers and
thanksgiving ! An A-No. 1 comedy by gum. Lots of
good, clean fun for our lovely patrons. Give us more
like this. Two reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland
theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
HEEBIE JEEBIES: Our Gang— This one clicked
with both the old and young. They laughed plenty.
Our Gang comedies all seem to be natural. Two
reels. — J. B. Carter, Electric theatre. Browning, Mo.
— Small town patronage.
RAINY DAYS: Our Gang— Zowie! She registered!
Another good one from the Gang. Keep it up. Kids.
Two reels. — Tivenan & Wolfe, Screenland theatre,
Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
TOKENS OF MANHOOD: Oddities— "Tokens of
Manhood" was just another 1,000 feet of colored
anatomy. We played some at the beginning of our
contract that was very good, but have had a bunch
now lately that are just n. g. — J. A. D. Engesather,
Movies theatre. Brocket, N. D. — ^Rural patronage.
WHAT EVERY ICEMAN KNOWS: Max David-
son— A good comedy, as are most of Metros. Two
reels. — E. C. Arehart, Auditorium theatre. Laurel,
Neb. — General patronage.
PARAMOUNT
NIFTY NAGS: A good comedy. Two reels.— Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — Gen-
eral patronage.
PATHE
BROKE IN CHINA: Ben Turpin— The worst com-
edy ever made. Not a grin in two reels. Even the
kids walked out, and that's a calamity when a com-
edy is running. If you have this old wreck booked,
pay for it and rebook. Two reels. — E. C. Arehart,
Auditorium theatre. Laurel, Neb. — General patronage.
CRAZY TO ACT: Not so good. Just another
filler. Two reels. — Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre.
Eureka, Mont. — Small town patronage.
LOVE IN A POLICE STATION: A very funny
comedy. Two reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family thea-
tre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
SHOULD A MASON TELL: Just fair. Not
enough slapstick for this town. Might be comedy,
but sure is deep stufE. Two reels. — Ray W. Mussel-
man, Princess theatre, Lincoln, Kan. — Small town
patronage.
SMITH'S VISITOR: The Smith comedies are good
bets. Two reels. — Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre. Eu-
reka, Mont. — Small town patronage.
UNIVERSAL
A BIG BLUFF: Fair comedy. Two reels.— Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — Gen-
eral patronage.
CASE OF SCOTCH: The Gumps— Good Gump com-
edy. Better than most of them. Two reels. — Tivenan
& Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town'
patronage.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: About as good as any
and a lot better than some. It has a following
here, and as I get a real spot on it believe I will
stay with it. — Ray W. Musselman, Princess theatre,
Lincoln, Kan. — Small town patronage.
OH, TEACHER: Oswald the Rabbit— Wonder how
they title these? Or why? Couldn't see the con-
nection. Okay, but too short. Half reel. — Tivenan
& Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O.^ — Small town
patronage.
^ -«>'
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
65
Y^
NEW PICTURES
In "New Pictures" the EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE
WORLD presents in concise form infor-
mation on current and forthcoming attrac-
tions.
The facts as presented will serve exhib-
itors in booking and in the preparation of
their advertising campaign.
ANYBODY HERE SEEN KELLY?: Universal comedy
with Tom Moore, Bessie Love, Tom O'Brien, Kate
Price and Alfred Allen. Directed by William
Wyler. Released Length
TYPE AND THEME: Pat Kelly (Tom Moore)
has a great line for the girls overseas during the
war and invites all and sundry to come over to
America and marry him. Jeanette (Miss Dove)
does, and arrives in New York as ste^ixirdess on a
ship. She is denied shore leave and tries to escape.
But she's seen by Buck Johnson (O'Brien), who
was Pat's rival in France. Buck is an immigration
officer. She escapes and finally finds Pat is a
traffic cop. She goes to his apartment^ where Buck
discovers her and tries to arrest her. Pat beats
him in a fight but is arrested. He by now has
found that he really loves her while Jeanette be-
lieves him a trifier and returns to the ship. Buck
sees that and tells Sergt. Malloy, who had placed
Pat in jail. Malloy lets Pat go free and he reaches
Jeanette just in time.
* * *
GIRI^SHY COWBOY, THE: Fox Western with Rex
Bell, Patsy O'Leary, George Meeker, Donald Stuart,
Margaret Coburn, Betty Caldwell, Joan Lyons,
Ottola Nesmith. Directed by R. Lee Hough. Re-
leased Length
TYPE AND THEME: Joe (Bell) and Harry
(Meeker), pals, fall apart when a bevy of girls,
including Patsy O'Leary, enciages them as guides,
and Harry becomes jealous of Bell. Joe saves Patsy
from death twice. Joe sees Harry talking with
Pete, a mysterious stranger. Pete later orders Pete
to loot the camp. Anticipating a doublecross the
gang ties up the school teacher and one of the
girls. Joe rushes in, and the gang beats up both,
Joe and Harry, and rides off with the loot. The
tivo set off in pursuit. Harry is wounded but Joe
bulldogs Pete and forces him to confess. It de-
velops that Harry at one time joined the gang but
did nothing serious. Pete had only that much on
him,. The loot is recovered, and Harry sends Joe
to Patsy.
* * *
HOME, JAMES: Universal comedy with Laura La-
Plante, Charles Delaney, Aileen Manning, Joan
Standing, George Pearce, Arthur Hoyt and Sidney
Bracy. Directed by William Beaudine. Released
Length
TYPE AND THEME: Laura Elliott (Laura
LaPlante) can't put over her a>-tistry in New York
so becomes a salesgirl. She meets James Lacey,
Jr. (Delaney) in a storm, mistaking him for a
chauffeur. Jim goes to ivork in the store while his
father is out of toiun. Laura's stepmother and
stepsister come to town and Laura tries in vain
to dodge them. They see Jim starting to take her
home and get into the auto with her, thinking
the car is hers. Jim drives them to his father's
A scene from Richard Barthelmess' latest
First National vehicle, "Out of the Ruins,"
an unusual tale of a French soldier who
is court-martialed and shot but who lives,
though "officially dead," to rejoin his
sweetheart. Barthelmess is shown above
with his feminine lead, Marian Nixon.
John Francis Dillon directed.
hcrme, where she pretends to be owner in order to
impress the relatives. Jim's father arrives in the
midst of a party Jim is giving and is arrested for
snooping about the place. He has Laura's rela-
tives arrested the next day but when he finds that
Laura has inspired Jim to go to work he has them
released and supervises plans for the wedding.
* * *
MICHIGAN KID, THE: Universal comedy-drama,
with Conrad Nagel, Renee Adoree. Lloyd Whitlock,
Fred Eemelton, Adolph Milar, Maurice Murphy,
Virginia Grey and Dick Palm. Directed by Irwin
Willat. Released Length _
TYPE AND THEME: Story of the gold rush in
Alaska from the Rex Beach novel. Jimmy Rowan
(Nagel), gambler known as The Michigan Kid, still
loves his childhood sweetheart. Rose Morris (Renee
Adoree). Hcbyivard, claiming to be Rose's fiamce,
is caught cheating by Jimmy. On the way to the
mine Jimmy and Rose are forced to seek shelter
in a storm. There Rose discovers his identity and
her love is revived. In a. forest fire Hayward
knocks Jimmy unconscious, awakes Rose and they
prepare to escape in a canoe. Hayward says
Jimmy has escaped but when she returns for her
coat she finds Jimmy. Hayward attacks Jimmy,
who wins the fight and throws Hayivard into the
canoe and the three start away together. When
the canoe goes over a falls, Jimmy rescues the
two. After the fire has passed, Jimmy and Rose
paddle away together, leaving Hayward on the
bank.
« * *
MYSTERIOUS LADY, THE: M-G-M drama with
Greta Garbo, Conrad Nagel, Gustav von Seyflfertitz,
Edward Connelly, Albert Pollet, Richard Alex-
ander. Directed by Fred Niblo. Released
Length
TYPE AND THEME: Spies, betrayals, and uni-
forms. Greta Garbo, as Tania, a Russian spy, is
sent to get certain important military papers from
Nagel, Austrian officer. He finds that he has been
betrayed and follows her into Russia to exact re-
venge. When he is about to be put to death as a
spy, she rescues him and he learns that her love
for him is true.
* * *
LILAC TIME: First National comedy-drama with
Colleen Moore, Gary Cooper, Burr Mcintosh, George
Cooper, Cleve Moore, Kathryn McGuire, Eugenie
Beseerer, Emile Chautard, Jack Stone, Edward
Dillon.
TYPE AND THEME: War aviation romance,
which starts with Captain Philip Blythe (Gary
Cooper) giving Jeannine (Miss Moore) a scolding
ivhen, arriving to join the Royal Flying Corps,
he smashes his plane to avoid hitting her. Later,
while site's hiding in the cockpit of his plane, a
mechanic spins the propeller, she opens the throttle
by mistake and the craft smashes into some trees.
He rescues her and starts to tell her of his dawn-
ing love when his father and his fiancee arrive.
The order for an offensive comes and Philip rushes
to Jeannine to tell her all. She says she'll wait for
him in the lilac garden, but she is compelled to
join the group evacuating the village. She escapes
and gets back to the village just as two planes in
combat fall to earth. She lifts Philip's head but an
ambulance picks him up and disappears. At last
she finds him in hospital. His father tells her he
is dead, in order to part them, but she sends some
lilacs to Philip and when he breathes their per-
fume he calls her back.
PERFECT CRIME, THE:
Clive Brook, Irene Rich,
F B O melodrama, with
Gladys MeConnell, Ed-
mund Breese, James Farley, Phil Gastrock, TuUy
Marshall, Jane LaVerne. Directed by Bert Glen-
non. Released Length
TYPE AND THEME: Benson (Brook), cynical
man-hunter but leading criminologist of the world,
retires from detective work, his heart broken by
Stella (Irene Rich), his sweetheart, who disap-
proves of his merciless existence. He plans a
perfect murder, slaying- Frisbie, a worthless tenant.
The police are baffled. Stella comes back into his
life, but in the midst of their happiness he is told
that Trevor, a young married man and former
lodger with the Frisbies, is accused of the crime.
His wife turns to Benson for help. He fears the
loss of Stella and refuses, until Stella unwittingly
gets him to jpromise to ferret out the slayer. He
sends for the detectives, and with Stella present he
tells all and marches doivn the street to his doom.
But the scene fades out and shores Benson was only
dreaming over a volume on crime.
This Week^s Press Sheet
LILAC TIME (First National melodrama): This picture
features air warfare, hence a toy airplane contest for boys could
be held, the object being to see what boy can make the best
one. Display the best planes in your lobby or in the window
of some store, with a card tying up the contest with the show-
ing.
Another stunt is "Lilac Time Week." Arrange with a de-
partment store to conduct such a "week," offering a special
sale of articles of lilac odor or color. The store could have
a special window display of such articles, containing also a
card tying up the sale with the showing.
A tie-up with a newspaper could put an essay contest behind
the exploitation. The picture contains a spectacular airplane
fight. Have the young people of your community write essays
describing it. Or they might write essays on what the use of
airplanes in war means to aviation in times of peace. You
might make us of the sentimental character of the airplane
scenes and have your young people write of them in verse.
The story has been novelized, hence a tie-up could be ar-
ranged with a bookstore or with the library, cards being
prominently displayed in the store window or in the library,
announcing the showing.
The picture has a theme song entitled, "Jeannine, I Dream
of Lilac Time." A tie-up with a music dealer could be em-
ployed.
A part of the publicity given you by the newspapers, in
conjunction with your advertising, could be a series of pic-
torial strips composed of stills, so chosen and so placed in
sequence, that each group gives a synopis of part of the story.
The title, "Lilac Time," lends itself readily to a teaser
campaign. An example is, "Believe it or not, (Date)
is 'Lilac Time.' "
1
66
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
Y^
CHICAGO PERSONALITIES
THE Chicago Federation of Musicians has submitted its demands for the
ensuing year to the executive board of the Exhibitors Association of
Chicago, and as was expected, are designed to cope with the situation
created by synchronization.
Outstanding in that respect among the
^-^ demands, are those that insist on the re-
tention of organists in houses previously hav-
ing them but inaugurating a sound picture
policy, and increasing the minimum number
of musicians in theatres with sound pictures
to six, though "silent theatres" need have
only four. All of the demands are presented
in the general news section of this issue.
Only "Class 6" theatres are involved, the
contract for the deluxe houses not expiring
until September, 1929. The "Class 6" con-
tract expires Saturday. Theatres in which
there must be orchestras of a minimum of
four musicians are as follows, classified ac-
cording to the number of weeks in which
such orchestras must be employed :
For 44 weeks — Norshore, Marshall Square,
Piccadilly, Peoples, Stratford, Palace in
Cicero, Roseland-State, Tiffin, Manor, Chelten,
Lawndale, Symphony, Shore, Pickwick and
Lincoln-Dixie in Chicago Heights.
For 40 weeks — Terminal, Midwest, Grove,
Lido, Broadwa}' Strand, Ritz, Embassy, Com-
mercial, West Englewood, Ambassador, Oak-
land Square, Alamo, Thalia, 20th Century,
Crown, Highland, Biltmore, Lane Court,
Drake, Portage Park, Jeffrey, Crystal, Atlan-
tic, Patio, Central Park and seven L & T
houses to be named.
For 35 weeks — Colony, Jackson Park, Mil-
ford, Marquette and the Commodore (or
Banner or DeLuxe).
Many of these theatres have already an-
nounced their intention of presenting sound
pictures as soon as apparatus can be installed,
in which event they would not only need to
have also orchestras, according to the de-
mands, but orchestras of six men.
The executive board, headed by Jack Miller,
and representatives of the union, headed by
James C. Petrillo, are to meet Wednesday at
the Hotel Sherman.
H: ^ ^
Oscar Florine was host to eleven prominent
film men Wednesday, at the Crystal Lake
Country Club, Florine's home course. His
guests were Neil Agnew, Clayt Bond, Grad
Sears, Floyd Brock ell. Herb Washburn, Harry
Graham, Harry Lorch, Dave Dubin, Simon
Simansky, Jack Miller and George Miller.
* * *
Viola Allen is the winner of the "American
Beauty" contest finals at the Oriental theatre
and is now officially (or will be when she's
crowned) "Miss America," "Miss Chicago,"
Nearby Exhibitors Get
Show Rights at Fairs
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Aug. 28.— Many ot the
county fairs now being held in New
York State and which are open eve-
nings, are featuring outdoor motion
picture shows this season with gen-
erally satisfactory results. These
outdoor shows are being staged by
exhibitors from nearby places who
have brought the necessary conces-
sion.
"Venus" or what have you? But does it
matter? For she is to be featured in L & T
theatres for a while, then take a 32-day trip
to Europe at Publix expense. Sixty girls
competed, 26 of them winning trips to Colo-
rado and others getting radio sets and other
knick-knacks.
* * *
William Adler has left the publicity depart-
ment of L & T and joined that of Marks
Brothers.
* * *
Frank Schaefer, who has been confined to
his home by illness, is reported to be recover-
ing. He expects to be back at his desk in
two weeks.
Tom North, Midwest representative of Van
Beuren Enterprises, is all smiles. Reason?
"Dinner-Time," the first synchronized Aesop's
Fable, is a great big hit. This Fable is the
first animated cartoon to be synchronized.
North is making the high spots in his terri-
tory, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Kansas
City, St. Louis, Omaha, Des Moines, with a
print of "Dinner Time." The reel is the first
novelty that has hit the screen in synchroniza-
tion. Paul Terry has done it again. The
RCA Photophone is the process used. All
the big circuits have signed for this Fable
and Harry Lorch is running North a tough
race for the big wide smiles.
* * *
Clyde W. Ecklmrdt was elected head of the
Film Board of Trade, for the coming year.
Neil Agnew was chosen vice-president; Irving
Mandel. secretary; and Earl Silverman, treas-
urer. Members of the board of directors are
Eckhardt, Harry Lorch, Mandel, C. Harthill,
Agnew, Felix Mendelssohn and Silverman.
The Roach-M G M "Our Gang," including
Pete, the pup with the halo around his eye,
assisted our local fire eaters in raising money
for their benefit fund by appearing last week,
during their engagement at the Chicago thea-
tre, at a firemen's entertainment on the Great
West Side.
^ sK H:
_ The newspapers last week carried a few
lines saying that W. F. Engeloch, proprietor
of a theatre at Galena, 111., and brother-in-law
of Miss Louise Weiser, a nurse who was
killed in an automobile accident more than a
week ago, has reported the theft of a brief
case containing Miss Weiser's will.
* * *
Without further explanation, we submit the
fact that Fox's "Sunrise" is playing this week
at both Marks Brothers' Granada and Marbo
and at the Sheridan, which is booked by
B & K.
An 1,150-seat theatre is being built at 3508
Halsted Street by Jacob Maskoliumas. The
building will also contain stores. The theatre
is to be called the Roxee. (And we wonder
where Mr. Maskoliumas got that!)
* * *
First National is the beneficiary of a suc-
cessful exploitation stunt -put over by the Eve-
ning American for Colleen Moore's "Lilac
Time" Nothing new about the stunt — it was
an essay contest. But returns were large.
"Give the Li'l Girl a
Great Big Hand!"
Texas Guinan, New York's most
popular clubwoman, arrived Tuesday
in Chicago (which has a few pad-
locked night clubs also), on her way
to the West Coast, Hollywood and
Synchronization. Immediately upon
the arrival of the erstwhile Texas
cowgirl, who has more recently gone
in for breaking the bronchos of
Broadway, the Herald-World tele-
phone sounded as shrill as a dry
agent's whistle. Was it Tex herself.^
It was not. It was Dan Roche him-
self. And he wanted someone to go
down to the station and give the li'l
girl a big hand. So much for Texas
in Chicago, which is only an incident
in this great woman's young life.
Far more important. Miss Guinan
is on her way to make an epic of the
night clubs for Warner Brothers —
with sound, as it were, and plenty
of it. And radio dispatches from Los
Angeles declare that the Sim capital
is prepared to contribute more large
hands to the li'l girl than she and her
cohorts ever got on Broadway.
So why not Chi? So altogether
now — "Give the li'l girl a big hand!"
Buying Not Affected
By Sound in Canada;
Is Slow at St. Louis
{Continued from page 33)
Canadian exhibitors have, in no way, been
affected as yet by the introduction of sound
film but, as' the sound pictures will get the
greatest publicity, it is natural to anticipate
that these same pictures will be in the biggest
demand in silent form by exhibitors who do
not have sound installations."
Sales Called About Normal
H. L. Nathanson, general manager of sales
for Regal Films, Limited, Toronto, made the
following statement :
"Sound films have had very little effect on
the sale of our product so far this season in
Canada. There has, of course, been some dis-
cussion by the more important exhibitors gen-
erally on sound films but, because of the high
price of the equipment, very few of them
figure that it would be profitable for them
to install it at least this season. The probable
exception will be the Famous Players Cana-
dian Corporation who are wiring their thea-
tres in some of the more important key points.
"Sales are about normal as compared with
last year during the same period. We believe
there will be few, if any, theatres in Canada,
with the exception of the more important
Famous Players Canadian Theatres, that will
install sound equipment during the season
1928-29."
Censors Pass Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— -"The House of
Shame," the second Chesterfield production,
has been passed by the National Board of
Review and the New York State Board.
May McAvoy Settles Tax
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— May McAvoy,
film star, has settled with the United States
Government on a claim of $1,'554 due on her
1923 income tax.
!
Olga Baklanova to Be Wed
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— Olga Bakla-
nova, Russian screen star, is to wed Nicho-
las Soussanin, Russian stage star.
J
Recognizing the fact that changes
in method come in the splendid
advancement of the motion picture
industry, the Eastman Kodak Com-
pany continues its own forward
march and maintains its supremacy
in presenting to the trade
Rastman Panchromatic
emttve
2
Type
— a perfected^ proven product
for the cinematographer
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
EXiniuroRS herald and moving pictire world
#^-^1^55
»
v^«
eV.
FOX MOVIETONEWS
1
eginning Wednesday, October
3f 1928, there 'will be tw^o re-
leases each "week instead of one
as heretofore.
CL Thirty cre'ws in the field on
that date makes possible this
tremendous for'ward step.
Ct Thirty more in the field by
January 1st "will give a ^wealth
Of material from all corners of
the Dvorld.
FOX
MOVIETONEWS
^'It Speaks for Itself'*
and it foUoivs no one.
rikdk
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EXHIBETOR
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JmA,
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As Originators of pre-selective
remote control for theatre lighting
We know exactly the requirements of stage and auditorium lighting control. For
ten years we have made a great many installations that have taught us from every
practical angle, the right design and construction down to the last screw. No other
system can approach the ® Major System and we can prove it.
We are years ahead
— in creative thought
— in experience
— in standardization
— in number of installations
— in service
— in known results
Get the facts — free. Don't experiment*
^anki^dam
ELECTRIC COMPANY
ST. LOUIS
Atlanta, Ga.
Baltimore, Md.
Boston, Mass.
Buffalo, N. Y.
Chicago, 111.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Dallas, Texas
Denver, Colorado
Detroit, Michigan
Jacksonville, Fla.
Kansas City, Mo.
Los Angeles, Calif.
— District Offices -
Memphis, Tenn.
Minneapolis, Minn.
Newr Orleans, La.
New York City
Omaha, Nebraska
Philadelphia, Pa.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Richmond, Va.
San Francisco, Calif.
Seattle, Washington
Tampa, Fla.
Tulsa, Okla.
Montreal, Que.
Toronto, Ontario
Vancouver, B. C.
Walkerville, Ontario
Winnipeg, Man.
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Vhole Vol. 92, No. 9 (Vol. 34, No. 12)
September 1, 1928
^r,
^
U-
lis.
uilt up to
an ideal and
not down to
a price
BUFFALO
CHICAGO
CINCINNATI
V/URLlTzER
^^ REG U S PAT, OFF, ^r
ORGANS
Factories, North Tonawanda, New York
CLEVELAND
DETROIT
KANSAS CITY
LOS ANGELES
NEW YORK
PHILADELPHIA
PITTSBURGH
SAN FRANCISCO
ST. LOUIS
'Mliliiiiiniuu. iiiininll''
jjiUUJMiiiiiiniiiiiiijijjj_[j_^'
WITBLITZER KACTOUY
N. Tonuwanda. N. Y. .
IIHIIII' r..iilHlli|
J
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
•{A Photograph of Sound Waves taken by Johns-Manville Acoustical Experts}*
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Longitudinal section of a model of a theatre. Photograph of the direct sound WW and of the reflected waves Ci, Cz and Ca from the ceiling
and stage and reflected waves Fi and Fa from the floor and stage all originating from a shoit, sharp sound produced at S. Note the lack of
intensity in reflected waves from the floor. Acoustic felt was laid on the floor of the model to simulate the absorbing power of the audience.
Is your
theatre ready
for talking
pictures ?
Unless the acoustics are correct, sound films
will be worse than unsatisfactory
MASTER -mo/M- ASBESTOS , 1 -|
ns-iVlanviUe
ACOUSTICAL AND SOUND
CONTROL TREATMENT
We are also working with leading producers in providing the
acoustically correct studios essential to the making oj sound films
TALKING pictures, sound films, call them
what you will, are here to stay. Theatre
owners everywhere are preparing to exhibit
them, or are already doing so.
Yet the installation of the projection equip-
ment does not mean that sound films will be a
success in your theatre. Very few motion pic-
ture theatres were planned with much attention
to acoustics. Organ and orchestra may sound
reasonably well in your theatre, but how about
voices, and other sounds."*
Johns-Manville has for years been the world
leader in the science of acoustics, in the cor-
rection and banishing of echoes and reverber-
ations from auditoriums of all types.
The trained acoustical engineers of Johns-
Manville can make your theatre acoustically
perfect, and can do so at reasonable cost for
the service rendered.
The control of sound is a science. Haphazard
selection and use of materials mean money
wasted and mediocre results. Before you do
anything about acoustics, consult a Johns-Man-
ville expert. There is no obligation incurred.
We welcome inquiries from theatre owners,
and attach a coupon for your convenience.
/T
JOHNS-MANVILLE CORPORATION
New York, Chicago, Cleveland, San Francisco
Branches in all large cities
Canadian Johns-Manville Co., Ltd., Toronto
I am interested in acoustical correction of my theatre.
Name
Address
City
VL. Seating Capacity of theatre .
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
Illustrating the interior of Rabb &" Rowley^s Rit^ Theatre, San Angela, Texas
— Ray E. Lam, architect. A good example of the attractive, modest sized shou--
bouse and the adaptability of "American" chairs to a limited seating expendi-
ture. Chair No. 6if}, of ichicb ij6 were installed, 600 with upholstered seats
and 2j6 with veneer seats, is a very popular mcdel with the smaller operators.
Wood parts of hirch and maple, finished brown mahogony . . . with brown Spanish
moroccoline upholstered seat, this chair combines beauty with tconomical cost.
Values are not
Determined by
Comparison of Prices
SEATING a theatre, what you get for your dollar beyond visible
angible substance should guide your selection. Comparison of price
is always a poor basis for determining a purchase. Likewise the p;
of ' ' American ' ' chairs is never the criterion of their values . For whether
you buy a stock or special-order chair ... a low priced or a high
priced chair . . . there is but one standard of quality in material and
workmanship . . . one measure of worth for all. Price varies only in
proportion to the greater or less amount of material and time involved
in the manufacture of a diversity' of designs, styles and models.
American Seating Company
Theatre Chair Builders to the American Public for Over 50 Years
12 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Illinois
65-D CannI St., Boston
121 1-H Chestnut St., Philadelphia
:
Architects Speak on Sound Theatres
CHARLES B. O'NEILL
Adv«rtMng Managmr
BeU&fkmtm
A monthly supplement of Exhibitors Herald and Moving Pictnre World, pub-
lished for information and guidance of theatre owners in matters of theatre
construction, operation and equipment and to promote the ideal of finer theatres
HARRY E. HOLQUIST
Eottarn R«pra««nCat<*«
BETTER THEATRES
EDITORIAL AND
ADVERTISING OFFICES
CHICAGO
407 So. Dearborn St. Telephone
Harrison 0036. Cable Address:
Quigpubco.
Jay M. Shreck, Managing Editor
Charles B. O'Neill, Advertising
Manager
George Clifford, Business Manager
NEW YORK
565 Fifth Ave. Telephone Vander-
bilt 3612-3613
Harry E. Holquist
Eastern Kepresentadve
LOS ANGELES
5617 Hollywood Blvd. Telephone
Gladstone 3754
Douglas Hodges
West Coast Manager
LONDON
The Bioscope (J. Cabourn, Editor)
Faraday House, 8-10 Charing Cross
Rd., W. C. 2
The successful theatre today is the
one that pays strictest attention to
its physical features. Cinema pa-
trons demand more than pictures.
They must be given every degree of
comfort, convenience and atmos-
phere.
To the enterprising exhibitor Better
Theatres each issue presents numer-
ous ideas and suggestions for in-
creasing profit through better pub-
lic service and management.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
United State and possessions —
$3 per year
Canada — $4.50 per year
Other points of the world —
$9 per year
Single copies, 25 cents
Advertising rate cards and Audit
Bureau of Circulations statements
furnished upon application.
In This Issue —
WITH SYNCHRONIZED pictures the new development in motion
pictures, the theatre builder must give thought to any plans he
may have for the erection of a new house; "Better Theatres," in
this issue gives the opinions of noted architects on that important
subject.
WILLIAM FOX is opening in Detroit what is said to be the first
theatre ever erected for sjTichronized pictures; The story of this
house, in story and in picture, is presented on the following pages;
A more complete pictorial display will be presented in the next
issue.
AGAIN IN this issue appear the articles and sketches on interior
decoration of theatres; Many Exhibitors are finding this series of
inestimable value in the decoration and the redecoration of their
houses; And don't overlook the Seventh Street theatre at
Hoquiam, Wash.
THE HEATING euid ventilating of a motion picture theatre is pre-
sented graphically; The house chosen is one in Brookl)^!, N. Y.;
Leo Parker continues in this issue his resume of important legal
decisions afFecting the motion picture theatre; Concluding, "I
Leam About Organs."
i
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
Leadership!
— by right of service
— to readers
— to advertisers
— to the whole industry
"rpxHiBiTORS Herald and Moving
^-^ Picture World stands in the
position of preeminent leadership
among the trade publications of the
motion picture field.
This enviable position has not been
won by accident.
It has been gained
— by right of service
— to readers
— to advertisers
— to the whole industry
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
/^
The Kenosha Theater, Kenosha, }Vis.
— a recent addition to the Midwesco
Theater Circuit — is equipped with
C-H Simplicity Lighting Dimmers.
Architects— United Studios, Chicago.
A Mesco switchboard is used.
^^nother
"^Ij"""* im
chain theater equipped with
C-H Simplicity Dimmers
Wide experience is a guide of acknowl
edged reliability in selecting equipment.
Thus it is significant that "well known
theater chains equip their theaters
with C-H Simplicity Lighting Dim-
mers. Their experience has con-
vinced them that C-H Dimimers can
be depended on to give the smooth,
flickerless control and color blend-
ing essential for artistic presentations;
that C-H Dimmers are remarkably
low in maintenance costs — economical to
operate — easy to install — and conveniently
adapted to all needs both present and future.
Ask your architect or electrical con-
tractor about the advantages of C-H
Dimmers — how easily your theater
can be equipped regardless of its seat-
ing capacity or decorative scheme.
In the meantime, write for a copy of
the instructive booklet "Illumination
Control for the Modern Theater".
The CUTLER-HAMMER Mfg, Co,
Pioneer 'Manufacturers of Electric Control Apparatus
1254 St. Paul Avenue
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
CUTLER jy AM MER
Perfect Illumination Cornrol for the Modern Theater
^ •/ (3188)
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
"Tbr ^ New
FISHER
Theatre /
TKe seven Fisher brothers personallxj
selected the unusual chair, shown to
the right, for the magnificent new
Fisher Theatre now being erected at
Detroit, Michigan. These capable
men, at the head of the largest and
finest body building corporation in the
world, are in an excellent position to
judge the upholstering details, con-
struction advantages, and comfort of
any type of seating. That they selected
Heywood -Wakefield chairs for their
beautiful new theatre is a convincing
recommendation of quality — the kind
of quality that has influenced Publix,
Roxy, Orpheum Circuit, and a host of
others to install this well-made theatre
seating during the past few years.
Seats h
5'
Twenty-seven hundred and eleven of this unusual
chair will he installed in the new Fisher Theatre
at Detroit. The aisle light standard harmonizes
with the special Maygar Indian pattern upholstery
used on the back. The seat is of an unusually
comfortable, double-thick spring construction.
HEY1X)D¥AKEFIELD
Theatre Seating Division
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
A.
the topics for discussion
1. What effect will synchronized pictures have on the acoustics in build-
ing the theatre of the future ?
2. What effect will synchronized pictures have on theatre design and
construction in general?
3. With inauguration of synchronized pictures will there be a tendency
toward smaller houses, or houses of the more intimate type?
4. Will it be necessary for present day theatres to reconstruct so as to
provide for the proper acoustical properties in the auditoriums?
-V
Building the Synchronized Pictures
Theatre — a Survey
By JAY M. SHRECK
WHEREVER the synchronized picture is
discussed there always seeps into the
discussion the word, Problem.
Production problem, exhibition problem,
distribution problem and so on indefinitely.
There is one very definite and important
problem, however, which seems to have been
overlooked in the rush to make and obtain
synchronized product. It is a problem to
which the architect, the construction engineer
and the theatre owner must turn their at-
tention if the synchronized picture is to be-
come and remain an integral part of motion
picture entertainment.
This all-important problem is theatre con-
struction !
The majority — great majority — of motion
picture theatres standing today were built for
silence. They were the Palaces of the Silent
Drama. To break this silence there was
nothing but the organ or the orchestral ac-
companiment.
As the home of the silent drama, a theatre
could be designed with little or no regard for
the requirements of speech. The interiors
were constructed with volume in mind, and
with a thought to the novel and beautiful,
and to the bizarre. The decorative scheme
was of paramount consideration.
This, of course, was not true in all in-
stances. Presentation and vaudeville, which
have become part of motion picture enter-
tainment, made additional structural require-
ments necessary. Because of the variety in
program, the newer theatres have taken these
requirements into consideration.
Therefore, the synchronized picture has
brought with it the problem of acoustics, the
problem of auditorium size, the problem of
loud speaker placement, the problem of pro-
jection room size, etc.
Better Theatres has presented these prob-
lems to noted theatre architects for solution.
It will be found in reading this symposium
that the architects, generally, agree on each
subject on which comment was asked.
THEY ALL AGREE THAT—
Acoustics will be an important item of
construction, and
Corrective work will be necessary in
houses where no acoustical properties now
exist.
However, there is a wide divergence of
views on the question of theatre size. Some
believe that the synchronized picture will bring
a more intimate type of theatre, while others
contend that only the large house is commer-
cially sound.
It is not generally believed by the archi-
tects that synchronized pictures will alter to
any great extent the design in theatre con-
struction, other than noted above.
Following are the architects' contributions
to this important survey :
HENRY NEW HOUSE
Chicago, 111.
1. Use of materials to eliminate echo and
sound reverberation. Proportioning house
and surfaces to accommodate sound waves
2. Reduce size of auditorium areas.
3. Yes.
4. For the past 15 years I have taken
this into account so acoustics have played
an important part in designing.
GENERAL COMMENT— Sound volume
properly distributed will necessitate
smaller auditoriums. Have you ever con-
sidered how the difference in location in
the large houses affects a picture? Can
you imagine the din in the front of house
to carry audible sound in the rear?
THOMAS W. WILLIAMSON
Topeka, Kan.
1. Will probably require the use of loud
speaker equipment.
2. The larger theatres will need to give
more attention to acoustical properties as
well as to a means of carrying the sound.
3. I do not believe so.
^4. Yes, the larger theatres built with the
idea of picture only will have to be re-
vamped as stated above.
LEROY B. ROTHSCHILD
Philadelphia, Pa.
1. They will be as important as in pres-
ent "speaking" theatres.
2. None.
3. Small house and smaller stage as even
the presentations will be screened.
4. Some, but corrective work can easily
be done.
OPPENHAMER & OBEL
Green Bay, Wis.
1. More thought and study will be given
to the auditorium in the way of acoustics
and acoustical properties.
3. We believe there will be a tendency
toward houses of the more intimate type
for better results with this class of pic-
ture.
4. We believe so.
GENERAL COMMENT— In designing
our recent theatres we have taken care
of the acoustical properties and arrange-
ments were made for the future installa-
tion of apparatus for synchronized pic-
tures. We believe that all new buildings
contemplated, that is, buildings of this
nature, will give due consideration to this
equipment as no doubt it shall prove very
popular in the smaller towns.
DAVID AND WILSON
Lincoln, Neb.
1. Will require adequate absorbing ma-
terial to stop reverberation.
2. Very little.
3. Smaller houses not commercially fea-
sible.
4. Some additional padding may be neces-
sary.
L. A. DESJARDINS
Denver, Col.
1. Improvements will be necessary.
2. None, otherwise than above stated.
3. Possibly.
4. In many, yes.
A. M.STRAUSS
Fort Wayne, Ind.
1. A greater study and more thorough
installation of acoustical treatments and
corrections will be required.
2. Will probably have a tendency to elimi-
nate the present day 4,000 to 5,000 seat
houses, and make theatres more of the
intimate type.
3. Answered above.
4. Only where present acoustical condi-
tions are seriously defective.
GENERAL COMMENT — The above
changes in my opinion, will only come
about when the eventual success of the
synchronized picture has been estab-
lished, which is still a matter of some
question.
FRANK B. CARPENTER
Rockford, 111.
\. Theatres must be made so that people
can hear well.
2. Acoustics must be of prime importance.
3. Yes.
4. Yes. We have one here in town which
10
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
Accoustics in the Fox Theatre, Detroit
y.
%
the topics for discussion "V ^- H. KING
\.
1. What effect will synchronized pic-
tures have on the acoustics in build-
ing the theatre of the future?
2. What effect will synchronized pic-
tures have on theatre design and
construction in general?
3. With inauguration of synchronized
pictures will there he a tendency
toward smaller houses, or houses of
the more intimate type?
4. Will it be necessary for present day
theatres to reconstruct so as to proy
vide for the proper acoustical prop
erties in the audiiorimns?
J^
should be changed to be of service as a
modem theatre.
GENERAL COMMENT— I am wonder-
ing if amplifiers can be used to good ad-
vantage.
G. R. CALLIS
Baltimore, Md.
1. None other than adding one more de-
tail to be properly covered.
2. None.
3. I don't think it will have any particular
effect on either. The small or intimate
type is established by other agencies,
principally of a local nature.
4. In some cases, yes. Each house will
require special study.
GENERAL COMMENT— With the per-
fection of synchronized pictures and the
announcement by Eastman of the perfec-
tion in color, the picture theatre has com-
pleted the stages of evolution, and will
develop beyond all expectations.
WETMORE CRANDALL
Glens Falls, N. Y.
1. The best houses will be those with the
best acoustics.
2. Can't see that it will make a great dif-
ference.
3. I shouldn't think so as the large houses
can be operated at a saving over a number
of small ones of same total seating capac-
ity.
4. They may not need to reconstruct only
to the extent of the breaking up of smooth
surfaces and hard wall surfaces.
GENERAL COMMENT— Like every-
thing else, the theatre will change in ap-
pearance from year to year and will
accommodate itself to all new features
introduced.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
1. Should have none.
2. Should have none.
3. There need not be, as loud speakers
(amplifiers) may be placed throughout the
house.
4. No.
GENERAL COMMENT— Good acoustics
are dependent on shape of the room. The
human voice will be easily heard at a
distance of 80 feet.
BUILDING SERVICE BUREAU
E. C. Thulin
Detroit, Mich.
1. Yes. We have submitted just such a
proposition for the first theatre of this
kind in Massachusetts.
2. Interior less decorative. Seats in
wider auditorium, closer to screen.
3. Yes. If pictures will run in colors,
the interior will have plainer walls.
4. No, because every up-to-date city will
build special houses for this kind of pic-
ture. Many present theatres would be
impossible to remodel for best acoustic
effects.
RUBUSH & HUNTER
Indianapolis, Ind.
1. Theatres should not be erected without
considering acoustics.
2. — .
3. — .
4. — .
GENERAL COMMENT— We don't be-
lieve the remainder of the questions can
be answered with any degree of intelli-
gence.
GRAVEN & MAYGER
Chicago, 111.
1. More attention will necessarily be given
to the acoustical properties.
2. Believe none lin particular except that
the proper mechanical provisions be made
to accommodate special equipment.
3. Believe there is a strong possibility of
this.
4. Do not believe so, at least at the pres-
ent time.
HARRY C. HOLBROOK
Columbus, O.
1. Good acoustics will be mandatory if
the theatre is to be a success.
2. Location of the amplifying horns will
have to be carefully studied so that the
sound cannot be pocketed. Some organ
chambers are failures for that reason.
3. In my city, the talking pictures will
j/^ . . . the topics for discussion "N .
1.
2.
3.
What effect will synchronized pic-
tures have on the acoustics in build-
ing the theatre of the future?
What effect will synchronized pic-
tures have on theatre design and
construction in general?
With inauguration of synchronized
pictures will there he a tendency
toward smaller houses, or houses of
the more intimate type?
4. Will it be necessary for present day
theatres to reconstruct so as to pro^
i_ vide for the proper acoustical prop-
>>» erties in the auditoriums? %/
be in all houses seating 1,000 or more.
This applies to the neighborhood houses.
4. Yes, some of them now are very bad
even for vaudeville.
GENERAL COMMENT— Every new in-
novation calls for new solutions that the
theatre architect has to solve. Next
thing will be television, the actual view
of an event in a distant city being thrown
on a screen at the actual moment of its
occurrence. Wait five years and see if
I am right.
W. SCOTT DUNNE
Dallas, Tex.
\. More careful study of sounding.
2. Will cause better formed houses.
3. Not particularly. In time, loud speak-
ers will be stationed throughout the
houses.
4. Yes, where this has not been consid-
ered, sounds and tones are more sharp.
OLIVER RANDOLPH PARRY
Philadelphia, Pa.
1. Will depend entirely upon acoustical
properties and possible treatment of each
individual structure.
2. I believe the design will be affected
advantageously, eliminating gaudy treat-
ment and return to the incentive of the
former legitimate playhouse. Construc-
tion will entail less material having sound
recording properties.
3. Yes, though it will be possible to de-
liver the human voice throughout the the-
atre, and remove limit as to size of audi-
ence other than as regulated by vision.
4. Make imperative truly scientific acous-
tical treatment including sound absorb-
ment of noise in adjacent foyers, etc.
GENERAL COMMENT— The synchron-
ized picture will educate the present mov-
{Contintied on page 42)
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
11
One of the Country^s Finest
I — and a synchronized house I
By MARGE HALL
ii AMERICAN architecture is a subject fit for the brush
_/^of a Turner," but lacking a brush I shall write, and
only of that part of American architecture designed by
one group of Detroiters, C. Howard Crane and associates.
There are, throughout the world, more than 325 theatres
that have been Crane-designed, his latest, and largest, the new
Fox, opening in Detroit next month.
Entering the Crane studios, offices, consulting and drafting
rooms, on the top two floors of the Michigan theatre building,
is like going into an old Spanish castle, remote from the spirit
of commerce. Waiting there in the gray light one senses the
atmosphere of thoughtfulness, study, serious purpose, love of
color and design.
C. Howard Crane himself, grayed though only 43, full of
confident personality plus a sufficience of retiring modesty, be-
gan his career as an architectural designer and draftsman at
the early age of 18, and has had 25 years of continuous suc-
cess, working on all classes of architecture but specializing on
theatre work since the infancy of the industry when only
stores were remodeled for film showings.
Elmer George Kiehler, associated with Mr. Crane for more
than 20 years, is one of the "pleasantest" men in the world, an
enthusiast for water sports of all kinds, and interested per-
haps even more in designing modern factories than theatres.
Olympia sports arena in Detroit was one of Mr. Kiehler's
pet contracts; so was the unusual Film Exchange building in
Detroit, said to be the first multiple floor structure of its kind
in the world. Now New York is building a similar Film Ex-
change building.
Ben A. Dore, as chief architectural designer for Crane and
12
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
associates for nine years, has shown extreme
versatility in unearthing new ideas for adapta-
tion in every new theatre that has been Crane-
designed.
Tired of the classical styles, in the new Fox
theatre in Detroit, one of the most pretentious
theatres ever built, yet subdued and artistic,
the Crane-Dore genius has achieved some-
thing distinctly magnificent. Designed in the
colorful and elaborate art of the ancient
temples of old India, thoroughly modernized,
Detroit's largest theatre, seating 5,047, will be
a marvel of engineering, architecture and the-
atrical skill.
Rich in pastel colorings, even the ticket
lobby in the Detroit Fox will give some hint
of the air of culture and comfort, old-world
greatness with new-world luxury, that will
characterize the theatre, second only to the
Roxy in New York for size and second to
none in beauty.
The mammoth lobby, lovely in blazing
pastel colors, soars six stories high, and is
half the block long. Exotic bands of Hindoo
and Indian ornaments circle the lower third
of the huge ox-blood red marble columns that
span the Grand Lobby on both sides, crowned
with gigantic jewelled figured capitals in in-
tricate design. The frieze above the columns
is broken up by niches and shrines containing
symbolic figures of various of the gods of Asia,
stretching majestically the length of the
Grand Lobby. Elaborate mirrors between the
columns quadruple the vast sea of space so
filled with richness and glowing color.
Along the grand promenade of the main
auditorium the walls are richly painted like
brocaded silks, and occasional niches set in
the paneling reveal huge and intricately de-
signed jewelled Hindoo incense burners, radi-
ating a soft glow of light from their interior.
Carved old-ivory paneling, and soffit effects,
predominate.
Richness of beauty and outline rather than
abstract heauty of form, contrasting strongly
with Grecian architecture, identify this Ori-
ental adaptation, never before, it is said, used
in theatre construction. A great deal of sym-
bolism pervades the whole atmosphere.
Temple buildings of old India were centers
for all the learning of the ages, the great
Buddhist monastery of Yolanda accommodated
10,000 priests, votaries of the beauties of pure
learning. The building of temples was re-
garded as a social virtue, leading to a happy
future state. With the passing of Buddhism,
monastic life ceased, and the temples became
shrines and shelters for pilgrims. All of this
rich background of meaning has its influence
on the conception of this architectural depar-
ture, and on the uses to which the theatre will
aim, culturally and educationally.
Arabian Nights are brought directly to De-
troit. Fantasy is everywhere. One wanders
in a dreamland full of the richness one might
have hoped to find at the end, and along the
way, of riding 10,000 miles on a magic carpet.
A month from the aliening, unfin-
ished hut startling in its stark love-
liness. Vermillion red columns
sentinel the side tualls, handed
hrightly with hrilliant hlack and
gold creative designs. Jade green
hrocaded walls gleam out from in
hack of these huge columns.
JVote the dolphins in side halcony
treatment.
Detroit claims to have the distinction of be-
ing the first city in the world to have this
unusual and distinctive architectural develop-
ment, so particularly appropriate for a theatre.
There are elaborate rooms for smoking,
lounging, rest and comfort, and powder and
puffing, off the grand foyer, downstairs below
the main auditorium, and at two of the bal-
cony levels, but they are nothing in the lives
of the awe-inspired guests as they stroll past
the richly-decorated Arabesqued walls of the
promenades and gaze up at the richly-
moulded and ornamented cornices and painted
ceilings supported by these Arabesques. Rest
rooms, however, have every luxury of the
richest private mansions, and are perfect in
every appointment. Grays, blues, and golds
predominate in the color treatment for ladies
lounges. French patterns prevail. Fireplaces
heighten a sense of intimacy and friendliness.
Patterned after Spanish styles, large square
rooms with stucco walls, wainscot of tur-
quoise blue hand-made tile, and Spanish
wood-beamed ceiling, are furnished with large
comfortable leather chairs, lounges, tables and
smoking equipment for men. Window open-
ings, with heavy shutters, give the effect of
big living rooms.
* * *
Through the open arches from the grand
foyer and promenade, numerous aisles stretch
for almost a city block past endless rows of
super-comfortable velour-backed chairs. The
floor is ramped for easy walking down the
incline, and the aisles at the floor are lighted
by soft glowing lights from behind orna-
mental grilles in the chair ends of aisle seats.
Fresh air is bound to be abundantly supplied,
for under every seat is the mushroom type
of ventilator, connected with the 600- ton re-
frigerating and heating plant.
Seats have been set to give at least two
inches more leg room, and allow incoming
guests to pass in front of those seated without
unnecessary inconvenience.
An over-all design in brocaded silks and
other rich fabrics is intricately painted on the
walls of the auditorium above and between
the arches. And far above the columns,
arches, and walls is the cornice, superbly done
in ornamental plaster and jewels from one to
four inches in diameter, set in clusters and
with unique jewel-eyed masks grinning out.
Back of the cornice are concealed lights,
which change with the theatre program and
the music moods, casting dull vari-colored
softness over the huge canopied ceiling.
Like the richest Indian fabrics, draped cir-
cularly and Arabian tent-like from the center
to the sides, and richly-jewelled throughout,
is the main canopied dome of the auditorium.
Tassels, fringes, and filigree work, all of
super-size as well as super-beauty hang from
the fabricked ceiling, and apparently support-
ing this canopy are gigantic spears, extremely
ornamental in character.
* * *
Ornamental Hindoo poles, in the Burmese
style, more elaborate and artistic than the
North American Indian totem poles, stand
back of the arches and columns, and between
the Hindoo poles are rich mirrors with
elaborate frames in ornamental plaster and
decorated in warm colors and gold.
Side walls apparently run behind a huge
shell-like proscenium arch, ninety feet wide
and sixty feet high, around which opening is
{Continued on page 59)
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
13
and now for the acoustics I
IF you're going to ride on the crest of the
wave of sound pictures popularity, look
closely to the acoustics of your theatre.
Organ music is adapted for use in a reverb-
erant theatre, and motion picture theatres on
the whole have not needed to be perfect acous-
tically as have the stage theatres. But with
the craze for talking pictures full upon us,
care must be taken to see that everything is
okay acoustically, or the scientific exhibitor
that takes all his facts into consideration is
going to get the jump on those who think
they'll "wait and see."
If voices from the stage blur and are not
as distinct as from the front row or center
auditorium points in your theatre, when heard
from the last row in your gallery, you can
be sure something is wrong, and you may as
well get out your pencil and figure a little.
You'll be interested in how the acoustical
treatment has been handled for the new Fox
theatre in Detroit, which is to open about
September 15. It's the first theatre in the
country, I believe, to be built primarily for
sound pictures, with very special attention
paid to acoustics so that perfect results would
be guaranteed for every variety of program.
With an eight-story dome to the auditorium,
and with atmospheric columns in the Hindoo
tempo sentineling the side walls and carved-
ivory Burnese shrine effects numerous as
exits, a large amount of acoustical treatment
was necessary to counteract the huge volume
and consequent reverberation of the audi-
torium in its gaunt shape immediately fol-
lowing plaster work over the steel frame.
As soon as the plastering and browning had
been finished from the huge swinging scaffold
that extended under the dome, acoustical work-
ers came along with their brushes and cement
glue to go over the whole dome before roll-
ing on the "asbestos akoustikos sound-absorb-
ing felt," a combination of nonmatting goats'
hair (70 per cent) and asbestos knitted to
make a homogeneous mass with a fireproof
center.
The surface of this acoustical felt was
sized, then covered with a sheer batiste mem-
brane and decorated with special acoustical
paints stencil-applied to give the effect of
rich brocades. Sound, you know, is absorbed
by porosity and flexibility.
Ordinary plaster reflects instead of absorb-
ing sound, so treatment is necessary where
reverberation is terrific in a theatre. Goat's
hair, on the contrary, is very flexible, or
rubbery, springy, and it doesn't mat like the
hair of other animals. It is combined with
asbestos in the acoustical felt, as asbestos is
fireproof, and besides serves to separate the
Above: This proscenium arch, nearly
completed, is said to be highest, widest,
and most intricately beautiful proscenium,
arch ever designed. Arthur Buttner,
sculptor under William Lavernz, for C.
Howard Crane, architect, is now in
Europe pursuing further art studies.
hairs and give greater porosity to the mass,
the porousness being very essential. The
mass changes shape readily under the impact
of sound waves, and is resilient, springing
back into its original shape instantaneously.
Sound waves may be invisible, but they're
powerful and penetrating. They travel far
and fearlessly. When they come upon hard
walls they bound back to the floor, from there
to the walls, depending on the direction they
originated from, and keep up the game until
their energy is dissipated. This makes what
we call reverberation in a room. When ma-
terials are present on the floor or ceiling or
walls, however, to absorb the sound, like
falling into a feather bed, the sound waves
are content without repetition. This is the
function of acoustical felt, and its thickness
and placement mean everything. Acoustical
felt is, in fact, the only material made so far
that is capable of manipulation in thickness,
density, and finish. Increasing the thickness
increases the absorption of lower sounds in
the musical scale. Paints and pigments may
be used to affect the absorbing power of the
felt in the upper register, — for high-pitched
sounds.
Acoustical paints used in decoration of the
new Fox theatre in Detroit, for example, had
a lithaphone base, with linseed oil as the ve-
hicle, and no lead, no varnish, no glue. It
remains permanently soft, and preserves the
porosity of the goat's hair and asbestos com-
{Continued on page 62)
14
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
SeUmbmtm
Published Every Fourth Week by
QuiGLEY Publishing Company
Publication office: 407 So. Dearborn St, CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Mabtin J. QuiGLEY, President
EowiK S. CuFTOBD, Secretary George Clifford, Asst. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulation!
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other publications: The Chicagoan and Polo, class journals; and the follow-
ing motion picture trade publication in addition to Better Theatres, published
as a supplement to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World: The
BuvERS Index, Semiannual.
Whole Vol. 92, No. 9 (Vol. 34, No. 12) September 1, 1928
They're Developed
Hand in Hand
A SIMILE might well be used in introducing this
editorial :
The family circle develops when a child is born.
With each succeeding year, and as the years begin to pile
upon those youthful shoulders, the family ties become
more closely knit. The years roll by, youth grows into
manhood, yet that bond of kinship is an invisible force
that continues to hold the family circle intact.
One might expand on that thought, but that is sufficient
for the present comparison, and to illustrate the thought
we have in mind.
When the motion picture had its inception, it was har-
bored in vacant stores which, in the light of present day
developments, did not warrant the name. Theatre. With-
out those pioneering days, however, and without the fore-
sight of those men who pioneered, the motion picture
would not today have reached the point of commercial
and artistic success.
As the motion picture advanced, and as great cinema
palaces were erected, shrewd showmen turned their atten-
tion to the question of suitable music, music which would
be expressive of the romance of the theatre interior. Their
search was not a protracted one, for in the organ they
found an instrument with almost human attributes.
To this day the organ is one of the theatre's greatest
assets. It, too, has developed, and its development has
been hand in hand with the motion picture. It is of the
family circle. It belongs in the motion picture theatre.
Even with the advent of synchronized pictures you find
the organ remaining as a feature of the program. That
is as it should be. Exhibitors who today are building new
theatres are making provisions for organ installations.
The organ %vill always remain an adjunct to the motion
picture, and the wise showman will recognize it as such.
» -x- *
The Architect and
Sound Pictures
EVERY new development in pictures brings, accord-
ingly, new developments in theatre construction.
It is a far cry from the store show of some years
ago to the elaborate theatre of today. And likewise a far
cry from the "flickers" of 20 years ago to the specials of
today.
Today there is the question of sound pictures. What
effect on theatre architecture will they have? Don't over-
look the fact that that question must be considered, both
by the exhibitor who is building and by the exhibitor
who plans to install the synchronized mechanism in a thea-
tre now standing.
Because of the importance of this subject. Better
Theatres has taken the question to experts. Men who have
devoted years of study to motion picture theatre require-
ments tell in this issue the changes in theatre construction
which must be taken into consideration through the intro-
duction of synchronized pictures.
Noted theatre architects who have contributed to this
symposium vary but little in their opinions regarding the
necessity of incorporating the right acoustical properties
in the motion picture theatre of the future. Many also see
the need for slight alteration in some of the theatres now
standing so as to make them acoustically perfect.
This is a subject of vast importance, and is in line with
the other developments in the motion picture and the
theatre. In this issue also is presented the new Fox
theatre in Detroit, both in story and in picture. This
house, which will be opened soon, is one of the first, if
not the first, to be built with synchronized pictures in
mind.
Some Questions You
Might Consider
IS your emergency lighting system functioning properly?
Be sure that it is, for a faulty emergency system may
cost you your evening's receipts. That would be un-
fortunate.
Are you reading F. R. Richardson's articles on syn-
chronization?
You should, even though you have no immediate plans
for installing sound equipment. Each article gives you
fundamentals with which exhibitors and projectionists
should be familiar.
Have you made a recent examination of your heating
system?
Remember that winter is not far distant. A survey of
your plant is a precaution that is wise and not costly.
Better Theatres Welcomes
These New Advertisers
Adswin Corporation, 729 Seventh avenue. New York.
Manufacturers of gorgeous easels with illuminated
display signs. Attractive appeal for lobby or front
of theatre.
H. Dryfhout, 734 Wabash avenue, Chicago.
Producers of every kind of paper and cloth ban-
ners, signs, announcements, etc., for theatre use.
Lit- War Company, Wellston, 0.
Manufacturers of the "Sunbeam" line of reflecting
arc lamp and a complete line of illumination
equipment for theatres. '
Johns-Manville Company, 292 Madison avenue. New York.
Manufacturers and installers of sound proofing
equipment for motion picture theatres and studios.
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
IS
At right are illustrated
three sections of the
sets built by the Com-
munity house at Ar-
lington Heights. In-
numerable exteriors
and interiors may be
pitched with these sets.
\
A
/
M
0 N 71
s ^ l\l • \A
/ \l M M
\l 1/1
/ \l M N
At bottom of page are
four panels, one a
window, and the other
three decorative
panels produced with
wall paper. These
panels are interchange-
able in the section at
the left above.
An Ideal Stage
(^ — for a small theatre j
By JOHN Y. BEATY
Director, Community theatre, Arlington Heights, 111.
I SUPPOSE that an amateur is always
likely to think that he knows more than
a professional. There is one advantage
a small theatre owner has, however, and that
is he is confronted with the necessity of keep-
ing costs down, and so is more inclined to dis-
cover the cheaper way than the architect.
I am still an amateur, but I have learned
some things that you are not likely to get
from your architect, and I think it may pay
to pass these on to small theatre owners
through Better Theatres.
My first discovery was that the scene loft
above the stage should be one and a half
times as high as the proscenium height. On
this space is based all the rest I have to say.
My proscenium is 12 feet high and this re-
quires 18 feet in the loft.
On a small stage such as this, you can get
along without a gridiron and without counter-
weights. That saves a big chunk of money.
Our ropes are three eights inch (three to the
batten) and are run through small pulleys
screwed to the ceiling with heavy screw hooks.
The battens are made of one
by three-inch lumber (white
pine) with two strips screwed
together and three two-inch
harness rings pinched between
them at the proper positions to
receive the lines. Bolts are run
through the battens and rings
to make them solid.
The lines are attached to the
battens with harness snaps.
Half-pound sash weights are
slipped onto the rope before
the snap is tied on, one on the
first line, two on the second,
and three on the long line.
J. ^ Editor's J^ote: This interesting and "N
informative article is for the small
town theatre — the theatre which
ma\es no appropriation, or a very
small one, for stage scenery. Every
theatre, however, which can budget
its expenditures accordingly, should
X. consult scenic artists.
This brings the line to the floor when the bat-
ten is off of it.
There are 25 lines like this. There might
just as well have been more, for I know now
that lines can be placed as close as 4^ or 5
inches. And there is a big advantage in hav-
ing all the lines possible.
You will understand, that this type of hang- ~
ing equipment makes it easy and quick tT/
\
change a curtain from one line to another.
This changing of curtains from one position
to another in the course of a show is probably
never attempted in a big theatre, but in the
small house it gives you far more use from
a few curtains and thus cuts down the num-
ber of curtains needed.
When a curtain is to be changed, it is let
down to the floor, the three snaps are un-
hooked, and the rings hooked onto the three
snaps on the other line. This is a matter of
seconds and can easily be done by one man,
although it is better to have help so that the
curtain will not be dragged on the floor.
I set out to select a curtain equipment that
would provide for a brand new setting every
time I used it, and I think I succeeded. At
any rate, I still have several hundred settings
in my idea book that I have not yet used.
The first principle that seemed necessary
to get a big variety of effects was to have
curtains without any paint or fringe of any
sort. The reason for that is this : To make
the curtain look new, I can attach something
to it — something different each
time it is used. For example,
one of my friends painted a
large parrot on wall board.
This was cut out and suspend-
ed from the batten and became
a part of a sateen curtain.
On another occasion, sun-
flowers cut from yellow paper
were pinned to the black cur-
tain for a minstrel act. Bal-
loons, tinsel, flowers, colored
card boards in endless variety
of colors and shapes, pieces of
variously figured fabrics,
(^Continued on page 28)
16
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
Selecting Your Rugs and Carpets
I
ONE of the) basic problems' in the opera-
tion of a motion picture theatre is the
selection of the right rugs and carpets
for the different parts of the building. This
subject has assumed particular importance
with the sudden increase in popularity of the
talking picture, which brings with it new dif-
ficulties regarding the elimination of distract-
ing noises and the achievement of better
acoustics.
To begin with, floor coverings for the thea-
tre cannot be selected in the same way as
those for hotels and other similar institutions,
because the greater part of the areas to be
covered in the motion picture houses are
spaces which are not level. Ramps, aisles,
and stairways — these slanting areas make up a
theatre to the almost complete exclusion of
any level floors except in the lobby and pos-
sibly the mezzanine. Consequently rugs and
carpets must be chosen which are made espe-
cially to stand up under uneven wear on
graded surfaces.
Another characteristic of buying carpeting
for a motion picture theatre is the fact that
in addition to supplying color, beauty, and
harmony to the interior of the building, the
floor coverings must be such as will deaden
the noise of hundreds of feet during a per-
formance, and will also minimize the danger
to patrons in case of a fall. This means that
the theatre auditorium must be covered from
wall to wall, and every inch of stair and ramp
must be protected with sound-absorbing carpict
In theatres where sound-pictures are shown
regularly, the quesrtion of acoustics is as essen-
tial as the deadening of sound. A series of
exhaustive experiments conducted by theatre
owners in all parts of the country has shown
that wall-to-wall carpeting in the auditorium
tends to improve the clearness with which
music and dialogue may be heard by the audi-
ence. Carpet also prevents reverberation and
Wiih the rise cf tin mzd2rnislic
school of decoration and design, such
examples of the new manner as those
above are extremely interesting. These
are rugs planned, with certain reser-
vations, along the lines of modernistic
art, and are offered by the Bigelow-
Hartford Carpet Company as floor
coverings particularly suitable to the
motion picture theatre, if its general
design permits.
— with a thought
to synchronized
pictures
By ALEXANDER N. COOK*
to a large extent does away with overtones.
In order to obtain the most satisfactory re-
sults, the playhouse owner should seek the
advice of a most competent rug and carpet
merchant. A skilled and experienced dealer
is in a position to make worthwhile sugges-
tions about the three major problems of se-
lecting and installing floor, coverings in thea-
tres. These problems are: First, the selection
of durable and efficient fabrics at a price
that meets the theatre's budget ; second, the
choice of correct colors and designs to blend
with the desired decorative scheme; and third,
the actual installation.
The first of these important considerations
involves choosing the highest quality floor
covering that the theatre management's allow-
'Sales Promotion Malinger, Bigelow-Hartford
Carpet Company
ance for furnishings will permit. Due con-
sideration must also be given to the selection
of the proper linings, or cus'hionings, for the
lining does much to determine the life of the
■carpet, and an inferior lining can actually
damage the carpet and cause it to wear out
sooner than it would by itself. Reputable
floor covering merchants are always in a posi-
tion to supply a standard lining of established
reputation to go underneath the carpeting
which they sell.
The carpet construction known as "Hart-
ford-Saxony," a special distinctive weave cre-
ated by the Bigelow-Hartford Carpet Com-
pany of New York, has proved to be a floor
covering suited to theatre requirement. From
this long-wearing fabric, special grades of
carpet have been developed to meet the needs
of hundreds of new cinema theatres that have
sprung up all over the country.
One of the finest of these new fabrics is
Paramount Wilton, so named fOr the Para-
mount theatres, which use it extensively. This
carpet is so constructed as to withstand heavy
traffic over staircases, aisles, and ramps.
Other carpets of similar utility are Bigelow
Belasco Wilton, Moss Wilton, Bigelow Alba
Wilton, and Bigelow Lancaster Wilton, all
of them hard-service fabrics. The noticeably
solid back of these wool-faced materials gives
them the necessary strength for use on stairs
and aisles.
Next to fabrics of "Hartford-Saxony" type,
standard grades of worsted willton carpet
are most desirable for use in theatres. These
materials are hard-backed and have an ex-
ceptionally sturdy surface.
Plain fabrics are sometimes employed, but
not frequently because a plain fabric shows
the effects of wear faster than a figured.
After quality and price have been deter-
mined, the second problem presents itself :
{Continued on page 33)
^••<«M*«a
September 1, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
BETTEC PROJECTION
tim0mmmmm^^t>m»mm
y
The
Condenser
In
Synchronism
By F. H. RICHARDSON
THE third of this series of instruction
in sound reproduction and amplification
apparatus deals with the condenser. It
is prompted by several inquiries from pro-
jectionists, one of which I reproduce. It is
both amusing and informative. It comes
from a Vitaphone projectionist, by the way.
His inquiry is couched in these words :
"Say, Rich, there seems to be condensers
stuck all over the darned thing. Even the
manager phoned up last night and told me to
condense the sound, which he thought was
too loud. It was his first squawk of the
kind. Usually he's yelping for more noise.
"But what in hell is a condenser and what
does it do anyhow? I bought one at a radio
store, took its liver and gizzard out and
couldn't see any sense to it."
So to satisfy this man's curiosity and the
curiosity of many others, as well as to try to
give you a competent understanding of this
important element of the reproduction appara-
tus, here goes.
Broadly speaking condensers are used to
act as a check valve to permit alternating
current to pass, but "strain out" and stop
direct current; to offer high resistance to
currents of all frequencies except the fre-
quency the condenser is made to work with,
and to act as a sort of electrical "shock ab-
sorber."
* * *
Understanding of the important things with
relation to electrical condensers will be sim-
plified if we realize at the outset that such
condensers are nothing more or less than the
electrical equivalent of a spring. Put an-
other way, they are the electrical equivulent
of elasticity. They absorb electrical shocks
just as the springs under your car absorb
mechanical shocks. In still other words, they
represent electrical elasticity.
There are various types of electrical con-
densers, each one of which is made use of by
the electrical engineer for a particular pur-
pose, just as the mechanical engineer makes
use of tension springs, compression springs,
pneumatic spring et cetera, or upon occasion,
even rubber bands. Moreover, each of the
many different purposes for which electrical
condensers are used may be compared quite
closely with some well known application of
'N.
IMPORTANT NOTE: W. R. Gwynn, projectionist, Estes Park, Col., directs my
attention to the fact that in the Bluebook chapter dealing with electrical action it is
set forth that current flows from POSITIVE TO NEGATIVE, whereas in these articles
I have said that the electrons, which constitute the "current," flow from NEGATIVE
TO POSITIVE. He very rightly thinks some may be confused by this direct contror
diction.
Gentlemen, the explanation is simple — perhaps. For a long while there has been
a difference of opinion even among our highest authorities on electrical action as to
which way the current flows, or in which direction the electrical action is, but with
that particular thing I believe you have small interest.
In the Bluebook I expressed the then prevailing opinion that the action was from
positive to negative. In this series I express what seem.s to be the later prevailing
opinion that the action is from negative to positive.
Don't let that confuse you, however, because so far as I am able to see the net
results would be in no manner altered were the action, whatever it really is, reversed.
We live to learn, and I believe it is likely that the later negative>-to-positive theory
is correct, but after all when we pin the engineer right down so he can't squirm, he
is obliged to admit that he is not altogether certain which way the action is. So why
worry? Writing these articles is no cinch for the one whose chief interest is to be
and keep right, what with the changing theories and more or less uncertainty even
among our highest authorities.
"V
y^
elasticity in the mechanical engineering field,
such as, for example, the springs which ab-
sorb the jolts as you ride in your car, the
hair spring of your watch, etc.
As a matter of fact were electricity visible
to the eye, we would, in very many cases, find
the action of the electrical condenser to be
just as simple and obvious as that of the
mechanical devices named.
Daily experience teaches all of us just what
the action of a spring is and what it means.
We know that it provides elasticity, absorbs
shocks, et cetera. The most simple, possible ex-
ample illustrates the matter perfectly. I refer
to a piece of a rubber band such as is used
to hold papers and other things together in
a bundle. This bit of rubber has the two
fundamental characteristics of elasticity.
First, it stretches when we apply force by
pulling upon its ends. Did we accurately
measure the pull in pounds applied to the ends
of the rubber and the amount of stretch
measured in inches, we would find that at any
given point in the stretch the power applied
and the stretch in inches would be exactly
proportional.
Secondly, when the pull is released the
rubber returns immediately to its original
length. These two properties are found in
all true elastic substances or bodies and fur-
ther along we shall see that electrical con-
densers have exactly corresponding proper-
ties.
A very simple form of electrical condenser,
which is comparable with the rubber band in
mechanics, insofar as concerns simplicity, con-
sists of two plates of metal, with a sheet
of insulating material between. For example,
say two pieces of sheet aluminum, each a foot
square, separated by a sheet of insulating
material of somewhat greater dimensions, the
protruding edges of the insulating material
providing insulation around the edges of the
metal to prevent current "leaking" or "jump-
ing" across.
One of these plates is connected to one
terminal of a battery, or other source of
electrical power, the other plate to the other
terminal. With this arrangement it is readily
seen that instead of applying mechanical
force (pull) to opposite ends of a rubber
band, we are applying or setting up a condi-
tion of electrical pressure, commonly meas-
ured in voltage, to or between the two plates
of the condenser, the force of which is con-
centrated upon and is born by the insulating
sheet.
Under this condition the condenser is said
to be "charged" and the insulating material
between the plates is in a state of strain,
just exactly as the rubber band is when it is
stretched. The voltage of the charged con-
denser, produced by the strain the insulating
material is under, will be equal to the force
(voltage) applied to the condenser, just as
the rubber band stretches until its pulling
force (tension) is equal to the force applied
to its ends.
When we release our stretched rubber band,
it instantly snaps back to its original form
and length. Similarly, if we disconnect a
charged condenser from the source of power
and short circuit the plates by means of a
wire, the condenser will discharge itself and
return to its original uncharged condition.
If the condenser be large enough, and charged
with from 100 to 200 volts, a visible spark
will result when we short the plates.
Just as the amount of stretching in the
rubber band is proportional to the force ap-
plied, so the charge produced or set up in an
electrical condenser is proportional to the
voltage applied. What is termed the "capa-
city" of a condenser is the amout of charge
it takes for each volt applied to it. Similarly,
the elasticity of a rubber band may be ex-
pressed as the number of inches it will
stretch for each pound of force applied. If
the rubber be pulled too hard it will break.
If we apply too much voltage to a condenser,
the insulating material will be punctured,
whereupon the condenser is said to be "leaky"
or to have "broken down."
The very simple form of condenser we
have taken for an illustrative example is sel-
dom met with in actual practice, just as rub-
ber bands are seldom met with in mechanical
engineering, but it was from these simple be-
Corres^ondence for F. H. Richardson, editor of this depart-
ment, should he addressed to South Lyme, Conn., Box 100.
18
ginnings that the devices now in use were de-
veloped, or from lessons they taught rather.
In the type of electrical condenser now
most commonly in use we still find the metal
plates and insulating material, but in order
to secure adequate capacity in a reasonably
small space, instead of rigid metal plates we
find as their equivalent sheets of tinfoil only
about two-thousandths of an inch thick, with
insulating paper between having only slightly
greater thickness. Both tinfoil and paper are
in the form of long strips, which are wound
into a roll for the sake of compactness.
W'hen the strips of tinfoil with insulating
paper between (the paper is somewhat wider
than the foil) have been wound up into rolls,
they are placed in a metal contamer, which
latter is filled with an insulating compound
and sealed. This is the metal case type of
condenser now in use in radio sets. Where
high voltage condensers are used, the usual
practice is to dispense with insulation in sheet
form and secure it bj' immersing the metal in
oil, which acts as an effective insulator and
is very difficult to "puncture", electrically.
As we shall see later on, it is often desir-
able that the capacity of a condenser be
readily succeptible of alteration or change, as
in the case of the variable condensers wi li
which radio sets have familiarized most of
us at least to some extent.
The difference between such condensers and
those alrfeady described is that instead of a
single pair of metal plates, a large number of
pairs are employed, separated (insulated)
from each other by air. In such condensers all
the positive plates are joined together electri-
cally and connected to one side of the cir-
cuit. Likewise all negative plates are con-
nected together electrically and are connected
to the other side of the circuit. One set of
the plates are mounted on a rigid support ;
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BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
the other set is mounted on a spindle which
may be rotated.
When such a condenser has the moving set
of plates turned fully within the other set,
the condenser then has its maximum capacity,
because the full surface of each set of plates
will be eft'ective. Conversely, when the mov-
able plates are rotated so as to be entirely
removed from between the fixed set, then
the condenser will have practically no capacity
at all. It is this type of condenser which is
used to "tune in" your radio se.. It does
that because at a certain value or "capacity'
it causes the receiving circuit to be "in tune"
with the radio frequency you seek, and will
then permit that frequency to pass with but
very slight resistance, at the same time
though, if it be a good and sufficient con-
denser, it will offer high resistance to all other
frequencies.
Insulation materials vary in their value for
condenser construction. Some will proNidc
more capacity than others. For example, a
condenser in which mica is the insulation me-
dium, will provide from three to five times
the amount of capacity the same condenser
would have were the insulation medium air.
The closer together we place the metal plates
of a condenser, and the greater the area of the
plates, the greater will be the capacity of the
condenser.
Only one thing remains to complete our
broad survey of the subject of condensers,
and that is to point out some typical applica-
tions, which we will therefore now proceed
to do.
One highly valuable property of a condenser
is that while it will to some extent permit pass-
age of alternating current, it will not permit
the passage of direct current at all. The lat-
ter fact is obvious, of course, because of the
insulation which separates the plates of every
condenser — some current goes into one plate
and out of the other while the charge is taking
place, but once the charge is completed no
more current can pass around the circuit.
Similarly, once a spring has stretched, its
movement ceases.
^ ^ ^'
To get a clear conception of how a con-
denser allows A C to pass, let us consider
spring action in another form. Suppose we
had a pipe filled with water, with a pump
plunger at one end and a turbine at the other
end. By pushing in the plunger, we could
make water flow through the pipe and operate
the turbine. That is like a straight DC cir-
cuit. But if we closed off the pipe in the
middle by putting a rubber diaphragm across
it, we couldn't get a steady flow any more —
the most we could do would be to press on
the plunger, thereby bulging the diaphragm.
Putting electricity instead of water, a conden-
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ser instead of the diaphragm, and a battery
for the pump, this is like a DC circuit with a
condenser in it. But in spite of the conden-
ser, we can still transmit power by a different
stunt. Here's the catch — not that although we
do not get any steady flow of water through
the pipe, still when we press the plunger a
little water will flow, owing to the bulging of
the diaphragm ; this bulge will push some
wa.er along the pipe beyond the diaphragm,
and so cause the turbine to turn o little.
Then by pulling the plunger back the dia-
phragm can be made to bulge the opposite
way, there will be some backward flow after,
and the turbine will move a little in the oppo-
site direction. So by moving the plunger back
and forth we cause a corresponding recipro-
cating motion of the turbine or other device,
and thereby we can transmit energy despite
the diaphragm preventing any steady flow. In
just the same way, AC power can get past a
condenser without much difficulty — the AC
keeps flowing back and forth, in and out, of
the condenser, charging it first in one direction
and then in the other, like the water pressure
which bulges the diaphragm each way alter-
nately.
* * ^
This property of condensers was early made
use of in connection with the telephone. The
subscriber's telephone must always be con-
nected to the exchange in order that the sub-
scriber may be rung up by the operator.
However, to avoid battery waste this connec-
tion must not permit direct current to pass,
except when the subscriber is actually using
the phone. A condenser is therefore inserted
in the subscribers circuit, which, since it per-
mits the passage of AC, enables the operator
to ring him up with a bell using alternating
current. On the other hand, however, direct
current from the exchange batteries cannot
flow through the condenser, hence does not
flow until another circuit which has no con-
denser is established by lifting the receiver
from the hook.
There are many other examples in tele-
phone, radio and voice amplification work
where condensers are used to permit the pass-
age of audio-frequency or radio-frequency
current, while at the same time blocking the
flow of DC from the batteries.
Another highly valuable application of the
condenser is that it may be used in the form
of an electrical shock absorber. When some
types of circuits are disconnected by the
action of pulling a switch, a very high voltage
is generated at the terminals of the switch
and objectionable burning of the contacts may
occur, or the insulation may even be broken
dowTi. Just as springs or other elastic bodies
are used to break the force of, or absorb
blows and concussions, in your car for ex-
ample, so a condenser placed "across" a switch
under the condition before described will ab-
sorb the high voltage shock caused by break-
ing the circuit, because the surplus energy is
used in charging the condenser above the nor-
mal charge it carries by reason of the regular
line voltage. This charge is of course then
discharged again, just as the depressed spring
under ^-our car resumes its normal positoin
when the cause for its depression has passed.
If am' have felt there is some deep mystery
about such things as "tuned circuits" and
"resonance," which are so frequently heard of
in connection with radio work, let us remem-
ber that fundamentally they are no more
strange than is the action of your watch, in
which there is a hair spring connected with
a balance wheel and a propert}' of such com-
binations is that they always continue to vi-
brate at exactly the same rate of speea^
same number per minute.
For example, returning to our rubber band,
were we to suspend some object having weight
to one end of it, we shall find that the weight
will bob up and do\\Ti for a time, and regard-
less as to whether the movements be large
or small, thej' will always be at exactly the
I September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Bigger Crowds, Better Profits
19
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You'll find very helpful "Theatre
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same rate — the same number per minute.
Substituting a hair spring for the rubber band
and a balance wheel for the weight, that is
how and why a watch keeps time.
Similarly in tuned circuits, or resonant cir-
cuits, (they mean essentially the same thing)
oscillators, etc., condensers are used as the
elastic members of an electrical combination
which permits of electrical vibration or oscil-
lation at a certain frequency. That is to say,
the condenser will permit only current to pass
which is exactly "in time" with the condenser
capacity as to frequency.
The variable air-insulated condenser used
in radio work is an outstanding example of
this type of condenser application. As already
explained, changing its capacity by altering the
position of its plates with relation to each
other, alters the "capacity" of the condenser,
and changes the frequency to which the circuit
it controls will respond. That is all there is
to "tuning" and "resonance" — though until it
is understood I'll agree that in the language
of the streets, it is "plenty."
Some of our readers, recalling the fact that
springs may be used to store up power or
mechanical energy, as in winding the watch
or clock, may wonder if this is possible of
accomplishment with a condenser. The answer
is an unequivocal no. As we all know, to
store up any large amount of energy by means
of springs involves bolh great weight and ex-
pense. Exactly the same thing is even more
true of electrical condensers, A condenser
having sufficient capacity to operate an ordi-
nary incandescent lamp for a few hours would
have to be as large as a good sized house, and
would cost thousands upon thousands of dol-
lars to construct. Hence there are but a few
special applications of condensers for power
storage, and those only for storing a tiny
amount for the fraction of a second.
After reading the foregoing, some people
may wonder why condensers bear that name
because no reference has been made here to
anything being condensed. As a matter of
fact, the name isn't a very good one ; it was
applied in the early days of electrical science
over 100 years ago, the idea then being that
the electricity used for charging had been
"condensed" on the surfaces of the plates, like
moisture. Other names have been suggested
and used, but so far none seems to have
proven popular, and therefore the old one
continues to stick.
There, gentlemen, if there is anything more
you want to know, or anything not made clear
to you in this article on electrical condensers,
kindly set yourself down and address the edi-
tor concerning the matter, and if it can be
done the thing will be cleared up for you.
Getting this sort of an article into acceptable
shape is no mean task, believe you me. It's
adding a few worries to the editorial brain,
and that's no idle fabrication.
The Powers That Be were at first very
much disinclined to approve the publication of
much articles, much less lend any assistance
to their preparation. And in that their atti-
tude was a perfectly honest one, in that they
believed it would do more harm than good.
It was only after a long, and at points rather
warm argument, I succeeded in convincing
them that not only was the projectionist justly
entitled to know these things, but that it was
best they should know.
Their idea — a not at all strange one — was
that knowledge would only serve to increase
the tendency to experiment with the appara-
tus, and experimentation almost invariably
led to trouble. The apparatus is, as I have
told you, handling enormously delicate forces.
It must be EXACTLY right if you are to get
the best results. DON'T, DON'T, D-O-N-'T,
£)**o**N**'T experiment with it. I would
print that in letters a foot high were it pos-
sible to do so.
However, without experimentation, added
knowledge will often enable the projectionist
to not only get the best possible results, but
also to solve minor difficulties when the serv-
ice engineer is not quickly available.
Editor
Soundly Spanked
Only verbally, however. From George
Truex (as nearly as I am able to decipher the
last name), who carefully signs himself, "Op-
erator 1902-1928," Pleasantville, N. J., comes
this flock of brickbats, which, carefully note,
he himself demands be published.
That li'l thing I will do, as per his own re-
quest. Here it is :
Editor, Herald and Moving Picture World, C'li-
cago, 111. — Dear Sir: Will you kindly publish the
contents of this letter in your next edition of Better
Theatres. Reading over your latest edition of the
Herald and Moving Picture World, June 9, on
Better Projection a brother operator asked a civil
question, "If he could use the same size lens in any
other make projector?" Then along come Mr.
Richardson with his funny remarks saying that this
operator was going into very deep stuff.
Yes, the lens could be used in any other projector
provided the lens jackets were the same size. There's
no deep stuff about it. This has been going on for
several years now and has been the same story about
an operator asking a simple question and getting back
a funny reply which makes him feel like an ass.
Now, Mr. Editor, have this Mr. Richardson print
all the questions that are asked him and let othei'
brother operators answer his questions in a good
manner without any kidding by somebody who don't
know and sometimes admits it.
Also inform Mr. Richardson that in New Jersey
here when a fellow passes an operator's test he re-
ceives a license saying MOTION PICTURE OPERA-
TOR and not a PROJECTIONIST as he likes to
use that word quite a few times along with PRO-
JECTION ROOM or in this part of Jersey BOOTH,
r
20
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
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709 Twiggs St.
Tampa, Fla.
A. A. Electric Machinery Co., Inc.
1117 Cherry St.
Kansas City, Mo.
United Projector & Film Corp.
228 Franklin St.
Buffalo, N. Y.
Movie Supply Co.
844 Wabash Ave.
Chicago, 111.
Manufactured by
Coxsackie Holding Corporation
Coxsackie, N. Y., U. S. A.
September 1, 1928
which Mr. Richardson will see if he takes time to
look it up when operating was in its infancy and
not nowadays when every one is trying to make
themselves look like something.
I wonder if this "DEEP STUFF" of Richardson's
is as deep as he tries to make people think it is?
How high is Up?????
From all of which, strange as it may seem
to you, I gather that the Pleasantville "Op-
erator" doesn't like Richardson or any of his
works ; also and moreover he wants the
whole wide world and my "boss" to know he
doesn't. So in accordance with his request-
demand I have informed you — I will now re-
tire into the depths of my closet, maybe, and
get the clothes therein all mussed up with
tears.
However, after all maybe I won't, because
after careful examination of the June 9 issue
I am unable to find any article which seems
to fit his criticism at all. Nor is there any-
thing in the issue before or after that one.
The only thing even suggestive of changing
lenses on projectors is the article, "Study,
Man, Study," Tune 9 issue, but that deals with
condensers, which same have no "lens jack-
ets." So what in Gehenna is the Pleasantville
"Operator" all het up about anyhow? Seems
to be a bit damp on his data, or forgot to use
his specks when he read the article.
Another thing, if that is the article he ob-
jects to, I did not publish either the name or
address of the projectionist, so how could he
possibly have been made to "feel like an ass,"
publicly at least?
No, Pleasantville, my "stuff" is not "deep"
in the least. I've really rather claimed the
specialty of making it undeep. Rather pride
myself on ability to make things clear, usually
at least. Of course, however, I really have
to be a bit "deep" once in a while, so the
boss will think I really do know something
and will let me hold my job. You know
how it is, Pleasantville. But after all I'm an
accommodating cuss and whenever you have
anything more you'd like published, just send
it along. Always glad to help a friend.
P. S. : Oh, by the way, Pleasantville hopes
to answer some of those questions I don't
really know anything about, or so it seems.
Well here's one that came in this morning's
mail. I'll let him help me out on it. It
comes from a small town exhibitor in New
Brunswick. I'd give you his name but his
letter is marked "personal" so I can't. He
says:
"Dear Mr. Richardson, will you help me out. This
town is a small one. Has about 1,000, with con-
siderable farming territory to draw from, however.
I have concluded to install current rectifying appara-
tus. Find I can install a mercury arc rectifier at
$300 less than a Hertner Transverter will cost me.
Current is 11 cents per kw. Supply is a.c, 110
volts, 60 cycle. Which would you advise me to get?
Please advise just on what grounds you base your
recommendation, if you will be so kind.
"Another thing, your Bluebook advises 36 inches
between projector lens centers. Will this give enough
room? What harm would 48 inch snacingdo? I at-
tach drawing showing auditorium dimensions. Pro-
jection distance 48 feet. Would you consider Mazda
as better than reflector arcs?"
There, Pleasantville, get thyself busily busy.
Send in your answer and I'll pubHsh it, but
remember this man wants DETAILS as to
just WHY each recommendation is made.
Please be a good sport and help me out on
this one. Sorry no really hard ones happen
to be before me just now.
Oh, yes, by the way, before closing, if Pleas-
antville happens to cross the Delaware river
into Pennsylvania, he will be licensed as a
Motion Picture Projectionist or he won't be
licensed at all, which same is true of several
other states and most provinces of Canada.
Why advertise New Jersey's backwardness???
Sell
Projection
Recently I heard something in the morning,
"Cheerio" radio program which seemed so
wonderfully illustrative of the attitude of
men to their work that I shall change it to fit
projection. The idea is not mine, but merely
September 1, 192tJ
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
21
an adaptation of another man's idea to projec-
tion.
In a small city three motion picture thea-
tres held forth nightly for the amusement and
entertainment of the citizens. A visitor hav-
ing interest in knowing what lay in the mys-
terious dark room from whence the light
beam came, first having secured permission,
visited the three theatres and their projection
rooms in turn.
In the first he found a dull, shaky picture,
with occasional rainbow effects at its bottom.
He mounted aloft, entered the projection
room and, to start conversation, said to the
presiding genius : "Hello there, old man, what
are you doing?" To which instant reply came
in unenthusiastic tones : "I'm workin' for
$40 a week!"
* * *
In the next theatre he found a fair picture
upon the screen. The lighting was good but
many other things were not so good. For
example, the picture was gray because the
screen was light struck. Mounting again to
the upper regions, just to see what this chap
would say, he repeated his first question, to
which the answer came : "I'm runnin' a ma-
chine."
In the third theatre he found the projection
good in all its details. It was well lighted.
There were no glare spots. The screen was
not light struck. The speed of projection was
correct.
Mounting he repeated the twice asked ques-
tion. The answer was: "I'm projecting ac-
tors to the screen and trying to do both them
and our audience justice."
Gentlemen, you may say all that is a bit
far fetched, but I say to you that while the
incident may be, the principle involved most
emphatically is not.
THE ATTITUDE. OF A PROJECTION-
IST TOWARD HIS WORK, AS INDI-
CATED BY THE FOREGOING, HAS
FULLY AS MUCH TO DO WITH THE
BEAUTY OF WHAT THE AUDIENCE
WILL SEE, AND WITH THE EFFI-
CIENCY OF PROJECTION, AS DOES A
GOOD PRODUCTION AND HIGH CLASS
EQUIPMENT.
The man who regards himself as merely
working for so much a week, is more than
likely to do only as much as he feels it is
absolutely necessary to do to hold his job.
He is not going to exert himself much to get
the very best results he can with what is pro-
\ided. When he has attended to the neces-
sary details of projection — the work that
MUST be done — and has maintained a rea-
sonably good screen illumination, he is
through. Why do more? is his attitude.
The chap who merely "runs a machine" has
much the same attitude. To him projection
consists in that and little else. He may not
be actually too lazy to do more, but he does
not sense the necessity for it. Running the
machine he regards as his job, and the whole
of his job. He has no ambition beyond run-
ning the machine and drawing down the best
wages he can secure or the union can secure
for him.
^ * ^
The real motion picture projectionist, how-
ever, looks upon his wage as merely one neces-
sity detail. He believes he should have a
good wage because he regards his work as
high grade, and worth not only what the
union can set for him, but considerably more.
If he belongs to the union he wants to do
credit to the union by having his work be-
yond criticism. He wants to be able to look
both friend boss and his union in the eye and
say: "I'm delivering the goods and am proud
of that fact."
"Running the machine" he also regards as
one of the necessary details of projection,
but he also regards any and everything which
in any manner affects what he is placing on
the screen as HIS BUSINESS; therefore, if
the screen is light struck, or if there are glare
spots he goes after the manager about it. and
KEEPS AFTER HIM UNTIL THE CON-
DITION IS REMEDIED, or at least until
he feels that further argument is useless,
whereupon usually he leaves the theatre
which insists upon outraging his work by re-
fusing to correct a remedial fault. He won't
work very long for such an unreasonable,
dumbbell manager.
He likes to have appreciation shown for
what he knows is high grade work, but if it is
not shown he is not discouraged, because HE
AT LEAST HAS THE SELF SATISFAC-
TION OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, WHICH
TO HIM IS MUCH. He just continues
striving for excellence, meanwhile keeping a
weather eye open for an employer who will
have at least some degree of appreciation.
And right at this point I place my finger on
the one huge error of the past. ONE REA-
SON SO FEW EXHIBITORS AND THE-
ATRE MANAGERS HAVE SHOWN DIS-
POSITION TO PLACE HIGH VALUE
UPON HIGH GRADE, EFFICIENT PRO-
JECTION, IS BECAUSE VERY FEW PRO-
JECTIONISTS HAVE, IN THE PAST,
A'lADE ANY REAL, SUSTAINED EFFORT
TO SELL PROJECTION TO THEM.
As a matter of fact the projectionist of
the past has made an unintentional but vigor-
ous effort to belittle projection and make it
seem as of small importance in the eyes of
the manager. He has, for one thing, insisted
in declaring it to be merely the matter of
"running or operating a machine," which I
know, you know, and the manager and ex-
hibitor knows almost anyone can do, with a
reasonable amount of practice.
Projectionists have, taken as a whole (there
are, of course, notable exceptions), been per-
fectly content to be considered as and treated
as mere unimportant employes, instead of de-
manding recognition as an important and
vital item in the theatre ensemble.
The orchestra leader is treated with respect
and is consulted as to the procedure in the
musical program. He is that or he doesn't
stay in that theatre long. The stage manager
is consulted. Matters of stage setting and
equipment are discussed with him. He is
treated with at least some degree of respect.
His opinions regarding stage matters are
heeded.
The projectionist, however, is just told
what to do and HE DOES IT WITHOUT
MUCH ARGUMENT OR QUESTION,
though the manager may know little or nothing
about the effect of what he is ordering.
DO' YOU GET THE POINT???
Of course when a line of procedure has
been built up through a series of years it is
very hard to change it, however wrong the
procedure may be, and taken as a whole,
PROJECTIONISTS HAVE MADE LITTLE
OR NO EFFORT TO EFFECT A CHANGE
IN THIS PROCEDURE. They have placed
their "job" over and above anything and every-
thing else. I well remember how in far gone
years, the men in Chicago thought I was
crazy because I told a theatre manager to
go chase himself, and quit because he insisted
upon telling me how fast to project a picture
when the speed he ORDERED would utterly
ruin all artistry in projection and in the pro-
duction, make an ass of the shadow actors
and thus in effect outrage them, and IN MY
VIEW, MAKE AN ASS OF THE PRO-
JECTIONIST (MYSELF), TOO.
I wanted that job and needed it, too, all
right, but no job in all Chicago, or elsewhere
for that matter, was important enough to in-
duce me to do that sort of thing. My view
was that I was hired as the projectionist,
miscalled "operator" in those days. My view
was that there was and could be but one
rule for projection speed, and that was the
speed which would produce approximate
naturalness of action. It was my business
and not the business of the manager to say
what that speed should be, though it of
course was right and proper to discuss such
7he
Uniform
Column
Here's a daiifly uniform
for your ushers, director,
or for the orchestra.
No. 1109
Orpheum Circuit
Uses Maier^Lavaty
Uniforms !
THE Orpheum Circuit, in a position to select
from the best of well tailored model uni-
forms offered by the country's uniform tailors,
has for a long time used MAIER-LAVATY
Uniforms.
Refreshingly new styles, careful craftsmanship,
and substantially low price permitted MAIER-
LAVATY to carry the uniform purchase. The
Orpheum Circuit uses only the best.
Midwesco also uses the best uniforms that
Maier-Lavaty has to offer in their theatres.
You too can outfit your staff with the best
uniforms that money will buy. We will be glad
to show you how Maier-Lavaty Uniforms will
give you the best wear and appearance at a
low price !
FREE CATALOG— SAMPLES
Write for our new illustrated cata-
log showing a complete line of fall
and winter uniforms for the theatre
personnel. May we tell you how
we service uniforms in your neigh-
borhood?
MAIER-LAVATY CO.
Quality Built Uniforms
2141 Lincoln Ave. CHICAGO
Maier-Lavaty Co.
2141 Lincoln Ave.
CHICAGO
EH-9
Please send me FREE your new Fall and Winter I
Catalog — with samples of material.
log-
Name
Address..
.u
ft
22
things with him, and perhaps concede some-
thing at times. But to have him deUberately
and without even consulting the projectionist,
order a projection speed which would outrage
actors, the producer and audience and myself
— well, that was something else again. Nothing
doing !
SELL PROJECTIO^f, gentlemen. Be mo-
tion picture projectionists in all that term
means (and believe you me, it means a LOT),
and then sell the proposition to exhibitors
and managers. It will take time and effort,
but it can be done, PROVIDED YOU HAVE
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARD
YOUR WORK.
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
How can you spend that amount of time
watching a rewinder, do you ask? Why, man,
unless you have an inspection or repairs to
make, in which case a hand rewinder should
always be used, there is no earthly necessity
for watching the process of rewinding if it
be done at say six to eight minutes to 1,000
feet.
Just place the reel in position, start the
motor and let it roll along slowly until the
end comes, when an easily made automatic
switch will stop the motor and that is that.
In hand rewinding we can, of course, hardly
expect the projectionist to stand there six or
eight minutes, but just the same there is no
f/iM£DC£ ^
September 1, 1928
and the bend will come right through the
sprocket holes, where the film is weakest and
also where it must be almost perfectly ac-
curate in order to function properly and pro-
duce a steady picture on the screen.
Then, too, if the reel side be crooked, it
will strike the film what amounts to a scrap-
ing blow every time it revolves. Not so good,
do you think? Then, too, if it be Movietone,
what do you suppose that rewinder would
do to the sound band if the bend was in the
direction which would bring the emulsion
side next the reel side?
Gentlemen, without further argument on
such an obviously bad condition, test out your
rewinder by mounting two perfect reels on
it and stretching a length of film through.
If the film touches the reel sides at any point,
then the rewinder is out of line and it is up
to you to get busy, line it uo and then BOLT
IT DOWN SOLIDLY, drilling holes in the
holding feet if necessary.
Is Your Rewinder
in Line?
Do j'OU remember what I told you about
the rewinder not long ago, and many, many
times through the past years? Do you re-
member what I have told you about rapid
rewinding?
Rapid rewinding is the easy way — the lazy
man's way — but it also is very much the
wrong way; also it is so entirely unnecessary
if you do things the right way. See page
22,2 and 333, Vol. 1, of the Bluebook of Pro-
jection. One thousand feet of film should
never, under any circumstances, be rewound
in less than five minutes, and six to eight
minutes is very much better.
excuse for turning it into a near buzz saw.
Rewinding at high speed is bad in any event,
but when, as is the case in an astonishing
number of instances, the rewinder is out of
line, it becomes a near crime. In the draw-
ing the broken lines show the natural path
of the film and "A," the solid lines, repre-
sent two reels mounted on a rewinder, the
elements of which are out of line with each
other. The out-of-line effect is, of course,
exaggerated, though I have actually seen them
almost as bad.
It requires no stretch of imagination to
visualize the effect when the rewinder is
started, especially if the reels themselves be
crooked. The edge of the film will be bent
upward or downward, as the case may be.
Progressive
Officials
Chief theatre inspector G. P. Barber, bureau
of labor, Edmonton, Alberta, has been kind
enough to forward copies of application for
apprentice projectionist license for the prov-
ince of Alberta ; also copies of regulations
governing theatres, etc., and regulations gov-
erning the operation of motion picture the-
atres, motion picture equipment and the licens-
ing of projectionists.
I want to compliment our Canadian brothers
in the matter of progressiveness. I am not
so well acquainted with the conditions in
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the other prov-
inces as with those in Alberta and British
Columbia. The latter have been very dis-
tinctly progressive — very, very much more so
than the great majority of our own states.
NEW
action
NEW
effects
NEW
NEW
Sensations, new High
Lighting, new silhouettes,
new scenery, new^ decora-
tions, new^ life for the the-
atre w^ith
THE NEW BRENKERT
F-7
MASTER
BRENOGRAPH
mm
variety
Write for special information
and
illustrated literature
^7'1'V'
±'v.
"/'I'V
BRENKERT LIGHT PROJECTION CO.
St. Aubin at E. Grand Blvd., Detroit, Michigan
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
I This, I believe, is very largely due to the
\ calibre of men appointed to the office of chief
j theatre inspector. I personally know that
Chief Inspector Barber and the chief inspector
of British Columbia, whose name at the mo-
ment I cannot recall, are able, energetic, pro-
gressive officials. They should be acquainted
with the chief inspector for Pennsylvania. I
regard those three as standing head and
shoulders above any other officials in similar
positions, with the notation that I know little
about Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Their methods are not antiquated, but up-
to-date. They have had up-to-date nomencla-
ture adopted into the laws of their provinces.
They give a sure enough, honest-to-god exam-
ination, which must be honestly passed before
a projectionist license is issued. They have
legalized a projectionist apprenticeship, which
is just plain horse sense. It is to be de-
plored that so few cities in this country have
not done so and no states at all, I believe.
A Sample
Letter
Here is a letter taken almost at random
from the great mass received since the pub-
lication in the Her.'\ld-\Vorld of the first
article on sound synchronization. A second
flood is beginning to arrive now from Amer-
ican Projectionist readers, in which puljlica-
tion the same series appears. The letter is
from Clinton R. Farr, No. 9 Pond street, Bev-
erly, Mass. It reads :
Have just finished reading your first article on fun-
damental principles of sound pictures, in July 7, Ex-
HiniTORS Herald- World. For that article I thank you
from the bottom of my heart.
It is very hard for men of my apje who received
only a limited education in early manhood to under-
stand articles on such subjects when stated iu'engi-
neering terms.
Your article, however is so thorough, and your ex-
planation so plain, that I had no difficulty in under-
standing it.
I have been criticized by one or two, one
of them a government official in Canada, for
not adhering strictly to engineering terms, and
thus forcing the men to learn to understand
and use them. The views of the critics were
perfectly honest and well meant, but I am
unable to agree. Under all the conditions I
feel that it would not only not be good pol-
icy, but also that it would be unfair to adopt
that attitude.
Projectionists have not, up to this time,
been largely recruited from college men. Far
from it, the great majority have been the sons
of working men who received only what we
call a common school education, which, ex-
cellent as it is, is not calculated to fit them
to understand technical terms any too well.
As a matter of fact, it is very difficult for
many of the men — good, deserving men, too,
mark you well — to grasp such things as we
now are dealing with when couched in even
the most simple terms. To ask them to grasp
it when expressed in technical terms would
be asking what amounts, I think, to the
impossible.
I do hope and believe, however, that what
I am doing will lead eventually to a greater
ability to understand and use technical terms
at least insofar as applies to sound synchro-
nization. Meanwhile, my one desire is to
enable projectionists to have an adequate un-
derstanding of the forces they are now or
soon must handle, and of the equipment which
will be placed in their charge.
A mere ability to make a routine of move-
ments, with little or no real understanding of
what those movements mean except that if
everything is in order certain results will
follow them, does NOT constitute intelligent
work. It is like the beautiful flapper auto
driver who sails gaily along so long as every-
thing functions perfectly. When it doesn't
she stops, raises a dainty unsoiled hand and
the next car stops. She simpers with her
red-gash-for-a-mouth, and the poor fish comes
obediently and fixes it for her.
But when something goes wrong and she
is on a lonely road, far from a garage and
no cars following, gosh ! She's just plain
sunk and those li'l veil covered laigs will be
likely to get pretty tired and dusty. Just
apply that latter to the projectionist who lacks
understanding except how to "start and stop
it" and do the usual routine. Something goes
wrong. Service man far away. House full.
He's sunk! The manager just dotes on giv-
ing the money back to patrons because the
projectionist can't handle the apparatus.
Li Kelly does.
I hold that the better understanding the
projectionist has of the basic principles upon
which the apparatus operates, the more likely
is he to be able to handle situations when
things go wrong, just as the driver who knows
his car can fix anj' ordinary trouble well
enough to "get by," anyhow. And I propose,
so far as is possible, to supply the "know
how" brand of knowledge.
A Real
Examination
UNITED STATES OFFICIALS TAKE
NOTE
Up in Canada, notably in the province of
Alberta, government officials really believe in
giving a competent examination to those ap-
plying for motion picture projectionist license.
Strange as it may seem to some of our
United States officials, they apparently believe
it to be part and parcel of their duty to
ascertain just what the aspirant for license
does or does not know about motion picture
projection.
Here in the U. S. of A., most projectionist
examinations of which I have knowledge con-
sist either wholly or in goodly part of a de-
24
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
^'Efficient Service"
"Just a few lines of appreciation for the efficient service we are receiving from our Kokler Electric Plant.
Since installing it, it has responded whenever the emergency arose. As temporary failures of local power are
quite frequent it certainly is a consolation to know that our 'Kohler' is on the job."
Columbia Amusement Co.
Columbia Theatre
(Signed) D. M. Parker. Mgr.
Columbia Theatre, Warren, Pa., equipped with Kohler Electric Plant for emergency lighting
What do you do when
the lights go out?
Do you clear your throat and . say,
"Ladies and gentlemen, please file out
quietly and get your money at the box-
:office"? Do you turn away the crowds
that are waiting outside, anxious to
hand you money? Do shivers chase
•down your spine as you wonder whether
some idiot is going to start a panic?
What do you do when the lights go out?
We know many men who remain calm
and collected— and keep right on col-
lecting the coin. Among them is D. M.
Parker, manager of the Col-
umbia Theatre at Warren,
Pa. His theatre, as the let-
ter above states, has sensibly
installed a Kohler Electric
Plant for emergency lighting.
This intelligent machine
"cuts in" automatically the
moment the regular cur-
rent fails. City lights out
— Kohler lights on! The
110-volt Kohler current,
city standard, takes care
KOHLER ELECTRIC PLANT
Model 541— 5 K. W.;
Other models: IV2, 2
of projector, aisle, lobby, and exit lights
—everything. The show goes right on
just as though nothing had happened.
It is a very dependable, trouble-free
sort of service. There are no large stor-
age batteries to care for — just a small
starting battery to provide for fully
automatic operation without visiting
the plant. It's a safe service, too— the
National Fire Underwriters' Labora-
tories have approved Kohler Electric
Plants as "standard."
„ Don't lock the barn
after the horse is stolen.
Investigate beforehand,
now. Prevent the loss of
money that failure of city
current is bound to cause
you sooner or later. There
are Kohler Electric Plants
for large theatres or small,
including rural theatres
that have no city service.
Let the coupon bring you
full information.
110 Volt D. C.
and 10 K. W.
Kohler Co., Founded 1873, Kohler, Wis. Shipping Point, Sheboygan, Wis.
BRANCHES IN PRINCIPAL CITIES
KOHLER OF KOHLER
Electric Plants
Automatic— 110 Volt D. C— No Storage Batteries
__ _ . 3X^-1-28
Kohler Co., Kohler, Wis. — Please send me information about the Kohler Electric Plant.
Name Street
City, State Use in ivhich interested _
cidedly sketchy examination in electrics, plus
the collection of an examination fee.
In one of our great cities, for example, the
examiners would really like to give a com-
petent examination, but are not permitted to
do so. An examination in projection optics
is taboo, or very nearly so. They are only
permitted to ascertain whether or no the ap-
plicant is likely to burn the theatre down.
If there is goodh' chance that he won't, well,
he is competent. License him.
And if the said applicant is fortunate enough
to be on fairly friendlj' terms with some
local politician, or has speaking acquaintance
with a friend of an alderman's first, second
or even third cousin — well, license him, that's
all ! A "school" stufifs him with a lot of
answers to probable questions. The exam-
iner knows he doesn't know what the answers
he gives really mean, but rejection means a
losing fight, so what would you do?
Pennsylvania, I believe, has a fairh- compe-
tent examination. I am not now acquainted
with the Alassachusetts examination. The
last I knew it was nothing particular to shout
about, though much better than some.
Here are the subjects for examination of
applicants seeking a first class license in Al-
berta. Read paragraph "c" carefully.
* * *
Examinations
Section 4. — (1) The following shall be the subjects
of examination:
First Class —
(a) Electrical — Systems of transmission, size of
insulation of wires and cables, theatre wiring systems.
General knowledge of generating, transforming and
rectifying devices, transformers and rheostats and the
care of same.
Testing and tracing circuits for phase relationship,
voltage, opens, shorts, grounds, etc., connection lamp-
circuits from source of supply through line resist-
ance, motor-generator, rectifier, etc. The lamp-house,
arc lamps, connections faults and their remedy.
(6) Mechanical — Specific knowledge of the machine
parts, their uses, care, adjustment and renewal of
parts.
Various types of intermittent movements, their
quality, care and adjustment.
The machine safety devices, their action, care and
adjustment.
. The revolving shutter, its principle and the appli-
cation.
(c) Optical — Condensers, types mountings, adjust-
ments, focusing, mating, care, etc.
Projection-lenses, construction, selection, use, ad-
justment and care.
Ability to secure and maintain clear field on the
screen, ability to secure correct definition, to prop-
erly mate and secure best results on screen at a mini-
mum expense.
(d) Safety — Knowledge of safetj' appliances con-
nected with projection machine apparatus, auxiliary
safety appliances, their use and care. Construction
of projection rooms, installation of electrical and
projection equipment therein, ventilation, etc.
And now, gentlemen, when you're all
through reading and considering the foregoing,
take a good long slant at this :
"Applications." — Section.3. — (1) All applicants for
certificates shall furnish satisfactory evidence or sworn
affidavits of practical experience under the following
heads:
(a) First Class License. — Applicants must have
held a second class license or its equivalent in Alberta
or elsewhere for a period of not less than one year
prior to application.
(&) Second Class License. — Applicants must have
held a third class license or its equivalent in Alberta
or elsewhere for a period of not less than one year
prior to application.
(r) Third Class ■ License. — Applicants must have
served some form of apprenticeship, of at least six
months, either as holder of an apprentice license in
Alberta or elsewhere as assistant to a projectionist.
Gentlemen, it is evident that up in Alberta
they have some respect for motion picture
projection. They do not believe a man should
be permitted to take up such work after hav-
ing attended a "stuffing school" for maybe as
much as a month and been permitted by a
kind-hearted janitor to peek into a theatre
projection room some night after the show
has closed.
In Alberta seemingly they believe that while
politicianing may be all ver\- well in its way,
it does NOT carr^^ with it the privilege of, to
all intents and purposes, ordering the issuing
of licenses regardless of ability. They appar-
ently believe that in order to be permitted to
take charge of projection in a theatre having
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
a first class projection installation, the man
shall have served at least a six months appren-
ticeship, or worked at least that long as assist-
ant to a motion picture projectionist in some
other province or countrj', served thereafter
one year as a third class projectionist and
also one full year as second class projectionist.
Heaven knows unions ought to welcome and
sponsor such procedure everywhere. The laws
quoted cover the entire province of Alberta.
With a similar law covering our various states
here, it would be impossible for the so-called
"school" to grind out continual grists of in-
competents equipped with just sufficient knowl-
edge to be dangerous, and to constitute a
constant menace. Small town exhibitors could
not employ any schoolboy who came along
willing to work for next to nothing, and the
profession soon would take on a healthy tone.
The objection of the exhibitor that it would
curtail the supply is fully met by the state-
ment that it would merely curtail the supply
of incompetents, and goodness knows it is
about time that supply be not only curtailed,
but shut off entirelj'.
I make the flat assertion that the exhibitor
would, in the end, be largely the gainer. It
might well be true that it would result in an
increase in pay in some places, but certainly
in the end the resultant improvement would
far, far more than return that overhead gain
by income gain, and by longer useful life for
projection equipment.
In the most friendly way I am warning you,
Mr. Exhibitor, big and little, that the day of
inefficiency is passing. Upon the efficiency of
your projection staff largely depends the suc-
cess of your show. You need men of real
ability and brains to put over the silent pic-
ture in the best possible way — at its highest
possible entertainment value. With sound
added YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE THEM.
I have said to you before and I now say
again that it is utter foolishness to "save" $25
a week, or any other reasonable sum in projec-
tion room wages, and LOSE A HUNDRED
AT THE BOX OFFICE and in electrical and
mechanical waste because your projectionist
is lacking in high grade ability and SUF-
FICIENT ENERGY TO APPLY HIS
KNOWT^EDGE.
Projector
Trouble
The following letter comes, with request
that it be treated as confidential. I therefore
am printing it without divulging either name
or location.
Dear Mr. Richardson: We have two Holmes port-
able projectors in this small theatre, of which we
are both proprietors and projectionists. The pro-
jectors were equipped with Mazda at the factory and
we have been unable to secure satisfactory screen
illumination.
Upon complaint to the Holmes people, with an
inquiry as to whether or no we could use 30-30
lamps in the lamphouses, they advised that they
were developing a new lamphouse which would give
20 to 25 per cent more light.
These were shipped to us in due time and were
attached today. We find that with the best pos-
sible adjustment we cannot get even as much light
as with the lamps previously used.
This assembly has a 5i/2-in. reflector and a 254x6^4
prismatic condenser. We are using a 4^-in. pro-
jection lens, the same we used with the old lamp-
houses which had smaller reflectors and condensers.
Do you think this size is incorrect for the prismatic
condenser?
I know very little about the projector in
question. You say it is a portable projector
and that is why I am printing the letter.
Such a projector is most emphatically NOT
fit for theatre use. Portable projectors, or
most of them anyhow, give excellent results
up to a six or eight-foot picture. Modern
theatre practice, however, not only calls for
but demands a brilliantly illuminated picture
not less than 10 feet wide and usually much
larger.
I have myself never yet looked at a port-
able projector which can be made to project
(Continued on page 48)
Remote control stage switchboard furnished
and installed by us for Universals new
"Venetian" Theatre at Racine, Wis:onsin
^* ^ o
Theatre
Lighting Equipment
MESCO Equipment
in your theatre means
added satisfaction in
your illuminating ef-
fects.
Our equipment covers
every possible phase
of modern and up-to-
date theatre lighting.
MESCO Products:
Switchboards
Panelboards
Powerboards
Cove Lighting
Border Lights
Spot Lights
Foot Lights
Flood Lights
Our No. 12 Catalogue upon request.
MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC
SWITCHBOARD COMPANY
160 Clinton Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin
26
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
X:r
,^^
J%..-v
K
^uilt to individual needs
Window display of console
causing sensation. Forced to
use police to keep crowds
moving. — Wm. Hissner,
Strand Amusement Co., Leb-
anon, Pa.
We buy Page Units exclu-
sively, having purchased the
fourth. Refer any theatre
owner to us at any time. —
Morris Sussman, Cohen Cir-
cuit, New York.
The Page Organ at each
show received four times
more applause than the
orchestra, one of the best in
the state. — W. C. Quimby,
Emboyd Theatre, Fort
Wayne, Ind.
I know the Page Organ is a
good organ and have an
idea it is possibly the best.
— Wm. Wrigley, Jr.
Lyric Theatre Wooster Ohio
Keyboard of organ purchased by the Santa Calalina
Island Co. for new theatre at Avalon, Santa Catal.na
sland. Owner, William Wrigley, Jr.
YOU will revel in the
marvelous perform-
ance of the Page! Touch
it and it responds — in-
stantly — powerfully —
gloriously — with a tonal
quality that has been
judged superb by those
who are in a position
to know.
It will be well worth
your while to consult
Page architects as soon
as you can reasonably
do so.
b
THE PAGE ORGAN COMPANY
523 N. Jackson St., Lima, Ohio
\\\
rxmn
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
27
AiU-flC IN THE THEATRE
IX e\ery theatrical magazine and paper to-
day, the reader will find page after page
given over to the subject of sound pic-
tures.
Some articles deal with the effect of sound
pictures upon the public ; others: deal with
the effect of synchronization upon the the-
atrical profession.
In this article I wish to deal with the result
of synchronization, not so much upon the
musical profession as a whole, but principally
upon the theatre organist.
^ ^ 4=
First, bear in mind that synchronization is
not a myth ; it is a reality, and directly re-
sponsible for the greatest upheaval the mo-
tion picture industry has ever experienced.
Let us therefore face the situation in its
true light. A large per cent of exhibitors see
a solution to their worries in synchronized
pictures. They feel that at last the problem
of labor trouble has been solved, particularly
the musical phase of the problem ; hence the
rush, the desire to equip for sound pictures.
Despite the rush and clamor for synchro-
nization, however, there is still the question of
the novelty of this new development of
science. Can it stand the test of time? Can
it eventually replace the art of real human
music — an art as old as time itself?
Since the perfection of the unified theatre
organ, its use as the accompaniment to the
silent drama has been practically universal.
In the smaller theatres (by that I mean houses
not in the de luxe class), the organ has
been the principal source from which the
manager has built up the musical phase of
his program.
* * *
A unified organ in the hands of a competent
player has been and always will be, an asset
from a box office standpoint. I know of many
instances where patrons frequent certain the-
atres for the music alone. The appeal of
real music is universal, though individual
tastes may differ.
Remember, Mr Organist, theatre managers
are fully aware of these facts. Furthermore,
the din of synchronization will not deafen
them to the extent of risking all on the merits
of "canned" music and talking pictures. An
interesting test was conducted recently by the
Inquiring Reporter of the Chicago Tribune.
The
Organist
Versus
Sound
By
HAROLD DANIELS
Feature Organist,
Buckingham theatre,
Chicago
Five persons picked at random were asked
whether they preferred orchestral and organ
accompaniment to a silent picture or "canned"
music and "talkies." Four stated a decided
preference for a silent picture with real music.
One preferred the "talkies'." If this test may
be called a criterion of public opinion, no
musician need be alarmed or have any doubt
as to the ultimate fate of the "talkies."
It seems to me that the modern theatre or-
ganist should not rely entirely upon public
opinion as a deciding factor relative to the
fate of synchronization. Rather he should
rise to meet this new situation with a few
trump cards of his own.
* * *
Most of the theatres in Chicago are equip-
ping for sound. I believe the coming season
will see practically all feature pictures mechan-
ically accompanied. The organist whose
principal job, heretofore, has been accompany-
ing feature pictures, will find himself called
upon to do solo work and in short, to do as
much as possible to offset too much mechan-
ical music. Community sing solos will be
more popular, straight solos with slides will
be more welcome than ever this season to the
theatre patron ; organ clubs, kiddie glee clubs
with the organist as "Master of Ceremonies"
will all be assets of great value to the man
who can put them across. Do not entertain
a doubt as to your standing, Mr Organist,
if your work is reckoned with at the box
office of your theatre. Remember, there is
always a place for the man who can produce.
The season of 1928-1929 will, in a large
measure, determine the success or failure of
synchronization. What better means can the
musician employ in his behalf than to strive
to outdo synchronization at every turn?
* H= *
The art of music is as old as the world.
The average theatre patron appreciates good
music; the younger patrons enjoy good jazz
music and snappy organ solos. These are
facts that have stood the test of time.
Synchronization on the present large scale
is a novelty ; as a novelty only, it has played
to packed houses. Strive then to make the
most of the opportunity at hand : To educate
your audience to the realization that good
music plus the personal contact can never be
replaced by the most perfected mechanical
substitute.
Here is a great piece
of exploitation. It is
a reproduction in min-
iature of the cooling
plant at Loew's State
theatre in St. Louis.
It was built by the
house ventilating engi-
neer, Gus Schumann.
It is a source of great
curiosity, and has been
given news display in
the dailies.
28
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
SENTRY
S A BETY
CONTROl
PREVEiNTS
FILM
FIRES
SENTRY
S AFETY
CONTROl
PREVENTS
FILM
F t R E i
SENTRY
S A FETY
CONTROL
PREVENTS
FILM
,>sf IRES
Put a SENTRY SAFETY CONTROL on
your projectors
It means positive protection from film-fires and from panic, which
may so easily accompany, the flash of fire on the screen.
Safeguard your patrons, your investment, your peace-of-mind
with the industry's greatest safety device — SENTRY SAFETY
CONTROL.
li^iT[^V
The positive fire presenter Can he attached to any projector- Costi only a feiv cents a day.
SENTRY
S A FETY
CONTROL
PREVENTS
FILM
FIRES
SENTRY
S AFETY
CONTROL
PREVENTS
FILM
FIRES
SENTRY
5 AFETY
CONTROl.
PREVENTS
FILM
FIRES.
rO
Sentry Safety Control Corporation. 13th and Cherry Sts., Philadelphia. 1560 Broadway, New York
And All Branches of National Thcatrc Supply Company
e^-^ ^^O
An Ideal Small Stage ♦ ♦ Continued from page 15
plaques of various colors of oil cloth — these
are just a few suggestions for decorating the
black curtain. There really is no end.
Our curtain equipment consists of two
velour curtain sets, including a drop, valance,
and two tormentors ; six black sateen curtains,
any one or two of which can be used as
drops on a single line, with the six combined
for a full stage cyclorama ; six sky-blue sateen
curtains for out-door settings, used as drops
or the six together as a eye; and a gauze
curtain.
The sateen curtains each have three sets
of borders and legs which we use in place of
wings because they are less expensive and
easier to handle, and they take up no space
on the stage floor when not in use.
Our velour curtains are made with the full-
ness (about 40 per cent) sewed in with square
pleats and are very beautiful. One is a thea-
tre red and is suitable for a front drop or
for a rich background for a high-class act, or
for a drop in one.
The other velour curtain is a light gray and
may be used in the same way as the red cur-
tain. It has the additional value of reflecting
any color of light, and we use more lighting
effects with this curtain than with any of the
others. Being a neutral color, any color of
decoration will harmonize with it.
This is also true of the black curtains, any
color may be combined with them.
The sky blue curtains tor outdoor settings
are not so good from this standpoint. There
are a numbr of colors jth^t do not harmonize
well with them, but thp colors usually found
out of doors, all fit i^ well. We find that
blue lights from the bordersjRor flood lights
greatly aid a setting made with the blue sateen
curtains.
To go with these blue curtains, we have
several sets pieces and two trees hanging
from battens. One of these hanging trees is
a summer tree with green leaves, and the
other is a winter tree with the dark trunk
showing only. This tree is so made, however,
that the audience does not see the limbs where
the leaves would normally be, and so it may
be used in a summer scene if desired. These
trees are made of wall board reinforced vnth
three-inch lumber and are hung to the battens
the same way as the curtains are hung — with
mason's cord. Thus the trees may be shifted
in their position on the batten, and may be
quickly moved from one batten to another.
In this way, there are probably 100 different
positions for each tree.
There are two set trees about the height of
a man. These are evergreens in pyramid
shape and have no trunks. They set on the
floor and provide a place for concealing lights
or actors. They are held upright with scenery
props.
There are two narrow evergreens nearly
twelve feet high with trunks, and two similar
trees of a shorter length. We have two oil
jars that go well in different positions in a
great variety of settings. These are made
City Establishes
Library of Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
OAKLAND, CAL., Aug. 28.— The
city of Oakland has instituted a
municipal moving picture library, the
first film to be placed in the archives
being the gift of the Vitaphone thea-
tre.
of wallboard reinforced as are all of our
set pieces.
For a formal garden, we use one or both
of our marble balustrades. These are made
with detachable vases of flowers on the end
posts so several variations are possible with
them.
Our wide variation in outdoor sets is pos-
sible because of the fact that there are several
combinations and positions for our blue cur-
tains, there are many combinations and posi-
tions with our hanging trees and set pieces,
and there are several combinations of light-
ing effects to be used.
* * *
To illustrate, I will mention two settings
that have delighted our audiences most. One
was the second act of a patriotic play depict-
ing a soldier camp at midnight. W'e used the
blue eye, placing it about half way up on the
stage. A pup tent was set up at one side
near the back and at the other side of the
stage was a camp fire made of kindling wood
heaped over a red light globe. The only other
lights used were the blue borders that hang
just above the campfire, and these were only
half way up on the dimmers. The setting was
beautiful because of its mellow tone, its one
spot of red (in the campfire), and its sim-
plicity. The soldiers who were first sitting
on a bench in front of the campfire and who
later walked here and there on the stage were
fascinating silhouettes.
The other setting was made with the blue
drop about 12 feet back from the footlights.
Two feet in front of this was a tree drop.
In front of that was our gauze curtain. The
other tree drop was on the opposite side of
the stage and about four feet in front of the
gauze. Thei'.-blue legs and borders completed
the setting.
The lighting consisted of all blue lights
^narvn
nsBB
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
about three quarters up on the dimmers, and a
spot light shining through the back drop to
make a moon.
The real feature of the setting proved to
he the two tlood lights which were covered
with a dark blue gelatine and placed on the
tloor in front of the back drop, one on each
end.
We have frequent occasion to use a box set,
and we wanted to have box scenery that
would be different every time it was used. At
first that seemed hard to get, but the shortage
of money to pay for it forced me to invent
a tvpe of scenery (not patented) that can
actually be fresh and new and different every
time it is used.
In fact, it can be different for as many as
three or four dift'erent settings in the course
of one show, and the cost need not be more
than $1 for each change.
This is made possible by having a large
panel in each piece that gives the character to
the set. This panel is removable. The rest
of the set is painted a neutral color so that
any panel design will harmonize. The panels
are covered with wall paper, and by repaper-
ing the panels, you have a net set at the cost
of one or two "rolls of wall paper. We have
three of these panels made of blackboard for
use in such scenes as restaurants, schools, and
railroad stations.
These panels are held in place by small
turns and are quickly changed. In fact, it
would be possible to make a change during
a black out.
The box scenery consists of six large pieces
with 18 panels, two small sections with 6
panels for making bends, two small doors,
and one double door with solid and french
doors interchangeable. The windows are in-
terchangeable with the panels and so may be
used in any of the larger sections. We also
have a set fireplace.
I don't suppose that any reader will believe
me when I say that all this equipment cost
less than $500. The reason it costs so little
is that some friends interested in the theatre
helped me make it, and our wives made the
curtains. Our only cost, therefore, was for
materials. One of my associates is an archi-
tect and designed the box scenery for us.
Our lighting equipment consists of a foot
light trough with three circuits, two border
lights with three circuits, two l,000-\vatt flood
lights, and two 400-watt pin spot lights, and
four strip lights. This was all installed for
us by the Chicago Stage Lighting Co., and
has an endless number of combinations pos-
silile so that we can have new lighting com-
binations for every show.
Warner Product Signed
For Fox, Loew Houses
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Contracts for the
use of Warner Brothers product by the Loew
and Fox circuits were signed last week by
Herbert Kaufman, New York branch manager
of Warner Brothers. The contract is for the
Warner roadshows and Winners in the Fox
and Loew houses in New York, Brooklyn and
Greater New York.
U A Files in Indianapolis
(Special to the Herald-World)
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 28.— The United
Artists Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
has filed affidavits with the secretary of state
here permitting the company to do business
in Indiana.
Hamlin Returns to Work
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Thomas Hamlin,
publisher of Fibn Curb, returned to work
after a three months' absence. He went
under two serious operations.
Theatre Decorating
Specialists
New Theatres made More Beautiful
Old Theatres made More ProAtable
Continental Studios, Inc.
100 East Ohio Si. Chicago
Write for Details and Estimates without obligation.
Gentlemen! Here is your
music
Paul Whiteman and his band will play
in your theatre any performance you
wish — or any other great artist or group
of artists. They will play cue music for
the screen or overtures — you do the se-
lecting. And it will be the finest ampli-
fied music you ever heard, all done with
For $500.00
The Phototone is furnished complete
with one amplifying console, wUli
double motors and turutahles. two
electric pickups, powerful arapllfyhiK
device, one larse horn with extx-a
unit, a cabinet with cue rartt of
eighty-four record capacity, and flfly
special selected records included.
Phototone is built for years or .sen-
ire and will always T)e a,s up to date
as the newest records. Where condi-
tions require more than one horn,
they may be added at cost of twenty-
five dollars each up to sixty dollars.
The price is f.o.b. factory and if in-
stallation is made by tlie factory en-
gineer, his actual tune and expense
)s added to the price of the eoulp-
inent. Complete blue prints and in-
structions are furnished where the
owner desires to install it himself.
Sweet clear music, no noise or grating.
The Phototone is all electric, with in-
stant control made possible with triple
combination, double motors, double
turntables and double electric pick-ups
The Phototone Company
North Vemon, Ind.
Branch offices in all principal
cities
Write us for details giving seating
capacity and inside dimension of your
auditorium. No obli-
gation— write today.
Address factory.
Send for
Details
The Phototone Co.
North Vernon, Ind.
I am interested in Phototone. Send me descriptive folder
and interesting data without obligation.
Name
Address
Company...-
City State i
30
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928 i
Above: The Lobero as it a^ears from
the street. The architecture is of the
J^editerranean tyj>e conspicuous among
the structures of Santa Barbara.
Left: The entrance. Passing through it,
one reaches the lobby, a vaulted cham-
ber undecorated except for Spanish
lam^s, carrying out further the general
adobe design.
A ^^egit^^ Theatre
Full of Ideas for
the Picture House
The Lohero in Santa Barbara, Cah,
Is Presented for Its Suggestion
to Designers of Screen Theatres
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
Above: A lounge, striking not for the
usual theatre luxury, hut for its simple,
home-like charm. Incidentally, coffee is
sometimes served here between acts.
Right: A section of the auditorium.
Notable from the exhibitor s {>oint of
view is the absence of decoration. The
general design did not permit it.
The Lobero Design
Would Be Suitable
In Many a Suburb
Arch.7tects Seekrng New Ideas for
the Community Picture House
?day Find Stimulation Here.
32
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
The Lobero as it a^^^ears to Santa Barbara's pleasure-bound at night.
A Theatre That Suggests a New Field for
the Picture House Architect
The Lobero ;n Santa Barbara, Cah, a stage theatre, raises the question, "Why not a
Screen theatre of hke character? '
OXE of the most unique and original the-
atres in the country is the Lobero the-
atre in Santa Barbara, Cal., which was
erected and is operated by the Community
Arts Association, a semi-civic enterprise.
The Lobero is used exclusively for stage
productions and was built for this purpose.
But its quite charm, which is doubtless of the
more durable sort, would seem to recommend
it to the designer of the screen theatre — not
necessarily as the thing it is, but as a sign-
post on the road to better photoplay theatres.
It appears obvious that motion picture the-
atres of this character are most suitable to
the finer residential sections' of cities and to
suburbs. The Lobero itself, for example, in
such a location, would lend to the photo-
dramatic art that special dignity which appeals
to the citizen proud of his culture, who now,
perhaps, judges all motion pictures according
to what he calls the blatant, garish type of
theatre.
In a number of places, it has been deemed
wise to appeal to this citizen — in Shorewood,
a fine suburb of Milwaukee; between Wil-
mette and Winnetka, suburbs of Chicago; and
els where.
And now, let us have a look at the Lobero —
remembering that it is not only a theatre,
but for our purpose here, especially an idea.
The Lobero has background, in the first
place, for it was built in 1873 as the largest
secular a'dobe building in California. It stood
on the property occupied by the present the-
atre until 1922, when it was demolished to
make room for the new Lobero.
Santa Barbara is noted far and wide for
its' architectural originality, the majority of its
business structures being of the Mediterra-
nean type which was transplanted to this coun-
try when the Spanish occupied California.
The Lobero is perhaps one of the finest
examples of this type of architecture. Only
the high flies give it away as a theatre, for
the structure, viewed from Canon Perdido
street, rises in three steps. The first houses
the small but comfortable lobby, and the offices
of the theatre; the second the theatre proper;
and the third the stage.
Entering the theatre from the stone-flagged
foyer, a lobby, reaching in a semi-circle first
attracts the eye. It is tastefully furnished
with no decorations other than the Spanish
type lamps.
The auditorium contains 631 seats, finished
in Spanish leather. Thirty-two are situated
in six boxes, three on each side of the house.
The compact arrangement of the seats made
it possible to hold the dimensions of the house
down to the minimum, with the result that
those even in the last row can hear as easily
as those in front.
The orchestra pit, instead of being placed
directly in front of the stage, is situated in
the back of the audience, in an alcove 12 feet
above the floor. Steps lead down from the
circle apron, but these can be removed if a
pit is necessary to the production.
The stage measures 70 feet -wide and 35
feet deep, with a 68 foot clearance. The
proscenium arch is 37 feet wide and 27 feet
high. The entire stage is trapped, another
unusual feature.
To the left of the stage, with entrances
from both the theatre and outside, is the Green
Room, where members of the productions
can gather during the course of the show.
A compact kitchen adjoins, for not only is
a midnight luncheon served to members of
the Community Arts casts, but at many shows,
coffee is served to the patrons between acts.
From the Green room radiates the dressing
rooms. Eight star rooms adjoin the Green
room, while two enormous rooms are located
in the basement below the stage. In addition,
a property room is also below the stage.
George Washington Smith, internationally
known for his adaptation of Spanish archi-
tecture to modern demands, designed the
Lobero theatre. When completed, the building
had cost $133,000 with an additional $32,000
(Continued on page 46)
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
33
The Selection of
Carpets
(Continued from page 16)
That of selecting patterns? and colors that
shall harmonize with the interior decorative
scheme of the theatre in question.
The best theatre carpets are designed in
such a way that their colors are luminous and
pleasing under artificial light. The modern
tendency in motion picture theatres is to use
bright color effects, which bring to the audi-
torium an air of beauty, richness' and gaiety
especially appropriate in a place of entertain-
ment and amusement. Large and small pic-
ture houses all over the country are showing
marked preference for modern art patterns,
which have the strong colors and effective
motifs that produce the desired effects.
The Ziegfeld theatre in New York has a
carpet installation that reveals excellent judg-
ment in the selection of colors and designs
best suited to give luxury to the appearance of
a high-class theatre interior. Here a self-
color gold Bigelow Lowell Wilton carpet with
small foliage patterns is used in combination
with modernistic decorations. The carpet is
particularly noteworthy because of its harmony
with the ceiling, which is painted on canvas,
in the new German manner, blue, green, pur-
ple, and red.
* * *
When colors, designs, and grades have been
selected, there still remains the actual instal-
lation, the most trying and difficult part of
the whole transaction, from the standpoint
both of the theatre owner and of the mer-
chant. It is essential that only the most skil-
ful layers be permitted to put down the car-
pet, for it has to be laid on staircases and
ramps and be fitted around pillars, rail-
ings, seats, and the like. When the theatre is
of modern fireproof construction, the concrete
floors have to be drilled to secure the carpet —
a difficult operation.
The seats are usually installed after the
carpet has been put down, being fastened to
wooden blocks inserted in the concrete. When
there are ventilating outlets under each seat,
the carpet must be carefully fitted around
each one.
Despite the difficulty of doing this success-
fully, it is absolutely essential that all-over
floor covering be used and not strips of carpet
laid between the rows of seats. When this
procedure is followed it is found that patrons
shuffle their feet on the bare concrete under-
neath the seats in front, and produce highly
undesirable noise. Lender this system, too,
the acoustic properties of the theatre are not
as good as when the auditorium is carpeted
entirely.
* * *
One of the factors that makes a theatre
installation difficult is the fact that almost
always the carpet has to be put down in a
hurry. Especially when an old theatre is
being recarpeted, all the work has to be done
between the close of the evening performance
and the opening of the matinee. Whenever
possible, the theatre management should so
adjust its program as to allow the carpet
layers a maximum of time to do their work.
Once the carpet is down, and the theatre
in actual operation, there still remains the
question of keeping the carpet clean. Super-
ficial dirt and lint may be removed by hard
sweeping and picking, but deeper deposits
brought in on shoes from the street and
stamped into the fabric can only be removed
by vacuum cleaner. After rainy days, the
carpet should be allowed to dry before clean-
ing, and whenever possible should be taken
up and cleaned more thoroughly than is pos-
sible when they are on the floor.
Nearly all important motion picture theatres
today use large quantities of rugs and carpets.
Among the many notable houses in New York
File
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When
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PATENTED
Cooling
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The SUPREME Cooling Blower—
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perfect Winter Ventilation,
positive Summer Cooling
and economy in both oper'
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These features are found
only in the Supreme System.
Use Your Present
Cooling System
If you have a Cooling Sys'
tern, Supreme Heating can
be combined with your pre-
sent Cooling Blower easily
and inexpensively. In writ'
ingfor details, specify make
of your Cooling Blower and
send sketch showing loca^
tion. State also, if your prc'
sent Cooling Blower has
variable speed control.
Heating
NOW any Theatre-
New or Old — can have
the advantages of Supreme
Cooling and Heating.
One moderate investment
in a Supreme System,
makes you independent of
weather conditions — as'
sures positive summef
cooling and equally posi'
tive Winter Heating and
Ventilation.
Consider the advantages
of having your Theatre de'
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and co2;y and comfortable
in Winter — then get the
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Send complete information about your Heating
and Cooling System.
(Name)
(Address)
(City)
(State)
IL
Size Theatre_
Capacity
Have you a cooling system .
What make
Ji
34
1^
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
Are gou
Advertising your attractions
to the public — or merely
announcing them?
In these days of keen competition it takes more thzin the
name of a star and title to get the public into your theatre.
Selling your attractions to the public
means that your advertising must ■
1 - get them interested
2 - arouse their curiosity
3 - create a desire to see the
attractions you are advertising
This is what National Programs do — the cuts
and copy we use SELL your attractions.
Hcuid them out at the door. Mail them to those on your
mailing list. Have them distributed from door to door.
Plant them in stores. They are 100 per cent advertising.
SEND FOR SAMPLES AND PRICES TO OUR NEAREST PLANT
National Program & Printing Co.
729 South Wabash Avenne
CHICAGO
320 West 46th Street
NEW YORK
PAINE EXPANSION SHELLS
For Anchoring Opera Chairs to Concrete Floors
Will not come loose when properly set
Furnished with bolts and washers ready
to install. 1/4" size shell most gen-
erally used for repair work as well as
originaJ installations. The most satis-
factory yfay to permanently anchor a
chair to concrete.
Send for samples and prices
THE PAINE COMPANY
Type No. 1
2951 Carroll Av«.
Chicago, DI.
79 Barclay St.
New York, N. Y.
&^^^./i.:::Sr\-ii-^-^S'::^f.'-if^1
Type No. 2
September 1, 1928
City which use the Bigelow-Hartford fabrics
are the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Met-
ropolitan theatre, the Capitol, the Hippodrome,
the Ziegfeld theatre, the new Shubert theatre,
and the Moss and Keith-Albee houses.
In Chicago, the Balaban & Katz theatres
use Bigelow-Hartford products exclusively,
and they are found in such houses as the
Chicago theatre and the Illinois theatre. The
Publix theatres, the Paramount theatres, the
Universal theatres, and the Stanley theatres
are among the national chains which are con-
sistent users of these fabrics.
Meeting 'em on
Broadway
By HARRY E. HOLQUIST
RF. WINEGAR, assistant general man-
, ager of the Steel Furniture Company
of Grand Rapids, Alich., is in New
York, making his headquarters at the offices
of the National Theatre Supply Company,
1560 Broadway. Mr. Winegar is promoting
the Steel line of theatre chairs among Eastern
houses.
* ^ i(t
J. E. McAuLEY of the McAuley Manufac-
turing company was another Broadway visi-
tor last week. Mr. McAuley reports a grow-
ing list of installations of his new high in-
tensity lamp.
* * *
Ed Wolk of the Chicago Cinema Equipment
Company was in New York accompanied by
Mrs. Wolk.
* * *
O. F. Spahr, head of the Enterprise Optical
Manufacturing Company was hi New York
last week for his third visit within a month.
The active interest in the new Motiograph
model is keeping O. F. on the jump. Spahr
declared that the machine is meeting with en-
thusiastic reception everywhere.
* * *
Alvin Seiler, head of the engineering de-
partment of the National Theatre Supply
Company, is making his headquarters in New
York, where he and his staff are busy work-
ing on jobs in connection with the National
one-contract plan.
* * *
We were unable to catch up with Oscar
OldknoWj Southern district manager of Na-
tional and Arthur D. Steffano, manager of
the Memphis branch, both of whom were in
town last week.
* * *
We're in on a little secret that is responsible
for the very illuminating smile on the face of
C. J. Frank of the Voigt Company these days.
Perhaps in the next issue we'll tell you about
it.
Morton Among First
of Projectionists to
Attend Sound School
H. S. Alorton, chief motion picture projec-
tionist of the United Artists theatre here, in
Detroit, has the distinction of being one of
the first members of his craft to take a course
in Movietone and Vitaphone projection.
Morton ha3 just returned from the Elec-
trical Research Laboratories of New York,
where he was sent by the management of the
United Artists theatres to perfect himself in
the new art of sound picture projection.
Morton also is a pioneer motion picture pro-
jectionist, having been engaged in the work
for the last 20 years. He is a member of the
American Society of Motion Picture Engi-
neers, and the American Projection Society.
He has held the last office for seven years.
<mem
amar
Book Thes^e Attractions
forybur TheiUre
SYMPHONY and stage orchestras, pipe organs,
soloists — the greatest of opera stars and the
funniest clowns — will bring their music to your
patrons through Orchestraphone.
Every type and kind of music at the touch of a
finger — perfectly reproduced and cued to your
picture or stage presentation with an excellence
that could scarcely be exceeded were these world
renowned artists to enter your theatre in person.
The world's Master Musicians will bring you
musical independence and increased patronage.
Book them permanently with Orchestraphone!
When you've heard Orchestra*
phone for yourself, you'll know
why it is incomparable to any
other reproducing theatre instru-
ment now on the market . . .Why it
leads its field in bringing the ex-
hibitor better music at less cost . . .
Arrange for a demonstration or
send for Orchestraphone Book.
It's Free! Address your nearest
National Branch, or 624 South
Michigan Ave., Chicago.
^tional ^Iheatre SupptylSon^^any
Arrange today to hear Orchestraphone yourself
IG SALES
OF
MODEL
M
Have Justified Our Faith
That the American Exhibitor
Would Welcome
This Great Advance In
MOTION PICTURE PROJECTORS
We Urge Exhibitors to Avoid Delay By Anticipating Their Requirements
Descriptive Circulars Sent Upon Request
International Projector Corporation
90 GOLD street, NEW YORK
.rS.-i JS^tZS^^-r' ^ — L»^--»»r .
In the ALAMO =^0/ Chicago
as in hundreds of other splendid theatres where quaHty, not
price, is the object — where Art is supreme — where perfec-
tion in musical expression is appraised at true value — there you w^ill find the
Kilgen. >- / / In your theatre, too — great or small — a Kilgen would be a
dividend-paying investment Not only in its ability to dramatize
the photoplay as none other can; but in the rugged integrity
of a construction which speaks in years of care-free service. ^^UlCP
- ^ f
Send for Catalog, or write National Theatre Supply Company, Distributors «iW**' **w
GEO. KILGEN & SON, Inc., 4020 N. Union Blvd., St. Louis, U. S. A. (Jt^SB^
18 TRANSVERTERS
SOLD IN 18 STATES
IN 18 DAYS
THE NATION-WIDE
DEMAND FOR
TRANSVERTERS
is best evidenced by the con-
stant flow of orders for them
from every state in the Union
— in fact — every nation in the
World—
"wherever Pictures are shown."
Good Projection is, and will
remain, the first essential for
success in the Motion Picture
business.
The C. P. Transverter
operates with a minimum
of attention by the pro-
jectionist because it de-
livers within 3% of its
rated voltage without
adjustment.
It is quiet, efficient and
economical on current.
Built to last for years of
continuous service.
Distributed in the V. S. A. by
The National Theatre Supply
Company
Canadian Distributor
Perkins Electric Ltd.
Manufactured exclusively by
THE HERTNER ELECTRIC COMPANY
1900 W. 114TH STREET
CLEVELAND, O., U. S. A.
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
35
Kohler Pledges to
Relieve Wisconsin
Of Its Tax Burden
The equipment and manufacturing field of
the motion picture industry has among its
prominent members a man who is now candi-
date for governor of Wisconsin.
Walter J. Kohler, president of The Kohler
Company, manufacturers of theatre lighting
plants, is a candidate on the Republican slate
and in his keynot speech he declared that
"good government is good business."
One of the principles upon which he is con-
ducting his campaign is to relieve Wisconsin
of burdensome taxes. In this connection, the
Chicago Tribune editorially said:
WISCONSIN'S OPPORTUNITY
The platform upon which Walter Kohler
is running for the Republican nomination for
governor in Wisconsin is an invitation to
Wisconsin to shake itself free of the rule of
demagogues and doctrinaires. Mr. Kohler is
a successful business man and proud of it.
He finds that the people of his state are need-
lessly burdened with taxes and he proposes a
program which will ease the load.
Contrary to the theories of the La Follette
school, Mr. Kohler proposes to make Wiscon-
sin attractive to industry. He knows that in-
dustry will create wealth and attract popula-
tion. The tax burden can then be distributed
among more people and there will be added
wealth to levy upon. For both reasons, the
burden upon the individual taxpayer will be
lightened. In addition, there will be a larger
home market for the products of Wisconsin's
farms and dairies.
The candidacy of Kohler is a test of the
political and economic good sense of the peo-
ple of Wisconsin. For a generation they have
been following politcal quacks who sought by
every means at their command to impress a
sense of inferiority upon the consciousness of
the people of Wisconsin. Kohler would make
an end of all this snapping and snarling at the
strong and the constructive.
It is characteristic of the man that he went
by airplane to Fond du Lac to make his
speech. He lives in the present. He and his
business are alive. If he is nominated and
elected there is every reason to believe he will
invigorate his state.
The
THEATRE
SWITCHBOARD
FOR YOU
USED IN THE LARGEST AND FINEST
THEATRES IN AMERICA
Footlights Spot lights
Borderlights Service boards
Stage pockets Panel boards
Cove lighting Usher signals
Exit and Directional Signs
Complete
Theatre Lighting
and Control
Equipment
Write for details and estimates
Factory and General Offices
-25 West Grand Ave.
Chicago
Phone Seeley 6440-1-2
DOWN TOWN CHICAGO
SALES OFFICES
Suite 323 — 155 N. Clark St.
Phone State 7966
NEW YORK CITY
1457 Broadway
Phone Wisconsin 4843
TOLEDO, OHIO
1220 Madison Ave.
Phone Adams S5I8
MILWAUKEE, WIS.
123 Second St.
Phone Grand 1533
HUB PRODUCTS FROM SERVICE TO SOCKET
The BETTER Popcorn Machine
For the BETTER Theatre
SIMPLE AND ATTRACTIVE
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70c of Every Dollar Is Profit
The "Heights theatre," Muskegon, Mich., say :
An attractive machine that certainly does the
work. Corn is deHcious, building a splendid busi-
ness from former waste space.
C. CRETORS & CO.
Easy Terms ^Write for Catalog
612 W. 22ncl St. CHICAGO, ILL.
36
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
Fig. 1. Basement showing equipment rooms and heating tunnel to stage end of theatre.
Fig. 2. Mezzanine floor plan of Walker theatre in Brooklyn.
Fig. 3. Balcony plan showing arrangement for ventilation.
Y :/
r
1
n
Tzr
Fig. 4. Projection room and attic plan.
'r
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
Air Conditioning
— in the theatre
AIR conditioning for the smaller-sized the-
atre— one that has been built in a grow-
ls ing locality where the future can only
be predicted — involves not only a design to
fulfill the physical requirements, but operating
costs as well, which should be within the
financial scale justified by the revenue of the
house, and so planned to add further comforts
for its patrons as the growing community
warrants. In the Walker theatre, Brooklyn,
these conditions have well been met.
For ventilation five separate fans have been
installed, three serving to supply fresh air,
and two for exhausts. The main supply fan
takes air either from the fresh-air intake, the
re-circulation flue, or both, through air heat-
ers, and discharges this air into the galvan-
izer iron ducts, located in the attic space and
in the balcony plenum, from which the air
enters the theatre through the various plaster
grilles located throughout the building.
To serve for summer cooling until refrig-
eration is installed, two typhoon supply fans,
one on each side of the theatre, take air from
out of doors and discharge it through plaster
grilles to the front of the orchestra, the air
finding its way out through the open doors and
elsewhere.
One exhaust fan serves the toilets and smok-
ing rooms, while the second exhausts from
the projection or moving picture booth.
Air temperature is automatically regulated
with provision for the future when a refrig-
erated cooling system is installed.
A single boiler furnishes steam to the grav-
ity two-pipe heating system with the supply
and return piping arranged to run in pipe
tunnels, serving five classes of radiation and
valved independently at the boiler header con-
sisting of :
(a) Direct radiators for theatre, stage and
dressing rooms.
(b) Direct radiators for offices and stores.
(c) Indirect heaters for the ventilating sys-
tem.
(d) Coils in the service-ivater tanks above
roof.
(e) Domestic hot water tank in boiler room.
Steam risers in general are one-pipe and
Editor's Note: The attacherl
article, with sketches, is pub-
lished through the courtesy of
The Heating and Ventilating
Magazine. It describes the sys-
tem used in a Brooklyn theatre.
are concealed in the principal rooms. Runouts
to the first floor radiators are taken direct
from the steam main.
The boiler is a Fitzgibbons portable-type,
with a capacity of 12,500 square feet of radia-
tion, burning anthracite coal, and is equipped
with a Syphon balanced vapor damper regu-
lator.
Check valves are placed in the return con-
nection from each heating coil, in each row of
the air heaters, in the return from each sec-
tion of the heating system, and in the return
connection to the boiler.
Each radiator has, on its supply connection,
a globe radiator valve with union nipple con-
nection and a ^ inch automatic air-valve.
Quick vent valves are installed on the return
mains and on branches where the return con-
nects to each row of air heaters, where the
return drops below the water-line, as well as
on the steam main at the extreme ends.
A 3-inch equalizer pipe is run from the
steam pipe down to the return pipe on the
boiler side of all valves.
For the air heaters, each stack is provided
with a control gate-valve on both supply and
return, and, in addition an air valve with
check is placed on the return branch. The re-
turn from each stack is the full size of the
heater tapping and terminates in a top-outlet
reducing elbow, the bottom opening of which
is connected to the return line. The top
opening has a 1-inch pipe extended up, on top
of which the air valve is set, with a pet cock
for hand operation, if desired. Diaphragm
valves also are placed on the steam branches
automatically to control the steam supply to
the heaters.
Dampers of heavy construction control not
only the flow of air to each branch from the
ducts, but also the quantity of air to each out-
let. _ Aisle hoods, mushroom and riser vents
set in galvanized-iron sleeves and arranged to
conform with the seating plan, are used as
outlets for exhaust and recirculation.
On the discharge from the toilet exhaust
fan, above the roof, a ventilator top is placed,
while in the discharge from the moving pic-
ture booth an automatic louvre is installed.
Automatic temperature-control is provided
for the air supply to the auditorium and con-
sists of a thermostat, located in the intake
chamber and controlling the fresh air intake
damper as well as the recirculation damper.
A two-point thermostat is located at the front
of the balcony and controls the air heaters
and mixing damper under the heaters, all
thermostats being of the intermediate-acting
type.
* * *
Motors for operating these dampers are of
the pneumatic-diaphragm-lever type and the
dampers themselves are of louvre pattern.
Blades of the dampers are constructed with
overlapping edges, making a tight fit when
closed, and are made to act in unison by
means of connecting levers.
To furnish the necessary motive power for
the damper motors, an electric-driven air com-
pressor with the usual storage tank is used,
the compressor being equipped with an auto-
matic governor.
The main ventilating fan is single-width,
single-inlet fan, with two vertical discharge,
having a capacity of 60,000 C.F.M. operating
against a static pressure oi 1% inches when
run at 212 R.P.M. This fan is belt-connected
to a 25 H.P. motor, as shown in Fig. 4.
The projection-room fan, handling 2,000
C.F.M., is set on the floor, also shown in
Fig. 4, with top vertical discharge 14 inch x
16 inches which is carried through the roof,
with a gooseneck terminal above the roof.
The toilet exhaust-fan is located in the main
room and is not shown on the drawings ; it
is a fan similar to the one just described,
{Coiitinned on page 39)
38
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
Keep
Them
Coming I
Every season of the year the
movie man's fancy turns to*
thoughts of fishing — fishing for
the shekels that He snugly in the
pockets of the movie star's "dear
public."
But to get the shekels you must
get the public.
According to all reports, the com-
ing pictures will make good bait
but how about the line? For no
matter how enticing the lure, you
can't keep them coming unless the
line will hold.
The CINEPHOR LENS, with its
definition, flatness of field, maxi-
mum illumination, and black and
white contrast, is the line that will
haul 'em in and make 'em like it.
The open season lasts all year
long. So let's reel up a Cinephor
line and make a new cast. They'll
rise to the lure in schools and
you'll need a good net to gather up
the shekels. You will make a rec-
ord haul night after night with a
Cinephor.
Send for our CINEPHOR booklet
and learn more about the sport.
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co.
652 St. Paul St.
Rochester, N. Y.
The Coleman theatre, to seat 1,650 and now under construction in Jyliami, Okla.
It was designed for George L. Coleman by Boiler Brothers, theatre architects
of Kansas City and Los Angeles, and will be modern in every resjiect. 7*Iiami
has long been hnown as a good show town, and this u^to-date theatre will
be an added attraction to the ^oj^ulation of the surrounding towns and this
mining community. The S-^anish Colonial exterior will be in texture stucco
and terra cotta, with the domes finished in bright colored tiles. The front
portion of the building is designed for eight sho^s, with offices above, the
theatre covering the rear portion of the ■^ro'^erty.
Emergency Light
Unit Uses Water
To Supply Power
A new emergenci' lighting plant which draws
its power from water supply has recently been
placed on the market for use in motion pic-
ture theatres by the Enslen Hydro-Electric
Company, 1600 Broadway, New York City. A
number of theatres in the Comerford chain
in Pennsylvania have already installed the new
equipment, which is known as the Enslen
Hydro-Electric Emergency Lighting Unit.
Describing the plant, J. C. Enslen, head of
the concern, says :
"The Enslen Hydro-Electric Emergency
The Enslen Emergency Unit
Lighting Unit was developed to meet the re-
quirements of the regulations set forth by
various states. It is essentially an automat-
ically self-starting small hydro-electric plant
consisting of a direct current generator driven
by a water wheel which is mounted on the
same shaft. The entire equipment is a com-
pact and self-contained unit.
"It will generate sufficient electricity to keep
exit lights and other electrical equipment in
continuous service throughout any interruption
of the regular supply of electric current.
"The automatic starting feature comprises
a solenoid, which is so connected across the
line of the outside source of power that fail-
ure of this ctirrent will de-energize it and
cause it to instantly open the needle nozzle
valve, admitting water pressure of the water
wheel. The automatic switch for transferring
the Hghting circuit from the outside supply
to the generator of the unit is connected to
the nozzle mechanism, causing the nozzle and
the switch to operate at the same time.
"Two types are built, one of which is ar-
ranged to also stop the unit automatically
when the outside electrical service is restored,
whereas the other type will continue in service
until stopped manually.
"Another feature of the Enslen Hydro-Elec-
tric Emergency Lighting Unit is the fact that
it can be connected directly into the existing
wiring system, because it generates current at
the same voltage.
"Simplicity is the keynote of both the me-
chanical and the electrical design of the unit.
The w'iring runs from the main distributing
panel in the building to the automatic switch of
the direct ciirrent generator.
"When the unit is installed, a pilot or indi-
cating light connected directly across the cur-
rent generator terminals serves as a guide in
making the initial voltage adjustment and also
for illumination of the unit for inspection pur-
poses.
"The direct current generator is a special
compound wound type, which gives constant
voltage from no load and runaway speed to
full load and normal speed. The speed of
the water wheel varies approximately in in-
verse proportion to the load. This feature
enables the machine to operate at any load
between zero and full output with normal volt-
age and eliminates the need of a speed gov-
ernor.
"The water wheel is of the Pelton type.
The housing is closed on one side by a cover.
Shaft leakage on the opposite side is prevented
by a frictionless centrifugal device which does
not make contact between the stationary hous-
ing and the revolving shaft.
"It is interesting to note that recent tests
on one of the 15 watt units in the manufac-
turer's laboratory indicated an overall effi-
ciency of 64 per cent from the water delivered
to the nozzle to the electrical power delivered
to the lighting circuit. The electrical energy
consumed by the automatic starting solenoid
is about 10 watts while the unit is in standby
service. At other times there is no consump-
tion of either electricity or water.
"In addition to the advantages given by the
Enslen hydro-electric emergency lighting unit
is the fact that it can be operated in connec-
tion with the modern cooling systems with
which many theatres are now equipped."
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
Southern Chief of
Health Commission
Upholds Theatres
W. H. Robin, superintendent of public
health in New Orleans has been making a
survey of theatre cooling and in a report
just issued says:
"The health department has received nu-
merous complaints from patrons of some
theatres who complain that a temperature
of 70 or 72 degrees was too low for com-
fort and safety. We cannot insist that a
definite temperature be maintained in these
theatres because the management must be
governd by outside conditions as to rela-
tive humidity.
"A temperature of 76 degrees inside, with
an outside temperature of 94 degrees, and
an average relative humidity of 60 would
be correct at certain times, but there are
times during the summer seasons that such
conditions would not be proper.
"Rainy days in New Orleans with an out-
side temperature of 74 will produce a relatix'C
humidity 98 per cent. If a fixed temperature
of 75 or 76 degrees were to be maintained at
such times the patrons would become very
uncomfortable, as the human body would
exclude a great amount of heat under such
conditions.
"As the temperature on a dry bulb
thermometer decreases, the relative humid-
ity increases, and theatrical authorities are
forced to lower inside temperatures to
maintain a dry and healthy air, as the
greater the moisture, the greater the
chances of contracting colds, aches and
pains."
Air Conditioning
the Theatre
{Continued from page 37)
except that it is double the capacity.
Both fans and motors are set on wood
copings with cork deadeners ; there is a can-
vas connection inserted between the fan and
the galvanized ducts.
All of the air heaters are operated at 4
lbs. boiler pressure. They are set in a vertical
position, and the air passes through them in
a horizontal direction.
In each roof tank is installed a lj4 inch
pipe coil connected separately and directly to
the steam header. The valves for controlling
these coils are located in the boiler room.
While no cooling equipment! has been in-
cluded in the initial installation, provisions have
been made and space has been provided for an
air washer as well as for the necessary re-
frigeration machinery which would be located
in the basement. Cold water lines from the
basement to the fan location in the attic have
been installed for the future cooling system.
From the main-supply fan the air passes
through a system of ducts, the major portion
going to the openings in the ceiling of the
auditorium, from which it passes down to the
floor and out through the floor outlets lo-
cated in the main and balcony floors. The
remainder of the air enters through the ceil-
ing under the balcony. A portion of all the
air may be returned for recirculation ; the
rest is lost through outward leakage.
The architect for this building is C. A.
Sandblom, New York.
Chandler Signed for Series
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— George Chandler,
former vaudeville star, has been signed by
Universal to make a series of 12 two-reel
pictures.
DARK CORNERS IN YOUR BUSINESS
are caused by OVERHEAD
DARK CORNERS ON YOUR SCREEN
are caused by INEFFICIENT ILLUMINATION
SUNBEAMS will bring light to these CORNERS
BECAUSE SUNBEAMS GIVE:
1. MORE LIGHT
2. BETTER LIGHT
3. PERFECT DEFINITION
4. BEST LAMP VALUE PER
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And Sunbeams
5. REDUCE YOUR OPERAT-
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6. HAVE FEWER WORKING
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Sunbeam Reflecting Arc Lamp
SUNBEIAMS are as new as the "TALKIES" and yet they are
proven, possessing quaHties "which ehminate all objectionable fea-
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GUARANTEED against REPLACEMENT COSTS for TWO
YEARS
THE LIT-WAR COMPANY
200 West Second Street
WELLSTON, OHIO, U. S. A.
SOUND!
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come; because the BLIZZARD FAN is
THE BLIZZARD FAN="The voice of ventilation' =
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Sound-less
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IN RESULTS
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IN OPERATION
A
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SYNCHRONIZED
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SOUND
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If ventilation could talk, it would highly
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quirements.
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BLIZZARD SALES CO.
I OMAHA, NEBR.
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I information at once on Blizzard Fan and Oilectric
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I
Theatre - _ Place ....
40
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
Stage setting by G. Reising,
An Atmospheric
Former Trade Paj^er J^lan
Uj>j>er ■picture: The foyer. This is a
gay corridor, creating in the 'patron the
feeling of softness — of comfort. Treat-
ment of the walls is in the Sjianish man-
ner, with a ceiling of wooden beams. At
each end is a ram-^ which leads to the
auditorium.
Lower picture: The fountain in the
foyer, an added touch of splendor. Out
of it jiours a tenuous stream of water,
radiant with the colors of deftly con-
cealed lights. On one side is a lounge
for women, on the other, one for men.
HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON, has re-
cently opened its new Seventh Street
theatre, which was built by Hoquiam
Amusement Company and D. & R. Theatres
Company at a cost of $175,000. O. T. Taylor,
formerly of Moving Picture World, was the
man who conceived the "Theatre Beautiful"
for this far Pacific Northwest theatre, and
to Ed. Dolan, president of the company, goes
the credit for the financing of the project.
Spanish architecture was chosen as the
most suitable. The walls are constructed of
reinforced concrete covered with waterproof
stucco and enriched with cast stone and deco-
rated wood beam ends.
The theatre lobbj' was carefully studied both
in regard to architecture and color treatment.
The ceiling is broken by a series of larger
wood beams which has been burned to give
an old Spanish feeling. The ceiling panels
between are highly decorated with colored
stencils on a gold background. The side walls
are likewise tinted with gold and blend with
the ceiling. The floor is colored marble terazzo
divided into squares by brass strips. The
entrance doors on either side of the ticket
booth are of Spanish design, also burnt and
enriched with studded nails, and at top and
bottom with perforated lead sheets.
Between these doors stands the ticket booth
with sides encased' in moorish tile up to
counter height. Above this is a glass en-
closure set in a twisted wrought iron frame
and capped with a frieze and cornice treat-
ment of pierced sheet lead and cast iron.
Qn entering the foyer of the theatre one
is immediately impressed with a sense of rich-
ness and warmth. Directlv in front of vou
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
O. T. Taylor, the designer.
Houseat$175,000
Conceives Notable Theatre
is an alcove, the floor of which is three steps
lower than the main foyer. Against the wall
of this alcove is a beautiful tile fountain, out
of which a tiny stream of water is constantly
pouring and over which concealed spotlights
throw their colored rays.
On either side of this little fountain alcove
are rest rooms for the ladies and a smoking
room for the gentlemen. A manager's office
and ushers' room has been provided at the
far ends of the foyer.
The entire wall treatment of the foyer is
Spanish, both in texture and color, and the
ceiling, as in the lobby, is broken by wooden
beams. These likewise have been burnt and
scraped with wire brushes but have been
given a softer effect by ageing with rottenstone.
The ceiling is overhung with a conventional
grapevine, out of which comes a warm autumn
color. Along the side walls, between the beam
ends, a stenciled band has been painted and
conventionalized figures introduced.
At the extreme ends of the foyer are gentle
ramps which lead up into the main auditorium
with seating for approximately 1,100 patrons.
Here one is impressed with the spaciousness
of the room. The side wall treatment is un-
usual and one finds himself literally in an
outside court with walls and towns, all of
Spanish architecture. Behind these walls are
hidden the lights of the theatre which shed
a warm glow of reflected lights over the audi-
torium. Beyond the garden wall are trees
and shrubbery and a blue sky overhead, and
upon careful scrutiny tiny stars are seen to
twinkle, making in all an exquisite picture.
Off of the auditorium lead three ample
(Continued on page 46)
U;^^er picture: The auditorium, looking
toward the ibooth. The ^hotogra^h
shows how the architect achieved a bal-
cony without a balcony — that is, the en-
trance to all seats is from a common
level. The auditorium is decorated ac-
cording to Spanish ideas. The seating
capacity is 1,100.
Lower -picture: The auditorium, facing
the stage. Here the moderate a^^'^lica-
tion of Spanish themes is well shown.
The wall decorations are m relief, be-
hind which are lighting fixtures. The
ceiling re'^resents the blue heaven.
42
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
Music
That's
good
and
Helps the
Profit
Sheet
The Famous
Selector- Duplex
Organ
Nelson-Wiggen Piano Co.
1731-45 Belmont Ave., Chicago
No
w
that theatres compete so
savagely with each other the
small house suffers without
good music. You can have
a flexible wide range of the
best and latest music at
small cost with a Selector
Duplex.
Plays a ten tune roll continuously
without rewind. Classic on one
side. Jazz on tlie other if desiredL
Compact in size — low in cost.
Get details now.
NOT A BATTERY
CHARGER
Strong full wave rectifiers
Built solely for motion picture
arcs. Not adapted to the applica-
tion. The lasting results are
proven.
Over 500 in DaUy Use
Made and guaranteed by
The Strong Electric Company
2501 Lagrange Street
Toledo, Ohio
it
You can't go wrong with a Strong
f>
y
A.
. . the topics for discussion
What effect will synchronized pic-
tures have on the acoustics in build-
ing the theatre of the future?
What effect will synchronized pic-
tures have on theatre design and
construction in general?
With inauguration cf synchronized
pictures will there he a tendency
toward smaller houses, or houses of
the more intimate type?
Will it be necessary for present day
theatres to reconstruct so as to pro-
vide for the proper acoustical prop-
erties in the auditorium?
•V
y^
Building the Sound
Theatre ^
{Continued from page 10) II
ing picture attendant to more that is real
life, and in my opinion with the coming of
visualized radio reception prove a boom
to the legitimate stage.
EDWARD A. JUUL
Sheboygan, Wis.
1. Interior treatment and proper propor-
tions must be adapted to synchronized
pictures.
2. Construction of buildings will have to
be taken into account in new theatres.
3. Smaller houses and depending on over-
head of showing pictures.
4. Yes.
SWAN A. CLAUSEN
Decatur, 111.
1. No additional effect if acoustics have
been properly taken into account.
2. More formal types of buildings.
3. Yes.
4. Reconstruct, no. Acoustical treatment,
yes.
FRED W. ELLIOTT
Columbus, O.
1. It will become a very important factor
and must be given proper consideration
as good acoustics in the present day the-
atres seems to have been gravely over-
looked.
2. Theatres must be designed and con-
structed so as to produce good acoustics.
3. It will eliminate the very large theatres
on account of the acoustics, and the small
theatres on account of the expense of in-
srtallation and operation.
4. I believe that SO per cent of the new
theatres will develop defective acoustics
and that many auditoriums will have to
be re-designed and re-constructed.
VICTOR A. RIGAUMONT
New York City
1. If proper sound distribution is ar-
ranged by means of sound stations
throughout the auditorium, the problem
of acoustics is eliminated. The sound
picture with proper sound distribution
will solve the acoustics problem in many
of today's theatres.
2. They will compel the erection of large
theatres sufficiently ample to hold maxi-
mum capacity audiences to permit a re-
duction in admission prices throughout
volume of business and cut down over-
head and cost.
3. No, indeed. Larger houses will be
the rule. Why speak of smaller houses.
kL
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
y*
•V
. the topics for discussion
1. What effect will synchronized pic-
tures have on the acoustics in build-
ing the theatre of the future?
2. What effect will synchronized pic-
tures have on theatre design and
construction in general?
3. With inauguration of synchronized
pictures will there he a tendency
toward smaller houses, or houses of
the more intimate type?
4. Will it be necessary for present day
theatres to reconstruct so as to pro-
vide for the proper acoustical prop-
erties in the auditoriums?
J"
when every theatre owner wants more
seats. There are enough small theatres
now to meet any demand.
4. If proper sound distribution stations
are used, only slight alterations will be
required to accommodate concealed sound
horns. No other alteration or reconstruc-
tion will be necessary.
GENERAL COMMENT— Sound pictures
are a boon to the business but they must
be "humanized" as nearly as possible
through proper and pleasant distribution
of sound.
BESECKE & DE FOE
Kansas City, Mo.
1. Should not have any if building is
built correctly. Otherwise it will force
more study and care for acoustical re-
sults.
2. Will have a tendency to have better
architects and builders do this very im-
portant work.
3. — .
4. Cannot answer this.
GENERAL COMMENT— This is very
fine and necessary development and in
line with progress which we all must con-
form to. I am for it 100 per cent.
FRED A. BISHOP
Richmond, Va.
1. It is my opinion that acoustics must
be perfect for best results.
2. Nobody knows.
3. Larger houses.
4. Yes.
GENERAL COMMENT— It is my opin-
ion that synchronized pictures will save
the day for the moving picture industry
and it will be necessary for all theatres to
be designed and altered to properly get
the best results without reverberation.
ELMER F. BEHRNS
Chicago, 111.
1. There will be no effect other than acous-
tical design for present theatre with
speaking stage.
2. Design will probably change in order
to build in the speakers.
3. I believe there will continue to be a
demand for houses of 1,000 or 2,000 seats.
4. If the acoustical properties in the pres-
ent auditoriums are good, they will not
need reconstruction. Otherwise acoustical
treatment will be necessary.
W. H. LEE
Philadelphia, Pa.
1. None, unless a theatre is constructed
for an exclusive synchronized picture pol-
icy when corrective acoustics treatment
would be applied for perfect reception of
synchronization.
2. Would affect stage and projection
booth only the theatre design for exclu-
Signs That Sell!
n^ HE brilliantly lighted Milne Made
-■- Electric Signs are the signs that sell.
They shout your show message to the
crowds that fill your theatre. They attract
attention for they are built by men who
know and understand "showmanship."
The best Theatres in the country are
using MILNE Signs because they are con-
vinced that this "showmanship" is built
right in.
Send U9 the name #/ your theatre and let
us submit a colored sketch to you^—no ob-
ligation on your part,
MILNE ELECTRIC SIGN COMPANY
614-618 Cherry St.
Milwaukee, Wis.
The Palace Or-
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the brightest spot
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Chicago Branch: 4352 Broadway
Graeeland 4289
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SIGNS
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THE
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The laiest and greatest step forward in the development of High Intensity
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Snow White High Intensity Light. 60 Amperes equal in screen illumination to
120 amperes with the older High Intensity Lamps. Gives more and better light for
current expended.
HALL & CONNOLLY, INC.
129 Grand Street New York City
44
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
The New
CLOSED
i .1
SHOWING INTERIOR
EASY
ELECTRIC
HEATER
Automatic Temperature
Controlled
Designed especially for
Theatre Organ Chambers,
Box Offices, etc., but will
prove useful in many
other places.
Write for particulars
O
Made in 500, 1000, 1500
and 2000 watt capacity
KAUSALITE
MFG. CO
8129 Rhodes Ave., Chicago, 111.
Patented
The New
FLUSH WALL
AISLE LIGHT
for
Ramps, Stairways and
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Hotels and Hospitals
Made in two sizes — standard^
and junior for use over tables
in hospital patients* rooms.
^^rjJk ■. ' '■■ '•'
OUR STANDARD CHAIR TYPE
Decoration and Ekjuipment
To
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Must
— ^be designed to harmonize with the architectural scheme
— be carefully selected to secure pleasing comfort and rest-
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Midwest Unified Service Covers Every Requirement of Building — Dec-
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A Scientific Service Harmonizing the Work of Architect — Engineer —
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Write for Estimates
MIDWEST
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209 S. Third Street Main 2033
COLUMBUS, OHIO
y
x
. . the topics for discussion
1. What effect will synchronized pic-
tures lutve on the acoustics in build-
ing the theatre of the future?
2. What effect will synchronized pic-
tures have on theatre design and
construction in general?
3. With inauguration of synchronized
pictures will there he a tendency
toward smaller houses, or houses of
the more intimate type?
4. Will it be necessary for present day
theatres to reconstruct so as to pro-
vide for the proper acoustical prop-
erties in the auditoriums?
V J"
sive use of sound pictures.
3. If sound in pictures increases the
patronage the theatre should be larger.
4. Not in my opinion.
HODGENS & HILL
A. D. Hill
Philadelphia, Pa.
1. We don't know.
2. The machine rooms become larger and
a very important part of the design. Stage
must be five feet deeper than before.
3. Why should the house become smaller.
The tendency is toward larger houses on
account of competition in film rentals and
operation.
4. No.
GENER.AL COAIAIENT— The next step
will be to have horns in the auditorium
as well as on the stage, so that the sound
is clear under balconies in large houses.
LEE, SMITH & VAN DERVOORT
Horace L. Smith, Jr.
Richmond, Va.
1. It will demand more careful analysis
of the acoustical properties from the
plans, and the application of acoustical
treatment when the auditorium is con-
structed.
2. No change, except in minor details.
3. Unknown at present.
4. In a large number of cases it will re-
quire the addition of sound absorbing ma-
terials.
DICK BAUER
Milwaukee, Wis.
3. The smaller of the theatres will be pref-
erable.
4. I am not of that opinion. Most the-
atres are properly designed.
GENERAL COAfMENT— Synchronized
pictures will assist materially in creating a
revival in the motion picture industr}-.
ROYAL L. SIMMONS
Elkhart, Ind.
1. Will necessitate more attention given
acoustics in the designs than has been
given in most of the movie houses.
2. Answered by the above.
3. Can make no prophecy.
4. In some cases interior remodeling; in
others, the use of different materials.
GENERAL COMMENT— Personally do
not see the advantage, something left to
imagination is desirable.
C. A. SANDBLOM
New York City
1. Must have good acoustics, in fact, bet-
ter than ever before. The sound will
come from one point only and this may
be the point a singer would select.
2. Projecting boxes near stage may be ob-
jectionable. Larger projection room and
more space on stage or platform will be
needed.
3. Larger houses when sound is perfected.
4. Some walls may need to be faced with
acoustic material.
September 1. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
45
Design for a {>anel, an
examj>le of wall ■paint-
ing suitable to the
theatre lounge. The
entire decoration is
in two colors. To in-
dicate a possible use
of the panel, a seat
has been sketched in.
Considerations for
the Decorating of the
Theatre Lounge in Paint
By HAWLEY M. LASHER
Instructor in Illinois College of Painting and Decorating.
PROBABLY no part of the theatre pro-
vides the decorator with more of a
chance to give wing to whatever artistic
aspirations he may have, than the lounges,
rest rooms or smoking rooms. This depart-
ment is the subject for our consideration this
time. Thoughtful care should be exercised
in selecting a suitable decorative scheme for
the particular purposes of the room in mind.
Should it be the men's lounge, for instance,
the decorations should be in the plainer and
sturdier style. By that, however, I do not
mean a heavy or clumsy decoration, nor
blatant, strident shades, which would give one
a sense of the barbaric, repelling, rather than
appealing.
Occasionally, when one visits a room deco-
rated in a heavy, gaudy design, in which colors
have been lavishly used without proper re-
gard to harmony or tone, one is conscious of
an acute sense of ugliness, provoked by a
chaotic assembling of bewildering colors and
shades, to the more sensitive person, utterly
stupefying in their combined effect and vio-
lently negative in their welcome. Fortunately,
the lounges in the average theatre of today are
being given more and more careful study
and consideration, and I think the observer
will find that all the efforts along this line
are being appreciated by the patrons.
At any and all times the decorator should
take into immediate consideration the lighting
arrangement, noting whether it is subdued or
bright, direct or indirect. He should also
know what the woodwork, furniture, dra-
peries, etc., are to be like. The color selected
for the background in the decorations should
be the predominating shade of the room, one
that will be complementary to associated dec-
orations and furnishings.
The decoration itself, of course, depends
upon the ability of the decorator, not only
to work with skill, for that is to be taken for
granted here, but upon his talent for selecting
lints and shades so as to produce the exact
tones required by the room. The decorator
should prepare and have ready for use all
of his finishing tints and colors, in order
that the work, once begun, may be completed
without delay.
Vandewalker says, "Art in decorating is
based upon the ability of a craftsman to mix
colors, hues, tints and shades from principal
tinting colors exactly to suit the needs of his
problem," and further, that nothing short of
Detail of the floral decoration appearing in the panel shown at the top of the
page. This hkewise is in two colors, the flowers being shaped by the Lasher
wipe-out methods.
study, diligent pursuit of the subject and ex-
perience will develop masterful skill in color
mixing. And also, that after acquiring such
skill, the craftsman must then forget the mere
technicalities of the process, and having made
them a second nature to himself, apply his
knowledge without thought of the mechanics
of the process, to the expression of beauty
in color.
A few suggestions concerning the mixing of
desired tints, with color harmony our object,
I shall now endeavor to present. We shall
assume our object is to complete a room in
tones of light gray, with a Tiffany effect, using
but two colors to get our different tones.
Cobalt blue being a beautiful color pigment,
assuring the decorator delicate azure tints,
may serve for illustrative purposes here. To
the same end, let us select Venetian red (the
best grade of Venetian red produces delicate
pink tones), using zinc oxide as the supporting
material.
The ceiling and walls may be coated, stip-
pled and finished in a light ivory background,
which is glazed over. Mix the colors sepa-
rately with the zinc oxide, then add the Vene-
tian tints to the blue and the blue to the Vene-
tian tint, until the desired gray tone is
obtained, one a cool blue-gray, the other a
warm gray. Glaze the space on the ceiling
with clear glazing liquid, then apply the colors
in large alternate spots. When the surface is
thus spotted in, blend them, mingling them
so that the spot effect is no longer discernible.
Then the whole is mottled with rags, paper,
sponge or other suitable material. The re-
sult should be a pleasing light cloud effect.
The walls, to continue our example, are
treated in the same manner, only slightly
stronger colors are used than were used for
the ceiling. Should a stencil border be de-
sired, the same colors, carefully blended, will
give the stencil the desired harmony with
the background. In this connection, however,
I he decorator should be warned that a great
deal of care must be exercised in the spotting
in of the colors and in the rubbing out of the
highlights. But this should not be difficult
for a decorator who has learned his business
well, and the result will be a room harmoni-
ously decorated — and what is important also,
a room swiftly decorated with but the use of
two brushes.
A beautiful two-tone effect may be ob-
tained by selecting a suitable shade of glaze
and applying over it a lighter background,
mottling it according to the final eft'ect desired.
46
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
Stage Equipment
Orchestra - " Organ - - Stage Lifts
Steel and Asbestos Fire Curtain and
Counterweight Rigging installed in
The Fox Theatre
Brooklyn, N. Y.
C. Howard Crane, Architect
PETER CLARK
INC.
544 West 30th Street, New York
Orchestra • Console ■ Stage Elevators
Counterweight Systems ■ Fire Curtains
Theatres that have eHminated
Orchestras on Account of In-
stallation of Movietone and
Vitaphone, decorate their
Orchestra Pit with
REISINQ'S
True to Nature
Artificial Flowers
and Plants
There Are None Better
G. Reising & Co^
227 West Austin Avenue
Chicago, 111.
Write for Our Catalogue
September 1, 1928
An Atmospheric
Theatre at
$175,000
(Co7itmued from page 41)
exits exclusive of the ramp exits which pro-
vide adequate fire protection. Behind the
grilles which form the towers over the garden
entrance are the large organ chambers, where
are placed the maze of pipes and the many
other instruments which make up the modern
Wurlitzer organ. Just below the organ grilles
and over either gate of this miniature garden
are electrically operated clocks with luminous
dials.
The proscenium carries out to the last de-
tail the general design of the theatre. The
seats, by Haywood- Wakefield, were designed
and built especially for the theatre. Just in
front of the stage the large orchestra pit pro-
vides ample space for the orchestra, which
will occupy the pit on vaudeville nights.
Soft carpets cover the gently sloping aisles.
There are no stairways, for the house con-
tains no balcony. From the upper ends of
the ramps a broad aisle extends the full width
of the auditorium and a light rail seems to
divide the auditorium into two floors without
in fact doing so. Ramps and aisles are car-
peted so luxuriously that no sound is heard
and no performance is marred by jarring
noises.
The heating and ventilating of the theatre
has also been carefully studied and has been
installed to satisfactorily care for patrons.
For fire protection the boiler room has been
placed with entrance off the alley only. The
boilers, which are two in number, are oil
burners, thermostatically controlled.
The artificial trees and flowers used in the
decorative scheme were supplied by G. Reising
& Company of Chicago.
The New Lobero
Theatre
{Continued from page 32)
expended on the stage and the house furnish-
ings.
The spirit of Jose Lobero, builder of the
first Lobero theatre, permeates the atmosphere
of the new structure, for a colorful and fitting
decoration was added to the loggia of the
theatre in the form of a tablet commemorat-
ing the fact that the old playhouse of Jose
Lobero stood on the ground occupied.
The clipper ship was chosen as a manner of
heraldic bearing, since it is the device which
must always be associated with Lobero as a
theatre-owner. The old "Ship Curtain" was
brought to Santa Barbara from the Maguire
Opera House in San Francisco in 1875, to
grace the proscenium of Lobero's theatre,
where it rose and fell on all the variety of
entertainment which played to Santa Barbara.
The curtain is still in the possession of the
present Lobero theatre.
Theatres Changed Hands
HUCKERMAN, ARK.— Charles Lawrence has wo\A
the Star theatre to W. L. Johnson.
COLLINSVILLE, ALA.— M. G. Weaver has sold
the Ck)met theatre to C. C. Siniard.
BRIDGEPORT. CONN. — The Strand Amusement
Company has leased the Barnum theatre for a term
of five years.
TAMPA, FLA. — The new Hyde Park theatre, under
construction, has been acquired by the Southern The-
atres, Inc. The structure will have seating capacity
of 2,500 and represent an investment of approxi-
mately $400,000. Pictures and vaudeville will be fea-
tured.
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.— The Kingston theatre
has been leased by George A. Clifford, of Tampa.
Fla., for a period of five years.
i\L
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
Modem
Installations
The tendency among theatres, both
large and small throughout the
country is to modernize. Evidence
of this encouraging situation is
found m the many installations
of equipment reported by leading
manufacturers.
J. H. Channon Corporation
Stage Rigging Hardware
Cleveland, O., equipping its Civic Audi-
torium with two steel curtains both for fire-
proofing and acoustics. This will make
three curtains it has in its auditorium. The
original curtain was installed some five years
ago b.v the Channon Corporation. Since that
time, the Civic Auditorium at Minneapolis had
a steel curtain installed by the same company.
G. Raising 8C Company
Artificial Flowers and Plants
Mishawaka theatre, Mishawaka, Ind.
Loew's theatre, Louisville, Kj-.
Palace theatre, Marion, O.
Paradise theatre, Chicago.
Richard R. Bruckner
Stage Rigging Hardware
Forum theatre, Philadelphia, Pa.
Nixon theatre, Philadelphia, Pa.
Commodore theatre, Philadelphia, Pa.
Eighth and South Streets, Philadelphia, Pa.
The Marr 8C Colton Company
Organs
Smalley theatre, Johnstown, N. Y., three
manual.
Capitol theatre. Wheeling. W. Va., four
manual with push button control elevator.
Rialto theatre, Beaver Falls, Pa., three man-
ual with push button control elevator.
Emer theatre, Duquesne, Pa, three manual.
Palace theatre, Danbury, Conn., three man-
ual.
Princess theatre. South Norwalk, Conn.,
three manual.
Princess theatre, Ambridge, Pa., three man-
ual.
Sherman theatre. East Stroudsburg, Pa.,
four manual.
Imperial theatre, Kulpmont, Pa. three man-
ual.
Wallace theatre, Connellsville, Pa., three
manual.
Ermo theatre. South Bend, Ind., three man-
ual.
Brighton theatre, Syracuse, N. Y., three
manual.
Wayland theatre, Wayland, N. Y., two man-
ual.
Brighton theatre, Pittsburgh, Pa., three
manual.
New theatre, Bethesda, Md., two manual.
99
Alden in ** Salvage
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— Mary Alden has
been added to the cast of "Salvage," the Uni-
versal production being directed by Wesley
Ruggles. Mary Philbin, Otis Harlan and
Fred MacKaye head the cast.
Rogers Assists Stone
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Will Rogers will
return to the stage to take the place of
Fred Stone, who was injured in an airplane
accident on August 3.
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Export Department: 44 Wliitehall St., New York City
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New
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The problems of providing an efficient reflective sur-
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IT CAN BE WASHED
For complete information see your dealer or write direct
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922-924 West Monroe Street, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
48
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1. 1928 |
Write for an interesting folder Bulletin 3 which
describes and illustrates the many advantages and
special features of this new spotlight.
SPOTLIGHTS
— with Remote'Control Color Frames
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spotlights may be located wherever re-
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they may be controlled and operated
without the least difficulty, from the
switchboard or some other convenient
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spotlights can be controlled with the same
ease; and they may be wired to a control
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preset control — permitting an endless
variety of changing color effects — all
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't'syourCash
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PREY for every hold-up man. burglar and
bandit, motion picture theatres need the best
protection obtainable for their cash.
Many of the largest chain organizations have
standardized upon the York Round Door Chest
which entitles the owner to the lowest burglary
insurance rate.
Just write your name and address on the
margin of this advertisement for complete,
information.
York Safe
and Lock
Company
York, Pa.
Camera That Takes Timed
Sequences of Portraits
1,671,644. AUTOMATIC CAMERA FOR TAKING
TIMED SEQUENCES OF PORTRAITS. Anatol M.
Josepho, New York, N. Y., assignor to Photomaton,
Inc., New York, N. Y., a Corporation of New York.
Filed Sept. 15, 1923. Serial No. 662,921. 6 Claims.
(CI. 88—17.)
1. In photographic apparatus for taking a series
of pictures in sequence upon a unitary strip, a
camera having an exposure field, means for moving
a flexible sensitized strip through the exposure field
step by step, means for severing the exposed portion
of said strip, driving apparatus for said two means,
and an automatic control for said driving apparatus
effective to limit the film moving steps to sequences
each of a predetermined number of steps only, and
to cause actuation of said severing means apon the
completion of each sequence of exposures.
Better
Projection
(Continued from page 25)
a satisfactory picture of that size in a theatre.
In a home, a lodge hall, etc., we will declare
a picture to be just "fine" which we would
instantly "thumbs down" in a theatre.
I could not advise you as to the projection
lens without knowing the free diameter of
your protection lens and the distance from
film to its rear surface.
I can advise you, however, that 3'ou will
do well to install a regular standard projec-
tor. In the end you will find it will pay,
even if j^ou have to borrow the money to do
it. The improvement in results w-ill be more
than sufficient to justify the expenditure, be-
cause it will inevitably increase your box
oflice income.
Best Kind
of Light Source
I am receiving so many inquiries from
projectionists, mostly from the smaller towns
and cities, as to which is the best Hght source
to use under varying conditions that some dis-
cussion of the subject seems to be in order.
There are now six available sources of light
for motion picture projection, namely the
straight DC arc. the AC arc, the Mazda lamp,
the high intensity arc, the reflector arc and
the high intensity reflector arc. Of these we
may immediately disregard two, viz : the AC
arc and the straight DC arc. The former
should not be used for projection at all. It is
inefficient — highly so. It does not produce
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
49
a good projection light, the tone being harsh.
It is difficult to handle and in every way
bad for projection purposes.
Next comes the straight DC arc, which was
for many years the standby. It was, in fact,
considered a very wonderful projection light
source before the advent of high intensity
and the reflector arc. Very excellent results
may be had with it, but only at the expense
of a high degree of inefficiency as compared
with the reflector arc, which can duplicate its
best performance, and do it at about one-
third or even one-fourth the current cost.
The high intensity arc is expensive in opera-
tion, but gives a very brilliant, though harsh,
screen illumination, whereas the Mazda pro-
duces a very soft, yellow-tone light, limited
in available quantity, but sufficient for a not-
to-large picture. The high intensity reflector
type lamp still is somewhat in the experi-
mental stage, but it now looks as though it
and the straight reflector arc would pretty
nearly, if not quite, fill all projection needs.
* * *
All this every well posted projectionist al-
readj' knows, of course, but what is not so
generally known is just which one of the
various available light sources is best adapted
for use in anj' particular set of conditions,
and it is that question I propose to discuss
with you now.
First of all let us consider the weskest
of all the four sources which we may consider
as available, the Mazda.
Mazda, as I have said, produces a very
soft, mild tone, yellowish light, which may
appear perfectly white until put into com-
petition with the light from an arc. Its prin-
cipal object is the divergence of the beam
between the aperture and the projection lens,
which is largely overcome by the more modern
Mazda projector optical train, and the fact
that it is not in any degree flexible.
By that last I mean that the volume of
light produced cannot be altered at will with-
in fairly wide ranges, as is the case with any
of the other available sources. This means
that when a very dense subject must be pro-
jected it is likely to appear as a very dim
screen image, because there is no surplus
light available. With an arc and a proper
control, it is always possible to increase or
decrease the light within a considerable range,
though, of course, that may only be done at
some sacrifice in efficiency because the optical
train, if operating efficiently, is adjusted to a
light source of a certain diameter or area,
and will not operate efficiently with a source
either larger or smaller. However, it is worth
some temporary waste to be able to com-
petently illuminate a dense film.
* * *
We may then, I think, conclude that Mazda
is only suitable for use in theatres where the
viewing distance is short, hence there is no
real need for high illumination. It is eco-
nomical in operation, but real knowledge and
skill is required for its efficient handling. It
is very sensative and must be adjusted in
precisely the right manner. A wrong adjust-
ment of the lamp of so little as 1/32 of an
inch is a serious matter indeed, and unintelli-
gent handling may entail a constant high
expense in the matter of lamp replacements.
As to the regular reflector arcs, I cannot
too strongly warn you not to purchase un-
known, unvouched for equipment merely be-
cause its cost price is low. There are sev-
eral really high class reflector arc lamps on
the market. Some of them are advertised
in this paper. DON'T let a smooth talking
salesman persuade you into buying any other
than one of these well known makes, or you
may be very sorry. This department will,
upon request, by the manufacturer, examine
into the merits of reflector arc lamp equip-
ment and, after each such examination, will
publish the fact if it is found to be good,
dependable apparatus.
High grade reflector arc lamps are suit-
able for use in any theatre where the view-
ing distance is not such, or the required pic-
ture size such, that a very powerful light
source is required. In other words, the ordi-
nary reflector arc lamp is suitable for any
theatre in which a high intensity light source
is not required. In small theatres it may be
a choice between Mazda and the reflector.
That must be decided by the individual and
by what he wants.
The reflector arc operates efficiently.
Twenty-five amperes should be the extreme
limit of amperage, though some foolishly use
Type "C"
RAVEN ^y\W|§^^ SCREEN
is IDEAL for
REFLECTOR LAMPS
Consult Your Dealer or Us
RAVEN SCREEN CORPORATION
1476 Broadway New York, N. Y.
TYPHOON nOOlINC SYSTEM
I TYPHOON FAN CO. *J XA"^ Vt/-?q'-"<;T •J NFWVnDK
345 W. 39 -ST.
NEW YORK
50
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
Lighting the Minds
of Your Patrons!
Your patrons notice the house
lighting. They may not say any-
thing about it but it registers iust
the same. Favorable or unfavor-
able . . . subconsciously they
react to its effect I Decorative
lighting is largely responsible for
the illusion of the theatre. The
restful atmosphere . . . soft lights . . .
blending colors . .the Land of Forget!
The House of VOIGT has for
years specialized in decorative
lighting for theatres. Most prom-
inent, nationally known houses are
VOIGT lighted! There's a rea-
son of course. Pictorially it will be
found in the book "Lighting Fix-
tures for Theatres." Send for it.
VOIGT COMPANY
Designers and Manufacturers
Decorative Lighting Equipment
For Theatres
1743-49 NORTH 1 2th STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
IMPORTANT
NOTICE
IN AN EARLY IS-
SUE OF THIS PUB-
LICATION WE
WILL ANNOUNCE
A NEW PRODUCT
OF VITAL INTER-
E S T TO EVERY
EXHIBITOR.
AUTOMATIC DEVICES CO.
737 Hamilton Street
ALLENTOWN, PA.
Manufacturers of
A.D.C. Automatic Curtain Control
Roll E-Z Curtain Tracks
Stabilarc Motor Generators
thirty. At 25 amperes, if it is in the hands
of a competent projectionist, it can be made
to produce fully as much screen illumination
as could be had from an 80-ampere straight
DC arc. Carefully and properly handled,
using only 12 amperes, it will give all the
light really needed on a 16-foot picture, ex-
cept with very dense films. The light is a
very pure white. It is rather soft in tone.
As to the reflector high intensity arc, I do
not yet care to express an opinion, but ap-
parently it will pretty nearly, if not quite,
equal the straight high intensity, and the
light tone is distinctly better.
The high intensity should only be consid-
ered where the viewing distance is very long
— say in excess of 125 feet, and the conditions
such that a screen of pretty heavy diffusive
power must be used. Such a condition calls
for a large picture and high screen illumina-
tion. In fact it calls for all the light it is
possible to get through a projector optical
train, and that means, of course, high inten-
sity, qualified by what I have remarked con-
cerning the high intensity reflector lamp.
There, gentlemen, I think that covers the
matter as well as I know how to cover it.
I will welcome criticism or comments by
our readers. The matter is an important one.
This last week I have had answered nine
inquiries concerning the proper light source
for different theatres, ranging from Saskat-
chewan to Jacksonville, Florida. That is un-
usual, but they come in steadily.
Kind of Light
Source Required
G. T. Baldy, projectionist, Kindersley, Sas-
katchewan, asks :
What kind of light source would be most suitable
for the following condition: Auditorium 110x32 feet,
projection distance 95 feet, maximum viewing dis-
tance (screen to rear seats) 95 feet, front row 20
feet from screen, picture size 12x9 feet?
The above is the only dope I have. The theatre
is now under construction in another town. They
propose to install reflector type arcs. I claim that
the latest Mazda equipment, including the latest lens
for Mazda, would give excellent results.
They want me to take charge of projection and
I would like to have a reply at once.
Sorry, brother, but things have conspired
to throw me behind with my correspondence,
and your letter was just reached this morn-
ing. I am catching up a bit now, thanks be.
They, in my opinion, have the right dope.
In this I am sure vou will agree when vou
get hold of the reflector lamps, PROVIDED
they get first class equipment. But there is
a real danger. There are several very high
grade reflector lamps on the market. Also
there are some which lack a lot of being
"excellent," so they should watch their step
carefully. Those advertised in our columns
are high grade, you may depend upon that.
Yes, Mazda will give good results, if ex-
pertly handled, but it has not the flexibility
of the reflector type. No matter how dense
a film, 3'ou ha^•e just so much light available,
and that's that.
The reflector type lamp can be operated very
economically. As low as 12 amperes gives ex-
cellent results on a 12-foot picture with ordi-
nary film density, provided the screen is what
it should be. Then if an especially dense
film comes along, you can shoot up your light
and still get good results. If there is any-
thing especially new in Mazda equipment it
has not as yet been "brung" to our attention.
I will have Messrs. Hall & Connolly send the
builders of the theatre data concerning their
equipment.
What Do
You Think?
G. W. Bennewitz, projectionist, Egyptian
theatre, Sioux Falls, S. D., has woke himself
up again and comes in with a bit of a roast
because I am running the same sound syn-
chronization articles in both the Better
(Continued on page 53)
mmMi
Used by Leading Theatres
All Over the United States
Dated Reserved Seats, to diagram
Folded Machine Tickets, for all makes
of machines
Roll and Strip Tickets
Season Passes, rain checks, press
tickets, etc.
COUPON BOOKS
all sizes and denominations.
Send for samples. Ask us to quote on all
your ticket requirements.
Send for booklet illustrated helou)
The Arcus Ticket Co.
346 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago
qa'^Arcus Ticket Co.
548 KAshland Ave. Chi<^.III.
The Proper Control of Light
On Your Screen
Picture films vary ai well as current eonditionfl.
Your projectionist can adjust his arc current to
always give you a clear, bright picture if you
equip with PERFECTION. Current savlmg •bo Is
a result of PERFECTION equipment, for ha aaad
not use full current till the actual projection Is
started.
perfPction
SV^^
REMOTE CONTROL RHEOSTATS
An Ever Grotcing List of Satisfied VBerwt
Eoiy Theatre — New Yorlt Proctor's 86tli Su—Sev
City York City
Paramount Theatre — New Cohan Theatre — New York
York City City
Bialto Theatre — New York Publii Theatre — Buffalo.
City N. Y.
Blroli Theatre — New Yori New Capitol — Binghamton.
City N. Y.
Loew's State Theatre — New Keith's Theatre — Phllartcl-
York City phia
Loew's State Theatre — New- Carman Theatre — I'biladel-
ark, N. J. phia
Loew's Texas Theatre — Proctor's Throire — New
Houston, Texas EocheUe. N Y
Loew's 86th St. — Brooklyn, Proctor's Theatr. — w h I t e
N. Y. Plains. N. T
Loew's State — Columbus. O. Fox's Wastiingtmi— Wash-
Astor Tlieatre — New York ington. D. C.
City —and m€uiy athert
Sold by Theatre Supply Dealers
HOFFMANN & SOONS
Mfg. Division
387 First Avenue New York City
Contracting Electrical Engineers — Movinp P\c-
ture Theatre Electrical Sf'enalisis
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
I Learn About
ORQANS
By JAY M. SHRECK
y
•v
This article on tone qualities and organ buying
concludes the author's visit to the Kilgen plant in
St. Louis. The purpose of this series has been to
give the exhibitor a clearer conception of the
organ as an instrument for motion picture accom-
paniment. Organ music today has a secure place
in the motion picture theatre!
X
^
BY this time I felt that I could materially assist in the
building of a Kilgen organ, but I was soon to find out
that I hadn't gotten all of the information as yet, for
my host informed me that in this interview they were to tell
me about how necessary it was to properly design a theatre
organ tonally so that it would be successful for theatre work.
It was explained to me that a long time ago the organs
were designed primarily for the physical properties of the
building, i. e., the size of the auditorium, the acoustics, hard
or soft plaster, and the general shape of the auditorium itself.
However, in recent years, instead of simply following out a
design taking into consideration the physical properties of the
building, the advanced organ companies also design the organ
tonally to meet the needs of the work in which it is to be used.
Primarily, the theatre organ must be colorful in tone, and
the only way this color is accomplished in an organ is by hav-
ing a wide variety of instruments, voiced very distinctly, and
accurately so there is a great contrast between them. In other
words, this is identical with the way color is obtained in an
orchestra. In an orchestra, you have your string section,
violins, violas, cellos, and your wood winds,
flute, etc., your brasses, or reeds, and percus-
sions, all of distinctly different tone quali-
ties. It is only through having this tone color
that the organist may interpret and cue prop-
erly the picture.
If an organ does not possess this color of
tone, it becomes dull and uninteresting, for
there is not enough contrast between the dif-
ferent qualities of tone. Possibly the first time
an audience hears such an organ it sounds all
right to them, but after the show progresses,
and when they come back a second time, the
instrument always sounds the same, due to
this lack of contrast between the different in-
struments.
Above: Art7st voicing a tuba in the K.ilgren {>lant.
Belotu: Four manual Kilgen showing the control tablets.
Now there is only one way to obtain tone
color in an organ, and it is not nearly as
complicated as it may appear. It simply
means that voicers must be employed by the
organ company who specialize in voicing cer-
tain instruments, such as flute, reeds, and
other voicers who specialize in the voicing of
flutes, etc., until you have specialists in the
whole ensemble of the organ. A violin made
by Amati or Stradivarius is considered tre-
mendously more valuable than one made by
some ordinary workman, and so it is in the
organ. If the instruments are voiced by
world renowned specialists the resulting prod-
uct is superior.
My host explained to me that they had liter-
ally combed the civilized countries of the
world in building up their voicing staff so
that at present there were at least eight inter-
nationally known specialists voicing these in-
struments.
Further, it was explained to me that in order
to allow these expert voicers to work at their
greatest efficiency, that the actual pipes must
be made up to a remarkable standard, that the
scales or diameters had to be arranged with
the greatest care, drawing upon a large vari-
ety of experience, and that the thickness of
the pipe walls and also whether they were
made of wood or metal, and many other
things had a tremendous bearing on the tone
of the true orchestral organ.
A question was asked me. "Did you know
that action had a direct bearing on tone?"
I thought this over and said that I knew that
the action had to be responsive and had to
be reliable and quick in speech, and shouldn't
get out of order, but I didn't see what it had
to do with tone. It was then explained to me
that if the action was simply quick in re-
sponse when an individual instrument was
played, and not when the full organ or the
majority of instruments were played, that it
would give the whole organ that groaning ef-
fect which is hard to describe but really drives
an audience to distraction after a while. So
I learned that special valves for feeding the
chests with air had been perfected by this
company so that the response was instantane-
ous not only on a single note or instrument
but that when full organ was played, and that
on very large instruments it was possible to
give what orchestra leaders call "orchestral
attack" because of this remarkable response
of the full organ.
The successful organ of today in the the-
atre is built upon the unified system which
makes it possible for each set of pipes in the
organ to be used for solo playing, and to be
played from various positions bringing out
the true orchestral timbre of the instrument.
A very important factor, also, is the pres-
sure of wind at which these pipes are blown
when they speak. In the theatre organ, in
order to get this true orchestral color and re-
sponse it must be at a greater pressure than
in the average organ. I inquired just what
the exhibitor is to do about all of this. But
as I asked this question the answer came to
my mind before it was answered, for it was
very evident to me that the exhibitor who de-
sired to get the most for his money in the
purchase of an organ, that is, an organ that
would really amuse and entertain his audience
day after day — should go to the builder of
established reputation, one who specialized in
the building of fine organs only, one who has
a reputation for honesty and sincerity in their
recommendations and business dealings, one
52
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
Right:
The
Exterior
Decoration
of
Organ
Chambers,
Piccadilly
Theatre,
Chicago
Below:
The
Exterior
Decoration
of
Organ
Chambers,
Lido
Theatre,
Chicago
who has a reputation for really designing and
building artistic organs and place his prob-
lem with them, and undoubtedly the result
will be a perfect tonally designed organ, for
such a company will have had a vast experi-
ence in the tonal design of organs. Such a
company, I learned, has the consulting advice
of the leading theatre organists, and certainly
they are in a position far better then any in-
dividual to know just what should be built to
give the best results, and to draw up the most
logical tonal design for an organ.
_ I had heard so much about organs by this
time that the thought kept runnmg through
my mind as to just how I should buy an organ
in order to be sure to embody all these things
explained as being so necessary.
I put this question in words, and they ex-
plained that it is a very diffcult thing to lay
down any set rule to follow in selecting the
proper theatre organ, but that they could give
me certain conclusions reached from the ex-
perience of exhibitors in buying theatre or-
gans during the past 20 years, for it was
explained to me that it was just 23 years
since they had installed the first theatre or-
gan in St. Louis.
It seems essential that the exhibitor have
a working knowledge of the plans of his the-
atre, with particular views to the organ
chambers and the size of the auditorium and
the seating capacity, as well as an approxi-
mate estimate of the funds available for the
purchase of the organ. This much should be
completed before the final plans of the archi-
tect are accepted. The exhibitor should then
make a careful investigation of the reputation,
standards of workmanship, financial standing,
building equipment, and amount of experience
possessed by the various organ companies.
When this has been completed he can select
a number of those organ builders that seem to
meet these requirements. He should then fur-
nish the builder with data regarding the size
of the auditorium, seating capacity, etc., and
arrange for an interview with the representa-
tive of the company selected. The experi-
enced organ company will send out a trained
representative to go over this in detail, and
make a survey of the actual conditions, and,
from this information compiled, will he able
to submit a proper design, embodying all those
features explained in the previous interviews.
such as a colorful organ, responsive one —
and also arrange to see that the architect and
organ builder are in touch toward the proper
placing of the organ.
The experience of an organ builder cannot
be emphasized too strongly for it is only by
building countless organs over a period of
years for many different uses that the builder
is able to accumulate that experience which is
so necessary in the building of a theatre or-
gan that is really orchestral and really has
those effects necessary for the proper cueing
of pictures.
The modern theatre organ is not an inven-
tion, but is a result of slow development
through the ages, the exhibitor will find it
more than worth his while to make a thor-
ough investigation before he buys; to inspect
the type of action of instruments under con-
sideration, limiting his choice to the firms that
use only the best leather and pure silver elec-
trical contacts, and magnets preferably of
brass with the cores of finest Norwegian iron.
He should take the time to investigate certain
of the finished products of the builders se-
lected, so that he may find whether or not the
organ has that true orchestral tone, that im-
mediate response, and that variety and color
in voicing that are so necessary.
The time spent by the exhibitor in making
such an investigation is anything but lost, for
he takes himself out of the position of buy-
ing "paper descriptions" and instead chooses
his organ from what has actually been shown
him and demonstrated.
The wise exhibitor, they told me, will never
himself, nor will not allow his purchasing
agent to divide the total number of pipes in
the organ into the price, as a means of arriv-
ing at a competitive cost. In modern organ
building the number of pipes in an organ is
a secondary consideration. The construction
of the pipes, their scales, and the way they
are voiced, and the perfection of action — all
this determines whether or not the organ you
have bought will "click" — and not how many
pipes in your organ. An organ of seven sets
of pipes, artistically voiced with true orches-
tral tone, they told me, might be far more
satisfactory an instrument than one with twice
as many pipes, cheaply made and poorly
voiced, for the low priced organ is cheap also
in quality and standard of workmanship and
tone, and an organ of this kind, like anything
else, will only produce for you what you have
put into it, and it will never sound like any-
thing else but a cheap, harsh, mediocre in-
strument.
^ ^ ^
It was explained to me that the most suc-
cessful organs have been bought by the ex-
hibitor making a really careful investigation,
as suggested above, and then placing his con-
fidence, both in the design and in construction,
with an organ builder that is known to have
the necessary experience.
When I entered the Kilgen plant I had no
idea there was so much to this subject of
"organs," and in leaving I thanked them for
the information which they had given me on
this vast subject, and I am passing it on to
you exhibitors in the hope that it may be of
some benefit to those of vou who are contem-
plating the purchase of an organ, and I my-
self will feel more than doubly repaid if it
may result in the purchase of more satisfac-
tory organs. ■ ' i j
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
53
Better
Projection
{Continued from page SO)
Theatres section of Exhibitors Herald-
World and in the American Projectionist.
Then he winds up with this: "I am not going
to write anything about .sound projection at
this time, other than this: Sound projection
will be no more efficient than is the manager
or whoever he places in charge of the ob-
server's telephone in the theatre auditorium.
With this I am unable to agree m any
degree even in those cases where the projec-
tionist is so far removed from the screen
that it is difficult if not impossible for him
to hear the sound as the audience does. 1
respect brother Bennewitz and his opinions on
most projectional subjects, but this is some-
thing relatively new to him. . ,.,u:„„
My own view is that the careful, painstaking
projectionist can and will soon learn to judge
correctly of sound effect without any prompt-
ing from any one, and for the following rea-
^°The editor has already advised you to make
a cue sheet for every Movietone production,
INCLUDING topical subjects or news reels.
The method is to have the manager, or such
one as he may designate for the duty, take
his station in what seems, everything consid-
ered, the best position to judge sound from
for the entire auditorium, usually about its
center, in a pre-showing of .'he subject and
there by means of smtable signals, direct the
raising or lowering of the sound accompanying
scene to its most efficient volume, the pro-
jectionist then cuing the fader in accordance^
Of course at first it must be expected that
some mistakes will be made by the observer
doing the directing, but in a very sjort ^ime
if he is fit for the job, he will be able to get
maximum results every time, ^nd after the
cue sheet is made it only remains o follow
it religiously during the run of that produc-
^'°That last is of course subject to some un-
forseen change taking place in the apparatus
itself, such as a lamp or vacuum tube experi-
encing a drop in efficiency, but tha is un-
likely and if it occurs it is up to the pro-
jectionist to locate the fault and remedy it.
But how will he know it, you ask."
In my opinion a projectionist will, within a
very short while, when running to a cue sheet
made as directed, be able to recognize any
Sge in the sound, regardless of project^n
room location or the difficulty m hearing He
may not hear the sound just as the audienc
does but just the same he comes to hear it
fn a certain manner, and will recogmze any
departure therefrom just as readily as would
an observer seated at the auditorium center
and £ able to bring back the sound to what
is to him normal.
Possibly I have not stated all that very
clearly but I think those who are projecting
Movi^Jtone will know what I mean. I would
like to hear from some ot you as to just
what your experience has been with regard to
Tound regulation and the ability to know when
iV is what it should be. Also with relation to
your methods of making a cue sheet.
Sue Carol on Fox List
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— Sue Carol,
Wampas star, has been signed to appear m
several Fox films, her first assignment under
the new contract being the feminine lead in
"Chasing Through Europe," which David
Butler is directing.
Hold Doorman for Thefts
(Special to the Herald-World)
SEATTLE, Aug. 28.— C. R. Noble, door-
man at the Columbia theatre, is held in the
city jail on open charge pending police in-
vestigation, following a series of thefts.
CHROMIUM
PLATING
is furnished, if desired, on reflectors,
as well as external peurts, on
BELSON
Footlights
Borderlights
Floodlights
Spotlights
and othet equipment
This ne-w plating, hand-polished to a mirror finish, is the nearest
approach to a 1 00% reflector yet discovered. It holds its finish,
does not corrode nor tarnish.
Belson lights embody important improvements in design, ma-
terial and construction.
Let us quote on all your requirements.
Representatives
All Over the Country
BELSON MFG. CO.
804 Sibley St., Chicago
Est. 1901
STRAND THEATRE
YORK
PENN.
COMPLETE STAGE EQUIPMENT
By
S23-233 W. EftrE STREET
They're Attractive! They're Different!
Painted on heavy poster paper.
Any size up to 36"xl0 ft., in 5 or more
flashy colors and beautifully Airbrushed.
There are no extra charges Workmanship
Guaranteed. Write for prices on other size on paper or muslin
e^<^*'
H.DRYFHOUT
ONE DAY
SERVICE
GUARANTEED 735 SQ.WABASH AYE .CHICAGO. ILL.
PRICES DO
NOT INCLUDE
POSTAGE
54
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
r^tage Equipment
Fire Curtains Counterweight System
Motor Driven Cycloramas
Hydraulic Chec\ Light Bridges
CONSOLE - ORCHESTRA
and STAGE ELEVATORS
RICHARD R. BRUCKNER
532-540 W. 22nd St.
New York
Chicago
ARE YOU^. GETTING RUMORS
Moithly 9licfc.New6 for tlie, Or^nist
GRIFFIN FILM
CEMENT
For Studios, Film Exchanges and
Motion Picture Theatres.
Patches made with this cement
will not dry out, buckle up or pull
apart.
Especially smted for Vitaphone and
Movietone projection.
Write for descriptive circular.
Manufactured by
F. B. GRIFFIN
Oshkosh, Wis.
H^^^^^^^^^SSBEfiH
Keep your
Simplex
cool with a
"BEST"
HEAT
Shield
Your dealer
has them
Price $3.00
Sest Devices
Co.
Film Bldg.
Cleveland
Ohio
1^1
The names go on the dotted hue,
and four more theatres are assured
Robert Tdorton organs. Elmer C.
Rhoden, president of J^idwest The-
atres, Inc., of Kansas City, is
shown signing contracts with
Arsene Pernetti, assistant manager
of the 7y[orton Chicago office.
1928 Figures Show
Business of Nation
Good, Report Says
(Washington Bureau of the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28.— The nation's
business during the first half of 1928 exhib-
ited a continuance of activity and progress,
according to the department of commerce.
The indices show that important industries
lagging behind the national pace are tex-
tiles in the manufacturing group, and agri-
culture and coal among the basic raw ma-
terial industries.
The index of factory employment, which,
however, does not include some of the
newer industries, Vv'as slightly smaller dur-
ing the first half of 1928 than during the
corresponding period of 1927. There was,
however, some stability from month to
month. For the first time since 1923 em-
ployment in June was higher than in May.
The general downward tendency in factory
employment reflects the increasing effi-
ciency of industry by which larger quanti-
ties of goods can be produced per worker,
the report declares.
Foreign trade of the United States con-
tinued in a satisfactory position during the
first half of 1928.
Theatres Changed Hands
THOMASTON, GA.— W. A. Odum and J. A. Hardy
have purchased the Ritz theatre.
WASHTA, lA.— C. Valkert has sold the Legion the-
atre to M. R. Robertson.
WATERLOO, lA. — S. A. Davidson has taken over
active management of the Crystal theatre.
FORT DODGE, lA.— H. W. Sehultz has purchased
the Plaza theatre, and future policy, it is said, will
be vaudeville and pictures.
RED OAK, lA.— C. L. West of Perry, la. has pur-
chased the Beardsley theatre, and will operate it as a
moving picture house.
ROCK ISLAND, ILL.— The Orion theatre has been
purchased by Fred Russell of Matherville, 111.
MOLINE, ILL.— The Palace theatre has been taken
over by M. W. Madison, who will reopen it with pic-
tuies.
BELLEVILLE, ILL. — Joseph Desberger has pur-
chased the Washington theatre from Mrs. Iva Ludwig,
KOKOMO, IND.— The Hoosier Theatre Company,
operating the Isis theatre, has acquired the property
and leases of the Grand and Paramount theatres, and
will continue to conduct all three.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.— Reported that Publix the-
atre interests have purchased the Indiana, Ohio and
Circle theatres.
LAPORTE, IND.— Indiana Theatre Company has
acquired the Madison theatre from A. J. Stahl. Price
paid reported at $60,000.
To protect your organ from
weather conditions, and to
ward off deterioration caused
by summer dampness and
winter coldness install
EVENHEETERS
Cramblet Engineering Corp.
286 Milwaukee St. Milwaukee, Wis.
Designing — Painting — Draperies
Creators of Scenic Effects
SCENIC
STUDIOS
Serving representative presentation
houses throughout the country
307 West 47th St.
New York City
LOU SAMMS
Radium Effects and Novelties
Samples on Request
177 North State Street
CHICAGO, ILL.
JHEATKOiU
.8
Q>/v\PLETt
Send for
J.KX:lancy,i«
Catalogue
Syracuse N.Y
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
Approved
Method
of
Installing
Motion
Picture
Projection
Machine
and
Booth
Note that the door to the projection booth should be self-closing and that the floor of the booth should rest on an angle.
The minimum size of the ventilator inlets should be not less than 3x16 inches, the outlet diameter 12 inches. Fusible links pro-
vide for automatic closing of the windows. Minimum size of angles and tees is lyzxlYz^Vt inches, minimum thickness of as-
bestos walls and ceiling, V4 inch, maximum distance of bolts fastening asbestos to steel, 6 inches.
Would You Like
♦
to cut your insurance costs in half
Rating authorities show owners of small theatres how it can he done
By ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD
COST of insuring your theatre prop-
erty against fire can be cut in half
by exercise of a little foresight in
making installations and by ordinary care
in maintenance. How this can be accom-
plished is presented herewith to the trade
for the first time by Better Theatres.
Rating of insurance charges is based uni-
formly upon a plan called the Dean system.
Under this method a certain standard condi-
tion is taken as the basis for computing all
rates. For each phase in which the theatre
building or contents is better safeguarded
than that standard specifies, the owner is
given a certain percentage of credit. In
each phase in which the property is not as
well safeguarded as the standard requires, a
certain percentage of demerit, or charge, is
assessed. These percentages are totaled
and balanced and the following percentage
reduced to dollars and cents. It is im-
portant to note, however, that all the steps
of arriving at the insurance rate are com-
puted in points or percentages.
'¥ ^ ^
To the insurer that system is simple and
the only workable arrangement to decide
all cases. To the insured, however, per-
centages mean little. It was to place the
whole problem on a dollars and cents basis
that outstanding authorities in insurance
rating prepared the following information,
at the request of Better Theatres.
The typical small motion picture theatre
of the neighborhood variety, with a small
stage and a limited amount of fixed scenery,
is the subject of this article. The building
in question has brick exterior walls, with
floors and roof of ordinary wood joisted
construction. The theatre occupies the
ground floor with offices and apartments on
the second floor.
At the outset it is important to fix in
mind the conditions assumed in the preced-
ing paragraph, as each has a very important
part to play in determination of insurance
costs. Then, too, it is well to emphasize
that the insurance rate for theatres is de-
termined according to the conditions found
in each individual risk. Thus there is no
assurance that the rates nuoted or any of
the credits outlined in this article would
apply to a particular theatre.
Insurance rating authorities are prepared
to supply property owners with complete
information relating to possible improve-
ments which will tend to reduce the fire
insurance rate. This information will be
provided without cost to the property
owner. A local agent or broker can tell
the exhibitor where to get in touch with
rating authorities.
Despite the importance of recognizing the
individual case, however, the fact remains
that in the average small motion picture
theatre, insurance charges can be reduced
one-half at little cost and as little effort.
Fire insurance is divided into building
insurance and contents insurance. While
the two can be grouped in one policy, at
a higher charge, the companies and rating
authorities disapprove of this method. The
case at hand is considered on the basis of
separate writing of building and contents.
On a theatre of the type outlined, build-
ing insurance costs the owner $10.50 a year
for each $1,000 of insurance.
* * *
Credits obtainable by compliance with un-
derwriters' requirements are as follows on
outstanding phases of construction and in-
stallation:
1. Properly installing approved
projection machine $1.09
56
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
Quiet Electric Ventilator
Good ventilation makes business good. Venti-
lators for all your fresh air requirements.
Write for catalog.
Lakeside Company 223 Main St.
Hermansville, Mich.
EVERYTHING FOR
THE STAGE
IFPI
cenic
XITPDi
ESTABLISHED 190S
Send for Catalogue
-^^ r HOUR \ >?w
SEF^ICE
CIRCUS H(RDL05
P/?OGft9Wf
ORT6J'PO$T^R5
EXHIBITORS
Printing Service
711 South Dearborn Street
CHICAGO, ILL.
<«h
Protect Your
ORGAN
against deterioration, by maintain'
ing an even temperature in the or-
gan chambers — with the famous
Electric Organ Heater. Write for
further details and prices. . . .
PROMETHEUS ELECTRIC
CORP., 354 West 13th Street,
New York.
2. Installing projection booth
complying with iinderwriters'
requirements - - 1.36
3. Approved cabinets for storing
extra film _ _. .55
4. Correcting electric effects to
National Electric Code 75
5. Proper protection of boiler
and smokepipe _ 75
6. Removal of rubbish, unused
stage properties and general
housecleaning _ 1.50
7. Installing approved chemical
extingmshers _ 20
Total - ..$6.20
Subtracting the $6.20 from the original
$10.50 of average cost leaves a charge of
only $4.30 a thousand. More than half the
original amount is saved.
Contents insurance for the same theatre
costs $14.70 a thousand. Following are the
credits obtainable on the same seven items
by compliance with the underwriters' re-
quirements:
For compliance with item 1 of
the building insurance case in
the foregoing table $1.25
For compliance with item 2 1.55
For compliance with item 3 60
For compliance with item 4 85
For compUance with item 5 85
For compliance with item 6. 1.70
For compliance with item 7 25
Total _ _ _.$7.05
Thus the contents insurance will be cut
down from $14.70 to $7.65, practically one-
half. And it should be noted that the great-
est single saving here — more than 10 per
cent — is in a matter that calls for no ex-
pense whatever, simply the ordinary care
of removing rubbish and unused stage
scenery and of keeping the place clean.
* 4: ^
Next in importance, though popularly
thought first, are the projection booth and
machine. Authorities stated that compara-
tively few obsolete projection machines
now are seen, but in cases where they do
appear the exhibitor is passing up an op-
portunity to save one-tenth of his insurance
bill, to say nothing of the effects of faulty
projection on the box office. The Under-
writers' Laboratories, maintained by the
underwriters, tests material and equipment,
and the Laboratories' stamp of approval
automatically entitles the exhibitor to lower
charges on the particular item. Proper in-
stallation of the booth is considered by the
insurance companies to be even more im-
portant than the newness of the machine.
Rating experts say that projection booths
frequently are classed as non-standard be-
cause of failure to observe requirements re-
lating to ventilation and the protection of
openings into the booth. Many such booths
can be made standard at slieht expense. A
$5 outlay in many instances would be all
that is necessary.
Outstanding faults in booth installation
and maintenance include the blocking of
doors or failure to keen them closed
tightly, and the opening of vents into the
attic, where, in case of fire, the flames
would settle in a location difficult for the
firemen to reach.
* * *
Rules for installation approved by the
underwriters include the following mini-
mum requirements:
Size: Booth should be not less than 6x8
feet in size and 7 feet high.
Walls: Walls should be constructed of one
of the following or equivalent materials:
Masonry not less than 8 inches thick,
4 inches if reinforced concrete; gypsum
blocks plastered on both sides; metal lath
and cement plaster, not less than 2 inches •
thick, supported by incombustible mem-
bers; or
A metal framing of li^xl^xj^ inch
angle and tee irons, securely braced and
riveted, with panels of asbestos board at
least % inch thick fastened to frame with
bolts spaced not more than 6 inches on
centers, or of No. 20 gauge sheet metal
fastened to frame with bolts or rivets
spaced not more than 3 inches on centers.
Inner face of angles and tees should pre-
sent a smooth surface at joints. Asbestos
or metal panels should be continuous be-
tween angles and tees and have no open
seams.
Ceiling: Ceiling or top should be similar
in construction to walls.
Floors: Floors, if not fireproof or incom-
bustible, should be of matched lumber not
less than 7/s inch thick with an overlay
of asbestos board or equivalent materia
not less than ^ inch thick. If booth is
constructed of a metal framing, floor
shotxld rest on bottom flange of base
angles.
Door: Door should be of at least 2x5 feet
constructed of materials similar or
equivalent to those of the walls.
Openings: Openings for operators view or
through which picture is shown should
not be larger than 6x12 inches. Each
opening should be provided with a grav-
ity door constructed of No. 12 gauge
metal overlapping opening 1 inch on all
sides, when closed, and arranged to slide
in grooves. Door should be held open by
fusible links placed in series with fine
cords so arranged so that one link will
be over each machine.
Ventilation: Inlets, not less than 3x16
inches, should be placed on all but front
sides of booth and not more than 3 inches
above the floor. Openings should be
covered on the outside by wire screen of
not more than J/^ mesh and on the inside
by gravity doors similar to those de-
scribed for Openings.
Outlet should not be less than 12 inches
in diameter leading from the center of
ceiling and vented to the outside. Clear-
ance between the vent pipe and unpro-
tected combustible material should be not
less than 6 inches.
Shelves: Shelves, furniture and fixtures
should be of incombustible construction.
Wiring: Electrical wiring shotdd be in
accord with the rules embodied in the
National Electrical Code.
No better example of the hazard in lack
of adequate booth facilities is needed than
the case of the fire at the state prison
farm near Hobby, Tex., reported in the
last issue of the Herald-World. Several
inmates were so severely burned that their
lives hung in the balance. Prison authori-
ties are reported to have admitted that they
had failed to provide the facilities which
are demanded of any motion picture theatre.
Use of approved containers for the stor-
age of extra films, not kept in the cans
recommended by the interstate commerce
commission, is urged by rating authorities.
Advisability of this procedure is pro-
nounced in view of a fire at the Memorial
hospital in Albany, N. Y., as described in
the July issue of the Quarterly of the
National Fire Protection Association.
Possibility of spontaneous combustion
having started the fire in exposed films
stored in cardboard boxes is offered as one
explanation of the tragedy, as no one had
been in the room for half an hour before
the fire was noticed, and there had been
no smoking.
Employes, after a vain fipht to put out
the flames in the room, fled without closing
the doors, and the fumes spread up the
stairs through the open corridors. Nurses
removed patients by fire escape and ele-
vator, but some refused to leave. In those
cases the doors' were closed and windows
(Continued on page 60)
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
57
1.676,596. SPRING MOTOR. Otto Wittel,
Rochester, N. Y., assigrior to Eastman Kodak
Company, Rochester, N. Y., a Corporation of
New York. Filed May 13, 1926. Serial No.
108,797. 9 Claims. (CI. 185—37.)
1,676,299. DEVICE FOR CLEANING AND
SMOOTHING FILMS AND THE LIKE.
Johann Jacob Friedrich Stock, Munich, Ger-
many. Filed June 17, 1926. Serial No. 116,-
677, and in Germany Mar. 30, 1926. 4 Claims.
(CI. 15—100.)
1,676,595. OPTICAL UNIT FOR CAMERAS.
Otto Wittel, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y.,
a Corporation of New York. Filed May 13,
1926. Serial No. 108,796. 16 Claims. (CL
95—45.)
1. In a motion picture camera, a spring mo-
tor comprising: a continuous coiled spring band
and an antifriction band interwound therewith
1. A device for cleaning and smoothing worn
films and the like, comprising a machine
stand, a metallic wire brush rotatably ar-
ranged upon the miachine stand, means to
move the film past and in contact with the
said wire brush, and means to exert a con-
stant co-operative pressure, between the film
and the said brush
1. In an optical unit for cameras, the com-
bination with an objective including two lens
cells, of a barrel for supporting the lens cells
at a fixed separation, connections between one
lens cell and the barrel through which one
lens cell may turn therein, and a plurality of
diaphragm leaves operatively connected to the
movable and fixed lens cells whereby the
light opening may be altered by moving the
movable lens cell
Are You Liable for the Acts
of Your Manager?
{ THINK "^
{^ AGAIN )
A review of high court decisions
By LEO T. PARKER
IT is admitted by all experts of law that the
majority of litigations may be eliminated
if the principals are informed of their legal
rights and liabilities.
This is especially true with respect to the
acts of theatre managers, because the presently
estabUshed law clearly defines the kind and
character of business transactions in which the
manager may legally bind his employer.
Therefore, the purpose of this article is to
carefully review the leading and most recent
higher court decisions involving the acts of
theatre managers which commonly result in
litigation. Also, I shall endeavor to explain
the facts and outcome of each controversy, so
that readers may readily determine when and
how to prevent liability under similar common
occurrences.
* * *
First, it is important to know that the law
recognized two classes of agents, namely, gen-
eral and special. A theatre manager is a gen-
eral agent, because he is employed by his em-
ployer to perform all acts necessary to the
successful conduction of the theatre business.
A special agent, as any common employe, is
one whose authority is Umited to perform a
single act or kind of service for his employer.
However, the accompHshment of this service
may necessitate the performance of many acts.
The employer is liable only for such acts of
a special agent that are performed within the
scope of the authority given him by his em-
ployer. Moreover, when the specific service is
rendered, the special agent's authority is auto-
matically ended, and his employer is not re-
sponsible for subsequent acts.
For example, in Lippincot v. East River
141 N. Y. S. 220, it was disclosed that after a
special agent had performed the service for
which he had been employed, he proceeded
without authority to bind his employer in an-
other transaction.
In holding the employer not liable, the court
explained the law relating to special agents,
as follows :
"One who deals with a special agent specially
authorized for that transaction is put upon inquiry
as to the extent of the agent's authority, and deals
with him at the risk of his authority being ex-
ceeded » * • Authority of an assumed agent to make
a purchase will be implied where the alleged princi-
pal has repeatedly recognized and approved of simi-
lar acts; still a single act done under express
authority is insufficient to justify the inference that
the assumed agent has the apparent authority to
subject the alleged principal to liability upon subse-
quent purchases made without actual authority."
On the other hand, it is well established that
a theatre manager may bind his employer by
all the acts within the scope of his employ-
ment. Moreover, a general authority cannot
be limited by any private order or direction
not known to the party dealing with the agent.
Therefore, the employer is liable under all cir-
cumstances where a manager is acting within
the scope of his usual employment, or is held
out by the employer as having proper
authority, although he has exceeded or vio-
lated his instructions.
For illustration, a leading case, Bridge-
Forbes Co. V. St. Louis Co., 115 S. W. 333,
the court explained the law in the following
language :
"Any agent empowered to act with respect to the
conduct of that particular business is the represen-
tative of the company in that behalf, and his acts
done within the scope of the power conferred upon
him or within scope of his apparent authority was
binding upon the company. Such act was in legal
effect the act of the principal. Again, every delega-
tion of power, unless expressly limited by some
instrument, carries with it as incident, the authority
to do whatever is reasonably necessary and proper to
effectuate the purpose for which it was created. Third
persons in dealing with such an agent have the right
to conclude that the principal intended that he should
have and exercise those powers which properly and
legitimately belong to the character in which he holds
him out. Having by the creation of the agency be-
stowed upon the agent a certain character, the prin-
ciapl will not be heard to assert, as against third
persons who have relied thereupon in good faith,
that he did not intend to impose so much authority."
Meaning of Within
Scope of Employment
The legal term "during the period of the
employment" legally means the actual period
each day the employe is paid to perform his
regular duties. However, an employe need
not be in the act of rendering services to his
employer to be legally within the scope of the
employment.
For instance, it has been held that an em-
ployer is liable for acts accomplished by a
theatre manager when he becomes involved in
a fistual encounter with a salesman during an
interview at which the sales representative was
endeavoring to obtain an order for theatre
equipment. In this instance, of course, the
manager did not inflict the injury, for the pur-
pose of rendering a service to his employer,
but the act was accomplished within the scope
of the manager's employment, because the per-
sonal encounter between the two parties was
directly the result of the manager transacting
business for which he was employed.
* * *
On the other hand, a theatre owner is not
liable for the acts of a manager who departs
from the scope of his regular duties. How-
ever, the employer may enlarge or decrease the
scope of the authority by any act which leads
a reasonably prudent person to believe that
the manager's acts, resulting in the contro-
versy, was within the authorized scope of the
employment.
A very dependable rule, recognized by alt
courts, for determining the liability of a the-
atre manager in controversies of this kind is
when one of two innocent parties suffers loss
by reason of the wrongful act or acts of a
58
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
third party, the party must bear the loss who
has made it possible by reason of his negli-
gence for the third party to commit the wrong.
Manager's Authority
To Borrow Money
It is a well recognized law that a theatre
manager does not act within the scope of the
ordinarj- employment when he borrows money
for use of the theatre, unless he is given full
control and operation of the business by its
owner. And then, the employer is not liable
if the manager borrows the money for pur-
poses other than for conduction of the theatre
business.
For illustration, in the case of Swindoll v.
Latham, 58 S. E. 1010, it was disclosed that
proprietor hired a man named Smith to con-
duct the business. Smith, without authority
of his employer, borrowed $3,365, which was
not used in the conduction of the business, but
for the purpose of speculation.
The owner refused to repay the amount to
the borrower, and it is interesting to observe
that the lower court held the employer liable
for pa>Tnent, but the higher court reversed
this decision, saying:
"An agent cannot, in law, represent himself and
his principal, where their interests conflict, and with-
out the knowledge of the latter. An agent cannot
thus well serve in two capacities, for himself and
his principal, because the latter's interests may be
prejudiced even by an unconscious and unintentional
desire to advance his own."
Liability for Injuries
Inflicted on Patrons
As may readily be determined by reference
to the above explanations, a person who is
employed by a theatre owner to manage the
theatre is a "general agent" and therefore, the
owner is responsible for all acts done by the
manager in the conduction of the business
which cause injury to patrons of the theatre.
However, an ordinary employe, as a ticket
seller, ticket taker, cleaner, etc., being a "spe-
cial agent," the theatre owner is caused lia-
bility only by acts which are done within the
scope of the special employment.
For example, in a recent litigation a patron
sued a theatre proprietor for damages as a
result of severe injuries inflicted by a door-
man. It was proved that the doorman and
patron became engaged in an argument over
the acceptance of a ticket. However, the in-
juries were not received at this time. In order
to settle the argument, the two persons agreed
to meet at a later time when the doorman was
off duty. At this meeting the fight occurred
which resulted in the injury. The injured
Datron sued the proprietor for damages con-
tending that the owner was liable for the in-
juries sustained because the quarrel actually
began on the theatre premises. However, the
court held the owner not liable and in effect
said that where an employe effects injuries
while off duty, his employer is not liable.
In still another recently decided case, it was
disclosed that a person, whose duty was to
clean the theatre, was standing on a step-
ladder and washing the walls of the building.
He became engaged in an argument with an-
other person who walked against the ladder.
The employe descended from the ladder and
severely injured the individual. The latter
sued the theatre proprietor for damages, but
the court held the owner not liable and ex-
plained that an employer is liable for the acts
of an employe only while the latter is acting
actually within the scope of the employment.
When the employe descended from the ladder
to engage in a personal encounter, he was not
acting within the scope of his employment.
In still another quite recently decided case
the theatre proprietor was held liable in dam-
ages. The litigation involved an injury in-
flicted a theatre patron by an usher. Here, it
was shown that an argument arose and a
fight ensued between the patron and the usher
while the latter was directing the patron to
his seat. However, if the trouble had started
while the usher had i)cen performing a differ-
Oul of the Dawn
ton^i^n^.ij ^^
^^
MT
W
^m:
' CkuplOKt t. V Km. Tr^M
Paramount s first synchronized {>ic-
ture brings forth this initial "theme
song from the publishing house of
Donaldson, Douglas & Gumble.
Out of the Dawn" a dual ^iano
and organ arrangement of which is
shown above, is by that eminently
successful ^o^ular song writer,
waiter Donaldson, and it serves to
interpret the love sequences of
"Warming f/jS," baseball yarn star-
ring Richard Dix.
ent duty from that for which he was employed,
the owner would not have been liable.
Also, it is important to know that if a
manager of a theatre meets a patron outside
the theatre and directs insulting language to
him in connection with the theatre business,
or inflicts personal injury under the same cir-
cumstances, the owner is liable for damages
because any part of the theatre business
legally is within the scope of the manager's
employment. This is true because he is a
general agent.
Contract Signed by Employes
Prevent Litigations
Therefore, all ordinary employes should be
thoroughly informed of the employer's liabili-
ties for their acts. In fact it would be a
profitable plan for theatre owners to provide
agreements for the signature of the employes
in which the latter are informed of their legal
responsibilities, with further provisions by
which each employe agrees to bear a portion
of the unnecessary or preventable legal ex-
penses caused the owner through carelessness,
negligence, or recklessness on the part of the
signer. Such responsibility being placed on
the employes would tend to prevent them from
engaging in arguments or personal encounters
with patrons. Furthermore, such an obliga-
tion would tend to cause the employe to ex-
ercise a higher degree of care in maintaining
the premises in good order to reduce the lia-
bility from this source.
The law expects a theatre manager to com-
pel the employes of the theatre to exercise or-
dinary care in maintaining the theatre prem-
ises in proper repair and safe condition.
However, neither the proprietor nor the
manager is legally required to exercise more
than "ordinary care" to safeguard patrons
against injury. This latter statement is veri-
fied by the records of numerous quite re-
cently decided cases. For example, in one
case, an injury was caused by a lamp be-
coming loosened and falling on the patron's
head. It was proved that one of the fasten-
ings which held the lamp in its position be-
came loosened and permitted it to fall.
It was proved that the owner or the man-
ager, or the employes had exercised ordinary
care in maintaining the premises in safe con-
dition. Therefore, the court held the owner
not liable for damages as a result of the in-
juries sustained by the patron.
Recently a court in effect explained that the
true meaning of the term "ordinary care" is
that degree of care which would have been
exercised by a reasonably prudent theatre
owner, or his employes, under exactly the same
circumstances of the happening of the ac-
cident.
* * *
Another way of expressing the law relating
to the liabilities of a theatre owner for in-
juries or insults to patrons is that a theatre
owner is liable for an injury caused by means
within his control. Furthermore, although
the cause of the injury is not within the own-
er's or manager's control, the owner is liable
if he knowingly permits instrumentalities to
exist which he should have known in the ex-
ercise of ordinary care would result in the
injury. And, of course, if the cause of the
injury is within the manager's control to elimi-
nate, the owner is liable, because legally the
owner's duty is the manager's.
On the other hand, a theatre owner is not
responsible for negligent acts of a person in
the theatre not in his employment.
The case of Block v. Opera Holding Co.,
154 N. M. 761, decided within the past few
weeks, is important to illustrate the latter
statement. Here injuries and humiliation of a
patron occured as a result of negligent acts
of a person who had a concession to sell things
to patrons in the theatre. However, he was
not employed by the theatre owner but by a
third party who had the concession.
This court held the theatre proprietor not
liable and said:
"While the mere occurrence of an injury sometimes
raises a presumption of liability on the part of a
defendant (theatre owner) yet in such cases it must
appear that the instrumentality causing the injury
was in his control."
Therefore, the law is well established that
if a theatre proprietor leases or rents a space
in the theatre to another person, and the na-
ture of the latter's business is not dangerous,
the theatre owner is not liable.
* * *
Contracts Made
By Managers
Generally speaking, a verbal contract made
by a theatre manager is equally as enforce-
able as a written one. Of course, testimony
must be introduced to prove the contents of an
oral contract, whereas, the contents of a writ-
ten contract speaks for itself, and no verbal
testimony is permitted by the courts to vary
the terms of a written agreement.
Moreover, under certain circumstances, a
contract may be implied by the court. In
other words, although no actual verbal or
written agreement exists between two persons
yet the acts of both and the circumstances
surrounding the business relations of the two
parties may be such that the court will decide
that contractual obligations were assumed.
In Jones v. Tucker, 84 Atl. 1012, it is in-
teresting to observe that the court defined a
contract as follows :
"A contract is defined to be an agreement be-
tween two or more persons, for a good and sufficient
consideration to do or not to do a thing. It is not
necessary that a contract be in writing and may be
either expressed or implied. An express contract is
one where the terms of the agreement are stated in
so many words; and an implied contract is where the
law presumed a promise on the part of the party
benefited."
The owner of a theatre is liable for any
and all contracts made by a theatre manager,
{Continued on page 61)
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
59
y
Authorities in music, until recently, believed
built that would have effective audition. Elimina
theatre was considered impossible.
Now, in Detroit, to open in September, is the
out an echo," perfect in its acoustics.
"The softest whisperings of orchestra jnusic,
be heard perfectly from the highest seat," accord
signed the acoustical treatment of the house in coo
tical engineer of international reputation.
Upper walls and ceilings of the new Fox hous
plaster, have been finished with an acoustical fel
semblance of rich brocaded silks, perfectly adapte
architectural effect.
that no auditorium seating over 2,200 could be
ting reverberations of sound, or echoes, in a larger
new Fox, seating 5,047, "the cinema house with-
the most delicate and exquisite of pianissimos, can
ing to C. Howard Crane, the Fox architect who de-
peration with R. V. Parsons, Johns-Manville acous-
e, which in ordinary theatres would be finished in
t treatment that takes marvelous color effects in
d to the Hindoo Temple character of the whole
•v
The New Fox, a Sound Theatre ♦♦♦♦♦♦ Continued from page 12
a decorative canopy resting against two huge
Burmese shrine-like pylons.
Oriental beauty, combined with ultra-
modern comfort and culture, will make this
new Detroit Fox unique in the annals of the-
atre architecture.
Crane's design for the Fox Brooklyn the-
atre (to open also in September) at Flatbush
and Nevins streets, was inspired from the
Barocque, perhaps Spanish in period. Beyond
the bronze screen entrance is the semi-ellipti-
cal vestibule with its warm polished Sienna
travartine marble walls capped by a decora-
tive moulding that frames mural paintings
above doors to the inner lobby. Starting from
a de^ surelian blue the dome of the vestibule
rises into a pale cobalt. Curved walls of the
inner lobby are also marble-lined, and at the
far end is a feature fountain specially de-
signed as a cascade, the water issuing from a
conventional dolphin down over the tile steps
into the huge bowl below. Walls of this
fountain niche are of blue and gold tiles.
Steps are a brilliant black with a red and
gold pattern, modelled like lotus leaves. Hid-
den lights from behind the curious console
fountain opening make the water gleam and
glow with mystery.
Like entering an East Indian potentate's
audience hall, one steps into the lofty grand
foyer. Lower walls are of Verde Antique
marble with teakwood, with a metallic lacquer
decoration. Main pilasters from which spring
the decorative corbel brackets are also of
Verde Antique. Soft golden-apricot silk
walls, with henna velvet overdrapes, blend
into the double-octagonal domed ceiling which
is softly flooded by hidden lights.
The foyer opens up the entire rear of the
theatre, and there are three distinctive cross-
over levels from which one can get the un-
usual effect of this treatment. Verde Antique,
that richest and fullest in tone of all imported
marbles, forms all stairways in the theatre.
On the first stair landing is a large decorative
bronze fountain niche.
Pale peach stucco, and lattice supported on
delicate cartides, give the ladies' smoking
rooms the effect of a terrace with open sky
above. Their large lounge rooms are Louis
XV in period. Silk walls grace the elliptical
cosmetics rooms, and around the walls are
specially draped niches into which are set the
individual dressing tables.
Large square rooms in the Spanish style,
with stucco walls, wainscote of turquoise blue
hand made tile, and Spanish wood-beamed
ceiling, are furnished with large comfort-
able leather chairs, lounges, tables, and smok-
ing equipment for the men at the far end of
the grand foyer downstairs and on the lower
balcony level.
Furniture pieces in the theatre are all made
from Crane designs, in the modern spirit to
harmonize with their special placing through-
out the theatre.
New in theatre conceptions, the entire audi-
torium is treated as one huge room with a
color scheme of gold tones ranging from deep
bronze through red to pale yellow, and en-
hanced by henna velvet drapes heavily fringed
and valanced with rich brocading. This sym-
phony of golds and hennas springs from a
y
V
The New Fox
Jade green walls
Like brocaded silks
From the rich Orient; and
Miniature carved temples
in old ivory
Studded with jewels
Grace those green walls,
Points for the voorskip
Of quiet beauty
Huge Vermillion red
Marble columns
Four stories high
And each as big around
As a dozen men
Sentinel the main temple.
My eyes pluck out
The rich jewels
That circle the huge columns.
Royal purple drapes
Guard entrance to the
Cool, jade-green^ brocaded walls.
Royal purple frames
The huge stage too.
And guarding the cornice^ benignly^
Is Dai-Nichi Nyorai,
Duplicated like a persistent thought
*Round and *round the temple.
Silvered is the
Eight'Story dome
And embroidered
With bands of gold.
Like a rich canopy
Woven from, star-things
Over a Mohammedan garden.
It protects the people
From thoughts less lovely.
And etched on celluloid.
Breath-taking in their loveliness.
Masterpieces of camera art unfold
Poignant beauty
And perfect acting,
Patterns for high human living.
Parade the silver screen*
Dancing delights the senses
And m.usic speaks calm, to the soul.
"V
base of Verde Antique marble, the richest and
fullest in tone of all imported marbles.
From the modern baroque proscenium arch,
with its framed mural, the walls spring gradu-
ally forward and cove to the rich outer ring
of the double dome from which a huge crystal
pendant hangs. Side walls are decidedly
modern in conception, terminating toward the
front of the house with one huge niche or
state box motiff where a crystal organ screen
framed in henna velvet drapes serves as back-
ground for a delicate ornamental bronze foun-
tain.
Half-domed penetrations pierce the cove at
the rear of the auditorium, and in the center
is the projection room screened to resemble
an old Galleon riding forth on the crest of
a wave.
To house the organ required four loft
chambers back of the side auditorium walls
and a large space above the main ceiling.
Loud speakers or intensifiers are arranged
throughout the theatre to amplify stage
sounds.
New York's Theatre Guild house, Crane-
designed, has an undeniably European facade,
distinctive among New York buildings. Out-
side facade walls are of blue stucco, as often
used in Italian villa architecture, somewhat
wavy to indicate age and craftsmanship.
Doors have heavy stone quoins. Windows are
heavily framed and penthouse topped. Bal-
conies are irongrilled. Triplearched loggia
conceal firetower exits. A decorated cor-
nice overhangs. The roof is of tile. Interior
effects are even richer in unique features. By
pitching the auditorium floor in from the street
level at the stage to almost the second story
at the street, the space underneath was ar-
ranged for an unsually commodious foyer
with spacious lounges and smoking rooms for
the public. Wrought plaster in warm tones
covers the inside walls. Under the balcony
the space is panelled in a dark wood. There
is tapestry above exit doors. Curtains are
bold in reds and browns. There are no
boxes, and there is no proscenium arch. Back
stage equipment is the last word in mechanics
of the theatre, and the stage itself is said to
be the most ingenious and most practical in
New York. "Wagon stages," so popular in
new European theatres, are completely set,
then wheeled into place. Upper floors have
clubrooms, lounges, class rooms, studios, the-
atrical library, bookshops, and accomodate
every activity of the Guild, from play read-
ing to costume designing.
""— "
60
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
Improving Theatres
CALIFORNIA
LODI — Improvements have been made to the Tokay
Theatre and house reopened.
IDAHO
•POCATELLO — Approximately $30,000 will be ex-
pended to maike alterations and renovate the Or-
pheum Theatre. The stage will be enlarged so as to
permit vaudeville.
IOWA
AMES — J. Gebracht, 2420 Lincoln Way, has plans
by Verse, Kreatsch & Kreatsch, 1201 Commonwealth
^lilding, Des Moines, Iowa, for alterations to two-
story moving picture theatre on luncoln Way.
MARYLAND
BALTIMORE — Extensive improvements are to bo
made to the Belmar Theatre, a suburban house, and
the seating capacity enlarged.
MINNESOTA
BRAINERD— Approximately $50,000 will be ex-
pended for improvements to the Park Theatre.
NE:W YORK
NYACK — Extensive improvements have been made
to the Lyceum theatre, the facade remodeled and
ni)-to-date equipment installed.
UTICA — Limiberg Theatre Company, M. Lewis,
manager, has plans by T. H. and H. Oliver Williams,
Deveroux Building, for alterations and two-story brick
addition to theatre at Lafayette and Washington
streets. Estimated cost, $250,000.
OHIO
•EAOT LIVERPOOL— Approximately $100,000 will
be expended to rsmodel and enlarge the Ceramic
theatre. The house will play road shows, and install
Movietone and Vitaphone equipment. William C.
Tallman is manager.
OKLAHOMA
OKLAHOMA CITY— Aproximately $25,000 will be
expended for new equipment and other improvements
to the Capitol theatre, a Publix house, under the
management of Charles E. Sassen.
WAURIKA— The Rex theatre has been remodeled
and new equipment installed.
OREGON
PORTLAND— The Alhambra theatre has been re-
modeled, costing about $6,000.
PENNSYLVANIA
BEHTILEHEM— Approximately $60,000 has been ex-
pended for improvements to the Palace theatre.
CONNELLSVILLE— K. M. Wallace has plans by
C. R. Geisler, Commonwealth Annex, 317 Third ave-
nue, Pittsburgh, Pa., for alterations and brick addi-
tion to theatre on Main street. Estimated cost. $100.-
000.
LATROBE— J. J. Mahady, 1304 Ligonier street, con-
templates remodeling theatre on Depot street. Archi-
tect not selected.
SOUTH CAROLINA
BATESBURG — Angus P. Boatwright, who recently
purchased the Batesburg theatre, has remodeled the
structure.
TEXAS
JACKSONVILLE — Improvements have been made
to the Dorbandt theatre and house reopened.
YOAKUM— The Queen theatre, located at Lott and
West May streets, will be remodeled and two-story
brick addition erected.
WISCONSIN
MILWAUKEE— G. & S. Realty Company, H. Gold-
enberg, president, 216 West Water street, contem-
plates making alterations to theatre at 224 West
Water street. Architect not selactp'l.
Contracts Awarded
'ALABAMA
MOBILE— Frank Ortman. 51 North Ann street,
will soon start work on new theatre, with seating-
capacity of 1,500, to be located at Davis avenue and
Marmotte street.
MONTGOMERY— Jeffers Brothers Construction
Company, 207 ^/^ Dexter avenue, is reported having
contract to erect theatre at 26 North Lawrence street,
100 by 200 feet, with seating capacity of 1,200.
Structure will include four stores. Estimated cost,
$200,000.
CALIFORNIA
BURBANK— E. L. White, 930 Hollywood Way,
Magnolia Park, plans to erect two-story reinforced
concrete theatre in Magnolia Park district. Will be
built by day labor. Estimated cost, $165,000.
CONNECTICUT
WATERBURY — M. Shapiro & Son, 1560 Broadway,
New York, have contract for three-story brick and
reinforced concrete theatre to be erected on East
Main street, for J. Moriarty, Inc., 147 East Main
street. Lessee Waterbury Theatre Confipany. Esti-
ma.ted cost, $750,000.
FLORIDA
MIAMI BEACH— -Southern Construction Company,
Spanish Village, Fla., has contract to complete Strand
theatre, 58 by 100 feet ; reinforced concrete ; interior
decorating and scenic effects ; located on Ocean Drive,
between Ninth and Tenth streets. Estimated cost,
$20,000.
ILLINOIS
CHICAGO — Midwest Paramount Company, 228
North La Salle street, has general contract for
three-story brick theatre, store and apartment build-
ing to be erected at northwest corner 119th and
Bggleston streets, for Greater Pullman Theatre Cor-
poration, C. W. Novak, 600 West 119th street.
MASSACHUSETTS
TAUNTON— W. H. Barker, 4 Cohanett street, has
contract to erect one and two-story brick theatre
on Broadway for F. J. Hartwick, Cedar street. Esti-
mated cost, $160,000.
NORTH CAROLINA
SMITHFIELD — Rogers & Lowrimore have contract
and are erecting two-story brick theatre for William
Sanders, this city, and W. R. Sanders, 700 West
Morgan street, Raleigh, N. C.
OKLAHOMA
HOBART — Mahone & James have awarded contract
to Stone & Johnson to erect two-story brick and tile
theatre, 50 by 133 feet. Estimated cost, $75,000.
MIAMI — George L. Coleman, care Commerce Min-
ing & Royalty Company, has awarded contract to
Rucks-Brandt Company, 1012 Mid-Continental Build-
ing, Tulsa, Okla., for three-story brick, stucco and
terra-cotta theatre and store building, 120 by 150
feet. Estimated cost, $191,881.
PENNSYLVANIA
♦PHILADELPHIA— Colder Construction Company
has obtained permit to erect moving picture theatre
at southeast corner Fifty-second and Chestnut streets,
with seating capacity of 3,100, for the Mercantile &
Theatre Properties, Inc. Lessee Stanley Company of
America. Estimated cost, $1,000,000.
ST MARYS — Hyde Murphy Company, Ridgeway,
Pa., has general contract for two-story brick theatre
and store building to be erected on North Michael
street for St. Marys Amusement Company, P. B.
Jones, president, 1004 East End avenue, Pittsburgh,
Pa. Estimated cost, $175,000.
WISCONSIN
SHEBOYGAN— William Sinn, 1124 Gelle avenue,
has general contract to erect one-story brick theatre
on Michigan avenue for Peter Gottsacker, 1917 North
Eighth street. Estimated cost. $40,000.
''Additional information since previous report.
Theatres Changed Hands
ALABAivXA
TROY — C. H. Carney has sold the Trojan theatre
to W. D. Patrick.
ARKANSAS
ASHDOWN- The Palace theatre has been leased
by the Tri-State Theatre Corporation. Sam Dudley
has been engaged as manager.
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727 Seventh Avenue, New York City
DIERKS — E. C. Robinson has sold the Robinson
theatre to Mrs. Lily B. Taylor.
CALIFORNIA
WILLOW — Principal Theatres Corporation has pur-
chased the Rialto theatre from L. H. Kinnings. The
price Is reported at $22,000.
FLORIDA
CLERMONT— D. L. Morrison and wife have dis-
posed of the Reliance theatre to Fred A. Gleason.
GEORGIA
UTHOMIA — The De Kalb theatre, formerly oper-
ated by W. J. Brooks, has been purchased by J. T.
McDonald.
ILLINOIS
FAIRFIELD — A one-third interest in the Pershing
and Rex theatres, both picture houses, has been pur-
chased by R. C. Cluster, of the Cluster Theatre Circuit.
HENRY — The Henry theatre has been purchased
by F. W. Shaver, of Kewanee, 111., who will continue
it under its old policy.
ROODHOUSE-^ohn O. Aalberg has sold the State
theatre to Clarence Denny, who will continue it as a
picture house.
TRENTON— The Royal theatre has been leased by
Joe Schmidt from Mrs. Hartley.
IOWA
BETTENDORF— L. J. Ashwin, of Minneapolis,
Minn., who operates the Northwest and Mirror thea-
tres at Davenport, la., has acquired control of the
Bettendorf theatre.
BLOOMFIELD— The Iowa Theatre Company has
leased the Capitol theatre.
CARROLL— The Earle Theatre organization has
taken over the Royal and Strand theatres.
OAKDALE— R. L. Bailey, of Bunkie, La., owner
of the Bailey theatre there, has purchased the Scout
theatre from M. Koblem. R. L. Bailey, Jr., will
manage the bouse.
STRAWBERRY POINT— The Lyric theatre has been
purchased by Harold Hall.
TABOR — C. M. Miller has purchased the Tabor
theatre from George Bronson.
LEAVENWORTH— Edward Dubinsky has taken
over three picture houses, the Orpheum, Lyceum and
Strand from the estate of Walter Wallace.
SATANTA — The Satanta Motion Picture theatre
has been purchased by George Arterbern, of Dodge
City, Kans.
Would You Like to Lower
Insurance Costs
(^Continued from page 56)
opened, making almost negligible the effects
from the gas.
However, the papers reported eight
deaths in the hospital between the nights
of March 17 and 19. It was not possible
to determine how many of those deaths
were due to the fumes, but at least one died
from exposure and heart attack after shock.
It was reported that three or four deaths
were caused directly by smoke and fumes.
The entire loss might have been confined
to the one storage room, according to the
writer in the Quarterly, had the door been
self-closing, automatic sprinklers been pro-
vided and proper ventilation to the outside
in accordance with regulations of the Na-
tional Fire Protection Association.
A common charge is for failure to cor-
rect electrical defects and failure to install
all electric wiring in conformity with the
National Electric Code, it was stated.
Another common charge is for not provid-
ing adequate protection to the heating
boiler and the smokepipe connected there-
with. The matter of installation of ap-
proved chemical extinguishers in accord-
ance with underwriters' requirements is a
variable charge.
Time was when theatres were "supposed
to burn," like grain elevators, but severe
and costly lessons have brought a decidedly
changed attitude on the part of owners.
Time was when insurance companies
charged a flat rate for theatres. Now the
theatre owners have the benefit of cheaper
insurance for paying attention to safeguard-
ing the property, and more expensive in-
surance for ignoring such safeguards.
Which is as it should be.
September 1. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
61
1,676,542. MOTION-PICTURE PROJECTOR.
Edwin C. Fritts, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y.,
a Corporation of New York. Filed Nov. 14,
1925. Serial No. 69,142. 8 Claims. (CI.
88—19.4.)
1. In a motion picture projector, the comi-
bination with a blade shutter, of a safety,
shutter adapted to cooperate therewith, the
two shutters being: morably mounted with
respect to each other, means including a
weight on one shutter and a guideway for
the weight on the other shutter for defining
the movement of one shutter relative to the
other
1,676,594. MOTION-PICTURE MECHANISM.
Otto Wittel, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y.,
a Corporation of New York. Filed Feb. 17,
1926. Serial No. 88,791. 8 Oaims. (CL
88—18.4.)
WSZ
1. In a motion picture apparatus, a film driv-
ing sprocket having a series of equi-spaced
teeth about its periphery, two rolls having
a position near the periphery of the sprocket
and adapted to hold a perforate^ band in
driving relation with the sprocket, the angular
relation of said rolls to the axis of the
sprocket being the same as that of two of
the teeth of the sprocket, mechanism by which
the sprocket may be turned and means opera-
tive on said mechanism and providing a stop
therefor, there being a definite predetermined
relation between the stopping means and the
mechanism such that one of the teeth will
automatically stop in a definite predetermined
position between said rolls
1,676,529. CAMERA SHUTTER. Maurice
Eugene Cuendet, Lausanne, Switzerland, as-
signor to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester,
N. Y., a Corporation of New York. Filed
May 21, 1926. Serial No. 110,678. 11 Claims.
(CI. 95—59.)
1. In a photogrraphic shutter, the combina-
tion with a blade having an elongated slot
terminating in a pair of spaced slots, shatter
operating mechanism including a lever adapted
to be moved, said lever having a portion en-
gagring the slot, being adapted to move the
shutter by engaging the elongated slot and
being adapted to hold the shutter blade in a
fixed position by engaging one of the spaced
slots
Are You Liable for the Manager's Acts ♦ ♦ Continued from page 58
where such contracts relate to the theatre
business, unless the party with whom the con-
tract is made has been notified by the theatre
owner that the manager has no authority to
enter into valid contracts. In other words,
contracts made by the manager within the
scope of his employment are valid and binding.
Therefore, a dependable rule by which to
determine just when a contract is vahd and
enforceable is very important.
The law is well established that a contract
is invalid if either of the following questions
regarding it may be answered in the negative :
(1) Did one party submit an offer which
the other unconditionally accepted?
(2) Were the objects of the contract law-
ful?
(3) Did either party deceive, misrepresent
or exert undue influence with respect to the
other party?
(4) Were both parties of legal age and
of sound mind and did they have authority
to enter into the contract?
(5) Did both parties agree absolutely to
perform a definite act or thing?
Form of
Signature
In the leading case of Mayers v. McRimmon,
53 S. E. 447, the law was considered relative to
the rights of an employe to bind his employer
by imprinting the latter's name with a rubber-
stamp.
This court explained the generally estab-
lished law on the subject, as follows:
"Where the name required had been so placed by
one having authority to do it and with intent to
indorse the instrument, the authorities hold that this
is a valid indorsement."
In Still another case, Carroll v. Mitchell
Manufacturing Co., 128 S. W. 446, an author-
ized employe affixed his employer's signature
with a rubber stamp to a note. Later the em-
ployer attempted to avoid payment of the note
on the ground that he v/as not legally bound
by a rubber stamp signature.
However, the court held the employer liable
and explained that since it was proved that
when the signature was affixed he intended
to be bound, the rubber stamp signature was
equally as effective as one pen written.
Also, the same law is effective where a
manager affixes a signature with a typewriter
intending to make a valid contract. (195
Pac. 316.)
Moreover, it is immaterial whether a the-
atre owner or his authorized employe signs
a contract in full name or initials, providing
the employer intended to be bound when the
signature was affixed.
For instance, in the case of Meaton v.
Meyers, 33 111. 424, it was disclosed that a
principal signed a contract "H. C. M." Later
litigation developed and the higher court was
presented the question whether or not the con-
tract was valid. After carefully considering
all details of the controversy the court held
the signer liable and explained that any per-
son may bind himself to a legal obligation by
affixing any form of signature or mark if the
signature is substituted for the signer's name
with intentions to bind himself.
On the other hand, it is important to know
that the holder of a contract signed with a
rubber-stamp, typewriter, or initials, is bound
to prove to the satisfaction of the court that
the signature was affixed by the theatre owner
or his agent with intentions of completing
the obligation.
Furthermore, an employer who authorizes
an employe to use a mechanical signing device,
or authorizes his employe to affix the former's
written signature, is liable where the employe
exceeds his authority and signs a contract with
a firm or person who has made previous con-
tracts in the same manner. This is also true
where the parties to the contract know that
the employe has general authority to sign con-
tracts for his employer or principal.
Liability
Of Manager
It is also important to know that a theatre
manager may be personally liable where he
exceeds his authority.
Generally speaking, a theatre manager is
personally liable :
(1) Where he makes a false statement or
representation of his authority, with intent to
deceive.
(2) Where he knowingly makes a false
statement or representation, without intent to
deceive.
(3) Where he does a damaging act be-
lieving he has authority, but actually has
none.
(4) Where he acts on authority from his
employer and does an unlawful act.
Moreover, as a general rule where an em-
ploye exceeds his authority and performs acts
outside the scope of the employment, the em-
ployer is relieved of liability.
The legal reason a theatre manager is per-
sonally liable when he exceeds his authority,
is because the other party to the contract is
deprived of any remedy from the employer.
Another common source of litigation is
where an employe signs a letter, contract, or
other instrument in such a manner that he
may become personally liable for the obliga-
tion, although he was authorized by his em-
ployer to affix the signature.
Probably, a review of the leading cases on
the subject will convey the information more
readily than mere explanation.
In the leading case of Collins v. Buckeye
State Co., 176 O. S. 215, it was shown that
an employe signed an instrument "Edw'd F.
Collins, agent." He intended to bind his em-
ployer and had authority to sign the contract.
The question before the court was whether
or not Collins was personally liable. It was
proved that he acted as agent for his employer.
However, the latter's name did not appear on
the paper. The court held Collins personally
liable, saying that the mere fact he had added
the word "agent" to his name did not re-
lieve him of personal liability.
In still another case, (61 N. Y. S. 712), a
contract signed "John G. Porter, agent" was
the source of legal controversy. In this in-
stance, also, the court, in effect, said that
where a person signs a contract and uses his
62
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
own name with simply the word "agent,"
afiixed, the contract is the signer's own for
which he is personally responsible.
It is interesting to observe that in holding
Porter personally liable, the court explained
the laAV, as follows :
"He (Porter) contends that he was merely the
agent of another person * * * He signed the con-
tract as 'John G. Porter, Agent.' The word 'agent'
is mere description, and on its face the contract is
that of Porter individually."
Therefore, in view of the numerous pre-
viously decided cases the law is well estab-
lished that a theatre manager is relieved of
all risk of personal liability on contracts or
other papers, which he signs with proper
authority, provided :
(1) The name of his employer appears in
the body of the contract, or on the letterhead :
(2) The word "By" or "For" proceeds
his signature ;
(3) The word "Agent" or Manager" fol-
lows his signature;
(4) And the employer's name preceeds the
agent's signature, as follows:
"The Sterling Theatre,
"By, John Doe, Manager."
Sometimes the mere difference between the
words "By" and "For" are sufficiently impor-
tant to have considerable bearing on the out-
come of the liability of an agent who signs
contracts. Therefore, the word "Bj'" should
be used.
Liability for Refusal
To Sell Tickets
Generally speaking, the courts have held
that the proprietor or manager of a theatre
has a right to say whom he will or will not
admit into his theatre. Moreover, should am'
one apply at the box office and desire to pur-
chase tickets of admiission and be refused, or-
dinaril}- he has no cause of action against the
proprietor of the theatre. Also, although a
ticket is sold to a patron, the proprietor or
manager may refuse admittance to the holder.
Under these circumstances the proprietor is
compelled to refund the purchase price for
the ticket, together with other expenses in-
curred by the patron as a result of preparing
or planning to attend the show after purchas-
ing the ticket. However, such expenses gen-
erally are trifling and consist merely of the
cost of traveling to and from the theatre.
(19 N. Y. 301.) (227 U. S. 633.)
On the other hand, many of the states have
enacted laws making it unlawful to discrimi-
nate against "race, creed, or color."
Therefore, where such a law exists, a the-
atre proprietor is liable in damages if he re-
fuses to admit a person for either of these
reasons. However, even though such a law
is in effect, it has been held that the same
general rule, described above, remains the same
and a theatre proprietor or manager is privi-
leged to refuse to admit persons into his the-
atre, provided the refusal is made on any
ground which is not a discrimination against
the race, color, or creed, of the person de-
siring the purchase of a ticket. (217 N. Y. S.
212.)
However, the owner is liable for acts of the
manager or authorized ticket seller in refusing
to sell tickets in violation of the law.
Motion Picture Patents My Specialty
PATENTS
William N. Moore
Patent Attorney
Loan and Trust Building
Washington, D. C.
The first important step is to learn
whether you can obtain a patent. Please
send sketch of your invention with
$5.00, and 1 will examine the pertinent
U. S. patents and inform you whether
you are entitled to a patent, the cost
and manner of procedure. Personal at-
tention. Elstabhshed 3 5 years.
Copyright your play $5.00
Trade-Mark your goods or titles $30.00
Lobby Easel for
Theatres Offers
Advertising Tieup
A new electrical theatre lobby easel, incor-
porating many refinements and containing
striking illuminated photographs of screen
productions is being placed on the market bv
Adswin Corporation, 727 Seventh avenue. New
York City.
C. C. James, head of the concern, is the
originator of the new type easel, which is
offered to theatres in connection with an ad-
vertising tieup designed to be profitable to
houses installing the easel.
In addition to this easel the Adswin Cor-
poration is marketing changeable letter signs
which actually burn da^dight. These signs en-
able the theatre to have a brilliantly illuminated
sign all day long, with no cost of operation.
Letters are furnished and virtually any type
of announcement may be arranged.
S. P. Farberm, formerly with A'itagraph,
Fox and Aletro, Hermand Goldman, formerly
with First National, and Sam Fried, formerly
with Paramount, are on the sales staff of
Adswin in promoting the new product among
motion picture theatres.
Johns -Manville
Install Acoustics
In Fox Theatre
(^Continued from page 13)
bination whereas lead and varnish and glue
would close the pores and destroy much of
the sound-absorbing power.
To know how much acoustical felt was
required for the theatre, the acoustical engi-
neers measured the volume of the auditorium,
and the number of square feet of material of
each kind, and where placed in the whole
space. Knowing the coefficient of each ma-
terial, a definite formula gave 25,000 as the
required number of square feet of the half-
inch felt to give 100 per cent perfect results
for sound pictures. All flat surfaces in the
dome received the treatment, and all flat wall
surfaces.
Of course the drapes were figured in as
sound-absorbing material, and decreased the
thickness of the material needed for the huge
dome. Carpets also are very sound-absorbant,
and are used extensively in the theatre to
deaden the sound of shuffling feet as well as
to absorb otherwise reverberant' sounds issuing
from the stage. Seats, the whole 5,047, have
\-elour backs, not only because thev are more
comfortable but because they aid very mate-
rially in absorbing sound. Human beings, of
course, absorb sound in more ways than
through the ears mentally; their physical ab-
sorption of sound often makes the difference
between good and fearfully poor acustics in
a theatre less scientifically planned.
When acoustical engineers were called in by
the architects, C. Howard Crane and asso-
ciates, the ventilating system blueprints were
changed materially and re-designed to cut
down the velocity of the air intake so that
the rushing sound could not enter the theatre
and complicate acoustics. Escalators, planned
for the theatre, were also omitted from the
plans, somewhat from accoustical considera-
tions though more because of space limita-
tions.
Johns-Manville engineers served as acous-
tical experts on the new Fox in Detroit, and
also furnished all pipe coverings and insu-
lated all heating and ventilating equipment.
Picture Houses Opened
MILLPORT, ALA. — A new moving picture house
has been opened by William Gunter.
NOGALES, ARIZ.— S. J. Box, who recently ac-
quired the Lyric theatre, has reopened house with
first-class picture policy.
AMITY, ARK. — The Gleandale is a new moving
picture house opened by J. Ligon.
NATIONAL CITY, CALIF.— The National theatre
has opened with first-class picture program.
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF.— The Newport Beach
Pavilion theatre has reopened with pictures.
DUEANGO, COLO.— The American theatre will
open under the management of W. Cook.
OCALA. FLA. — Lester Lucas and B. L. Acker as
lessees and managers, have opened the Etta theatre.
BUFORD. GA. — The Colonial theatre has opened
under the management of Carl Cape.
MERRILL. lA. — Kale Brothers have reopened the
old Dreamland theatre, which has been renamed the
New Palace.
LEON, ALA. — L. W. Sackett has reopened the
Strand theatre.
WAVERLY, lA. — The Plaza and Rialto theatres
have reopened under the management of Alexander
Frank. The Plaza is devoted to pictures and vaude-
ville, while the Rialto is a feature picture house.
EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL.— The Majestic theatre has
opened under the management of John Choates.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.— The Palace theatre, havine
been closed for some months, has reopened with pic-
tures and vaudeville.
BLOOMINGTON, IND.— The New Eitz theatre,
with seating capacity of 800, and costing approxi-
mately $100,000, has opened as a first-class moving
picture house.
WINCHENDON. MASS.— Mathieu and Sharby have
opened the Capitol theatre. House cost approximately
$100,000, and has seating capacity of 600.
COLEMAN. MICH.— M. Weidman has opened the
Coleman theatre.
MONETTE, MO.— The old Gem theatre has been
renamed the Lindy. First-class picture policy will
prevail.
OMAHA, NEB. — The Strand theatre will be opened
as a moving picture house under the management of
August Herman.
SOUTH RIVER, N. J.— Capitol theatre has opened
with first-class picture program.
METUCHEN, N. J. — The Metuchen Amusement
Corporation, H. A. Ruruler, president, has opened the
Forum theatre.
CLEVELAND, O.— The La Salle theatre, a 1,600-
seat neighborhood moving picture house, has been
opened by Paul Gusdanovic.
PORTLAND, ORE. — The Portland theatre, repre-
senting an investment of §1,425,000, with seating
capacity of 4,000. has opened. House is operated by
the West Coast Theatres, Inc. Policy will be feature
pictures and presentation acts.
BLOOMSBURG, PA.— The Capitol theatre, oper-
ated by the Comerford Amusement Company, with
seating capacity of 1,800, and costing approximately
$175,000, has opened under the management of Byron
R. Linn. Movietone and Vitaphone have been in-
stalled.
KANE, PA. — Chase Street theatre has opened.
Policy will be feature pictures.
SPARTA, TENN.— The Oldham theatre has opened
with picture policy.
MIDLAND. TEXAS.— H. T. Hodge has opened the
Grand theatre.
ODESSA. TEXAS.— The Lyric theatre has been
opened by H. T. Hodge.
RICHLAND CENTER, WIS. — George Gassen has
opened the Richland theatre. House has seating ca-
pacity of 500, and stage large enough to pennit
vaudeville and presentation acts in conjunction with
its picture policy when desired.
BURLINGTON, WIS.— The new Plaza theatre, with
seating capacity of about 400, has opened under the
management of C. W. Nabel.
Dan Keefe Is Promoted
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.— Dan Keefe, as-
sistant to Director Rowland V. Lee, has
been made a company business manager at
the Paramount studios in Hollywood.
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
SERVICE
What It Was and What It Is
By J. P. CASEY
Manager of Marks Brothers' Marhro theatre, Chicago
63
IT is the mistaken impression of the
average theatre manager today that in
order to offer the best in service, it is
necessary to employ a staff of young men
who must be capable of conveying an ultra-
false impression to the theatregoer. This
type of training, which I believe to be of
the old school, is entirely wrong. The com-
petent usher, the usher who is endowed
with the gift of extending a cordial welcome
to the patrons of a theatre, is the young
man who is typically American; he_ is the
young man who carries himself with the
grace and ease that is a part of the present
day training in the schools of this country.
The athletic boy is the ideal usher. He
feels at ease in the presence of any com-
pany. He is not embarrassed when it is
necessary to talk to a large group of people.
He has been trained in his classes to assume
a nonchalant poise in addressing his fellow-
classmates. This is the type of boy who
constitutes the nucleus of Marks Brothers'
service in that Chicago circuit's theatres.
* * *
It is only through experience on the part
of the manager of today that he is in a
position to sympathize with the usher who
must conduct himself as something super-
ficial, something unreal. The young man
of today, through his contact with_ fellow-
students, through school fraternities and
clubs, has attained the position of dignity
of spirit that is manifest from the day he
enters the portals of higher education.
Ushering today is a business that requires
only the finest of young men. The average
usher is giving his every effort in order that
he may attain a higher position in this, the
fourth largest industry in the country.
Careful selection of type is the most im-
portant step in the training of boys whose
duty it is to impart to the public the same
hospitality that they would accord guests in
their own home. In short if the boy for
the position of usher is carefully selected,
the training course is well under way before
started. Having selected a boy who is
naturally gifted with good appearance, ease
1,672,222. MOTION-PICTURE MACHINE.
Wilho A. Kosken, New York, N. Y., assignor
to Steadylite Motion Picture Machine Corpora-
tion, New York, N. Y., a Corporation of New
York. Filed May 31, 1924. Serial No. 716,867.
58 Claims. (CI. 88—16.8.)
55. Means for optically rectifying the move-
ment of a beam of light comprising two series
of movable deflectors for bending the beam
twice, the deflectors of each series being so
inclined that the beam will have an a"ngle of
incidence with the deflectors of one series ap-
proximately twice as large as the angle of
incidence which said beam has with the de-
flectors of the other series.
/. P. Casey
of speech, and grace of carriage, the next
step is to impart to him the basic funda-
mentals of theatre service. The actual
training is gained most rapidly and most
thoroughly through actual experience. This
experience is acquired through his working
for a few days with an associate usher,
whose training course is complete. By this
procedure, his acquisition of knowledge is
very rapid.
* * *
In the employment of ushers there are
certain prescribed times for interview. At
such times there are large groups of young
men making application. In a series of
eliminations, the number is reduced until
only the wanted type remains. This re-
maining group is then taken into the ushers'
training room, where they are told of every-
thing that may be distasteful in the ren-
dition of service, and there is not mentioned
as much as a word pertaining to the niceties
of ushering, or the possibilities of advance-
ment. The latter is told them after their
training course is complete. The object in
explaining to them any undesirable features
of the work is to make a final weeding out
of any weakling who may have successfully
withstood the preliminary eliminations.
During training, the point most promi-
nently stressed is that dignity, courtesy and
tolerance are merely the outstanding char-
acteristics of a gentleman. If they do not
•possess these traits innately, it is not our
lot to ask them to wear a mask. We simply
do not tolerate the presence of an usher
who at any time drops the mask which he
has donned temporarily and fictitiously dur-
ing the period of employment and primary
training. Should a young man be fortunate
enough to enter our service ranks through
disguise, he is soon found out and is
dropped from service.
* * *
It is our desire to offer to our guests a
civility and courtesy that is to be found un-
equaled anywhere. Strong pressure is
brought to bear in this regard and in the
attainment of this end, we point out to our
boys the fact that they are the representa-
tives of the management, and that they
must be on the alert at all times to make
their representation above reproach. We
insist that each and every employe consider
himself as proprietor and that he must not,
therefore, offend any person, the result of
such offense being to jeopardize the good-
will of HIS business.
When a young man knows that his efforts
are not in vain, that he is to be recom-
pensed for good service, he is "on his toes"
at all times to prove the caliber of his per-
sonal mettle. He knows that at all times
he is being put through the acid test and
that only the highly endurable stock can
bear up under the continued scrutiny and
observation of superiors whose duty it is
to select only the really typical American
boy who is a natural fighter, a fighter who
through his calm and gentlemanly tactics
is capable of ascending to the "top o' the
world."
* * *
In baseball, the leading American game,
a player is taught that when there are two
outs, a man is on third, and the batter
shoots out a fast grounder to the shortstop,
the easiest and surest play is to throw the
runner out at first base rather than to play
for the man on third. So it is with Marks
Brothers' service: Study the game, select
the easiest and surest plays with the Service
Team and you have the winning squad.
Percussion Stops
Big Factor in the
Appeal of Organs
The pipe organ is the accepted musical in-
strument for theatres, not because it is a big
instrument, capable of filling a large audi-
torium with music, but because its tone-quality,
expressive power, variety and richness stir up
deep emotions.
The range of the organ extends from the
swelling ground tones of the diapason up
through all the levels of harmony, to the
chimes and other percussion stops. It is these
percussion stops that give "soul" to the organ.
They are called "percussions" because they
are played by the striking or the percussion
of scientifically constructed hammers, with
ball-shaped composition heads, against metal
bars or tubes. The Kohler-Liebich Co., Inc.,
are designers and builders of percussion stops
which can be installed in any organ, new
or old.
Niblo Directing Myers,
Crawford, Asther, M G M
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 28.— Carmel Myers
will be seen as an exotic siren in the film
version of "Adrienne Lecouvreur," which
Fred Niblo is directing for Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer. Miss Myers plays the countess role
in support of Joan Crawford and Nils
Asther.
64
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 1, 1928
new inventions in motion pictures
1,672,214. FILM KEEL. Arthur C. Hayden,
Brockton, Mass. Filed May 13, 1927. Serial
No. 191.049. 3 Claims. (CI. 242—70.)
1,669,407. METHOD AND APPARATUS
FOR PRODUCING COMPOSITE MOTION
PICTURES. Pierre Artigue, Los Angeles,
Calif. Filed Oct. 2, 1923. Serial No. 666,112.
6 Claims. (CI. 88 — 16.)
1. The combination of a iilm reel having a
pair of plates and a hub between the plates
adapted to have a film wound thereon; and
means for holding the free end of the film on
the reel including a member having prongs
adapted to enter holes in the film adjacent the
edges thereof.
5. Apparatus for aiding in the production
of a composite picture of a main scene, com-
prising, in combination, a natural background
scene, a camera having a lens plemcntary mov-
able transparent screen back of said main
transparent screen witliin focal range of said
lens, introducing foreground detail into the
main scene a supplementary movable trans-
parent screen back of said main screen intro-
ducing a moving background detail into the
main scene, the two screens being spaced a
sufficient distance apart to permit action by
animated objects to take place between the
screens and to permit the illumination of
either face of said screens from either side
thereof.
1,672,845. MOTION-PICTURE PROJECTOR.
John G. CapstafE, Rochester, N. Y., assignor
to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y.,
a Corporation of New York. Filed Feb. 20,
1925. Serial No. 10,601. 5 Claims. (CI.
88 — 18.4.)
1,669,427. FRAMING LIGHT FOR MOVINGf-
PICTURE MACHINES. Will C. Smith, New
York, N. Y., assignor to Nicholas Power Com-
pany, Inc., New York, N. Y., a Corporation of
Delaware. Filed Sept. 25, 1920. Serial No.
412,715. 3 Claims. (CI. 88—17.)
1,670,673. AUTOMATIC FILM DEVELOP-
ING FIXING, AND DRYING MACHINE.
Walter J. Williams, Woodhaven, N. Y. Filed
Jan. 2, 1923. Serial No. 610,226. 4 Claims.
(CI. 95—89.)
1. A mechanism for advancing a band com-
prising two direclly intergeared discs, the cir-
cumference of one of which is an even multiple
of the circumference of the other, a lever
having band engaging means and eccentrically
pivoted to said larger disc, and means mounted
eccentrically of the smaller disc and engaging
the lever to oscillate a portion thereof trans-
versely at a more rapid rate than the larger
disc oscillates the pivoted point thereof.
1. Apparatus of the character described
embodying, in combination, a plurality of
separate containers, each adapted to contain
a liquid, a carrier having means for engaging
the opposite ends of a sensitized unit to re-
tain the same in submerged position, means for
successively moving said carrier through each
of said containers with the sensitized unit sub-
merged in said liquids and means in the tanks
for agitating the said liquids.
1,676.553. SCREEN FOR PICTURE PRO-
JECTION. Edward R. Hewitt, Midvale, N.
J. Filed Mar. 13, 1925. Serial No. 15,363
4 Claims. (CL 88—24.)
-0^^,
1. A screen for picture projecting havitvg a
coating of small crystals of calcium tungstate
and an adhesive securing said crystals to form
a contiguous surface
1. A picture projector comprising the com-
bination of a projection light, film carrying
mechanism in front of said photographic en-
largement of another portion of the photo-
graph on a scale corresponding to that of the
objects photographed, placing the photographic
enlargements in the field of view of a cine-
matographic camera and at such distances from
the camera as to bring the larger photographic
enlargement into the proper perspective rela-
tion with the portions of the smaller photo-
graphic enlargement that represent those por-
tions of the scene contiguous to the portion
of the scene represented by the larger photo-
graphic enlargement, causing action to take
place between the planes of the enlargements,
and making a series of photographic exposures
of the smaller photographic enlargement and
the action and the portions of the larger photo-
graphic enlargement not obscured by the
action.
1,672,656. PICTURE SCREEN. Arthur
Payne, Kew Gardens, N. Y., assignor to Trans-
Lux Daylight Picture Screen Corporation, a
Corporation of Delaware. Filed Sept. 25, 1924.
Serial No. 739,892. 13 Claims. (CI. 88—24.)
12. A screen of the character described
comprising a base of translucent material hav-
ing incorporated therein a fabric of irregular
weave.
September 1, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
65
BETTER THEATRES
Information and
Catalog Bureau
"Better Theatres" offers on this page an individual service to
its readers. Detailed information and catalogs concerning any
product listed herewith wUl be sent to any theatre owner, man-
ager, architect or projectionist. Just fill in the coupon below
and mail to "Better Theatres" Division of Exhibitors Herald
and Moving Picture World. Many of the products listed by
this Bureau are advertised in this issue of "Better Theatres."
See Advertisers Index.
1 Acoounting lyiteni.
2 Acouttlcal lattallatioDi.
3 Adapter*, carbon.
4 Adding, calculating naehinet.
6 Admiiilon ilgni.
6 Addreuino machinet,
7 Advertiting noveltlet, naterialt.
8 Advertiting projects,
9 Air conditioning equipment.
10 Air dome tent*.
11 Aitle llglitt.
12 Aiile rope.
13 Alarm tignale.
14 Are lampi, reflecting.
15 Architectural tervice.
16 Arc regulator*.
17 Artificial planti, flowert.
18 Art title*.
19 Automatic curtain control.
20 Automatic projection cutout*.
21 Automatio tDhnUen.
B
22 Balloon*, advertiting.
23 Banner*.
24 Baikett, decorative.
25 6ell-buz2er tignal lyetem*.
26 Block*, puileyt, itage-rlgging.
27 Blower*, hand.
28 Booking agencie* for mu*lclani.
29 Booking agencie* (*tat* kind).
30 Boiler*.
31 Bolt*. Chair anchor.
32 Booth*, projection.
33 Boothi, ticket.
34 Box, lege chairs.
35 Brat* grills.
36 Brat* rail*.
37 Brokers-Theatre promotion.
38 Bulletin board*, changeable.
39 Cable.
40 Cabinet*.
41 Calcium light*.
42 Camera*.
43 Canople* tor front*.
44 Carboni.
45 Carbon iharpeners.
46 Carbon wrenche*.
47 Carpet*.
48 Carpet cuehlon.
49 Carpet Cleaning compound,
60 Carpet covering.
61 Case*, Aim thipplng.
52 Cement, film.
53 Chair covers.
54 Chairs, wicker.
55 Chairs, theatre.
56 Change maker*.
67 Changer over*.
68 Color hood*.
59 Color wheel*.
60 Conden*er*.
D
61 Date (trip*.
62 Decoration* (*tate kind).
63 Decorators, theatre,
64 Dimmer*.
65 Di*infeetanti — perfumed.
66 Doors, fireproof.
67 Draperies.
68 Drinking fountain*.
69 Duplicating machines.
E
70 Electric circuit testing Instra-
ments.
71 Electrio fans.
72 Electrical flowers.
73 Electrio power generating
plants.
74 Electric signs.
75 Electric signal and control sys-
tems.
76 Emergency lighting plants,
77 Exit light signs.
F
78 Film cleaners.
79 Filmtplicing machine.
80 Film tooli (itate kind).
81 Film waxing machine.
82 Fire aiarmi.
83 Firs escapes.
84 Fire extinguishers.
85 Fire hose.
86 Fire hose reel*, carts.
87 Fire proof curtains.
88 Fire proof doors.
89 Fire proofing materials.
90 Fixtures, lighting.
91 Flashlight*.
92 Flashers, Electrio sign.
93 Flood lighting.
94 Floorllghts.
95 Floor covering.
96 Floor runner*.
97 Flowers, artificial.
98 Footlight*.
99 Fountain*, deooratlvs.
100 Fountain*, drinking.
101 Frame*-potter, lobby display.
102 Fronts, metal theatre.
103 Furnace*, coal burning.
104 Furnace*, oil burning,
105 Furniture, theatre.
106 Fuses,
G
107 Generators.
108 Griilei, bras*.
109 Gummed label*.
1 10 Gypium product*.
H
ill Hardware, etaga.
112 Heating *yttem, coal.
113 Heating tystem, oil.
114 Ink, pencilt for illde*.
115 Insurance, Fire,
116 insurance. Rain.
117 Interior decorating lenrise.
118 Interior Illuminated signs.
J
119 Janitors' supplies.
120 Labels, film caution.
121 Lamps, decorative.
122 Lamp dip coloring.
123 Lamps, general lighting.
124 Lamps, Incandescent projection.
125 Lamps, high intensity,
126 Lamps, reflecting arc,
127 Lavatory equipment, furnish-
ings,
128 Lavatory fixtures.
129 Ledgers, theatrs.
130 Lenses.
131 Lights, exit
132 Liqhts. spot.
133 Lighting fixturei.
134 Lighting Installations.
135 Lighting systems, complete.
136 Linoleum,
137 Liquid soap.
138 Liquid soap containera.
139 Lithographers.
140 Lobby display frames.
141 Lobby gazing balls.
142 Lobby furniture.
143 Lobby decorations.
144 Lubricants (ttats kind).
145 Luminou* number*.
146 Luminou* *igns. Interior,
exterior,
M
147 Machines, ticket.
148 Machines, pop corn,
149 Machines, sanitary vending,
150 Make up, boxes, theatrical,
151 Marble.
152 Marquiee.
153 Mat*, leather.
154 Mat* and runners,
155 Mazda projection adapter*.
156 Metal lath.
157 Metal polish.
158 Mirror, ihade*.
159 Motor generator*.
160 Motion picture cable.
161 Musical Inttrument* (*tate
kind).
162 Mu*io publl*hert,
163 Mutic rolli.
IS4 Music stands.
N
165 Napkins.
166 Novelties, advertising,
167 Nursery furnishing* and
equipment
0
168 Oil burners.
169 Orcheitral pieces,
170 Orchestra pit fittings, furnish-
ings.
171 Organi.
172 Organ novelty slides.
173 Organ lifts.
174 Organ chamber heaters.
175 Ornamental fountains.
176 Ornamental metal work.
177 Ornamental metal theatre
fronts.
P
178 Paint screen.
179 Paper drinking cup*.
180 Paper towels.
181 Perfumers.
182 Photo frame*.
183 Pianos.
184 Pictur* sets.
185 Player pianos.
186 Plaitio fixtures and decorations.
187 Plumbing fixtures.
188 Positive film.
189 Posters.
190 Poster frames.
191 Poster lights.
192 Poiter paste.
193 Portable projectors.
194 Pottery decorative.
195 Power generating plants.
196 Printing, theatre.
197 Programs.
198 Program covers.
199 Program signs. Illuminated,
200 Projectiop lamps,
201 Projection machines.
202 Projection machine parts.
203 Projection room equipment.
R
204 Radiators.
205 Radiator covers.
206 Rails, brass.
207 Rails, rope,
208 Rain insurance.
209 Rectifiers.
210 Reconstruction tervice.
211 Redecorating tervice.
212 Reflectors (state kind).
213 Refurnishing service.
214 Regulators, Mazda.
215 Reels.
216 Reel end signal*.
217 Reel packing, carrying oases,
218 Resonant orchestra platform.
219 Reseating service.
220 Rewinding film,
221 Rheostats.
222 Rigging, stage.
223 Roofing materials.
S
224 Safes, film.
225 Scenery, stage,
226 Scenic artists' servloe.
227 Screens.
228 Screen paint.
229 Seat covers.
230 Seat Indicators, vacant
231 Seats, theatres.
232 Signs (state kind).
233 Signs, parking.
234 Signals, reel end.
235 Sign flashers.
236 Sign-cloth.
237 Sign lettering service.
238 Sidewalk machines, corn pop-
pers.
239 Slides.
240 Slide ink. pencils.
241 Slide lanterns.
242 Slide making outfits.
243 Slid* mats.
244 Shutters, metal llr*.
245 Soap containers, liquid.
246 Speed Indicators.
247 Spotlights.
248 Stags doors-valances, eto.
249 Stage lighting equipment
250 Stage lighting system*.
251 Stage rigging-blocks, pulleys.
252 Stags scenery.
253 Stair treads.
254 Statuary.
265 Steel lockers.
256 Stereopticons.
257 Sweeping compounds.
258 Switchboards.
259 Switches, automatic.
T
260 Talley counters.
261 Tapestries.
262 Tax free music.
263 Telephones, inter-communlcat-
ing.
264 Temperature regulation systsm,
265 Terra Cotta.
266 Terminals.
267 Theatre accounting system*.
268 Theatre dimmer*.
269 Theatre *eat*.
270 Ticket*.
271 Ticket booth*.
272 Ticket chopper*.
273 Ticket holder*.
274 Ticket racks.
275 Ticket selling machines.
276 Tile.
277 Tile stands.
278 Tool cases, operator's.
279 Towels, paper.
280 Towels, cloth.
281 Trailers.
282 Transformers.
283 Tripods.
284 Turnstiles, registering.
285 Typewriters.
U
286 Uniforms.
287 Valances, for boxes.
288 Vases, stone.
289 Vacuum cleaners.
290 Ventilating fans.
291 Ventilating, cooling systea.
292 Ventilating systems, complete
293 Vending machines, (oap, tow-
el*, napkins, eto.
294 Vitrollt*.
W
295 Wall burlap.
296 Wall leather.
297 Watchman's clocks.
298 Water coolers.
299 Wheels, color.
USE THIS COUPON
"BETTER THEATRES" DIVISION
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
407 South Dearborn Street, Chicago
Gentlemen :
I should like to receive reliable information on the following items ;
(Refer to Items by Number)
Remarks :...
Name
State
Theatre
_r. Seating Capacity....-
66
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 1, 1928
Advertised in This
BETTER THEATRES SECTION
(If you desire something not listed here. Exhibitors Information and Catalog
Bureau published in this issue will get it for you.)
AISLE LIGHTS
Kausalite Mfg. Co
8129 Rhodes Ave., Chicago,
Page
44
///.
_ 34
50
53
ANCHOR EXPANSION BOLTS
The Paine Co _ _...
2951 Carroll Ave., Chicago, 111.
AUTOMATIC CURTAIN
CONTROL
Automatic Devices Co
17 N. 7th St., Allentown, Pa.
BANNERS, SIGNS
H. Dryfhout Company
736 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago, III.
DIMMERS
Cutler-Hammer Mfg. Company 7
Milwaukee, Wis .
ELECTRIC FLASHERS, COLOR
HOODS
Reynolds Electric Co 18
2651 W. Congress St., Chicago, III.
EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES
National Theatre Supply Co Insert
624 South Michigan Ave., Chicago, III.
FILM CEMENT
F. B. Griffin...
54
Oshkosh, Wis.
HRE PREVENTION DEVICES
Sentry Safety Control Corp 28
1229 Viyie St., Philadelphia, Pa.
FLOWERS, PLANTS — ARTIFICIAL
G. Reising & Co 46
227 W. Austin Ave., Chicago, III.
GENERATORS
Automatic Devices Co 50
Allentown, Pa.
Hertner Ellectric Co ^ Insert
Cleveland, Ohio.
Roth Brothers & Co 47
1400 W. Adams' St., Chicago, III.
INTERIOR DECORATIONS
Continental Studios, Inc 29
100 East Ohio St., Chicago, III.
LAMPS, HIGH INTENSITY
Hall & Connolly, Inc 43
129 Grand St., N. Y. C.
LAMPS, REFLECTING ARC
The Lit-War Company
39
Wellston, Ohio.
Strong Electric Co 42
2501 Lagrange St., Toledo, Ohio.
LENSES
Bausch & Lomb..
Rochester, N. Y.
38
LIGHTING FIXTURES
The Voight Company 50
1743 No. 12th St., Philadelphia, Pa.
LIGHTING PLANTS
Kohler Company 24
Kohler, Wis.
LOBBY DISPLAYS
Adswin Corporation _ 60
727 Seventh Ave., New York City.
Page
ORGANS
George Kilgen & Son, Inc Insert
4016 N. Union Blvd.. St. Louis, Mo.
Nelson-Wiggen Piano Co 42
1731 Belmont Ave., Chicago, III.
The Page Organ Co 26
519 No. Jackson St., Lima, Ohio.
J. P. Seeburg Piano Co 23
1510 Dayton St., Chicago, III.
Rudolph Wurlitzer Co Second Cover
Cincinnati, O.
ORGAN HEATERS
Cramblet Eng., Corp 54
286 Milwaukee St., Milwaukee, Wis.
Kausalite Mfg. Co 44
8129 Rhodes Ave., Chicago, III.
The Prometheus Elec. Corp 56
356 W. 13th St., N. Y. C.
PATENT ATTORNEYS
William N. Moore _ 62
Loan & Trust Bldg., Washington, D. C.
POP CORN MACHINES
C. Cretores Co 35
612 W. 22nd St., Chicago, III.
PROJECTION TOOLS
Projection Improvement Co _ 18
Drifton, Pa.
PROJECTORS
Coxsackie Holf^insr Corporation 20
Coxsackie, New York.
Enterprise Optical Co :4th Cover
564 W. Randolph St., Chicago, III.
International Proj. Corp Insert
90 Gold St.. N. Y. C.
RADIUM LIGHT
Louis E. Samms Studios 54
177 N. State St., Chicago, III.
RHEOSTATS
Hoffmann & Soons 50
S87 First Avenue, New York City
SAFES, THEATRE
York Safe and Lock Company 48
York, Pa.
SAFETY SHUTTERS
Best Devices Company..
Film Bldg., Cleveland, O.
54
SCREENS
Da-Lite Screen Co 47
922 W. Monroe St., Chicago, III.
Raven Screen Co _ _ 49
1476 Broadway, N. Y. C.
SEATS
American Seating Co 4
14 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, III.
Heywood-Wakefield Company 8
209 Washington St., Boston, Mass.
SIGNS — ELECTRIC
Flexlume Corporation 19
Buffalo, N. Y.
Milne Elec. Co 43
614-18 Cherry St., Milwaukee, Wis.
SLIDES
I P RcHtsIgv 54
5'4 W. Randolph St., Chicago, lil.
SOUND PROOF INSTALLATIONS
Johns-Manville Corporation 3
292 Madison Ave., New York City.
Page
SOUND REPRODUCING DEVICES
The Phototone Company 29
North Vernon, Ind.
STAGE AND ORCHESTRA UFTS
Richard R. Bruckner 54
532 West 22nd St., New York City.
Peter Clark, Inc „ 46
534 W. 30th St.. N. Y. C.
STAGE LIGHTING EQUIPMENT
Frank Adam Elec. Co Front Cover
3650 Windsor Ave., St. Louis, Mo.
Belson Mfg. Company _ 53
800 Sibley St., Chicago, III.
Brenkert Light Proj. Co 22
7348 St. Aubin Ave., Detroit, Mich.
Hub Electric Company _ 35
2225 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, III.
Kliegl Brothers 48
156 Clinton St., Milwaukee, Wis.
MiWaukee EUectrIc S^vitchboard Co. ...25
156 Clinton St., Milwaukee, Wis.
STAGE RIGGING HARDWARE
J. H. Channon Corp _ 53
223 W. Erie St., Chicago, III.
J. R. Clancy _ 54
Syracuse, N. Y,
Peter Clark, Inc _ 46
534 W. 30th St., N. Y. C.
STAGE SCENERY
Matney Studios 54
307 W. 47th Street. N. Y. C.
Tiffin Scenic Studios _ _ 56
Tiffin, Ohio.
THEATRE BUILDING SERVICE
Midwest Engrg. & Const. Corp 44
2U9 So. Third St., Columbus, Ohio.
THEATRE PRINTING, PROGRAMS
Exhibitors Printing Service 56
711 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, III.
National Program & Printing Co 34
729 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago, III.
TICKETS
Arcus Ticket Co _ _ _ 50
348 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, III.
Weldon, Williams & Link 48
Fort Smith, Ark.
TRAILERS
National Screen Service 49
126-130 W. 46th St., N. Y. C.
UNIFORMS
Maier-Lavaty Company _ 21
2141 Lincoln Ave., Chicago, III.
VENTILATING EQUIPMENT
Blizzard Fan Sales Co _ _ 39
1514 Davenport St., Omaha, Neb.
Lakeside Company _ 56
Hermansville, Mich.
Supreme Heat & Vent. Co 33
1915 Pine St., St. Louis, Mo.
Typhoon Fan Co
345 W. 39th St.. N. Y. C.
49
EBB
IVH
61'/WoLess Heat
on^he FllmT
.^^
J^*> /
L.
REPORTS OF FIRST 25 INSTALLATIONS
ACCLAIM IT A MARVELOUS ACfflEVEMENT.
"RESULTS ARE WONDERFUL."
YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO NEGLECT
YOUR INVESTIGATION OF THE
MODEL H
MOTIOGRAPH DE LUXE
THE ONLY PROJECTOR
ESPECIALLY BUILT AND
SCIENTIFICALLY DESIGNED
FOR PERFECT SOUND AND
SCREEN PROJECTION
THE ENTERPRISE OPTICAL MFG. CO.
564 W. Randolph Street
CHICAGO, ILL.
The Motiograph De Luxe
equipped with Movietone Unit.
r
EXHIBETOM
1
729 SEVENTH AVENUEI
—in New York and on every Film
Row of the entire country they^re
talking M-Q-M* Listen to 'em:
"White Shadows" ... S. R. O. at two bucks ...IVe got it sewed
up . . . Yeah, it's Metro's first sound picture . . . Imagine what
they'll do afterwards . . . I'm playing "Dancing Daughters",
"Excess Baggage" "While The City Sleeps" one right after the
other. .. that's starting the new year right ... listen brother, it's
names that keep 'em coming... the Gilberts, Garbos, Shearers,
Chaneys, Haines, and the rest of those M'G-M babies are
sweet music to my box-office . . . did y' see Laurel'Hardy's "Two
Tars" at the Embassy ... a panic . . . imagine a two-reel comedy
in a $2 theatre . . . M-G-M is there in every department, fea-
tures, shorts, everything . . . you said it kid, I made dough
every year with M-G-M . . . consistent outfit . . . that's my baby T'
U/UnUVol 09 NT_ lft/\7 I OA M io\ Entered as second-class matter, August 20, 1917, at the Post Office at Chicago, III., under the act of March 3, c„„»„„l„, o 1098
nnoie VOI.»<:, 1\0. imVOl. i4, INO. U; js?^. Published weekly at 407 South Dearborn St., Chicago. Subscription $3,00 a year. Single copies, 25 cents, oeptemoer 6, 1»^8
IIKKIhS
L.im
\\i/^ir%xmi
music attraction
Morton
ales for tfie second^
ijear 19? 8,fiave exceeded
^QiU ■ iliCUyiillKKi I i II I niiAiiuiiLiit mlwuvji iiil
estaDlisWng a new M^ record.
feb^tMirton UNnQrim
its UIl'
"Radically dif feront from all otftei^
organs, it Is an indispensable attrac--
tiofaiit tlie successful operation of the
modern motion picture tfieatre.
Asapcrmanent ,outsrtandin^afl^
unrivaled music featureaf^is
tfie choice of an increasing a
majority of pro^ress'ive an<
fersi^hted sfiowmen and^
exEioitors everijwJfiere
i
:~-L-X
-it '^
to CoA9i
jlg^l/i «_.AV-,4:«.-
*'R6bcrtMoi*toiv Console 'V?i.
^s^mr^^oeWs s United
ix\^^\Avtisfs Ohio
~^ bus, Ohio. /
LocvVs AT\d Uivited Artist's
OhioJhecLtre,
"^"^^ Coluirtbus^Ohio.
T^S^*^-
Paixta^es , Tlieatre
San Frciticisco.
TOrite'Xoii&y/
forOurNQU) / A
r r
' Robert A\oitoTV Coixsole'
inJZoevi's ItlidlAnci « —
JAeatj'e, Kansas Citj/.Mdx^
GENUINE. OeAGAN PEIICUSSIONS USED
Purchase Pl^jt .
miwmtfT
R»tot Mo9tffn Or^an Gat
N ew Yor V. Chicago Los Angeles SanTrancisco
l(S6o Broidvay 624 SoMicKi^aty 1914 SoVennont I6&GoIden Gate
'HE* IDEA MUOEVILLE -^IjJ,^-^
LON CHAKEJ •■ -NOCKERY iS^lf Jl'S
KURT.W;
o im
YOlJ KNOVT
HOVF GREAT
A MOTION PICTURE CAN BE
Lio.
"You who make it a point to keep lists of the
year's greatest pictures, just chalk down 'The
Patriot', for there'll be few screen plays this
season which will surpass it". — iV. Y. Eve. World
"One of the finest things we have seen on the
screen in many years". — Brooklyn Eagle
" 'The Patriot' is, in this reviewer's opinion,
the finest picture this season has yet brought
to Broadway". — N. Y. Graphic
"A magnificent motion picture. Nothing can
rob 'The Patriot' of its place in the all-too-
limited category of great and permanent mo-
tion pictures". — Film Daily
"For absorbing acting and direction, don't miss
seeing 'The Patriot' ". — N.Y. Eve. Journal
" 'The Patriot' should be remembered when all
the so-called 'wonder -pictures' are forgotten.
It is magnificent". — Exhibitor*s Daily Review
"THE PERFECT FllM OF 1928"
—N.Y.
DAILY NEWS
^ Opening a long run engagement at
the Rialto Theatre, New York, on
August 17th, "THE PATRIOT" has
done record-breaking business every
performance since. It is literally
the sensation of Broadway. ^ An
artistic masterpiece that is at the
THE PATRIOT
same time box oflSce all the way. A
credit to the industry; a bonanza for
yourpocketbook.^ With "WINGS",
'THEWEDDINGMARCH"and"THE
PATRIOT", Paramount exhibitors
start the new season with the three
biggest money-makers of 1928-9.
i
EMIL JANNINGS
in the
ERNST LUBITSCH
Production. With Florence Vidor,
Lewis Stone, Neil Hamilton.
PARAMOUNT
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
it's nautical but nice!
Jimmy Hall as the gob.
Mai St. Clair directed.
THE MOST POPULAR GIRL
IN THE WORLD. Clara Bow
gets 35,000 fan letters a
month. She's the craze of
the hour. No other star can
touch her for pulling power.
''The Heel's In! ''-and it's
CLARA BOW'S best by far!
^ Not a headline. A fact ! Never heard such raving before in a
projection room. ^ Better than *^It"? By a mile! It's fast, frisky,
frolicsome. Laughs galore, enough "^''it" to sink a battleship and —
believe it or not — a tear or two. ^ Clara Bow as the millions of
Bow fans want to see her. Imagine — red headed Clara as a dance
hall hostess battling shore-going sailors for the freedom of the
seize, q A tip: See it. Grab it. BOOK IT FOR EXTENDED
RUNS. You cheat yourself of easy money if you don't!
PARAMOUNT-tfc« dough gemr
*'WINGS''-"THE PATRIOT".'THE WEDDING MARCH"-'THE FLEET'S IN!''
TH t N£W
COM EDI tS
Lovable kids acting comic characters the
whole world knows — clever plots, fast
action, side-splitting ideas, vast exploit-
ation possibilities, a prominent person in
each production, and millions of dollars'
worth of country-wide newspaper pub-
licity— "Smitty and His Pals" is destined
to be the big box-oflfice cleanup of
1928-29
Amedee J.WnBeuren
PRESENTS
From the Famous Cartoon
Character Oriqinated by
Syndicated Through^out The World
A SERIES OF TEN GREAT PATHE COMEDIES
THAT WILL TAKE THE COUNTRY BY STORM
SENSATION IN KID
IS HERE^
15,000,000
movie-fans, reading the great met-
ropolitan newspapers of over fifty
American cities, chuckle over the
famous "Smitty" cartoons every
day. No one could buy the free
daily publicity that this remark-
able series of comedies is receiving
right now — today — in your
community.
Pathe
SEAT SELLING
NAMES IN EACH
COMEDY
DJACK
EMPSEY
in fi)t6t l^lecue
No PiCN
CASH IN on the enormous prestige of Jack
^empsey, most magnetic and highly publi-
cized figure in a decade of great American
heroes! This tremendous drawing-card ap-
pears in an important role in '''INo Picnic,*'
first gala comedy of '''Smilty and His Pals/*
No exhibitor can afford to let such an op>
portunity for profits pass him by!
'■'»40E M^**
G)inedy
on
-11
\IV15 "
,cTeec»^^5-^4 eve"'
aiffi^
'"SSED DEATH ^W"^^'^*^*^
"re «,„„^ "e;*'? n"»vlnr pic-
Dat^e OliveVy Pathe Camera-
man, Eyewitness of Terriffic
New York Suhway Disaster
Exclusive pictorial record in
Broadway Theatres few hours
later — with prints to entire
country by air-mail
»mo unexpected? 1"^ ^"^
coWtei°^^««ns some <iatn'
X^la'^Mawon?^ *^7 to the
etching thi"=» pulling, on,
■ften »^.? 'rain's bratJ
.tW
:»*■ 'Sen
there
braJta
tiling weaj ^— .
.fever.- ---^j
je \, ot -ot down f^ *v
»W »-eSt^„^J^« tract 1
ho power or/ ' r ^"'^''
atoao
Stof^'"
Se«»'=^ tvl
st*''
U*
««*
oo\
CO
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Newspapers over entire
country carry complete re-
port of Pathe Camerman^s
amazing feat
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athe News Soon in
SOUND
RI
n<:««
ft/-/;
e,vy
'flo<j
'ofS
anrfA,'rWere on again o
u«b /r^f^n the track.
^:^,w
r-^^s-^'
rii.
O/rvef
"cc/d,
"n,! y ■
'^'•Uab
"My iirst thought was pictu
fought my way a» close to the down-
town end o£ the platform »' PO-^'^le
Tj„ »h. time I cot there, the lights
By the lime. ;J ^^ j^^, p,ai(orm and
, I was able to -get
d set my camera up
nough to phoiozraph the
'.'':• .-„ V -
nm
tVENTFUL YEARS
Years of triumphant
progress . • . of indom-
itable purpose and
unswerving devo-
tion to an ideal of
perfection . . .
culminating in
the birth of a
n e vr and
artistic
"^^ achieve-
Mm
ment
riETmsE
Mi>vi:ii
iriiiij!:i
WILLIAM
r
\
bas not only giren the motion
picture industry a voice, with
the deyelopment of sound on
film-'but has, in the past, main-
tained a rig^id fidelity to the
production of g^reat box-oflice
pictures, strivings constantly
to meet and solve exhibitor
problems with such marked
unselfishness that he may be
justly caUed, * 'The One Oreat
Independent* ' '
With a Quarter Century of Achieve-
ment skH a Background William Fox
Offers, in Celebration of his
Beginning September 1**,
#2 Specials with or withoutMovietone:
I
ii:i»ji:^iitiiii^~^i^#X'iJii
i^m
66
Street Aiiffel" "Mother Macliree"
Frank Borzage, director,
with Janet Gaynor and
Charles Farrell in their
greatest success.
John Ford production
with Victor McLaglen,
Belle Bennett, Neil Hamil-
ton and an all-star cast.
d
"jff speaUH for itseMfT^
66
Foul* Sons
tt
66
99
John Ford's greatest, with
Margaret Mann, June CoU-
yer, Charles Morton, James
Hall, Francis X. Bushman,
Jr., and Earle Foxe. "Big as
The Heart of Humanity."
Siiurl§e
Directed by F. W. Murnau,
with Janet Gaynor and
George O'Brien. "The most
important picture in the
history of the movies.'' —
Robert Sherwood, Life.
Sighi and Sound Sensations
66
£■99
Fazil
Charles Farrell and Greta
Nissen in Howard Hawks'
romance of forbidden love.
Hotter than Sahara !
66
Edna Ferber's sensational
story. Opening at Carthay
Circle, Los Angeles. With
Madge Bellamy, Louise
Dresser, Barry Norton,
Albert Gran and Lucien
Littlefield. J. G. Blystone
production.
'TlieRedDatiee
starring Dolores Del Rio
with Charles Farrell and
Ivan Linow. Directed by
Raoul Walsh.
Mother Knows Best'' "The Air Cireiis
Young America Flies to
Conquer! With Louise
Dresser, Sue Carol, David
Rollins and Arthur Lake.
Directed by Howard Hawks
and Lew Seller.
^\ %f^ ^
^ w
by the acid test of Broad^vay.
Every one of these box-offiee
bonanzas is a sure-fire hit!
Every month from now on you
can expect a $3 Broaclivay spe-
cial'—'FOX M^us eisUt MOW ready
for your ^prosperity.
Every iveeh FOX Movietone r¥eivs
— JTf speuUs for itself t
Every iveeh FOX Movietone
Entertainment featuring
Broadway's g^reatest
stars.
Every l¥eek is Jubi-
lee TFeeh for the
happy shoivman
ridings along^
vrith the Fox
bandivag^on.
JLets alt
celebrate
success with
.<y^xnvi?i>jriii
I
t4fciialifcjiiaiia« .'.^^
^'^"^mi^f'^k'^if^y-y^^-*^^^
iiiMliiiiwwiiiiiiir''TiiniMtetiiinrii«t.
MMMMMMHaU,
|Fin
THE MOST
SENSATIONAL
DRAMA EVER
FILMED AT TUE
BOTTOM ef/AeSlX
M
am
JACK HOLT
Dorothy Revier
Ralph Graves
DIRECTED BY
FRANK R. aPIU
A Terrific Hit I
at Embassy Theatre, New York
Broadway*s De Luxe Presentation Theatre
Get in touch with your Columbia Exchange immediately on
this overwhelming Box-Office Success — or you'll
regret it for the rest of your life !
September 8. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
ATERRIFIC SMASH
ST Ate
Special WumtR Winners I
sW"ic
vit'>,
STREET
SADIE"
IS RIGHT UP W)(W STREET
Conrad
Myrna
R
ING the bell 18 times with our 18 SPECIAL
WARNER WINNERS!
WlLU/VM
FROM STORY BY MELVILLE CROSMAN- SCENARIO BY E.T.LOIVE Jt-.
Directed by ARCHIE MAYO
The first release is a slam-bang knockout sensation!
The others are in the same class!
Remember — you have your choice of two negatives!
One with VITA PHONE. One without VITA-
PHONE.
PLAY THE SPECIAL WARNER WINNERS TO
WIN!
GET READY FOR A CLEANUP WITH THESE
18 SPECIAL WARNER WINNERS-
TT -r
I
STATE STREET SADIE
WOMEN THEY TALK ABOUT
CAUGHT IN THE FOG
THE MIDNIGHT TAXI
LAND OF THE SILVER FOX
BEWARE OF BACHELORS
KID GLOVES
FROM HEADQUARTERS
STOLEN KISSES
OME ^K ^H ONE
WITH ^K. ^^M WITHOUT
NEGATIVES
PRODUCED Am) PRESENTED BY
WARNER
BROS.
HARD BOILED ROSE
THE LITTLE WILDCAT
ONE STOLEN NIGHT
THE MILLION DOLLAR COLLAR
NO DEFENSE
FANCY BAGGAGE
THE GREYHOUND LIMITED
KING OF THE WILDERNESS
SHE KNEW MEN
WHAT WARNER BROS. PROMISE -WARNER BROS. DELIVER
MEMBER MOTION PICTURE PRODUCERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF AMERICA. INC.
FBO's
Sound Sensation
"THE PERFECT CRIME'
flaying capacity in the
following theatres . . .
RIVOLI New York City
ORIENTAL Chicago, III.
GARDE New London, Conn.
THE MIDDLESEX
Middlesex, Conn.
;>^'
^%^i
fu
tm9^'^*^'
jSR?ECt ^^""^ ^ GIT
STRAND
Portchester, N. Y.
UPTOWN
Wichita, Kansas
OLYMPIA
Lynn, Mass.
RITZ Birmingham, Ala.
RIVOLI Baltimore, Md.
ROGER SHERMAN
New Haven
OLYMPIC Salem, Mass.
MADRID Kansas City, Mo.
MAJESTIC Dallas, Texas
MAJESTIC
San Antonio, Texas
MAJESTIC Houston, Texas
METROPOLITAN
Atlanta, Ga.
GRENADA Everett, Wash.
WORLD Omaha, Nebr.
RIALTO Denver, Colo.
CAMEO Bridgeport, Conn.
^^l^-
SOSVa** :gail
Again FBO urges.'
Don^t Be Panicked By Sound!
19S8
lilSAtSSR
tftti
Sweeping the nation in Sound
and Silent! Rock-ribbed New
England! The Solid South! The
Middle West! The Far -West!
Everywhere the same story of
Surging Crowds, Shattered
Records, Staggering Profits!
DARING!
William £e Baron
~~p r c / c n t /
DIFFERENT!
1
^
•
"'"• BROOK ""• RICH
TULLY MARSHALL EDMUND BREESE
Story by WM. LE BARON from IS R A EI "^ A NG WILL'S novel
Directed by BERT C NNON
on the HEADS of
the IiidiistrT ^ y ^
|rV^II£ liiie§t thing^ that ever
-"- happened to the pietiire
industry! Picked by the pick
of the Bnying^ Brain§ of the
business as TH£ BIOO£ST
THIIVO IIV SIOHT. or
/Sound ! Add their testimony
to the CTidence of 19 broken
records in first 6 ^vreeks —
35 long^-run engag^ements
booked to date '<- praise -full
reviews everyivhere-^ and
you have the strongest buy-
assurance that ever backed
a picture!
"L.IL.AC
J Member if Motion PSclure Producen «u( Dittributort of America Inc.-
; WUI H.Hays PmUltnt
IME
W
^Vlietlici- your theatre is
wired «»r not —
FIKNT IVATIOI\AI. PIt'TL'RKM
ure a 1^0U]K1> InveKtuieiit !
CHAS. P. SKOIJRAS
' 'Lilac Time' opening business sur-
passed all previous super-produc-
tions at Grand Central, St. Louis.
Audience reaction 'to story and
sound effects tremendous. Aviation
atmosphere lends itself to wonder-
ful exploitation campaign."
MAX BAIiABAlV
" 'Ljlac Time' smashed all house
records at Roosevelt, Chicago, first
week. Opening day of second week
surpasses opening of first iveek,
making new history for this theatre."
iSIlfKOIV H. FABIA]¥
" 'Lilac Time' has broken every
record at Stanley Theatre, Pitts-
burgh, including single day record
and record for first three days."
FR£D A. ]fIIL,L.ER
"Opening week of Colleen Moore in
'Lilac Time' was greatest in the his-
tory of Carthay Circle Theatre, Los
Angeles, by more than twenty-five
hundred dollars. Second week looks
immense. Everybody singing and
whistling 'Jeannine'."
Your hent friends
will tell jou ► ► ►
^4
^4^
"^o more dirt j lookis from jour patronii,
when J on plaj— r
99
one or fnore of these sue*
cessfwM shont^fnen. mflnU the
one nearest you what he
thinhs of 'The JBarher\
l¥alt«r £. Parks, Leeds
Theatre, Winchester, Ky.
"The Carnival has virtually built a
campaign ahead of you— tie in with it
and reap the profits of the screen's
'capital feat of production'."
Theo. Fleisher,
Crescent Gardens Theatre,
Revere, Mass.
"You can't neglect that cast. They are
ready-money names that sell them-
selves . . . .'The Barker' is about show
people, but a type that the screen has
never really portrayed — the cooch
dancer, snake charmer, pitchman,
fakir, the barker. Everyone knows
them. How do they live when the
day's ballyhoo is over? Here is a spark
to kindle anybody's imagination. '
O. 9. Kenny, Community
Theatre, Oreen-n'ood, Ind.
Fred J. Cassin,
Lioew^'s Cameo Theatre,
Cleveland, O.
J. LrUther Thomas, Jr.,
Capitol Theatre,
Chambersburg^, Pa.
R. J. Boyd, Jefferson
Theatre, Honaker, Va.
L.. L. Levy, Ideal Theatre,
Corslcana, Texas
"If all the world loves a love story,
then a super-production featuring
three love stories, should and will
prove to be a great drawing card."
Oordon liV. Reap,
Arcade and Omar Theatres
Fort Myers, Fla.
"Go to a carnival. See the people who
go in the side shows, drink lemonade,
eat hot dogs, win a doll baby, see the
ape man and the hula dancer. Then
go to the theatre. Do you see them
there? No. Well, here is a chance to
get new patrons' and perhaps keep
them coming often .... This carnival
setting gives me the best break I have
had for some time."
Ouy E. Hammitt, ITIa.1estie
Theatre, Seymour, Ind.
Robt. O. Hudson,
Alden Theatre,
Safety Harbor, Fla.
M. Cebulesky, Lyric Theatre,
Summit Hill, Pa.
Lon B. Ramsdell, Colonial
Theatre, Haverhill, Mass.
J. A. Olazier, Strand
■ Theatre, IVantasket, Mass.
Whether your Theatre Is wired or not
FIRST NATIONAI^ PICTURES
are a Sound In vestment!
Member f Motion Picture Producers »mi Distributors of America Inc^Wlli H.Hays Pnatdtnt
(UCHAAOA
ROWLAND
HIP
ROTHY
CkAILL
RAtDH FOABES
ANHAa-KiLSSON
aM tOWELL SH&RMAN
k CHAJIIEJ J-BRA8IH'WROOUC
t NATIONAL Piaur
■^r
DOROTHY MACKAILL
*WiuP
J'BRABIN PRODUCTION-
i FIRJT RATIONACPICTURE
''THE WHI
MOST FI&
TNEATRl
y^KUS IN
E OF THE
AMAS IN
. IT RAN FOn
PON AND NEW YORK
Mtmbtr y Mo<lon Picture Produceti txi Dl»tribirtOM of Amerlcft lnf«.Wlll H.Hays jf>niidtnt
Y^
The
Independent
Film Trade
Paper
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
S24 MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Home
Office:
407 So, Dearborn St,
Chicago
IN THIS ISSUE
Five hundred musicians quit work in Chicago theatres pending settlement of new contract after
federal injunction is issued; Union demands minimum of six orchestra men be employed in non-
deluxe houses using sound devices and organists be retained in addition; Federal conciliator takes
hand in proceedings; Strikes averted in several other states by new agreements.
COMPLETE INDEX TO CONTENTS
NEWS
Independent producers are beaten, Sapiro admits to interviewer;
Lays blame to big producers and vacillation of own members.
Fox plans $16,000,000 theatre and office building in Philadelphia;
Opens Brooklyn show palace; Loew's now operating Capitol in
Atlanta.
Season promises prosperity to industry, exhibitors say; Sound
pictures stimulate interest, Rossheim declares; West Texas the-
atre owners optimistic.
Synchronized productions rescue vaudeville in Kansas City, man-
agers hold; No need of new censorship laws to gag sound, says
newspaper.
DEPARTMENTS
Synchronized Pictures 27
The Studio 31
Short Features 35
Presentation Acts 36
The Theatre 43
Classified Advertising 51
What the Picture Did for Me 53
Chicago Personalities 58
FEATURES
Service Talks by T. O. Service 42
Los Angeles by Douglas Hodges 32
Pictorial Section 23
Letters from Readers 52
Quick Reference Picture Chart 47
Broadway 18
ADVERTISEMENTS
FILM AND EQUIPMENT— Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Robert Mor-
ton Organ Company, Eastman Kodak, Fox, Paramount, Pathe,
Columbia, Warner Brothers, F B O, First National, Irving Hamlin
Sound-Proof Doors, Excellent Pictures, Automatic Ticket Regis-
ter, Moving Picture Theatre Managers Institute, L. V. Kuttnauer
(Phototone), Jean De Limur, Jacqueline Logan, Alfred Cohn.
PRESENTATIONS— Leo Feist, Fritz and Jean Hubert, L. Carlos
Meier, Frankie Masters, Cornelius Maffie, Benny and Western,
Lassiter Brothers, Al Kvale, J. B. Kalver, Ransley Studios, Brooks
Costumes.
CHICAGO
407 South Dearborn St. Telephonu Harrison 0036-S7-38
Cablo Address : Qaigpabee
EDWIN S. CLIFFORD, Central Manager
JAT M. SHRECK, Managing Editor
GEORGE CLIFFORD, Business Manager
ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD, Netn Editor
LOS ASCELES
5617 BoUjwaocI Blvd. Telephone Gladstone S7S4
DOUGLAS HODGES
West Coast Manager
EDITORIAL
AJVD
ADVERTISING
OFFICES
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
NEW YORK
565 Fifth Avenue Telephones Vanderbilt S612-364S
JAMES BEECROFT, ATeie York Advertising Manager
PETES VISCHESt, \ev> York Editor
LONDON
THE BIOSCOPE
(J. Caboum, Editor)
Faraday House
8-10 ChaHng Cross Rd., W. C. 2
United States and possessions— $3.00 per year, Canada— $4.50 per year. Other points of the world— $6.0O per year.
Advertising rate cards and Audit Buroan of Cirenlations statements furnished upon application.
Single copies, 25 eonta.
14
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
all
i MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Martin J. Quigley, Publisherc 6^ Editor
Incorporating Exhibitors Herald, founded in 1915; Moving Pic-
TUEi World, founded in 1907; Motography, founded in 1909; and
The Film Index, founded in 1909
Published Eyery Wednesday by
Quigley Publishing Company
Publication Office: 407 So. Dearborn St., CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Martin J. Quigley, President
Edwih S. Clifford, Secretary George Clifforb, Asst. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulation*
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other Publications: The Chicagoan and Polo, class journals; and the follow-
ing motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exbibitoss
Herald and Moving Picture World: Better Theatres, every fourth week, and
The Buyers Index, published semi-annually.
Whole Vol. 92, No. 10 (Vol. 34, No. 13) September 8, 1928
The Latest "Menace''
PERSONS addicted to ghosting in the picture business
are now laboring earnestly — and ridiculously — to build
up a menace in the form of the "electrical companies."
The "electrical companies" are being designated as the cur-
rent villain in the piece. The rumor specialists would
have us believe that the leading electrical manufacturing
interests, having developed devices which will have wide
application in the picture business, have become infected
Avith a germ which breeds a fever for control of the film
industry.
It may be stated, here and now, that the total sum of
evidence bearing out this rumor is exactly nil. And,
furthermore, commonsense reasoning alone should be
sufficient to dispel any possible credence that the unin-
formed might be inclined to yield to the rumor.
The electrical interests would be rash and poorly-advised
indeed if they should permit themselves to be drawn into
the maelstrom of the picture business simply because of
control of certain devices used in connection with synchro-
nization. As presently constituted the industry offers a
splendid market for the consumption of products made by
these interests. But in order to be in a position to use these
products themselves the electrical interests would be com-
pelled to enter production, distribution and exhibition;
they would be compelled to enter a new and difficult busi-
ness, against powerful competition. The outcome could
not escape being disastrous.
However, the rumor market in the picture business seems
constantly intent in calling into being rumors of one kind
or another — ridiculous or reasonable. Perhaps no great
harm is done except in the case of those who do not take
the trouble to make intelligent inquiry into the facts.
Sound — and Noise
REGARDLESS of what branch of the industry is con-
. cerned we believe that the danger of sound simply
for the sake of sound cannot be too strongly emphasized.
It is only in the natural order, of course, that with the
prevailing interest in sound activity in this connection will
run riot in various instances, but, we believe, the industry's
welfare during the coming season will depend upon the
exercise of a little more discretion than is now apparent.
It is all very well to acknowledge that the public, and
consequently the box office, is calling loudly for sound but
the difficulties of having the sound accompaniment, now
and within the next few months, of a really meritorious
character are not appreciated by the public and never will
be. The public will be concerned only with the merit of
the article offered to them and if it does not measure up
they will not be sympathetic toward alibis.
An instance of this situation is brought to mind by that
splendid Paramount picture, "The Patriot," now playing
to large attendance on Broadway. "The Patriot" is a great
characterization by that great actor, Emil Jannings. And
the fine performance by the star player is nearly matched
by the work of Lewis Stone. In answer to popular demand
this production has been given a synchronization treatment
and, as far as we are concerned, the result is a material
detriment to the picture. The mob voices destroy the feel-
ing and inipressiveness of the mob scenes and a few words
linked with Jannings' pantomime render rather less effec-
tive than more effective these scenes.
When this picture goes out there will be exhibitors
whose theatres are unequipped wnth sound devices who will
think that they are being cheated, but in our opinion they
will be getting the best of the bargain. The bally-hoo
about sound may cause some of the public to feel that if
"The Patriot" is announced as a silent picture it will be
somewhat out of date. But we doubt very much that the
public, after seeing the picture, will have a thought or a
care about sound.
Columbia Climbs
COLUMBIA PICTURES, meaning Joe Brandt, Jack and
Harry Cohn, continue to be an efifective and convinc-
ing answer to the frequent assertion of "it can't be done."
These men, each a qualified expert in his particular activ-
ity in the industry, have been going along quietly and
securely in building independent pictures and maintaining
an independent concern and meanwhile proving that in-
dependent operation in this industry, under right auspices,
is not only a possibility but an actuality.
Last week Columbia Pictures introduced on Broadway
their latest subject, "Submarine," and the consensus of
opinion is that again this independent concern has pro-
vided an attraction that will make itself heard from during
the coming season.
« « *
Fair Play
WHEN a producer has made an effort of the character
of Universal's "Uncle Tom's Cabin," to provide the
theatres with an attraction of suitable character it seems
to us that something in the way of definite recognition
should be accorded by exhibitors in the matter of refusing
to accept cheap substitutes in the form of old and crude
versions of the story.
Several old "Tom" pictures have been dug out of dusty
vaults and are now being offered to exhibitors. The thea-
tre owner, of course, has a legal right to exhibit these pic-
tures but even in so doing his legal status is likely to
become somewhat shaky because the public will not expect
to see an old, crude version which has been re-issued
simply because of the Universal production.
As a matter of plain business, aside from the obvious
consideration of fair play, exhibitors should be very care-
ful to avoid discouraging producers from making new and
costly versions of stories and plays which have previously
been inadequately produced.
isn
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
15
Peace Near in Chicago Clash on
Sound; 500 Musicians Are Out
New Contracts Clear U. S. Conciliator Acts;
Air in Other Districts 100 Houses Musicless
Musicians' Federation Aids Locals Where Union Executive Sees Chance of Spread
Possible, Says Weber Over Nation
By ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD By GEORGE SCHUTZ
While 500 musicians were out, pending settlement of the First substantial signs of peace appeared Tuesday in the dis-
dispute of the musicians' union in Chicago with the pute between Chicago exhibitors and the musicians' union,
exhibitors regarding conditions of employment in theatres
employing sound equipment, settlements were being made
with the various unions in several parts of the country.
Joseph Weber, the president of the
American Federation of Musicians, an-
nounced in New York that the federation
has no set policy in regard to sound pic-
tures other than to help the locals in various
parts of the country to make the most
advantageous arrangements possible, as
always has been done.
Hays Body Not Taking Hand
Weber declared that no strike had been
ordered in Chicago, and that if the Chicago
local had not completed arrangements for
a new agreement with the Chicago theatres
then the men can scarcely be expected to
go back to work.
C. C. Pettijohn, chief counsel of the Film
Boards of Trade, stated in New York that
the Hays organization is not planning to
do anything as it is not their fight.
New Orleans Strike Ends
Musicians and members of allied stage
crafts returned to the theatres at New
Orleans. At St. Louis the musicians in 58
independent theatres accepted a reduction
of pay while projectionists were given an
increase in theatres charging 25 cents or
more. At Danville, 111., the theatres were
without musicians when the latter refused
to accept a proffered new contract, and at
Albany and Troy, N. Y., the musicians
admitted they were disturbed over the
synchronism situation.
Following is the situation in various ter-
ritories from Coast to Coast and Canada, as
determined by Herald-World investigators,
with the new agreements reached over
Labor Day, the date when in most districts
the old contracts expire and new contracts
go into effect:
New Orleans Strike
Ends in Arbitration
(Special to the Herald-World)
New Orle.\ns, Sept. 5. — The strike of the
allied stage crafts against the New Orleans
theatres is ended, pending arbitration of the
difficulties. The men have agreed to return
to work and a committee selected by the
unions and the theatrical managers associa-
tion will meet and endeavor to iron out the
difficulties.
The old contract expired at midnight,
August 31, and the men made arrangements
not to return unless a working agreement was
signed, particularly placing the striking musi-
cians at the Saenger back to work. After an
all-night session an agreement was reached by
means of which arbitration will be resorted to.
It is believed that an amicable settlement
will be reached, as both sides are receptive
to reason. G. Pipitone, president of the
Allied Stage Crafts, and J. Dempsey, secre-
tary, played a large part in averting a city-
wide closing of theatres.
Return of the prodigal musicians and
presentation of the first all-talking picture.
Here's How Labor
Situation Stands
Over the States
CHICAGO. — Musicians quit work
in hundred theatres as union and ex-
hibitors' organization fail to reach
agreement on labor's demands. Fed-
eral injunction is issued.
NEW ORLEANS. — Strike of al-
lied stage crafts ends, pending arbi-
tration. Musicians return to Saenger
theatre.
KANSAS CITY. — Exhibitors and
projectionists agree on sliding wage
scale. Committee will be appointed
to settle all further disputes.
DETROIT. — Strike of projection-
ists is averted by new wage agree-
ment.
ST. LOUIS. — Threatened walkout
of projectionists fails to materialize.
Amicable settlement is made with
$5 a week increase for operators in
theatres charging 25 cents or more.
Musicians in 58 independent theatres
accept reduction of $4 a week.
DANVILLE, ILL.— Theatres go
without music when union refuses to
renew contract.
CANADA. — Season opens with no
labor difficulties. Musicians and
projectionists watch situation in
United States.
ALBANY. — Musicians admit being
disturbed over situation created by
synchronized music.
COLUMBUS. — Contract with mu-
sicians still has year to run, while
agreement with projectionists is for
two years more.
"Lights of New York," were celebrated at the
new Saenger theatre Saturday. Four thousand
patrons, the capacity of the theatre, stopped
the show for eleven minutes in welcoming
back Castro Carazo's pit band, Jack Stanley's
stage band, and John Hammond, organist. It
was the greatest ovation recalled in New
Orleans theatre history. Phenomenal business
was reported over Sunday.
Sliding Wage Scale
Set at Kansas City
(Special to the Herald-World)
Kansas City, Sept. 5. — After a series of
conferences lasting : two weeks Kansas City
exhibitors and projectionists came to an
agreement late Saturday. A wage scale, as
(^Continued on page 26)
which reached a crisis Saturday night when the 1927-28 con-
tract expired, forcing about 100 theatres to begin operating
Sunday without organ or orchestral music. Approximately
500 musicians quit work.
A peace move initiated by B. M. Marsh-
man, conciliator for the United States de-
partment of labor, was expected Tuesday to
bring the opposing forces together in more
effective conferences.
The dispute, which began the week previous,
upon submission of a new union contract, cul-
minated Saturday in a federal injunction re-
straining the union from calling a strike, and
Sunday, in the voluntary quitting of about 500
musicians in spite of the injunction.
The issue is the new union demands sub-
mitted as a basis for a 1928-29 contract with
53 "class 6" picture houses, outlying theatres
of semi-deluxe character. The advent of
synchronization led the union to make employ-
ment requirements which these theatres have
maintained they cannot accept, and the week-
end crisis, causing sympathetic action among
the musicians, drew about 50 theatres not di-
rectly involved into the quarrel. The Nor-
shore, B. & K. house, was the latest of these
to lose its music.
Deluxe Houses Not Affected
None of the 18 deluxe theatres in the city
are affected.
That the Chicago situation, if continued,
will spread to the rest of the country, is the
prophecy of President James Petrillo of the
union, who also has admitted the possibility
of other theatrical unions being drawn into
the fight.
Meanwhile electrical workers installing
sound picture apparatus are maintaining their
walkout begun several weeks ago.
According to observations, musicless pro-
grams did not prove as disappointing to pa-
trons as might have been expected. In a few
theatres equipped for synchronization and
other mechanical music, these devices served.
Some houses substituted pantomimic novelties
for song and dance acts on their stage show
programs.
1927 Labor Crisis Recalled
The crisis, coming just a year after the
propectionists' strike of 1927, which closed
360 picture and vaudeville houses for a
week, seemed inevitable to the exhibitors
Saturday, as no hope appeared that the
controversy would be settled when the cur-
rent contract expired that night. In the
face of this. Attorney Joseph Fleming,
representing Balaban & Katz, Lubiner &
Trinz and two circuits being operated by a
receiver, Ascher Brothers and National
Playhouses, went before Federal Judge
Wilkerson and asked for an injunction re-
straining the musicians from leaving their
jobs.
The injunction was granted and notice of
it served on James C. Petrillo, president of
the musicians' union, and also on several
prominent bandleaders, the latter being
given notice to prevent their walking out
in accordance with a union bylaw, which
16
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
Injunction Bars Order to Strike
Vitaphone Personnel
Help Supply Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, Sept. S.—An act of
immediate response and noteworthy
service to the exhibitor by an ex-
change was noted when W. B. Futon,
of Vitaphone Corporation, came to
the aid of the Saenger theatre. New
Orleans, as the musicians there
walked out.
Receiving a call from Saenger of-
Bcials for acts, Fulton went immedi-
ately to officials of the Tammany Air
service to obtain a permit to have
films conveyed by air mail to New
Orleans. Higher officials were tele-
phoned between 1 and 3 a. m. At
3:30 H. P. Rhodes, booker, carried
the film to the plane. The film ar-
rived in ample time for the first
show Saturday.
interprets any injunction as an automatic
strike order.
Petrillo and other union officials called
in Attorneys Clarence Darrow, Donald
Richberg and David Lillienthal Sunday
morning and after a seven-hour conference,
the union notified its members that while
the injunction prevented the calling of a
strike, on penalty of incurring contempt of
court, it could not legally prevent the
musicians from voluntarily leaving their
jobs. The union specifically advised mem-
bers working under contracts not expired,
to remain at their posts as usual.
Operate Without Music
But in the other screen theatres, which
number over 300, there loomed the prospect
of no regular music and exhibitors gen-
erally made preparations to operate their
houses without music, except those few
whose theatres are equipped for sound pic-
tures or with other mechanical music
devices. When time came for the afternoon
performances, both orchestra musicians and
organists failed to show up at the S3
theatres directly involved and at about as
many additional non-deluxe theatres, where
the exhibitors' fears of sympathetic action
actually did materialize.
Although the union has been careful to
give out no order in viloation of the
temporary injunction, it has been questioned
whether the musicians who left their jobs
individually did not act in such violation.
Hearing of arguments to make the injunc-
tion permanent will be heard by Judge
Wilkerson September 10.
Synchronization Brings War
Jack Miller, as head of the Exhibitors
Association of Chicago, has declared that
the demands of the musicians can not be
met, pointing to the fact that about 50
theatres in the Chicago territory are now fee-
ing operated by receivers.
The demands, which were made known
a week before expiration of the old con-
tract Saturday, have brought the present
rigid opposition almost entirely because of
their requirements concerning theatres with
synchronization or other mechanical music
devices. No question of wages are involved.
Some objection is made to the length of
the periods of employment, it being de-
manded that 15 of the theatres employ
minimum orchestras of four men for 44
weeks; 32 theatres, for 40 weeks; and five,
for 35 weeks.
But it is the demand that a minimum of
four rnen, exclusive of organists, be in-
creased to six in theatres having mechani-
cal music; and the demand that organists
shall not be dismissed upon installation of
mechanical music, which created the present
dire situation. One exhibitor stated it this
way:
"We want the right to engage musicians
whenever we need them and we don't want
to be bound to a long term contract. We
would rather grant a 10 per cent increase
in wages."
Attorney Fleming, in stating the position
of the exhibitors, declared:
"The controversy with the federation of
musicians involves no question of wages or
open shop or working conditions. All the
union's demands in these respects were
acceded to.
"Notwithstanding this, the union demands
that a great many of the smaller theatres
shall employ four musicians for a period
ranging from 35 to 44 weeks, exclusive of
organist, where no musicians are, in fact,
required. This demand is impossible of
compliance with, without serious loss, which
would result in many instances in financial
ruin.
"The union further demands that theatres
where the Vitaphone or other musical or
mechanical devices are installed shall em-
ploy a minimum of six musicians. This
notwithstanding that many of the theatres
have no use for any musicians where these
devices are installed. These demands, if
acceded to, would make it impossible for
the theatres to install Vitaphones or other
mechanical musical devices and would entail
a financial burden which would force them
out of business.
Calls It War on Unions
"The theatre owners have earnestly en-
deavored to affect an amicable adjustment
of all the matters in controversy between
the union and themselves, but to no purpose.
They were confronted with the alternative
of closing their theatres or resorting to the
courts for injunctional relief to prevent the
enforcement of the illegal demands of the
union."
"We have seen this coming for a long
time," Petrillo declares in a statement. "It
is to be a concerted effort on the part of
exhibitors and the financial powers behind
them to crush the unions which have to do
with their industry. I mean they intend
that shall be done from coast to coast. We
didn't call any strike, but they were looking
for a fight, for an opening wedge in their
campaign, and so they went before the
court and said a strike had been called. In
effect they called the strike themselves.
"Here is the whole story in a nut shell:
Publix and Paramount Pictures, Inc., dom-
inate the exhibiting end of the motion pic-
ture industry. In Chicago Publix and
Paramount means Balaban & Katz. Publix
and Paramount have 450 theatres across
the country, all the big houses.
"This powerful organization gets all the
first run pictures. No other organization
of exhibitors, no individual exhibitor, has a
chance with it. Most of the time it is
simply a matter of a year or two before
Hoover Hears Himself
As Others Heard Him
(Special to the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5.— Her-
bert Hoover had a chance last week
to extend Bobbie Burns' phrase by
hearing himself as others heard him
when he made his acceptance speech
at Palo Alto. With Allan, bis son,
and George Akerson, his secretary,
the Republican presidential candidate
went early in the day to a downtown
theatre to see and hear himself in a
Movietone newsreel of the notifica-
tion ceremonies.
Guild Offers Services
For Commimity Organ
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 5.— The
Louisiana Chapter of the American
Guild of Organists has advised the
commission council that the guild and
its members, individually, offer their
services to the city without fee to
aid in the purchase and selection of
a pipe organ which they say should
be installed in the new two million
dollar municipal auditorium.
an outside or independent exhibitor, is
driven to the wall.
"And that is the organization we are
fighting now. Having crushed the life out
of all opposition and competition in the
industry itself, this group of financially
powerful men, has now determined to crush
the unions. They are after the musicians,
the stage hands and the motion picture
operators. We, and the other two are the
groups which affect their industry. They
are out to get us and it looks like a finish
fight.
"We have seen it coming as far back as
last May 21, when the musicians held their
annual convention at Louisville, Ky. At
that time a resolution levying $2 a week
on each musician in the federation the
country over was passed. We needed a
war chest — money to fight — and we knew
it. This levy was to have started next
Monday, so you can see how opportune —
for them — their opening gun of forcing a
strike upon us was."
See National Fight
Petrillo scoffs at the idea that the de-
mands of the union are an expression of
the union's fear of synchronization. "That
is canned music," he said in one statement.
Extension of sympathetic action on the
part of other union theatre employes is
another possibility, and may grow out of
the _ conferences between Petrillo and
President Green of the A. F. of L.; Presi-
dent Weber of the musicians' international
organization; and George Browne, president
of the stage hands' union, in Chicago this
week.
According to Petrillo, immediate growth
of the Chicago situation to other parts of
the country may result from these con-
ferences. His assertion, however, was
belittled in some exhibitor quarters, and
Barney Balaban, head of B. & K., Publix-
Paramount subsidiary, characterized it as a
"smoke-screen."
"Petrillo knows better," he said. "Joseph
Weber, international president of the
musician's federation, and Sam Katz,
president of Publix, talked last Thursday
concerning an amicable settlement in
Chicago. But apparently Mr. Weber
couldn't get Petrillo and his officials to
listen to reason.
"The Publix and Paramount companies
are making amicable agreements with the
unions wherever the unions will listen to
reason, and most places they do listen to
reason."
"Legit" Dispute Settled
The Chicago musicians' union has settled
its differences with the stage theatres, a
controversy arising over the expiration of
contracts at about the same time the new
demands on the "class 6" houses were made.
Involving principally the matter of wages,
the demands on the stage houses also con-
cerned synchronization, and according to
the new agreement, any stage theatre pre-
senting the innovation must have at least
six men in the orchestra.
^ai
n
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
17
Musicians' Demands Bring Clash With- Theatres
TO THE PUBLIC:—
Here Is where you can see De Laze
Skotws with complete Orchestras
en the North and West Side.
The GRAN ADA-M ARBRO
These Theaters Are Not Affected
by the Musicians' Strike
TO THE PUBLIC:—
AU Balaban & Katx Theaters
Are Open Today Presenting
the Usual PerSormances.
Left: Significant prefaces
to the ads of B & K and
Marks Brothers "an-
nouncing" the critical
situation in Chicago.
Right: Officials of the
stage theatres and musi-
cians' union as they set-
tled their dispute. Sealed,
W^illiam Roche, David
Haliane, managers' secre-
tary; Harry Powers, Pres-
ident James Petrillo and
Ed Benkert of the union;
and Aaron Jones. Stand-
ing, John Garrity, Rollo
Timponi, George Kings-
bury, Sylvester Kl os s ,
Carl A. Baumann, Ed B.
Straight, Fred Travers,
David Katz, W. Kowalski.
As union officials were told that the injunction forbidding a strike
order did not restrain individuals. James Petrillo, union head,
stands at right. Seated are Ed Benkert, secretary; Attorneys Clar-
ence Darrow, Donald R. Richberg and David Lillienthal; and Carl
A. Baumann. Back row, William Kowalski, Ed Straight, Fred
Travers, Sylvester Kloss and David Katz.
Some of the 500 Chicago musicians who decided Sunday to take a
"vacation" pending an agreement between their union and the
exhibitors association. Don Isham, William Larkin, (Joseph Mc-
Keon, theatre manager,) Harry Nathan, Norman Stepp, I. Isham
and Robert Jones are shown leaving the Broadway Strand theatre
with their instruments.
Explosives Twice Threaten Theatre and Homes
The Parthenon, Berwyn, III., following the explosion of a bomb which tore a hole in the Chicago suburban theatre's wall and imperilled
eight families living above. Store windows were shattered as hundreds of morning shoppers were passing by. Other explosives were
found the same day. The house is one of the Gregory & Bernasek chain, for which a receivership had been obtained by stockholders.
[All photos on this page by P. & A.J
18
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
wm
tfllXEW" YORK — The formal opening of the
ol Motion Picture Club is now set for
September 12, which will be a great day to
have it provided everybody's recovered from
Jack Alicoate's golf party at Soundview. . . .
The club reports nearly 250 members to date,
or almost enough to fill the card rooms.
IJThe special compilation of Lindbergh's
flights, to be presented to the American and
foreign governments through the Aeronautical
Chamber of Commerce, was made under the
auspices of ]Vill Hays and Lester D. Gardner,
whose chief claim to fame is that he was my
first boss.
]\Joe Kennedy sailed just in time to save
himself reading a few choice bits in the so-
called opposition papers. . . . Incidentally,
First National seems hard at work with Irv-
ing Rosslu'ini, Ned Dcpiuet, W. C. Boothby
and Al Rockett in command.
'iBen de Casseres delivered himself of a
slight orgy on "The Patriot," almost enough
to spoil one's interest in this great film. . . .
"The Patriot" is packing them in tighter than
ever at the Rialto. . . . And would anywhere,
for here's a note from China asking about
this fellow Jannings.
1I"Submarine" got quite a rousing reception
when it nosed into the Embassy. . . . Red
Kann called it "Columbia's Gem of the
Ocean." . . . Not bad. Red.
'^Jack Warner is arriving with a print of
"The Singing Fool," which is the new Al
Jolson opus. . . . This threatens to bulge the
walls of the Winter Garden just a bit. . . .
Even without the runway.
IfThe musicians are enjoying a sigh of re-
lief. . . . They find that sound pictures are
doing only 20 per cent of the expected damage
to fiddlers, ivor\- ticklers and dum-dummers.
IJThis week Harry Warner had to deny the
sale of his company only thirteen times. ...
No, I hadn't heard he was' going to sell his
piano and the canar}-. . . . But this will prob-
ably be announced next week.
^Broadway's population was slightly deleted
the other night when William Fox opened his
new 5,000-seat theatre in Brooklyn, which
seems to be a town somewhat to the east
of here.
^John Zanft is a groom.
Iff/y Daab's new show, "Ringside," looks
like a big hit. . . . Nothing's been said about
the film rights yet.
^\Alec Aronson, foreign representative for
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for the past five years,
has become associated with Jaydee Williams'
new World Wide Pictures organization. . . .
Headquarters in London.
^Cool weather has been nice to Broadway
the last couple of weeks. . . . They like to~
come into those big cool houses.
^Willard Mack, who has just finished his
umpty-umpth play, has been signed by Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer to do a little super\asing on
talking pictures. . . . Mack has written more
speeches than Will Rogers has made.
HThe first Tiffany Tone film "The Toilers,"
is getting a score by Hugo Riesenfeld.
^.Constance Talmadge has been exciting
New York. . . . She came in recently from
Hollywood en route to Paris and Nice to
make a picture for United Artists. ... It will
be called "The Venus" and directed by Louis
Mercanlon.
PETER VISCHER.
Warner Club Gets Swimming Pool
XEW YORK — Pcrni.-inent use of a swimming pool
lias been obtained for tlie Warner Club at the Park
Crescent hotel, starting September 10. Leo O. Wren
will be in'itnictor.
The Short Route to Pleasure
JjNE of the most noteworthy developments
^^^ in motion picture production and exhi-
bition the past few years has been the growth
in the importance of short subjects. Exhibi-
tors have come to choose them more carefully
and to advertise them more prominently —
obviously in response to a changing public
attitude. Producers have taken the cue, and
Universal is now emphasizing its short sub-
jects, which range from the comic to the
thrilling. That the emphasis has not been
misplaced is shown by reports that through-
out the field, including the newsreel, sales
have steadily and impressively increased. Be-
low, Universal's variety of shorts is pictorially
indicated.
Above, Lillian Gillmore,
in "Horace in Holly-
ivood." Dorothy Gulliver,
featured in "The Colle-
gians,' is shown at center.
The remaining player is
Natalie Kingston, femi-
nine lead in the "Tarzan"
^|^0P -0^ \
k cT-^ J
Kw" ffi^^S
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P,^j-- ;*
> " T»
1
HBf
(
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k
Wk^^^K^^^^ ^
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H^^^HW ^\-
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u
Stern Brothers' "Newlyweds" — Jack Egan
and Derelys Perdue, with Snookums.
Bob Curwood (shown in a recent pic-
ture), star of short Westerns.
Frank Merrill in a scene from a "Tarzan" production, with Natalie Kingston.
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
19
Independent Producers Beaten,
Sapiro Admits to Interviewer
Lays Blame to Big Producers
And Own Members' Vacillating
Packed Theatres
Prove Picture's
The Main Thing
BY T. O. SERVICE
Not since Mr. Hoover's heatless Alon-
days, when the picture houses were per-
mitted to continue unchilled as was benefitting
their classification among the necessities, have
I enjoyed motion pictures in this town as I
enjoyed them yesterday. Those were good
days, those heatless ones, for such of us
citizens as had not yet gone to do battle with
whoever it was. There were usually seats to
be had, and the pictures were pretty good.
So was the music, the youngsters ha\ing gone
overseas and the instruments being plied by
adults. Yesterday things were different in
a hundred of the non-deluxe theatres, but
still good.
Musicians Gone, Seats Packed
Yesterday the musicians were gone, yotuig
and old alike, and there were few or no seats
to be had at most of the theatres. The so-
called deluxe houses, most of them equipped
with sound reproducing apparatus, and more
affected by the labor squabble were doing their
usual holiday business. (For yesterday was,
paradoxically enough, Labor Day.) The other
houses, the ones not called deluxe (and who
decides which is and which isn't, I'd like to
know?) were no less busy with the selling
and taking of tickets. If the idle musicians,
like the classic busmen, were down to the
theatre for the first day off, there was no
desolation to cheer their eyes. Indeed, I can
feel a thin pang of pity for the verile violinist,
accustomed to preening himself before the
adulant flappers in the fore rows, when he
found these same flappers in these same rows
despite his absence from the pit.
But what I started out to say is that pic-
tures were more enjoyable yesterday than the
day before. No heavy-footed musicians
tramped into the pit — as the hero and the
heroine got to talking things over seriously
—and began tuning up. No music-stand lamps
flared into the eye of the observer. No
flatted E smote the ear, no mumbled exhor-
tations of director to directed.
Organ Painfully Still
One thing was lacking. The organists were
away too. I have never been able to associate
organists with mere musicians, somehow, and
their absence yesterday emphasized the
discrepancy. I suppose there was nothing else
for it, these super-musicians not yet having
declared themselves independent of the fifers,
drummers and oboists, but the organ, monarch
of instruments and particularly monarch of
motion picture instruments, was painfully still.
I have long contended that the organ is the
proper accompaniment of the motion picture
and yesterday's experience, by reverse logic,
proves it.
No price reductions were made, so far as
my investigation revealed, and none were
asked. No one who wanted to see the picture
went away without seeing them and, as usually
happens in such cases, more people stopped
on their way out to utter reassuring words
than commonly do. I got the impression that
a good many of them were of sentiments
similar to mine, that a picture is the principal
thing. I always wonder that musicians and
those who employ them can get so wrought
up over matters like wages, working hours
and pit capacities. Actually, as they should
know, the picture is the thing.
Says Some Openly Negotiated for Purchase of Their
Theatres by Large Chains
By PETER VISCHER
(Copyright 192S by Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World. All rights reserved.)
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— The Independent Motion picture Exhibitors Asso-
ciation is a "beaten organization." The words are Aaron Sapiro's, president
of this new movement in the film industry, as given to me Saturday in an
extraordinary and amazingly frank interview, for Exkibitors Herald and
Moving Picture World.
Blames Big Producers First
"This is a beaten organization today," said Sapiro, biting his words off
incisively, speaking earnestly and, as he said, from the heart. "There are
a number of reasons.
"First, the bitter opposition of the big
producers and, through them, of the Will
Hays organization. Unwilling to see that
strength among the independent exhibitors
means a greater buying power for their
films, short-sighted enough to crush every
independent move, they have hemmed us
in at every turn.
Vaccillation of Members Is Factor
"Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has fought every
step we have tried to take. I admire Metro
for its fight and its victory; Metro has
fought openly and on the level. Famous
Players has fought just as hard; never
once were they in the open. Fox has given
the other two complete support. I know
that the three are in virtual agreement and
today we are to all intents and purposes
boycotted by the 'Big Three.'
"The second reason for our defeat lies
in the vacillations of our own membership.
It takes guts and it takes loj^alty to build
a cooperative organization.
"I was promised the complete support of
the independent producers. They came to
me and asked me to help them. They re-
spected me as a leader, as one who knows
organization from A to Z, who knows
economics, and knows law. I can go fur-
ther. They admired me as a man and a
Jew; they were proud of me because I had
brought Henry Ford on his knees before
them.
Fail to Observe Secrecy
"And yet, we have had meetings here
where important policies were discussed.
I do not believe in secrecy in business, but
there are times when strength and method
require discreet silence. But before the day
was up I would hear comments on the dis-
cussions at our meeting from the big ex-
change offices. One even gave me a rubber
check.
"I found weak reeds in our organization.
Some of our members openly negotiated
for the purchase of their theatres by the
big exhibitors, without a word to me.
Forty-nine of them, representing a value
Vive El Toro!
Vive El Fillum!
(Special to the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5.— Ameri-
can motion pictures are so popular
in Venezuela that they are shown in
buU-Sght arenas, the Commerce De-
partment reports.
of $6,000,000 are now negotiating with Fox
— led by the man who first came to me to
head the Independent Motion Picture
Exhibitors Association. Others are attempt-
ing to play Fox against Moss and Fox and
Moss against the Warners.
"Some of the members of our organiza-
tion did not even realize that if they had
stuck together they would now be in a
much better position to sell out. Singly,
they are in the hands of the big companies.
Together they might at least have gotten a
decent price.
Sapiro Not Ready to Quit
"A third reason for our defeat may lie
in myself. Perhaps I haven't the qualities
needed to lead this particular group of men.
It may be entirely my fault. Perhaps I
haven't the peculiar knowledge, the particu-
lar experience, needed to lead men of the
type who own the independent theatres in
New York. Certainly they think differently
than I do, and act differently."
Despite Sapiro's frank admission of defeat,
which follows close upon his inability to win
the 100 per cent support of independent
exhibitors in New York for his organization,
which seems to be needed to prevent shifts
of position, he is not ready to quit the
organization. He is in the motion picture
industry as long as the men who asked his
help still want it.
Calls Cooperation Vital
"I know that the cooperative idea is a
vital necessity for motion picture exhibitors.
Whether I lead it, or someone else is its
head, has nothing to do with it.
"It is essential for exhibitors so to co-
ordinate their buying power as to make
profitable purchases and at the- same time
to have a voice in the framing of motion
picture policies. The exhibitors are nearest
the public, closest to the ultimate consumer.
They are the outlet of the industry. And
they haven't a word to say — not one word —
as to how it shall be run.
"This idea is sound and I predict that
exhibitors in all parts of the country will
have to see its soundness and subscribe to
it or be swallowed up by the great motion
picture machines. The power of the big
companies is constantly growing and the
exhibitors must concentrate their strength
if they are to safeguard their livelihood.
Sought Affiliation for Strength
"I believe so firmly in strength for the
exhibitor that I tried to help some of them
consolidate with the Moss orgatiization. If
they can't stand together to make strength
(Continued oti page 52)
unai
20
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
No Need of New Censor Laws to Qag
Sound, Says Press; Plenty Now
Material in Synchronized Pictures Can Be Dealt With Under Existing
Statutes, Declares Kansas City Star in Editorial
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
KANSAS CITY, Sept. 5. — There are plenty of laws on the statute books
right now to take care of any transgressions in synchronized pictures,
and there is no call for new laws for censorship of sound films, says
the Kansas City Star as its editorial reaction to the agitation of the socalled
reformers to plaster new restrictions upon the motion picture industry.
"A
UTHORS and producers' of plays and
motion pictures are and always have
been very generally opposed to censorship"
says the Star. "Even those who do not them-
selves permit the presentation of objectionable
things on the stage or screen usually have
held that the properly constituted law enforce-
ment officers and agencies should deal with
offenders against public decency. There never
has been much respect for the official censor
or board of censors because of the difficulty
of finding, for such political service, persons
of dependable judgment wherein the ground
is debatable.
Agitation Troubles Producers
"A new phase of censorship has developed
to vex the producers of talking movies. It is
giving more concern in New York and Holly-
wood than elsewhere, but has reached an
acute stage in Pennsylvania where the lower
courts have sustained the state board in its
contention that the speech of the talking pic-
tures is censorable. The producers deny the
ruling on the ground that when the censor-
ship law was enacted there was no thought of
spoken lines, and on this ground have appealed
the case to the supreme court.
"Aside from the merits or demerits of of-
ficial censorship, it would seem that if the
censors have a right to censor the lines thrown
on the screen, they also have the right to
censor the same or corresponding dialogue
when it is spoken. This, however, may not
be the law.
Decency Laws Adequate
"When there comes a demand for censor-
ship it usually is because the general law en-
forcement authorities are too tolerant or
wholly indifferent to offenses on the stage. The
decency laws are adequate to deal with offend-
ing producers and actors, if these laws are en-
forced. This fact was demonstrated m New
York last year when the clamor agamst grossly
offensive plays finally brought action. War-
rants were issued and arrests made at three
theatres.
"One play was immedia'.ely withdrawn and
prosecution was waived. In one of the other
cases the defendants were promptly tried and
convicted before a judge. In the third case a
conviction was reached in a short time in a
trial by jury. If the talking movies become
offensive to public morals, they can be dealt
with by enforcing existing laws."
Broadway Gives Big
Hand to Newest of
Fox, Columbia Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— Two new pictures
came to Broadway last week and got warm
receptions.
"The Air Circus," Fox special with dia-
logue, went into the Gaiety on Saturday
night and was particularly well received.
Though New York was in the midst of the
Labor Day weekend, there were good crowds
from the beginning. The picture proved to
be exciting and the general opinion was that
it would prove a good companion to Fox's
other specials.
"Submarine," Columbia De Luxe Special,
opened at the Embassy at the conclusion of
"The Scarlet Lady's" run. Some of the scenes
from this picture were considered unusually
striking and timely, to the end that it was
generally hailed as the finest picture yet put
out by the progressive Columbia organization.
Mrs. Eugenia Scott Aiken
Funeral at Oxford, Ga.
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, Sept. 5.— Mrs. Eugenia Scott
Aiken, who died early Monday morning,
August 27, at the home of her daughter, Mrs.
Willard C. Patterson, was buried Wednesday
afternoon at Oxford, Ga., her former home.
Surviving are five daughters : Mrs. Patter-
son, Mrs. Elizabeth Aiken Baird, Mrs. Tallu-
lah Aiken Black, all of Atlanta; Mrs. LeRoy
M. Webb, St. Louis, Mo., and Mrs. George N.
Shaw, Miami, Fla. ; and three sons : Earnest
P. Aiken, manager of the Star theatre,
Arcadia, Fla., Byrd G. Aiken, head of the
United Sign Company, Miami, Fla., and
Harold D. Aiken, of the U. S. Marine Corps,
Parris Island, S. C.
Families Imperilled As Bomb Damages
Theatre Involved in Stockholder War
A bomb placed in the Parthenon theatre in Berwyn, a suburb of Chicago, blew
a hole a foot wide in the thick theatre wall, sent eight families scurrying to the
street, smashed windows and threw the shopping district into a panic when it
exploded about 10 o'clock last Wednesday morning. Damage is estimated at
$50,000.
The Parthenon is one of the four outlying picture houses of the Gregory <&
Bernasek chain, for which a receiver was obtained two weeks ago by stockholders.
Some stockholder group or their representatives are said by Assistant State's
Attorney Joseph Nicolai, who investigated, to be the only ones he could blame on
the face of the evidence. There are 900 stockholders, divided into two factions,
one of which succeeded in having the Chicago Title & Trust Company appointed
receiver by the Circuit court. A committee of seven will examine the books.
Later in the same day twelve sticks of dynamite were discovered under a stair-
way, an amount sufficient, the police declare, to blow up the entire theatre-store-
apartment building. Another bombing attempt was made a year ago.
At the New York
Theatres
NEW FILMS
PARAMOUNT— "The Water Hole," a Paramount
film featuring Jack Holt and Nancy Carroll, di-
rected by F. Richard Jones.
HIPPODROME— "A Ship Comes In," a Pathe De
Mille production with Rudolph Schildkraut and
Louise Dresser.
STRAND — "State Street Sadie," a Warner Bros.
Vitaphone dialogue film starring Conrad Nagel,
directed by Archie Mayo.
CAPITOI^-"The Cardboard Lover," a Metro-Gold-
wyn-Mayer film starring Marion Davies, directed
by Robert Leonard.
GAIETY — "The Air Circus," a Fox special with
Movietone dialogue, starring Sue Carol, Arthur
Lake and Louise Dresser, directed by Howard
Hawks and Lou Seiler.
HELD OVER AND REVIVED
FIFTH AVENUE PLAYHOUSE— "Moana," Robert
Flaherty's camera poem of the South Seas and
"Grass," the Cooper-Schoesdack film record revived
for another week.
ROXY — "Fazil," a Fox production starring Charles
Farrell and Greta Nissen revived for another week.
CAMEO — "Dawn," revived August 25.
RIVOLI — "Tempest," United Artists, revived Au-
gust 25.
CRITERION — "Wings," Paramount, opened August
12, 1927.
GLOBE — "The Red Dance," Fox, opened June 25.
ASTOR— "White Shadows in the South Seas," Metro-
Gold wyn-Mayer, opened August 1.
CENTRAL — "Lilac Time," First National, opened
August 3.
WARNER— "The Terror," Warner Brothers all talk-
ing picture, opened August 15.
RIALTO^"The . Patriot," Paramount, opened Au-
.gust 17.
EMBASSY — "Submarine," Columbia, opened Au-
gust 30.
M P. T. O. Meets at
St. Louis Sept. 11;
Sound to Be Topic
(Special to the Herald-World)
■ ST. LOUIS, Sept. 5.— Frederick Wehren-
berg, president of the M. P. T. O. of East-
ern Missouri and Southern Illinois, an-
nounced that the annual convention will be
held at the Elks Club Sept. 11.
It is expected that the attendance will
set a new record, since several matters of
vital interest will come up for lengthy dis-
cussion. The meeting will start at 12 noon
with a luncheon in the rathskeller of the
Elks Club. All exhibitors of the territory
are invited to attend whether members or
not. Mayor Victor J. Miller and other city
officials will be among the speakers.
In the afternoon an executive session will
be held for exhibitors onl)^ Among those
who will speak will be representatives of
the leading manufacturers of sound picture
devices.
C & M Reopens Colonial
With New Decorations
(Special to the Herald-World)
CAMBRIDGE, O., Sept. 5.— The C&M
Amusement Company's Colonial theatre has
reopened after a week of darkness to permit
complete renovation and redecorating. The
new color scheme is of blue, tan, ivory old
rose and gold. The walls of the balcony and
lower flower have been panelled.
Carpeting of blue and gray has been laid by
the J. G. Blair Company.
Shrader Opens Gotham
Indianapolis Exchange
(Special to the Herald-World)
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 5.— Gotham Ex-
change here has been opened by R. S. Shra-
der, who for many years was Midwest
division manager for Pathe.
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
21
''Noah's Ark'' to Be
Given Premiere at
Grauman's Chinese
(Special to the Hcrald-lVorld)
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— Sam E. Morris,
general manager of Warner Brothers, has ar-
ranged for the premiere of "Noah's Ark" at
Granman's Chinese theatre, Los Angeles. It
will be the first presentation of the biggest
picture Warner Brothers ever made. They
have been at work on it for two and one-half
\ears.
Vitaphone installations are now being made
at the theatre and as soon as the wiring is
completed the date of the premiere will be
announced. Jack Warner says Sid Grauman
saw the picture in the projection room and
thinks it is the biggest since "The Birth of a
Nation."
The picture will be run on a policy of two
shows a day. The deal was consummated
over long distance telephone by Sam Mor-
ris. The cast includes Dolores Costello, George
O'Brien, Noah Beery, Louise Fazenda. The
story is by Darryl Francis Zanuck, the direc-
tion by Michael Curtiz.
$1,283,000 Fox Net
127 Per Cent Over
Last Year's Figure
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— The net income
of Fox, after all depreciation and taxes,
was $1,282,929, for the quarter ended June
30, an increase of 127 per cent over the net
income of $564,306 reported by the company
for the corresponding quarter of 1927.
Earnings per share were $1.67 on the
767,216 shares of common stock now out-
standing, compared with $1.12 a share on
500,000 shares outstanding in the cor-
responding period of 1927.
On account of the complete readjustment
of Wesco during the second quarter of
1928, officials of Fox state that the large in-
crease in earnings was accomplished with
comparatively small earnings from Wesco.
For the first six months of i928 the com-
pany earned, after depreciation and taxes,
$2,646,490, compared with $1,371,289 for the
first si.x months of 1927. The balance sheet
as of June 30 shows total assets of $56,483,-
643 and current liabilities, $3,678,590.
World Wide Pictures
Opens New Home Office
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— World Wide Pic-
tures, Inc., has leased the eight floor of the
Leavitt building, 130 West 46th street, and is
now occupying it as its home office. Here will
be located J. D. Williams, as well as the com-
pany's sales manager, and the advertising and
publicity departments. The floor was for-
merly occupied by William Vogel Productions
and Producers International Corporation.
New Paramount Dividend
Rate of $3 Is Rumored
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— Rumors making the
rounds in financial circles have it that follow-
ing the three-for-one stock split next month,
an annual dividend rate of $3 will be estab-
lished. On the basis of present prices, the
new shares will have a market value of a
.little less than $50 a share.
Fox Plans $16,000,000 Theatre
Building in Philadelphia Chain
Will Be First of Six New Deluxe Houses in City — Circuit Opens
Ten-Million-Dollar Brooklyn Showplace — Loew
Is Now Operating Capitol in Atlanta
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— A $16,000,000 theatre and office building to be
erected in Philadelphia by Fox Theatres Corporation was announced Saturday
by William Fox as the next important step in the rapid forward strides of
the Fox organization in the theatre field. Only the night before he had opened
his $10,000,000 Brooklyn theatre.
One of Six Fox Houses for Philadelphia
The new showplace to be constructed in Philadelphia at Seventeenth and
Market streets will be the first of six or more deluxe Fox theatres to be erected
within the next year in that city, as part of Fox's $50,000,000 theatre construc-
tion program. The announcement also follows a few days after the signing
of the final papers by which Fox acquired the entire Poli chain in New England.
The opening of the Brooklyn theatre, itself will seat 5,500 and will have a sym-
which seats 5,000, swelled to 360 the total
of houses in the Fox chain. The program
included the appearance of James Byrne,
president of Brooklyn borough, and George
Bernard Shaw on the Movietone. "Street
Angel" was the long feature, while an op-
eratic spectacle, "Carnival de Naples," vvas
the presentation. The orchestra of 70 peices
was under the direction of Charles Previn,
music director.
Fox Attends Opening
William Fox attended the opening, as did
Jack G. Leo, vice-president of the Fox cir-
cuit; Saul E. Rogers, general counsel; John
Zanft vice-president and general manager,
and Jack W. Loeb, general vaudeville book-
ing manager.
Max H. Manne is production manager
of the Brooklyn theatre; Frederic Fradkin,
associate director of music; Frank H. Rich-
ardson, chief organist; Clark Robinson, art
director, and Archie Levy, treasurer.
The $16,000,000 Philadephia project is to
be completed for opening in September,
1929. A special feature will be a refriger-
ated air-cooling system for each office and
store as well as the theatre. The theatre
phony orchestra of 125 members, a perma-
nent roster of talent and performers total-
ing 350, and 600 employes as a permanent
house staff, under the plans.
The plans were drawn by C. Howard
Crane, and the contract for construction
was given to Aronberg-Fried Company.
It is also Fox's announced intention to
have most of the new theatre in Philadel-
phia in operation within a year.
Loew Now Operates
Capitol at Atlanta
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, Sept. 5.— Actual operation of
the Capitol theatre was taken over by the
Loew interests Saturday night at the close
of the final show. Workmen then began
installation of new stage curtains, drapes
and scenery, and make other changes
preparatory to the opening Monday under
the new management.
Thomas H. James is managing director.
Other Theatre
Developments
The New Stanley opened Labor Day in Utica,
N. Y. Samuel F. Jarvis and Felix R. Wright are
building a $50,000 house at Delmar, N. Y. The New
England Theatres Operating Corporation has swelled
its holdings to 30 theatres. H. E. Smalley has pur-
chased the Star at Groveton, N. H., and the Halcyon
at Colebrook. Cosmian is building at Florence, Mass.,
opens to morrow. . . .
Edward N. Johnson is building the Keswick at
Glenside, Pa. R. F. Woodhull, president of the
M. P. T. O. A., has taken an interest in Danbury
Thaetres, Inc, at Danbury, Conn., and is taking charge
of the public relations work. . . .
The Royal at Kansas City will reopen in 60 days,
Publix representatives announced. A $125,000 theatre
seating 1,700 is planned for Manhattan, Kan. . . .
Work has been renewed on the Capital theatre
building in Anderson, Ind. Midwesco will build a
2,100-seat house at Green Bay, Wis.
The Columbia at Hammond, La., opened Saturday
night. Victor Theatres, Inc., has opened the Uptown
at San Antonio, Robb & Rowley now has practically
complete control at Corpus Christi, Texas, and has
100 per cent rule at Laredo. . . .
West Coast Theatres, Inc., soon will start work on
a theatre at Visalia, Cal., and one at Hanford.
The California has reponed in San Fran-
cisco and the Marina opens tomorrow.
Sketch of the new $16,000,000 Fox theatre
and office building to be constructed in
Philadelphia.
Equipment Signed for
By Company to Make
Religious Sound Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— Preparations of the
Religious Film Trust to make sound-pictures
for showings in churches, took another step
forward last week when negotiations were
successfully completed with the Acoustic
Products Company, acting for the Sonor
Phonograph Company, for supplying all equip-
ment. Products of the film company would
involve over $200,000,000 in a period of ten
years, it is said.
22
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
Season Promises Prosperity
To Industry, Exhibitors Say
Sound Pictures Stimulating Interest, Rossheim Declares in Com-
menting on Reports from Stanley Houses — Theatre
Owners of West Texas Found Optimistic
This season Avill bring great prosperity to all branches of the industry, accord-
ing to a summary of opinions expressed by two important sources, represent-
ing both production and exhibition. They are Irving D. Rossheim, president
of the Stanley Company of America as well as of First National, and a number
of Texas exhibitors, intervicAved by an investigator for the Herald-World.
Great Stimulation of Interest Seen
Rossheim predicts a tremendous stimulation of interest in the theatre, par-
ticularly with respect to sound pictures. The exhibitors of West Texas as a
whole reflect by their optimism the commercial wholesomeness of that section
of the state. A best reflection of that optimism is the fact that some who had
intended to dispose of their theatre holdings have now withdrawn their ofifers.
Talking Pictures Big
Factor Says Rossheim
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 5.— "I am san-
guine that this will be the greatest season
ever experienced," President Irving D. Ross-
heim said today, in commenting upon the
reports of various Stanley theatres.
Texas Exhibitors
See Big Year Ahead
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 5.— While salesmen
agree that there still is uncertainty among
West Texas exhibitors regarding the effect of
synchronization, the theatre owners express
themselves as looking forward to a good
season.
Business Spurts at Electra
Business has been on the hum the past few
weeks at Electra, with a lull for the last seven
days. Miss Martha McSpadden, who controls
the three houses there, has expressed full
confidence that her houses will do an un-
precidented business.
Childress and that immediate territory,
where crops had to be replanted five times, is
now in high spirits because the last effort has
produced what appears to be among the best
young cotton crops in its history.
Arthur Keyes at Quanah, complains a bit
because a strip fifteen miles on either side of
his town has been almost totally without
rain. In other parts nearby, however, things
are looking up. The report is that Keyes, on
account of his ability as a showman, has had
a rather profitable thing of it in good times
and bad.
Shows Six Nights First Time
Homer Mulkey up at Claredon has no com-
plaint over the present situation or future
outlook, but he registers a big kick on account
of the slump the past two years.
The little town of Idalou, thirteen miles
from Lubbock, for the first time in its history
has a theatre opperating six nigths a week,
instead of two. This is said to be due both
to the prosperity being felt in Idalou and be-
cause the theatre there is now operated by
F. B. and R. M. Petty.
At Lubbock, where Cliff Lindsey reigns, the
story is no different. The Lindsey houses
continue to prosper and a plan to remodel and
enlarge one to accomodate an early installa-
tion of sound equipment is now no foot. Re-
cently, Lindsey broke away from precedent
and opened a theatre on Sunday. The first
performance was greeted by 200 patrons. The
following Sabbath 1,800 people said he was
right.
Hertner Discontinues
1 Transverter Model
(Special to the Herald-World)
CLEVELAND, Sept. 5.- — Theatre companies
are being advised that model MA-200-4(X) of
the Hertner line of Transverters, has been
discontinued because of the few calls for
them. In its place a range of sizes of type
CP units are being offered.
The Hertner engineers announce that they
are making steady progress on experiments
concerning the use of the Transverter with
sound apparatus.
"One of the most important factors, of
course, is the great interest being taken in
the talking picture. Crowds are flocking
to every theatre in which pictures of the
sound-synchronized type are shown. There
was never such interest in any picture offered
at the Stanley as was demonstrated in the
case of 'Lights of New York.' The picture
was taken to the Aldine and there was a repe-
tition. Many Stanley theatres will be equipped.
"I am confident that theatres generally will
have a splendid season. There is every reason
for this opinion in the eagerness of people in
these preliminary days to be amused and en-
tertained.
"In keeping with the progress that the film
makers are demonstrating is the plan of the
Stanley Company to care for the constantly
growing number of theatre patrons. One of
the finest theatres in the United States — the
Mastbaum — in Philadelphia is rapidly nearing
completion. There will be seating accommo-
dations for 5,000 persons.
"Other houses are coming along. The Met
has been practically made over. Then there is
the fine new Commodore theatre. The Sedg-
wick is another magnificent new house that
is to be opened soon.
"The company is not confining its achieve-
ments to Philadelphia. One of the finest the-
atres in New York State is the new Stanley
at Utica. It will be opened September 15. I
am particularly interested in the magnificent
theatre that the company will erect in Atlantic
City. We have decided that 5,000 seating
capacity will suffice. It is estimated that $4,-
000,000 will be spent on the project. We ex-
pect to open the theatre in the spring of 1929.
"Another new house of which the company
is particularly proud is the Villa, in course of
erection at Collingdale, Pa."
Stunt Double Injured
In Tumble from Mast
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 5. — Paul
Malvera, stunt double, faces several
months of conSnment in the Holly-
wood hospital due to injuries re-
ceived in a fall of 85 feet from a
mast to the deck of a ship on which
he was working in "The Isle of Lost
Men," Rayart-Trem Carr production.
Ohio Owners Name
November 20, 21 As
Convention Dates
(Special to the Herald-World)
COLUMBUS, Sept. 5.— The annual meeting
of the M. P. T. O. of Ohio, will be held here
November 20 and 21, which falls on Tuesday
and Wednesday. This was decided by the
board of trustees, which met here last Wed-
nesday.
A special committee consisting of William
M. James, Columbus, president ; P. J. Wood,
Columbus, general manager; J. J. Harwood,
Cleveland ; and J. A. Ackerman, Cincinnati,
was named to arrange the program and make
all preparations for the convention. Owing
to the fact that so many knotty problems are
facing the exhibitors and because it is more
generally realized that concerted action is
necessary to solve them, attendance at the
convention is expected to be larger than ever.
The committee is considering exhibiting
motion picture theatre equipment in connec-
tion with the business sessions. General
Manager Wood will sound out the manufac-
turers and if there is sufficient interest, plans
will be made for the display.
Columbia Closes with
West Coast Theatres
For 1928-29 Program
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— Joe Brandt, presi-
dent of Columbia, has closed a deal with Pan-
tages and West Coast Theatres, for Colum-
bia's "Perfect 36" product for the Season of
1928-1929. These contracts represent con-
summation of two of the biggest deals nego-
tiated by Columbia for this season.
Joe H. Goldberg, Pacific Coast sales man-
ager for Columbia, handled both negotiations.
The contract assures Columbia product im-
portant key runs in Minneapolis, Kansas City,
Memphis, Seattle, Portland, Tacoma and
Fresno.
Goldberg also closed contracts with West
Coast for 36 more first-run houses in Cali-
fornia. An additional item in the contract
was a, wholesale booking for "Radiograms,"
Columbia short.
Two-Year Dispute Ends
Granting First National
Film Rights to "Miracle'*
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— First National has
at last acquired the screen rights to Max
Reinhardt's famous religious spectacle, "The
Miracle." Two years of litigation preceded
the settlement.
First National had bought the rights from
Al Woods, theatrical producer. Metro-Gold-
wyn-Mayer had purchased them from Joseph
Menchen. The controversy thus arising was
finally settled last week out of court.
Ad Mat to Supply Mats
On Certain Big Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— On entering its
second year. Theatre Ad Mat Service has an-
nounced as a part of its service the furnishing
of hand-drawn art designs in mat form on
outstanding photoplay releases of the coming
year. The art mats on the larger features
will supplement the regular monthly shipment
of general theatrical art.
It is thought that the new plan of furnish-
ing hand-drawn ads on specific releases will
make the service of even more value, inasmuch
as clients will have available newspaper dis-
plays on all large pictures like big city houses.
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
V^
Film News
in Pictures
PICTORIAL SECTION
Stories Told
by the Camera
As Irving Berlin (right) signed to write an epic, with notes,
of this ragtime epoch, for United Artists. Joseph Schenck,
head of United Artists, also obtained permission of George
White, "Scandals" producer (left), to employ Harry Richman,
"Scandals" headliner, to star in said epic.
Harry Cohn, vice-president of Columbia (right), seeing Jack
Cohn, treasurer (left), embark from Hollywood for New York
and eventually Europe. Cohn took along the first print of
"Submarine," a special. The others are Frank Capra, director;
Dorothy Howell and Dorothy Revier, Columbia star.
Back for the working season after two months in Europe. J. Robert
Rubin, vice-president and general counsel of M G M, is shown with
Mrs. Rubin and their son on board ship arriving in New York harbor.
Rubin made his stay abroad a mixture of business and vacation —
proportions unknown.
Well, Bebe Daniels made it! Going to New York on a vacation,
the thrill-seeking Paramount star went by atr mail (so to speak),
and here she is arriving after a 30-hour trip, at Hadley Field, N. J.,
where another Paramount star, Thomas Meighan, was on hand to
meet her.
Aw
24
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
Left: Dark beauty from
the blonde North — the
German actress, Brigitte
Helm. Well equipped to
interpret convincingly the
deeper shades of charac-
ter, Brigitte Helm has
won the rank of UFA
star. Her latest picture is
"The Yacht of Seven
Sins" — and that's quite
enough to give any actress
splendid opportunities.
1
t
I
i
Right: Having a turn on
the boards, is this screen
player, Francis X. Bush-
man, Jr. Bearer of a name
eminent in motion pic-
tures since their original
infancy, young Bushman
has proved himself
worthy of it in a number
of roles and especially as
the oldest of Fox's "Four
Sons." Bushman is tour-
ing the K A O circuit.
In Spain, land of peccadillos, mantillas, cadenzas — briefly, in Spain
the dance is danced thus. But what we started out to say is that,
practically certain you would like to know what this picture is all
about, we admit we can tell you nothing, except that it shows Alice
White and Donald Reed in a scene of terrific amorous possibilities
from First National's "Show Girl."
Between shots — or between songs — it's difficult to say, now that
talking pictures have made words so perplexing. Whatever they
are between, here are Fannie Brice, famous singing comedienne, and
Archie Mayo, who is directing her in Warner Brothers' "My Man,"
which initiates Miss Brice as a screen player. Incidentally, this snap-
shot exhibits the reconstructed Brice profile.
This started out to be a pose and the result is very good — only —
perhaps this is carrying the urge for realism a little too far. CoUette
Merton, dear girl, doesn't realize her strength — at least, not half as
much as Margaret Lee does now. Both appear in Universal's
"The Collegians,'' the short comedy-dramas involving that eminent
American institution, the athletic stadium with college attached.
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
Right: Successor to Greta
Garbo as the party of the
second part in M G M's
match-making on behalf
of John Gilbert. (Also, of
course, on behalf of
M G M!) Eva von Berne
comes from A u s tr i a ,
where Norma Shearer
"discovered" her. Her
first role opposite Gilbert
is in "Masks of the
Devil."
Left: Back again — cigar
and all! Mere formality
calls upon us to identify
this famous face as that of
Theodore Roberts. Driven
from the films by a per-
sistent illness, he returns
to the screen, with which
he has so long been con-
nected, in M G M's John
Gilbert vehicle, "Masks of
the Devil,'" in which Miss
von Berne appears.
Speaking of gardens — but come to think of it, we weren't, were we?
That was last week. Yet there's no reason — at least no good reason
— why gardens shouldn't be spoken of this week. Then be it said,
that Lina Basquettc and George Duryea are shown (somewhat
dreadfully) in a garden of DeMille's Pathe melodrama, "The God-
less Girl," story of our unreformed reformatories.
Demonstrating (rather successfully, the picture indicates) a non-blind-
fold test for something quite obvious. The theory is that if the
powder and dynamite are thus ignited, the subjects of the test are
blown upward, in pieces. Trying it out here are Polly Ann Young,
opposite Tim McCoy in M G M's "Morgan's Last Raid," and Nick
Grinde, director thereof.
"Impresario of pulchritude" is the unique title bestowed on this
modern Venus. A bathing beauty in her own right, having won,
as "Miss New Orleans," the Galveston contest of 1926-27, Gladys
Moore now stages similar contests. In New Orleans, a jingle of
her telephone is all that's required to assure one a bang-up compe-
tition, bathing suits, girls and all.
26
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
%
Sound Films Rescue Vaudeville
In Kansas City, Managers Hold
Public Went to See Picture Acts "In Flesh" and Experienced New
Hankering for "Vaude", Is One Theory — Patrons Now
Asking for More Stage Entertainment
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
KANSAS CITY, Sept. 5. — The motion picture, the very medium which
drove vaudeville from the stage, now is rescuing it, according to Kansas City
theatre managers — managers of theatres which show first run pictures and
stage presentations in the form of "intimate" vaudeville.
Vaudeville Rises with Sound Films
Regardless of sentiments or opinions, the facts in Kansas City are that
since the talking pictures have introduced "mechanical vaudeville" to the
screens, theatres which present vaudeville along with pictures have felt a
marked increase in business and have found their audiences paying more and
more attention to their stage programs.
"The talkies, by seeking to supply a sub-
stitute for vaudeville, have aroused interest
in it," Lawrence Lehman, manager of the
Mainstreet theatre, a combination first run and
vaudeville house, said.
"The public went to see the movie vaude-
ville acts in the flesh and, as a result, ex-
perienced a new "hankering" for vaudeville.
There is a ver}' definite reason whv talkie
vaudeville will enjoy no marked success. For
one reason, many of our best performers are
of an age and contour that do not screen
attractively. Just as a good face may not
register on the screen, so many good voices
do not register. Talking pictures unquestion-
ably have dramatic possibilities, but there is
a vast difference between drama and vaude-
ville acts. In drama the skill of the performer
consists of ignoring the audience ; in vaude-
ville it consists of playing to the patrons.
Primary Interest Still in Films
"I would say that the public's primary in-
terest still is in the picture, but interest in
vaudeville acts has become so increased that
many of the Kansas City theatres now are
booking acts that ordinarily would play only
the largest vaudeville houses."
Barney Joffe, manager of the Uptown the-
atre, first run suburban house, had the fol-
lowing to say :
"When the Uptown opened we staged what
at that time we thought was an adequate
stage program. Shortly after sound picture
vaudeville was introduced, our patrons began
to ask for more stage entertainment. We
accordingly formulated a new policy of book-
ing higher class stage acts and increased busi-
ness proved the soundness of our venture."
Louis Charninsky, manager of the Pantages
theatre, first run and vaudeville, declared :
"Last year our attendance was determined
almost entirely by the quality of the picture.
Although our outstanding pictures have al-
ways brought brighter weeks this year thus
far, our best week in months was brought
about by a stage act. Ws find our audiences
showing a revived interest in acts of charm
and personality."
Though the Kansas City public has not
taken to sound vaudeville, it seems to enjoy
the musical scores with sound pictures, polit-
ical addresses and news events. The Globe
theatre, which formerly featured vaudeville
acts, has turned to this type of entertainment
with marked success.
One -Fourth Fare
Saved Exhibitors
Going to Toronto
(Special to the Herald-lVorld)
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— One-fourth of
the railroad fare to Toronto will be saved
for exhibitors under arrangements just
completed for the convention of the M. P.
T. O. A. October 16, 17 and 18.
An understanding has been reached with
all of the trunk line associations for fare
and one-half to and from Toronto. This
includes all parts of the United States and
Canada and is a special concession on the
part of the railroad. This will save theatre
owners thousands of dollars in railroad farc'.
Arrangements for the convention are
progressing rapidly and it is indicated that
every American state will be represented
while the Canadian delegation will embrace
all parts of the Dominion.
Keith- Albee-Orpheam Relinquishes Control
Of Four Combination Theatres in Chicago
The first of October will see the string of Keith- Albee-Orpheum controlled
houses in Chicago decreased by four theatres. The first house to go was the large
Diversey theatre, control of which was relinquished last month and which opened
as a burlesque house August 29. The Majestic, long a Keith- Albee-Orpheum
house having a combination policy has been leased by the Shuberts and was
opened Sunday with a return engagement of "A Night in Spain," a Shubert revue.
The next two houses to be relinquished by K-A-0 are the Tower and Riviera,
both of which pass back into the control of Balaban and Katz. Both of these
houses are suburban houses and have been operating on a policy of pictures and
vaudeville. The Tower will open under B. & K. control September 22 using the
Oriental stage band presentations and pictures, according to B. & K. officials. No
master of ceremonies has yet been named. The Riviera will revert to B. & K.
management around the first of October and will probably use K-A-O vaudeville
acts and pictures according to John F. Royal, district manager for the organiza-
tion. This leaves only 5 K-A-0 houses in Chicago.
"Relinquishing control of the theatres is just a matter of business expediency,"
declared Royal.
Labor Situation Eases
Outside Chicago After
Signing of New Scales
(Continued from page 15)
stipulated in the present contract, was agreed
to and a harmonious relationship assured for
another year. The contract sets forth a slid-
ing wage scale, running from $42 a week in
houses of 500 seating capacity to $60 for
houses of more than 1,200 seats.
Projectionists' Strike
Averted at St. Loviis
(Special to the Herald-World)
St. Louis, Sept. S. — A threatened strike of
the motion picture projectionists employed in
58 independently operated motion picture
theatres of St. Louis was averted September 1
when an amicable settlement was reached with
the owners.
The old wage scale and working agreement
expired at midnight, August 31. Under the
terms of the compromise, the projectionists in
theatres that charge an admission of 25 cents
or more will be granted an increase of $5 a
week, their scale ranging from $58 to $85.
In the smaller theatres they will continue to
draw $54 a week.
The increase in wages applies to five of
the independently operated houses, all the big
first runs, and to the St. Louis Amusement
Company chain of 27 houses.
Beginning on September 1 the union musi-
cians employed in the 58 independent theatres
accepted a reduction of $4 a week and also
put into effect more liberal rules for the opera-
tion of orchestras in the small theatres. The
new contract was a step in the union's fight
against "canned music" and will lead to the
employment of more members, it is believed.
The dramatic, vaudeville and burlesque
houses are still to feach an agreement with
the stagehands and rumors of a serious break
are current.
Film theatres in Danville, 111., were without
music September 1 because the Danville local
of the Musicians Union had refused to re-
new its contract with the Home Theatre Com-
pany. The old agreement expired at midnight
on August 31. The theatre owners had offered
to pay the old wage scale and employ the
same number of musicians, but declined to
submit to additional demands made by the
union.
Detroit Projectionists
Accept Compromise
(Special to the Herald-World)
Detroit, Sept. 5. — A strike of motion picture
projectionists in all local houses was averted
last week after an all night conference between
a committee from the projectionists' union and
officials of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners
of Michigan, Inc.
Canadian Theatres
Forecast No Difficulty
(Special to the Herald-World)
Ottawa, Sept. 5. — Moving picture theatres
of Canada opened their 1928-29 season without
labor disturbances, practically no differences
having arisen between managers and organized
employes. During the past summer the pro-
jectionists of Toronto and a few other centers
obtained a concession in that they were granted
holidays with regular pay. Otherwise, the
situation has been practically the same as last
year.
Musicians Disturbed
At Albany and Troy
Albany, Sept. 5. — Musicians in Albany and
Troy, N. Y., admit that they are much wor-
ried over a situation that has developed
through the introduction of talking pictures.
Frank Walters, president of the musicians'
union in Albany, was in New York city last
week, taking up matters in connection with
the signing of new contracts becoming effec-
tive on Labor Day.
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
27
Y^
SYNCHRONIZED PICTURES
Texas City C. of C.
Works with Theatre
To Get Sound Shows
(Special to the Herald-World)
PARIS, TEX., Sept. 5— Talking pictures
are soon to become a reality in Paris by vir-
tue of the efforts of the Paris Chamber of
Commerce in carrying out its aim to make
Paris the amusement center of Northeast
Texas and Southeast Oklahoma.
Working in connection with the Dent the-
atre interests, the Chamber of Commerce has
effected an agreement whereby Western Elec-
tric sound equipment is to be ins'talled at a
local theatre this fall. In order to bring this
innovation to Paris, the Chamber will con-
duct a campaign for the sale of $11,500 in
theatre tickets, the tickets to be in coupon
book form of $2.50 and $5.00 denomination,
carrying ten per cent discount. The Chamber
has been advised by wire of the acceptance of
its ofter by the Dent Theatre Corporation
from W. E. Paschall, general manager, who
is in New 'fork.
The Chamber of Commerce has undertaken
this project with the beHef that sound pic-
tures in the city will prove one of the most
important adjuncts to the civic and economic
progress of Paris. The Chamber began nego-
tiations upon learning that the Chamber of
Commerce of Temple, Texas, had made a
similar deal with Dent for an installation in
Temple. The Paris proposition is identical
with that of the Temple organization.
Organizations L'nite to
Secure Talking Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
HARLINGEN, Texas, Sept. 5.— The grow-
ing popularity of the new talking pictures was
to be expected, but they seem to have taken
many Texas cities by storm. A case in point
is shown at Harlingen, Texas, where the
Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, and other
civic bodies have been enlisted in a plan to
dispose of $10,000 worth of tickets to insure
the installation of the necessary equipment in
the local theatres.
Jean Paschall, general manager of the Dent
and Valley theatres, is enthusiastic over the
outlook and the American Legion has planned
a valley wide drive to sell the tickets upon
which they are to receive a commission of five
per cent, which will be utilized in buying fur-
niture for their new quarters.
All Pantages Houses
To Be Sound Wired
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 5.— Alexander
Pantages, of the theatre circuit bearing his
name, is of the opinion that sound pictures
have come to stay and has made arrangements
for the installation of sound equipment in all
the theatres of the circuit. The local house,
conducted under the personal management of
Rodney Pantages, will be one of the first to
be equipped and the installation will be ready
for use early this month. Contracts covering
several million dollars have been signed for
first-run sound pictures.
Many Theatres in St. Louis
Territory Install Sound Sets
(Special io the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, Sept, 5. — All the first run theatres in St. Louis, with the exception
of the vaudeville houses, St. Louis, Orpheum and Grand Opera House, are now
equipped for sound pictures and are including the "talkies" as regular fare.
The Fox Theatre now under construction
at Grand and Washington boulevards, and
which will seat 5,000 persons and have accom-
modations for 2,000 additional, is one of first
theatres in the world especially designed for
talking pictures. Electrical engineers and the
architects have given considerable thought to
the acoustics of this house.
A number of the leading outlying and
neighborhood houses are also preparing to in-
stall the sound pictures, while in East St.
Louis, Columbia, Mo., Springfield, 111., Taylor-
ville, 111., Jacksonville, III, and Paducah, Ky.,
theatres have already adopted sound pictures
or have contracted for such equipment.
In St. Louis the Vitaphone was the pioneer
sound picture device, the first Vitaphone show
being presented at the Capitol theatre early in
1927. Warner Brothers leased that down-
town house from Skouras Brothers for a six
months period, but withdrew the Vitaphone
equipment after several weeks run.
Last December Vitaphone came back to St.
Louis at the Grand Central and has been going
strong ever since. "The Jazz Singer" put this
stj'le of entertainment over with a bang, and
while none of the succeeding sound pictures
apparently had the kick of Al Jolson's per-
sonality and voice the Grand Central never-
theless has been experiencing excellent busi-
ness for many, many weeks.
A few weeks ago the Ambassador, Missouri
and Loew's State theatres all blossorned forth
as sound picture houses and while silent fea-
ture pictures will be shown from time to time
on the screen of the Skouras houses, Loew's
State has decided on a strictly sound picture
policy.
Reports from other cities in the St. Louis
territory that are showing sound pictures are
that patronage has held up splendidly. This
was to be expected because of the novelty of
this new form of entertainment. However,
"TaUdes" Boost Sale
Of Rubber Heels
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 5.— Hollo-
wood is becoming one of the best
customers in the world for the rub-
ber heel manufacturers.
Because of the new talking pic-
tures every star, player, and extra is
adopting rubber heels on all foot-
wear, and shoe stores report that
they can't keep up with the demand.
"Rubber heels," declares Lew
Kolb, chief electrical engineer at the
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, "are
an absolute necessity in acting in
sound pictures."
in St. Louis during the past few weeks, a de-
cided change in the attitude of some of the
regular patrons has been noted. They are
more critical of the "ta'kies" and are now
making direct comparison"* with the sound pic-
tures and the artists shovn in person. All of
which means that in the not distant future
there must be a decided improvement in the
synchronization and other essentials of
sound pictures, it is said.
the
Mary Pickford Will
Do ''All -Talkie'' of
N, Y. Stage Success
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 5.— Mary Pickford
has purchased "Coquette," a play that is now
having a long run in New York, and will
make it as an all-talking picture. She had
stage experience before becoming a film star.
"Coquette" will be directed by Sam Taylor
who, in collaboration with Johnny Gray and
Allan McNeil, has developed an entirely new
technique that will be applied for the first
time to the production of a "talkie," it is said.
"Heretofore," said Taylor, "talking pictures
have been mere silent drama with voice added.
The technique has been that of the regular
movie. We believe that the successful talk-
ing picture will be more nearly comparable
to the stage drama and are employing a tech-
nique that takes fuller advantage of speech
than has yet been done." Production of the
new Pickford film will begin immediately.
Stage Producers
Seek Leases on Two
Houses for "Talkies "
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 5.— Local theatri-
cal interests are watching carefully develop-
ments which may mean that the Curran and
Geary theatres, now homes of the spoken
drama, may become houses featuring sound
pictures.
An announcement by Homer Curran, lessee
of these houses, says : "The Curan and Geary
may follow the rage and show talking pic-
tures exclusively. We have just had an offer
for a five-year guarantee covering both
theatres. This guarantee is so large it would
exceed any profit our houses might hope to
make through continuance of our present
policy. This proposition comes from an
organization in the East, comprising the Shu-
berts, Arthur Hammerstein, A. H. Woods,
William A. Brady and other big producers.
2a
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
This large Vitaphone stage now under construction at the Warner Brothers studios will increase the company's capacity
for new talking pictures. At the right is seen a Vitaphone stage in the midst of production. Notice the sound proof
camera box, incandescent lamps and microphones hanging from the ceiling. Al Jolson holds the center of the stage
singing to orchestral accompaniment a number for "The Singing Fool."
January 1 to See 8 Fox "Talkies^ ''
7 Two-Reel Comedies Finished
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 5. — Eight Fox feature pictures with dialogue and seven
all-talking two reel comedies will be ready for release by January 1, according
to an announcement by Winfield Sheehan, vice-president and general manager
of Fox. Five of the full-length productions will be entirely in dialogue and
three of them, which already have been completed will have talking sequences.
The three finished pictures include "Mother Hugh Herbert who plays one of the leading
Knows Best," "Alaking the Grade" and "The
Air Circus," which opened in New York last
week. The first two of these are fifty per
cent talking and in "The Air Circus" Louise
Dresser, Sue Carol, David Rollins and Arthur
Lake speak their lines.
The two new feature productions which wdll
be all-dialogue pictures are O'Henry's "The
Caballero's Way," which Raoul Walsh is di-
recting and acting in with Maria Alba in the
role of the Spanish girl, and "Badges," a play
by !Max Marcin, which Lou Seller will direct.
On the completion of "The Caballero's
Waj-," Raoul Walsh will begin production of
the Earl Derr Biggers mystery melodrama
"Behind That Curtain." J. G. Blystone will
make "Through Different Eyes," Milton Grop-
per's play, in movietone. The title for the
fifth all-talking feature has not been picked.
In the comedy field the Fox Company has
three two-reel dialogue comedies completed.
They are "The Family Picnic," "Mystery
Mansion" and "Four A. M."
"Napoleon's Barber," by Arthur Caesar, is
being made into a two-reel Movietone comedy
by John Ford. "iMind Your Business" by
Synchronized Pictures
Helps Fred Putnam
"Thanks for the new department,
'Synchronized Pictures' " says Fred
Putnam, managing director of the
Strand theatre. Port Arthur, Texas.
"It's a big help as I am starting on
my campaign as soon as installations
are completed in the theatre. We
open with 'Talkies' in October."
Putnam is just one of the many
HERALD-WORLD readers who are
Ending the department of "Synchro-
nized Pictures" a great service in
planning advertising and publicity
campaigns for talking pictures.
roles under the direction of Benjamin Stoloff
is another of the new comedies.
Charles (Chic) Sale has already completed
work on one dialogue comedy and is now at
work on a two-reel Movietone comedj^ titled
"The Ladies Man." The piece was written by
Harold Atteridge and will be directed by
Harry Delf.
Harold Lloyd Plans
To Use Both Sounds
Dialogue in His Next
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 5.— Harold Lloyd,
who is about ready to start on his next picture
is making all arrangements to incorporate both
sound and dialogue in the production.
"I am thoroughly convinced that talking
pictures are here to stay," says Lloyd, and
if handled with the same degree of intelligence
that has been responsible for our best silent
pictures, will incalculably enhance the power
of the screen."
Lloyd spent eight years on the stage before
he went into motion pictures, playing in stock,
principally, and running the gamut of pro-
ductions from Shakespeare to "Ten Nights in
a Bar Room," it is said.
Paramount Stars French
Actor in Sound Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
New York, Sept. 5.^ — Paramount will use
a sound picture to introduce Maurice Cheva-
lier, noted French stage actor signed by Jesse
Lasky. The picture will have both vocal and
musical synchronization in which Chevalier
will sing both in French and English.
H. D'Abbadie D'Arrast will direct the picture
which goes into production about October 7.
All Major Houses in
Down - town Detroit
Soon to Have Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, Sept. 5.— "Sound to the right of
them, sound to the left of them, volleyed and
thundered."
Tennyson's famous poem about the charge
of the Light Brigade might well be parodied
to describe the rise of the talking and sound
motion pictures in Detroit. There is only
one of the major downtown houses now with-
out sound apparatus.
Detroit's super motion picture theatres are
grouped around the Grand Circus park dis-
trict, in the heart of the city. The Madison
Theatre, one of the Kunsky houses, was the
first in which the talking films were installed.
"The Jazz Singer," with Al Jolson, was ex-
hibited there and broke house records over a
period of nearly two months.
Then Kunsky's State theatre was changed
over from a band-show presentation policy to
be the first theatre in the city devoted exclu-
sively to talking pictures. The Capitol, an-
other Kunsky house was wired, and for some
time presented talking picture novelties in
connection with its regular programs. This
week the sound feature drama, "Warming Up"
with Richard Dix, was the screen attraction
there.
Over at the Michigan theater, Kunsky's
largest house, sound installation has been com-
pleted, and this week a Vitaphone playlet, "Re-
tribution" with H. B. Warner, was presented.
The Michigan seats 4,700 persons.
Thus, the only one of Kunsky's downtown
houses which are not equipped for the new
pictures is the Adams theatre. Installation in
this house is going forward rapidly, however,
and soon will be completed.
Nor have Kunsky's rivals been inactive. The
United Artists theatre went into sound pic-
tures this week with John Barrymore's "The
Tempest." The new Fox theater, which is to
open September IS, also will be equipped for
the talking and sound films.
Florida Being Wired
(Special to the Herald-World)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Sept. 5.— Open-
ing date for the "talkies" at the Florida thea-
tre (Publix house) here, has been set for
Sunday, September 9, at which time "Street
Angel," the Fox-Movietone special, will in-
itiate the new policy.
L
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
New Orleans Tudor
Breaks City Record
Run with ''Talkies'^
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, Sept 5.— In the history
of amusements in New Orleans, there is not
a single record more impressive or a single
triumph more overwhelming than that of Vita-
phone at Saenger's New Tudor theatre.
True, the ground was well laid by Saenger
Theatres, Inc., before the advent of Vitaphone.
The theatre was closed two months in ad-
vance and was completely redecorated and a
modern air-cooled ventilating system installed.
"Glorious Betsy," the Vitaphone feature pic-
ture, that inaugurated the New Tudor, had
a record six weeks' run at the Tudor. This
established a new high water for length of
engagement in New Orleans, as well as a
new high-water mark in public enthusiasm.
The applause came from all sections of the
public. The intellectual classes and the or-
dinary seekers after amusement were prati-
cally unanimous in their praise of Vitaphone.
Vitaphone vaudeville on the program also
scored well with Orleanians.
On Friday, August 3rd, "Glorious Betsy"
was succeeded at the Tudor by Al Jolson in
"The Jazz Singer." Few productions shown
here were received with a like degree of en-
thusiasm. With the critics, it was even more
applauded than "Glorious Betsy," and the fan
support was proportionate. On August 24th,
"The Jazz Singer" began its fourth week at
the Tudor. It is impossible to predict the
length of the engagement.
The Tudor, which is one of the oldest mo-
tion picture houses in New Orleans, had al-
ways borne an excellent reputation, but
theatrical patrons and motion picture fans
were beginning to consider it behind the times
in modern innovations. The redecoration and
the installation of the air-cooled ventilating
system immediately placed the Tudor on a
high basis of comfort and beauty.
Loew Theatres in
Columbus Are Wired
(Special to the Herald-World)
COLUMBUS, OHIO.— Sept. 5.— Both of
the Loew houses in Columbus have installed
Western Electric sound equipment. The
Broad, located on West Broad street, opened
with a feature program, August 25, while the
Ohio, the newest Loew house opened the fol-
lowing day.
The contracts for installing the equipment
were awarded some time ago and the installa-
tion was rushed as rapidly as possible. It is
announced that sound is to be one of the
standard features of the programs in both
houses.
May Record Sound,
Scenes Separately
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 5.— Ray C. Small-
wood, sole licensee under the Handschiegl
patents covering the photographing of two or
more separate actions on the original negative
states that this process will be found invalu-
able in the making of all sound pictures. Un-
der the Handschiegl process, all scenes both
interior and exterior can be made in the studio
against a plain background in actual continu-
ity and the backgrounds can be photographed
separately.
It is Smallwood's claim that the process will
be particularly invaluable in the making of all
exterior scenes for talking pictures where dia-
logue is used permitting the producer to use
a sound proof stage for his action eliminating
street noises and then photographing the ex-
terior backgrounds separately.
Sound Activities at M G M
In giving voice to the silent drama activities are proceeding at a fast clip at M G M.
As evidence note the photographs below. Two views show the huge building now
being erected for sound proof stages where MGM's sound pictures will be made.
Every possible means is used to make the studios 100 per cent sound proof.
^-I-.tikf
•ft*-'
i-r<i- -"-itt. -"^
m^i^
^SAa:ssM^.-^iK~* 'jM-.^^jW'
'.^■si(^!«t.,S^- _,^fA6&*f- 'i
More activity — Stars are studying
voice control. Gwen Lee, M GM
actress, fearfully eyes that dreaded
microphone. Her expression perfectly
portrays the feelings of many stars.
Even Flash, the M G M dog star now
appearing in "The Deadline," brushes
up on voice control. These sound
pictures certainly have put fresh ac-
tivity in Hollywood.
30
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
DonH Reveal Sound Devices
Facts^ Say Puhlix Officials
(Note: In the August 25 issue of the Herald-World, an article appeared advising theatres
to let the public in on the secret of the operation of sound devices. The following
article takes exactly the opposite view. What are your views? The Herald-World would
like to hear your opinion on this important topic.)
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 5. — Precedent in advertising has been cast to the four
winds on the event of sound pictures in the American theatre. Old rules and
regulations have been destroyed and the advertiser has had to set up a new
standard for the selling of these new attractions. He has at his grasp probably
the greatest illusionary feature since the invention of motion pictures — and he
Jias a ticklish proposition in the correct selling of sound pictures.
One of the most important points under
'discussion bj- theatre owners and operators
today is the question "Should the operation
of sound pictures be revealed to the public?"
The exhibitor must take into consideration the
value of the potential illusion of sound pic-
tures and must realize that as long as he
keeps the detailed operations of his sound de-
vices from becoming public, he is continuing
to keep the illusion growing.
This theory was hatched at a meeting of
the district manager and managers of De Luxe
"sound" devices on the Publix circuit in Texas,
after much discussion pro and con, and the
result — the theory became an actuality in the
selling of sound pictures in Texas.
As long as the theatre manager can keep
his patron wondering he is safe in betting that
business will grow — and so long as there is a
mystery connected with the presentation of
sound pictures, people will talk. Of course,
there has been a great deal of publicity given
to "talkies" in magazines and newspapers dur-
ing the past year, and many stories have been
carried relative to their operation, but one
must remember that when the average public
mind reads the impression it obtains is one
that gradually wears away; therefore from a
press-agent's point of view it is definitely
more profitable to restrain any desires for
additional publicity through the revelation of
soimd pictures, than it is to get three or four
stories in the local papers and destroy the
natural illusion connected with sound pictures.
Since the inauguration of sound pictures in
Texas theatres, very little has been said about
the operation, and sound pictures have broken
everjr existing box-office record in that state.
Would business increase if there had been
created a big bugaboo concerning the techni-
calities of the presentation of sound pictures?
And another reason for the maintaining
of secrecy on the subject is for the fact of
squelching censorship. General impressions
of censors in Texas is that the continuity of
sound pictures will be destroyed on the cut-
ting of any amount of frames from the reel
— and that impression has been created by re-
fraining from publishing any data on sound
operation. Texas censors, as a whole, have
Hamlin Sound-Proof Doors
joY Movie-TaUcies
More and more studios for speech and music
are being equipped with the famous Hamlin
Sound'Froof Doors. For years universities,
broadcasting studios, auditoriums, modern sky
scrapers, public buildings, schools, colleges, hos-
pitals, churches, hotels and other classes of
buildings have realized the necessity for "Ham-
linized" sound-proofing. There are thousands of
these doors in use, in hundreds of different
buildings.
Now Come the "Movie-Talkies"
The Hamlin Sound-Proof Door solves the
problem of sound deadening. It is a sound-
deadened door, plus hermetical sealing of the
cracks at jamb and floor. The Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer Corp., the Famous Players, and the Radio-
phone Corporation have been equipped. The
National Broadcasting Corporation studios in
New York and Chicago are also equipped, like-
wise the Stewart- Warner studio in Chicago.
Leading architects recommend the Hamlin.
Send us your specifications
or write for catalog
IRVING
HAMLIN
Manufacturers of SOUHD-PROOF DOORS and
POLDIKG PARTITIONS
2406 Jackson Ave.
Evanston, 111.
One of the Hamlin dooTs on an elevator
machinery room in the Cleveland Ter-
minals Tower
not been educated to the difference of Vita-
phone and Movietone pictures and hence have
not been persistent in their efforts to cut
sound pictures.
So for a while at least doesn't the exhibitor
believe that he should promote, instead of
destroy, the mystery illusion connected with
this wonderful advancement of motion picture
presentation? There are many mediums for
exploitation of these pictures and of sound
devices without this revelation, so why give
the patron any inside dope that might tend to
make him lose that quahty of awe and wonder
that now exists.
286 Seat Detroit
House to Be Wired
for Sound Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, Sept. 5.— One of Detroit's
srnallest motion picture theatres is to be
wired for sound and talking pictures. The
house is the Blackstone theatre, in the
downtown district, which seats 286 and
which for the last 12 years has been a grind
house operating 24 hours a day. Jake
Schreiber, the owner, announces that he is
spending $13,000 for synchronized equip-
ment.
Previously Schrieber has used "wild
fronts," wax figures of policemen, crooks
and more or less scarlet ladies, in front of
his house to attract attention to the thrill-
ers being shown within. Schreiber expects
to spend a lot of money revamping the en-
tire front, putting in a marquee, new elec-
tric signs and making the house more at-
tractive inside.
"The talking pictures are going to elevate
many small theatres that have been cater-
ing to the sensation-loving," Schreiber says.
"Our policy will change entirely with the
completion of the new equipment installa-
tion. Where we change bills every day
under the present policy, we will continue
the same attraction for two and three
weeks, as long as the sound pictures make
money for us.
"My wild fronts are for sale. We are
now going in for beauty and dignity."
Three Pathe Shorts
to Be Synchronized
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. S.— A^an Beuren Enter-
prises has announced that three of its short
features released through Pathe will be avail-
able to exhibitors in sound as well as in silent
form.
These shorts are "Topics of the Day"
'Aesop's Fables" and "Grantland Rice Sport-
hghts." "Topics of the Day" will be presented
with each chapter appearing as a complete
sketch, all "gags" in dialogue and proper tvpes
cast for _ each characterization. "Aesop's
Fables" will be given regular sound synchron-
ization and in the "Sportlights," Grantland
Rice will personally describe in layman's lan-
guage the finer points of each particular game
shown on the screen.
George Artiss Signs
With Warner Bros.
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— H. M. Warner,
president of Warner Bros., announced this
week that his company has signed George
Arliss to appear in Vitaphone talking pic-
tures. The contract with Mr. Arliss was con-
summated at the London office of Warner
Bros. A selection of the first story in which
he will star will be made shortly.
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
V^
THE STUDIO
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
"Hollywood."
ON A LOT
OF THE LOTS
Doris Hill
Jack Holt
Otto Brower
Charlie Barton
J. Walter Ruben
Paul Gurtzman
Adolphe Menjou
Frank Tuttle
Sid Brod
Katherine Carver
Regarding:
Joe Henabery
Reginald Denny
Gladys Lehman
Joe Owens
Al Ray
Joe Brown
Belle Bennett
Eddie Featherstone
Jack Richardson
Shirley Palmer
Alberta Vaughn
Hollywood, Sept. 5. — Doris Hill, who is appearing
in her first featured role, is making great headway
opposite Jack Holt in "Avalanche." This epic also
marks the beginning for Otto Brower and Charlie
Barton as director and assistant, and up to date.
Paramount officials have great hope as to the out-
come.
The company is now on location in Flagstaff,
Arizona, making the exteriors of the feature. J.
Waltor Ruben, wrote the screen play.
♦
Paul Gurtzman, the IS year old protege of Jesse
Lasky, is appearing in his first picture with Adolphe
Menjou entitled, "His Private Life," which Frank
Tuttle is directing for Paramount. The lad has ex-
ceptional talent, according to Menjou, and "his
pantomime is new to the American public." This
alone will make his initial efforts an outstanding
record for his first appearance before a camera. He
has only been in America about two months, but
has adapted the studio vernacular at a rapid pace.
The credit for his casting goes to Tuttle. Sid Brod,
who has recently been promoted to first assistant,
also deserves a mention for his work. He assisted
in the cast for the first starring vehicle of Menjou
and Katherine Carver, who were recently married.
♦
Joe Henabery, who has recently completed "Red
Hot Speed" starring Reginald Denny, has been tak-
ing a vacation but is subject to call anytime by
Gotham Productions. His latest Universal epic is
in the cutting room but according to the "rushes"
shows remarkable promise. Gladys Lehman is re-
sponsible for the story and screen play.
*
Joe Owens, the "big shot from Oklahorna," is
making his mark in the picture world, having re-
cently completed a good part in Al Ray's first direc-
torial effort for Tiffany Stahl. "Queen of Burlesque."
Joe Brown, late of Ziegfeld Follies, is in the starring
role viath Belle Bennett, Eddie Featherstone, Jack
Richardson, Shirley Palmer and Alberta Vaughn, in
the supporting roles. This picture ^mil be one of the
most comical ever produced on the Tiffany Stahl
lot, having some of the gags seen in many of the
most prominent stage successes.
FRAZIER.
Reinhardt to Direct
Lillian Gish in U A Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— Max Reinhardt,
European stage producer, has contracted with
United Artists Corporation to produce and
direct, in Hollywood, a motion picture in
which Lillian Gish will be starred. Hugo von
Hofmannsthal, Viennese poet and playwright,
has written an original scenario for the film.
Reinhardt, the actress and Herr von Hof-
mannsthal are now in Salzburg, at work on
the story; they will leave for America during
the last week of October.
Fairbanks and Cruze Operas
Begun; Production in Slump
Only 40 Pictures in Work; Andre Beranger and Jacqueline Logan
Head Cast of Talking Picture at Warner Lot ; Henabery
Completes Denny's "Red Hot Speed"
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 5. — Douglas Fairbanks got his next picture under
way this week with the opening shots for "The Iron Mask," the title of the
new opus. He began with mob scenes, horseback riding and other typical
Fairbanks paraphernalia. The picture, being made at United Artists plant
on Santa Monica, is from the story by Alexander Dumas and provides a sequel
to "The Three Musketeers."
Fifteen Pictures Completed in Week
A slump was noted at the picture plants when 15 pictures were completed
last week and only a half dozen went into production. The falloff was
anticipated, due to the particular season. In another month it is expected that
there will be approximately 35 pictures in progress. In the rush months-
studios are working on 50.
M GM Signs Lillian Kalich
HOLLYWOOD— Lillian Kalich is now at the
M G M studios busy in the scenario department
under her new contract.
Two pictures went into production at Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer studios during the week;
"Adrienne Lecouvreur," which Fred Niblo is
directing with Joan Crawford, Nils Asther
and Carmel Meyers in the cast ; and "A Man's
Man," a William Haines picture directed by
James Cruze. Josephine Dunn plays; the fem-
inine lead.
"His Private Life," an Adolphe Menjou
vehicle, went into production at Paramount
last week. Menjou is supported by Kathryn
Carver and Frank Tuttle is directing.
On the Tiffany-Stahl lot, George Archain-
baud has started the direction of "The Man
in Hobbles," co-featuring Johnny Harron and
Lila Lee.
Logan and Beranger in Vitaphone
Warner Brothers start work today on
"Stark Mad," a Vitaphone production directed
by Lloyd Bacon. Jacqueline Logan and H.
B. Warner head the cast and are supported
by Louise Fazenda, Henry B. Walthall, Andre
Beranger, Lionel Belmore, Claude Gilling-
water and John Miljan.
John Francis Dillon has started "Scarlet
Seas," Richard Barthelmess' next starring
picture for First National. Barthelmess is
supported by Betty Compson and Loretta
Young.
"Tropic Madness," an F B O production un-
der direction of Robert Vignola, was started
last week with Leatrice Joy, Lena Malena and
George Barraud in the cast.
Olive Borden and Charles Delaney have
started work in "Stool Pigeon" for Columbia.
Renaud Hoffman is directing.
F B O Completes Five
Five pictures were completed on the F B O
lot last week. Marshall Neilan finished "The
Last Haul ;" Robert DeLacy shot the final
scenes of the Tom Mix picture, "Drums of
Araby," and Bert Glennon completed "The
Air Legion which featured Antonio Moreno,
Ben Lyon and Martha Sleeper.
At the same time William Fox finished
"Come and Get It" with Bob Steele and Mary
Mabery, and Jerome Storm completed
"Tracked," starring the dog, Ranger.
Conklin Finishes at F N
"The Haunted House," a Chester Conklin
picture which Benjamin Christensen was mak-
ing for First National, was completed last
week.
Frank Strayer finished "Moran of the
Marines," Richard Dix's latest picture for
Paramount.
The untitled picture which Elmer Clifton
has been making at Tiffany-Stahl studios,
was completed last week. Patsy Ruth Miller
and Malcolm McGregor headed the cast.
James Flood completed "The Family Row,"
featuring Claire Windsor, Lawrence Gray and
Roy D'Arcy.
Sam Goldwyn's "Rescue"
"The Rescue," the Goldwyn production co-
starring Ronald Colman and Lily Damita,
which Herbert Brenon was making at the
United Artists Studios, was completed last
week.
William J. Cowen completed the DeMille
feature, "Ned McCobb's Daughter," starring
Irene Rich.
Reginald Denny has finished work in "Red
Hot .Speed" under direction of Joseph Hena-
bery. Alice Day played the feminine lead
opposite Denny.
Warner Brothers finished two during the
past week: "Conquest" and "Hardboiled
Rose." "Conquest" was directed by Roy Del
Ruth and starred Alonte Blue. Myrna Loy
and William Collier, Jr., were supported by
John Miljan and Gladys Brockwell in "Hard-
boiled Rose" under direction of F. Harmon
Weight.
At Sound Parleys
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 5.— Bess Meredyth,
who has just signed a long-term contract with
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, is attending all con-
ferences held by the M-G-M officials on sound
pictures.
32
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
Billie Dove^s Fan Mail 37,300 in July;
Burhank P* O. Expanded
Leisen Says Costumes of Future Will Contain ^^Mikes" — Reginald Denny
Turns Eyes to Directorial Field — Van Dyne's Murder Story Tricks
By DOUGLAS HODGES
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 5. — Considerable interest has developed among
stars and studios recently regarding the bulk of fan mail players are
receiving. One record was alleged to have been set when a star pro-
claimed tAvo months ago that she had received 30,000 letters during the month.
There were disputes and sworn statements tossed back and forth.
'T~ HE Holljavood postoffice was called to "mike" after having once been registered as
work. The Burbank postmaster was given
pencil and paper. Precision was demanded.
A new development
arose. The postoffice of
Burbank announced that
it has been obliged to
increase its staff and fa-
cilities for handling large
quantities of mail be-
cause of the fan mail
sent to First National
players.
Billie Dove alone re-
ceived 37,320 letters, ac-
cording to the statement
of L. M. Rothenburu,
postmaster at Burbank, j ^. ,
during Juh'. ^liss Dove
is said to be the recipient BiiUe Dove
of a large portion of
Holb^vood's mail throughout the year.
Whether she holds the record is a difficult
matter to judge without further inquiries.
Postmaster Rothenburg also states that
First National receives the greatest bulk of
the mail that reaches the postoffice of Bur-
bank a city of 30,000.
According to Mitchell Leisen, art director,
costumes containing "mikes" will be used ex-
tensively in future talking pictures, so that
when two players address each other each may
talk into the receiving set buried in the cloth-
ing of the other.
Concealing microphones in phones, lamps,
tables and the like is one of the simplest prob-
lems art directors will have to solve, he says,
but the elimination of all reflective quality or
possible echoes from materials of which the
set is built is not so easy.
Sets can no longer be walled in by a
single unit ; there must be openings so that
the speech and sound do not rebound into the
they should be.
A two-inch thick felt has been used for in-
dustrial purposes in Germany to deaden all
sound and it is being tried out in studios here.
^ ^ ^
Denny May Turn to
Directorial Field
Reginald Denny stated this week that he
has a secret yearning to become a director.
He has achieved a tremendous popularity at
the box office as an actor and, at the same
time, proved his ability this year as an author
of original stories at Universal when con-
fronted with unsurmountable obstacles in
finding suitable vehicles for himself.
^ ^ ^
Van Dyne's Trick Methods
to Make Mystery Pictures
S. S. Van Dyne sold a story to Paramount,
"The Canary Murder Case." He refused to
leave New York to visit Hollywood while the
story was in production. He sent rules to
the studio that will assist them in producing
the picture successfully, without damaging the
story.
Van Dyne's stories in Scribner's are the
most intriguing detective yarns written since
Edgar Allen Poe quit trying. The rules that
Paramount must observe in producing "The
Canary Murder Case" sum up something as
follows :
1. State all clews plainly and describe them
fully.
2. Use no tricks or deceptions.
3. Detective must never turn out to be the
culprit.
4. There must be a corpse. No lesser crime
than murder will suffice.
5. The culprit must be a person who played
an important part in the story.
6. Method of murder must be rational and
the means of solving it must be scientific.
7. A professional criminal must never be
burdened vi^th the crime. A really fascinating
crime is one in which murder is committed by
a pillar of the church or a spinster noted for
her charities.
He says no self respecting detective story
writer will resort to ciphers, or code letters,
or knock out drops as devices of his plot.
* * *
Young Mr. Laemmle's
Ankle Is Sprained
Carl Laemmle, Jr., is and will be on crutches
for a few days as a result of a sprained ankle
he received when he jumped from the
threshold of a stage on the Universal lot. His
chief grief is that he had to miss the Friday
night doings at the Grove for the first time
in three years.
* rf: :5c
Glenn Tryon to
Hoof in "Broadway"
Glen Trj-on will be the hoofer in "Broad-
way," Universal, and Charles Furthman will
write the scenario, according to today's an-
nouncement.
f9
Gates to Do Scenario
For **The Desert Song
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 5.— Harvey Gates,
scenarist at the Warner Brothers studio, is
adapting for the screen the sensational stage
hit of the past several seasons, "The Desert
Song."_
It will be produced b}' Warner Bros, on a
lavish scale, with complete dialogue and sound
accompaniment.
Gates is credited with having written "The
Terror," "The Redeeming Sin," and "Stark
Mad," all 100 per cent talking pictures. Dur-
ing the two years Gates has been under con-
tract with Warner Brothers, he has written
12 original stories.
Bern with Pathe; Block
Keeps Producer Status
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 5.— Installation of
Paul Bern as associate producer at the Pathe
studios in no Avay alters the status of Rilph
Block, who has served in a similar capacity al
the Culver City plant for the past year, it
was learned today. Bern, in taking over the
duties vacated by Hector Turnbull, will be as-
sociated with Block, but each will work in-
dependently and with full authority on his
own productions.
Block at this time is producing "The
Spieler," which is Tay Garnett's second.
Al Lewin, for four years in M G M's scenario
department, has succeeded Bern as assistant
to Thalberg.
"Legion of the Condemned"
"Three Sinners"
"The Magnificent Flirt"
Screen Plays by
JEAN DE LIMUR
And No'w
"Divorce Bound"
Starring
Florence Vidor
for Paramount
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
33
BURBANK. CAUP.
Au^oot 16th. 1928.
Wr^Qtor of Publicity.
Plrat tlatioruil Prodc. In-
^arbani. Calif.
Daa
■ Ur. Lajwly,
It baa occurred to mo that you ralcbt like
to know what the fan mall of the 7lrit *'atlonal stars and
players Is neanlng to the Purbank Poitoffloe. Tour raall
froa this departnent has Inoreaaed wo nioh In the paat
■ Ix oontha that la has beoorae necessary to odd additional
help In the office, and era»tly Increase our feollltles for
hA^dling this olaaa of mall emanating fron your studio.
I an sure. likewise. that you »lll be interest?
In the reoord kept of Blllle Dove's fara mall for the past
jnoath. ?rom July 1st. to July Slst, .InalUslve.lJlSB Dove
restlved through this office a total of 37.320 lettora.
aoo^atulatlo
of July. 1 am
Li^B
Assuring you of our oo-operatlon.and with
upon your fan mail record for the month
No publicity yarn here! This letter was
sent to First National Pictures from the
Postmaster of Burhank\ Cal. Billie Dove,
according to the letter, received 37J20
letters during the month of July.
Jacqueline Logan Begins
On Her First ''Talkie''
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 5.— Jacqueline Logan
has started work on her first talking picture,
the Vitaphone special, "Stark Alad," which
Lloyd Bacon is directing for Warner
Brothers. The picture has a remarkable cast
including H. B. Warner, Louise Fazenda,
Andre Beransjer and Claude Gillingwater.
ALFRED A. COHN
Supervising
"The Carnation Kid" '
Christie-Paramount
Gloria Swanson Installs Sound
In Home to See "Queen Kelly"
RCA Photophone Will Be Used — ^Noted Musical Director Will
Assemble Special Orchestra of 50 Pieces — Two Silent
Negatives, One Synchronized
By BOB FRAZIER
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 5.— "Queen Kelly," Gloria Swanson's third inde-
pendently produced picture, will have complete synchronization of dialogue,
music and sound effects, according to announcement from the United Artists
studio.
RCA Photophone to Be Used
After much deliberation as to equipment, RCA Photophone was finally
agreed upon. This was decided after William LeBaron, Miss Swanson's repre-
sentative, arrived from the East with tests of the star's voice, taken in New
York several weeks ago.
Miss Swanson is having a crew of
engineers working at her palatial Beverly
Hills home, installing equipment in the pro-
jection room, so that she may be able to
see and hear the daily "rushes" upon
completion of sequences. She will person-
ally supervise the complete production.
Original by Von Stroheim
"Queen Kelly" is an original story from
the pen of Erich Von Stroheim who will
direct Miss Swanson in the most colorful
of the star's photoplay efforts. The story
has Berlin and German East Africa as
backgrounds.
Negotiations are underway for a noted
musical director who will assume the task
of assembling a special orchestra of 40
pieces to play the score for the mammoth
production. To the producers, this is one
of the most important positions, for at
present it has not been decided as .to how
much dialogue will be used.
The complete cast has not < been- an-
nounced but to date Albert Conti and
Walter TByron, the young English actor,
have been assigned to the important roles.
The picture will be released by United
Artists as both a silent and sound feature,
the arrangenTfehtS calling for two silent
negatives, one for American and one for
foreign distribution, with sound version for
use in --this country. ' t :, , . ■■•.•'■
Change Fox Title
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 5.— The title of the
picture Ray Cannon is making for Fox has
been changed from "A Slice of Life" to "Hus-
bands Are Liars." June Collyer has been
given the feminine lead opposite Conrad Nagel.
^^^^^^^VHm
fiOfi ^i^^^^^^^l
^^^^HB^^hfe
Jacqueline
J^^^^^^^^H^H^L. -^
■N*
Logan
Featur~ecl
Feminine Role
in
"STARK MAD"
1 -^^y ^- "
for
>
K .^#f !»v-, ■«^ * , -Vi^fStiSSg!^,.-
Warner Brothers
_
34
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
Production Directory
[Number immediately following title denotes production number]
STORY
DIRECTOR
CHIEF
PLAYERS
BRAND
NAME
Christie Studios
"The Carnation
Kid"
E. Mason
Hopper
Douglas MaclLesn
Frances Lee
Lorraine Eddy
Francis McDonald
Columbia Studios
"Stool Pigeon"
"Driftwood"
Renaud Hoffman Olive Borden
Charles Delaney
Lucy Beaumont
Christy Cabanne Marceline Day
Don Alvarado
Alan Roecoe
Fritzi Brunette
DeMille Studios
"The Spieler" Tay Garnett
Alan Hale
Renee Adoree
Clyde Cook
Fred Kohler
F B 0 Studio
"Hey Rnbc"
George Seitz
"Tropic Madness" Robert Vignola
Hugh Trevor
Gertrude
Olmstead
Ethlyn Claire
Leatrice Joy
Lena Malena
George Barraud
First National Studios
"Scarlet Feas"
"Outcast"
"Changrelinp"
John Francis
Dillon
William Seitcr
Richard
Barthelmees
Betty Compson
Loretta Young
Corinne Griffith
Edmund Lowe
Kathryn Carver
Gwen Leo
Huntly Gordon
Geo. Fitzmaurice Dorothy Mackaill
Milton Sills
Fox Studios
'The Woman"
Irving
Mary Astor
Cummings
John Boles
Ben Bard
The River"
Frank Borzage
Charles Farrell
Mary Duncan
'Fog"
Charles Klein
George O'Brien
Lois Moran
"Homesick"
Henry Lehrman
Sammy Cohen
Harry Sweet
'Husbands Are
Ray Cannon
Conrad Nagel
Liars"
June Col Iyer
Gotham
'"nmnigii the Joseph Boyle Margaret Livingston
Breakers" Holmes Herbert
Clyde Cook
Natalie Joyce
Metropolitan Studios
"Hell's Angels" Howard Hughes Ben Lyon Oaddo Pro-
James Hall ductions
Greta Niasen
STARTING
DATE
July 31
August 25
August 28
August 20
August 17
August 27
August 25
August 2
August 24
July 25
June 10
July 30
July 21
August 27
August 13
November 4
STORY
DIRECTOR
CHIEF
PLAYERS
BRAND
NAME
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Paramount Studios
STARTING
DATE
'Gold Braid"
George Hill
Ramon Novarro
Anita Page
August 6
'The Little
Sam Wood
Norma Shearer
August 13
Angel"
Johnny Mack
Brown
'A Woman of
Clarence Brown.
Greta Garbo
July 31
ASfairs"
John Gilbert
'Honeymoon"
Red Golden
Polly Moran
Eddie Gribbon
Flash
August 11
'Sionx Blood"
John Waters
Tim McCoy
Dorothy Janis
August 18
'Hamming
John Waters
Tim McCoy
August 18
Wires"
Marion Douglas
'A Man's Man"
James Cruze
William Haines
Josephine Dunn
August 27
Adrienne
Fred Niblo
Joan Ci-awford
August 27
Lecouvreur"
Niles Asther
Carmel Meyers
"Avalanche"
Otto Brower
Jack Holt
Doris Hill
August 10
"Sins of the
Edward Berger
Emil Jannings
July 7
Fathers"
Ruth Chatterton
"Interference"
Lothar Mendez
Clive Brook
Evelyn Brent
William Powell
July 19
Untitled
Dorothy Aa^ner
Richard Arlen
Nancy Carroll
July 26
"His Private
Frank Tuttle
Adolph Menjou
August 27
Life"
Kathryn Carver
"Red Skin"
Victor
Richard Dix
August 27
Schertzinger
Louise Brooks
Tec-Art Studios
"Leif, the
Lnckr"
Roy Neill House Peters Technicolor
Leroy Mason
Pauline Starke
July 18
Tiffany-Stahl Studios
"The Man in
Hobbles"
George Johnny Harron
Archainbaud Lila Lee
August 28
United Artists Studios
"The Love
Song"
D. W. Griffith Bill Boyd
Jetta Goudal
Lupe Velez
August 8
Universal Studios
'The Collegians'
Nat Ross
George Lewis
Dorothy Gulliver
May 14
'Show Boat"
Harry Pollard
Laura La Plante
Joseph
Schildkraut
July If
'Eric, the
Paul Fejos
Conrad Veidt
July 30
Great"
Mary Philbin
Leslie Fenton
'The Cohens and William Craft
George Sidney
August 10
Kellys in At-
Mack Swain
lantic City"
Kate Price
Cornelius Keefe
Warner Brothers Studio
stolen Kisses"
Ray Enright
May MoAvoy
Reed Howes
Helen Cooley
Claude Gilllng-
water
August 0
'On Trial"
Archie Mayo
Pauline Frederick
Lois Wilson
Bert Lytell
Holmes Herbert
Jason Robards
August 21
'Stark Mad"
Lloyd Bacon
H. B. Warner
Jacqueline Logan
Louise Fazenda
Henry B. Walthall
Lionel Belmore
Claude
Gillingwatar
Andre Beranger
John Miljan
September 4
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
35
Y^
THE SHORT FEATURE
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
"Little Pictures with the Big Punch" which has presented news, reviews and exploitation on
short features and serials.
Releases
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 16
EDUCATIONAI^"Call Your Shots," Al St. John,
Mermaid, two.
PATHE— "The Terrible People," Chapter 7, two;
"Sunday on the Farm," Aesop Fable, one; "Cover-
ing Ground," Sportlight, one; "A Dumb Waiter,"
Handy Andy, Sennett, two; Pathe Review No. 38,
one; Topics of the Day, No. 38, one.
UNIVERSAL — "Mississippi Mud," Oswald, Snappy,
one; "Tarzan the Mighty" No. 6, Adventure, two;
"Calford vs. Redskins," Collegians, Junior Jewel,
two; "Half Back Buster," Stern Bros., two; "The
Galloping Ace," Hoxie, Western, two.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 23
EDUCATIONAL — "The Roundup on the Rio
Grande," Reed Howes, Russ Farrell, Aviator series,
two; "Wife Trouble," Robert Graves, Cameo, one.
PARAMOUNT — "The Sock Exchange," Vernon,
Christie, two.
PATHE — "The Terrible People," Chapter 8, two;
"High Seas," Aesop Fable, one; "The Campus
Carmen," Sennett Girl Comedy, two; Pathe Review
No. 39, one; Topics of the Day," Chapter 39, one.
UNIVERSAL — "Handicapped," Cameo, Laemmle
Novelty, one; "Tarzan the Mighty," No. 7, Adven-
ture, two; "Just Wait," Mike and Ike, Stern Bros.,
two; Western, Chandler, Tenderfoot Thriller series,
two.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 30
PATHE— "The Terrible People," Chapter 9, two;
"The Magnetic Bat," Aesop Fable, one; "A Grid-
iron Cocktail," Sportlight, one; "Motor Boat
Mamas," Sennett, two; "Soldier Man," Harry
Langdon, three (reissue) ; Pathe Review No. 40,
one; Topics of the Day, No. 40, one.
UNIVERSAL— "Panicky Pancakes," Oswald, Snappy,
one; "Tarzan the Mighty," Chapter 8, Adventure,
two; "Kicking Through," Collegians No. 3, two;
"Newlyweds' Unwelcome," two; "Romeo of the
Range," Western, Curwood, two.
PARAMOUNT— "Oriental Hugs," Dooley, Christie,
two.
Newspictures
M G M N:EWS no. 6— U. S. girl swimmers win all
five prizes in $15,000 marathon at Canada — Gene
Tunnev arrives in England — Speed kings thrilling
410-mile motor classic at Ireland.
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. ??— Five Yankee girls
take all prizes in $15,000 marathon swim at To-
ronto— England wins auto race at Ireland — 800
children march in 37th annual kiddie classic at
Asbury Park, N. J.
PATHE NEWS NO. 73— Gene Tunney is given royal
welcome upon arrival in England — New York girl,
Ethel Hertle, wins $10,000 marathon swim at
Toronto — Secretary Kellogg takes peace message to
Europe.
INTERNATIONAL NEWSREEL NO. 70— Thou-
sands acclaim Al Smith at New York — Tunney is
given big welcome upon arrival in England —
Autos dash madly in 410-mile international road
race in Ireland.
KINOGRAMS NO. 5427 — Tropical storm hits the
Island of Hatti — Baby entrants from nearly every
state compete in boardwalk at Asbury Park —
Secret high explosives are given a test in Fort-
land harbor by U. S. Army.
FOX NEWS NO. 98— Women stars swim for $10,-
000 prize in Canadian event-^Secretary of State
Kellogg arrives in Europe to sign treaty of peace —
Negro Elks parade at Chicago Conclave.
Universal Textbook Gives ABC^s
Of How to Exploit Your Serials
Chapterplays Started '^'Movie-Going Habit^' and Public Has Not
Changed, President Carl Laemmle Says in Foreword to
Book Replete with Suggestions
A textbook on serial showmanship, just issued by Universal, presents not
only the cause of Universal serials but also the cause of all chapterplays and
"how to make money with serials," as the volume is titled.
Serials Started Habit, Says Laemmle
The book does possibly even more than that. Meaty remarks on the entire
subject of shownmanship are registered both in the foreword by President
Carl Laemmle and in the matter introductory to the actual exploitation
material.
"It was the serial that created the 'movie-
going habit' in America and the rest of the
world," Laemmle says. "With the changes in
the business many theatres have discontinued
serials without reason. These theatres have
failed to remember the fact that serials origi-
nated the 'movie-habit.' These theatres have
gone along, operating on the 'goodwill' that
has been created by serials in the past. Dur-
ing all these years I have steadfastly stuck
to the principle that a picture that can build
up 'goodwill' is essentially a part of every
exhibitor's program. Serials have that same,
.^
M
Parhe ; 1
News . ■
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m
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Sally Siegel Wins at Tennis
NEW YORK— Sally Siegel of the Fox publicity
staff won the Fox women's tennis title last week,
defeating Laura Deneau 7-5 and 6-3.
Dave Oliver, Pathe News Cameraman,
was standing on the Times Square sub-
way platform. New York, carrying his
camera outfit home for a night assign-
ment. He had just missed a train. Then
came the crash that took fourteen lives.
Oliver set up his camera as close as possi-
ble to the scene of disaster and started
grinding. Thai's why Pathe had films of
the wreck showing on Broadway in two
hours and prints on the way to all parts
of the country by airmail.
and even a greater, lure now than ever."
In the Editor's Note is the statement that
"stunts and general ideas that you can use
for any serial are varied with stunts that
have a particular tieup value with Universal's
five serials." The book is presented, the editor
continues, "with the hope that it may convert
many into a realization that just booking the
picture and posting lobby cards and one-sheets
is not enough !"
The chief differences between the showman
and the non-showman is that the showman
knows that "no one can lick you but yourself,"
it is pointed out in the chapter on "Ideas,
Brains, Showmanship." Ninety-nine per cent
of exploiting a picture successfully consists; of
"putting over the impossible," the writer de-
clares, explaining that the showman starts
with a bare idea, develops it, and makes it
pay.
Serials Build Goodwill
In the case of serials, exploitation has the
advantage of tying up with the theatre for
ten to twelve weeks, and one of the results
of that is the appeal to goodwill of the com-
munity. "The serial picture," says the text-
book, "is the only picture that stabilizes the-
atre patronage. The theatre owner can tell
to an admission, almost, the number of people
that he will have in his theatre on each night
the serial runs." Finally, the writer points out
that the serial, while appealing to all classes
of patrons as far as age is concerned, has a
particular draw for children, and if the chil-
dren are to go the parents go as well, and
"the child of today is the parent of to-
morrow."
Hosts of Ideas Presented
"Do Something Every Day" is the advice
of the exploiters in submitting an entire two
weeks' campaign to precede the opening of
"Tarzan the Mighty." It is emphasized also
that the textbook does not supplant the press
sheet but rather supplements it after a study
of the press sheet shows the selling angles.
Details of the suggestions are given in an
intelligible manner in the textbook, which
with its abundant illustrations is done in a
tasty manner. It is indeed a showman's book
for showman.
36
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
Europe Likes Stage Presentations
Movie Musicians
Action Affects
100 Theatres
Over 500 Chicago Musicians
Walked Out When Con-
tracts Expired
By EDMUND ANTHONY
Nearly three hundred musicians
and about two hundred organists are
now out of work as a result of the
recent walkout from the Chicago
movie theatres situation. Although
there are more than 250 motion pic-
ture theatres in Chicago, about 25 of
them come under the heading of de-
luxe houses while the balance are
classed under the heading of neigh-
borhood theatres and class six houses
according to the Chicago Federation
of Musicians.
Due to the increasing demand of sound
pictures and talking film subjects, there
has been a belief in the minds of organists
and musicians for some time that the me-
chanical devices were aimed to destruct
human creations in the entertainment field.
Although this situation was foreseen at
the beginning of talking pictures, no steps
were taken to protect members of the
musical profession against the mechanical
competitor until the sound devices were
perfected to the extent that they now may
be used in any theatre. It is foolish to be-
lieve that anything mechanical will ever
take the place of the human touch, but
there is sufficient alarm about the situation
now to merit careful handling of any mat-
ters that may come up during the impend-
ing strike.
Nearly 100 Theatres Affected
There are nearly one hundred theatres
affected by this walkout in Chicago that,
despite the fact that they are music-less,
have substituted victrolas, automatic pianos
and organs and other such musical con-
traptions that may offer musical accompani-
ment to their programs.
The deluxe houses which also include
all of Keith-Albee-Orpheum interests in
Chicago as well as the burlesque theatres
running film, are operating with their
orchestras and full force of musicians. The
walkout does not affect the loop deluxe
houses or any of the outlying deluxe
houses, due to the fact that most of their
featured attractions in the way of organists
and bands are contracted for another year.
The other houses that are now operating
{Continued on next page)
Rolls His Own
Bob Billings, the young man who started out as a
player roll recorder several years ago and finally
ended up by becoming a featured organist in one of
Chicago's picture houses — Bob is now completing a
two-years engagement at the Crystal Theatre in Chi-
cago and in addition to community solos, specializes
in the transposition of music, a necessary feature for
photoplay accompaniment.
Fanchon and Marco May
Produce for K A O
Rumors to the effect that Fanchon and Marco,
west coast producers of presentation shows, would
be put in complete charge of the production depart-
ment of the Keith-Albee-Orpheum Circuit, have been
verified, through a representative of the producers.
After consulting with Joseph P. Kennedy, head of
the K A O Circuit, it was learned that Fanchon and
Marco may be given the authority to produce and
supervise the entertainment of over 300 combination
theatres throughout the United States.
If this plan goes through, it -will make Fanchon
and Marco one of the largest producing firms in the
country and as powerful in organization and scope
as Publix.
J(n jUltmorp of
facob ^, malber
ttiijo beparieb tf)ig life
fecpt. 13, 1927
"?^c teas lobcb 6p all"
Present Policy
Spreading Over
Entire World
Stageshow Is Considered to Be
the Leading Entertainment
in Film Houses
By A. RAYMOND GALLO
More and more is the stage presen-
tation becoming an important part of
the motion picture theatre programs
of European countries. In Sydney,
Australia, alone, six city cinemas are
operating this policy in spite of the
depression that the country recently
underwent in the entertainment field.
Paris, France; London, England, and
Berlin in Germany are three of the
leading cities that are establishing
great box office records with the new
form of motion picture theatre enter-
tainment.
When stage presentation went into effect
several years ago, very few could see the
possibility of the policy becoming as pow-
erful as it is today. However, those who
possessed vision and foresight remained at
the helm and today are not only pioneers
in one of the most profit-paying profes-
sions, but are' also considered leaders in
what has been termed the revolution of
stage entertainment.
Fanchon and. Marco were one of the first
producing firms on the west coast to stage
and present entertainment in picture houses.
At that time they were termed more or less
as film prologues and not much time and
money was spent in making them attrac-
tive. Today, almost eight years older, film
prologues and stage presentations are the
most sought-for entertainment programs in
deluxe picture houses.
Paul Ash Did It
To Paul Ash really goes the credit for
establishing a precedent in the stagehand
show field. Since he originated the policy
in Chicago four years ago, the entire coun-
try has followed suit.
For a number of years, vaudeville was
the chief source of entertainment for the
average theatregoer. However, in the last
few years, mediocre variety programs have
deteriorated the values and vaudeville has
since been on the decline. Naturally, some-
thing had to take the place and the result
of it brought forth the new presentation
policy.
At that time, few theatre executives had
any faith and for that reason the progress
was slow until Sam Katz, now head of the
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
Publix circuit, anticipated the new demands
of the theatre-going public and decided to
offer something entirely dfferent. That
was the beginning of Paul Ash shows and
Publix units. They now occupy an im-
portant position in the theatre world and
supply entertainment to more than ten mil-
lion theatre-goers in three hundred deluxe
houses in over forty key cities.
Annual Turnover of Billion Dollars
The policy employs more than ten thou-
sand artists and over ten thousand musi-
cians. The shows are staged -at a cost of
nearly ten thousand dollars per week in-
cluding sets, costumes, cast of players, and
bands. As a whole, the policy now in the
standard field is an institution that has an
annual turnover of more than a billion
dollars.
As stated before in these columns,
vaudeville performers who at one time were
fortunate in securing ten weeks of solid
booking, can now secure over one hundred
and ten weeks of solid bookings in picture
houses.
Through a recent arrangement with the
William Morris agency it is now possible
for presentation artists to play European
countries from six months to one year
which increases the booking values of any
standard attraction and creates a larger
demand for it in America.
100 Theatres Affected
By Musicians' Move
(Continued from preceding page)
without these facilities had musicians con-
tracted until September 1, and immediately
upon the expiration of their contracts they
decided to step out until further developments'.
Court Order Issued Against Union
A court order was issued by Federal Judge
Wilkerson last Saturday, against the Chicago
Federation of Musicians and their members,
from striking and those who interfere with
the work already contracted for would be
held for contempt of court. This order was
issued merely for the purpose of restraining
any of the deluxe theatre musicians from
breaking or violating their contracts and caus-
ing the theatre losses from many angles.
At the time this statement goes to press,
there is a report that the stagehands and
motion picture operators of Chicago would
also walk out in sympathy with the musi-
cians. If this happens, it will compel all
the theatres that are showing motion pic-
tures or any form of stage attractions to
either shut down or employ other means
of substitutes unless matters are settled.
Presentation
LETTERS
In this open fomm those interested in presen-
tation may discnss important matters bearing
upon this phase of theatre entertainment. Only
signed letters will be published.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: Attached
is a copy which is appearing in all Chicago papers.
Thought it might be of interest to you.
With kindest personal regards. — Joseph McKeown,
Manager, Broadway-Strand Theatre, Chicago, 111.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: I haven't
received my copy of the Herald for three weeks.
VAS ISS LOS.
Try to get the three back copies to me if possible.
I am now soloing at the Empress Theatre here and
my former hangout, ""the Lincoln Square is going to
run vodvil.
Thinks for your great cooperation. — ^Milton Herth,,
Organist, Decatur, 111.
LOS41S
about
Every oTie
Well, folks ! . . . Labor Day seems to have brought
us many tangling moments. . . . Now that school
is open we must find other ways and means of mak-
ing whoopee and what could be better than to get
all wrapped up in the impending music strike. . . .
Speaking of strikes we want you to understand that
the Chicago Federation of Musicians, had nothing to
do whatsoever with the present walk-out in over 100
Chicago movie theatres. ... In fact the members
themselves thought it advisable to take a vacation
right after their contract terminated. . . . As Eddie
House would say, the boys and girls merely wante<i
to get together in a group to see who had the best
idea for an organ solo. . . . Not a bad idea "atall,"
Eddie, we would suggest that such an affair be
gotten up once a year in the form of an organists'
convention and offer the use of the HERALD-WORLD
presentation office as the meeting place or hall as you
want it. . . . James C. Petrillo, the popular head
of the Chicago Federation of Musicians would be glad
to give you all a short leave and may even agree to
act as one of our judges. . . . Think it over. . . .
"Our Gang" will be brought back to Chicago next
week for a short engagement at the B & K Norshore.
. . . On the same day Eddie Cantor opens at the
Granada, a Marks Bros., North Side deluxe house.
. . . And the same week that B & K open their new
Paradise theatre on the West Side just around the
corner from the Marbro another Marks Bros., the-
atre, Eddie Cantor will play the Marbro. . . . Funny
how those things happen in show business. . . .
Yes, sometimes they really happen but in most cases
they are made to happen. . . . At a recent visit
to the Diversey theatre, Chicago, we found our friend
Francis Kromar still at the organ. . . . John Hunt is
managing the house for the new interests and Fred
Clark is producing the musical burlesque shows. . . .
A clever stunt was pulled by Don Galvan, band leader
and Earl Abel, organist of the Texas theatre in San
Antonio. . . . The stunt gave Don and Earl a
chance to exchange places during the "Tak-a-chance"
week. ... It is rumored that Fanchon and Marco
may produce stage units for the Keith-Albee-Orpheum
Circuit. . . . Mcrriel Abbott, well known teacher
of stage dancing with a dance school in Chicago, has
staged an entire Kiddie Revue for Marks Bros.
theatres. . . . All the players are students of her
school and reported to be the eleverist east in
America. ... It is also rumored that Al Morey
will be made band leader of one of B & K's Chi-
cago theatres. . . . Verne Buck leaves the Sheridan
next week and opens at the Uptown on Sept. 15th.
. . . While on the subject of band leading masters
of ceremonies in deluxe theatres, let us say that
Mark Fisher and Al Kvale are the two favorites in
Chicago, next come Verne Buck and Bennie Krueger,
then Frankie Masters and Lou Kosloff and last but
not least Boy Deitrich. . . . And for popularity in
the organ field the cake goes to Henri A. Keates,
Milton Charles, EMdie House, Albert F. Brown, Eddie
Meikel, Preston Sellers, and last but not the least
Chaunccy Haines. ... I suppose our many other
friends will kill us for leaving them out but, I said
— Deluxe houses only. . . . Jack Osterman is making
his New York debut in picture houses this week
by taking part in the second edition of Mort Harris'
"Oddities" at the Capitol. . . . Walt Roesner the band
leader is celebrating his 9th month at the Capitol.
. . . Boris Petroff, stageshow producer for Publix
and his wife Dorothy Berke, have sailed for a six
weeks' vacation in Europe. . . . The Piccadilly the-
atre of Chicago, have installed the "Phototone"
system of sound films. ... It won't be at all surpris-
ing to see a great many more do the same if the
music strike spreads. . . . Unless the stage hands
and operators walk out all theatres can operate a
picture policy with canned music for a reasonable
time only. . . . June Clyde, member of Fanchon and
Marco revues was married to Bbil Lampkin, band
leader of the Publix Portland, 'Ore., theatre. . . .
Fred W. Homan, well known showman of Providence,
R. I., died at Pittsfield, Mass., on August 26th. . . .
While on this subject don't forget that Jacob Kajver
passed from this life a year 'ago last Sept. 13th.
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NEW YOFiK, N.Y.
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
STAGE SHOWS
Chicago Chicago
Week Ending September 1
"Sunny Skies" is the bandshow at the Chicago this
week. As the words of tJie song, "Sunny Skies" are
flashed on a scrim curtain, a male voice is heard sing-
ing the song. The scrim lifts and reveals the band
in a beautiful setting depicting the balcony of a
fine old mansion overlooking the Bay of Naples with
Mount Vesu\'ius in the background.
The Pedro Ruben dancers in Italian peasant cos-
tumes enter to do a fine routine with castanets. This
16 followed by a band number, "You're a Real Sweet-
heart," during which two members of the band are
featured. One sings the song and the other renders
a solo on the cello.
The Ruben dancers are out again this time as
puppets dressed in fancy military attire. Two bands
extend from the flies to the arms of each girl giving
the puppet appearance. They do a good toe routine.
As they exit a small stage front, representing a
Punch and Judy stage is lowered from the flies.
Maurice CoIIeano steps out from the curtains of
the puppet stage and sings "Laugh, Clown, Laugh,"
with interpolations of "Pagliacci." His excellent
voice is well awarded with applause.
Al Norman follows with his eccentric dance. One
never knows which way he's going and his feet
do all sorts of funny steps and his legs seem always
tangled in some grotesque maneuver. He stops the
show and does an encore and is then called back for
more which he passes off with a clever gag.
A hot band number follows with several of the or-
chestra in a contest to see who can play the
hottest notes. Bob Gilbert sitting as one of the
musicians in the band asks to be let in on the con-
test and proceeds do render some hot violin playing.
He follows with "Turkey in the Straw" as an Irish-
man, Jew, German and American would play it.
Then he recites "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on his
violin and does a number of clever stunts with his,
violin. He finishes with a solo of "Chiquita," written
by his brother.
After a clever routine by the Ruben dancers in
which the beauty of the routine is accentuated by
the use of shawls. Wee Willie Robyn comes on to do
a very clever toe dance. In fact It's a toe Varsity
Drag. Then comes a very good finale with a number
of the performers doing turns.
For the orchestral overture the Movietone short of
Richard Bonelli singing "Pagliacci" is presented with
the orchestra accompanying the Movietone. The
Movietone is perfect and the orchestral accompani-
ment makes it one of the most interesting orchestra
numbers heard at the Chicago in a long time. This
feature gets the best hand of the show, the applause
going to the Movietone Bonelli as much as to the
orchestra.
Marks Bros. Launch
Big Show Program
Marks Bros, independent motion picture
theatre operators of Chicago, are launching
an extensive advertising campaign to acquaint
their patrons with their particular type of
entertainment.
Through the personal direction of J. J.
Hess, director of publicity and advertising,
all press copy and exploitation paper carries
through an impressive message that is very
attractively planned. One of the main fea-
tures is to boost the greater show season pro-
gram of film and stage attractions.
In addition to "Sunrise," "Four Sons,"
"The Singing Fool," "Mother Machree," and
a number of other talking pictures, there are
also twelve stage stars to appear as extra
added attractions in a series of three in a
group. The first of the series is headed by
John Steele and followed by Eddie Cantor,
Julian Eltinge and Jimmy Savo.
"Every one of the worthwhile talking films
and synchronized pictures will be shown at
Marks Bros.' theatres." This phrase is being
used in all advertising copy as a slogan.
New York Roxy
Week Ending September 7
The Roxy Symphonic Orchestra, with Erno Rapce
conducting, and also doing a special violin cadenza,
offer the Overture "Orpheus."
"Roses of Yesterday" is offered as the first presen-
tation of Irving Berlin's latest composition, and fea-
tures Henry Therrien, Patricia Bowman, the Roxy
Chorus, Ballet Corps and 32 Roxyettes.
"A Tale of Araby" — to usher in the first presen-
tation at popular prices of "Fazil" the William Fox
picture, and represents a musical and dramatic in-
terpretation of the "Thousand and One Nights."
The costumes were beautiful, designed by the well-
known Frenchman, Montedoro.
Hasoutra, the Eastern character dancer recently
from a world-tour in China, Japan, India and the
rest of the Orient, offers her original creation "Dance
of the Snake Charmer."
Diane Hubert, with the initial stage appearance of
the Hubert Trio of Dancers, contributes an original
dance conception utilizing luminous materials and
unique lighting effects.
Others appearing in this last effect are the Roxy
Chorus, the Ballet Corps, the Roxyettes, Beatrice
Belkin, Harold Van Duzce, Helen Gray, Elsa Green-
well, Bobbe London, M. Vodnoy, Sarah Edwiards, and
Miles. Hubert, Letteaus and Tate.
THE KLOWN OF JAZZ
AL KVALE
(SAY QUALLEY)
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
at
BALABAN AND KATZ'
ORIENTAL THEATRE
CHICAGO
CORNELIUS MAFFIE
Gennett Recording Artist
Now Featured Organist at Publix's
METROPOUTAN Theatre, HOUSTON, TEXAS
San Francisco Warfield
Week Ending August 31
Rube Wolf returned this week to the Warfield
Theatre, after an absence of several weeks, and was
given an enthusiastic reception by his admirers. The
stage act was the Fanchon and Marco offering, "The
Great White Way Idea," the background being in
nouveau art, representing Broadway at night.
The orchestra offered a fantasia on themes from
"Faust," with a trumjjet solo by Rube, and the ap-
plause was such that the director and master of
ceremonies declared that future programs would con-
tain similar works from the classics, an announce-
ment that got another hand.
A South seas number, in which Vina Solle, Elmer
Herling and the Sunkist Girls participated proved
enjoyable, with a dance in a bizzare, modernistic
style.
A discussion developed among band members as
to which was the hottest instrument and a contest
resulted, with the saxophone, piano, tnunpet, Sousa-
phone and flute demonstrated. The audience was
asked to judge, but Rube finally decided that a deci-
sion could not be made until the next day and asked
all to return then.
Walter Bradbury, eccentric dancer, lived right up
to his reputation and was called back repeatedly.
Carlotta Cortez, a senorita from Mexico, offered a
plaintive Mexican air in an exquisite manner, fol-
lowed by "If I Can't Have You," in English. She
concluded by dancing the "Varsity Drag" with Rube.
The band offered "Having My Ups and Downs," a
number dedicated to the stock exchange. This was
featured by a trumpet solo by Rube, the singing of
the song by members of the band and the playing
of the air on electric bells, punctuated with colored
lights.
The act came to a close with the Sunkist Girls made
up as darkies dancing to a medley of Southern airs.
They apipeared clad in red, but a switch in lighting
effects transformed their costumes to blue and white.
An old-fashioned cake walk, with the costumes of the
dancers changing from red to blue and white and
back to red again, was the concluding feature. This
startling novelty was so enthusiastically received that
the curtain had to be raised several times to satisfy-
the audience.
Kansas City Pantages
Week Ending August 31
Spoor and Parsons with the Soli Brothers marimba-
phone ensemble were given a prominent place on the
stage program of the Pantages theatre, their act
consisting of some exceptionally good Spanish music
and vocal numbers, as well as dancing numbers.
Traick and Ellwood have a pleasing comedy and
singing turn. Gabby DuValle is a French singer-
who wears a Spanish shawl and whose vocal num-
bers prove pleasing. Mary Zoller & Company do a
nice turn at the xylophone, Mary making several
changes in costume during the course of the act.
The Three Orantos do a balancing act which justi-
fies them being placed in the middle of the program
instead of at the end. Louis Charninsky and his
Pantages orchestra render popular selections as ao
overture.
Des Moines Capitol
Week Ending September 1
Just what a "leopard" dancer, a Chinese soloist,,
two swallow-tailed cocktails and a personality girl
have to do with "Hula Blues," the Jack Partington
stage show at the Capitol, is quite beyond one's com-
prehension. Nevertheless, a series of what might be-
termed exotic specialties makes up the program en-
gineered by Jay Mills and supported by the orchestra
and Herbie Koch at the organ.
Drena Beach puts over a difficult and entertaining
dance garbed in a trifle less of the traditional leopard
skin than is usually worn in such acts. She is a
skilled performer. Anna Chang, attractive Chinese-
maiden, offered a vocal solo.
The Felicia Sorrell dancing girls do two dance
specialties reminiscent of Hula atmosphere.
The comedians, Fritz and Jean Hubert, are funny
indeed in their original cocktail act in which acro-
batics form an important part of the fun. Their
intoxication performance puts the audience in an
enviable mood for laughter.
Alberta Haynes, an Iowa product, sings blues songs.
For those who like this type of entertainment the
act goes over well. The young woman is making
her first appearance.
Jay Mills stages a little dance with Miss Haynes
and then plays a violin solo accompanied by Herbie
Koch at the organ. He plays, "If I Lost You."
"Forgotten Faces" is the film presentation. Para-
mount News completes the bill.
UNIFORMS
FOR HOUSE
ATTACHES
COSTUMES
FOR STAGE
PRESENTATIONS
BROOKS
1437 B'w«)
N. Y. city
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
New York Paramount
Week Ending September 7
"Parisian Nights" — the first re\-xie which can be
easily called a flap was presented this week by
Publix, devised and staged by John Anderson, after
his retui-n from Paris.
The first scene — on the boulevards — was the intro-
duction, with Henry Mack as the manager of Res-
taurant Ambassadeurs, Dorothy Williams as the girl
from Montmarte, and Hannah Williams as the sou-
brette — with the girls from the Mouline-Rouge Girls
of the Folies Bergere.
Scene II — Interior of Restaurant Ambassadeurs,
wherein Paul Ash offers a special number "It Goes
Like This" played by the stage-band, and the Wil-
liams Sisters offer another version of the same num-
ber.
Scene III — was all balled up. A stage wait of
about three minutes, one of the dancers in the Cafe
of Montmai-te, goes out to find out what's the matter
— evidently somebody refused to go on — "Montmarte
Rose" is supposed to be sung by Henry Mack, but
the stage-band got tired of vamping till ready, and
the house curtain is drawn. The scene is intended
to have Gretchen Eastman as Montmarte Rose, Rex
Mara as the Apache, Mario Remo as the Sneak,
Michael Alvin as the lover, Geoffrey Luck as the
Gendarme, and Marie Goode as the cigarette girl.
They were all ready to act, but nobody started any-
thing. Voices off-stage — Paul Ash disappears and
reappears with a long face, introducing George Dewey
Washington, and —
Scene IV — The Williams Sisters sing "Midinette"
and danced by the Foster Girls. This is a sweet
little number, but does not relieve the tension.
George Dewey Washington saves the complete de-
moralization of the show, with his "Chloe," "Just a
Melody Out of the Sky" with the old-time cake-walk
finish. He was called on for three bows, and did an
encore called "Keep Smiling" — this colored boy has
a well-trained baritone voice, and spells showman-
ship all through. His dramatic recitation and cake-
walk finish goes over for a bang.
"Memories of France" — the finale, draws patriotic
applause in a big flash of Franco-American war days.
Give Paul Ash credit for smoothing over the mis-
take, his expert showmanship stands him in good
stead during this supreme test.
St. Louis Ambassador
Week Ending August 31
The Ambassador put on a belated Birthday Cele-
bration during the week with Eddie Lowry doing
most of the celebrating. The house opened two
years ago on August 19, so it was a week behind
in the festivities. For all of which we will excuse
the Brothers Skouras.
Lowry included in the cast for his stage show
Arthur Nealy, popular tenor, and the original Am-
bassador Rockets.
Others in the cast were Anita La Pierre, personal-
ity singer ; Scotty Weston, dancer, and Chilton and
Thomas, fast steppers.
Chicago Senate
Week Ending August 31
"Stop — Look — and Listen" was this week's stage-
show, that featured Mark Fisher and his Melody
Music Masters, surrounded by a cast of good players.
All those interested in good singing should by all
means stop to listen to Mark Fisher's golden voice,
who seems to hold his audience spellbound whenever
he offers a selection.
The show opened as all stageshows usually open
with a band arrangement and the house ballet while
Rubberlegs Edwards almost swept the stage floor with
his loose limbs in bellhop's uniform. This was fol-
lowed by Athalone, a young lady who offers cafe
songs in her own original way. At the start it
looked like she would flop but ended by getting a
very good hand.
This was followed by a band arrangement of
"Googeley-Goo" with the chorus sung by Mark Fisher
and assisted by the Melody Music Masters in cutup
capers. One-half of the house was taken by Mark
and the other half by Buckwalter, the pianist, and
after each solo the audience voted for their favorite
— of course Mark Fisher won.
The house ballet came on again, this time in very
beautiful outfits, with each girl representing a nation.
Each girl also did a specialty as Buckwalter sang
"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." This routine won a
very good hand for its novel staging.
Frederick and Dahney, a man and girl, in a ball-
room exhibition dance, went over very nicely with
their offering that was danced to a medley of popular
waltzes.
This was followed by Mark Fisher singing "King
for a Day," the sequel to "Laugh, Clown, Laurh."
One has only to stand near the box office to reuHy
appreciate the drawing power of this singing ba, id-
leader. Almost at all times a huge procession- is
Herb Koch Starts
Novel Organ Club
The Herbie Koch Organ club is the newest
organization for children in Des Moines, Iowa.
Herbie Koch, popular with all ages for his
music at the organ, heads this unique group.
The club meets Saturday mornings at 11:30 at
the Capitol theatre.
New and old songs are played and the
youngsters have a chance to choose a few
which they sing with all sorts of gusto and
vim.
As each child enters the house he is given
a membership card upon which he Writes his
name and address. The club regulations arc
printed on the reverse.
One of the thrills is the pass word idea.
There is a new one each week Herbie sees to
this. He carries a pocketful of pennies every
time he goes on the street. He gives a penny
to every youngster who speaks to him and
gives the pass word.
Children under twelve years of age pay
ten cents to get in. Then they can stay over
to see the regular stage and screen show that
follows.
The idea is becoming very popular.
waiting to gain admission wherever he is featured.
In him the management has a surefix-e attraction
and no one could fill the spot at the new Paradise
theatre which will open next week better than Mark
himself.
Fauntlcyroy and Van, the Oklahoma slickers, fol-
lowed, and although it is pretty hard for anyone to
follow Mark Fisher, he made it easy for them by
quieting the crowd who were clamoring for more.
The team opened with their usual line of comedy
chatter and brought into play their wellknown musi-
cal saw. For some reason the audience did not show
their appreciation for their offering at this per-
formance.
Frederick and Dahney came on again with their
own interpretation of "Dances of Today" as the
band struck up an arrangement of a very snappy
tune while the entire cast surrounded the stage set-
ting. As usual, the finale was very effective with
lighting and scenic effects.
Philadelphia Forum
Week Ending August 25
Mystery, comedy, singing and dancing were all
combined in the diversified surrounding bill at the
Forum.
Foremost in interest was Dr. J. Robert Pauline,
French psychologist, who gave some remarkable
demonstrations of the power of mind over matter
and of his ability to control the flow of blood in the
human body. In his first experiment a boy was
apparently hypnotized, his head placed on one chair
and his feet on another while four men whose com-
bined weight totaled over 700 lbs. stood on his rigid
body, which formed a bridge between the two chairs.
In his second experiment by apparently lightly pass-
ing his hand over a subject's arm he caused all the
blood to recede and the armi to appear dead and life-
less. With another motion, the blood returned and
the arm appeared normal in color. In his third and
most spectacular demonstration he caused a 600 lb.
block of gi-anite to be placed on the body of a girl
weighing less than 100 lbs., her head resting on one
chair and her feet on another with no support be-
FRANKIE MASTERS
'k^
"The
Romantic
Singing
• Band Leader"
Now at the
NORSHORE
Theatre
CHICAGO
(Balaban & Katz)
neath. A man with a 10-lb. sledge hammer struck
the granite slab placed on the girl's body with all
his strength without injuring her in the least. Dr.
Pauline stated that the success of the experiments
was not the result of hypnotism but simply showed
what could be accomplished by deep concentration.
The audience was greatly impressed and mystified and
the applause at the conclusion of the act was tre-
mendous.
There was an elaborate song and dance number
by the Ruby Trio. Curtains were looped back at
either side of the stage forming two frames. In one
frame a girl whose name was not learned played a
grand piano and introduced two who appeared in
costumes and dances of various periods, the looped
back curtains at the other side of the stage forming
a dressing room in which the girls made rapid
changes in costume in sight of the audience. They
played "Mighty Lak a Rose" and "William Tell"
overture on a xylophone accompanied by the girl on
the piano and further demonstrated their versatility
by playing mandolins and tap dancing. In their
last number the house vm.a darkened and a striking
effect was secured by the large illuminated hats and
dresses covered with rhinestones worn by the two
girls. The audience showed much appreciation of
this act.
Lew Kelly and Cliff Hall, a comedy team, pre-
sented some new songs and dances.
Salt Lake City Capitol
Week Ending August 25
The Capitol theatre stage presentation this week
consists of the Fanchon and Marco "Bathtub Idea,"
which features "Sweet William" and "Bad Bill," na-
tional blackfaced comedians in their act consisting
of dialogue and musical numbers. Records made by
these two comedians are being sold in the lobby of the
Capitol as a tieup with the Brunswick people, and
are selling very good, these artists having been re-
ceived very favorably.
The San Francisco Junior Beauties, known as
Fanchon and Marco's crack line-up of "Fast Steppers"
present their dance numbers very artistically. Lucille
Paige, the Gilmartin quadruplets and Maxine Bo Peep,
song and dance specialty girls, make up the remainder
of the act, which is made complete by the special
popular numbers offered by Ralph Pollock and his
orchestra and Alexander Scheiner at the organ. The
feature picture shown this week is Colleen Moore in
"Oh, Kay."
THE GREATER DRUNKARD
DANCERS
JEAN
HUBERT
FRITZ
Repeating Publix Theatres as a featured
attraction in
"HULA BLUES"
(A Publix Unit)
DIRECTION WM. MORRIS AGENCY
40
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
Chicago Uptown
Week Ending August 31
Marcelli and his orchestral overture opened a fine
bill that was followed by a Publix unit called "See-
ing Things."
Lou Kosloff, former bandleader at the Chicago the-
atre, is playing a limited engagement here as guest
leader and opened the proceedings with a band num-
ber. An old man opened the show singing a special
song called "Seeing Things" as many spooky things
ran about. Kosloff made his entrance after this
specialty and received quite a hand at his appearance.
The first specialty introduced was C'astleton and
Mack, two clever boys who danced eccentric steps
and did acrobatic stunts that really merited the ap-
plause they received. The 12 Sorel Girls came out
to do a dance routine while Alien Raymond sang
another choi-us of "Seeing Things." Raymond por-
trayed an intoxicated clubman and if his conception
of drunkenness was the best he could offer, we don't
mind being drunk ourselves.
One of the best novelties ever seen in picture
houses followed next in the way of Les Klicks, who
operated a string of lighted Marionettes in a com-
pletely dark stage over the band. Each object
represented an animal and did funny stunts. It was
quite a novelty and pleaeed.
This was followed by a band arrangement of "Get
Out and Get Under the Moon" with a chorus sung
by the boys. Lou Kosloff directed this number in
the same identical manner that Paul Ash would, in
fact Lou has every little mannerism of the old master
himself, and still enough of his own individuality
to make him a well-liked master of ceremonies. This
band arrangement was staged with a lighted moon
in which a pretty girl was posed to represent a
"Midsummer Night's Dream."
Ruth Etting followed this and from the reception
she received it is evident that she is very jwpular.
Only a few years ago Ruth played these same the-
atres as a presentation artist and now she repeats
them as a Ziegfeld star. Her songs, "My Baby
Don't Mean Maybe Now." "Beloved," and "The Man
I Love" won h.er considerable applause. She was
very wise not to take another encore for this very
thing has hurt many a player.
The finale was staged next with the ballet in
novel costumes as the entire cast assembled on the
stage.
Chicago Norshore
Week Ending September 7
Frankie Masters takes his band on a boat ride from
France to America in this etageshow at the collegi-
ate Norshore, which borders on the campus of North-
western university but is an enjoyable house any-
way. The show opens with the Kosloff ballet enter-
ing from the house, dressed as inmiigrants and do-
ing a comic routine in front of a customs house drop.
Masters peers out of a trunk, is caught and allowed
to board the boat if he'll direct the orchestra.
Fair enough — so the diop lifts, revealing the band on
the liner's deck, and Masters takes charge to ac-
company Gordon and King, a couple of young fel-
lows who please to the extent of two bows with their
tap dancing.
Vera Van is next with uji-to-date songs sung in
the September, 1928, manner and achieves an encore
and several ensuing bows. The ballet reappears
for another turn a la immigrants, getting more ap-
plause than ballets are wont to receive.
Masters follows with a band number, "My Bouquet
of Memories," with song parts in trio that win
numerous plaudits.
Follows the hit of the show, Clifton and De Rex,
a couple of nice girls made up like a couple of
"oil cans," so to speak. With comic songs, dances.
ad libbing and so on, they return for two encores
and take seven bows — though it might have been
more.
A few girls from the ballet come out for a routine
and are followed by a descriptive tour with Masters,
revealing what the band does with its spare time.
Plenty of novel comedy and it goes well. Jimmy
Lyons follows as a comic military man and doesn't
do so well with his Sam Bernard speech on affairs
of the day. He wasn't enough like Sam Bernard
apparently.
Viola Allin, beauty contest winner, was introduced,
and her quick departure permitted the show to come
to its close — the back drop lifting to reveal maidens
as goddesses of liberty and the band snorting some
patriotic tune.
Detroit Capitol
Week Ending August 31
The Capitol had quite a show this week, not only
on the stage, but in the film end which went into
sound pictures with Paramount's "Warming Up,"
starring Richard Dix.
The stage show was "Pacific Breezes," starring
Ruth Durrell, a Detroit soprano, who has been
heard in other shows at the Capitol. Others in the
Publix spectacle were Thelma Edwards, a versatile
dancer ; Earl and Bell, who harmonized ; Reed and
Duthers, dancers ; Carlton and BeUew, who furnished
the comedy ; and the Capitol Girls, heaven bless them.
As usual the show was presided over by Del Del-
bridge, master of ceremonies, who actually can do
something himself besides introducing the various
acts.
Samuel Benavie and the Capitol orchestra played
"Melodies We Know," including "Going Home,"
"Humoreeque," "Songs My Mother Taught Me" and
selections from "Carnival Overture."
"Warming Up" probably is one of the most realis-
tic sound pictures to reach Detroit, and the Capitol
audiences liked it very much.
Seattle Seattle
Week Ending August 28
Sixteen well-trained beauties composed the
"Spangles" idea presented by Fanchon & Marco, who
displayed to advantage the original Follies Bergere
costumes. They held the major share of attention
with their military-like precision in their dance
ensembles.
Gene Morgan, master of ceremonies and his stage
band presented a number of novelty musical num-
bers. On the screen "The Mating Call" with
Thomas Meighan proved one of the most popular
offerings thus far in Greater Movie Season.
St. Louis State
Week Ending August 31
The Movietone short subjects for the week In-
cluded the Kentucky Jubilee Singers and Movietone
News.
Ernst Hares at the organ and Kirk Frederick and
his orchestra provided the musical entertainment of
the week.
Musical Conductor Feted
by Management
Eduard Werner, musical director at the Michigan
Theatre, Detroit, celebrated his fifteenth anniversary
this week with the John H. Kunsky organization,
and so the stageshow at the Michigan was built
around him and his symphonic orchestra.
An augmented symphony orchestra was provided
for Mr. Werner, who presented a special production
based on Verdi's "Rigoletto," with a vocal ensemble
of twelve voices. The leading soloists were Luella
Feiertag, coloratura soprano ; Arvista Parrish, con-
tralto ; Arch Cannon, tenor ; and Raymond Koch,
basso.
For an encore, Mr. Werner presented his own in-
terpretation of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue."
Mr. Werner's Sunday noon symphony concerts, his
orchestral productions and development of theatre
music since he fii'st started with a six piece orches-
tra at the Liberty theatre fifteen years ago, have
won him national prestige and the affection of evei"y
music lover in Detroit.
Al Morey to Be
B & K Leader
Ray Teal, whose personality and musical ability
won for him an enviable reputation and popularity
in Atlanta with the Howard theatre audiences dur-
ing his regime as bandmaster there from January 15
until April 28, when he resigned to go to the Brook-
lyn Theatre, New York, returns to his old post
Monday, succeeding Al Morey, guest conductor at the
Howard for the past month.
With the announcement of Mr. Teal's return this
week hearty applause sounded from his many ad-
mirers in Atlanta and a rousing welcome awaits
him.
Mr. Morey during his short stay as guest conduc-
tor has won a large following in the Howard's audi-
ences. He will assume a bandmaster's place in a
Balaban and Katz house in Chicago soon. Chicago is
responsible for Al's success as a stage band leader,
having started as one at the North Center theatre
about two years ago.
Sam Fox Publishes
Theme to "Fazil"
The Sam Fox Music Company of New York and
Cleveland announce through their publicity director,
Leonard Greenberg, that they have one of the best
musical scores ever prepared for a motion picture.
The score in mind is the famous "Abie's Irish
Rose" taken from the stage play of the same name.
The two theme songs are "Rose Mary" and "Little
Irish Rose."
"Fazil," the new Fox Movietone production, is
another fihn that supplied this publisher with a
theme inspiration. The song is called "Neapolitan
Nights" and has been composed by J. S. Zamecnik,
their chief editor and scorer.
They also have a theme for the "Wedding March"
film called "Paradise," and one called "Wings" for
the air epic of the same name, in addition to "Felix
the Cat" a song composed ivom the cartoon and
recently recorded for Columbia by Paul Whiteman.
Bob Murphy Is Now
An M. C.
Keith-Albee-Orpheum Circuit announce the appoint-
ment of Bob Murphy as the master of ceremonies for
their St. Louis theatre in St. Louis.
Bob Murphy is well known in vaudeville theatres
for his humorous chatter and will plan all future
shows with a grand finale in which every act on
the bill will participate, assisted by Murphy as the
chief merrymaker.
One of the special stunts already arranged as a
business booster was the special appearance of the
"Fourteen Brick-Tops," a company of Titian-haired
entertainers. All girls and women crowned with red
hair were admitted free at a special matinee on
August 29, through the personal invitation of Everett
Hayes, the manager.
LASSITER BROS.
|Bl
^ -^ j^^
The ORIGINAL BOYS From
■L W ^
"OLD IRONSIDES"
^rM.
Cleancut Comedy and
Acrobatic Dancing
' f ^
Now Featured in "ROMAN NIGHTS"
Touring PUBLIX THEATRES
)
Direction — Wm. Morris Agency
Max Turner Harry Lenetska
Chicago New York
Franc & Warren
BENNY and WESTERN
And Their
WHISK-BROOM DANCE
Now Featured in
John Murray
Anderson's
"Milady's Fan"
A PUBLIX UNIT
Direction
Wm. Morris
Agency
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
'fi
I'm
Wallace "Wallie" Downey is back with the Colum-
bia Phonograph Company as one of the recording
engineers (recorders). Wallie's reception back on
Broadway was like the "Lindy show" a few months
ago. Old and young greeted him like the Sultan of
Siam. It goes without saying that Wallie is one of
the best men in the business and has that keen per-
sonality that enslaves us all. Columbia is very for-
tunate in getting him back with their fine organiza-
tion and he surely has the "glad-hand" from all that
are fortunate enough to know him. "Here's mud In
your eye, Wallie!"
* « «
Jerry Vogel, the Sid Herman of the East, who for
the last twenty years has been the buyer of sheet
music for the Plaza, music jobbers at 10 West 20th
St., in New York City, wants you to know the fol-
lowing :
LARRY SPIER.
* * #
"I have always been extremely jealous of Sidney
Berman, who occupies the apposite column every
week, and when Larry Spier asked me to conduct
a column for a week I naturally felt very good about
it. Of course running Sid Herman's column would
be much easier because he talks about songs exclu-
sively and, believe me, it would be much easier for
me to write this if I only had to talk about songs.
However, this does give me a chance to say 'hello'
to a few of my friends and I am going to take
advantage of it.
* * *
"The first one I want to say 'hello' to is George
Lipschultz, who is away out at the Royal Theatre in
San Francisco. I know George just recently opened
there and I am sure he is going toi have his usual
success and that's saying plenty ! George has been
a pal of mine for years — of coui-se George is a pal
of everybody's.
* « *
"My next 'hello' is going to be to Emil Seidel
at Loew's Palace Theatre, Indianapolis. Emil is a
fixture around Indianapolis, so there is no need for
me to wish him success. All I can do is say 'Hello.'
* * «
"If I stop to say 'hello" to everybody in Chicago,
it will take me too long, but I have some real pals
around Chicago, a few of them being Joey Stool,
Rocco Vocco, Gus Kahn, Marvin Lee and his name-
sake Harold Lee, Sid Lorraine, Jack Lavin, Harry
Gourfain, Charlie Straight, and of course last but
not least Sidney Berman. You know Sidney and I
are friendly competitors.
* * *
'By the way, I want to thank all my Chicago
pals for the wonderful way they treated me on my
recent visit there.
* # •
"It is rather hard to talk to all you folks I do
not know except to say that, the same as Sidney
Berman, I sell plenty of copies of the songs that
you fellows 'make.' If you do not make them I
cannot sell them. Right now you must be making
plenty because I am selling lots of music. A lot of
songs are big with me here in the East, but mine
really isn't an Eastern sale only, because I sell quite
a few music dealers in the Middle West.
* * *
"Right now I would say that my best sellers are
Angela Mia (My Angel) Ramona, Girl of My Dreams,
Constantinople, Get Out and Get Under the Moon,
Just Like a Melody From Out of the Sky, Was It a
Dream. Those are my best sellers today, but I hope
that none of my publisher friends 'leap on me'
because I did not put any of their songs in. This is
one time I am really telling the truth.
* ::; *
"I am awfully glad to have a chance to chat with
you folks and I want to tell you this — if there is
any time when you find yourself stuck for a piece
of music, I rather pride myself on the fact that I
am familiar with most everything, having been in
this business for about twenty years — so let me know
any time you are stuck and I feel that I can help
you dig up anything you want.
« * *
"Well, so long everybody, and I want to thank
Larry Spier for giving me this chance to get
acquainted with readers of this column, some whom
I have never met. So long !
"J-E- DOUBLE -R-Y."
ORGAN SOLOS
Eddie Miekel (Chicago Uptown). As guest or-
ganist, presented his original organ club novelty
which consisted of community singing and comedy
capers. The songs included "het Me Call You
Sweetheart," "You're a Real Sweetheart," and a
number of old favorites that were played with
special lyric. This is the second visit of Meikel and
from his reception it is evident that he is liked.
Tom Grierson (Buffalo Shea, N. Y.). As a de-
parture from the regular form of concert solos,
Tom played a sight-seeing tour through the giant
organ as an innovation to prove the most unusual
effects that an organ can give if manned by a ca-
pable player. The stunt proved very popular and
put into use each and every one of the 260 tablets
or "stop" keys used to control the various sounds.
Earl Abel (San Antonio Texas, Tex.). Offered a
very novel solo stunt last week assisted by Don
Galvan, the bandleader, who exchanged places with
him during the offering. Joe Sherr, a former army
officer and now editor of a local paper, conceived the
idea of this stunt during the appearance of "Take-
A-Chance" show. Earl and Don exchanged solos by
playing "Three O'Clock in the Morning," "Wild
Irish Rose," and "Bluebird."
Doc Webb (Chicago Marshall Square). This chap
is now entering his second season at this house in a
weekly selection of popular songs played for com-
munity purpose. In addition to his solos, Webb is
well-liked for his photoplay synchronization.
W. Remington Welch (Chicago Tiffin). In spite
of the fact that many disapprove of community sing-
ing, this fellow has made a success of it for the past
three years and is responsible for a great many
who pay their admission at this theatre. Most of
his organ solos have original ideas that lend good
possibilities for presentation.
Merle Clark (Detroit Grand Riviera, Mich.). One
of the very few organists who features strictly
classical musio as the chief sort of organ enter-
tainment, Clark is very well known to radio audi-
ences and is featured over WJR and WCX every
Thursday evening.
Milton Charles (Chicago Chicago) plays "My Baby
Don't Mean Maybe Now," and then gives impres-
sions on the organ of a number of famous jazz
musicians. He imitates such well-knowns as Boyd
Senter, Red Nichols, Gershwin, and others. Then
he imitates a jazz band. It is a rather novel organ
presentation and receives a good hand.
L. CARLOS
MEIER
Featured
Organist
Ascher's
TERMINAL
Theatre
CHICAGO
*-— -^5*-.-ii*S
^■>uiuirt^'
/OS
S^W.OindolphSt
ing RUMORS
atou-fe
BEST SELLERS
"Ramona" — (Leo Feist).
"Girl of My Dreams" — (Jack Mills).
"Jeanine 1 Dream of Lilac Time" —
(Leo Feist).
"You're a Real Sweetheart" — (Leo
Feist).
"Get Out and Get Under the Moon"
— (Irving Berlin).
"Angela Mia" — (DeSylva-Brown &
Henderson).
"Beloved" — (Irving Berlin).
"That's My Weakness Now" —
(Shapiro-Bernstein).
"Was It a Dream" — (Harms).
"Last Night I Dreamed Yotit Kissed
M.e" — (Leo Feist).
"Out of the Dawn" — (Donaldson-
Douglas & Gumhle).
"Laugh, Clown, Laugh" — (Remick).
"Down Where the Sun Goes Dozvn"
— (Leo Feist).
SOMEDAY SOMEWHERE— (We'll Meet Again)—
(De Sylva Brown & Henderson) — The writers of
Diane, Charmaine and Angela Mia, have written
another theme song that looks like it will class with
their former big hits. This is the theme song of the
new Dolores Del Rio picture, "The Red Dance."
Music by Ei-no Rapee, lyric by Lew Pollack.
>:< y^ *
BLUE SHADOWS — (Robbins Music Corp.)— One
of the big songs from the Earl Carroll Vanities now
playing in the East. Is a very pretty song and is
already selling. Lyric by Raymond Klages, music
by Louis Alter.
IN THE SHADOWS— (E. B. Marks Music Co.)—
This, one of the biggest international hits is being
revived by the publisher with a fox trot arrangement.
This number is on a par with the best numbers of
the modern writers. Lyrics by E. Ray Goetz, music
by Herman Flnck.
Kc :;: *
HERE'S THAT PARTY NOW IN PERSON— (Ager
Yellin & Bornstein) — A song that reminds one of
Ain't She Sweet by the same writers. Is full of i>ep
both as to lyrics and music and will be heard plenty
in Chicago picture hou.ses. Words by Jack Yellen,
music by Milton Ager.
* * *
SOME SWEET SOMEONE— (Harms, Inc.)— One of
the best songs in the new Hammerstein show "Good
Boy." Reports from the East speak well of this
show also it's music. Lyrics by Bert Kalmar, music
by Herbert Stothart and Harry Ruby.
« =:: *
WHY— (Do I Love You Like I Do)— (Spier & Cos-
low Inc.) — A song that is commercial. It'b a fox
trot that will make a good orchestra number with
suitable lyrics. Words and music by Sam Gold,
Billy Hays and Don Rockwell.
* :;; *
REVENGE— (Remick Music Corp.)— The theme
song of the United Artist's picture called "Revenge."
This number is written as a waltz and looks very
good. Lyrics by Lewis and Young. Music by Harry
Akst.
* * *
SLEEP BABY SLEEP— (M. Witmark & Sons)—
A song that will get quite a plug from acts that like
to do a yodel song. We haven't had one in quite
some time and this alone should give this song at-
tention. By Johnny Tucker and Joe Schuster.
HO-HO-HOGAN— (M. Witmark & Sons)— Pub-
lished by a firm that specializes in Irish songs. A
rollicking song of the type that made stars of the
.past famous, such as the late Emma Carus. Has
some very funny choruses. By Johnny Tucker and
Joe Schuster.
OUT OF THE TEMPEST— (Harms, Inc.)— The
theme song of the John Barrymore picture now
playing in Chicago called "The Tempest." Is a
great picture and the song gets quite a plug. By
Edward Grossman and Ted Ward.
j/^ 3.
42
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
¥^
SERVICE TALKS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald, which is a department containing news, in-
formation and gossip on current productions, is the Moving Picture World department, "Through
the Box Office Window."
D
"EXCESS BAGGAGE'
'EAR FOLKS:
I have made my semi-annual discovery that
what this industry (or art) needs most is
more James Cruzes. I last remember making
that discovery in connection with the picturiza-
tion of the now notorious "Beggar on
Horseback," which all really knowing people
remember as one of the screen's finest pictures
— no matter what the box office said about it,
but I seem to recall dimly of having discovered
something like this in connection with every
picture Mr. Cruze has made. (Not counting,
of course, "The Million Dollar Mystery," which
he merely made ornamental, having been that
sort of guy in the years which must be for-
given if not forgotten.)
The present occasion for my discovery thai
the art (or industry) needs more James Cruzes
is the advent of William Haines' first motion
picture. The title of it is, "Excess Baggage."
It is, as I say, Mr. Haines' first picture. The
others were gags. For taking this gagster and
making an actor of him, for sending him
through a performance there was no visible
reason for believing he had in him, Mr. Cruze
deserves a medal as big as that he wears for
having managed all those wagons. They, after
all, were but wagons, and oxen towed them.
Haines was a notorious smart aleck, and towed,
if at all, by less intelligent animals.
The Haines of Mr. Craze's direction is a
quite good actor. He does a small time vaude-
ville juggler and does it well. He does a slide
for life, even falling once, without reminding
you of Lon Chaney's slide and fall. He slaps
his professional and matrimonial partner fre-
quently upon the classic slapping surface with-
out being offensive about it. He socks the
other man in the drawing room, he emotes be-
fore a makeup mirror, and he grins through a
final fadeout without reverting to the juvenUe
senility of his earlier screenings. I shouldn't
be surprised if it develops that Mr. Cruzn
has made an actor of Mr. Haines.
Another of the miracles achieved by Mr.
Cruze, who always achieves two or three to
the picture, is the successful generalization
of a backstage story. Humanly enough, most
directors professionalize their backstages to
such an extent that the mere butcher, baker
and candlestick maker who pay to see them
cannot make head or tail of the goingson — •
although, of course, the takingsoff are quite
clear. No such mistake as this is made by
Cruze, whcm I begin to think knows more
about people and pictures than anyone else
T. O. Service
unless it be Fred Niblo. (The two, I may
say, are the ablest directors in the world.) Mr.
Cruze's actors and actresses are such persons
as the butcher and his fellow tradesmen be-
lieve them to be. For this reason, these
highly profitable patrons sit and suffer with
the juggler out of work and rejoice with him
when he gets a job. Only Cruze — and Niblo —
make their actors that way.
I
"OH KAY"
AM pretty sure that Colleen Moore's, "Lilac
Time" outdrew Colleen Moore's "Oh Kay" on
the day I saw the latter at the Oriental, in
downtown Chicago. I am certain that the
former picture, showing at the Roosevelt with
sound accompaniment, had a longer queue be-
fore the box office. But I should rather see
Miss Moore once in a picture like "Oh Kay"
than ever again in anything so built-up, barri-
caded and altogether tremendous as "Lilac
Time." And this despite the fact that "Oh
Kay" is among her lesser efforts.
I somehow resent (being aged enough to use
words like that without apology) the implica-
tion that is conveyed in the amassing of air-
planes, war sequences and male choruses for a
Colleen Moore picture. These things take up
footage, decreasing the percentage of film al-
lotted to Miss Moore for pure Colleen Moore
performance. While the planes are soaring
over a battle front. Miss Moore is somewhere
off the set; and Miss Moore's place is on the
set during every foot of a Moore picture. Ten
feet of Miss Moore winking an eye, flipping
a flapjack or telling a wisecrack is worth any
ten reels of airplanes, tanks or submarines
ever filmed. She simply doesn't need the back-
ground and, as I have previously stated, it
ought to be saved for some actress who does.
"Oh Kay" is not, incidentally, much of a
picture. I do not know whether it was be-
fore it was worked with — for it shows signs
of something that may have been intended as
repair — but I know it isn't now. It's on<; of
those stage farces, which seldom do come out
very well in the films, and not even Ford
Sterling is very funny in it. For one reason,
he doesn't do even one of his classic pan-
tomimes. And it isn't very tenuous, coherent,
logical or anything like that. It is about as
flat as a picture could be and still contain
Colleen Moore. Containing this star, it is
first rate entertainment.
I might write several more paragraphs about
"Oh Kay" and say no more. And I might have
said as much without mentioning the picture
at all. I shall cease, therefore, with the re-
iteration that Miss Moore should be given more
of these light, pleasant little opportunities to
exhibit the Moore talent sans rein and less
weighty stuff. And no doubt I shall keep right
on saying this until these eyes go dim, for I
have a hunch that "Lilac Time" is going to
make so much money that the fatal "bigger
and better" complex will swoop dowTi upon
even the level-headed little lady we've been
discussing. Heaven forbid.
o.
OVR GANG
'PPOSED, as I am, to the use of picture
house stages for anything at all, and particular-
ly the things for which they usually are used,
I arise at this time to say that I've been too
sweeping in my condemnations of that practice.
For I have seen the members of Hal Roach's
incomparable band of kiddies, on the stage of
the Chicago theatre, and that is the sort of
thing for which these big stages must have
been builded.
I went to see the Gang on the last night
of their stay in town. I had meant to avoid
the place. But the kiddies in the neighbor-
hood had talked of nothing else all week. There
was nothing for it but to go. And to go meant
to stand in line and then march miles upward
to a mere shelf from which the youngsters ap-
peared even smaller than they are, which is
smaller than I thought they were. It meant,
too, sitting among countless dark mammies who
had brought their even more countless black
offspring to see Farina, easily and by long
odds the star of the troupe.
I don't remember the name of the gentleman
who announced them (after admitting, through
the master of ceremonies, that he was a mem-
ber of "that world famous organization, the
Wampas of Hollywood) but he did a great
job of it. Then they took some dumb scenes
and the act closed in a blaze of enthusiasm
from the other side of the foots.
The kids are, of course, good. They are
nicely behaved youngsters, apparently enjoy-
ing themselves, and their teacher is on for
a bow. If all the personal representatives of
the picture business were in key with these
youngsters, as to deportment, management and
general good taste, what a nice thing it would
be to belong to the motion picture industry
in this, that or any other capacity.
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
Y^
THE THEATRE
Incorporated in this department of practical showmanship of Exhibitors Herald are the Moving
Picture World departments, "Selling the picture to the Public" and "Better Business Builders."
Red Letter Edition
of Newspaper Helps
Put Over Joy Week
One of the many ideas put into execution
during M G M's Joy Week was a red letter
edition of the Hominy (Okla.) Journal, with
the following in large capital letters over-
printed on the regular news edition :
"Extra ! Extra ! George K. Arthur and Karl
Dane — those famous 'Detectives' have found
'Baby Mine' at the Petite Theatre. 'The De-
tectives' — Monday — 'Baby Mine' — Thursday.
Don't forget Joy Week all this week with
Metro-Goldwj-n-Mayer features and comedies."
A box in the center of the paper carried a
small cut of Novarro and the information that
tickets would be awarded to those whose
names were mentioned in the paper. On the
back of the paper, overprinted in red, through
a tieup with a tire dealer, were the words,
"Everj' Week Is Joy Week with Goodyear
Tires."
Women Managers
"Tell World'' in
Theatre Campaign
Seven days of teasers, special trailers and
slides, a screen star contest, a newspaper fea-
ture popularity contest, special newspaper edi-
tions, clowns, ice cream, pie and Coca Cola
tieups, balloons, a tieup with Dick Marmon,
race driver — and then Rlrs. Ensloe and Mrs.
Loomis, managers of the Criterion and Woods
theatres, Elreno, Okla., sat back and watched
the crowds enter their theatres after well de-
vised campaigns for M G M's "Telling the
World." They did.
Seattle Brings 'Em In
at Midnight Matinee
Following a custom successfully established
in the larger eastern cities, the Seattle theatre
at Seattle staged a special midnight matinee
of Greta Garbo in "The Mysterious Ladj'."
This also was staged during Fleet Week
and went over in nice shape. Many took in
the late show as their initiation into the new
Seattle house, heretofore having been attend-
ants at dances.
Patrons Estimate
Production Costs
An estimate contest, with contesants vying
to figure out the production costs of M G M's
"The Crowd," was one phase of the campaign
for the picture at the Clarick theatre in Baker,
Ore.
Four Texas Houses Begin New
Season with "Super 7^^ Drive
John J. Friedl, district manager of Publix houses in Texas, announces the
inauguration of a seven weeks' drive in his four Texas houses, the Palace, Dallas;
Worth, Ft. Worth; Texas, San Antonio; and Metropolitan, Houston. The drive
is to be known as the "Super Seven," and will entail the exploitation of seven
big picture attractions, including "Wedding March," "Patriot," "Excess Bag-
gage," "Tempest," "The Fleet's In," "While the City Sleeps," and "Beggars of
Life." All of these pictures are in sound, and will be advertised as such.
In each city, a shock campaign has been the fact that each theatre is enabled, only
devised, with special twenty-fours, threes, through its affiliation with the tremendous or-
ones, cards, newspaper ads, stories, stunts, ganization of Publix, with its vast resources,
trailers, lobby displays, and tie-ups, covering to present seven super attractions in succes-
the entire period of seven weeks. Institu- sion, m addition to Publix stage shows, over-
tional copy is abundant in every piece of ^^^s, organ solos combined Paramount and
paper, ads, display, and other copy, stressing ^ox^ no7eTti?s ' '"'' '^''°°''^' ^""^ ""^"^
The campaign is expected to do much to-
^\^rd further stabilizing box office receipts,
and to start the new fall season off with
a spurt that will last throughout the entire
winter. This plan has all the earmarks of
being a corking good campaign. It should be
much cheaper to advertise the seven pictures;
in a group than individually, and the im-
portance of each picture adds to the importance
of the whole group. Calling the group the
"super seven" gives a good slogan and affords
an opportunity for good publicity stories.
This stil(>walker drew attention to MGM's
"A Certain Young Man" when it ap-
peared at the Lincoln Square theatre in
New York City. Benjamin W. Netvman,
manager, tells in an adjoining column
how it was done.
Did You Ever Try
Stilt -Walker for
Drawing Crowds?
Do ballyhoos pay? You bet, says Benjamin
W. Newman, manager of the Lincoln Square
theatre in New York CitJ^ Then he goes on
to prove it, which is what we're all inter-
ested in.
In an adjoining column is a cut showing
the stilt-walker who corraled many an extra
patron for Newman. The exploitation was
engineered for the showing of "A Certain
Young Man." He gave out 2,500 throwaways
and also plugged for the theatre with a sign
on the back of his coat which called attention
to the show.
The throwaways, by the waj-, were 2^ inches
wide by 14 long, with a full length picture
of the stilt-walker on one side, with the words,
"I'm taking long steps to see Ramon Novarro
in 'A Certain Young Man' at the cool Loew's
Lincoln Square theatre," etc. The wording on
the back of the throwaway started with, "I'm
all up in the air about the stupendous show
at the cool," etc.
Well, Newman says there always was a
crowd around that stilt-hiker, and he pulled
down some real laughs when he would hand
the cards to individuals seated atop the busses
going past.
44
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
Above is a street Ballyhoo used by Fred Putnam for the FN picture, "The Patent Leather
Kid," starring Ricliard Barthelmess. Opposite is a vcindow tieup used on the same picture.
Read the story on this page about Putnam's work.
Novel Advertising Stunts Put
Pep in Business for Putnam
"Eternal vigilance makes a good box office,'" migbt be tbe motto of Fred
Putnam, managing director of tbe Strand tbeatre, Port Artbur, Texas. Wbetber
it is or not, its on tbis principle tbat Fred conducts bis business of making tbe
Strand a big success. Tbere's always sometbing bappening at tbe Strand. Week
in and week out, Putnam puts over some sort of novel advertising or exploita-
tion stunt.
They may not be big stunts, but they
have their effect on the box office. Put-
nam has found that little advertising novel-
ties used consistentlj' pay big dividends.
Things that give his patrons a chuckle now
and then — things that arouse curiosity, and
keep people interested in the Strand. But
we'll let Putnam relate some of the things
he has done lately, all of which carried
their box office wallop:
"The last time a Friday the Thirteenth
rolled around," says Fred, "I put over a
little stunt that increased matinee business
fifty per cent. The stunt can only be used
on a Friday the Thirteenth but it sure will
double business'. I used 2,000 dodger slips
and a tieup with the newspaper which was
gratis. The dodger slip read, 'Friday the
Thirteenth is your luckjr day — See Greta
Garbo in "The Divine Woman" at the Strand
theatre. This card and 25 cents will admit
one between 1 :00 and 3 :00 o'clock.'
"The newspaper tieup was an advertis-
ing stunt worked with the want ad section
of the paper. They gave me free an ad
that read the same as the dodger and tied
Some of the novel advertising stunts used by Fred Putnam, managing director of the Strand
theatre. Port Arthur, Tex. Number 1 is an ad used on a Friday the Thirteenth. Number 2
is an envelope containing sand. Number 3 is a dodger used with the ad on the Friday the
Thirteenth. Number 4 is another envelope. This contained a small candy heart. Number
5 is another envelope used for "Happiness Ahead." Number 6 is a small card tliat ivas con-
tained in the envelope Number 5. All these little novel advertising stunts paid well at the
box office.
up with an ad for the want ad section
which was used in conjunction with my ad.
"I used a little printed slip for the M G M
picture, 'The Cossacks,' and it worked fine.
Printed on the slips were the words, 'The
Cossacks Are Coming.' Five thousand of
these w-ere distributed everywhere in town
— in autos, offices, newspapars and hand to
hand. Two thousand larger slips carrying
the same message were distributed house
to house. This little stunt proved very
effective.
"On 'The Patsy,' the M GM picture star-
ring Marion Davies, tw^o thousand small
envelopes with small candy hearts en-
closed were distributed. Printed on the
outside of the envelopes were the words,
'Would you propose marriage — give your
heart away — to a man in love with an-
other girl — see "The Patsy" — the Leap Year
picture — at the Strand theatre.' This little
stunt was certainly a wow for putting over
a Leap Year picture.
"Another similar stunt was used for
Colleen Moore's picture, 'Happiness Ahead.'
Two thousand small envelopes were again
distributed. Words on the envelope read,
'You don't have to own the world to open
this — just — ' The envelope contained a
small card which read: 'Keep smiling!
There's Happiness Ahead when you see —
Colleen Moore in "Happiness Ahead" at the
Strand theatre. ' This also proved equally
effective.
"One of the best stunts I have pulled
lateh' was on 'The Devil Dancer.' I
bought 100 cheap colored handkerchiefs
from W^oolworths. In the center of each
handkerchief was typewritten the words,
'This handkerchief belongs to Gilda Gray in
"The Devil Dancer," at the Strand theatre.
Show it at the box office and it is good for
one admission !' Only 16 came back so the
balance surely must have gone into the
homes. This proved to be one of the best
advertising stunts I have used in a long
time.
"For 'The Garden of Allah,' I again dis-
tributed 2,000 envelopes. These contained
sand and the envelope was printed with
the words, 'Alagic sand from "The Garden
of Allah." Keep this as a reminder that
"The Garden of Allah" was actually filmed
in Algeria by Director Rex Ingram with
Alice Terry and Ivan Petrovich. Coming
to the Strand theatre — ' This little stunt
helped business a great deal.
"All of these little stunts have helped the
business of the Strand a great deal."
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
45
Here's Good Idea
To Put Over Show
E. H. Wood, manager of
theatre in Mishawaka, Ind.,
recently to every girl in that
12 years old whose first name
The theatre tvas sliowing "My
starring Mary Pickford.
the Tivoli
tvas host
city under
was Mary.
Best Girl,"
Travel Agency Is
Tieup Hunch for
Immigrant Film
A travel agency display was worked out by
Fred M. Van Auken, assistant manager of
the Arcade theatre, West Point Palm Beach,
Fla., to put over Pathe's "A Ship Comes In,"
which has immigrant life as its theme.
On compo board was painted a background
of buildings, together with the Statue of Lib-
erty. Then on another piece of material Van
Auken drew the figures of immigrants. These
were cut out and placed sufficiently far in
front of the buildings to permit placing a col-
ored lamp in the intervening space. The fig-
ures were taken from a standard one-sheet
lithograph. A small white lamp, placed ahead
of the figures, was kept out of sight by a
strip carrying the name of the featured
player. The title letters were cut from compo
and colored crepe paper was glued on the
back. The small electric sign bearing the title
was operated with a button flasher.
Concealed lights illuminated the display,
which was in choice window space. A per-
manent sign read "Get Tickets Here" on one
side of the display, while at the opposite side
was a lettered card reading, "For Outgoing
Ships Consult Travel Bureau." Then, of
course, there were travel booklets and the
like.
Personal Touch in
Ad Copy Effective
R. D. Hutchins, manager of the Fischer
Fond du Lac theatre, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin,
recently did a little different bit of news-
paper advertising on "The Foreign Legion"
which was novel enough to attract a lot of
attention.
He wrote a little bit of copy praising the
picture and this was featured at the top of
the advertisement above his signature. It
was a good idea because it brought a sort of
personal touch to the advertisement that other-
wise would have been missing. It's a good
idea to do this once in a while, as people
like to read a message like that from a man-
ager. Of course you can't do it every week,
because that would spoil the effectiveness, but
it should be possible to work it once a month.
' 'Enemy ' ' Ba llyhoo
Prior to the showing of the M G M pic-
ture "The Enemy," at the Strand theatre,
Massena, N. Y., it was ballyhooed every night
by two lads in an auto, who drove through the
streets of Mas'sena, waving red torches and
shouting at the top of their lungs, " 'The
Enemy' is coming! 'The Enemy' is coming!'"
On either side of the auto were cutouts from
the 3 sheets, lettered with the theatre name
and play date.
An especially constructed electric sign,
spelling out the title, and measuring 17 feet in
length and four feet in height, was placed
over the marquee. This supplement to the
regular house sign attracted a great deal of
attention. It could be seen at a distance
from the theatre.
Coin Wrappers and
Broom Handles Put
Over This Picture
Coin wrappers were obtained from the
First National Bank at Frederick, Okla., by
Edward Kahane, manager of the Gem theatre,
as the basis of an exploitation plan for
M G M's "The Cossacks." Here's how the
plan was worked out :
Broom handles were cut the same length
as a wrapperful of ten dollars in quarter de-
nomination. Inside the wrapper were the
words, "Warning — 'The Cossacks' are coming
to the Gem Theatre for three days — Save your
quarters and see the Cossacks."
A young man carrying a large sack contain-
ing the coin wrappers would drop it when a
crowd had collected. The crowd would help
him pick them up, he'd leave four or five, and
hurry away.
Among the many other forms of exploita-
tion was the placing of a large water color
sign on the postofiice window.
Army Division Paper
Brings Theatre To
15,000 Circulation
"The Second Division Review," published by
the Second Division of the United States
Army, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, with a cir-
culation of 15,000 in San Antonio and adja-
cent territory, is proving to be one of the
best means the Texas theatre at San Antonio
has for reaching the Army.
Lieutenant Joe Sherr, editor of the "Second
Division Review," is a former dramatic critic
and sport writer of the "Wisconsin State Jour-
nal" and other papers in the Middlewest. He
is a firm believer in the fact that good news
relating to the theatre and its activities holds
an unusual interest for the average newspa-
per reader. Contests of different kinds have
been held at various times by the Texas and
the "Second Division Review."
A check on the results obtained by adver-
tising in this paper has proved that the Texas
has its most fruitful medium of reaching the
Army patron.
Restaurant Prints
Program on Menus;
Store Gives Concert
Bryn Griffiths, manager of the Retlaw thea-
tre at Fond du Lac, has formed an excellent
tieup with the Majestic restaurant there in
which the restaurant prints on its menu the
name of the picture playing at the Retlaw.
Griffiths says that the idea has worked out
very well and is bringing in many patrons.
Several other restaurants already have of-
fered to extend the same privilege, and Grif-
fiths is planning on tying up with a number
of them also. This is a type of exploitation
which doesn't cost any money and has ver}'
good pulling power. The restaurants can all
increase the timeliness of their menus by hav-
ing the announcements of the theatre pictures
printed on them.
Another excellent exploitation stunt has been
tried successfully by Griffiths. He has ob-
tained the co-operation of the Zimmerman
Department Store, and the store now gives an
orthophonic concert on the program each
week. This has proved very popular with
the theatre patrons. Patrons like it so well
that they write Griffiths letters asking that
certain numbers be played at the next concert.
The department store also has agreed to take
the back page advertisement of the show
pamphlets which the theatre issues.
>'_ SftMUELZIERLBR. presencs^ ''
GILDED
LOVE
One of Jennifer West's silken love-tales .
the story of a luxury-loving night-lUe but-
terfly, broken on the wheels of destiny.
Ver) modem, very true, intensely in-
triguing!
V^ PICTURES CORPORATION
SAMUEL ZIERLEP^ president
NEW Y O R— K—
46
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
V^
NEW PICTURES
In "New Pictures" the EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE
WORLD presents in concise form infor-
mation on current and forthcoming attrac-
tions.
The facts as presented will serve exhib-
itors in booking and in the preparation of
their advertising campaign.
FOUR WAULS: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer melodrama,
with Joan Crawford, Vera Gordon, Carmel Meyers,
JRobert Emmet O'Connor, Louis Natheaux and
Jack Byron. Directed by William Nigh. Released
August IS. Length
TYPE AND THEME: John Gilbert goes in for
the draynatic rage of the day, the gang tvar story.
As Benny Horwitz, he is leader of tite Gas House
'Gang. His enemy is Roma, head of the Black
Rats. While Benny is sitting in a cafe with his
girl, Frieda, and Monk, Roma enters. He draws
a knife. Benny a gun. Roma falls. Benny is
sent to prison for four years. . . . He comes out
•determined to quit the "racket." He gets a job
Frieda is now engaged to Monk. But at Monk's
party, when the Black Rats raid it, Frieda pushes
Monk off a roof to save Benny. The police want
to know who did it. Frieda says she did. Benny
says he did. The police let it go at that, leaving
Benny and Frieda to go straight to happiness.
LOVE OVER NIGHT: Pathe comedy-drama, with
Rod La Rocque, Jeanette LofE. Richard Tucker.
Tom Kennedy and Mary Carr. Directed by Edward
H. Griffith. Released _ Length 5,733.
TYPE AND THEME: A crook story tvithout
any crookedness, to provide a series of swift
episodes for the neivly found comedian. Rod La
Rocque. As Hill, he is a subway change-maker.
He accidently meets Jeanette, loho has decided to
marry the middle-aged Thorne for his money.
Hill has an idea Jeanette is a crook. Wishing to
follow her, he inadvertently puts some subway
company money in his pocket. A detective pur-
sues. He escapes to Jeanette's home. She helps
him escape in a rowboat. He asks her to marry
him.. She says she is to marry Thorne. But he
abducts her from the wedding. They go to a
hotel. It turns out to be his father's. Everybody
liappy.
MATING CALL, THE: Paramount drama, with
Thomas Meighan, Evelyn Brent. Renee Adoree.
Alan Roscoe, Gardner James, Helen Foster, Luke
Cosgrave and Cyril Chadwick. Directed by James
Cruze. Released _ Len^h
TYPE AND THEME: An uncommon sort of
yarn about a returned soldier. Back from France,
Hatton finds his wife has annulled their marriage
■and tnarried wealthy Lon Henderson. He hopes to
forget in the rebuilding of his run-down farm.
But, Rose, returning from Europe with her hu.s-
band, regrets her marriage to a rake and makes
t "Uwlc (Eon'j \EaHi)* iI)^ "Sbr TSUn Me Xaujbs* io Iflrfr
f' tilfot hrm. doi at riirlr pmrnt Bviif''«*i'"^S forai,...
lol'Sfribf to tfh- fc]loK'itjg....Tir5t....tbat tif UBprfwS-
eattH rpsnjf* of wofJiromaatin). wi«, rttftrttrstWn flsB
rofdwsfeal rffecti m proiiKfi bj "mwiftcnfr itmi ssfrtrM Nt tii*9f tax
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Mkf. reo» in ajffl ira^ hngbtfe tfe* rtirifl 3tii) pottfr nf tbfM mlfltrtl iHrt-
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tat ffiohft of MB- hna^iiurioB cf tmah ^ictutf% rakimi tlwse txnj prcdort-
iraj to a pofititfD prt uaartsHKS m tha iaiiwtT^ Wcvxtb .that thnr
pro&afticB*. arifi' frtna tfcfir po»iHjilft1r# cf fmntia\ Mto to tbfaiTw. effer
•owrt^ij? of wTwrr mD f.vr fnater importiBce to w» avHd'f millioat
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Ani tFbf Dlafl Who £juohs ituoin *apmitt is tlw fwR of fpiiba pirt'
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SufesmM to aw {Srttfb ^ of Hu^tut, in tljo g«r ©m
ffJKFWaid Woo l?fttnbroft asd CKuvDtu H^jfefr
A "diploma" awarded Universal (not for
"The Collegians," as one might guess,
but — ) for "The Man Who Laughs" and
"Uncle Tom's Cabin." The certificate
bears many a well known name, even if
you can't recognize the handwriting.
overtures to Hatton. He spurns her. Londy,
Hatton induces a Russian immigrant girl to inarry
him in exchange for a home. But she turns out
to be an aristocrat. . . . Then a girl oommits suicide
as the result of an affair ivith Henderson. Hatton
discovers the body, a circumstance uyhich permits
Henderson, head of a "secret organization" (for
this is in Florida), to accuse him. While Hatton
is being tried by the self-appointed administrators
of "justice," ivord coines of Henderson's death
and of letters clearing Hatton. He is free now to
return to his tvife.
OH, KAY: First National comedy-drama, with Col-
leen Moore, Lawrence Gray, Alan Hale, Ford Ster-
ling, Claude Gillingwater, Julanne Johnston, Claude
King, Edgar Norton, Percy Williams and FVed
Obeck. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Released
Length
TYPE AND THEME Kay is rescued by a
kindly storm from marriage to Lord Braggot, and
though embarrassments follow, everything turns
out O. K. Young Lady Kay is picked up by a boot-
leg boat when her sloop is swanped in a storm. She
finds herself glad she is going to America, a/way
from Braggot. At New York she escapes from the
boat, hitting a dry agent with an oar and fleeing
into a mansion 2vith Jamsen in pursuit. A hand-
some young! -mam confronts her. He is Jimmy,
who is to ma/rry Constance Appleton next day.
Kay poses as Jimmy's wife, in pieces of Con-
stance's trousseau, to escape Jansen. When Con-
stance and her father come, she poses as the maid.
Meanwhile, Jimmy has become less eager to marry
Constance. The wedding, however, seems inevitable.
But it never ends, for a bootlegger, posing as the
butler, poses as ajdry agent and arrests everybody,
causing Constance to renounce Jimmy. Of course,
they aren't really arrested. So Jimmy wires Kay's
father that she is safe and betrothed in America.
PATRIOT, THE: Paramount drama, with Emil
Jannings, Florence Vidor, Lewis Stone, Vera Vor-
onina, Neil Hamilton and Harry Cording. Directed
by Ernst Lubitseh. Released _ Length
9,819.
TYPE AND THEME: In which a devout patriot
contrives the death of a mad emperor, achieving
also his otvn. Czar Paul, a weak tyra/nt, lives in
fear of assassins. Count Pahlen, prime minister,
is his trusted friend. The count is also the patriot.
He desires the accession to rule of the idealistic
crown prince. And to that end he uses his every
energy, his friends and his sweetheart. The plot
proceeds. It is successful. The mad Czar falls
dead. But Pahlen has pledged his life for the
Czar's life. At the strike of the hour, a bullet
pierces him. He dies in his sweetheart's arms,
saying, "I have been a bad friend and lover — but
I have been a patriot." As though that would win
clemency from the Father!
SCARLET LADY, THE: Columbia drama, with
Lya de Putti, Don Alvarado, Warner Oland, Otto
Matiesen, John Peters, Valentina Zimina and
Jacqueline Gadsden. Directed by Alan Crosland.
Released Length
TYPE AND THEME: She kills the leader of
the revolution and escapes with her princely lover —
and the picture does not tell of their capture and
execution, the inevitable outcome. Attending a
meeting of Zaneriff with his fellow Reds, Lya
flees to the palace of Prince Nicholas. Amused, he
protects her. Fascinated, Lya remains. Then she
has the audacity to insult Nicholas' fiancee.
Nicholas noiv loves Lya and is slow to punish her.
But a servant exposes her as a friend of Zaneriff's.
Nicholas orders her away, and Lya, prophesying
victory for the Reds, returns to Zameriff. Her
prophecy comes true. She is given the Prince's
foriner chamber. Nicholas returns, disguised as a
servamt. She taunts him. Then realizing her love
for him, plots their escape. Zaneriff gives her a
revolver to shoot Nicholas. And then the ending
noted.
This Week's Press Sheet
BELLAMY TRIAL, THE (M G M drama) : Secure photo-
graphs of the prominent citizens in your town and group them
on an attractive lobby display board, with their endorsements
or opinions placed directly underneath. Such an arrangement
may go far toward influencing the decisions of hundreds of
people. These photographic reproductions will also add a
more personal touch when used in connection with endorse-
ments in newspaper copy.
For a "warning card" to place in a prominent place in your
town, the copy should read: "Warning! The entire public of
(Name of Your Town) is requested to attend the most puzzling
murder mystery of the age — 'The Bellamy Trial' — ^now on
view at the (Name of Theatre). Who killed Mimi Bellamy?
See if you can guess the answer before the end of the picture."
When arranging your private advance screening, be sure to
include the police commissioners, chief of police, lieutenants,
sergeants and members of the detective division by special
invitation. Get their opinions on the picture and post it on
a bulletin board in front of your theatre.
For your mailing list the following letter is suggested:
"Dear Patron: Who killed Mimi Bellamy? Detectives ad-
mitted themselves baffled, the prosecuting attorney flayed
every one mercilessly in his wild desire to find the perpetrator,
former sweethearts, husbands and wives were accused — clews
led in all directions. But no one knew who killed Mimi
Bellamy! 'The Bellamy Trial' is the most thrilling and mys-
terious murder picture made to date. You'll sit tensely expect-
ant and absorbed. You'll follow every incident, every detail of
facial expression and every bit of damaging testimony with
breathless interest. You'll forget that you are sitting in a thea-
tre and imagine you are witnessing an actual murder trial. But
never in a thousand years will you guess who killed Mimi
Bellamy! 'The Bellamy Trial' is refreshingly difFerent. It
offers picture patrons a welcome relief from society dramas,
imderworld pictures and the like. See it here at the (Your
Theatre) on (Date) with Leatrice Joy and Betty Bronson."
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
Y^
QUICK REFERENCE PICTURE CHART
Incorporated in this department of Moving Picture World is the Exhibitors Herald department,
"Available Attractions."
The hey to abbreviationt used in denoting the type of pieturet
C — Comedy F — Farce
D-^~Drama M— Melodrama
R— —Romance W^— Western
My Mystery
Where the picture is a comedy-drama, comedy melodrama, etc.,
there is a combination of these abbreviations. Stars denote
reissues.
That dates prior to January 7 published under the "Comment"
column are those of the issues of Moving Picture World in which
the pictures were reported. The January 7 and subsequent dates
are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOV-
ING PICTURE WORLD in which "Service Talks" have been
published on pictures.
The dates prior to January 7 published under the "New Pic-
tures" column are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD
in which "New Pictures" information was printed. The January
7 and subsequent dates are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD in which this in-
formation will be printed.
Length Title and Placers Rel(
New
Picture!
Ticker
Chesterfield
1928
B400 Adorable Cheat. The, LUa Lee-Mclntoah June 1
6450 Below the Deadline Feb. 28
B500 Campus Knights ..._ Aug. 15
6300 Circumstantial Evidence Oct. 30
House of Shame, The June 30
Apr. 15
Dee. IB
1928
June 9
8000
6000 Roaring Forties. The..
6900 South of Panama. _
1927
6831
6843
6432
66 28
5513
6645
67S0
6524
6569
6892
1000
5996
6435
6054
6108
6367
6426
6791
1928
5459
Columbia
Alias the Lone Wolf (D), Lytell-WUsou Aug. 22
Blood Ship, The (IW). Bosworth-Logan Aug. 10
By Whose Hand (MyD), Cortez-GUbert Sept. 15
College Hero. The (CD), Agnew-Garon. Oct. 9
Fashion IVIadness. Windsor-Howes. _ Dec. 8
Isle of Forgotten Women (D), TearIe-Sebastlan_Sept. 27
Lone Wolf Returns (IVI), Lytell-WUson
Opening Night, The (D). Wlndsor-J. Bowera....Nov. 14
Pleasure Before Business (F), Davidson. _
Sally in Our Alley (IH), Mason-Allen Sept. 3
Screen Snapshots „
Siren, The, T. Moore-Hevler Dea 20
Stage Kisses (D), Harlan-Chadwlck. Nov. 2
Stolen Pleasures (CD). Kcvler
1927
Jan. 7 Oct. 1
Deo. 3 July 23
Deo. 31
Jan. 14
Dec. 3
Jan. 14
..July 31
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Comment
TIciMr
1928
6536
6600
A Bit of Heaven (D), Washburn-Lee May 15
Into No Man's Land. Tom Santschl-J. Norman_
Making the Varsity, Rex Lease-Hulette July 15
Manhattan Knights, Barbara Bedford Aug 10
Satan and the Woman (D), Windsor-Keefe Jan. 20
Speed Classic. The, Rex Lease-Mildred Harris._July 25
Stronger Will, The (D), Marmont-Carewe Feb. 20
Women Who Dare (D), Chadwick-Delaney Mar. 30
1928
Feb. 25
Feb. 25
1927
4765
4858
4910
4837
5701
5093
4754
4913
6300
6507
7014
5240
5186
6481
6516
4924
6680
6140
FBO
1927
..May 14
Aug. 28
Jan. 21 Jan. 21
Jan. 7
.....Oct. 21
Sweet Rosie O'Grady (CD), Mason
Tigress, The (M), Holt-Revier
Wandering Girls (CD), Revler-Agnew
Warning, The (IM), Holt-Revler _ Nov. 26
Way of the Strong, The (MD), Alice Day-Lenls
..Oct. 2
..52.72%
Dec. S
.July 21
6637
6928
5925
After the Storm, Hobart-Boswortb
Beware of Blondes (MD), Revler-Matt Moore
Broadway Daddies, Jacqueline LogaiL
Desert Bride, The (MD), Betty Compson Mar. 26
Golf Widows (CD), Reynolds-Ford.
Lady Raffles, Taylor-Drew _ Jan. 25
Matinee Idol, The (MD), Love-Walker Mar. 14
Modern Mothers (CD), Helene C^adwlck. June 9
Name the Woman (D), Stewart-Gordon
1928
July 21
Say It With Sables (D), Bushman-Chadwlck.
So This Is Love, Mason-Collier Feb. 6
Sporting Age, The, Bennett-Herbert Mar. 2
That Certain Thing, Dana-Graves Jan. 1
Virgin Lips (D), Olive Borden Aug. 18
Wife's Relations, The, Mason-Glass Jan. 13
Woman's Way, A, Baitcr-Llvingston Feb. 18
6440
6464
6047
6350
5472
1927
2000 Angelas, The (D)..
2000 Real Charleston, Lesson Novelty
Wooden Shoes, International
Apr. 14
„May 26
Feb. 25
Apr. 7
—June 19
. Aug. 4
Feb. 25
Feb. 11
Mar. 31
Cranfield & Clarke, Inc.
...May 15
Apr. 24
™May 8
1927
6260 Husbands or Lovers, Jannlngs...
Emblem Films
1927
1927
1927
6980
6805
Excellent
1927
4941
8004
48S6
6388
4892
1928
5872
4893
5583
4869
6267
6375
6320
5511
5984
6063
4770
4804
4758
6148
Aflame in the Sky (M), Luden-Lynn. — Dec. 18
Bandit's Son, The (W), Bob Steele Nov. 20
Boy Rider, The (W), Buzz Barton — _....Oct. 23
Breed of Courage (D), Ranger Aug. 7
Cherokee Kid, The (W), Tyler-Lynn -Oct. 30
Clancy's Kosher Wedding (CD), Geo. Sidney. — Sept. 17
Coward, Tlie (D), Warner Baxter _ Aug. 21
Desert Pirate (W), Tom Tyler —.Dec. 25
Flying U Ranch. The (W), Tom Tyler — -...Sept. 4
Gingham Girl, The (C), Lois Wilson _ — Oct. 2
Great Mail Robbery, The (M), Von Eltz-Nelson..Aug. 15
Harvester, The (D), Orville Caldwell Nov. 23
Hook and Ladder No. 9 (D), Bd Hearne Nov. 13
Jake the Plumber (C), Jesse De Vorska Oct. 16
Judgment of the Hills (D), Darro-VallL. Nov. 6
Little Mickey Grogan (D), Prankie Darro Dec. 27
MolavB Kid, The (W), Bob Steele Sept. 25
Moon of Israel (D), Maria Corda -
Not for Publication (M), Ralph Ince. Aug. 31
Racing Romeo (D), Red Grange
Ranger of the North (D), Ranger. Oct. 9
Shanghaied (M), Ralph Ince Oct. 19
Slingshot Kid, The (M), Buzz Barton -Dec 4
South Sea Love (D), Patsy Miller Deo. 10
Swift Shadow, The (D), Ranger Deo. 11
Dec. 10
Dec. 10
Dec. 3 Oct. 8
..Sept. 10 _..
..Sept. 10 _.
Dec. 24
Nov. 26 July 30
-.July 2
Nov. 19 Nov. 19
64.50%
Dec. 3
Dec. 3
Nov. 12
Deo. 17
Nov. 26
Aug. 20
Alex the Great (M), Steeta Gallagher. May 13
Bantam Cowboy (W), Buzz Barton _ — Aug. 12
Beyond London's Lights (M), Lee Shumway — Mar. 18
Breed of the Sunsets (W), Bob Steele Apr. 1
....Mar. 4
....Jan. 13
.-May 11
Jan. 15
.-..Apr. 7
— June 10
Jan. 1
—Feb. 5
-..July 1
Chicago After Midnight (M), Ince-Mendez....
Coney Island (D), Lois Wilson
Crooks Can't Win (D), Ralpk Lewis
Dead Man's Curve (D), Fairbanks, Jr —
Devil's Trademark, The (D), Belle Bennett-
Dog Justice (M), Ranger
Driftin' Sands (W), Bob Steele-
Fangs of the Wild (D), Ranger.
Fightin' Redhead (W), Buzz Barton
Freckles (D), Stratton-Fox, Jr Mar. 21
Headin' for Danger (MD), Bob Steele _
Her Summer Hero (CD), Blane-Trevor — Feb. 12
Hit of the Show, The (C), Joe Brown- Olmstead
Law of Fear (D), Ranger Apr. 8
Legionnaires in Paris (C), Cooke-Guard. Jan. 31
Little Buckaroo, The (W), Buzz Barton. Mar. 11
Littis Yellow House, The (D), Orville CaldwelL-May 28
Man in the Rough (W). Bob Steele — ilay 20
Perfect Crime, The, Clive Brook-Irene Rich. _
Phantom of the Range (W), Tom Tyler Apr. 22
Pinto Kid, The (W), Buzz Barton 4.pr. 29
Red Riders of Canada (M), P. R. Miller .Apr. 15
Riding Renegade (W), Bob Steele Feb. 19
Sally of the Scandals (M), Bessie Love -July 15
Skinner's Big Idea (M), Bryant Washburn Apr. 24
Stocks and Blondes (CD), Logan-Gallagher
Texas Tornado, The (W), Tom Tyler. Feb. 26
Trail of Courage, The (W), Bob Steele July 8
Wallflowers (D), Trevor-Scott _ Feb. 16
When the Law Rides (W), Tom Tyler June 24
Wizard of the Saddle (W), Buzz Barton Jan. 22
Back to Liberty (D), Walsh-HalL.
Nov. 18
Bowery Cinderella, A (D), O'MaUey-Hulette. May 1
5912 Broadway Drifter (D), Walsh-Hall Nov. 1
6645 Broadway Madness (D), De Is Motte-Keith
6792 His Rise to Fame (D), Walsb-Slutw
Kick-olT, The (D), Hyanu-Amann
JJov. 26
-Apr. 14
-Feb. 15
-Mar. 17
7393 Nest, The (D), Frederick-Herbert.
6337 Striving for Fortune (D). Walsh -Boberti-
5750 Winning Oar, The (D), Walsh-BalL.
5867 Your Wife and Mine (F), Haver-Holmei —
-Aug. 1
.Jan. 15
-June 1
-Sept. 1
Mar. 3
Mar. 17
6144
4769
5771
4801
6424
4785
4781
4884
6419
4729
6059
5967
4793
4760
6329
4898
4805
1927
5400
5960
5600
5900
5800
5700
5750
6700
6700
5700
5600
5700
1928
6500 Fagasa. Raymond Wells
Free Lips (MD), June Mailow
6300 Masked Angel, Betty Compson
6200 Souls Aflame, Baymond Wells.
..Dea 10
Deo. 3
Dec. 3
Dec. 10
Nov. 12
Dec. 10
Feb. 11
May 5
Feb. 11
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Dec. 17
Feb. 11
Deo. 17
Mar. 3
June 16
Dec 17
Jan. 21
Feb. 11
Feb. 4
-June 19
Jan. 21
-July 21
Feb. 11
Dec. 10
Jan. 14
June 2
Feb. 11
..-Sept. 1
Jan. 21
Feb. 4
Jan. 21
-Aug. 6
...July »
July 23
Aug. 30
1928
Feb. 18
Mar. 17
Apr. 28
Apr. 14
.July 14
Feb. 4
First Division
1927
Comrades, Costello-Hughes - -
Death Valley (W), Carroll Nye
Eager Lips, Garon. - - -.
Finnegan's Ball (C), Mack Swain
Ladies at Ease (CD), Garon-Short
Ladybird, Compson
Naughty, Garon _
Polly of the Movies, Short-Robard5— .
Ragtime (D), De La Motte
Jan. 1
Sept. 1
Oct. 1
Sept. 15
Nov. 15
Aug. 1
Nov. 1
Oct. 15
Sept. 1
Return of Boston Blackie (D), Glenn-Palmer— Aug. 1
Say It with Diamonds, Betty Compson Aug. 15
Temptations cf a Shop Girl, Compson Nov. 1
Apr. 1
..Aug. 20
Jan. 7
-..Oot 15
Jan. 7
Nov. 26
Sept. 3
192»
Mar. 1
-.. Mar. IS
-July 14
Apr. 7
Apr. 21
48
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
1927
«300
S333
M33
§!S3
(766
173d
77S4
8386
65SS
63 0£
52S2
T13S
628S
611 S
(190
6521
6400
6730
5718
5550
6265
rsss
6521
554S
6434
«5J0
6040
6431
6734
11414
5982
6897
1400
6210
6477
5606
6800
6648
7179
6000
7400
7419
6774
6668
7833
6336
6324
6409
1928
7404
6500
5800
6744
6374
mo
6172
6344
7100
74S3
First National
AM Aboard (C), Hines-Murphy..__
American Beauty (CD), Dove-Hughes-.
An Affair of the Follies (D), Dove-Hughes
Brealcfast at Sunrise (CD), C. Talmadge —
Broadway Nights (D). WUson-Hardy
Camille CD), N. Talmadge-Eoland
Convoy CD), Sherman-SIackaill
Crystal Cup, The CD), Mackaill-MuUial]
Dance Magic CD), Lyon-Starke __ —
Drop Kick. The (D). Barthelmess-Eevier..
Framed (D), SiUs-Kingston
Gorilla, The (My). Murray Kelsey
Gun Gospel (W), Maynard-Faire
Her Wild Oat CO), Moore -Kent.
High Hat (CD), Lyon-Brian.
Home Made CO, Hlnes-Daw _ _ _
Lady in Ermine, The (D), C. Grifflth-Bushman.
Life of Riley. The CC), Murray-Sidney
Lonesome Ladies CCD), Nllsson-Stone
Long Pants CC). Langdon-Bonner
Lost at the Front CC). Murray-Sidney.
Love Mart, The CD), Dcve-Hcland
Lunatic at Large, The CC), Errol-Mackalll
Man Crazy CCD), Mackaill-Mulliall.
Masked Women, The CD). Nilsson-Blinn-H'nsen_
Naughty But Nice CC). Moore-Reed.
Notorious Lady, The CD), Bedford-Stone
No Place to Go CC), Hughes-Astor
Orchids and Ermine, Moore-Mulhall
Patent Leather Kid, The CD), Barflmess-O'Day.
Perfect Sap. The CCD). Lyon-Starke
Poor Nut. The CC). Murray-Mulhall
Prince of Head Waiters CD), Stone-Tashman.....
Red Raiders. The CW), Maynard-Drew
Rose of the Golden West CD), Astor-Koland....
Sea Tiger, The CD), Sills- Astor....__ —
See You in Jail (C). MulhaU-Day
Smile. Brother, Smile (C), MulhaU-MackailL...
Stolen Bride, The (D), Hughes-Dove
Sunset Derby (D), A^tor-Collier
Tender Hour, The CD), Dove-Lyon
Texas Steer, A CCD). Eogers-Fazenda —
Three Hours (D). GrifBth-Bowers...
Mays
Oct. 9
..Feb. 13
■Oct. 23
•May 15
•Sept. 4
-Apr. 24
-Oct. 16
•June 12
•Sept. 25
-June 19
-Nov. 13
•Nov. 6
•Dec 25
-Mar. 13
•Nov. 20
-Jan. 9
■Sept. 18
-July 3
-Apr. 10
•May 29
•Dec. 18
•Jan^ 2
••Nov. 27
-Jan. 23
June 26
•Mar. 27
• Oct. 30
•Mar. 6
Nov. 19
Nov. 12
Nov. 12
Dec. 17
Dec. 3
1927
...Apr. 2
Oct. 22
_.JIar. 5 47.20%
Nov. 26 _
...May 21
...May 2
...May 21 56.10%
Oct. 29 __
...Aug. 13
... 48.00%
...July 9 __
...Jan. 7 65.0(J"%
61.54%
...Mar. 19
Oct. 29 l'"Il!
.. Jan. 8
.Oct. 1 ~
...Sept. 24
...Apr. 9
...June 25 53.58%
~Feb. 5 I~!!IZ"""
Nov. 26
Nov. 12
Jan. 16
Aug. 7
Three's a Crowd (C), Langdon-McConnell
Twinkletoes. Moore-Harlan _
Valley of the Giants (D), Sills-Ken.von.
Venus of Venice (CD), Talmadge-Moreno
White Pants Willie (C), Hines-Hyams
Barker, The (D), Sm», MackalU-
•July 17
•Sept. 4
•Oct. 2
• Feb^ 27
•Apr. 17
-Sept. 11
•Aug. 14
.June 5
-May 1
-Dec. 4
• Apr. 3
.Aug. 28
-Dec. 11
■Mar. 20
July 24
7541
6967
7694
6692
8967
7700
6625
7129
(
il
5485
8188
5827
6212
6874
6087
7187
1927
4665
1777
4556
6425
6078
6333
C810
4300
6381
S154
6524
4645
6617
6515
4983
4851
6840
ei«2
669>
6507
8SS«
E41S
E440
6600
I7S4
7677
6SW
MM
E8Tt
un
H84
Big Noise. The (CD), Conklln-White— _ Mar.
Burning Daylight (M), Sills-Kenyon- —Feb.
Butter and Egg Man. The, Jack MulhaU
Canyon of Adventure (W), Maynard _ Apr.
Chaser, The (C). Langdon Feb.
Chinatown Charlie (C), Hines-Lorraine Apr.
Code of the Scarlet (W), Ken Maynard
Goodbye Kiss, The, Johnny Burke-Sally Ellen
Flying Romeos (C), Murray-Sidney Feb.
French Dressing (CD), Warner-Wilson Jan.
Garden of Eden, The CD), Corinne Griffith
Happiness Ahead (D), Colleen-Moore-Lowe June
Hawk's Nest. The (M), Milton SiUs May
Heart to Heart, Lloyd Hughes-Todd
Heart Trouble CCD), Harry Langdon —
Harold Teen (CD), Lake-Brian _ Apr.
Heart of a Follies Girl (D), Dove-Kent-
Shennan Mar.
Helen of Troy (CD), Stone-Corda-Cortez Jan.
Ladies Night (CD), Mackaiil-MulhaU Apr.
Lady Be Good CCD), MulhaU-MackaiU..... —-May
Lilac Time CD), Moore-Cooper Apr.
Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come (0), Bar-
thelmess-O'Day „ „ - -..Apr.
Mad Hour CD), O'Neil-Kent-Sherraan Mar.
Noose. The CD), Barthelmess-Joyce Jan. ;
Out of the Ruins, liicliard Barthelmess
Sailors' Wives (CD), Hughes-Astor Jan.
Shepherd of the Hills CD), Francis-O'Day. Jan. :
Strange Case of Captain Ramper, The (D),
Three Ring Marriage CM), Hughes-Astor. May
Wagon Show. The (W). Maynard Mar.
Wheel of Chance, The (D). Eichard Barthelmess
Whip. The (D), Forbes-Mackaill
Whip Woman. The (D), Taylor-Moreno. Feb.
Wright Idea, The (CD), Jobinny Hines
Yellow Lily, The (D), Dove-Brooks May
.July 14
Mar. 10
...Feb. 12
...July 16
May 14
.-Dec. 10
...Apr. 9
...Aug. 20
.-Jan. 22
.-Sept. 10
...July 23
...Oct. 15
Oct. 8
..May 14
...Apr. 23
...Sept. 17
...Sept 3
...July 2
.-May 28
Apr. 16
—Jan. 1
-Dec. 3
Jan. 7
...Aug. 6
-Apr. 16
67-90?
70.47?
61.88%
47.00%
38.90%
47.72%
68.86%
45.80%
1928
Apr. 7
-July 28
Feb. 11
Feb. 18
_June 23
..Julj7
Apr. 7
Deo. 10
Deo. 17
-Aug. 4
May 26
May 26
-July 7
_July21
Apr. 21
Mar. 10
Dec. 24
June 16
Aug. 1
Feb. 4
Sept. 1
Apr. 7
Mar. 17
Dea 10
Dec 24
Dec 8
.July 21
Apr. 28
Mar. 17
...June 2
.-July 14
Feb. 11
-July?
Apr. 28
Aug. 18
May 12
-Sept. 1
Jan. 21
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Ticker
10726
5467
5446
5009
5792
5412
4943
4675
4299
6293
11109
6783
5629
6531
1928
4612
Dec 31
Dec 17
4987
5708
6566
5109
5038
5882
6430
4618
6188
4399
5782
6679
5071
Seventh Heaven, The (R), FarreU-Gaynor Oct. 30
♦Shame (M), John Gilbert Nov. 27
Silk Legs (CD), Madge Bellamy. Dec 18
Silver Valley (W), Tem Mii Oct. 2
Singed (D), Baxter-Sweet Aug. 21
Slaves of Beauty (D), Herbert-TeU June 5
St. Elmo (M). John Gilbert. Oct. 9
Tumbling River (W), Tom Mli-Dawn Aug. 21
Truxton King, Gilbert Oct. 30
Two Girls Wanted (CD), Janet Gaynor Sept. 11
What Price Glory (CD), McLaglen-Lowe. Aug. 28
Whispering Sage (W), Jones Mar. 20
Wizard, The (MyD), Lowe-Hyams. Dec. 11 Jan. 14
Wolf Fangs (D), Thunder (Dog) Nov. 27
Branded Sombrero, The (W), Buck Jones Jan. 8 Jan. 21
Chicken a la King (CD), Carrol-Francis Lee Jime 23
Daredevil's Reward (W), Tom Mil Jan. 15 Feb. 11
Don't Marry, Moran-Hamilton June 3 Jime 9
Dressed to Kill, Lowe-Astor Mar. 18 Apr. 14
Escape, The (D), BusseU-Valli Apr. 29 Apr. 14
Gateway of the Moon, The (D), Del Elo —Jan. 1 Jan. 28
Girl in Every Port, A (CD), Victor MoLaglen Jan. 29
Girl. Shy Cowboy, The, Eei BeU O'Leary...- Sept. 1
Hangman's House, McLaglen-Collyer. May 13
Hello Cheyenne, Tom Mix. May 13
-May 28
Ti.a»
Oct 29
-July 18
-June 11
-Aug. 27
-Apr. 9
Dec 3
71.00%
60.61%
1928
June 30
Apr. 14
Jan. 21
-May 26
5380
5629
5355
5937
5030
4921
5480
Honor Bound, O'Brien-Taylor _ May 13
Horseman of the Plains (W), Tom Mix. Mar. 11
Love Hungry (CD), Moran-Gray..- Apr. 15
News Parade, Stuart-Phillips _
No Other Woman (D), Dolores Del Rio June 10
None But the Brave (C), Morton-Phipps.— Aug. 18
Painted Post (W), Tom Mix
Play Girl, The, Madge Bellamy Apr. 22
Road House (MD), Barrymore-Burke
.Jan. 15
-Feb. 5
.Mar. 4
Sharp Shooters (CD), O'Brlen-Moran
Soft Living (CD), BeUamy-Brown
Square Crooks, Brown-Dwan
Street Angel, Gaynor
Sunrise (D), George O'Brien
Thief In the Dark, A, Meeker-HlU-Beebe May 20
Why Sailors Go Wrong, Phipps-McNamara. Mar. 25
Wild West Romance (W), Eex King June 10
Woman Wise (C), RusseU-CoUyer. Jan. 8
May 12
Apr. 21
Apr. 7
Mar. 10
-May 26
June 23
-jiiiyi'
-Aug. 4
Feb. 4
Feb. 18
May 19
June 23
Feb. 18
May 19
-JulyT
_July21
Jime 2
Aug. 18
Jan. 28
1927
Gotham
1927
6500
1928
526S
69S7
5S0O
6000
5950
6700
6200
6750
5900'
1929
Catch as Catch Can, William Fairbariks -...Sept.
Down Grade, The, William Fairbanks Oct.
Silent Avenger, The, "Thimder" Delaney Nov. 1
Sinews of Steel, Alberta Vaughn. Oct. 1
When Danger Calls, William Fairbanks Nov.
Woman Who Didn't Care, The. Tashman-Eankin Dec. 1
Hero's of the Night, Marion Nixon-Landis June 1
Bare Knees, Virginia Lee Corbln -—June
Blondes by Choice, Claire Windsor- March
Cheer Leader, The, Graves-Olmstead April
Chorus Kid. The, Faire-Washbum. June
Girl from Rio. The, Myers-Pidgeon Feb.
Head of the Family, The, Virginia Lee Corbin_Oct.
Hellship Bronson. Berry-Efiid May
Midnight Life, Francis X. Bushman. Aug.
Rose of Kildare, The, Chadwick-O'Malley Jan.
San Francisco Nights, Percy Marmont .May
Satin Woman. The, Mrs. Wallace Eeid — Jan.
Through the Breakers, Livingston-Herbert Sept.
Turn Back the Hours, Myrna Ley July
United States Smith, Gribbon I^ee July
1928
63.25%
78.23%
July21
Fox
1927
Arizona Wildcat, The (W), Tom Mli_
Blackiack (W). Buck Jones
Blood Will Tell (W), Buck Jones
Broncho Twister (W), Mix
•Cameo Kirby (D), John Gilbert
Chain Lightning (W), Buck Jones
Circus Ace, The, Mix.
Cotne to My House (CD), Olive Borden
Cradle Snatchers (FC), Fazenda
East Side, West Side (D), O'Brien-VaUl
Gay Retreat, The (C), Cohen-McNamara
Good as Gold (W), Jones
Heart of Salome (My), Rubens
High School Hero (C), Phlpps-Stuart
Hills of Peril (W), Jones
•Honor First (D), John Gilbert-
Is Zat So? (CD), O'Brien-Lowe
Joy Girl, The (CD), Olive Borden. _
Ladles Must Dress (CD), Virginia Valll
Love Makes 'Em Wild (D), Harron
Leves of Carmen (D), McLaglen-Del Elo-
Madam Wants No Children, Cordia
Marriage (D), Valll
Monkey Talks (D), Lemer
Muilc Master (D), A B. Francis
One Increasing Purpose (D), Lowe
Ootlawt of Red River (W), inx-_-__
P»M to Love (D), O'Brien- VallJ
Pahnas (CD), Borden-Oray
Publicity Madness (CD), Moran-Lowe-
Rlcta But Honest (CD), Beebe
Nov. 20
Sept. 25
Nov. 13
_.Mar. 13
Aug. 28
Aug. 14
June 26
Dec. 26
June 5
Oct. 9
Sept. 25
June 12
May 8
Oct. 16
May 1
.....Sept 18
May 15
Sept. 18
Nov. 20
Mar. 6
Sept. 4
Apr. 3
Feb. 20
—Feb. 20
Jan. 23
Jan. 2
63.00%
— _ Jime 4
Jan. 7 Oct 22
May 9
Oct 29
May 14
40.70%
-May 21
-Sept 24
Dec. 17
-Aug. 14
..Oct. 23
-Oct. 2
-May 22
Oct. 8
Apr. 16
-Feb. 26
JUar. 5
Jan. 22
Jan. 15
Apr. 23
Aug. 6
48.60%
61.58%
Father and Son, Noah Berry-Noah Berry. Jr
Knee High, Virginia Lee Corbin Oct.
Modern Sappho, A, Betty Bronson Sept.
River Woman, The, Logan-L. Barrymore. Aug.
Times Square, Alice Day-Lubin. Sept
1929
Krelbar Productions
1927
6199 Broadway After Midnight, Betz
1927 Metro -Goldwyn-Mayer
6667 Adam and Evil (CD), Cody-Pringle. Aug. 27
4709 Adventurer, The (W), Tim McCoy Jan
6312 After Midnight (D), Shearer-Gray
8730 Annie Laurie (D), Lillian Glsh
6439 Becky (CD), Sally O'NeiL
1927
Oct. 29
-Anc. 13
1927
6100%
12000 Ben Hur (M), Ramon Novarro
12550 Big Parade, The (M), GUbert-Adoree
5821 Bugle Call. The (D), Jackie Coogan
Buttons (CD), Jackie Coogan.
6050
6126
7395
6408
4658
6909
8156
Aug. 20
Sept. 17
Nov. 12
Oct 8
Sept 10
Aug. 6
Deo. 24
Not. 26
..Au(. 27
..May 31
50.31%
46.63%
-Not. 12
Callahans and Murphys (CD), Dressler-Moran Jime 18
Captain Salvation (M), Hanson May 14
Fair Co-ed, The (CD), Marion Davles Oct 15
Foreign Devils (W), Tim McCoy Sept. 3
Frisco Sally Levy (C), O'Neil Apr. 2
Garden of Allah, The (D), Terry-PetrovltclL Not. 6
In Old Kentucky (D), H. CosteUo Oct 29
London After Midnight (D), Lon Chaney Dec 3
Lovelorn, The, Sally O'Neil Dec. 17
Lovers CD), Novarro-Terry Apr. 9
Man, Woman and Sin (D), John Gilbert Nov. 19
Mockery (M), Lon Chaney Aug. 13
Mr. Wu (M), Lon C3ianey Mar. 26
Quality Street, Davies-Nagel Dec 31
Red Mill (C), Davies Jan. 29
Dec 31
Nov. 10
-July 16
-July 2
Get 29
Road to Romance, The (D), Novarro-Day-
Rookies (C), Dane-Arthur.
Slide, Kelly, Slide (CD), Haines-O'Nea...
Spoilers of the West (W), McCoy-Daw.
-.-Sept 24
..Apr. 30
-Juno 4
5687
6110
5291
6280
5957
7603
7627
6337
6581
6640
7865
6280
6705
6273
5252
6160
7899
6657
5517
1928
6998 Actress, The, Norma Shearer-Forbes Apr. 28
6805 Across to Singapore (MD), Novarro- Crawford Apr. 7
5010 Baby Mine, Arthur-Dane Jan. 21
Beyond the Sierras (W), Tun McCoy. Aug. 25
6838 Big CKy, The, Chaney-Compson-Day Feb. 18
6344 Bringing Up Father, FarreV-»»oran-01mst«i(l Mar. IT
Nov. 19
Not. 26
Dec 17
Dec 31
Dec. 3
-Apr. 23
Sept. 10
Dec 3
Dec 17
96.S&%
80.20%
Sl.57%
63.00%
48.09%
68.70%
61.60%
60.00%
60.80%
69.50%
-May 2
Dec. 17
..Sept 19
-June 4
Jan. 7
39.20%
89.50%
66.83%
Not. 19
Feb. 19
64.91%
Mar. 12
Deo. 10
Spring Fever CC), William Haines Oct 22
Tea for Three (C), Cody-Pringle _ Dec 10
Thirteenth Hour, The (D), Lionel Barrymore Nov. 26
Tillie the Toiler (0), Davles May 21
Twelve Miles Out (M), GUbert July 9
Understanding Heart (D), Crawford- Feb, 26
Unknown, The (M), Chaney June 4
Nov. 12
Dec 24
Deo. 3
-Mays
-Apr. 2
-Dec 24
Dec 10
Not. 12
Dec 3
-June 11
-July 30
-May 14
-June 13
Apr. 28
Jan. 28
-Majr26
M.39%
67.31%
43.61%
88.16%
66.16%
68.93%
68 78%
1928
Feb. 11
Feb. 26
Mar. 31
Apr. T
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
49
Ltngth Title and Playert
New
Picture!
Tidier
5483
6861
1548
54S2
«057
7300
(340
4887
1743
r045
•402
S760
IH95
7365
Certain Young Man, A, NoT»rro-D«y_
Circus Rool(ie> (CD), Dane-Arthur
_Ma7 19 June 2 June 23
..Mar. 31
7289
6«14
7745
6476
9566
6901
8134
5011
4435
Cos3aci(s, Tlie, Adoree-GUbert-Torrence May 12
Crowd, The, Boardman-Murray-Koacb Mar. 3
Detectives, Dane-Arthur _ - _ June 9
Diamond Handcuffs, Boardman-Nage] May 6
Divine Woman, Garbo-Hanson- Sherman Jan. 14
Enemy, The, Gish-Dane-Fcrbei Feb. 18
Excess Baggage (D), William Hkine*
Forbidden Hours (D), Novarro-Adoree June 16
Four Walls (MD), Gilbert-Crawford. _ Aug IS
Her Cardboard Lover, Marion Davies Aug. 18
Latest from Paris, The, Shearer-Forbes Feb. 4
Laugh, Clown, Laugh, Chaney-Murphy-Hisle. Apr. 14
Mademoiselle from Armentieres, EsteUe Brody-
Joiin Stuart June 2
Sliirts. Syd Chaplin.
Law of the Range, McCoy-Crawford Jan. 21
Love. Garbo-Gilbert Jan. 2
Mysterious Lady, The, Greta Garbo-Nagel _,
Patsy, The. Davies-CaldweU-Gray
Riders of the Dark
Rose Marie, Crawford-vMurray
Smart Set, Halne«-Day-Holt-Bo«worth-
Mar. 10
June 9
_July 7
Apr. 28
Jan. 21
Mar. 10
.June 23
Mar. 17
-June 2
Jan. 21
May 5
July 28
..Mar. le
Apr. 28
—.Feb. 11
—Feb. 25
Student Prince, The (R), Novarro-Shearer Jan. 30
Under the Blacl( Eagle, Forbes-Dog Flaab Mar, 24
Warming Up. Richard Dix _ _ _...
West Point (CD), Haines-Crawford. Jan. 7
White Shadowi of the South Sea (MD), Mont«
Blue
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
May 26
_)une 2
Feb. 4
Jan. 7
-Sept. 1
Apr. 7
Mays
Feb. 18
Mar. 10
Feb. 25
Mar. 10
May 12
Tnn 14
Apr 14
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
Mar. 3
. Sept. 1
Wickedness Preferred (CD), Cody-Pringle..
Wyoming, McCoy-Sebastian
-...Jan. 28
_.Mar. 24
1927
6199
6951
9879
6697
«78
»175
((MO
•536
1662
(408
»«47
(287
(296
1399
(376
•017
•889
•415
»091
•862
•452
(656
7656
6439
7080
6940
6052
6007
5617
8039
7180
(258
6877
5798
4551
6599
6187
6680
6306
6247
6962
(443
6614
S368
6634
•209
6170
6515
6015
6179
6838
5524
4934
6200
6124
6006
(497
4926
6319
7643
(486
•869
6935
6866
S960
Paramount
Afraid to Love (C), Vldor.
Barbed Wire (D), Neerl-Brook.
Beau Geste (M), Colman-N. Beery
Blind Alleys (M). Melchan.
Blonde or Brunette? (C), Menjou
Cabaret (CD), Gilda Gray
Casey at the Bat (C), W. Beery.
Chang (D), Special cast
Children of Divorce (D), Bow -
City Gone Wild (M), Meighan-Mlllner..
•Covered Wagon, The (M), Kerrigan-WUson...-
Evenipg Clothes (C), Menjou
Fashions for Women (CD). Ralston.
Fireman Save My Child (C), Beery-Hatton
Gay Defender, The (CD), Richard Dix...- —
Gentleman of Paris, A (CD), Menjou-G'Hara-.
Get Your Man (CD), Clara Bow
Honeymoon Hate (CD), Florence Vldor
Hotel Imperial (D), Negri
Hula (CD), Bow-Brook
It (C), Clara Bow
Jesse James (D), Fred Thomson
•Kid Brother (C), Lloyd
Kiss in a Taxi (C), Daniels
Knockout Reilly (CD), Dix.
Last Waltz, The (D), Special cast
Let It Rain (C), MacLean...-
Love's Greatest Mistake (CD), Brent-
Man Power (D), Dix
Metropolis (D), Special cast
Mme. Pompadour (D), Moreno-D. Glib
Nevada (W), Cooper-Todd
New York (M), Cortez-WUeon
Now We're in the Air (C), Beery-Hatton.
One Woman to Another (CD), Vidor-ShotwelL.
Open Range (W), Lane-(niandler.
Paradise for Two (C), Dix-Bronson
Potters (CD), W. C. Fields
Ritzy (CD), Bronson -
Rolled Stockings (CD), Hall-Brook-
Rough House Rosie (C), Bow-
-Apr. 9
.-Sept. 19
.-Aug. 1
-Mar. 12
...Jan. 24
-.Mar. 26
.-Mar. 5
-Sept. 3
4pr. 2
-Nov. 12
—Aug. 6
.-Mar. 19
...Mar. 26
.-Aug. 1
—Deo. 10
.Oct. 15
Dec. 10
-.Dec. 3
-.Feb. 26
-Atlg. 27
.-Feb. 19
-Oct 22
-.Oct. 4
-.Feb. 26
-Apr. 16
...Not. 26
-.Jan. 3
-.Feb. IJ
-July 9
..Aug. 13
-.Aug. 13
-Sept. 10
-Feb. 5
-Oct. 22
Sept. 34
..Not. 6
-Jan. 17
..Jan. 31
..Apr. 9
-June 18
Rsugh Riders, The (D), Astor-Farrell
Rubber Heels (FC), Ed. Wynn
Running Wild (C), Fields-Brian
Senorita (F), Daniels
Serenade (D), Menjou-Wray-
Serviee for Ladies (0), Menjou-Carrer.
Shanghai Bound (D), Dlx-Brian
She's a Sheik (C), Bebe Daniels
Shootin' Irons (W), Luden-Blane-
Soft Cushions (C), MacLean-Carol
Special Delivery (C), Eddie Cantor.
Spotlight, The (CD), EalJton-Hamilton.
Stark Love (D), Special cast
Swim, Girl, Swim (CM), Daniels-Hall
Tell It to Sweeney (C), Conklin-Bancroft.
Ten Modern Commandments (CD), Ralston—
Time to Love (FC), Raymond Grifflth.-
Two Flaming Youths (C), Fields-Conilin.
Underworld (M), Bancroft-Brent
Way of All Flesh, The (D), Jannlngs-Bennett..
Wedding Bills (F), Raymond Griffith
Were's All Gamblers (D), Meighan-Mlllner.
Whirlwind of Youth (D), Lois Moran
Wings (M), Charles Rogers
Woman on Trial (D), Pola Negri
-May 14
-Oct. 1
..June 11
.-Aug. 20
-Aug. 30
■ Deo. 24
■ Aug. 6
■ Oct. 16
• Not. 13
■ Oct. 8
■ Aug. 27
■ Apr. 16
■ Not. 19
SepL 17
•Sept. 17
-Sept 24
-July 2
-Jone 18
-Deo. 17
Oct. 29
-Oct 1
-May 7
-Sept 3
-Apr. 30
•-Oct 29
Mad (M), UFA-
1928
6897 Adventure
6536 Beau Sabreur (M), Cooper-Brent
Beggars of Life (MD), Wallace Beery-Brooks-
Arlen
.Mar. 31
.Jan. 7
6930
6665
7866
6364
6889
(402
(852
6871
(363
Big Killing (CD), Beery-Hatton May 19
Doomsday, Vldor-Cooper Feb. 18
Drag Net, The (MD), Bancroft-Brent-Powell
Easy Come, Easy Go, Richard Dix. Apr. 21
Feel My Pulse, Daniels-Arien. Feb. 25
First Kiss, The (D), Wray-Cooper
Fifty-Fifty Girl, The, Danlels-HaU May 12
Fools for Luck (CD), Fields-Conklin May 7
Forgotten Faces (MD), Brook, Brian
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (C), Taylor-White—Jan. 28
Half a Bride (D), Balston-Ctooper June 16
Hot News, Bebe Daniels
His Tiger Lady, Menjou-Brent June 9
Just Married (CD), Hall-Taylor-Ford. Aug. 18
Jan. 21
-July 7
Feb. 11
Apr. 14
67.41%
.Apr. 23
.Aug. 3
-Mar. 5
-Jan. 15
-May 9
-Apr. 16
-May 2
-May 2
-Dec. 10
1927
57.21%
62.04%
50.84%
41.30%
60.30%
51.86%
68.00%
-Apr. 9
..Apr. 9
-Dec. 10
-Nov. 12
-Oct. 8
49.60%
62.63%
Jan. 7
Dec 31
67.83%
Not. 28
Deo. 17
-Jan. 8
-Sept. 10
-Feb. 12
-Oct 22
-.Tan. 29
-Apr. 2
-Apr. 23
-Not. 19
-Mar. 12
-Feb. 26
-Aug. 6
-Mar. 13
Aug. 6
65.85%
66.77%
65.91%
38.61%
65.61%
56.59%
61.18%
-Feb. 6
-Dec 17
-Sept. 24
71.00%
70.25%
48.36%
-Sept 3
-July 2
-July 23
-Dec. 24
-Jtme 11
-Aug. 20
Oct 1
Jan. 14
Jan. 7
-July 7
62.83%
59.78%
57.46%
47.36%
45.90%
1928
Jan. 21
-May 26
May 19
Feb. 25
-Aug. 4
Mar. 31
Apr. 7
-Aug. 4
Dec 10
June 16
Mar. 10
Sept. 1
Mar. 19
Mar. 19
Aug. 4
Feb. 18
-June 9
Mar. 31
June 16
._ Sept. 1
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Tiekw
8793
(234
7415
6837
5741
7910
6600
5582
6118
7646
6631
Kit Carson (MD), Frtd Thomson-
Ladies of the Mob, Clara Bow-
Last Command, The (D), Bmll Janninga
June 30
Jan. 21
Mar. 10
Jan. 14
7194
7616
4720
7960
5951
6218
6763
7060
5733
5991
5834
6509
5435
Legion of the Condemned, Wray-Uooper-
Love and Learn, Ralston-Chandler,
Loves of an Actress (D), Pola Negri
Night of Mystery (D), Menjou. — -..Apr. 7
Old Ironsides (D), Beery-Bancroft -...Mar. 17
Partners in Crime (C), Beery-Hatton Mar. 3
Peaks of Destiny _ - -Jan. 28
Pioneer Scout The (W), Fred Thomson. - Jan. 21
Racket. The (D), Thomas Meighan — June 30
Red Hair (CD), Bow-Chandler.— _ Mar. 10
Sawdust Paradise. The, Esther Ralston. Aug. 25
Secret Hour, The (D), Negri-Hersholt Feb. 4
Showdown, The, Bancroft Feb. 25
Something Always Happens, Ralston-Hamilton... Mar. 24
Speedy (C), Harold Lloyd - Apr. 7
Sporting Goods, Dix-Olmstead -..- Feb. 11
Street of Sin (D), Jannings-Wray.— May 26
Sunset Legion (W), Fred Thomson. Apr. 21
Three Sinners (D), Negri-Baxter Apr. 14
Tillie's Punctured Romance, Fields-Conklin. Feb. 18
Under the Tonto Rim, Arlen-Brian - Feb. 4
Vanishing Pioneer, The (W), Jack Holt..- -..June 23
Varsity (D), Rogers-Brian
Water Hole, The (W), Jack Holt -
Warming Up, Richard Dix. - Aug. 11
Wife Savers (C), Beery-Hatton. Jan. 7
Woman From Moscow, The (D), Negri-Kerry
-Jtme 23
May 26
Jan. 28
Jan. 21
-June 23
Feb. 18
Feb. 25
Jan. 7
Dec 10
July T
Feb. 4
-Apr. 21
Feb. 26
Mar. 3
June 9
Mar. 17
Feb. 18
Mar. 3
Apr. 28
Feb. 18
Apr. 28
Apr. 21
Feb. 18
May 26
Apr. 7
May 5
_— .
Feb. 25
..._ _.
— Feb. 18
1927
5596
6555
4335
5326
4875
4512
5100
7500
4933
5478
8586
6599
8002
6403
6568
6859
3303
5867
4968
7913
4750
5990
6035
4620
6788
4890
4076
4864
5324
13500
4131
4752
6472
4576
5750
5736
6421
6903
4575
4692
4497
6000
4828
5844
4542
4375
6303
5880
4562
4546
4338
5397
5670
5921
6198
4485
6610
6447
7820
1928
3996
5755
4805
5927
6589
4833
5408
4550
7996
4526
4480
5398
7056
4155
6650
5888
4600
5659
5954
5494
5626
6902
7040
5423
Pathe
Almost Human (CD), Reynolds Dec. 26
Angel of Broadway. The (D), Leatrice Joy Oct. 3
Avenging Fangs (M) - .lune 5
Border Blackbirds (WD), Maloney...- - Aug. 28
Born to Battle (W), Bill Cody - Sept 11
Code of the Cow Country (W), Roosevelt lune 19
Combat (D), Walsh - -..Oct. 23
Country Doctor, The (D), Schildkraut _ Aug. 22
Desert of the Lost, The (W), Wally Wales. Dec 18
Devil's Twin, The (W), Leo Maloney - Deo. 11
Discord (D), Dagover-Ekman _ -.-Nov, 20
Dress Parade (D), Boyd Not. 11
Fighting Eagle, The (M), La Rocque-Haver Aug. 29
Flying Luck (C), Monty Banks Dee. 4
Forbidden Woman. The (M), Jetta Goudal Nov. 7
Getting Gertie's Garter (F), Prerost - —
Girl from Everywhere (C), Pollard -Dec 11
Girl in the Pullman, The (C), Prevost —Oct 31
Gold from Weepah (W), BUI Cody Nov. 20
Golden Clown, The (D), Gosta-Eltman Deo. 18
•Grandma's Boy (C), Harold Lloyd Deo. U
Harp in Hock, A (D), Schildkraut-Coghlan. Oct 10
Heart Thief (D), Schildkraut-De Puttl ■ —
Hidden Aces (M), Hutchison. Aug. 7
His Dog (D), Schildkraut July 21
His Foreign Wife (D), MacDonald-Murphy.- Not. 27
Hoof Marks (W), Jack Donovan Nov. IS
Interferin' Gent, The (W), Buffalo Bill. Jr Aug. 21
Jim, the Conqueror (W), Boyd-Faire
King of Kings (D), All Star - -
Land of the Lawless, The (W), Jack Padjan. Deo. 26
Little Firebrand (C), Thornton - Julys
Main Event, The (D), Reynolds Not. 21
Meddlin' Stranger (W), Wales June 12
My Friend from India (F), Pangbom-Fair. Deo. 19
Night Bride (FC), Prevost - -
Nobody's Widow (FC), Joy-Bsy-Hayer.
No Man's Law (W), Rex - — May 1
Obligin' Buckaroo, The (W), Buffalo BiU, Jr.— Oct. 16
Pals In Peril (W), Buffalo BUI, Jr June 26
Phantom Buster, The (W), Rooseyelt -AuB- 14
Pieces of China (Travel) _ Aug. 7
Pirates of the Sky (M), Hutchison - May 22
Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary (C), Robson.
Ride 'Era High (W), Buddy Roosevelt Oct 9
Roarin' Broncs, Buffalo BUI, Jr Nov. 27
Rubber Tires (C), Ford-Love...- _
Rush Hour, The (C), Prerost Dec 13
Skeedaddle Gold (W), Wales - July 31
Soda-Water Cowboy, The (W), WaUy Wales Sept 25
Trunk Mystery (M), Hutchison. Jime 12
Turkish Delight, Schildkraut-Faye Not. 11
Two-Gun of Tumbleweed (W), Leo Maloney July 17
Vanity ( M ) , Joy _ —
White Gold (D), Goudal-
-June 19
Dec. 24
Not. 19
1927
Nov. 6
-June 4
-Sept 10
-June 17
-Oct. 15
Jan. 14
73.70%
Dsn. 10 ... .,
Not. 19
Nnv. 6 . , ,.
.. Sopt. 17
Nov. 12
Not. 5
Not. 19
..Feb. 19
..Not. 5
Not. 5
60.40%
Not. 12
Not. 6
-May 21
..Sept. 3
-July 24
Jan. 14
Not. 19
Dee. 24
-Aug. 27
-Jan. 1
-Mar. IS
-Julys
Not. S
-June 13
-May 9
..Jul 16
-May 2
-OtJt 8
-June 26
-Aug. 30
a.(0%
White Pebbles (WD), Wally Wales. Aug. 7
Wise Wife, The (C), Hayer — Oct. 24
Wreck of the Hesperus, The (M), Bradford Oct. 31
Yankee Clipper (M), Boyd
Alice Through a Looking Glass Feb. 12
Apache Raider, The, Leo Maloney Feb. 12
Ballyhoo Buster (W), Buffalo BiU, Jr Jan. 8
Blonde for a Night, Prevost Feb. 27
Blue Danube, Leatrice Joy Mar. 12
Boss of Rustlers Roost, The, Don Coleman Jan. 23
Bronc' Stomper, The, Don Coleman Feb. 26
Bullet Mark, The, Jaci Donovan Mar. 25
Chicago (M), Phyllis HaTer Mar. 5
Cowboy Cavalier (W), Buddy Booseyelt Jan. 29
Crashing Through, Jack Padjan Feb. 6
May 12
Mar. 3
Feb. 18
May 12
Mar. 17
May 19
Dec 24
Feb. 4
Desperate Courage (W), Wales —
Hold 'Em Yale, Rod La BocQue.
Laddie Be Good (W), BiU Cody
Leopard Lady, The (M), Logan
Let 'Er Go, Gallagher! (M), Junior Ck)ghla
Marlie, the Killer, Klondike
Midnight Madness, Logan
Night Flyer, The, Wm. Boyd-
On to Reno (D), PreTOst-Landla.
Perfect Gentleman, A (C), Monty Bankt-
Red Mark, The (D), Olasi, Quartoar
Ship Comes In, A, Rudolph Sohlldkraut-
Skyecraper, Boyd-
-Jan. 15
-May 15
...Jan. 1
-.Jan. 23
-Jan. 16
.-Mar. 4
-May 28 Mar. 17
-.Feb. 5
-Jan. 3
—Jan. 16
May 19 May 26
Jan. 28
Jan. 28
Jan. 21
Stand and Deliver, Bod La BooQm-
Tenth Avenue, HaTer-Taroool
-June 4
-Ape. 9
-Feb. 20
-July 14
Jane 1(
May 13
-July 14
-Jmn*3
m
50
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
Lenith Title and Player»
Released
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
1927
6035
6089
5076
5S16
E960
5970
6502
4200
1928
Rayart
1927
Walliinfl Back (M), Sue CajoL.
Cruise of the Helion (D), All star
Heroes in Blue (M), Bowers-Rand —Nov.
Law and the Man. The (D). Santsclii-Eockwell..Dec
Light in the Window, A (D), Walthal
On the Stroke of Twelve (M), D. Torrence Nov.
Silent Hero (M), Bonaparte
_Ms7 20 Jan. 28
-Sept. 24
6673
6076
4533
5976
5853
4797
5262
4548
560S
4571
5906
4627
5490
6260
Wanderer of the West, A (W), Tex Maynard — Dec
Branded Man, The (D), Chas. Delaney-MarloweMay
Casey Jones (CO), Price-Lewis Jan.
Danger Patrol, The (0), Kussell-Fair Jan.
Devil's Tower, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt June
Divine Sinner. The (0), Vera Eeynolds-Hllllard- July
Gypsy of the North (D), Gordon-Hale Apr.
Heart of Broadway, The (D), Garon-Agnew_. Mar.
Lightning Shot. The (W), Buddy Roosevelt May
Man from Headquarters. The (D), ComeUiu
Keefe-E. Roberts Aug.
Midnight Adventure, A (0), Landls-E. Murphy.May
Mystery Valley (W), Buddy Roosevelt July
My Home Town (0). Brockwell-Glass Jan.
Painted Trail. The (W). Buddy Roosevelt. Mar.
Phantom of the Turf. The (0). Costello-Lease_Feb.
Sisters of Eve (0). Mae Busch Sept.
Sweet Sixteen (0), Helen Foster-Olstead — Aug.
Trail Riders (W), Buddy Roosevelt April
Wild Born (W), Tex Maynard...- Mar.
You Can't Beat the Law, Lee Keefe _ Jan.
-Aug. 29
1928
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
1927 Universal
5751 Back to Gad's Country (D), Adoree-Frazier— Sept. 4
5777 Beware of Widows (FO), La Plante. June 19
4427 Border Cavalier, The (W), Humes-Pierce Sept. 18
7190 Cat and Canary, The (My), La Plante Sept. H
5623 Cheating Cheaters (C), Compson-Harlan Oct. 9
5503 Galloping Fury (W), Hoot Gibson Nov. 20
6929 Held by the Law (M), Lewis Apr. 10
5711 Hero for the Night, A, Tryon-Miller Dec. 18
6958 Irresistible Lover, The (CD). Kerry-Uoran Dea 4
7713 Les Miserables (M), Qabrio-Toulont Oct. 30
Not. 12
11000 Les Miserables (M), (Long Version) —
Sterling
May 28
1927
5563 Closed Gates (M), Harron-Novak...
5400 Outcast Souls (0), Lewis-Bonner Dec. 15 Nov. 12
5500 Pretty Clothes (0), J. Ralston- Walker. Oct. 16 Dec. 31
Stranded (0), Mason - Aug. 15 JaiL 7 Sept. 10
1928
1927
5862
6135
6159
5918
6170
5416
6045
4393
6218
4251
7173
5598
4136
5192
6459
4167
1928
4259
6869
Lone Eagle, The, Kent-Keane-
Man's Past, A (D), Veidt-Kent
Men of Daring (W), Hoxie
On Your Toes (C), Denny-Worth —
Out All Night (C), Denny-Niion —
Painted Ponies (W), Hoot Gibson —
Painting the Town (FC), Tryon
Oct. 30
— Sept. 18
Dec 25
— June 5
-...Nov. 27
Sept. 4
-...Sept. 25
— Aug. 7
Nov. 6
— Nov. 6
1927
Aug. 6 6L00%
.Mays 44.10%
l^y 14
87.06%
.Apr. 2 43.57%
Nov. 26
Nov. 19
Aug. 27
Sept 2T
.Apr. 9
Marry the Girl (CD)
1927
5754 Backstage (CD), Bedford...-
6669 Beauty Shoppe (CD), Busch.
College Days (CD), M. Day_
Enchanted Island (0)
Ti£fanv-Stahl
1928
1927
7300
4887
6482
6233
4752
5800
6049
6235
5629
6100
5182
5276
&448
6614
1928
July 9
July 16
Nov. 6
June 25
Oct. 9
..Sept. 15 —
Sebastian-M. Love.-Xiec. 1
Fools of Fashion (CD), Busch
Girl from Gay Paree, The (F), Sherman.,
Haunted Ship, The (M),
Josselyn's Wife (D), Frederick. _ —Nov. 27
Lightning (W), J. Ralston...- - Sept. 1
Night Life (CD), Day-Harron..._ Nov. 1
Once and Forever (0), Patsy Ruth Miller. -..Oct. 15
Sin Cargo (D). Mason. - - Dec 11
Snowbound (FC), Blythe - - — - — July 30
Streets of Shanghai (RD), Starke-Harlan — Deo. 15 Mar. 10
Tired Business Man (C) —
Wild Geese (D). Belle Bennett Nov. 15
Dec 24 Dec. 10
Women's Wares (D), Brent-Lytell
. Oct. 1
6209
5297
6553
5102
6735
5652
6361
Applause (D), SaUy O'Neill - Sept. SO
Bachelor's Paradise (R), Sally O'Neil Mar. 15
Big Top, The (CD), SaUy O'Neill Oct. 30
Cavalier, The (D), Talmadge-Bedford Sept.
Clothes Make the Woman (R). Southem-
Pldgeon - May 1
Devil's Apple Tree, The (D), Dorothy Sebastlan..Sept. 20
Devil's Skipper, The, Bennett _ Feb. 1
George Washington Cohen (CD), Jessel-Palmer.-Aug.20
Geraldine Lai-rd (0), Belle Bennett JJov. 10
Ghetto, The (CD), Jessel-Gwen Lee Aug. 1
Grain of Oust. The (0), Cortez-Windsor July 10
Green Grass Widows (CD), Walter Hagen June 10
House o( Scandal (0), Sebastlan-O'Malley Apr. 1
Ladies of the Night Club (CD), Cortez-Moran— .May 15
Lingerie (CD), White-McGregor. July 1
Nameless Men. Moreno - - Feb. 15
Naughty Duchess, The (D), H. B. Warner Aug. 10
Power of Silence, The (D), Belle Bennett Aug. 20
Prowlers of the Sea (D), Cortez-Myers— Tune 20
Queen of Burlesque, The (CO), Belle Bennett— Sept. 10
Scarlet Dove, The (0), Margaret Livingston Apr. 15
Stormy Waters (0), Southern -McGregor. .Tune 1
Squads Right (CD), Gribbon-Stone Nov.
Their Hour (D), Sebastlan-Harron Mar. 1
Traoedy of Youth. MUler-CoUler Tan. IS
Twelve Pound Look, The (D), Eve Southern Oct. 20
Three Keys to a Door (MO), Rlcardo Cortez. Oct. 10
Tollers, The, Fairbanks, Jr.-Ralston Aug.
Woman Against the World, A -Jan. 1
1928
4076
6171
4345
4232
7481
6279
4173
6081
4426
Mar. 31
1927
6000
7500
7311
United Artists
College (C), Kealon-Comwall-
General, The (C). Eeaton
Loves of Sonya (D), SnansoiL.
..Sept. 10
• Sept. 24
8550 Magio Flame, The (M), Colman-Banky..
0120 Resurrection (M), La RocQue
9000 Sorrell and Son (D), Wamer-Nllsson Nov.
7456 Topsy and Eva (C), Duncan Sisters _.,
8250 Two Arabian Knights (CD), Boyd-Wolhelm
8000 Winning of Barbara Worth (D), Banky-Colman
1928
6400 CIrcat, The (C), ClurUe Chaplin.
7000 — Devil Dancer, Ths, Gllda Bray
9358 Douglas Fairbanks u the Gaucho (M)-
9100 Dove, The (M), Norma Talmadge.
-Sept. 17
-Feb. 12
-Mar. 19
..5ept. 24
...Apr. 16
-Nov. 19
-Aug. 13
-Oct. 29
-Dec. 4
-Mar. 3
1927
45.90%
73.65%
1928
8350 Drums of Love (D), Maiy Phllbln...
7800 Garden of Eden, The (D), C. OrilBth-Ray~
Two Lovers. BanJcy-Colman
7650 Remona (D), Del Bio
MOO Sadie Thompson (0), Gloria Swanson..
8te«nbott BUI, Jr., Biut«r Keaton
...June 1
.-Jan. 7
-.Mar. 31
. Feb. 4
-Aug.
-Feb. 1
-Jan. 7
.Apr. 28
-Nov. 26
-Jan. 7
-July 21
Tem«eet (M), John BarrTmore-
-Aug. 11 Sept. 1
-June 16
-.May 26
-JtUy7
5645
4094
6598
5064
4095
6813
6832
4120
6689
4253
4200
4472
5382
5424
6172
5109
5389
8249
6179
6073
4353
6274
5495
4348
9151
5254
1927
5803
6330
6281
5897
6408
5003
6767
6284
5978
6302
5613
6271
5200
6230
5397
5569
6352
6310
6485
7961
6357
5492
6295
5685
6124
6218
6412
7647
5813
Sky High Saunders, Al Wilson
Small Bachelor, The (C), Beranger-Kent —
Straight Shootin' (W), Wells _ _ Oct. 16
Taxi! Taxil (FC), Horton. Apr. 24
Thirteenth Juror, The (D), Bushman-Nilsson...Nov. 13
Three Miles Up, Al Wilson. Sept. 4
Wild Beauty (CO), Rex...——— Nov. 27
Wrong Mr. Wright, The (F), Hersholt Feb. 27
Wolf's Trail, Dynamite, the dog. Oct. 2
Air Patrol, The (W), Al WUson. Jan. 1
Alias the Deacon (CD), Hersholt-Marlowe Jan. 22
Anybody Here Seen Kelly, Tom Moore-Bessie
Love - - - ■*"'
Arizona Cyclone (W), Humes — .Jlay 6
Buck Privates, de Puttl June 3
Call of the Heart, The (W), Dynamite Jan. 29
Clean-Up Man, The (W), Wells. Feb. 12
Cohens and Kellys in Paris (C), Sidney. Jan. 15
Count of Ten, The, Bay-Ralston-GIeason June 6
Fearless Rider, The (W), Fred Humes Jan. 15
Finders Keepers (CD), Laura La Plante Feb. 6
Four Footed Rangers, The (W), Dynamite Mar. 25
Flyin' Cowboy, The (W), Hoot Gibson. —Aug. 18
Good Morning Judge Apr. 29
Greased Lightning (W) July 29
Grip of the Yukon, The. AU star Aug. 30
Home James, LaPlante-Delaney...-
Hot Heels, Glen Tryon May 13
Feb. 4
Dec. 3
.Oct. 1
July 23
June 25 62.31%
Dec 3
-Feb. 19
45 18%
Dec. 24
..Mar. 5
1928
._Sept. 1
June 16
Mar. 10
June 25
Feb. 4
..Apr. SI
June 30
Jan. 28
Anr. 21
Apr. 28
Hound of Silver Creek, The (W), Dynamite.- May 20
Lonesome (CD), Tryon-Kent —
Love Me and the World Is Mine, Kerry-Phllbin. Feb. 25
Jazz Mad, Hersholt-Nixon-Lewis June 3
Made-to-Order Hero (W), Wells. June 3
Michigan Kid, The, Nagel-Adoree-. — - -
Midnight Rose, de Putti-Harlan Feb. 26
Phantom Flyer, The (W), Wilson. Feb. 26
Put 'Em Up (W), Humes Mar. 11
Quick Triggers (W), Humes Jtily 15
Rawhide Kid (W), Hoot Gibson. Jan. 29
Apr. 28
-Sept. 1
May 26
June 23
.July 21
Feb. 31
May 19
Aug. 4
..Sept. 1
Mar. 17
Mar. 17
Riding for Fame, Hoot Gibson —
Shield of Honor, The, All star.-.
Society Cowboy, A, Hoot Gibson
Stop That Man, AU star
Surrender, Pliilbin-Mosjuktne...
...Aug. 19
...Feb. 19
-July 8
-Mar. 11
..Mar. 4
Jan. 28
Feb. 26
Thanks for the Buggy Ride, La Plante-Tryon... Apr. 1
That's My Daddy (C), Denny-Kent Feb. 5
Thunder Riders, The, Wells Apr. 8
13 Washington Square, All star. Apr. 8
Trick of Hearts, A, Hoot Sibson Mar. 18
Won in the Clouds, (W), Wilson. Apr. 22
We Americans, All sUr ■ — May 16
Jan. 14
Apr. 28
Mar. 17
Wild West Show, Hoot Gibson-
-May 20
Warner Brothers
May 5
Apr. 21
...Dec. 3
Black Diamond Express (M), Blue.-.
Brass Knuckles (D), Blue-Bronson
Bush Leaguer, The (CD), Monte Blue. Aug. 20
Dearest (D), Rich
Desired Woman, The (M), Irene Rich Aug. 27
Dog of the Regiment, A (M), Rln-Xin-Tin Oct. 29
First Auto, The. Oldfleld-MlUer Sept. 18
Gay Old Bird (FC), Fazenda.
Girl from Chicago, The (M), Nagel-Loy Nov. 5
Good Time Charley (D), Oland-H. CosteUo Nov. 12
Ham and Eggs at the Front (C), Wllson-a
ConkUn - — ~ Dec 24
Hills of Kentucky (M), Rin-Tin-Tin
Husbands for Rent, AU star
If I Were Single, McAvoy-Nagel
Irish Hearts (CD), McAvoy
-July 23
1927
50.20%
-June 18
-July 9
-Mar. 12
Dec. 31
Dec. 31
Nov. 26
— Dec. 31
— Dec 17
Sept. 17
Jaws of Steel (D). Rin-Tin-Tin
Matinee Ladies (C), McAvoy.
Mill Bid, A (M), D. CosteUo
Missing Link, The (C), Syd Chaplin- Aug. 7
Old San Francisco (M), D. Costello-Oland Sept. 4
One Round Hogan (M), Monte Blue Sept. 17
Reno Divorce, A (D), May AcAvoy - —Oct. 22
Sailor Izzy Murphy (F), Gteorge Jessell- —Oct. 8
Sailor's Sweetheart, A (C), Fazenda-C. Cook-^epL 24
Silver Slave, The (0), Rich-Ferris Nov. 9
Simple Sis (M). Fazenda. - - -
-Feb. 26
-Apr. 28
-June 11
-Oct. 1
-Apr. 23
-Jtme 4
-May 14
-June 26
-Oct. 8
-Oct. 29
-Dec. 10
-Oct. 15
68.94%
-Jime 11
Slightly Used, McAvoy-NageL
Third Degree (M), D. CosteUo _
Tracked by the Police (M), Rin-Tln-Tln...-
..Sept. 3
1928
6052
5380
-Feb. 25
-Jan. 14
5164
7077
5331
6185
4777
4820
6531
Across the Altantic, Blue-Murphy
Beware of Meuried Men, Irene Rich
City of Sin, The, Loy-MilJan-Wong
Domestic Trouble (CD), Cook-Fazenda.
Jazz Singer, The, Al Jolson
Lion and the Mouse, The, L. Barrymore
Little Snob, The, May McAvoy - Feb. 11
Powder My Back (C), Rlcli-Ferrls. Mar. 10
Race for Life, Rln-Tln-Tln Jan. 28
-Jan. 8
.May 21
-Feb. 18
1928
Feb. 11
..Mar. 24
-Feb. 4
..-Apr. 14
Rlnty of the Desert, Bln-Tln-'HiL-
Tenderloln, Dolorei CosteUo
..Apr. 21
Feb. 18
May 19
-May 19
..Apr. 28
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
CLASSIFIED
Advertising
Ten cents per word, payable in advance. Minimum charge,
$1.00. Copy and checks should be addressed Classified Ad
Dept. Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, 407 So.
Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
The Recognized National C 1 assiiied Advertising Medium
Position Wanted
THEATRE ORGANIST— Experienced on all makes,
has a large library, will go anywhere. Address Box
289, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago. 111.
Attention, Theatre Managers! Are you looking for
an organist, male or female? If you are, why not let
Exhibitors Herald- World find just the kind you want?
Address George Schmidt, Exhibitors Herald-World,
407 S. Dearborn St.. Chicago, 111.
ORGANISTS thoroughly trained and experienced in
theatre work. Men and women now ready for good
positions. Write salary and other data. Address
Chicago Musical College, 61 E. Van Buren, Chicago.
ORGANIST — Experts thoroughly trained in show-
manship available at all times for first-class positions.
Men and women. No service charge. Write full in-
formation concerning salary, organ, hours, etc. Ad-
dress Vermond Knauss School of Theatre Organ
Playing, 210 N. 7th St., AUentown, Pa.
THEATRE MANAGER— Available. IS years' ex-
perience, pictures, vaudeville, roadshows. Married,
yes. Reference, yes. Address Box 303, Exhibitors
Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
ORGANIST — Eight years' experience cuing pic-
tures, slides, library, union, at liberty September
fifteenth. Go anywhere. Address Box 304, Exhibitors
Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
ORGANIST — Modern, experienced all makes, sizes,
good library. Perfect picture cuing, solos, etc. 24,
single, union. At liberty September 10, 1928. Ad-
dress Ray Sawyer, KiMo, Albuquerque, N. M.
THEATRE MANAGER— Have had fifteen years'
experience. A-1 reference. Married. Address Box
305, Exhibitors Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St.,
Chicago, 111.
Theatre Wanted
We are interested in acquiring theatres of 900 seats
or over in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and
Ohio. Will buy or lease for long term. Address
Box 283, Exhibitors Herald- World, 407 S. Dearborn
St.. Chicago. 111.
WANTED — Theatre in Minnesota or Wisconsin
seven day town; three to six thousand population.
Give full details in first letter. No agents. Address
Box 306, Exhibitors Herald- World, 407 S. Dearborn
St., Chicago, 111.
EXPERIENCED SHOWMAN desires to rent a
theatre fully equipped for pictures. Iowa, Nebraska,
or Missouri. Address Box 307, Exhibitors Herald-
World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
Manager Wanted
WANTED AT ONCE— Experienced man for as-
sistant manager and exploitation work. Prefer one
who will also operate to make position more profitable.
Town of 10,000, seven days, two matinees. House to
reopen Sept. 6th. Write or wire, Rivoli theatre. Defi-
ance, Ohio.
Theatre for Sale
THEATRE FOR SALE OR LEASE— Complete
new equipment for stage attractions and pictures.
Splendid condition. 1150 seats. Factory city. Great
trading area. Now operating. Immediate possession.
Wire Herbert Parker, Box 98, Waterloo, la.
FOR SALE — 400 seat theatre, house and lot with
brick garage, best equipped small town theatre in west
central Indiana, 7 day town. Price for all $4,000
cash. Paying business. Address Box 309, Exhibitors
Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
Theatre to Lease
WILL LEASE THEATRE in Minnesota seven day
town. Can give desired references. Address Box 308,
Exhibitors Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chi-
cago, 111.
PROPOSITIONS ARE NOW received for leasing
the new Plattsburgh theatre, located in a modern
fireproof office building. For particulars communicate
with Mr. William Mayette, 71 Clinton St., Platts-
burgh, N. Y.
Films for Sale
"Sins of the World" (6) ;— "Foolish Virgin" (6) ;—
"In Old Kentucky" (7); — "Lure of the Orient" (6);
— "Unchastened Woman" (7); — also other Features,
Westerns, Serials, Comedies, Educational, Travel, etc.
Address GUARANTEED PICTURES COMPANY,
729 Seventh Ave., New York City.
Equipment for Sale
FOR SALE — Motion Picture Projectors, parts and
supplies for all type machines. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
FOR SALE — Strong Reflector Arc Lamps and ac-
cessories, also guaranteed rebuilt Powers 6-A and 6-B
and Simplex Heads. Best Prices. Write Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago. 111.
CHICAGO CLEARING HOUSE— Our bargain list
on rebuilt Projectors, Powers 6-A Motor driven ma-
chines, including 12 rebuilt Simplex motor driven
machines with latest Simplex type S lamp houses.
Prices ranging from $175.00 and up. Peerless arc
controls $35.00 per pair. Compensarcs all makes,
$20.00 and up. Rebuilt Generators at reasonable
prices. AC and DC Electric fans rebuilt, just like
new. Write for complete list of your needs and
prices. No obligation. Address Illinois Theatre
Equipment Co., 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago. 111.
GET OUR PRICES first on complete Theatre
Equipment and Pipe Organ before buying elsewhere.
You save, we satisfy. Address Southern Theatre
Service, 643 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, La.
FOR SALE — 400 Opera Chairs. 1 Film Cabinet,
1 Enclosed Motor Rewind, 2 Late Type Simplex Pro-
jectors with 2 Standeford Low Intensity Lamps, 1
Roth 25-25 3-Phase Generator, etc.. Curtain, Ticket
Chopper, 2 Imported Lenses. All in perfect condition
and worth just double what we are asking. Our price
$3,000. Address Box 302, Exhibitors Herald-World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
FOR SALE — Two modern picture projectors, com-
pensarc, etc. Everything complete and nearly new.
Priced low and must be sold at once. Address
Manager. American Legion theatre, Milledgeville, 111.
2 PEERLESS LAMPS, complete, like new, $380.00
pair. Address Box 485, Rochester, N. Y.
Chairs for Sale
Just received 4,000 highest grade spring constructed
upholstered Theatre Chairs, less than 2 years old, at
very reasonable prices. Also several other lots of up-
holstered and veneered Theatre Chairs, as well as 500
Portable Assembly Chairs. Write for complete list
and description of all equipment. You are under no
obligation. Illinois "Theatre Equipment Co., 12-14 E.
Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
1100 arm chairs, full upholstered plush backs, imi-
tation leather seats, red. Also 1200 imitation leather
chairs, spring seats. Used but in good condition. Will
split into lots of three hundred or more. Address
Chicago Safe & Merchandising Co., 172 N. LaSalle
St.. Chicago. 111.
THEATRE CHAIRS FOR SALE— Used, recently
upholstered, (700) guaranteed condition. Prices very
reasonable. Write for terms to Richmond theatre.
North Adams, Mass.
Stationery
SPECIAL: 250 each business letterheads — enve-
lopes $3.75 (cash postpaid). "Neargravure" process
printed. Samples, see difference. Stamp appre-
ciated. Address Sollidays, KH 124, Knox, Ind.
For Sale
OPERA CHAIRS, seats and backs for all makes,
five ply, at prices that save you half. Address
Redington & Co., Scranton, Pa.
1 NATIONAL CASH REGISTER MACHINE in
perfect order. This machine has been used but 18
months and is completely overhauled and in good
running order. Price $50.00. Address M. Fitzer,
Manager, Rivoli Theatre, Syracuse, N. Y.
Chair backs and seats made to order, any shape,
big saving. Address Preddey, 188 Golden Gate Ave.,
San Francisco, Cal.
FOR SALE — Park and Race track. Good opportu-
nity. $1500.00 cash. Address James Carty, Monte-
zuma, Ind.
Organs for Sale
FOR SALE: Bartola Pipe Organ. Used Wurlitzer
Pipe Organ, model U, very reasonable. Cremona
Pipe Organ, used or new Reproduce Pipe Organs.
Address S. B. McFadden. Havana. 111.
PHOTOPLAYER, good condition. $200.00. Address
Carol Fenyvessy, 62 St. Paul St., Rochester N. Y.
FOTOPLAYER ORGAN, in first class condition.
Address Opera House, Tell City, Ind.
Gift Night Souvenirs
GIFT NIGHT MERCHANDISE: Over 300 fine
novelties in our large free catalog at genuine whole-
sale prices. Write today. No obligation. Address
Fair Trading Co., Inc., 140 W. 21st St.. New York.
Miscellaneous
BEAUTIFUL registered Bull Pups, $15.
Address 501 Rockwood, Dallas, Texas.
Bulldogs.
Your Classified Ad Will Do the Work
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World has helped hundreds of Theatre owners in solving many a problem. The
classified advertising department has placed organists all over the country, has helped in obtaining equipment, in selling
equipment, and in solving many another problem that seemed difficult. The rates are but 10c per word payable with
order, 10% discount if nm for 3 insertions. See this week's classified pages. Maybe you are in need of something diat is
being advertised this week. The cost is small, the results are great.
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
Projector Repairing
BEST GRADE repair work. Prices right. Free
relief heads. Prompt service. Address Guercio &
Barthel, lOlS Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
Our Twentieth Century Repair Shop, with skilled
expert mechanics, specialized tools, precision machin-
ery, assure the very best REPAIR JOBS. Relief
Equipment furnished FREE. Prompt service. Rea-
sonable prices. Progressive Exhibitors over entire
country send their work to "THE OLD RELIABLE."
Monarch Theatre Supply Co., Memphis, Tenn. Estab-
lished 20 years.
SKILLED MECHANICS, specialized tools, and a
shop equipped for but one purpose can offer you
nothing but the best in repair work. That is what I
have, and I can offer you the best in the overhauling
of your motion picture machinery equipment. One
of the oldest repair men in the territory, and serving
some of the largest houses. Relief equipment fur-
nished free. For results bring your work to Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Projector repairing by experts. Work guaranteed.
Largest shop in West, rebuilt projectors and equip-
ment. Low prices. Address Preddey, 188 Golden Gate
Ave., San Francisco, Cal.
Equipment Wanted
BEST PRICES paid for projection machines, all
types. Address Guercio & Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, 111.
WANT SEVERAL MERCURY RECTIFIERS,
good, bad or incomplete, cheap. Address Preddey,
188 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, Cal.
Professional Services
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT — Many years experience
as auditor in all branches of the motion picture indus-
try, including leading theatres, large exchanges, pro-
ducers' and distributors' home office, can give his
personal attention to several more clients. Consulta-
tion free. Address Auditor c/o Box 1,000, Exhibitors
Herald-World, 565 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y.
State Rights for Sale
LOOK! READ! ACT! — ROAD
Showmen, State rights for sale. The true life of
"The Younger Brothers," featuring Cole, Bob and Jim
Younger and the James Boys, in five reels, and
Younger's Historical Events, in one reel. This pic-
ture as a popular-priced road show is no experiment.
It has been tried and true, has played against all
kinds of competition under all conditions. Has always
gotten the money. With each State or sale we fur-
nish free one new complete Lobby Display, consisting
of new Prints of Film, three new Wax Figures, stand-
ing, life size, of Cole, Bob and Jim Younger, true to
life, dressed in cowboy style, big boots, etc.; 500 One-
Sheets, 100 Slides, 10 Photo Lobby Boards, extra 100
small Photos, 6 Banners, lettered in flashy oil colors,
enough to fit any theatre front. Everything ready to
go. Hurry. It will pay you to buy the king of all
road shows. Address E. L. Humphrey, Miami, Okla.
LETTERS
From Readers
A forum at which the exhibitor is
invited to express his opinion on
matters of current interest. Brevity
adds forcefulness to any statement.
Unsigned letters will not be printed.
What the Public Wants
COLUMBIA CITY, IND.— To the Editor:
All the shouting and hullabaloo about the
sound pictures and I see in the Chicago
Tribune that the main line of B & K's Chi-
cago ad stressed the fact that 3'ou are to
hear the yelling and shouting of 50,000 peo-
ple. This may be their idea of what the
patron thinks of a good time but we have
found that a quiet house is above all what
people want. They do not want noise even
emanating from behind the screen.
Ever try to keep track of a football game
over the radio and at the critical period when
the crowd is yelling their heads off have some
simple minded sap cut in the yelling to the
drowning out of the announcer's results. It
would be much the same. — A. E. Hancock,
Columbia theatre, Columbia City, Ind.
Independent Producers
Beaten, Aaron Sapiro
Admits to Interviewer
(^Continued from page 19)
then thej^ might attach themselves to some
organization for strength. They need
strength."
Sapiro did not mince his words. He
named the men he felt had double-crossed
his organization, their own leader, their
own associates. He named the head of a
great company as one who had repeatedly
lied to him and boasted of it to his friends.
His picture of the head of the industry was
far from flattering. His admiration was
reserved for few, notably Nicholas Schenck.
Yet he did not speak bitterly. He did
not speak venomously. He measured his
words carefull}-, even in expressing his
TRAIN FOR
•S^^^POSITIONS
HftlTE roa HOME
STUDY CATALOG H
LEARN
MODERN
MOVING PICTURE THEATRE
MANAGERS INSTITUTE INC.
"contempt" for some of those with whom
he had come in contact.
Charges Unfair Dealing
"I do not blame either the exhibitors or
the big companies for their actions toward
this association and toward me. I appre-
ciate that every exhibitor has the right to
inake his own decisions, to defend himself
as best he can, to do business as profitably
as he can. I realize that the big companies
have a right to follow their own policies,
even though they seem short-sighted to
me, and spell defeat for my idea.
"I only resent such unfair dealing as I
have received from some who were loudest
in their support of me, most conciliatory
in their discussions with me, most willing
in their offers of cooperation. I resent those
who have worked against me in the dark,
those who have tried to cut my feet from
under me, the leader they chose of their
own volition, when I wasn't supposed to
be looking.
"I think my record makes it clear that I
have always worked in the open. I am
utterly without a sense of intrigue. Per-
haps that is W'hy I failed in this important
job."
Performing Some Service
Sapiro said during the course of his talk
that the association he had formed was not
an abject failure. He said it was perform-
ing some service to its members, though
its scope was greatly narrowed. There was
some question in his mind whether the
service now being performed was worth
enough to its members. He was doubtful
if it would permit him to continue to his
present salary — but added he was willing
to continue without salary, should that be-
come necessary.
"I will not quit," he said. "I will con-
tinue to act as long as the active members
of the organization want me to act. I am
willing to help even if that means shutting
up shop. I want tO' do everything in my
power to impress upon the independent
exhibitors that they must cooperate in order
to safeguard themselves against the en-
croaching power of the great producers."
Pays Respects to Industry
The heads of the industry in New York
were not available to comment upon the
gist of Sapiro's attack, as it came just before
the Labor Day holiday. His words will
perhaps not come as a surprise, for his
opinions of some of those who have
opposed him must be well known in the
trade.
Sapiro closed by paying his great respect
to motion pictures as an art and an industry.
He said it must be a great industry, if it
can come to the top so magnificently in
the face of such petty dealings, such amaz-
ing currents and cross-currents, such biting
and back-biting as he had encountered.
Meat Caught in Throat
Kills Henry Murdock
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— Henry
Murdock, comedian who has ap-
peared in many Educational com-
edies, is dead from strangulation
caused by the lodgment of a piece of
beefsteak in his throat.
Competition of Two
Australian Circuits
Stirs Trade There
(Special to the Herald-World)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, Aug. 27.— The
Australian press is maKing much of the
battle between Union Theatres and
Hoyt's Theatres for control of the exhibit-
ing field on this island. The war has been
going on for several years, with Stuart
Doyle at the head of the Union forces, and
F. W. Thring directing operations of the
Hoyt army.
More recently the quarrel has turned to
film buying, and Union Theatres seems the
winner in this. About 90 per cent of the
principal film product, of America and else-
where, is said to have been acquired by this
chain.
5. California MPTO
Hold General Meeting;
Report Much Progress
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 5.— On Monday,
August 27, the Motion Picture Theatre Own-
ers of Southern California, held their first
general meeting since their recent re-organiza-
tion at which time, a most encouraging finan-
cial statement and report of progress was en-
thusiastically received.
^ As a testimonial of the memberships' appre-
ciation of the fine work done by their secre-
tary and business manager, A. B. Lamb, a
resolution was passed retaining his services
for another season. It was the consensus of
all assembled that the cause of independence
had made more progress during this short
period than ever before in the history of this
organization.
Sunday Shows WinGreat
Victory in College City
(Special to the Herald-World)
CHAMPAIGN, ILL., Sept. S.— Sunday
shows won in the election held here to decide
the issue last week, the proposal getting 4,207
of the 6,878 votes cast.
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
53
YW
WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Verdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor
Copyright, 1928
Incorporated in this original exhibitors report department of Exhibitors Herald, which was estab-
lished October 14, 1916, is the Moving Picture World department, "Straight from the Shoulder
Reports.**
Columbia
THAT CERTAIN THING: Viola Dana— 65%.
August 22-23. A genuine box ofRce natural. A picture
of intense human interest with a story that appeals
to everyone. The title is very poor and the advertis-
ing not up to standard. However, you can boost this
picture and it will stand up. It's not a special but
it is one of those pictures that will please your crowd
fully 100 per cent at regular admission. Actang
fine, photography extra good. An exceptionally good
program offering. Seven reels. — John W. Crabtree,
Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
FBO
THE LITTLE YELLOW HOUSE: Special cast—
23%. July 10. Nice little pictm-e.— Roy W.
Adams, Paiitime theatre, Mason, Mich. — General pat-
ronage.
THE DESERT PIRATE: Tom Tyler— 23%. July
26. Not a bad Western. I played it ahead of the
Tunney-Heeney fight returns. — Roy W. Adams, Pas-
time theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
ALEX THE GREAT: Skeete Gallagher— 28%.
August 19-20. An amusing comedy drama. — Roy W.
Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. — General pat-
ronage.
WIZARD OF THE SADDLE: Buzz Barton— 30%.
July 24. This kid is a clever rider and he is getting
popular here. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre.
Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
HOOK AND LADDER No. 9: Special cast— 8%.
August 14 Very, very good fire picture that had some
sense to it. Some of the scenes made you feel like
you were choking and again you had to relax and
think if you were living through the picture. It was
so real ! Six reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
THE BANDIT'S SON: Bob Steele— 23%. July 17.
Not so good as "Breed of Courage." — Roy W. Adams,
Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
RED RIDERS OF CANADA: Patsy Ruth Miller
— 57%. August 10-11. Very good Canadian North-
west story. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason,
Mich. — General patronage.
THE BOY RIDER: Special cast — This boy looks
good. All he needs is good support. Five reels. —
J. W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General
patronage.
THE SLINGSHOT KID: Buzz Barton— August 21.
This is a good Western with the kid rough rider.
If I gave it a percentage rating on the business done
it would be over 90 per cent but I played it on china-
ware night with chapter 2 of "Tarzan the Mighty"
and I think the percentage should be evenly divided
between these three attractions. — Roy W. Adams,
Pastime theatre, Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
THE SLINGSHOT KID: Buzz Barton— August 18.
Do you fellows ever pick your Western stars accord-
ing to their Nom De Movies? If not, try Buzz on
your zither. Against a ham and egg roadshow and
a coupla ear splitting politicians (I wonder if there
are as many spreader? of heated air in all the rest
of the states as there are in this one) I had to put
on mud chains in order to keep the merry villagers
Editor's Note
Percentage ratings given by ex-
hibitors in reports to this depart-
ment are obtained in the following
manner: Average daily gross of
picture reported is divided by
average daily gross of picture hold-
ing house record to determine
relative box office value in terms
of percentage.
EXAMPLE: $75 (average daily
gross of picture reported) divided
by $100 (average daily gross of
picture holding house record)
equals .75 (percentage rating given
picture in report) .
When a picture has received
percentage ratings in 10 reports it
is entered in THE BOX OFFICE
TICKER column of "Quick Ref-
erence Picture Chart."
from wrecking the place, especially the kids. The
next time I run Buzz I am going to walk up and
down the aisle with a club to keep them within
bounds. Five reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Ti-ags the-
atre, Neillsville, Wis. — ^Small town patronage.
CROOKS CAN'T WIN: Special cast— August 14.
Good underworld drama. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime
theatre, Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
FRECKLES: Special cast— Pleased our audience
and will draw as they all like Gene Stratton Porter's
books.— ^R. K. Lattin, Strand theatre, Valparaiso,
Neb. — General patronage.
SILVER COMES THROUGH: Fred Thomson-
August 4. This is a dandy Western. Silver King
is wonderful. Had a good crowd. Six reels.^
Andrew Rapp, Theatorium, Emlenton, Pa. — General
patronage.
First National
THE WRIGHT IDEA: Johnny Hines— 70%.
August 8. Good and it will please the Hines fans.
I call it the best of his late shows. Seven reels. —
W. T. Biggs, Adair theatre, Adair, la. — General
patronage.
HEART TO HEART: Mary Astor— 60%. August
15. A dandy little show something different and it
will please. Seven reels. — W. T. Biggs, Adair theatre,
Adair, la. — General pati-onage.
FLYING ROMEOS: Sidney-Murray— 35%. August
20-21. A good comedy. Little draggy at start but
winds up in good shape. Airplane scenes excep-
tionally good and picture will get and hold interest.
Poor crowd due to aaverse weather but all that came
gave the picture the okay. Advertising poor. Seven
reels. — John W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning,
Ark. — ^General patronage.
HEART TROUBLE: Harry Langdon— 70%. August
24-25. This proved to be a good comedy and it
pleased. Langdon has been a poor drawing card
for me but they came on the second night to see
him. Six reels. — W. T. Biggs, Adair theatre, Adair,
la. — General patronage.
VALLEY OF THE GIANTS: Milton Sills— 63%.
July 27-28. This is a crackerjack of an action pic-
ture and they ate it up. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime
theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
HAROLD TEEN: Special cast— The best picture
First National has delivered in two years, with the
most perfect cast I have ever seen in pictures. This
was a real box oflfice bet. Boys, I wish I had 156
more pictures that would pull like this one. — Ij. E.
Palmer, Postville theatre, Postville, la. — General
patronage.
HAPPINESS AHEAD: Colleen Moore— A real
picture. No two ways about it. Far better than
"Her Wild Oat" and a real attraction for any
theatre. I'm mighty glad to see Colleen deliver again.
This one and "Lilac Time" will put Colleen on the
top again. — L. E. Palmer, Postville, theatre, Post-
ville, la. — General patronage.
CANYON OF ADVENTURE: Ken Maynard-^
have reported on previous Maynard pictures and I
can only say that this one is up to Ken's high
standard. — L. E. Palmer, Postville theatre, Postville,
la. — General patronage.
BABE COMES HOME: Special cas1>— Very good.
— J. ,W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General
patronage.
THE RED RAIDERS: Special cast— Not so good.
— J. W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — Gen-
eral patronage.
THE NOOSE: Richard Barthelmess— July 22-23.
This is a very good picture, but I couldn't sell it
to my people. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre.
Mason, Mich. — ^General patronage.
HER WILD OAT: Colleen Moore — The few who
came out to see this picture liked it but this star
doesn't draw for us any more. Eight reels. — D. A.
Kooker, Happy Hour theatre, Ewen', Mich. — General
patronage.
MISMATES: Special cast.— Good.— J. W. Schmidt,
Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage.
THE GUN GOSPEL: Special cast— Good.— J. W.
Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — ^General pat-
ronage.
THE PATENT LEATHER KID: Richard Barthel-
mess— ^August 6-7. Played two days to fair crowds.
Would have been better had there not been a tent
show right next to me. Twelve reels. — Andrew
Rapp, Theatorium, Emlenton, Pa. — General patron-
age.
o4
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
Greensburg, Kan., Aug. 25, 1928.
DEAR HERALD-WORLD:
There are three hundred and twenty-seven reasons why we are spending Sunday in
Greensburg. One is on account of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Spainhour of the Twilight theatre,
and the o&er three hundred and twenty-six don't matter. We had these delightful people
to dinner with us today at the hotel and our delightful associations with them have knocked
every doggone thing out of our mind we had framed up to fill this column with, therefore
you readers should give Mr. and Mrs. Spainhour a vote of thanks provided we stopped
right here, but we can't and still draw our $7.50 for doughnuts and gas.
Last night C. A. played "The Patent Leather Kid" and we only stayed for the first five
reels because we had seen the picture seven or eight times and always enjoyed it, so we
went out and visited with C. A. while he tore off tickets by the handful and asked us a
lot of questions between times. The Twilight theatre and Mr. and Mrs. Spainhour is
another national reason why Charley Curtis got the nomination for vice president. It's
none of our business how C. A. and Mrs. are going to vote but we cam make an awfully
close guess.
* * *
Last Monday we visited E. E. Sprague of the Sherman theatre at Goodland. You know
Sprague, don't you? If you don't, you have missed half of your life. Goodland is located
in the heart of the grasshopper district, although there are no grasshoppers there (the rattle-
snakes have run them all out), but Goodland enjoys the distinction of being the leading
town in western Kansas, which is due for the most part to the popularity of the Sherman
and its genial manager, E. E. Sprague. (We had to say something complimentary of him for
he said he was going to write the HERALD-WORLD a letter and we know what he can do
with a typewriter.) The Sherman is about all that could be required in comfort and
elegance and the wonder is that so many poorer houses have been built in localities where
the opportunities are much greater than at Goodland. Mr. Sprague is to be congratulated
for giving the people of western Kansas a theatre that combines all the elegance and com-
forts enjoyed by cities of the first class.
There. If he doesn't say something nice about us in his letter then you watch the fur fly
in our next column. He had a chip on his shoulder when we left but don't you believe a
word he says, you never can depend upon what these Kansas boys say, nohow.
* * *
We have heard a lot about A. R. Zimmer but never had the pleasure of meeting him until
we ran in on him at Dodge City. A. R. manages the Crown, Cozy and Reason theatres and
he carries the banner in the front ranks of the Mid-West chain of houses. He seemed
awfully pleased when we called, which indicates that he's a man of exceptional judgment,
and said he had been following our column for some years (which statement rather threw
a wet blanket over our former conclusions). Anyhow, he drove us around town and showed
us all the points of interest, which were many, among them being the famous "Front
Street" where Wild Rill Hickock made a national reputation as Dodge City's marshal by
shooting 'em first and trying 'em afterwards and which method brought to Dodge City
some semblance of order and a little respect for law.
* * *
If Chicago and a few more cities had a few "Wild Bills" for marshals and a few less
"Kangaroo Courts" there would be less agitation for a modification of the 18th amendment.
Under "Wild Bill's" plan it would work. "Wild Bill" established the "Boothill Cemetery"
which occupies a conspicuous place within the corporate limits of the town. Dodge City's
Boothill Cemetery is hardly as thickly populated as the one at Tombstone, Arizona, but the
occupants died with the same complaint, known as "Dead Poisoning," a disease very
prevalent in both of these towns in the early days. They say that the occupants of this
cemetery passed out quicker than those at Tombstone, but that was probably due to the
fact that Bill was no hand to argue the question. Then too, this claim may be made by
Dodge City because of the fact that Tombstone has the best of 'em in numbers, and Dodge
City don't want to be sucking the hind teat. You never can tell about these Dodge City
folks. Some people understand that WUd Bill cashed in here in Dodge City but that's a
mistake. He took the short cut in a saloon in Deadwood, South Dakota, and his grave and
monument is alongside that of "Calamity Jane" in the cemetery on White Rocks at Dead-
wood. Bill and Calamity weren't such bad characters as they were painted; they both had
some excellent traits. We could tell you a whole lot about Calamity Jane, but this isn't a
biography.
>!: )i: :{t
We had the pleasure also of meeting Harry McClure of the Strand, Royal and Electric
theatres at Emporia. Harry was visiting friends in Dodge City and we met him at the
Crown and he and Zim took us in hand and showed us a regular time. We promised to
call on him in Emporia. We are going to do it.
Now for instance, you take H. P. McFadden of the Reel theatre at Natoma, Sherman
Higgins of the Golden Belt at Ellsworth, Weber & Hass of the LaCrosse at LaCrosse, R. E.
Menefee of the Palace at Hoxie — they are not such bad fellows either, and yet they live in
Kansas.
George Moore, of the Moore theatre at Plainville said he never was as tickled as he was
(Continued on next page)
HARD BOILED HAGGERTY: Milton Sills-
Dandy aviation war story. Interesting all the way
through. Six reels. — D. A. Kooker, Happy Hour the-
atre, Ewen, Mich. — General patronage.
THE STRONG MAN: Harry Langdon— Poor.-^.
W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breeee, 111. — General pat-
ronage.
AN AFFAIR OF THE FOLUES: Billie Dove-
Very good — J. W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese,
ni. — General patronage.
THE PERFECT SAP: Ben Lyon— August 16-17.
This ia my Idea of a darn' good program picture. It
entertains and keeps moving from start to finish. I
wouldn't say that the title was a howling success
but it drew good anyway and pleased. Seven reels.
— iWm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neilleville, Wis.i
— Small town patronage.
Fox
THE GAY RETREAT: Special cast— 70%. August
3-4. One of the best comedies we have shown. It's
unusually good and everybody said so. Seven reels. —
Minnie M. Schnoor, Paramount theatre, Stapleton,
Neb. — Small town patronage.
THE GAY RETREAT: Special cast — Boys, this is
all fun. — J. W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111.
• — General patronage.
PAINTED POST: Tom Mix— 57%. August 17-18.
Fair to average Mix Western. — Roy W. Adams, Pas-
time theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
WOMAN WISE: William Russell— 60%. August
22. A good program picture with good scenery.
Six reels. — W. T. Biggs, Adair theatre, Adair, la. —
General patronage.
EAST SIDE WEST SIDE: George O'Brien— 8%.
August 21. Good show but no one to see it, so that's
that. Nine reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kim-
ball, S. D. — General patronage.
DRESSED TO KILL: Edmund Low^-17%. July
20-21. Good crook picture. — Roy W. Adams, Pas-
time theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
HELLO CHEYENNE: Tom Mix— 66%. July 13-
14. Average Mix Western. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime,
theatre, Mafion, Mich. — General patronage.
HANGMAN'S HOUSE: Victor McLaglan— 24%.
July 29-30. Very good picture.— Roy W. Adams, Pas-
time theatre, Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
ARIZONA WILDCAT: Tom Mix— 40%. July 20-
21. A very good Western drama that will please
all lovers of action. Mix makes the Westerns. Six
reels. — Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellin-
wood, Kan. — General patronage.
BLACK JACK: Buck Jones— August 17-18. Too
old. The print on this was not very good. Business
only fair. Print and photography good. Five reels.
— 'P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — General
patronage.
BLACK JACK: Buck Jones— Another Western.
Six reels. — Giaeoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tomb-
stone, Ariz. — General patronage.
SQUARE CROOKS: Special cast— 20%. July 3.
Not a bad picture but it couldn't buck the glorious
Fourth. — ^Roy W. Adams, Patsime theatre. Mason,
Mich. — General patronage.
DAREDEVIL'S REWARD: Tom Mix— August 18.
As improbable as most Mix pictures, but drew and
satisfied. Lots of comedy. — J. S. Walker, Texas
theatre. Grand Prarie, Tex. — Small town patronage.
DAREDEVIL'S REWARD: Tom Mix— August 10-
11. Best Mix in a long time. Lots of action and
laughs. 100 per cent entei-tainment. — Warren L.
Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — General
patronage.
THE NEWS PARADE: Stuart-Phipps— August
22-23. The title killed this before it reached here.
Clever little one-day afiair. Six reels. — J. S. Walker,
Texas theatre, Grand Prarie, Tex. — Small town pat-
ronage.
PAJAMAS: Olive Borden — Pleasing little picture.
— J. W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, III. — (Jeneral
patronage.
PAJAMAS: Olive Borden — ^A snappy little comedy
that will please, and just made to order for summer
showing. These heavy dramas and big specials are
out for hot weather. — E. C. Silverthorn, Liberty
theatre, Harrisville, Mich. — General patronage.
THE WIZARD: Edmund Lowe— July 29-30. A
very good mystery melodrama with lots of thrills,
chills and laughs. Six reels.— Warren L. Weber,
Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — General pat-
ronage.
A GIRL IN EVERY PORT: Special cast— Cannot
recommend this one very highly. In fact, it was the
poorest picture we have featured this year. Too
many good ones nowadays on the market to take
this. — E. C. Silverthorn, Liberty theatre, Harris-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
Gotham
WILD WEST ROMANCE: Rex Bell— 60%. Au-
gust 17-18. A new star but he's okay. This waa
a nice little program picture. Six reels. — ^Minnie
M. Schnoor, Paramount theatre, Stapleton, Neb. —
Small town patronage.
MONEY TO BURN: Dorothy Devore — 50%. August
24. What a sweet picture! It's a little old but I
fell for the story and the title and so did the crowd
as we had the largest Friday night this year. Pic-
ture pleased and held up to advertising. I have
played five Gothams and everyone has clicked and
pleased. This is an exceptionally good program
picture. Six reels, — John W. Crabtree, Joyland the-
atre, Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
THE GIRL FROM RIO: Carmel Myers — Julyl3.
Good little program picture that drew well and pleased
on a weak day. Technicolor beautiful and should be
used more by the producers as it is a big help to
any picture. Print and photography good. Six reels.
^G. O. Tunstall, Midway theatre, Martinsville, Va. —
General patronage.
THE CHORUS KID: Virginia Browne Faire—
Another right up toi snuff picture. It is one of
those real young type offerings and don't fool your-
self. This is just as good as any of them and a
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
great deal better than a lot of 'em. Cast is great
and my folks just sat through the thing and were
thoroughly entertained. Seven reels. — W. H. Bren-
ner, Cozy theatre, Winchester, Ind. — General pat-
ronage.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
FOUR WALLS: John Gilbert— 45%. August 19-
20. Pleased much better than "The Cossacks" and
didn't cost a third as much to make. A good enough
crook story with Joan Crawford in it. Seven reels. — -
Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood,
Kan. — General patronage.
THE COSSACKS: John Gilbert— 35%. July 15-16.
A lavish spectacular production that failed to click
at the box office. Too long, also it's the type of
picture that won't please the majority. Nine reels.
— -Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood,
Kan. — General patronage.
THE COSSACKS: John Gilbert— August 20-21.
They don't rome any better. It has everything. Nine
leelfi. — ^J. S. Walker, Texas theatre. Grand Prarie,
Tex. — Small town patronage.
THE PATSY: Marion Davies— 25%. July 15-16.
An interesting story with some very funny comedy.
— -Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich.—
General patronage.
THE PATSY: Marion Davies — Now then here is
another star who has failed to mail us a photo.
Boys this "Patsy" is sure good for any houee. A
pleasing little picture you are sure to like. — E. C.
Silverthorn, Liberty theatre, Harrisville, Mich. —
General patronage.
DETECTIVES: Dane-Arthur — 40%. Very jMX)r, in
fact, the weakest of any pictures these boys have
made. Seven reels. — L. E. Palmer, Postyille theatre,
Postville, la. — General patronage.
DETECTIVES: Dane-Arthur— July 22-23. Slightly
better than other pictures from this pair. Will
satisfy the majority of the patrons. With a good
story this team would be a knockout. Six reels. —
Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan.
— General patronage.
THE LATEST FROM PARIS: Norma Shearer—
50%. August 19-20. A good big program picture.
Story and direction fine. Star and cast extra good.
But it is not a si>ecial. — Bert Silver, Silver Family
theatre, Greenville,. Mich. — ^General patronage.
THE LATEST FROM PARIS: Norma Shearer—
This was too long to put over the story. It was
good, clean entertainment with George Sidney doing
a little bit the best work and Norma second, and
we are all pleased. After the show everybody had
an ice cream soda and said that both the show and
the soda left a fine taste in their mouths. Eight
reels.— Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone,
Ariz. — ^General patronage.
DESERT'S TOLL: Special cast— 55%. August 11.
Nothing much to this one. A Western and that is
about all. Don't think many cared for it and yet
no one walked out, so I would just class it as being
medicore. Six reels. — Paul B. Hoffman, Legion the-
atre, Hollywood, Kan. — Small town patronage.
SPOILERS OF THE WEST: Tim McCoy— 30%.
July 8-9. Just a Western. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime
theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
IN OLD KENTUCKY: Special cast— 20%. Au-
gust 12-13. Just a movie. Not nearly so good as
the old one with Anita Stewart. — Roy W. Adams,
Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
BUTTONS: Jackie Coogan— 20%. August 5-6.
An unsatisfactory story devoted largely to some at-
tempts at comedy that doesn't get any place. — Roy
W. Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. — General
■patronage.
MLLE. FROM ARMENTIERES: Special cast—
A.ugust 15-16. A light affair.— J. S. Walker, Texas
theatre. Grand Prairie, Tex. — Small town patronage.
BRINGING UP FATHER: Special cast- Read a
lot of adverse criticisms on this one but am glad I
ran it. The only fault I find is the characters were
nothing like the comic strip. It seems to me when
producing this type of picture, the make-up should
be as near like the characters to be represented as
possible. Otherwise picture pleased okay. — E. C. Sil-
verthorn, Liberty theatre, Harrisville, Mich, — General
patronage.
DIAMOND HANDCUFFS : Boardman - Gray —
Would rate this as a fair program picture. Not
l)ig, yet good entertainment. — ^L. E. Palmer, Post-
ville theatre, Postville, la. — General patronage.
CIRCUS ROOKIES: Dane-Arthur— The best these
two have made excepting "Rookies" but by no means
another "Rookies." It's a good attraction and should
get business anywhere. — L. E. Palmer, Postville
theatre, Postvile, Tex. — General patronage.
LAUGH, CLOWN, LAUGH: Lon Chaney— A good
picture that failed to draw. In fact, I didn't make
expenses but Chaney was great and Loretta Young
■^ill be heard from again. She sure is a comer.—
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
{Continued from preceding page)
when we called on him, said he had forgotten to renew his subscription to the HERALD-
WORLD and our coming had just saved his life (wish a lot more of 'em would talk that
way) and he and the Mrs. took us down to the hotel to dinner and we had a regular time,
Country Club an' everything. Got there about noon and they wouldn't let us leave until
next morning. George played the O'Conner Sisters that night to a packed house. These
young ladies have been on the big circuits and were home on a vacation. They live at
Waldo, a little town about the size of your thumbnail. They were good and pleased and
George was satisfied also.
L. Newman of the Waldo at Waldo, Mark Hickman of the Hickman at Luray, L.
Galbraith of the Isis at Lucas, Paul B. Huffman of the Legion at Holyrood, and E. R. Ruch
of the Electric Garden at Claflin, never argued the question at all; they aU said it was a
matter of necessity and wanted to know how much it was. We let 'em off with three bucks
each; they were all happy.
We found D. E. Dowden of the Doris theatre at Ness City in an awful quandary. He had
just returned from Kansas City and had not been home when we called on him, said he
was afraid to go home, that he had gone to K. C. on Monday and had told his wife he
would be back Tuesday night and here it was Friday evening, and he wanted our advice.
We told him it was no use to try and frame up anything, that she wouldn't believe him
anyway and that the best thing to do was to "treat 'em rough and tell 'em nothing," and
he said he would try it.
They both came to the theatre that night and he said to us, "Well, it worked," and she
overheard the remark and said, "What worked?" and he replied, "That door out there. It
has been sticking for sometime and I put some oil on the hinges and now it is all right."
He got away with it.
* * *
But speaking of politics. We will always remember what Uncle 'Leazer Biggs said once
when we were running for constable of our township and the opposition accused us of
stealing hogs. He said to us, "Pay no attention to what your political enemies say about
you; you only lower yourself by trying to answer 'em, and besides that they might prove it
on you." Betcha Al would have been better off if he had paid no attention to that
preacher.
We just got a letter from Jay saying he was leaving on a two weeks' vacation to
New York. Can you feature that? A full grown man whose duty is to censor our column
going down to New York in August on a vacation. There is only one thing funnier that
we can think of, and that is for the Doctor to lance a boil on the back of your neck.
If dodging traffic in a city's hot streets and paying two dollars for the privilege to occupy
a seat in a cafe and four dollars and eighty cents for some tainted lobster and a bottle of
"Country Club" that has been "fixed" is a vacation, then hand us a shovel and show us the
gravel pit; we are ready for the "vacation."
What Jay should have done would have been to come out here and travel with Marie
and us and called on these Jayhawkers and then he would have gotten an idea of what a
real vacation looked like, and Jay was raised in Nebraska too, just think of it. It's no
wonder a lot of our stuff gets by. Betcha Whitmore could tell him what a vacation is.
It just seems like when these Nebraska and Kansas boys get back there in those cities the
lights blind 'em and the jazz goes to their heads and they get woozy. We would sooner
see one trout rise to our fly than to see all the cabaret dancers' legs in New York City, but
then maybe we are getting old — that's what a waitress said to us the other day. We hope
Jay has a good time and that he gets to see Al and that he will tell him that this country
out here needs "fixin'," which it does, and we can't fix it and we are not going to try.
* * *
We have been asked a thousand times, a thousand and nine times to be exact, how sound
pictures would affect the small theatres and a thousand and nine times we have replied that
we didn't know a thing about it, we always like to be honest and frank, but that if we were
operating a theatre we wouldn't consider putting a second mortgage on the joint to equip
the place with sound contraptions until after the public had passed judgment on it. Just
now there are a lot of folks buying seats to see good pictures, and as long as they show a
growing taste for huckleberry pie we wouldn't try to encourage them to change their diet,
we'd feed 'em pie, which no doubt goes to prove that we were correct when we said we
didn't know a thing about it.
When Calvin said "I do not choose"
And Al came out squaretoed for booze
It almost made us cry.
We can't put up with this home brew
We don't know whatthehell to do
So we're putting this thing up to you
For Herbert says he's dry.
Thus endeth the first chapter. The next will be a whole lot worse.
/. C. JENKINS,
The HERALD-WORLD Man.
L. E. Palmer, Postville theatre, Postville, la. — ^Gen-
eral patronage.
ROOKIES: Special cast— August 21-22. This is
about the best picture of its kind I ever showed.
It is practically one continuous laugh from start to
finish and it does not depend on any smut to put it
over. The final fadeout is a wow, sends them out
laughing and keeps them laughing for a week. There,
was a film peddler here that night who had seen the
picture several times and told me that in some of
the prints the final "wow" had been deleted. Insist
on full print when you run it. Seven reels. — Wm.
E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small
town patronage.
ROSE MARIE: Joan Crawford — As good a North
Woods picture as you want. Very brutal ending.
Extra good acting and scenery and photography good.
— E. 0. Silverthorn, Liberty theatre, Harrisville, Mich.
—General patronage.
THE SMART SET: William Haines — Angrust 9.
56
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
Very good. William Haines very funny in this one.
Had a good crowd. Seven reels. — Andrew Eapp,
Theatorium, Emlenton, Pa. — General patronage.
THE SMART SET: William Hainee — By no means
ae good as some of this star's former pictures, but
yet it is well worth showing. Pay no extra money.
— ^E. C. Silverthorn, Liberty theatre, HaiTisville,
Mich. — General patronage.
LAW OF THE RANGE: Tim McCoy— Very good
Western. Lots of action and some comedy. Six
reels. — D. A. Kooker, Hapy Hour theatre, Ewen,
Mich. — General patronage.
THE CROWD: Boardman-Murray — Very fine pro-
duction but didn't pull in enough to pay expenses.
Eight reels. — D. A. Kooker, Happy Hour theatre,
Ewen, Mich. — General patronage.
THE DmNE WOMAN: Garbo-Haneon— Very
good. Drew more second night. XJked by all. —
Russell C. Dey, Reedville Movies, Reedville, Va. —
General patronage.
THE DIVINE WOMAN: Greta Garbo— Small town
movie fans do not come out for this class of picture.
Personally enjoyed it very much. Eight reels. — D. A.
Kooker, Happy Hour theatre, Ewen', Mich. — General
patronage.
WYOMING: Tim McCoy — ^August 11. Very good
Western. Acting of Tim McCoy excellent. Had a
fair crowd. Five reels. — Andrew Rapp, Theatorium,
Emlenton, Pa. — General patronage.
WYOMING: Tim McCoy— July 31. Another West-
ern.— Rtoy W. Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich.
— General patronage.
TILLIE THE TOILER: Marion Davies— Good.—
J. W. Schmidt, Grand theati-e, Breese, 111. — General
patronage.
■TWELVE MILES OUT: John Gilbert— Very good.
• — J. W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — Gen-,
eral patronage.
THE BIG CITY: Lon Chaney— A good picture.
We are getting real pictures now from Metro, but
it's too late as we are near the end of our contract.
• — Russell C. Dey, Reedville Movies, Reedville, Va. —
General patronage.
THE FIRE BRIGADE: Special cast— Good.^.
W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General
patronage.
TELL IT TO THE MARINES: Lon Chaney—
Very, very good. Ten reels. — J. W. Schmidt, Grand
theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage.
TEA FOR THREE: Cody-Pringle— Nice little com-
edy. Six reels. — D. A. Kooker, Happy Hour the-
atre, Ewen, Mich. — ^General patronage.
THE GARDEN OF ALLAH: Alice Terry- Beau-
tiful picture, well acted but no drawing power for
small towns. Nine reels. — D. A. Kooker, Happy Hour-
theatre, Ewen, Mich. — General patronage.
Paramount
THE PIONEER SCOUT: Fred Thomson— 33%.
August 21-22. Better than average outdoor Western
with Silver King doing a lot of good acting. Eight
reels. — Warren L. Weber, EUinwood theatre, Ellin-
wood, Kan. — General patronage.
THE PIONEER SCOUT: Fred Thomson— A very
good picture though somewhat rougher than his
usual type. Ladies thought Hook was a little too
brutal. Others generally satisfied. — E. C. Silverthorn,
Liberty theatre, Harrisville, Mich. — General patron-
age.
PEAKS OF DESTINY: Special cast— 76%. August
18. The only advantage in this is that it shows how
much better pictures made in' the United States are.
This is very poor. The only thing interesting is the
scenery and they don't come to see that. Six reels.
— Paul B. Hoffman, Legion theatre, Holyrood, Kan.
— Small town patronage.
HALF A BRIDE: Esther Ralston— 35%. August
21-22. A very good play which appeals to highbrows
or any class of theatre-goer. This drama has little
plot but is rich in incident an' it deals with com-
panionate marriage in moderate tone and with good
healthy moral effect. It pleased everybody, espe-
cially the men whose approval of that time-honored
injunction in the marriage ceremony "love, honor
and obey" was quite evident. As the heroine her-
self proposed unquestionable assent to this injunc-
tion the other side maintained silence at least while
they were filing out. The acting and the personal ap-
pearance of Esther Ralston in this play would call
for special mention were it not that all of the parts
which the writer has seen this lady in deserves spe-
cial mention. Fame seems to be given to her grudg-
ingly. She deserves more than she gets. Hardly
strong enough for a special and too good for a pro-
gram picture. You can play it either way. — A. J.
Gibbons, Illinois theatre. Metropolis, 111. — General pat-
ronage.
THE SECRET HOUR: Pola Negri— 27%. August
17-18. A fair program picture with Jean Hersholt
doing good work. Pola not so good. Six reels. — -
Warren L. Weber, EUinwood theatre, EUinwood,
Kan. — General patronage.
THE LAST COMMAND: Emil Jannings— 88%.
August 11. A very good picture that drew well on
Saturday night at advanced prices. Nine reels. — Mrs.
Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — Gen-
eral patronage.
THE LAST COMMAND: Emil Jannings— 26%.
August 14-15. Personally thought it was wonderful
but evidently the public didn't, as the percentage ■will
testify. Flopped completely. Nine reels. — Warren
L. Webei-, EUinwood theatre, EUinwood, Kan. — Gen-
eral patronage.
BARBED WIRE: Pola Negri— 15%. August 17-18.
Wonderful picture but no business so what's the use?
As the old fellow said, "Let it go to grass." — Rudolf
Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General pat-
ronage.
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— I wish all pictures were
as consistent in quality as Lloyds are. This isn't the
greatest comedy he has made but it's plenty good. —
L. E. Palmer, Postville theatre, Postville, la. — Gen-
eral patronage.
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— July 16-17-18. A little
draggy in places but a very good comedy and Harold's
best since "The Freshman." Played three days to
good business. Print and photography good. Eight
reels.^G. O. Tunstall, Midway theatre, Martinsville,
Va. — General patronage.
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— Does not draw like he
once did. This does not have as many laughs as
some of his former pictures. — R. K. Lattin, Strand
theatre, Valparaiso, Neb. — ^General patronage.
THE DRAGNET: George Bancroft— Good acting
and considerable interest but it is the kind of a pic-
ture it is well in some towns to run once for if
glorifying a kept woman is uplifting and enobling
then we give up. Our best patrons said that this is
what is the matter with the picture business. Too
much teaching of the young folks things they should
not be shown, that it is bad enough to get this stuff
in the press without having it rammed down their
throats and willing eyes in an age that it takes a
boulevard stop to hold the young people without the
aid of this kind of pictures. Might do for older
people but it comes back to the glorification of a
kept woman and that gets some people's goats.
Eight reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tomb-
stone, Ariz. — General patronage.
THE DRAG NET: George Bancroft— Good picture
but failed to get business. They all failed to get
business this summer. — L. E. Palmer, Postville the-
atre, Postvile, la. — General patronage.
PARTNERS IN CRIME: Beery-Hatton— A lot bet-
ter than previous pictures but a comedy team can
only deliver a few times and they are through. These
boys Dane and Arthur haven't had good material.
Give either the right stuff and they will build up
again. — L. E. Palmer, Postville theatre, Postville,
la. — General patronage.
PARTNERS IN CRIME: Beery-Hatton— July 27-28.
Just another foolish comedy. Failed to draw the
usual Saturday crowd. Sure am glad I have just one
more Beery-Hatton to play. — Warren L. Weber, Ellin-
wood theatre, EUinwood, Kan. — General patronage.
LADIES OF THE MOB: Clara Bow— August 12-13.
A knockout. Clara in a role as a gunman's gal
knocks 'em cold. An unusual ending that will leave
them with their mouths open. Play it. Seven reels.
— Warren L. Weber, EUinwood theatre, EUinwood,
Kan. — General patronage.
EASY COME EASY GO: Richard Dix— Doggone
it Dix why don't they do better by you? Once you
were the best drawing card I had but now you're
just another star gone wrong. Come on. Paramount,
give us more like "The Lucky Devil," "The Quarter-
back," and "Knockout Riley." — L. E. Palmer, Post-
ville theatre, Postville, la. — General patronage.
EASY COME EASY GO: Richard Dix— August
13-14. Mr. Zukor stated that Paramount couldn't
produce quality pictures any more, that they had to
add sound to their production to hold their part of
the business. After seeing this picture I agree that
he is correct. — J. S. Walker, Texas theatre, Grand
Prairie, Texas. — Small town patronage.
THE SPOTLIGHT: Esther Ralston— This lightest
of light pictures I ever ran. Took in $22.30 on it
but I am glad more people didn't see it. This attrac-
tion might go great in the big city theatres with
their swell stage shows, but it's a dud if you are
depending on it to bring in your customers. — L. E.
Palmer, Postville, theatre, Postville, Tex. — General
patronage.
JESSE JAMES: Fred Thomson— August 15-16.
First day good, second day bum, due to other
attractions. It is a good picture but by no means a
special. Not worth much of an advance in admis-
sion. Eight reels. — Paul B. Hoffman, Legion theatre,
Holyrood, Kan. — Small town patronage.
LEGION OF THE CONDEMNED: Special cast^
August 13-14-15. Direction, acting and photography
all perfect and combined makes one of the best
pictures we have ever played. Played three days
at advanced prices to pretty good business. Print
very good. Eight reels. — G. O. Tunstall, Midway
theatre, Martinsville, Va.^General patronage.
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES: Special cast
— Should have been good but boys it's terrible.
Who would ever think that a company that made
"Wings," "Beau Geste" and others would allow
such a picture to be shown' in their theatres. If
this is a special I'm the King of Siam. — L. B. Pal-
mer, Postville theatre, Postville, Tex. — General pat-
ronage.
THE FIFTY FIFTY GIRL: Bebe Daniels— August
19-20. Very good picture enjoyed by all. Bebe
Daniels pictures are all pretty good. Seven reels. —
P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — General
patronage.
THE FIFTY FIFTY GIRL: Bebe Daniels— Another
Paramount star who is flopping. Give her something
to work in and she'll put it over. Give us some
more like "She's a Sheik" and "Swim, Girl, Swim."
Patrons were not too well satisfied over this one. —
L. E. Palmer, Postville theatre, Postville, la. —
General patronage.
OLD IRONSIDES: Special cast— July 30-31-
August 1. Very good special from Paramount and
drew good business at advanced prices. Print and
photography good. Eight reels. — G. O. Tunstall,
Midway theatre, Martinsville, Va. — General patron-
age.
GET YOUR MAN: Clara Bow— This star rings
the bell for us. Not as good as "It" but it sure
pleased them and brought them in. By the way.
Miss Bow I haven't received one of your photos
yet, and would like one very much. — E. C. Silver-
thorn, Liberty theatre, Harrisville, Mich. — General
patronage.
DESERT GOLD: Special east— Good.^. W.
Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General pat-
ronage.
SPORTING GOODS: Richard Dix— Very good
comedy-drama. Pleased our patrons better than
"Gay Defender." — E. C. Silverthorn, Liberty theatre,
Harrisville, Mich. — ^General patronage.
FEEL MY PULSE: Bebe Daniels— July 2-3. Good
program picture with plenty comedy and good sub-
titles by George Marion, Jr. Business fair. Print
and photography good. — G. O. Tunstall, Midway
theatre, Martinsville, Va. — General patronage.
FOOLS FOR LUCK: Chester Conklin— August 24.
Oh Lord! 'What next? Six reels. — J. S. Walker,
Texas theatre. Grand Prairie, Tex. — Small town pat-
ronage.
THE VANISHING PIONEER: Jack Holt— August
5-6. A good Zane Grey Western with Jack Holt
back at his right place. Real Western entertainment.
— Warren L. Weber, EUinwood theatre, EUinwood,
Kan. — General patronage.
THE TROUBLE WITH WIVES: Special cas^-
Very good. — J. W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese,
111. — General patronage.
TELL IT TO SWEENEY: Special cast^Fairly
good entertainment, but no reason to pay extra
money as we did. Didn't draw any extra business
although it pleased those who came. — E. C. Sliver-
thorn, Liberty theatre, Harrisville, Mich. — General
patronage.
GOOD AND NAUGHTY: Pola Negri— Good.
Seven reels. — J. W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese,
III. — General patronage.
THE PALM BEACH GIRL: Bebe Daniels— I call
it good. — J. W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111.
— General patronage.
ALOMA OF THE SOUTH SEAS: Gilda Gray-
July 6. Good picture, fine photography, but could
have been made in less reels. Too long. Nine reels.
— Arno G. Weigang, Community theatre, Kennedy,
Tex. — Small town patronage.
THE MYSTERIOUS RIDER: Jack Holt— Good.
You can always depend on Zane Grey Westerns.
Six reels. — Arno G. Weigang, Community theatre
Kenedy, Tex. — Small town patronage.
SOFT CUSHIONS: Douglas MacLean— Not as
good as Douglas usually puts them out. Clever
ideas but something was lacking. Seven reels. —
Arno G. Weigang, Community theatre, Kenedy, Tex.
— Small town patronage.
ARIZONA BOUND: Gary Cooper— Here's a good
one. Plenty of action, comedy and holds interest
all the way through. Five reels. — Ai-no G. Weigang,
Community theatre, Kenedy, Tex. — Small town pat-
ronage.
EAGLE OP THE SEA: Ricardo Cortez — Good.
Will please most all kinds of fans. A little rough in
parts. Eight reels. — Arno G. Weigang, Community
theatre, Kenedy, Tex. — Small town patronage.
September 8, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
57
HOLD THAT LION: Douglas MacLean— Good. A
comedy that keeps them laughing all the way through.
Six reels. — Arno G. Weigang, Community theatre,
Kenedy. Tex. — Small town patronage.
UNDER THE TONTO RIM: Special cast— August
14-15. Only an ordinary Zane Grey picture. Arline
doesn't mean a thing to me at the box office. Jack
Holt much better. I can't understand why Para-
mount doesn't use better stars in the Zane Gray pic-
tures. Six reels. — P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Gris-
^old, la. — General patronage.
Pathe-P D C
CHICAGO: Special cast— July 23-24. Good pro-
gram picture but not the special we bought It for.
Ran at advanced prices to only fair business. Print
and photography fair. Nine reels. — G. O. Tunstall,
Midway theatre, Martinsville, Va. — General pat-
ronage.
Rayart
THE SILENT HERO: Robert Frazier— 10%. Au-
gTist 15. Here is a picture that is different from
all other pictures. Very good all the way through
but 110 in the shade kept them in the shade and
the theatre was almost empty. But not the fault of
the picture. The big storm approached just after
we opened the doors and that drove everyone home.
Play it, boys, it's a theatre owner's picture and be
independent. Six reels. — ^Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D. — ^General patronage.
Tiffany
STREETS OF SHANGHAI: Special cast— 20%.
August 14. A program picture. — Bert Silver, Silver
Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
BACHELOR'S PARADISE: Ralph Graves-^ust
a picture. Six reels. — D. A. Kooker, Happy Hour the-
atre, Ewen, Mich. — General patronage.
United Artists
THE BLACK PIRATE: Douglas Fairbanks— 35%.
August 19-20. Good enough picture but rotten print
six>iled the whole show the first night. When I fixed
the print for the second night it was okay but no
one came to see the show. Eleven reels. — Rudolf
Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.— General pat-
ronage.
MY BEST GIRL: Mary Pickford— 60%. Augrust
3-4. This is an ideal Pickford picture and the first
that has paid out here in quite a while. — ^Roy W.
Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. — General
patronage.
WILD GEESE: Special cast— Augrust 19-20. Due
to this being a prize winning story and the great
number of readers of the book, this drew and pleased
very well. Very good cast. Seven reels. — Wm. E.
Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small
town patronage.
THE DOVE: Norma Talmadge— July 9-10. Noah
Beery sure did steal the picture but we think that's
all that saved it from being a complete flop Pretty
good picture though and business fair. Photography
a little blurry and print excellent. Nine reels. —
G. O. Tunstall, Midway theatre, Martinsville, Va. —
General patronage.
THE GAUCHO: Douglas Fairbanks— July 5-6-7.
This ran about $75 behind the expense account in
my two towns. Doug isn't the drawing card he
used to be, and I'm beginning to think he never
was. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich.
- — General patronage.
THE GAUCHO: Douglas Fairbanks— This is my
last United Artists picture for reasons that I do
not care to make public. This picture is good but
did not draw. I guess people are fed up on Fair-
banks style. I lost money on this but I still maintain
it's a good picture. — L. E. Palmer, Postville theatre,
Postville, la. — General patronage.
SORRELL AND SON: Special cast— August 6-7-8.
Here she is, boys, a box office knockout. A truly
great picture and fine acting by the entire oast
Worth extra exploitation and will stand an advance
in prices. Print and photography good. Ten reels. —
G. O. Tunstall, Midway theatre, Martinsville, Va. — •
General patronage.
Universal
WILD WEST SHOW: Hoot Gibson— 50%. August
18. A good one, the best circus picture we have
played. Hoot and Gulliver great. — Bert Silver, Silver
Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
RIDING FOR FAMJE: Hoot Gibson— 25%. August
10-11. Dandy Gibson picture which should please
them all. Slim Summerville provides the high spots
of comedy and they just eat Hoot and Slim up all
the way through. Action, laughs and suspense.
Gibson is getting better right along but the grown
up folks do not rave as much as the kiddies and
our children-trade is very small. Admission 10-25
cents. Six reels. — ^Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kim-
ball, S. D. — ^General patronage.
THAT'S MY DADDY: Reginald Denny— 50%.
August 15-16. A fine entertaining picture. Satisfied
them all. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — ^General patronage.
FANGS OF DESTINY: Dynamite— 70%. May 17.
Didn't see this one. Pretty good percentage though.
Five reels. — ^H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath,
S. C. — General patronage.
THE AIR PATROL: Al Wilson— 65%. August 25.
A good aviation thriller. However, crowd did not
seem to care much about it. Seems in the aviation
pictures there are too many empty spaces on the
screen. The crowd wants the picture all over the
screen with action in 46 different spots at once on
Saturday night. It takes a Western to fill the bill.
However, this picture is good and has good comedy
relief. Advertising good. Five reels. — John W. Crab-
tree, Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark. — 'General pat-
ronage.
DESERT DUST: Ted W6lls^63%. May 24. Didn't
see this one. Five reels. — H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills
theatre, Bath, S. C. — General patronage.
THREE MILES UP: Al Wilson— 76%. May 10.
These air stunt pictures draw at first as this one
did, but after the first two or three our patrons lost
interest, as you will see from subsequent reports.
Five reels. — ^H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath,
S. C. — General patornage.
THE RAWHIDE KID: Hoot Gibson— 73%. May
31. Can't remember a darn thing about this. If I
saw it I evidently was not much impressed. Good
percentage shows Hoot still a draw. Six reels. —
H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C—
General patronage.
THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT: Special cast—
52%. May 7. I'm so far behind on these reports I
kinder forgot the merits or demerits of these pic-
tures. I don't remember raving over this one as
either good or bad, so it must have been fair. Seven
reels. — ^H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C. —
General patronage.
SILK STOCKINGS: Laura LaPlante— 60%. May
14. A dandy comedy. It will please. Six reels — H. B.
Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath S. C— General pat-
ronage.
SILK STOCKINGS: Laura LaPlante— August 12-
13. Good comedy drama but no drawing card for
me. Print and photography good. Seven reels. —
P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Gx-iswold, la. — ^General
patronage.
MICHAEL STROGOFF: Special cast— 79%. May
28. Expected a poor picture, but was pleasently
surprised to find it a very entertaining picture. Did
not please our folks, though. Ten reels. — ^H. B.
Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C— iGeneral
patronage.
LOVE ME AND THE WORLD IS MINE: Special
cast — 20%. August 12. Good enough picture but we
were wise to play it only one night as there were
several walked out on this one and, therefore, no
one would have showed up the second night. Let
the foreign atmosphere in the old country, don't try
to make our i)eople like it as they don't care for it.
I ought to know, I came from over there. Seven
reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. —
General patronage.
THE IRRESISTIBLE LOVER: Norman Kerry—
56%. May 21. If I saw this I can't remember any-
thing about it. Guess I didn't. The percentage! in-
dicates Kerry does not draw here. Seven reels.^
H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath S. C— General
patronage.
WON IN THE CLOUDS: Al Wilson— 13%. Au-
gust 8. Good little program picture with plenty of
action and outdoor stuff to make it interesting from
start to finish. Five reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal
theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
SKY HIGH SAUNDERS: Al Wilson— 20%. Au-
gust 17. A good aeroplane picture. — Bert Silver, Sil-
ver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General pat-
ronage.
ARIZONA CYCLONE: Fred Humes— 64%. August
9. A good Western that drew well. Five reels. — ^Mrs.
Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. —
General patronage.
GALLOPING FURY: Hoot Gibson— I received a
print that was in terrible shape, and had to borrow
a print from another town. The picture "Galloping
Fury" the less said about it the better. Goodbye,
Hoot, if you don't do better. Six reels. — ^L. E. Pal-
mer, Postville theatre, Postville, la. — ^General pat-
ronage.
HER BIG NIGHT: Laura LaPlante— July 21.
Just a fair picture. — Arno G. Weigang, Community
theatre, Kenedy, Tex. — Small town patronage.
BUCK PRIVATES: Lya de Putti— August 17.
Nice little picture. — J. S. Walker, Texas theatre.
Grand Prairie, Tex. — Small town patronage.
HELD BY THE LAW: Special cast— Very Good.
Seven reels. — J. W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese,
111. — General patronage.
THE MYSTERY CLUB: Special oast— Just fair.—
J. W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General
patronage.
HERO ON HORSEBACK: Special cast— Good.—
J. W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — 'General
patronage.
SENSATION SEEKER: Special cast— Fair.-^.
W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — ^General
patronage.
SPANGLES: Marion Nixon — Fair program pic-
ture. Nothing big. Not much circus in it. Seven
reels. — ^Arno G. Weigang, Community theatre, Ken-
edy, Tex. — Small town patronage.
Warner Bros.
FIVE AND TEN CENT ANNIE: Special cast-
August 7-8. Nothing to write home about. Just
another film wasted away. Might please 15 per cent.
Five reels. — Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre,
EUinwood, Kan. — ^General patronage.
RINTY OF THE DESERT: Rin Tin Tin— August
3-4. An average dog picture that brings the kids
and action fans in. — Warreni L. Weber, Ellinwood
theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — ^General patronage .
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC: Monte Blue— July 31-
August 1. A nice little program picture. Nothing
big but will certainly please. — ^Warren L. Weber,
Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — ^General pat-
ronage.
Serials
BLAKE OF SCOTLAND YARD: (Universal)
Special cast — We have now run 9 episodes of this
serial and find that it has increased our business on
our poorest night, viz., Friday. It is our intention
to continue with the serials for the future 'til time
proves them different. — A. G. Hopper, Ideal theatre,
Stanwood, Wash. — General patronage.
THE HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY: (Pathe) —
Good serial. Just played the last chapter. Acting
of Walter Miller and Allene Ray good. Twelve
chapters. — Andrew Rapp, Theatori\im, Emlenton. Pa.
— General patronage.
TARZAN THE MIGHTY: (Universal) Frank Mer-
rill— This starts off with a bang and if they don't
let it flop along about the seventh or eighth chapter
it ought to be a winner. — ^Roy W. Adams, Pastime
theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
Short Subjects
EDUCATIONAL
AT EASE: Lloyd Hamilton — Dandy comedy. Made
'em laugh all the way through, and yell at the
closeup. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre,
Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.
AT IT AGAIN:— A good comedy. Slapstick. Two
reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — ^General patronage.
HALF PINT HERO:— Good. Two reels.— J. W.
Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General pat-
i-onage.
JUNGLE HEAT :— Fair.— J. W. Schmidt, Grand
theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage.
LITTLE RUBE:— Just fair. Two reels. — J. W.
Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General pat-
ronage.
NO CHEATING: — Al St. John is slipping fast for
{Continued on next page)
No Losses en the Box Office
ICICET REGISTEI^
Automatic Ticket
Register Corp.
jzi Seventh Ave.New York
TuCKETS;^ Every Purpose^ Lowest Market Prices
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiNiiiiii ]]iiii] iiiiii)iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimfc^^!liiiuillliiiiiiifliiiiiii,)iii/iiii
58
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 8, 1928
Y^
WHAT THE PICTURE
DID FOR ME
(Continued from preceding page)
CHICAGO PERSONALITIES
By WHIT
THIS difficulty between the musicians and Chicago exhibitors is still'
dragging along as this goes to press, but already some interesting legal
fireworks have been indulged in, chief of which is the injunction granted
by Federal Judge Wilkerson denying the musicians the right to use a concerted
walkout. However, when the musicians' contract ended Saturday night in all
class six theatres, some 445 musicians ceased work. The latest and largestj
house to be affected is the B & K Norshore where 15 musicians ceased work
Tuesday. The complete report of the affair may be found in the news section
of this paper.
Robert Gombiner was seen on the row last
week for the first time in a couple of months.
But who wants to be seen on the row when
one can tour through the West with one's
f amil}- !
^ ^ '^
V. U. Young, who operates the palace the-
atre at Gary, Indiana, and the Palace at
Canton, Ohio, will soon open another Palace
at Marion, Ohio.
Sidney Selig, who has spent the last couple
of weeks at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, has re-
turned to the city.
* * *
Jack Miller's office of the Exhibitors Asso-
ciation of Chicago looks like a new place these
days with all the fresh paint and stains that
have been put upon walls and ceilings. And
even more interesting are the photographs
that Aliss Tess Heraty has hung upon the
walls. Taken during the days of "way back
when" the photographs are both interesting
and amusing. Better drop around and see
what you looked like 10 or 15 years ago.
H= * ^
Polka Brothers opened their new Deerpath
theatre in Lake Forest last Saturday. The
theatre is of English architecture which should
make it blend with many of the homes in
that section.
* ^ :}:
Just what it means to young boys to become
an usher in a loop theatre may be seen from
an incident that happened lately. Harry Lee,
19, wanted to be an usher in a State street
house the worst way, which means he paid one
George Konesky $22 to arrange it. But
George didn't even have a job himself. George
was arrested for fraud. We don't know
whether Harry got a job or not, but if we
were hiring ushers, we sure would look young
Harry up. Anyone who wanted a job as
usher that bad should make a good one.
^ ^- ^^
Involuntary bankruptcy proceedings were
instituted in United States District Court last
week against the Ambassador Theatre Com-
pany, operators of the Ambassador theatre
and the Drake theatre. The petition was filed
in favor of three Oak Park publishing con-
cerns.
* * *
Ben Judell of Judell, Inc., has signed up for
the entire season's product from Chesterfield
Motion Pictures Corporation for the Illinois
and Indiana territories.
You Can Have "Sound"— At a Price
Within Reason by Installing
PHOTOTONE
It Is Setting the Pace
L. V. KUTTNAUER
843 S. Wab:i«h Ave, Chicago Harrison 0737
The F B O exchange was quite a busy place
last week with all the trade showings that
were given. "The Perfect Crime," "Hit of
the Show" and "Gang War" were shown last
week, and "Danger Street," "Stocks and
Blondes" and "The Perfect Crime" are being
shown this week. Many exhibitors were pres-
ent at each showing. Phototone musical ac-
companiment was given each showing through
the courtesy of L. V. Kuttnauer, Phototone
distributor.
Another showing was given Tuesday at
Laudermilk's Fairy theatre at Nappanee,
Indiana, of "The Perfect Crime," "Gang War"
and "Hit of the Show." Next Tuesday a
similar showing will be given at Bennett's
Rialto at Pekin, Illinois. Both showings will
have Phototone musical accompaniment.
Probably one of the most interesting theatre
occurrences last week was the opening of the
Diversey theatre as a burlesque house. This
theatre has just about run the gamut of
amusement offerings. Opened first as picture
and presentation house, it changed to pictures
and vaudeville. Then it switched to straight
pictures, and now comes burlesque.
^ ^ ^
Keith-Albee-Orpheum will relinquish con-
trol of two more Chicago theatres in the next
few weeks. They are the Tower and Riviera.
The Tower goes back to B. & K. control on
the 22 of this month with the Oriental stage
band units and pictures. The Riviera will
revert to B. & K. around the first of October,
and according to K-A-0 officials B. & K. will
probably book K-A-0 vaudeville acts for the
house.
:}; * j}j
Balaban and Katz opened the Maryland
theatre on 63rd street last Sunday. The thea-
tre is on the spot of the old Woodlawn theatre
which at one time was the pride of Chicago.
The theatre seats 2,500, all on one floor. It
will be the only B. & K. neighborhood house
to present an exclusive picture policy.
* * H:
B. & K. are certainly presenting themselves
with some stiff competition on the South side.
The Tivoli is just a few blocks distant from
the Maryland, and just a few more blocks
down on 63rd is the Tower which as told
above will soon have the Oriental shows. And
besides their own competition there will be
more. John Mendikow is opening the Midway
just within earshot of the Tivoli with a
straight picture policy. Not far away is the
Picadilly, and to the Southwest are the Avalon
and Capitol, both of which draw from this
South side territory.
^ ^ H^
What is so rare as a day in September —
without a theatre labor disturbance.
me. — J. W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. —
General patronage.
FBO
BLISTERS UNDER THE SKIN:— "Bill Grimms
Progress." Good. Two reels. — Mrs Hulda J. Green,
Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
MICKEY'S BABES: Mickey McGuire— Lote of fun
with the kiddies. McGuire is sure some inventor
and his gang is all there too. Two reels.— Rudolf
Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General i>at>
ronage.
TOO MANY HISSES: Al Cooke— Good comedy.
Two reels. — -Andrew Rapp, Theatorium, Bmlenton,
Pa. — 'General patronage.
FOX
A COW'S HUSBAND:— Good. I like all of Fox
animal comedies. — ^P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Gris-
wold, la. — General patronage.
KANGAROO KIMONA: Van Bibber comedy— Good
comedy. This got plenty of laughs. Two reels. —
P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — General
patronage.
OLD WIVES FOR NEW: Imperial comedy— Good.
Two reels. — ^P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold,
la. — General patronage.
TOO MANY COOKIES: Van Bibber comedy— A
comedy that Is full of laughs. Two reels.— P. G.
Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — General pat-
ronage.
TWENTY LEGS UNDER THE SEA:— Just a good
leg show at the beach. We never got the price so
no use of crabbing. Two reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal
theatre, Kimball, S. D. — ^General patronage.
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
AFRICAN ADVENTURE: Oddity— Too dry. One
reel. — -Andrew Rapp, Theatorium, Emlenton, Pa. —
General patronage.
NEWS: — Good. One reel. — Andrew Rapp, Thea-
torium, Emlenton, Pa. — General patronage.
PARAMOUNT
HOT PAPA: Jack Duffy— Good comedy. Two reels.
— Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver,
Utah. — General patronage.
HUNGER STROKE: Krazy Kat— I have played
them for a long time and here is one of the best of
them. Very clever. Three-fourths reel. — Amo G.
Weigang, Community theatre, Kenedy, Tex. — -Small
town patronage.
KRAZY KAT AND INKWELL IMPS:— Good car-
toon comedy which is much enjoyed by our Satur-
day crowds. One reel. — G. O. Tunstall, Midway the-
atre, Martinsville, Va. — ^General patronage.
NEWS: — We play both issues each week and find
it a very good newsreel. — G. O. Tunstall, Midway
theatre, Martinsville, Va. — General patronage.
PARAMOUNT-CHRISTIE COMEDIES:— The best
comedies on the market and you can always count
on plenty of laughs from the audience. Two reels. —
G. O. Tunstall, Midway theatre, Martinsville, Va. —
General patronage.
PATHE
BATH TIME: Sportlighl^-These "Sportlights" are
about the best short subject on the market provided
they are not filled with a lot of sapheads playing
golf. My Saturday night bunch know and care
nothing about goUuf and I'll bet their idea of nothing
is to see some dizzy skull with trick pants knock a
toadstool around the pasture. One reel. — Wm. E.
Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small
town patronage.
UNIVERSAL
THE COLLEGIANS :— Second series. Not so good
as the first series. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre.
Mason, Mich. — ^General patronage.
DISORDERED ORDERLY: Sid Sailor— Sid al-
ways makes you smile with his funny face. This
one was plenty fast. Two reels. — -Rudolf Duba, Royal
theatre, Kimball, S. D. — ^General patronage.
JAILER GEORGE:— Fair comedy. Two reels. —
Bert Silver. Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
• — ^General patronage.
OH MABLE: Ike & Mike — Just a comedy that
did help the show to make it longer and not much
better. Two reels. — ^Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kim-
ball, S. D. — General patronage.
ONE EVERY MINUTE: Arthur Lake— Fine one
reeler. Arthur is always liked with his funny act-
ing.— Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. —
General patronage.
Recognizing the fact that changes
in method come in the splendid
advancement of the motion picture
industry, the Eastman Kodak Com-
pany continues its own forward
march and maintains its supremacy
in presenting to the trade
Eastman Panchromatic
Negative
Type 2
— a perfected^ proven product
for the cinematographer
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
J
FOX MOVIETONES at $
Louise Dresser
bavid Rollins Sue Carol
Arthur Lake
all speak their parts in
The AIR
mreetmd by
HOWARD HAWKS and
LEW8EILER
CIRCUS
HOT^ ARD HAW KS'
FAZIL
tcith
CHARLES FARRELL
GRETA NISSEN
JOHN FORD'S
FGuiv
SONS
tcith
MARGARET MANN
JUNE COLLYER
Now playing at $2
twice daily
GAIETY
NEW YO R K
mOVIEiun
fi
JOHN FORD'S
MOTHER
MACHREE
ttith
VICTOR McLAGLEN
BELLE BENNETT
Opening
October First
CARTHAY CIRCLE
LOS ANGELES
MOTHER KNOWS
BEST
Edna Ferher*s sensational story
directed in dialogue hy J, G.BLYSTONE
with
MADGE BELLAMY
an emotional actreM of rare ability
and a cast including
LOUISE DRESSER BARRY NORTON
^ ALBERT GRAN
LUCIEN UTTLTFIELD
F.W.MURNAU'S
SUNRISE
with
JANET GAYNOR
GEORGE O'BRIEN
FRANK BORZAGE'S
STREET
ANGEL ,
with '
JANET GAYNOR |
, CHARLES FARRELL 1
RAOUL WALSH'S
The RED
DANCE
starring
DOLORES DEL RIO
tvith
CHARLES FARRELL
IVAN LINOW
FOX MOVIETONE ^"^ """'""''
profits \^
EXHIBITOM
T~r ^~~w"\
ATTENTION
M-G-M
EXHIBITORS!
Tell your patrons
that theyVe going
to see the miracle
productions of
CECIL B. DE MILLE
in addition to the big
starring hits of M-G-M's
"More stars than
there are in Heaven!"
LON CHANEY
JOHN GILBERT
WILLIAM HAINES
MARION DAVIES
GRETA GARBO
RAMON NOVARRO
NORMA SHEARER
LILLIAN GISH
DANE-ARTHUR
BUSTER KEATON
CODY-PRINGLE
TIM McCOY
<<OUR GANG"
LAUREL-HARDY
CHARLEY CHASE
etc., etc., etc.
WE'RE
THRILLED
MR. DE MILLE
We^ve just heard the
great plans for your hig
M-Q-M pr(0iu:tio!ris and
were telling^^e ^orld!
CECIL B. Be ,^j^
MONEY showman
NOW with M-G-'M
WILL make the most
SENSATIONAL attractions
OF film history {it's a promise)
FOR the showmen of
TRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
MrabC ^ Mof t<^ NMvn Px»4ijian to* OtHtltnitMi o* ti
L/L-l- ir.l OO NT 11 /V I OC M 1\ Entered as second-class matter, August 20, 1917, at tlta post Office at Chicago, III., under the act of March S, c . ■ <r ^nnn
V note vol. 9^,1X0. IH vol. 03, INO. l; 1879. Published weekly at 407 South Dearborn St., Chicago. Subscription iS.OO « vcar. Siitole copies, 25 cents. September 15, 1928
III
M
t
>kM
uilt up to
aa ideal and
not dowQ to
a price
ORGANS
Factories, North Tonawanda, New York
BUFFALO
CHICAGO
CINCINNATI
CLEVELAND
DETROIT
KANSAS CITY
LOS ANGELES
NEW YORK
PHILADELPHIA
PITTSBURGH
SAN FRANCISCO
ST. LOUIS
"llilinniiiiu iiiiiHiiill'i
llll|nniMiiMnihii|i|ii||j|''''
'4
Trrrr
WURLITZER FACTORY
,•■ N. Tonawanda, N.Y.
' If
3 Pictures
that will nrite
FILM
H 1 N T O R Y
OCTOBER
EDDINO
A PARAMOUNT PICTURE
ERICH
VON STROHEIM'S
BRILLIANT CREATION
With Von Stroheim and Fay Wray
Story by Von Stroheim and Harry Carr
With Technicolor. Available SILENT or with
N O V N D
PARAMOUNT
• ~v
MOTION PICTURE HEADQUARTERS
¥■
NOTE: The FOX Advertising Department has
had to prepare this standing form to rush out
details on the consistent successes of Fox pictures.
I
creaks another house record
Street Angel
The River Pirate
Four Sons
Fazil
Win That Girl
[other Knows Best
Plastered in Paris
Me, Gangster
The Air Circus
Mother Machree
Sunrise
laking The Grade
The Red Dance
Dry Martini
M.ovietone or
Silent Prints
FRANK BORZAGE'S
STREET ANGEL
with
Janet Gaynor — Charles Farrell
breaks all records
at the
Strand, Milwaukee
by $5,000
In seven days 42,000 people jammed house with capacity
1187 seats — held over for 2nd week
rwiecker of
0 0<5 35
U. ffiO g^
I Wk^
>'r :^Q wis
ere at
|2t§S'l.«j
esettil,
0
^Vo«
I^'A^-.i . ■'"St On« . .
%^i
1 mt^^^^TwFf M>
L it «•"" Bating oTBt^,. ,. .„,...
E
:=S. -^
■-Si
■/
7
.■^, i^-*
From
TTie Fi7m Spectator
August 18,1928
"D. W. has given us what I think
is the BEST PICTURE HE
HAS EVER MADE. So superb-
ly has Griffith directed it that it
is a notable example of screen
art. Its appeal will be general.
Women, particularly, will find it
engrossing. Human and enter-
taining. United Artists is turn-
ing out some of the best pictures
that we are getting."
I
Father loved his home, his wife,
children, his pipe and his fire-
,side. His club was the only
thing that took him out nights
until —
A blonde Sheba crossed his
path, a poor "misunderstood"
damsel of modern mood.
Father fell, and fell so hard
that—
(J-Wbelber you play t
witb sound or as sile
buy, piciure for picture
Ing to put these
for u
^joorn*
H
^-ytse^^
U-:-.
"fr.tv ONE"-
7f W\®^^^^&«'"^
/ "lIUl) CAN'T T^Vn?
« '' "'ani.T H4TING "THEB „„.„
"In o*« p-"" * ^.„. '""'n.'b.*-*"' ^° io.> -°""° ■
l0 e^eij llN
je--
^
5,500,000 silent salesmen for
you, your box-office and YOUR
PROFIT.
5,500,000 workers going all over
the country telling folks of "The
Battle of the Sexes" — what a
fine picture it is, — what a treat
they have in store for them
when it comes to your city.
This means that at least 15,000-
000 prospective ticket buyers
will have placed before them in
strong, forceful and a very
colorful manner the message
that when this picture is adver-
tised in their city — THEY
MUST see it if they want a
perfect evening of entertain-
ment.
Book it! Date it! Play it! Get
the Big Money That Is Being
Built For You Through This
Great National Advertising
Campaign.
Daughter, father's little pal, got
real mad and went a gunning —
Blonde dears were her objective
and the season was wide open.
And so "The Battle Forever
Being Fought But Never Won"
goes on and on. Man against
woman — male vs. female.
!
tTNITED ARTISTS PICTURES
it entertainment you liave the best
tl>e inar]$.et offers for igz6 — iQZQ
L.
A WILLIAM C. deMILLE
PRODUCTION
with
IRENE RICH
and WARNER BAXTER
Adapted by Clara Beranger
from the stage play by George Kelly
"Get this or miss a wow!"
#^ "Something for every intelligent exhibitor to
give thanks about. Irene Rich gives one of
most satisfactory and striking characteriza-
tions of the year. It's something to remember.
Leaves you sitting wishing there was some
more. — When a film can make a hard boiled
critic feel that way, it's got something, brother.
Get this yarn of the selfish woman left alone,
or miss a wow
Photoplay
Says
""The best picture of the month''
"William de Mille gives a brilliant picturiza-
tion of a Broadway success. The director has
surpassed himself in his unique power to por-
tray the intrinsic drama of the ordinary human
frailties. Irene Rich has a rare opportunity to
show her gift for intimate characterization.
Warner Baxter plays with marvelous sympathy
and restraint. Drama of the highest order."
Get set for more Pathe Hits
RodL^Rocque
'* CAPTAIN „
SWAGGER
UuAM Boyd
'Tower''
Celebrity
~t4//M
LINA BASQUETTE
ROBERT ARMSTRONG
*-.! "?m KAVE SfHNrrZER-BROWN HEAD
NFW KENNEDY SOUND STUDIOS
"Our hat is off to Pathe"
"Our hat is off to Pathe and William C.
deMille for their production of ^Craig's Wife'.
It is an excellent picture and should prove a
box office treat wherever shown."
"Irene Rich gives her best
performance
as Mrs. Craig. This is one of the few examples
to come recently to notice of the successful
and intelligent and effective translation to
the screen of a stage play genuinely human
and finely drawn. Even at the risk of domes-
tic duplicity, we suggest your seeing 'Craig's
Wife' and taking yours with you."
Pafhe
*>««b«Mi**
I
Pictures
i J
7i
m
imk
1
•^
/ ..»«i£"
f
ir" ; 1
)^^«SIH..^^H
ff^
y^iT
m^^^^^HJ^^H^V
"''5
j^j^j«*»-*«--
J^
I^^K^,
An&azin^ production value! Originality!
Lau^ks! Li^ktnin^ stvift action! A ^reat
name to exploit! Laughs! You get thetn all
in every one of tke neiv
*v^
I
Lane starts the netr season -with, a comedy
tkat surpasses even bis o-wn 1>est ^
previous ivork. And critics
every-wKere are calling bim tke
outstanding comedian in tke
t-wo-reel field. Look over ^-
tke stills! Tken see it!
And let tke glooms
?l;?WtS B^aI^C
f ^><L<.i c^aXloival. u<xJiuAjU>^
i-HE SPICE OFTHE PROGRAM"
i September 15, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 11
^EREfiOTH/^PICTUtESARESTNCHeONIZED.
PRODLCTIONS
Bird's eye view of
Bristolphone stu-
dio, factories and
laboratory. Found-
ed 1889
Wm. H. Bristol, M.E., Inventor of Bris-
tolphone, and formerly of the faculty of
the Stevens Institute of Technology
EXHIBITORS ATTENTION!
Professor Win. H. Bristol Announces
BRISTOLPHONE
The World's Foremost S5mchronizing Disc Device
is available immediately and will
he m,arketed nationally by
GOTHAM-BRISTOLPHONE
SERVICE CORPORATION
EXHIBITORS — here is your best news of the year! Four-
teen years of constant perfecting, and the experience of
operating since 1889 one of the world's largest record-
ing-instrument plants, has resulted in the Bristolphone
synchronizing device now ready for you! While others
are talking of installations somewhere in the dim future,
here is a superb, perfected system, at a price within
reach of ALL exhibitors, available IMMEDIATELY.
SHORT SUBJECTS, entertaining acts, the most novel in-
novations in sound effects, the tried and proved box-
office calibre of Gotham Productions, plus the product
of other leading producers, will make your house the
talk of the community! Bristolphone is ready for you.
Write, wire or phone to
GOTHAM BRISTOLPHONE SERVICE CORP.
1650 Broadway, New York City
Factories and Laboratories: Waterbury, Conn.
Congratulations,
Mr. A. Julian Bry-
lawski, for acquir-
ing the first Bristol-
phone for your
Academy Theatre at
Hagerstown, Md.
Your patrons will
applaud you for in-
suring them a fool-
proof presentation
of all synchronized
sound films.
SOUND
PROmiCTIOMS
DIALOGUE
z?iccUiimed hyPfess andhihlk
Ever Filmed 1
r
playing to
every perfbttnance
IMMSSy THE/miE
NEW YORK CITV
liigeniously contrived undersea melodrama.
Scenes are so compelling and acting so com-
petent that interest never slackens ... A real-
istic conception of the horrors aboard a
sunken submersible. Another praiseworthy
point is that the characters are particularly
well drawn. Direction is especially clever.
— Mordaunt Hall.
tin
An undersea disaster graphically depicted. Vivid and
aflFecting. Admirably photographed and acted. As ar-
resting a melodramatic episode as the past season has
brought. When the big moment arrives, it is big in-
deed.— John S. Cohen, Jr.
at ^2 Top
2tbeill<rmm0^kflrap!i
!i:
NEW.
Xeralb ^
;YORK
:£». aTributie
Something of the overpowering horror
of a submarine disaster, of the hideous
tragedy of a group of men left to go mad
and gradually suffocate in the ocean's
depth, is graphically depicted. Nothing
short of brilliant in its sheer dramatic
effectiveness. With considerable atten-
tion to detail and romantic effect, it cap-
tures the proper mood of its timely and
terrifying subject with authentic power.
—Richard Watts, Jr.
A natural box-office success with a theme
that millions of people have become ac-
quainted with and that will cause hands
to grip seats and lumps to rise in every-
one's throat. Good cast, fine direction
and advance expoitation already created
gratis, before you play it. — Wilkerson.
A genuine hit. Has everything that
movie audiences literally eat up ... .
Breath-taking suspense, heart interest,
a well developed story, an excellent
cast and perfect direction. Abounds
in interesting sequences of submer-
sibles and numerous instructive shots
to us 'land-lubbers' who have no doubt
seen our subs only in news reels. Un-
usual humor in the characters. The
picture is a triumph. — H. D. S. ,
DAILV m MIRROR
A thrilling movie which stands beside the $2
specials turned out by the big boys. Has laughs,
tears and thrills. And what thrills! Has such a
wallop it tears you out of your seat. — Bland
Johaneson.
GET IN TOUCH WITH VOUR.
- SUBMARINE' IS THE GREATEST BOX-OFFICE AT
as the Most SensationalFijdure
The Newark Telegram
An unheralded epic in the annals of thrill-
ing pictures .... A picture no film-goer
should miss. In graphic shots that have
seldom been duplicated, "SUBMARINE"
takes one down to the ocean's bottom.
Will bring hearty laughs and a choking
lump in your throat. Each player gives a
marvelous performance.
—Russell J. Birdwell.
EvENiNo Graphic
Realistic shots of stricken seamen in the
doomed undersea craft deserve serious
consideration. — Betty Colfax.
A picture which anyone of the major pro-
ducers would have been proud to sponsor.
One is deeply thrilled by the undersea
sequences. These are fully worth the price
of admission. — George Gerhard.
r>AIIjy^ TMEAVS
Good audience fare. Should prove of interest
to movie-goers. Breath-taking and really
wholly absorbing. Clutched at the heart and
brought many a tear. You're bound to like
"SUBMARINE".— /rewe Thirer.
Shockingly vivid scenes showing
what happens inside a submarine
when one of these vessels is ram-
med and sunk . . . Much of informa-
tional value in the production.
Interior shots of submersible splen-
didly made and technical scenes
explanatoryof the action of the men
AMTUF TIME ^hen danger threatens were ex-
^g^^^^g^ cellent.— 2«/«« Martin.
Touted as the best picture the company
has ever made, it lives up to that fore-
cast with plenty of margin to spare.
Easily a production which would do
credit to the biggest company in the
business. The picture is a darned good
one. So good, in fact, that it rates first-
run showings everywhere from the Roxy
right down the line. — Kann.
The most powerful bit of movie property I
have seen in years. A thriller, if there ever was
one. The suspense is overpowering. — Harry
Hershfield,
jy.
«%
Is a strong and stirring picture . . .
Columbia's second straight picture on
Broadway and will add lustre to the
Company's standing nationally. A dra-
matic and box-office clicker. — hand.
m
COLUMBIA EXCHANGE
UaiON OF THIS OR ANY OTHER SEASON
14
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
1
That is the theatre circulation of Exhibitors Herald and
Moving Picture World as shown in its Publisher's State-
ment to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, dated June 28,
1928.
It is the first five figure theatre circulation in the history
of motion picture trade papers.
It exceeds by more than 2,000 the figure of 8,300 which
w^as heralded and billboarded to the trade five or six
years ago by the paper w^hich at that time dominated
the field.
It is undoubtedly double the paid theatre circulation of
any other paper in the field today; probably three times
the paid theatre circulation of any other paper in the
field, and possibly four times the paid theatre circulation
of any other paper in the field today. We don't know
and you don't know, becciuse no other paper in the field
submits its circulation to the auditors of the A. B. C.
The advertising rate of Exhibitors Herald and Moving
Picture World, on the basis of paid theatre circulation, is
easily the low^est of any publication in the field.
Note: — The figure 10,573 only embraces the theatre cir-
culation of the Herald-World. Its average distribution
for the £rst six months of 1928 as shown in the statement
to the A. B. C. was 14,137.
FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF MOTION PICTURES
Now the phrase "A
Great Motion Picture" takes
on new meaning. With First National's
"The Divine Lady" the art of picture making
enters a new phase. So fabulously rich are the mate-
rials in this mighty special that they force an entirely
new conception of the scope of screen entertainment!...
Recall the glories of the greatest spectacles of the past;
then vision a product greater than the greatest — better
than the best.... A fortune spent to re-enact, in rich de-
tail, the most colorful naval combat in history. A cast
of thousands in breathless battle action. And unbe-
lievably thrilling sequences in Sound! We urge
you: — Tear away all your old standards of
picture values. You will need an en-
tirely new basis by which to
measure the true greatness
of "The Divine Lady" !
'f^
7/^
r
t ^
iLiiMM^
CORINNE GRIFFITH in
"THE DIVINE LADY"
WITH H. B. WARNER AND VICTOR VARCONI
A FRANK LLOYD PRODUCTION
PRESENTED BY RICHARD A. ROWLAND
A FIRST NATIONAL SPECIAL WITH SOUND
Y^
The
Independent
Film Trade
Paper
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
Home
Office:
atv
i MOVING PICTURE 40750. Dearborn Su
Chicago
WORLD
IN THIS ISSUE
Warner deal for purchase of Stanley circuit of theatres is near closing ; Final arrangements are ex-
pected to be completed in short time; First National would continue to function as independent unit;
Fox transaction to take over chain of Reade houses is reported nearing consummation; Theatres in
New York and New Jersey.
COMPLETE INDEX TO CONTENTS
NEWS
Chicac^o exhibitors win in labor issue; 500 musicians return to
pits; Demand for extra men in synchronism houses is dropped.
Gourland sailing to make plea for free trade in world films;
Canadian exhibitors push plans for reception of M. P. T. O. A.
Motion Picture Club of New York throws open doors; Page of
pictures shows completeness of new center for leaders of in-
dustr}'.
Additional prosperity is in store if way is paved, says LaemmJe;
Warners launch million dollar drive in 125 newspapers Sep-
tember 17.
DEPARTMENTS
Synchronized Pictures 28
The Studio 31
Short Features 35
Presentation Acts 36
The Theatre 43
New Pictures 46
Classified Advertising 51
What the Picture Did for Me 53
Chicago Personalities by Whit 58
FEATURES
Service Talks by T. 0. Service ! . . 42
Los Angeles by Douglas Hodges 32
Pictorial Section 23
Letters from Readers 52
Quick Reference Picture Chart 47
Broadway 18
ADVERTISEMENTS
FILM AND EQUIPMENT— Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wurlitzer,
Eastman Kodak Company, Fox Film Corporation, Paramount,
First National, F B O, United Artists, Pathe, Educational, Gotham,
Columbia, Ethel Doherty, Buck Jones, Maria Corda, Milton M.
Stern, Automatic Ticket Register, National Screen.
PRESENTATIONS— Mark Fisher, Harold J. Lyons, Roy Dietrich,
Albert F. Brown, Doc Webb, Jack Peacock Kelly, Ransley
Studios, Brooks Costumes.
CHiatco
407 South Dearborn St. Telephonas Harrison 0036-37-38
Cable Address : Quigpabea
EDWIN S. CLIFFORD, Geam-al Uanas»r
JAY M. SHRECK, Maaagiitg Editor
GEORGE CLIFFORD, Business Manager
ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD, New Editor
LOS ANGELES
5617 HoUjwvod Blvd. Telephone Gladstone 3754
DOUGLAS HODGBS
West Coatt ilanager
EDITORIAL
AJVD
ADVERTISING
OFFICES
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
NEJT YORK
565 Fifth Avenue Telephones Vanderbllt 3612-3613
JAMES BEECROFT, Neto York AdvertiHng Manager
PETER VISCHER, Neie York Editor
LONDON
THE BIOSCOPE
(J. Caboum, Editor}
Faraday House
8-10 Charing Cross Rd., W. C. 2
United States and possessions — $3.00 per year, Caniida — $4.50 per year. Other points of the world $6.00 per year.
Advertising rate cards and Audit Bureau of Ctreulatlens statements furnished upon application.
Single copies, 25 eonts.
16
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
asi MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Martin J. Quigley, Publisher«6>o Editor
Incorporating Exhibitors Herald, founded in 191S; Moving Pic-
ture WoBiJ), founded in 1907; Motography, founded in 1909; and
,i The Film Index, founded in 1909
Published Every Wednesday by
Quigley Publishing Company
Publication Office: 407 So. Dearborn St., CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Martin J. Quigley, President
Eownr S. Cliffobd, Secretary Geobgk Clifforb, Asst. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Copyright, 192S, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other Publications: The Chicagoan and Polo, class journals; and the follow-
ing motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exhibitoks
Heralb and Moving Picture World: Better Theatres, every fourth week, and
The Buyers Index, published semi-annually.
Whole Vol. 92, No. 11 (Vol. 35 No. 1) September 15, 1928
The Labor Crisis
THE basic difficulty in the labor situation is that many
of the existing contracts between motion picture in-
terests and labor organizations are decidedly out of tunc
wth existing conditions. These contracts, since the early
days of the business, have been constantly and continually
made more burdensome for the theatres. There have been
■\4rtually no recessions or readjustments; the trend has
been steadily upwards in cost to the theatre operator.
It is quite true that for a long time the rapid and regular
developments of the theatre business made it not only pos-
sible but very proper that the theatreman should share his
prosperity with union employes. Rut conditions have
changed. The old rate of development has not been main-
tained and a long list of necessary expenditures in connec-
tion with the operation of a modern theatre has regularly
become more burdensome. Hence, there has been reached
a situation in which labor organizations must give heed to
the existing capabilities of exhibitors to meet their de-
mands.
The labor organizations are in no wise unaware of con-
ditions as they actually exist today in the theatre field. It
is probably only natural that they should leave it to the
exhibitor to emphasize these conditions, but emphasis
must be placed upon them — and new contracts drawn ac-
cordingly— if the fundamental prosperity of the theatres
is to be maintained. Failure to have this brought about
will create only the illusion of victory for the labor organi-
zations, because the theatres can only pay what the traffic
will bear.
An unfortunate feature of the situation is the apparent
determination of certain of the labor leaders to rule or
rum. An instance of the ruinous policy may be found in
those instances in which it is insisted that men be em-
ployed and paid to conform with arbitrary regulations
rather than to render any valuable services in return for
the wages they receive.
All of this amounts to a vicious economic waste. New
contracts must be so drawn as to wipe out this practice.
The American ideal of better and still better working
conditions and wages must be maintained but in return for
yielding such opportunities for the workers the employers
must be given services that are more nearly proportionate
to the cost.
* * *
The Other Side
EXHIBITORS who have been delayed in obtaining
sound devices for the theatres may look with consid-
erable satisfaction upon the fact that almost day by day
developments and added perfections are taking place in
the manufacturing of sound equipment. Many of the
earlier installations are certain to develop shortcomings
and those exhibitors who, willing or unwilling, are waiting
are very likely to find themselves in a decidedly more
advantageous position than their contemporaries who,
seemingly, have been more fortunate in getting early
installations.
A similar situation carries through on production.
Months of experimentation in the studios will be necessary
before anything like an uniform supply of meritorious
sound product may be depended upon. The exhibitors
who first get the second and third crop of sound pictures
are certain to have something that will render much better
satisfaction to their public.
* » «
Producing East
ANOTHER periodic reestablishment of motion picture
i production in New York is taking place. This time
it is due exclusively to sound and the availability in New
York of players qualified for work in sound pictures.
For fifteen years production, in some volume, has been
shifted to New York. Prior to that time there was a great
deal of production carried on in New York but eventually
there was a widespread exodus westward. Since the first
concentration of production in California various eflforts
have been made to remove it in whole or in part back to
New York. Practically every leading company in the in-
dustry has experimented with production in the East, the
most persistent effort having been made by Paramoimt.
But, in every case. Eastern production was fiuaally aban-
doned for one reason or another, the principal cause hav-
ing been that the concentration of producing facilities in
California makes it decidedly the most advantageous point.
Now Paramount, with a long and hard experience in
production in the East, is launching a new effort. It may
develop that the introduction of sound somewhat changes
the situation; at least, this seems to be the conclusion the
Paramount organization has arrived at. But many compe-
tent observers are of the opinion that while sound produc-
tion in New York may offer certain immediate advantages,
in the long run it will drift to Hollywood.
It is commonly acknowledged that a second great pro-
duction center in the United States would offer many great
advantages. It would tend to curb the caste domination,
in thought and action, of Hollywood and would tend to
broaden the prospect of those concerned in making pic-
tures. But the effort to make pictures in New York has
long been beset with many major difficulties. It will be
interesting to see whether sound changes this situation.
* * •»
UNDER the heading of something new in trade paper
advertising may be listed the device of Mr. Glendon
Allvine, advertising chief of the Fox Film corporation, who
has introduced a stock design which carries the following
explanation: "The Fox advertising department has had to
prepare this standing form to rush out details of consistent
successes of Fox pictures."
* * «■
WHILE on the subject of trade advertising it should
be maintained that there are now about certain
pieces of circular matter which amount to a complete case
of bad taste. We shall not identify them because the less
attention they receive the less chance of the industry some
day being seriously embarrassed on their account.
The Hays Office readers ought to wipe off their spec-
tacles.
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
17
Deal for Warner Purchase of
Stanley Chain Is Near Closing
Film Engineers Will
Consider Sound at
September Meeting
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— The fall meeting of
the Society of Motion Picture Engineers will
be held at Lake Placid during the week of Sep-
tember 24. The convention, according to the
announcement, will "consist essentially of a
symposium on sound recording in conjunction
with motion pictures."
Papers will be read on several phases of
synchronization and telegraphic transmission
of pictures by leading workers in the labora-
tories of the American Telephone and Tele-
graph Company and Electrical Research
Products, Inc., while Frank Woods, secre-
tary of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences, will speak on "The Sound Mo-
tion Picture Situation in Hollywood."
Reservations are to be addressed to J. J.
Sweeney, Whiteface Inn, Lake Placid, N. Y.
Civic Groups Pitch in
At Toronto to Put Over
MPTOA Convention
(Special to the Herald-World)
TORONTO, Sept. 11.— Committees are
diligently at work with local preparations
for the convention of the MPTOA in the
King Edward hotel October 16, 17 and 18.
Arrangements are proceeding nicely under
the direction of J. C. Brady, proprietor of
the Madison theatre and chairman of the
general convention committee.
Brady is enjoying the active co-operation
of many Toronto exhibitors, as well as
other organizations. The Toronto Tourist
and Publicity Bureau has sent out consid-
erable literature, while an invitation also
has been extended by Col. John A. Cooper,
president of the Motion Picture Distribu-
tors' and Exhibitors' Association, Toronto.
Committee chairmen include: Treasurer,
Sam Major, proprietor of Major's St. Clair
and Rodger Road Theatres; Entertainment,
Harry Sedgwick, Tivoli; Reception, Alder-
mjn W. A. Summerville, Prince of Wales
and Eastwood theatres; Finance, Harry Al-
exander, Park; and secretary of the conven-
tion. Miss Laura Elston.
Minneapolis Strand Open;
F & R's 131st Starts Soon
(Special to the Herald-World)
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 11.— The Strand
reopens Thursday with "Wings" as the fea-
ture. Hereafter all the "bigger and bet-
ter" pictures which F R shows in the mill
city will be presented at this theatre for
indefinite runs. Harold Kaplan again will
manage the Strand.
The atmospheric Granada will open Sep-
tember 22. This is the 131st house of the
F & R circuit.
Hy Daab Busy on New
Play With Jack Conway
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— Hy Daab, F B O
manager, and co-author of "Ringside,"
Gene Buck's early season stage hit, is al-
ready at work on a new play in collabora-
tion with Jack Conway.
First National Is Expected to
Continue As Independent Unit
Warner's Net Called Above Two Millions for Fiscal
Year — Fox Seeking 31 Reade Theatres
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK CITY, Sept. 11. — Negotiations are now under way, it can be
stated with authority, for the purchase of the Stanley string of theatres by
Warner Brothers. Apparently the deal will go through without unusual stress,
and will be ready for completion in the very near future.
First National to Remain Independent
Particular interest attaches to the position of First National if Stanley gets
into the hands of Warner Brothers. Undoubtedly, First National will remain
an independent unit even if the deal goes through, for the future of the com-
pany was safeguarded by a special pooling arrangement made during the
summer, when it scmed likely that William Fox would purchase the Stanley
theatres.
Incidentally, the Wall Street Journal esti^
mated today that the Warners will be able to
report net earnings of approximately $500,000
for August. This would bring the net income
for the fiscal year ending August 31 to more
than $2,000,000 after charges and federal taxes.
Fox Purchase of Reade
Theatres Reported Near
A deal between the Fox theatre circuit and
Walter Reade, whereby the 31 theatres in
New York and New Jersey under the latter's
control will be taken over by the Fox chain,
is reported to be underway, with the closing
of the transaction expected in two or three
weeks and $25,000,000 involved.
Fox theatre stock A sold a point higher on
the New York curb market Monday on a
heavy turnover but closed unchanged. Uni-
versal rose nearly seven points and Consoli-
dated Film Industries also made a good gain.
A $4,000,000 bond issue of Fox-New England
Theatres, Inc. (Poli Properties) has just been
announced.
Movietone equipment was used in making
the picture but laboratory equipment has not
been installed at the Universal lot to date and
it was necessary to use actual Movietone the-
atres for cutting the film. The Movietone
truck supplied equipment for all microphone
work.
U's First All-Talker
Surprises Hollywood;
Previewed at Midnight
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— Carl Laemmle
gave Hollywood a surprise Tuesday when he
spread the word that his first all talking pic-
ture had been completed and would be pre-
viewed at midnight.
It is "The Melody of Love" and it was
shown to 50 people at the Chinese theatre.
Walter Pidgeon, Jane Winton and Mildred
Harris are in the cast. Pidgeon is reported as
an excellent singer as well as actor.
The picture will be released at once.
San Francisco Ballroom
Sues Paramount for Scene
In Picture of Clara Bow
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 11.— Four days
following the initial presentation of "The
Fleet's In" at the Granada theatre, the owners
of the Roseland Ballroom filed a suit for $100,-
000 damages in the superior court. The action
is directed against Clara Bow, the star, James
Hall, her leading man, Publix, West Coast
Theatres, Inc., Paramount, Jesse Lasky and
Adolph Zukor.
The complaint sets forth that the location is
clearly established as being San Francisco,
then Clara Bow is shown beside a large sign
on which is painted, "Big Dance Tonight at
Roseland."
According to the complaint, inside the ball-
room are shown men, purporting to be sailors
of the United States Navy, and women repre-
sented as employees of the ballroom dancing
"tough, indecent and unrefined steps." It sets
forth that because the tough couples were not
molested the impression is created that this is
the usual way of dancing at Roseland.
Salesman Is Found Dead
ALB.\NY.— E. R. Brink of Buffalo, Paramount
salesman, was found dead in his room at a Rochester
hotel last week.
Wealthy Exhibitor Gets 2 to 14 Years
For Part in Bombing of Own Theatre
The Hammond, Ind., theatre bombing of last fall became a closed incident last
Saturday when William Kleihege, owner of the house, called the Hammond, was
sentenced to serve from two to 14 years in the Indiana penitentiary for conspiracy
to dynamite the Hammond theatre, which he owned. He was also fined $1,000.
Kleihege is reputed to be wealthy.
Harry Ames and Joseph Milton are now serving sentences as a result of the
bombing, having been convicted of mishandling explosives.
Kleihege had sought a new trial on the grounds that his being the only one con-
victed of conspiracy represented a miscarriage of justice. The prosecution con-
tended that he had desired to get rid of the Hammond in order to get more pat-
ronage for his other theatres. The house was practically demolished.
18
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
wim
11 XEW^ YORK— Hector TurnbuU, who
ji knows what it's all about, has been induced
hj" Paramount to take care of what might be
called "dangerous" pictures. . . . Any picture
that looks too hard to make will engage this
experienced and nimble wit.
lIMetro has signed no less than thirty stage
stars for j\Iovietone. . . . Frances WilUains of
Georgie JVhite's "Scandals" is on the list. . . .
Also Eva LeGaUienne, though she probably
won't be in the Williams opus.
tlW'arner is sitting tight with John Barry-
more, Al Jolson, Fannie Brice and George
Arliss as its "Big Four."
IJFox and Warners are doing a bit of hop-
ping in the market.
\\Micbael J. Gourland, president of the Af-
fihated European Producers, with headquar-
ters in this town, is about to sail for Europe
with a plea for free trade of motion pictures
among all nations.
^Harry D. Buckley, vicepresident of United
Artists, left the White Way for a three weeks'
visit to the company's studios in Hollywood.
Wl'Vill Hays and Al Lichtman were sent in to
bat for Jiniinie Walker at the formal opening
of the Motion Picture Club. . . . Harry
Reichenhach couldn't be replaced as toast-
master, however.
IJThe head-hunters are hot on the trail of
Joe Kennedy. . . . Now that he broke with
First National, they're doing what they can
to cement his friendship with K A O.
^By the way, the bad newsboys piped one
about poor old Paramount last week. . . . Only
Charlie McCarthy will show you the books
and point out where Paramount is just a bit
ahead of last year, and going along.
^[MaryPickford is to star in "Coquette," one
of the big dramatic smashes of the year. . . .
It will be all-talking. . . . And Savi Taylor
will direct.
Vimmy Grainger of Fox predicts a fifty
per cent increase in motion picture theatre at-
tendance during the next six months. . . .
Jimmy probably gets his ideas from watching
them file into the Roxy.
v. I. Schnitzer, E. B. Derr and Lee Marcus
went to Chicago for an F B 0 convention.
^\Al Rockett, general manager in charge of
First National production, is on his way East
for a conference with home office officials.
HFox is apparently losing his deal for the
31 Walter Reade houses in New York and New
Jersey One of these days Mr. William Fox
ou.ght to be fairly well fixed along Broadway.
^A.^ P. Gannini, head of the Bancitaly Cor-
poration, was in New York just long enough
to take the train for San Francisco. ... He
came in from Europe reporting all's well.
^_ Veanne Eagels, star of the stage version of
"Rain," has been signed by Paramount to ap-
pear in Somerset Maugham's neat little play,
"The Letter." . . . The temperamental lady
made one picture for Metro with John Gil-
bert and it went pretty well.
HWarner's "The Terror," one hundred per
cent talking, broke the record established by
Al Jolson in "The Jazz Singer" at the Warner
theatre. . . . Which isn't so bad.
Vohnny Walker has closed a deal with
Educational for the release of thirteen single-
reel comedies. . . . They will be made out
West by Nat Cordish.
^ TiLabor Day is past and gone and it looks
like real business on Broadway for a change
PETER VISCHER.
Jimmy Murphy Entertains
HOLLYWTK^lJ — Jimmy .Murphy, creator of the
Tootb and Casper strip, which Larry Darmour i.s
making info an F B O picture, entertained staff and
cast at hi') IJevcrly Hills home.
War — for Loot and Liberty
Two pictures have been completed by F B O intended for those who like their screen
fare peppery. "Gang War" is just that. It stars Olive Borden and Jack Pickford.
Bert Glennon directed. "Charge of the Gauchos" is a story of the Argentines' rebellion
against Spanish rule. Francis X. Bushman and Jacqueline Logan are starred, while
Albert Kelly directed. Scenes from both are shown below.
Above and below are scenes from "Gang W^ar." Miss Borden is shown with Eddie
Gribbon in one. Pickford is at right in the other.
Belou): Miss Lognn and Bushman (in foreground) in "Charge of the Gauchos."
September 15. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
19
Cup Offered to Promote
Anglo-American Good Will
(St^-^-i"l to the Hn-ald-]\'orld)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— Sam Har-
ris, editor and publisher of "Today's
Cinema." London daily motion pic-
ture newspaper, has offered to the
Associated Motion Picture Adver-
tisers a silver trophy to be presented
by the A M P A to the individual in
any branch of the American Elm in-
dustry whose deed or suggestions
tend best to promote better under-
standing between the public and film
industries of America and England.
The trophy has just been received
from London by Edward L. Klein,
chairman of the committee appointed
by President Bruce Gallup of the
A M P A.
Klein will present the cup to the
association at the meeting at the
Paramount hotel Thursday.
If Europe Objects, Let
It Make Better Films,
Says Editorial Writer
"If Europe objects to the average Ameri-
can film, let it produce a superior article,"
says the Chicago Tribune in an editorial ar-
ticle.
"The demand for reciprocity is reason-
able in the abstract, but in practice the
question reduces itself to this: Are Euro-
pean films as interesting to the general pub-
lic as the American product? If not,
reciprocity is out of the question.
"There are plenty of insipid and mediocre
films on display in the United States. Every-
where intelligent patrons of the motion pic-
ture and the 'speakies' are demanding im-
provement in the quality of the product ex-
hibited. And improvement already is on
the way."
F BO Holds Regional
Sales Meet in Chicago
A regional sales meeting was held by F B O
at the Drake Hotel, Chicago, last Sunday. The
meeting was presided over by J. I. Schnitzer,
senior vice-president in charge of distribution.
Schnitzer, E. B. Derr, treasurer, and Lee Mar-
cus, general sales manager were present from
the home office.
Others who attended the meeting included :
Charles Rosenzweig, New York State sales
manager ; William Dahler, chief statistician ;
Sam Abrams, manager at ^Milwaukee ; M. J.
Frisch, manager at Minneapolis ; Roy Zimmer-
man, Sioux Falls; S. W. Fitch, Omaha; Harry
Frankel, Des Aloines ; Roy Churchill, Kansas
City; Harry Weiss, St. Louis; Claud Penrod,
Indianapolis ; A. M. Elliott, Detroit ; Harry
Michalson, Cincinnati ; A. J. Mertz, Cleveland
and Harry Dixon, Buffalo.
Colvin Brown Goes West
To Prepare for 1929-30
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. IL— Colvin W.
Brown, executive vice-president of Pathe,
left Saturday for the West Coast, where he
will confer with production officials at the
Pathe studios in Culver City regarding plans
for next season's pictures.
Chicago Exhibitors Win Labor
Issue; 500 Musicians Return
Union Drops Demand for Extra Men in Theatres Using Sound —
Number of Weeks of Orchestras Reduced — Com-
pulsory Hire Ends Next Year
By GEORGE SCHUTZ
Chicago musicians and exhibitors ended their two-weeks' deadlock over new
union demands last Friday, signing an agreement for another year which is
regarded in theatre circles as distinctly an exhibitor victory, the first in years
of militant labor disputes.
Signing Follows All-Night Meeting
The agreement further represents a union retreat from its stand on synchro-
nization, the demand that theatres presenting sound pictures or other mechan-
ical music employ at least six orchestra men, instead of four as in other
theatres, having been withdrawn.
made by James C. Petrillo, president of the
union, with Jack Miller, head of the Exhibi-
tors Association of Chicago and represent-
ing practically all screen theatres in the
immediate Chicago territory, providing for
the entire elimination of compulsory em-
ployment of orchestras in any of the "class
6" houses, beginning next year.
Other important concessions on the part
of the union were the elimination of the
demands that musicians discharged within
the period of the contract should be paid
$2 a day as back pay; that notice of dis-
missal must be given four weeks in ad-
vance, instead of two, as previously; and
that the seating capacity placing a theatre
in the compulsory orchestra class should be
800, instead of 1,000, as formerly. The ca-
pacity remains at 1,000.
The actual signing of the new contract, tak-
ing place at 7 :30 a. m., Friday, after tense all-
night sessions, returned about 500 orchestra
men and organists to more than 100 theatres,
which, except a few having mechanical music,
had been operating without music for five days.
The agreement provided for the immediate
quashing of the federal injunction against a
strike order obtained by an exhibitor group.
Orchestra Requirements Reduced
Besides the concession of the union as to
orchestras in houses with mechanical music,
victory for the exhibitors lies principally in
the breaking of the union grip on 53 out-
lying theatres, the larger of 250 "class 6"
houses, only two of which have stage shows.
Operators of many of these theatres, the
contract with which expired September 1,
have long asserted that they could not af-
ford orchestras at all, at any rate for the
nuinber of weeks demanded by the musi-
cians, who, however, have gradually ex-
tended the number of these theatres and
the periods during which they must employ
minimum orchestras of four. The new con-
tract with the exhibitors' association places
the number of theatres which must have
orchestras at 27 and reduces the compul-
sory periods in many instances — in four
extreme cases, for example, from 40 and 35
weeks to 20 and 10 weeks.
Number of Weeks Cut Down
In addition, periods of 44 weeks demanded
from four of nine houses not in the associa-
tion, were reduced to 40 weeks.
Settlement with these and five other theatres
not in the association, and with seven "class
6" houses being operated by the Chicago Title
& Trust Company as receiver, took place
Saturday morning. The trust company agreed
to employ orchestras of from 4 to 12 men so
long as the theatres remain in the hands of
receivers. Termination of receivership neces-
sitates new agreements.
Moreover, a separate agreement was
Miller "Entirely Satisfied"
The exhibitors, however, acceded to the
union demand that theatres employing or-
ganists during 1927-28 and later installing
mechanical music devices, shall retain the
organists.
In announcing the terms. Miller said, "I
am entirely satisfied with the new contract
and think that the members of the associa-
tion feel the same way about it."
Petrillo said he was satisfied too. "And,"
he added, "I think they are too. Anyway,
I'm glad that it's all over and that we've got
another year of peace."
Labor Issues Settled
In Two More Centers
Amicable settlement of labor issues in two
centers were effected last week. At St. Louis,
Skouras Brothers and the St. Louis Amuse-
ment Company, controlling the Ambassador,
Grand Central, Missouri and 27 neighborhood
theatres, reached an agreement with the musi-
cians by which 15 more musicians than last
year will be employed, while the basic wage
{Continued on page 52)
Pegler in Advertising
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— Jack Pegler,
formerly in charge of advertising and pub-
licity for the Poli chain, has joined the
Hanff-Metzger agenc}'.
Shark Attacks Fox Cameraman Making
Subsea Films; Diver Is Upset Twice
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
ATLANTA, Sept. 11. — A narrow escape in an attack by an 18-foot shark was
the harrowing experience the other day of A. B. Cheerton, Fox cameraman,
attached to the company's Atlanta office, who returned to town last week from
Florida waters, where he has been making deep sea pictures.
Protected by a diver's helmet and outfit, Cheerton was engaged in making shots,
when suddenly he was confronted by the shark. Having heard that these mon-
sters will not bite beneath water and that stationary objects will not attract their
attention, Cheerton made himself as rigid as possible.
The big fish eyed him for several moments, then plunged forward, striking the
cameraman on the breast-plate and knocking him down. Apparently frightened
by the contact, the shark Hashed off, but in turning the switch of its tail again
upset the diver and his helmet began filling with water. Cheerton's companions
aboard ship hurriedly drew him to the surface.
20
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
Motion Picture Club Opens in N* Y.;
Hays and Walker Head Speakers
Homelike and Pleasant Quarters Have Every Convenience of Modern
Clubroom — Special Credit to Lichtman and Ochs
By PETER VISCHER
NEW YORK CITY, Sept. 11.— The Motion Picture Club, new center of
the industry in New York, became a reality yesterday when its doors
were thrown open for the first time. Groups of the industry's leaders
kept coming in all day Monday and Tuesday to inspect the new club's quar-
ters, long before the official opening of the club, set for Wednesday evening.
A VISIT to the club, which occupies the appreciation to Abe Sablosky, general man-
sixth floor at 1560 Broadway, overlook-
ing the heart of the theatrical and cinema
district, makes it obvious that the officers of
the club and their committees have done an
extraordinarily fine job.
Credit to Lichtman and Ochs
Particular credit belongs to Al Lichtman,
president of the club, whose fire and ardor
made the new organization possible, and to
Lee Ochs, who devoted his time to the needs
of the club with unfailing generosity.
The quarters of the club are peculiarly
homelike and pleasant. The great lounge of
the club, which occupies the front of the
building, is a handsome room, tastefully and
comfortably furnished.
Every Convenience Afforded
It has every convenience of a modern
clubroom, including a ticker. The dining
room is large but not too big for pleasant
relations. The card rooms, billiard rooms,
handball court, gymnasium and locker rooms
are perfectly adapted to the needs of the or-
ganization.
A great gathering of the motion picture
clans heralded the opening of the club on
Wednesday evening. Will H. Hays and
Mayor Jimmy Walker were at the head of
the list of speakers, together with enough
gag men to make the party amusing as well
as gratifving.
Sound Films Bring New
Pleasure to the Blind,
Stanley Party Reveals
(Special to the Herald-World)
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 11. — A new
world of entertainment and instruction has
been opened to the blind with the perfec-
tion of the talking picture, according to
evidence at a performance for 28 inmates
of the Pennsylvania Working Home for
Blind Men, given by the Stanley Company
of America last week at the Stanley theatre
here.^_ Warner Brothers "Lights of New
York" was presented.
John H. Meader, superintendent of the
home, has written the following letter of
Maybe the Cameraman
Had Seen His Score!
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Sept. 11.— Some of the
wealthier residents of Albany are de-
riving much amusement these days
from the showing of motion pictures
taken by their friends on the greens
of the Schuyler Meadows Country
Club. Some time ago it was planned
to use these amateur machines in or-
der to better illustrate the faults of
members in their golf. To the dis-
may of one member, who was about
to witness what he thought would be
a good picture of himself swinging
a golf club, he saw himself walking
across the green on his head.
ager of Stanley:
'T believe I do not exaggerate the truth
when I say that we have had nothing in
years which gave as much pleasure to our
men as the treat which your company gave
them last Monday night at the Stanley the-
atre. There were twenty-eight blind men
in our group. Of these two or three have
a slight perception of light. They were
much delighted to realize that the curtain
was so bright that they could dimly see
the figures, which together with the spoken
parts, enabled them to get the story of the
picture completely.
"Of the other men who can see nothing
at all, there were a number who could fol-
low the plot from beginning to end on ac-
count of the spoken parts."
Exhibitors Interested in
Quality First, "U" Sales
Heads Told by Laemmle
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— Exhibitors still
are primarily interested in quality pictures,
despite the development of synchronization.
President Carl Laemmle told the eastern
sales managers of Universal at their conven-
tion in the home office.
Universal will have 16 sound pictures for
the fall and winter season, twelve of the
talking variety, Lou B. Metzger declared.
Fraser Touring Canada,
East in Lloyd Interest
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— William R.
Fraser, general manager of the Harold
Lloy-d Corporation, is on an extended busi-
ness trip through Canada and the East,
spending several weeks in New York.
While in New York he will confer with
the Eastern organization of the Lloyd cor-
poration, which has headquarters in the
Paramount Building.
In Canada the Lloyd executive, who is
accompanied by Mrs. Fraser, will stop at
Victoria, Vancouver, Banff, Calgary, Win-
nipeg, Toronto and Montreal, arriving in
New York on September 16.
Carl Laemmle's Niece in
Original Dance Creations
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— Beth Laemmle,
niece of Carl Laemmle, presented a number of
original interpretative dances in "Joseph and
His Brethren," a historical production pre-
sented at the Hollywood Bowl on August 26.
Borden, Delaney Leads
In Columbus Melodrama
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— Olive Borden
and Charles Delaney are playing the featured
roles in "Stool Pigeon," an underworld story
which went into production at Columbia last
week.
Film Golf Tourney
Calls Industry to
Battle Old Man Par
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— The cry of "Fore"
sounded suspiciously like "Fillum" as the in-
dustry's golf-greats and not-so-greats prepared
to battle Old Man Par to the bitter eighteenth
today in the fifteenth semi-annual Fall Film
Golf Tournament.
All roads, drives and slices led to the Sound
View Golf Club at Great Neck, Long Island.
At least 135 players had shined up niblicks
and brassies for the eternal quest of halodom
in the Hole-in-One Club.
Officials warned that only a heavy rain
would save the course from a host of deluxe
divots.
"Broadway" Hits Snag;
Universal Called Unable
To Obtain Sound Rights
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— "Broadway,"
Carl Laemmle's $250,000 screen story, hit
a snag last week when it was revealed,
according to report, that Universal pur-
chased screen rights but no talkie rights.
It is said that Jed Harris refuses to
grant Universal permission to make it a
dialogue picture. Harris is a New Yorker
who owns the original rights to the play.
Theatre Owners Cheered
By New Mine Pay Scale
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 11.— Motion picture thea-
tre owners and managers in the Southern Illi-
nois coal fields have heralded with joy the
news from Chicago that Illinois Coal Op-
erators Association and officials of the United
Mine Workers in Illinois have reached a satis-
factory agreement calling for a lower wage
scale and more liberal rules for the Illinois
mines.
During the last few years the motion pic-
ture theatres of Southern Illinois served from
St. Louis film exchanges have been operating
at a loss. It is generally believed this situation
will be greatly relieved by the new agreement.
U Builds Sound Stages
With Cork Insulation
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— The four sound
stages now being built at Universal are being
constructed with compressed cork linings in
the foundation and walls. The foundation is
laid by building the cement mould, placing a
cork lining before pouring the cement, and
adding another cork layer on top of the ce-
ment. The walls are of practically the same
construction.
Al Rockett's Contract
Runs to December, 1930
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— Al Rockett
signed a two year contract this week with
First National Pictures. By its terms he has
complete charge of all production and studio
activities until December, 1930. The contract
was signed by Irving D. Rossheim, president,
and is said to set at rest rumors of changes in
management.
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
21
N. Y. Motion Picture Club Opens Its Home
^H'- /^ "^''^v^^^ (, j' ''/ ^6^BS^jB^^Kd9^ ^^^P9l^^' ^'''^l''^^l
^''^^^hhHHHHHHH^p ' '
B.:
The reception hall, invitingly furnished.
The comjAt'tfly equipped kitchen.
A view of the main
lounge. This is a spacious
chamber occupying the
front of the building,
tastefully furnished to
satisfy the cravings for
solid comfort said to be
virulent among the home
office folks. The club is
located on the sixth floor
at 1560 Broadway.
The main dining room,
amply large enough to
accommodate many, yet
small enough to permit
a feeling of home-like in-
timacy. The quarters are
otherwise complete, hav-
ing card rooms, billiard
rooms, a handball court,
gymnasium and locker
rooms. The club is even
equipped with a ticker.
22
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 13, 1928
Additional Prosperity in Store
If Way Is Paved, Says Laemmle
Cites Bankers' Confidence, Calls Thought of Foreign Conspiracy
Foolish, Declares Harder Problems Than Sound Have
Been Solved and Best Pictures Are Still to Come
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11. — The motion picture industry has gone through
tougher tests than it ever may meet again, and an era of additional prosperity
is in store for all if they will pave the way for it, Carl Laemmle, president of
Universal, declared today in answering "calamity howlers."
"Safest Thing Investigated"
Laemmle cited the statement of a New York banker recently that he "con-
siders the producing and distributing end of the business the safest thing he
ever investigated, because the producer and distributor still own what they
sell," Avhile "the increased value of real estate has made many an exhibitor
richer than his fondest dreams." Of the situation overseas, Laemmle declared
that "the thought of a foreign conspiracy against us is foolish." Synchroniza-
tion, he said, "is by no means the hardest problem we have ever had to tackle ;
one step at a time will take care of us."
Carl Laemmle
"We've got a hell of a good business and
a mighty industrj-," the president of Uni-
versal stated. "Let's give it all we've got
in us and it'll give it
all b a ck — and
more!"
Laemmle took up
the matter of the
returns first, as fol-
lows:
"Are the returns
too small' Well, I
know of no other
line of business
where an equal
amount of work and
brains will bring bet-
ter returns. Of
course it's hard. It
is an industry de-
manding constant
application and a complete disregard of
working hours. But it is also a business of
glorious thrill, of tingling excitement,
of immeasurable pleasure in achievement.
"Someone who gets fat on statistics has
dug up the fact that the percentage of fail-
ures in the moving picture business is less
than the length of a gnat's eyelash when
compared with that of any other big line
of business. A New York banker recently
told his fellow bankers that he considers
the producing and distributing end of the
business the safest thing he ever investi-
gated, because the producer and distributor
still own what they sell! This same banker
said that the increased value of real estate
has made many an exhibitor richer than his
fondest dreams.
Nothing to Worry About
"You often hear the discouraged remark
that the crooked politicians of every state
in the union try to blackmail our industry
with censorship laws and other gratifying
legislation. Whenever they are right, they
will lick us. Whenever we are right, we
will lick them. There's nothing to worry
about here.
"Great complaint is made because foreign
countries are passing special laws against
American pictures. I have never been seri-
ously afraid of such artificial barriers to
trade. I am sure the only thing that can
give us a severe trouncing in the film mar-
kets of the world is better pictures — and
no other country has made them yet. For-
eign countries have thought in the past that
there was an American conspiracy to keep
thern out of our local market. They found
this was nonsense. And the thought of a
fortifp ' '.n -Tjiracy against us is equally
foolish. There's nothing to whine about
here.
Best Pictures to Come
"More good authors and thinkers are de-
voting their efforts to the improvement of
screen story technique today than ever in
our history. The best stories are still to
be written. The best pictures are still to
come.
"Is public interest dying? This is one
of the pet pieces of nonsense which has
worried so many of us. The movies have
already gone through tougher tests than
they may ever meet again.
"Are the talkies a curse? Temporarilj'
they are a terrific problem for everybody.
The fact that we've got to solve new tech-
nical problems is only another hard job,
but it is by no means the hardest we have
ever had to tackle. One step at a time will
take care of us.
"So, suppose we look at the doughnut in-
stead of the hole. Suppose we hitch up
our trousers and get ready for the era of
additional prosperity which will be ours if
we pave the way for it and deserve it.
"Friends, I seldom swear, but for the
sake of emphasis and without any intention
of being profane I cannot resist the temp-
tation to say that we've got a hell of a
good business and a mighty industry! Let's
give it all we've got in us and it'll give it
all back — and more."
Porter H. Evans Named
Engineer of Vitaphone's
New Studio in Brooklyn
(Special to the Hcrald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— Appointment of
Porter H. Evans as engineer in charge of
the new Vitaphone studio, to be in opera-
tion in Brooklyn the middle of October, is
announced by George E. Quigley, vice
president of the Vitaphone Corporation.
Evans has been connected with the Bell
Telephone Laboratories for eight years and
has been active in supervision of installa-
tion of several large radio stations.
Tom Mix to he Honored
At Montmartre Affair
(Special to the Hcrald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— Tom Mix of
F B O, will just sit back and feast his ears
on enconiums tomorrow night when he will
be guest of honor at the Montmartre Cafe.
There will be two orchestras, one led by
Roy Fox, the other by Xavier Cugat.
"Dawn" Wins Favorable
Comment in Tageblatt,
On Showing in Berlin
Recalls Praise Given Cavell and
' "St. Petersburg" Films in
Herald-World
The following comment, written by Peter
Vischer regarding "Dawn" and "The End of
St. Petersburg," appeared in the Herald- World
issue of June 9:
"The two foreign made pictures, 'Dawn'
and 'The End of St. Petersburg,' are showing
to good houses, the result, undoubtedly, of
unusual publicity and considerable discussion.
"An inspection of 'Dawn' showed it to be
an earnest and impressive representation of
wartimes in Belgium. The picture could
hardly stir up old hatreds. . . .
"The Russian picture, sponsored by the So-
viet, proved to be a strong and dramatic rep-
resentation. . . . Some parts were exception-
ally effective."
Well Received in Germany
The foregoing is reprinted in connection
with receipt of the following letter to the
Herald- World from H. Wayne Pierson :
"I am sending you herewith translation of
the story that appeared in the Berliner Tage-
blatt," Berlin Germany, regarding the motion
picture "Dawn," following a showing of that
picture in Berlin.
"Recently the lay and trade papers went to
great lengths in telling the public and the mo-_
tion picture exhibitors why 'Dawn' should not
be shown in this country. Much of this pub-
licity had occurred before the picture was
shown to anyone here, therefore their opposi-
tion was based on supposition. Now that the
picture has been shown in Germany, and has
received such favorable comment from the
press of that country, I believe it is only fair
that the newspapers and trade magazines en-
deavor to correct the impression that was so
unfair to the producers of 'Dawn,' and to Mr.
Arch. Selwyn, who had the courage to present
this wonderful picture in the LTnited States.
Says No Protest Registered
" 'Dawn' is now- being shown in the impor-
tant cities of the United States and Canada,
and in no instance has there been any protest
registered, as was anticipated by the American
press.
"It certainly was not your intention to be
prejudiced regarding 'Dawn' when you pub-
lished stories that were inclined to affect this
picture in the United States, and I know after
you have read the splendid article that ap-
peared in the Berliner Tageblatt, you will be
perfectljf willing to withdraw whatever you
may have said to the detriment of the greatest
motion picture that has ever come out of Great
Britain."
Detroit Little Tfieatre
Is Opened After Delay
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, Sept. 11.— The Little Thea-
tre of the Motion Picture Guild finally
opened here Thursday with the French
film, in colors, "Cyrano de Bergerac." The
opening was originally scheduled for Sep-
tember 1, but there was some difficulty in
getting a license from the city council to
operate. The theatre, which seats about
600, is in the auditorium of the Twentieth
Century Club Building.
Coffee and cigarettes were served during
the intermissions.
Simonson of Fox Wins
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— R. B. Simonson,
Fox general auditor, is invincible at the
nets. He won the Fox tennis champion-
ship again this year, defeating Harry
Weiner.
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
m^
Film Neivs
in Pictures
PICTORIAL SECTION
Stories Told
by the Camera
Making Caddo an imprint of greater
significance. Leading a vigorous sally
with "Two Arabian Knights," Howard
Hughes has advanced further with
"Hell's Angels" and "The Racket."
Mary Nolan, distinguished as a blonde
even among blondes, is steadily pro-
gressing in her brief film career. Now
M G M has cast her importantly in
Lon Chaney's "West of Zanzibar."
A high ball is served up before breakfast — and
James Hall rises to the occasion. In other words,
here is the Paramount featured player remarkably
pictured while indulging in a little early morning
exercise at his home, in preparation for a hard day
at the studio.
Al Jolson in the subterranean gloom of
a New York railroad station. The
famous "jazz singer" went East for the
Gotham opening of his latest picture,
Warner Brothers' Vitaphone produc-
tion, "The Singing Fool."
What must surely have been a most pleasant recep-
tion was accorded, as you see, to John Loder, young
British screen star, upon his arival in Hollywood
to appear in Paramount pictures. Doris Hill, Para-
mount player, is she greeting Loder with a carna-
tion, a pin and a smile.
Beth Laemmle, whose original dances
were highly esteemed features of a
recent historical pageant in Hollywood.
Miss Laemmle, niece of Carl Laemmle,
president of Universal, is shown in an
interpretation of the apache.
I
24
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928 j
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The beginning of a great screen producrion. "The Miracle," bought by both M G M and
First National, became the property of the latter the other day, after two years of litigation
over the Max Reinhardt spectacle. Sitting are Joseph Menchan, Ned E. Depinet, F N
sales manager; and Al Woods, stage producer. Standing, John Phillips, attorney; W. C.
Boothby, F N comptroller; Robert W. Perkins, F N general counsel; and Aaron Steuer.
The men directing
Pathe's foreign af-
fairs following the
recent merger of
Producers Interna-
tional Corporation
with Pathe Interna-
tional Corporation.
Arthur Rousseau
(left), manager of
Pathe's export de-
partment for 12
years, is vice-presi-
dent. William
Vogel, who estab-
lished P I C, is
vice-president and
general manager.
Wesley Ruggles, Universal director, beams
paternally on his two proteges, Jack Oakie
and Fred Mackaye, as they beam fraternally
on each other. Ruggles gave them both their
starts in Utiiversal pictures.
Two scenes from Universal's "Phyllis of the
Follies," tale of what goes on behind the fun
out front. Alice Day, as Phyllis, is in the
ri(jht foreground at left. Edmund Burns and
Lilyan Tashman are pictured above. The
picture is a J^wel production.
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
Anita Page herewith demonstrates how an
up-and-coming screen player (such as she)
may get to the studio (in her case, M G M's)
on time without missing out on the morning
plunge.
Another signing bee, to balance the other on the opposite page. This pictorial record
of Warner Brothers' signing of Texas Guinan, New York night club entrepreneur, for a
Vitaphone production, comes a little tardily, but the interesting folks involved makes this
picture better late than never. With Miss Guinan are President H. M. Warner, Sam E.
Morris, general manager in charge of distribution; and Major Albert Warner, vice-president.
Grim visages from
Lon Chaney's latest,
"West of Zanzi-
bar,'' which is as
distinguished in op-
portunities for un-
usual characteriza-
tions as Chaney
pictures usually are.
Chancy is shown at
right. At left is
Kalla Pasha. Tod
Browning directed
this M G M pro-
duction and also
wrote the story on
which it is based.
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Buster Keaton's new comedy, M G M's "The
Cameraman," is the source of these two
scenes. At right, Keaton is shown at the
"M G M News office," with Marceline Day,
feminine lead; and above, with Harry Grib-
bon. Edward Sedgwick directed.
26
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
Warners Launch Million Dollar Drive
In 125 Newspapers September 17
Dailies W ith 15,000,000 Combined Circulation Will Carry Series of Six
Page Advertisements Seven Columns Wide
(Special to the Herald-World)
NE^^" YORK, Sept. 11. — A million dollar campaign to reach fifteen mil-
lion readers will be launched by Warner Brothers September 17 in the
large cities. Emphasis on the Vitaphone will be a feature of the cam-
paign, which starts the same week tliat "The Singing Fool" opens at tlie Winter
Garden, the first advertisement being on Al To] son in that production.
AT the same time that this campaign was the home office international department as
1
being announced, Sam E. ^Morris, gen-
eral manager of distribution, was making
known that 1,042 new accounts have been
obtained for the 1928-29 product, all these
being among the smaller houses. jMorris
declared that every large circuit already
had been signed.
125 Dailies in Campaign
The newspaper drive will be conducted in
125 leading dailies. A series of six adver-
tisements, seven columns wide by 21 inches
deep will be used. They will be carried in
each newspaper in New York, including the
Jewish press.
Newspapers outside of New York City
which have been signed include:
Albany >s'ew;, Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta Geor-
gian, Baltimore News, Birmingham News-Herald,
Boston American, Boston Herald and Traveler, Bos-
ton Post, Buffalo Courier- Express, Buffalo News, Buf-
falo Times, Chicago Daily News, Cincinnati Post,
Cleveland Press, Cleveland News, Columbus Dispatch,
Dallas News, Dallas Times-Herald, Denver Post, De-
troit News, Detroit Free Press;
* * *
Des Moines Register and Tribune, Duluth Herald,
Grand Rapids Press, Hartford Courant, Hollywood
Citizen, Houston Chronicle, Indianapolis News, In-
dianapolis Star, Kansas City Post, Kansas City Star
and Times, Louisville Courier-Journal-Times, Mem-,
phis Commercial Appeal, Milwaukee Wisconsin News,
Minneapolis Tribune, Los Angeles Examiner, Los
Angeles Express, Los Angeles Herald, Los Angeles
Illustrated Daily News, Los Angeles Record, Los
Angeles Times;
* * *
Nashville Banner, New Haven Register, New Or-
leans Item-Tribune, New Orleans Times Picayune,
Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch, Oklahoma City News, Ok-
lahoman, Omaha World-Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer,
Philadelphia Public Ledger, Pittsburgh Press, Port-
land Oregonian, Portland Oregon Journal, Providence
Bulletin, Richmond News Leader, Rochester Times-
Union, St. Louis Glote-Democrat, St. Louis Star;
* * *
St. Paul Dispatch-Pioneer Press, St. Paul News,
Salt Lake City Desert News, Salt Lake City Tele-
gram, San Antonio Kxpress-News, San Francisco
Call, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Ex-
aminer, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Times, Spo-
kane Spokesman Review, Syracuse Post-Standard,
Syracuse Journal, Toledo Blade, Washington Post
and Washington Times.
5 Per Cent More Duty
On Foreign Pictures
Proposed for India
(Special to the Herald-World)
CALCUTTA, Sept. 11.— Saddling of an
additional 5 per cent import duty on motion
pictures is one of the recommendations of
the India Cinematograph Committee. The
duty would be collected by the Custom
Houses at the same time as the existing
35 per cent levy.
The committee also proposed the forma-
tion of a Central Advisory Committee and
Bureau, financial aid to producers, building
of more theatres, and a central board of
censors for the whole of British India, to
be located at Bombay.
Fiedelbaum Transferred
To MGM Home Office
(Special to the Hcrald-lVortd)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— Arthur Fiedel-
baum, after six months in Brazil and two
yenr- ii; ili<- Argentine, from which district
'" I South America, exclusive of
B' r G M, has been transferred to
special representative. Carl Sonm, man-
ager of the M G M Cincinnati exchange for
a year and now manager of its New York
office, will leave Saturday for Buenos Aires
in Fiedelbaum's place.
Ludwig Lawrence, formerly general rep-
resentative for M G M in western Europe,
who has been attached to home office head-
quarters in New York for the past six
months, has sailed for Berlin to take over
the duties of central European supervisor.
This position was given up by Al Aronson,
who joined World-Wide Pictures.
Detroit and Omafia Branchi
Heads Named by Columbia
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— Jack Young has
been named Columbia branch manager at
Detroit and Walter Rand at Omaha, Cecil
E. Maberry, general sales manager, an-
nounced.
Patlie Books Two Cfiains
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 11.— Pathe has
booked the George Mann circuit with houses
in Eureka, Areata, Fortune, Ferndale, Uliah
and Fort Bragg, and National Theatre Syn-
dicate houses in San Jose, Stockton, Modes-
to, Madera, Lodi, W'oodland and Marvs-
viUe.
Dardine, III, Resigns
(Special to the Herald-World)
CHARLOTTE, Sept. 11.— Ill health has
caused E. F. Dardine to resign as Univer-
sal's manager here. T. O. Tuttle succeeds
him. Dardine was gi\en a bonus.
j^^cwia^viK,^
HooL-Up
>f t AND Y\tMl
Hire is a replica of the first newspaper
ad lo be used by Warner Brothers in the
company's million dollar campaign.
At the New York
Theatres -
NEW FILMS
PARAMOUNT— "Heart to Heart," a First National
production featuring Mary Astor and Lloyd
Hughes, directed by William Beaudine.
HIPPODROME— "Home, James!" a Universal film
with Laura LaPlante, directed by William Beaudine.
FIFTH AVENUE PLAYHOUSE— "The Kreutzer
Sonata," produced in Germany under the direction
of J. Machaty.
HELD OVER AND REVIVED
STRAND— "State Street Sadie," Warner Bros. Vita-
phone held over for another week.
CAPITOL — "The Cardboard Lover," Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer, held over for another week.
CAMEO — "Dawn," revived August 25.
RIVOLI — "Tempest," United Artists, revived August
25.
ROXY — "Fazil," Fox, revived September 1.
CRITERION — "Wings," Paramount, opened August
12, 1927.
GLOBE — "The Red Dance," Fox, opened June 25.
ASTOR — "White Shadows in the South Seas," Met-
ro-Goldwyn-Mayer, opened August 1.
CENTRAL — "Lilac Time," First National, opened
August 3.
WARNER — "The Terror," Warner Brothers all talk-
ing picture, opened August 15.
RIALTO — "The Patriot," Paramount, opened August
17.
EMBASSY— "Submarine,'
30.
GAIETY — "The Air Circus," Fox Movietone, 'opened
September 1.
Columbia, opened August
United Artists to Open
Portland, Ore., Theatre;
Netoco Launches Another
The United Artists theatre at Portland,
Ore., rebuilt from the Majestic at a $250,000
cost, will open Friday, being operated by
J. J. Parker, president of Portland Theatres,
controlling the Rivoli and the Peoples there
in cooperation with United. On the East
Coast, Netoco opened the New Liberty at
Dorchester last Sunday. Other theatre
news of the week includes the following:
William Smalley opened his new theatre at Johns-
town, N. Y., supplanting the one burned a year ago.
. . . William Bowlin has bought the Peerless at Lebo,
Kan. The Capitol has reopened in Kansas City, Mo.,
with a combination policy. E. T. Burgan is to finance
a new theatre in Kansas City, Kan.
Phoenix Amusement Company has reopened the
Strand at Lexington, Ky., after a $100,000 outlay for
remodeling. Amusement Enterprises has opened the
Palace at Guntersville, Ala. Loew's Temple at Bir-
mingham, Ala., will close Saturday. W. T. Murray
has resigned as manager of Publix's Rialto in At-
lanta and will be succeeded by Virgil L. Wadkins. A
new theatre, the Brownie, is to be started at Mans-
field, La. The Alexander at Electric Mills, Miss., is
being remodeled. A $100,000 house is to supplant
the Lyceum in Monroe, La. A new structure is
under way at Houston for L. Schoenmann & Co.
Famous Players Canadian is building a
$150,000 theatre at North Bay, Ont.
Lee Goes Abroad
(Special to the Herald-World) '
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— Arthur A. Lee,
president of Ameranglo Corporation, sailed
Friday for England on the He de France
to confer with the executives of Gaumont
Company, Ltd., Welsh-Pearson-Elder Films,
Ltd., Gainsborough Pictures, Ltd., British
Instructional Films, Ltd., and British Screen
Productions, Ltd., for whom he is the Amer-
ican representative. Lee is expected to re-
turn in five or six weeks.
Buzz Hurt in Fall
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— Buzz Barton,
F B O boy Western star, fractured his right
wrist and sustained severe bruises when he
fell from a set at the F B O studios. Buzz
stepped on a false floor, consisting only of
tar paper, and fell through to the stage be-
low. Production work on "The Little Sav-
age" was delayed.
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
27
B &K Opens Its ''Most
Beautiful*' Theatre Near
Marks House on Friday
Balaban & Katz, Chicago Publix sub-
sidiary, will open the fifth deluxe picture
house operated under the B & K name,
Friday night. It is called the Paradise and
is located far out on the West Side, two
blocks from Marks Brothers' Marbro. The
circuit controls two other West Side de-
luxe picture houses, operated by L & T,
a subsidiary, but they are several miles East
of the Paradise location.
The theatre is being advertised as the
most beautiful in the B & K chain and
statistics indicate that this may be true, for
the Paradise possesses murals painted by
Julius Moessel, professor of fine arts in
Munich, and considerable sculpturing done
by three pupils of Lorado Taft of Chicago.
The design, which is French baroque m
motif, is by John Eberson of Chicago and
New York.
Mark Fisher, popular singing conductor
at L & T's Senate and Harding theatres
and the first successor to Paul Ash at
B & K's Oriental, will be master of cere-
monies. Henri Keates, usually called the
originator of community singing organ
solos, will preside at the console. The
opening screen attraction was not decided
on Tuesday.
Boston Society Girl Is
Named F B O-McFadden
Beauty Contest Winner
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— Marjorie Jane
Douglas, society girl of Boston and Rock-
land, !Me., was chosen winner of the F B O-
Physical Culture magazine beauty contest
at the Nassau hotel, Long Beach, last
Thursday. Helen Irene Hannan, a bru-
nette of Montclair, N. J., was selected as
second choice and alternate, while Martha
E. Hughes, a blonde of Pittsfield, Mass.,
and Alice E. Maxwell of Philadelphia, also
a blonde, were chosen for third and fourth
places, respectively.
Miss Douglas will receive as her award
a ten-week contract from F B O at $150 a
week, and fare to and from Hollywood for
herself and a chaperone. If she makes good
in her first picture she will be retained per-
manently by F B O, according to the con-
test rules.
The contest was conducted through Physical
Culture Magazine, the Nezv York Evening
Graphic and the Philadelphia Daily News, Ber-
narr McFadden publications.
Doty Chosen President of
Kansas City Film Board
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, Sept. 11.— Leo J. Doty
has been elected as president of tlie Film
Board of Trade, succeeding Harry Taylor,
who resigned following his recent promo-
tion to district manager of Universal. Doty
is branch manager of the Kansas City
United Artists exchange.
Exhibitor, 19, to Build
"Dream Theatre" in Texas
(Special to the Herald-World)
REFUGIO, TEXAS, Sept. 11.— E. W.
Wilkins, 19, called the youngest exhibitor
in the South, is planning to build a $15,000
theatre here. The theatre about which Wil-
kins has dreamed for two years is to get
underway within 60 days.
h-r,^
They settled the dispute between the Chicago exhibitors and musicians. Jack Miller (left)
is president of the Chicago Exhibitors Association, and James C. Petrillo heads the Musi-
cian's Union.
(P. & A. Photo.)
Gourland Sailing to Make Plea
For Free Trade in World Films
Declares Agitation Against American Pictures Conies Just at Time
When This Country Is Even Anxious to Receive Foreign Pro-
ductions— Asks "Live and Let Live" Policy
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11. — What is interpreted as a blow at the newly formed
International Federation of Exhibitors, organized by seventeen European coun-
tries at the film congress in Berlin, is the decision of Michael J. Gourland, presi-
dent of Affiliated European Producers, Inc., to go overseas and make an appeal
for free trade of motion pictures among nations.
Call Agitation Ill-Timed
The present agitation of European producers and exhibitors is ill-timed,
Gourland holds, because of restrictive measures come just when America is
not only in a receptive mood toward foreign pictures but is even anxious to
receive them
Gourland sails' Saturday and will confer
with Georg Sklarz, president of Derussa,
the Soviet-German combine, and also head of
Phoenix Film of Berlin and Phoenix Film
Frangais of Paris. He also will meet with
other leaders of Affiliated.
"Our entrance into the American market
has been accomplished with little drum beat-
ing and I am happy to say that in less than
two weeks of business', the Affiliated European
Producers were able to close a deal for some
of our pictures with the Loew theatres,"
Gourland stated.
"Of course, it is too early to state definitely
Increases Capital
An increase of Johns-Manville Corpora-
tion's common shares to 1,000,000 from
750,000 has been approved by stockholders.
Musical Composition
Marks Fox Anniversary
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— A march,
"The Silver Jubilee March," dedi-
cated to William Fox in commemora-
tion of the Fox Film Corporation's
25th anniversary this year, has been
written by J. S. Zamecnik, who wrote
the melody for "Neapolitan Nights,"
theme song of "Fazil." Theatres de-
siring orchestrations may obtain
them free by writing to the publicity
department of Fox, according to an
announcement.
how successful this venture will be but per-
sonally I believe American exhibitors believe
in fair play and that they will book a good
picture irrespective of the country it was pro-
duced in.
"Too much emphasis has been put on the
artistic merit of European films. It is true
that they contain this quality, but European
films are as entertaining, as exciting and satis-
fying as American films.
Favors "Live and Let Live"
'So far only the freak films of Europe have
found their entrance into America. But it is
the aim of the Affiliated European Producers
to select pictures which have a universal ap-
peal and which are also well made, artistic, if
you will. The essential feature of our films,
however, will not be their artistic qualities,
but their entertaining merits.
"Our first special to be released in this
country will probably be 'The Escape from
Hell,' a Derussa film. We challenge any
American motion picture exhibitor, trade
paper editor, daily newspaper, motion picture
critic and the public, itself, to see this picture
and then say that a picture may not be artis-
tic to the nth degree and still lack any of the
qualities of entertainment and satisfaction.
"Earopean producers are willing to listen to
reason. We are sure that the continued
growth of the Affiliated European Producers
will convince them that the best way to get
fair play from America is adopt a live and let
live program."
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
SYNCHRONIZED PICTURES
M G M Foreign Stars to Go
To School to Learn Accent
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11. — A
school for M G M's foreign born
players is being planned to teach
them to speak English as it is spoken
in this country. "This method is
really very simple," says Harry Rapf,
studio executive. What we propose
is to make a series of Movietone
tests of a perfect English voice.
Then we will make voice tests of the
foreign players as their voices are at
present. They will read the same
selections. By running one after the
other, it will be very easy for the
player to learn where accent or vo-
cabulary is at fault."
Schenck Outlines Complete M G M Plan
NE\r YORK, Sept. 11. — Nicholas M. Schenck, president of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer yesterday gave a comprehensive out-
line of the finished and planned activities of his organization with relation to production and distribution of films, sound
and silent. Tremendous activity, has been made by his organization to adapt itself to the revolution in motion pictures.
"More than a thousand theatres will be wired by January first," said Schenck. "Considerably in advance of that time we
•wi}} be readv ^viih a complete service to all our customers in this line. Our studio at the coast will be in full operation
within a few weeks and before September is out we will be similarly situated in the East with the opening of the Metro-
Gold w)-n-M ay er sound studios which were formerly run by Cosmopolitan.
Directed by Harry Beaumont. A Cosmopoli-
tan production.
"The Last of Mrs. Cheyney." With cast
headed by Norma Shearer. Directed by Rob-
ert Z. Leonard.
"The Bellamy Trial," by Frances Noyes
Hart. With Leatrice Joy, Betty Bronson, Ed-
die Nugent. Directed by Monta Bell.
"The Trial of Mary Dugan" by Bayard
Veiller.
"Nize Baby" by Milt Gross. With Vera
Gordon, Harold Walbridge, Tenen Holtz, Al-
exander Carr, Sally Eilers. Directed by Ho-
bart Henley.
"The Wonder of Women" by Hermann
Sudermann.
Story of Negro Life. Directed by King
Vidor.
"The Bridge of San Luis Rey."
Five to Be Made as
Silent Pictures Only-
Buster Keaton in "The Cameraman." Di-
rected by Edward Sedgwick.
Karl Dane and George K. Arthur in
"Brotherly Love." Directed by Chuck Reis-
ner. With Jean Arthur.
Flash, the wonder dog, in "Grease Paint."
Lew Cody and Aileen Pringle in "Beau
Broadway." Directed by Mai St. Clair with
Sue Carrol and James J. Jeffries.
Tim McCoy in "Humming Wires," "Sioux
Blood" and "Perfecto" by Gouverneur Morris.
Junior Features, Both
Sound and Silent Kind
Of the Hal Roach Comedies, there will be
10 "Our Gang" 10 Laurel and Hardy, 10 Char-
ley Chase, and 10 all-star. Of these the fol-
lowing have already been synchronized: Char-
ley Chase in "Imagine Aly Embarrassment,"
"Our Gang" in "School Begins," "Our Gang"
in "The Old Grey Hoss."
There will be six "Great Events" in Tech-
nicolor, the first to be "Robert E. Lee." There
will be 26 Ufa Oddities, all silent, and 104
issues of M G M and Movietone News
Twenty-nine Vaudeville
Stars to Make Shorts
Following are the 29 vaudeville stars or
teams who will make Movietone shorts :
Paul Tisen and Orchestra, Colonial Sex-
tette, Morris & Campbell, Miller & Lyle, 5
Lucust Sisters, Elsa Ersi & Nat Aj-er, Jules
Bledsoe, Odette Myrtil, Charles King, Mabel
Wayne, Mary Katon & Oscar Shaw, Sunshine
Sammy, Marion Harris, Leo Beere, Royal
Welsh Glesman, Mr. & Mrs. Norman Phillips
and Norman Phillips, Jr., Jos. Regan & Pian-
ist, Ponce Sisters, Van & Schenck, Yorke &
King, Fuzzy Knight, Frank Gaby, Frances Wil-
liams, Johnny Marvin, Eva LaGallienne, Ella
Shields, Robert Chisholm, Kramer & Boyle,
Harry Rose.
"T DO not think it is exaggeration to
-1- state that our two sound studios will be
the most thoroughly equipped of any in the
industry. In the West we will continue our
production of 15 features with partial or corn-
plete talking sequences. In the East we will
immediately place into production 30 films of
a vaudeville nature, for which contracts have
been entered into with many prominent per-
formers.
"}ileanwhile our activities in the production
of our announced program of synchronized
and silent pictures will continue along their
routined schedule. I have compiled herewith
a list of all productions sound or silent, short
or feature length which are in production,
finished, or about to go into production.
"While many of the talking films so far
shown have been interesting, it is the novelty
of them which has most helped their success.
Our plans are looking beyond the novelty
stage."
Following is the complete lineup of plans
for production during this season :
Synchronized Pictures
With Sound Effects
Cecil B. DeMille's Productions
"Show People," starring Marion Davies and
William Haines. Directed by King Vidor.
Also presenting the many well known stars
and personalities of the film world including
Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and many
others.
John Gilbert and Greta Garbo in "A Woman
of Affairs" by Michael Arlen, directed by
Clarence Brown. In the cast will be Lewis
Stone, Hobart Bosvvorth, John Mack Brown,
Dorothy Sebastian, Gertrude Astor, Douglas
Fairbanks, Jr.
Greta Garbo in "Tiger Skin" by Elinor
Glyn and "The Single Standard" by Adela
Rogers St. Johns.
John Gilbert in "The Masks of the Devil"
by Jacob Wasserman. Directed by Victor
Seastrom. In the cast will be Eva Von Berne,
Ralph Forbes, George Fawcett, Theodore
Roberts, Alma Rubens.
William Haines in "Excess Baggage" by
Jack McGowan. Directed by James Cruze.
With Josephine Dunn.
Lon Chaney in "While the City Sleeps" by
A. P. Younger. Directed by Jack Conway.
With Anita Page.
Ramon Novarro in "Gold Braid." By Byron
Morgan. Directed by George Hill.
Lillian Gish in "The Wind" by Dorothy
Scarborough. Directed by Victor Seastrom.
With Lars Hansen and Montague Love
Peter B. Kyne's "Tide of Empire." Di-
rected by Allan Dwan.
Joan Crawford in "Our Dancing Daughters"
by Josephine Lovett. Directed by Harry Beau-
mont. With Anita Page, John Mack Brown,
Eddie Nugent.
Lew Cody and Aileen Pringle in "The Baby
Cyclone." Directed by Eddie Sutherland.
"Trader Horn." Directed by W. S. Van
Dyke.
"Slother and Sons;" a Cosmopolitan pro-
duction.
"The Trail of '98" by Robert W Service.
Directed by Clarence Brown. With Dolores
del Rio, Ralph Forbes, Karl Dane.
"White Shadows in the South Seas'' by
Frederick O'Brien. With Raquel Torres,
Monte Blue and the Marquesan Tribes.
"Adrienne Lecouvreur." By Jacob Wasser-
man. Directed by Fred Niblo. With Joan
Crawford, Nils Asther.
Pictures With Talking Sequences
Or Entirely in Dialogue
William Haines in "Alias Jimmy Valentine."
By Paul Armstrong. With Karl Dane, Lionel
Barrymore, Leila Hyams, Tully Marshall.
William Haines in "A Man's Man," by Pat-
rick Kearney. Directed by James Cruze. With
Josephine Dunn, Bert Roach, Sam Hardy, Mae
Busch.
John Gilbert in "Thirst," by Jack Neville
and Dale Van Every. With Joan Crawford
and Ernest Torrence.
Ramon Novarro in "The Pagan," by John
Russell. Directed by W. S. Van Dyke. With
Raquel Torres.
Marion Davies in "Dumb Dora," "The Lit-
tle Warrior" and "Buddies."
Norma Shearer in "Ballyhoo" by Beth
Brown and in "A Free Soul" by Adela Rog-
ers St. Johns.
Karl Dane and George K. Arthur in "All at
Sea."
Buster Keaton in "Spite Marriage."
"Broadway Melody," by Edmund Goulding.
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
Phonofilm Records
Sounds Naturally^
Declares DeForest
(Special to the Hcrald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— All sounds from
a whisper to the shrill tinkle of sleigh bell
may now be recorded with perfect natural-
ness, according to Dr. Lee DeForest, in-
ventor of the Phonofilm.
Completion of experiments in connection
with the refinement of talking recording ap-
paratus to this high point of efficiency has
just been announced by DeForest. The an-
nouncement was coupled with a statement
by him that the completion of the experi-
ments marked his readiness to offer Phono-
film to theatres, with an assurance "that it
will be acceptable as a new form of enter-
tainment rather than a novelty."
"It is just four years ago that Phonofilm
made its first outdoor recordings," said Dr.
DeForest, "when we took our apparatus to
Washington and made talking pictures of
President Coolidge, John W. Davis and
Robert LaFollette, the three presidential
candidates in the last election. These re-
cordings compared very favorably with
those that are now being made of the presi-
dential candidates but they revealed short-
comings of the recording apparatus which
had not been suspected in the indoor work.
That winter we did some more outdoor
work and while some of the results were
very satisfactory, others revealed a great
need of refinement in the recorders.
"We continued making subjects but it was
not until a year ago that I got the idea
which has now succeeded in overcoming
the failure to register certain overtones.
"At that time I decided to discontinue
production until this shortcoming in the
method of recording had been overcome.
Final proof was only attained last week
that the refinement was workable when we
registered in a natural manner both a whis-
per and the tinkle of a sleigh bell on the
same strip of film. No longer need a tele-
phone bell in a sound picture give the re-
action of a buzzer sounding, and there is
no longer any need of talk about screen
voices. All voices can now be recorded and
projected in a natural manner."
Louisville Theatre
Reopens With Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOUISVILLE, Sept. 11.— Dennis Long, of
the Fourth Avenue Amusement Company, re-
ported that the reopening of the Alamo the-
atre as a sound picture house on September 1,
was very successful, the house being unable to
handle the business. Considerable money was
expended in remodeling and improving the
place, including new chairs, wall drapes, im-
proved acoustics, a cooling system, new light-
ing fixtures, carpets and the Western Electric
sound equipment.
The remodeled theatre puts up a very im-
proved appearance from both interior and ex-
terior. Prices have been advanced, to a scale
of 20 cents until 1 :30 o'clock ; thirty cents
in the afternoon; and 40 cents at night, or
after 5 o'clock in the evening and on holi-
days, announcement of the reopening read.
U A House Is Wired
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND. ORE., Sept. 11.— When the
United Artists theatre opens September 14, it
will be wired with Western Electric sound
devices. The theatre is the reconstructed Ma-
jestic, but the $250,000 spent on remodeling
has made it into a practically new house.
United Artists is well under way with its $250,000 sound construction program. The build-
ing shown is the structure to be used for recording. Eighteen of the pictures on United
Artists' program for this year will be synchronized with music and sound effects, some of
them containing singing and talking sequences.
Gotham^ Bristolphone Company
Unite to Produce Sound Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11. — The Gotham-Bristolphone Corporation has been formed
to market Bristolphone, a synchronizing device manufactured by the Bristol
Company of Waterbury, Connecticut, according to Budd Rogers, vice-president
of Gothams Productions.
Bristolphone is a disc device said to be inter-
changeable with other sound devices. The first
installation has already been made in the
Academy theatre in Hagerstown, Maryland,
and another installation is soon to be made in
the Ravenna theatre, Los Angeles.
The first Gotham picture to be synchronized
will be "Times Square," already completed in
silent form. The company will make sound
effects in short subjects, novelties and acts.
Two sound stages are now built at Waterbury,
according to the company.
Five hundred theatres will be equipped by
January 1 and by March 1, 2,000 more will be
equipped, according to Sam Sax, president of
Gotham Productions. Installations will be
leased on a rental basis, with the parent com-
pany servicing the exhibitor throughout the
duration of the use of the system. Complete
equipment may be placed in any theatre at a
cost of around $3,500, it is said.
Manager George Rotzky has extended the per-
formances to include the special morning show
starting at 11 a. m. for the accommodation of
morning shoppers in the retail section, the ad-
mission being 25 cents. With the sound pro-
gram. Manager Rotzky does not have to worry
about musical accompaniment for the early
show.
Canada Sees Sound
Program for First
Time and Likes It
(Special to the Herald-World)
MONTREAL, Sept. 11.— The first presenta-
tion of a sound picture program in Canada, at
the Palace theatre, here, under the direction of
Manager George T. Rotsky, during the week of
September 1 was literally the "talk" of Mon-
treal. The attendance was so heavy that Man-
ager Rotsky carried over the whole program
for a second week.
The initial program was as follows : "Street
Angel," Fox Movietone; Raquel Meller in
"Corpus Christi," Robert Benchley in "The
Treasurer's Report," and Nina Tarasova in
"The Hut," and Fox Movietone News.
With the advent of sound pictures at the
Palace theatre, Montreal, the first in Canada,
F N Begins Work on
Sound Buildings to
Cost Half Million
(Special to the Herald-World)
BURBANK, Sept. 11.— Work has begun on
the first unit of First National's sound plant
According to estimates prepared, five units
for the production of sound pictures will be
constructed, the building program calling for
an expenditure of half a million dollars.
Each unit is to consist of four stages, five
buildings and a recording building, all of uni-
form dimensions. Half of the first unit will
be completed before work starts upon the
others. One stage will be ready for sound
effects on "The Barker" and another for
"Changeling." The builders are Schofield and
Twaits and the recording equipment is that
of the Electrical Research Products Company.
Lexington Strand
To Install Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
LEXINGTON, KY., Sept. 11.— Western
Electric sound equipment is soon to be in-
stalled in the Strand theatre here, operated by
the Phoenix Amusement Company. The the-
atre recently reopened after complete remodel-
ing at a cost of $100,000.
30
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
Universal Plans 16 Sound Films; Dialogue Films will
Completes First Sound Short
(Special fo the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11. — Sixteen synchronized pictures will be released by
L niversal during the coming season, it has just been announced at the LTniversal
home office.
Thej- wall fall into three classifications— four
pictures synchronized with music and sound
effects, others synchronized with talking se-
quences in addition to music and sound effects-
and others made as All-talkies.
The four sjiichronized with music and
sound eft'ects are "Uncle Tom's Cabin," "The
[Man \\'ho Laughs," "Give and Take" and
"Man, \\'oman and Wife." The first two
already are being played. The other two will
be ready for the market within a week or ten
davs.
The remaining 12, of which several, not yet
specified, are to be all-talkies, and the others
with talking sequences, are : "The Last Warn-
ing,"' "The^Girl on the Barge," "The Cohens
and Kellys in Atlantic City," "Red Hot
Speed," "It Can Be Done," "The Shake
Down," "You Can't Buy Love," "Come
Across," "The Charlatan" and three Laura La
Plante pictures, "One Rainy Night," "That
Blonde" and "Dangerous Dimples."
Universal is also getting under way in the
sound short subjects field. With the appoint-
ment of Julius Singer as sales manager for
sound short product, and the arrival from the
Coast of Llniversal's first sound short, "The
Globe Trotters," a black face act staged by
Bailey and Barnum, the Laemmle organization
gives evidence of increasing activity in this
field.
Washington Theatre Broadcasts
Vitaphone Trailer Over Radio
(Special to the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11. — A novel exploitation stunt for a talking picture
was engineered here last week when the Stanley-Crandall Earl theatre broadcast
a trailer on "The Lights of New York," Warner Brother's first all-talkie. It met
with unusual success and was praised by newspaper radio editors.
effective way of advertising the sound feature
without sacrificing any of the effectiveness of
the ads or subordinating the star and picture
title.
A half hour was arranged for the exploita-
tion over WRC, chain station of the National
Broadcasting company, from 8 to 8:30 p. m.
and through dexterous work by the theatre
technicians and the studio experts, a five min-
ute trailer record of the dialogue high spots
in "Lights of New York" was directly trans-
mitted from the theatre projection booth
through the microphone at the studio six
blocks awa^-.
This trailer record included a brief introduc-
tory by Conrad Nagel and then the night club
scene, with music; dialogue between the boot-
leg king and his "woman"; the "third degree"
scene and a final word of explanation by Con-
rad Nagel. The clarity with which this record
went over the air elicited dozens of calls to
the studio and mail and phone calls to the
Stanley-Crandall executive offices the follow-
ing day.
The general program, consisting of instru-
mental music, tvv'O vocal solos and brief men-
tion of the Earle theatre's future plans for
sound and silent films, was built around the
Vitaphone record broadcast and generous plugs
for Warner Brothers, and Vitaphone were
scattered through the program.
The press sheet also illustrates a number of
snipes prepared by Paramount for use on post-
ers. These snipes have been prepared for use
with all sizes of posters from one to 24-
sheets. They have been so designed that they
may be sniped right on the regular posters
without destroying the pictorial value of the
poster itself. They are furnished in black on
yellow or yellow on black.
Paramount Issues
Sound Press Book
Paramount has just issued a 12 page press
sheet on advertising the sound pictures, pre-
pared by Russell Holman, advertising mana-
ger, and his staff. It offers many suggestions
and plans for advertising the sound picture
and contains a number of ad layouts.
Paramount has prepared 19 special slugs
for insertion in newspaper ads. Illustrations
of these slugs are carried in the press sheet.
These slugs are furnished to exhibitors by
Paramount in one large mat. This mat may
be dipped and slugs inserted separately into
the newspaper ad. They vary in size to match
available space and the sizes of the various
ads and are designed to meet every require-
ment of every exhibitor. They offer an
\
^
^
- __,_— -^'""'^l SOUND /
^0
PARAMOUNT OOAUTY
coMPosn
'^ SOUND
0-
,4^
.-— 19 r.
-EEL
•— » ^.
-*«ou*r 5i.i..r* 5,OK.-o B.ctua,
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IML}
Here are 19 slugs prepared by Paramount
for exhibitors to use in advertising Para-
mount sound pictures. A mat of all 19
slugs may be obtained from Paramount.
The great variety in shape and size of
the slugs make them usable in practically
any size ad.
Reduce Film Waste,
Says J, L, Murphy
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— The develop-
ment of dialogue in association with motion
pictures, will prove a boon to producers in
furthering the elimi-
nation of waste in
time and film with
the consequent in-
crease in picture costs
occasioned by the
lack of proper prep-
aration, according to
John L. Alurphy, for
the last five years
production manager
of the Harold Lloyd
Corporation.
"Preparation will
of necessity be the
keynote of all pro-
ductions involving
sound and dialogue"
according to Murphy. "There can be no rush-
ing pellmell into the shooting of a picture, for
dialogue will have to be studied and rehearsed
just as any stage production is. The excessive
use of retakes will be eliminated, for re-
hearsals will obviate this scourge of picture
production.
"Dialogue pictures are going to bring the
writer to the front in my opinion and will
undoubtedly entice into the picture fold some
of the best brains responsible for the great
stage successes."
J, L. Murphy
Warners Open New
Vitaphone Stage at
Cost of $300,000
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— Warner Broth-
ers' fourth and latest Vitaphone sound-proof
stage has just swung into operation with the
synchronization of "Stark Mad," an all-talkie.
The new stage was built at a cost of $300,000
and contains cutting rooms, playback rooms,
recording apparatus, projections rooms and
other equipment. It measures 200 by 300 feet.
All available stages are said to be in produc-
tion at present, with "On Trial," "Conquest,"
"The Redeeming Sin," "Stolen Kisses," and
"Hard Boiled Rose" in production.
Pa the Sound Stage
Ready for Work Soon
(Special to the Herald-World)
CULVER CITY, Sept. 11.— The middle of
the month will find the first sound stage in
operation at the Pathe studio. A large sound
stage adjoining stage seven has been completed
and Photophone recording apparatus is being
installed.
The office building at Washington and Ince
Boulevards is being converted into offices for
Benjamin Glazer, supervisor of sound, and his
staff.
Contract for Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Sept. 11.— The Papayanakos
brothers, veteran exhibitors in northern New
York, signed contracts last week for the in-
stallation of Western Electric equipment at
the Gralyn theatre in Gouverneur and the
Rialto theatre in Potsdam. The equipment is
to be installed at once.
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
VvV
THE STUDIO
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
''Hollywood:*
Kiesling Muffs Chances
As Perfect Press Agent
(Special to the He raid-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— Ham
Beall's old gag went over for a laugh
at the Wampas meeting Tuesday
night. (He burned 12 matches to
the end while lighting his stogie dur-
ing his speech to the aviators.)
Barrett Kiesling nervously seized
the cigar and held a lighted match to
it — but the match went out.
Ham's repartee: "It's no wonder
Mr. Kiesling can't hold a job with
Sam Goldwyn if he hasn't learned to
light cigars for people yet."
A I Green Under MGM
Contract to Direct
Marion Davies Film
(Speeial to the Hcrald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— Alfred E.
Green signed a contract this week with
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to direct Marion
Davies' next picture. Green leaves the Fox
lot after an association of two years.
He has built a great reputation for directing
comedy dramas and comedies. Alany of Col-
leen Moore's most sucessful pictures were
made under his direction.
Miss Davies returns home from Europe in
October when she will begin work at once.
Paramount Retains Bow;
Badger Will Direct Next
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— Clara Bow
signed a new contract with Paramount last
week and will start immediately on a new
series of pictures. The first will be "Three
Week Ends," an Elinor Glyn story.
ence Badger will direct.
Clar-
Cummings' "Woman" Now
'^Romance of Underworld"
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11— "Romance of
the Underworld" is the new title of the
picture, "The Woman," which Irving Cum-
mings is completing for Fox. Mary Astor
is the feminine star.
Todd in LeRoy Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— Thelma Todd
has" been assigned an important role in
"Ritzy Rosie," a First National production
under the direction of Mervyn LeRoy.
Buckley on Western Tout
NEW YORK. — Harry D. Buckley, vice-president
of United Artists, left New York last Thursday for
a three weeks' visit to the company's studios in Hol-
lywood and a tour of western exchanges.
8 Films Begun; Billie Dove in
Lloyd Opus; O'Brien's Finished
Noted Lessening in Effort of Directors to "Make 'Em in 30 Days" ;
MacLean's Phonic Completed; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Launches "Mysterious Island"
(Special to the Hcrald-lVorld)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. IL — Six pictures were completed last week and eight
were begun. Directors of the six are reported in each case to have kept under
production budgets but at the same time there is a noticeable decrease in the
effort being made to "make the picture in 30 days."
Billie Dove's next big picture got under way
at Burbank with the able Frank Lloyd wield-
ing the batonaphone. Antonio Moreno is once
more back on the First National lot, in the
role opposite Miss Dove. The picture as yet
has been given no permanent title.
Two of the Fox productions completed last
week are easily identified by strong
characteristics. One of themjs the product
of Frank Borzage and features Charles Far-
rell. That one is "The River."
The other is one starring George O'Brien
with Lois Moran in the feminine role. The
picture is titled "Fog" (after the narrative)
and was made under the direction of
Charles Klein, a young Fox director recent-
(Continued on next page)
BUCK JONES
In the first of his own special attractions
"THE BIG HOP"
the romance of the West plus the perils of the air with
JOBYNA RALSTON
and a cast of stars
Directed by
JAMES W. HORNE
for remaining territories address
Buck Jones Corporation
489 Fifth Avenue, New York City
32
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
^^Hoover Cluh^^ Qag Qets Members of
Wampas Up in the Air
Beall Exploits Aviation Night Thoroughly ; Hurley Quits Prexy Post When
P F L Makes Him Unit Supervisor; Capra Meets the Cops
By DOUGLAS HODGES
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. IL — There were numerous absentees at the Wam-
pas meeting" Tuesday night who believe politics should be omitted from
Wampas affairs. Tuesday night was "Aviation Night" and Harry Ham-
mond Beall was in charge of the meeting. It was also Pete Smith's birthday.
IT was Beall who explained to the loyal
attendants that members had been urged
to turn out strong for the meeting because
of the proposed "Wampas-Hoover" club
which was to be formed. He explained that
he had timidly hoped to do something that
would get the members up in the air for
the "Aviation Night" but that his efforts
had been a little too successful. He re-
gretted that they failed to come down for
the meeting. Manj- of them continue to
say there was no joke in the stunt.
After all, there is a premium on a reliable
sense of humor.
The Hoover newspapers had accepted the
announcement in a very grave manner and
draped it all over page one, two or three.
This is the sillv season.
Harold Hurley who became president of
the Wampas upon the resignation of Mark
Larkin tendered his resignation at the re-
cent meeting. Cause of his withdrawal is
his promotion by Paramount to become a
unit supervisor. The chairman of the cre-
dentials committee, Barrett Kiesling, suc-
ceeded Hurley as president for the remain-
der of the year.
* * *
While Rex King vvas posing and compos-
ing his first (and last) role as a big time
Western star on the Fox lot he was fond of
making believe he was a Big Shot in the
picture business. Although he was ignomin-
iously fired before the picture was com-
pleted, he once attempted to show a
scenario writer how to become a big suc-
cess.
It was a quaint practice of his to stand at
the big iron gates of the Fox lot and "once
over" the people who had been chosen for
minor parts in the picture he was making.
Stepping up to one of them he liked to say:
"Are you in my picture. Jack?" When
"Tack" replied he believed he was, the
haughty King would say: "Hmmmm!
Sawry, old man — but you ain't the type."
As I have said he was ignominiously
fired before the picture was finished.
* ♦ *
A director who has never given police-
men any reason for anguish walked into the
arms of two officers in Hollvwood when he
Maria
Corda
Will Appear in
the Leading
Feminine Role
of
"The
Comedy of
Life"
(Tentative
Title)
Under
Direction of
Alexander
Korda
for
First National
was innocently making his way into his
automobile parked at the curb. It was late
and Frank Capra had work to do early the
next morning at the studio.
The gents in O. D. urged him to accom-
pany them to the station, and with a hitch
on his coat collar the}' did double quick,
explaining abruptly that the charge was
"concealed weapons." Capra alibied that
he had made a hunting trip and had
neglected to empty the pocket of his auto-
mobile on his return. He was thrown in
the brig where he remained until 7 a. m.
with a couple of hours breakfast time be-
fore facing a trial judge.
One hundred and seventy-five dollars
won him his liberty and pursuit of happi-
ness.
Eight Films Are Begun;
Billie Dove with Moreno
{Continued frojn preceding page)
ly elevated. O'Brien's work is probably the
outstanding feature of the piece, as reported
by newspapermen and others who have
caught glimpses of the picture in the mak-
ing. It's a great time for his name to be
utilized in your marquees and Fox is aware
of it — due somewhat to his charming work
in "Sunrise."
Douglas MacLean completed work on
"The Carnation Kid" last week at the Chris-
tie lot. It is to be released by Paramount.
Alfred A. Cohn supervised the picture.
Frances Lee is the young bit of pulchritude
in the feminine lead.
Murnau Begins "Daily Bread"
Two pictures went into production at the
Fox studios last week; "Our Daily Bread,"
which F. W. Murnau is directing with Far-
rell, Mary Duncan and David Torrence in
the cast; and "The Veiled Lady," with Lia
Tora, Paul Vincenti, Walter McGrail, Josef
Swickard and Kenneth Thomson. Emmet
Flj^nn is directing.
Belle Bennett started work in "Queen of
Burlesque" for Tiffany-Stahl, under direc-
tion of Al Ray.
Eddie Cline also started a picture at Tif-
fany-Stahl. The title is "Applause" and
Sally O'Neil is the star; supported by Ro-
land Drew and Corliss Palmer.
M G M Starts Two
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer started two dur-
ing the past week. "Nize Baby" is being
directed by Hobart Henley with Harold
Waldrige, Vera Gordon and Alexander Carr
in the cast. Lucien Hubbard is directing
Lionel Barrymore, James Murray and Jane
Daly in a picture called, "The Mysterious
Island."
At the De Mille studios, Melville Brown
started "Geraldine" with Eddie Quillan and
Marion Nixon heading the cast.
Spencer Bennett is directing a Pathe
serial on the Metropolitan lot. It is called,
"The Tiger's Shadow" and co-features
Hugh Allen and Gladys McConnell.
On the Paramount lot Dorothy Arzner
completed the Richard Arlen-Nancy Carroll
vehicle. The picture has been titled, "Man-
hattan Cocktail."
George B. Seitz finished shooting, "Hey,
Rube" for F B O. Hugh Trevor, Gertrude
Olmstead and Ethlyn Claire are in the cast.
Universal completed, "Eric, the Great,"
with Conrad Veidt, Mary Philbin and Les-
lie Fenton under the direction of Paul
Fejos.
Film Board Secretary Is 111
SAN FRANCISCO.— Miss Rowens Foley, for some
time assistant to her sister, Claire Foley, secretary of
the San Francisco Film Board of Trade, left recently
for Portland, Ore., to pinch hit for Miss Patricia
Lynch, secretary of the Film Board of Trade there,
and who is on the sick list.
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
33
Ned Marin
Producer -A ttorney
ON A LOT OF THE LOTS
Ned Marin
HOLLYWOOD — If you care to become
a producer of motion pictures, "set your
goal and carry out a definite campaign."
According to the
opinion of Ned
Marin, First Na-
tional producer of
"The Yellow Lily,"
"The Night Watch"
and "Waterfront,"
you will achieve
your aims if you
have the proper
foundation and ap-
ply the proper ef-
fort.
"I feel that I have
brought into the
production end of
the business, the
background of a
newspaper reporter on the New York Herald,
long experience in the sales department as
sales manager for Universal and First Na-
tional in New York City, and also several
years of experience in the exhibiting end
of the business."
Became a Lawyer
Marin received a Bachelor of Arts de-
gree from the College of Arts, New York
University and posted in law at Columbia
University. He entered the film industry
as an assistant to a man who -was making
a special financial survey of Famous Play-
ers Lasky Corporation. That was a littie
more than ten years ago.^It vvas the«: his
intention of eventually producing his own
pictures. Unlike a lot of other producers,
he laid out a definite campaign and went
through practically every phase of the busi-
ness in order to get the proper background.
He maintained the one aim of producing
his own pictures.
It is Marin's firm belief that the first
requisite for either a silent or talking pic-
ture is a good story. Any good story he
might run across, \thether it is straight
drama or comedy drama, be will be happy
to make into a picture, he said.
"Whether pictures with dialogue or sound
are to be permanent fixtures in the industrj'
naturally depends solely upon the public,"
he declared. "Present indications from the
box office indicate that the public is definite-
ly interested in pictures with dialogue, but
whether the public will remain interested,.
in my opinion, depends first upon the qual-
ity of the pictures, and second, upon the
dialogue and sound effects.
Beware of Headlong Rush
"I do feel, however, that the industry
should not rush pell mell into talking pic-
tures, or whatever you want to call them,
as it must be remembered- "that many thou-
sands of theatres, particularly in small
towns, are not yet, and apparently will not
for some time, be properly equipped to of-
fer pictures with sound and dialogue to the
public.
"My theory for making pictures is always
based on giving the public what it wants,
because essentially our industry is in ex-
istence to entertain, and if the public indi-
cates its desire to support any novelty, al-
though I do not think the talking pictures
are any longer a novelty but a certainty, I
am of the opinion that it is up to the indus-
try to give the public exactly what it is
willing to support."
Marin's first production was "The Yellow
Lily." He is producing another Billie Dove
picture, the working title of which is
"Adoration." He will start a Milton Sills
production next month temporarily titled,
"The Comedy of Life."
By FRAZIER
Regarding
Norman Burnstine Marion Moran
Emil Jannings Dan Clark
Dr. Ludwig Berger C. Murray
Chester Conklin Ad Schaumer
Joe Henabery Hamilton Morse
Reginald Denny Jules White
Gladys Lehman * Monty Collins
Ray Cannon Vernon Dent
Conrad Nagel Eva Thatcher
June Collyer Carl Laemmle, Jr.
Arthur Stone Charles Furthraan
Sharon Lynn
Norman Burnstine, the young successful
writer of Paramount studio, will be credited
for writing the best original story of the year,
according to the reports which have been re-
ceived. He is the author of "Sins of the
Fathers" starring Emil Jannings, which is be-
ing directed by Dr. Ludwig Berger. The
production is now almost completed.
Chester Conklin, is looking forward to the
time when he will be able to move into his
Lookout Mountain home, which he is having
built at a cost of $70,000. The ten room man-
sion has been promised to him about the first
of the year. He is having a big pipe organ
installed which will resound for a long dis-
tance, so that he can give vent to his moods in
a modern manner. He is reported to be an
enviable musician.
*
Joseph Henabery, Gotham director, is taking
a vacation for a few days before reporting for
duty. He recently completed "Red Hot
Speed" starring Reginald Denny for Universal.
Gladys Lehman zvrote the story and screen
play.
,*
Ray Cannon, one of filmland's youngest di-
rectors, has been engaged to direct "Slice of
Life," starring Conrad Nagel and June Coll-
yer with Arthur Stone and Sharon Lynn, for
Fox. The production will be made on an
elaborate scale, being produced as a feature
film. Marion Morgan and her dancers have
been engaged to stage a mammoth revue with
an unusual background. Dan Clark is at the
camera, while C. Murray and Ad Schaumer
are assisting Cannon.
Hamilton Morse is playing an important role
in Jules White's sixth Cameo comedy for Edu-
cational, starring Monty Collins, Vernon Dent
and Eva Thatcher. The title has not been
announced, but the film is scheduled for an
early release.
Carl Laemmle, Jr., production supervisor of
Universal studios, is back on the job after
several days with a sprained ankle. Even
while he was forced to stay at home, young
Laemmle would review the rushes which were
brought to him. He is starting soon on
"Broadway" which Charles Furthman is adapt-
ing for the screen. The director and cast have
not been announced.
Niblo's Latest for M G M
Retitled *' Dream of Love"
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. IL— The title of
the picture which Fred Niblo started last
week for M G M has been changed to
"Dream of Love." The picture went into
production as "Adrienne Lecouvreur" with
Joan Crawford," Nils Asther and Carmel
Meyers.
"Take Me Home"
"Manhattan Cocktail"
And Now in Production
"His Private Life"
ETHEL DOHERTY
Scenarist
For Paramount
34
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
Production Directory
[Number immediately following title denotes production number]
STORY
DIRECTOR
CHIEF
PLAYERS
BRAND
NAME
Christie Studios
NO PRODUCTION
Columhia Studios
"Stool Pigeon" Renaud Hoffman Olive Borden
Charles Delaney
Lucy Beaumont
"Driftwood" Christy Cabanne Marceline Day
Don Alvarado
Alan Roecoe
Fritzi Brunette
DeMille Studios
"The Spieler" Tay Garnett
"Geraldine"
Melville Brown
Alan Hale
Benee Adoree
Clyde Cook
Fred Kohler
Eddie Quillan
Marion Nixon
F B 0 Studio
"Tropic Madness" Robert Vignola
I^eatrice Joy
Lena Malena
George Barraud
First National Studios
"Scarlet Feas"
"Outcast"
"ChaitKelinE"
Untitled
John Francis
Dillon
William Seiter
Richard
Barthelmees
Betty Compson
Loretta Young
Corinne Griffith
Edmund Lowe
Kathryn Carver
Gwen Lee
Huntly Gordon
Geo. Fitzmaurice Dorothy Macfcaill
Milton Sills
Frank Lloyd Billie Dove
Antonio Moreno
Fox Studios
"Homesick"
"HosbazMls Are
Liar«"
"The Veiled
Lady"
"Our Daily
Bread"
"A Romance
of the
Underworld"
Henry Lehrman Sammy Cohen
Harry Sweet
Bay Cannon Conrad Nagel
June CoUyer
Emmett Flynn Lia Tora
Paul Vinventi
Walter MeGraJl
Josef Swickard
Kenneth Thomson
F. "W. Mumau Charles Farrell
Mary Duncan
David Torrence
Warren Burke
Irving Cummings Mary Aetor
John Boles
Ben Bard
Gotham
"Through the
Breakers"
Joseph Boyle Margaret Livingston
Holmes Herbort
Clyde Cook
Natalie Joyce
Metropolitan Studios
'Helfg Angtta"
"The Titer's
Shadow"
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
"Gold Brmid" G«orse Hill
Ramon Novarro
Anita Page
STARTING
DATE
August 25
August 28
August 20
September 5
Augtiet 27
August 25
August 2
August 24
September 4
July 21
August 27
August 28
August 30
July 25
August 13
Howard Hughes Ben Lyon Caddo Pro- November 4
James Hall ductions
Greta NiRBcn
Si^nctr Bennett Hu^h Alltn Pathe Serial August 30
GladyH McConnell
August 6
STORY
DIRECTOR
CHIEF
PLAYERS
BRAND
NAME
'The Little
Angel"
"A Woman of
Affairs"
"Honeymoon"
"Sionx Blood"
"Hamming
Wires"
"A Man's Man"
"Dream of Love'
"The Mysterious
Island"
"Nize Baby"
Sam Wood
Clarence Brown
Red Golden
John Waters
John Waters
James Cruie
Fred Niblo
Lueien Hubbard
Hobart Henley
Norma Shearer
Johnny Mack
Brown
Greta Garbo
John Gilbert
Polly Moran
Eddie Gribbon
Flash
Tim McCoy
Dorothy Jania
Tim McCoy
Marion Dooelas
William Hainee
Josephine Dunn
Joan Crawford
Nils Asther
Carmel Meyers
Lionel Barrymore
James Murray
Jane Daly
Harold Waldridge
Alexander Carr
Vei-a Gordon
Paramount Studios
"Avalanche"
"Sins of the
Fathers"
"Interference"
'His Private
Life"
'Red Skin"
Otto Brewer
Edward Berger
Lotbar Mendez
Frank Tuttle
Victor
Schertzinger
Jack Holt
Doris Hill
Emil Jannings
Rath Chatterton
Clive Brook
Evelyn Brent
William Powell
Adolph Menjou
Kathryn Carver
Richard Dix
Louiee Brooks
Tififany-Stahl Studios
"The Man in
Hobbles"
"Queen of
Burlesque"
"Applause"
George
Archainbaud
Al Ray
Eddie Cline
Johnny Harron
Lila Lee
Belle Bennett
Joe E. Brown
Eddie Fetherston
Shirley Palmer
Alberta Vaughan
Sally O'neill
Roland Drew
Corliss Palmer
United Artists Studios
"The Love
Song"
D. W. Griffith
"The Iron Mask" Allan Dwan
Bill Boyd
Jetta Goudal
Lupe Velez
Douglas Fairbanks
William Bakewell
Marguerite De La Motte
Dorothy Revier
Universal Studios
"The Collegians" Nat Ross
"Show Boat"
Harry Pollard
"The Cohens and William Craft
Kellys in At-
lantic City"
"The Final
Reckoning"
Ray Taylor
George Lewis
Dorothy Gulliver
Laura La Flante
Joseph
Schildkraut
George Sidney
Mack Swain
Kate Price
Cornelius Keefe
Newton House
Edmund Cobb
Louise Lorraine
Buffalo Bill, Jr.
Warner Brothers Studio
"Stolen Kisses" Ray Enright
'On Trial"
'Stark Mad"
Archie Mayo
Lloyd Bacon
May McAvoy
R«ed Howes
Helen Cooley
Claude Gilling-
water
Pauline Frederick
Lois Wilson
Bert Lytell
Holmes Herbert
Jason Robards
H. B. Warner
Jacqueline Logan
Louise Fazenda
Henry B. Walthall
Lionel Belmore
Claude
Gillingwater
Andre Beranger
John Miljan
STARTING
DATE
August IS
July 81
August 11
August 18
August 18
August 27
August 27
Se(ptember 4
September 4
August 16
July 7
July 19
August 27
August 27
August 28
August 27
September 4
August 8
August 29
May 14
July 1<
August 10
Augufit 15
Augrust 6
August 21
September 4
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
35
^^^
THE SHORT FEATURE
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
"Little Pictures with the Big- Punch" which has presented news, reviews and exploitation on
short features and serials.
Releases
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 16
EDUCATIONAI^-"Call Your Shots," Al St. John,
Mermaid, two.
PATHE — "The Terrible People," Chapter 7, two;
"Sunday on the Farm," Aesop Fable, one; "Cover-
ing Ground," Sportlight, one; "A Dumb Waiter,"
Handy Andy, Sennett, two; Pathe Review No. 38,
one; Topics of the Day, No. 38, one.
UNIVERSAL— "Mississippi Mud," Oswald, Snappy,
one; "Tarzan the Mighty" No. 6, Adventure, two;
"Calford vs. Redskins," Collegians, Junior Jewel,
two; "Half Back Buster," Stern Bros., two; "The
Galloping Ace," Hoxie, Western, two.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 23
EDUCATIONAL — "The Roundup on the Rio
Grande," Reed Howes, Russ Farrell, Aviator series,
two; "Wife Trouble," Robert Graves, Cameo, one.
PARAMOUNT — "The Sock Exchange," Vernon,
Christie, two.
PATHE — "The Terrible People," Chapter 8, two;
"High Seas," Aesop Fable, one; "The Campus
Carmen," Sennett Girl Comedy, two; Pathe Review
No. 39, one; Topics of the Day," Chapter 39, one.
UNIVERSAL — "Handicapped," Cameo, Laemmle
Novelty, one; "Tarzan the Mighty," No. 7, Adven-
ture, two; "Just Wait," Mike and Ike, Stern Bros.,
two; "A Tenderfoot Hero," Western, Chandler,
Tenderfoot Thriller series, two.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 30
PARAMOUNT — "Oriental Hugs," Dooley, Christie,
two.
PATHE— "The Terrible People," Chapter 9, two;
"The Magnetic Bat," Aesop Fable, one; "A Grid-
iron Cocktail," Sportlight, one; "Motor Boat
Mamas," Sennett, two; "Soldier Man," Harry
Langdon, three (reissue) ; Pathe Review No. 40,
one; Topics of the Day, No. 40, one.
UNIVERSAL — "Panicky Pancakes," Oswald, Snappy,
one; "Tarzan the Mighty," Chapter 8, Adventure,
two; "Kicking Through," Collegians No. 3, two;
"Newlyweds' Unwelcome," two; "Romeo of the
Range," Western, Curwood, two.
WEEK OF OCTOBER 7
EDUCATIONAI^" America's Pride," Our World To-
day, one; "Companionate Service," Dorothy Devore,
two; "The Lucky Duck," Billy Dale, Snappy, one.
PARAMOUNT— "Loose Change," Sandy MacDuff,
Christie, two.
PATHE— "The Terrible People," Chapt. 10, two;
"Cure or Kill," Aesop Fable, one; "No Picnic,"
Smitty, two: "The Defensive Half-Backs," Grant-
land Rice, one; Pathe Review No. 41, one; Topics
of the Day, No. 41.
UNIVERSAL — "Come On, Horace," Arthur Lake,
Snappy, one; "Tarzan the Mighty," No. 9, two;
"Look Pleasant," Let George Do It, Stern Brothers,
two; "Dead Game," Western, Acord, two.
Newspictures
M G M NEWS NO. 7 — Bobby Jones leads America to
victory over British — Sweden Fliers rescued in
Greenland — 15 nations sign Kellogg pact to re-
nounce war.
M G M NEWS NO. 8^199 swimmers forced to
quit $35,000 marathron swim at Canada, cold wa-
ter is reason — New German Zeppelin world's biggest
airship ready for hop to United States — Senator
Curtis addresses Boston crowd.
KINOGRAMS NO. 5429— Fifteen nations sign Kel-
logg-Briand pact to renounce war — 37 planes start
from Roosevelt Field in coast to coast derby — 210
pair of twins parade in Albany prize contest.
PATHE NEWS NO. 74— Fifteen nations sign pact
to outlaw war — Edward Miles starts around world
in 37-foot schooner — Ireland hails Tunney as a
son of old sod.
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. 12— Americans win fifth
straight win, golf trophy stays in United States —
Secretary Kellogg arrives in France for signing of
peace pact — Ireland greets Tunney on arrival.
Julius Singer Named Sales Head
For Universal Shorts in Sound
Veteran Selling Executive with Laemmle Organization Almost
Decade — First Synchronized Novelty Previewed
Has Both Dialogue and Singing
Selection of Julius Sing-er as sales manager of sound short product for Uni-
versal, mirrors another definite step forward by that company in the field of
synchronized pictures.
First Sound Novelty Is Previewed
Announcement of the appointment, by Lou B. Metzger, general sales man-
ager of Universal, means that the veteran sales executive will team it with
Fred J. McConnell, sales manager for all short features of Universal, to give
sound pictures a running start in the organization.
At the same time that the announcement
was being made, the home office was viewing
its first sound short novelty at a pre-screening
in the Globe theatre
ization almost twenty years. He has been
short subjects manager, and in other executive
positions.
on Broadway, with
exhibitors as guests.
Both Dialogue and
Singing
The picture is
titled "The Globe
Trotter" and it is
listed as a Universal
Vaudeville Novelty.
It was made by the
vaudeville team,
Bailey and Barnum,
and is a blackface
act, with Billy Bailey
as the songster and
Barnum as the ac-
companist, on banjo
and cello. There is both dialogue and singing,
after the approved vaudeville fashion. The
dialogue is a succession of rapid fire gags
and feed-line laughs, brought out by the
movietone apparatus.
Three numbers are rendered, "Ups and
Downs," "My Mammy" and "Cantaloupe,"
these having been made popular on the vaude-
ville stage by this team.
Singer has been with the Laemmle organ-
Julius Singer
Mickey Has Black Eye?
No No, It Cant Be True!
If anyone stated that Mickey (himself) Mc-
Guire had a black eye and that some other
youngster had done the fist propelling that pro-
duced it, he'd be called many kinds of a
fibber. But that's what happened for Mickey
in one of the F B O pictures when the other
fellow in the scene forgot that he was to have
the "shiner" himself.
Mickey, incidentally, just gave a banquet to
the Gang at the White Tower Hamburger
Stand on Vermont Avenue, Hollywood. Ham-
bone Johnson ate seven just as a starter, but
Al Herman, director, called it the finisher.
Rice Broadcasts
National Amateur
Exhibitors playing the Pathe Sport-
light have a handpicked opportunity
for tieups with the broadcasting by
Grantland Rice of the National Ama-
teur Golf Tournament September 12-
15 direct from the Brae Burn Coun-
try Club in Boston, over the National
Broadcasting chain.
Sportlights soon will be in sound,
also, Amedee J. Van Beuren an-
nounced.
Hoover Sees Self in Film
As Special Gets Pathe Reel
Herbert Hoover saw himself in pictures
aboard his special train when the Pathe
News scenes of the notification ceremonies
were screened on the car near Johnstown,
Pa. Harry S. Lorch, Pathe manager in
Chicago, received the request for the reel
from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and placed it on
the special when it reached Englewood,
Chicago.
Fox News Cameramen
Tie for Stunt Prize
Carl Larsen and Jack Painter have tied
for first place in the annual competition of
the Fox News cameramen, while Larry
Ellis and J. M. Lillis are even Stephen for
second place. Third place went to Eric
Mayell, fourth to F. J. Conway and fifth
to Alfred Emanuel Gold.
36
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
Y^
PRESENTATION ACTS
Paul Ash Is Coming Back to Chicago
STAGE SHOWS
Detroit Michigan
Week Ending August 31
The Michigan theatre this week experienced the
most unusual time in its history, playing to more
people dui-ing the seven days in which members of
"Our Gang" troupe rruade personal appearances than
it has on any other attraction, including Paul
Whiteman and his orchestra, Gertrude Ederle and
John Philip Sousa and his band.
One of the most enthusiastic receptions ever
accorded to visiting movie stars greeted the one can-
ine and six human members of Hal Roach's collection
of juvenile comedians, when they trotted out on the
stage and lined up side by side, all grins and un-
concern.
Wave upon wave of applause greeted each member
of the gang as he made his entrance on the stage.
First Harry Spears with his derby and freckles ; then
petite, blonde-curled Jean Darling, the baby vamp ;
Joe Cobb, the rotund little comic, who drew the
largest share of applause ; then sepia hued Allen
"Farina" Hoskins ; Mary Ann Jackson, with her
baby face and stare: Wheezer, the baby of the group,
and lastly "Pete," the trick dog with his black
ringed eye.
After the introductions, the gang -went through
the business of enacting a scene of a comedy, which
was first shown on the screen.
The Michigan, ordinarily, plays four shows daily
and five on Saturdays and Sundays, but due to press
of business, five shows wei-e given each day. At
times the lines of men, women and children ex-
tended in two rows entirely around the block in
■which the theatre is situated. Crowds arrived two
and three hours before the box office opened for
the first morning show.
Women with small children in their arms sat on
the curbs, while the lobby was completely encircled
with them. They sat and sprawled about on the
terraza floor, with their backs resting against the
walls and pillars.
L. A. French, assistant general manager of the
Hal E. Roach studios, accompanied the children as
company manager.
"We could have played six shows a day, if it hadn't
been too hard for the children, and still sold out
the house," French said. "On Wednesday, for in-
.<5tance, we played to four s^U-outs and the house was
three-quarters full for the other show."
On these figures, approximately 2.3,000 persons saw
"Our Gang" on Wednesday, and as the crowds were
uniform all week, it is safe to say that more than
1.50,000 persons .saw the show during the week.
"Our Gang" was an extra added attraction, as
there was also a Publix stage show, "West Point
Days." Eleven members of the Gamby-Hale troupe
of dancers -were the features in this unit, the rhyth-
mic oriKinality of their dances being more effective
than the dancing in any other Publix show in months.
Among the others in the show were Joseph Griffin
and Virginia Johnson, singing another "Molly and
Me" song that proved to be tuneful, and Born and
Lawrence in an old, but funny, programme of
eccentric dancing.
New York Capitol
Week Ending September 7
The second edition of "Oddities" by Mort Harris,
puts Walt Roeiiner down in the orchestra pit, and
uses Jatk Onlerman bo master of ceremonies.
Wall conducts the Capitol Grand Orchestra in a
(Contiynued on next paye)
<<
Fve Gotta Drag"
This is not an indoor sport, but only an example
of what friend wife would do if W. Remington Welch
failed to put his organ solos over. Welch, who in
addition to being featured organist at the Tiffin
theatre, Chicago, is in charge of the Wurlitzer Organ
School in which he demonstrates the many effects on
that instrument. He was the first organist to open
B & K's McVickers theatre and is very popular on
the radio with a weekly program over WGES. The
chief of police of Northwest Town has appointed
Welch an honory chief and that explains "For the
Wearing of the Badge."
Just Films at Sheridan
starting this week Ascher Bros., operators of a
chain of Chicago picture houses, inaugurate a straight
policy of pictures in their only de luxe house, the
Sheridan theatre. This change was made after the
expiration of a contract with Verne Buck and his
orchestra.
For a while the Sheridan had some difficulty in
getting started on a paying basis, but when Verne
Buck was brought in, one year ago, the house began
to hit on all six. This was due to the large follow-
ing and popularity of the clever band leader.
The new policy will offer featui'e pictures and
short subjects twice a week with organ music sup-
plied by IMmund C. Fitch, the featured organist who
has been with the theatre since it opened.
Pantages Gets Lawrndale
The Lawrndale theatre, located at Roosevelt Rd.
and Crawford Ave., Chicago, one of the recent addi-
tions to the large chain of moving picture theatres,
has reopened again after being closed all Summer.
The new policy carries a program of feature pic-
tures and five acts of Pantages vaudeville. Before
closing the house akso experimented with a presenta-
tion and burlesque ix>licy.
Musicians Back to Work
All disputes l>etween the Chicago Federation of
Musicians and the Exhibitors Association have been
settled and all orchestras and organists are back
to work in the 100 Chicago picture houses affected
by the union demands.
After Months on
Broadway Fans
Call Him Back
Balaban & Katz Theatres Switch
Several of Their Chicago
Band Leaders
By A. RAYMOND GALLO
After a successful five months en-
gagement on Broadway at the Para-
mount theatre, New York, Paul Ash,
the Rajah of Jazz, returns to Chicago
and his Oriental theatre starting Sep-
tember 30, for a limited engagement
only. Although Ash has not been
treated any too well by eastern pub-
lications he was nevertheless success-
ful enough in his first New York ap-
pearance to be the responsible one for
playing to capacity houses since he
opened. The Chicago American in
conjunction with Balaban & Katz are
staging a novel come-back appearance
by offering cash prizes and tickets to
the Ash admirers. This will prove
the real drawing power of Ash when
he returns to his former abode.
Although Paul Ash occupied the most prom-
inent place in the field of motion picture the-
atre master o£ ceremonies he was nevertheless
the most criticized band leader in the industry
by various members of his own profession.
And in spite of the fact that he had all these
obstacles to contend with through no fault of
his he tiianaged to weather the battles and
proved himself once more the phenomenon of
show business and the master of masters of
ceremonies.
Preceding Paul's return to Chicago there are
a number of other important changes in the de
luxe theatres among which some are very in-
teresting to record. They are as follows:
Verne Buck, for a year or more band leader
of Ascher's Sheridan theatre, opening Septem-
ber 15 at the Uptown theatre, a B & K house.
Bennie Krueger and Buck are to alternate at
the Uptown and Tivoli. Mark Fisher, for two
years a box office attraction for B & K, will
open for an extended engagement the new
Paradise theatre. Henri A. Keates, featured
organist for the Oriental theatre, will open
the theatre with him. Al Kvale, part of the
Ash gang, will return to his first love, the
Norshore, and Bennie Krueger will take his
place at the Oriental for two weeks until Ash
comes in. It is reported that Preston Sellers,
featured organist at the Senate theatre may
fill in for Keats at the Oriental. It is also
reported that Edward K. House will be the
featured rotating organist at the Uptown and
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
Tivoli. Frankie Masters, now at the Norshore
theatre, will move his band up to the Tower
theatre on the South Side. This house was
recently taken over by B & K from a joint
ownership with the Orpheum Circuit. A
policy of pictures and stage presentation will
be offered. It is learned that Eddie Hanson
will be the featured organist. Joie Lichter,
formerly at the Varsity, will be the musical
conductor at the Riviera recently taken over
by B & K from the Orpheum Circuit also.
Al Morey, formerly a Publix band leader in
Texas and Georgia will be brought into the
Harding for an extended run. Eddie Meikel
will remain as featured organist. Jack Pea-
cock Kelly, formerly of Mark Fisher's band,
will be stationed at the Senate as master of
ceremonies. It is rumored that Dean Fossler
may fill in for Preston Sellers at the organ.
Ulderico Marcelli will replace H. Leopold
Spitalny as musical conductor at the Chicago
theatre for a few weeks, while the latter is
at the Paradise. Walter Davidson may sub-
stitute for Marcelli at the Uptown and Tivoli.
The above and a number of other minor
changes will go into effect in the Chicago de
luxe houses starting September 15.
No plans have as yet been made regarding
the future poHcy of the Senate theatre which
is only one mile southeast of the new Paradise
theatre. There is a possibility that either
special stage shows will be produced to com-
pete with the Marbro theatre, a Marks Bros,
house, only one mile west of it. It is also
rumored that the New York Publix units now
appearing at the Chicago, Uptown and Tivoli
theatres may be brought into the Senate before
starting on the Publix route that opens in
Minneapolis.
Hereafter all Chicago units will be produced
at the Oriental and will play as follows : Para-
dise, Harding, Norshore, Tower, and then
takes to the road for several weeks. Louis
McDermott, Will Harris and Harry Gourfain
will be retained as producers. Louis Lipstone
continues as the general musical director for
all of the B & K and Publix interests in Chi-
cago and Detroit.
Presentation
LETTERS
In this open fomin those interested in presen-
tation may discuss important matters bearing;
upon this phase of theatre entertainment. Only
signed letters will be published.
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: Well,
here we are in London, working our second week and
doing wonderfully well. Everything is very much
different here than at home. It would be impossible
to write about all the things that one sees and does.
The theatres are all very old and every theatre
has a bar in it. At intermission :the bar is full and
during the second half of the show a lot of the
customers are full. The stages slope toward the foot-
lights and it is very awkward for dancers. However,
all the help in the theatres are very lovely and try
to do everything you ask. Of course there is a
reason for that as they all expect a tip the closing
night. Tipping is a menace over here. Still one
cant' blame them as they draw miserable salaries.
Handling baggage is a nuisance, too. One cannot
check trunks from one place to another as we do
at home. When you board the train, one must get
a porter to put your trunks on (more tips), and
when one arrives at their destination, one must get
another poi-ter to take the trunks off the train. One
big feature though is the cheap rates for taxi-s. In
London the meter starts at 4 cents and the rate is
18 cents a mile. They will also carry trunks at
18 cents each for any distance.
Hotels, however, are very expensive. It is a dif-
ficult matter to get a room with a private bath.
Then one must be a millionaire to afford a private
bath. The hotel rates include breakfa.st and in the
event you don't get up in time for breakfast, you
are charged extra. We don't miss any.
Folks that wisecrack about the small cars back
home should see what they call a motorcar here.
There are thousands running around the streets here
that an ordinary man could pick up and carry it
home. They look like ants running around.
We have an enormous bill at the Holborn Empire
this week as the enclosed cards will show. Sophie
Is packing them in. The house is sold out for the
week and the standies are three and four deep on
every floor at every performance. All house records
have been broken and the theatre is around twenty-
five years old.
Best Wishes. — Dick Maxwell, Maxwell & Lee, tour-
ing London, England.
STAGE SHOWS
(Continued from preceding page)
selection called "Imagination" — well described in
pantomine of the stage with panorama and scrim
effects, and the Chester Hale Girls, in a chorus
dance.
Jack Osterman introduces the next number, doing
a bit of comedy monologue which is of his usual
standard type, and
Maxine Lewis — little girl with a pleasing but un-
trained voice, who sings a special number "I Won-
der."
Ruby Keelcr works into her finish with a clever
tap dance, with encore and two bows pronounced
as good entertainment from the first step.
Roseray and Cappela, appear in a big scene using
Frank Stever to sing in baritone his introduotion,
and the Chester Hale girls for atmosphere, and con-
tribute a very good routine of asthetic dancing. The
introductory song is "Beloved" — the girls do a ballet
dance at the same time — ^then pose for the finish.
Jack Osterman endeavors "My Pet" followed by
"You're a Real Sweetheart" — then a lot of comedy
monologue, finishingi, with "Just a Melody Out of
the Sky."
Maxine Lewis again appears and sings "Forgetting
You" assisted by the singing symphonists.
The Chester Hale girls offer a chorus dance in
black opera length stockings for a change, and the
fiash finish, with girls everywhere — on the stage,
hanging in mid-air, and way up in the back ground,
puts the show over for a dazzling finish.
Hanlon Brothers, pantomine artists, have a novel
offering they call "Hotel Imjjossible," which is
highly entertaining. Arnold Bailey and Nelson
Valjean present a burlesque on the opening number.
The screen offering shown in this connection is
"The Card Board Lover" and the usual packed
houses was the result.
Indianapolis Circle
Week Ending September 1
No less a person than Jackie Coogan, assisted by
his father, is featured in the stage show this week.
The little fellow puts on a clever entertainment and
gives the public more reason than mere curiosity for
flocking to see him.
Dick Powell pleases with his rendition of the song
"Chiquita" in which he shares honors with Charles
Barnes. Bechee and Rubyatte do some rapid-fire
tumbling.
Bee Sarche sings and dances and the Circle Comets
present new routines in dancing. Altogether a nice
show.
Salt Lake City Pantages
Week Ending August 25
Thje Pantages stage offerings are proving very
popular here this week, it is announced, the vaude-
ville part of the bill being headed by the Mason-
Dixon dancers, a varied program of dance offerings
are presented and each of the company proves an
artist of ability. The numbers are original and the
stage setting colorful, while the company or six
stage the most entertaining act of its kind ever shown
here.
Britt Wood, the boob with the harmonica, com-
pletely stops the show this week. Wood has a person-
ality that puts him over with every audience ; he also
has a line of chatter, but above all he has a selec-
tion of melodies that he plays on his harmonica
seemingly pleasing to everyone in the house.
Madeline, a pretty little miss with a charming
voice, is another artist who captivates her audience.
She presents bits from operas and then for good
measure offers a number of popular numbers.
Warner and Mary Ann please with their bit of
nonsense in addition to some high class numbers on
the piano and cello.
Los Angeles Metropolitan
Week Ending August 30
Jack Partington's Publix Revue "Rah. Rah, Rah"
scored a hit worthy of note with their college antics
and musical numbers. It made Phil Lampkin's
closing week a glorious send-off.
The show opened with two runners doing a mara-
thon. The orchestra in the pit played "Collegiate."
Next the "Maryland Collegians" entered from the
rear of the house playing musical instruments to
the tune of "Our Director March." They were led
by the star and home town lad, Johnny Perkins.
The drop was then raised to the boys with Louella
Lee. They sang the "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" and
then entered into "Without You Sweetheart" to which
Louella Lee danced.
Johnny Perkins next introduced the master of
ceremonies, Phil Lampkin, who, with the aid of
Johnny made several wise cracks. It went over fair
but could hava done better had they omitted the
personalities. It appeared impromptu with no
thought of entertainment for the audience but amuse-
ment for themselves.
The wall slides back showing the orchestra in posi-
tion playing "How Could Anything So Good Be
Bad" "The Cheer Leaders" sing. This quartette
stood them up in their seats. Their voices are
better than the average. They are real "he" men.
They were forced to take two encores and to end with
a gag song. They took a hearty hand when they
closed.
Al Gale came next. This youngster has person-
ality plus. He sang "Let a Smile Be Your Um-
brella" with a manner all his own. He gave an
encore of "Stay Out of the South" which went over
big. A line dance with "The Cheer Leaders" and
four girls followed in the dance craze "CoUegiana"
assisted by the orchestra. This could have been
omitted and still be a great show.
Eddie Magill, the megaphone king, ("your favorite"
as Lampkin announces him) failed to register, when
he sang "Last Night I Dreamed You Kissed Me."
Johnny Perkins next sang "Two Ton Tessie," then
"Back in Your Own Backyard." For an encore he
offered "You Are a Real Sweetheart." He went
over good but could have gone betteY-. Johnny and
Phil do a little skit with wise cracks and songs
which led into the finale.
The orchestra started playing college songs with
an augmented orchestra which included the Maryland
Collegians. This gang of 28 musicians played the
college tunes of the principal schools, ending with
Army and Navy. The cast appearing while the
orchestra played "Fight On."
The show had merit, and was a credit to the pro-
ducer, but would have been received better had the
principals given more attention to the patrons.
Omaha Riviera
Week Ending August 31
Paul Spor, orchestra director and master of cere-
monies at the Riviera theatre bids farewell to
Omaha with a colorful and smashing stage presenta-
tion co-featured with the screen offering, "Lilac
Time," in which Colleen Moore is starred. The
movie has full sound effect and movietone music.
Paul, who has attained great popularity among the
theatre patrons, is leaving Omaha, and his friends
Jack "Peacock" Kelly
The Original "Peacock Kelly" of Great Lakes
Naval Band
Now Conducting Bandshows with his ow^n Stagehand
as Chicago's New^est Master of Ceremonies, Stationed
at the SENATE THEATRE for an Extended En-
gagement.
Many Thanks to MARK FISHER and Lubliner & Trinz
38
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
are making his departure a hard task by their thun-
der of applause at his song offering and most every-
thing he does. His fare-svell song is a big hit.
The stage presentation is entitled "Hula Blues,"
given added attractiveness by the Felica Sorel girls.
The feature performei- is Drena Beach, acrobatic
dancei- extra-ordinary. Her "Leopard Dance" is one
of sublime gi-ace and beauty, and she is seen at her
best in the offering.
Anna Chang, an Oriental singer just beaming with
personality, proves that Americans are not the only
ones capable of singing the "blues." Despite the
fact that she is Chinese, she sings the latest song
hits with a vim and charm compai'able to America's
best.
Jean and Fritz Hubert, funnier than ever, offer a
"drunk"' dance in their usual inimitable style, while
the bill is opened with a native dance by the Royal
Samoans. It is an unique offering.
Chicago Granada
Week Ending September 14
Marks Brothers continue with their "greater show
season" this week, presenting Mr. Edward Cantor,
an ambitious singer and jokester, to delighted mil-
lions— well, thousands, anyway. The name of the
show is "Very Good Eddie," undoubtedly a reference
to Ml- Cantor, who is often called Eddie by his
informal friends. Assisting him, as well as others,
is Charles Kaley, master of ceremonies. And now,
on with the show, as the phrase goes.
The curtain rises on the ballet costumed as pages
before a silver drop, and they speak off some rhymes
about the "greater show season." With their per-
mission, the drop lifts, revealing the band in a simple
setting consisting almost entirely, one might say,
of green and gold drapes at the wings and two
gorgeous peacocks against a back drop of gold and
eeriee, A slight flourish from the bandsmen brings
in Kaley, who faintly announces the Five Cracker-
jacks.
Crackerjacks they are, being very adept at the
tap dance and considerably more so at somersaulting.
Their two bows could be more, it seems, but they quit
the premises in favor of Chapman and Snyder, two
young women who have little to offer in the line
of songs and patter. The verdict is that of the rest
of the audience.
Arthur Lange Signs for
M G M Scores
Major Edward Bowes, managing director of
the Capitol theatre. New York, and Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corp. announce that
a deali has been consummated with Arthur
Lange whereby the latter will arrange musical
scores for the theatre and the picture pro-
ducers.
Mr. Lange, who is reputed to be the king-
pin of musical arrangers, will make all spe-
cial arrangements for the stage presentations
and photoplays appearing at the Capitol thea-
tre in addition to synchronizing scores for
M G M pictures.
The contract entered into calls for the ex-
clusive services of Mr. Lange with the ex-
ception of his commercial work with the m.usic
publishers.
He is well known also as a musical conduc-
tor, having directed the orchestras for "Honey-
moon Lane," and "Sidewalks of New York"
and several other musical comedy successes.
Follows the band in an instrumental procedure
announced as a fantasie of Southern intentions — and
the intentions are good, A moment of applause,
then "Blue Shadows," a vocal solo by Kaley, into
which is introduced an interlude by the ballet, attired
in elaborate blue costumes. Cantor is next.
The famous comedian sang as he raced up and
down the rostrum, wisecracked intimately with his
audience and otherwise disported himself in ways
too numerous to mention, all to the effect of stopping
the show. Several encores were not enough. The
finale was forced upon the house and proved entirely
incapable of discouraging the rumpus.
The finale brought the ballet and performers out,
and glistening banners unfolded prettily above the
orchestra. But what the band was playing no patron
knew. The applause was deafening. And it didn't
end until the others on the stage were joined by
Eddie Cantor.
Minneapolis Minnesota
Week Ending September 15
"Flapperettes" is the name of the stage show at
the Minnesota this week. The "Flapperettes," how-
ever, occupy only a small portion of an excellent
show and.while they are good, are by no means the
outstanding feature of the bill. The girls open and
close the act with some clever dancing which, among
other things, requires more clothes than is ordinarily
seen in these bills.
Gene Shclton takes the crowd, and every last one
of them, with some clever comedy. Between his
sticky fingers, imitations of trains starting, and
springtime dances. Gene can drive away anyone's
blues.
Ruth Haga, the Publix-Tribune personality girl,
comes on with another number. Incidentally Miss
Haga improves with each appearance. She has a
fine voice, though it still needs development for
volume,
Paul Remos and his midgets give some of the old
acrobatic tricks a new lease on life, and manage to
put on a good number that appeals particularly to the
youngsters.
Next to Shelton's act, however, Al Mitchell and
his Minnesota Serenaders who put on a modern
version of the old minstrel show take the limelight.
Al has his boys togged out in silk hats and orange
bow ties. He put them through their paces with
some sprightly jokes and sprightlier harmony.
Other in the stage act are Billic Gcrber who does
some good dancing and bad singing, and Ruth Denice
who also sings and dances.
Philadelphia Carman
Week Ending September 1
The Society Dancers, a chorus of girls who could
sing as well as dance, presented two interesting
unison dances. In the first the girls appeared in
lovely sheer dresses in pastel shades. The hats were
of the large floppy variety and little silver slippers
completed the attractive costume. For their second
appearance they were dressed in Huckleberry Finn
costumes, that is straw hats, overalls, barefoot and
carrying fishing rods and their song "If I Were
Huckleberry Finn," seemed to please the audience.
iicago :ienate
Week Ending August 31
"Stop — Look — and Listen" was this week's sta^e-l
j*how. that featured Mark Fisher and his McIod>^
luic Masters, surronnded by a cast of pood players.
\A\\ those interested in fzood sinpinp should by atlj
neans stop to listen to Mark Fisher's polden \o:
*ho seems to hold his audience spellbound whene
^e otTers a seleclii
IU„ a n.-<y.- 'he- «nue' to Lj^--^ ''„„,., ,„ ,,„„yj
one ha. only to "tand n«<r the ^_^^ ,^^_^,,,
;s'"A,;:;:-^"r-a;i z:.^ ^ -- procession is
waitln. to Kain ^^^-^ ^TV.^^^ ^^^A
,„ him the n>ar,'.r'"^f ' ^"^ ".i^he new Paradise*
f^l^Z^^^^ r''ne:rl<:Uct,e,_tha^M^
khin
MARK FISHER
Selected to Open
BALABAN and KATZ'
New
PARADISE
Chicago's Newest Wonder Theatre for an Extended Run
For Two Solid Years a
Box Office Attraction
ror
BALABAN & KATZ
an(
Still Drawing Them in Stronger
Than Ever
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
LOS4YS
Scmeihin^
about
Everyone
Good News! . . . After a whole week of no music
in over 100 Chicago pictui'e theatres, reports tell us
that all disputes between the Musicians union and
the Exhibitors organization have been settled. . . .
No need to fear the "talkies" any more, boys. . . .
Organists at least are safe for another year. . . .
Cecil Davidson, band leader at the North Center the-
atre, Chicago, thought the action would last long and
so he filled in the open time in out of town vaude-
ville dates. . . That 'a boy Cecil, make music while
the notes last. . . . Eddie Hanson is back from his
vacation and still has his hay fever. ... It is
rumored that Eddie will become featured organist at
the Tower theatre, Chicago, when B & K takes over
the house next week. . . . The policy will be pic-
tures and presentations with Frankie Masters as
Master of Ceremonies. . . . While on the subject of
Organists let me advise you that Henri A. Keates
will preside at the New Paradise oroian when the
house opens Sept. 14, with Mark Fisher as Ceremonial
Master. . . . H. Leopold Spitalny, will conduct the
pit orchestra Ulderico Marcelli of the Uptown
will take his place at the Chicago theatre while doing
so. . . . Preston Sellers of the Senate may replace
Keates at the Oriental. ... By the way there are a
number of changes this coming week in Chicago in
the M. C. line, so here goes it! . . . Verne Buck,
will make his B & K debut at the Uptown on Sept.
15. . . . Edward K. House is the featured organist
and will rotate with Bennie Krucger between the
Uptown and Tivoli theatres. . . . Bennie Krueger
replaces Al Kvale at the Oriental next week until
Paul Ash comes back on Sept. 30. . . . Oh, yes,
Paul will come back. . . . Al Kvale returns to the
Norshore for 10 weeks by iK>pular demand. . . .
Frzuikie Masters who has been taking his place moves
to the Tower on the South Side. . . . Al Morey,
formerly at the Howard in Atlanta, comes into the
Harding for a run while Mark Fisher is at the
Paradise. . . . Jack Peacock Kelly recently made
T>and leader will stay at the Senate for a while. . . .
Dean Fossler may take Sellers' place and Eddie Meikel
shall remain at the Harding as featured organist. . . .
Joie Lichter, formerly of the Varsity in Evanston,
will be pit conductor at the Riviera, recently taken
over by B & K from the Orpheum Circuit. . . .
Young and his Youngsters have replaced Dean Steven-
son's novelty orchestra at the Marshall Square. . . .
Dean is now with Armin Hand at the Piccadilly.
. . . Frank Wilson and Luch Hiatt are going with
Verne Buck. . . . M G M have signed George Dewey
Washington, Sunshine Sammy and several others for
short "talkies." . . . Harry Kose, and BaiScy and
Barum are also making talking films. . . . Ginger
Rogers is playing a return engagement with Paul Ash
at the Paramount in New York. . . . Billy Meyers
is back at the Oriental, Chicago, singing his songs.
. . . Paul Small will take his place in three weeks.
. . . Sam Bramson, of the Chicago William Morris
office, is enjoying his much needed vacation. . . .
John Steele, now playing picture houses has lost his
foothold on the amusement public. ... A bad voice is
the cause. . . . Speaking of stars, "Big Bill" Tilden
of tennis fame is now appearing in Keith houses.
... So is Helen Menken of the stage, better known
as the original star of "Tth Heaven." . . . M. James
Gallo, was appointed special road representative for
Joe Murphy, the original Andy Gump of the movies.
. . . Jim is arranging personal appearances for the
star in St. Louis. . . . George Givot is now playing
his second tour of West Coast theatres for Fanchon
and Marco. . . . Westell Gordon, member of "Bowes'
Capitol Family" on the radio, is singing his new
comijosition called "The Highway of Dreams." . . .
Speaking of songs, Al Piantadosi is the publisher of
"Just a Dance Program of Long Ago." . . . He also
wrote the music for "Seein' Double," a new skit for
the Gibb Sisters, the American "Siamese" Twins now
playing Keith Circuit. . . . Zez Confrey composer of
"Kitten on the Keys," and Phil Swartz, jjersonal
pianist to Ruth Etting, paid Al Beilin a social call
last week. . . . The trio at one time worked together
for Witmarks. . . .Margaret Felch is now booking
artists for clubs and has a new office in the Woods
Building, Chicago. . . . Sam Herman is back from his
vacation and has a new novelty up his sleeves.
. . . Presentation Policies are spreading in Canada.
Mark Fisher Opens
New B & K Paradise
On September 14, Balaban & Katz open to
the Chicago public a brand new theatre called
the Paradise. According to architectural ex-
perts and decorators of beauty structures the
theatre merits the name.
Mark Fisher, who for the past two years
has established himself in the hearts of the
Chicago picturehousegoers, will officiate by
opening the premier program and, according
to reports, will be stationed as master of
ceremonies indefinitely.
Other names well known to picturehouse-
goers will appear on the same program such
as H. Leopold Spitalny, musical conductor of
the Chicago theatre and Henri A. Keates, fea-
tured organist of the Oriental who will also
take part in the opening musical productions.
Louis McDcrmott, stage producer for the
Oriental, will stage the initial presentation.
The entire house staff of the Senate theatre,
including Edward O'Donnell, its manager, will
move to the Paradise permanently.
STAGE SHOWS
(^Continued from preceding page)
Hinkle and Mae in the "Hook and Line of Com-
edy," were good. He was dressed in complete fishing
outfit and when Mae gets caught on his line it
starts a whole line of comedy. He has an excellent
voice and sang "The World Is Waiting for the Sun-
light" very pleasingly. In fact, one might wish for
another song or two and a little less comedy.
Frances Dewey and Al Gold display the attractions
of the "girl friend" and the "boy friend" respectively
in song. At the end of each verse they pose with
glassy stare and the pantomime throughout is good.
Harry A. White and Alice Manning, featured eccen-
tric and humorous dancers, enter dressed as Span-
ish dancers and give a burlesque of the Spanish
tango. A garter that needs constant attention affords
much merriment. She puts aside her huge Spanish
comb and does some very clever acrobatic stunts with
apparent ease, which gain her much applause. She
is thrown around the stage quite recklessly but al-
ways lands in a graceful po.se and looks on while
her partner takes his turn at doing stunts. She
becomes a wooden toy and remains in any pasition
in which she is placed then quite suddenly becomes
very much animated. The whole act is character-
ized by movement, variety and pep and the eccentric
dancing is quite the most eccentric seen for some
time.
George Niblo and Helen Spencer in their travesty
"A Thousand Miles from Nowhere" presented rather
cheap comedy.
Atlanta Howard
Week Ending September 8
With marked beauty and artistry of both actors
and settings, "Milady's Pan," the Howard's presenta-
tion act this week clicked with a round of applause.
Ray Teal, the Howard's bandmaster who returned
to assume his old place after a comparatively short
stay at the Brookly theatre, Brooklyn, New York,
drew heavy ovations throughout the week. Teal has
proved to be one of the most popular bandmasters
presiding over the Howard's stage since the inaugura-
tion of the stage band unit.
Upon the two appearances and performances of
the Stanley Twins, dancers deluxe, the audience audi-
bly recognized the pair's unusually rymthic and
excellent dancing ability. In each number the twins
showed deft skill in keeping together, as well as per-
forming their feats.
Lamberti, comedian xylophonist drew loud and long
hands with his eccentricities and super ability as a
xylophone player. He stands out as the best per-
former on that instrument the Howard audiences
have heard in a long time.
The Ada Kaufman Girls, assisted by Dorothy
Neville, singer, were well liked and displayed skillful
training. The entire act went over well and re-
ceived a good hand.
Ray Teal and the Howard band Introduced a nov-
elty musical number proving original and pleasing.
New York Paramount
Week Ending September 15
The current week's stage attraction at the cross-
roads of the world is entitled "High Hat" — a musical
comedy in two scenes.
Scene one — In a cornfield, opens with a picnic, a
chorus dance by the Gamby-Hale girls — in scarecrow
costumes.
Tom Ross and Victor Henry sing the theme song
"Sally's Coming Home."
Art Frank and Alice Roy furnished the comedy
for the offering, entering at this point. Art Frank
is the rube old man, whase daughter is lured by the
night-club life. Alice Roy and Art vie each other
for honors in the dancing, and neither is victorious.
Ginger Rogers, back again after an absence of
two weeks, offers a special song "That's All I Wanted
to Know" — sung as usual to Paul Ash — then there is
a little love scene between Ginger, who is the way-
ward daughter, and her sweetheart, Tom Ross.
These two then sing another special number called
"Imagination" which is followed by a specialty com-
edy rube dance by Art Frank, followed by some more
good natured patter, and another rendition of the
first song.
Paul Small, back from Chicago, sings "Angela
Mia" to wonderful returns, proving himself the same
old favorite.
The Gamby-Hale Girls present a novelty chorus
dance with shoes on their hands instead of feet —
number called "Dancing Shoes."
Alice Roy sings "High Hat" and gives a perfect
tap dance for the second chorus.
Victor Henry sings "And Old Guitar and an Old
Refrain" which brings in for a close, the "Sally"
song, and the entire ensemble, in Sipanish costumes,
render a dazzling finish.
As an added attraction to the stage-show, which
was cut rather short this week, Jackie Coogan and
his father, in person, do a short vaudeville act, which
consists of some dancing, comedy patter,, and a little
more dancing, with a good dramatic recitation by
Jackie (himself) with a comedy twist.
Other members of the cast this week are Jane
Horton, Cara Gould, Jane Bowers and Paul Ash.
Kansas City Mainstreet
Week Ending September 8
Redford and Wallace start the stage program out
snappily at the Pantages, one being genuinely funny
as a clown and the other carrying a phonograph on
his face as nonchalantly as one could ask. They
have a good juggling act.
Graham and Courtney are billed as the "Physical
Culture Girls," their act being a combination of vocal
numbers and impersonations. "Havania" is listed
as "the human chameleon" and has a faculty of wear-
ing more costumes on top of one another than Com-
u
DOC" WEBB
Original Organ Novelties
at the
MARSHALL Square Theatre, CHICAGO
Albert F. Brown
Featuring ORGAN-SCRIM Presentations
"REPRESENTS THE NEW ERA OF DE LUXE THEATRE ENTERTAINMENT"
Granada and Marbro Theatres, Chicago
40
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
mander Byrd -nrill support on his polar expedition.
She has a grood balancing and ffymnastic act. Ed-
munds and Fanchon have a comedy act that is well
received.
Margo and Beth have a dance revue that proves
to be a real hit. Their act contains several varied
dance numbers by girls who really know how to
dance.
Louis Charnisky and his Pantages orchestra render
popular selections as an overture.
San Francisco Granada
Week Ending September 7
This week's stage act was a lively offering en-
titled "Rah. Rah, Rah" and served to remind patrons
that college is once again in stssion. College at-
mosphere was everywhere and the Granada resounded
to more yells than had been heard there in a long
time.
The college boys band, led by Johnny Perkins,
"weaned on elephant's milk," marched down one of
the aisles and onto the stage, which had an ap-
propriate background suggestive of a college campus.
A college yell started things off in good shape and
Johnny started a little swift chatter with a freshman,
who was finally hazed in an effective manner. The
boys sang "Sweetheart" and were assisted by a lone
girl, who also danced.
Master of ceremonies Frank Jenks made his ap-
I>earance in white trousers and a sweater with a blue
front and a large gold "C." and a red back with a
large "S." He asked the audience which they pre-
ferred and from the aplause it was hard to say
whether California or Stanford led. Anyway Frank
left it to the audience to fight it out as he had more
important business to attend to.
Another college yell, and a musical selection fea-
turing college airs followed, while two youths demon-
strated effectively an act of monkey shines, proving,
so to speak, that Darwin was right.
The Cheer Leaders were introduced by Frank Jenks
and the four boys made a decided hit with their
singing. They offered "How Can Anything So Good
Be Bad?" and "Is That So?" concluding with an
encore, "That's All There Isn't Any More."
Al Gates sang "Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella,"
and was followed by Frank Jenks who put on a
juggling act with three lemons. He miss the lemons
time and time again and finally declared that if he
mifised again he would shoot himself. Muffing the
lemon he disappeared behind the scenes and a shot
rent the air. Frank reappeared. He had missed
once more.
An acrobatic dance by five co-eds was well re-
ceived and Johnny Perkins then held forth again,
first making a talk and then promising to sing John
McCree's "Mother MeCormack." Some lively patter
followed and when he did get down to the business
of singing, the offering was "You're a Real Sweet-
heart."
James Hall, masculine lead in the week's screen
offering, "The Fleet's In," a picture made in San
Francisco, made a personal appearance and spoke
briefly on the filming of the production. He also
sang "She's Mine, All Mine." He introduced Merne
Kennedy, Charlie Chaplin's leading lady in "The
Circus," and the two put on a lively act that showed
they were perfectly at home on the stage.
The stage show came to an end with the band
offering a medley of college airs.
Philadelphia Stanley
Week Ending September 1
There was nothing outstanding among the diver-
tissements at the Stanley this week.
Wilbur Evans, winner of the Atwater-Kent prize,
sang as his first offering "Boots," followed by "Lovely
Celia" and "The Horn." He possesses a pleasing,
mellow baritone, lyric in quality and well placed, but
which failed to fill the Stanley auditorium.
Ida May Chadwick and her six Gingerellas in
"Rags and Riches," presented a pleasing and enter-
taining spec-tacle in a futuristic setting. Miss Chad-
wick first appeared as a typical "East Side" girl
from New York, as she sang "Sally McNally" with
Prologues of Song
Themes Getting
Popular
Stage prologues and organ solo presenta-
tions with theme songs of films bearing the
same name are getting popular nowadays.
The Fox theatre in Philadelphia recently
staged a prologue to the "Street Angel" with
Vitaphone accompaniment and the only stage
feature was "Venetian Festival," which in-
cluded the theme "Angela Mia" sung by a
tenor.
The Sheboygan theatre of Sheboygan, Wis.,
only last week offered an attraction of en-
tranic atmosphere when they presented a stage
prologue with seven people to their photoplay
"Two Arabian Knights." The only musical
accompaniment in this case Wias an organ
presided by Mclvin Peacock.
A gaint stage prologue is being featured
with the "King of Kings" at the Capitol and
Avalon theatres of Chicago. The presentation
offers the famous Venetian choir with fifteen
glorious voices accompanied by Del Lampe
and his augmented orchestra.
With the increasing popularity of theme
songs it should be possible for independent ex-
hibitors to obtain some real novel effects not
only by orchestra music but organ as well.
This does not by any means incur a great
amount of expense for staging.
all the brazenness that is generally associated with
the type. She wore a white blouse, short green skirt
and red beret.
The Gingerellas appeared in pink blouses, yellow
trousers and cornucopia hatB and did some clever
soft shoe dancing. The Miss Chadwick in a gorgeous
white gown with cornucopia sleeves sang a song,
after which she danced about the stage and with
arras extended gave the effect of a huge butterfly.
The bevy of girls in spangled tights which gave
the effect of lizards, did a clever sunt of tap danc-
ing on a series of steps in the background. Miss
Chadwick in white spangled tights joined them, the
whole presenting a colorful finale as the vari-colored
lights played ur>on them.
Detroit Capitol
Week Ending September 7
When Del Delbridge stepped out on the Capitol
stage during one of the performances during this
week, it marked the popular master of ceremonies
1,500th performance in Detroit. Del and his mu-
sicians, as usual, occupied the limelight in "Cairo,"
the Publix stage show for the week.
There was comedy aplenty in the show, what with
the antics of Billy Glason, a wise-cracker and singer
of topical songs. Al Norman presented some nifty
hoofing, and there were songs, steps and xylphone
numbers by Helen McFarland.
A song and dance turn by the well-named Darling
Twins was much liked, and another hit was a piano
novelty by two girls billed as Taylor and Lake.
Among the short films was a Vitaphone talking
novelty "Don't Be Jealous," featuring Joe Brown.
Salt Lake City Capitol
Week Ending September 1
At the Capitol Theatre of this city during the
past week the stage presentation has consisted of the
Fanchon and Marco "Theatrically Speaking] Idea,"
featuring the well known comedian and musical
comedy producer. Will King, with his Girl and Girlie
revue which displays a good deal of beauty and
rhythm.
Others feattired in this act are Lew Dunbar, June
Clyde, and Don Smith, Alice Lee, Francis Williams,
COMMUNITY SINGING
ORIGINAL ORCANLOGUES
HAROLD J. LYON
ORGANIST-SOLOIST
MILLION DOLLAR STATE THEATRE— JOHNSTOWN, PA.
Organ Recitals broadcast daily through Station WHBP
and Helen Thurston.
The aerialistic act of Miss Thurston with the aid
of a rope, was well received, as was the acrobatic
dancing.
Ralph Pollock and his orchestra, have proven to
be exceedingly popular here, with their own ar-
rangements of popular musical numbers, as has
Alexander Schreiner at the Wurlitzer.
The feature picture shown in this connection was
"The Water Hole" which has played to good sized
houses, with the entire bill being received in a
highly satisfactory manner.
Chicago Oriental
Week Ending September 7
The show this week is known as "Icey Hot Jazz,"
and it's a lot colder than it's hot. What the Oriental
shows need these September days is a flock of first
rate iperformers. All the beautiful scenery in the
world don't make a show unless it has acts. The
show opens with the Abbott Dancers, dressed in
spai-kling, white costumes, doing a routine before a
drop of tinsel streamers. Billie Meyers sings during
the routine. The girls exit as Al Kvale and Bob
LaSalle, in fur coats and summer hats, enter for a
bit of dialogue. The stage set is one of those ice
and snow affairs — veiT pretty.
Al leads his gang through "I'm Just a Great Big
Baby Doll," with the trombonist getting the spot
for a few hot notes on his horn, and then Helen
McDevitt, comes on in a short girlie costume to
sing the song. She gets a fair hand, and after Al
dispenses a few hot notes on a horn, and the gang
sings the chorus, she comes on again to sing "I'd
Rather Cry Over You." She gets a good hand, but
the young lady is no riot.
A girl of the Abott line, called Bonnie, does a
very good acrobatic dance for a good hand, and en-
core. The Three Ormond Sisters are next with a
march of the wooden soldiers. They do it about as well
a£ it ever has been done, but everybody in the business
has been doing this thing for the last four or five
years. They follow with several songs and a tap
dance or two. They get plenty of applause, so
maybe we're wrong.
The band number, "Just a Melody Out of the
Skies," is next with Billie Meyers singing it. The
band interpolates "Waiting for the Dawn." The
Abotts, again in beautiful costumes, do a very pretty
toe routine for a good hand. Roy Shelton follows
with some very good Russian acrobatic dancing. The
boy is good and gets a fine reception .
Bob La Salle follows. He is an old timer at the
Oriental and gets a good hand. Dressed in comedy at-
tire, he carries on quite a bit of dialogue with Al,
who is always the perfect foil and sings "What's Be-
come of Lulu," a Chinese song and a funny parody on
"Souvenirs." He gets the best hand of the bunch.
The finale is another of those parade and posing
affairs with the Abbotts doing the parading and
posing. Bonnie does a few turns, Meyers sings
"You're a Real Sweetheart," and Shelton does a few
more Russian steps. As always, the finale setting
is strikingly pretty.
Detroit Michigan
Week Ending September 7
There was a double celebration at the Michigan
this week, it being the second anniversary of the
opening of the house and the fifteenth anniversary
of Eduard Werner's association with the Kunsky in-
terests. Werner is the leader of the symphony or-
chestra at the Michigan.
ROY DIETRICH
"The Silver
Voiced Director"
Featuring
STAGEHAND
PRESENTATIONS
At the
"Playhouses of the
World"
Rotating
Between
CAPITOL and AVALON
CHICAGO
UNIFORMS
FOR HOUSE
ATTACHES
COSTUMES
FOR STAGE
PRESENTATIONS
BROOKS
1437 B'w«
N. Y. Citf
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
This week's column is given to you by the best
looking fellow in the music business, and those who
know him will certainly agree with me. I refer to
Danny Winkler, managing executive under Bobby
Crawford of the music publishing firm of DeSylva,
Brown & Henderson.
LARRY SPIER.
« « «
First of all, I want to thank Larry Spier for the
opportunity he has given me to conduct his column
in this issue of the Herald- World. Conducting a
column is indeed veiT strange to me, and let me tell
you folks, it isn't as easy as it looks. For even
right now I am stuck for something to tell you.
I think Larry Spier deserves plenty of credit for
giving you such an entertaining line of chatter in
this column each week.
» * »
I don't suppose it is good manners to talk about
Larry in his own column, and yet I just can't help
telling a certain little story about him which hap-
pened quite a number of years ago. At that time
I happened to be Larry's boss in the music publishing
game ; (I say this with just a little pride, because
Larry has certainly gone far in his chosen profes-
sion). At that time Larry was chasing orchestras
all over the City of New York for plugs on our
firm's plug song. One day he came to me and told
me that he had a tune which he had composed and
wanted me to hear. I nearly threw a fit, because the
worst thing in the world a good raueic man must
NOT do is try to write songs. The main upper
most reason being, every tune his firm gives him to
work on seems mediocre in comparison to the one
he has composed and which is his own "brain child."
I tried to do everything possible to discourage Larry
from his song and any future songs he thought he
could write. I felt sure I had succeeded in discour-
aging him, so you can imagine my surprise and
amazement when after quitting his job with us, he
received $2,500 advance from T. B. Harms and the
song became one of the biggest hits this country ever
had, "Memory Lane." Since that time I have listened
and intend listening to every tune that is submitted
to me by anyone connected with the firm I represent,
for never again will I miss up on a tune as I did
then.
* • *
I don't suppose there is any gossip of which I
can tell you about that hasn't already been covered
by some of the preceding "guest conductors" of this
column. Such alert fellows as Al Beilin, Jerry Vogel,
Lester Santley, Martha Wilchinsky and Bobby Craw-
ford (who by the way is my boss) certainly did not
overlook anything of importance.
4 « «
One bit of news they might have skipped telling
you is that my good friend, Philip Spitalny (origin-
ally from Cleveland) is going to blossom out in the
City of New York with one of the biggest orchestral
jobs,
# # *
Being in the so-called business end of the music
publishing business, I never realized the unearthly
hours an organist had to work, until it was called
to my attention recently in this way : I invited
Jesse Crawford to play golf with me some morning,
thinking that he had all day to himself, except when
he was actually playing at the theatre. I was sur-
prised when he told me that he practiced four nights
a week at the organ after the theatre had closed, and
didn't get home to bed until four or five o'clock in
the morning. With recordings coming due sometimes
on that morning, and with various other business
deals having to be attended to at that time, he was
very fortunate to be able to play golf one morning
in every three weeks. Any way, we finally arranged
a date to meet at seven o'clock one morning and
we played 18 holes — never mind about our scores,
the less said about them the better. I will give you
this information, however— Jesse Crawford is by far
a better organist than a golfer.
« « «
I would like very much at this time to tell you
about the wonderful songs we have in our catalogue
for organists and stage bands, but I am afraid it
might be adjudged bad manners. However, if you
will get in touch with Sam Lemer, who has charge
of this department for DeSylva, Brown & Henderson,
he will be only too glad to tell you all about them,
and send you whatever material you desire.
DANNY WINKLER.
ORGAN SOLOS
Alma Sommerville (Philadelphia Forum, Pa.).
"Songs of the Sunny South" was the organ solo
played on the ascending Kilgen. The stunt was
enjoyed as are all of Miss Sommerville's selections.
Burton Lawrence (Teatro del Lago— between Wil-
mette and Kenilworth) at the organ presented a
straight solo staged around a new song called "A
Midnight Blue" which had something to do about
love. The stunt was illustrated with slides and
many effects were used on the organ. This chap
IS well liked out here for his classical selections.
Julia Dawn (Atjanta, Ga.. Howard) still continues
as a guest organist and this week rendered "Jeanine,
I Dream of Lilac Time," the theme song to the
film "Lilac Time." She also sang a chorus to her
accompaniment, not a bad idea at all for any singing
organist.
Arthur Gutow (Detroit, Mich., Michigan) offered a
little stunt for the benefit of Eduard Werner, the
mvisical conductor. The ditty in his honor was'vei-y
fetching and done with an interpretation of "Car-
men" in the modern manner.
George Vlach (Chicago, Shore) continues to draw
quite a crowd with his community organ solos which
seem to be well liked. This week his stunt was
called "Just for Fun" in which he played a selection
of popular songs intermingled with much comedy and
illustration.
William J. Cowdrcy (Parkersburg, W. Va., Smoot)
reports that his organ solo for last week was in
accordance with the film called "The Cossacks."
Numbers suggested by the cue sheet were used sub-
stituting in many instances such numbers as "Danse
Polovetsienne," "The Glory of War" and Tschaikow-
sky's "Pique Dame," Fantasie by Weninger and
Offenbach's "Grand Duchess." These were all of
Russian character that lent melody and color to
the picture.
Melvin Peacock (Sheboygan, Wis., Sheboygan) re-
ports that his solo for last week was an atmospheric
prologue to the film called "Two Arabian Knights."
As a departure to the regular community solo this
was vei-y effective. The numbers selected included
Kettleby's "In a Persian Market" that was staged
with seven people in a pantomimic organ presenta-
tion. The prologue gave unusual opportunity for
good playing and the audience seemed to enjoy it.
Henri A. Keates (Chicago Oriental) calls his organ
presentation this week "Get Your Money's Worth,"
and by use of slides tells the audience how to get
additional lyrics, etc., from the song publishers. He
plays "Googely Goo," "Down Where the Sun Goes
Down," "I Dreamed That You Kissed Me," and a
parody on "You're a Real Sweetheart." Boys and
girls are given the chance to sing the words alter-
nately, and that they do lustily.
Milton Charles (Chicago Chicago) has an especially
good presentation augmented with a beautiful stage
setting and the services of Ned Miller, who is becom-
ing quite popular around these parts singing his
sentimental ballads. He sings "Chiquita," with
Milton capably accompanying. Charles plays "Down
Where the Sun Goes Down," with his usual fine
interpretation. This good presentation gets equally
good applause.
Write Theme Songs
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— Theme songs for
two synchronized M G M pictures, "White
Shadows" , and "Dancing Daughters," have
been composed by Dr. William Axt and
David Mendoza of the Capitol's music staff.
State 5918
54ff.a3ndo/phSt
Alc pu getting RUMORS
atout
Songs
BEST SELLERS
"Jeanine, I Dream of Lilac Time" —
(Leo Feist).
"Ramona" — (Leo Feist).
"Girl of My Dreams" — (Jack Mills).
"You're a Real Sweetheart"- — (Leo
Feist).
"Get Out and Get Under the Moon" —
(Irving Berlin).
"Angela Mia" — (DcSyiva-Brown &
Henderson).
"Beloved" — (Irving Berlin).
"That's My Weakness Now" —
(Shapiro-Bernstein).
"Down Where the Sun Goes Down"
— (Leo Feist).
"Out of the Dawn" — (Donaldson-
Douglas & Gumble).
"Just a Night for Meditation" —
(Shapiro-Bernstein).
"Chiquita" — (Leo Feist).
"Laugh, Clozvn, Laugh"- — (Reniick).
"Old Man Sunshine" — (Reniick).
"Last Night I Dreamed You Kissed
Me"— (Leo Feist).
"Just Like a Melody Out of the Sky"
— (Donaldson-Douglas & Gumble).
QUERIDA— (Sweetheart)— (Leo Feist Inc.)— A
Spanish love song of the type that this firm has been
very successful with. As is usual in Spanish Songs
it speaks of castanets, etc., is really a beautiful
song and should enjoy an extensive sale. Music by
Edward G. Simon, words by Jose Valdez.
=!= * *
THAT'S GRANDMA— (Shapiro-Bernstein & Co.)—
This song written by the three boys in Whitman's
band known as the Rhythm Boys and now in vaude-
ville by themselves. The lyric is certainly different
and has quite a few laughs. The melody written as
a fox trot is also appropriate. By Harry Barris,
Jimmy Cavanaugh and Bing Crosby.
* * *
THAT'S WHAT PUTS THE "SWEET" IN HOME
SWEET HOME— (Milton Weil)— A home song with
a strong lyric and an excellent melody. One of the
writers is the well known St. Louis master of cere-
monies, Ed Lowry. Looks very commercial. Co-
writers Charles Newman and Mack Gordon.
* * *
FOUR OR FIVE TIMES— (Sherman Clay & Co.)—
A number that has been out for quite some time but
the orchestras around town have suddenly decided to
give it a play. It's a good tune and might develop
into a seller. Words by Marco H. Hellman, music
by Byron Gay.
* « 4
THEN CAME THE DAWN— (Gene Austin, Inc.)
■ — This song has just been recorded by Gene Austin
the Victor record star and that alone should make the
song sell. Austin is also the publisher of this number
which means that the money derived from all angles
goes into one pocket. Words by Al Dubin, music
by Harry Warren.
* * 4
HEARTBROKEN AND LONELY— (Spier & Cos-
low, Inc.) — A fox trot ballad that reminds one of
Broken Hearted. Is the type that is always commer-
cial and this song should enjoy quite a sale. By
Sam Coslow, Con Conrad and Saul Bernie.
* 4 *
SITTING ON THE STAIRS— (Counting the Stars)—
(Ager, Yellen & Bornstein) — This is not easy to do.
Try it sometime and you will find that you will get a
different count each time. A very pretty song, how-
ever, about a lovesick Romeo. Words and music by
Alec Hicks.
4 * *
BLUE IDOL— (Fred K. Steele, Inc.)— An Oriental
number with a lyric that is more on the high class
order. The melody is written as a fox trot, is also
very pretty. This number is being played extensively
in the East by broadcasting orchestras. By Jane
Frazer.
j/^ /^^
42
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
Y^
SERVICE TALKS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald, which is a department containing news, in-
formation and gossip on current productions, is the Moving Picture World department, "Through
the Box Office Window."
D,
"THE FLEETS IN"
'EAR FOLKS:
This gay young Clara Bow has another good
picture. It is called "The Fleet's In" and the
picture is just about as swift, keen and un-
ceremonious as the title. I'd say, if asked, that
it is her best picture since "Red Hair," which
was her best since "It," and were it not for the
peculiarly saleable showmanship wrapped
about these two I should say it were better
than either. Yes, foot for foot and without
consideration of extraneous advantages, it is the
best picture the galvanic little woman has put
out.
Maybe I haven't made that clear. "Wliat I
mean is that "The Fleet's In" is a good picture,
independently of Miss Bow, and it is a much
better picture because of her participation in
it. There are a number of flip youug ladies
out yonder who could have played the part
quite well enough, but none of them would
have been Clara Bow and for a certain type of
thing nobody else does quite so satisfactorily.
A sort of mutual fitness, that of role for player
and player for role, adds a great deal to the
picture's already substantial stature. (But this
is getting involved.)
"The Fleet's In" occurs in San Francisco,
which the introductory caption laughingly
designates as a sea port on the outskirts of
Los Angeles. The fleet ojjens the picture by
sailing into the harbor. Sailors on shore leave
are greeted as they- land by girls representative
of the Roseland Dance Hall and other places.
Miss Bow is the stellar representative of the
place named and it seems all the sailors have
been scouring the globe for suitable gifts,
which they bestow upon the lady of their re-
spective if not entirely respectable dreams. And
among the sailors are James HaU and Jack
Oakie, of the Nebraska and Vermont, who
share a yen for Peachy and a warm dislike for
each other.
The sailors assemble at the dance hall, a
dime place, and there are battles, gags, out-
bursts of assorted emotions and always a con-
venient supply of captions, some of them
steaming a bit and some of them apathetic.
And the girl falls in love with the boy and
the boy falls in love with the girl and they
fall into and out of swift circumstances that
bring matters down finally to the court room
»rene where the girl lies herself black in the
reputation to save the boy and all that stuff.
Good, though, and never quite expected, and
a! way- logical, reasonable and entertaining.
Miss Bow is perfect as Peachy. Mr. Hall
smirks a bit monotonously as Eddie Briggs, as
T. O. Service
he has done when performing as other com-
pelling young men lately, and Jack Oakie is a
classic as the tough baby from the Vermont.
Bodil Rosing is several degrees above her per-
fect par as Peachy's mother. And, too, the
picture contains a rather long but amply comic
sequence employing several more flights of
stairs than "Seventh Heaven," a mechanically
successful demonstration of no importance.
"T.
"THE WATER HOLE"
HE WATER HOLE," on the other
hand — if you will imagine for a moment that
you have "The Fleet's In" on your left palm
as a particular fine sample of motion picture
production for entertainment purposes — is
about the most unhappy selection of this, that,
the other and practically everything that I've
endured in a good many months. I dislike to
recite bad news, but I do like sympathy and
so shall do so.
To begin with, the always fertile if not al-
ways literate gentlemen who dictate the ad-
vance trailers used by Balaban & Katz had mis-
informed me as to what might be expected.
They had said the picture was done "almost
entirely," if I recall the exact wording, in
color. If it is, Al Smith is almost entirely
prohibitionist and I am almost entirely con-
vinced that the trailer-writing gentlemen are
showmen. In other words, it isn't.
The picture opens, as have Balaban & Katz
may know how many but I doubt it, with the
Adam and Eve thing in color. It gets this done
in pretty decent manner, as anything so well
practiced should be done, and then it switches
to the third drawer from the bottom in the
lower left hand file cabinet and brings out the
skit wherein the metropolitan flapper wagers
with the girl friend that she can make the
big, handsome westerner propose within the
week. This is done a little less expertly, de-
spite the long practice, and from there on the
picture gets worse.
The next drawer exploited is the one marked
D-17793, the dusty one over in the corner by
the album stand. The skit in this drawer is
the one wherein the mighty man of the plains
has retreated to his mountain fastness only to
find that the giddy girl and her father have
followed, whereupon he arranges with the lat-
ter to kidnap the former and take her into the
desert (mountains is sometimes used) to
"break" her.
I believe the index number of the drawer
that is next rifled has been permitted to accrue
dust since "Greed" and so its number cannot
be deciphered from this distance. It is well up
in the figures, however, for it contains the
formula whereby the horses are stolen and the
three principals start off across the desert afoot,
the hero somehow knowing where the water
hole is or ought to be. There are the usual
fixtures, the mirages, the staggerings, the last
drop of water, the girl's futile little shoes —
which in this case last miraculously through-
out the twenty mile tramp — and the water hole
is found, of course, to be dry of water. Not
even the terrible Von Stroheim made the woe
of this thing more woeful than it is in "The
Water Hole." Now let the drawer be replaced,
and sealed.
And for a finish, since the picture had to
stop somewhere, a batty cowboy rigs up a
likewise batty scheme for bumping off the hero
and the other folks prevent it and the girl
finds out she really loves the guy and there's
the inevitable dumb closeup, a little dumber
than usual — or maybe it only seems so because
of what's gone before.
All these old familiar ideas constitute, as I
believe I've made plain, a quite terrible pic-
ture. I have just looked up my infrequently
looked up references to see if Paramount actu-
ally made the thing and I see that that is even
so. Had I been asked, I'd have said that this
outfit simply didn't know how to make a pic-
ture as bad as this one is. And I'd have argued,
as proof of my contention, that this outfit
wouldn't have let the thing out of the shop
even if it had been made. And I'd have been
%vrong, apparently, for there it is and I suppose
nothing can be done about it.
I wish they wouldn't do things like this to
Jack Holt, who is one of the few substantial
figures of the cinema. It was bad enough, and
still good enough, too, in a way, to make a
western star of him in the good western pic-
tures Paramount used to make. To keep him
in the things when the things get as bad as this
is no less than to shut him out of pictures. It
just isn't in the books that a guy could appear
in very many of these things and live.
(NOTE: Unwilling feo believe that the
above picture can possibly be as bad as I've
said it is, I have just broken another old es-
tablished rule and looked up a review of it.
The review is by Mae Tinee, of The Chicago
Tribune, and the eighth praiseful paragraph
reads: "This reviewer recommends The Wa-
ter Hole.' It's fun." This is confirmation in-
deed.)
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
Y^
THE THEATRE
Incorporated in this department of practical showmanship of Exhibitors Herald are the Moving
Picture World departments, "Selling the picture to the Public" and "Better Business Builders."
. Air Battle and Circus Feature
Air Circus
BATTLE IN THE CLOUDS
Staged by Planes Fropi the Fort Steuben .Airport
TUESDAY EVENING
AT SIX-THTITY
ABOVE THE CITY AND F«- OmO RIVER
NOTE Z
Newspaper ad used by William Hen-
dricks to announce the air circus and
battle in the clouds which he used as part
of a campaign to put over "Lights of
New York," Warner Brother's first ull-
talkie, in the Olympic theatre, Steuben-
ville, O.
Counterfeit Bill in
Windows of B. O. Is
Pull for This House
D. Cain, manager of the Tivoli theatre,
Milwaukee, has been attracting a lot of atten-
tion to his pictures by his exploitation. Quite
often he'll take four one-dollar bills and paste
them on the side windows of the box office.
He offers a season pass to the person who
can pick out the counterfeit bill and point out
the flaw in it. This idea has worked so well
that sometimes there are 30 to 40 crowding
around looking at the bills. It attracts atten-
tion to the theatre and gets the trade, accord-
ing to Cain. It's a sort of crossword puzzle
challenge that appeals to lots of people.
Window Displays
Play Big Part in
Showing of 'FaziV
Many window displays were achieved for
the showing of Fox's "Fazil" at the Carthay
Circle theatre in Los Angeles, and one of the
most effective forms was the use of the spe-
cial motion picture song title cover of "Nea-
politan Nights."
The stage setting in the display of the
Southern California Music Company was taken
from an actual scene in the production, and
an effect of depth in perspective was accom-
plished. Four of the production scenes were
built upon a turntable, which revolved and
gave the window animation, thus attracting the
attention of the passerby to the changes.
Colored footlight bulbs, masked from the
window front, illuminated the opening.
"Lights of New York^^ Campaign
William L. Hendricks, manager of the Olympic theatre, Steubenville, Ohio,
used an exploitation, altogether out of the ordinary, to good effect when he
played "Lights of New York," the first all-talkie. Here's what Hendricks has
to say:
. . ■ ^'
visible; advertising matter was also distributed !
from the planes over the business district and'
they covered the entire city. The advertising
matter was in the form of small envelopes
printed : 'A great thrill is coming into your
life (see inside).' A small slip of paper, folded
once, inside told of the many thrills in 'Lights
of New York,' dates, etc. This gag was also
distributed throughout the city by boys.
"I also used the match gag reproduced on
page 44 of the Herald-World of August 18,
and also an old gag — 10 boys, each with a letter
attached to his front, spelling out collectively,
'Lights of N. Y.' and on their backs, 'Olympic
Now.' I used them the opening day and at
night with flares. I also, of course, used the
regular newspaper teasers, posters, heralds,
programs and mailing lists.
"I believe that this is the first time that an
air battle and circus has been staged in con-
nection with the exploitation of a picture. Am
I right? It was very effective, anyhow."
"I have just completed a campaign on
"Lights of New York" that I believe would be
of interest as it was very effective here, so I
am passing it along.
"I staged, on the opening, an 'Aerial Battle
and Circus,' or as I advertised it: 'Air Circus
and Battle in the Clouds,' above the Olympic
theatre. Tying up with the local airport I
arranged for two planes on the opening day,
and painted the under wings, one to read,
'Lights of New York,' and the other, 'Olympic
Theatre.'
"The newspapers gave advance stories on
the thing and I carried ads announcing the
'battle and circus' and suggested in the ads that
vantage points be secured early in the neigh-
borhood of the Olympic as operations were to
be centered above the theatre. At the appointed
time, the planes banked and played around
above the down- town district, centering as
nearly as possible on the theatre, and perform-
ing every stunt imaginable over the Ohio river
which is nearby.
"The lettering on the planes was plainly
What's nicer than a real airplane in your lobby? Mickey Gross, manager of Univer^al's
Isis theatre at Kansas City, proved he is an ace exploiter when he tied up with an airplane
concern which provided a latest type plane for exhibition in the theatre lobby during the
showing of Paramount's "The Legion of the Condemned." What's more, the pilot stayed
right on hand to answer the many questions of patrons. Good stuff, say we.
44
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Septemher 15, 1928
FAUCE THE-iTRE
l-ALtCE THE.4TRE
Duriitc th* s3mco«r months. - ~ - -
t«<K ti»("« -""^ •>«»!*' y ""-^°E!
dt!»rti!»"i of ••"> ■=»£»«>°'- *' ™
thii yoM *« a U«i* ured of crws wor^s.
cootiBiM vbeni in October.
Th« fint ot thee «=W«t3 >*«n*d
Cookcc Sol*. »Dd we c»B «»ore joo th^
-F«Qcb Hwoor.- 'fh.ch » bow c»ll*d
■-ridbiu." ladd«niinj-. »hae this is not
In «dv*rtU«m*n: for -ndbitt.- you c.n
Nota in lii»t io»?»»o«. *l»'cl> i* publlsh-
^ *«ry -o*b«r »*«^
t«t of VCookM Sot ia tli»l It l»i»t »>•
mirth pr««xJcine. ind »*>«« '*r,w jI!
oaation m W ihe ccrrKtMM o( the de-
»r« KprwJadnt • te« CooVoo Nuts.
uch the better.
first priie of .53.00.
given to the next be:
submited. Her* is
) Uckets.will be
:en Cookoo Kuts
WIT
"A Blank «ipre«»ioo oo hi« '•«-
OririMlity of <oant is » pnrae neces-
sity >n tj« eoni»»- A.ry KJe* th»t comei
te TOO »n b* iDbMitted. »ad • pnt« of
13.00 will be »w«r«ied to tbe beat cniriMi
giSoTsoT ««i«a by the IStb of Sep-
BETTER
GASOLINE
MORE MILES PER DOLLAR
The HAMILTON OIL
COMPANY
East HIrh St-. >t Eiehtb
Now thai yoo fully understand whsi
'» Cookoo Sut is, Ect started and see how
clever you can make your contributions.
We fully expect lo receive at least one
hundred Cookoo Nuu by September IS,
s« don't disappoint os-
Our Blunderins Newspapers
Here is somethioc that will pive you
lot>^ of fun. and at the same time afford
vou the chance of eetttng- a cash prize
or Palace theatre tickets- As you read
your newspapers or magazine you will
often find in the news items or ndvertise-
meni some tj-poRraphical blunder. Send
the cTipping to the Contest Editor, on or
before September IS. Tfte prize for the
best news blunder submitted will be
SI. DO. A ticket (rood for admission to
the Palace will be sent to the next
twenty-five persons submitting Sewx
Blunders. Here are a few News Blunders
taken from daily newspapers.
For a Change, We Suppose
Mr. 4nd Mrs. I. E. C. of Girard Ave-
nue, left decently by boat for Miami, Flo-
rida.— Philadelphia Jewish ExponenL
A Deadly CombinatJon
Sam Rush, aped 6S, a pioneer of our
county, died at his home Thursday eve-
ning, a cictim of locomotive taxi. — Bur-
gettstown (Pa.) News.
Call a Plumber
Rome Falk will leak the orchestra
tchlch presents the tenth annual program
of folk dances.— The Cleveland Sews.
Inside Stuff
I vas never so embarrassed in all my
life. I was ripht in the mid.dle of my
A Record
The sales of MacGregor's
ice cream diaring the sum-
mer months j it past have
been by far tl.e largest on
record.
The reason? A good
product constantly
making good friends.
MacGREGOR^S
Ice Cream
"The Cream of the Town-
violin
I 1 t
I G-string-^-Court-
land (N. Y.( Press.
PtZZLE FANS, ATTENTION
Can ■ you solve this puzzle 7 Here's
the box belov lo make a total of 21. each
number cannot be used more than three
limes. (Remember this is a puzzle, so
act accordingly. It is worded to make
the solution more difficult-)
T^-o Palace theatre tickets will be
awarded lo the first twenty-five correct
in by "September 15, and
.' 5
1 1
a
r 1
rr-
5
3
1 9
1
7
\ s"
9
9
1 3
7
Sfemre
Time Tested Electric Radio
The Palace Revieu published by the Palace theatre, Hamilton, Ohio, is one of the best house
organs that reaches us. Joe Mayer, who edits it, says that no house organ is complete with-
out a contest page, and the two pages shown above of the Palace revieiv show how well Joe
practices iihat he preaches. Notice the different contests Joe introduces in this issue. One
of the contests is the famous "21" puzzle published some time ago in "The Theatre." Per-
haps Joe's contest pages will give you an. idea or two. At least, it will pay you to practice
what Joe preaches.
Use Contests in House Organs;
Get Your Ideas from Exchange
One of the most universal traits of the American public is its love for solving
diflScult problems. That's why we are the greatest nation of doers in the world.
And getting right do^sTi to the point, that's why practically every good house
organ we see these days has some sort of a contest or puzzle in it. Exhibitors
have found that one of the best ways to keep house organs from landing on the
floor of the lobby is to run a contest or puzzle in every issue.
Where can you get enough ideas for puzzles organ very interesting to patrons and at the
and contests? Well, one of the best ways is to
join "The Theatre's" House Organ Exchange.
We have just been looking through a batch
of house organs (each of which is published
by an Exchange member) and in them we
found enough good contests to last any one a
long time. .^ ^ iv.
Here's one for instance: John J. Scanlon,
manager of the Palace theatre, Torrington,
Connecticut, uses a ."Merchant's 'Rhymo' Con-
test." The rules of the contest read : "]\Iake
a four line rhyme ^bout any merchant in this
program and mail to the Palace. The best
ones each week will be printed in this space
and awarded a free ticket for two admissions
to this theatre."
Now that's a corking good little contest, for
it will please advertisers. "It makes the house
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture
World,
407 S. Dearborn St.,
Chicago, lit.
"The Theatre":
f lease enroll me as a member of Th\.
House Organ Exchange. I voill exchange
nouse organs with other m.embers.
Name
Theatre
Address
same time helps sell the ads to merchants,"
says Scanlon. ■ .
R. H. Zerbel, manager of the Delft theatre,
Marquette, Michigan, always has a good con-
test in his house organ, "The Overture." His
latest is the "Moviegram," which is a new
name for tongue twisters. A rule of the con-
test is that the tongue twister must be about
the theatre or motion pictures. Zerbel awards
two tickets for all the "Aloviegrams" used,
and he gets lots of them. Here's a sample :
"Dainty damsels deliberately declare Delft's
decorations decidedly delightful."
Zerbel has been having fine success with his
limerick contest, also. This is no new idea,
of course, but it creates interest just the same.
The house organ each week contains the first
four lines of a limerick. The idea is to write
a last line for the limerick. For instance :
My favorite star is Lon Chaney,
His acting is sometimes uncanny;
No lover is he,
But I think you'll agree
Zerbel gets many replies to this little con-
test. By using a limerick about a star that
appears in a picture for the coming week, it
also helps to create interest in the picture.
We could go on relating good contests we
see in house organs, but you can find them
yourself by just joining- "The Theatre's"
House Organ Exchange. You'll find a coupon
on this page.
Patrons Title Stills
On "Man Who Laughs''
Movie fans of Oklahoma City wrote their
own titles for stills on "The Man Who
Laughs" when that Universal super produc-
tion played at the Liberty theatre. The Okla-
homa News ran pictures from the film for
seven days before the playdate of the film. The
theatre offered forty dollars in cash prizes and
theatre tickets for the best titles to the stills.
The stunt is particularlv good from the exhib-
itor's standpoint as the stills arouse lively
patron interest in the picture.
The contest went over exceptionally well at
the Liberty, where "The Man Who Laughs"
opened to capacity and was held over for a
second week.
House Organ
Exchange
R. H. Zerbel, Delft theatre, Marquette,
Mich.
Albert Sindlinger, Majestic theatre,
Athens, Ohio.
L. W. Carroll, Majestic theatre, Bur-
lington, Vermont.
Montague Salmon, Boulevard theatre,
Los Angeles.
Publix News, Riviera theatre, Omaha,
Nebraska.
H. M. Addison, Great Lakes theatre,
Buffalo, N. Y.
John Goldstone, Empire Picture House,
Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England.
Wener & Green, Russell theatre, Glace
Bay, Nova Scotia.
Charles P. Gilmore, Orpheum theatre,
Oswego, N. Y.
Verner Hicks, Arcadia theatre, Olney,
III.
Kenneth Tallmadge, Temple theatre,
Saginaw, Mich.
Wally Nordby, Indiana theatre, Indi-
ana, Pa.
The Lark Tales, Lark theatre, McMinn-
ville. Ore.
L. D. Everett, Saenger theatre. Mobile,
Ala.
Hal D. Neides, Grauman's Egyptian
theatre, Hollywood, Cal.
William T. Meeks, Shorewood theatre,
1535 Oakland Ave., Milwaukee, Wis.
Reinhold Wallach, Sheboygan theatre,
Sheboygan, Wis.
L. O. Gardner, Neptune theatre, 39th
and Bell, Kansas City.
Vic Walker, West Coast-Walker, Santa
Ana, Cal.
0. M. Linn, Y. M. C. A., Coatesville,
Pa.
1. G. L. Drummond, Hippodrome thea-
tre, BP. Aukland, County Durham, Eng-
land.
Ben Mueller, California theatre, Santa
Rosa, Cal.
F. M. Boucher, Empire-Colonial-Win
Theatres, Winchester, Va.
C. C. Pippin. Strand theatre, York, Pa.
J. H. Murolf, Capitol theatre, Iron
Mountain, Mich.
Stephen Dziadik, Derby theatre, Derby,
Conn.
W. P. Riggins. Strant theatre. Jesup,
Ga.
H. A. Cook, Criterion theatre. Macon,
Ga.
John J. Scanlon, Palace theatre, Tor-
rington, Conn.
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
45
Airplanes Ballyhoo
"Lilac Time'' for 2
Houses During Run
An airplane publicity stunt was used to put
over the picture "Lilac Time" in the Twin Ci-
ties, Alinnesota. "Lilac Time" opened at both
the State, Minneapolis, and the Capitol, St.
Paul, for simultaneous runs. On the morning
of the opening day, the films were rushed to
the Twin Cities by airmail. A convoy of
planes hired by Finkelstein and Ruben met
the plane and escorted it over the cities where
toy bombs were dropped. In St. Paul an
added feature was the dropping of parachutes
to which were attached passes for the Capi-
tol.
The publicity stunt was carried over into
the evening when another of the planes with
the words "Lilac Time," written in red across
the underside of the wings, flew over the
Twin Cities.
As was the case with a number of other
pictures "Lilac Time" was also tied up with
its theme song "Jeanine." Thirty-four Min-
neapolis orchestras and 50 music shops were
induced to feature the song previous to the
opening of the picture. The same was done
on a smaller scale in St. Paul. At the State,
Minneapolis, a special stage show was put
on by John Ingram, orchestra leader and
production manager, which was built about
the theme song.
Minneapolis Stages
Popularity Contest
Miss Ruth Haga, 17 year old Minneapolis
working girl, recently won the popularity con-
test, a publicity tieup stunt between the Min-
neapolis Tribune and
Publix Unit. Miss
Haga was chosen as
the best among the
100 entrants in the
contest. The first
trials were held in
private when each en-
trant had to put on an
original act. All but
28 were eliminated.
Those who remained
in the running staged
their acts before a
regular audience at
the ^Minnesota the-
atre.
A contract at $75 a
week, to run four weeks, has been awarded to
!Miss Haga who has scored a great success with
Minneapolis audiences. The circuit has a
year's option on the services of the Minneapolis
girl after the completion of her four week run
at the ^Minnesota theatre. Judges of the con-
test were P. H. Smith, manager of the Minne-
sota, Jack Quinlan, of the Tribune and for-
merly with Orpheum-Pantages as manager, and
Al Mitchel, leader of the Minnesota Serenad-
ers.
Ruth Haga
Cowan to Handle
Atlanta Publicity
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, Sept. IL— Larry Cowan, of the
home office publicity staff of Loew's, Inc., who
was assigned by Terry Turner to cover the
opening of the Capitol under the Loew ban-
ner, and who has spent two weeks here in that
connection, is to. remain permanently in At-
lanta. He will have full charge of publicity
for both Loew's Capitol and Loew's Grand.
"One of the best fronts we ever had,'' says Frank Hill of this lobby display, and it is a
corker. The hoard is made of compo ivith a grass green cloth over the board. Notice hotv
the cutouts stand out from the board. The effect is obtained by nailing a one-inch strip
between the board and cutout.
"Always Interesting and
Helpful in Advertising'"
In writing "The Theatre" the de-
tails of a little advertising stunt put
over in his theatre, Frank B. Hill,
manager of the Walla Walla theatre,
Walla Walla, Washington, says:
"The card from hubby to wife was
very good and helped business a lot.
This idea was taken from your maga-
zine . . . In closing I want to tell you
that your magazine is always very
interesting and very helpful in ad-
vertising."
Crossword Puzzle
Puts Another Over
No, the crossword puzzle is not "through"
as a medium of exploitation. V. B. Kenworth,
managing the Globe at Albany, Ore., used it
for MGM's "Rose Marie" in a tieup with
the Fisher-Braden Furniture Company, which
ran a full-page ad in the daily newspaper and
offered tickets to all who solved the com-
pany's puzzle during "Rose-Marie Days," as
the concern named a special sale. The only
cost to the theatre was the printing of tickets.
A "Rose Marie" concert, put on by the
Albany American Legion Band, was another
angle of the campaign.
West Coast Theatres
Holds Guess Contest
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 11.— West Coast
Theatres, in co-operation with the San Fran-
cisco News and the Oakland Tribune, has
launched a Star Guessing Contest in the
Greater San Francisco field. Pictures of ten
unidentified screen stars are to be show a each
week for four weeks and all contestaius have
to do is to name the stars in the order they
appear on the screen. The prizes are i-alued
at almost $10,000 and range from lots and
automobiles, to coffee orders, luggage, radios
and scrip books.
The houses participating are the Warficld,
Granada, California and St. Francis theatres,
San Francisco; the T. & D., Grand Lake,
Senator and Claremont, Oakland ; Campus and
U. C, Berkeley ; California and Richmond,
Richmond. '
Radio in Theatre
Manager John Galvin of the Galvin theatre,
Ottawa, Ontario, is providing an unusual serv-
ice to patrons in having a radio set in the
men's retiring room as a permanent feature.
A checkup shows that many males have been
operating the set at odd times during perform-
ances.
Here's a Goodivill Builder
(Special to the Herald-World)
DES MOINES, Sept. 11.— During the Iowa
State Fair, the Capitol theatre maintained an
information booth for the use of strangers in
the citv. The idea worked well for all.
Boy M. C. Draws 'Em
On Amateur Nights
Eugene Arnstein, manager of the Lake thea-
tre, Milwaukee, has pulled a big scoop on
other managers by signing Bobby Stewart,
10-year-old master of ceremonies phenom, for
his Amateur Nights. The little lad, who has
a world of talent, draws big crowds to the
theatre and has been given a lot of ink in
both daily and community newspapers. He
is right at home on the stage and has an
excellent personality. The neighborhood turns
out in such force to see Bobby do his stuff
that Arnstein has him sing almost every night
at the theatre now.
k««__ (t£ll 'em with trailers
-^1^
"""^^^^^^
M
46
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
^^5^
NEW PICTURES
In "New Pictures" the EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE
WORLD presents in concise form infor-
mation on current and forthcoming attrac-
tions.
The facts as presented will serve exhib-
itors in booking and in the preparation of
their advertising campaign.
CAMERAMAN, THE: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer comedy,
with Buster Keaton, Marceline Day, Harold Good-
win, Sidney Braey and Harry Gribbon. Directed
by Edward Sedgwick. Released _... Length
TYPE AND THEME: Smnething for Buster
Keaton. As Luke, a tintype photographer, he's
plying his trade iyi iront oi New York's city hall
when a great croicd swoops upon him, bringing
death embarrassingly near. It seeyns another of
those transatlantic flyers has come to toien. Among
those present is Ha.rold, newsreel cameramen (for
M G M, by the way). And with him is Sally, who
icorks in the office. Taking a shine to her, Luke
decides to be a newsreel cameraman. He goes to
the office. She gives him kindly advice. He gets a
second-hand camera. Starts after news pictures.
Seems rather duynb. Gets iyito jayns. Sees SaUy
fall iyito the river at a boat race. Rescues her.
Turns in a couple of good reels. Still seeyns aw-
fully duyyib. But MGM gives hiiyi a job. And
Sally says, "Yes."
* * *
CHARGE OF THE GAUCHOS: FBO melodrama,
with Francis X. Bushman, Jacqueline Logan, Guido
Trento, Paul Ellis, Henry Kolker, Charles Hill
Mailes, John Hopkins, Charles K. French, Olive
Hasbrouek. Mathilde Comont, Jack Ponder, Llge
Conley, Gino Corrado and Frank Hagney. Directed
by Albert Kelly. Released Length
TYPE AND THEME: Liberty (which man wins
with so much blood and lets go with so much in-
difference) is again the subject of a lavish screen
spectacle in this strenuous story of the Argentine.
The people are struggling uyider the heavy Spanish
yoke, putting their hope of relief in Belgrano,
brave leader of their cause. Then a patriot is
executed. The embers of revolution leap into
flame. And Belgrano's forces establish a govern-
ment of the people at Bueyios Aires. But Monica,
Belgrano's sweetheart, has been taken away to
Salta, where the Federal aryny is ivaiting. Her
father is a Loyalist. She proves a patriot. The
moveynents and playis of the Federals are made
known through her to Belgrano. Discovered, she
can avoid execution if she will vyarry Monteros,
Federal general. She refuses. Belgrano learyis of
the iyyypending executioyi. He asseynhles the back-
boyie of his army, the Crauchos. And charging on
Salta, they rout the Federals and save Monica to
her lover.
fr * *
FARMER'S DAUGHTER. THE: Fox comedy-drama,
with Marjorie Beebe, Warren Burke, Arthur Stone,
Lincoln Steadman, Harry Dunkinson and Sam De-
Grasse. Directed by Arthur Rosson. Released
Length
TYPE AND THEME: About a ritstic beauty
Leonce Perret. Released
Length
What are a jew bulrushes when happi-
ness lies just beyond? More seriously,
this is a scene jroni M G M's new Cos-
mopolitan production, "Tides oj Empire,"
directed by Allan Dwan. Buster Collier
and Renee Adoree are the players
pictured.
who shows a city slicker that she's got a few wise-
cracks on tap herself. Marjorine (which name has
a distinct bucolic sound to it) meets Synythe, the
slicker, when his auto gets into the mudhole which
is her source of pin money. With Smythe is young
Boardyyian, son of a ynilk baroyi — though Syyiythe
doesn't kyiow it. Well, thus introduced, Syyiyjthe
becomes attached to both Marjorine and the faryn of
Marjorine's pa. When he proves a friend in need
concerning a mortgage, the girl gets to like hiyn,
too, in spite of her proyyiise to marry Noah, her
pa's helper and the inventor of a tvrapping ma-
chine. To exploit the ma-chine, Smythe plans a
big picnic, intending to exploit the guests for him-
self. He announces Boa/rdman as the son of the
milk baron. Boardyyiayi, Sr., arrives with the
sheriff. The machine j'roves to be a great thing,
and Boardynan tells Noah he'll back it. Marjorine
resunyes her former relations with Noah.
^ * ^
MODEL FROM MONTMARTE, THE: Paramount
drama, with Nita Naldi. Ivan Petroviteh, Louise
LaGrange and Maurice de Cononge. Directed by
TYPE AND THEME: Made in France with a
French cast (though Naldi is well known and
Petroviteh lesser known over here), this one has
a decided European tang. Lolette is a model much
beloved iyi the section of Paris popularly known
as the artists' quarter. Wealthy Bouchard icould
marry her, but she does not love hiyyi and likes him
too well to marry him onhj for money. Poor but
talented Pierre comes to claim her heart. They
nyamj and are very happy in their poverty and
hopes. Pierre paints Lolette for the exhibition.
He wiyis the prize — and with it, fame and fortune.
This turns his head. The Princess de Chabran does
eveyi more. And he leaves Lolette. Saved from
suicide, Lolette goes to Rouchard, who is only too
happy over her decision to get a quiet divorce.
Abruptly Pierre seeks her out. The charyyis of
the princess luvve run their usual course. It is
Lolette he truly loves. And Lolette in ecstasyj takes
hiyn into her arms, while Rouchard tcatches them
sadly froyyi the doorway.
« * *
OUT OF THE RUINS: First National drama with
Richard Barthelmess, Robert Frazer, Marion Nixon,
Emile Chautard. Bodil Rosing, Eugene Pallette and
Rose Dione. Directed by John Francis Dillon.
Released _ Length
TYPE AND THEME: Barthelmess as a younp
French officer falls in love with the sister of his
buddy on a visit to Paris. Back at the front he
shoots hiynself in the hand so as to be invalided
back to Paris, but his wound is dressed and he is
ordered back to the front. Then he deserts amd
returns to her. When a new regiment passes on
the way to the front he decided he must go back
to war. He is courtmartialed and shot. When the
girl is about to be wed to a young profiteer by
her father, Barthelmess shows up. He had been
only wounded by the firing squad. The girl's
father and fiance denounce him as traitor but
the blinded brother explains to the commander, who
decides that the young officer is officially dead a/nd
the Army will take no further action.
* * *
SHOW GIRL: First National comedy-drama, with
Alice White, Donald Reed, Lee Moran, Charles
Delaney, Richard Tucker, Gwen Lee, Jimmie Flnlay-
son, Kate Price, High Roman and Bernard Randall.
Directed by Alfred Santell. Released _
Length
TYPE AND THEME: Hcnv in these datjs of
night clubs and girl shoivs, a pretty, shapely young
woyyian may get on in the world if she has a. mind
to. Dixie can marry Denny, a motto salesman, if
she wants to. But she doesn't want to. She has
her eye on the stage. Jiyyiyyiy she likes better.
He's a tabloid reporter and, of course, knows just
what everything's all about. Well, Dixie does make
a step toward a stage career, by getting into a
night club show. In her dance with Alvarez
Romano she's a hit. Romano helps her in other
ways. He sticks a knife in the back of Milton, an
adyytirer, and Jimmy turiis the incident into so
Tnuch publicity/. Romayio abducts Dixie. Jiyyimy
sells her life story to his paper. Now, ripe for the
stage, she's put into a sliow, scoring very large.
But what of it? Jimmy hasn't been aroyind! Then
he turns up. And they're married as quickly as
possible.
This Week^s Press Sheet
HOW TO HANDLE WOMEN (Universal comedy-drama) :
Distribute envelopes, containing one or two peanuts to your
audiences as they leave the theatre. Tie up the stunt with a
dealer in nuts and share the cost with him, including the ex-
pense of printing the envelopes, on which both of you get
your ads. Advertise a "lucky peanut matinee," to advertise
the funniest peanuts that have appeared on the screen, etc.
Here is a newspaper competition that may be good for a
lot of laughs and publicity for the title. See who can give
the best slogan for the title. A few samples of what can be
given are as follows: "How to handle women — treat 'em
rough"; "How to handle women — Spend all your money on
them"; "How to handle women — Stay away from them"; "How
to handle women — Let them henpeck you." This stunt should
appeal to all ages. Get a columnist or any other humorist
in your town to serve as one of the judges. During the week
previous to the opening, run some of the answers on slides
and letter some on cards to put in your lobby. The ones giv-
ing the best slogan for this contest can be your guests at the
showing of the picture.
Newspaper copy should be built up in a humorous vein
around the theme of "the funny peanuts that are appearing
for the first time on your screen, etc." Promote your candy
merchant into a window display made up of nothing but pea-
nut candies. The tie-up announcement card in this display
should advise the public that the famous peanut king advises
the eating of peanuts for health and for developing a sense of
humor. Also, a card may say, "See the greatest peanuts
starred on the screen in 'How to Handle Women' and don't
fail to bring a bag of (Dealer's) peanuts with you."
Arrange a window and fountain tie-up, announcing the "new
peanut sundae," invented by Glenn Tryon.
Tie-up with an insurance agency and issue "$1,000 policies"
which insure the holders against "dying of laughter."
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
^e^
QUICK REFERENCE PICTURE CHART
Incorporated in this department of Moving Picture World is the Exhibitors Herald department,
"Available Attractions."
TJiB key to abbreviations used in denoting the type of pictures
C'-'-Comedy F — Farce
D — Drama M^^Melodrama
R — Romance W^^Western
My^Mystery
Where the picture is a comedy-drama, comedy melodrama, etc.,
there is a combination of these abbreviations. Stars denote
reissues.
That dates prior to January 7 published under the "Comment"
column are those of the issues of Moving Picture World in which
the pictures were reported. The January 7 and subsequent dates
are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOV-
ING PICTURE WORLD in which "Service Talks" have been
published on pictures.
The dates prior to January 7 published under the "New Pic-
tures" column are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD
in which "New Pictures" information was printed. The January
7 and subsequent dates are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD in which this in-
formation will be printed.
Length Title and Playen
Releated
New
Pictures
Comment
1928 Chesterfield 1928
6400 Adorable Cheat, The, Llla Lee-McInto«h June 1 June 9
B450 Below the Deadline...- Feb. 28
5500 Campus Knights Aug. 15
6300 Circumstantial Evidence Oct. 30
8000 House of Shame, The June 30
6008 Roaring Forties, The Apr. 15
6900 South of Panama Dec 15
1927 Columbia 1927
5831 Alias the Lone Wolt (D), Lytell-Wilson. Aug. 22 Jan. 7 Oct. 1
6843 Blood Ship, The (M), Bosworth-Logan Aug. 10 Dec. 3 July 23
5432 By Whose Hand (MyO), Cortez-GUbert Sept. 15 Dec 31
6628 College Hero, The (CD), Agnew-Garon Oct. 9
5513 Fashion Madness, Windsor-Howes. Dec. 8 Jan. 14 Jan. 14
5645 Isle ol Forgotten Women <D), Tearle-Sebastlan_Sept. 27 Dec. 3
5750 Lone Wolt Returns (M), LyteU-WUson. July 31
6524 Opening Night, The (D), Wlndsor-J. Bower«._NoT. 14 .
5569 Pleasure Before Business (F). Davidscn May 14
5892 Sally in Our Alley (M), Mason-Allen Sept. 3 Jan. 14
1000 Screen Snapshots _ Aug. 28
5996 Siren, The, T. Moore-Kevier Deo. 20 Jan. 21 Jan. 21
6435 Stage Kisses (D), Harlan-Chadwlck. Not. 2 Jan. 7
5054 Stolen Pleasures (CD), Rerter _
6108 Sweet Rosie O'Grady (CD), Mason Oct. 2 _...52.7Z%
6357 Tigress, The (M), Holt-Revler Oct 21
5426 Wandering Girls (CD), Revler-Agnew
6781 Warning. The (M), Holt-Revier Nov. 26 Dec. S „ .•
5752 Way of the Strong, The (MD), Alice Day-Lewis July 21
1928 1928
5459 After the Storm, Gilbert -Bosworth -
5C49 Beware of Blondes (MD), Eerier-Matt Moore luly 21 ■
5537 Broadway Daddies, Jacqueline Logan. Apr. 7
5928 Desert Bride, The (MD), Betty Compson Mar. 26 Apr. 14
5592 Golf Widows (CD), Reynolds-Ford May 26
5471 Lady Raffles, Taylor-Drew Jan. 25 Feb. 25
6925 Matinee Idol. The (MD), Love-Walker Mar. 14 Apr. 7
5540 Modern Mothers (CD), Helene CThadwick. June 9
5544 Name the Woman (D), Stewart-Gordon June 19
6401 Say It with Sables (D), Bushman-Chadwick. ________ Aug. 4
6440 So This Is Love, Mason-Collier Feb. 6 Feb. 25
5464 Sporting Age, The, Bennett -Herbert Mar. 2
6047 That Certain Thing, Dana-Graves Jan. 1 Jan. 28
Virgin Lips (D), Olive Borden. Aug. 18
6350 Wife's Relations, The, Mason-Glass Jan. 13 Feb. 11
6472 Woman's Way, A, Baxter-Livingston Feb. 18 Mar. 31
1927 Cranfield & Clarke, Inc. 1927
2000 Angelus, The (D) May 15
2000 Real Charleston, Lesson Novelty Apr. 24
Wooden Shoes, International May 8
1927 Emblem Films 1927
6250 Husbands or Lovers, Jannings. Dec. 3
1927 Excellent 1927
5980 Back to Liberty (D), Walsh-Hall Nov. IS
6805 Bowery Cinderella, A (D), O'Malley-Hulette May 1 Nov. 26
6912 Broadway Drifter (D), Walsh-Hall Nov. 1
6646 Broadway Madness (D), De la Motte-Keith Apr. 14
6792 His Rise to Fame (D), Walsb-Skaw Feb. 16
Kick-off, The (D), Hyams-Amann Mar. 17
7393 Nett, The (D), Fredericlt-Herbert. Aug. 1
6337 Striving for Fortune (D), Walsh-Roberta Jan. 15 Mar. 3
6750 Winning Oar, The (D), Walsh-Hall June 1 s
6867 Your Wifi and Mins (F), Haver-Holme* Sept. 1 Mar. 17
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Tldur
1928
6860
6600
6305
6400
6536
6600
1927
4765
4858
4910
4837
5701
5093
4754
4913
6300
6507
7014
5240
5186
6481
6515
4924
6680
6140
4941
8004
4886
6388
4892
1928
6872
4893
5583
4869
5000
6267
6375
6320
6504
5511
5984
5063
4770
4804
4758
6148
mi
4769
5771
4801
6424
4785
4781
4884
6419
4729
6059
5967
485C
4793
4760
6329
4898
4805
1927
5400
5960
5600
590O
5800
5700
5750
6700
6700
5700
5600
5700
1928
5500
6300
A Bit of Heaven (D), Washbum-Lee. _ May 15
Into No Man's Land, Tom Santschi-J. Norman _.
Making the Varsity, Rex Lease-Hulette July 15
Manhattan Knights, Barbara Bedford. Aug 10
Satan and the Woman (D), Windsor-Keefe Jan. 20
Speed Classic, The. Rex Lease-MUdred Harris—July 25
Stronger Will, The (0), Marmont-Carewe Feb. 20
Women Who Dare (D), Chadwick-Delaney Mar. 30
FBO
Aflame in the Sky (M), Luden-Lynn Dec. 18
Bandit's Son. The (W). Bob Steele - Nov. 20
Boy Rider, The (W), Buzz Barton Oct. 23
Breed of Courage (D), Ranger...- Aug. 7
Cherokee Kid. The (W), Tyler-Lynn. Oct. 30
Clancy's Kosher Wedding (CD), Geo. Sidney — Sept. 17
Coward, The (D), Warner Baxter. -Aug. 21
Desert Pirate (W), Tom Tyler Dec. 26
Flying U Ranch, The (W), Tom Tyler Sept. 4
Gingham Girl, The (C), Lois Wilson Oct. 2
Great Mail Robbery, The (M), Von Eltz-Nelson. Aug. 15
Harvester, The (0), OrviUe Caldwell Nov. 23
Hook and Ladder No. 9 (D), Ed Hearne Nov. 13
Jake the Plumber (C), Jesse De Vorsha Oct. 16
Judgment of the Hills (D), Darro-Valli Nov. 6
Little Mickey Grogan (D), FranMe Darro Deo. 27
Mojave Kid, The (W), Bob Steel^i Sept. 25
Moon of Israel (D), Maria Corda
Not for Publication (M). Ralph Ince Aug. 31
Racing Romeo (D), Red Grange
Ranger of the North (D), Ranger. Oct. 9
Shanghaied (M), Ralph Ince Oct. 19
Slingshot Kid, The (M), Buzz Barton. Dec. 4
South Sea Love (D), Patsy Miller Dec. 10
Swift Shadow, The (D), Banger Dec. 11
Alex the Great (M), Skeete Gallagher May 13
Bantam Cowboy (W), Buzz Barton — Aug. 12
Beyond London's Lights (M), Lee Shumway — Mar. 18
Breed of the Sunsets (W), Bob Steele Apr. 1
Captain Careless, Bob Steele Mug. 26
Chicago After Midnight (M), Ince-Mendez. Mar. 4
Coney island (D), Lois Wilson. Jan. 13
Crooks Can't Win (D), Ralpk Lewis May 11
Danger Street, Baxter-Sleeper Aug. 26
Dead Man's Curve (D), Fairbanks. Jr Jan. 15
Devil's Trademark, The (D), Belle Bennett Apr. 7
Dog Justice (M), Ranger :. June 10
Driftin' Sands (W), Bob Steele Jan. 1
Fangs of the Wild (D), Ranger. Feb. 5
Fightin' Redhead (W), Buzz Barton July 1
Freckles (D), Stratton-Fox. Jr Mar. 21
Headin' for Danger (MD), Bob Steele
Her Summer Hero (CD), Blane-Trevor Feb. 12
Hit of the Show, The (C), Joe Brown- Olmstead
Law of Fear (D), Ranger Apr. 8
Legionnaires in Paris (C), Cooke-Quard. Jan. 31
Little Buckaroo, The (W), Buzz Barton. Mar. 11
Little Yellow House, The (D), Orvllle CaldweU-May 28
Man In the Rough (W), Bob Steele May 20
Perfect Crime, The, CUve Brook-Irene Rich. Aug. 19
Phantom of the Range (W), Tom Tyler Apr. 22
Pinto Kid, The (W), Buzz Barton Apr. 29
Red Riders of Canada (M), P. R. Miller Apr. 15
Riding Renegade (W), Bob Steele Feb. 19
Sally of the Scandals (M), Bessie Love -..July 15
Skinner's Big Idea (M), Bryant Washburn Apr. 24
Stocks and Blondes (CD), Logan-Gallagher
Terror Mountain. Tom Tyler _ Aug. 19
Texas Tornado, The (W), Tom Tyler Feb. 26
Trail of Courage, The (W), Bob Steele July 8
Wallflowers (D), Trevor-Scott Feb. 16
When the Law Rides (W), Tom Tyler June 24
Wizard of the Saddle (W), Buzz Barton Jan. :
First Division
Comrades, Costello-Hughes Jan. 1
Death Valley (W), Carroll Nye Sept. 1
Eager Lips, Garon. - _ Oct. 1
Finnegan's Ball (C), Mack Swain Sept. 15
Ladies at Ease (CD), Garon-Short Nov. 15
Ladybird, Compson Aug. 1
Naughty, Garon Nov. 1
Polly of the Movies, Short-Robards Oct. 15
Ragtime (D), De La Motte Sept. 1
Return of Boston Blackie (D), GIenn-Palmer_Aug. 1
Say It with Diamonds, Betty Compson Aug. 15
Temptations of a Shop Girl, Compson Nov. 1
1928
Feb. 25
1927
Dec. 10
Dec 10
Dec. 3
Oct 8
...Sept. 10
...Sept. 10
Dec. 24
Nov. 26
Nov. 19
Dec. S
Dec. 3
Nov. 12
Dec. 17
July SO
-July 2
Nov. 19
Nov. 26
5f.S0%
Aug. 20
Fagasa, Raymond Wells
Free Lips (MD), June Marlow-
Masked Angel, Betty Compson_
Souls Aflame, Raymond Wella.-
..Apr. 1
-Mar. 1
Mar. U
-Aug. 6
..July 9
-July 23
.Deo. 10
Dec. 3
Dec. 3
Deo. 10
Nov. 12
Dec. 10
Feb. 11
May 6
Feb. 11
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Dec. 17
Feb. 11
Dea 17
Mar. 3
June 16
Dec. 17
Jan. 21
Feb. 11
Feb. 4
-June 19
Jan. 21
.July 21
Feb. 11
Dec. 10
Jan. 14
Jime 2
Feb. 11
Sept. 1
Jan. 21
FeJ. 4
Jan. 21
Apr. 28
Apr. 14
.July 14
Feb. 4
Jan. 7
Jan. 7
Nov. 26
_JT117 14
Apr. 7
Apr. 21
Aug. 20
1928
Feb. 18
Mar. 17
1927
—Aug. 20
-Oct 15
Sept 3
1928
L
48
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
First National
All Aboard (C). Hines-Murphy
American Beauty (CD), Dove-Hughes
An Affair of the Follies (D), Dore-Hugha
Breakfast at Sunrise (CD), C. Talmadge
1927
(300
t33S
M3S
»tS3
ST6S
rso
r7M
S3S6
6588
8801
ilSt
nss
(SS8
tllS
6190
6534
(4M
nx
5T18
6S50
SliS
TS88
Kil
5M1
64S4
65X0
(040
(431
IT 34
11414 Patent Leather Kid, The (D), Bart'lmea8-0'Day.._
S9n Perfect Sap. The (CD), Lyon-Starke Jan. 16
Poor Nut. The (C), MuiTay-Mulhall..__ Aug. 7
Prince of Head Waiters (D), Stone-Tashman
Red Raiders. The (W), Maynard-Drew July 17
1927
-Mays
-Oct. 9
-Feb. 13
-Oct. 23
Broadway Nights (D), Wilson-Hardy May 15
Camille (D), N. Talmadge-Roland Sept. 4
Convoy (0), Shennan-MackaiU Apr. 24
Cr>stal Cup, The (D), Mackaill-MuUial] Oct. 16
Dance Magic (D), Lyon-Starke June 12
Drop Kick. The (D), Barthelmess-Revler Sept. 25
Framed (D), Sills-Kingston June 19
Gorilla. The (My). Murray Kelsey Nqt. 13
Gun Gospel (W), Maynard-Faire, »oy. 6
Her Wild Oat (C), Moore-Kent. Deo. 25
High Hat (CD), Lyon-Brian Mar. 13
Home Made (C), Hlnes-Daw. _ -Nov. 20
Lady in Ermine, The (D), C. Qrifflth-Busliman-jan. 9
Life of Riley. The (C), Murray-Sidney Sept. 18
Lonesome Ladles (CD), Nllsson-Stone July 3
Long Pants (C), Langdon-Bonner. Apr. 10
Last at the Front (C), Murray-Sidney May 29
Love Mart, The (D), Dove-Roland Dec 18
Lunatic at Large, The (C). Errol-MackaiU jm. 2
Man Crazy (CD). Mackalll-MuUiall Nov. 27
Masked Women, The (D), NlIsson-Bllnn-H'nsen_jan. 23
Naughty But Nice (C), Moore-Reed June 26
Notorious Lady, The (D), Bedford-Stone. Mar. 27
No Place to Go (C), Hugbes-Astor Oct. 30
Orehid* and Ermine, Moore- Mulhall Mar. 6
Dec. 17
Dec 3
-Apr. 2
Oct. 22
..JIar. 5
Nov. 26
-May 21
-May 2
-May 21
Oct. 29
..Aug. 13
"july 9
Jan. 7
..Mar. 19
Oct. 29
-Jan. 8
...Oct. 1
..Sept. 24
..Apr. 9
..June 25
47.20%
56.10%
48.00%
65.00%
61.5-1%
53.58%
-J-eb. 5
Nov. 26 —
Nov. 12
1(97
1400
(HO
(4TT
s«o<
5«0«
717»
6000
7460
7419
(774
seat
78SS
6336
(314
(4«9
1928
r4e4
(500
5SO0
(744
6374
wsi
6171
6344
TlOO
T433
Rose of the Golden West (D), Aftor-Roland. Sept. 4
Sea Tiger, The (0). Sllls-Astor Oct. 2
See You in Jail (C), Mulliall-Day Feb. 27
Smile, Brother, Smile (C), Mulball-MackalU Apr. 17
Stolen Bride, The (D), Hughes-Dove Sept, 11
Sunset Derby (0), Astor-Colller Aug. 14
Tender Hour, The (D), Dove-Lyon Junes
Texas Steer, A (CD). Rogers-Fazenda May 1
Three Hours (D), QrlfBth-Bowers Dec 4
Three's a Crt)wd (C), Langdon-McConnell Apr. 3
Twinkletoes, Moore-Harlan Aug. 28
Valley of the Giants (D), SUls-Kenyon Dec. H
Dec. 24
Vsnos of Venke (CD), Talmadge-Moreno
White Pants Willie (C), Hlne«-Hyams
—Mar. 20
—July 24
Barlier, The (D). BUli, MaokalL
Big Noise, The (CD), Conklln-Whlte Mar. 26
Burning Daylight (M), Sills-Kenyon Feb. 26
Butter and Egg Man, The, Jack Mulhall
Canyon of Adventure (W), Maynard Apr. 29
_Iuly 14
Mar.lO
„.Feb. 12
„.July 16
May 14
.-Dec 10
.-.Apr. 9
.-Aug. 20
.-Jan- 22
.-Sopt. 10
...July 23
.-Oct. 16
Oct. 8
_May 14
_Apr. 23
_Sept. 17
_SepL 3
..July 2
...May 28
Apr. 16
...Jan. 1
...Deo. 3
Jan. 7
...Aug. 6
-Apr. 16
67.90%
70.47%
61.88%
47.00%
38.90%
47.72%
69.92%
68.86%
45.80%
1928
Apr. 7
.July 2t
-Feb. 12
-Apr. 16
7H1
5957
7694
(B91
6608
(967
7700
6625
7129
6485
8188
68 2T
6211
6874
Chaser, The (C). LanRdon..
Chlnatown Charlie (C), Hlnes-Lorralne
Code of the Scarlet (W), Ken Maynard
Goodbye Kiss, The, Johnny Burke-Sally EUen
Firing Romeos (C), Murray-Sidney Feb. 26
French Dressing (CD), Wamer-WUson Jan. 15
Garden of Eden, The (0), C!orlnne QrUOth
Happiness Ahead (D), CoUeen-Moore-Lowe June 30
Hawk's Nest. The (M), Milton SlUs May 6
Heart to Heart, Lloyd Hugfaea-Todd
Heart Trouble (CD), Harry Langdon
Harold Teen (CD), Lake-Brian Apr. 29
Heart of a Follies Girl (D), Dove-Kent-
Shennan Mar. 18
Helen of Troy (CD), Stone- Corda-Cortei Jan. 8
Ladles Night (CD). Mackaill-MulhaD Apr. 1
Lady Be Good (CD). Mulhall-Mackalll May 12
Lllao Time (D), Moore-Cooper Apr. 22
Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come (D), Bar-
thelmesa-O'Day Apr. 8
Mad Hour (D), O'Nell-Kent-Shenaan Mar. 4
Noose. The (D), Barthelme.ss-Joyoe. Jan. 29
Out of the Ruins. Richard Barthelmess
Sailors' Wives (CD), Hughes-Astor Jan. 22
Shepherd of the Hills (D), Francia-O'Day Jan. 1
Strange (iaie of Captain Ramper, The (D),
Three Ring Marriage (M), Hughes-Astor May 27
Wagon Show, The (W), Maynard Mar. 11
Wheel ef Chance, The (D), Richard Barthelmess
Whip. The (D), Forbes-MackaiU
Feb. 11
Feb. 18
_June 23
-July!
Apr. 7
Dec 10
Deo. 17
.Aug. 4
May 26
May 26
-July 7
_July21
Apr. 21
Mar. 10
Dec. 24
June 16
Aug. 4
Feb. 4
Whip Woman. The (D). Taylor-Moreno
Wright (daa. The (CD), Johnny Hlnea
Arizona Wildcat. The (W), Tom MIt
Blacklack (W), Buck Jones
Blood Will Tell (W), Buck Jones-
Bronoho Twister (W), Mix.
7187 Yellow Lily, The (D), Dove-Brooks_
1927
466S
1777
tU6
6425
6078
(333
4810
430«
C381
(164
(324
4645
6617
6516
4983
48;i
«940
(in
(en
5W7
MU
(413
(440
s;oo
77J4
T(77
iiu
*»*t
..May 20
Sept. 1
Apr. 7
Mar. 17
Deo. 10
Dec 24
Dec 8
...luly 21
Apr. 28
Mar. 17
-June 2
.July 14
Feb. 11
.July 7
Apr. 28
Aug. 18
May 12
.Sept. 1
..- 63.25%
Jan. 21
78.23%
July21
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
11)726 7th Heaven. The (R), FaiTell-Gas'nor Oct. 30
5467 "Shame (M), John GLtben Nov. 27
5446 Silk Legs (CD), Madge Bellamy Dec 18
5009 SiNer Valley (W), Tom Mii Oct 2
5793 Singed (D), Baster-Sweet Aug. 21
5412 Slaves of Beauty (D), Herbert-TeU June 5
4943 St. Elmo (M), John Gilbert. Oct. 9
4299 Truxton King, Gilbert Oct. 30
4675 Tumbling River (W), Tom Mix-Dawn Aug. 21
621)3 2 Girls Wanted (CD), .laiiet Gaynor Sept. 11
11109 What Price Glory (CD), MoLaglen-Lowe Aug. 28
5783 Whispering Sage (W), Jones Mar. 20
5629 Wizard, The (MyD), Lowe-Hyama. Dec 11
5531 Wolf Fangs (D), Thunder (Dog) Nov. 27
1928
7177 Air Circus, The, Dresser-Rollins-Lake Sept. 30
4612 Branded Sombrero, The (W). Buck Jones lan. »
Case of Mary Brown. The, O'Brien-Moran-Foxe-Dec. 23
Chicken a la King (CD). Carrol-Francis Lee _
Cowboy Kid. The, Kex Bell July 15
Daredevil's Reward (W), Tom Mix Jan. 16
Don't Marry, Moran-Hamllton June 3
Dressed to Kill, Lowe-Astor Mar. 18
Escape, The (D), Russell-VaUl Apr. 29
Dry Martini, Astor-Moore-Gran. Oct. 7
Fazil. Farrell-Nissen Sept. 9
Fleetwing, Norton-Janis-Bard June 24
Four Sons. Mann-Coliyer-Hali Sept. 2
Gateway of the Moon, The (D), Del Bio Jan. 1
Girl in Every Port. A (CD), Victor McLagle>.-.Jan. 29
Girl-Shy Cowboy, The. Rex Bell O'Leary _
Hangman's House, McLaglen-Ck>Uyer May IS
Hello Cheyenne, Tom Mix. May 13
Homesick, Colien-Beebe Dec. 20
Honor Bound. O'Brien-Taylor May 13
Horseman of the Plains (W), Tom AUz. Mar. 11
Love Hungry (CD), Moran-Qray Apr. 15
Making the Grade, Lowe-Moran Oct. 1-t
Mother Machree. Bennett-McLaglan Oct. 21
Mother Knows Best, BeUamy-Dresser- Norton Oct. 28
News Parade. Stuart-Pbllllpa.
No Other Woman (D), Dolores Del Rio. June 10
None But the Brave, Norton-Phipps _ Aug. 5
Painted Pott (W), TOm Mil
Dec 31
Dec. 17
-May 28
-Nov. 26
71.31%
on. 29
-July 16
-June 11
42i)3
4987
5708
6566
5109
7217
4939
89(12
5038
5882
4404
6430
4618
6188
4399
5782
6679
5071
5034
-Aug. 27 .
71.00%
-.Apr. 9
SO.61%
Jan. 14
Dec 3
1928
Jan. 21
.June 23
June 30
Feb. 11
June 9
Apr. 14 Apr. 14
Apr. 14 Jan. 21
. Sept. 1
-May 26
May 12
Apr. 21 May 1»
Apr. 7
Mar. 10 Feb. 4
-May 28
June 23 June 23
.jillyT
5260 Play GIri. The. Madge Bellamy ._ Apr. 22
Plastered in Paris. Cohen-Pennick-Linow Sept. 23
Prep and Pep, Rollins-Drexel-Darrow Nov. 11
9250 Red Dancer, The. Del Rio-Farrell Dec. 2
6937 River Pirate. The, McLaglan-Moran Aug. 26
Road House (MB), Barrymore-Burie
5380 Sharp Shooters (CD), O'Brlen-Moran Jan. 15
5629 Soft Living (CD), BeUamy-Brown Feb. 5
5355 Square Crooks, Brown-Dwan Mar. 4
Street Angei, Oaynor
8393 Sunrise (D), George O'Brien Nov. 4
5937 Thief In the Darit, A, Meeker- Hlll-Beebe. May 20
5030 Why Sailors Go Wrong, Plilpps-McNamara. Mar. 25
4921 Wild West Romance (W), Bex King. .Tune 10
5337 Win That Girl, Rollins-Carol Sept. IG
5480 Woman Wise (0), Bussell-CoUyer Jan. 8
_AUf.t
Feb. 4
Feb. 18
Feb. 18
-JnlyT
_July21
May 19 Jtme 2
Aug. 18
Jan. 28
1927
Gotham
1927
1928
5268
6987
5800
GOOO
5950
Fox
•Cameo Kirby (D), John Gilbert
Cbain Lightning (W), Buck Jones
Circus Ace. The. Mix.
Come to Mv House (CD), Olive Borden.-
Cradle Snatchcrs (FC), Kazenda..
East Side. West Side (D). O'Brien-Valll.-.
Gay Retreat, The (C), Cohcn-McNamara
Good at Gold (W), Jones
Heart of Salome (My), Ilubens
Hioh School Hero (C), Phlppe-Stuart
Hills of Peril (W), Jones
'Henor First (D), John GUbert-
li ZaI So7 (CD). O'Brien-Lowe
Joy Girl, The (CD). Olive Borden
Ladles Must Dress (CD), Virginia Valll-
Levs Makes 'Em Wild (D), Harron—
Leves of Carmen (0). McLaglcn-Dei Blo-
Madam Wants No Children, C^ordla
Mtrrlage (D), Vain
Monkey Talks fO), T/«mer_
Music Master (D), A. B. FranoiS-
(4M
One Increasing Purpose (0), Lowe.—
Ontlavi of Red River (W). illi
P«M U Lov« (0), O'nrieo-Vslll
Pkliiau (CD). B<or<1>n-ar«T
PublMty Uadnesa (CO). Moraa-Iowo.
RItli But Honest (CO), Boebe
-Nov. 20
-Sept. 25
-Nov. 13
-Mar. 13
-Aug. 28
-Aug. 14
-June 26
}ec. 25
-.June 6
Oct. 9
—Sept. 25
Jime 12
_..XIay 8
—Oct. 16
—May 1
....Sept, 18
-..May 15
-..Sept. 18
—Nov. 20
—Mar. 6
-..Sept. 4
—Apr. 3
—Fob. 20
—Feb. 20
Jan. 23
—Jan. 2
1927
-Nov. 12
-Apr. 2
63.00%
Jan. 7
Jan. 7
..June 4
Oct. 22
-June 11
-May 9
-Oct. 29
-May 14
40.70%
-Slay 21
-Sept. 24
Nov. 18 Dec. 17
-Aug. 14
..Oct. 28
-Ot. 1
-Mar 11
-Oct, 8
..Apr. 16
.Jeb. 26
-Mar. 6
-Jan. 22
-Jan. 16
..Apr. 23
-Aug. 6
-Deo. 10
48.66%
61.68%
-JUBS 4
6700
6200
6750
5900
1929
Catch as Catch Can, William Fairbanks. — Sept.
Down Grade, The, William Fairbanks. Oct.
Heroes of the Night, Marion Nixon-Landis _ June 1
Silent Avenger, The, "Thunder" Delaney Nov. 1
Sinews of Steei, Alberta Vaughn...- Oct. 1
When Danger Calls. William Fairbanks Nov.
Woman Who Didn't Care, The. Tashman-BanMn Dec. 1
Bare Knees, Virginia Lee Corbln. June
Blondes by Choice, Claire Windsor. March
Cheer Leader, Ttie, Graves-Olmstead _ April
Chorus Kid, The, Falre-Washbum June
Giri from Rio, The, Myers-Pldgeon. Feb.
Head of the Family, The, Virginia Lee Corbin-Oct.
Heliship Bronson, Berry-Reid. May
Midnight Life, Francis X. Bushman. Aug.
Rose of Kiidare, The, CHiadwick-cyMaUey Jan.
San Francisco Nights, Percy Marmont...- May
Satin Woman, The, Mrs. WaBaco Reid -...Jan.
Through the Breakers. Livingston-Herbert. Sept.
Turn Back the Hours, Myrna Loy -..July
United States Smith. Gribbon Lee...- July
1928
1927
6199
Father and Son, Noah Berry-Noah Berry, Jr
Knee High, Virginia Lee Corbln Oct.
Modern Sappho, A. Betty Bronson Sept.
River Woman. The, Logan-L. Barrymore Aug.
Times Square, Alice Day-Lubln Sept
Krelbar Productions
Broadway After MIdnlglit, Beti
1929
..Oct. 2t
1927
1927 Metro-Goldwyn-May
6667 Adam and Evii (CD), Cody-Pringle Aug. 27
4709 Adventurer, The (W), Tim MoCoy.
6312 After Midnight (D), Shearer-Gray Aug. 20
8730 Annie Laurie (D), LUUan Glth Sept. 17
6439 Becky (CD), SaUy O'NeU. Nov. 12
12000 Ben Hur (M), Ramon Novarro Oct. 8
12550 Big Parade, The (M), (JUbert-Adoree Sept 10
5821 Bugle Call, The (D), Jackie Coogan Aug. 6
Buttons (CD). Jackie Coogan . Dec 24
Callahans and Murphya (CD), Dieasler-Moran Jime 18
Captain Salvation (M), Hanson May 14
er
-Ant. IS
1927
(1.00%
Nov. 26
..AUf. 37
-May 11
60.31%
45.83%
-Nov. IJ
6050
6126
7395
6408
4668
6909
8158
6646
6687
6110
6291
6280
5957
7603
7627
6337
6581
Fair Co-ed, The (CD), Marion Davles. Oct. IS
Foreign Devils (W), Tim McCoy Sept. 3
Frisco Sally Levy (C), O'Nell Apr. 2
Garden of Allah. The (D). Terry-Petrovltdi Nov. 5
In Old Kentucky (D). H. CosteUo Oct. 29
London After Midnight (D), Lon C%aney Dec S
Lovelorn. The, SaUy O'NeU Deo. 17
Lovers (D), Novarro-Terry Apr. 9
Man, Woman and Sin (D), John Gilbert Nov, 19
Mockery (M), Lon Cbaney Aug. IS
Mr. Wu (M), Lon Chaney Mar. 26
Nov. 10
-July 16
-July 2
Oct. 29
96.25%
to. 20%
»1-B7%
63.00%
Not. 19
Not. 26
Deo. 17
Dec 31
..Apr. 23
Sept. 10
Dec 3
Deo. IT
Dec. 3
Quality Street, Davles-NageL-
Red Mill (C), Davlei.-.'
Road to Romance. The (D), Norarro-Day
.Dec 11
-Jan. 29
-Sept. 24
-May 2
Dec. 17
-Sept 16
-June 4
Jan. 7
89.20%
S9.S0%
(6.(3%
Not. 19
-Feb. 19
64.91%
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
49
Lwigtii Title and Playen
New
Pictures
Ticker
Rool(ies (C), Dane- Arthur
Slide. Kelly, Slide (CD). Halnes-O'NelL.
Speilers of the Wert (W), McCoy-Daw_
6640
7865
6:180
6705
6273
S2S2
6160
789»
665T
5517
1928
69il8 Actress,
-Apr. 30
-Mar. 12
-Deo. 10
-Oct. 22
-Dec. 10
Spring Fever (C), WUliam Haines
Tea for Three (C). Cody-Prlngle
Thirteenth Hour, The (D), Lionel Barrymore Not. 26
Tillie the Toiler (C). Davies May 21
Twelve Miles Out (M), truben July 9
Understanding Heart (D). Crawford-
Unknown, The (M), Cbaney
-Feb. 26
-June 4
The, Norma Shearer-Forbes-
6805
6010
683S
6344
5483
6681
8548
5482
80S7
7300
8340
4987
7743
T045
•402
11760
:»85
7365
rS89
6014
7745
6476
856S
5901
Apr. 28
Across to Singapore (MO), Novarro-Cranrford — Apr. 7
Baby Mine. Arthur-Dane Jan. 21
Beyond the Sierras (W), Tim McCtoy Aug. 25
Big City, The, Ohaney-Compson-Day Feb. 18
Bringing Up Father, Faired' "oran-01mat«ad Mar. 17
Certain Young Man, A, Norarro-Day May 19
Circus Rookies (CD), Dane-Arthur Mar. 31
Cossacks, The, Adoree-QUbert-Torrenoe. May 12
Crowd, The, Boardman-Murray-Eoach Mar. 3
Detectives, Dane-Arthur June 9
Diamond Handcuffs, Boardman-Naiel May 6
Divine Woman, Oarbo-Hanson-Sherman Jan. 14
Enemy, The, Qlsh-Dane-Forbea. Feb. 18
Excess Baggage (D), William Balnei
Forbidden Hours (D), Norarro-Adoree
Four Walls (MD), Gilbert- Crawford
Her Cardboard Lover, Marion Davies
—June 16
-Aug 18
-.Aug. 18
Latest from Paris, The, Shearer-Forbes Feb. 4
Laugh. Clown, Laugh, Chaney-Murpky-Hlsle. Apr. 14
Mademoiselle fr»m Armentleres. Eetelle Brody-
John Stuart June 3
Skirts. Syd Chaplin..
Law of the Range, MoCoy-Oawford-
Love, Oarbo-Ollbert .
8134
-Jan. 21
-Jan. 3
Mysterious Lady, The, Greta Garbo-NageL —
Patsy, The, Darles-CaldweU-Gra; Mar. 18
Riders of the Dark Apr. 2>
Rose Marie, (Jrawford-Murrajr Feb. U
Smart Set, Halnea-Day-HoU-Beswoitii Feb. 2S
Student Prince, The (R), Novarro-Siearer Jan. 30
Under the Black Eagle, Fort>ea-Dog FUah— Mar. 34
Warming Up. Richard Dii. — —
West Point (CD), Halnee-Crawford Jan. T
White Siiadewt ef tti* Seutb Se« (MD). UooU
Blue
6011
4435
1927
C199
8951
8879
U97
U78
fl75
8040
•536
•862
•408
«447
•287
•396
•399
•376
•017
•8S9
•415
ro9i
•863
•452
8656
7656
6439
7080
6940
6052
6007
5617
8039
7180
8258
6877
5798
4551
5599
6187
6680
5306
6247
6962
8443
6614
6368
•634
•209
6170
5515
6016
C179
6838
5524
4934
6200
6124
6006
6497
4926
6319
7643
8486
•869
6935
5866
Wickedness Preferred (CD), Cody-Prlnde
Wyoming, McCoy-Sebastian
-Jan. 28
-Mar. S4
Paramount
Afraid to Love (C), Vldor Apr. •
Barbed Wire (D), Negri-Brook Sept 18
Beau Oeste (M). C;olman-N. Beery Au«. 1
Blind Alleys (M), Melfhan
Blende or Brunette? (C), Menjou —
Cabaret (CD), OUda Gray
Casey at the Bat (C), W. Beery —
Chang (D), Special cast SepL S
Children of Divorce (D), Bow -Apr. 3
City Gone Wild (M), Mdfhan-Mlllner Nor. IS
•Covered Wagon, The (M), EerrlgaB-WUsao Aug. 6
Evening Clothes (C), Menjou Mar. IS
Fashions for Women (CB). Ralston Mar. 26
-Mar. IS
-Jan. 24
..Mar. 28
.Mar. 6
Fireman Save My Child (C), Beery-HaUos Aai. 1
Gay Defender, The (CD), Biohard Dlx Dec IS
Gentleman of Paris, A (CO). Menjou-O'Hara — OoL 15
Get Your Man «J0), COara Bow Dec 10
Honeymoon Hate (CD). Florence Vldor Dec 3
Hotel Imperial (D). Negri Feb. 28
Hula (CO), Bow-Brook Aug. 27
It (C), Clara Bow Feb. 19
Jesse James (D), Fred Tb<HnBon-
•Kid Brother (C), Lloyd
Kiss In a Taxi (C), Danlela.
Knookout Beilly (CD), Dix.
Last Waltz, The (D), Sfnolal oast-
Let It Rain (C). Macl.«an.
Love's Greatert Mistake (CD), Brent-
Man Power (D), rnx
-Oct. 23
-Oct. 4
-Feb. 26
-Apr. 16
-Not. 26
-Jan. S
-Feb. IS
-July 9
-Aug. IS
-Aug. 13
-Sept. 10
Metropolis (0), Special cast-
Mme. Pompadour (0), Moreno-D. GUh-
Nevada (W), Cooper-Todd
New York (M), Cortes-WUson- Feb. 5
Now We're In the Air (C), Beery-Hatton Oct. 23
One Woman to Another (CD), Vldor- Shotwell—Sept. 34
Open Range (W), Lane-Chandler Not. 6
Paradise for Two (C), Dix-Bronson Jan. 17
Potters (CD), W. C. Fields. Jan. 31
Ritzy (CD), BronsOB Apr. 9
Rolled Stockings (CD), Hall-Brook June 18
Rough House Rosie (C), Bow-
Reugh Riders, The (0), Astor-FarreU..
Rubber Heels (FC), Ed. Wynn.
Running Wild (C), Fields-Brian—
Senorita (F), Danlela
Serenade (D). Menjou-Wray-
lay 14
-OcL 1
-June 11
-Aug. 20
Menjou-Carrer-
Dlx-Brlan
Service for Ladies (C)
Shanghai Bound (D)
She's a Sheik (C), Bebe Daniels.
Shootin' Irons (W), Luden-Blane-
Soft Cushions (C), MacLean-Carol
Special Delivery (C), Eddie Cantor
Spotlight, The (CD), Balston-Hamilton..
Stark Love (D), Special cast
Swim, Girl. Swim (CM), Daniels-Hall-
Tell It to Sweeney (C), Conklin-Bancroft..
Ten Modern Commandments (CD), Balston
Time to Love (FC), Raymond Grifflth-
Two Flaming Youths (C), Fields- ConkUn.-
Underworld (M), Bancroft-Brent
Way of All Flash, The (D). Jannings-BennetL-Oet. 1
Wedding Bills (F), Raymond Grifflth May 7
Were's All Gamblers (D), Melghan-MUlner-
Whirlwlnd of Youth (D), Lois Moraiu
Wings (M), Charles Rogers —
Woman on Trial (D), Fola NegrL-
-Sept. 3
-vApr. 30
E960
1928
6897 Adventure Mad (M), nF.i
6536 Beau Sabreur (M), Cooper-BrenL.
-Mar. 31
-Jan. 7
Nov. 13
Dec 24
Dec S
-May*
-Apr. 2
-Dec 24
Dec 10
Not. 12
Dec 3
-June 11
-July 30
-May 14
-June 13
.May 26
68.39%
67.31%
43.61%
68.16%
65.16%
66.93%
68 76%
1928
Apr. 28
Jan. 28
Feb. 11
Feb. 25
Mar 31
Apr. T
June 2?
Mar. 10
June 9
-July 7
Apr. 28
Jan. 21
Mar. 10
.June 23
Mar. 17
-June 2
Jan. 21
Mays
July 28
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
May 28
Jtme 2
Feb. 4
Jan. 7
.Sept. 1
Apr. T
Mays
Feb. 18
Uar. 10
Feb. 35
Mar. 10
May 12
Jan. 14
Apr. 14
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
Mar. 3
Sept. 1
Jan. 21
-JulyT
Feb. 11
Aiv. 14
Jaa.T
Dec 31
Not. 28
Jan. 7
-Dec 24
Jan. 14
Jan. 7
«T.41%
.Apr. 23
.Ang. 3
.Mar. 6
-Jan. IS
-Mays
-Apr. 18
-May 2
.May 2
-Dec 10
1927
67.21%
63.04%
50.84%
41.30%
eoisogj
51.86%
68.00%
-Apr. 9
-Apr. 9
-Dec 10
-Not. 12
-Oct. S
Dec 17
.Jan. 8
-Sept. It
-Feb. 13
-Oct. 22
-Jan. 29
.Apr. 2
-Apr. 23
.Not. 19
-Mar. 12
-Feb. 28
..Ant, e
-Mar. IS
Aug. •
.Feb. S
-Dec 17
-Sept. 24
67.83%
65.85%
66.77%
65.91%
38.61%
65.61%
66.69%
61.18%
71.00%
70.26%
-Jan. 29
-Jan. 22
-June 26
-July 30
-June 4
.Mar. 19
-July 16
-June 18
-May 14
Dec 31
Jan. 21
.Sept. 3
Not. 13
Not. 26
48.36%
54.72%
47.60%
57.64%
-Aug. 27
-Mays
-Dec. 3
-Mar. 19
-SepL 17
Oct. 22
-July 23
-July 9
44.08%
66.27%
-SepL 3
-July 2
-July 23
-June 11
-Aug. 26
Oct. 1
62.83%
59.78%
57.46%
47.36%
45.90%
1928
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Comment
Tickw
Beggars of Life (MO),
Arlen
Wallace Beery-Broou-
6930
6665
7866
6364
6889
6402
6852
6871
6263
6038
6792
8234
741S
5837
5741
7910
6600
5582
6118
7846
6631
7194
7616
4720
7960
5951
6218
6763
7060
5733
5991
5834
6509
5435
Big Killing (CD), Beery-Hatton. May 19
Doomsday, Vldor-Cooper Feb. 18
Drag Net, The (MD), Bancroft-Brent-Powell
Easy Come, Easy Go, Richard Dlx Apr. 21
Feel My Pulse, Daniels-Arlen Feb. 25
First Kiss, The (D), Wray-Cooper_
.JulyT
Fifty- Fifty Girl. The, Daniels-Hall-
-May 12
-May 7
Fools for Luck (CD), Flelds-Conklin.
Forgotten Faces (MD), Brook. Brian
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (C), Taylor- White— Jan. 28
Half a Bride (D), Ealston-Cooper June 16
Hot News, Bebe Daniels
Jan. 21
-May 26
May 19
Feb. 25
-Aug. 4
Mar. 31
Apr. 7
-Aug. 4
Dec 10
June 16
Mar. 10
Sept. 1
Max. 19
Mar. 19
Aug. 4
Feb. U
His Tiger Lady. Menjou-Brent June 9
Just Married (CD), HaU-Taylor-Ford. Aug. 18
Kit Carson (MD). Fr«d ThomMUi
-June 9
Mar. 31
June 16
-Sept. 1
Ladies of the Mob, Clara Bow June 30
Last (^mnajid. The (0), Bmll Jannings Jan. 31
Legion of the Condemned, Wray-Cooper Mar. 10
Love and Learn, Ralston-Chandler. Jan. 14
Loves of an Actress (D), Pola Negri
Night of Mystery (D), Menjou Apr. 7
Old Ironsides (D), Beery-Bancroft Mar. 17
-June 23
May 26
Jaa. 28
Jan. 21
-June 23
Jolyr
Feb. 4
-Apr. 21
Feb. 2S
Partners in Crime (C). Beery-Hatton.-
Peaks of Destiny-
-.Mar. 3
-.Jan. 28
—Jan. 21
—June SO
—Mar. 10
—Aug. 25
—Feb. 4
—Feb. 25
Pioneer Soout, The (W), Fred Thomeon
Racket The (D), Thomas Melghan —
Red Hair (CD). Bow-Chandler
Sawdust Paradise, The, Ssther Ralston
Secret Hour, The (D), Negrl-Benkolt
Showdown, The, Bancroft
Something Always Happens, Ralston-Hamllton— Mar. 24
Speedy (C), Harold Lloyd Apr. 7
Sporting Goods, Dix-Olmstead Feb. 11
Street of Sin (0), Jannings-Wray May 26
Sunset Legion (W), Fred Thomson Apr. 21
Three Sinners (D), Negri-Baxter 4pr. 14
Tillie's Punctured Romance, Flelds-Conklln Feb. 18
Under the Tonto Rim, Arlen-Brian Feb. 4
Vanishing Pioneer, The (W), Jack Holt June 23
Varsity (D), Bogers-Brlan-
Feb. 18
Feb. 26
Jan. 7
Dec. 10
Feb. 18
Mar. 3
June 9
Mar. 17
Feb. 18
Mar. 3
Apr. 28
Feb. 18
Apr. 28
Apr. 21
Feb. 18
May 26
Apr. 7
Feb. 25
May 5
Water Hole, The (W), Jack Holt-
Warming Up, Richard Dlx.
Wife Savers (C), Beery-Hatton
...Aug. 11
—Jan. 7
Woman From Moscow, The (D), Negrl-Eerry-.
—Aug. 4
_luly21
May 26
-June 19
1927
5696
6555
4335
6326
4875
4512
5100
7500
4933
5478
8686
659*
8002
6403
6568
6859
3303
5867
4968
7913
4750
5990
6035
4630
6788
4890
4076
4864
5324
13500
4131
4752
6472
4576
5750
5736
6421
6903
4575
4692
4497
6000
4828
5844
4542
4375
6303
58S0
4562
4546
4338
5397
5570
5921
6198
4485
5610
6447
7820
1928
3996
5755
4805
5927
6589
4833
5408
4550
7996
4526
4480
Pathe
Almost Human (CO), Reynolds Dec 26
Angel of Broadway, The (0), Leatrlce Joy Oct. 3
Avenging Fangs (M) - _ June 5
Border Blackbirds (WD). Maloney Aug. 28
Bern to Battle (W). BUI Ckxly Sept 11
Coda of the Cow Country (W), Rooserelt June 19
Combat (D), Walsh.- _ Oct. 23
Country Doctor, The (D), SchUdkraut Aug. 22
Desert of the Lost, The (W), Wally Wales. Dec 18
Devil's Twin. The (W), Leo Maloney — .. Dec 11
Discord (D), Dagover-Ekman -...Not. 20
Dress Parade (D), Boyd Not. 11
Fighting Eagle, The (M), La Rocaue-H&Ter. Aug. 29
Flying Luck (C), Monty Banks Dec 4
Forbidden Woman, The (M), Jetta GoudaL Not. 7
Getting Gertie's Garter (F), Prevost
Girl from Everywhere (C). PoUard . Dec. 11
Girl in the Pullman, The (C), Prevost Oct 31
Gold from WeepaJi (W), BUl Cody - Not. 20
Golden Clown, The (0), Gosta-EkmaiL Dec 18
•Grandma's Boy (C), Harold Lloyd. Dec 11
Harp in Hock, A (D), Scklldkraut-Coghlan. Oct 10
Heart Thief (D), Schlldkraut-De Puttl
Hidden Aces (M), Hutchison Aug. 7
-July 21
Dec. 24
Not. 19
Not. 6
-June 4
-Sept 10
-June 17
-Oct 15
Not. 19
Not. 5
-Sept. 17
Not. 12
Not. 19
Not. 5
-Feb. 19
-Not. 5
Not. 6
Not. 13
His Dog (0). SclsUdkrant
His Foreign Wife (D), MaoDonald-Murphy Not. 27
Hoof Marks (W), Jack DonoTan. _ Not. IS
Interferin' Gent, The (W), Buffalo BlU, Jr Aug. 21
Jim, the Conqueror (W), Boyd-Faire
King of Kings (D). AU Star-
NOT. 8
-May 31
—Sept. 3
-July 24
Land of the Lawless, The (W), Jack Padjan. Dec. 26 Jan. 14
Little Firebrand (C), Thornton July 3
Main Event The (D), Reynolds — Nov. 21 Not. 19
Meddlln' Stranger (W). Wales - June 12
My Friend frem India (F), Pangbom-Fair Dec 19 Dec 34
Night Bride (FC), Prevost
-Aag. 27
-Jan. 1
-Mar. IS
-Julys
Not. 6
-June 13
Nobody's Widow (FC). Joy-Eay-Hayer
No Man's Law (W), Rei- _ May 1
Obllgin' Buckaroo. The (W), Buffalo BlU, Jr.— Oct. 1«
Pals In Peril (W), Buffalo BUI. Jr June 26
Phantom Buster, The (W), Rooserelt Aug. 14
Pieces of China (TraTeU- Aug. 7
Pirates of the Sky (M), Hutchison May 23
Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary (C), Robson
Ride 'Em High (W), Buddy Roosefelt Oct 9
Roarin' Bronos. Buffalo Bill. Jr Not. 27
Rubber Tires (C). Ford-LoTe _
Rush Hour, The (C), Prerost Dec 13
Skeedaddle Gold (W), Wales July 31
Soda-Water Cowboy, The (W), Wally Wales Sept 26
Trunk Mystery (M), Hutchison June 12
Turkish Delight, Schildkraut-Faye._ Nov. 11
Two-Gun of Tumbleweed (W), Leo Maloney July 17
Vanity (M). Joy
-Mays
-laa 16
-May 2
-Oet 8
-Jons 26
-Ang. 20
-May 21
-Aug. 6
-Gets
Jan. 7
-Apr. 9
-Aug. 6
-OoL 1
-Jane U
White Gold (D), (3oudal._ .
White Pebbles (WD), WaUy Wales- Aug. 7
Wise Wife. The (C). Haier Oct. 24
Wreck of the Hesperus, The (M), Bradford Oct 31
Yankee Clipper (M), Boyd ,
Not. 19
-July 17
-Jons 18
-Apr. 9
-Aug. 20
N»T. 6
-May 14
Alice Through
Apache Raider,
I Looking Glass
The, Leo Maloney-
Ballyhoe Buster (W), Buffalo BUI. Jr..
Blonde for a NIgtit, PreTost
Blue Danube, Leatrice Joy
Boss of Rurtlers Roort, The, Don Coleman-
Brone' Stamper, The, Don Oleman
Bullet Mark. The, Jack DonoTan
Chicago (M), Phyllis HaTer
Cowboy Cavalier (W), Buddy Rooserelt
Crashing Through. Jack PadJan
-Feb. 12
.Feb. 12
.Jan. 8
.Feb. 27
-Mar. 12
-Jan. 22
-Feb. 26
-Mar. 3S
-Mar. 5
May 13
-Jan. 2S
-Feb. 6
Mar. 3
Feb. 18
May 11
Mar. 17
May 19
Dec 24
Feb. 4
1927
T3.78%
•0.40%
15.80%
61.72%
1921
50
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
Lenoth Title and Playerj
N-ew
Pictures
Ticker
5398
7056
4155
6650
5SSS
4600
5659
5954
B494
S626
£901
T040
5423
I3esperate Courage (W), Wale« —
Hold 'Em Yal^ Rod La EocQae-
Laddie Be Good (W), BUI Cody-
Leopard Lady. The CM), Lor»n-
-Jao. 15
-May 15
-Jan. 1
-Jaa. 23
-Jan. 16
-Mar. 4
Uay 1> May 2C
Let 'Er Go, Gallagber! (M), Junior Cofhlan.
Marlie, the Killer, Klondike
MIdnloht Madnew, Loean May 16
Night Flyer, The, Wm. Boyd-
Jan. 23
Jan. 28
On ta Rena (D), Pr«T0«t-TAni1l»
Feb. 5
Jan. 2
Perfect Gentlenan, A (C), Monty Banki Jul 15
Red Mark. The (D), Glasi. Quartoar
Ship Cornel In. A, Bodolpli SehlldkiauL.
Skyieraptr, Boyd_
Jan. 23
Stand and Deliver, Bod La Booaaa
Tenth Avenue, Havar-Varoool
-June 4
-Apr. 9
-S-eb. 10
-July 14
Jane 16
May 11
-July 14
-Jane 1
1927
5035
60S9
5076
5S16
6960
6970
6502
4200
1928
6089
6673
Rayart
6076
4533
56S3
6976
5853
4797
504G
4548
560S
4571
6906
4627
5490
E260
Walking Back (M). Sue CaroL-
Cruise of the Helion (D). AH star
Heroes in Blue (M). Bowers-Rand Nov.
Law and the Man. The (D), Santsclu-RockweU..D€C.
Light in the Wiodow. A CD). WalthaL.
On the Stroke of Twelve CM), D. Torrence Nov.
Silent Hero CM), Bonaparte
Wanderer of the West, A CW), Tex Maynard-...Dec.
Branded Man. The (D), Chaa. Delaney-MarloweMay
Casey Jones CCD), Price-Lewis _ Jan.
City of Purple Dreams. The, Bedford-Frazer Sept.
Danger Patrol, The CD), RusseU-Fair Jan.
Devil's Tewer. The (W), Buddy Roosevelt June
Divine Sinner, The CD), Vera Reynolds-Hilliard.. July
Gypsy of the North CD). Gordon-Hale Apr.
Heart of Broadway, The CD), Garon-Agnew—.Mar.
Lightnins Shot. The CW). Buddy Roosevelt May
Man from Headquarters. The CD), Cornelius
Keefe-E. Roberts Aug.
Midnight Adventure, A CD), LandiB-E. Muipby-May
Mystery Valley CW). Buddy Roosevelt July
My Home Town CD). Brockwell-Glass Jan.
Painted Trail, The CW), Buddy Roosevelt Mar.
Phantom of the Turf. The CD). Costello-I/ease-Feb.
Sisters of Eve CD). Mae Busch Sept.
Sweet Sixteen CD), Helen Foster-Olstead Aug.
Trail Ridert (W), Buddy Roosevelt April
Wild Born CW), Tes Maynard Mar.
You Can't Beat the Law, Lee Keefe Jan.
1927
-May 20 Jan. 28
-.Sept. 24
..Nov. 12
-Aug. 29
1928
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Comment
1928
6400 Circus. The CC), Ckarlle Chaplin
7000 — Devil Dancer, The, Gilda Gray
9358 Douglas Fairbanks as the Gaucho
Dove, The CM), Norma Talmadge.
1928
9100
8350
7300
7650
8600
CM) June 1
Jan. 7
Drums of Love CD), Mary Ptulbin Mar. 31
Garden of Eden, The CD), C. Grifflth-Ray Feb. 4
Two Lovers. Banky-ColmaD Aug.
Ramona CD), Del Rio Feb. 1
Sadie Thompson CD), Gloria Swanson Jan. 7
Steamboat Bill, Jr., Buster Keaton
Tempest CM), John Barrymore. Aug. 11
-Apr. 28
-Nov. 26
-Jan. 7
-July 21
Universal
Sterling
1927
B563 Closed Gates CM), Harron-Novak.
5400 Outcast Souls CD), Lewis-Bonner..._ _...
5500 Pretty Clothes CD), J. Ralston-Walker....
Stranded CD), Mason _..
1928
Marry the Girl CCD)
1927
Dec. 15
Oct. 18
Aug. 15
1927
B754
6669
7300
4887
6482
5233
4752
6800
6049
6235
5629
6100
5182
5276
6448
5614
1928
Tiffanv-Stahl
Backstage CCD), Bedford
Beauty Shoppe CCD), Buscb
College Days CCD), M. Day
Enchanted Island CD)
Fools of Fashion CCD), Busch..—
Girl from Gay Paree, The CF), Sherman. Sept. 15
Haunted Ship, The CM). Sebastian-M. Love....Dec. 1
Josselyn's Wife CD), Frederick. _ „
Lightning CW), J. Ralston. Sept. 1
Night Life CCD), Day-Harron Nov. 1
_._ —May 28
Nov. 12
Dec. 31
Jan. 7 Sept. 10
Feb. 4
..July 9
..July 16
1928
1927
Nov. 6
June 25
... Oct. 9
-...Oct. IS
Once and Forever CD), Patsy Ruth Miller-
Sin Cargo CD), Mason
Snowbou nd C FC) , Blythe _ - -
Streets of Shanghai CRD), Starke-Harlan...- Dec. 15
Tired Business Man CO _ _
Wild Geese (D), Belle Bennett Nov. IS
Women's Wares (D), Brent-LytelL Oct. 1
_ -...July 30
Mar. 10
Dec. 24 Dec. 10
6147
5297
6553
5102
5735
6«52
6361
Applause CD). Sally O'Neill _.._ Sept. SO
Bachelor's Paradise CR). Sally O'Nei] Mar. 15
Big Top. The CCD), Sally O'Neill Oct. 30
Cavalier. The CD), Talmadge-Bedford _ Sept.
Clothes Make the Woman CR), Southem-
Pldgeon May 1
Devil's Apple Tree. The CD), Dorothy Set)astlan_Sept. 20
Devil's Skipper. The. Bennett Feb. 1
George Washington Cohen CCD), Jessel-Palmer~Aug.20
Geraldine Latrd CD), Belle Bennett Nov. 10
Ghetto, The CCD). Jessel-Gwen Lee Aug. 1
Grain of Dust. The CD), Cortez-Windsor July 10
Green Grass Widows CCD), Walter Hagen June 10
House of Scandal CD), Sebastlan-O'Malley Apr. 1
Ladies of the Night Club CCD), Cortez-Moran.-.May 15
Lingerie CCD), White-McGregor .July 1
Nameless Men, Moreno Feb. 15
Naughty Duchess, The CD), H. B. Warner Aug. 10
Power of Silence. The CD), Belle Bennett Aug. 20
Prowlers of the Sea CD), Cortez-Myers _.. .Tune 20
Queen of Burlesque, The CCD), BeUe Bennett_..Eept. 10
Scarlet Dove. The CD). Margaret Livingston Apr. 15
Stormy Waters (D), Southern-McGregor Jime 1
Squads Right CCD), Gribbon-Stone Nov.
Their Hour CD), Sebastlan-Harron Mar. 1
Tragedy of Youth, Mlller-ColUer Jan. 18
Twelve Pound Look, The CD), Eve Southern Oct. 20
Three Keys to a Door CMD), Rlcardo Cortez Oct. 10
Toilers. The. Fairbanks. Jr.-RalBton Aug.
Woman Against the World, A _ .Jan. 1
1928
1928 „ ,.
G243 Anybody Here Seen Kelly, Bessie Love-Moore.. ..Sept. 9
Beauty and Bullets. Ted Wells _ Dec. 16
Clear the Decks, Reginald Denny Dec. 23
5311 Clearing the Trail. Hoot Gibson Oct. 7
4227 Cloud Dodger. The. Al Wilson - Sept. 30
4179 Crimson Canyon, The. Ted Wells Oct. 14
Danger Rider. The. Hoot Gibson Nov. 18
5109 Flyin' Cowboy. The. Hoot Gibson. July 1
782S Foreign Legion. The. Lewis Stone-Kerry Sept. 23
0474 Freedom of the Press. Lewis Stone Oct. 28
Give and Take. Sidney -Hersholt Dec. 2
4194 Greased Lightning. Ted Wells July 29
B599 Grip of the Yukon. The. Marlowe-Bushman. Sept. 30
4S6S Guardians of the Wild. Rex-Perrin Sept. 10
6307 Home James. Laura LaPlante Sept. 2
.5591 How to Handle Women, Tryon-Nixon Oct. 14
6832 Jazz Mad. Hersholt-Nixoii. Nov. 11
0674 Man. Woman and Wife. Kerry-Stark Dec. 30
101S5 Man Who Laughs. The. Philbin-Veidt Nov. 4
6030 Michigan Kid. The. Adoree-Nagel _ Oct. 21
Night Bird. The. Reginald Denny Sept. 16
One Rainy Night, Laura LaPlante Dec. 9
5907 Phillis of the Follies, Alice Day-M. Moore. .Nov. 25
Price of Fear. Bill Cody .Oct. 29
4472 Quick Triggers. Fred Humes July 15
5424 Riding for Fame. Hoot Gibson Aug. 19
4016 Two Outlaws. The. Jack Perrin-Rex JJov. 18
lOGOO Uncle Tom's Cabin, All Star. Sept. 2
Wolves of the City, Bill Cody J>ec. 2
1929
Blow for Blow. Hoot Gibson. May 19
Border Wildcat The. Ted Wells Aug. 18
Born to the Saddle. Ted Wells Mar. 10
Charlatan. The, All Star May 26
Come Across. All Star..... : June9
Dangerous Dimples. Laura LaPlante Apr. 21
Eyes of the Underworld, Bill Cody Apr. 28
Girl on the Barge. The. O'Neill-Hersholt Apr. 28
Harvest of Hate. The. Rex-Jack Perrin. __ Apr. 14
Hero of the Circus. Maciste Feb. 24
His Lucky Day. Reginald Denny Mar. 3
Hoofbeats of Vengeance, Rex-PerriiL June 16
6057 Honeymoon Flats. Lewis-Gulliver Feb. 24
It Can't Be Done. Tryon-Sue Carrol May 5
Kid's Clever. The. Tryon Mar. 24
King of the Rodeo. Hoot Gibson Aug. 30
Lariat Kid, The. Hoot Gibson Aug. 14
Last Warning. The. LaPlante-Boles Mar. 17
Play Goes On. The. All Star _...Mar. 31
Plunging Hoofs. Bex-Penin Aug. 4
Red Hot Speed. Reginald Denny. Jlay 12
Red Lips. Rogers-Nixon Apr. 14
Ridin' Demon. The. Ted Wells May 19
Slim Fingers. Bill Cody _ Mar. 24
Smilin' Terror. The. Ted Wells June 30
Smilin' Guns. Hoot Gibson _ Apr. 7
Stool Pigeon. The. Bill Cody.._ _ June 2
You Can't Buy Love. All Star June 2
Sept. 1
Sept. 8
.—May 26
-July 7
1928
Apr. 28
Sept. 8
1929
1927
6000
7 MO
7311
&850
612(1
6000
7456
8250
1000
United Artists
College CC). Kealon-Comwall..
General. The CC). Keaton
Loves of Sonya (D), Swanaon
Magio Fljune, The CM), Colman-Banky
Resurrection CM). La Roojue
8«rTell and Son CD), Wamer-Nlleaon
Topsy and Eva CC). Duncan Slst«rs
Two Arabian Knights CCD), Boyd-Wolhelm..
Winning «f Barbara Worth CD), Banky-Colman...
.Sept.
in
«
Sept
M
Nov
I
1
Sept. 17
Feb. 12
Mar. 19
Sept. 24
-.Apr. 16
Nov. 19
Aug. 13
Oct 29
Dec. 4
1927
45.90%
73.66%
1927
5803
6330
6281
5897
6408
5003
6767
6284
6978
6302
5613
6271
5200
6230
5397
5569
6352
6310
6485
7961
6357
6492
6295
5685
6124
6218
6412
7647
5813
1928
6052
5380
5164
7077
6331
6185
4777
4820
6531
Warner Brothers
Blue..
..Dec. 3
.Aug. 20
Black Diamond Express (M),
Brass Knuckles CD), Blue-Bronson
Bush Leaguer, The CCD), Monte Blue-
Dearest CD), Rich _
Desired Woman, The CM), Irene Kich Aug. 27
Dog of the Regiment A CM), Rin-Tin-Tln Oct. 29
First Auto. The, Oldfleld-Miller Sept. 18
Gay Old Bird CFC), Fazenda..
-July 23
1927
50.20%
-June 18
• Nov. 6
-Nov. 12
Girl from Chicago, The CM), Nagel-Loy
Good Time Charley CD), Oland-H. CosteUo.
Ham and Eggs at the Front CC), Wllson-H.
Conklin _ Dec. 24
Hills of Kentucky CM), Rin-Tin-Tin
Husbands for Rent, All star
If I Were Single, McAvoy-NageL.
Irish Hearts CCD), McAvoy
Jaws of Steel CD), Ein-Tin-Tin
Matinee Ladies CC), McAvoy
Mill Bid. A (M), D. CosteUo
-July 9
-Mar. 12
Dec. 31
Dec. 31
Nov. 26
-Feb. 26
-Dec. 31
...Dec 17
68.91%
-Apr. 28
-June 11
-Sept 17
-Oct 1
-Apr. 23
Missing Link, The CC), Syd Chaplin
Old San Francisco CM), D. CosUUo-Oland...
One Round Hogan CM), Monte Blue
Reno Divorce. A CD), May AcAvoy
Sailor Izzy Murphy CF), George Jessell
— Aug. 7
-...Sept. 4
-.Sept. 17
..-.Oct. 22
.-..Oct. 8
Sailor's Sweetheart. A CC), Fazenda-C. Cook...Sept 24
Silver Slave, The CD), Rich-Ferris Nov. 9
Simple Sis CM), Fazenda
Slightly Used, McAvoy-Nagel Sept 3
Third Degree CM), D. CosteUo
-May 14
-June 25
-Oct. 8
-Oct. 29
-Dec. 10
-Oct. 15
-June 11
Tracked by the Police CM), Ein-Tin-TliL ,
Across the Altantic, Blue-Murphy
Beware of Married Men, Irene Rich
City of Sin, The, Loy-MiUan-Wong
Domestic Trouble (CD), Cook-Fazenda
Jazz Singer, The, Al JolsoiL
Lion and the Mouse, The, L. BariTmore..
Little Snob, The, May McAvoy
Powder My Back (C), Rlek-Ferris.
Race tor Life, RIn-Tin-Tln.
Rinty of the Desert, Rln-Tln-Tin.
Tenderloin, Dolores CosteUo
-Feb. 25
-Jan. 14
-Jan. 8
.May 21
-Feb. 18
192S
Feb. 11
..Mar. 24
.Feb. 4
-Apr. 14
..Feb. 11
-Mar. 10
-Jan. 28
-Apr. 21
Feb. 18
May 19
-May 19
..Apr. 28
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
CLASSIFIED
Advertising
Ten cents per word, payable in advance. Minimum charge,
$1.00. Copy and checks should be addressed Classified Ad
Dept. Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, 407 So.
Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
The Recognized National Classified Advertising Medium
Position Wanted
AT LIBERTY — String Bass. Experienced theatre,
symphony man. Union, references. Address Theo.
Ruger, 107 E. 10th St., Erie, Pa.
AT LIBERTY — Concert Organist. Ten years' ex-
perience in pictures. Highest references; splendid
repertoire; also large library of standard works; sober
and reliable. Write or wire Organist, 152 Miller Ave.,
Muskegon, Mich.
THEATRE MANAGER, Nash College and univer-
sity graduate. A live wire manager, graduate Publix
theatres Managers Training School and Publix trained,
will consider changing position. Address Box 310,
Exhibitors Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chi-
cago, 111.
THEATRE ORGANIST — Experienced on all makes,
has a large library, will go anywhere. Address Box
289, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
Attention, Theatre Managers! Are you looking for
an organist, male or female? If you are, why not let
Exhibitors Herald- World find just the kind you want?
Address George Schmidt, Exhibitors Herald-World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
ORGANISTS thoroughly trained and experienced in
theatre work. Men and women now ready for good
positions. Write salary and other data. Address
Chicago Musical College, 61 E. Van Buren, Chicago.
ORGANIST — Experts thoroughly trained in show-
manship available at all times for first-class positions.
Men and women. No service charge. Write full in-
formation concerning salary, organ, hours, etc. Ad-
dress Vermond Knauss School of Theatre Organ
Playing, 210 N. 7th St., Allentown, Pa.
THEATRE MANAGER— Have had fifteen years'
experience. A-1 reference. Married. Address Box
305, Exhibitors Herald- World, 407 S. Dearborn St.,
Chicago, 111.
Help Wanted
PIANIST, one who has library and can cue the
pictures. Seven days week. Address Box 311, Ex-
hibitors Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago,
111.
Theatre Wanted
We are interested in acquiring theatres of 900 seats
or over in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and
Ohio. Will buy or lease for long term. Address
Box 283, Exhibitors Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn
St., Chicago, 111.
Manager Wanted
WANTED AT ONCE — Experienced man for as-
sistant manager and exploitation work. Prefer one
who will also operate to make position more profitable.
Town of 10,000, seven days, two matinees. House to
reopen Sept. 6th. Write or wire, Rivoli theatre. Defi-
ance, Ohio.
Theatre for sale
THEATRE FOR SALE OR LEASE— Complete
new equipment for stage attractions and pictures.
Splendid condition. 1150 seats. Factory city. Great
trading area. Now operating. Immediate possession.
Wire Herbert Parker, Box 98, Waterloo, la.
Theatre to Lease
WILL LEASE THEATRE in Minnesota seven day
town. Can give desired references. Address Box 308,
Exhibitors Herald- World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chi-
cago, 111.
PROPOSITIONS ARE NOW received for leasing
the new Plattsburgh theatre, located in a modern
fireproof office building. For particulars communicate
with Mr. William Mayette, 71 Clinton St., Platts-
burgh, N. Y.
Films for Sale
"Sins of the World" (6); — "Foolish Virgin" (6); —
"In Old Kentucky" (7); — "Lure of the Orient" (6);
— "Unchastened Woman" (7); — also other Features,
Westerns, Serials, Comedies, Educational, Travel, etc.
Address GUARANTEED PICTURES COMPANY,
729 Seventh Ave., New York City.
Equipment for Sale
FOR SALE — Motion Picture Projectors, parts and
supplies for all type machines. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
FOR SALE — Strong Reflector Arc Lamps and ac-
cessories, also guaranteed rebuilt Powers 6-A and 6-B
and Simplex Heads. Best Prices. Write Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
CHICAGO CLEARING HOUSE— Our bargain list
on rebuilt Projectors, Powers 6-A Motor driven ma-
chines, including 12 rebuilt Simplex motor driven
machines with latest Simplex type S lamp houses.
Prices ranging from $175.00 and up. Peerless arc
controls $35.00 per pair. Compensarcs all makes,
$20.00 and up. Rebuilt Generators at reasonable
prices. AC and DC Electric fans rebuilt, just like
new. Write for complete list of your needs and
prices. No obligation. Address Illinois Theatre
Equipment Co., 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
GET OUR PRICES first on complete Theatre
Equipment and Pipe Organ before buying elsewhere.
You save, we satisfy. Address Southern Theatre
Service, 643 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, La.
FOR SALE — 400 Opera Chairs, 1 Film Cabinet,
1 Enclosed Motor Rewind, 2 Late Type Simplex Pro-
jectors with 2 Standeford Low Intensity Lamps, 1
Roth 25-25 3-Phase Generator, etc.. Curtain, Ticket
Chopper, 2 Imported Lenses. AH in perfect condition
and worth just double what we are asking. Our price
$3,000. Address Box 302, Exhibitors Herald-World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
FOR SALE — Two modern picture projectors, com-
pensarc, etc. Everything complete and nearly new.
Priced low and must be sold at once. Address
Manager, American Legion theatre, Milledgeville, 111.
CJiairs for Sale
Just received 4,000 highest grade spring constructed
upholstered Theatre Chairs, less than 2 years old, at
very reasonable prices. Also several other lots of up-
holstered and veneered Theatre Chairs, as well as 500
Portable Assembly Chairs. Write for complete list
and description of all equipment. You are under no
obligation. Illinois Theatre Equipment Co., 12-14 E.
Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
1100 arm chairs, full upholstered plush backs, imi-
tation leather seats, red. Also 1200 imitation leather
chairs, spring seats. Used but in good condition. Will
split into lots of three hundred or more. Address
Chicago Safe & Merchandising Co., 172 N. LaSalle
St., Chicago, 111.
Stationery
1 ^^^PJ^J^' 250 each business letterheads — enve-
lopes $3.75 (cash postpaid). "Neargravure" process
printed. Samples, see difference. Stamp appre-
ciated. Address Sollidays, KH 124, Knox, Ind
For Sale
FOR SALE — New modern brick 500 seat theatre
and business block in live Illinois town of 1,500. A
$25,000 proposition requiring $15,000 to handle. Bal-
ance terms to suit. No trades. Theatre making money
and good rentals from two adjoining store rooms
makes it an excellent investment. Address Box 312
Exhibitors Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chi-
cago, 111.
OPERA CHAIRS, seats and backs for all makes,
five ply, at prices that save you half. Address
Redington & Co., Scranton, Pa.
1 NATIONAL CASH REGISTER MACHINE in
perfect order. This machine has been used but 18
months and is completely overhauled and in good
running order. Price $50.00. Address M. Fitzer,
Manager, Rivoli Theatre, Syracuse, N. Y.
Chair backs and seats made to order, any shape,
big saving. Address Preddey, 188 Golden Gate Ave.,
San Francisco, Cal.
FOR SALE — Park and Race track. Good opportu-
nity. $1500.00 cash. Address James Carty, Monte-
zuma, Ind.
Organs for Sale
FOR SALE: Bartola Pipe Organ. Used Wurlitzer
Pipe Organ, model U, very reasonable. Cremona
Pipe Organ, used or new Reproduco Pipe Organs.
Address S. B. McFadden, Havana, III.
Gift Night Souvenirs
GIFT NIGHT MERCHANDISE: Over 300 fine
novelties in our large free catalog at genuine whole-
sale prices. Write today. No obligation. Address
Fair Trading Co., Inc., 140 W. 21st St., New York.
Your Classified Ad Will Do the Work
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World has helped hundreds of Theatre owners in solving many a problem. The
classified advertising department has placed organists all over the country, has helped in obtaining equipment, in selling
equipment, and in solving many another problem that seemed difficult. The rates are but 10c per word payable with
order, 10% discount if run for 3 insertions. See this week's classified pages. Maybe you are in need of something that is
being advertised this week. The cost is small, the results are great.
52
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
Miscellaneous
BEAUTIFUL registered Bull Pups, $15.
Address 501 Rockwood, Dallas, Texas.
Bulldoes.
Projector Repairing
BEST GRADE repair work. Prices right. Free
relief heads. Prompt service. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicaeo, 111.
Our Twentieth Century Repair Shop, with skilled
expert mechanics, specialized tools, precision machin-
ery, as.sure the very best REPAIR JOBS. Relief
Equipment furnished FREE. Prompt service. Rea-
sonable prices. Progressive Exhibitors over entire
country send their work to "THE OLD RELIABLE."
Monarch Theatre Supply Co., Memphis, Term. Estab-
lished 20 years.
SKILLED MECHANICS, specialized tools, and a
shop equipped for but one purpose can offer yon
nothing but the best in repair work. That is what I
have, and I can offer you the best in the orerhauling
of your motion picture machinery equipment. One
of {he oldest repair men in the territory, and serving
some of the largest houses. Relief equipment fur
nished free. For results bring your work to Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
Projector repairing by experts. Work guaranteed.
Largest shop in West, rebuilt projectors and equip-
ment. Low prices. Address Preddey, 188 Golden Gate
Ave., San Francisco, Cal.
Equipment Wanted
BEST PRICES paid for projection machines, all
types. Address Guercio & Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, 111.
WANT SEVERAL MERCURY RECTIFIERS,
good, bad or incomplete, cheap. Address Preddey,
188 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, Cal.
Professional Services
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT — Many years experience
as auditor in all branches of the motion picture indus-
try, including leading theatres, large exchanges, pro-
ducers' and distributors' home office, can give his
personal attention to several more clients. Consulta-
tion free. Address Auditor c/o Box 1,000, Exhibitors
Herald-WoHd, 565 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y.
State Rights for Sale
LOOK! READ! ACT! — ROAD
Showmen, State rights for sale. The true life of
"The Younger Brothers," featuring Cole, Bob and Jim
Younger and the James Boys, in five reels, and
Younger's Historical Events, in one reel. This pic-
ture as a popular-priced road show is no experiment.
It has been tried and true, has played against all
kinds of competition under all conditions. Has always
gotten the money. With each State or sale we fur-
nish free one new complete Lobby Display, consisting
of new Prints of Film, three new Wax Figures, stand-
ing, life size, of Cole, Bob and Jim Younger, true to
life, dressed in cowboy style, big boots, etc.; 500 One-
Sheets, 100 Slides, 10 Photo Lobby Boards, extra 100
small Photos, 6 Banners, lettered in flashy oil colors,
enough to fit any theatre front. Everything ready to
go. Hurry. It will pay you to buy the king of all
road shows. Address E. L. Humphrey, Miami, Okla.
Cameras for Rent
AKELEY; BELL-HOWELL (professional). Rent
anywhere. Address Wood, 124 E. Market, Indian-
apolis.
LETTERS
From Readers
A fonim at which the exhibitor is
invited to express his opinion on
matters of current interest. Brevity
adds forcefulness to any statement.
Unsigned letters will not be printed.
Can't Be Without It
RED DEER, ALBERTA, CANADA.— To
THE Editor : Just writing a few lines to let
you know that we take your magazine and find
it interesting and useful and would not care to
be without it as long as we are in the picture
business. Am enclosing a few exhibitors' re-
ports on pictures. Yours truly — Beatty and
JOHXSOX, Crescent Theatre, Red Deer, Al-
berta, Canada.
Disappointed in Color
MEXARD, TEX.— To the Editor: Just
wanted to get a quick word to you that may
help some other exhibitor who will play Para-
mount's Zane Grey picture "The Water Hole,"
one of the first of the new season releases.
This one was sold at a special price as a
special with technicolor emphasized very
strongly in the advertising. We went after it
as another "Wanderer of the Wasteland," and
when we played it last night found that the
print delivered to us contained a little techni-
color at the very start, a sequence of Adam
and Eve, and not a foot of co'or on the desert
or Grand Canyon at all.
Our crowd was greatlv disappointed and so
were we. I complained to Paramount's Dallas
office and I don't doubt they will give me a
price adjustment, but that doesn't do away
with the bad results of misleading advertising.
I was surprised at a company like Paramount
pulling a stunt like this at the very start of the
new season, but felt it might help someone else
if the Hek.\ld gave warning.
The picture itself is a good Zane Grey, lean-
ing just a bit to the ridiculous and to forced
comedy. Holt is good, Xancy Carroll is most
attractive, just a good program picture at the
regular Zane Grey price, but not a special as
delivered to us with all color eliminated, if it
was ever made that way. The color that is in
has nothing at all to do with the story and was
just tacked on, probably to try and have at
least some color in it. Cordially yours—
Hf.nkv Reeve, Manager, Mission Theatre,
Menard, Texas.
Chicago Exhibitors Win
In Labor Settlement;
500 Musicians Return
{Co7itiiiHed from page 19)
scale will be $53 a week. A musician strike in
five Publix houses in Rock Island, 111., Moline
and Davenport, ended when it was agreed that
a wage increase be granted and a six-piece
orchestra be employed in the Columbia at
Da\'enport. An agreement has not yet been
reached at Salt Lake City.
At San Francisco negotiations between the
Allied Amusement Industries and the musi-
cians' union are under way, the union demand-
ing a 10 per cent increase and a six-day week
in neighborhood theatres. In Minnesota, F & R
and the musicians have renewed contracts.
At Salem, Ore., a strike of stagehands looms
over the new contract. A temporary truce has
been arranged, however.
Lindsey Book Film to Be
First National Release
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— First National
will release "Companionate Marriage," a
picture based on Judge Ben Lindsey's book,
in October, that company announces.
The cast includes Betty Bronson, Alec
B. Francis, Richard Walling, Hedda Hop-
per, Edward Martindel and Arthur Rankin.
DeMille to Take Three
Players Along to M G M
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11. — Eddie
Quillan, Phyllis Haver and George Duryea,
all under contract to Pathe-DeMille, will be
working under the M G M banner before
long, for when Cecil B. DeMille goes to
A'letro-Goldwyn-Mayer he will take these
three favorite players with him it is learned.
Eagels Signed for Talkie
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.— Jeanne Eagels,
star of "Rain" and "Her Cardboard Lover"
and gifted actress on the American stage,
has signed with Paramount for the leading
role in a sound picture version of "The
Letter," stage success of last season. Miss
Eagels is still under an Equity suspension
from the "legit" because she absented her-
self from the cast of "Her Cardboard
Lover" when it left Chicago to go on tour.
Her only screen experience so far was in
MGM's "Man, Woman and Sin," opposite
John Gilbert.
All Seats $11 for
"Singing Fool" Opening
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK Sept. 11.— Eleven
dollars a seat! That's the price War-
ner Brothers will charge for all seats
at the premiere of Al Jolson's "The
Singing Fool," September 19 at the
Winter Garden.
Italian Law Requiring
Fourth of Pictures Be
Homemade Is Published
(By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World)
NAPLES, Sept. 1 (By Mail).— The trad-
ing board state secretary has just published
the rules concerning the decree of quota
(or suitable proportion) for Italian films.
This means that all the Italian cinemas are
obliged to include in their yearly program
at least 25 per cent Italian works; that is,
films which have been prepared in Italian
studios, the majority of collaborators hav-
ing to be Italians.
Because of this rule the cinema halls will
ahvays have to keep at the disposal of the
police and the trading board's members a
register for the controlling of said quota.
The_ penalties range from a high fine to a
closing of the hall. This decree becomes
effective next October.
Counselman to Quit Fox
After Two Current Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOpD, Sept. 11.— William Coun-
selman, supervisor, obtained rescission of an
exercised option on his contract this week and
will leave Fox Films upon completion of his
current two productions.
He has been with the studio three years.
He plans to leave this week for a four weeks
tour in Canada. Then he will either return to
Hollywood or resume playwrighting in New
York.
Horse Throws Pola Negri
(Special to the Herald-World)
PARIS, Sept. 11.— Pola Negri, thrown
from a horse last Friday while riding in
the Bois de Boulonge, will be able to leave
the hospital the end of this week, physi-
cians said.
Logue, Gangelin Sign
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 11.— Charles A.
Logue and Paul Gangelin, writers, are busy
.with new productions for Pathe.
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
53
V^
WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Verdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor
Coprrlght. 1928
Incorporated in this original exhibitors report department of Exhibitors Herald, which was estab-
lished October 14, 1916, is the Moving Picture World department, "Straight from the Shoulder
Reports.**
Columbia
THE SPORTING AGE: Belle Bennett— 50%.
Augrust 15-16. Fair drama. Title a little mislead-
ing. Picture went over only fairly well. Appeal
about 50%. Advertising good. Photography fair.
~A program offering only. Quite a few walkouts
which is unusual on Columbias. Six reels. — John
W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre, Corning, Ark. — Gen-
eral patronage.
THE TIGRESS: Jack Holt — Very ordinary pro-
gram.— J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. —
General patronage.
REMEIMBER: Dorothy Phillips — A very good sad
picture about a nurse who remembered the man she
loved though he was betrothed to her sister. He
returns from the war blind and marries the nurse
thinking she is her sister, who did not keep her
promise to remember. The deception is learned
when he regains his sight and sister explains. Very
good. — Adam Hornung, Victor Opera House, Victor,
Mont. — General patronage.
WAY OF THE STRONG: Mitchell Lewis— Aug-
ust 24-25. Wonderful little picture, excellent cast.
Alice Day was unusually good. Business very good.
Columbia sure do make nice pictures. Seven reels.
— ^P. J. Levesque, Acadia theatre, Rumford, Me. —
General patronage.
Excellent
A BOWERY CINDERELLA: Special cast— Aug-
ust 25-26. This is only a fair picture. Too long
and a' bit draggy in spots. Seven reels. — H. W.
Batchelder, Gait theatre. Gait, Cal. — Small town
patronage.
F B 0
THE RIDING RENEGADE: Bob Steele— Just a
fair Western to poor business. Five reels. — H. W.
Batchelder, Gait theatre. Gait, Cal.— Small town
patronage.
SOUTH SEA LOVE: Patsy Ruth Miller— Aug-
ust 15. Just fair program. Will get by okay. — ■
Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre. Eureka, Mont. — ■
Small town patronage.
THE DESERT PIRATE: Tom Tyler — August 25.
Not Tom's best, but will please his fans. Not
enough action in it or something which seemed to
make it drag. Five reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf,
Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patron-
age.
THE DESERT PIRATE: Tom Tyler— August 14-15.
Fair Western. Five reels. — H. W. Batchelder, Gait
theatre. Gait, Cal. — Small town patronage.
CLANCY'S KOSHER WEDDING: George Sidney
— Augrust 4-5. This is a nice Jew-Irish picture, but
I believe we have had too many of that kind. Six
reels.— H. W. Batchelder, Gait theatre. Gait, Cal.—
Small town patronage.
SILVER COMES THROUGH: Fred Thomson— A
little old but good just the same. Sorry to hear that
Thomson is quitting the movie business as he has
given us some dandy shows. Six reels. — H. Betten-
dorf, Opera Hou.se, Foley, Minn. — Small town pat-
ronage.
Editor's Note
Percentage ratings given by ex-
hibitors in reports to this depart-
ment are obtained in the following
manner: Average daily gross of
picture reported is divided by
average daily gross of picture hold-
ing house record to determine
relative box office value in terms
of percentage.
EXAMPLE: $75 (average daily
gross of picture reported) divided
by $100 (average daily gross of
picture holding house record)
equals .75 (percentage rating given
picture in report) .
When a picture has received
percentage ratings in 10 reports it
is entered in THE BOX OFFICE
TICKER column of "Quick Ref-
erence Picture Chart."
First National
THE WHEEL OF CHANCE: Richard Barthelmess
— 90%. A wonderful production from this star as
have been the preceding three or four. Here's hop-
ing they keep Barthelmess in this class of picture.
He deserves credit for his wonderful acting but we
must also give the directors their credit. We re-
ceived many favorable comments on this one and I
feel it my duty to pass them on. Seven reels. —
B. R. Parsons, State theatre, Springfield, Minn. —
General patronage.
BURNING DAYLIGHT: Milton Sills— 85%. Aug-
ust 11-12. This was a good one from Sills. Has
some vei'y exciting scenes and tense situations and
consider this better than some other recent pictures of
this star. Comments very good. Seven reels. — H.
Bettendorf, Opera House, Foley, Minn. — Small town
patronage.
THE CANYON OF ADVENTURE: Ken Maynard
68%. August 16. Good Western picture, but to my
notion not las good as Maynard's other Westerns.
Six reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre. Indian Or-
chard, Mass. — General patronage.
THE STOLEN BRIDE: Billie Dove— 60%. Aug-
ust 13-14. First time have ever played Billie. Sure
was good picture and Billie made distinct hit with
fans as second night crowd was larger than first.
Picture had beautiful settings and action was fair.
Advertising good. Eight reels.— John W. Crabtree,
Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark. ^General patronage.
CHINATOWN CHARLEY: Johnny Hines— 25%.
August 24. A good program picture. — Bert Silver,
Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.— General pat-
ronage.
THE PATENT LEATHER KID: Richard Barthel-
mess^5%. August 20-21-22. Splendid picture,
marred by a silly hokum ending. The story is won-
derful and the production is well dressed and acted.
Many spectacular war scenes add to its greatness.
Barthelmess is great as the "kid" and the way he
handles his mitts is a treat to watch. Too bad they
crippled him and did not let him come back and
win the championship. Twelve reels. — ^S. B. Ken-
nedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada.— Small
town patronage.
THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HELEN OF TROY:
Special cast^-27%. August 13-14. That there has
been a great deal of money spent on this play there
can be no doubt, yet all the exploitation we could
add failed to bring the people out. As for the play
itself, only woi-ds of praise can be given to First
National for the effort which they have made to
produce a great sipecial. Cast amid the scenes and
among a people whose literature has been the ex-
ample for all ages of the simple and the elegant in
style the setting is of such classic grace and beauty
as must regale the heart of every one who is familiar
with the glory of ancient Greece. The appointments
and costumes are historically correct, the architec-
ture almost sublime. The cast is complete, every
actor performing the part without fault. Yet in the
months this special has been before the public it
has acquired almost no lead. In directing this play
the poetry of Virgil, the heroics of the Trojan War,
the associations of the past which appeal to the
highest imagination, all these were cast aside and
the lead of the great setting was lost, so that one
is left to wonder why so much money was spent on
this play. The failure of this work is not in the
setting. It is in the theme. A satire on modern
woman, the flapper as Helen of Troy in the court
of Menelaus. A theme so trifling, so tawdry as to
be fit only for a cheap program picture intended to
produce a few laughs to while an hour away and
forget it. People like to laugh, to be amused, but
the things which make for fun and reputation are
the things of heart appeal and this skit has none.
It is as if an after dinner speaker, who is expected
to introduce an important subject should have culled
a few witticisms on the foibles of woman, evoking
a few giggles in some, pity in others and demoraliza-
tion to himself on discovering what a disappointment
he was to his audience. We went to the theatre to
listen to Aeschylus and found Aristophanes had the
stage. — A. J. Gibbons, Illinois theatre. Metropolis,
111. — General patronage.
THE HAWK'S NEST: Milton Sills— The only fault
I can find with this picture is that it seemed a
trifle too long in getting to the climax. But I may
be wrong for the audience was very attentive all
the way through. It's a darn well directed, well
acted, well photographed picture and good entertain-
54
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
DEAR HERALD-WORLD:
COUNCIL GROVE, Kan., Sept. 2, 1928.
We find but few towns in Kansas that don't have something of historical importance.
Council Grove is where a treaty was entered into by the government and the Osage Indians
in 1825 and in 1925 the one hundreth anniversary was celebrated here by the largest gather-
ing of people ever assembled in eastern Kansas. The spot where the treaty was signed is
marked by a monument erected by the Daugthers of the American Rev-olution and is called
the "Madonna Of The Trail." It is located on the old Santa Fe trail where the trail crosses
the Neosha river. The old Mission House used as a school building in which the Indian
children were taught is still standing and is one of the historical things of interest. Council
Grove is proud of her historical importance and well she may be.
W. S. Bratton, who operates the Stella theatre, is hot only well informed on all matters
theatrical but it is said he knows every hole in the Neosha river where there is a catfish,
and the boys farther up the river are putting up a squawk because they say the fish never
get by Council Grove on account of Bratton.
* * *
Medicine Lodge lays some claim to importance also. It was at that place the_ treaty
was signed by Uncle Sam with seven tribes of Indians in 1854, or thereabouts, and a
celebration is held there each year to comemorate the event. At the celebration this year it
is said that 25,000 people were in attendance and Roy Cully of the Pastime theatre broke
all records for attendance and has been kicking about it ever since. Roy says he doesn't
like to have such big crowds, it costs him too much for tickets.
Medicine Lodge is the town where "Sockless" Jerry Simpson set the Kansas prairies
afire with his tirade against "The Iniquitous Plutocrats of Wall Street" and succeeded in
getting himself elected to congress. It is said Jerry didn't cut much alfalfa in congress
but he furnished the boys with a lot of fun and the inspiration for William Allen White
to write his famous editorial, "What's The Matter With Kansas." So you see Jerry wasn't
a failure after all.
Then too, we don't want to overlook Carrie Nation and the part she played in putting
Medicine Lodge on all the road maps, for it was here that Carrie whetted up her hatchet
and started out to put the kibosh on John Barleycorn and it was just too bad for any
cocktail mixer or foam scraper to get in the way of her hatchet, for she made them hard
to catch, in fact some of 'em haven't been caught yet, and when she finished with the saloon
the breweries couldn't find a thing to levy on, not even a bung-starter, and she furnished
Kansas with more excitement than they had had since the days of Quantrell.
Carrie was radical, there is no question about that, but she was sincere, and who can say
but what her radicalism has done a lot of good, for she forced a principle upon public
attention that has become the dominant issue with both great political parties which will
be settled by the American people this fall in the best, and only, way it could be settled,
by an expression of their will at the polls.
We have been accused of being radical ourself, and maybe we are, for when Al came out
flat-footed for a wet campaign, we threw our hat in the air and shouted "Hip hurrah for Al,
now we will see an oldtime fight like we used to have in Indiana when Charley Fairbanks
and 'Blue Jeans' Williams locked horns and we carried a torch in the procession and got
grease all over our clothes." We have no use for pussyfooters, that's why we admire Al's
nerve.
Radicalism has been the forerunner of all the great reforms in this country. They said
Bob Fulton was crazy but he ran his boat up the Hudson river by steam power just the
same.
Morse got to monkeying with a kite and the other day we used the Morse system to
tell the HERALD-WORLD to send us an expense check to Council Grove and it hasn't
come yet, but that wasn't the fault of the system. (Jay, please take notice.)
* * *
When Patrick Henry said, "As for me, give me liberty or give me death," they immedi-
ately started to heave the tea overboard in Boston harbor and Paul Revere hopped onto
old Fan and started down the Rappahannock valley and told all the boys to grease up
their old muskets, while they started ringing the bell in the old North Church and scared the
pigeons out of the belfry for the first time in forty years. Paul Jones, out on Lake Erie
that time, said "Don't give up the ship," and the Israelites have been hanging onto every-
thing ever since. They can't tell us that radicalism dosen't count.
Then too you remember what happened down in Chicago that time when Bryan said,
"Thou shalt not press down a crown of thorns upon the brow of labor nor crucify mankind
upon a cross of gold" and how they tore up the furniture and went to hugging one another,
for they thought they had found a Moses, and there wasn't a bullrush closer than the
Calumet river. Chicago at that time was a peaceful, quiet city, with cobwebs stretching
across Madison street, and the natives were content with the ordinary methods of the gas-
pipe and six-shooter, but under the inspiration of various political leaders she has
progressed until today she shoots 'em from armored cars in a businesslike manner.
4c « *
Some republican said that the democrats would have to hold an umbrella over their
dry platform. Now wasn't that a brilliant remark to make? We can't see why they are
(Continued on next page)
ment. Eight reels.— P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre,
Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.
THE BIG NOISE: Chester Conklin— A very good
program picture. Conklin having the crowd laugh-
ing most of the show. Do not be afraid of this one.
Seven reels. — H. Bettendorf, Opera House, Foley,
Minn. — ^Small town patronage.
THE BIG NOISE: Chester Conklin— Good. It is
full of entertaining comedy but does not draw. — J. L.
Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
THE LITTLE SHEPHERD OF KINGDOM COME:
Richard Barthelmess— August 26-27. Very good and
drew like a house afire. A great many had read the
book and they came to see the picture. In fact,
there were a lot of them that I hadn't seen since the
year of the Blue Snow. If you fellows pass up this
one and "The Shepherd of the Hills," you are look-
ing out the window, and there is not a sound in
either one of 'em except a heluva noise at the box of-
fiee. Eight reels.— W. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre,
Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage.
THE YELLOW LILY: Billie Dov^-This may be
all okay for de luxe houses where they swallow the
mythical kingdom stuff, but for a country town run,
where most people work for what they get, it is not
so good. For the flappers and the lounge lizards it
might go over big, but we haven't many of that
class to cater to and from the reaction of what the
audience that walked out that I could etop to find
out what was the matter, they said too slow, too
soppy and not the type they cared to see. It will
take more than the beauty of Billie Dove to keep her
among the stars than what pictures we have played
of her this season. "American Beauty," "Heart of
Siren," all built around her beauty without much
of a story and not the kind of production that
clicks. The public wants either red meat in their
pictures or comedy or strong melodrama. A dressed
up mushy picture is not worth running in a small
town. Costume, princes and earls are passe. Further,
no matter how enti-ancing the looks of the star, too
many and too long close-ups will kill any of them.
The picture going public wants their pictures to
move and go on with the story. We do not like
walk-outs and that's what we have had tonight.—
A. E. Hancock, Columbia theatre, Columbia City,
Ind. — General patronage.
VAMPING VENUS: Murray-Fazenda— I've seen
plenty of adverse criticism on this one, but for me
it proved to be a good drawing card and judging
from the laughter it certainly pleased. Crazy, of
course, it is, but that's what makes it good. Per-
sonally I got a good kick out of it. Six reels.—
P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo.—
General patronage.
Fox
PAINTED POST: Tom Mix— 90%. August 4-5.
The best Mix we have played in a long time. Con-
tains lots of comedy and had audience roaring during
most of the film. If your patrons like Mix and
comedy be sure and get this one. Six reels. — H. Bet-
tendorf, Opera House, Foley, Minn. — Small town
patronage.
FLEETWING: Barry Norton— 85%. August 15-16.
This picture was better than expected. Arabian des-
ert scenes which were very good. Contains lots of
action and horses' performance plays a big part. Seven
reels. — H. Bettendorf, Oi)era House, Foley, Minn. —
Small town patronage.
THE BRANDED SOMBRERO: Buck Jones— 60%.
August 25. An extra good Western picture. Better
than the average. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre,
Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
HORSEMAN OF THE PLAINS: Tom Mix— 72%.
August 15. Good clean Western picture with a lot
of favorable comments. Tom is sure liked here. Five
reels. — ^John Kamuda, Grand theatre, Indian Orchard,
Mass. — General patronage.
PUBLICITY MADNESS: Moran-Lowe— 20%. Aug-
ust 22. Just another movie. Story impossible. Stars
worked hard but did not give general satisfaction.
Patrons called it a joke. — Bert Silver, Silver Family
theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
SINGED: Warner Baxter— 80%. August 8-9.
Notice this has been panned by several exhibitors
but could not find much fault with it and got by very
nicely. Six reels. — H. Bettendorf, Opera House,
Foley, Minn. — Small town patronage.
HELLO, CHEYENNE : Tom Mix— A good Western
picture with a lot of fun in it. Step on it. Five
reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre, Indian Orchard,
Mass. — General patronage.
HELLO, CHEYENNE: Tom Mix— A sort of slap-
stick Western that does not come up to expectations
for a Mix picture. Guess Bill Fox tried to slip him
some weak stories as a goodbye gesture. Kids will
like it.— P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City,
Mo. — ^General patronage.
BLACK JACK: Buck Jones— August 23-24. Short,
but very good. Some fellow by the name of Dull Or-
ville, or Orville Dull, directs these pictures and he
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
always turns out a good one. When Buck gets to
making his own pictures he could do worse than
picking this guy for a director. Five reels. — -Wm.
E. Tragsdorf. Trags theatre. Neillsville, Wis.— Small
town patronage.
DRESSED TO KILL: Edmund Lowe— A good
crook picture. Had the audience guessing to the
very last. Had many good comments and can recom-
mend it. Six reels. — H. Bettendorf, Opera House,
Foley, Minn. — Small town patronage.
DAREDEVIL'S REWARD: Tom Mix— Good ac-
tion program for Saturdays. — J. L. Seiter, Selma
theatre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
TUMBLING RIVER: Tom Mix— August 28-29. A
good Mix picture. However, Tom does not draw as he
did once, due perhaps to too much front page dirt
pertaining to his midnight whoopees. Five reels. —
Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trass theatre, Neillsville, Wis. —
Small town patronage.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
THE PATSY: Marion Davies— 20%. August 16-
17-18. Another clever Davies comedy. This is the
kind that they like Marion in. The boy who wrote
the subtitles sure knew his onions. They make an
evening's entertainment themselves. We strongly
recommend this to small towns. Fair summer busi-
ness. Eight reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre,
Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town patronage.
THE PATSY: Marion Davies— August 24-25. A
good entertainment with a lot of very clever sub-
titles. Went over big but did not draw for us.
Seven reels. — J. A. Engesather, Movies theatre.
Brocket, N. D. — Rural patronage.
THE COSSACKS: John Gilbert-Renee Adoree—
50%. August 20-21. Oh, why are all M G M pictures
so dark it makes you feel like you want to turn on
the lights so the audience can see? Otherwise a
good show. — C. Roi Willis, Crescent theatre, Belzoni,
Miss. — General patronage.
LAUGH, CLOWN, LAUGH: Lon Chaney— 52%.
Augrust 19-20. As usual, Chaney drew them in for
us. However, a welcome drop in the temperature had
more to do with our good second night attendance
than the picture, we believe, as this one was not so
well liked as some. Acting was fine, but picture
was ruined for many of our patrons by the ending.
We were slightly disappointed in the print as it
had many splices and was a little too dark for our
Mazda equipment. Eight reels. — Wolfe & Williams,
Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patron-
age.
BABY MINE: Dane-Arthur— 70%. Augrust 18.
Had some favorable comments on this picture, but I,
myself, thought it was poor. Metro's pictures are
not up to the standard. Five reels. — John Kamuda,
Grand theatre, Indian Orchard, Mass. — General pat-
ronage.
BABY MINE: Dane-Arthur— 50%. August 17. A
"swell" picture — ^three reels swelled to six. Press
sheet misleading and pictures of poor conception and
direction. Some scenes rather funny, but are dragged
out till they become tiresome. Rather vulgar in
many parts and is a picture that will not increase
your "prestige." Not in the least approachable to
"Rookies" in any part. Consider it a poor program
offering. Considerable adverse comments. Rain cut
attendance. Five reels. — John W. Crabtree, Joyland
theatre. Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
THE LATEST FROM PARIS: Norma Shearer—
40%. August 17. The story was good, the acting
■was good, but for some reason prettly little Norma
don't draw the biz for me. — C. Roi Willis, Crescent
theatre, Belzoni, Miss. — ^General patronage.
THE LATEST FROM PARIS: Norma Shearer—
AugiBt 26. A good pictui-e and pleased the majority.
Personally Miss Shearer is one of the writer's favor-
ites. We would like a picture of Miss Shearer for
our lobby. How about it. Miss Shearer ? Eight reels.
— Carl L. Brown, Crystal theatre. Many, La. — Gen-
eral patronage.
LOVELORN: Sally O'.Neil— 35%. August Si-Sep-
tember 1. Not nearly as good and clever as "The
Patsy." Guess they did as well as they could with
the story. Seven reels. — J. A. Engesather, Movies
theatre. Brocket, N. D. — Rural patronage.
DETECTIVES: Dane-Arthur— Without doubt the
dumbest piece of directing I've ever seen. The mas-
ter showmen who make the lion roar must have been
on a vaction the afternoon they ground out this piece
of cheese. This pair have never made a picture since
"Rookies." Six reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre,
Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.
THE ENEMY: Lillian Gish— Very good. Good
drawing power. They liked this one. — Russell C.
Dey, Reedville Movies, Reedville, Va. — General pat-
ronage.
THE CROWD : Special cast— The best we have had
from Metro and one of the best pictures we have
ever shown. Masterful acting in this picture and
perfect directing. Why can't they (Metro) register
like this every time? A wonderful picture and it
(Continued from preceding page)
always picking on our platform. It is as good a platform as we ever had and means as
much as it ever did and even if it is wet it won't burn half as quick as one soaked in oil,
and some day some democrat wiU scratch a match and set fire to the oil and then where
will their platform be? Let the republicans laugh that off if they can.
Uncle Leazer Biggs says, "Pears like with one platform wet and tothern oily the spell-
binders will have to wear hobnails in their shoes to keep from slippin off of 'em into
the mud."
Yes, with all her radicalism, we have to admire Carrie Nation for her honesty and
sincerity of purpose, for she wasn't a gumshoer nor a pussyfooter, she fought for what
she believed was right, but if she were to come back here now it would be tough on our
party, for she would sure make the fur fly in this campaign, for —
If Carrie Nation should come back here now
She would kick up an awful big row.
When she learned Al was wet
She would raise ned, you bet.
And she would go into action right now.
She would make a great film for the screen.
Such a show would have never been seen.
With her hatchet in hand
You can bet she would land
Right on top of Al's bald-headed bean.
We have still got that hay fever, and the only remedy for Kansas hay fever is to go to
Colorado, which we hope to do within the next two weeks, but if we do we will miss all
the Comhusker football games up in Nebraska, and the next thing to a good political fight
is a Cornhusker football game.
* * *
At McPherson we had a nice visit with Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Woolbridge of the Tourney
theatre. They were playing George Bancroft and Evelyn Brent in some picture, we just
can't remember the name, but it was a picture dealing with an oil drilling project some-
where down in South America. It was the acting and direction that made an impression
on us and not the title. George Bancroft is our type of an actor, we never miss one of
his pictures if we know it, for they don't make 'em any better than George makes 'em.
There was a blond lady in the cast whose name did not appear in the billing and we
would like to know who she is, for we would like to write her and tell her that she
fulfills every requirement that we can think of in a perfect actress. And not only that
but she is darned handsome, we can say this without fear of a family rumpus for our
wife is in Kirby, Wyoming, and that is two thousand miles away. Would that lady kindly
send us her photograph care HERALD-WORLD and if Eagle Eye Joe don't get to see it
m.aybe it will be forwarded.
Earl Brookwalter of the Ideal theatre at Halstead was having a session when we called
with Cecil C. Vaughan, a film hound from Kansas City, and the first round was a draw.
We stopped proceedings long enough to write Cecil up for the HERALD-WORLD and
then told 'em to go to it. We don't know which one took the count but we heard Earl
tell Cecil that he had been on the job night and day for fifteen years and he still held the
keys in spite of 'em. That's what we call a pretty good record.
G. W. Downing of the Majestic at Little River, John P. Krehbiel of the Pastime at
Moundridge, Otis Greenhaw of the Rex at Canton and D. L. Mowrey of the Idle Hour at
Wilsey are among those who have joined the ranks of the well informed and who say they
will read, the HERALD-WORLD from kiver to kiver hereafter. H. L. Gibson of the
Auditorium at Canton has been doing that same thing for years and is still at it.
C. L. McVey of the Dreamland at Harrington has just completed remodeling his theatre
and has made it one of the first-class theatres of eastern Kansas, she's a beauty and C. L.
is all swelled up over it and he has a right to be. C. L. got his first lessons in the show
business in a booking office in Omaha. We knew he was from Nebraska as soon as we
set eyes on him, they can't hide that open and honest expression on their faces, but they
need watching just the same.
"When the leaves begin to turn
And the summer days are past.
And the golden sunbeams bend to kiss the dew."
When the chilling winds come fast,
And we feel the wintry blast.
With our overcoat in soak, what will we do?
7. C. JENKINS,
The HERALD-WORLD man.
56
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
will draw. Russell C. Dev, Reedville Movies, Reed-
ville, Va. — General patronage.
THE CROWD: Boardman-Murray— While this is a
prettj" good human interest, fairly true to life drama
I cannot see where they get the idea it is any 44
calibre special. It drew hardly normal summer busi-
ness for me. Worth only program prices. Nine
reels. — ^P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre. Kansas City,
Mo. — General patronage.
TELLING THE WORLD: William Haines— Very
good. It is entertainment and that's what jieople
■want. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. —
General patronage.
THE BUGLE CALL: Jackie Coogan — A good pic-
ture but Jackie does not draw like he used to. Saves
the natives from the Indians by his bugle call. Six
reels. — H. Bettendorf, Oi)era House, Foley, Minn. —
Small town patronage.
ROSE MARIE: Joan Crawford— A little long,
beautiful outdoor scenery and as good as the usual
north country story and the plot was as old as
Joseph's coat of many colors. Good acting, but the
thing that impressed us most was what a lady patron
said passing out after the picture. "Well, if they
had a few more leading characters and killed them
as they did those in the cast I would have thought
I had been to a busy slaughter house party." And
she came near telling the truth. "A killing time
was certainly had by all in 'Rose Marie.' " Eight
reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone,
Ariz. — General patronage.
THE UNKNOWN: Lon Chaney— Something dif-
ferent that most of the folks liked. Seven short
reels. — Adam Hornung, Victor Opera House, Victor,
Mont. — General patronage.
BATTLING BUTLER: Buster Keaton— Did not
draw, only broke even. Fair picture. Some liked it
but nobody raved over it. Seven reels. — Adam
Hornung, Victor Opera House, Victor, Mont. — Gen-
eral patronage.
THE THIRTEENTH HOUR: Special cast— Fine
entertainment. Pleased 100 per cent. Book this pic-
ture and boost it. It will stand it. Seven reels. —
Carl L. Brown, Crystal theatre. Many, La. — General
patronage.
LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT: Lon Chaney—
August 23. A good Chaney picture with lots of
mystery and thrills. Pleased the majority of our
patrons. Seven reels. — Carl L. Brown, Crystal thea-
tre. Many, La. — General patronage.
Paramount
LADIES OF THE MOB: Clara Bow— 35%. Aug-
ust 23-24-25. Clara in a different role. You'll see a
new Clara in this one. A vivid flashing moll who
fights to keep her gangster lover out of trouble.
Richard Arlen as the gangster gives his best per-
formance yet. We thought this one of the best un-
derworld dramas and did nice business. Seven reels.
— S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Can-
ada.— Small town patronage.
LADIES OF THE MOB: Clara Bow— Very good
underworld drama. A different role for Clara and
our patrons liked it.— J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre,
Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
HIS TIGER LADY: Special cast— 80%. August 1.
I can't kick on this one. Got the business and pleased
and that's the two things we want. — C. Roi Willis,
Crescent theatre. Belzoni, Miss.— General patronage.
HIS TIGER LADY: Adolphe Menjou— One hour
of posing in elaborate costumes and luxurious settings
by Menjou and Evelyn Brent. About the deadest
thing Menjou ever put out. This guy is deader than
a la.st year's birdnest for me. Six reels. — P. G.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General pat-
ronage.
SUNSET LEGION: Fred Thomson— This picture
pleased about as well if not better than anything
Thomson has ever been seen in here. Seven reels.
Giacoma Bros.. Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz.
General patronage.
BEAU SABREUR: Special cast— 27%. August 17-
18. We agree with other exhibitors that this is not
a "great" picture, but is mighty nice entertainment
nevertheless. Cannot see its classification as a spe-
cial. Photography fine and print about 500% better
than the one we drew on "Beau Geste." Hot weather
cut the receipts down. Evelyn Brent quite intriguing.
William Powell is good in any villain role. Good
picture, even though we ran it late and contracted
wrong. Seven reels.— Wolfe & Williams, Screenland
theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
THE ROUGH RIDERS: Charles Farrell— 44%.
AuKoat IS. Second run and did very good. It's a
good picture. Nine reels.- Mrs. Hulda J. Green,
Gem theatre, Grcenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
STARK LOVE: Special cast— 38%. August 18.
Good picture of Its kind. Six reels.— Mrs. Hulda J.
Green, Gem theatre, Grcenriver, Utah. — General pat-
ronage.
PARTNKR.S IN CRIME:.. Becry.Hatton-48%.
August 25. A very good comedy. Has something the
rest of this series didn't have — a story. Seven reels.
—Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver,
Utah. — General patronage.
HULA: Clara Bow— 53%. August 24-25. Wow!
I'll say she has "It!" Our people must have been
starved for a glimpse of Clara, the way they flocked
in. We are eight months behind schedule with our
Paramount pictures, but guess it doesn't matter at
this rate. Mighty good little picture, but we were
furnished a scurvy print again. Not sure yet whether
or not it was coincidence, but we're certainly going
to start something next time. Excellent paper on
this. Six reels. — Wolfe & Williams, Screenland thea-
tre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
THE COVERED WAGON: Special cast— Re-issue.
55%. August 26-27. We were quite surprised at the
way they turned out for this picture. Had people
in our theatre who had never been in before, a
number who rarely attend picture shows anywhere.
While many of our regulars did not appear on ac-
count of having seen this picture once or twice be-
fore, yet we had a very good house. Very pleasant
surprise, especially since we drew a fairly good print.
Eight reels. — Wolfe & Williams, Screenland theatre,
Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
WARMING UP: Richard Dix— Very good baseball
story. — J. J. Hoffman, Plainview theatre, Plainview,
Neb. — General patronage.
THE FIRST KISS: Cooper- Wray— This is differ-
ent from the usual run of pictures and was liked.
Gary Cooper does better work in this than in any of
his others. A good Sunday picture. — J. J. Hoffman,
Plainview theatre, Plainview, Neb. — General patron-
age.
FORGOTTEN FACES: Clive Brook— August 26.
Very good melodrama of the underworld. Clean and
acting of Brook and Powell splendid. Miss Bacalova
and Mary Brian okay in their roles, also. Eight
reels.— P. G. Estee. S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D.—
Small town patronage.
THE VANISHING PIONEER: Jack Holt— Aug-
ust 24-25. Ordinary Western story even if it did carry
Zane Grey headline. Ordinary business. Glad to see
Jack Holt back with Paramount, however. Six reels.
—P. G. Estee, S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D.— Small
town patronage.
FOOLS FOR LUCK: Fields-Conklin— Not bad.
But this pair of excellent comedians don't seem to
have any sex appeal or "it" or something. Anyway
they don't register at the box office. Six reels. — P.
G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General
patronage.
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— August 21-22. This is a
good Lloyd. Some said his best. I would not say
that, but it was good. Seven reels. — H. W. Batch-
elder, Gait theatre. Gait, Cal. — Small town patronage.
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— August 22-23. Good pic-
ture from all angles. Did not draw, however. Eight
reels.— P. G. Estee, S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D.—
Small town patronage.
THE FIFTY-FIFTY GIRL: Bebe Daniels— About
on a par with "Swim, Girl, Swim." A little comedy-
drama in which Bebe doesn't shine as bright as she
has in days gone by. However, for an average movie
audience it should be okay. I played it with Cameo
the movie dog in person, so can't say how it would
draw by itself. The dog was pretty good. Six reels.
— P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. —
General patronage.
LEGION OF THE CONDEMNED: Special east—
A nice evening's entertainment even if the story is
very inconsistent. All about a bunch of gay young
bloods who deliberately try to kill themselves flying
airplanes on the enemy lines in France. Buy, they
should like it. A very thrilling windup to the pic-
ture. Eight reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre,
Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.
Rayart
Pathe-P D C
THE MAN FROM HARDPAN: Leo Maloney—
50%. August 28-29. Not exactly to my liking, still
it took well with the harvest transients. Our firet
Maloney. Hope we get him in something better later.
Six reels. — J. A. Engesather, Movies theatre. Brocket,
N. D. — Rural patronage.
THE LEOPARD LADY: Special cast^-August 18.
Fine feature. German circus story with good title.
Plenty of action. Book it. Seven reels. — Frank
Sabin, Majestic theatre. Eureka, Mont. — Small town
patronage.
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B: Rod LaRocque
— -A very good program picture with a lot of laughs.
Good for any night. Six reels. — John Kamuda,
Grand theatre, Indian Orchard, Mass. — General pat-
ronage.
JEWELS OF DESIRE: Priscilla Dean— Terrible.
Priscilla must snap out of it to keep up to the
standard. Six reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre,
Indian Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
THE DIVINE SINNER: Vera Reynolds— August
15-16. This picture disappointed everybody. Story
slow and is not the least bit interesting. Business
poor but weather very hot. Seven reels. — P. J.
Levesque, Acadia theatre, Rumford, Me. — General
patronage.
Tiffany-Stahl
LINGERIE: Alice White— August 17-18. Here's
one of the best Tiffany has made this year. Every-
body was satisfied. Title is deceiving but the picture
should please everybody. Business good. Six reels.
— ^P. J. Levesque, Acadia theatre, Rumford, Me. —
General patronage.
THE CAVALIER: Richard Talmadge— August 20-
21. I played this one pretty early but don't regret
it. This is the first time we have ever played Tal-
madge and our patrons must like him as business was
excellent. Let's hope Tiffany continues to make such
pictures. Seven reels. — P. J. Levesque, Acadia thea-
tre, Rumford, Me. — General patronage.
United Artists
THE GARDEN OF EDEN: Corinne Griffith— 75%.
August 27-28. I didn't hear nobody raving. They
seemed to have that disappointed expression as they
came out. They didn't get what they expected. Guess
the title was the cause of that. However, Corinne did
some good work in this one. — C Roi Willis, Crescent
theatre, Belzoni, Miss. — General patronage.
DRUMS OF LOVE: Special cast— 75%. August
13-14. In my opinion a great picture. The love
scenes a little strong, but well done. A little sur-
prised to see Mary Philbin fill this role to such per-
fection. Play it, you won't be disappointed. Better
than the so-called specials. — C. Roi Willis, Crescent
theatre, Belzoni, Miss. — General patronage.
RAMONA: Dolores Del Rio— 100%. July 23-24.
If you miss this one you miss the best bet of the
season. No doubt the good business was due to the
popularity of the song, but the picture itself pleased
because it built up on second night, something very
few of them do and I am playing a return date soon.
— C. Roi Willis, Crescent theatre, Belzoni, Miss. — •
General patronage.
STEAMBOAT BILL, JR.: Buster Keaton— 50%.
August 24. About the best work Keaton has ever
done, but that don't mean this is a side-splitting com-
edy, because the laughs were few. Don't advance
your prices when you play it, I didn't and was glad of
it. — C. Roi Willis, Crescent theatre, Belzoni, Miss. —
General patronage.
SADIE THOMPSON: Gloria Swanson— 20%. Aug-
ust 13-14-15. Gloria's best since "Zaza" but hardly a
small town picture. We paid too much for it for a
summer showing and the weather was terribly hot.
Good production and good acting by everybody ex-
cept Walsh. He'd better stick to producing. Very
disappointing business. Nine reels. — S. B. Kennedy,
Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada.^Small town
patronage.
THE GENERAL: Buster Keaton— 25%. August
23. Played it old but gave satisfaction as a program
picture. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
THE MAGIC FLAME: Banky-Colman— 50%. Aug-
ust 26-27. A fine picture. Both stars splendid. The pic-
ture satisfied but did not draw second night. — Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — Gen-
eral patronage.
Universal
THE RAWHIDE KID: Hoot Gibson— 80%. Aug-
ust 11. Without a doubt as poor an excuse of a
Western as I ever saw. There was no plot what-
ever. Not Gibson's fault, I blame it on the producer.
Why don't they give him stories and he would be a
good box office bet. — C. Roi Willis, Crescent theatre,
Belzoni, Miss. — ^General patronage.
TRICK OF HEARTS: Hoot Gibson— 80%. August
17. A comedy Western with not much Western in
it. Hoot very popular here, but this picture rather
weakened his following as it does not suit his style
of action. However, it got over fairly well, though
draggy in spots. Photography and print good. Ad-
vertising good. Six reels. — John W. Crabtree, Joy-
land theatre. Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
TRICK OF HEARTS: Hoot Gibson— Listen, Hoot,
if this is a sample of your own producing unit, for
Pete's sake wake up before you are dead (at the box
office) and go to making real Westerns. This one
is so silly even the kids razzed it. Buy some real
stories, not bunk. — Six reels. — P. J. Vaughan, Sun
theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.
WE AMERICANS: Special cast— August 16-17.
Truly a good picture and worthy of showing in any
theatre. We did not hear any criticisms from our
^
September 15, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
57
patrons eo we judge that it pleased. Advertised it like
a circus but failed to draw the crowd we expected.
Nine reels. — Carl L. Brown, Crystal theatre. Many,
La. — ^General patronage.
WE AMERICANS: Special cast— Well, this pic-
ture is all that Uncle Carl says it is for a wonder.
And if we could only get one a week as good, life
would be worth living. It appeals to all classes and
has good drawing power. Nine reels. — P. J. Vaughan,
Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.
PAINTED PONIES: Hoot Gibson— August 25.
Long time since I showed Hoot. They flocked in to
see this picture and it pleased 100 per cent. Very
good comedy injected through the story. Book it. — ■
Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre. Eureka, Mont. — Small
town patronage.
LOVE ME AND THE WORLD IS MINE: Mary
Philbin — August 18-19. I thought this very good in
spite of some adverse comments that I read. Seven
reels.— H. W. Batchelder, Gait theatre. Gait, Cal.—
Small town patronage.
MIDNIGHT HOSE: Lya de Putti — This picture
seems unnatural and artificial in every sense of the
word. Acting, directing and everything else is
"hammy." Universal seems to be slipping back here
of late. Six reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kan-
sas City, Mo. — General patronage.
THE CHINESE PARROT : Marion Nixon— A mys-
tery play well played and good photography, but why
feature Marion Nixon whose part was but a minor
one with no particular lead ? Not a special by any
means. The "messenger" was the star in this rather
too long drama. Seven reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crys-
tal theatre, Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage.
COUNT OF TEN: Charles Ray— A program pic-
ture. That's all. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma,
Cal. — General patronage.
WILD BEAUTY: Rex— July 31. Very good and
fair business. Horse and dog pictures go good here.
Six reels.— H. W. Batchelder, Gait theatre, Gait, Cal.
— Small town patronage.
LES MISERABLES: Special cast— A good French
picture. Child actor is wonderful. All French actors.
Forget the book and you will like it. Eight reels. —
Adam Hornung, Victor Opera House, Victor, Mont.
— General patronage.
13 WASHINGTON SQUARE: Alice Joyc^A silly
picture, wth no real story. Seven reels. — John
Kamuda, Grand theatre, Indian Orchard, Mass. — Gen-
eral patronage.
THE CALGARY STAMPEDE: Hoot Gibson— July
28. This was good and drew the best crowd since
March 24 when we had "Chip of the Flying U."
Attendance beat "The Cat and Canary," "The Cohens
and Kellys in Paris" and "Is Your Daughter Safe?"
— Adam Hornung, Victor Opera House, Victor, Mont.
— General patronage.
THE BEAUTIFUL CHEAT: Laura LaPlante— A
pretty good clean little picture. Nothing to rave
about. Most of my Saturday night patrons seemed
to like it. Seven reels. — Adam Hornung, Victor
Opera House, Victor, Mont. — General patronage.
Short Features
Warner Bros.
A RACE FOR LIFE: Rin-Tin-Tin— 92%. August
19. A very good dog picture with a rather abrupt
ending. Drew the crowd as they love Rin-Tin-Tin
here. Five reels. — John Kamuda. Grand theatre, In-
dian Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
THE DESIRED WOMAN: Irene Rich— A fair pro-
gram picture. Seven reels. — John Kamuda, Grand
theatre, Indian Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
THE SIREN: Irene Rich — A fair program pic-
ture. Seven reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre,
Indian Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
THE JAZZ SINGER: Al Jolson— Very good. We
used the song records in every sequence where Jolson
sang. It is a novelty to do this and many customers
thought we had Vitaphone. — J. L. Seiter, Selma thea-
tre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
POWDER MY BACK: Irene Rich— August 22.
A peach of a picture. Irene Rich can act with the
best of them. I like her a lot and so do my
patrons. Don't pass this one up, it's 100 per cent.
Seven reels. — Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre, Eureka,
Mont. — Small town patronage.
State Rights
THE THRILL SEEKERS: Special cast— August
11-12. Very good little picture. Six reels. — ^H. W.
Batchelder, Gait theatre. Gait, Cal. — Small town pat-
ronage.
Serials
BLAKE OF SCOTLAND YARD: (Universal)
Hayden Stevenson — Apparently holding up well. This
print also in good condition, for which thanks to
Allah and the Cleveland Exchange. — Wolfe & Wil-
liams, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town
patronage.
COLUMBIA
THE DUSE: The deuce it is! Two reels. — Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — •
General patronage.
EDUCATIONAL
AT EASE: Lloyd Hamilton— A good Hamilton
comedy. Two reels. — H. Bettendorf, Opera House,
Foley, Minn. — ^Small town patronage.
BIG BOY COMEDIES: Just can't see this Big
Boy. He may go somewhere but not here. Two
reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Centi-al theatre, Selkirk, Man.,
Canada. — Small town patronage.
FOX TALES: Very good. Two reels.— H. Betten-
dorf, Opera House, Foley, Minn. — Small town patron-
age.
HOLD FAST: Not so hot. One reel.— S. B. Ken-
nedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small
town patronage.
LITTLE RUBE: Dorothy Devore — Fair.— J. L.
Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Oal. — General patron-
age.
LIVE NEWS: A fair comedy. Two reels.— H. Bet-
tendorf, Opera House, Foley, Minn. — Small town pat-
ronage.
LOVE'S SPRING TIME: Hope Hampton- Color
film laid back in the Fourteenth Century. Very
beautiful but story rather silly. Two reels. — ^P. G.
Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General
patronage.
OFF BALANCE: Quite a few laughs in this one.
One reel. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk,
Man., Canada. — Small town patronage.
SAILOR BOY: Monte Collins— Darn good Cameo
comedy. One reel. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre,
Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.
FBO
BO'S GUEST: Cooke-Guard— This is one of the
"Wisecracker" series and the best one so far. Two
reels. — ^Carl L. Brown, Crystal theatre. Many, La. —
General patronage.
FOX
A COW'S HUSBAND: The best comedy for laugh
purposes ever made. Ben Brinek, Opera House,
West Point, la. — ^General patronage.
HOT HOUSE HAZEL: A fairly good comedy.
Two reels. — H. Bettendorf, Opera House, Foley,
Minn. — Small town patronage.
T-BONE FOR TWO: Just a comedy. Two reels.
— Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
WILD PUPPIES: This is a dandy comedy and
judging from the laughs it pleased all. Two reels. —
Carl L. Brown, Crystal theatre. Many, La. — General
patronage.
WILD PUPPIES: Good. Two reels.— H. Betten-
dorf, Opera House, Foley, Minn. — Staall town patron-
age.
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
CAME THE DAWN: Max Davidson— Fair.— J. L.
Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — ^General patronage.
CAME THE DAWN: Max Davidson— We have
seen better comedies, but seldom have we had one
that caused as much commotion among the kids as
this one. Glad to have them enjoy themselves, but
if we knew we had more comedies bought that
would have the same result we certainly would not
run them. Wow ! Two reels. — Wolfe & Williams,
Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patron-
age.
CHILDREN OF THE SUN: Oddity— Good scenery
and interesting. A pleasant surprise from several
that we have had showing only nude natives. One
reel. — J. A. Engesather, Movies theatre. Brocket, N.
D. — Rural patronage.
EDISON, MARCONI & CO. : Our Gang— Excellent !
Another knockout from Our Gang. Had many com-
ments from comedy fans about this. Seemed to strike
them just right. Keep 'em coming. Gang ! It sure
warms a fellow's heart to get these. Not only good
comedies, but print almost invariably 100% perfect.
Goody, goody! — Wolfe & Williams, Screenland theatre,
Nevada, O. — ^Small town patronage.
FAIR AND MUDDY: Our Gang— Very good.— J.
L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General pat-
ronage.
FAMILY GROUP: Charlie Chase— Good.— J. L.
Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General patron-
age.
40,000 MILES WITH LINDBERGH: Some walked
out and very interesting to others. Just like some
like the mother, others like the daughter. — H. Betten-
dorf, Opera House, Foley, Minn. — ^Small town pat-
ronage.
LIMOUSINE LOVE: Charlie Chase— A good com-
edy. Chase is good in this and brings the laughs.
Two reels. — Carl L. Brown, Crystal theatre. Many,
La. — General patronage.
PARAMOUNT
HOLY MACKEREL: Jimmie Adams— Good. Two
reels. — ^Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver,
Utah. — General patronage.
KOKO PLAYS POOL: Not so good, at least not
so good as some other cartoons. Subject and treat-
ment rather interesting, but photography poor. This
varied from very light to very dark in a half reel.
Film condition poor. One-half reel. — Wolfe & Wil-
liams, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town,
patronage.
MAD SCRAMBLES: Neal Burns— Punk! Two
reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City,
Mo. — General patronage.
ROW, SAILOR, ROW: Billy Dooley— Fair comedy
in which Dooley gets some laughs with a sailor rig
and a pooch. You'll never see an oar in it. Seemed
to please okay. Nice light print. Two reels. — Wolfe
& Williams, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — ^Small
town patronage.
PATHE
A BLONDE'S REVENGE: Ben Turpin— The au-
dience, judging from their laughter, enjoyed it. Two
reels. — J. A. Engesather, Movies theatre. Brocket, N.
D. — ^Rural patronage.
BULL FIGHTER: A good comedy. Two reels. —
Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
DIVORCE DODGERS: Billy Bevan— Good. Mack
Sennett comedies are always good. Two reels. —
Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah.
■ — ^General patronage.
FLYING LUCK: Monty Banks— 31%. August 23.
A good comedy. Everyone that came seemed to like
it. Seven reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre,
Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
GIRLS FROM EVERYWHERE: Sennett Girls— Can
see that this is high class and cost money to make,
but think it is better for cities than small towns.
Two reels. — H. Bettendorf, Opera House, Foley, Minn.
— Small town patronage.
PASS THE DUMPLINS: Saw and enjoyed it. A
very good comedy. Two reels. — J. A. Engesather,
Movies theatre. Brocket, N. D. — Rural patronage.
PATHE NEWS 62: Merely want to say that this
was one darn good news reel. Ebccellent print and
some really fine photography. Wish they were all
like this! One reel. — Wolfe & Williams, Screenland
theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
SAILOR, BEWARE: Laurel-Hardy— Very good.—
J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General
patronage.
TIRED BIZ MAN: Our Gang — Gangs are always
good drawing cards and very pleasing. Two reels. —
Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre. Eureka, Mont. — Small
town patronage.
UNIVERSAL
BUSTER BROWN COMEDIES: We recommend
them highly to all exhibitors. — Virgil Geertz, Moclips
& Aloha theatres, Moclips and Aloha, Wash. — Gen-
eral patronage.
INTERNATIONAL NEWSREEL: Good news if
we could get it a little newer. One reel. — Mrs.
Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. —
General patronage.
THE McGINNIS' VS. THE JONES: Only fair.
Two reels. — Carl L. Brown, Crystal theatre. Many.
La. — General patronage.
TALE OF A SHIRT: Here is a real good single
reel with many good laughs. — S. B. Kennedy, Central
theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town patron-
age.
MISCELLANEOUS
AL'S VACATION: Al Alt— A funny comedy, bet-
ter than the usual Alt comedies. Two reels. — ^Carl
L. Brown, Crystal theatre. Many, La. — General pat-
ronage.
A^O LOSSES in the BOX OFFICE
WITH
T, „„ S\MM,
ICKET REGISTEI^
Automatic Ticket
Reg iste r C orp.
723 Seventh Ave. New York
TucusTS Jor Every Purpose^ LOWEST Market Prices
' "II" mSS\v-
58
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 15, 1928
Y^
Agreement Signed
By Musicians and
All Theatre Groups
CHICAGO PERSONALITIES
By Whit
AFTER every war, prize fight or any sort of fracas, the one real question is,
"who won." That was the big question along the row Friday following
L the settlement with the musicians early that morning. You can use your
own judgment about who won, but we know that we saw some very happy ex-
liibitors that day. Some of them had the number of weeks during which they
must employ musicians out from 40 to 10 weeks for the ensuing year. Ask these
boys who won.
equipment, both disc and film, will cost a
minimum of $3,475. Contracts have already
been signed for installations in two of Earl
Johnson's theatres, the Castle and Wabash
theatres in Chicago and the Premiere theatre
in Valparaiso, Ind.
The settlement was finally reached at seven
thirty Friday morning after a gruelling night
for both sides. In fact the entire week was
filled with all sorts of conferences', statements
and verbal fireworks. Jack Miller, Friday
afternoon, had the general appearance of the
winner of a dance marathon and Ludwig
Seigel looked like twice a winner. Jack's
only statement was that "if the members of
the association are satisfied, so am I."
We won't go into the terms of the settle-
ment, for that is covered fully in the news
section. Here's something that has a kick and
is of no little importance. Petrillo signed the
following statement.
To the Exhibitors Association of Chi-
cago :
Gentlemen: It is understood that in
consideration of your entering into the
Class 6 contract of even date herewith, I
agree with your association that upon the
expiration of this contract (the one drawn
up Friday) the compulsory rule as set
forth in Paragraph 4 of said contract is
abolished.
Very truly yours,
James C. Petrillo.
There, gentlemen, play that on your zither!
* * *
We were plpeased the other day when we ac-
cidentally met C. C. Wallace for the first time
since he resigned from United Artists. He
told us that he has gone in the advertising
business for himself and that business was
fine. He has taken J. S. Abrose, another
former U A man, as partner.
* * *
Irving ]^Iandell was in Indianapolis last
week. Mandell is distributing Gotham pic-
tures in his Indianapolis exchange this year.
* * *
Ludwig Seigel is selling a phonographic
musical device for theatres in the city. He
has equipment for demonstration purposes in
Jack Miller's office.
* * *
A Chicago company has been organized for
the manufacture and sale of synchronous and
non-synchronous sound devices. It is known
as the Dramaphone and the company is known
as Musical Devices, Inc. Wilber Robinson,
formerly with Warner Brothers, is sales man-
ager. Installation will be made on a 10 year
lease basis. Non-synchronous installations
will cost a minimum of $1,475 and the syn-
chronous device, interchangeable with both
RCA Photophone and Western Electric
MILTON M. STERN
The Row's Insurance Man.
Life, Accident, Auto, Fire &
Casualty Lines
1 1 80 E. 63rd St. Phone Fairfax 7200
What is more fascinating than watching the-
atres, we ask you! With Cantor at the
Granada, B & K put the "Our Gang" kids in
the Norshore, an act that broke records at
the Chicago. Next week Cantor plays the
Marbro and B & K opens the Paradise right
around the corner from the Marbro.
Red Johnson's F B O trade showing at Guy
Loudermilk's Fairy theatre at Nappanee, Indi-
ana, last Tuesday was a great success. More
than 25 exhibitors were present. "The Per-
isct Crime," "Gang War" and "Danger Street"
were shown with an accompaniment from Neil
D. Thompson's Phototone.
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Smith, who operate
the Palace at Gilman, are spending the month
of September traveling through the woods of
Wisconsin.
And Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hoag of the
Momence theatre. Momence, are fishing their
way through Canada this month.
The following
is 0
table showing for
each "class 6" theatre in Chicago the
number of consecutive weeks an orches-
tra of at least f
our
musicians
must be
employed, accor
dine,
to the
1028-20
agreement between
^he Exhibitors As-
sociation of Chicago
and the musicians'
local, as compare
d zvith the number of |
weeks demanded
bv
the union and the \
number in effect
du
ring ig27
-28:
Theatre New Period Demanded
Old Period
Norshore 44
44
44
Piccadilly 44
44
44
Central Park ....40
40
40
Tiffin 40
44
44
Manor 40
44
35
Alamo 40
40
40
Patio - 40
40
40
Lido 40
40
40
Atlantic 40
40
40
Lane Court 36
40
40
Biltmore 35
40
40
Crystal 35
40
40
Peoples 35
44
44
Embassy 35
40
40
Marshall Sq 35
44
44
Rosel.-State 35
44
44
Thalia 35
40
40
Uroad.-Strd 35
40
40
20th Cent 10
40
Marquette 20
35
35
Commodore 10
35
35
Oakland Sq 10
40
40
In addition, the r
umber of L &
T theatres
requiring orchestras
for
35 weeks was reduced
from four to seven,
with
one additional reauir-
itiK an orchestra for
15 weeks.
Besides the settlement on Friday, agree-
ment with seven theatres in receivership and
with nine not in the Exhibitors Association
was made Saturday morning between Presi-
dent James Petrillo of the musicians' union,
representatives of the theatres and Chester
Davis, representing the Chicago Title & Trust
Company, receiver. Settlement was as follows :
Non-Association houses — Lawndale,
Symphony, Shore and Pickwick, for which
44 weeks were demanded; Ritz, Ambas-
sador, and Drake, for which 40 weeks were
demanded; Jackson Park, scheduled for 35
weeks; and the North Center, are to employ
minimum orchestras of four men for 40
w"eeks.
Theatres in receivership — Stratford,
orchestra of 12 men; Midwest, 4; Grove, 5
Saturday and Sunday; Commercial, 6; West
Englewood, 5 Saturday and Sunday; Crown,
7 ; and Parthenon, 8. The period is to be
so long as the theatres are in receivership,
the end of which in any case will require
a new agreement.
The Ambassador is also in the hands of
receiver, being held by the Austin State
Bank, but settlement was made as noted.
The agreement between the union and the
association is as follows :
"It is agreed that the following wage scale, rules
and conditions shall govern theatres, known as Class
Six houses, for the season 1928-29, commencing Sep-
tember 3, 1928 and ending the Sunday before Labor
Day, 1929.
"This agreement shall be for a period of one (1)
year only.
"The theatres, hereinafter mentioned, shall employ
a minimum of four (4) men (excluding organists)
during times the house is open, for the niimber of
weeks set opposite their respective names.
[These periods are given for each of these thea-
tres in the second column on this page.]
"Any new theatre opening in the jurisdiction of
the Chicago Federation of Musicians, seating capacity
of one thousand or more, shall employ an orchestra
of a minimum of four men (excluding organists)
from the opening until July 4, 1929.
"No continuous playing shall be permitted for or-
ganists in theatres where no orchestras are em-
ployed.
"Where an operator is in control of two or more
theatres, including B & K and L & T, he shall have
the privilege at any time of alternating or combiaing
orchestras or alternating organists between two or
more of such operators' houses, it being understood
that where the musicians require the service of a
carrier to transfer instruments from house to house,
that the operator shall pay for such expense. The
highest basic scale of the houses in which orches-
tras are alternated during any week shall prevail.
"It is understood and agreed that in rotating or
combining orchestras there will be no less of em-
ployment of members of the Chicago Federation of
Musicians.
"Where orchestras of two or more houses are
combined, the contractor's fee, as established by the
wage scale of the Chicago Federation of Musicians,
shall be paid for each orchestra so combined.
"The three paragraphs immediately preceding shall
permit and apply to a combination and/or rotation of
the orchestras in the Lido and Alamo theatres; the
Tiffin and Manor theatres; and the Crystal and Bilt-
more theatres.
"The requirements for the employment of an extra
pianist, to play for amateur contests, chorus girl con-
tests, or any service of like character shall not apply
to any house seating less than nine hundred.
"It is agreed that each and every bill in equity
or other proceeding brought by or in behalf of mem-
bers of the Exhibitors' Association, or other em-
ployers here involved, against the employes, The Chi-
cago Federation of Musicians, or other representa-
tives of the employes, shall be forthwith dismissed
at the cost of the complaining parties and any re-
straining order, temporary injunction or other in-
junctive relief obtained, shall be dissolved and no
proceedings shall be brought by either party to im-
pose or enforce any liability arising out of said
judicial proceedings, or otherwise through the con-
duct of the parties during negotiations and other
efforts to reach the adjustment of their pending con-
troversies evidenced in this agreement, and the par-
ties mutually release each other and the said com-
plaining parties from any bond heretofore given in
said cases.
"It is agreed that the wage scale rules and con-
ditions governing Class Six theatres, shall be the
wage scale, rules and conditions in force and effect
during' the season 1927-1928, except as herein altered
or amended, said rules being attached hereto and
made a part hereof.
"It is further agreed that all laws, rules and
regulations of the American Federation of Musicians
are hereby made a part of this agreement."
Recognizing the fact that changes
in method come in the splendid
advancement of the motion picture
industry, the Eastman Kodak Com-
pany continues its own forward
march and maintains its supremacy
in presenting to the trade
Eastman Panchromatic
Negative
Type 2
— a perfected^ proven product
for the cinematographer
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
J I
V
The ONLY Sound News
MOVIETONEWS
It speaks for Itself !
If-
/■ , - ' ■ - - "
Since Octobec, 1927i FOX MOVIETONEWS has
been speaking the news of the ^rorld in Fox
Theatres.
Since December 3, X9X79 FOX MOVIETONEWS
has been issued regularly each w^eek, and today
is a most important box -office attraction in
¥irired theatres.
Beginning next month FOX MOVIETONEWS
comes to you tivice each ifv^eek, bringing the
neivSf true as your earst from America^ Europe
and the Orient.
^irst and Foremost
in Sound on Film
EXHIE
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in A WOMAN OF AFFAIRS
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m SHOW PEOPLE
HE GREATEST LINEUP OF HISTORY
4 SPECIALS
SHOW PEOPLE
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A WOMAN
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John Gilbert
Greta Garho
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M-G-M'jSur/.rn.-
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THE LOVES OF
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i ,£„ro(.i-'5, Current
4LONCHANEY 4DANE-ARTHUR
3GRETA GARBO 3 CODY-PRINGLE
4WILUAM
HAINES
3 MARION
DAVIES •
2 JOHN GILBERT
2 RAMON
NOVARRO
4NORMA
SHEARER
1 LILLIAN GISH
2 BUSTER
I KEATON
6TIM McCOY
2 FLASH
3 COSMOPOLITAN
PRODUCTIONS
Our DnnciriK
Daughters
Breakers Ahead
Mothers and Soits
3 ELECTRIC-
LIGHT HITS
The Bellamy Trial ,
The Wonder of
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TlieBridiiebfSan i
Luis Rev i
40 HAL ROACH
COMEDIES I
10 OUR GANG !
10 LAUREL-
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104M-G-MNEWS
6 M-G-M GREAT
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26 M-G-M ODDITIES
Member of Mot-ion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, In
'LI \r I fto M lo/i; I or m o\ Entered as second-class matter, August 20, 191/. at the Post Otp.ce at Chicago, 111., under the act of March 3, c„„.„„i „, 97 inno
hole Vol. !>Z, INC. lC\\0l.O0,ri0.i) is^g. Published weekly at 407 South Dearborn St., Chicago. Subscrip ion $S.OO a ^ear. Single copies, 25 cents. oepiemDer £,£., 13^0
LSi
^SillP^
€W//(
an
Jlere, m anom^^nmierid&mHB9Hmutiful theatres,
a Robert Morton hasbeen installed as a permanent m usic
feature. cAudiences today are far more critical than. eVer
before. Not only ^oodmusicbut the best and most
appropriate obtainable is absolutely essential to
I successful theatre operation.
y In laagnitude, variety.
[s any musical instrument-
ever prdcLuccd. It is ttie sxtpieme nvusicaL
evenvcnt for the motion pictare theatre,
music is real, <6enuine, intensifying
"J k^ ■ ■ 1 ■ y iV W ^KlI^J 111
1 1 1 • rs 1 1 iM I twM
l)eautp, and transferring tlxe
AVorld of nvaKe-beli2Ve mto a
^^'^My bewitching landof Bomance
Roibert Marfaon Or^an &f
rYort Cliici(
roidvAy 624 So.HicK
s Angeles
iqi4 SoVennont
SanFranc
Alhambra Theatre,
. Sacramento, Calif.
a motion picture
about Trhich it is
necessary only to
state tlie facts
THE FACTJi
"WINGS" opened at the Criterion Theatre, New York,
on August 12, 1927, and it is still doing capacity business
at $2 admission. Over 11,000 people have bought
standing room to see it.
^^^WINGS" has broken all road show records in
the principal cities of the world.
^ "WINGS" has a marvelous SOUND accom-
paniment, including symphonic score and
spectacular effects of whirring of planes,
machine gun duels in the air, etc., etc.
"WINGS" has a cast of stars. Clara Bow,
Charles Rogers, Richard Arlen, etc.
^PARAMOUNT is cancelling book-
ings of ten road show companies
of "WINGS" lasting through the
summer of 1929 to release the
production, with SOUND, to
motion picture theatres in
SEPTEMBER, 1928, when
you need it most.
i^^WINGS" is unques-
tionably THE GREATEST
ATTRACTION IN THE HIS-
TORY OF PICTURES.
A Lucien Hubbard Production. Directed by William
"Wellman. Story by John Monk Saunders. With Clara
Bow, Charles Rogers, Richard Arlen, Gary Cooper.
A PARAMOUNT PICTURE
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
MORE FACTS!
Wire from George Zeppos, Wheelings W. Va,:
S. R. KENT
PARAMOUNT
I never knew before the capacity of my theatre stop never thought such a
gross could be made in a single day stop I cannot remember of another
case where so many people turned out for the opening day of any show
stop It took Wings to bring forth the above statements and to break all
past records of the biggest box-office successes shown up to the present day
in my city stop I dare to make the following suggestions to all the de luxe
managers of America stop By all means to cancel all presentation acts
during the showing of Wings and double their playing time stop And I
advise the theatres where Wings has not yet been shown as a road show not
to make the terrible mistake of failing to raise their price of admission stop
If any manager is skeptical of the above statements I shall be only too glad
to assume the risk stop Wings silent or sound will establish unbelievable
records congratulations Wings will be held over for another week at my
theatre. GEORGE ZEPPOS
•fill^tivne recortlH svn€§sh€d^!
CHICAGO
HYANNIS, MASS.
ONSET, MASS.
WAREHAM, MASS.
BAY SHORE, N. Y.
PATCHOGUE, N. Y.
Just Mhe stۤrt!
A Lucien Hubbard Production. Directed by
William Wellman. Story by
John Monk Saunders. With Clara Bow,
Charles Rogers, Richard Arlen, GaryCooper
A PARAMOUNT PICTURE
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
REET 'em
grab 'em, goal 'em and go!
^ George Marion, Jr., ace of title
Avriters, contributed the headline
for this ad. It's just one of his hun-
dred sizzling sayings that help make
"THE FLEET'S IN!" the riot that it
is. ^ Clara Bow's best picture, bar
none. Worth ten "It's" ! Clara's the
most popular female star on the
screen today. 35,000 fan letters a
month, the Hollywood record, proves
that — if you need any more proof
than your box-office.
WHm
^ First run exhibitors all over
the country are booking "THE
FLEET'S IN!" for extended
runs. Anything else would be
a crime to their pocketbooks.
It's one of those heaven-sent
naturals that mop up a town.
^ Malcolm St. Clair produced
it. James Hall is Clara's sea-
going sheik. CJ Just one more
reason the trade is saying that if
you haven't got PARAMOUNT
you're out in the cold this
season I
tml
»
n
n ^The Fleet's In!", "Wings", "The Patriot", "The Wedding March", Anne Nichols' "AbiV^
Irish Rose", "Docks of New York", "Warming Up", "The First Kiss", "Forgotten Faces"—
not four or five big pictures and the rest a blank, but great product week after week makes
PARAMOUNT-Motion Picture Headquarters
No Let-up Record Biz Fox Specials;
3 Films Net Million, 8 Weeks at Roxy
"Street Angel" Breaks AH Records, Strand, Milwaukee
"Four Sons" and "Fazil" Smash Records, Too
•u
Street Angel
Four Sons
Fazil
Th« Air Circus^
Mother Knows Best^
Sunrise
Th^ Red Dance
Mother Maehree
Th^ River Pirate
Win That Girl
Plastered in Paris
Malting the Grade^
Dry Martini
Me^ Gangster
IVIovietone or Silent Prints
^ Actors speak their parts in dialog on film
Loohs
like
rax
Exhibs playing the Fox product this
year are learning things about the capacity
of their houses that not even the architects
who planned them ever dreamed of. Fox
specials continue jamming in the mobs to
such proportions that house records regarded
as set for all time are being shattered at a
dizzy pace. Some of the records:
STREET ANGEL
Netted almost half-a-million dollars in 28 days at the
Roxy!
Broke all records at Strand, Milwaukee, by $5,000 ! In
seven days, 42,000 people crowded house with capacity
of 1,187 seats. Held over 2nd week.
Broke record at Strand, Louisville, Ky.
Holds long-run record at New Theatre, Baltimore, Md.
Broke weekly record at Palace, Montreal, previously
held by another Fox picture, "Over the Hill," by more
than $5,000! This is $2,300 more than biggest week
for any picture in any Canadian theatre at any time.
Held over 2nd week.
FOUR SONS
Broke world's record at the Roxy— $143,906.75 week's
net! Topping previous records of "What Price Glory"
and "Street Angel" !
Broke record at Great Lakes Theatre, Buffalo, pre-
viously held by "Street Angel." Held over 2nd week.
Broke record at Embassy Theatre, Allentown, Pa., also
held by "Street Angel." Held over 2nd week, duplicating
success of "Street Angel," which was first picture ever
held over at this house.
Broke record at New Theatre, Baltimore, Md., estab-
lished by "Street Angel."
FAZIL
In three days 79,241 people jammed the Roxy, break-
ing all records for week-end!
Broke all records at Warfield, San Francisco, and all
records for entire city!
Beat "Street Angel" record at Liberty Theatre, Okla-
homa City, by more than $500.
has ALL the reeord-wrechers I
SAFE«>d
SOUND
on Broadway at
$2 top, twice daily
THE AIR
joins the flock oi
is soaring miles and miles
above them all! \
CIRCUS
'OX. ^2 top specials
#
* STREET ANGEL
SUNRISE
FOUR SONS
FAZIL
THE RED DANCE
MOTHER MACHREE
MOTHER KNOWS BEST
ft,
'a.
ol
e«o
-M
^^I
"n
Of
eg
No wonder wuise
showvnten are floching to
Balaban and Katz
again demonstrate
what sntart
showmen they
are by boohing
peppy and
youthful
football comedy
WIN THAT GIRL
with
DAVID ROLLINS and SUE CAROL
DAVID BUTLER PRODUCTION
into the Oriental Chicago for the
beginning of the foothall season
— ' picture opens September ZZnd
S^M
W IS THE TIME FOR
SMART SHOWMEN TO
SCORE A GOAL WITH
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
THEY SEE QWHAT USAYB THEY SEE
COME-S
^MTAPflOHe
0^^m. ^^\ Your Screen Talks After You Get Them Ir
In.
Why Not Have Your Ads Talk To Bring Them In?
NO LONGER need your ads be set up in a border similar to that
of a Grocery Store or the Obituary Notes. They will look to see
who died but you must show them you're alive. TAM ads
make them look! NO LONGER need your ads want
for theatrical art due to limitations of your newspaper
facilities. If your newspaper can cast mats they can
give you theatrical art — via Theatre Ad Mat Service.
TAM MATS ARE HAND-DRAWN
. . . THEATRICAL . . . EXCLUSIVE
9
Ir
Lr>
i
TAM
ANNOUNCES:
Starting in October, our clients
will receive, in mat form, complete
hand-drawn layouts and suggestions
on every outstanding feature re-
leased monthly by all producing
companies in addition to a varied
assortment of general ideas in
theatrical art, applicable to all the
requisites of theatre advertising
■Write ISIow For
^ I Detailed Information
Upon application, we shall^^
be pleased to enroll you '
in our PEP club and /j'i^y/
send you, gratis, ■^~^' ^
TAM'S new house
organ, "PEP."
THEATRE AD
AAT SERVICED
PENK THEATRE BLDG.
iniNIONTOWN, FA.
QwhatusayQ
THEY SEC
10
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
1
That is the theatre circulation of Exhibitors Herald and
Moving Picture World as shown in its Publisher's State-
ment tc the Audit Bureau of Circulations, dated June 28,
1 928.
It is the first five figure theatre circulation in the history
of motion picture trade papers.
It exceeds by more thsin 2,000 the figure of 8,300 which
was heralded and billboarded to the trade seven years
ago by the paper w^hich at that time dominated the
field.
It is undoubtedly double the paid theatre circulation of
any other paper in the field today; probably three times
the paid theatre circulation of any other paper in the
field, and possibly four times the paid theatre circulation
of any other paper in the field today. We don't know
and you don't know, because no other paper in the field
submits its circulation to the auditors of the A. B. C.
The advertising rate of Exhibitors Herald and Moving
Picture World, on the basis of paid theatre circulation, is
easily the low^est of any publication in the field.
Note: — The £gure 10,573 only embraces the theatre cir-
culation of the Herald-World. Its average distribution
for the Srst six months of 1928 as shown in the statement
to the A. B. C. was 14,137.
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
11
Our Hat's OfF!
to JERRY DREW
EducationaVs
newest comedy
star — who
Crashes
New York's
Broadway
$2 Show!
in a
in JACK WHITE'S
newest series of
two-reel laugh hits
COMEDlEy^
He's at the EMBASSY
Theatre now for a long run
"THE SPICE OF THE PRPORAM"
Member, .dotion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc.
Will H. Hays, President
SuRE-FiRE Factors
MackSennett
')(
COMtDY SeRIIS
Direct from the New Sennett Studios, em-
bodying NEW IDEAS-NEW PERSONALITIES^
backed by a superior brand of high-powered
advertising-aimed right at the box-office.
DAN THE TAXI MAN Series
First Releases: Featuring JACK COOPER
'l^^^lJc^A^^?!" ^"« P^i^S' Elsie Tarron, Blanche Payson, Glen
"A TAXI SCAINDAL qavender. Directed by Del Lord.
TUt TIRED BUSINESS MAN Series
First Releases: With BILLY BEVAN
CAUGHT IN THE KITCHEN ^vr » i- i o„ 17 • ai- w ^ v • v
uiTTDuv^c T nrrv^rr A T TRT Natalie Joyce. Otto Fries, Alice Ward, Virginia Vance,
HUBBY S LAILS5I ALIBI jj.^j^g Bacon. Directed by Phil Whitman.
HANDY ANDY Series
First Releases: FeatuHn^ JOHNNY BURKE
A DUMB WAITER ^ i* /> u. v r» . r^i r a
TTM TAnyr TATVTTT^rkw Carmclita Geraghty, Vernon Dent,- Glen Cavender.
A JIM JAM JAJNllOK Directed by Harry Edwards.
etting New Standards in Short Comedies
Pafhe
ome
Member of Motion Pictmr Producers and Dist ibmors of Amerita Inc.— Will H. Hayj President
14
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
2 Negatives
One Silent
One with
^^Movietone
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
15
rO»- ^'
»■<-
r
c^^^'
A^
eV^'
.^-^
t
jtcal
eater
►UNDI
■■^fyesinu!:''
i
PERIICT CRIME
CLIVE BROOK IRENE RICH
By IFilliam Le Baron
F„,„,ys.onyTHK BIG BOIV MYSTERY"
By Israel Zangwill
Directed by BERT GLENNON
THREE WEEKS, RlVOLl, N. Y.
Nation-wide Box Office SweepJ
^IToff/^ SHOW
SEIVSATIOW rj*"'^'"^'-'^-^
circuswd"
TOF E BROWN GtiTrnuL'pH]
;r.NK.E DARRO-HELENE COSTEULO
POODLES HANNEFORD & TROUFt
Fro,,. ,he uory by ]ames A. Creehnan
JGEORGBB.SEITZ PRODUCTlOf^
BIGGEST CIRCUS THRIL-
LER IN A DECADE!
m
m
W.':^!r}WMSr
SILENT
One tarn, of the
\\TieeV atld Fate
sets brother against
brother -^. with a
temipting Avoiaaii
between!
m^^Mm?.
FaiQous Fannie
Hurst's clever
story, presented
by Richard A.
Rowland.
H^
^1
- both are
thelmexr
^^■i
RICHARD
BARTHELMESS
Wheel of Chance
The most amazing dual-role perform-
ance you've ever seen .... That's the
only way we could fig;ure out to net you
BIGGER profits than you drew with "The
Noose" and "The Patent Leather Kid".
And the Box-Office proves we were right—
$700 above average at ^'Exceptional gross at Em
Grand, Minneapolis.
Money week at Strand,
New York.
Tumaway in Toledo.
Standout in St. Louis.
press. Salt Lake City."
— Wm. F. Borden.
Best business since "Yel-
low Lily" at Empress,
Oklahoma City.
An ALFRED SANTELL Production
UtmUr J Moiim Hciore Producert «i4 Dlttributote of America Inc.-- Will H Haye jPtuUiri
»;
* • m
NOT^CICHI
"On the theory that if Richard Bartheltttess
appears in one part in a film it ought to make
a good picture— if he appears in two parts, as
in 'Wheel of Chance' the picture ought to be
twice as good ..... It may be stated here that
this picture is fully jour times as good as any-
thing that Barthelmess has done, with the
possible exception of 'Tollable Da\'id'."—N.Y.
Evening' World.
"Today completes our showing of Richard Bar*
thelmess in.'Wheiel of Qhancc' and I want to
state that 1 really believe this to be the greate»t
picture this star has ever made. They can talk
all they want about his other pictures, but I
don't believe you can find the story and the
acting in any of them, that yoil can in 'Wheel
of Chance'." — Otto W. Schuxifc, M«r, Paris
AmMsement Co., Santa Fe, N. M.
Whether your theatre
is wired or not —
FIH8T ]¥ ATIOMAI.
FICTUKJES
.■are a
Sound InveBtmen if
'<.M':'MJij
TIMES
THE
FAME!
Do you realize that this is one
of the most famous faces on the
screen today? Record popularity
proved by 37,320 FA.N LETTERS
IN A SINGLE MONTH — by actual
count! Four times the average fan mail
of leading players Topping the highest
advertised records of other companies' stars.
And public interest growing daily with an
increase of seven thousand letters in one month!
No wonder
BILLIE DOTE
ftt
99
"The Ni^ht IVatch
has made a lot more friends for
First National, Pictures!
Led the town in Kansas City! — "Billie Dove in 'The
Night Watch' was the Mainstreet's puller and they
came. Miss Dove a draw here. Plenty of
action and star's followers happy." — Variety.
And almost doubled other house grosses,
at Ambassador, St. Louis!
IPresetiteA by
RIclLard A. Rowland
MfirecteU by
Alexander Korda
^hg«.
Member of Motion Picipre Producers -nrf Distributors of America Inc^WlH H.Hays Pnsuient
1
^^^ •;.,ii:i:-i-:ii;isSa^^^'^'^'"'''' ■ ■ " I've only one more lit
" I knew we were going to
be friends. .. the minute
you threw me in the
water!"
ily one more little
|Wli _ trip to make ... to Siam .-H
^^ ^ and back . . ."
K
t-
" I learned to two-step by
Correspondence . . .but
one step was lost in the
mail."
" Gee, it must great to be
the bouncing father of a
proud baby! "
t — ■ _
-J'
^ n
^
^:
dL
^
CMARD A.^C^H^ND
&'
' Don't scream, honey .. .
if a rat bites you . . . bite
him back!"
•t«.| I
Q%
"Move on, Mug! It's this
girl's business to sell nuts
■ . . not talk to 'em!!J
es
X '^
w4p^
with .
MACKAILL
K MULHAH
^1 ProducerSy VVR4-IAM A. SEITER
whi helped\i^e''Happine5s
Ah^d the hit^Js today/
^\«»i
3TrStSj*v:?i..»^lftli<
^^"^e--
"I'm going to stay right
here ... if I have to elope
, alone!"
~i.
"Two's company. . . and
three's a witness."
And many a stormy wind
will blow before you get
a .sweeter box - office bet
than this one from
FIRST
/!»■ "Dance, Big Boy.'"
"No . . . but I sure can
intermission!
.,gSJ*#^^^"
.....•.•wsrAftV"- /■;•;•
evj * ,^# f!
^\'
..^*
iV
....-.-.•.^i;:
'-v/.
Member / Motion Picture Profl'icers nmt Distributors of America Inc. —Will H.Haye J>ra(dcnt
Y^
The
Independent
Film Trade
Paper
Home
Office:
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
SQ^ MOVING PICTURE 407So.DearbomSt.
WORLD "
IN THIS ISSUE
Warner Brothers gets control of 300 theatres through purchase of circuit of Stanley Company of
America, in deal involving $100,000,000; Warners also are reported negotiating for interest in Keith-
Albee-Orpheum ; Stanley transaction marks important forward step of Warner Brothers in power in
exhibition field as well as in production and distribution; Warners also offer to buy half interest in
houses of members of independents' association.
COMPLETE INDEX TO CONTENTS
NEWS
Exhibitors of Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois re-elect Fred
Wehrenberg for third term — Gregory Is Taken Into Custody.
Host of subjects will be analyzed at convention of Society of
Motion Picture Engineers at Lake Placid, N. Y., September 24-28.
Independent exhibitors vote to continue their association despite
Sapiro's statement that it is a "beaten organiatizon."
Labor difficulties are settled in four cities; Situation continues
disturbsome in two towns; Agreement near in seventh center.
DEPARTMENTS
Synchronized Pictures 35
The Studio 39
Short Features 43
Presentation Acts 44
The Theatre 51
New Pictures •'i4
Classified Advertising 59
"What the Picture Did for Me 61
Chicago Personalities by Whit 66
FEATURES
Service Talks by T. O. Service 50
Los Angeles by Douglas Hodges 40
Pictorial Section 29
Letters from Readers 60
Quick Reference Picture Chart 55
Broadway 24
ADVERTISEMENTS
FILM AND EQUIPMENT— Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Robert Mor-
ton Organ Company, Eastman Kodak, Fox, Paramount, Theatre
Ad Mat Service, Educational, Pathe, Universal, F B 0, First
National, Stevens Sound-Proofing Company, Automatic Ticket
Register, L. V. Kuttnauer (Phototone), Louise Long, United
.Studios, John Ford, Mark Sandrich, Nick Musuraca, Wesley
Ruggles.
PRESENTATIONS— Leo Feist, Inc., Cecil Davidson, Vale and
Stewart, Frankie Masters, Sam Fox Pub. Co., Henri A. Keates,
Ted Leary, Ulderico Marcelli, Dean Stevenson, Ransley Studios,
Brook Costumes.
cmcACo
407 South Dearborn St. Telephones Harrison 0036-37-38
Cable Address : Quigpubco
EDWIN S. CLIFFORD, General Manager
JAY M. SHRECK, Managing Editor
GEORGE CLIFFORD, Business Manager
ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD, Netcs Editor
LOS ANGELES
5617 Hollywood Blvd. Telephone Gladstone 3754
DOUGLAS HODGES
West Coast Manager
EDITORIAL
AND
ADVERTISING
OFFICES
yEir YORK
565 Fifth Avenue Telephones Vanderbilt 3612-3613
JAMES BEECROFT, iVeu York Advertising Manager
PETER VISCHER, New York Editor
LONDON
THE BIOSCOPE
(J. Caboum, Editor"}
Faraday House
8-10 Charing Cross Rd., W. C. 2
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
United States and possessions — $3.00 per year, Canada — $4.50 per year. Other points of the world — S6.00 per year. Single copies, 25 cents.
Advertising rate cards and Audit Bureau of Circulations statements furnished upon application.
22
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
arvd MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Martin J. Quigley, Publishercfiv^ Editor
Incorporating Exhibitors Hirald, founded in 191S; Moving Pic-
Tus* WORU), founded in 1907; Motography, founded in 1909; and
The Film Index, founded in 1909
Published Eyery Wednesday by
Quigley Publishing Company
Publication Office: 407 So. Dearborn St., CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Martin J. QniGLEY, President
Ebwin S. Clifford, Secretary George Cliffoe», Asst. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulationf
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other Publications: The Chicagoan and PoLO, class journals; and the follow-
ing motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exhibitors
Herau) and Moving Picture World: Better Theatres, erery fourth week, and
The Buyers Index, published semi-annually.
Whole Vol. 92, No. 12 (Vol. 35, No. 2) September 22, 1928
Motion Picture Club
THE opening last week of the Motion Picture Club of
New York, situated in the heart of New York's iilin
district, was an important and impressive occasion. While
the club is intended only to be a social organization for
the convenience of members of the industry in New York,
its possible influence upon many major concerns of the
industry were dwelt upon in addresses by various industry
leaders and also by New York's mayor, Hon. James J.
Walker, who was the guest of honor at the opening cere-
monies particularly on account of his former contact with
the business and the various valuable services he has ren-
dered to it.
In his address Mr. Walker declared that the club had
come ten years too late. In emphasizing this assertion he
pointed out that because of the highly competitive nature
of the film business friction and misunderstandings are
easily generated and that such a meeting place as the new
club promises to be will do much toward eliminating fric-
tion and misunderstanding by promoting better fellowship
and better understanding.
The new club is a realization of a hope occasionally
expressed for a dozen years that persons identified with the
industry in New York would have a conveniently located
meeting-place. No movement toward this end of an ap-
propriate character was gotten under way until about a
year ago when under the leadership of Mr. Al Lichtman
and Mr. Lee A. Ochs a thoroughly sensible and practicable
plan was arrived at. The plan has now been realized, and
most effectively. ,
The officers, directors and various committees of the
club have succeeded auspiciously in their undertaking.
The club offers high promise of being a great and continu-
ing influence for better understanding and better fellow-
ship in the industry.
* * *
Warner-Stanley
THE Warner purchase of controlling interest in the
Stanley Company of America, consummated last week,
marks another broad step in the consolidation trend of the
industry. The deal greatly strengthens and fortifies the
position of the Warner Brothers concern by making it a
decided factor in the theatrical market.
Because of the Stanley company's interest in First
National the deal has naturally brought up discussion as
to the future of the producing and distributing concern —
whether it shall continue to operate independently or
whether it shall join with the Warner producing and dis-
tributing activities. It has been learned from one of the
important factors in the recent negotiation that no plans
for the altering of First National's present status have even
been under consideration. It is pointed out that under
the trust agreement negotiated early this Summer First
National's existence as an independent unit has been pro-
vided for, at least until such a time as all of the principally
interested parties should decide on some other arrange-
ment.
It is the belief of various well-informed persons that
eventually some practical working arrangement between
Warners and First National will be arrived at, but it is
insisted that this is a development for some later date.
The Warner-Stanley deal will mean an important public
financing and will mark another step of the motion picture
along the line of other great industries in placing its secur-
ities with the general public and looking to the general
public for its capital requirements. In the earlier days of
private financing for the operations of the business its
scope was necessarily limited; under the new order it will
be able to obtain resources which will enable it to go as
far as the nature of the business and the type of manage-
ment accorded to its firms will enable it.
The Warner-Stanley deal is the high-point in the amaz-
ing career in the picture business of Mr. Harry M. Warner,
Mr. Albert Warner and Mr. Jack Warner. The one poig-
nant regret in connection with the development, which will
be shared by all those who knew the late Sam Warner,
is that this member of the Warner family, who was one of
the best liked executives in the business, is not here with
his brothers to participate in the success.
Aviation Tribute
THE dinner on the evening of September 24 which the
aviation industry of the United States will tender to
the motion picture business in recognition of the contribu-
tion of motion pictures to the development and progress
of aviation promises to be an interesting and ULnique
occasion. Certainly, the thought of one industry thus com-
plimenting another is unique — and a most pleasing tribute.
A feature of the evening will be the exhibition of a
complete pictorial record of the Lindbergh flight to Paris
which doubtlessly will be for all time one of the most
treasured documents in the archives of aviation.
The Organ
AMIDST the many complications in the industry brought
Jr\. about through the introduction of sound pictures
there arises in the minds of some a question as to what
sound developments are going to mean relative to the
future of the organ in picture theatres.
The organ in picture theatres, it must be realized, has
been something more than an item of equipment; it has
been an instrument for the creation of an atmosphere of
entertainment. The organ has accounted not only for
great entertainment, inspiration and delight in itself but,
more than this, it has been a powerful ally of the picture,
enhancing the attraction of a good picture and often mak-
ing tolerable an inferior one.
Orchestras may go but the organ will remain; and re-
maining it will continue to be one of a theatre's greatest
assets.
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
Warners Control 300 Houses
By lOO Million Stanley Deal
DeForest In
Merger of 3
Sound Units
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— The DeForest
niame and genius is back in the synchron-
ization field in America in full activity.
Three companies have merged to form an
organization dealing v^rith the development
and manufacture of synchronization de-
vices, it became known today. Dr. Lee
De Forest is the chief consultant in the
research division, while the combine is
btacked and headed by M. A. Schlesinger,
president of Phonofilm.
First among the three is the General
Talking Pictures Corporation, which will
manufacture recording and reproducing
equipment, handle the licensing of other
companies and synchronizing for them, and
supervise installations. The corporation
will be formed with 5,000,000 shares of
common of no par value and is completing
arrangements for a factory in New Jersey.
The second company is American Sound
Film Productions, Inc., first licensee, which
will start work at once, in la centrally lo-
cated studio for filming synchronized short
subjects. Feature plays are to start in
1929.
The third organization is an expansion
of International Photoplay Distributors,
Inc., to become a nationwide exchange sys-
tem for both sound and silent films, elach
exchange to have a sound projection thea-
tre and engineering staflf.
It was stated the tentative costs are low
in the thousands, with three years to pay.
Fox Offers New Stock
Block to Shareholders
Holders of Fox class "A" and "B" stock
have been offered the right to subscribe to
153,444 shares of class "A" at $85, on the
basis of one new share for each five shares
held, rights to expire October 22, according to
dispatches from New York Tuesday.
The proceeds, about $12,500,000, will be used
to pay off $7,000,000 in mortgages, $2,100,000
in bank loans, and the expense of building a
sound studio.
Jolson Opens Warners'
New Series Over Radio
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— Warner Brothers
has begun a series of radio periods, to be
held every Monday night from 9:30 until 10
o'clock over station WOR in New York and
the Columbia chain. The periods are known
as the Vitaphone Jubilee Hour and will fea-
ture each week some entertainer obtained by
Warner Brothers.
The first program last night presented Al
Jolson.
Article on Kennedy
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— The magazine
section of Sunday's New York Herald
Tribune ran a two-page biographical sketch of
Joseph P. Kennedy. He was called "A New
Mogul of the Movies."
Interested Also in Acquiring
Keith- Albee-Orpheum Circuit
Harry Warner Offers to Buy Half-Interest in Indepen-
dent Association Theatres
By PETER VISCHER
NEW YORK, Sept. 18. — In the full flush of the extraordinary success scored
by their sound pictures, Warner Brothers Thursday announced the purchase of
the vast string of theatres owned zrnd controlled by the Stanley Company of
America. The deal, announced in last week's issue of "Exhibitors Herald and
Moving Picture World," brought together assets amounting to $100,000,000 and
brought under Warner control 300 theatres.
The Warners are not yet through. They are now interested in acquiring the
Keith-Albee-Orpheum string of theatres, if that can be accomplished, although
H. M. Warner, president of Warner Brothers, stated officially this morning that
"there is no immediate prospect of such a deal being consummated."
Seek Independent Theatres
In addition, the Warners openly began negotiations for control of some of
the theatres involved in the Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors Associa-
tion, of which Aaron Sapiro is president. H. M. Warner made a dramatic
appearance at a meeting of the Sapiro organization held here yesterday, appear-
ing merely as "advisor" but taking the opportunity nevertheless to offer to buy
a half-interest in all the theatres represented at the meeting.
With so much actual activity on the part that Warner Brothers are indiscriminately
of the Warners, it was only natural, there-
fore, that more than the usual number of
rumors should attend their activities. Ac-
cording to reports bruited about Broadway,
the Warners were planning an alliance
with the great Shubert list of theatres, as
well as other organizations. It was said
that the Warners hope to get together a
string of 4,000 theatres worth up to $250,-
000,000.
Warner Issues Statement
So many rumors were spread concerning
the Warner plans that Harry Warner is-
sued this definite statement:
"In particular with reference to the state-
ment that Warner Brothers are about to
take over the Keith-Albee-Orpheum chain
of theatres, at this time there is no imme-
diate prospect of such a deal being con-
summated.
"We are, of course, as a developing firm,
seeking an outlet for Vitaphone and War-
ner Brothers pictures, always ready to con-
sider any proposition which would broaden
our selling strength. That does not mean
going to buy theatres singly or in chains.
"When negotiations of importance have
reached a stage where facts can be given,
it will be our pleasure to communicate them
to the newspapers and the public."
Presages Lively Business
The purchase of the Stanley Company,
which achieved a position of considerable
strength on the American theatre map un-
der the direction of the late Jules Mast-
baum, places Warner in the strongest posi-
tion in its history to combat competition.
It presages lively business during the com-
ing months.
The public is to be permitted to partici-
pate in the financing of the new amalgama-
tion, according to an announcement by
Goldman, Sachs and Company, who are to
lead in the financing.
The public, of course, has already partic-
ipated in considerable speculation in War-
ner and Stanley stocks.
The first announcement of the amalgama-
(Continued on page 60)
Principals in Warner-Stanley Deal
H. M. Warner
Pres*t Warner Bros,
Albert Warner
Vice President
Jack L. Warner
Vice President
Irving D. Rossheim
Pres't Stanley Co.
24
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
mmr
Uf NEW YORK — Truman Talley, managing
^ director of the Fox Newsreel, has been
given a neat promotion here. . . . He is
expected to relieve William Fox and Win field
Sheehan of much of the detail work.
'^Joe Kennedy, J. J. Murdock and Pat Casey
are due back from Europe early in October.
. . . A few meetings will then be in order.
^Jesse Lasky, in charge of production for
Paramount, is on his way East for a series of
conferences.
HEver since its opening, the Motion Picture
Club has been going full blast. ... A
packed diningroom at noontime is worth its
weight in gold to any club. . . . Inci-
dentally, John Spargo goes around waving a
handful of checks to prove how the new
members are pouring in.
1[The Warners are now reported to be buy-
ing everything in sight. . . . Wonder how
they'd like to acquire a handsome old Ford,
only slightly worn?
UBroadway is full of wisecracks about how
it sounds when Vilma Banky and, let's say.
Rod La Rocque get all involved in a heavy
love scene.
IfMovietone got a real scoop when King
Alfonso was signed for a little talk. . . .
George Bernard Shaiv was such a hit that
Punch made up a page of suggestions for any
company looking for new talent : Shaw as an
Arabian sheik, Shaw doing a Tom Mix, Shaw
as the great lover (with whiskers flying in
the breeze) . . . and a few others.
^Pert Kelt on, the little girl with the neat
impersonations, has been signed by Vitaphone.
UPathe is all set for the football season.
. . Chick Meehan, coach of the goose-
stepping New York University team, and
Grant Rice are among the contributors.
^George Harvey was finally inducted into
office at the A. M. P. A. with proper cere-
monies. . . . Bruce Gallup was sent gallop-
ing on his way, which is a lousy pun.
^[Howard Diets is having his troubles with
automobiles. . . . First he got a bit tired
of one he was driving in Canada and tried to
push it through a telegraph pole. . . . Then
one ran over his foot right outside his own
office.
^Dave Bader has been given a fat promotion
at Universal and his place as head of the
accessory department has been taken by Lee
Balsly.
]\Harry Reichenbach's watch can do every-
thing but sing a song. . . . Press a button
and Buddha goes into a dance, one arm point-
ing at the happy hours and the other at the
fleeting minutes.
lIThe "Our Gang" kids made famous by
Hal Roach are making personal appearances
at the Capitol.
11"Mother Knows Best" came to the Globe
the other night and started off like a hit.
^Sam Taylor, who is to direct Mary Pick-
ford in her all-talking picture version of
"Coquette," was given a farewell luncheon
before leaving Broadway. . . . Incidentally,
Jed Harris thinks it would be a great idea if
Mary played the Helen Hayes part in
"Coquette" on Broadway for a couple of times
just for practice. ... A great idea, for
Jed.
^Casey Robinson, who was once a news-
paperman himself, has been signed by Sam
Sax as supervisor for Gotham.
^^ Voe Brandt is fairly comfortable about the
"Submarine" situation. . . . The picture
is a neat hit
—PETER VISCHER.
Now Thrills from Educational
THE first of Educational's aviation thrillers, serially called
"Russ Farrell, Aviator," has been completed — and thus is
added paprika to the "spice of the program," Reed Howes is
starred, with Marjorie Daw opposite. Scenes appear below from
the initial one of these two-reelers, "The Sky Ranger."
Miss Daw, Howes and Buck Black.
Above is a camp scene, and beloiv, Howes and Tom Santschi in an air battle.
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
Billed As Red-Hot; It Is;
Film Fire Costs $5,000
(Special to the Herald-World)
SACRAMENTO, CAL., Sept. 18.—
The management of the Sequoia the-
atre will think twice before it fea-
tures another picture as a red-hot
production. In effect, that was the
way "Trial Marriage" was billed, and
no sooner had the Sim been started
on its £rst run than it caught Bre and
started a blaze which did damage to
the house estimated at $5,000.
Patrons made their way out of the
house without injury.
Ontario in for Wave of
Hardboiled Censorship;
Dark Edict Ends *'Dawn"
(Special to the Herald-World)
TORONTO, Sept. 18.— Film censorship in
Ontario has been stirring up comment in
film circles. Indications are that the ex-
changes are in for a wave of "clipping." The
Ontario board, under Acting Chairman John
C. Boylen, of Toronto, has definitely frowned
upon "Dawn," and the board has taken the
stand that it does not need to give any reason
for the decision. First National's "Ladies'
Night in a Turkish Bath" becomes simply
"Ladies' Night." Regarding "Port c" Missing
Girls," the 24-sheet poster reading, "70,000
Girls Missing," has been condemned.
A colorful figure has been added to the per-
sonnel of the Ontario buard in the appoint-
ment of Bob Pearson of Calgary, Alberta, to
fill the place left vacant by the death of J. M.
O'Brien some weeks ago. Pearson is an ath-
lete, war veteran, ordained minister, former
member of the Alberta legislature, executive
officer of the Y. M. C. A. in Canada, motoring
enthusiast and graduate of the University of
Toronto.
Bader Named Assistant
To Schlanger; Balsly Is
New Accessory Manager
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— Dave Bader is now
assistant to Ted Schlanger, Eastern sales man-
ager of Universal. Lee D. Balsly has suc-
ceeded to the post of manager of accessories,
a position held by Schlanger for three years.
Balsly previously was national advertising tie-
up man for Universal.
Eric T. Clarke Resigns
From Eastman Theatre
(Special to the Herald-World)
ROCHESTER, N. Y., Sept. 18.— Eric T.
Clarke has resigned as general manager of
the Eastman theatre. No successor h(as yet
been announced, but in the meantime Wil-
liam A. Caliban of the theatre staff is filling
the post. Clarke has guided the affairs of
the famous institution for nearly five years,
coming to Rochester m December, 1923,
when he succeeded William Fait.
Votes Augur Battle on
Sunday Show Question
(Special to the Herald-World)
EUGENE, ORE., Sept. 18.— The campaign
for opening picture theatres here on_ Sunday
has got under way, and as an opening gun,
the Active club unanimously voted in favor
of the measure, which is to be placed on the
November ballot. On the other hand, the
Eugene Ministerial Association at its monthly
meeting voted solidly against it.
Stay Neutral on Politics, Say
Missouri-Illinois Exhibitors
Synchronized Pictures Command Attention at Executive Session
of St. Louis Convention — Wehrenberg Re-elected for
Third Term — Toronto Delegates Named
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 18. — Strict neutrality on all matters of a political trend
is the only safe course for exhibitors, especially during the excitement of a
presidential year, the M. P. T. O. of Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois
decided in annual convention at the Elks Club last Tuesday.
Agree with Mayor Jimmy Walker
The consensus was that Mayor Jimmy Walker of New York had handed
out some very wholesome advice at Hollywood some weeks ago, when he
stated that the industry should not become too active in partisan politics. It
is certain that any attempt to deliver the industry over to either candidate
would bring quick resentment here.
Because the large distributors of talk-
ing picture devices did not send experts to
address the convention, it was not possible
to put on the kind of demonstration that
President Wehrenberg and the other officers
had hoped for. However, most of the ex-
ecutive session was devoted to them.
Small Theatre and Sound
Most exhibitors agreed that from a prac-
tical standpoint the immediate installation
of apparatus for showing sound pictures
is out of the question so far as the small
exhibitors are concerned.
"Sound pictures are out of the question
for the small theatre," said President
Wehrenberg. "Despite the fact we don't
know how the picture public ultimately
will judge these pictures, an adequate
sound installation costs thousands of dollars
— too much for such theatres to risk on a
development still in the realm of experi-
ment."
Novelty Stage Passed
It was pointed out that sound pictures
recently have come in for much unfavorable
comment in Eastern states. It has also
been noted that critics and many theatre-
goers have passed the stage where sound
pictures have a novelty appeal, and they are
now more inclined to judge sound pictures
strictly^ on the basis of entertainment.
There is also an inclination in some quar-
ters to compare the sound pictures with
the artists in the flesh and a resultant
building up of interest in dramatics and
vaudeville to the detriment of motion pic-
tures has resulted. For all of these rea-
sons the M. P. T. O. members intend to go
slowly in installing sound equipment.
Wehrenberg, who operates several the-
atres in South St. Louis, was re-elected
Canary in Beard; Fields
Freed; Censor Censured
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18. — 'Twas
only a bird in a braided beard, and
it was not a case of cruelty, but it
was enough to bring censure for two
agents of the Humane Society for
having arrested W. C. Fields "on
such a trivial charge," as the court
stated in dismissing the case.
Fields, starring in Earl Carroll's
"Vanities," has the part of a dentist
in one bit, and is about to operate on
Gordon Dooley, patient, who wears
a long beard. As the dentist runs his
£ngers through the beard, out Qies a
canary bird, which circles the audi-
ence and returns to the stage where
it is captured by stagehands and
placed in a cage.
president, making him the first man in the
history of the organization to hold the post
for three terms. His adminstration of the
office has been notably successful.
Other officers elected were:
Vice-presidents, W. W. Watts, Spring-
field, 111.; I. W. Rodgers, Popular Bluff, Mo.,
and Cairo, 111.; J. F. Ress, WellsvIUe, Mc;
J. C. Hewitt, Robinson, 111., and T. E.
Yemm, Duquoin, 111.; Secretary, Louis C.
Hehl, St. Louis; treasurer, Oscar C. Lehr,
St. Louis; sergeant-at-arms, G. M. Luttrell,
Jacksonville, 111.
Executive Committee: — Joseph Mogler, St. Louis;
J. C. Hewitt; W. W. Watts; Miss Mabel R. Miller,
Madison, 111.; Charles Goldman, St. Louis; Maury
Stahl, St. Louis; W. O. Reeves, St. Louis; T. E.
Yemm; Mrs. A. Hall, Dupo, 111,; L. A. Burenstein,
Springfield, 111.; I. W. Rodgers; Thomas James, St.
Louis, and the president, secretary and treasurer.
Board of Arbitration, Oscar C. Lehr, Ralph Gold-
man and Clarence Kaiman, all of St. Louis, and
Fred Wehrenberg and Joseph Mogler, alternates.
Deligates to the national convention at Toronto:
Wehrenberg, Lehr, Goldman, James and Clarence
Kaiman, all of St. Louis, Robert C. Cluster, Sparta,
111., and Johnstown City, 111., Yemm and Luttrell.
The convention was attended by 160 ex-
hibitors, representing 300 theatres.
Labor Agreement Reported
The next annual convention, in Septem-
ber, 1929, will occupy two or three days
instead of one, and a special entertainment
committee will be named.
The exhibitors also received the reports
of the special committee that worked out
new_ agreements with the musicians and
projectionists.
The executive session in the afternoon
was preceded by a dinner at noon in the
rathskeller of the Elks Club. About 200
attended this gathering. The speakers
were: John H. Brod, Jr., director of public
safety, John C. Christopher of the Liberty
Music Hall and formerly building com-
missioner for St. Louis, and State Senator
Joseph Mogler, who operates the Mogler,
Bremen and Excello theatres.
Charge Dropped in Sale
Of Dempsey-Tunney Film
Charges of interstate shipment of the
Dempsey-Tunney fight film to New Orleans,
preferred against Henry Voller of Chicago,
were dismissed when Rudolph Levy, exhib-
itor arrested in New Orleans, failed to
identify Voller as the man who had sold
him the film.
Edward Kelly Will Manage
Rothacker Film Production
Edward Kelly, newly named manager of
production for the Rothacker Film Cor-
poration of Chicago, was formerly assistant
chief of the Motion Picture Laboratory of
the U. S. department of agriculture.
26
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
Host of Subjects Will Be Analyzed
At Film Engineers' Convention
Technical Leaders in Industry Gathering at Lake Placid, N. Y., for Meet-
ing September 24-28 — Sound Is Emphasized
(Special to the Herald-World)
1AKE PLACID, N. Y., Sept. 18. — Motion picture engineers from all parts
of the country are on their way to Lake Placid for the meeting of the
-^ Society of Motion Picture Engineers which opens next Monday and will
continue through Friday.
WHILE sj^nchronization and sound re-
cording will be the principal subject of
the addresses of the first three days of the
convention, a study of the program also
shows a host of other themes to be dis-
cussed.
The society welcomes discussions and papers
from non-members and hopes to see every de-
partment of the industry take part in the meet-
ings at White Face Inn.
Following is the program in full:
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
10:00 a. m.
Presidential Address by W. B. Cook, Kodascope
Libraries, New York, N. Y.
Report of Arrangements Committee.
"Report of Progress in the Motion Picture Indus-
try," by Frank Benford, Research Laboratory, Gen-
eral Electric Co., Schenectady, N. Y.
"Public Reaction to the Sound Movies," by F.
Mordaunt Hall, Motion Picture Editor, New York
Times.
"The Quality of Speech and Music," by J. C.
Steinberg, Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc., New
York City.
2:00 p. m.
"The Public and Sound Pictures," by William A.
Johnston, Editor, Motion Picture News, New York,
N. Y.
"General Principles of Sound Recording," by E.
C. Wente, Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc., New
York City, N. Y.
"Sound Reproduction in Theatres," by E. O.
Scriveu, Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc., New
York, N. Y., and H. B. Santee, Electrical Research
Products, Inc., New York, N. Y.
"Methods of Synchronizing," by H. M. StoUer,
Bell Telephone Laboratories, New York, N. Y.
"The Three Electrode Vacuimi Tube and Its Ap-
plication to Sound Recording," by E. W. Kellogg,
Research Laboratory, General Electric Co., Schenec-
tady, N. Y.
"Sound Synchronization and Projection," by F. H.
Richardson, technical editor, Exhibitors Herald and
Moving Picture World, New York, N. Y.
8:00 p. m.
In the Wigwam.
"The Organization of Research in the Bell Tele-
phone Laboratories," by John Mills, director of pub-
lication of the Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc.
Sound Motion Picture Entertainment, courtesy
Electrical Research Products, Inc.
Dancing afterwards.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
9:30 a. m.
"The Sound Motion Picture Situation in Holly-
wood," by Frank Woods, Secretary of the Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Hollywood,
Calif.
"Characteristics of Phota Electric Cells," by L. E!.
Koller, Research Laboratory, General Electric Co.,
Schenectady, N. Y.
They Don't Do This Now
But Principle's the Same
There was a time when men were
thrown into jail for sitting on a
fence or taking a walk on Sunday,
and there is little difference between
the intolerance which provoked such
a travesty upon freedom in Colonial
days and the sentiment of "bigotry
lobbyists" today who try to force
blue Sundays upon America, says
C. E. Holmes in a pamphlet just is-
sued in which he gives 52 reasons
why Sunday closing laws are un-
American and un-Christian.
Copies of the pamphlet may be had
by addressing C. E. Holmes at 1128
Harrison street. Oak Park, III.
"Light Valve Recording," (with demonstration) by
Donald MacKenzie, Bell Telephone Laboratories,
Inc., New York, N Y.
"The Kerr Cell Method of Recording Sound," by
V. Zworykin, L. B. Lynn, and C. R. Hanna, West-
inghouse Electric & Mfg. Co., E. Pittsburgh, Pa.
"A Study of Ground Noise in the Reproduction of
Sound by Photographic Methods," by Otto Sandvik,
Research Laboratory, Eastman Kodak Co., Roches-
ter, N. Y.
"The Use of Films as a Class Room Agency,"
by T. E. Finegan, Eastman Teaching Films, Inc.,
Rochester, N. Y.
12:30 p. m.
Dinner.
2:00 p. m.
Golf and Sports.
8:00 p. m.
In the Wigwam.
Sound Motion Picture Entertainment, courtesy
Electrical Research Products, Inc.
Kodacolor Demonstration, courtesy Eastman Ko-
dak Company, Rochester, N. Y.
Dancing afterwards.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
9:30 a. m.
"Acoustic Linings for Sound Proof Motion Pic-
ture Stages and Sets," by Frank S. Crowhurst,
Crowhurst & Co., Hollywood, Calif.
"Re- Vocalized Films," by Edwin Hopkins, New
York, N. Y.
"Acoustics of Sound Recording Rooms," by Paul
E. Sabine, Riverbank Laboratories, Geneva, 111.
"Acoustics of Auditorium," by Paul R. Heyl,
Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.
"Recent Developments in Dynamic Loudspeakers,"
by John A. Minton and I. G. Maloff, research en-
gmeers. United Radio Corp., Rochester, N. Y.
"The Optics of Sotmd Recording Systems," by
A. C. Hardy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Boston, Mass.
"Recent Advances in Wax Recording," by H. A.
Frederick, Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc., New
York, N. Y.
2:00 p. m.
"The Entertainment Value of the Sound Movie,"
by Harold B. Franklin, President West Coast Thea-
tres, Inc., Los Angeles, Ca;!if.
"Measuring the Quality of Sound Reproduction,"
by J. B. Engl, Technische Hochschule, Berlin.
"An Electrical Synchronizing and Resynchronizing
System for Sound Motion Picture Apparatus," by W.
H. Bristol, Bristol Co., Waterbury, Conn.
"Some Problems in the Projection of Soimd
Movies," by H. Rubin, Supervisor of Projection,
Publix Theatres Corp., New York, N. Y.
"Sound Film Processing," by J. W. Cofifman,
Carpenter-Goldman Laboratories, Long Island City,
N. Y.
"Some Thoughts about Motion Pictures with
Sound," by L. T. Robinson, Director, General En-
gineering Labs., General Electric Co., Schenectady,
N. Y.
Open Forum on sound recording in conjunction
with motion pictures.
"A Process of Inserting Action in Backgrounds,"
by Dodge Dunning, Dimning Process Co., Holly-
wood, Calif.
"Heat Absorbing Glasses," by H. P. Gage, Corn-
ing Glass Works, Coming, N. Y.
6 :30 Banquet
"Early History of the Sound Movies," by Terry
Ramsaye, Editor in Chief, Pathe Exchange, Inc.,
New York, N. Y.
In the Wigwam
"The Physical Characteristics of Music and
Speech," (with demonstrations) by Dayton C. Mil-
ler, Professor of Physics, Case School of Applied
Science, Cleveland, Ohio.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
9:30 a. m.
Reports of Secretary and Treasurer.
Reports of Papers and Publications, Publicity and
Advertising, and Membership Committees.
Report of Standards and Nomenclature Commit-
tee.
"EflFect Lighting in Theatres," (with demonstra-
tion), by J. H. Kurlander, Brenkert Light Projec-
tion Co., Detroit, Mich.
Announcements of new apparatus and products by
the following manufacturers: Akeley (jamera Co.,
Ashcraft Automatic Arc Co., Eastman Kodak Co.,
Arthur I. Holman, Kliegl Bros., E. Leitz, Inc.,
Meteor Photo Chemicals Co., National Carbon Co.
The above and other anparatus will be on exhibi-
tion during the convention.
Now Quota Law Looms
In Czechoslovakia
(Washington Bureau of the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18.— Quota
restrictions for motion pictures dis-
tributed and exhibited in Czechoslo-
vakia will be proposed to parliament
during the coming fall session, ac-
cording to a report to the department
of commerce from the American
vice-consul at Prague. The draft of
the legislation has been submitted to
interested firms and organizations in
Czechslovakia with a request for
their comment. Authority for de-
termining the quota is to be vested
in the minister of commerce.
Open Forum — Questions and suggestions are in-
vited regarding the welfare of the Society and the
motion picture industry.
12:30 p. m.
Dinner.
2:00 p. m.
"A Horizontal Tray Type of Continuous Process-
ing Machine," by H. V. Jamieson, Jamieson Film
Co., Dallas, Texas.
"Future Developments in the 16 mm. Field," by
Herbert C. McKay, Director, New York Institute of
Photography, N. Y.
"Voltage Regulators," by F. A. Byles, General
Electric Co., Schenectady, N. Y.
"A Projector for Stereo, Color, and Standard
Films" (with demonstration) by George Lane, Presi-
dent, Carpenter-Goldman Labs., Long Island City,
N. Y.
"A Non-Intermittent Optical Projector," by J. F.
Leventhal, New York, N. Y.
"The Transmission of Movies by Radio," by Fran-
cis Jenkins, founder of the Society of Motion Pic-
ture Engineers.
8:00 p. m.
In the Wigwam.
"The Formation of a Photographic Image," by
C. E. K. Mees, Director of Kodak Research Labora-
tories, Rochester, N. Y.
Dancing afterwards.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
9:30 a. m.
"Applicability of Stereoscopy to Motion Pictures,"
by Lewis Physioc, Tec. Art Studio, Hollywood,
Calif.
"Illumination in Motion Picture Printing," by
Clifton Tuttle, Research Laboratory, Eastman Kodak
Co., Rochester, N. Y.
"Automatic Focusing Devices for Title and Car-
toon Cameras," by J. A. Norling, Loucks & Norling,
Inc., New York, N. Y.
"A Photometer for the Measurement of Low Il-
lumination," by Loyd A. Jones and E. M. Lowry,
Research Laboratory, Eastman Kodak Co., Roches-
ter, N. Y.
"Some Characteristics of the Mercury-Neon
Lamp," by L. J. Buttolph, Cooper Hewitt Electric
Co., Hoboken, N. J.
"Dye Toning with Single Solutions," by J. I.
Crabtree and C. E. Ives, Research Laboratory, East-
man Kodak Co., Rochester, N. Y.
2:00 p. m.
"The Photography of Plant Life," by A. C. Pills-
bury, Berkeley, Calif.
"Under Sea Motion Picture Photography," by
Floyd Crosby, New York, N. Y.
"Some Luminous Characteristics of the Neon-Arc,"
by Frank Benford, Research Laboratory, General
Electric Co., Schenectady, N. Y.
"Some Preliminary Experiments in Medical Pho-
tography," by Clifton Tuttle and Charles Morrison,
Research Laboratory, Eastman Kodak Co., Roches-
ter, N. Y.
"The Preservation of Motion Picture Film," by
V. A. Stewart, Film Life Fbctension Corp., New
York, N. Y.
J. I. Crabtree is chairman of the papers,
publications and arrangements committee.
U in Canada to Release
Gaumont-British Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
TpRONTO, Sept. 18.— Arthur A. Lee, vice-
president of Gaumont-British Corporation of
Canada, Ltd., has arranged for physical dis-
tribution in Canada through the Canadian
Universal Film Company, Ltd., with offices
throughout the dominion. The Gaumont-
British Corporation will have its sales organ-
ization under the direction of Edward Auger,
managing director. From 24 to 30 feature
pictures will be released.
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
27
Sam Spring Leaves
FN, Practices Law;
Boothby Gets Post
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— Samuel Spring has
resigned as vice-president and treasurer of
First National and has returned to the gen-
eral practice of law,
with offices in the Bar
B u i 1 d i n g, 36 West
44th street, Irving D.
Rossheim, president
of First National, an-
nounced last week.
Warren C. Boothby,
financial controller,
has been elected
treasurer to succeed
Spring.
The board of direc-
tors, in accepting
Spring's resignation,
passed the following
resolution :
"Resolved, that the
board, learning of the desire of Samuel Spring
to return to the practice of law, accepts, with
reluctance and regret, his resignation as vice-
president and treasurer, and extends to him
its appreciation of the valuable services he
has performed during his association with
First National Pictures, Inc."
Samuel Spring
Gallup Is Honored
By A MPA; Harvey
Is New President
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 14.— Cheered by the
Association of Motion Picture Advertisers
for his energetic activities during the past
year, Bruce Gallup retired yesterday as
president of the group. Sent on his way
with a handsome new traveling bag, he
promptly left for a well-earned vacation in
Florida.
The new officers of the club, elected at
an enthusiastic meeting at the Paramount
Hotel, are as follows:
George Harvey, president; Paul Benja-
min, vice-president; Dave Bader, secretary;
and Charles Burrell, treasurer.
Harvey, the incoming president, spoke of
the opportunity facing him and his organ-
ization and accepted his new office as a
real opportunity to render a service. He
paid a rare tribute to the personality and
the enthusiastic work of the retiring head.
Dolle of Louisville Buys
Royal and Lyric in Marion
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOUISVILLE, Sept. 18.— Fred Dolle of the
Fourth Avenue Amusement Company, here,
has purchased the Royal and Lyric theatres of
Marion, Indiana. He will also raze the
Indiana theatre there and construct a $250,000
theatre on the site.
Navy Officers Guests at
"Submarine" Showing
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— Col. Jasper E.
Brady, Columbia executive, has returned
from Washington where he gave a private
showing of "Submarine" to the highest
ranking officers of the Navy.
Independent Exhibitors Vote
To Continue as Organization
Decision Made Despite Sapiro's Statement That Association Is
"Beaten" — Harry Warner Attends as "Unofficial Advisor"
— Most Members Loath to Sell Outright
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18. — Following close on the heels of Aaron Sapiro's
announcement, printed exclusively in Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture
World, that he considered his Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors Associa-
tion a "beaten organization," a meeting of the association was held here
Thursday.
Organization to Carry On
As expected by Sapiro, the organization decided to carry on. Herbert R.
Ebenstein, secretary of the association, announced that the Sapiro group was
determined to continue, instead of dissolving as reports intimated it would.
At the invitation of the association, Harry New Jersey sales manager; John J. Lane,
M. Warner was brought in as an "unofficial
advisor." Ebenstein said that there was no
particular significance at present in his ap-
pointment, other than that the association felt
it needed the advice of a man who had been
making big movies in the film industry. How-
ever, no sooner was Warner at the meeting
than he offered to buy a fifty per cent interest
in all the theatres represented at the meeting.
Loath to Yield All Houses
Most of the houses represented have already
been negotiating with William Fox or with the
Moss organization, as revealed last week by
Sapiro. It is understood, however, that Fox
desires outright purchases while most of the
exhibitors are loath to give up all their strings
to the industry.
The meeting was not a particularly friendly
affair, as all were familiar with the views held
by Sapiro that his is a "beaten organization."
However, matters of the utmost importance
were threshed out and the organization did
vote to carry on.
manager. New Haven; A. J. Gutek, manager,
Albany; C. L. Peavey, manager, Atlanta;
William Conn, manager, Charlotte; P. M.
Baker, manager, Memphis ; F. L. McNamee,
manager, Washington ; J. Schaeffer, S. Rosen,
H. W. Tyson, S. Perlsweig, S. Palan and
O. B. Derr, salesmen at Philadelphia; and
R. J. Folliard, G. H. Payne, T. F. Smith and
H. Kahn, salesmen at Washington.
Regional Sales Meeting
Held hyp B O; Marcus,
Schnitzer, Derr Attend
(Special to the Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18. — A regional
sales meeting was held here Sunday by F B O
at the Mayflower hotel. J. I. Schnitzer, senior
vice-president in charge of distribution; E. B.
Derr, treasurer ; Lee Marcus, general sales
manager Charles Rosenzweig, New York
State, sales manager; and William Dahler,
chief statistician, attended. Lee Marcus pre-
sided.
Others to attend include Wm. H. Gardiner,
New England sales manager ; C. F. Mc-
Gerigle, Boston office manager; Jerome
Safron, Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern
Movietone Newsreel of
Anti-War Pact Signing
Sounds New Diplomacy
The Kellogg peace treaty appears a mile-
stone in the road to "open agreements, openly
arrived at," as Fox's Movietone newsreel of
the signatory ceremonies is presented in the
nation's theatres. The chancellors and secre-
taries of state who met to sign the pact are to
be heard as well as seen, while Premier
Briand's greeting to the 15 nations, read in
English by an interpreter, is reproduced in
exceedingly life-like clearness. "The camera
took this occasion to roam around the chamber
for shots of the whole scene. What used to
be remote to the public thus becomes intimate.
That such newsreels will mean more and
more as the years pass, seems certain when
one reflects on so momentous occasion as the
signing of the Declaration of Independence,
the whole human picture of which is lost
forever.
More recently. Fox has added a Movietone
reel of King Alphonso of Spain to its achieve-
ments.
/. Walter Ruben Re-Signed
HOLLYWOOD.— J. Walter Ruben, co-author of
the latest Clara Bow film, "The Fleet's In," and
adaptor of several recent Zane Grey pictures, was
signed to a new contract yesterday by Paramount.
G. J. Schaefer on Visit
NEW YORK. — Gus J. Schaefer, Paramount's gen-
eral sales manager for Central Europe, is visiting
the home office.
B&K Opens $2,000,000 Paradise Theatre
In Chicago; 14,000 Attend on First Day
Opening of the B. & K. Paradise theatre, called a $2,000,000 structure, last Fri-
day afternoon, marked another step forward in Chicago's supremacy in deluxe
neighborhood houses. The theatre, occupying an entire block at Crawford avenue
and Washington boulevard, is of French baroque architecture and seats about 4,000.
Business in the four shows of opening day totaled 14,000 patrons.
The opening program consisted of an orchestra production, "Our Garden in the
Paradise," conducted, conceived and staged by H. Leopold Spitalny; an opening
program solo by Henri A. Keates; Mark Fisher and his Merry Music Masters on the
stage, and Paramount's "Fleet's In." Motion pictures of the afternoon crowd
were shown at the night performance. The entire house staff of the Senate theatre
has been moved to the Paradise. The business section was decorated with banners
for three blocks.
Detail of thetheatre, construction and appointment, will be given with illustra-
tions, in the Better Theatres section of next week's "HERALD-WORLD." A story
on the exploitation for the Paradise will appear in "The Theatre" next week. The
opening show is presented in detail in the "Presentation Acts" department of this
issue.
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
Cooperation in Newspaper Ads
Saves Cash for Theatre Owner
Tacit Agreement on Amount of Space Taken Rescues Kansas City
Exhibitors from Evils of Cut-Throat Competition — Occa-
sional "Splurge" on Special Approved
m\\ To what extent can exhibitors cooperate to hold down advertising expense and at the
jl same time reach the public effectively, under friendly competition? While it is almost
a platitude to say that exhibitors should cooperate in the affairs of their community, what
is to be said about the effects of trying to outdo one another in newspaper advertising
volume?
#Tr Suppose one exiiibitor starts with half a column on an ordinary picture, and his com-
jj petitor jumps to a column. The first theatre owner makes his next ad two columns,
and his rival "shoots the works" with a full page. Where does it lead? Is a large ad
required on every picture? Can exhibitors profitably agree on a comparatively uniform
amount of advertising without antagonizing the editor? How Kansas City exhibitors have
solved the problem is revealed in the following article by a "Herald-World" investigator.
KANSAS CITY, Sept. 18. — As far back as the history of the screen dates
in Kansas City there never has been a need for agreement on newspaper
advertising, nor has there ever arisen any ill feeling among exhibitors over
comparative space used by theatres.
The second and third run suburban houses,
although there exists no mutual understanding,
have a universal space of ?4 inch by one col-
umn which they have held to for years. With-
out any pioneering on any one's part, such a
space has grown to become the accepted stand-
ard among those houses and the ads always
are grouped on the same page.
The same relationship also holds true among
the larger suburban houses, about two inches
by two columns being used on Sundays and
half that amount on week days. The larger
first run houses use about double the amount
of space used by the larger suburban houses.
Occasionally, however, when some house,
suburban or otherwise, has an unusually big
picture there is a "splurge" in newspaper
advertising, but rival exhibitors accept it for
granted that the advertising exhibitor simply
has made a larger investment and hopes to
reap a larger return
"If Kansas City exhibitors never have any-
more to quarrel about than comparative news-
paper advertising we always will live in the
utmost of harmony," R. R. Biechele, president
of the M.P.T.O. Kansas-Missouri, said.
>>
LeRoy Chooses Todd for
Role in "Ritzy Rosie
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— Mervyn LeRoy,
First National's youthful director, is giving the
boys another famous comedy to shoot at, now
that he is making "Ritzy Rosie," starring Alice
White with Jack Mulhall.
Thelma Todd, who has recently completed
De Limur Rewarded
By P F L Promotion
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— Jean
de Limur, Paramount scenarist, has
been promoted. He is leaving in a
few days for Paramount's Long
Island studio to take over an execu-
tive position. Very little informa-
tion was forthcoming regarding his
appointment hut no sooner had he
completed "Divorce Bound" for
Florence Vidor, than he was told to
leave for the Eastern station. His
work for the past year and a half has
gained him much favorable comment.
H. D'Arrast, Paramount director, and
De Limur were both responsible for
"The Magnificent Flirt." which is
making new friends with each show-
ing. — B. F.
the lead opposite Milton Sills in "The Wreck-
ing Boss" and a featured role in "The Haunted
House" was chosen for a principal role in Le-
Roy's latest.
"Ritzy Rosie" is an original story wrtten by
Charles Beehan and Garrett Fort. Tom
Geraghty prepared the continuity. This is the
second to be prepared by Geraghty for LeRoy.
The cast also includes Doris Dawson, Edna
Cooper, Natalie Joyce, George Stone, Andy
Devinc and Fred Kelsey.
Jack White to Be Honor
Guest of His Proteges
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— Jack White,
who has started many stars and directors on
the road to fame, will be guest of honor at a
reunion dinner to be
held soon. The din-
ner will be given by
people who started
their careers under
the tutelage of the
comedy producer.
Norman Taurog, Al
Ray, Archie Mayo
and Lloyd Bacon are
among the prominent
directors who started
under White. Audrey
Ferris and Olive Bor-
den also began their
moving picture work
with Jack White.
Both George Marion,
Jr., and Bob Hopkins became title writers
under the supervision of this producer.
Jack White
Some Chats Seem Like
That; No Profit, All Loss
(Special to the Herald- World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept, 18.— One of the
country's most widely publicized showmen,
whose home and business is here, felt the
urge to telephone the executive of a film com-
pany last week. As the executive happened
to be in New York the well heralded — and
smart — exhibitor limousined to the man's
studio and placed his call. After the expen-
sive conversation had ended he reversed the
charges.
Mayer and Grauman Aid
Catholic School Campaign
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— Louis B.
Mayer and Sid Grauman, both of the Jew-
ish faith, have started a campaign to liaise
$4,000,000 for Loyola College, a Catholic
Institution.
When Is Grin a Laugh?
Why, When It's a Shriek!
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18— Henry
Lehrman, Fox director, has com-
pleted his latest feature length com-
edy. "Homesick," starring Sammy
Coheq and Harry Sweet.
"The creation of a laugh is the
work of art," stated Lehrman, "but
the evolution, starting with a grin,
evolving into a chuckle, going into a
hearty laugh, then ending with a
shriek, is something to think about.
This has been created by the author,
John Stone, in one of the most com-
ical screen plays I have ever seen."
Both Sammy and Harry are rated
hrst class comedians, but they never
have had the opportunity to display
their ability as they have in produc-
ing "Homesick." In other words, the
picture in the making promises to
be a sure cure for the blues.
'^Life's a Gamble" New
Title of Stone's Script;
Blystone at Megaphone
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— John Stone's
script, "Black Gang," has been retitled, "Life's
a Gamble." It went into production today
under the direction of
J. G. Blystone.
Plans for the pro-
duction which became
known today at the
Fox lot indicate that
it will have complete
sound synchronization
with dialogue. Con-
siderable effort has
been made in prepar-
ing the script so that
when production is
under way all gags
and dialogue spots
will be written into
it. In accordance
with the present Fox
policy the script is so completely written that
the director is obliged to make no revisions
while the cast is working.
Victor McLaglen is the male star of the
picture.
John Stone
Fox Signs Newmeyer to
Direct Huge Sound Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— Fred Newmeyer,
who recently joined the free-lance ranks, has
been signed by William Fox to direct a picture
which will entail an approximate outlay of
$1,000,000. It is to be a Movietone production
and of such gigantic proportions as to rival
"What Price Glory," "Sunrise" and "Seventh
Heaven," it is said.
Says Talkies Will Reign
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— Roy J. Pomeroy,
who is responsible for a number of remark-
able achievements in the motion picture field,,
declares that talking pictures will soon sur-
pass spoken drama in entertainment possi-
bilities.
Lasky Returns East
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— Jesse L.
Lasky, first vice-president in charge of pro-
duction for Partamount, who has been here
for several weeks, left for New York yes-
terday.
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
Y^
Film News
in Pictures
PICTORIAL SECTION
Stories Told
by the Camera
Jack Warner (left) arriving in New York
for the showing of "The Singing Fool,"
Al Jolson's second Vitaphone production.
Meeting him were Motley Flint, banker,
and Major Albert Warner.
A charming personage of the films who,
through somebody's negligence, has been
missing of late in this department. Ignoring,
if possible, the pajamas — Renee Adoree is
featured in M G M's "Tides of Empire."
Jascha Heifetz, the violinist, and Florence
Vidor, Paramount star, following their re-
cent marriage, which, allying the worlds
of music and films, was quite in keeping
with the times, was it not?
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School days assumed conversational importance for Mrs. Leon
d'Usseau, wife of the F B O director, and Chao Chu Wu, Chinese
foreign minister, when he visited Hollywood recently. They were
schoolmates in Washington when his father was ambassador. Mr.
and Mrs. d'Usseau and Mr. and Mrs. Wu are shown at F B O.
Eddie Cantor, long distance singer and intimate jokester, inspects
the ushers upon beginning his engagement at Marks Brothers thea-
tres in Chicago. A host of theatrical folk greeted Eddie at the sta-
tion, while other hosts did likewise at the theatres. (For one usher,
however, the photographer seems a rival interest!)
i
30
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
Stealing a ride thus on an airplane is one certain
way to make a flight a flop, as Ben Lyon wisely
points out above. The stowaways are Antonio
Moreno and Martha Sleeper. All are featured in
"The Air Legion," F B O melodrama exploit-
ing the perils and heroics of our intrepid air
mail pilots.
,*P4^
"ST.-
ft
Above: Charles (and
always "Chuck") Reis-
ner (left) with Karl
Baldwin in what seems
a sort of charade. For
Reisner directed M G
M's new Dane-Arthur
comedy, which Bald-
win wrote, and the
title is "Brotherly
Love." Rather touch-
ing, don't you think?
Left: Jeopardizing his
life, not to mention a
bone or two, all for the
purpose of entertaining
you and me. This leap
shows Eddie Nugent in
one of similar stunts he
does in "Gold Braid,"
M G M naval aviation
story starring Ramon
Navarro.
Norma Shearer in a new outfit which merits
that smart word, chic. (How we Anglo-
Saxons love it!) Miss Shearer, by the way,
has a crook picture for her latest, M G M's
"The Little Angel."
As a happy coincidence permitted one star to pay her respects to another. Colleen Moore
was cruising on her yacht when chance placed her course near that of Tiffany-Stahl's com-
pany making "The Floating College," which stars Sally O'Neil. The result was the visit
recorded above. Shown are a maid whom we know not, then Colleen's youngest brother.
Colleen herself, Sally and Colleen's brother Clive.
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
Above: The birth of
an idea for theatre ads.
B. M. Short, art chief,
and K. V. Woodward,
general manager of
Theatre Ad Mat Serv-
ice, discussing a new
display. (If you en-
counter trouble in see-
ing them, place a cou-
ple fingers over the left
side of the picture.)
Right: A tight squeeze,
indeed! We hold no
puritanical views about
hugging, yet recognize
certain limits of good
taste. And herein
Bobby Vernon, Para-
mount - Christie come -
dian, oversteps them,
a fact that he admits,
if we're any judge.
Los Angeles to New York in 19 hours! Art
Goebel arriving at Curtiss Field, where he de-
livered pictures of his own hop-off to James
Donohue, editor of Kinograms (left). At right
is Harry Tucker, his passenger and backer, who
is fumbling for his watch, perhaps in a hurry to
get back to L. A. again.
Three representatives of the distribution end of the industry concerned in a recent shift
of duties. They are Arthur Fiedelbaum, who for many years has been M G M's sales
manager in South America and is now called back to the home office as special represen-
tative of the foreign department; Arthur Loew, head of the M G M foreign department;
and Carl Sonin, Fiedelbaum's successor in Latin-America.
First signs of winter. However, shiver not,
for women wear straw hats in March! Myma
Loy, Warner Brothers player, here presents
the fur wrap she'll wear during the chilly
season of 1928-29.
32
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
One- Act Drama Broadcast by Radio;
New Step inTelevision Shown
But It Will Be Long Time Before Invention Can Be Offered Public as
Practicable, Says Manager
(Special to the Herald-World)
SCHENECTADY, N. Y., Sept. 18.— Transmission of drama by radio is
now a reality. This new development of television was demonstrated last
week when a version of "The Queen's Messenger," J. Hartley Manner's
one-act drama, was broadcast from WGY, the picture and voice being trans-
mitted simultaneously on separate radio channels. The simplified and portable
television transmitter or camera was developed by Dr. E. F. W. Alexanderson,
consulting engineer of General Electric and chief consulting engineer of R C A.
AT the same time that this feat was being Izetta Jewel, while Maurice Randall was
accomplished, permitting the reproduc-
tion of the playlet in homes distant from
the scene of action, the program requir-
ing about 40 minutes, it was emphasized
by Alartin P. Rice, Gener'al Electic's broad-
casting manager, that it will be a long
time before television can be offered to
the public as a practical and finished pro-
duction.
Three Units to Camera
The camera consisted of three units, a
cabinet containing a 24-hole disc and a
1000-watt lamp as a light source, and two
smaller cabinets each housing a photo-
electric tube with amplifier. All three cab-
inets were mounted on tripods, enabling the
operator to raise, lower or tilt the light
source to suit the height or position of the
performer.
In the presentation of "The Queen's
IMessenger" three cameras were used — a
camera for each of the two characters and
a third for the introduction of "props" and
other visual effects. The actual adapta-
tion of the television apparatus to the play
was made by Mortimer Stewart.
The apparatus as yet is crude and ad-
mittedly inadequate. For example, only
the heads of the actors can be shown, and
the image in the television receiver is the
red of the neon lamp, this being the only
device at present which has the necessary
simplicity.
Radio Output Governed
The drama was presented in one of the
studios of WGY. The director, standing
between the two "character" cameras,
governed the radio output by means of a
small control box with two knobs. With
one of these knobs he brought any one of
the cameras into the circuit, depending upon
which character was speaking.
A^third transmitter was utilized for hands
and "props." For example, when the woman
of the play offered to pour some wine for
the messenger, the third camera picked up
the image of the woman's hands with bottle
and glass, as she poured the wine. Keys, a
ring, a pistol and many other "props"
were thus introduced.
White Screen for Each Actor
To keep the actor within the small area
in which the eye of the pick-up camera
might find them, each actor worked in
front of a white screen, a background which
gave definiteness to his features, and bor-
ders were established within which he had
to stand.
"The Queen's Messenger" has but two
characters. The woman was played by
cast for the messenger. Joyce Evans Rec-
tor and William J. Toniski doubled for
their hands, and at the third transmitter
or camera handled the various "props".
Apparatus for 12-Inch Image
Dr. Alexanderson also exhibited recent
television developments of his laboratory,
including_ apparatus for the projection of a
12-inch image on a screen, 10 feet from
the projector.
"In order to avoid any widespread mis-
understanding it should be made clear at
the outset that the television that will be
exhibited is transmitted over a short wire
line and that we are not prepared to trans-
mit television of the same quality over any
considerable distance," he said.
"It will be some time yet before it will
be available as an entertainment for the
general public."
U Completes Big
Booking Deal with
F & Rin Northwest
(Special to the Herald-World)
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 18. — Universal,
through M. Van Praag, Western sales di-
rector, and the local Universal office, has
completed a deal for 100 per cent showing in
F & R theatres, with the exception of specials
handled individually and International News-
reel.
Cities involved are Minneapolis, St. Paul,
Austin, Brainerd, Chisholm, Duluth, Eveleth,
Fairmont, Faribault, Hibbing, Mankatoi
Northfield, Rochester, St. Cloud, Virginia,
Waseca and Winona, all in Minnesota; Bis-
marck and Fargo in North Dakota; Madison,
Mitchell, Sioux Falls and Watertown in South
Dakota, and Eau Claire and Superior in Wis-
consin. Nineteen Minneapolis theatres are
involved, and 25 in St. Paul.
The deal is practically a Complete Service
arrangement. Excepting Minneapolis, the deal
includes all Universal short product.
Nurse Sues Stars
(Special to the_ Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— Mrs.
Lavelle, a nurse, is suing Carmelita and
Sheila Geraghty for $51,178 damages, charg-
ing she was struck by their auto.
Mary
Atlantan Returns as Booker
ATLANTA. — George M. Jones has returned to
Atlanta to become booker for Tiffany-Stahl's exchange,
succeeding George Baumeister, who is being trans-
ferred to Kansas City.
Five Actors Killed When Train Hits Auto;
On Way to Fill Bill at Lawndale, Chicago
Five actors were killed Monday near Elkhorn, Wis., when a train struck the
auto in which they were speeding to Chicago to £11 an engagement at the Lawn-
dale theatre. They had just appeared at LaCrosse, Wis.
The five, who gave an act known as "Violin Mania," were Mrs. Hazel Gray Hag-
gerty, Arthur Haggerty, Miss Julia Lathouser, Maurice Kaplan and John Platkin.
At the New York
Theatres
NEW FILMS
PARAMOUNT — "Docks of New York," a Paramount
picture featuring George Bancroft, supported by
Baclanova, directed by Josef von Sternberg.
STRAND — "The Whip," a First National picture
starring Dorothy Mackaill and Ralph Forbes, di-
rected by Charles Brabin.
CAPITOL — "The Cameraman," a Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer comedy starring Buster Keaton, directed by
Edward Sedgwick.
CAMEO — "Q Ships," an English document-drama
with official war scenes.
ROXY — "The River Pirate," a Fox production star-
ring Victor McLaglen, directed by William K.
Howard.
GLOBE — "Mother Knows Best," a Fox special star-
ring Madge, directed by J. G. BIystone.
HIPPODROME — "Man Made Woman," a Pathe pic-
ture featuring Leatrice Joy, directed by Paul L.
Stein; and "Freedom of the Press," a Pathe picture
featuring Lewis Stone.
FIFTH AVENUE PLAYHOUSE— "Germany's Side
of the War," a Teutonie record with actual war
films.
FIFTY-FIFTH STREET PLAYHOUSE— "Guilty," a
UFA production with Bernhard Goetzke and Willy
Fritsch.
WINTER GARDEN — "The Singing Fool," a Warner
Brothers' Vitaphone special starring Al Jolson.
HELD OVER AND REVIVED
RIVOLI — "Tempest," United Artists, revived August
25,
CRITERION — "Wings," Paramount, opened August
12, 1927.
ASTOR — "White Shadows in the South Seas," Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer, opened August 1.
CENTRAI^-"Lilac Time," First National, opened
August 3.
WARNER — "The Terror," Warner Brothers all talk-
ing picture, opened August IS.
RIALTO — "The Patriot," Parameunt, opened August
17.
EMBASSY — "Submarine," Columbia, opened August
30.
GAIETY — "The Air Circus," Fox Movietone, opened
September 1.
Gilbert to Sign with
United Artists Friday
On Arrival in New York
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18.— Jack Gil-
bert's flirtation with United Artists will be
consummated in a signed contract Friday
when he arrives in New York for confirma-
tion of offers made him here Saturday. He
left Metro a few days ago at the end of
his contract which netted him $5,000 a
week. Metro hesitated in renewing his con-
tract because of a belief his -drawing power
had slumped, it is reported.
The offer made him by United is said to
be closely equivalent to $7,500 weekly with
one option at the end of three years.
Society Formed to Give
British Films Publicity
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— Arthur A. Lee
of Ameranglo, in association with several
representative British residents of New
York, has organized the British Film So-
ciety of America. The society plans to
give a series of ten bi-monthly entertain-
ments, afternoon and evening, at a promi-
nent theatre, commencing in October.
Each entertainment will comprise a special
British film feature, music, together with
novelty reels and specialties.
The object of the society, it is announced,
is solely to provide an opportunity to see
British productions 'and have them reviewed
by the American press.
Ted Butcher Honored
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18.— Sixty-five
Fox Films men met at the Roosevelt hotel
Sunday night in honor of Ted Butcher, re-
cently appointed studio manager.
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
33
FB O Has Finished
85 Per Cent of Its
Product for '28 -'29
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— Eighty-five per cent
of F B O's 1928-29 product now has been com-
pleted, Vice-President William LeBaron an-
nounced last week. Included are five of the
six specials, all synchronized.
The five are : "The Perfect Crime," with
Clive Brook and Irene Rich, which played the
Rivoli for three weeks with sound and talking
sequences ; "Taxi 13," with Chester Conklin
and Martha Sleeper, directed by Marshall Nei-
lan; "Hit of the Show," with Joe E. Brown,
which played the Roxy before it was syn-
chronized ; "The Circus Kid," with Joe E.
Brown and Frankie Darro, and "Gang War,"
with Olive Borden and Jack Pickford. "Block-
ade" remains to be filmed.
Gold Bonds Completed
Gold Bond productions already completed
are: "Danger Street," with Warner Baxter
and Martha Sleeper; "Stocks and Blondes,"
with Gertrude Astor, Jacqueline Logan and
"Skeets" Gallagher ; "Charge of the Gauchos,"
with Jacqueline Logan and Francis X. Bush-
man ; "Singapore Mutiny," with Ralph Ince
and Estelle Taylor and directed by Ince;
"Sally's Shoulders" with Lois Wilson and
George Hackathorne ; "Sinners in Love" with
Olive Borden, Huntly Gordon and Seena
Owen ; "Hey, Rube" with Marceline Day, and
"The Air Legion" with Ben Lyon, Antonio
Moreno and Martha Sleeper.
Pictures Now Being Made
Gold Bond productions in course of filming
include : "Hardboiled" with Ralph Ince and
Sally O'Neill, Ince directing; "Tropic Mad-
ness" with Robert Vignola directing Leatrice
Joy; "The Jazz Age," which Lynn Shores is
preparing from the original by Paul Gangelin;
"Love in the Desert," to be directed by George
Melford with Noah Beery in an outstanding
role; "Outlawed," Tom Mix's third and with
direction by Eugene Forde ; "Come and Get
It," with Bob Steele; "The Little Savage,"
with Buzz Barton, recently injured.
Tom Tyler has completed his entire series,
including "Terror Mountain," "The Avenging
Rider," "Tyrant of Red Gulch," "Trail of the
Horse Thieves," "Gun Law," "Idaho Red," and
"Pride of Pawnee." Ranger, the wonder dog,
is now at work on "The One Man Dog."
Goldberg Gives Bond in
$300,000 Theatre Case
(Special to the Herald-World)
ANDERSON, IND., Sept. 18. — Harry M.
Goldberg of Detroit, arrested at Cleveland
recently on a charge of obtaining money under
false pretences in connection with a $300,000
new theatre enterprise in this city, was re-
leased on bond of $1,000 here. Joseph Cosco,
also of Detroit, who was alleged to have been
associated with Goldberg in the theatre com-
pany and who was arrested about the same
time, was released when L. M. Busby, prose-
cuting attorney here, said there was no evi-
dence submitted for a case against him.
Both were arrested on the affidavit of Harry
Muller of this city, who alleged the defendants
had deceived him when he was persuaded to
invest in the new Crystal-Capitol Theatre
Company. He also charged that $16,000 of
the $25,000 he had put into the venture had
been paid out, but the theatre building is not
above the foundations.
Labor Peace Made in 4 Cities;
Status Disturbing in 2 Others
Shooting, Stench Bombing and Picketing at Kansas City — Three
Troy Theatres Refuse to Sign with Musicians — San
Francisco Agreement Near After Long Delay
Labor difficulties have been settled in the past week in four centers. In two
others conditions remained disturbing, while in a seventh city it is understood
a new contract practically has been agreed upon after two weeks of meetings.
Situation Acute at Kansas City
Individual troubles have made the situation acute at Kansas City, following
the shooting of a non-union projectionist, a stench bomb throwing, and picket-
ing. Three theatres at Troy, N. Y., have refused to sign with the musicians'
union as a result of the synchronization development. The contract with musi-
cians at San Francisco expired two weeks ago and an early settlement is ex-
pected. The musicians' strike at Danville, 111., is over, and new agreements
have been made with various labor organizations at San Antonio, St. Louis
and Minneapolis.
Following is the latest status reported in
seven cities :
Situation Acute
At Kansas City
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, Sept. 18.— The labor
trouble situation in Kansas City has become
acute, despite the fact that the M. P. T. O.
Kansas-Missouri and the projectionists' union
recently agreed on terms.
Shortly after the shooting of a non-union
projectionist at the Gayoso theatre, a large
audience in the downtown Capitol theatre was
thrown into a turmoil when a stench bomb,
apparently an electric light bulb charged with
highly volatile and offensive chemical, was
thrown into the east foyer. A few minutes
later a picket, wearing a red cape lettered
"This theatre is unfair to union labor," took
sentry duty in front of the theatre, a police
guard also was stationed.
J. W. Holmes, manager, had booked a stage
orchestra, Davis Musical Revue, which
carried seven non-union musicians.
Robert E. McDowell, the non-union projec-
tionist of the Gayoso theatre who was shot,
is in a dangerous condition.
Three Troy Theatres
Won't Sign Contract
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Sept. 18.— The situation so far
as synchronized music is concerned, is such
in Troy that at least three theatres have re-
fused to sign a year's contract with the
musicians union. The union asked for a year's
contract beginning September 1, but the re-
quest was not granted.
The projectionists in Troy will get no in-
crease in wages this year, unless talking equip-
ment is installed. Members of the union signed
up a year ago for a three year period. In the
one theatre where there are talkies, the chief
operator gets $75 a week, and each of the
other three men $50 a week. The union de-
mands four men to a projection room.
Early Settlement at
San Francisco Seen
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 18.— Two weeks
have passed since expiration of the wage and
working agreement between the Allied Amuse-
ment Industries and the musicians union,
without agreement on a new contract. Meet-
ings are being held regularly and it is under-
stood that the wage question has been prac-
tically settled.
Musicians Return
After Danville Strike
(Special to the Herald-World)
DANVILLE, ILL., Sept. 18.— Musicians are
back at the theatres of Danville, for the first
time since August 31, when they went on
strike over a new contract. A settlement fol-
lowed the placing of the issue in the hands
of the Federation of Labor.
Contracts Signed With
Musicians at San Antonio
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 18.— Contracts were
signed last week with the musicians for one
year. All men will be retained until the ex-
piration date of last year's contract. Quite a
battle was waged between the local union and
the Publix officials over a minimum amount
(Continued on page 60)
Virginia Bradford Weds
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18. —Virginia
Bradford was married to Sedric Selfrage,
English writer, in Tiajuana, the two an-
nounced on their return Friday.
Head of Gregory & Bemasek Chain Is
Held by Police as Result of Inquiry
Scalvonos J. Gregory, head of the Gregory & Bernasek chain of four Chicago
theatres now in receivership as a result of stockholder action, was detained over
the weekend at the Chicago detective bureau for questioning in connection with
the handling of the company's funds, the amount in question being $200,000. The
state's attorney's office, which ordered the detention, declares that charges based
on the state security laws are also being considered. No charge was lodged against
Gregory.
Arthur Carlstren, assistant state's attorney, who made an investigation following
bombing of one of the circuit's theatres, the Parthenon, two weeks ago, states that
the investigation disclosed that the company had sold $280,000 worth of stock more
than it had a legal right to sell. The $200,000 fund, according to Carlstren, repre-
sents receipts and money paid on debts which, he declares, were not properly the
company's.
An arrest in conjunction with the Parthenon bombing is expected soon, accord-
ing to Carlstren, who states the identity of a suspect is known.
Listed among the circuit's holdings when the receiverhip was obained was an
interest in a theatre being erected in Gary, Ind. The only house being constructed
there is the Tivoli at Fifth Avenue and Tyler Street, and officials of the theatre
deny that the Gregory & Bernasek chain has any interest in it whatever.
34
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
Oh, for That Personal Contact With
Exhibitor! Sighs This Fan
Herding by Ushers, Race for Seats, Mile- Away Balcony, Long Waits — Small
Town Handshake Is Better, Patron Finds
iPersonal contact betivcen the small town exhibitor and patron, and what it means to the
latter, is the theme — stated in "reverse English" — of the following description of a fan's
visit to a number of Eastern theatres. Of course the reactions might have been the same
in any large city of the country.]
(Special to the Herald-World)
DES MOINES, Sept. 18. — Back home and broke, down to earth and flat
comes this motion picture fan after a twenty-day gasoline jaunt from
the Midwest cornfields to the Gotham bright lights and return via
major detours, come-as-you-are hotels and 49 kinds of funny tasting drinking
water. Remembering, of course, that one doesn't of necessity, need to drink
water in a certain metropolis unless he craves to be different !
"DACK from the Capitol, the Roxy, the deHcacy, prepared for the Iowa farmers as
Paramount, the Philadelphia Fox, the
Washington Fox and sundry other picture
palaces in towns of lesser fame comes the
aforesaid fan bearing an heroic sized tribute
to the exhibitors in the smaller theatres all
over the country. And here's why !
Try to See Orchestra!
One of New York City's hectic afternoons.
What seemed to be spanking good seats half
way back, center. An orchestra, good, too,
but try to see it. Couldn't be done. Futile
neck-stretching and other uncomfortable mill-
ing around. Toboggan caps on the chorus.
Must be a skating act. Couldn't see below
the chins. Must be shins somewhere, sounded
like tap dancing. "The Mysterious Lady" on
the screen. Time out for total eclipses result-
ing when non-dieting patrons squirrel across
defenseless knees. That was the Capitol.
The 9 o'clock show to see "The Street
Angel" found the cornfed lowans protesting
at the herding complex exhibited by the usher
force at the Roxy. Psychological effect of
the haunting theme, "Angela Mia," kept peace,
however. Roped off again inside the audi-
torium, crowded like cattle, disposition almost
gone. Heard gasps of admiration and the
news that the orchestra and the organ were
arising imposingly from the pit. No periscope
— can't verify this.
Two Kinds of "Break"
Raced madly almost the length of the house
to capture pair of seats. Saw and heard the
stage show with surprising ease from the
laps of the gods in the tenth row. The film
was most satisfying. Would have been,
rather, if we hadn't lost a glove in the melee
and if some jumbo hadn't dribbled soft candy
on the Sunday hat.
Started to the Paramount in a most jovial
mood. Our hosts had dined us and had
sprung the "big surprise," the "unusual treat,"
the "something we know you'll like." This
J. Lewis Wins Pathe
Bookers' "Bunion Derby"
(Special to the Hcrald-WorUl)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— The Pathe
hookers' "bunion derby" race has
been won by J. Lewis of the Kansas
City branch. Second prize went to
J. W. Scott. Denver; third L. H. An-
drews, Memphis; fourth, M. Carney,
Seattle; fifth, D. L. Netzinger, Min-
neapolis; sixth, R. J. Baldwin, Mil-
waukee; seventh, H. M. Hollands-
worth, San Francisco; eighth, R. O.
Laws, Cincinnati : and ninth, W. Wil-
liams, Omaha.
Supplementary to the contest a
a week's salary was the prize given
to those making the greatest gains in
the last four weeks. Some of the
Bunioneers doubled up on the prize
money.
an especial favor, was — three guesses — corn
on the cob at a dollar a dozen, retail. We
are laughing yet.
Supertrained ushers had the patrons lined
up in military precision in squads waiting.
We could stand there for an hour or we
could try the top balcony where a few seats
were available. The general-like head usher
didn't stub his toe, but we did as we climbed
and climbed and climbed.
Paul Ash from a dizzy height isn't so in-
triguing! Henry Murtagh from the top of
the world can't be appreciated. They don't
furnish telescopes ! "Forgotten Faces" was
appropriately named for us. So long between
glimpses we forgot what it was all about.
That Personal Touch!
Inspection of this beautiful theatre after
the show was such a joy that we might have
forgotten our ruffled spirits and we might
have forgiven the theatres for making their
shows so hard to see. Before we left, if
we could only have seen Herbert Grove, or
Jesse Day or Nate Frudenfeldt in the lobby
broadcasting a friendly grin, waving a neigh-
borly howdy or extending a welcoming hand !
If someone had just looked interested or
asked us how we liked the show!
We aren't used to this impersonal atmos-
phere. We want the exhibitor to be on deck —
sort of a host. We want our entertainment
to be an event, not a survival of the fittest.
Reminds us of the story of old Ezra Tibbets.
Ezra conducted a dinky merchandise store in
a country town. He had never been a day's
journey from home until he visited a married
daughter in New York City. The neighbors
naturally dropped in to hear his opinion of
the big town.
The old man uncoiled about six feet of arms
and legs, adjusted his specs and spat with
deadly precision into the stove.
Too Far Away!
"New York," he replied, "is some town, all
right. Cars scootin' like lightnin' overhead,
dash -burned long trains a-drivin' under
ground, buildin's so blamed high you can't see
the top of 'em, miles and miles of paved
streets. It's a big town — but it'll never be a
success. It's too far away."
In the words of Ezra the big theatres are
"too far away." When by sheer force of per-
sonality, common sense and business ability,
the smaller town exhibitor can cause his
patrons so to enjoy an evening at his theatre
that they never miss the glitter, the luxury
or the stage show de luxe, he has achieved the
pinnacle of showmanship.
Moss on Vacation
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— Alex Moss, pub-
licity director_ of Columbia, has gone on a
ten-day vacation in Canada. Most of the
trip will be miade by motor. Returning to
New York September 17, Moss will arrive
by way of the Thousand Islands. Before
his departure. Moss announced the appoint-
ment of George E. Bradley as his assistant.
Marion Davies Decorated
By French for Her Acting
(Special to the Herald-World)
PARIS, Sept. 19.— Marion Davies,
winner of many honors for her work
in motion pictures, has been awarded
the academic palms by the Fine Arts
Academy, for distinction as an ac-
tress.
Great States and Local
Interests Form Circuit; •
W, M, Sauvage at Head
Great States B & K subsidiary, and the-
atre interests in Illinois South of Springfield,
have formed the Southern Illinois Theatres,
Inc., to acquire picture houses in this territory.
William M. Sauvage of Alton, 111., is president,
and J. J. Rubens, vice president of Great
States, is also vice president of the new firm.
There will be three directors in Chicago, where
the main office will be located in connection
with Great States, and three more directors in
Alton.
Two theatres, the Hippodrome and Grand
in Alton, occupied by Sauvage, have been
taken over. W. R. Sauvage will manage
them. The Grand will be equipped for sound
pictures, and both houses will be remodeled.
In commenting on the venture, William R.
Sauvage, a veteran exhibitor, said he wel-
comed the opportunity to become affiliated
with a larger organization.
Loew Succeeds Pearson
As M, P, Club Executive;
Spar go Slated Manager
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— The resignation of
Elmer Pearson as vice president of the Mo-
tion Picture Club was reluctantly accepted
yesterday because of his frequent absence from
New York.
Arthur Loew, son of the late Marcus Loew,
was elected to fill the vacancy. At the same
time the resignation of John S. Spargo was
expected to qualify him to undertake the office
of manager of the club.
KAO Shifts Senior Bills
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, Sept. 8.— The Mainstreet
theatre, a junior Orpheum house will be
changed to a senior Orpheum house, due to its
seating capacity of 3,500, which is much larger
than the Orpheum. The Mainstreet is being
wired for sound pictures. The future of the
Orpheum is uncertain, Fred Spear, manager,
said.
i
Rand Columbia Manager
(Special to the Herald-World)
OMAHA, Sept. 18.— Walter S. Rand has
been appointed exchange manager at Omaha
for Colurnbia. Rand comes to Columbia after
seven years with United Artists, five of which
he spent as branch manager in Los Angeles,
and two years as Pacific Coast supervisor.
Open Normana at Cuero
Norman Frels and Rubin Frels opened their
new Normana theatre at Cuero, Texas, last
week. "The Water Hole" was the feature of
the premiere.
Hope Hampton in Opera
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— Hope Hampton,
film star, today was engaged as a prima donna
of the Philadelphia Grand Oper. Company.
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
35
Pa the Sound News
Production Begins
With First Truck
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— Pathe News now
has its first sound news truck in operation.
Immediately upon the delivery of the first
Pathe sound news truck by R. C. A. Photo-
phone last Saturday morning, the outfit was
immediately shot into action.
The Pathe Sound News truck has a visual
camera range of 2% miles and a tonal range
of 87 meters and will be able to capture news
events in their actuality.
Immediately upon the delivery of this first
Pathe Sound News truck to headquarters, pho-
tographs of it were telegraphed by A. T. & T.
transmission to the Pathe branch offices
throughout the country, where sales meetings
were being held simultaneously. Photographs
were telephotoed to the following seven big
cities having facilities for the receiving of pic-
tures by this ultra-modern mail : Boston, At-
lanta, Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis, Los An-
geles and San Francisco. At these points
duplicate prints were immediately made and
dispatched by air mail to other branch offices
in the neighboring localities.
U Names Golden As
Head of New Sound
Picture Department
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— Edward Golden
has been engaged to take charge of the talking
pictures division of Universal. Golden is or-
ganizing from the home office an entirely
separate department which will book direct,
for the time being, all of the synchronized
product for which sales plans have not al-
ready been announced.
Already listed for release are two features
and three short subjects. The first produc-
tion will be "Lonesome," Universal's first talk-
ing picture. Next is Universal's first 100 per
cent talking picture, "Madelon," recently pre-
viewed at Yost's Broadway theatre. "Mad-
elon," directed by A. B. Heath, with Walter
Pidgeon, Mildred Harris, Jane Winton,
Tommy Dugan and Jack Richardson, was re-
ferred to in the studio while in the making
as "The Melody of Love." The three short
talking subjects are Bailey and Barnum, Brox
Sisters and Zimmerman and Granville.
Golden will direct his operations and his
salesmen from the home office, in New York,
although the physical handling of the films
will be arranged in seven or eight convenient
exchange centers, using the facilities of the
Universal exchanges in these centers.
Phonofilm Seeks Injunction to
Stop Movietone Use in Canada
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
MONTREAL, Sept. 18.— An important point is apparently at stake with re-
gard to the presentation of sound pictures in Canada, a sensational legal |det-
velopment having taken place at Montreal in the entering of a petition by the
DeForest Phonofilm of Canada, Limited, for an injunction restraining Famous
Players Canadian Corp. from continuing with the use of Movietone equipment
in its Palace theatre, Montreal. The Palace was the first house in the Dominion
to be wired and opened with sound programs September 1.
made after the pictures were completed, using
trained speakers instead of the film actors.
The "sound game" in Texas at the present
time is chaotic, and until the new product is
fully under way receipts are likely to be some-
what spasmodic.
Many theatre managers throughout the
state where sound pictures are being played
without talking sequences are just mentioning
the fact that these pictures are synchronized
and are not playing the point up too much,
as they have realized through sad experience
that the majority of Texas theatre patrons
are not completely sold on this new idea in
its embryonic stage.
The action, which was entered in the
Superior Court, Montreal, was enlarged to
enable the respondent company to give a
written answer to the statement of claims.
The DeForest Phonofilm of Canada also
asks for $25,000 damages for alleged in-
fringement of patent rights. The suit is
highly important to the whole sound pic-
ture situation in the Dominion. Famous
Players is installing sound equipment in its
leading theatres across Canada but this
work is proceeding.
The statement of claim, which was pre-
sented September 15, sets forth that De-
Forest Phonofilm of Canada, Limited, was
incorporated in 1906 and subsequently se-
cured possession of certain rights to in-
ventions as described in eight letters pat-
ented in the Dominion. These rights, it
is now claimed, are being violated by Fa-
mous Players Canadian Corporation, in the
installation and use of Movietone equip-
ment in the Montreal Palace, this apparatus
embodying the inventions covered by the
DeForest patents, it is claimed.
43,290 in Five Days
NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 18.— "The Terror,"
Warners' all-talkie, now showing at Loew's
State theatre, in five days drew 43,290 spec-
tators, according to box office statements.
Sound No Longer
Novelty in Texas;
Talkies Successful
(Special to the Herald-World)
DALLAS, Sept. 18. — Theatre patrons in
Texas have reached the point where the nov-
elty of sound pictures has worn off and a
majority of them are beginning to look with
askance at any billing which designates the
attraction of a sound picture. Although the
musical scores of some of these pictures have
been very good and sound effects have been
better than might have been the case in an
innovation at such an early stage, these South-
ern patrons cannot get sold entirely on canned
music.
Theatres throughout the state are boosting
sound pictures sky-high; are writing great
advertising copy on them and are selling them
for more than that of others, but the public
in this part of the country is so used to good
music by real orchestras that they cannot be-
come accustomed to the product that is being
billed at the present time as sound pictures.
On the other hand talking pictures are a
great success ; that is, pictures with voice se-
quences made at the same time the film is
made; but they are wise to the fact that there
are a lot of pictures on the market at the
present time where talking sequences were
Wesco Will Spend
$2,000,000 to Wire
Houses This Year
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 18.— West Coast
Theatres, Inc., will spend approximately $2,-
000,000 in the installation of sound equipment
in theatres during the coming year, and ex-
pects to have 70- per cent of its 120 houses
wired by next March. This was revealed in
a speech made by Howard J. Sheehan, vice-
president in charge of construction for the
company, at an executive conference held
here last week to discuss sound pictures.
Harold B. Franklin, president, presided and
expressed the opinion that sound films would
affect such a change in moving picture enter-
tainment that this business would be almost
completely revolutionized.
Discussing the new appeal that theatre man-
agers will have to make in presenting their
programs, Franklin declared : "The way to
get people into our theatres is to let them
know what attractions are offered, and the
best way to let them know is through the
medium of the daily press. Our newspaper
advertising appropriation for the next year
is almost $22,000 a week."
Al Jolson Sails •
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— Al Jolson, who
came to New York from the Coast to attend
the premiere of his latest Vitaphone picture,
"The Singing Fool," at the Winter Garden,
will sail Saturday, September 22, for England
to make a personal appearance at the first Lon-
don showing of "The Jazz Singer" with Vita-
phone scheduled for September 27.
36
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
Sound Films Bring
Many New Problems
To Art Directors
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— Sound films
have brought many neAV problems before the
art directors of moving picture studios. These
men who design the sets conceive the period
costumes and decide just how each set shall
be dressed have been holding numerous con-
ferences to discuss the solving of these new
and difficult problems.
Mitchell Leisen, associated as art director
with Cecil B. De ^lille, sees in the coming of
the talkies a complete revolutionizing of the
entire profession. Secreting microphones in
telephones, lamps, tables and the like is, of
course, one of the simplest problems, but the
elimination of all reflective quality or possible
echoes from the materials of which the set
is built is not so easy.
No longer can sets be walled in by a single
unit There must be openings so that the
speech and sounds do not rebound into the
"mike" after having once been registered as
they should be — so that all possible echoes will
be shunted out into great open spaces in
which the set can be centered.
German producers have been using a two-
inch felt to deaden sounds, according to Lei-
sen, and it is being tried out in studios here.
Testing a set for sound photography is a
simple matter, he says, just a mere clapping
of the hands is sufficient to determine the
presence or absence of the detrimental echo.
Fox Begins First
All-Talkie Feature
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD^, Sept. 18.— Raoul Walsh
left Hollj^vood last week for Zion Canyon
in Utah to make exterior scenes for "The
Caballeros Waj-," the first 100 per cent talking
feature to be produced by the Fox company.
Tom Barry has written the dialogue for
this O. Henry tale. Walsh will play the lead-
ing role as well as direct the picture, and
other members of the cast who will have a
chance to tr\^ their voices for the first time
are Maria Alba, Edmund Lowe, Farrell Mac-
donald, Ivan Linow, Lola Salvi and Elena
Llota.
300 Houses Show
"King of Kings''
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept 18.— "The King of
Kings," Pathe's big De Mille production, will
be shown in 300 theatres on or about Septem-
ber 30, the release date, with approximately
12J/2 per cent of these houses using the sound
film version of the picture. The showing is
being backed by a simultaneous advertising
campaign in eight nationally circulated maga-
zines, including the Saturday Evening Post.
Riesenfeld Scores
Two T S, Pictures
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18. — "The Cavalier,"
one of the 10 special productions announced
by Tiffany-Stahl for the coming year, is in-
cluded in the pictures to be synchronized by
that company. The musical score and effects
for "The Cavalier" are now being made by
Dr. Hugo Rir;SenfeId. Dr. Reisenfeld has also
synchronized "The Toilers," the Tiffany-Stahl
Reginald Barker special production, soon to
be released.
FOX-MOVIETONE
ATTMS
GREAT LAKES THEATER
When Gov. Alfred K Smith, standing on the east
steps of the capitol at Albany, this evening at 7:30
o'clock, begins his speech of acceptance, tire Great
Lakes Theater screen will come to life with the motion
picture news reel scoop of the century — FOX-MOVIE-
TONE'S special presentation, in sound and motion, of
the Democratic candidate for President of the United
States, uttering the actual words of, his acceptance
of the greatest honor a major political party can confer
upon a favaorite sou.
Gov. Smith posed for the. "talking picture" some
da.vs ago and a full five hundred feet of the -epochal film
will be shown at the Great Lakes Theater on Wednes-
day evening and six times a day thereafter. In the
"talking picture," the highlights of the Governor's
speech are covered. The reproduction of his voice is
marvelous for its fidelity. The photography, too, is ex-
cellent and shows the Empire State's executive with
every characteristic gesture, facial expression and his
famous smile.
There will be no advance of prices for this extra-
ordinary feature, offered in addition to the regular bill.
eiz Tlmeo a Day, at 12:00, 2:10, <;20, 6:20, 8:30 and 10:40 P. U.
WARNER BROS.-VITAPHONE Feature
"LIGHTS OF
NEW YORK"
First 100 Per Cent. "All Talking" Picture
HELENE COSTELLO and CULLEN LANDIS
A Smashing Romance of Xlght Life Along Broadway, TVith
Every Character on the Screen Being Heard Via Vitaplion*
Two FOX-MOVIETONE Specials
i
BEN BERNIE
And His Orchestra
JOE COOK
Famous Comedian
ORGAN, SPECIALTY
CAP.L COLEM.iN. Organist — JIMMY 0ATE3, Soloist
"CUB GANG" COJIEDY
S2e the M-G-II IClds in "GROWING PAINS"
ii
This ad was used by H. M. Addison, man-
aging director of the Great Lakes theatre
at Buffalo, to put over the Fox-Movietone
special of Governor Al Smith's acceptance
address.
Uncle Tom's Cabin''
Opens at Pantages
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1,8.-The installa-
tion of sound equipment in the Pantages thea-
tre has been completed and "Uncle Tom's
Cabin," the Universal picture, is being offered
as the initial attraction. The first week proved
such a success that the production has been
held over for a second week. An elaborate
atmospheric prologue is offered in connection
with this attraction, including an augmented
orchestra under Chad Rosebrook, Joe Roberts,
the banjo king, and the Erma Powell revue.
Wire Fresno House
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 18.— West Coast
Theatres, Inc., have made arrangements for
the installation of sound picture equipment in
the Wilson theatre at Fresno, California.
Warners Contracts
For Sophie Tucker
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— Sophie Tucker has
been signed by Warner Brothers to make an
all-talking and singing Vitaphone picture, it
has been announced by J. L. Warner, produc-
tion chief. This will be the famous singer's
first moving picture.
It is also announced that Pauline Frederick
has been signed on a long-term contract by
the company. She has just completed the role
in the all-talking Vitaphone picture, "On
Trial."
Warners Begin Plans
For "Desert Song"
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18— Warner Bros, are
preparing for the production of the first Vita-
phone operetta, "The Desert Song," based on'
the musical romance presented on the stage
by Schwab and Mandel. Roy Del Ruth will
direct the screen version which will be Vita-
phoned throughout.
Harvey Gates is now writing the continuity,
for "The Desert Song" and screen tests with
Vitaphone will be made next week for play-
ers to be featured in the leading roles. Camera
work on the production will start early in
October.
Sound Combats Hot
Wave in Cleveland
(Special to the Herald-World)
CLEVELAND, Sept. 18.— Sound pictures
have made film history in Cleveland. All
houses that have sound installations are doing-
capacity business, and all large downtown
theatres are so equipped. Alovietone News
has been an outstanding hit, and all of the
sound feature pictures draw the crowds in
spite of the continued hot weather. Theatre
managers attribute some of this success to
the cooling systems. These have revolution-
ized summer business. All local downtown,
houses have cooling systems.
Standard to Handle
Gotham-Bristolphone
(Special to the Herald-World)
CLEVELAND, Sept. 18.— The Standard'
Film Service Company is handling the Gotham-
Bristolphone sales for Ohio and western Penn-
sylvania. Within a month machines will be
installed in Qeveland, Cincinnati and Pitts-
burgh.
' 'Terror ' 'Breaks Record
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— The house record'
at the Warner theatre on Broadway was shat-
tered last week by the gross obtained by^
Warner Brothers second 100 per cent talking-
picture, "The Terror." The new record tops-
that previously established by Al Jolson in:
"The Jass Singer," according to the company.-
Flech Goes East
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— Fred Fleck, for-
merly casting director of Paramount, has gone
to New York to be casting director of the
sound studio which Paramount is opening in
Long Island. Fleck for the past two years
has been an assistant director for Paramount
and also for Caddo Productions.
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
<
iiilikluliJl^^H
• ft
1
if •*«»«*
j|C«B»^^^
fs^ii*^'"— ~-^H
When the McVickers and Roosevelt theatres, both Balaban & Katz loop theatres in Chicago, opened with sound pictures
Fox pictures were used to open the new policy. "Street AngeT' at McVickers is said to have broken all records for the
house and "Sunrise" brought in exceptional business at the Roosevelt. Some of this business can surely be attributed
to the pulling power of the beautiful lobby and marquee decorations.
College Professors
Speak on Sound
But What of It?
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18. — Four college
professors addressed the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences last week to air
their theories on talking pictures. After the
last pedagog had finished, Monte Blue mounted
the dais and said:
"I have read many articles that were writtefi
by authorities and have followed carefully the
opinions expressed with the result that I am
convinced that none of them knows anything
about the subject."
The professional speakers uttered many
highsounding ideas but failed to make a con-
structive impression on an audience that had
gathered to hear discussions of talking pic-
tures— but discussions of an intelligent nature.
Such phraseology as the following was heard:
"If the actor lacks centrality, or if rhythm
of the body is broken the vocal interpretation
will suffer." On the other hand Ray Immel,
Dean of the School of Speech of the Uni-
versity of Southern California, issued a state-
ment of a rather warnina: nature. He said
good voices cannot be developed in a few
days or weeks. Many will find themselves
outside the ranks because they will neglect
the training that might be theirs in the interval
now open. This training is not something that
can be done by wrapping a hot towel around
the head, gulping black coffee and working all
night just before a picture is to start.
Other speakers were W. B. Pettus of a
language school in Peking, China, and Helen
Miller Senn, University of Oregon, Francis
X. Bushman and Jean Hersholt. Donald
Crisp was chairman of the meeting.
Warners Has Six
Talkies in Filming
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.-^Six talking pic-
tures are in actual filming this week at War-
ner Brothers studio with the addition of three
new units to the working schedule, it was
announced by Darryl Zanuck, associate execu-
tive.
"Queen of the Night Clubs," with Texas
Guinan, "The Grefyhound Limited," starring
Monte Blue, and "Fancy Baggage," an all-star
production- are the new additions to the pro-
gram. "Stark Mad," "The Redeeming Sin"
arid "One Stolen Night" were already in film-
ing. .■ -J jr ,
$3j,000 Campaign Puts Over
"Street Angel^^ in Milwaukee
A large and extensive advertising and exploitation campaign was staged by the
Midwesco Theatres, Milwaukee, on "The Street Angel," playing September 1 at
the Strand Theatre. An advertising campaign involving a cost of approximately
$3,000 was engaged in so that the entire city could not help hut be aware that
the Midwesco theatre was featuring an excellent picture.
From the newspaper standpoint, the ad- of interest was the showing for blind folks
vertising on this picture involved 121 inches
during the week of September 1 in the Mil-
wiiukee Journal and 121 inches in the Mil-
waukee Seiltinel ; 93 inches in the Wisconsin
News ; Germania Herold, 121 inches ; Mil-
waukee Leader, 93 inches, and 100 inches dis-
tributed among the Jewish Forward, Polish
Nowiny and Polish Kuryer.
There were forty-five 24-sheets making
panels to be posted. There were also two
trailers. Trailer Number one went to 14 thea-
tres in Milwaukee, operated by the Midwesco
Co., as Well as to theatres in Racine, Kenosha
and Waukesha. Trailer Number two went out
the same way, to the same list of theatres
where the "Street Angel" will play in the
future.
On August 31 there was a cooperative page
of advertising on the picture in the Wiscon-
sin News,, as well as one on September 4.
There was also a tieup with the Milwaukee
Leader on the caption contest. There was
also a newSreel, 200 feet of ballyhoo, on the
opening night in the various theatres.
That took care of the advertising on the ven-
ture pretty well. The week previous to the
showing of the picture presentation arrange-
ment at the Wisconsin theatre featured "An-
gela Mia," theme song of "Street Angel."
This helped to promote the picture.
Another excellent tieup was made with
WISN, the Wisconsin News radio station. The
name of the picture was announced each night
over the radio in conjunction with Mid-
wesco acts and organ features.
There was an advance showing of syn-
chronized pictures for newspaper critics and
celebrities to get their opinions in advance.
A huge electric sign in front of the Strand,
two weeks prior to the picttire also helped
attract attention.
The Midwesco company also made a tieup
with the Shopping News, of which 117,000
are distributed to Milwaukee ' homes each
week. This paper featured a contest. It ran
biographies of people prominent in the Fox
Film Corp., ajic^ D^ppje had to identify them
by name. > Tliis. idea worked out very well.
Special 'ptlblicity was secured in the Wis-
consin News because all the paper's newsboys
were adniitted free of charge. _^A big point
on September 6. As the picture progressed
the action was described to the blind folks.
The 'Kiwanis transported the blind people to
the theatre and back again. This courtesy td
blind people got good publicity in the news'
papers. / . ;; ,. . , ::;
A tieup was also made with the Milwau^
kee Leader on an essay contest and a cap-{
tion writing contest. The Wisconsin NewS
also ran a sob sister act, on wayward women's;
reaction to picture. Special stories were also
secured in the German and other foreign;
language papers. There was a special inter^!
view story in the woman's page in the Mil-
waukee Sentinel on Janet Gaynor and her hair
treatments.
The Milwaukee Serititiel, in addition, ran a'
contest in connection with the reading of their
advertisements which created a lot of atten-I
tion. An excellent tieup was secured With
four department stores in staging displays ofi
the songi "Angela Mia." This sort of tieupl
was also eft'ected with music stores. \
Still another tieup was made with the or-i
chestra at the Hotel Schroeder to play the;
theme song and signs were displayed featur-i
ing the picture. There were also tlirowaways
with chorus of "Angela Mia" and two signs
in the Wisconsin Roof dance hall above the
Wisconsin theatre. There was a sign on 20
hotel directories to call attention of visitors:
to the pictures.
All community papers ran stories on the pk-i
ture as well as small advertisements to round,
out a very complete campaign. i
Two More Vitaphone
Filnis jLre Finished]
(Special to the Heraid-World).^' i\- (m !
HOLLYWOOD, Sept.. 18.— Two, more Vitav-I
phone pictures went from the cameras to thej
cutting room at the Warnei: Studio/last week.;
Director Ray . Enright shot the last' scenes ofl
"Stolen Kisses," starring May McAvoy.i
"Hardboiled Rose," directed by F. Harman|
Weight was also ' Completed. Both "^tolenj
Kisses" and "Hardboiled Rose" will contain]
talking sequences on the Vitaphone ^md willl
be synchronized throughout. \
38
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
2 Companies Form
To Produce Talkies
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Sept. 18. — Six companies incor-
porated in the motion picture business in New
York state during the past week, the number
including two which will produce talking pic-
tures, a branch which is showing more activitj'
each da}- in the number of companies incor-
porating. The new companies included First
Moviephone Corporation, capitalized at $20,-
000, with Charles Marks, Arthur E. Christie,
New York City; George Immerman, Tarry-
town ; Biophone Disc Pictures Corporation,
capitalization not stated, Leo Guzik, Irving
Saltsman, Anne Jassy, Brooklyn; Rialto Mo-
tion Picture Co., Inc., $25,000, Dominick Di-
ana, John J. Roche, Louis I. Maisell, New
York City; Terrell Productions, Inc., $20,000,
Harry Lewis, Helene A. Stein, Abraham Axel-
rod, New York City; Efrem Amusement Cor-
poration, Rochester, $20,000, Lewis Robinson,
Dewey Michaels, Jack A. Frankenstein, Buf-
falo; Primus Film Corporation, $17,500, Dan-
iel Pompilio, Angelo Salerno, Nicholas Foca,
Mt. Vernon.
Neth Favors Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
COLUMBUS, Sept. 18.— The J. Real Neth
Theatres Company, which operates a half
dozen neighborhood houses in Columbus in
addition to the Grand, a down-town house
will probably put in sound equipment in all
of the motion picture houses. The company
has had Movietone and Vitaphone equipment
in the Grand and the venture has proven a
success. Mr. Neth, head of the company, said
that he believes that by fall of next year he
will have all of the houses equipped with
movietone and vitaphone equipment.
Here is the Movietone microphone which
receives the voices of the players and
transmits the sound waves to the edge of
the film. Unitone is the name Universal
has adopted for its use of Movietone.
Sid Grauman (right), Carl Laemmle, Jr.
(center) and D. W. Griffith here are, per-
haps, trying it out.
Paramount Begins Work
In New Sound Stages
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— The cast of "In-
terference," now in production at the Para-
mount studios, yesterday reported for work at
the new sound stages for the first time. Dia-
logue from the Roland Pertwee play will be
used in several sequences. Lothar Mendes is
directing "Interference."
Soundproof the Studio
for the
TALKING MOVIES
There are thirteen studios on
two floors of this building,
with Brass Band music
broadcasting next to violin
solos.
Stevens Sound-Proofing system is a
patented method of insulation that
has proved its effectiveness in hun-
dreds of installations all over
America.
The
STEVENS
SYSTEM
is not a sound deadening composi-
tion for filling the walls and ceilings.
It is a scientific method of preventing
sound vibration being transmitted
from the surface walls, ceilings and
floors of the studio to those of the
next. So perfect a sound barrier is
thus constructed that colleges of
music, broadcasting stations, hospi-
tals, hotels, etc., have been unanimous
in their approval.
Engine ering recommenda-
tions for the asking. 12
years of successful installa-
tion. A handsome treatise
on sound proof construction
sent on request.
STEVENS SOUND-PROOFING CO.
411 South Dearborn St., Chicago
NATIONAL
BROADCASTING
Companies* Ouilding
•New York Clly
Raymond Hood, Architect
'^Talkies'' Increase
B. O. Five Times
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, Sept. 18.--What the talking pic-
tures are doing to the box office figures, in
this*city at least, has been proved conclusively
at the State theatre, where the first "all-
talkie," "Lights of New York," is now show-
ing.
The State is owned by the John H. Kunsky
interests, and until about six weeks ago was
operating on a band show and picture policy.
It long was considered the weak sister of the
Kunsky downtown houses and when Fred
Stritt, Charlie Melson and others were head-
lining the stage presentations, $10,000 a week
was considered good business.
On the opening Saturday of "Lights of
New York," the exact receipts were $9,968.75,
or just a few dollars less than the receipts
for the entire week under the old policy. The
total receipts for the entire week were over
$50,000, or almost as much as the sum taken
in at the Michigan theatre, which has at least
1,500 more seats and is the finest house in
Detroit.
Chains Sign IS Sound
Sets for Kentucky
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOUISVILLE, Sept. 18.— Sam J. Switow,
of the Switow Enterprises, Louisville, Leo
F. Keiler, of the Strand Amusement Co.
and Columbia Amusement Co., Paducah,
and Lee L. Goldberg, of the Principal The-
atres Corporation, have just returned from
New York. While there they closed for
15 new Vitaphone installations in their va-
rious theatres. Incidently they bought the
entire Warner product for all their towns.
They returned enthusiastic over talking
pictures. Switow at Lexington and Keiler
at Paducah, have had Vitaphones in opera-
tion for over 18 months and with consider-
able success.
Schine May Equip One
House in Each Town in
Circuit for Sound Films
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Sept. 18. — The installation of
sound equipment still goes on in New York
state. The Schine brothers have just signed
a contract for the installation of talking
equipment at their house in Oneonta. It is
said that the Schines are planning to ultimately
install talking equipment in at least one house
in every city in which they are located. Sam
Hochstim, owning the Star theatre in Hudson
and likewise his competitor, Friedman and
Grossman, are also talking of installing talk-
ing equipment.
''Lilac Time'' Ends Nine
Week Run as First Fox
Talkie Begins Premiere
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18,— "Lilac Time"
will end a nine weeks run at the Carthay
Circle this week and the Fox picture,
"Mother Knows Best," starring Madge Bel-
lamy, will receive its world premiere next
Monday. It is Fox's first talking feature
picture made by Movietone, directed by J.
G. Blystone.
Conneaut, Ohio, Will Hear
(Special to the Herald-World)
CLEVELAND, Sept. 18.— Ward Johnson
and M. A. Shea have bought the State theatre
at Conneaut, from D. R. Bly and Vitaphone
will be installed shortly. It was also an-
nounced that they had bought the Liberty the-
atre, Geneva, Ohio.
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
Y^
THE STUDIO
Incorporated in, this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
"Hollywood:*
Verily, She Proved to
Be His Little Lamb
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— The
wife of one of the studio executives
picked her husband's studio as a win-
ner last Friday. While he was in the
East doing what he could to keep the
company stock high on the stock ex-
change, she secretly bought on the
margin. When the stock did a 20
point nosedive, she lost $3,000. So
far he hasn't learned of his wife's
good faith.
Sound Picture Will
Not Displace Silent
Film Says Laemmle
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— Silent films will
be enhanced by the showing and introduction
of talking pictures, according to a statement
made by Carl Laemmle today. The Universal
president said talking pictures will be detri-
mental in no way to the trade.
"When the 'movies' first gained their foot-
hold," he said, "calamity howlers claimed that
it would sound the death knell to the stage.
"Time has definitely proved that they were
wrong. Never has the stage been so popular
as it is today. The 'movies,' instead of de-
vitalizing the stage, became merely another
form of entertainment, in addition to, not
instead of, the drama.
"Now the sound film has made its appear-
ance," continued the Universal chief. "The
same calamity howlers are once more in evi-
dence. 'The industry is in a panic,' they
shriek. This is all poppycock. The talking
picture is another cog in the wheel of prog-
ress. It will develop into another form of
entertainment, taking its place in the amuse-
ment world along with the stage and the
silent film.
"As far as Universal is concerned we are
fully prepared to make either or both types
of pictures. And if anything else comes up,
we'll make that too. Our mission is to serve
the public. What the public wants it will
get, and Universal will give it to them."
Third All-Talkie Finished; Fox
Begins Dialogue 2 Reel Piece
Jack Ford Starts "Napoleon's Barber" with Movietone Script;
Warner Brothers Finish "On Trial" with Pauline Frederick ;
Thelma Todd Chosen for F N Comedy Drama
(Special to the Herald-World) ^
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18. — One all talking feature was completed last
week and one two reel talking picture was begun. Jack Ford began the two
reel picture, "Napoleon's Barber," which is announced as "the first short talk-
ing picture to be made." The process is Movietone.
Neurotic Love for Talkies
There is something admirable in the commonsense Fox Films has applied
to the business of making Movietone pictures. While the trade is manifest-
ing a neurotic love for talking pictures and while the world in general admits
willingly that no one understands the business of making them Fox has made
a logical step in beginning a series of short talking features. It will test the
wants of the market and it will improve the knowledge of the producers.
Ford's "Napoleonic" film will be the first It features Alice White, Jack Mulhall,
of such a series. His next picture however,
will be a feature picture, "Captain Lash."
Production on that will be begun within a
few weeks, with June Collyer in the fea-
tured feminine role. It has not been de-
cided whether dialogue will be in it.
Warner Brothers' "On Trial"
The aforementioned feature film with
all dialogue was completed by Warner
Brothers. It is "On Trial," stage pl&y, and
features Bert Lytell, Pauline Frederick and
Jason Robards.
Two pictures were started by Paramount.
One, an untitled "Buddy" Rogers vehicle,
is being directed by F. Richard Jones with
Mary Brian playing opposite Rogers. The
other, "The Shopworn Angel," co-features
Gary Cooper and Nancy Carroll. Richard
Wallace is directing.
"The Shady Lady," a Pathe-De Mille pro-
duction, was started during the week with
Phyllis Haver, Robert Armstrong and Louis
Wolheim, under the direction of E. H.
GriflSth.
Tom Mix started work in "Outlawed"
for F B O with Sally Blaine in the featured
feminine role. Eugene Forde is directing
Mix.
Mervyn LeRoy started the direction of
"Ritzy Rosie" on the First National lot.
Therma Todd and Benny Rubin.
Fox began a Western with Rex Bell
and Lola Todd under direction of Norman
McLeod.
Harold Beaudine is directing a produc-
(Continued on page 41)
MK^m 1
Nick
Musuraca
Fbotograpber
^^^^*«<a-
"Tropic
Madness"
f or F B 0
\...^iim,....Mik.. .„j
UNITED STUDIOS, Inc.
M. C. Levee, President
100,000 square feet of props, garnered Let us supply the props for
from the four comers of the globe. your next production,
UNITED STUDIOS, Inc.
5341 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, Calif.
40
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
MQMto Make 22 Sound Pictures on
Yearns Schedule; 3 Technicolor
Lehrman to Make ''Hundred Dollar Bill"; Central Theatre Closes oru
Atonement Day; Beall & Garver Hobnob with Lindy
By DOUGLAS HODGES
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— Nicholas Schenck said today that M G M
will have a big program of sound pictures this season. All but 11 of
the 33 pictures will be synchronized. Many of them will have talking
sequences. Three of the 33 will be made in complete technicolor .
HCTURES with talking spots include makes good Fox films, tells methat he is
THE STUDIO
PREVIEW
-L "Alias Jimmv Valentine;" "The BelHamy
Trial;" "Thirst';" "The Pagan;" "Buddies;"
"The Little Warrior;" "Dumb Dora;" "A
Man's Man;" and "The Gob." Three pic-
tures starring Norma Shearer will also have
talking sequences.
* * *
Sam Wood was taken to the hospital
for an operation last week. His wife had
been recently operated on and was con-
valescing at the same hospital. The M G M
director suffered from acute appendicitis.
* * *
Joseph Schenck has been named in a suit
for an injunction that will prevent a service
station being built on Vermont Avenue.
He is said to be a lessee of the property
and it is said that zoning ordinances are
being broken by the proposed building.
* * *
Henry Lehrman, the good director who
MARK SANDRICH
i
1 ^i
Director
Now
Shooting
"The
Wicked
Angel"
(Tentative)
for Columbia
■
V C
1
in the counterfeiting business. He started
this week to make "The Hundred Dollar
Bill." It's a drama that starts in the
government mint. It unfolds a tale about
gamblers and thieves »as well as heroines
and Don Juans who are affected by that
"Hundred Dolkr Bill."
* * *
And, speaking of airships, the town was
filled with them last week. The National
Air Races brought Lindbergh and Art Goe-
bel — and other big shots — to the Mines
Field.
Al Wilson, big time stunt flyer and film
actor, thrilled a couple of million with his
1910 Curtis Pusher. The Three Musketeers,
led by Lindy, and the Seahawks, looped
loops, spinned tails and bombed the enemy.
Harry Hammond Beall and Oliver Gar-
ver were chiefly to blame for the thing.
It was their publicity that brought the
turnout of people and planes. It was their
day with Lindy.
The Central theatre will close for the
day Sept. 24. This is the day good Jewish
folks celebrate Day of Atonement. Busi-
ness may be good or very good — but that
day you'll find no amusement at the Cen-
tral theatre.
It is a big Broadway house operating on
a 15 cent policy. J. E. Schwartzbine is
manager and O. N. S. Srere is associate
manager.
Educational people locked up their desks
last week and boarded trains for New York.
The officials include Jack White, director
general of Jack White Productions, and
E. H. Allen, general manager of the Stu-
dios.
They will meet E. W. Hammons, pres-
ident of the Educational Film Corporation.
"Sal of Singapore"
T-J OLLYWOOD.— Howard Higgin's "Sal of
-*- -*■ Singapore" proved to be a Phyllis Haver-
Alan Hale picture. Haver and Hale make a
great team for Pathe under one of the in-
dustry's very clever directors.
"Sal" is a naughty little American girl with
a great big smile that sailors love and she's a
Singapore resident. Hale is the Skipper of a
merchant craft plying between the East and
the States. It is a matter of a few moments
before the secret of the story is unfolded.
When the Skipper finds the forsaken infant on
his marine threshold it becomes necessary
that the child have a feminine caretaker. Al-
though the pickin's are scarce the Skipper
finds "Sal" in the dance hall land kidnaps
her.
On the journey back to the States Hale
and Haver enact comedy scenes that are full
of originality and punch. One scene particular-
ly full of "punch" is the big fist fight between
Hale's crew and Fred Kohler's crew.
Higgin's fight was first of all a fight but,
second, it was thoroughly in the spirit of the
picture. It was kidded in a humorous man-
ner throughout. It became obvious to me for
the first time that a punch in the nose can
be f"""y- -HODGES.
"Up the Hill and Down"
D WIGHT CUMMINGS has directed a
short feature for State Rights which was
previewed at the Larchmont theatre last week.
It is a very simple little drama, charmingly
enacted by Ethel Jackson, Harold McKean
and Paul Anhalt. The story is of a young
couple who sell their cottage, and with a bag
of gold start up the hill to buy the house of
their dreams. Up on the hill they encounter
one sign after another— $75,000, $50,000, $40,-
000, until they decide to go to the other side
of the hill in search of something cheaper.
There they find nothing but barren land and
rocks. At the end of the day, tired and
disheveled, they return the bag of gold to the
philosopher and return to their home.
The story is the first of a series of 2, writ-
ten by Dorothy Yost, and relates the trials and
tribulations of a young married couple who
desire riches. However, when riches come,
troubles accompany them, so down they go
to find contentment just where they left it.
—SNYDER.
LOUISE LONG
Screen Plays
Under Contract to Paramount
•
Now Completing
''Three Week Ends''
for Clara Bow
i
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
Third All-Talkie Made;
Fox Begins Dialogue Film
{Continued from page 39)
tion for Gotham at the Tec Art studio. It
is titled "The Head of the Family" and
features Virginia Lee Corbin, Mickey Ben-
nett and William Russell.
Tiffany-Stahl started "The Devil's Apple
> Tree" with Dorothy Sebastian and Larry
Kent in the cast. Elmer Clifton is direct-
ing.
"Greyhound Limited" Starts
Howard Bretherton began the direction
■ of "The Greyhound Limited" for Warner
Brothers. The picture stars Monte Blue
with Edna Murphy and Lucy Beaumont
supporting Blue.
Bryan Foy also started one for Warner
Brothers; "Queen of the Night Clubs," in
which Texas Guinan is starred. The sup-
porting cast includes Lila Lee, John David-
son and Eddie Foy, Jr.
Columbia started "The Power of the
Press," which co-features Douglas Fair-
banks, Jr., and Jobyna Ralston under the
direction of Frank Capra.
The only picture to go into production
at Universal was a Western directed by
Walter Fabian. George Chandler plays
the leading role.
Warners Complete Two
Two pictures were completed at Warner
Brothers' studio last week; "Stolen Kisses,"
directed by Ray Enright, featuring May
McAvoy and Reed Howes, and "On Trial"
which Archie Mayo directed.
Irving Cummings completed the direction
of "A Romance of the Underworld" for
Fox. Mary Astor, John Boles and Ben
Bard played the leading roles.
Henry Lehrman also completed a picture
-for Fox; "Homesick," featuring Sammy
Cohen and Harry Sweet.
Columbia finished two during the week;
"Stool Pigeon," directed by Renaud Hoff-
man, with Olive Borden and Charles De-
laney co-featured, and "Driftwood" which
Christy Cabanne directed with Marceline
Day, Don Alvarado and Fritzi Brunette in
the cast.
"Honeymoon," which Red Golden was
directing for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, was
completed last week. It featured Polly
Moran, Eddie ,Gribbon and the dog. Flash.
Tiffany-Stahl completed "The Man in
Hobbles," featuring Johnny Harron and
Lila Lee. George Archainbaud directed.
Ray Taylor completed "The Final Rec-
koning," a Universal picture with Newton
House, Edmund Cobb, Louise Lorraine and
Buffalo Bill, Jr., in the cast.
ON A LOT
OF THE LOTS
Regarding:
Florence Vidor
Dan Campbell
Arthur Lake
Carl Ed
James Hall
Bodil Rosing
Richard Barthelmess
Ruth Elder
Richard Dix
Al Wilson
Jack Oakie
Wesley Ruggles
Mai St. Clair
F. Richard Jones
Buddy Rogers
Mary Brian
William Austin
Art Jacobson
Stephen Roberts
Al St. John
Adrienne Dore
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.— Who is Jack
Oakie? You have probably been won-
dering. Well, here are the data. He is one
of the boys who was picked out of the ex-
tra ranks by Wesley Ruggles, Universal
director. Formerly a musical comedy
leader and later an artist (or rather a
decorator, possibly "interior") but recently
signed by Paramount for a long term con-
tract.
His work in Mai St. Clair's latest, "The
Fleet's In," shows the boy has talent. He
is at present in a big spot in "The Charm
School," F. Richard Jones directing.
* * *
Stephen Roberts, Educational director of
Mermaid comedies, is making another of his
mirthful creations, starring Al St. John with
the adorable Adrienne Dore as his leading
lady. With a combination such as this "un-
holy three" the picture is sure to get over
with a bang. Roberts gags most of his se-
quences, therefore, to him is due the credit.
* * *
Arthur Lake, who made such a hit in
"Harold Teen," has obtained the permis-
sion of Carl Ed, the cartoonist of the
comic strip, to use whatever is necessary
in making his "gedunk" sundae establish-
ment a success. Lake recently opened a
place in Hollywood called the "Sugar
Bowl," and according to James Hall, Para-
mount star, it is going over big.
* * * ^
Bodil Rosing, screen mother, has received
any number of New Years cards. This is all
from her work in "Wheels of Chance" with
Richard Barthelmess. She acted the part of
Dick's mother and although born of Danish
parents, she portrayed the Jewish mother so
well that she has received letters from several
parts of the country stating "Bodil Rosing
Clubs" have been formed.
Yom Kippur may be even worse.
Ruth Elder, well known aviatrix, and lead-
ing lady in Richard Dix's latest, "Moran of
the Marines," gave a large crowd a thrill at
the National Air Races when she went aloft
with Al Wilson, stunt flier in a 1910 "Pusher"
airplane. When they were over the grand
stand, Wilson did a couple of dips and some
turns and Ruth lost her shoes. She was sitting
on a wing, doing well to hang on.
—FRAZIER.
The Final Title
of
Wesley Ruggles'
Next Picture
Is
"PORT OF DREAMS"
WATCH FOR m
John Ford
Beginning Work on
"Napoleon's
Barber"
Movietone
with
Dialogue
Fox Production
42
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
Production Directory
[Number immediately following title denotes production number]
STORY
DIRECTOR
CHIEF
PLAYERS
KIND
STARTING
DATE
Qiristie Studios
NO PRODUCTION
Coliunbia Studios
"The Power
the Press"
of PVank Capra
Douglas Fair-
banks, Jr.
Jobyna Ralston
September 8
DeMille Studios
"The Spieler" Tay Gamett
"Geraldlne"
Melville Brown
"The Shady Lady" E. H. Griffith
Alan Hale
Rence Adoree
Clyde Cook
Fred Kohler
Eddie Quillan
Marion Nixon
Phyllis Haver
Robert Arm-
strong
Louis Wolheim
Russell Gleason
Pathe
Pathe
Pathe
August 20
September 5
September 10
F B 0 Studio
"Tropic Madness" Robert Vignola
"Outlawed"
Eugene Ford
Leatrice Joy
Lena Malena
Georpre Rarraud
Tom Mix
Sally Blaine
Drama
Western
August 27
September 7
First National Studios
"Scarlet Feaa"
"Ontcajt"
"Chanyellns"
"Adoration"
Frank Lloyd
"BItry Bosie" Mervyn Leroy
John Francis Richard Sound
Dillon Barthelmees
Betty Compson
Ijoretta Young
William Seiter Corinne Griffith Sound
Edmund Lowe
Kathryn Carver
Gwen Lee
Huntly Gordon
Geo. Fitzmaurice Dorothy Mackaill Sound
Milton Sills
Billie Dove Sound
Antonio Moreno
Alice White '
Jack Mulhall
Thelma Todd
Benny Rubin
August 25
August 2
August 24
September 4
"■••ptember 11
Fox Studios
"Husbands Are
Liars"
"The VcUed
Lady"
"Our Daily
Bread"
Ray Cannon
•Taking a
Chance"
"Napoleon's Bar- John Ford
her"
Conrad Nagel Sound
June CoUyer
Lia Tora Movietone
Paul Vinventi
Walter McGrail
Josef Swickard
Kenneth Thomson
Charles Farrell Sound
Mary Duncan
David Torrence
Warren Burke
Norman McLeod Rex Bell Western
Lola Todd
George Hacka- Talkie-Short
thorne
Enunett Flynn
F. W. Mnrnan
August 27
August 28
August 30
September 5
Septemlier 9
Goth
am
"Throneh th*
Breakers"
Joseph Boyle
Margaret Livingston
Holmes Herbert
Clyde Cook
Natalie Joyce
August 13
Metropolitan Studios
"Hell's Ancels" Howard Hughes
"The Tiger"!
Shadow"
Spencer Bennett
Ben Lyon Caddo Pro- November 4
James Hall ducUons
Greta Nl^sen
Hugh Allen Pathe Serial August 80
Gladys McConnell
"Gold Braid"
-The Little
Angel"
"A Woman of
AfT«ir«"
"Sloox Dlood"
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
George. Hill
Sam Wood
Clarence Brown
John Waters
Ramon Novarro
Anita Page
Norma Shearer
Johnny Mack
Brown
Greta Garbo
John Gilbert
Tim McCoy
Dorothy Janli
Sound
Sound
Sound
Western
August 5
August 13
July 81
August 18
STORY
DIRECTOR
CHIEF
PLAYERS
KIND
STARTING
DATE
"Humming
John Waters
Tim McCoy
Western
AofustlS
Wires"
Marion Douglas
"A Man's Man"
James Cruze
William Haines
Josephine Dunn
Aazast 27
"DrpAm of Love"
Fred Niblo
Joan Crawford
Nils Asther
Carmel Meyers
Sound
August 27
"The Mysteriou
Lucien Hubbard
Lionel Barrymore
Sound
September 4
Island"
James Murray
Jane Daly
"Nize Baby"
Hobart Henley
Harold Waldridge
Alexander Carr
Vera Gordon
Sound
September 4
Paramount Studios
"Avalanche"
Otto Brower
Jack Holt
Doris Hill
Sound
August 10
"Sins of the
Edward Berger
Emil Jannings
Sound
July?
Fathers"
Ruth Chatterton
"Interference"
Lothar Mendez
Clive Brook
Evelyn Brent
Underworld
July 19
-'-■
'
William Powell
"His Private
Frank Tattle
Adolph Menjou
Drama
August 27
Life"
Kathryn Carver
"Red Skin"
Victor
Schertzinger
Richard Dix
Louise Brooks
Sound
August 27
"Shopworn
Richard Wallace
Gary Cooper
September 8
Angel"
Nancy Carroll
Untitled
F. Eicliard Jones
Charles "Buddy"
Rogers
Mary Brian
September 10
Tec Art Studios
"The Head of
the Family"
Harold Beaudine
Virginia Lee
Corbin
Mickey Bennett
William Russell
Aggie Herring
Gotham
Productions
September 7
Tiffany-Stahl Studios
"Queen of
Burlesque"
"Applause"
Al Ray
Eddie Cline
Belle Bennett
Joe E. Brown
Eddie Fetherston
Shirley Palmer
Alberta Vaughan
Sally O'neill
Roland Drew
Corliss Palmer
August 27
September 4
United Artists Studios
"The Love
Song"
D. W. Griffith
"The Iron Mask" Allan Dwan
"King of the
Mountains"
Wflrking Title
£!mst Lubitscb
Bill Boyd Sound
Jetta Goudal
Lupe Velez
Douglas Fairbanks Sound
William Bakewell
Marguerite De La Motte
Dorothy Revier
John Barrymore Soimd
Camilla Horn
Mona Rico
Victor Varconi
Augusts
August 29
August 26
Universal Studios
"The Collegians" Nat Ross
"Show Boat"
Harry Pollard
'The Ctfhena and William Graft
Kellys
lantic City"
"Two Gun
Morgan"
At-
Walter Fabian
George Lewis
Dorothy Gulliver
Laura La Plante
Joseph
Schildkraut
George Sidney
Mack Swain
Kate Price
Cornelius Keefe
George Chandler
Sound
Comedy
Melo
May 14
July IS
August 10
September 10
Warner Brothers Studio
"Stark Mad" Lloyd Bacon
"The Greyhound Howard Brether-
Limited"
"Queen of the
Night Clubs"
ton'
Bryan Foy
"One Stolen
Night"
Scott Dunlap
H. B. Warner
Jacqueline Logan
Louise Fazenda
Henry B. Walthall
Lionel Belmore
Claude
Gillingrwater
Andre Beranger
John Miljan
Monte Blue
Edna Murphy
Lucy Beaumont
Texas Guinan
John Davidson
Lila Lee
Eddie Foy, Jr.
Betty Bronson
William Collier,
Jr.
Nina Quartero
Vitaphone
Vitaphone
Vitaphone
September 4
September 10
September 10
Vitaphone September 4
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITOKS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
Y^
THE SHORT FEATURE
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
"Little Pictures with the Big Punch,** which has presented news, reviews and exploitation on
short features and serials.
Releases
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 30
PARAMOUNT — "Oriental Hugs," Dooley, Christie,
two.
PATHE— "The Terrible People," Chapter 9, two;
"The Magnetic Bat," Aesop Fable, one; "A Grid-
iron Cocktail," Sportlight, one; "Motor Boat
Mamas," Sennett, two; "Soldier Man," Harry
Langdon, three (reissue) ; Pathe Review No. 40,
one; Topics of the Day, No. 40, one.
UNIVERSAL — "Panicky Pancakes," Oswald, Snappy,
one; "Tarzan the Mighty," Chapter 8, Adventure,
two; "Kicking Through," Collegians No. 3, two;
"Newlyweds' Unwelcome," two; "Romeo of the
Range," Western, Curwood, two.
WEEK OF OCTODER 7
EDUCATIONAI^— "America's Pride," Our World To-
day, one; "Companionate Service," Dorothy Devore,
two; "The Lucky Duck," Billy Dale, Snappy, one.
PARAMOUNT— "Loose Change," Sandy MacDuif,
Christie, two.
PATHE— "The Terrible People," Chapt. 10, two;
"Cure or Kill," Aesop Fable, one; "No Picnic,"
Smitty, two; "The Defensive Half-Backs," Grant-
land Rice, one; Pathe Review No. 41, one; Topics
of the Day, No. 41.
UNIVERSAL — "Come On, Horace," Arthur Lake,
Snappy, one; "Tarzan the Mighty," No. 9, two;
"Look Pleasant," Let George Do It, Stern Brothers,
two; "Dead Game," Western, Acord, two.
WEEK OF OCTOBER 14
EDUCATIONAL— "Come to Papa," Big Boy— Ju-
venile, two; "Glorious Adventures," Hodge- Podge,
one.
PARAMOUNT — "Picture My Astonishment," Confes-
sions of a Chorus Girl series, two.
UNIVERSAL "The Fiery Fireman," Oswald, Snap-
py, one; "Tarzan the Mighty," No. 10, Adventure,
two; Collegians No. 4, Junior Jewel, two; "Buster
Trims Up," two; "The Fighting Forester," Cobb,
Western, two.
Newspictures
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. 14 — Miss Florence Trum-
bull rumored engaged to John Coolidge — 85,26S see
Yankees and Philadelphia battle for American
League title — Secretary Kellogg brings back signed
anti-war pact.
INTERNATIONAL NEWSREEL NO. 73— Record
crowd of 85,000 see New York beat Philadelphia
in American League game — Florence Trumbull ad-
mits engagement to John Coolidge — Secretary Kel-
logg comes home from Europe with signed anti-
war pact. . . , _ „
FOX NEWS NO. 99 — 15 nations sign the Kellogg
pact, aimed against all war — Hoover watches Sena-
tors and Yankees in close tilt from Presidents box
— Test coast defense in Boston outer harbor.
KINOGRAMS NO. 5430— Baseball's biggest crowd,
85,000, sees New York beat Philadelphia — Kellogg
returns from Europe, says World favors treaty —
3 Byrd planes off to find South Pole.
MGM NEWS NO. 10—9 planes in $22,500 non-
stop air race from New York to Los Angeles — Mr.
and Mrs. Coolidge vacation comes to an end — East,
West, North and South football players get ready
for new season.
PATHE NEWS NO. 76 — Secretary Kellogg returns
from Europe with anti-war pact signed— Florence
Trumbull does not deny engagement with John
Coolidge — -Senoritas of Mexico hold beauty contest.
May Make It Snowball Fight
ALBANY. — After someone facetiously remarked
that unless the Albany Film Board of Trade got busy
soon in arranging for its annual outing, the members
would be obliged to resort to winter flannels and
overcoats, the committee called a meeting but it
looks as if the outing would go over until another
year.
Comedies Best to Get Business^
Says Ketterman; He Tells Why
Short features are not only business getters but they are also the best, says
C. H. Ketterman, former owner of the Colonial at Alma, Kansas, and other
theatres. Writing to this department of the Herald- World, Ketterman oflfers
some valuable information on why short product should be booked and how
it should be used to bring the greatest box ofifice harvest.
One primary reason for using short com- town show's program. The news is very
edies, Ketterman found, is that they draw
the children, and the children bring their
parents, which is what is really meant when
one says that the parents bring the children.
Here are some of the highlights of Ket-
terman's profitable experience with short
features:
Buy good comedies, study your patronage to
learn which kinds are best liked, and then ad-
vertise them.
When a type of comedy begins to grow "old,"
introduce another kind, but be sure that it is
shown along with the old.
It is well to show different kinds of comedies,
but use a certain kind on certain nights, so that
the public can rely upon finding them at defi-
nite times.
Don't drop the comedy on nights you play
big specials. Raise your admission price if
necessary, but don't disappoint the comedy-
seekers among your patrons.
Poor shorts are worse than fillers because
patrons judge the next show by the last one.
All-comedy shows on Monday nights for
three or four weeks did good business.
Following is Ketterman's letter in full:
"The time has come when the manager
of a theatre has a hard time to keep going.
The radio, autos and other forms of enter-
tainment are not doing the show business
any good.
"Short subjects play a big part in a small
U. S. Poloists in Action
Featured in Pathe News
The news reels don't miss! Slow mO'
tion pictures as well as the regular va-
riety were made of the United States
polo team candidates in practice for the
forthcoming battle with the Argentinians
for "Championship of the Americas."
Captain Tommy Hitchcock in spectacular
plays is one feature of the Pathe reel.
Two races are pictured in the same re-
lease (No. 75), the automobile race up
Pike's Peak and a motorcycle altitude
race at Lancaster, Ohio. A third race, of
slower tempo but quickening interest, is
the terrapin derby out in Oklahoma
where 4.500 turtles crawled in competi-
tion for a purse of $4,500. M. D. Caf-
fey's turtle won the purse for his owner
who had picked up the terrapin a few
Sundays ago as it passed his gate.
interesting because people read it and then
they want to see it.
Children Bring Parents
"Comedies are very, very important be-
cause they please the children, and the
children are the life of any small town show
house. If you can have a good comedy
the children like, they will bring 'Dad' and
'Mother.' There are many forms of shorts
which can be used other than the above
mentioned.
"Comedies were my best business-getters
in my towns. First, one must buy good
comedies, find out what goes best, and then
advertise them. In the course of time,
however, they get eld. Then introduce a
new comedy along with the old. It is also
well to show different kinds of comedies,
but always the same on certain nights of
the week.
Don't Drop Comedy for Special
"If you are in the habit of having a line
of short subjects and run a big special,
don't drop the comedy for that one night.
It is better to raise the admission ten or
fifteen cents because the good feature is
killed by not pleasing those who come
mostly to see the comedy, news or what-
ever else you have been using.
"Good shorts are not fillers. They play
a big part in the program. But poor ones
are not even fillers; they are just film, a
waste of time and money, and do the ex-
hibitor more harm than good, because pa-
trons judge the next show by the last one
they saw at your house. Regardless of
your feature, they go where they have the
best all-around program.
"For three or four weeks on Monday
nights I ran comedies only, and did a good
business on that night."
Many Tieups Arranged
For Russ Farrell Series
Educational has arranged a number of
exploitation tieups for the new "Russ Far-
rell, Aviator" series. A special press sheet
has been issued for "The Sky Ranger," first
of the series.
Doubleday, Doran and Company, publish-
ers of four volumes of "Russ Fiarrell"
stories by Thomason Burtis, are to have a
motion picture edition of the four books.
The October American Boy Magazine calls
attention to. the Educational series. Reed
Howes and Marjorie Daw play the leads.
44
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
Y^
PRESENTATION ACTS
Chicago Paradise Opening Program
Mark Fisher Is
Choice ofB&K
For New House
Chicago Paradise
Week Ending September 21
After several months of construction work, Balaban
& Katz finally opened this new weet side house on'
September 14. Past performances of Mark Fisher
prompted the B. & K. officials to select him to open
the new house, and if the i-eception accorded him is
any indication of his future popularity at this theatre,
it would be a very wise move for the circuit to
keep him there permanently.
The doors opened at 1 :30 p. m. after several hours
of preparation which included a well-decorated street
and a battery of cameras and photographers. The
eager crowd who had been waiting patiently from
11:00 a. m. were finally admitted entrance to the
new palace of dreams.
The proceedings started off with an orchestral
production called "A Garden in a Paradise," which
was used in the form of an overture conducted and
staged by H. Leopold Spitalny. The production took
form at each end of the stage and consisted of six-
teen voices which formed an ensemble of male and
female harmonizing of choir hymns. The staging
more or less depicted ancient characters of medieval
days and featured Llora HofTman and Prosper and
Maret, who performed unusual athletic and acrobatic
feats, supported by a ballet and appropriate scenic
effects.
The next item on the program was the film trailer
announcing the future policy of the theatre and this
wai? followed by local news shots and events of the
day. The newsrcel was from Paramount and was
acci^npanied by the pit orchestra.
Henri A. Keats wa« the next specialty and he
pre«?nte<l at the organ a novelty called "At Your
Service." which extended a hello to everybody, and
provfrd that Henri is wellknown and well-liked even
in thcffc tiectionfl.
AfUT rjultc a round of applause another film trailer
announcing Hark Fisher was flashed, and this also
(Continued on next page)
Henri Keates Solo Organist —
Spitalny Conducts Opening
Overture
By A. RAYMOND GALLO
Another deluxe house was present-
ed to the Chicago public last Friday,
when Balaban & Katz opened their
new Paradise Theatre on the west
side. This makes the sixth deluxe
house on their chain that presents a
policy of feature pictures and stage-
shows. It also brings the total of the
deluxe houses in Chicago up to six-
teen, including the independent
houses, from which number two are
located in the loop and the balance
scattered over town in all directions.
The new Paradise is located on Craw-
ford near Washington Boulevard and
only one block north and east of the
Marbro, a Marks Brothers Theatre.
The Paradise site was originally owned by
the National Playhouses, Inc., at that time
better known as the Cooney Brothers Circuit,
who then contemplated the construction of a
deluxe house on the west side. The circuit,
which is now being operated by a receiver ap-
pointed by the bankers, owns and controls
several south side theatres two of which are
A Record-Wrecker —
79,241
persons crowcled in
Saturday, Sunday, Monday
at the ROXY to hear
if
"NEAPOLITAN NIGHTS
(OH, NIGHTS OF SPLENDOR)
featured as the Love Theme
of the romantic photoplay
"FAZIL"
Today's Great Country-Wide
Song and Picture Tie-Up
SAM FOX PUB. CO.
CLEVELAND -NEW YORK -CHICAGO
in the deluxe class. They are called the Capi-
tol and Avalon.
At that time, Balaban & Katz were on more
friendly terms with the Cooney Brothers than
the Marks Brothers for the simple reason that
the former organization were in no direct op-
position to the Tivoli Theatre, a B. & K. south
side house, and for that reason both firms en-
tered into an agreement and the new project
which is now called the Paradise became the
property of B. & K. In theatrical circles, the
deal was rumored as one of the many methods
in mind to block the possible competition of-
fered by Marks Bros.
Lubliner & Trinz, who are now a part of
Balaban & Katz and also a subsidiary of Pub-
lix, control the Senate Theatre located on
Madison near Kedzie which for the past three
years has housed a policy of pictures and
stage presentations, and it is doubted that any
other theatre would have been erected at this
time had it not been for the fact that the
Marbro, a much larger and a brand new thea-
tre, was cutting in on some of the Senate re-
ceipts, and for that reason it was decided by
the Publix interests that the new Paradise
should be completed.
No plans have as yet been made as to what
will become of the Senate, but it is understood
that the same policy will continue at least for
the time being. In all probability, the Publix
units that open at the Chicago Theatre and
later appear at the Uptown and Tivoli, will
also play at the Senate, thereby giving the
Senate a brand new show and at the same
time not conflicting with a similar presentation
at the Paradise.
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
4ry
Mark Fisher, the singing bandleader and
probably one of Chicago's best-liked master
of ceremonies, opened the house with his
Merry Music Masters and will be stationed
-there indefinitely. H. Leopold Spitalny, well
known musical director of the Chicago thea-
tre, also conducted the opening week's over-
ture called, "A Garden in Paradise," an
orchestral production conceived and staged by
him also. Henri A. Keates, featured organist
of the Oriental Theatre, was the solo organ-
ist, and according to official reports, may re-
main in the theatre indefinitely.
14,000 People Attended Opening
The opening was, as all openings are, one
that leaves an impression on the minds of the
theatre-going public that live in the memories
for a long time. After considerable advance
newspaper advertising the doors were thrown
open to the public on September 14, at 1 :30
p. m. Crowds, eager to gain admission in the
new house, started to form lines at about 11 :00
a. m., and according to managerial reports and
records, the house played to fourteen thousand
patrons on the opening day. It was necessary
to give four performances and the last per-
formance continued until 'way over the wee
hours of the morning. The house has a ca-
pacity of nearly four thousand seats and the
building occupies almost an entire block, with
the theatre situated in the center of the build-
ing. In spite of the heavy rains toward eve-
ning, a huge crowd attended the evening per-
formances and were compelled to wait in the
foyer for nearly an hour to witness the last
stage performance that took place at 10:30
V. m.
The entire business section along Crawford
Avenue was decorated with flags and banners,
and motien pictures were taken of the early
crowds that afternoon, which were shown at
the evening performances. The structure is of
Venetian design with a Caucassian interior,
somewhat along the lines of the Capitol Thea-
tre, Chicago. The similarity comes only in
the floating clouds and skylike ceiling. The
center of the arch over the stage proscenium
has a beautiful Sun God plaque with three
life-size white horses in the center and a rain-
bow effect overhead.
Chicago Cinemas Lead the World
To date, Chicago has twenty semi-deluxe
picture houses offering stage shows in band
form or straight unit presentations, including
the Tower which returns to the B. & K. fold
this week. Balaban & Katz control fifteen of
them. There are approximately twenty other
smaller theatres rendering this policy on week
€nds only. This does not include the one hun-
dred or more neighborhood theatres who of-
fer pictures only with organ music and solos.
With the addition of the Paradise Theatre,
Chicago finds itself in the important position
ioi holding more deluxe picture palaces than
any other city in the world. The structures
which tower over the city and neighborhoods
have been constructed at a cost of one million
dollars and up. They are, without a doubt,
palaces of dreams with acres of seats.
STAGE SHOWS
(Continued from preceding page)
received an ovation. The stage show was called
"Jazz Paradise" and featured Mark Fisher and his
Merry Music Masters in addition' to the Ritz Brothers.
The show opened with ten girls sitting in front of
the footlightfi as Billy Meyers sang special lyrics to
a new tune written especially for the opening called
"Paradise."
After this number Mark Fisher made his entrance
to one of the greatest receptions ever accorded a
stage personage. The applause was deafening for
several seconds, in fact it may have been minutes,
for the occasion even took us off our track. The first
band arrangement that Mark introduced the opening
exercises with was "Crazy Rhythm" played in real
hot jazz style by an augmented orchestra situated in
a futuristic setting.
Llora Hoffman also took part in this show by offer-
ing a popular and classical number in vocal form
which won her a very fine hand.
Karavieff, the famous Russian tap-dancer, followed
in one of the most novel Russian tap-dancing routines
ever danced on any stage. The rhythm and manner
in which the steps were presented were perfect and
served to stop the show at this performance.
He was followed by another band arrangement of
"Down Where the Sun Goes Down" in which Mark
Fisher offered a vocal chorus and then snapped right
into the band number again until the finish. Right
after this, he sang, by popular request, "King for a
Day." Those familiar with Mark's voice know only
too well that this type of a song is just made for
his voice, and the applause offered him at the con-
clusion of the number was one worthy to put on
record.
The next specialty on the program were the Ritz
Brothers, three of them, and according to newspaper
and other billing, they are the original Collegians.
Everything was running along in tiptop shape until
these boys came on, and the type of entertainment
that they offered was — ^well, anyway, jt spoiled the
evening for the writer, and if we are not mistaken
it spoiled it also for a great many others in the
audience. They were the only sour note on the pro-
gram as far as we were concerned. However, the
audience, a good part of them at least, seemed to
enjoy their silly capers and fairy-like actions, but we
still contend that such smart showmen as Balaban
& Katz should have known better than to have such
an act on an opening program. We may be wrong,
and we probably are, but this class of entertainment
does not belong in picture houses which endeavor to
please family audiences. It may go big in a leg
show at $5.00 per seat but not in a popular priced
theatre with children and perfectly respectable people.
The finale, which took place right after this num-
ber, had the entire cast assembled on the stage
decorating the beautiful settings and concluded what
would have been a very fine snappy stage show if it
hadn't been for the "red-neck-tie boys."
New York Paramount
Week Ending September 21
Another C. A. Niggemcyer production has met
with Paramount approval entitled "Blossoms" and
featuring Paul Ash with his stage orchestra.
Arthur Ball, noted tenor, opens the show singing
the song, "Blossoms," and the scrim drop lifts to a
beautiful summer-time set. This number is followed
by a dance by The Foster Girls, to the same tune.
The girls are dressed in becoming fluffy dresses, vary-
ing in shade from blue to green.
Sammy Lewis and Patti Moore, a sailor and a girl,
begin their offering with a special comedy song
entitled "I Can't, and I Won't" which is immediately
followed by a comedy acrobatic dance by the two.
The finish of their act is a tap dance with eccen-
tricities— ^they deserve a better position on the bill.
Arthur Ball sings the chorus to "Blossoms" again,
which is danced by the Foster Girls — then is intro-
duced and introduces "Angela Mia" to very good re-
turns.
Paul Ash and the stage band then play "Crazy
Rhythm"- — depicting the evolution of rhythm since
the days of the early Egyptians. Paul Small sings
the words to the song, then flashes signs for the ex-
planation of the evolution process, as the band plays.
George Dewey Washington, colored songster who
made such a great hit here last week, is retained for
two numbers — the first being an honest to goodness
knockout of the old favorite "Laugh, Clown, Laugh."
His encore was put over with his old Cake-walk
finish, "Ready for the River."
Lewis and Moore appear again, in a more ap-
propriate spot, and offer their Military tap dance —
topped off by work on the stairs, and the unison
and precision dancing by these two is of the best.
"Blossoms" is sung again by Arthur Ball, for the
third time, and the drop is lifted to a new summer-
time scene, with girls making the spokes of a gigan-
tic pin-wheel, girls dancing, and girls everywhere,
presenting a very spectacular effect for a good finish.
San Francisco Warfield
Week Ending September 14
This week's stageshow at the Warfield was along
different lines from those offered recently, combining
the serious with entertainment in a lighter vein.
There were fewer opportunities for Rube Wolf to
show his versatility than usual, but this was lost
sight of in the bewildering maze of the Fanchon
and Marco Idea, an allegorical operetta entitled
"Temptations."
The act was preceded by the playing of a medley
of oldtime songs, with the orchestra in the pit, and
Rube Wolf asked the audience to applaud when a
tune of the olden days was recognized. The rendi-
tion was punctuated by spasmodic clapping. Rube's
gyrations while directing caused the usual merriment.
The front stage curtain rose, bringing into view a
huge glittering snake against a background of black,
while out of the darkness a voice gave its warning.
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46
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
STAGE SHOWS
{Continued from preceding page)
Another curtain went up and there flashed into view
the cross roads, one leading to Virtue and the other
to Vice. Armano Kaliz stood at the cross roads ask-
ing "Which way shall I go?" Virtue, clad in modest
white, made her appearance and in song called him
her way. On the other side Chance. Intoxication.
Forgetfulnese, Extravagance and Passion, appeared
and urged him to come their way. Each was allur-
ingly dressed to fit the part.
Arraan follows the road to Vice which leads to the
Garden of Eden and the Tree of Knowledge. Temj)-
tation. a beautiful girl dressed to simulate the Ser-
pent, wriggled across the stage to the Tree of Knowl-
edge, under which Adam and Eve were resting. Adam
and Eve proved to be acrobatic dancers and went
through some graceful steps and Eve finally accepted
the apple from the Serpent. The stage darkened,
lightning flashed and thunder rolled and the eviction
from Paradise occurred as the curtain fell.
The next scene was opened with a song "Extrava-
gance." sung by Miss Extravagance, assisted by
Arman Kaliz. This leads to the roulette table where
Arman loses his fortune and Extravagance is about
to desert him. Before she gets away he seizes and
chokes her. Then' Forgetfulness and Intoxication
appeared to help him.
At this juncture the full stage was revealed, with
the orchestra in place, and a gay scene was put on,
^th wining, dining and dancing. The chorus sang
"You're My Baby Now." and Arraan appeared from
above in a highly intoxicated condition, being assisted
to the stage by Rube Wolf. The Temptations passed
in re\-ue before him and he glibly commented on each.
The ensemble offered a Spanish dance and when
Arman was in complete dispair. Virtue appeared high
above the stage. He climbed laboriously to her as
the curtain fell.
Salt Lake City Pantages
Week Ending September 1
The vaudeville acts at the Pantages Theatre of
Salt Lake this week offer a wide variety of enter-
tainment.
El Cota. a popular xylophonist. is one of the high
lights of the program. He offers classical selections.
Including works of Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Lizst,
Chopin and Tschaikowsky, but balances his bill with
late hits. Beatrice Byrne, a dancer, assists him in
this act.
W. H. Hroh and his "Piano Hounds" is an act
which always carries a tremendous appeal. The pedi-
greed, trained terriers which hold the center of the
stage throughout are clever in more ways than one.
They present a routine of tricks without a word
from their master.
Another feature on this bill is the Exposition
Jobilee, including four young men and a girl, who
render old time southern melodies to the pleasure of
the audience.
Etai Look Hoy, a Chinese female impersonator,
has a novel act. He is supported by two of his
countryfolk and possesses a sweet contralto voice.
The Bruno Weiss Trio have a fast routine of
balancing feats interspersed with some comedy.
The feature picture presented in this connection
is "The Foreign Legion" and crowded houses have
been enjoyed throughout the week.
Chicago Stratford
Week Ending September 15
After being away for a few weeks, Ted Leary,
master of ceremonies and the big attraction at the
Stratford returned this week to conduct the show
once more. Leary'e style of putting over jokes and
pun< easily leads one to believe that he is one of
Chicago's best.
The orchestra under a new leader opened the pres-
entation with a jazz number. This orchestra con-
dsts of ten pieces, but gets a great deal of music that
is eaity to listen to. The cornet player took first
honore as the outstanding attraction in this number.
A fair hand wafl j^iven.
Novel Contest Started
By James A. Carrier
Contests of every style and design have been
offered in the various theatres of the country
in the past few years. Among them the one
occupying the most prominent position is the
Beauty Contest which always lends the organ-
ization sponsoring it unlimited publicity tie-
ups.
Appreciating this fact, James A. Carrier,
formerly general manager of exploitation for
the Universal Film Corp., and other large thea-
tre organizations, hit upon an original idea
by sending scouts into European countries to
search and select a representative beauty from
each foreign country and to bring her back to
America for a tour. After considerable ex-
ploitation, Mr. Carrier has been successful in
bringing back to this country a group of
European beauties that are endowed with in-
dividual talent in addition to their beauty
and perfection of form.
An unusual tour will be made by this group
on a special trackless train now being con-
structed at an expenditure of $35,000. The
train will be built similar to the Metro-
Gold wyn-Mayer one which is now enjoying a
fourth world tour. In addition to a tie-up
with department stores and wellknown com-
modities used by Milady, a special caravan of
publicity men will travel in advance to co-
operate with the theatre managers in securing
newspaper display in the cities where they
shall make their appearance. The entire
proposition is being sponsored by the Inter-
national Beauty Tour, Inc., of which Mr. Car-
rier is vice-president and director-general.
The project was organized and financed by a
group of prominent businessmen in Atlanta,
Ga.
Babe Cotter, very easy on the eyes, was introduced
by Leary and she did a tap dance for her first num-
ber. Applause was not so great and Babe did another
dance to the tune "Clouds Must Have a Silvery Lin-
ing."
Ivan and Thomas were next to do their stuff and
they did it. Ivan the man part of the act sang
"Chloe." He next played a song on a balloon, get-
ting a real tune out of it. He received a big hand.
Then Thomas, a very stunning looking girl came out
only to do a little waltz around the stage. She was
very attracting and the pair received a nice applause.
Again Ted Leary came out gave more of his jokes
that created a big laughter. He introduced Dave and
Dressy, who did not look to be an attraction by their
first number but. showed they were by the rest. Ari
encore was necessary.
Becker and Reger, about the best on this program
followed with songs, jokes and lots of other things.
This pair was talented in many ways and in return
they were given a bursting applause.
Ted Leary next sang "Ten Little Miles From
Home." Leary did not get his usual big applause
so it must of been something wrong with the song.
I guess the people want him in comical songs instead.
Boston Metropolitan
Week Ending August 4
Gene Eodemich's revue, "Parisian Nights." with
the Mandello Brothers, Mack, and the Gamby-Hale
Girls, offer the best presentation in recent weeks.
The program is exceptional throughout and handled
in musical comedy style, with Gene Rodemich acting
as master of ceremonies. The bill is varied, featur-
ing acrobatic stunts, clever dancing, entrancing music
and exceptional scenery.
The show opened with the Gamby-Hale Girls ap-
pearing as chorus girls on a picture poster as in an
advertisement. In the background is Gene Rodemich's
Publix Playboys. Six girls appear on each side while
Mack sings from the middle of the stage. The seem-
ing apparitions then come forward to present clever
dance steps, dressed in flashing spangled suits.
Gene then made his appearance, receiving a big
CECIL DAVIDSON
Master of Ceremonies
NORTH CENTER THEATRE, CHICAGO
With His Gang
ovation. His Publix Playboys featured with a new
number, "A Little Bit of This, a Little Bit of That,"
presented in true Rodemich novelty style. This hit
was cleverly done and received the biggest hand of
the night. Individuals in Rodemich's orchestra had
an opportunity to excel and revealed their many
abilities.
The Mandello Brothers next appeared to present
one of the funniest acrobatic, yet clever, acts seen in
Boston for a long time. They were able headliners
and received call after call from the patrons.
"Parisian Nights" is beautiful from start to finish,
— from the first scene showing the Gamby-Hale Girls
in the Moulin Rouge and Folies Bergere dancing to
Gene Rodemich's orchestra, through the novel stage
effects while Gretchen Eastman, Joseph and William
Mandell, Rex Mara and Mile. Majeste do their best
to entertain the audience. Particularly fine is the
Apache dancing act in the final scene and the extra-
ordinary effects used in the curtain scene when the
orchestra plays music familiar to the World War
veterans and the back curtains disclose war tableaux.
"The First Kiss" is the feature picture, starring
Fay Wray.
Chicago Uptown
Week Ending September 21
This marked the opening week for Verne Buck, the
popular north side versatile band leader. It is need-
less to say that the loyal followers were there not
only en masse, but brought their friends and rela^
tives ; in fact it did our eyes good to see that the
north side has not forgotten the one and only Verne
Buck. The entire original band formerly at the
Sheridan Theatre, was there including the ijopular
Frank Wilson.
Inasmuch as the stage show was reported at the
Chicago Theatre last week, and appears also in this
i^ue, we are compelled to give a brief outline of their
activities and shall center all comments on the debut
of Verne Buck in a Balaban & Katz theatre.
In entering the theatre, the first thing your
reporter noticed was an embankment of flowers
in baskets and other forms. These, in addition to
over one hundred telegrams, were only minor forma
of welcome and thoughtfulness on the part of his
hundreds of professional friends, not counting the
innumerable fans who were there in person to extend
the glad hand.
Preceding the opening of the stage show, a short
film trailer announcing Verne Buck received a tre-
mendous round of applause, after which the activities
began. Fortunately, this week's show was staged
along the musical comedy lines and served as a great
opening program for the new band leader. His
entrance brought a storm of applause and from then
on the show was a success. In addition to singing
his own song "Down Where the Sun Goes Down,"
Verne contributed a little musical comedy dancing
in duet form with Madeline Killeen who sang and
danced admirably. In fact, they were compelled to
repeat the dance routine which seemed to provoke
much fun and pleasure.
An' arrangement of "My Darling" was well played
by the band and sung several times by Frank Wilson,
who almost scored as big a hit as Verne Buck him-
self. After the curtain had rung down at the finale,
the satisfied out-fronters demanded three curtain calls
from Verne and in spite of the fact that he had
played five shows that day, it is presumed that he
was pleased to do it.
Observation: Without a shadow of a doubt, B. &
K. have made a very wise move in bringing Verne
Buck into their theatre, and if the opening is an
indication of what the future may bring forth, then
there is nothing to worry about, for at 12 o'clock
midnight, when this show was reported, nearly every
seat in the house was filled and many of them were
new faces.
Kansas City Pantages
Week Ending September 14
Ray Fagan and his "Seventeen Aristocrats of
Music" were given' a prominent place on the program
at the Pantages. The number was comprised of
several varied orchestral selections and dance and
vocal numbers by Verena Carvet, Eddie Santos and
Wallie Hewlett.
Britt Wood has a "boob" act with a harmonica
that far surpasses the acts of that type and had a
difficult time escaping more than one encore at each
performance. He combines some brand new jokes
with music that isn't a bit bad.
Hazel Gaudreau and Bobby Collins, assisted by Art
Gerhart at the piano, offer vocal, dance and comedy
skits that go over well.
Myers and Sterling have an act titled "nonsen'se
and songs," which means comedy and vocal numbers.
Green and Austin prove capable blackface comedians,
depicting the troubles of two negro hod-carriers.
Louis Charninsky and his Pantages orchestra ren-
der popular selections as the overture.
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
Chicago Capitol
Week Ending September 14
The stage show thie week was called "On the
Wharf" and featured Roy Dietrich, the popular
south side singing bandleader. The presentation was
staged and produced by Bill Biltgen and Billy Mills.
The show opened in full Etage setting representing
a wharf scene on the lower junction of New York's
east side as the band played "Sidewalks of New
York." Each member of the band including the cast
wore typical bowery costume and after considerable
byplay Roy Dietrich made his entrance as the chief
of the gang and carried on in keeping with the story.
His dancing with one of the ballet girls brought forth
many hearty laughs.
The next was a band arrangement of a medley
of bowery tunes which were well played by the boys.
It was also noticed that the leader has improved
considerably in his manner of directing the band and
is well appreciated for his efforts.
Markell and Faun, the comedy eccentric dancers
were next in one of the most entertaining routines
ever seen in this theatre. The team are well-known
in picture houses and stopped the show here.
They were followed by the ballet in a clever burglar
dance routine. By the way, these girls are one of
the original Abbott groups who have made ballet his-
tory in Chicago in the last two years.
Roy Deitrich next favored the crowd with a vocal
chorus of "Don't You Remember Sally" and the
applause for this was deafening. In fact, he was
compelled to repeat with an encore, proving again
that he is the idol of the south side.
Gns Mulcahy was the next one on and with the
exception of a sailor costume he presented the very
same routine that he has been doing in these where-
abouts for the past three years. However, he man-
aged to go very big here.
Wienhill and Brisco, two men in a comedy singing-
and-talking act, followed him with a silly series of
smart chatter that seemed to please some and failed
with others.
The ballet came on again, this time for a short
routine which turned out to be a surprise ending.
In typical bowery style, a shot was heard off-stage
and much noise followed. This compelled the other
members to join the gang in a free-for-all fight which
gave Roy Deitrich a plausible excuse to be alone
and for his singing of "Lonesome," which served as
the finale of the show. Leonard Smith, the organist,
accompanied him as the boys in the band also joined
the crowd in the fight.
Observation: It is consoling to see a bandshow
elose with a novel finish inasmuch as most of them
open and close with the same idea. If bandshows or
presentation attractions are to last, they must have
Buch novel twists.
Detroit Capitol
Week Ending September 14
Del Delbridge, that popular band leader and master
of ceremonies, celebrated his 1,500th consecutive per-
formance since his arrival in Detroit, on the stage of
the Capitol theatre this week, where a special Publix
etage show was produced for the occasion.
It bore the title of "Coney Island," and Del's cele-
bration was observed in front of a setting depicting
in futuristic style the rides and carnivals at that
colorful park.
OrviUe Rennie, late of "The Student Prince," was
the singer starred in the show. Manreen and Sonny
were two excellent child dancers brought here from
the West Coast, and there were Fink and Ayres in
an unusual skating act. Fenton and Fields were
comedians. And very funny they were, too.
Del and his Capitolians offered a novelty band num-
ber, specially arranged by Clyde Trask, which in-
VALE & STEWART
Just Completed
a Second
Tour of Publix
Will Soon Open
in a
New York
Production
Direction
Lyons & Lyons
to SA\^
about
"^ — Everyone
eluded all the popular selections played by Delbridge
since he came to Detroit.
The number featured one of Delbridge's own com-
positions, "Beside a Garden Wall." Del was starred
at the piano.
PRESENTATION
EDITOR^
Anew house opened its doors to the Chicago public
this week. . . . It's called the B & K Paradise
and Mark Fisher is Master of Ceremonies.
Over $2,000 worth of flowers were on display in the
lobby as a token of good friendship and esteem held
by many professional men for the singing band
leader. . . . Almost on the same day Marks Bros.
began their second anniversary celebration in Chi-
cago theatredom. ... A clever stunt was ar-
ranged by their publicity chief Jack Hess, whereby
the Rapid Transit Company put on a special Eddie
Cantor Special "L" to accommodate the south side
people. . . . More details will be found in another
section' of this issue. ... Verne Buck met with
instant success at the B & K Uptown last Saturday.
. . . Hereafter he will rotate with Bennie Krueger
at the Uptown and Tivoli both of Chicago. . . .
Bennie is now playing a two weeks' engagement at
the Oriental and is holding them out each night.
. . . Monk Watson has replaced Nat Nazzaro, Jr.,
at the Wisconsin theatre in Milwaukee. . . . It is
rumored that Nat forgot to show up. . . . Joe
Kayser, formerly of Chicago and recently of Loew's
Midland in Kansas City, Mo., as Master of Cere-
monies, is scoring a big hit every night at the Merry
Garden)B Ballroom, Chicago, with his peppy music.
The . Cooney Bros., formerly heads of the
National Playhouses, Inc., have taken over the Drake
theatre of Chicago. . . . Joe McKeown, manager
of the Broadway-Strand, a Marks Bros, theatre, was
married last week to Lucille Krebs. . . . Speak-
ing of marriages, do you know that George Pincus,
in charge of the Presentation department of Leo
Feist's Chicago Office, is going to be a benedict soori?
. . . Yes, sir ! it won't be long now. . . . And
Donald Florence of B & K is now wedded to Elenor
Hess. . . . Looks like September is a marrying
month as well as June. . . . Joe Alexander, now
pushing pedals at the Alabama in' Birmingham, for a
living, was a Chicago visitor. . . . He called on
almost all his organist friends but forgot to say hello
to his bill collectors. . . . Leo Terry just com-
pleted a long engagement in Joliet, no not for the
State but for Great States as featured organist of
their Rialto theatre and is back at the Piccadilly
theatre in Chicago. . . . Leo opened the house
over a year ago and has now replaced Ken Wiednor.
. . . While on the subject of organists let us say
that Don Pedro Espinosa is back in Chicago and
will soon open at another theatre. . . . Leonard
M. Salro, of the Capitol, Chicago, will replace
Dr Hyland E. Slatre-Wilson at the Gateway theatre
in Kenosha, as solo organist. . . . Eddie Dunstedter
is still the rage of Minneapolis as featured organist
in the Publix house. . . . Ramon Bcarry of the Chi-
cago Alamo says so and if Ray says it, it must be so.
. . . AI Mitchel is the band leader there. . . . Word
comes to us from Fred Kinsley in charge of the organ
presentations of the entire Keith-Orpheum Circuit,
to the effect that by next year more than 40 Keith-Or-
pheum theatres will use organ solos. . . . Sounds like
great news for organists. . . . Carl Coleman is fea-
turing photoplay organ music at the Great Lakes
theatre in Buffalo, while Jimmy Oates is doing solos.
F & R have appointed Bobby Stewart, a ten' year old
boy, as Master of Ceremonies for their Lake theatre
in Milwaukee. . . . And John Ingram as band leader
for their State theatre in Minneapolis. . . . Starting
this week all B & K shows will open on Saturdays.
. . . Nearly every deluxe theatre in Chicago now
opens on Saturday. . . . Paul Specht made talking
film subjects way back in 1923 for the De Forrest
phonofilms. . . . 'Viola Dana of the movies will soon
play the combination houses with a playlet. . . .
Harry Hollowell has replaced Earl Sanders in the
Publix booking office. . . . Earl goes back with the
Keith-Orpheum; Circuit as head booker. . . . Roy
Mack and AI Melnick, both of Chicago have left the
office of Lyons & Lyons. . . . Lloyd Lewis, B & K
press agent is editing their house organ. . . . The
Tower theatre on Chicago's south side re-opens Sept.
22 as a presentation house with Frankie Masters as
band leader and Eddie Hanson as solo organist. . . .
Paul and Ferrol Dewees are being featured in "A
Night in Spain." . . . Two more Presentation artists
are in a musical show this week, they are Margulrete
Ball and Doree Leslie and both appear in "Man-
hattan Mary" featuring Ed Wynn.
New York Capitol
Week Ending September 21
Program this week opens with a Hal Roach comedy
featuring his rascals, better known as "Our Gang"
in a 2-reeler "School Begins" — the gang appear in
person and re-enact the scenes on the stage.
The stage-program features Walter Roesner in his
tenth month at the Capitol, leading the Capitolians
in the revue, "Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue" —
a Mort Harris production.
32 Chester Hale Girls open the show with a chorus
toe dance in various colored summer-dresses blend-
ing from Red to White to Blue.
The second number is "It Goes Like This" played
by Walt Roesner and the stage-orchestra. Roesner
has played cornet ; he has danced ; but never before
have we known that he could sing. However, he
sings a medley of songs in' the middle of this piece,
then leads them back into the original song — and
the orchestra boys each give their impression of
certain lines in the selection. The drummer sings
fair, the sax player sings a comedy parody, and so
forth.
The Chester Hale Girls give their dance version
of "Vanities" coming on in four groups of eight,
across stage cross'wise, then reappear with their back
to the audience and doll-faces on the backs of their
head-gear. Their dresses were black, green, white
and red.
Gil Wray, recently from California, and a ne'W
addition to the stage orchestra, offers a solo song
— proving himself with an excellent tenor voice, well
trained.
Three Pasqueli Brothers offer some fast acrobatic
work which is received with an excellent hand. Their
routine is a swift one, but they put over some diffi-
cult feats.
A personal representative of Hal Roach is intro-
duced by Walt Roesner, who in turn introduces "Our
Gang's" school-teacher Mrs. Fern Carter. Hal Roach's
proxy (muffed the name) says a word about the little
"rascals" then Introduces them one by one. There
is Joe Cobb, the fatty ; Farina, who wants it known
he is a BOY : then Harry Spear, the 'toughest kid
in Hollywood ; Jean Darling whom we all love and
know as the cute little blonde girl, then Mary Ann
Jackson, the freckle-faced kid who looks so much
like Baby Peggy, and the littlest of them all,
Wheezer, Oh, yes, not to forget Pete, the dog 'with a
ring around his eye. The boys and girls and Pete
re-enact a scene flashed on the screen, directed by
Hal Roach — and after taking their bows and curtain
speeches, the re'vue continues.
The finale for the stage-show enlists 48 Chester
Hale Girls in red, white and blue and brief costumes,
the entire ensemble, and futuristic scenic effects 'with
streamers and reflectors and a smashing crashing
finish by the orchestra. On the second curtain "Our
Gang" parade across the stage.
Omaha Riviera
Week Ending September 13
Lou Forbes, new master of ceremonies at the
Riviera, put on "Rio Romances" as the stage act,
with Joe Pcnner as the star performer. Joe made a
hit from the time he burst out with "Do you want to
buy a duck?" to his closing act. Manuel and Vida
put on Spanish dances in brilliant red costume and
Edward Albano sang.
The stage effects were South American-Spanish,
stage orchestra and all. Forbes, facing the difficult
job of stepping into the shoes of Paul Spor, who was
extremely popular with the audience.
HENRI A. KEATES
Selected By Balaban & Katz
to Open i«2^^§3?si. Their —
Paradise Theatre, Chicago
48
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
Los Angeles State
Week Ending September 14
Fanchon and Marco's "Idea Oriental" provided en-
tertainment for the patronB of the theatre with a
great acclaim. The bill was received -with much
enthusiasm. Costumes and lighting eflfects added
much to the entertainment.
The show opened with a band number, "Kashmiri
Love Song," played by the orchestra behind a scrim,
which was aided by the projection machine showing
Chinese girls dancing. The scrim was raised dis-
playing several girls in oriental costumes. The girls
slide a curtain aside bringing the audience into view.
Jue Fong, Chinese tenor, sang the number, followed
by Fumihawakmi, Chinese girl, who did an acrobatic
specialty.
Al Lyons, master of ceremonies, introduced Inglane
Ong, who sang "My Baby, Don't Mean Maybe" in the
original, doing the chorus in Chinese. Greeted pleas-
antly. The line girls followed in an oriental fantasy,
changing at intervals into the black bottom. They
were costumed in ballet and oriental styles, each side
(profile) representing the characters. They received
a hea\T hand from a good house.
Neal Castagnoli, next, gave his impression of a
human voice, playing the tones on his saxophone.
His effort was deeply appreciated. He took an encore,
which brought the same reception.
"Skecter" and Ray Hartwell followed. "Skeeter"
made appearance singing a Spanish burlesque number.
so terrible that it was good, and Ray made his ap-
pearance. Their opening was a tango. Their comic
and pantomime were about the best of the year, and
as an encore Skeeter did a burlesque oriental. She
stopped the show, and far into the next musical num-
ber. Al was almost compelled to stop the music and
allow her to resume.
The Oriental Beauties entered with a tom-tom
dance, backing up Lucille Iverson and Mary Miles
who led with an acrobatic dance number. Their bit
was clever, but had very little chance to get the
applause of the audience, due to time. The girls next
did a line number, with the aid of the tom-toms gave
an' unique exhibition. It went over in big style.
They made a clever opening for Miles and Kover who
followed in something different in adagio dances.
They opened in a slave dance, with the driver crack-
ing a whip to the beautiful slave, later going into
the dance. They were exceptional and brought out
the house.
The presentation entered into the finale with the
girls doing a dance and appearing over the orchestra
on a platform, in poses. Curtis Mosby's Blueblowers
followed, being ushered on the stage by ropes appear-
ing into place aboard a boat. They gave a couple of
renditions which took in a pleasant manner, closing
in a band number accompanied by the orchestra.
Chicago Chicago
Weeking Ending September 14
The show this week at the Chicago is "Step This
Way," with Eddie Perry acting as Master of Cere-
monies. The show opens with a very clever dance
routine by the Foster Girls and Boys. All of them
are dressed in snappy uniforms, such as a glorified
bell hop might wear, except that the fronts are
yellow and the backs blue. It is this color scheme
that makes the routine stand out, for in their turns
the line is alternately blue and yellow and some-
times both. This stunt was first used in Chicago by
the Gould Girls trained by Dave Gould.
Eddie Perry next leads his band through a special
FRANKIE MASTERS
"The Victor
Recording
Singing
Band Leader"
Selected to Open
New Stagehand
Policy
At
Balaban & Katz
TOWER
THEATRE
CHICAGO
Try This Stunt with
"Tarzan the Mighty"
Exhibitors who expect to run the serial
"Tarzan the Mighty" will find that Joe Weil,
director of advertising and exploitation, has
cocked up an original stunt that is a direct
tie-up and still brings into action another
Important feature of your theatre. The other
feature is your organist, who may be present-
ing organ solos or just photoplay synchroniza-
tion. In any event, if you are not utilizing
your organ for solos, here is an idea that will
give both you and the organist an opportunity
to receive something for your investment.
First of all, before you show the first
chapter of the serial, print and mail an an-
nouncement about the size of a postcard bear-
ing the following inscription : "Theatre's
'Tarzan' & Organ Club" as the heading, sul>-
stituting the name of your own house for the
word Theatre's. The next line should bear
the name of your organist. Then have four
blank lines set after the word "Name, Address,
Birthday and Age, and Telephone Number,
and at the bottom, almost as prominent as the
heading if desired the title of the serial or
any other coming attraction.
When you have mailed this announcemlen t
to your list of patrons with a membership card
good for the duration of the serial, you will
find that you have not only played to capacity
business, but also established a new feature
that should by all means be continued, and
that is, featuring your organ. The idea of
this whole stunt is to entitle the bearers to
one free admission especially on their birthday
and several other admissions thereafter if the
bearer of a lucky number holds a card with
the same number flashed on the screen.
arrangement of "Get Out and Get Under the Moon,"
featuring Joe Ruell, the cornetist. A very good band
number. Madeline Kileen is next with a lot of funny
dialogue between her and Perry. Perry's wonderful
improvement as an M. C. has won him a chance to
indulge in this sort of stuff and he carries it off
very well, Kileen goes into a song, using Eddie as a
foil, and then goes into a high kicking novelty.
"The Dictators," a quartet of young fellows, come
out to sing "Bright Eyes," and as they follow with
"There's Something About a Rose," six of the Foster
Girls enter to do a short routine. And Mitzy Mayfair
is lowered from the flies to do a marvelous acrobatic
dance. She absolutely excels practically all of her
grownup competitors. She is without a doubt a wow.
She gets a number of calls and does at least two
encores.
Bob, Bob and Bobbie follow with their juggling
act. The dog, "Bobbie," seems to be the chief reason
for this act going over. They end their act by
knocking a cigar out of Perry's mouth with dumb
bells.
The finale begins with the Dictators on again sing-
ing, the Foster Boys and Girls doing a tap routine,
Mitzy doing a few steps, and then as the band strikes
up "Stars and Stripes," the Foster Boys and Girls
in military attire on an upper level are seen in one
of those animated stage sets. Mitzy saves the show.
Spitalny's overture is composed of a group of
operatic selections which wins the usual big round
of applause and approval from the house. It was
conducted by Ulderico Marcelli for the balance of
the week.
Milwaukee Wisconsin
Week Ending September 14
Happy "Monk Watson" and the gang present
"Cruising Along" this week and the audience is
given a glimpse of how other countries look from
aboard ship. The scene opens with a pair of binocu-
lars rigged up so it looks like the audience is view-
ing the whole scene through the large glasses.
The Torney Dancers come out and are dressed in
snappy costumes. In the background is the Statue
of Liberty and we are starting out on our cruise to
various ports, ala Joseph Conrad style. The girls
with their sailor costumes make one think it isn't
so bad to be at sea after all.
Of a sudden we are in China, or near there, and
Jack Richmond, tenor, comes out and sings "Chinese
Moon. "
Behee and Rubyattc, two clever acrobats then come
on and do their breath taking stunts in a way that
gets a lot of applause. Acrobatic stunts are fine
when they can be done gracefully and not made too
long.
The acrobats in question are dressed in Egyptian
costumes which helps carry out the idea of the pres-
entation. The orchestra then plays "The Man' I
Love," and is encored heavily.
Scotty Weston, who is some clog dancer, then comes
on and does his stuff. He's dressed in sailor costume
too. Pretty clever stuff, and Monk cuts in a little.
We then have Chic Kennedy who is good at sing-
ing parodies and telling jokes. The crowd likes him.
Winifred and Mills do a little singing and dancing
which is fair. We also have Coleman Goetz who
tells funny stories and fools around a bit in a very
nonchalant manner.
We then have the Torney Dancers appearing in
Chinese costume and they do a clever little dance
and get lots of applause. The finale consists of the
Torney girls dancing and the cruise headed back for
the good old U. S. A.
Two Years Put Marks
Houses Among Leaders
Although Marks Bros., one of the youngest inde-
pendent theatre organizations in Chicago, are just
entering their third year in the show business as the
operators of The Granada and Marbro Theatres, Chi-
cago, they have in that short space of time, placed
their name on top of the list of the independent
circuits of the town.
Only a few weeks ago, a campaign -was launched
to boom a greater show season program, the purpose
for which they will endeavor to bring a personal
message to the Chicago pictui:e-house-goers, and the
message will assure the vast army of aniusement
seekers that Marks Bros.' theatres also present as
high class stage and screen entertainment as offered
in any Chicago deluxe theatre.
One of the first steps of this campaign is an
extensive advertising plan which is extending not
only in the daily newspapers but also through local
media and the usual outdoor bill-posting. In the
Monday morning Herald and Examiner, dated
September 17th, Marks Bros., bought and paid for as
an advertisement a full page of reading notices, illus-
trated, with boldface eight-column ribbon heads, that
practically resembles a page of news. The word
"advertisement," although set in email upper and
lower case eight-point type on top of each column
in, conformity with the regulations of newspapers,
is so unassuming that the readers will most likely
overlook it.
Keith Circuit Inaugurates
Season with New Plans
Beginning this week, the Keith-AIbee-Orpheum
Circuit inaugurates the new season with a "new era"
in vaudeville with many distinguished stage stars at
their various combination theatres.
The new name is nothing more or less than a
presentation policy that is now being operated In
more than two thousand motion picture theatres in
the country. The only distinctive feature about it is
that instead of making it a band show policy, it is
more on the type of a musical comedy with all orches-
tral accompaniment coming from the pit. This, in
addition' to a run of feature photoplays which most
of the K-A-O houses offer, is really a miniature
musical comedy policy which is better termed in the
motion picture theatres as "presentation."
ULDERICO MARCELLI
GUEST CONDUCTOR
At Balaban & Katz'
CHICAGO THEATRE, CHICAGO
This Week
UNIFORMS
FOR HOUSE
ATTACHES
COSTUMES
FOR STAGE
PRESEI4TATIONS
BROOKS
1437 B'way
N. y.jCity :
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Radio has many favorites, but possibly without a
doubt one of the most favorite of today is "Little"
Jack Little. His appearances on radio stations
throughout the country is always anticipated and
anxiously awaited by thousands, and due to this
popularity, "Little" has been able to put over quite
a number of songs insofar as sales are concerned.
All that a song needs is his endorsement and demon-
stration, and the song is a big seller. This holds
true, particularly In the middle west.
* * *
Possibly one of the best liked out of town' repre-
sentatives in the music business is Jack Diamond,
who by the way is a member of the firm of Spier
and Coslow, Inc. On a recent visit to Chicago, Dia-
mond sized up the situation thusly.
LAKRY SPIER.
9 * «
I always thought that Bennie Krueger was a great
saxophone player, but I have since found out that
this is only one of his "faults" ! . . . Verne Buck
opens for Balaban & Katz and I feel safe in predict-
ing that he will be tremendous. Strictly a great guy !
Eddie Fitch a marvelous organist with a million
ideals. His "Whoopee Club" is quite a sensation and
is bringing enthusiastic singing to a previously "cold
house 1 . . . Mark Fisher is gaining more and more
popularity each and every week, and most certainly
is singing a greater song than ever, if that is pos-
sible. Strictly an okay guy ! . . . Caught a guy by
the name of Charles, Milton is the first name, prob-
ably one of the select ! . . . Kvale is sure doing great
at the Oriental! . . . That Al Brown fellow who
plays organ at the Granada and Marbro Theatres
happened to be on a well deserved vacation. Sorry
to have missed you Al. Strictly an A-1 guy ! . . .
Got a fellow by the name of Grossman in charge of
our Chicago office. I think he wrote a song once.
Strictly a great cook. Wrong again! . . . Spent a
good deal of time with a gentleman named Berman.
Swell fellow, wife wonderful, son great, can't miss,
strictly a great "gang"
Had to leave Chicago
ORGAN SOLOS
Leo Terry (Chicago Piccadilly) formerly here about
a year ago, is back by popular demand and rendered
a collection of very fine music at the organ this
week. Terry's style of playing is very entertaining
and does not allow your mind to wander on to any
other subject. His playing of "Indian Love Call"
this week more than pleased the patrons. They
were all happy to see him back and gave him a warm
welcome.
in a hurry (don't misunderstand this, because Capone
and I are good friends) ! . . .
« « «
Happened in on a City called Detroit, you may
have heard of this town! . . . Arthur Gutow earned
a short rest, which he spent working on new ma-
terial, "sixty ninety" ! . . . Donald Miller just as
hospitable as ever and plays that organ of his okay I
. Bob Clarke doing that "knock 'em m the aisle
bJ-^iness at the Hollywood in all keys! ... A fellow
by the name of Seymour Simons opens at the Holly-
wood Wrote a song once which sold a few thousand
copies, or a couple of million, I forget which, it was
called "Gypsy." Strictly a swell fellow! . . .
« « «
I "uscrayed" out of Detroit and "umpscrayed" into
Cleveland. In Cleveland there is an organist, quite
a very fine one, an obstrusive fellow but a prince, I
mean of course Ernest Hunt. Well liked and de-
servedly so! . . . The "Prince Charming" of Cleve-
land is none other than Maurice Spitalny, strictly
on the up and up! . . . And my pal Larry Norett.
with that gorgeous music counter of his ! . . .
* * *
William Haines, managing director of the Allen
Theatre would like to install tees all over the balcony
of his theatre,— if it wasn't against social customs, he
would be teeing off morning, noon and night, regard-
less of consequence.
« « »
Left this town and went back to my homeland,
Philadelphia, and as usual found the situation pretty
much the same with the exception that Frank Rich-
ardson whom I predict will be the biggest cheese in
the theatre world in Philadelphia from now on, is
installed at the Logan Theatre. Richardson should
go over with a bang, and will possibly put Phila-
delphia on the map together with Chicago, New York,
San Francisco, etc.
* « *
I fear this brings to an end my career as a column-
ist. Rather short lived, don't you think? It was
quite thrilling while it lasted, even though it was
more or lees hard work for one who is not accustomed
to such a line of endeavor. Possibly I will be able
to do better the next time, if Larry Spier will be
gracious enough to extend' me the courtesy.
, , # . # *
To all my many friends in these dear Uiiited States,
I want to take these means of saying "hello," "good
luck" and "more power to you." ,,
JACK DIAMOND.
Earl Abel (San Antonio Tex., Texas). For last
week's solo presented a very clever parody on
"Chloe-E" to the lyrics of "Texas Organist," "We've
Got to Sing When You Play" and so on. This idea
has been accepted with great enthusiasm by the com-
munity singers that the iJopular organist is compelled
to do something along the same lines each week.
George Johnson (Omaha Neb. Riviera). At the
organ played "My Bouquet of Memories" during the
screening of "The Street Angel." This fellow who
up to a few months ago has been a touring guest
organist for the Publix circuit is meeting with con-
siderable success at this theatre for his fine musical
selections.
Dick Liebert (Pittsburgh Pa. Penn) presented for
an organ novelty his experiences on a farm and the
imitations on the console depicted the sounds of
crowing roosters, birds, running horses, etc. The
stunt was really clever and went over in fine shape.
McNeil Smith (Chicago Marquette) offered for his
solo "A Singing Jamboree" for community purpose.
The songs used were "Lilac Time," "Just Like a
Melody Out of a Sky," "Was It a Dream," "Old Man
Sunshine" and "Down Where the Sun Goes Down."
One must be in the audience at this theatre to ap-
preciate the singing which is an evident fact that
Smith has made himself a real popular community
singing organist.
Les Hoadley (Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis.) this
week has a couple of good songs to play. They are
"Mama Growing Younger" and "King for a Day."
The crowd liked them very much and gave Les lots
of applause. And by the way, he's listed as one of
the best organists in the city.
W. J. Cowdrey (Parkersburg Sraoot, W. Va.). Re-
ports that his solo for last week was called "Station
B-I-L-L" and presented a little static. The stunt had
original slides quite unique and used the following
songs: "That's My Mammy," "When You're With
Somebody Else," and "Out of the Dawn." The title
of this solo was derived from the player's first name,
who by the way is quite popular in' that vicinity.
Terry Returns
Leo Terry, one of the best-known and liked organ-
ists in the country, just concluded a long and suc-
cessful engagement with the Great States Theatres,
Inc., as featured organist for their Rialto Theatre,
Joliet, Illinois.
Before joining the Great States circuit, Terry was
featured at the Chicago Piccadilly Theatre and
through popular demand the management brought
him back. Commencing this week, he will continue
as solo organist, presenting his original novelties
on the organ.
DEAN STEVENSON
Now with
ARMIN HAND
PICCADILLY THEATRE
CHICAGO
54W.a3ttdolphSt
Ohic»6o
'"'-59.8^' ^asfi'iKs*
SIP S4
SQNCS
BEST SELLERS
"Girl of My Dreams"— (Jack Mills).
"Ramona"—(Leo Feist).
"Get Out and Get Under the Moon" —
(Irving Berlin).
"7 hat's My Weakness Now" — (Sha-
piro-Bernstein).
"Dozvn Where the Sun Goes Down" —
(Leo Feist).
"You're a Real Sweetheart" — (Leo
Feist).
"Angela Mia"—(DeS^lva-Brown &
Henderson). _ ;
"Beloved" — (Irving Berlin).
"Just Like a Melody Out of the Sky"—- •
(Donaldson-Douglas & Gurnble). _ ' ..
"Jeanine, I Dream of Lilac Time"— . .
(Leo Feist).
"Old Man Sunshine" — (Reniick).
"Last Night I Dreamed You Kissed '
Me" — (Leo Feist). '
"Was It a Dream" — (Harms).
"Out of the Dawn" — (Donaldson- ■ ..
Douglas & Gumble).
"Just a Night for Meditation" — (Sha-' ' ■
piro-Bernstein). _ - - • •'-
:■ "Chiquita" — (Leo Feist).
AH! SWEET MYSTERY OF LIFE (M. Witttiark
& Sons)— This old masterpiece by one of Am«ricp,'»
leading writers, the late Victor Herbert, is getting
a big plug in Chicago at the present time by Wark
ing's Pennsylvanians. Should sell better than ever.
* ♦ •
SHE'S WONDERFUL — (Donaldson, Douglas &
Gamble, Inc.) It looks like these two writers who
are undoubtedly among America's best writers, hav^
writteni another hit song. This looks like another
Yes, Sir, That's My Baby, by Gus Kahn and Waited
Donaldson. ,
j:i * *
IT GOES LIKE THIS— (Leo Feist, Inc.)— Eddie
Cantor introduced this song to Chicago audiences a«d
it really looks like one of those things. Has a v?f^,
catchy melody with a comedy lyric. Plenty of extra
choruses too. By Irving Caesar and Cliff Friend. -
WHEN SUMMER IS GONE— (Ted Browne Musjc,
Co.) — A high class number that has a beautiful lyric
and a melody on a par with its lyric. Should be
sung quite extensively by the better class singersJ
Words by Charlie Harrison, music by Monte Willjite.
* * * ' * I
ROSES OF YESTERDAY — (Irving Berlin, Inc.)^.^
Irving Berlin who is about due to bang one over has
written a beautiful song that classes with his best
which means that it looks like a hit.
» » •
BEGGARS OF LIFE— (Waterson Berlin & Snyder)
^This song is the theme song of the new Paramount
picture featuring Wallace Beery, entitled Beggars of
Life. Written as a dramatic ballad by writers who
know their business. Words by J. Keirn Brennari;
music by Karl Hajos. " '
« * »
WAS IT LOVE (Harms, Inc.) — A very pretty waltz
that will no doubt be the follow up for this firm
to their Was It a Dream which has become quite
popular. Lyric by Irving Caesar, music by Con
Conrad and Harry Rosenthal. '
* « •
ANITA — (Shapiro-Bernstein & Co.) — The writer of
Charmaine and Diane has jm-itten another beautiful
waltz. He got away from their theme songs as this
song is not dedicated to any picture. It's beautiful
though and should sell. By Lew Pollack and Sidhe?^
Clare. '
* « •
MOONLIGHT MADNESS — (De Sylva, Brown , &
Hendprson)— TMoonlight is responsible for many things
but in' this case it is driving this lover mad. li
seems that the loved one is a phantom who disappears
at the moment of appearing. By Lou Davis and J^
Fi-ed Coots. ' ' ''
Z<^/^
50
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
Y^
SERVICE TALKS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald, which is a department containing news, in-
formation and gossip on current productions, is the Moving Picture World department, "Through
the Box Office Window."
"TEE PATRIOT"
J_Je-\R FOLKS:
I am confronted with the choice of two
things to do about "The Patriot." One, and the
more pleasant, is to write several thousand
words in its praise, a task that would give me
an extremely enjoyable morning. The other is
to write the three or four paragraphs which I
have time to write before this issue of the HER-
ALDWORLD goes to press. Time being what
it is, I shall of necessity choose this latter thing
to do — for the present. I have a distinct feel-
ing that I shall write the several thousand
words between this moment and the moment
when the next issue is ready for inking.
I shall say, at this time, merely that this is
the best picture Mr. EmU Jannings has ap-
peared in to my knowledge, adding that that
superlative actor of monarchs proves himself
again a monarch of actors in his portrayal of
Paul I of Russia. And that Mr. Lewis Stone
proves himself again a marvelous actor of mili-
tary men. And, with emphasis not at all in
proportion to the order of mention nor to the
amount of footage given her, that Miss Flor-
ence Vidor (who shall never seem to be Mrs.
Jascha Heifetz to me, any more than she ever
seemed to be Mrs. King Vidor) again dem-
onstrates the unbridgeable dimensions of the
gulf separating her performance of a courtly
lady — or any other kind — from the next best
performance ever given by the next best actress
in films.
And I shall employ this third paragraph to
say that Mr. Ernst Lubitsch can do a better job
of direction with his left hand, while translat-
ing Goethe or playing chess with his right, than
any ninety-nine out of any hundred directors
on either or both sides of the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans. I had thought that a reading
of Edgar Saltus' "The Imperial Orgy" left the
cine-camera without a chance of producing a
Russia I would credit. Mr. Ernst has changed
my mind. And I'll have more to say about
that, too, later.
T.
"OVR DANCING DAUGHTERS"
HE right sort of thing for the unique tal-
ents of Miss Joan Crawford seems to have been
found in "Our Dancing Daughters." And for
Anita Page, too, not to mention other mem-
berg of a cast that contains more billboard
names than Bamum & Bailey's. And these
people, working furiously and under the fear
that the picture must inevitably turn out to
T. O. Service
be just another item about flaming youth, put
up a swift, bright, colorful and altogether in-
teresting exhibition.
Miss Crawford is, in this, the principal daugh-
ter and dancer. She steps in a manner
described by young folks seated near me as a
plenty. So, for that matter, does Miss Page.
And the billing emphasizes the stepping and so
that's all right. The story, of course, shows
that the young generation is more or less bent,
according to the old standards, but not broken.
Nobility of character wears a new guise, as
does its antithesis, and everything is dashed ofif
helter-skelter to a built-in accompaniment of
jazz tunes fresh from the music counter in
Woolworth's.
My knees have become a bit rebellious
against actual participation in these jazzy fig-
ures of modern dance, and my ears have de-
veloped a bad habit of identifying most of the
new song hits with song hits that were new
when I was, but despite this handicap I got
quite a kick out of the goings-on in "Our
Dancing Daughters." (I am, I may as well
make plain, neither of that mob that was too
young nor that other mob that was too old to
squabble with — was it Germany?) The young
folks about me in the theatre (and there are so
many young folks, aren't there, my dear ticket
sellers?) loved every inch of the film.
I
SCHEDULE FOLLIES
T is seldom, as you know, that I quote — or,
for that matter, read — -another writer's wise-
cracks. Now, however, I have the pleasure of
passing along the brittle comment of Chicago's
leading cinema authority on the subject of
opening schedules. My purpose, of course, is
to thus explain my failure, during recent weeks,
to write to you of a great many pictures in
each issue. The local practice, referred to
above, laughingly, as "Schedule Follies," is my
alibi. The parties referred to in the first para-
graph following as "Randolph 5300" are none
other than those nationally, if not internation-
ally, famous showmen, Balaban & Katz. Name
of the publication originally printing these
paragraphs, under caption of "Cinema Attend-
ance Made Difficidt," will be supplied in a plain
wrapper upon receipt of two cents ($.02) in
postage.
"The resourceful young executives whose
business it is to make cinema attendance diffi-
cut for Chicagoans have been particularly suc-
cessful with manipulation of opening schedules.
For the better part of a decade the Town had
gone along quite comfortably in the good old
fashioned habit of attending the cinema on any
evening of a given week without 'phoning Ran-
dolph 5300 or venturing the motion picture
advertising sections of the newspapers to make
sure that the picture viewed on an evening of
the preceding week had been replaced by an-
other. Monday was the beginning of the show
week, just as Monday had always been the be-
ginning of the school week and the business
week, and no one thought any more about it.
Except the resourceful young men whose busi-
ness it is to m. c. a. d. f. C.
"These resourceful young men, it may not
be widely known, are selected for their jobs
by nothing so much as their ability for think-
ing of things. Theirs is a tremendous responsi-
bility, what with stockholders attending the
cinemas almost daily and always with a warm
personal interest in the custody being ac-
corded their investments, and if yoa have be-
lieved that the sleek young man in faultless
Tuxedo who stares through you as you stroll
the gilded foyer is an uppish and somewhat
bored individual you have been mistaken. The
s. y. m. is weighted down with thoughts of
tomorrow, if not indeed of the day after. How-
ever well things may seem to be going tonight,
however long the queue before the ticket wicket
and however crowded the auditorium, some-
thing must be done. Stockholders look to him
for ideas, for innovations. They shall have
them. Art shall be served. Hang the public.
"There is some doubt as to just which one
of these young men thought first of the im-
mense possibilities in manipulation of sched-
ules. Several of them have claimed the dis-
covery. Some have been rewarded for it. At
any rate, no sooner did one of the cinemas
change its opening date from Monday to Sun-
day than another made his bid for glory by
changing from Monday to Saturday. As this
is written, three houses have announced new
shows for Friday. And the contest has become
anybody's race, with glory for all and rewards
at various pay stations along the course of
travel. Arithmetically computed, the victor
should have won his way back through Thurs-
day, Wednesday and Tuesday to the starting
point on Monday, January 7, 1929, after which
time the Town may or may not be permitted
to settle back again into the comfortable habit
of attending the cinema on any evening of a
given week without risking a second look at a
motion picture encountered on one evening or
another of the week preceding. Probably not."
I
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
^^^
THE THEATRE
Incorporated in this department of practical showmanship of Exhibitors Herald are the Moving
Picture World departments, "Selling the picture to the Public," and "Better Business Builders.'*
Texas Theatre Plans School Cooperation
One of the best means of building and maintaining theatre patronage is found through active cooperation with the pub-
lic schools of your community. It will pay every theatre to direct a portion of its advertising and publicity campaigns
directly toward the school patronage. But the best results cannot be obtained unless there exist a feeling of good will and
a spirit of cooperation between the theatre and school officials. The following story tells how the Texas theatre, San Antonio,
Texas, has inaugurated its campaign to strengthen its student patronage.
WITH the opening of public schools,
the Texas theatre in San Antonio,
plans to go the limit in cooperating
with the schools, and in obtaining expoli-
tation through them.
Immediately upon the opening of schools
on September 10, passes were sent to every
teacher in town on "Tempest," as a good-
will builder. A letter was enclosed to the
effect that the Texas would be willing to
cooperate with them during the year in any
possible manner.
All school princip^als were sent a special
letter, assuring them the whole-hearted co-
operation of the Texas during the year,
and broaching the subject of "Students'
Nights," as a leader for the contact man
who is to make the arrangements for these
nights.
The Texas plans to use school soloists,
trios, quartets, comedians, special acts, and
bands in conjunction with the regular Pub-
lix roadshows on "Students' Night" each
week. The lobby will be decorated with
the banners and pennants of the various
schools, and each week, arrangements will
be made with some school to furnish a
band for la concert in front of the theatre
before the students go inside.
Sufficient propoganda will be put in and
around the schools to warrant the expecta-
tion of a majority of the student body at
these weekly affairs, which are to be held
on Friday nights, by the way, to get around
any criticism instructors might offer as to
keeping the students out on school nights.
W. C. O'Hare, manager of the Texas,
expects to derive no little additional reve-
nue this year through these school pro-
gframs.
Following is the text of the letter mailed
to principals of all schools:
"With the opening of schools we have be-
gun to think about cooperation during the
coming fall and winter seasons between the
various schools and the Texas which, of
course, we consider has given each week
ideal entertainment suitable for school chil-
dren. If you will retrospect over the vari-
ous programs we have presented in the past,
I believe you will find that not a single
picture has gone into our program that
would be detrimental to the minds of high
school or grammar students and consider-
(able care is taken each week in the selec-
tion of Texas theatre shows so that noth-
ing may creep in that would he degrading
to our reputation of furnishing only the
highest type of entertainment.
"During the coming seasons we want to
cooperate with you in every possible man-
f>
FCIJR SCNS PEJQFECT
SAYS-
MAYOR,/
SEE M^^
HE B2ECCMMEND^
much ffra/ifi'ed io be aJjie io reprodcux i/ie ahooe
/etiSr wiik t/i£ jxrmisscca of^^Joi/or Scbxi>ah'Ccmmetd
ScetTts u/wecasstzry ctc^pi' io saj^ i/ie picture corritTuies
Telling the city of Buffalo what the
Mayor thought of the picture is the way
the Great. Lakes theatre advertised the
Fox picture, "Four Sons," and it's a cork-
ing good method. The ad, four columns
wide, is modernistic in style and very at-
tractive. You'll agree, we believe, that
this is an unusually good ad.
ner to our mutual advantage. Any time
that you have anything over which you
would like to talk with us, we will be more
than glad to get together with you on it
and on the other hand I think that we have
some stunts in mind which will prove to
do a lot of good to both the school and the
Texas.
"One of the things which we are trying
to get under way at the present time is a
'Students' Night' such as we presented last
yeiar except that it will be on a larger scale
this year using soloist, duets, quartets, in-
strumental novelties, special acts, or band
numbers from our high schools in addition
to our regular stage program. We under-
stand that the school officials do not pro-
mote the idea of students attending shows
during the week (and for that reason our
'Students' Night' program will be held every
Friday at the 7 p. m. show, giving the stud-
ents the sufficient amount of entertainment
before 10:00 o'clock. This will be a great
idea for the promotion of any publicity
ideas you would like to put over for your
school such as Glee Clubs, good singers,
instrumentalist, or anything you might want
to present. We plan to have our lobby dec-
orated on these nights with the school col-
ors and pennants.
"We want to be able this year to enter-
tain the Pep Squad, football and basket ball
teams, track men, band and teachers at
these special shows — in fact, we believe that
the Texas and the schools will derive a
great mutual benefit by intensive coopera-
tion during the year.
"I am enclosing to you complimentary
tickets to see John Barrymore in 'Tempest.'
"Hoping to hear from you soon in re-
gard to your feeling on the above matters
and also hoping that you enjoy the 'Temp-
est' I remain,
Publicity Manager."
San Antonio Houses
Plan Extra Shows
For Legion Meeting
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 11.— San Antonio
theatres have begun to think seriously about
their operation during the week of the Amer-
ican Legion Convention, which starts October
8. Several of the larger houses are planning
to have midnight shows every night, and the
Texas, Publix deluxe house, is tentatively con-
sidering remaining open until 4 in the morn-
ing, presenting two shows after midnight. If
this takes effect a burlesque show from either
New York or Chicago will be imported and
will be shown in conjunction with a picture
of interest to the Legionaires, probably "Be-
hind the German Lines." The "Wedding
March" has been booked for regular presenta-
tion at the Texas that week, but no informa-
tion is to be obtained at present on bookings
of the other class A houses in San Antonio.
Rumor has it that the Majestic, the Inter-
state vaudeville house, will have a stag show
at midnight every night. Just what the nature
of this show is to be has not been definitely
decided, except that it will probably be for
men only. The smaller houses will in all
probability open at 9 in the morning and
keep running until 12 to accommodate the
enormous crowd of 175,000 visitors that is
expected.
52
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
^1|\
.V, HA.^t^J^'^s
\1. r« JF'AiL
OHN BARKY MORE «
• TEMPEST ■
jff5!»r?f«Pt
J. Noble Arnold, manager of the Capitol
theatre, Salisbury, N. C, believes in
keeping his theatre before the public at
all times for he has found it pays. Above
is a novelty in the form of a business
card used for "The First Kiss," a Para-
mount picture featuring Gary Cooper and
Fay Wray. At left is a marquise display
on "The Tempest," the U A picture star-
ring John Barrymore, and at right is a
clever herald for the sajne picture. Such
stunts as these are inexpensive yet they
go a long way toward making pictures
box office successes.
Blind Enjoy Sound
Films at Saengers
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLE.\NS, Sept. 18— The Saenger
Amusement Company entertained approxi-
mately 500 sightless men and women from
the various asylums yesterday. On the previ-
ous day 300 orphans from charitable institu-
tions were guests of the Saengers at the Tu-
dor. Al Jolson in "The Jazz Singer," now
entering its sixth week of record attendance,
was the attraction.
On the same day Manager Rodney Toups of
Loew's State theatre entertained a party of
bUnd inmates at a showing and hearing of
"The Terror," Warner talking film at that
theatre.
Little Stunts, but
They^re Clever, so
They Help Business
J. Noble Arnold, manager of the Capitol
theatre, Salisbury, N. C, is one of those
managers who believes in giving a picture a
play when it deserves it. For instance, there
is the United Artists picture, "Tempest,"
starring John Barrymore, "I pushed this pic-
ture to the fullest and it was quite worth the
time and money spent on it," says Arnold.
A clever stunt no matter how small is of-
ten more effective than a big one, not so
clever. In pushing "Tempest," Arnold used
a herald, which in itself was nothing unusual,
but the wording made it stand out and create
talk. Here's the way that herald read:
"WARNING! We are advised that
Salisbury lies directly in the path of
'The Tempest,' which is sweeping all
Many theatre managers are finding it udvnntagous to use ad layouts especially prepared and
furnLihed the theatre. One advantage is that it eliminates the necessity of a staff artist, yet
at the sanu! time permits the theatre to produce ads with an attractive art layout. The four
adi shown above were created by the use of mats furnished by the Theatre Ad Mat Service.
Additional illustrations of ads made through the use of this service will be carried in the
next Better Theatres.
Warning I
We are Advised that Salisbury
Lies Directly in tbe Path of
lEMPEST
Which Is Sweeping All Records For
Picture Entertainment Before It— |
Also that It will Blow Hardest
AT THE
CAPITOL
WITH
JOHN BARRYMORE
records for picture entertainment be-
fore it — Also that it will blow hard-
est at the Capitol — with John Barry-
more."
This herald was used a week in advance
as a trailer. He also used a door knob
hanger that had a clever appeal. One side
of the herald read :
"Here's an opening for you."
On the other side these words appeared:
"John Barrymore in the "Temp-
est" will be at tbe Capitol theatre,
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. See
it."
In connection with this picture Arnold pre-
pared a good marquise display that further
helped to boost the picture. It is shown on
this page.
For the Paramount picture, "The First
Kiss," Arnold used another clever little nov-
elty in the form of a business card. On the
card were the following words :
"Mr. Gary Cooper — Office Capitol
theatre — Office hours 1 :00-ll :00 —
Special appointments, Friday, Satur-
day, September 14-15 — Specialist in
"The First Kiss."
"I put these little cards at the front doors
of every house in Salisbury and on the doors
of all offices in the downtown district. I
used this more or less as a teaser, putting it
out a week in advance of the picture. It
caused quite a bit of comment and I feel sure
that it boosted my business a good bit."
Such stunts as these can be used on most
any picture. All that is required is a little
brain work to think them up. They are in-
expensive and it is the report of many ex-
hibitors who contribute to "The Theatre"
that these little stunts, clever, novel and in-
expensive, pay enormously at the box office in
comparison to the cost and effort it takes to
put them over.
In closing his letter to "The Theatre,"
Arnold has this to say:
"I always look forward each week
to the coming of "The Theatre" for
I hope to get some helpful idea, and
I feel that I owe it to "The Thea-
tre" to send something myself."
That's the right spirit, Arnold. We are
glad that you, as well as hundreds of other
managers find many ideas in "The Theatre"
and we also appreciate your cooperation.
The ideas that Arnold has sent in will
prove of help to others. The ideas that you
create and use in your theatre will help
others if you cooperate with "The Theatre,"
as Arnold has done, and pass those ideas
along.
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
53
Chicago House Uses
Unusual Stunt to
Increase Patronage
To increase the patronage territory of
your theatre is, or should be. the aim of
every theatre manager. It's no easy task,
and unusual means often have to be em-
ployed to achieve it. The Granada theatre,
a Marks Brothers house, in Chicago, has
attempted to widen its patronage territory,
and the methods it is using are, to say the
least, unusual.
The Granada lies on the far North side
of Chicago, in fact, more than eight miles
from the loop. It is one of the most beau-
tiful deluxe theatres in the city. Marks
Brothers also have a theatre of similar pro-
portions on the West side of Chicago, and
since there is no East side in the Windy
City, the most logical place to make a bid
for new patrons was the great South side.
* * *
But, to paraphrase Mr. Kipling, "the
North side is the North side and the South
side is the South side and never the twain
shall meet." North siders and South siders
in Chicago are two different groups of peo-
ple and they rarely mingle, at least for
pleasure. They stick pretty much to their
own sides, so you see no usual method of
exploitation would hardly succeed in bring-
ing the South side to the North side or to
the Granada theatre.
The Granada recently had Eddie Cantor
on its bill. Now Eddie is a draw in any-
body's house and the management felt that
with Eddie in the show, it would be a good
time to make a bold bid for that South side
patronage. But the stroke must be a bold
one. It must be different. It must be
unique. Remember, those South siders
have plenty of theatres on their native
heath, and no ordinary bid for their patron-
age at a theatre some 20 miles distant will
affect them.
* * *
So the last day of Cantor's appearance
at the Granda, there appeared an ad in the
paper that a special elevated train would
be run from the heart of the South side to
the Granada for the express purpose of let-
ting the South siders see Cantor — but that
was not all, no not by a jug full. While
making the long ride from Smith to North
side the adventuresome South siders would
be treated with an extra show right on the
train, so the ad read. And even that was
not all. When they arrived at their far
North side destination. Cantor would be
there to greet them with his beaming eyes,
a hearty handshake, and to cap it all, an
autographed photo of himself.
Now that is just what the Granada did.
' The exploitation was managed by J. J.
1 Hess, director of advertising and publicity
jfor Marks Brothers. The train started
! from 63rd and Cottage Grove and made
every express stop to the Granada. Two
'ushers were on board to render courteous
; service. On the front car there hung a
conspicuous sign which read, "Eddie Can-
, tor Special to the Granada Theatre," and
, similar cards were placed in the car win-
. dows. The train was filled with passengers.
When the train stopped at the Granada
' station. Cantor was right there to welcome
; everybody as they detrained. Flashlights
flared, moving picture cameras ground and
the affair was a great success. The papers
, gave the stunt- plenty of notices both before
and after it was put over. This particular
stunt, however, is just one of the methods
the theatre is using to widen its patronage
territory.
Motion pictures on board a Chicago elevated train. This is one way to entice people living
far from a theatre to visit it. The train was a special to carry Chicagoans from the far
South side to the North side to see Eddie Cantor at the Granada. Notice the uniformed
ushers on the car who gave the travelers the same service they would receive inside the
theatre.
1
gjMggt Si.
« W 1
3
'^ % .4 m
i*i
/"
1
- «
M
J
When the Eddie Cantor Special arrived
at the Granada station, Eddie, himself,
was at the station to greet the South
siders and extend them a welcome to the
theatre.
Special Truck With
Dancing Girls Aids
' 'Dancing Da ugh ters
?9
A special and appropriate iloat was used to
ballyhoo "Our Dancing Daughters," a Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer picture, when it played at the
Strand theatre, Akron, Ohio. Ray C. Brown,
manager of the theatre, managed the cam-
paign of which this stunt was a part.
A new Graham truck was used and a
flowered float was placed on it with two
young ladies, in special costumes, dancing on
the truck accompanied by an orthophonic,
loaned by the Rudick Music store. The truck
was used two days, Friday and Saturday, pre-
ceding the opening, covering the downtown
streets and out in front of the Goodyear,
Firestone and Goodrich tire factories. As
the truck would stop for light signals the
girls did a little dance. Banners on two
sides of truck and back, made in shield shape,
read : " 'Our Dancing Daughters,' The Jazz-
Mad photoplay, Strand Sunday."
The theatre tied up with the Day Drug
Co., for window displays in their 21 stores,
This special board was used on the front
car of the Eddie Cantor Special which
carried people from the far South side of
Chicago to the Granada theatre some 20
miles to the North to see Cantor.
on Orphos tooth paste. Window displays in
each of the 21 stores were used, consisting
of a 22x28 card with mounted still, copy
reading, " 'Our Dancing Daughters' of Akron
protect their teeth by using Orphos tooth
paste, see the peppy photoplay, 'Our Dancing
Daughters,' Strand theatre, week August
12th." Stores were also furnished two 8x10
stills mounted on 11x14 cards, and letters
reading, " 'Our Dancing Daughters,' Strand
theatre, week August 12," which were placed
in each of the 21 windows. i
Towel Admits One
To See This Picture
The New Everett theatre, Everett, Wash-^
ington, during the run of Dorothy MackaiU
and Jack Mulhall in First National's "Ladies'
Night in a Turkish Bath" received a lot of
publicity and created a feeling of goodwill:
R. E. Charles, manager of the theaue, ad-
mitted ladies at the first matinee, by presents-
ing at the door one turkish towel. Approxi-
mately two hundred towels, soap and several
wash cloths were collected. They were given
by Charles to the Everett Orphanages. '•
54
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
Y^
NEW PICTURES
In "New Pictures" the EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE
WORLD presents in concise form infor-
mation on current and forthcoming attrac-
tions.
The facts as presented will serve exhib-
itors in booking and in the preparation of
their advertising campaign.
CRAIG'S WIFE: Pathe drama, with Irene Rich,
Warner Baxter, Virginia Bradford, Carroll Nye,
Lilyan Tashman, George Irving, Jane Keckley,
Mabel Van Buren. Ethel Wales and Raida Rae.
Directed by William C. Demille. Released
" TYPE And THEME: Of an unusual kind of
icovian for this day and age. Adopted from the
Btage play of the same title, this one concerns a
woman whose main passion in life is the neatness
and prettiness of her home. It is a temple with
her, not a place to live in. Craig, however, bears
it, scoffing at others who call her mean. But even
toward her young sister, Ethel, Craig's wife is
harsh, tormenting the girl nearly into giving up
the college professor she loves. It is when Mrs.
Craig goes to the college to interfere that she lays
the foundation of her own undoing. For while
she's away, Craig goes to play bridge at the Pass-
more home, and tliat night, Passmore kills his wife
and himself. The police take Craig as the mur-
derer. But a letter reveals the true nature of the
tragedy. Craig goes home. His wife merely
notices diist on the mantel and discharges the
servant responsible. Craig crunches his cigarette
into the expensive rug, smashes a row of ornw-
ments and leaves. Deserted by everyone, Mrs Craig
weeps over the disorder of the room.
FLEET'S IN, THE: Paramount comedy-drama,
with Clara Bow, James Hall, Jack Oakie and
Bodil Rosing. Directed by Malcolm St. Clair.
Released Length.
TYPE AND THEME: In which Paramount
admonishes Miss Bow "Be yourself!" after im-
plicating her in "Ladies of the Mob." The fleet's
in, and the Roseland dance hall hostesses go down
to the sea with hips designed to make the gobs
forget every other port. Peachey (Miss Bow, of
course) is the peachicst of 'em all and immediately
arouses the simultaneous interest of Eddie, the
fleet's sheik, and Doyle, who thinks he is. Doyle
cops the first dance, but Eddie cuts in and he and
Peachey take the first prize. Still Peachey is
recalcitrant. So Eddie fakes a fight in which he
comes off victor. Peachey is won over a little,
which results in Eddie's confinement for being
A. W. O. L. Doyle takes advantage of this situa-
tion, and when Eddie comes ashore, a big fight
ensues. Eddie is arrested. Peachey tries to ex-
plain. At the trial, she takes all the blame. As
the fleet shoves off, Eddie wig-^oags to her: "It
won't be long now. No cheating. I love you."
• * •
FOREIGN LEGION, THE: Universal melodrama,
with Lewis Stone. Norman Kerry, Mary Nolan,
June Marlow, Crauford Kent and Walter Perry.
Directed by Edward Sloman. Released
Length
Fresh and sweet — Jack Mulhall and Doro-
thy Mackaill in a scene from 'Water-
front," First National comedy-drama in
tvhich they are co-starred. William A.
Soiter directed
TYPE AND THEME: Tempestuous occurrences
mainly on the hot sands of Algeria. Bichard
goes there as a member of the French foreign
legion following disgrace which he brings upon
himself by shouldering the blame due Arnaud,
husband of hia former fiancee, Sylvia. Richard
is placed under the command of Destinn, his
father, though neither knows it. Sylvia and her
sister, Gabrielle, also go to Algiers. There Sylvia
has an affair with Destinn and has her husband
sent on a dangerous mission out on the desert.
Destinn and Richard have to go to his rescue.
They find an insurrection. Richard is appointed
the insurgent leader and therefore is arrested.
At the trial it is revealed that Destinn is his
father. But Destinn nevertheless orders him exe-
cuted. But in the morning the guards find Destinn
in the cell. Richard and Gabrielle are fleeing.
• « •
RED DANCE, THE: Fox meledrama, with Dolores
Del Rio, Charles Farrell, Ivan Linow, Boris Char-
sky, Dorothy Revier, Andre Segurola and Dimitri
AlexiB. Directed by Raoul Walsh. Released
— — Len gth_
TYPE AND THEME: A tale built out of the
Russian revolution. Tasia, peasant girl, is hot
for revenge for her mother's death and father's
imprisonment, results of Cossack terrorism. Pet-
roff, giamt soldier, buys her from her relatives.
But Tasia is saved from him when he gets too
drunk to remember his wedding. Meanwhile,
Grand Duke Eugene has been sent to the town
because co-conspirators with the Czarina believe
he knows too much of court intrigue. Tasia is
conscious of the birth of love. Eugene, however,
accepts the court comviand to marry Princess
Varvara. Revolutionists see their chance. Tasia,
not knowing whom he is, is induced to kill the
bridegroom. She misses, recognizes Eugene and
flees. She becomes a dancer. Plots are hatched
beneath the stage, Petroff being the leader. It is
decided that Eugene must die. Petroff is appointed
his assassin. Tasia races to Eugene's quarters.
Petroff finds her in his arms. He loves Tasia too
well to see her unhappy. He shoots Eugene with
a blank cartridge. The duke is "buried," to be
later released by Petroff, who arranges for an
airplane to carry the lovers from the country.
* * *
TAXI 13 : FED comedy, with Chester Conklin,
Martha Sleeper, Hugh Trevor, Gustav von Seyf-
fertitz, Ethel Wales, Lee Moran, Jerry Miley and
Charles Byer. Directed by Marshall Neilan. Re-
TYPE AND THEME: Conklin~~siarring in a
straight comedy role. H^s Andy, owner and driver
of a taxi. No. IS. Besides the taxi, which is pretty
well shot, he has a nagging wife and eleven (11)
kids. Andy needs a hundred bucks to get a new
taxi and is pretty tickled when two men, hiring
the cab, promise him the hundred. But they tear
the bill in half — he'll get the other half when he's
through. They turn out to be crooks and when
pursued, hide the jewels in the cab. Hiring the
taxi of Danny's rival, Moran, they give him the
other half of the bill. . . . Disguested, Danny
vents himself on his daughter Flora. She leave*
home, Danny sinashes his taxi with an axe. tt
is sold to a film company. Flora is abducted by
the crooks. A fight — and they are captured. The
whereabouts of the jeivels is thus learned. They
are retrieved. And Danny, winning a $5,000 re-
ward, seeing Flora get happily married and acquir-
ing a new cab, is happy once more,
* • *
WATERFRONT: First National comedy-drama,
with Dorothy Mackaill, Jack Mulhall, James Brad-
bury, Jr., Knute Erickson, Ben Hendricks, Jr.,
William Norton Bailey and Pat Harmon. Directed
by William A. Seiter. Released „ Lengrth
TYPE AND THEME: About a girl who loves
the sea too much to give it up for anything ex-
cept her lover. Peggy's father, captain of a
tugboat in San Francisco harbor, almost runs his
craft into a tramp steamer as he waves his
daughter goodbye. Jack Dowling, an oiler on the
tramp, laughs at the old fellow, enraging him.
Peggy has caught Jack's eye, but the captain
will have none of him, Peggy, however, is in-
terested and goes to a dance with him. Their
love ripens. Then the captain decides that on a
farm she belongs. Jack proposes. She accepts.
Then Jack says he too would like to live on a farm-
She disengages herself. Jack indtices Peggy to ship
on his boat to escape her father. But when she
learns that the boat has not left the wharf, she is
furious. Brute Mullins, who loves Peggy, attacks
Jack. This decides Peggy. She steps between them,
taking Jack into her arms.
This Week's Press Sheet
DO YOUR DUTY (First National comedy-drama): Cards
can be prmted to be tied on doors of all cars parked in the
""*^'' °^ yo""" town. On one side of the card have printed,
'The police expect you to 'Do Your Duty.'" On the reverse
side, print, "And Spend a joyful afternoon or evening at
(theatre)." These cards should not cost very much. Have
the strings for tieing not too long, so that there will always
be visible the first copy above, to attract the returning owner,
who has probably parked his car too long.
Since the hero of "Do Your Duty" is a stalwart member of
a metropolitan police force who, after many obstacles, rounds
up a notorious band of crooks, you will have ample opportu-
nity for effective tie-ups involving coppers. For example, hire
three to six men, dress them in policemen's uniforms, and
have them parade in single file along the main thoroughfares,
with signs on their backs with copy as follows: "We always
do our duty, now you do your duty and see Charlie Murray
in 'Do Your Duty' at the theatre."
You can dress your ticket takers, ushers and other attend-
ants in the front of the house in police uniforms for the dura-
tion of the engagement of "Do Your Duty" and thus create
atmosphere relevant to the theme of the picture.
The punch in the title, "Do Your Duty," is such that mer-
chants of all kinds in your city should give you window dis-
plays. For instance, for restaurants, have a window card made
that reads, "Do Your Duty, eat the best! see the best! dine
here, then go to see Charlie Murray in 'Do Your Duty' at
theatre." The restaurant may want to display with
the card and stills from "Do Your Duty," some of their
tastiest looking special dishes. For candy stores you could
have the copy or your display card read: "Do your duty to-
night by taking her home a box of candy, and then take her
to see Charlie Murray in 'Do Your Duty' at the
theatre."
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
^e^
QUICK REFERENCE PICTURE CHART
Incorporated in this department of Moving Picture World is the Exhibitors Herald department,
"Available Attractions^"
The key to abbreviations used In denoting the type of picture*
C— Comedy F — Faroe
D— Drama M'^—Melodrama
R—Kontanee W— Western
My^Mystery
Where the picture is a comedy-drama, comedy melodrama, etc.,
there is a combination of these abbreviations. Stars denote
reissues.
The dates prior to January 7 published under the "Comment"
column are those of the issues of Moving Picture World in which
the pictures were reported. The January 7 and subsequent dates
are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOV-
ING PICTURE WORLD in which "Service Talks" have been
published on pictures.
The dates prior to January 7 published under the "New Pic-
tures" column are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD
in which "New Pictures" information was printed. The January
7 and subsequent dates are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD in which this in-
formation will be printed.
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
Chesterfield
1928
5400 Adorable Cheat, The, LUa Lee-Mcintosh June 1
6450 Below the Deadline Feb. 28
6500 Campus Knishts _ Aug. 15
6300 Circumstantial Evidence Oct. 30
6000 House of Shame, The June 30
6000 Roaring Forties, The Apr. 15
6900 South of Panama Dec. 15
1928
Columbia
1927
6831 Alias the Lone Wolf (D), Lytell-Wllson Ane. 22
6843 Blood Ship, The (M). Bosworth-Logan Anir. 10
6432 By Whose Hand (MyO), Cortez-aUbert Sept. 15
6628 College Hero, The (CD), Agnew-Garon Oct. 9
1927
Jan. 7 Oct. 1
Dec. 3 July 23
Dec. 31
6513 Fashion Madness, \Vlndsor-H;)wes _ Dec. 8
6645 Isle of Forgotten Women (D), Tearle-Sebastian..Sept. 27
6750 Lone Wolf Returns (M), Lytell-Wllson
B524 Opening Night, The (D), Windsor-J. Bower8....Nov. 14
6569 Pleasure Before Business (F). Davidson
6892 Salty in Our Alley (M), Mason-Allen Sept. 3
1000 Screen Snapshots
6996 Siren, The, T. Atoore-Itevier Dec. 20
Jan. 14 Jan. 14
Dea 3
July 31
6436 Stage Kisses (D), Ilarlan-Chadwlck...
6(154 Stolen Pleasures (CO), Itevler
6108 Sweet Rosie O'Grady (CD), Mason-
Nov. 2
May 14
Jan. 14
Aug. 28
Jan. 21 Jan. 21
Jan, 7
-Oct. 2
6357 Tigress, The (M), nolt-Kevter Oct. 21
8426 Wandering Girls (CO), Revter-Agnew
5791 Warning, The (M), Holt-rteder Nov. 26
6752 Way of the Strong, The (IVID), Alice Day-Lewla —
1928
6469 After the Storm, GUbert-Bosworth
6i:49 Beware of Blondes (MD), Itevler-Matt Moore
,6537 Broadway Daddies, .Taciiuellne Logan Apr. 7
6928 Desert Bride, The (MD), Betty Compson Mar. 26
6592 Golf Widows (CO). Ilej-nolds-Ford _ _..
6471 Lady Rallies, Ta.rlor-Drew Jan. 25
5926 Matinee Idol, The (MD), Love-Walker Mar. 14
6640 Modern Mothers (CD), Uelene Chadwlck...- June 9
8644 Name the Woman (D), Stewart-Gordon _
6401 Say It With Sables (D), Bii:ihinan-Cliadwlck.
6440 So This Is Love, Mason-CoIUer Feb. 6
6464 Sporting Age, The, Bennett-Herbert Mar. 2
6047 That Certain Thing, Dana-Graves Jan. 1
Virgin Lips (D), Olive Borden _Aug. 18
5350 Wile's Relations, The. ilason-Glass Jan. 13
6472 Woman's Way, A. Baxter-Livingston Feb. 18
....52.72%
Dec. 3
-July 21
1928
..July 21
Apr. r4
..May 26
Feb. 25
Apr. 7
.June 19
..Aug. 4
Feb. 25
Jan. 28
Feb. 11
Mar. 31
1927
JOOO Angelus, The (D)
2000 Real Charleston. Lesson Novelty.
Cranfield & Clarke, Inc.
Wooden Shoes. IntemationaL.
...Msy 15
....Apr. 24
...May 8
1927
1927
6250 Husbands or Lovers. Jannlngs-
Emblem Films
1927
6980
6K05
S)'12
6U45
6792
Excellent
1927
1927
Back to Liberty (D), WaLsh-Hall.
-Nov. 15
7393
5337
8750
6867
Bowery Cinderella, A (D). O'Malley-Hulette. May 1
Broadway Drifter (D). Walsh-nall Nov. 1
Broadway Madness (D), De la Motte-Keith. Apr. 14
His Rise to Fame (D), Walsh-Shaw Feb. 15
Kick-off. The (D), Hyams-Aniann — Mar. 17
Nest, The (D), Frederick- ITerhert Aug. 1
Striving for Fortune (D), WaLsh- Roberts.... -Jan. 15 Mar. 3
Winning Oar, The (0), Walsh-Hall .Tune 1
Your Wife and Mine (F). Haver-Holmes Sept 1 Mar. 17
Length Title and Players
New
Pictures
Comment Ticker
1928
6860
6660
6305
6000
6400
4700
6536
6600
1927
A Bit of Heaven (D). Washbum-Lee May 15
Into No Man's Land. Tom Santschl-J. Nonnan_June 15
Making the Varsity. Rex Lease-Hulette July 15
Manhattan Knights, Barbara Bedford Aug. 27
Satan and the Woman (D). Windsor-Keefe Jan. 20
Speed Classic. The. Rex Lease-MUdred Harrl3....July 31
Stronger Will. The (W). Marmont-Carewe -Feb. 20
Women Who Dare (D). Chadwick-Delaney Mar. 30
1928
FBO
4765
4858
4910
4837
5701
5093
4754
4913
6300
6507
7014
5240
5186
6481
6515
4924
6680
6140
4941
6004
4886
6388
4892
1928
5872
4893
5583
4869
5000
6267
6375
6320
5594
5511
5984
5063
4770
4804
4758
6148
Aflame in the Sky (M). Luden-Lynn Dec. 18
Bandit's Son, The (W), Bob Steele -Nov. 20
Boy Rider, The (W), Buzz Barton. Oct. 23
Breed of Courage (D), Ranger Aug. 7
Cherokee Kid, The (W), Tyler-Lynn Oct. 30
Clancy's Kosher Wedding (CD), Geo. Sidney Sept. 17
Coward, The (D). Warner Baxter. _ _Aug. 21
Desert Pirate (W), Tom Tyler. Dec. 25
Flying U Ranch, The (W). Tom Tyler Sept. 4
Gingham Girl, The (C), Lois Wilson. Oct. 2
Great Mail Robbery, The (M). Von Eltz-Nelson.Aug. 15
Harvester, The (D), Orville Caldwell Nov. 23
Hook and Ladder No. 9 (D), Ed Heame. -Nov. 13
Jake the Plumber (C), Jesse De Vorska- Oct. 16
Judgment of the Hills (D). Darro-Vaili... ....Nov. 6
Little Mickey Grogan (D), Frankie Darro. _Deo. 27
Mojave Kid, The (W), Bob Steele Sept. 25
Moon of Israel (D), Maria Corda
Not for Publication (M), Ralph Ince —Aug. 31
Racing Romeo (D), Red Grange
Ranger of the North (D), Ranger. Oct. 9
Shanghaied (M), Ralph Ince Oct 19
Slingshot Kid, The (M). Buzz Barton JDec. 4
South Sea Love (D), Patsy MlUer Deo. 10
Swift Shadow. The (D), Ranger _ Dec. 11
Feb. 25
Feb. 25
Dec. 10
1927
Dec. 10
Deo. 3
Oct. 8
Nov. 26
....Sept. 10
....Sept. 10
- -■
Dec. 24
Nov. 28
July 30
...July 2
Nov. 19
Not. 26
Nov. 19
—64.60%
Dec. 3
Dec. 3
Nov. 12
Aug. 20
Deo. 17
...Aug. 6
....July 9
...July 23
Dec. 3
Alex the Great (M). Skeets Gallagher May 13
Bantam Cowboy (W), Buzz Barton Aug. 12
Beyond London's Lights (M), Lee Shumway....Mar. 18
Breed of the Sunsets (W), Bob Steele^ Apr. 1
Captain Careless, Bob Steele Aug. 26
Chicago After Midnight (M), Ince-Mendez Mar. 4
Coney Island (D), Lois Wilson Jan. 13
Crooks Can't Win (D), Ralph Lewis. _May 11
Danger Street, Baxter-Sleeper Aug. 26
Dead Man's Curve (D), Fairbanks, Jr Jan. 15
Devil's Trademark. The (D), Belle Bennett Apr. 7
Dog Justice (M), Ranger Juno 10
Driftin' Sands (W). Bob Steele Jan. 1
Fangs of the Wild (D). Ranger. Feb. 5
Fightin' Redhead (W). Buzz Barton July 1
Freckles (D). Stratton-Fox, Jr _ Mar. 21
Headin' for Danger (MD). Bob Steele- -
Her Summer Hero (CD). Blane-Trevor Feb. 12
Hit of the Show, The (C), Joe Brown-Olmstead.
Law of Fear (D), Ranger .Apr. 8
Legionnaires in Paris (C), Cooke-Guard Jan. 31
Little Buckaroo, The (W), Buzz Barton Mar. 11
Little Yellow House, The (0), OrvlUe Caldwell-May 28
Man In the Rough (W), Bob Steele— May 20
Perfect Crime, The, Cllve Brook-Irene Bidi. Aug. 19
Phantom of the Range (W), Tom Tyler Apr. 22
Pinto Kid, The (W), Buzz Barton -Apr. 29
Red Riders of Canada (M), P. R. Miller. Apr. 15
Riding Renegade (W). Bob Steele Feb. 19
Sally of the Scandals (M), Bessie Love July 15
Skinner's Big Idea (M), Bryant Washburn Apr.24
Stocks and Blondes (CD), Logan-Gallagher.
Terror Mountain, Tom Tyler. _ Aug. 19
Texas Tornado, The (W). Tom Tyier Feb. 26
Trail of Courage, The (W), Bob Steele July 8
Wallflowers (D), Trevor-Scott Feb. 16
When the Law Rides (W), Tom Tyler- June 24
Wizard of the Saddle (W), Buzz Barton. Jan. 22
Dec. 3
Dec. 10
Nov. 12
Dec. 10
Feb. 11
May 5
Feb. 11
Feb. 11
Jan. 21
Dec 17
Feb. 11
Aug. 20
1928
Feb. 18
Uar. 17
5144
4769
5771
4801
6424
4785
4781
4884
6419
4729
6059
5967
4956
4793
4760
6329
4898
4805
1927
5400
5960
5600
5900
5800
5700
5750
6700
6700
5700
5600
5700
1928
5500 Fagasa, Raymond Wells Apr. 1
Free Lips (MD), June Marlowe
6300 Masked Angel, Betty Compson .Mar. 1
6200 Souls Aflame, Raymond Wells Alar. 16
Dec. 17
Mar. 3
June 16
Dec. 17
Jan. 21
Feb. 11
Feb. 4
-June 19
Jan. 21
.July 21
Feb. 11
Dec. 10
Jan. 14
June 2
Feb. 11
Sept. 1
Jan. 21
Feb. 4
Jan. 21
First Division
Comrades, Costello-Hughes
Death Valley (W), CarroU Nye —
Eager Lips, Garon .
Finnegan's Bail (C), Mack Swain
Ladies at Ease (CO), Garon-Short
Ladybird, Compson _
Naughty, Garon
Polly of the Movies, Short-Robards
Ragtime (D), De La Motte -. —
Return of Boston Blackie (D), Glenn-Palmer.
Say It with Diamonds, Betty Compson- _
Temptations of a Shop Girl. Compson _
..Jan. 1
...Sept. 1
...Oct. 1
...Sept. 15
-Nov. 15
..Aug. 1
..JJov. 1
.Dct. 15
..Sept 1
..Aug. 1
..Aug. 16
._Nov. 1
Apr. 28
""
Apr. 14
.July 14
Feb. 4
....Deo. 24
1927
.Aug. 20
Jan. 7
..Oct 15
Jan. 7
Nov. 26
Septs
1928
July 14
Apr. 7
Apr. 21
56
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
Length
Title and Players
Released New Comment Tickei
Pictures
1927
First National
6300
6333
6133
6222
6i<>3
6730
7724
63S6
6SSS
6S02
52S2
7i:
62SS
611$
6190
C524
6460
6720
57 IS
5550
5255
73SS
5521
5W2
5434
6520
6040
6431
6734
11414
5982
All Aboard (C), Hines-Murpliy May S
American Beauty (CD). Dore-Hughes- Oct. 9
An Affair of the Follies (D). Dove-Hughes. Feb. 13
Breakfast at Sunrise (CD), C. Talmadge„.._ Oct. 23
Broadway Nights (D), WUson-Hardj' May 15
Camille (D), N. Talmadge-Beriand Sept. 4
Convoy (D), Sherman- Jlackaill -Apr. 24
Crystal Cup, The (D). Mackaiil-Mulhall Oct. 16
Dance Magic (0), Ljon-Starke -June 12
Drop Kick, The (D), Barthelmess-Revier Sept. 25
Framed (D), SiUs-Kinsrston June 19
Gorilla. The (My). Murray -Kelsey Not. 13
Nov. 6
S Gun Gospel (W). Ma>-nard-Faire..
Her Wild Oat (C), Moore-Kent-..
High Hat (CD). L.von-Brian
-Dec.
-Mar.
-Nov.
6400
6210
6477
5606
5800
6548
7179
5000
7400
7419
5774
5668
7833
6336
6324
6409
1928
Home Made (C). Hines-Daw..
Lady in Ermine, The (D), C. Grifflth-Bushman_ran. 9
Life of Riiey, The (C), Murray-Sidney Sept. 18
Lonesome Ladies (CD), Nilsson-Stone July 3
Long Pants (C), Langdon-Bonner Apr. 10
Lost at the Front (C), Murray-Sidney. May 29
Love Mart. The (D), Dove-Roland —Dec. 18
Lunatic at Large, The (C), ErroI-MackaiU Jan. 2
Man Crazy (CD), Mackaill-MuUiall. Nov. 27
Masked Women, The (D). Nlls8on-BUnn-H'nsen.Jan. 23
Naughty But Nice (C). Moore-Reed June 26
Notorious Lady, The (D), Bedford-Stone — Mar. 27
No Place to Go (C). Hughes-Astor. —Oct. 30
Orchids and Ermine. Moore-Mulhall..„ Mar. 6
Patent Leather Kid. The (D), Bart'lmess-0"Day_
Perfect Sap. The (CD). Lyon-Starke. Jan. 16
Poor Nut. The, (C). Murray-Mulliari Aug. 7
Prince of Head Waiters (D), Stone-Tashman.
Red Raiders, The (W), Maj-sard-Drew July 17
Rose of the Golden West (D), Astor-Roland — Sept. 4
Sea Tiger. The (D). SiUs-Astor. Oct. 2
See You in Jail (C), Mulhill-Day Feb. 27
Sraile, Brother, Smile (C), MulhaU-MackailL...Apr. 17
Stolen Bride, The (D), Hughes-Dove Sept. 11
Sunset Derby (D), Astor-CollJer Aug. 14
Tender Hour, The (D). Dove-Lyon.. June 5
Texas Steer, A (CD). Rogers-Fazenda.. May 1
Three Hours (D), Grifflth-Bowers Dec 4
Three's a Crowd (C), Langdon-McConneU Apr. 3
Twinkletoes. Moore-Harlan _ Aug. 28
Valley of the Giants (D), SUls-Kenyon. Dec. 11
Venus of Venice (CD), Talmadge-Moreno Mar. 29
White Pants Willie (C), Hines-Hyams. July 24
- »Apr. 2
Nov. 19 Oct. 22
-Mar. 5
Nov. 12 Nov. 26
-May 21
-May 2
May 21
Nov. 12 Oct. 29
Aug. 13
-July 9
Jan. 7
Dec. 17
Dec. 3
Mar. 19
Nov. 26 Oct. 29
__Ian. 8
-Oct. 1
-Sept. 24
-Apr. 9
-June 25
1927
47.20%
56.10%
48.00%
65.00%
61.54%
53.58%
Nov. 26
..-Feb. 5
Jeb. 12
July 16
Nov. 12 May 14
-Deo. 10
.._ -Apr. 9
Aug. 20
Jan. 22
Sept. 10
July 23
Oct. 15
Nov. 19 Oct. 8
-May 14
_Apr. 23
Sept. 17
Sept 3
July 2
ilay 28
Dec. 3 Apr. IG
Jan. 1
Dec. 3
Dec. 24 Jan. 7
Aug. 6
Apr. 16
67.90%
70.47%
61.88%
47.00%
38.90%
47.72%
"' 69.92%
68.86%
45.80%
1928
7404
6500
5800
5744
6374
8030
6172
6344
7100
J433
7541
£957
7694
6592
6608
8967
7700
6625
7129
5485
8188
5827
6212
6874
7187
1927
4ri6>
4777
4556
5425
6078
5333
4810
4300
6381
evA
5524
4545
.•;6i7
5515
4083
4851
6941)
6162
63Bf»
.WW
HTM
fins
."mo
77;(
T«77
B:12T
M'.ifl
S87R
Barker. The (D). Sills-Max*alU
Big Noise. The (CD), ConMin-Whlte Mar.
Burning Daylight (M), SiUs-Kenyon — Feb.
Butter and Egg Man, The, Jack ilulhall _
(^nyon of Adventure (W), Maynard Apr.
C*aser. The (C), Langdon Feb.
Chinatown Charlie (C), Hines- Lorraine Apr.
Code of the Scarlet (W), Ken Maynard, —
Goodbye Kiss, The, Johnny Burke-SaUy Ellers
Flying Romeos (C), Murray-Sidney Feb.
French Dressing (CD), Warner-Wilson Jan.
Garden of Eden, The (D). Corinne Griffith
Happiness Ahead (D). CoUeen Moore-Lowe June
Hawk's Nest. The (M). Milton Sills. .May
Heart to Heart, Lloyd Hughes-Todd.
Heart Trouble (CD), Harry Langdon.
Harold Teen (CD), Lake-Brian Apr.
Heart of a Follies Girl (D), Dove-Kent-
Slierman ^ _Mar.
Helen of Troy (CD), Stone-Corda-Cortez Jan.
Ladies Night (CD), MackaiU-MuIhaU -Apr.
Lady Be Good (CD), Mulhall-Mackalll May
Lilac Time (D), Moore-Cooper — -.Apr.
Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come (D), Mar-
thelmess-ODay - Apr.
Mad Hour (D), O'Nell-Kent-Sherman Mar.
Noose, The (D), Barthelmess-Joyce. -Jan.
Out of the Ruins, Richard Barthelmess
Sailors' Wives (CD), Hughes-Astor _ — Tan.
Sherpherd of the Hills (D), Francis-O'Day -Jan.
Strange Case of Captain Ramper, The (D)
Three Ring Marriage (M), Hughes-Astor. May
Wagon Show, The (W), Maynard Mar.
Wheel of Chance, The (D), Ricliard Barthebnesf
Whip. The (D). Forlws-Mackalll —
Whip Woman, The (D), Taylor-Moreno Feb.
Wright Idea, The (CD), .lohnny Hines
Yelk)w Lilly, The (D), Dove-Brooks May
July 14
Mar. 10 Apr. 7
. „ -July 28
Feb. 11
Feb. 18
.June 23
July 7
Apr. 7
Dec. 10
Dec. 17
.Aug. 4
May 26 -.
May 26 June 16
-July 7 Aug. 4
..July 21
Apr. 21
Mar. 10
Dec. 24 Feb. 4
Sept. 1 Aug. 18
Apr. 7 May 12
Mar. 17
Deo. 10
-Sept. 1
Dec. 24 ..._
Dec. 8
..July 21
Apr. 28
Mar. 17
..June 2
..July 14
Feb. 11
.July 7
Apr. 28
Jan. 21
July 21
63.25%
78.23%
Fox
Arizona Wildcat. The (W). Tom Mix. Nov. 20
Blackjack (W). Buck Jones. Sept. 25
Blood Will Tell (W). Buck Jones Nov. 13
Broncho Twister (W). Mil Mar. 13
•Cameo Kirby (D). John Gilbert. _ Aug. 28
Chain Lightning (W), Buck Jones Aug. 14
Circus Ace, The. Mix....- -.June 26
Come to My House (CD), Olive Borden Dec. 25
Cradle Snalcheri (FC), Fazenda _ -Tune 5
East Side. West Side (D), O'Brien-VallL Oct. 9
Gay Retreat, The (C), Cohen-McNamara Sept. 25
Good as GId (W), Jones June 12
Heirt of Salome (My), Rubens -.May 8
High School Hero (C), I'hlpps-Stuart Oct. 16
Hills of Peril (W). Jones _ May 1
•Honor Firrt (D). John Gilbert Sept. 18
It ZaI So? (CD). O'Brien-Lowe. May 15
Joy Girl. The (CD). Olive Borden. Sept. 18
Ladies Must Ores* (CD). Virginia VaUl Nov. 20
Lovt Makes 'Em Wild (D). Harron. Mar. 6
LovM of Carmen (D). McT^Bl<n-Dcl Klo Sept. 4
Madam Wants No Children, Corda Apr. 3
Marriage (D), Valll , Feb. 20
Monkey Talks (D), Lcmcr Fob. 20
Muiic Ma«t<r (D). A. B. Franda .Tan. 23
Ont Increasing Purpose (D). Ixnve Jan. 2
Ootlawi of Red nivcT (W>. Mix.
Paid to Lov» fO). OTIrlen-Valll Aug. 14
Pajamas "'.n} " 'i-n-Oray..— Oct. 23
..Nov. 19
-Nov. 12
..A.pr. 2
..June 18
. June 4
Oot. 22
1927
63.00%
..June 11
...May 9
...Oct. 28
...May 14
40.70%
May 21
Sept. 24
Nov. 19 Deo, 17
...Oct. 8
..Apr. 16
..Feb. 26
...Mar. 5
.. Jan. 22
....Tan. 15
..Apr. 23
...Aug. 0
..Dec. 10
48.60%
61.58%
Length
Title and Players
Released New Comment
Pictures
Ticker
5893
5484
10726
54(;7
5446
5009
5792
5412
4943
4299
4675
6293
11109
57 S3
5029
5531
1928
7177
4612
Publicity Madness (CD), Moran-Lowe -
Rich But Honest (CD), Beebe
7th Heaven, The (R), FarreU-Gaynor.
»Shame (M), John Gilbert.
Silk Legs (CD), Madge Bellamy
Silver Valley (W), Tom Mix
Singed (D), Baxter-Sweet
Slaves of Beauty (D), Herbert-Tell
Oct. 2
May 22
Oct. 30
St. Elmo (M), John GUbert
Truxton King, Gilbert
Tumbling River (W), Tom Mix-Dawn. _...
2 Girls Wanted (CD), Janet Gaynor.
What Price Glory (CD), MoLagleu-Lowe
Whispering Sage (W), Jones
Wizard, The (MyD), Lowe-Hyams.
Wolf Fangs (D), Thumder (Dog)
-..June 4
-May 28
Nov. 27 Jilov. 26
. Dec. 18 Dec. 31
Oot. 2 Dec. 17 Oct. 29
Aug. 21 JxOy 16
June 5 June 11
Oct. 9 _
Oct. 30
......Aug. 21 Aug. 27
......Sept. 11
Aug. 28
Mar. 20 Apr. 9
Deo. 11 Jan. 14 Deo. 3
Nov. 27 -.
71.33%
4203
4987
5708
6566
5109
7217
4939
8062
5038
5882
4404
6430
4618
6188
4300
57 S2
6679
5071
5034
Air Circus. The, Dresser-BoUlns-Lake.
Branded Sombrero, The (W), Buck Jones
Case of Mary Brown, The, O'Brlen-Moran-Foxe.
Chicken a la King (CD), Carrol-Francis Lee_.
Cowboy Kid, The, Rex BelL
Daredevil's Reward (W), Tom Mix.
Don't Marry, Moran-Hamllton
Dressed to Kill, Lowe-Astor
Escape, The (D), Russell-Valli . .
Dry Martini, Astor- Moore-Gran
Fazil, Farrell-Nissen
Fleetwing, Norton- Janls-Bard
Four Sons, Mann-Collyer-HaU
Gateway of the Moon, The (D), Del Rio
Girl in Every Port, A (CD), Victor McLaglen...
Girl-Shy Cowboy, The, Rex BeU-O'Leary.
Hangman's House, McLagleu-CoUyer.
Hello Cheyenne, Tom Mix.
H omesick, Cohen-Beebe __..
Honor Bound, O'Brien-Taylor
Horseman of the Plains (W), Tom Mix
Love Hungry (CD), Moran-Gray
Making the Grade, Lowe-Moran.
-Sept. 30
.Jan. 8
.Deo. 23
..July 15
-Jan. 15
June 3
-Mar. 18
■Apr. 29
-Oct. 7
..Sept. 9
-June 24
..Sept. 2
.Jan. 1
.Jan. 29
.May 13
-May 13
..Dec. 20
..May 13
.Mar. 11
..Apr. 15
..Oct. 14
-Oct. 21
.Oct. 28
71.00%
50.61%
1928
Jan. 21
..June 23 June 30
Feb. 11
June 9
Apr. 14 Apr, 14
Apr. 14 Jan, 21
9250
G937
5380
5629
5355
8393
5937
5030
4921
5337
5480
1927
Mother Machree, Benuett-McLaglen
Mother Knows Best, BeUamy-Dresser-Norton.....
News Parade, Stuart-Phillips
No Other Woman (D), Dolores Del Rio June 10
None But the Brave, Norton-Phlppa Aug. 5
Painted Post (W), Tom Mix
Play Giri, The, Madge Bellamy Apr. 22
Plastered in Paris, Cohen-Penniok-Linow -Sept. 23
Prep and Pep, RoUins-Drexel-Darrow. —Nov. 11
Red Dancer, The, Del Rlo-Farrell Dec. 2
River Pirate, The, McLaglen-Moran. _ -Aug. 26
Road House (MD), Barrymore-Burke
Sharp Shooters (CD), O'Brien-Moran. Jan. 15
Soft Living (CD), Bellamy-Brown. Feb. 5
Square Crooks, Brown-Dwan Mar. 4
Street Angel, Gaynor
Sunrise (D), George O'Brien _ Nov. 4
Thief in the Dark, A, Meeker-HlU-Beebe...- May 20
Why Sailors Go Wrong, Phipps-MoNamara —Mar. 25
Wild West Romance (W), Rex King-..- —June 10
Win That Girl, RoUins-Carol Sept. 16
Woman Wise (C), Russell-Collyer. Jan. 8
*"■*""
— -
Jan.
28
Sept
1
-May 26 _
Msv
12
Apr.
21
7
10
May 19 „
Feb. 4 _
Apr.
Mar.
...May 26
June 23 June 23
July 7
..-4ug. 4 _.
Feb, 4 Feb. 18
Feb. 18
July 7
July 21
May 19 June 2
Aug. 18
Jan. 28 _.-
Gotham
1927
Catch as Catch Can, William Fairbanks Sept.
Down Grade, The, William Fairbanks - Oct.
Heroes of the Night, Marion Nixon-Landis June 1
Silent Avenger, The, "Thunder" Delaney Nov. 1
Sinews of Steel, Alberta Vaughn Oct. 1
When Danger Calls, WiUiam Fairbanks Nov.
Woman Who Didn't Care, The, Tashman-Rankin Dec. 1
1928
5268
6987
5800
6000
5950
1928
6700
6200
6750
5900
1929
Bare Knees, Virginia Lee Corbin June
Blondes by Choice, Claire Windsor March
Cheer Leader, The, Graves-Olmstead April
Chorus Kid. The, Faire-Washbum June
Girl from Rio. The, Myers-Pidgeon -...Feb.
Head of the Family, The, Virginia Lee Corbin-Oot.
Hellship Bronson, Beery-Reid May
Midnight Life, Francis X. Bushman Aug.
Rose of Kildare, The, Chadwlck-O'Malley Jan.
San Francisco Nights, Percy Marmont May
Satin Woman, The, Mrs. Wallace Reid Jan.
Through the Breakers, Livingston-Herbert Sept.
Turn Back the Hours, Myma Loy .Tuly
United States Smith, Gribbon-Lee Ju]y
1927
6199
1927
6751
4709
6306
8730
6445
10652
11375
5830
6068
6126
7395
6390
4622
6909
8235
0591
5083
6017
5291
6206
E96fi
7603
7599
Father and Son, Noah Beery-Noah Beery, Jr.
Knee High, Virginia Lee Corbin Oct. _
Modern Sappho, A, Betty Bronson Sept.
River Woman, The, Logan-L. Barrymore Aug.
Times Square, Alice Day-Lubin _ Sept.
Krelbar Productions
Broadway After Midnight, Betz Oct.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Adam and Evil (CD). Cody-Pringle Aug. 27 Aug.
Adventurer, The (W). Tim McCoy Jan. 14
After Midnight (D). Shearer-Gray. Aug. 20
Annie Laurie (D), Lillian Gisb..._ Sept. 17
1929
-Aug.
•May
1927
1927
62.00%
50.31%
45.63%
Becky (CD), Sally O'NelL
Nov. 12 Nov. 26
Ben Hur (M), Ramon Novarro.-.- .Oct. 8
Big Parade, The (M), Gilbert-Adoree Sept. 10
Bugle Call, The (D), Jackie Coogan. Aug. 6
Buttons (CD), Jackie Coogan Dec. 24
■Nov. 12
Dec. 31
Callahans and Murphys (CD). Dressler-Moran... June 18 July 16
Captain Salvation (M). Hanson _ -May 14
Fair Co-ed. The (CD), Marion Davies -...Oct. 15
Foreign Devils (W), Tim McCoy.-.- -....Sept. 3
Frisco Sally Levy (C), O'Nell....- Apr. Z
Garden of Allah, The (D), Terry-Petrovltch Nov. 5
In Old Kentucky (D), H. Costello Oct. 29
London After Midnight (D), Lon Chaney Dec. 3
Nov. 10
..Tuly
Oct.
29
Apr.
Nov. 19 Sept.
Nov. 26 Dec.
Dec. 17 Deo.
Lovelorn. The, Sally O'Nell Deo. 17 Dec. 3'
95.25%
80. 20%
61.57%
63.00%
48.09%
58.70%
61.50%
60. OC
60.90%
66.50%
Lovers (D), Novarro-Terry -..Apr. 9
Man, Woman and Sin (D), John Gilbert -Nov. 19 Deo. 3
Mockery (M), Lon Chaney Aug. 13
Mr. Wu (M), Lon Chaney
Quality Street, Davles-NageL..
May 2
Deo. 17
Sept. 10
Mar. 26 June 4
X>eo, 31 Jan. 7
39.20%
39.50%
66.83%
d
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
57
Length
Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Comment
6337
6561
6610
7865
4781
6705
6289
5252
6160
7899
6657
5517
1928
6908
6749
5132
Red Mill (C), Davies
Road to Romanoe, The (0), Novarro-Day
Rookies (C). Dane-Artliur.
Slide. Kelly, Slide (CD), Haines-O'NeiL
Spoilers of the West (W), l^oy-Daw „
Spring Fever (C), William Haines.
Tea for Three (C). Cody-Prlngle
Thirteenth Hour, The (D), Lionel Barrymore.
Tillie the Toiler (C), Daries
Twelve Miles Out (M), Gilbert....
Understanding Heart (D), Crawford
Unknown, The (M), Chaney
Actress, The, Norma Shearer-Forbes..,
...Jan. 29
-Sept. 24
-Apr. 30
..Mar. 12
..Bee 10
Oct. 22
.-Utc. 10
...Nov. 26
.-May 21
..July 9
.. Veb.
...June
_Feb. 19
Not. 19
.._ —May 9
___Apr. 2
Dec. 24
Nov. 12 Dec. 10
Dec. 24 Nov. 12
Deo. 3 Dec. 3
June 11
July 30
..„ -May 14
June 13
64.91'/
68.39%
67.31%
43.61%
6838
6344
5679
6653
5838
6070
7358
8436
Apr. 28
Across to Singapore (MD), NoTarro-Crawford_..Apr. 7
Baby Mine, Artbur-Dane Jan. 21
Beyond the Sierras (W), Tim McCoy Sept. 15
Big City, The, Chaney-Compson-Day Veb. 18
Bringing Up Father, Farrell-Moran-Olmstead Mar. 17
Certain Young Man, A, Novarro-Day May 19
Circus Rookies (CD), Dane-Artbur Mar. 31
Cossacks, The, Adoree-Gilbert-Torrence May 12
Crowd, The, Boardman-Murray-Koacb Mar. 3
Detectives, Dane-Arthur June 9
Diamond Handcuffs, Boardman-Nagel May 5
Divine Woman, Garbo-Hanson-Sberman Jan.
4987
7743
7045
5441
5801
5695
7352
7289
5028
7732
6487
9560
5931
8090
Enemy, The, Gisb-Dane-Forbes....
Excess Baggage (D), WUliam Haines...
Forbidden Hours (D), Novarro-Adoree
Four Walls (MD), GUbert-Crawford..
The Cardboard Lover, Marlon Davies Aug. 18
Latest from Paris, The, Shearer-Forbes Feb. 4
Laugh, Clown, Laugh, Cbaney-Murphy-Hlsle Apr. 14
Mademoiselle from Armentieres, Estelle Brody-
John Stuart .June
Skirts, Syd Chaplin
Law of the Range, McCoy- Crawford..
Love, Garbo-Gilbert
Mysterious Lady, The, Greta Garbo-NageL...
Patsy, The, Davies-Caldwell-Gray..
Riders of the Dark _
Rose Marie, Crawford-Murray Feb.
Smart Set, Halnes-Day-Holt-Bcswortb Feb.
Student Prince, The (R), Novarro-Shearer. Jan.
Under the Black Eagle, Forbes-Dog Flash Mar. 24
West Point (CD), Haines-Crawford. Jan. 7
White Shadows of the South Sea (MD), Monte
Blue
Wickedness Preferred (CD),
Wyoming, McCoy-Sebastian..
Afraid to Love (C), Vidor.
Barbed Wire (D), Negrl-Broolc
Beau Geste (M), Colman-N. Beery.
Blind Alleys (M), Meigban.
Blonde or Brunette? (C), Menjou
Cabaret (CD), Gilda Gray.
Casey at the Bat (C), W. Beery
Chang (D), Special cast.
Children of Divorce (D), Bow
City Gone Wild (M), Meighan-MUlner.
♦Covered Wagon, The (M), Kerrigan-Wilson...
Evening Clothes (C), Menjou
Fashions for Women (CD), Ealston
Fireman Save My Child (C), Beery-Hatton.
Gay Defender, The (CD), Richard Dix.
Gentleman of Paris. A (CD), Menjou-O'Eara.
Get Your Man (CD), Clara Bow _
Honeymoon Hate (CD), Florence Vidor.
Hotel Imperial (D), Negri
5011
4447
1927
6199
6951
9879
5597
5878
7175
6040
6536
6662
5408
7447
6287
6296
5399
6376
6017
5889
5415
7091
5862
6452
8656
7656
6439
7080
6940
6052
6007
5617
8039
7180
6258
6877
5798
4551
5599
6187
6680
5306
6247
5952
9443
5614
6368
6634
5209
6170
5515
6015
5179
6838
5524
4934
6200
6124
6006
6497
4926
5319
7643
8486
5869
5935
5866
11764
5960
1928
5897 Adventure Mad
Cody-Prlngle
Jan. 28
_...Mar. 24
..July?
Feb. 11
Apr. 14
67.41%
Paramount
Hula (CD). Bow-Brook.
It (C). Clara Bow
Jesse James (D). Fred Thomson
*Kid Brother (C). Lloyd
Kiss in a Taxi (C), Daniels
Knockout Reilly (CD), DLx
Last Waltz, The (D), Special cast.
Let It Rain (C), MacLean.
Love's Greatest Mistake (CD). Brent
Man Power (D), Dtx —
Metropolis (D). Special cast
Mme, Ponvpadour (D). Moreno-D. Glsh. —
Nevada (W). Cooper-Todd
New York (M), Cortez-Wilson
Now We're in the Air (C), Beery-Hatton.
One Woman to Another (CD), Vidor-Shotwell
Open Range (W), Lane -Chandler.
Paradise for Two (C). Dix-Bronson
Potters (CD). W. C. Fields
Ritzy (CD). Bronson
Rolled Stockings (CD). HaU-Brook. —
Rough House Rosie (C). Bow
Rough Riders. The (D), Astor-Farrell
Rubber Heels (FC). Ed. Wynn
Running Wild (C), Fields-Brian
Senorita (F), Daniels _ —
Serenade (D). Menjou-Wray
Service for Ladies (C). Menjou-Carver _
Shanghai Bound (D), Dix-Brian
She's a Sheik (C). Bebe Daniels.
Shootin' Irons (W), Luden-BIane.
Soft Cushions (C). MacLeau-Carol
Special Delivery (C), Eddie Cantor....-
Spotlight. The (CD), Ralston-HamUton
Stark Love (D), Special cast.
Swim. Girl. Swim (CM), Daniels-Hal]
Tell It to Sweeney (C), ConUin-Bancroft...
Ten Modern Commandments (CD). Kalston
Time to Love (FC), Eaymond Grifflth. -
Two Flaming Youths (C), Fields-ConMln. —
Underworld (M), Bancroft-Brent
Way of All Flesh, The (D). Jannings-Bennett
Wedding Bills (F). Raymond Griffith
We're All Gamblers (D), Meighan-MiUner.
Whirlwind of Youth (D). Lois Moran
Wings (M). Charles Rogers
Woman on Trial (D), Pola Negri. —
-Apr. 9
-Sept. 10
..Aug. 1
-Mar. 12
..Jan. 24
.JIar. 26
..Mar. 5
.Sept. 3
..Apr. 2
..Nov. 12
-Aug. 6
..Mar. 19
..Mar. 26
-Aug. 1
.Dec. 10
.Oct. 15
-Dec. 10
.Dee. 3
.Feb. 26
-Aug. 27
-Feb. 19
-Oct. 22
..Oct. 4
-Feb. 26
-Apr. 16
-Nov. 26
..Jan. 3
.Feb. 12
-July 9
Aug. 13
Aug. 13
.Sept. 10
-Feb. 5
-Oct. 22
■Sept. 24
-Nov. 5
.Jan. 17
-Jan. 31
-Apr. 9
.June 18
..May 14
.-Oct. 1
-June 11
..Aug. 20
.Aug. 30
-Dec. 24
-Aug. 6
Oct. 15
-Nov. 12
-Oct. 8
-Aug. 27
-Apr. 16
.-Nov. 19
-Sept. 17
.Sept. 17
-Sept. 24
.July 2
-June 18
. Dec. 17
-Oct. 29
Oct. 1
-May 7
Sept. 3
-Apr. 30
.Oct. 29
.Oct. 29
-Apr. 23
..-Aug. 3
..31ar. 5
...Jan. 15
..-May 9
..,Apr. 16
..-May 2
..JVIay 2
..,Dec. 10
1927
57.21%
62.04%
50.84%
4L30%
60.30%
51.86%
68.00%
-Apr. 9
_Apr. 9
-Dea 10
-Nov. 12
,Oct. 8
Jan. 7
Deo. 31 Dec. 17
wJan. 8
Sept. 10
—Feb. 12
-Oct. 22
Jan. 29
- -Apr. 2
-Apr. 23
„ -Nov. 19
JUar. 12
Feb. 26
-Aug. 6
-Mar. 12
Nov. 26 Aug. 6
...Feb. 5
..-Dec. 17
..-Sept. 24
49.60%
62.63%
67.83%
65.85%
66.77%
65.91%
38.61%
55.61?;
55.59%
51.18%
71.00%
70.25%
Jan. 29
„ -Jan. 22
-June 25
- July SO
Juno 4
-Mar. 19
-July 16
.Tune 18
_ -May 14
Jan. 14
-Sept. 3
Dec. 31 Nov. 12
Jan. 21 Nov. 26
48.36%
54.72%
47.60%
57.64%
Jan. 7
—Aug. 27
..ilay 9
...Dec. 3
..Mar. 19
..Sept. 17
Oct. 22
..July 23
-July 9
44.08%
66.27%
...Sept. 3
...July 2
..July 23
June 11
-Aug. 20
Deo. 24 Oct. 1
52.8.Son
59.78%
57.40 f^
47.36%
192B
(M). UFA.-
.....Mar. 31 Jan. 14
Length
Title and Players
Released New Comment
Pictures
Ticker
5930
5665
7866
5364
5889
6134
6402
5852
7640
6871
0263
6528
5038
7464
6792
8234
7415
5837
7159
5741
7910
6600
5582
6118
7646
6631
5928
7194
7616
4720
7060
5951
6218
6763
7060
5733
5991
5834
5802
6319
6509
5435
6938
1927
5596
6555
4335
5326
4875
4512
5100
7500
4933
5478
8586
6599
8002
6403
6568
6859
3303
5867
4968
7913
4750
5990
6035
4620
6788
4890
4076
4864
5324
13500
4131
4752
6472
4576
5750
5736
6421
6903
4575
4692
4497
6000
4828
5844
4542
4375
6303
5880
4562
4546
4338
5397
5G70
5021
619S
4485
5610
6447
7820
1928
3996
5755
4805
5927
6.589
4S33
5408
4550
7996
4526
4480
Beau Sabreur (M). Cooper-Brent Jan. 7
Beggars of Life (MD), Wallace Beery-Brooks-
Big Killing (CD). Beery-Hatton May 19
Doomsday, Vidor-Cooper Feb. 18
Drag Net, The (MD), Bancroft-Brent-PoweU.-May 26
Easy (>>me. Easy Go, Richard Dix. Apr. 21
Feel My Pulse, Danlels-Arlen. Feb. 25
First Kiss, The (D), Wray-Cooper. _ Sept. 25
Fifty- Fifty Girl, The, Daniels-HaU May 12
Fools for Luck (CD), Fields-Conklin May 7
Forgotten Faces (MD), Brook-Brian Sept. 11
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (C), Taylor-Whlte.-Jan. 28
Half a Bride (D), Ralston-Cooper June 18
Hot News. Beb© Daniels Aug. 14
His Tigers Lady. Menjou-Breut -June 9
Just Married (CD). HaU-Taylor-Ford. Aug. 18
Kit Carson (MD). Fred Thomson Aug. 21
Ladies of the Mob. Clara Bow June 30
Last Command. The (D). Emil Jannlngs Jan. 21
Legion of the Condemned. Wray-Cooper. _-Mar. 10
Love and Learn, Balston-Chandler Jan. 14
Loves of an Actress (D), Pola Negri Sept. 18
Night of Mystery (D), Menjou. Apr. 7
Old Ironsides (D), Beery-BancrofL Mar. 3
Partners in Crime (C), Beery-Hatton JMar. 17
July?
Jan. 21
May 26
May 19
Feb. 25
Aug. 4
Mar. 31
Apr. 7
Aug. 4
Dec. 10
June 16
Mar. 10
Sept. 1
Mar. 19
Mar. 19
Aug. 4
Feb. 13
Peaks of Destiny _ Jan. 23
Pioneer Scout, The (W), Fred Thomson. Jan. 21
Racket, The (D), Thomas Meigban June 30
Red Hair (CD), Bow-Chandler. —Mar. 10
Sawdust Paradise, The, Esther Ealston Aug. 25
Secret Hour, The (D), Negrl-Hersholt Feb. 4
Showdown, The, Bancroft -Feb. 25
Something Always Happens. Ralston-HEtmilton-Mar. 24
Speedy (C), Harold Lloyd Apr. 7
Sporting Goods. Dix-Olmstead Feb. 11
Street of Sin (D). Jannings-Wray. May 26
Sunset Legion (W), Fred Thomson Apr. 21
Three Sinners (D). Negri-Baxter Apr. 14
Tillie's Punctured Romance. Fields-Conklin Feb. 18
Under the Tonto Rim. Arlen-Brlan Feb. 4
Vanishing Pioneer. The (W), Jack Holt June 23
Varsity (D), Rogers-Brian. - _._
Water Hole. The (W). Jack Holt Aug. 25
Warming Up. Richard Dix -Aug. 11
Wife Savers (C). Beery-Hatton Jan. 7
Woman From Moscow, The (D). Negrl-Kerry
June 9
Mar. 31
Jiuie 16
... Sept. 1
June 23
May 26
Juiy7
Jan. 23
Feb. 4
..-Apr. 21
Jan. 21
Feb. 25
June 23
Feb. 18
Feb. 18
Feb. 25
Jan 7
Dec. 10
Mar. 3
Mar. 17
June 9
Feb. 18
Mar. 3
Apr. 28
Feb. 18
Apr. 28
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
Feb. 18
May 26
Apr. 7
Feb 25
"May's
, _
, ,
Aug. 4
July 21
May 26
-F-eb. 18
Pathe
1927
Almost Human (CD). Reynolds Dec.
Angel of Broadway, The (D), Leatrice Joy. Oct.
Avenging Fangs (M) June
Border Blackbirds (WD), Maloney Aug.
Born to Battle (W), Bill Cody-..- Sept.
Code of the Cow Country (W), Eoosevelt June
Combat (D), Walsh Oct.
Country Doctor. The (D), Schlldkraut Aug.
Desert of the Lost, The (W), WaUy Wales Dec.
Devil's Twin, The (W), Leo Maloney Dec.
Discord (D), Dagover-Ekman Nov.
Dress Parade (D), Boyd .Nov.
Fighting Eagle. The (M), La Eocque-Haver. Aug.
Flying Luck (C), Monty Banks Dec.
Forbidden Woman, The (M). Jetta (3ouda] Nov.
Getting Gertie's Garter (F). Prevost
Girl from Everywhere (C). PoUard Dec.
Girl in the Pullman. The (C). Prevost Oct.
Gold from Weepah (W), BiU Cody-..- Nov.
Golden Clown, The (D), Gosta-Ekman. Deo.
♦Grandma's Boy (C), Harold Lloyd Dec.
Harp in Hock, A (D). ScbUdkraut-Coghlan. Oct.
Heart Thief (D). Schildkraut-De Putti
Hidden Aces (M). Hutchison Aug.
His Dog (D). Schlldkraut July
His Foreign Wife (D). MacDonald-Murphy Nov.
Hoof Marks (W). Jack Donovan. Nov.
interferin' Gent. The (W), Buffalo BiU. Jr....Aug.
Jim. the Conqueror (W). Boyd-Paire _
King of Kings (D), All Star
Land of the Lawless, The (W), Jack Padjan Dec.
Little Firebrand (C), Thornton .July
Main Event, The (D), Eeynolds Nov.
Meddlin' Stranger (W), Wales _June
My Friend from India (F). Pangborn-Fair. Dec.
Night Bride (FC), Prevost -
Nobody's Widow (FC), Joy-Eay-Haver. —
No Man's Law (W), Rex May
Obligin' Buckaroo, The (W), Buffalo BiU, Jr Oct.
Pals in Peril (W), Buffalo BiU. Jr. June
Phantom Buster. The (W). Roosevelt -Aug.
Pieces of China (Travel) -Aug.
Pirates of the Sky (M), Hutchison JVIay
Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary (C), Robson
Ride 'Em High (W). Buddy Roosevelt Oct.
Roarin' Broncs, Buffalo BiU. Jr — .J^ov.
Rubber Tires (C). Ford-Love.
Rush Hour, The (C), Prevost _ Deo.
Skedaddle Gold (W), Wales July
Soda-water Cowboy, The (W), Wally Wales-. Sept.
Trunk Mystery (M), Hutchison June
Turkish Delight. Schildltraut-Faye Nov.
Two-Gun of Tumbleweed (W), Leo Maloney July
Vanity (M), Joy _ _
White Gold (D), Goudal
White Pebbles (WD), Wally Wales. _...Aug.
Wise Wife. The (C), Haver .Oct.
Wreck of the Hesperus. The (M). Bradford. Oct.
Yankee Clipper (M). Boyd „
Dec. 24
Not. 19 Not. 5
-June 4
-Sept. 10
-June 17
—Oct. 15
72.70%
Nov 19
Nov. 5
...Sept. 17
,
..-
Nov. 12 Nov. 5
....- JFeb. 19
_ JNOT. 5
Not. 19 Not. 5
60.40%
Not. 12
Not. 5
.-May 21
-..Sept. 3
..July 24
..Aug. 27
...Jan. 1
..Jilar. 10
Not. 19
..July 2
Not. 5
...June 12
...ilay 9
...Jan. 15
..-May 2
...Oct. 8
...June 25
...Aug. 20
45.60%
May 21
Aug. 6
Oct. 3
-Apr. 9
Jan. 7
„ Aug. 6
Oct. 1
June 11
July 17
June 18
Apr. 9
Aug. 20
Nov. 19 Nov. 5
..May 14
51.72%
1928
Alice Through a Looking Glass .Feb. 12
Apache Raider. The, Leo Maloney feb. 12
Ballyhoo Buster (W). Buffalo BiU, Jr '"n. S
Blonde for a Night. Prevost Feb. 27
Blue Danube. Leatrice Joy Mar. 12
Boss of Rustlers Roost. The. Don Coleman. Jan. 22
Bronc' Stomper. The. Don Coleman Feb. 26
Bullet Mark. The. Jack Donovan .Mar. 25
Chicago (M). Phyllis Haver ..-..JMar. 5
Cowboy Cavalier (W). Buddy Roosevelt Jan. 29
Crashing Through. Jack Padjan Feb. 5
May 12
Mar. 3
Feb. 18
May 12
Mar. 17
May 19
Dec 24
Feb. 4
58
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
Length Title and Players
Released
New
Pictures
Ticket
Jan. 28
Jan. 2S
639S Desperate Courage (W), WaJes _...Jan. 15
7056 Hold 'Em Yale, Rod La Rocaue- May 15
4155 Laddie Be Good (W). Bill Cody Jan. 1
6650 Leopard Lady. The (W). Logan Jan, 23
5SSS Let 'Er Go, Gallagher! (M), Junior CogliIan..._Jan. 16
4G0O Marlie, the Killer, Klondike liar. 4
SC59 Midnight Madness. Logan- __. .May 26
6954 Night Flyer. The, Wm. Boyd _...J'eb. 5
5494 On to Reno (D), Prevost-Landis -..Jan. 2
6C26 Perfect Gentleman, A (C), Monty Banks Jan. 15
Red Mark. The (D), Glass. Quartoar - July 14
6902 Ship Comes In. A, Rudolph SdUldtraut June 4 June 16
7040 Skyscraper, Boyd - Apr. 9
5423 Stand and Deliver, Rod La RoCQue — Feb. 20 May 12
Tenth Avenue. Harer-Varconi July 14
May 19 May 26
Jan. 28
..June 2
1927
5035
60S 9
5070
5916
5960
S970
5502
4200
1928
60S9
6673
6076
4533
5683
5976
5853
4797
5946
5262
4548
6608
4571
5906
Rayart
1927
Walking Back (M). Sue Carol .May 20
Cruise of the Helion (D), All star
Heroes in Blue (M), Bowers-Rand.- Nov.
Law and the Man, The (D), Santschl-RockweU..Deo.
Light in the Window, A (D), WaltlialL
On the Stroke of Twelve (M), D. Torrence Nov.
Silent Hero (M). Bonaparte-
Wanderer of the West, A (W), Tes Maynard..-Dec.
Jan. 28
._ Sept. 24
Branded Man, The (D), Chas. Delaney-Marlowe-May
Casey Jones (CD). Price-Lewis Jan.
City of Purple Dreams. The, Bedford-Frazer.-.Sept.
Danger Patrol, The (D), Russell-Fair Jan.
Devil's Tower, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt. -...June
Divine Sinner. The (D) .Vera Reynolds-HiUiard-July
Gypsy of the North (D), Qordon-Hale Apr.
Heart of Broadway, The (D), Garon-Agnew...JVIar.
Lightning Shot, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt.-May
Man From Headquarters, The (D), Cornelius
Keefe-E. Roberts A.ug.
Midnight Adventure, A (D), Landis-E. Murphy-May
Mystery Valley (W), Buddy Roosevelt July
My Home Town (D), Brodra-eil-Glass Jan.
Painted Trail. The (W), Buddy Roosevelt Mar.
Phantom of the Turf, The (D), Costello-Lease-Feb.
Sisters ot Eve (D), Mae Busch- Sept.
Sweet Sixteen (D), Helen Foster-Olstead Aug.
Trail Riders (W), Buddy Roosevelt April
Wild Born (W), Tex Maynard Mar.
You Can't Beat the Law, Lee Keefe Jan.
" "
N"V, 1'
Aug. 29
1928
4627
6490
5260
1927 Sterling
5563 Closed Gates (M), Harron-Novak
5400 Outcast Souls (D), Lewis-Bonner Deo. 15
8500 Pretty Clothes (D), J. Raiston-Walker Oct. 15
Stranded (D), Mason Aug. 15
1928
Marry the Girl (CD)
1927
May 28
Not. 12
Dec. 31
Jan. 7 Sept. 10
-Feb. 4
1927
6754
5669
7300
4887
6482
6233
4752
6800
6049
6235
5629
6100
5182
5276
Ti£fany-Stahl
1928
1927
Backstage (CD), Bedford
Beauty Shoppe (CD), Buscli_ _
College Days (CD), M. Day
Enchanted Island (D) -
6448
5614
1928
6147
5209
Fools of Fashion (CD), Busch
Girl from Gay Paree. The (F), Sherman Sept. 15
Haunted Ship, The (M), Sebastian-M. LoTe...X)ec. 1
Josselyn's Wife (D), Frederick
Lightning (W). J. Ralston- Sept. 1
Night Life (CD), Day-Harron. J^ov. 1
Once and Forever (D), Patsy Ruth Miller. Oct. 15
Sin Cargo (D), Mason
Snowbound (FC), Blythe. _
Streets of Shanghai (RD), Starke-Harlan. Dec. 15
Tired Business Man (C)
Wild Geese (D), Belle Bennett Nov. 16
Women's Wares (D), Brent-Lytell Oct. 1
July 9
July 16
Nov. 6
- June 25
Oct. 9
Nov. 27
Length Title and Players
Releaied
New
Picture!
Comment
1928
6400
7000
935S
9100
8350
7300
1928
7650
Circus, The (C), Charlie Chaplin
Devil Dancer, The, Gilda Gray -
Douglas Fairbanks as the Gaucho (M) June 1
Dove, The (M), Norma Talmadge Jan.'7
Drums of Love (D), Mary Philbin Mar. 31
Garden of Eden, The (D), C. Grifflth-Bay Jeb. 4
Two Lovers, Banky-Coiman _ — Aug.
Ramona (D), Del Rio J'eb. 1
Sadie Thompson (D), Gloria Swansoru Jan. 7
Steamboat Bill, Jr., Buster Keaton
Tempest (M), John Barrymore
Apr. 28
......Nov. 26
Jan. 7
July 21
-Aug. 11 Sept. 1
June 16
May 26
-July 7
1928 Universal
6243 Anybody Here Seen Kelly, Bessie Love-Moore....Sept. 9
Beauty and Bullets, Ted WeUs-._ _ — Dec. 16
Clear the Decks, Reginald Denny Dec. 23
Clearing the Trail, Hoot Gibson Oct. 7
Cloud Dodger, The, AI Wilson. _ Sept. 30
Crimson Canyon, The, Ted Wells. Oct. 14
Danger Rider, The, Hoot Gibson - „ Nov. 18
Flyin' Cowboy, The, Hoot Gibson. _ July 1
Foreign Legion, The, Lewis Stone-Kerry Sept. 23
Freedom of the Press, Lewis Stone Oct. 28
Give and Take, Sidney-Hershoit Dec. 2
Greased Lightning, Ted Wells _ _ July 29
Grip of the Yukon, The, Marlowe-Bushman. Sept. 30
Guardians of the Wild, Rex-Perrin _ Sept. 16
Home James, Laura Lal'lante - _ Sept. 2
How to Handle Women, Tryon-Nuton Oct. 14
Jazz Mad, Hersholt-Nixon. Nov. 11
Man, Woman and Wife. Kerry-Starke Dec. 30
10185 Man Who Laughs. The, PhUbin-Veidt Nov. 4
6030 Michigan Kid, The, Adoree-Nagel Oct. 21
Night Bird, The, Reginald Denny _ Sept. 16
One Rainy Night, Laura Lal'lante - Dec. 9
6907 Phillis of the Follies, Alice Day-M. Moore. Nov. 25
Price of Fear, Blil Cody _ .Oct 29
4472 Quick Triggers, Fred Humes July 15
5424 Riding for Fame, Uoot Gibson Aug. 19
4616 Two Outlaws, The, Jack Perrin-Bez. J^ov. 18
Sept, 8
1928
5311
4227
4179
6109
7828
6474
4194
6509
4808
6307
5591
6832
6674
Apr. 28
Sept. 8
10600 Uncle Tom's Cabin, All Star
Wolves of the City, BiU Cody
1929
....Sept. 2
_.J)ec. 2
1929
6057
Mar. 10
Dec. 24
.JJec. 11
.July 30
5297
6553
6708
6102
6735
6«52
6361
5283
1927
5000
7600
7311
8.^150
9120
SOOO
T464
mvi
8000
Applause (D), Sally O'Neil _ Sept. 30
Bachelor's Paradise (R), SaRy O'Neil Mar. 15
Big Top. The (CD). Sally O'Neil Oct. 30
Cavalier. The (D), Talmadge-Bedford Sept.
Clothes Make the Woman (R), Southem-
Pidgeon _ May 1
Devil's Apple Tree, The (D), Dorothy Sebastian-Sept. 20
Devil's Skipper, The, Bennett Feb. 1
George Washington Cohen (CO), Jessel-Palmer-Aug. 20
Geraldine Laird (D), Belle Bennett Nov. 10
Ghetto, The (CD), Jessel-Gwen Lee iug. 1
Grain ot Dust, The (D), Cortez-Wlndsor- July 10
Green Grass Widows (CD), Walter Hagen June 10
House of Scandal (D). Sehastlan-O'Malley Apr. 1
Ladies of the Night Club (CD), Cortez-Moran.May 15
Lingerie (CD), White-McGregor- July 1
Nameless Men, Moreno Feb. 15
Naughty Duchess, The (D), H. B. Warner Aug. 10
Power of Silence, The (D), Belle Bennett Aug. 20
Prowlers of the Sea (D), Cortez-Myers June 20
Queen of Burlesnue, The (CD), Belle Bennett....Sept. 10
Scarlet Dove. The (0), Margaret Livingston. -Apr. 15
Stormy Waters (D), Southern-McGregor .Tune 1
Squads Right (CD), Gribbon-Stone Nov.
Their Hour (D), .Sebasllan-Harron Mar. 1
Tragedy of Youth. Miller-Collier Jan. 15
Twelve Pound Look. The (D). Eve Southern Oct. 20
Three Keys to a Door (MD). Rlcardo Cortcz....Oct. 10
Toilers, The. Fairbanks, Jr.-Ralaton Aug.
Woman Against the World, A _ Jan. 1
1928
United Artists
College (C), Keaton-Comwall Sept. 10
General. The (C). Keaton
Loyei of Sonya (D), Swanson
Maglo Flame, The (M), Colman-Banky Sept. 24
Resurrection (M), La Rorque _
Sorrell and Son (0), Wamer-Nllsson Nov.
Topsy and Eva (C). Duncan Sisters _
Two Arabian Knight (CD), Boyd-Wolhclm
Winning o» Barbara Worth (D), Banky-CTolman
...-Sept. 17
.....Feb. 12
...-Mar, 19
...-Sept. 24
Apr. 16
Nov, 19
Aug. 13
....Oct. 29
Dec. 4
1927
45.00%
73.65%
Blow for Blow, Hoot GlbsoiL May 19
Border Wildcat, The, Ted Wells .Aug. 18
Born to the Saddle, Ted WeUs ilar. 10
Charlatan, The, All Star. May 28
Come Across, All Star. _ - lune 9
Dangerous Dimples, Laura LaPlante. -...Apr. 21
Eyes of the Underworld, Bill Cody - Apr. 28
Girl on the Barge, The, O'Nelll-Hersholt Apr. 28
Harvest of Hate, The, Rex-Jack Perrin. Apr. 14
Hero of the Circus, Maciste. -.-Feb. 24
His Lucky Day, Reginald Denny - _ Mar. 3
Hoofbeats of Vengeance, Rex-Perrin June 16
Honeymoon Flats, Lewls-Gulllver Feb. 24
It Can't Be Done, Tryon-Sue Carrol May 5
Kid's Clever, The, Tryon. . Mar. 24
King of the Rodeo, Hoot Gibson Aug. 30
Lariat Kid, The, Hoot Gibson _ Aug. 14
Last Warning, The, Lal'lante-Boles Mar. 17
Play Goes On, The, All Star. _ Mar. 31
Plunging Hoofs, Rex-Perrin Aug. 4
Red Hot Speed, Reginald Denny„._ May 12
Red Lips. Rogers-Nixon .Apr. 14
Ridin" Demon, The, Ted WeUs _ May 19
Slim Fingers, BiU Cody Mar. 24
Smilin' Terror, The, Ted WeUs June 30
Smilin' Guns, Hoot Gibson. Apr. 7
Stool Pigeon, The, Bill Cody
You Can't Buy Love, All Star
June 2
- June 2
1927
5803
6330
6281
5897
6408
5003
6767
6284
5978
6302
5613
6271
5200
6230
5397
5569
6352
6310
6485
7961
6357
5492
6295
5(!85
6124
6218
6412
7647
5813
1928
6052
5380
Warner Brothers
Black Diamond Express (M), Blue _
Brass Knuckles (D), Blue-Bronson Dec. 3
Bush Leaguer, The (CD), Monte Blue Aug, 20
Dearest (D), Rich _
Desired Woman, The (M), Irene Rich Aug. 27
Dog of the Regimen, A (M), Rin-Tln-Tln. Oct. 29
First Auto. The, Oldfleld-MlUer Sept. 18
Gay Old Biid (FC), Fazenda _
Girl from Chicago, The (M), Nagel-Loy Nov. 5
Good Time Charley (D), Oland-H. Costello. Nov. 12
Ham and Eggs at the Front (0), Wilson- H.
Conldin Dec. 24
Hills of Kentucky (M). Rin-Tin-Tin
Husbands for Rent, All Star Dec. 31
If I Were Single, McAvoy-Nagel X)ec. 17
Irish Hearts (CD), McAvoy
Jaws of Steel (D), Rin-Tin-Tin Sept. 17
Matinee Ladles (C), McAvoy
Million Bid, A (M), D, Costello
Missing Link. The (C), Syd Chaplin Aug. 7
Old San Francisco (M), D. Coslello-Oland. Sept. 4
One Round Hogan (M), Monte Blue Sept. 17
Reno Divorce, A (D), May McAvoy - .Oct. 22
Sailor Izzy Murphy (F), George Jessell Oct. 8
Sailor's Sweetheart, A (C). Fazenda-C. Cook....Sept. 24
Silver Slave, The (0), Rich-Ferris Nov. 9
Simple Sis (M), Fazenda
Slightly Used, McAvoy-Nagel Sept. 3
Third Degree (M), D. Costello
Tracked by the Police (M), Rin-Tin-Tin
July 23
1927
60.20%
. June 18
July 9
ilar. 12
Dec. 31
Dec. 31 Nov. 26
-Feb. 26
-Apr. 28
June 11
Oct. 1
Apr. 23
. June 4
May 14
-June 25
Oct. 8
Oct. 29
-Dec. 10
Oct. 15
June 11
68,94%
Jan. 8
.. Jlay 21
5164
7077
5331
6185
4777
4820
6531
Across the Atlantic, Blue-Murphy Feb. 25
Beware of Married Men, Irene Rich Jan. 14
City of Sin. The. Loy-Miljan-Wong -
Domestic Trouble (CD), Ccok-Fazenda. _..Mar. 24
Jazz Singer, The, Al .Tolson Feb, 4
Lion and the Mouse, The, L, Barrymore
Little Snob, The, May McAvoy _ Feb, 11
Powder My Back (C). Rich-Ferris Jlar, 10
Race for Life. liln-Tin-TIn Jan. 28
Rinty of the Desert, Rln-Tln-Tin Apr, 21
Tenderloin, Dolores CostoUo
1928
..Jeb. 18
..-Apr. 14
Feb. 18
May 19
...May 19
..Apr. 28
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
59
CLASSIFIED
Advertising
Ten cents per word, payable in advance. Minimum charge,
$1.00. Copy and checks should be addressed Classified Ad
Dept. Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, 407 So.
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The Recognized National Classified Advertising Medium
Position Wanted
AT LIBERTY— String Bass. Experienced theatre,
symphony man. Union, references. Address Theo.
Ruger, 107 E. 10th St., Erie, Pa.
AT LIBERTY— Concert Organist. Ten years' ex-
perience in pictures. Highest references; splendid
repertoire; also large library of standard works; sober
and reliable. Write or wire Organist, 152 Miller Are.,
Muskegon, Mich.
THEATRE ORGANIST— Experienced on all makes,
haa a large library, will go anywhere. Address Box
289, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World,
407 S. Dearborn St, Chicago, HI.
Attention, Theatre Managers! Are you looking for
an organist, male or female? If you are, why not let
Exhibitors Heraid-World find just the kind you want?
Address George Schmidt, Exhibitor* Herald-World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
ORGANISTS thoroughly trained and experienced in
theatre work. Men and women now ready for good
positions. Write salary and other data. Address
Chicago Musical College, 61 E. Van Buren, Chicago.
ORGANIST — Experts thoroughly trained in show-
manship available at all times for first-class positions.
Men and women. No service charRC. Write full in-
formation concerning salary, organ, hours, etc. Ad-
dress Vermond Knauss School of Theatre Organ
Playing, 210 N. 7th St., Allentown, Pa.
TENOR SAX wants position doubling on soprano.
Union. Reliable. Wishes permanent job with dance
orchestra or vaudeville. Address J. W. Thompson,
2290 E. 87th St., Cleveland, O.
VIOLINIST would like position as sideman playing
Taudeville or pictures. Nineteen years' experience.
At present playing at Keeney's theatre, Elmira, N. Y.,
but desire change. Member of Local 239. Address
Charles Gruner, care of Keeney's theatre, Elmira,
N. Y.
Help Wanted
HOUSE MANAGER wanted for suburban theatre
in Cincinnati. Young, single man with experience
and personality. Send full particulars and small
photo. Address Apartment No. 1, 341 Terrace Ave.,
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Theatre Wanted
We are interested in acquiring theatres of 900 seats
or over in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and
Ohio. Will buy or lease for long term. Address
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St., Chicago, 111.
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to 5,000 population. Address Box 313, Exhibitors
Herald-Worid, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
Theatre for sale
GARY THEATRE for rent or sale. Seats 1,200,
modern stage, picture machine booth, balcony, trans-
fer corner, population 110,885. For particulars write
S. W. Gaunt, 429 Adams St., Gary, Ind.
FOR SALE — Theatre, no competition; town 1,000,
7 days; A-1 equipment. Address A. Muz-U, Scott-
ville, Mich.
THEATRE, WESTERN 350 seats factory town,
11,000, old establishment, good business, good lease.
Canton, III. Address Princess Theatre, Canton, 111.
Theatre to Lease
PROPOSITIONS ARE NOW received for leasing
the new Plattsburgh theatre, located in a modern
fireproof office building. For particulars communicate
with Mr. William Mayette, 71 Clinton St., Platts-
burgh, N. Y.
Equipment for Sale
FOR SALE — Motion Picture Projectors, parts and
supplies for all type machines. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
FOR SALE — Strong Reflector Arc Lamps and ac-
cessories, also guaranteed rebuilt Powers 6-A and 6-B
and Simplex Heads. Best Prices. Write Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
CHICAGO CLEARING HOUSE— Our bargain list
on rebuilt Projectors, Powers 6-A Motor driven ma-
chines, including 12 rebuilt Simplex motor driven
machines with latest Simplex type S lamp houses.
Prices ranging from $175.00 and up. Peerless arc
controls $35.00 per pair. Compensarcs all makes,
$20.00 and up. Rebuilt Generators at reasonable
prices. AC and DC Electric fans rebuilt, just like
new. Write for complete list of your needs and
prices. No obligation. Address Illinois Theatre
Equipment Co., 12-14 E. Ninth St, Chicago, HI.
GET OUR PRICES first on complete Theatre
Equipment and Pipe Organ before buying elsewhere.
You save, we satisfy. Address Southern Theatre
Service, 643 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, La.
FOR SALE — 400 Opera Chairs, 1 Film Cabinet,
1 Enclosed Motor Rewind, 2 Late Type Simplex Pro-
jectors with 2 Standeford Low Intensity Lamps, 1
Roth 25-25 3-Phase Generator, etc.. Curtain, Ticket
Chopper, 2 Imported Lenses. All in perfect condition
and worth just double what we are asking. Our price
$3,000. Address Box 302, Exhibitors Herald-World,
407 S. Dearborn St, Chicago, III.
POWERS AND SIMPLEX PARTS at 20 per
cent and 30 per cent reduction. Reflector arc lamps
cheap. Address Carol Fenyvessy, 62 St Paul St.,
Rochester, N. Y.
Chairs for Sale
Just received 4,000 highest grade spring constructed
upholstered Theatre Chairs, less than 2 years oM, at
very reasonable prices. Also several other lots of up-
holstered and veneered Theatre Chairs, as well as 500
Portable Assembly Chairs. Write for complete list
and description of all equipment. You are under no
obligation. Illinois Theatre Equipment Co., 12-14 E.
Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
200 — 20 inch newly upholstered opera chairs squab
seat panel inserted back. Original cost $6.50, will
sell for $3.00. Address C. G. Demel, 845 S. State
St., Chicago, 111.
MANY VERY EXCEPTIONAL bargains on new
spring cushion and veneer chairs. Advise us your
need. We will guarantee you large savings. Ad-
dress C. G. Demel, 845 S. State St., Chicago 111.
Stationery
SPECIAL: 250 each business letterheads — enre-
lopes $3.75 (cash postpaid). "Neargravure" proceas
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ciated. Address SoUidays, KH 124. Knox, Ind.
For Sale
OPERA CHAIRS, seau and backs for aU makea,
five ply, at price* that save you half. Addiua
Redington & Co., Scranton, Pa.
1 NATIONAL CASH REGISTER MACHINE in
perfect order. This machine has been usetl but 18
months and is completely overhauled anil in good
running order. Price $50.00. Address M. FiUer,
Manager, Rivoli Theatre, Syracuse, N. Y.
Chair backs and seats made to order, any shape,
big saving. Address Preddey, 188 Golden Gate Are.,
San Francisco, Cal.
SPECIAL DATES, posters, cards, dating stamps.
Address Hurd of Harvey in Iowa.
Organs for Sale
FOR SALE: Bartola Pipe Organ. Used Wurlitxer
Pipe Organ, model U, very reasonable. Cremona
Pipe Organ, used or new Reproduco Pipe Organs.
Address S. B. McFadden, Havana, III.
Gift Night Souvenirs
GIFT NIGHT MERCHANDISE: Over 300 fine
novelties in our large free catalog at genuine whole-
sale prices. Write today. No obligation. Address
Fair Trading Co., Inc., 140 W. 21st St, New York.
Your Classified Ad Will Do the Work
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World has helped hundreds of Theatre owners in solving many a problem. TTie
classified advertising department has placed organists all over the country, has helped in obtaining equipment, in selling
equipment, and in solving many another problem that seemed difficult. The rates are but 10c per word payable with
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being advertised this week. The cost is small, the results are great.
60
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
Miscellaneous
BK'K.UTIFUL registered Bull Pups, $15. BuUdogi.
Address 501 Roclrwood, Dallas, Texas.
Projector Repairing
BEST GRADE repair work. Prices right Free
relief heads. Prompt service. Address Guercio &
Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave., ChicaBO, 111.
Our Twentieth Century Repair Shop, with skilled
expert mechanics, specialized tools, precision machin-
ery, aisure the very best REPAIR JOBS. Relief
Equipment furnished FREE. Prompt service. Kea-
sonahle prices. Progressive EJihibitors over entire
country send their work to "THE OLD RELIABLE."
Monarch Theatre Supply Co., Memphis, Tenn. Estab-
lished 20 years.
SKILLED MECHANICS, specialized tools, and a
ihop equipped for but one purpose can offer yoti
nothing but the best in repair work. That is what I
have, and I can offer you the best in the overhauling
of your motion picture machinery equipment. One
of the oldest repair men in the territory, and serving
some of the largest houses. Relief equipment fur-
nished free. For results bring your work to Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago. 111.
Projector repairing by experts. Work guaranteed.
Largest shop in West, rebuilt projectors and equip-
ment. Low prices. Address Preddey, 188 Golden Gate
Ave., San Francisco, Cal.
Equipment Wanted
BEST PRICES paid for projection machines, all
types. Address Guercio & Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, III.
WANT SEVERAL MERCURY RECTIFIERS,
good, bad or incomplete, cheap. Address Preddey,
188 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, Cai.
WANTED AT ONCE — Used Fort Wayne compen-
sarc. Address P. J. Cain, West Rutland, Vt.
Professional Services
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT— Many years experience
as auditor in all branches of the motion picture indus-
try, including leading theatres, large exchanges, pro-
ducers' and distributors' home office, can give his
personal attention to several more clients. Consulta-
tion free. Address Auditor c/o Box 1,000, Exhibitors
Herald-Worid, 565 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y.
State Rights for Sale
LOOK! READI ACT! — ROAD
Showmen, State rights for sale. The true life of
"The Younger Brothers," featuring Cole, Bob and Jim
Yotmger and the James Boys, in five reels, and
Younger's Historical Events, in one reel. This pic-
ture as a popular-priced road show is no experiment.
It has been tried and true, has played against all
kinds of competition under all conditions. Has always
gotten the money. With each State or sale we fur-
nish free one new complete Lobby Display, consisting
of new Prints of Film, three new Wax Figures, stand-
ing, life size, of Cole, Bob and Jim Younger, true to
life, dressed in cowboy style, big boots, etc; 500 One-
Sheets, 100 Slides, 10 Photo Lobby Boards, extra 100
small Photos, 6 Banners, lettered in flashy oil colors,
enough to fit any theatre front. Everything ready to
go. Hurry. It will pay you to buy the king of all
road shows. Address E. L. Humphrey, Miami, Okla.
Cameras for Rent
AKELEY; BELL-HOWELL (professional). Rent
anywhere. Address Wood, 124 E. Market, Indian-
apolis.
LETTERS
From Readers
A forum at which the exhibitor is
invited to express his opinion on
matters of current interest. Brevity
adds forcefulness to any statement.
Unsigtied letters will not be printed.
Thank You!
MILTON, IOWA.— To the Editor: Can
you give me the address of the company
that publishes the "American Projectionist?"
Also give me the subscription rate of the
same.
I enjoy every issue of the Herald- World,
especially the one containing the Better
Theatres section. I enjoy Mr. Richardson's
columns and only wish there was more of
them. — Earl E. Cles, Box 41, Milton, Iowa.
DALLAS, TEX.— To the Editor : I see in
your August 11 issue Messrs. Dinsmore & Son
of the Alajestic theatre in Weiner, Ark., are
asking for suggestions as to how the noise can
be separated from the younger patrons of his
show, in order that his older customers may
know what all the cinema is about.
Although I have left the exhibiting end of
the game, I believe if these two gentlemen
would give my suggestion a trial, they may
find it as effective as I did while managing
four small town houses, and experiencing the
same trouble for awhile, that they are now.
During my term as manager, I operated my
two projectors in one of my houses, and at
the first hint of disorder causing annoyance
to elder people on the part of the boys and
girls, I promptly shut the picture off the
screen and gave them a slide saying in a very
few words that unless the noise ceased, the
picture would not be continued.
I fully intended to carry out the threat had
the warning failed to work and intended issu-
ing passes to all adult customers in event I did
close the program there — but that was never
necessary — in fact only two warnings were
needed to convince the youngsters they would
not see the show if the noise continued, and
both times I stopped the picture I was able
to proceed with the screening within less than
a minute.
So, Majestic theatre brothers, a bouncer
was not needed, and golden silence was ob-
tained in short order, with a lot less annoy-
ance by stopping the picture than allowing
the noise to continue. Several of my patrons
expressed their appreciation and so I now
pass this little idea on to the small town ex-
hibitors who are in the same position as the
Weiner house. Here's hoping it works as
smoothly for you.
If this note is allowed space in the Herald-
World, then all appreciation is due the editor.
■ — C. J. Wheeler, Paramount Famous Lasky
Corp., Dallas, Tex.
Warners Get Control of
300 Theatres by Stanley
Deal; Sell KAO Interest
(Continued from page 23)
tion brought about quite a flurry in the
market. The day of the sale, Warner
Brothers Class A $10 par stock opened
at 137%, after having previously advanced
from a low of 22 to a high of 139^, and
closed down more than five points at 129^.
A block of 30,000 shares of Stanley stock
changed hands at the opening of the mar-
ket at 69^, an overnight jump of 10^
points and a new high. It closed up 43^
points, at 6354-
The next day both Stanley and Warner
stock slumped perceptibly. Warner A
dropped 14J^ points to 115. Stanley lost
4^. Fox Film A, Universal, Paramount,
and Pathe all went down in the depression.
Details of Sale
Incidentally, details of the sale are as
follows:
Warner Brothers will offer to every
holder of Stanley Company common stock,
to the extent of 80 per cent of his holdings,
one share of a new preferred stock con-
vertible for two years into Warner Broth-
ers common stock at the rate of $55 a
share for Stanley stock and $125 a share
for Warner Brothers common, plus one-
tenth of a share of Warner Brothers com-
mon stock. For the remaining 20 per cent
of Stanley stock, Warner Brothers agree
to pay $57.50 a share in cash.
The Stanley company controls close to
300 theatres, with its principal strength cen-
tering about Philadelphia. The Warners,
of course, have a huge producing plant at
Hollywood, laboratories in the East, and a
network of foreign and domestic distribut-
ing ofifices.
Derby Flyers See
Fox's "The Air Circus"
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— Airmen
who included those entering the
transcontinental nonstop air derby
from New York to Los Angeles last
Wednesday, last week watched and
listened to the Fox picture, "The Air
Circus," at the Gaiety theatre. Cap-
tain Harry Rogers said, "The picture
emphasizes many vital points in
aviation."
Labor Peace Is Made
By Exhibitors in 4 Cities
(Continued from page 33)
of men clause, but when the contract was
signed this clause was out.
Temporary Settlement
Reached at Minneapolis
(Special to the Herald-World)
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 18. — A temporary
settlement of the issue between projectionists
and exhibitors was reached here last week
with the granting of a wage increase of a bit
less than 7 per cent and an additional man in
the projection room of theatres using sound.
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 18.— The pay of stage-
hands employed at the leading motion picture
theatres, dramatic, vaudeville and burlesque
houses has been increased from $70 to $75 a
week under a new agreement. The stage
crews at the Ambassador, Missouri, Loev/s
State and St. Louis theatres have been
doubled, two shifts of carpenters, electricians
and property men to be employed.
Harry Loew Dies
LYNN, MASS. — Harry Loew, f.ulier of Elias M.
Locw of the E. M. Loew chain of tlieatres in New
England, died at his home here, aged 76 years.
F N's Taking Over Lindsey
Book Ends Sax Project
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— Gotham will not
release a_ production of Judge Ben Lindsey's
"Companionate Marriage," which had been
projected by President Sam Sax as a road-
show special. Inquiry made bv the Herald-
World, as a result of First iSTational's an-
nouncement that it would release a picture
based on the book, has brought word from the
latter company that the film is a Sam Sax
production, distribution rights to which have
been acquired from Sax and Asher, Small
& Rogers. "Companionate Marriage" will be
released in October.
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
61
^e^
WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Verdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor
Copjrright, 1928
Incorporated in this original exhibitors report department of Exhibitors Herald, which was estab-
lished October 14, 1916, is the Moving Picture World department, ** Straight from the Shoulder
Reports."
Columbia
OPENING NIGHT: Claire Windsor— 20%. Sep-
tember 7. A very fine program picture. Better
than the average. This picture would check up
with some of the other Columbia specials. — Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
BY WHOSE HAND: Ricardo Cortez— July 24-25.
Most all Columbia pictures good, and this no ex-
ception.— C. P. Washman, Roxy theatre, Skelly-
town, Texas. — General patronage.
THE MATINEE IDOL: Johnnie Walker— A good
program picture. Very entertaining and funny.
Six reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre, Indian
Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
AFTER THE STORM: Hobart Bosworth— Not
afi good as "Bloodship" but there are a lot made
that are worse than this one. Seven reels. — E. L.
Wood, Coliseum theatre, Edmore, Midi. — General
patronage.
THE DESERT BRIDE: Betty Compson— 45%.
August 29-30. Rather poor print giving a general
hazy effect with alternate footage of clear screen-
ings gave this a spotty effect. Picture is only fair,
not much action except in final reel. Consider a
good story rather "messed up" in this picture.
Pleased about 50% which is unusually low per-
centage on Colurabias. Guess they all put out
duds occasionally. Six reels. — J. W. Crabtree, Joy-
land theatre. Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
FBO
CHICAGO AFTER MIDNIGHT: Special cast^
100%. July 8-9. A mighty good picture and how
it clicked at the box office, and it did not cost like
some other companies, so called specials that fail at
the box office. — C. P. Washman, Roxy theatre, Skelly-
town, Texas. — General patronage.
RACING ROMEOS: Red Grange— August 28.
Just fair. The men and boys seemed to like it.
The women did not think much of it. Six reels. —
Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111. —
General patronage.
SWIFT SHADOWS: Ranger— September 1. Ran-
ger isn't the polished actor that our friend Rin-
Tin-Tin is but this was a good kid screamer for
our Saturday night patrons. Has good supporting
cast and a peach of a fight. All apparently went
away satisfied including myself, five reels. — E. C.
Arehart, Auditorium theatre. Laurel, Neb. — General
patronage.
TRAIL OF COURAGE: Bob Steele— September 1.
Good little program for Saturday night. Five reels.
— Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis.
— Small town patronage.
CONEY ISLAND: Special cast— July 19-20. An-
other fine picture from FBO that we did not have
to pay extra for. Seven reels. — C. P. Washman,
Roxy theatre, Skellytown, Texas. — General patronage.
CONEY ISLAND: Special cast— Not much of a
picture and made worse by the rotten dance in this.
Hope the producers will learn some day that the
public want clean pictures. — R. K. Lattin, Strand
theatre, Valparaiso, Neb. — General patronage.
Editor's Note
Percentage ratings given by ex-
hibitors in reports to this depart-
ment are obtained in the following
manner: Average daily gross of
picture reported is divided by
average daily gross of picture hold-
ing house record to determine
relative box office value in terms
of percentage.
EXAMPLE: $75 (average daily
gross of picture reported) divided
by $100 (average daily gross of
picture holding house record)
equals .75 (percentage rating given
picture in report) .
When a picture has received
percentage ratings in 10 reports it
is entered in THE BOX OFFICE
TICKER column of "Quick Ref-
erence Picture Chart."
First National
HAPPINESS AHEAD: Colleen Moore— 60%.
Augrust 11. Don't believe this went over as her
other pictures did. Usually get good comments on
her pictures but no one commented on this one.
Seven reels. — H. J. Eagan, American theatre, Wau-
toma. Wis. — Small town patronage.
HAPPINESS AHEAD: Colleen Moore— 25%.
August 30-31-September 1. A good show of the
crook variety with a new twist which gives Colleen
a chance to do some dramatic work and she gives
a splendid performance as does Lowe. The heart
interest is well maintained and the comedy is well
placed. Fair business. Eight reels. — S. B. Kennedy,
Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town
patronage.
HAPPINESS AHEAD: Colleen Moore — Personally
consider it pretty good entertainment. Plot some-
what overdrawn and illogical in spots. Picture
flopped liadly for two nights. Colleen seems to have
lost her popularity here. Believe she should stick
to comedy dramas, with a dash of slapstick. Seven
reels.— P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City,
Mo.- — Neighborhood patronage.
THE WHEEL OF CHANCE: Richard Barthelmess
—55%. August 27-28. Well, this picture drew the
higher class patrons out in such numbers that picture
went over as to finance. Second night crowd larger
than first. Picture excellent of its kind. Acting
exceptionally good, especially of Bodil Rosing as the
mother. Settings and photography exceptionally
well rendered A fine production in every way.
Seven reels. — J. W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corn-
ing, Ark. — Gneral patronage.
THE WHEEL OF CHANCE: Richard Barthel-
mess— 55%. August 1. A typical Barthelmess pic-
ture. Not as good as "The Noose" but interesting
and entertaining. Seven reels. — H. J. Eagan, Amer-
ican theatre, Wautoma, Wis. — Small town patronage.
THE WAGON SHOW: Ken Maynard— 40%. Sep-
tember 1. Poorest Saturday crowd in months. Star
fine, picture good, weather good, but fans figured
from title that it wasn't a Western and so my com-
petitor with good Western got the business. Picture
is not a Western, although a good story with good
action. However, it will not please if your crowd
likes their Westerns straight. Advertising fair.
Photography good. Seven reels. — J. W. Crabtree,
Joyland theatre. Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
SEE YOU IN JAIL: Jack Mulhall— 20%. Star
means nothing here. Another program, if you have
a good comedy. — G. Carey, Strand theatre, Paris,
Ark. — General patronage.
THE PATENT LEATHER KID: Richard Barthel-
mess— A big picture with no pulling i)Ower. The
best I can say for it is it will help future Barthel-
mess pictures. — Geo. E. Fuller, The Playhouse, Fair-
hope, Ala. — General patronage.
THE LOVE MART: Billie Dove— Did very well
with this. Billie cannot be said to be a great actress
but as a slave — Well, she could start a civil war
at any home! — Geo. E. Fuller, The Playhouse, Fair-
hope, Ala. — General patronage.
THE HEART OF A FOLLIES GIRL: Billie Dove
— A good program picture. Patrons like Billie very
well here. Seven reels. — John Kamuda, Grand the-
atre, Indian Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
THE TEXAS STEER: Will Rogers— August 30-31.
A pretty good program picture. From all the front
page whoopla Bill gets he ought to draw like a house
afire. However, as he gets all his blah in the Demo-
cratic sheets and as there are only about a dozen
democrats in the United States, his heiferdust hasn't
much draw at the box office. I claim it is a heluva
good picture but none of the natives came to see it.
In the future I would suggest that Bill stay in his
special line of boloney and away from the pictures.
Seven reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre,
Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage.
LADIES NIGHT IN A TURKISH BATH: Mul-
hall-Mackaill — Pulled and pleased a Sunday crowd. —
Geo. E. Fuller, The Playhouse, Fairhope, Ala. —
General patronage.
FLYING ROMEOS: Murray-Sidney— September
2-3. This is much better than the title would im-
ply. In fact, it is a very fine picture filled with
laffs. I believe the barber shop sequence is better
than "McFadden's Flats." Kept the houpe in an up-
roar most of the time. Also had Bill Rogers in a
one reeler "In Switzerland and Bavaria." Bill is
better in this short stuff than in his features. He
62
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
Lejt: This statue was
made of cement by
Dr. O. H. Simpson of
Dodge City, Kansas,
to perpetuate the ex-
act image of the early-
day cowboy, so that
posterity's conception
might not be led
astray by the present-
day movie acto r. —
Right: This monu-
ment^ "The Madonna
of the Trail," is lo-
cated on the old
Santa Fe trail at Coun-
cil Grove, Kansas. It
was erected by the
D. A. R. in memory of
the Mothers of Cov-
ered Wagon Days.
AUGUSTA, KANSAS, September 9, 1928.
DEAR HERALD-WORLD:
There are moments when one wants to be alone. That's our case right now. We .ire
trying to collect our thoughts so that this colyum will not give Jay the nightmare and the
reader the jimjams, but we fear it is a hopeless task. Just across from our room is a
radio nut who is tuning in on everything from Henry Fields at Shenandoah to a spark
station at Bismarck, and he is getting everything that can make a noise from the starting of a
Ford at Ypsilanti, Michigan, to the singing of an aria from Anheuser-Busch by Lucy Jones
at Tombstone, Arizona.
We just heard some fellow making a temperance speech some place that sounded like
Tragsdorf of Ncillsville, Wisconsin, but it wasn't. Trag don't make 'em. Then Joe Hewitt
of Robinson, Illinois, broke in and said "Al Smith will carry this district by ten thousand
majority," and then we had a jazz selection from "Eddie's Syncopators" from Chandler,
Oklahoma. Henry Fields said, "Our alfalfa seed is selected with great care and we can fill
your orders promptly, also we want to call your attention to our tremendous line of com
shcllers which will soon be in big demand, so get your orders in early. We will now be
favored with a selection by the oldtime Fiddlers Quartet entitled 'Turkey in the Straw'."
And then some preacher somewhere said, "Look not upon the wine when it is red," and this
leads us naturally to a discussion of the issues in the coming campaign.
* « «
Carl Steffens, the announcer for the Norfolk, Nebraska, station, got in and said, "We have
a number of visitors with us today who no doubt would like to talk to their home folks and
we will call on Mrs. Marjorie Bradley of Neligh," and Mrs. Bradley said, "Hello, Walter, I
got here all right. Did Joline cry much after I left, tell Billy hello for mama and be sure
to put the cat out before you go to the show tonight. Fll be home tonight, well, that's all,
goodhy."
Talk about the endurance and patience of the Children of Israel, they didn't have radios
in those days no- jazz orchestras, if they had been afflicted with these diseases they would
have walked into the Red Sea with their boots on, as much as an Israelite dislikes water.
They jail people for stealing horses but they wUl let radio nuts around hotels incite
people to violence and never voice a protest.
« * *
This yap has just picked up another station somewhere out in California and some bird said,
"They talk about the beauties of Florida, but Florida is to California what a muUen and
dogfennel patch would be to a garden of roses," and then tliis nut gave the dial another
turn and we heard Crockett Brown at Nashwauk, Minnesota, say, "Yes, sir, these Bullfound-
land pups have taken the sweepstakes at every place they have been shown," and then some
prearher al Grcensburg, Kansas, said, "Amen. The audience will please rise and sing
Traise God from whom all blessings flow'." We can't find an ax around this hotel, and
this will probably save us from a charge of manslaughter.
(Continued on next page)
\a further away from the camera. Seven reels. —
Wm. E. TragHilorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. —
Small town patronage.
THE UPLAND RIDER: Ken Maynard— While
this etar does not draw any business for me must
gay that thlR Is one of the most exciting, pleasing
and lauehable Westerns I've seen in a long time.
Director Al Roeell seldom turns out a poor picture.
Did you ever notice that? Six reels. — P. G. Vaughan,
Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — ^Neighborhood pat-
ronage.
STEPPING ALONG: Johnny Hines— A good pro-
gram picture. — C. Carey, Strand theatre, Paris, Ark.
General pntronnge.
VAMPING VENUS: Charlie Murray— 74%. An-
rnit 30. JuHt a ellly comedy drama with (lorae
craiy comedy Btntics. Seven reels. — John Kamuda.
Grand theatre, Indian Orchard, Mass. — General pat-
ronsKc.
THE RED RAIDERS: Ken Maynard— September
8. Ken Maynard Is always good. Better than Tom
Mix but not the drawing power yet of Mix but think
he will be a better bet soon. Seven reels. — Mrs. C.
Knox, Star theatre, Villa Grove. 111. — General pat-
ronage.
THE RED RAIDERS: Ken Maynard— A Western
that got by all right but do not consider this up to
Ken's standard. We consider Maynard the best Wes-
tern star in the market. — Beatty and Johnston, Cres-
cent theatre. Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. — Small town
patronage.
THE OVERLAND STAGE: Ken Maynard— Plenty
of Indiana and killing. Too long. Otherwise a good
Saturday thriller. Seven reels. — G. Carey, Strand
theatre, Paris, Ark. — General patronage.
Fox
DAKEDEVIL'S REWARD: Tom Mix— 85%. Au-
gust 29. The best Mix picture we hnve played this
year. Pleased a full house of all classes, as we
used it on our bargain night. Five reels. — E. P.
Ingram, Ingram's theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small
town patronage.
THE NEWS PARADE: Special cast— 75%. Au-
gust 30-31. A good picture, but not as good as
"Hot News." Was slow at the beginning but picks
up about the fifth reel. Pleased the majority. Nick
Stuart is fast coming to the front, and I think Mr.
Fox should make a "star" out of him right away.
He has looks, physique and can act like nobody's
business. Seven reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's
theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town patronage.
HIGH SCHOOL HERO: Special cast — 70%. Au-
gust 27-28. A good program picture that pleased
everyone. Played opening day of local high school,
and drew good business. Nick Stuart is a comer, or
I am no judge of talent. Six reels. — E. F. Ingram.
Ingram's theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town pat-
ronage.
HELLO, CHEYENNE: Tom Mix— 50%. Septem-
ber 1. A good Mix picture, played it Saturday and
the crowd liked it. — Bert Silver, Silver Family the-
atre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
GIRL SHY COWBOY: Rex Bell— September 5.
The first of the new Fox pictures. It is entirely
different even if he wasn't very girl shy. Anyway it
seemed to please. Some of my regular Sunday
nighters were among those present and they sure
liked the leg show part of the picture. Well, why
not? They weren't bad to look at. Has action and
comedy. Rex isn't the actor or drawing card that
a Mix or Thomson would be but as a South Dakota
senator once was quoted as saying he has "Wim,
winegar and witality." Five reels. — E. C. Arehart,
Auditorium theatre. Laurel, Neb. — General patronage.
NONE BUT THE BRAVE: Special cast— Best
feature we ever played. Beauty contest in colors
was gorgeous. Book it and boost it. Six reels.—
Ben Brinck, Opera House, West Point, Iowa. — Gen-
eral patronage.
WHY SAILORS GO WRONG: Special cast— A
roughhouse slapstick that will go well with Satur-
day night crowd. Not what the customers expect but
they are not disappointed. — Geo. E. Puller, The
Playhouse, Pairhope, Ala. — General patronage.
STUMBLING RIVER: Tom Mix— Mix must be
getting too old. Not what he used to be here. Pic-
tures are clean though. Shots noteworthy. — G. Carey,
Strand theaire, Paris, Ark. — General patronage.
HANGMAN'S HOUSE: Special cast— Just fair.—
Ben Brinck, Opera House, West Point, Iowa. — Gen
eral patronage.
SILVER VALLEY: Tom Mix— The usual Tom
Mix Western. Six reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal
theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
THE COSSACKS: John Gilbert— 45%. September
6-7-8. Here's a swell dish of entertainment. A
special in every sense of the word. Gilbert as the
dashing Cossack gives an inspiring performance as
does Torrence. Lavish sets, big mobs and the pic-
turesque Cossack costumes give the production class.
Get it if you can possibly do so. It will stand ad-
vanced prices. Ten reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central
theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town pat-
ronage.
THE COSSACKS: John Gilbert— September 9-10.
Very, very good. Everybody pleased. If you could
have more good pictures like this and I could get
them new like Metro lets me have them, then I could
get the business. Some companies won't let us
little show people have the new ones until late.
Ten reels. — Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove,
111. — General patronage.
THE BIG CITY: Lon Chaney — 60%. September
9-10. This is a fine picture. One of the best crook
pictures we ever played. Chaney and the whole cast
fine. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
THE BIG CITY: Lon Chaney— 25%. September
3-4-5. Very di.xappointing. It may have been good
originally but the censors evidently made a mess of
it. I would think the exchange would find it good
business to notify an exhibitor in a case like this
but they are as silent as the grave. They certainly
lost my good will over this and I guess I lost some
of my patrons' good will. Eight reels. — S. B. Ken-
nedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. —
Small town patronage.
THE DIVINE WOMAN: Greta Garbo— 30%. Au-
gust 3-4. Nothing divine about anyone in it. If
your audiences like illegitimates, adultery, and all that
goes with it, show this. Insulted every one who saw
it. More like this and Metro will have me on film
board. My hearty contempt tor, author, director
and all in it. Putrid. — G. Carey, Strand theatre,
Paris, Ark. — General patronage.
THE SMART SET: William Haines— 40%. Sep-
tember 6. A mighty good program picture. This
Haines is the champion smart aleck of the screen
yet. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
63
THE STUDENT PRINCE: Ramon Novarro—
82%. August 24. A very good picture with a lot of
good acting. A good program picture for any day.
Ten reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre, Indian
Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
SPOILERS OF THE WEST: Tim McCoy— 60%.
September 8. A good entertainment. Story historical.
Star and cast fine. Satisfied them all as a program
picture. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
SPOILERS OF THE WEST: Tim McCoy— July
21. Tim McCoy's Indian pictures are fine. Six
reels. — C. P. Washman, Roxy theatre, Skellytown,
Texas. — General patronage.
SPRING FEVER: William Haines— 25%. August
29. This is a fine program picture, spoiled with a
few smutty spots that was not needed to make good
entertainment. Why do they put them in? The
star and cast fine, story good. Make them clean
and people will continue to patronize us. — Bert Sil-
ver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — Gen-
eral patronage.
AFTER MIDNIGHT: Norma Shearer— 20%. Au-
gust 30. A splendid program picture. Star and cast
also story good. — Bert Silver.Silver Family theatre,
Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
THE CROWD: Boardman-Murray— September 2-3.
A very good picture. Seemed to please generally.
Not so good as "The Cossacks." Ten reels. — Mrs.
C. Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111. — General
patronage.
BABY MINE: Dane-Arthur— Here is a knock-
down, drag- 'em-out comedy that is a riot. Charlotte
Greenwood should break into more pictures. — Geo.
E. Fuller, The Playhouse, Fairhope, Ala. — General
patronage.
LAUGH, CLOWN, LAUGH: Lon Chaney— Herbert
Brennon, Chaney and entire cast have turned out
a very good picture here. Of course, it's the same
old Chaney gog of hopeless, alone and dying off at
the finifih. But it's nicely handled and I believe
they liked it, even the children. It's clean as a
whistle. Eight reelfl. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre,
Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
BRINGING UP FATHER: Special cast— Played
this family night and it pulled and pleased. What
more could you ask 7 — Geo. E. Fuller, The Playhouse,
Fairhope, Ala. — General patronage.
LAW OF THE RANGE: Tim McCoy— Not so
bad. Tim has a good supporting cast which helps to
make it a better picture. Consider it as good as the
better class Westerns now being made by various
outfits. Six reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre,
Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage,
ROSE MARIE: Joan Crawford— Very good.
Metro finished their contract much stronger than the
beginning. This is one that has a kick at the box
office. — Russell C. Dey, Reedville Movies, Reedville,
Va. — Small town patronage.
ROSE MARIE: Joan Crawford — July 15-16. An
extra good picture, but a print that was awfully
dark. Eight reels. — C. P. Washman, Boxy theatre,
Skellytown, Texas. — General patronage.
BUTTONS: Jackie Coogan — This picture seemed
to be very acceptable to our patrons. Seven reels. —
Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. —
General patronage.
BUTTONS: Jackie Coogan — Better than "Bugle
Call." Clean too. which is something Metro should
note. So many of Metro's are not clean enough for
me. — G. Carey, Strand theatre, Paris, Ark. — General
patronage.
WICKEDNESS PREFERRED: Lew Cody— A good
program picture, that's all. Five reels. — John
Kamuda, Grand theatre, Indian Orchard, Mass. —
General patronage.
Paramount
THE RACKET: Thomas Meighan — 70%. August
25a A very good program. One of the best by
this star in a long time. Eight reels. — ^Paul B.
Hoffman, Legion IJieatre, Holyrood, Kan. — Small
town patronage.
THE GAY DEFENDER: Richard Dix — 13%. Sep-
tember 2-3. We booked this blind for Sunday in a
town that doesn't like Westerns on the Sabbath.
However, it's not very blood-curdling and we got
by virith it all right. Dix is a favorite here. Just
a program number with photography and direction
a little under par. Fairly decent print for a change.
Seven reels. — Wolfe & Williams, Screenland theatre,
Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
THE MATING CALL: Thomas Meighan— S0%.
September 8. A very good Rex Beach story well
acted by a very capable cast. Interest well sustained
throughout. Seven reels. — H. J. Eagan, American
theatre, Wautoma, Wis. — Small town patronage.
KIT CARSON: Fred Thomson— 100%. Septem-
ber 1. When enough people will come out in a
downpour of rain to break ovur house record of four
years' standing, the picture must be good. Well
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
(Continued from preceding page)
We are very fond of babies. Some people like 'em from 18 to 25 but we prefer 'em,
from three months to two years. A lady had one in the hotel lobby this morning and we
asked her to let us take it for a while, and she did. We carried it around for a spell,
then we took it back to its mother and said, "Lady, this must be an AI Smith baby," and
she replied, "Indeed it is not, it is a Hoover baby," and we said, "Well, in that case you
better take it up to your room and change its politics." And she did.
* « *
In this coming campaign there'll be money to bet
That the South will be dry
And the East will be wet,
And the Corn Belt will wonder whatthehell they wiM get
Out of this coming campaign.
At lola we found E. Van Hyning of the Kelly theatre surrounded by four film hounds.
There wasn't an avenue of escape, but he was putting up a desperate fight and finally won
out with a little of the furniture still intact. The Kelly is a beautiful theatre and is
managed by a man wl||> knows, which accounts for the excellent business the place enjoys.
Van invited us back to see him, which proves that he knows a good thing when he sees it.
The exhibitor who says that he don't care to read
The Trade Papers that help him advance.
Is the one whose show business has all gone to seed
And he has holes in the seat of his pants.
We had fried chicken for dinner today, that is, that was what the girl said it was. We got
the neck and bark. This chicken was the one Noah used as an alarm clock when he was on
that cruise that time.
Some people like chicken necks, but we were never very strong for 'em. Maybe that's
because we never could get any but some old Plymouth Rock. It's funny how these hotels
never buy anything but necks and backs. We saw a pullet over in lola the other day that
would have made a good fry but we didn't have time to stop.
* * *
There, that bird has turned that radio on again and now we are blowed up. We have
been trying to concentrate our thoughts on something with a little sense but with a radio in
the next room and the Salvation Army down on the street it looks like a hopeless case,
and about the oidy thing left to do is to turn to poetry and let the readers help share the
agony for —
It's impossible to think, and it's no use to try
To compete with this radio bug,
But if we could get hold of a warm custard pie
We'd hit him right square in the mug.
We've driven in sleet and we've driven in snow
And we've driven with the roads full of ruts.
But the biggest damnuisance we ever did know
Are these mullethead radio nuts.
* « *
We don't know how long it takes for a man's head to clear up after he has been on a
vacation do%vn in New York, but we hope Jay is back on the job in the HERALD-
WORLD office and will relieve Eagle Eye Joe from some of his strenuous editorial duties.
It is pretty hard on that boy to have to shoulder all the responsibilities of a magazine like
that in addition to his social activities. Any pink tea function in Chicago with Joe absent
is marked up as a fint failure, and just think where Chicago would be with Jay down in
New York and Joe down with the mumps. We shudder, Gertie, we shudder.
We believe Marie is coming down with the hay fever, and if she does we don't know what
in the dickens we will do. She coughs a lot and her temperature comes up every time -jhe
climbs a hill and she is getting so doggone temperamental. If she gets that malady as bad
as we have, it will go into the first hospital we come to.
We will give it up. There is no use trying to write against a radio. We have fought
this job for four hours and we don't know whether we are arguing or preaching from the
second epistle of John to the Ephesians, and we hope if that nut ever gets married he
will have triplets before his mother-in-law can get there. So that's that and that's all of it.
J. C. JENKINS,
The HERALD-WORLD man.
that's exactly what hapi>ened with this one, and were
they pleased? Oh boy! and they didn't fail to say
so. This is a very fine production, and will be ap-
preciated by everyone. Book it and boost it. Eight
reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's theatre, Ashland,
Ala. — Small town patronage.
LADIES OF THE MOB: Clara Bow— 65%. Au-
gust 12. As others have said she should not be in
this type of a story. A big disappointment to her
fans. Too much underworld stuff nowadays any-
way. Wonder when they will let up on them. Seven
reels. — H. J. Eagan, American theatre, Wautoma,
Wis. — Small town patronage.
SWIM, GIRL, SWIM: Bebe Daniels — 19%. Au-
gust 3I-September 1. Darn good show. Pleased all
and made us money de.<ipite running it late. Bebe is
a favorite here and this is not one of her poorest
by any means. Print not so good as usual from
Cincinnati, Paramount. Dirty, brittle, and full of
rotten splices. Paramount must be trying to hold
an average down for us as the better the picture is
the rottener the print they wish off on us. Oh
well, just a few more months! Seven reels. — Wolfe
& Williams, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small
town patronage.
BARBED WIRE: Pola Negri — 11%. September
7-8. Another good picture marred by a poor print.
Miss Negri not a very good drawing card for ns.
We advertised this as one of the most entertaining
of the Negri pictures and believe we made no mis-
take. It incorporates a heavy moral of anti-war
propaganda on which some of our patrons commented.
However, the chief moral we drew from it is the
foolishness of buying pictures from Paramount when
they won't give us decent prints and the futility of
complaining about poor prints when they won't even
extend the courtesy of a reply. We receive excellent
and courteous service from the booking and ad-
vertising departments at Cincinnati, for which we are
duly grateful and Paramount pictures average very
high in our opinion, but all this is counter-balanced
and utterly ruined by the rotten prints and surly
64
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
service from the rest of the outfit. By golly, they're
getting so they don't even rewind all of the film I
Eight reels. — ^Wolfe & Williams, Screenland theatre,
Nevada, 0. — Small town patronage.
LO\TE AND LEARN: Esther Ralston — 54%.
September 1. A pleasing picture that a stormy
night cut the i)3tronage, but pleased those who did
come out. Six reels. — Paul B. Hoffman, Legion
theatre, Holyrood, Kan. — Small town patronage.
HOT NEWS: Bebe Daniels — A dandy little pro-
gram picture that pleased everybody who saw it,
Bebe Daniels well liked here as her pictures are full
of pep and action. — Beatty and Johnston, Crescent
theatre. Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. — General pat-
ronage.
PARTNERS IN CRIME: Beery-Hatton— Beery and
Hatton team always good. We are very sorry to
hear that the "Big Killing" is their last picture.
Seven reels. — E. L. Wood, Coliseum theatre, Edmore,
Mich. — General patronage.
PARTNERS IN CRIME: Beery-Hatton— Septem-
ber 7-S. Fair satisfaction and fair business. These
boys are through here as comics. Too many bad pic-
tures. Seven reels. — Fred E. Johnson, Colonial the-
atre, Cambridge, O. — General patronage.
THE DRAGNET; George Bancroft— I consider
this a better picture than "Underworld" and has
practically the same cast. Bancroft and the entire
cast do excellent work. It has been expertly directed.
It is not a good picture for children. They know
too much. Eight reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun the-
atre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
HALF A BRIDE: Esther Ralston— Do not con-
sider this to be very strong story material or else
the director did not get the best results from his
efforts. Seems artificial and unreal at all times.
Esther Ralston's acting in this picture would not
win any gold medals. Seven reels. — P. G. Vaughan,
Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — ^Neighborhood pat-
ronage.
THE BIG KILLING: Beery-Hatton— 25%. August
27-28-29. Not a bad Beery-Hatton picture, but
nothing to rave over and not up to many of their
pre\ious efforts. The story is of the feud variety and
there are some good laughs. Six reels. — S. B. Ken-
nedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small
town patronage.
THE BIG KILLING: Beery-Hatton— Not a special
by any means and about as silly as ever put on by
Beery and Hatton. To imagine that anyone could put
over some of the stuff this story tries to make be-
lieve might have happened amongst the Ozark
mountaineers is pretty far fetched but for laughs
this i>air of "jacks" brought them out by the
bushels. Their work was fine and if this picture is
classed as a drama then it is classed improperly.
Beery and Hatton by their dam foolishness made
the whole thing a first class "farce comedy" or a
"travesty" and as far as they were concerned they
delivered the goods. SLx reels.— Giacoma Bros.,
Crystal theatre, Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage.
SHOOTIN' IRONS: Jack Ludin— A much better
Western than most of the average. Worth showing.
Five reels.— E. L. Wood, Coliseum theatre, Edmore,
Mich. — Small town patronage.
THE FIFTY FIFTY Girl: Bebe Daniels— Septem-
ber 3-4. Gave pretty good satisfaction to fair houses.
Much better than "Feel My Pulse." Seven reels.—
Fred E. Johnson, Colonial theatre, Cambridge, O. —
General patronage.
SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS: Esther Ral-
ston— Sptember 3-4. Another Paramount flop. Poor
business. Nothing to it. Five reels. — Fred E. John-
son, Strand theatre, Cambridge, O. — General pat-
ronage.
SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS: Esther Ral-
eton— July 10-11. I could not see much in this pic-
ture, but it was different, so that kept it from being
a failure. — C. P. Washman, Roxy theatre, Skelly-
town, Texas. — General patronage.
FOOLS FOR LUCK: Pields-Conklin— September 2.
A lemon. Drew about like vinegar draws flies. The
only good part about it was the film condition. It
ahould be good as I doubt if very few ever played
it. Six reels.- E. C. Arehart, Auditorium theatre.
Laurel, Neb. — General patronage.
TILUE'S PUNCTURED ROMANCE: Special cast
— September 7-8. Another terrible picture and
flopped. Oh boyl with "Peaks of Destiny" as added
Paramount feature. Six reels. — Fred E. Johnson,
Strand theatre, Cambridge, O. — General patronage.
A NIGHT OF MYSTERY: Adolphe Menjou—
September 5-6. Rotten business and a punk picture.
Six reelB.— Fred E. Johnson, Strand theatre, Cam-
bridge. O. — General patronage.
THE MAGNIFICENT FLIRT: Florence Vidor—
A magnificently costumed, well acted picture. Of
course, It la a French farce. It seems Vidor and
Meniou muKt have their French atmoephere. How-
ever, It'e the best of the recent Vidora at that.
Seven rcelH.— P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas
City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
NEVADA: Gary Cooper— July 26-27, All Zane
Winking at Fight Laws?
"Horrors," Says Editor
"The Sim of Dr. Tunney's farewell
appearance has been shown in Chi-
cago and elsewhere and no one has
been arrested," says an editorial
writer in the Chicago Tribune last
week under a heading, "Simon-Pure
NulUBcation."
"This is an outrage," it goes on.
"It is not sufficient to say that a fed-
eral law has been violated; it is being
nullified. So far as we can deter-
mine, the department of justice is
paying no attention whatever to the
law against interstate transportation
of £ght films. The department is not
even trying to enforce it. The re-
sultant collapse of morals and citizen-
ship throughout the country is al-
ready apparent. Without the help of
the federal government in keeping us
clean and pure, we are all going into
a decline from which, there is reason
to fear, we may never recover."
Grey pictures draw well. Did not have many com-
ments on this one. — C. P. Washman, Roxy theatre,
Skellytown, Texas. — General patronage.
THE LAST COMMAND: Emil Jannings— Sep-
tember 5-6. Gave fair satisfaction but Jannings is
no draw here. Eight reels. — Fred E. Johnson, Colo-
nial theatre, Cambridge, O. — General patronage.
UNDER THE TONTO RIM: Special cast— A fair
Zane Grey picture worth running. Six reels. — E.
L. Wood, Coliseum theatre, Edmore, Mich. — Small
town patronage.
CHANG: Special cast — August 30-31. An in-
teresting picture but I could not get them in. Played
two days and did not take in enough to pay film
rental. Played it too old. Eight reels. — Mrs C.
Knox, Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111, — General jjat-
ronage.
UNDERWORLD: George Bancroft— September 6-7.
A good picture of its kind, but we have had so
many underworld pictures and war pictures that
a change would be good. — ^Mrs. C. Knox, Star the-
atre. Villa Grove, 111. — General patronage.
THE WAY OF ALL FLESH: Emil Jannings—
July 22-23. Most every one thought this a fine
picture. — C. P. Washman. Roxy theatre, Skellytown,
Texas. — General patronage.
Pathe-P D C
THE WISE WIFE: Phyllis Haver— September 5.
Just a fair picture on which I did not take in film
rental. Six reels. — Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre.
Villa Grove, 111. — General patronage.
CORPORAL KATE: Vera Reynolds— A very good
picture showing a girl's value in war. Very interest-
ing and funny. Book it now. Eight reels. — John
Kamuda, Grand theatre, Indian Orchard, Mass. —
General patronage.
Tiffany-Stahl
WILD GEESE: Belle Bennett— 25%. September
5. A splendid program picture. Good story and a
fine cast. Gave satisfaction here. — Bert Silver, Sil-
ver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General pat-
ronage.
BACHELOR'S PARADISE: Sally O'Neil— Sep-
tember 4-5. Entertaining program picture with an
extra good cast. Has an opening title which would
knock your eye out and after which you would ex-
pect at least a "Ben-Hur" or a "King of Kings."
Maybe all Tiffany stuff opens that way. If it does
they cheated me on the last one I ran. Seven reels.
Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. —
Small town patronage.
United Artists
THE DOVE: Norma Talraadge— 35%. This type
of picture does not take well with our crowd. Act-
ing very good but consider Noah Beery stole the
picture from Norma. United Artists say they have
all specials but this one fell down. — Beatty and
Johnston, Crescent theatre. Red Deer, Alberta, Can-
ada.— General patronage.
SADIE THOMPSON: Gloria Swanson— Could
have done better if I had exploited this more in-
telligently. A big cut-out questionmark in the lobby
with "Did she vamp him or was she innocent?"
would have brought more people especially on the
second night. — Geo. E. Fuller, The Playhouse, Fair-
hope, Ala. — General patronage.
THE CIRCUS: Charlie Chaplin— A flop. I have
paid the usual holdup price for the last time. Charlie
is through in my towns — dead, done! — Geo. E, Ful-
ler, The Playhouse, Fairhope, Ala. — General pat-
ronage.
A NIGHT OF LOVE: Colman-Banky— This is a
finished product but hardly the kind that is B/p-
preciated in the small towns. However, it pulled
better than I exi)ected. — Geo. E. Fuller, The Play-
house, Fairhoi)e, Ala. — General patronage.
Universal
UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: Special cast— 100%.
September 2-3. A picture without a flaw. The best
picture to satisfy an audience 100% we ever played.
The cast and direction is wonderful, this pietore
should be played in every city and town in America,
Small town managers, it will help your house. We
never received as many fine comments from our
patrons on any picture. We played it only two days,
but shall book a return engagement as soon as
possible to arrange dates. This production of Undo
Tom's Cabin makes all I have ever seen of other
Uncle Tom's pictures look like an Aesops Fable. —
Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
THE COUNT OF TEN: Charles Ray— 20%. Sep-
tember 4. A good prize fight story but nothing like
Charles Ray used to give us when Tom Inoe was
telling him how to do it. — Bert Silver, Silver Family
theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
THE COHENS AND KELLYS IN PARIS: Sd-
ney-McDonald — 88%. September 3. A very good
comedy. Sidney and McDonald both carry their
parts well. Book this. It is a wonderful drawing
card. Eight reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre,
Indian Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
THE FEARLESS RIDER: Fred Humes— 65%.
August 31. Mighty good. Fine story. Well acted.
Plenty action. Enough comedy. Crowd pleased.
Five reels. — J. W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Com-
ing, Ark. — General patronage.
A MODEL HERO: Ted Wells— 20%. August 28.
Just another picture played out of the contract.
Lots of action and that's all. — Bert Silver, Silver
Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
THE CAT AND CANARY: Laura La Plante—
75%. A mighty pleasing show. Played here as a
special and all pleased. — G. Carey, Strand theatre,
Paris, Ark. — General patronage.
HOT HEELS: Special cast— Did not watch it my-
self but judging from the continuous hearty laughter
from both old and young presume it must have
pleased them 90%. Also drew a little better than
normal business. Six reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun
theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
LOVE ME AND THE WORLD IS MINE: Nor-
man Kerry — This is a dull drab time killer. Char-
acters excite no sympathy or interest. The action is
slow and mechanical. Situations forced throughout.
No excuse for this kind of a picture when so much
money was obviously spent to produce it. Far
from a special. — Geo. E. Fuller, The Playhouse,
Fairhope, Ala.^General patronage.
HOME, JAMES: Laura La Plante — ^A good opener
for the '28-29 season and drew above the average
business for season. Pleased all. Seven reels. — ^H.
W. Kerr, Kerr Opera House, Little Sioux, la.— 7
General patronage.
THE FLYING COWBOY: Hoot Gibson— A very
good Western picture with some very good laughs.
Six reels. — John Kamuda, Grand theatre, Indian
Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
PUT 'EM UP: Fred Humes— A good Western
picture. Good for any Saturday. Five reels. — John
Kamuda, Grand theatre, Indian Orchard, Mass. —
General patronage.
SPECIAL EDITION: Very fair comedy.— J'. W.
Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Coming, Ark. — General
patronage.
FINDERS KEEPERS: Laura La Plante— Septem-
ber 4. Better than some of the others but just
fair. No drawing power here on La Plante any-
more. Six reels. — Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre. Villa
Grove, III. — General patronage.
Warner Bros.
GINSBERG THE GREAT: George Jessell— 15%.
August 31. A program picture that satisfied 50%. —
Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
GOOD TIME CHARLIE: Warner Oland— 80%.
August 26. A picture with nothing to see in it.
Keep away from this one. Seven reels. — John
Kamuda, Grand theatre, Indian Orchard, Mass. —
General patronage.
HAM AND EGGS AT THE FRONT: Special
September 22, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
65
What Kansas City-
Thinks of Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, Sept. 18.— After a
week of expression of public opinion
on sound pictures through a column
in the "Kansas City Star" it would
seem that the populace in the Kansas
City territory is of the following
opinion :
Sound pictures will bring high
class vaudeville attractions to the
smaller towns which otherwise never
could hope to see such acts in the
Besh:
Sound pictures, in so far as news
events of importance, political ad-
dresses, etc., are concerned, will be
a huge success in the larger cities:
Sound pictures of a vaudeville na-
ture are doomed for failure in the
larger cities and, through their fail-
ure, will serve to augment interest in
vaudeville acts in the Besh.
cast — A rather crude comedy that pleased about
50% but we have seen and played worse. This is a
Warner Winner that did not win much here. — Beatty
and Johnston, Crescent theatre. Red Deer, Alberta,
Canada. — Small town patronage.
JAWS OF STEEL: Rin Tin Tin— Good story, well
handled and it pleased better than the average dog
picture. — Geo. E. P\iller, The Playhouse, Fairhope,
Ala. — General patronage.
State Rights
OUT WITH THE TIDE: Cullen Landis— A good
program picture. Six reels. — John Kamuda, Grand
theatre, Indian Orchard, Mass. — General patronage.
Serials
BLAKE OF SCOTLAND YARD: (Universal)
Hayden Stevenson — We agree that this is a good
serial. Interest not only sustained but growing.
Scene shifts from Limehouse to the Canadian West
in time to prevent any poesibility of monotony and
action changes accordingly. Universal now favor-
ing us with fairly good prints and excellent service.
Twelve chapters. — ^Wolfe & Williams, Screenland
theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
THE SOARLET ARROW: (Universal) Special
cast — Just finished this and it was a good serial all
the way. Sure hope "The Vanishing Rider" does
as well. — W. H. Spencer, Palace theatre. Grand
Saline, Tex. — Small town patronage.
THE VANISHING RIDER: (Universal) William
Desmond — Started off fine. Everyone here likes
William Desmond. — W. H. Spencer, Palace theatre.
Grand Saline, Tex. — Small town patronage.
Short Subjects
COLUMBIA
CHAPLIN RE-ISSUES:— Am glad when I am
through with these as they cause a laugh, too old
type. Two reels. — Ben Brick, Opera House, West
Point, Iowa. — General patronage.
EDUCATIONAL
BLAZING AWAY:— Good Comedy— Bert Silver,
Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General
patronage.
BRAVE COWARDS :— Just a fair comedy. One
reel. — S. B, Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man.,
Canada. — Small town patronage.
CUTIE: — A very funny comedy. Two reels. —
Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
SHE'S A BOY: Not much. These Big Boy come-
dies do not go so good here. Two reels. — Carl L.
Brown, Crystal theatre. Many, La. — -General patron-
age.
SOME SCOUT: Lupino Lane — Think Lane is one
of the best comedians on the! screen today. In addi-
tion to comedy he is quite an acrobat. Two reels. —
H. Bettendorf, Opera House, Foley, Minn. — Small
town patronage.
NOTHING FLAT: George Davis— Good comedy.
Plenty of fun all the way through. Two reels. — •
Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.^General
patronage.
PRETTY BABY: Cameo comedy — ^Good one reel
comedy. — -P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. —
General patronage.
FANDANGO: Lupino Lane — Good comedy with
this little chap doing his usual athletic stunts. Two
reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City,
Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
HECTIC DAYS: Lupino Lane— Good. Funny and
entertaining. Held them in their seats. A comedy
that will do that now must be good. Two reels. —
Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.
— General patronage.
HIS MAIDEN VOYAGE: George Davis— They
laughed so loud during the run of this comedy, it
was impossible to hear the organ at times. These
mermaids are all good, and when Jack White's name
appears on the title, a rumble of satisfaction is
heard all over the house. He is the best comedy
producer in the business, and we don't mean maybe.
Keep up the good work. Jack. Two reels. — E. F.
Ingram, Ingram's theatre, Ashland, Ala. — General
patronage.
WHO'S LYIN':— Very good comedy.— Bert Silver,
Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General pat-
ronage.
FBO
AIN'T LOVE GRAND: Alberta Vaughn— A
pleasing program picture. Clean. — G. Carey, Strand
theatre, Paris, Ark. — General patronage.
RANGER OF THE NORTH: Ranger— August 7.
This is a good dog picture. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime
theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage.
TOM'S GANG: Special cast— It's good.— J. W.
Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General pat-
ronage.
FOX
A COWS HUSBAND:— Had them laughing all
through this comedy. Two reels. — Ben Brinck,
Opera House, West Point, Iowa. — General patronage.
METRO-GOLD WYN-MAYER
EARLY TO BED: Laurel-Hardy— I have run better
from these stars but would not call this one poor
by any means. Two reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central
theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town pat-
ronage.
FROM SOUP TO NUTS: Laurel-Hardy— Another
good one from this team. Gee, we're glad we
bought Metro for 1929! Film condition just a trifle
under Metro par, but when the audience roars we
only whisper such things. Two reels. — Wolfe &
Williams, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small
town patronage.
TELL IT TO THE JUDGE: Max Davidson— Ex-
cellent comedy. These Davidsons are strictly okay
and each one wa get seems better than the last.
Metro's comedies certainly suit us now. They have
a certain class to them lacking in some and yet
they bring down the house, from clod-hoppers to
bankers. Two reels. — Wolfe & Williams, Screenland
theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.
THE SCREEN FORECAST: Perhaps this is not
entitled to space here, but we think that any exhibi-
tor using M G M new product will do well to get it.
Combination trailer, with comments, of shots from
new pictures. Good publicity. We had an excellent
print of this, and Metro has our thanks. Two reels.
— Wolfe & Williams, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O.
— ^Small town patronage.
WHAT EVERY ICEMAN KNOWS: Max David-
son— Not a laugh in it. Two reels of nothing. — Ben
Brinck, Opera House, West Point, la. — General pat-
ronage.
SHORT TAIL: Novelty— This is a better novelty
than the first, "The Elegy" Does not show a face in
the film except the dog's and so is a different short
subject. Two reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem thea-
tre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
PARAMOUNT
DIZZY SIGHTS: Billy Dooley— The goofy gob is
as silly and as funny as ever in this one. Kids
especially like him. Two reels. — P. G. Vaughan,
Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — ^Neighborhood pat-
ronage.
DR. QUACK: Jimmie Adams — The nearest nothing
we have had for a year. Second rate comedy and
third rate print. In four exhibitions we were un-
able to get this clear through our projectors vrithout
a stop. A good sample of Paramount service. Rated
by a good comedy this was worth about 35 cents to
us. There's a lot of raving done about Christie
comedies but we have yet to see one that is worth
the money, especially when we get them all torn
up. About very other one of Paramount's cartoons
are fair-to-middling and will draw a few laughs.
But the two-reelers are worse than a blank screen.
Seems we always have walkouts on them. Well,
we're the goats, but it's involuntary. Two reels. —
Wolfe & Williams, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. —
Small town patronage.
WATER BUGS: Billy Dooley— Dandy comedy.
Billy makes 'em laugh everytime he turns around.
Two reels. — Rudolf Duba. Royal theatre, Kimball,
S. D. — ^General patronage.
Managers Bring Home
Bacon in F N Contest
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK. Sept. 18.— The Brst
two cash prizes in First National's
"best selling angle contest" on "The
Barker," George Fitzmaurice's sound
production, have been awarded to
Walter E. Parks, manager of the
Leeds theatre at Winchester, Ky., and
H. Gittleson, Prospect theatre. Flush-
ing, L. I.
Winners of the next £ve cash
prizes are Theodore Fleisher, Cres-
cent Gardens theatre. Revere, Mass.;
L. L. Levy, Ideal theatre, Corsicana,
Tex.; F. B. Hill, Liberty theatre,
Walla Walla, Wash.; Hal G. Olson,
Adier theatre, MarshSeld, Wis.; and
George W. Reap, Arcade, Ft. Myers,
Fla.
PATHE
THE BEACH CLUB:— A comedy with a lot o£
near-naked women. Some stayed, some walked out
on this. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
CHICKEN: Sennett comedy — Not much to this
one. It will please the kiddies. Two reels. — S. B.
Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. —
Small town patronage.
RUN, GIRL, RUN: Sennett Girls— Very high class
and laughable comedy. Some beautiful color scenes.
Two reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas
City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage.
SMITH'S PONY:— A funny comedy.— Bert Silver,
Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General
patronage.
WHAT WOMEN DID FOR ME: Charley Chase—
This is a good funny comedy. Two reels. — Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT: Daphne Pollard— Very
good. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. —
General patronage.
NICKEL HOPPER: ..Mabel Normand — Ordinary
comedy with no particular highlights. Three reels. —
Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre. Eureka, Mont. — Small
town patronage.
TIFFANY-STAHL
COLOR CLASSICS: — Good, but where you have a
feature, comedy, and news, makes your program too
long. — Ben Brinck, Opera House, West Point, Iowa.
— General patronage.
UNIVERSAL
BUSTER'S WHIPPET RACE:— From the laughfl
consider this a good comedy, rather on slap-stick
style, but it gets over fine. Good as many of "Our
Gang" comedies, and cost less. Two reels. — J. W.
Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Coming, Ark. — General
patronage.
FULL HOUSE:— Just a wrinkle. Two reels. — Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
GEORGE'S SCHOOL DAYS:— Good comedy.— Bert
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
ONE EVERY MINUTE: Ai-thur Lake— Crowd
liked this one reeler. Been getting good one reel
comedies from Universal. — J. W. Crabtree, Joyland
theatre. Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
PENNY ANTE: — Couldn't see much comedy in
this One reel. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre,
Selkirk, Man., Canada. — Small town patronage.
Afo Losses in the Box Office
ICKET REGISTEI^
Automatic Ticket
Register Corp.
723 SEVENTH Ave.New York
TcKETS^ Every Purpose^flOWEST Market Prices
liiiiiiiiniimiyiiiiiiiiii—a
66
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 22, 1928
Y^
CHICAGO PERSONALITIES
By Whit
FRED H. KNISPEL, for the past five years district representative for
P. D. C. and Pathe, has accepted the appointment as Midwest division
manager for Columbia Pictures Corporation, and will make his head-
quarters at the Columbia exchange here. Knispel will have entire charge of
sales and distribution for Columbia in Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis,
Omaha, Des Moines and St. Louis, acting as assistant to Cecil E. Maberry,
general sales manager. He is well known throughout the Middle West by
reason of his long association with the exhibitors in this territory.
Maxwell Blick has been transferred to formed a new company called Great Lakes
the Chicago office of First National from
the Atlanta exchange. He will serve as city
representative on the North side. This
will allow Tom Gilliam, who has been han-
dling this territory, to devote all his efforts
to his job as assistant sales manager.
* * *
J. J. Cooney has taken over the Drake
theatre.
* * *
Had we been four instead of one Sunday
night we would have organized a quartet
right on the corner of State and Randolph
to sing "What's the Matter with the Show
Business? It's All Right!" Boy the way
people were packing the loop houses was
a sight to warm your heart. The Oriental
had a holdout that stretched from the box
office clear around to Pete's restaurant on
Dearborn, and all the other houses had
holdouts too.
* * *
And out in the neighborhoods the same
conditions held. The Uptown at midnght
last night was practically full. Verne Buck
and his band were the chief attraction
there, and Verne knocked them cold.
* * *
The Paradise on its opening day, Friday,
played to more than 14,000 cash customers,
which is within about a thousand of being
capacity crowds for each of the four shows.
* * *
All of which makes it seem that there is
nothing wrong at the moment with the
show business, at least the big houses.
* * *
"Lilac Time's" run at the Roosevelt is
further proof of good business. In five
weeks it pulled between $35,000 and $40,000.
The first Saturday broke all single day rec-
ords and the second Saturday topped thl&t
high mark.
* * *
Louis Cockovetz from South Bend was
on the row Friday. He reports that his
Elackstone theatre is now running with
stock.
* * *
Charles McDonald of Van Buren Enter-
prises and Colvin Brown of Pathe were
through Chicago last week on their way to
the Coast.
* * *
Sidney Stern, who is the head man of
the Sidney Stern Film Laboratories, has
You're the Loser If You Don't Get
PHOTOTONE
"Sounds" Good — SpJIs Tickets
L. V, Kiittnauer
MS 9. W.ba.b, OilrndO, n.ir. 0737
Educational Films to produce educational
and commercial films. This company will
be run separately and in addition to the
Stern Film Laboratories.
* * *
Tom North, accompanied by his wife,
is motoring to St. Louis, Kansas City,
Omaha, Des Moines, Minneapolis and Mil-
waukee in the interest of "Topics and
Fables." Tom's: last name is surely mis-
leading for he jumps North, East, South
and West.
* * *
Frank Ishmael says his boys at M G M
are suffering from writer's cramp these
days from signing so many contracts. They
signed nine 100 per cent contracts last
week.
* * *
For the first time in the history of
F B O, one of its pictures will play at a
B & K loop house. It is "The Perfect
Crime," set for the Oriental on October 6.
* * *
The M. P. T. O. A. convention, to be
held at Toronto, October 16, 17, 18, will be
represented quite well by Chicagoans. Al-
ready Jack Miller, Ludwig Siegel, Fred Gil-
ford, Joe Pastor, Lester Petchin, Arnold
Schaak, James Stepanek and son, M. A.
Choynski, and Miss Tess Heraty have sig-
nified their intention of going.
* * *
Joe Hopp held, quite successfully we
understand, a showing of F B O pictures at
L. J. Bennett's Rialto theatre lat Pekin.
Even a heavy rain falling over the sur-
rounding territory failed to keep a number
of exhibitors from attending.
* * *
George Anderson of the Rialto theatre,
Coal City, 111., was seen along the row last
week.
* * *
The Pickwich theatre at Park Ridge
opens some time within the next two weeks
with A. Stauffer as manager.
* * *
Margaret Bennett of the Hoosier thea-
tre. Whiting was a visitor to the Columbia
exchange Friday.
* * *
Stanley Jacques' Midwest division sales
manager for Pathe, spent several days in
Chicago last week conferring with Harry
Lorch. Jacques is on the last leg of a two
months' swing around his division, which
took him to Minneapolis, Omaha, Des
Moines, Kansas City and St. Louis.
* * *
N. Frye, manager of the Terrance thea-
tre in Danville, is putting on his vaudeville
acts without music, his orchestra having
walked out on him. He declares that at-
tendance is above normal.
Hearing on Injunction in
Theatre Case Approved
"Federal Judge WHkerson's deci-
sion to hold a hearing on the injunc-
tion secured against the threatened
movie musicians' strike here, al-
though the injunction has since been
dismissed, 'as a matter of education'
should meet with general approval,"
says an editorial writer in the Chi-
cago Herald-Examiner. "He seeks
to analyze the use of that court order
to determine if bitter criticism of it
cannot be averted.
"Labor injunctions have been the
cause of much acrimony and no little
violence in industrial disputes of re-
cent times. Unions resent the use of
the writ because they say the injunc-
tion abrogates the rights of 'free men'
to work when they desire. Employers
say, however, that they resort to it to
prevent sabotage or other injury by
strikes. That there have been abuses
of the injunction is attested by the
notice given the problem in the plat-
forms of both major political parties
this year.
"If Judge Wilkerson's bearing can
bring to light anything that will help
solve this truly grave politico-eco-
nomic problem it will accomplish
much."
Ho-Hum! Films Blamed
For Jazzy Youngsters
(Special to the Herald-World)
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 18.— Motion Pictures
were called more responsible for "flaming
youth" than unrest, postwar disillusionment,
machine age morals and other sad social
phenomena by Bernard Fagan, chief protection
oflncer of the children's court of New York
City, in speaking Sunday before the National
Conference of Catholic Charities at the Mu-
nicipal theatre in Forest Park. More than
8,000 persons were present.
United States Senator James A. Reed
made an eloquent plea for religious liberty in
the United States.
Fire Threatens Theatre
(Special to the Herald-World)
MACON, GA., Sept. 18.— Fire broke out in
the Criterion Tuesday night, threatening the
theatre and adjoining property. Firemen soon
got the blaze under control, after some dam-
age was done to the theatre and the fourth
floor of the Macon Nev/s building. The thea-
tre, which is operated by Community Theatres,
Inc., of Atlanta, continued operation.
Albany Leads in Drive
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.— Sam E. Morris,
general manager of distribution for Warner
Brothers, announces that Albany leads in the
drive for 3,000 new accounts, followed by
Charlotte, Buffalo, New Orleans, Pittsburgh,
Minneapolis, Dallas, New Haven, Boston and
Seattle. At the last tabulation 1,042 new ac-
counts were already in.
Mae Roth Dead
(Special to the Herald-World)
GALLATIN, TENN., Sept. 18.— Miss Mae
Allen Roth, operator of the Palace theatre,
died September 10, after a prolonged illness.
Miss Roth is the daughter of W. F. Roth,
prominent jeweler of Gallatin, and has many
friends in the film industry throughout the
Southeast to mourn her passing.
Warner Club Starts Library
NEW YORK.— The Warner Club has started a
library and has issued a call to all members to
donate books.
Recognizing the fact that changes
in method come in the splendid
advancement of the motion picture
industry, the Eastman Kodak Com-
pany continues its own forward
march and maintains its supremacy
in presenting to the trade
Eastman Panchromatic
Negative
Type 2
— a perfected^ proven product
for the cinematographer
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
The Only Talking Ne^vsreel
Builds Business
While Speaking World Ne^irs
The public is demanding its ne^ws m
sound.
*^Have you heard the ne'wrs?*' one
customer asks another as they build
ivord-of -mouth advertising for your
theatre.
That^s ^irhy modern theatres every-
nvhere* are plaj^ng
FOX MOV1ET0NEAVS
^^^^^^P^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
* CHICAOO-
McVicker*B
Roosevelt
Marboro
Granada
Tivoli Uptown
CLKVU.AND-
Loew^'a Allen
Loow*s State
•ALTIMORK--
Loew^*s Century
Rivoli
Ne'wr Theatre
Loe^'s Stanley
BUrVALO—
Creat Lakes
Pnblix
Hippodrome
LOS ANOBLS8—
Carthay Circle
Criterion
Figueroa
Grauman's Chinese
Loe^v*s State
NBW ORLEANS—
Saenger
Loew^'s State
ST. LOUIS —
Ambassador
Missouri
Lecw's State
ATLANTA—
Rialto
Metropolitan
Loew^'s Grand
■^
EXHIEITOM
FT
THE RELEASE SCHEDULE FOR THE
26 METRO MOVIETONE ACTS
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 29th
VAN AND SCHENCK
Idols of America in their famed singing act
JOHNNY MARVIN
Victor Record headliner
in his musical novelties
MARION HARRIS
SoT»gbird of Jazz direct from Broadway hits
WEEK OF OCTOBER Sth
WALT ROESNER
and CAPITOLIANS
Broadway's Greatest Stage Band
in Jazz Action
LOCUST SISTERS
Harmony Wizards direct from
"Hit the Deck" fame
LEO BEERS
World renowned whistling
songster of vaudeville
WEEK OF OCTOBER 13th
MILLER AND LYLE
"Shuffle Along" celebrities
in "The Mayor of Jimtown"
JOSEPH REGAN
Vaudeville's top notch singing favorite
M-G-M MOVIETONE REVIEW
Something New in See and Hear
WEEK OF OCTOBER 20th
THE PONCE SISTERS
Famed beauties of vaudeville
and radio world
ODETTE MYRTLE
Star of "Countess Maritza"
in songs with a violin
MARION HARRIS
in song nujpbers from vaudeville triumphs
WEEK OF OCTOBER 27th
VAN AND SCHENCK
in their favorite song and dialogue hits
FUZZY KNIGHT
vaudeville's genius of the piano
George Dewey Washington
the colored baritone of national fame
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 3rd
JOHNNY MARVIN
in his most popular Victor Record numbers
/;-
-^ JOSEPH REGAN
in another melodic song smash
MG-M MOVIETONE REVIEW
another unique sound and sight diversion
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 10th
VINCENT LOPEZ
Himself in his world famed piano delight
THE PONCE SISTERS
in another of their happy song struts
MILLER AND LYLE
that lovable pair in "Jimtown Cabaret"
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 17th
MARION HARRIS
her featured songs from music;:l successes
George Dewey Washington
in negro melodies that made him famous
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 24th
THREE MORE GREAT
METRO MOVIETONE ACTS
SOUND STUDIOS EAST AND WEST
ETRO-GOLDWYN-
THE TALK OF THE INDUSTRY
Member of Molion Picture Troducers iinj Distribuiors of America, Inc.
Wknia V«l 09 M,» 1»/U«I ^e M- Q\ Entered as second-class matter, August 20. 1917, at the Post Office at Chicago, III., under the act of March 3.
vrnoie vol. Vi, no. iJ^VOi. 63, i^O. S) 1S79. Published weekly at 407 South Dearborn St.. -~- ' " -• -
W. Hau Jolinston
Pj-esents
IM Famous Authors J>jeture "
4
<"
K
f
)
I
1%^
She was not like Beatrice, this alluring beautiful woman, who lay there talking to him in a manner whose meaning came to
him only in strange, bewildering flashes. He could be with Beatrice and feel the truth of what he had once told her - that her
sex was a thing which need not even be taken into account between them. With this woman it was different; he felt that she
wished it to be different. — A paragraph from the Oppenheim novel.
With BETTY BLYTHE and ANITA STEWART
Foreign Distributors, RICHMOUNT PICTURES, INC.
Ii September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
Paramount' s mammoth Holly-
wood studios working day and
night producing 1928 -9's big
quality product for exhibitors.
Paramount Building and Theatre
Motion Picture Headquarters
1928-9
P A R A M O r M T ' S
C^REATEi^T YEAR!
THE PROOF
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
PARAMOUNT S GREATEST TEAR
because current Paramount product is
doing the biggest business in history!
Read these actual clippings from one
single issue of Variety [Sept. 12):
'fwS^'"
CHICA(^0
McVrtker's (Publix) — "Wings"!
money of the loop: S46 «00 o^^firs*
week at pop prices; only six snows
daily because of length.
zlA- Ghnhs:
1^0 S A/VG-t'LCS -
1
BANCROFT $14,700 IN
TORONTO; PAN $12,000
Jannings $12,000 at Uptown;
Loew's (2,300; 30-60). "The Drag
Net" (Par). Opened Labor Day to
almost record of $5,200; built week's
biz to near $15,000; Bancroft seldom
seen here; stage show good.
Uptown (FP) (3,000; 30-60), "The
Patriot" (Par). First time house
has touched $12,000 since June;
picture created talk and collected
roal cash; Bome thought picture a
bit too real.
"Wings" $12,000 in Legit
YoungHtown, O., Sept. 11.
"Wings" did $12,000 at the Park
Iruit week, the town's only legit
hou.ie. and la holding over.
BUFFALO JUMPS
"First Kiss," $36,300; Hipp, $14,000—
Houses Increase B. O. Scales
Buffalo, Sept. 11.
Buffalo (Publix) (3,600; 30-40-o5-
75)— "First Kiss" (Par) Publix unit.
House has done phenomenal busi-
ness the past fortnight; went to
around $40,000 with "Lilac Time"
and last week good for exceptional
returns also; Labor day week-end
exceptionally strong; $36,300
Hipp (Publix) (2.400; 60-60) —
"Savvdiist Paradise'' and sound
(Par) and vaude. Business braced
with Installation 'of sound; over
$14,000.
Metropolitan (W.C.-Pub)
<-iara Bow close to $35,000.
^w at Met;
— "The
25-75).
Portland Big, $18,00.0
) (3,500; /
•). Reg- /
Portland (Publix-W. C.)
35-60) "The Racket' (Par),
istered well; F. & M.'s "Hi Yellah"
stage show; $18,000.
Broadway (AV. C.) (2,000; 35-60)
'The Fleet's In" (Par). Went well;
Movietone news; Georgie Stoll and
band; 114.000.
Metropolitan (4.000; 50-65)—
dust Paradise" (Par). Nice at
400.
"Saw- 7
t $42.- I
-^WS TON
-Paramount,
Paramount — "Water Hole" (Par)
(3,666; 40-65-75-$l). Picture not
heralded aa particularly strong but
house ran neatly beyond average of
past woc1;h: $80,600; Coognn here
Rialto— "The Patriot" and sound
(Par) (1,960; 35-50-75-$!) (4th
week). Jannings off but $100 from
eecond week; $44,200 and seems
sure of six weeks; when it does
Criterion — "Wings" (Par) (836;
long run picture flowed at $14,750
la.st week.
YORtX
'I
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
GRANADA'S NEW RECORD I
$33,000, "FLEET'S IN" '
Granada (W. C.-Publix) "Tne
i'leels In" (Par) (2,785; 50-65-$l).
Previous high for house, held by
i-;o\v's '"It," topped by about a grand;
little better than $33,000, great.
California (W. C.-Publix) "The
Patriot" (Par) (2,200; 65-90). Jan-
nings demonstrated hi.s drawing
poMor by passing $22,000; in for in-
definite stay.
— v5/4/V /^f^ANCISCO
Loew's State (3,218; 50), "The
P.itriot" (Par). Drew best returns
in several weeks with unusually
■oinmendatory notices; $15,500.
3
DIX, $22,000 AT PALACE
Palace (Loew) — "Warming Up"
and sound (Par) with Loew-Publix
unit. Doing greatest consistent busi-
ness of its career; almost $22,000.
Met (Stanley-Crandall)— "F ir St
Kiss" (Par) and Vita shorts (1,518;
2"5-50). Fay Wray and Gary Cooper
credited with jump over previous
picture; "Kiss," being silent, makes
figure even better than the usual at
$11,500; talkers and other sound
-^W/KSHIHOTON
$11,000 PROVIDENCE HIGH
Majesty (Pay) (2,200; 15-75)—
"Forgotten Face '' and sound (Par).
Good for around $11,000.
Strand (Ind) (2,000; 15-50)—
"Ijoves of an Actress" and sound
(Par). Coined about $10,000, okay.
Capitol and Loew $500 Apart
With DIx and "Faces"
Capitol (FP) (2,700; 40-60), "For-
jotten Faces" (Par). Up to $17,000.
Loew's (FP) (3,200; 45 - 75),
"Warming Up" (Par). Dlx and
good unit pulled In H6,500.
^nONTHSAL.
Valencia (Loew-U. A.), "Water
Hole" (Par) (1,500; 25-50). Busi-
ness up somewhat; $4,000 not big.
but satisfactory at present low top.
Parkway (Loew-U. A.), "The First
Kiss" (Par) (1,000; 15-35). Came
in here with downtown success to
credit; consistently good; house
now getting Vita shorts and sec-
ond runs: patrons like; about $4,300,
decided iuiiii) over previous week.
^6/iLriMORt
PARAMODI^TS
4TEST TEAR
because Paramount product, silent or
sound, for the coming six months tops
the rest of the field combined!
"Wi]\c;s"
The world's greatest attraction, sound or
silent. Lucien Hubbard Production. Directed by William Wellman. Clara Bow, Charles Rogers, etc.
"The lirEI>I>I]\« IWAItCH" Erich von
Stroheim's masterpiece, released in October. With Fay Wray. In Technicolor. Sound or silent.
ii
The patkiot
55
Starring Emil Jannings, in
the Ernst Lubitsch Production. With Florence Vidor, Lewis Stone, Neil Hamilton. Sound or silent.
"ABIE'S IRISH ROSE" A„ne NichoU' hit.
Victor Fleming Production, with Jean Hersholt, Charles Rogers, Nancy Carroll. Singing. Sound Effects.
6 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD September 29, 1928
"The FL-EET'S IJIT'' Oara bow's longmnhitoA
to marvelous start. House record, Granada, San Francisco. Big everywhere. Mai St. Clair Production.
▼ A-JKI^-IA jl Charles Rogers' success with principal
scenes in DIALOG. Frank Tuttle Production, with Mary Brian and Chester Conklin.
"Docks of NE^/V YORK" Bancroft-von
Sternberg thunderbolt. With Betty Compson and Baclanova. Record, Paramount, New York.
"Sins of the fathers" EmUJanmngs
hit, with Jannings scenes in DIALOG. Ludvig Berger Prod. With Ruth Chatterton, Barry Norton.
"Redskin
»>
I
Richard Dix special on " Vanishing J
American" scale, filmed in TECHNICOLOR. Victor Schertzinger Production.
"Canary mfrher case" Principal
scenes in DIALOG. Malcolm St. Clair Production. William Powell, James Hall, Mary Brian, etc.
-■- CP 1% ^W wW A. JK The year's greatest melodrama,
with Wallace Beery and Florence Vidor. William Wellman Production. SOUND.
"WOEF OF H^AEL, STREET" starring
George Bancroft, with Fay Wray. Roland V. Lee Production. SOUND.
Quality 100% Talking Pictures
"INTERFERENCE" "THE EETTER"
Four Great Surprise Talking Specials!
to name a few in
PARAMOUNT'^
€;REATEi$T YEAR!
■i
^0>^^ RECORDS "+ ^^V^^" .O^ ^^^ "^^^'^OS
fO>
RECORDS
•ECOBO^
RECORDS
RECORDS
''OX FOX
^OX ^^f^Os RECORDS
RECORDS ^ FOX RECORDS
FOX
obo^
FOX
ECORDS
ros
ECORDS
. ''OX
Tallrifig ahmit veearAs^
In eight weeks
at one theatre
3 FOX Pictures
net
One Million Dollars
TIm Theatre is thm Rmpy— >
Tli« Bmeord'hrmmMng Pictures are—
STREET ANGEL
FOUR SONS
FAZIL
RECO
FOX
FOX
fOX
FOX
And talMng about records
FOX
FOX
.too*
C> FOX JJEcoo,. ^ RECORDS poX '^t
.. ^- % '^^co.os ,o^^^ V ^l''""'' -o, ^
^^y »._ -rf-O cn^ '^Co«*^
f-Aw >»0
Frank
Borza^e's
K
,V®
witK
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Janet Gaynor
Charles Farrell
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45
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e^, "^
>
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^^ -^'/v.
Broke weekly
record at the
Palace, Montreal,
previously held by
another Fox picture.
Over the Hill, by more
than $5,000! This is
$2,300 more than big-
gest week for any picture
in any Canadian theatre at
any time.
^ROVE^its leadership
T
John Ford
Production
eV
te
I
G\ot^
»**
witK
Mar jfaret Mann
June Collyer
Charles Morton
Earle Foxe
James Hall
Francis X. Bushman Jr.
^.
o
Broke record
at the Embassy
Theatre, Allen-
town, Pa., previ-
onsly held by
Street AngeL
Held over 2nd week,
duplicating success of
Street Angel whi^ch was
first picture ever held
over at this theatre.
'H.
<?^
^e.
eo.
'"^^er^^e^S
^^6.. ^t
C,
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'y
ff.
^ifi
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^«>
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^
.cV
r 1928-29 with actual H£
'J's
^9
'^o^,/;^*^,
^o^
Howard
Hawks
production
with
^^ ' \kV
Charles Farrell
and
Greta Nisseit
FIVE
more $2 Top
Specials:
The Air Circus*
Mother Knows BesV
Sunrise
The Red Dance
Mother Machree
And These Certain
Profit-makers :
The River Firatc Win That Girl
Plastered in Paris Dry Martini
Mailing the Grade^ Met Gangster
Movietone or Silent Prints
Actors speak 'their parts in dialog on film
has ALL the
Directed By
^L6 c
.f
•»»-'
■i-^^
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PRGriMJAV4LLI
"^ iaNkeitn
^iii
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111 ^^
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^ GOT tmYTHINGi
SURE FIR#HITS-SU6MAIIIN€,TH€SCARL£T LADY, COURT-MARTIAL-
ALL CLICKING MERRILY TO THtTUNt OF PACKED HOUSfSandSURtPROflTS
CDCUMSIA PICTUfteS- NOW MOft€ THAN €V/€R TH€ B€ST
60X-0fflC€ VALUf INTH€ INOUSTftY • • •
yw/j
^TV^
■IB
o o o o
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|Jk2/U'^C(j'
It's a lovely, tender
emotional story built around a
boy and a girl alone in a big city —
with a background of Coney Island — a pic-
ture without a villsiin —
When you HEAR the delicious dialogue between
these two lonely youngsters — the catch in the girl's
voice when the boy whispers "you're wonderful"
— you'll say it's a marvel — ^YOU'LL say it's won-
derful— ■
Because it is different — new — refreshing — and it's Carl Laemmle's
wonder picture, starring GLENN TRYON (the "hoofer" of Broad-
way) and BARBARA KEINT — Universal-Movietone with music, sound
-effects and dialogue.
Tzvo Releases — Silent and with sound.
A PA UL FEJOS PRODUCTION
Supervised by Carl Laemmle, Jr.
>.^
/
if
e
^V=^
ctuie
PATHE SOUND NEWS
Pathe SouA/D
The world's
Sfreatest News
Reel— Now in
SOUND
J
si
14
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
y
Direct
Contact
With
Your
Market*
•EXHIBITORS HERALD AND MOVING PIC-
AS TURE WORLD will publish in October a
^^y de luxe edition of "Better Theatres," the estab'
lished medium for sales contact in the equipment field of
the motion picture industry.
rHE coming twelve months, as in the past,
"Better Theatres" will evidence its predom-
inance in the field of theatre construction, thea'
tre maintenance, theatre decoration, theatre equipment,
theatre furnishing and all other phases of theatre opera-
tion.
During the coming twelve months, "Better Thea-
tres" will present informative and constructive
articles by the world's leading architects, decorators,
designers, equipment men, and other experts.
"BETTER THEATRES" will continue to present
exclusively, a technical analysis of synchronized pic-
tures— a subject with which it alone has dealt.
Music in the theatre, with especial emphasis to the
organ, will be another feature which will be handled
expertly in this monthly section of Exhibitors
Herald-World.
rHE "Better Theatres" section of Exhibitors
Herald-World presents to the manufacturer and
distributor of theatre equipment a direct contact
with the buying market.
-^See announcement published on the third cover
of "Better Theatres."
A.
£ First National "^ ' „„ Every
R"*^'m stery Hit Dra^.ingJ^'^' ,^ o.G CAST
NlNEjM^O^lii^^^^^^""!" J- MIRACLE"
^IRST NATIONAL lO MAICE THE MIKA
■ ; Will FauTonT^ish Scale World'« Greatest
Premier Producers WUi turn ou
Theatrical Attraction
7 M PRESS SHEETS BiiL^^^.^e questionnaire
^' "■ "^ _ ..u.RlTORS ANSWERING « ^^^^
? M PRESS SHEETS BHL^^^" ^ questionnaire
f- "■ "^ evuiBlTORS ANSWERING Q"
SCORES or^ «»'er greatest seuung ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ „
««A of reasons i " Manager
__-, hnoks one ot ^ company ""*• .^-^
nr.t National ThriU.InauII^Tby^-ouncU., Screen V«.^^ of
"Love Story Written on Front rages oi
.. .>..n... n.DGm^^EY-S OWN VERSION
ik
BUTTER
STeggman" hippodrome hit
**' ..Thoroughly Enjoyable"
Twist"— "LO"'"* APP'"""'" citv Critics
..Real Surpr.se T«.st^^ ^.^^ g,^,,, say Key C.ty C
iSTRUDE ASTORIMCAST
u»..NlSSEN. HARDY. G_
"Patent Leather Kid" StiU Hitting High Spots in 2nd Year
Big Week at Pantages, Toronto — Fourth Richard Barthelmess Production
in Town in Two Months
SHOWMEN RUSHING FIRST NATIONAL FOR RETURN DATES
lir/.t
Rational
What do you know
«AtfwfFIRST NATIONAL. PICTURES!
Member tf Motion Picture Producers tmd Distributors of America Ina— >M11 H.Haye J^ttident
"I've been in too *
many taxis not to
know that a girl
is a lot safer with
an orchestra be-
tween her and
the tired business
man.
Can you fea-
ture me rehears-
ing all day and
night with a dame
like that sitting
out front criticiz-
ing? Say, I near-
ly jumped over
the footlights
tonight and
gave her
facial."
"And when he kisses — well, the kid
goes sorta faint and dreamy and
don't care-ish. Nothing like this ever
happened to me
before. So this is
love ! Stop it. 1
love it."
P\
»^tt
The best-selling book sensation of the hour,
made into the FIRST COMEDY SPECIAL
WITH SOUND! Backstage stuff as intimate
as a dressing-room . . . Lavish stage spectacles
with the Times Square touch . . . And a wise,
wisecracking Show Girl who knows how to
make 'em — then break 'em — to the tune of a
million laughs!
AI.FRED SANTEL.I.
PRO»UCTIO\
Presented h\ RICHARD A. ROWLAI^D
"You should see my handsome
Alvarez. Big brown eyes the
boy has, like a St.
Bernard, but he uses
them like a vibrator.
All over me — such
goose-flesh." .
•Then the
produc er
says, 'How
do I know
but you're
knock-
kneed?'And
I says, 'WellA
I could bring
a letter from
my mother.'"
tr
I
'.€ Best o/ IT!
With the novel leading the best-seller lists;
with acres of publicity from reviews and a
dozen exploitation tie-ups; and with serial
syndication starling Oct. Istto reach 20,000,000
readers, America sure is going to be all
readied up for "SHOW GIRL"! Are you?
.VI. ALICE IVHITE
F I* o ni the novel by
P . ,TI ۥ K \ O
Some day I'll get married and
raise a lot of marvelous children,
but right now I'm helping the City
Fathers keep down the traffic. I was
reading only the other day that they
couldn't build schools fast enough to
take care of the children.
I'd feel terrible if I
went to all that
trouble only to
find my child-
ren had to stand
out in the rain
to do their les-
sons.
"You've got to admit
there's something in this
sex appeal. Look how it's
been hanging on through
the years, and then look .
at what's happened to (
those other crazes like
Mah Jong and Cross
Word Puzzles/y
"I'm just an old fashioned fool of
of a girl, big boy, and -when I sell
out it will be for value received,
payable in advance in the gold
bonds of matri- 1
mony.
"You'll never know anything
about women till you get
mixed up with a musical show.
Next to saxaphone players it's
the craziest sex there is.
If I had my choice be-
tween Cleopatra and Venus,
I'd take arsenic,"
Member aT Motion Picture Producers tmd Distributors of Amer
i^^r
^*L.II. AC TIHIE"
.Starring Colleen lloore
Every day new records fall ! Third
week beat first week at Madison,
Detroit. Fourth week beat third week
at Grand Central, St. Louis. Nearly
S1,000 over house record at Palace,
Dallas. Receipts at Empress, Okla-
homa City, almost DOUBLED any
previous attraction !
"THE STRAIVGE CASE
OF CAPT. RAITIPER"
1,000 bookings before release. Variety
reports"huge week"at Pantages, Port-
land, Ore. "Exceptionally strong Sat-
urday and Sunday opening," reports
John F. Kumler of Pantheon, Toledo.
"Engaging, unique, picturesque — it
stands alone," says T. O. Service in
Exhibitors Herald.
COI^L.EE]¥ ]fIOORE
In "Oh Kay!"
Boosted Granada gross in 'Frisco way
over average figures. Same at the
Colonial, Tacoma. "Great downtown
bet" at Loew's State, Los Angeles, said
Variety. Big week at the Seattle,
Settle, And critics say: — "Thor-
oughly mad and enjoyable" — "Went
over with a loud and gusty roar."
— then turn to Pas^ 59 of this
issue €(ind see what these other
I
FIRST NATIONAL, PICTURES
€9re dolus tor scores of Showmen:
Rl( HARD BARTHEI.:?IESS
in Ihf rATi:>T I.KATHEK KID
WILTOIV SII.I.S in
THE HAM K'S XEST
BIL.L1E DOTE
in THE VEEEOW EIEY
RICHARD KARTHEI.ni><ii
in I III; ><>osi:
CHARLIE Til RRAl
in THE HEAD ilIAlV
HAROED TEEI¥
wUh ARTHl/B LAKE ntid ALICE AVIIJTE
TIIKY'Lf^ no THE 8AME FOR YOU!
Member ^ Motion Picture Producete >«i Distributors of America Inc^UllI H.Hays Pnttdenl
Y^
The
Independent
Film Trade
Paper
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
asi MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Home
Office:
407 So, Dearborn St.
Chicago
IN THIS ISSUE
Industry digs out from ruins of hurricane that swept into Florida from Porto Rico; Many theatres
are closed, power is cut off and film service is halted ; All houses in West Palm Beach are out of com-
mission ; Theatres are turned into homes for refugees ; Loss of winter tourist trade is feared.
COMPLETE INDEX TO CONTENTS
NEWS
Warner purchase of First National is practically completed —
Sapiro organization decides to break up — 300 die as Madrid
"legit" theatre burns.
Business agent of Detroit projectionists' union is kidnaped and
then released in labor mystery as three men are arrested at
Toledo.
If there must be reviewer, let him review, says exhibitor — Theatre
owner is held liable for expense of distributor after pulling film.
Labor settlement is reached by exhibitors in San Francisco —
Ohio music dealers decide to fight sound pictures — India com-
mission holds films are not conducive to crime.
DEPARTMENTS
Synchronized Pictures 33
The Studio ■ 37
Short Features 11
Presentation Acts , 42
The Theatre 50
New Pictures 65
Classified Advertising 57
Wliat the Picture Did for Me 59
Chicago Personalities by Whit 66
FEATURES
Service Talks by T. O. Service 49
Los Angeles by Douglas Hodges 38
Pictorial Section 27
Letters from Readers 58
Quick Reference Picture Chart 53
Broadway 24
ADVERTISEMENTS
FILM AND EQUIPMENT— Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Rayart, East-
man Kodak , Fox, Paramount, Columbia, F B 0, Universal
Pathe, First National, National Screen, Automatic Ticket Register,
Alfred E. Green, John Stone, Charles Lamont, George Sydney.
PRESENTATIONS— Bennie Krueger, Sunshine Sammy, McNeil
Smith, Milton Slosser, Maxwell and Lee, Jack Martin, Lew White,
Eddie Hanson, Harold Daniels, Lassiter Brothers, Brooks Cos-
tumes, Ransley Studios, New York Costume Company.
CHICAGO
407 South Dearborn St. Telephones Harrison 0036-37-38
Cable Address : Quigpubco
EDWIN S. CUFFiORD, General Manager
JAY M. SHRECK, Managing Editor
GEORGE CLIFFORD, Business Manager
ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD, News Editor
LOS ANGELES
5617 Hollywood Blvd. Telephone Gladstone 3754
DOUGLAS HODGES
West Coast Manager
EDITORIAL
AND
ADVERTISING
OFFICES
NEW YORK
565 Fifth Avenue Telephones Vanderbilt 3612-3613
JAMES BEECROFT, Neu York Advertising Manager
PETER VISCHER, Neto York Editor
LONDON
THE BIOSCOPE
(J. Caboum, Editor^
Faraday House
8-10 Charing Cross Rd., W. C. 2
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: United States and possessions — $3.00 per year, Canada — $4.50 per year. Other points of the world — $6.00 per year. Single copies, 25 cants.
Advertising rate cards and Audit Bureau of Circulations statements furnished upon application.
20
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS
HERALD
sea MOVING PICTURE
WORLD
Martin J. Quigley. Publisherc 6^ Editor
Incorporating Exhibitors Herald, founded in 191S; Moving Pic-
TURK WORU), founded in 1907; Motography, founded in 1909; and
The Film Index, founded in 1909
Published Every Wednesday by
Quigley Publishing Company
Publication Office: 407 So. Dearborn St., CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Martin J. Quigley, President
Edwin S. Clifford, Secretary George Clifford, Asst. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulation!
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other Publications: The Chicagoan and Polo, class journals; and the follow-
ing motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exhibitors
Herald and Moving Picture World: Better Theatres, eyery fourth week, and
The Buyers Index, published semi-annually.
Whole Vol. 92, No. 13 (Vol. 35, No. 3) September 29, 1928
Better Attractions
IN the midst of the heat and disturbance caused by the
introduction of the sound picture it should not be for-
gotten that while the industry is paying a price for the
new development in effort, money and many perplexing
problems it is still attaining a greater, more secure and
more promising status in the amusement world.
In the face of the immediate problems occasioned by
the development it appears to us that in many quarters in
the trade the problems of the hour have been so pressing
that the rewards promised by the goal that is being sought
have been lost sight of. The sound picture, irrespective of
current difficulties, is leading the industry into an era of
greater opportunity and greater prosperity.
While the argument is not susceptible to proof, there
have been many who have been declaring in the past few
years that maximum attendance figures had been reached
and that, in fact, the industry had come pretty close to the
limit of its possible development. At any rate, the busi-
ness has not been blooming during the past few years and
in many instances this period has been one in which many
interests were dropping behind or barely holding their
own.
It is axiomatic in the show business that with attractions
of sufficient merit the limit of attendance is a matter of
constant surprise even to the most hopeful. The really
great pictures usually exceed expectations and one attend-
ance record after another is broken by these subjects.
It is now very obvious that the finest and greatest pic-
ture yet produced might have been materially strength-
ened by the introduction of sound. Hence, it is reasonable
to conclude that nothing which has yet been accomplished
will measure up to the subjects which the industry and the
[uiblif; may now await.
W hile the .situation may continue somewhat complicated
for the producer and the distributor for some time, the
theatre man will soon become the beneficiary of what
'•cience and industry have been able to accomplish during
rec«;nt months.
Ihe theatres, those which are properly conducted and
well-Hiiuated, may confidently look forward to better and
still better business and this highly desirable eventuality
will be brought about in the one and only way in which it
can be done — by better and still better attractions.
* -;!- *
Inter-Trade Amity
MR. SAM HARRIS, editor and publisher of "Today's
Cinema," the London daily motion picture trade
newspaper, has made a graceful gesture in presenting to
the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers a trophy to be
awarded to the individual in any branch of the American
trade whose deed or suggestion tends best to promote better
understanding between the public and the film industries
of England and America.
It is a gratifying fact that at this time it may be stated
that the understanding and the relations between the
American and the English trades have been constantly be-
coming more amicable and more cordial during the past
few years. Many of the old points of differences have been
eliminated through a better understanding of the in-
dividual problems involved. Many competent and fair-
minded observers from England, including Mr. Harris,
have come to the United States and have examined inti-
mately into the affairs of the American industry. They
have discovered reasons for the quality of American pic-
tures, and in doing this there has been made more plain
to them the details of the task confronting the British in-
dustry in the matter of producing product which shall be
enabled to compete advantageously in the world market.
The most important step in improving the cinema trade
relationship between England and the United States, we
believe, has been accomplished. Leaders in the English
industry have come to realize, through a better knowledge
of the facts, that the American market is not locked against
the British picture and that there is no prejudice against
the British picture, either in the American trade or
with the American public.
There now remains only to be realized the practical pos-
sibilities of the situation and in this connection we feel
that Mr. J. D. Williams and the World-Wide Picture cor-
poration is going to be no small factor. Mr. Williams
knows the American market and American distribution
methods and necessities. And — as well as anyone else — he
knows how to popularize the product he is promoting. If
the pictures he has to offer are actually suitable to this
market, the British picture will immediately be ushered
into a new and highly promising day.
THE motion picture industry, already the scene of sev-
eral tremendous legal contests, is likely again to witness
a great and extended court battle. The new contest which
is threatening to develop will be concerned with the basic
patent questions in connection with sound and picture re-
production.
What appears to be the opening gun in this contest is
the recent suit, filed in Canada by the DeForest Phono-
film of Canada, Ltd., against the Famous Players Canadian
corporation. The outcome of this action is likely to be one
of widespread influence.
MR. JACK MILLER, head of the Chicago Exhibitors
Association, an experienced showman who knows the
problems of the theatre man intimately, warns against
the practice of admission price cutting which has been
creeping in at various points. Mr. Miller's warning is
sound and timely and should receive fullest consideration.
Except in a limited number of deluxe houses admission
prices, without any new cut, already offer the public a real
bargain in amusement. No recessions from these prices
can be justified. To meet an immediate situation an ex-
hibitor may feel he is taking a wise course in lowering his
prices, but it is a dangerous step and one that is difficult to
retract.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTLTRE WORLD
21
Industry, Paralyzed by Storm
In Florida, Digs Out of Ruins
Many Theatres Closed; Power
Cut Off; Film Service Halted
Music Dealers Deny
Report They Favor
Synchronized Films
(Special to the Hcrald-lVorld)
COLUMBUS, Sept. 25.— Otto B. Heaton,
Columbus music dealer, who was elected
vice president of the Ohio Music Merchants'
Association at the annual meeting of that
organization at Toledo recently, denies that
the association went on record in favor of
talking pictures, as reported in some quar-
ters.
"The association is bitterly opposed to
this development," he declared.
Jeff Lazarus Leaves
West Coast Theatres
To Join Fox Studios
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25.— On October
1, Jeff Lazarus will quit his position as di-
rector of publicity and advertising for West
Coast Theatres and take up new duties in
Winfield Sheehan's production staff at the
Fox studios in Hollywood. The change
comes at the request of Sheehan to Harold
B. Franklin, president of West Coast The-
atres. Lazarus has been given a five year
contract by Fox Films and will work under
Sol Wurzel, general superintendent. Lazarus
has occupied his former position for the
last year. His successor has not yet been
named.
Washington Exhibitors
To Form Independent
Group y Emulating Oregon
(Special to the Hcrald-lVorld)
PORTLAND, ORE., Sept. 25.— J. J. Flem-
ing, secretary of the Northwest Independent
Film Exhibitors of Oregon, after receiving
some 60 signed statements endorsing the as-
sociation from as many exhibitors in the state
of Washington, will hold an organization
meeting in Seattle. So successful have the
Independents become in Oregon, it is stated,
their northern neighbors have decided to do
likewise.
Bandits Force Manager
To Yield Keys, Get $200
(Special to the Herald-World)
SACRAMENTO, CAL., Sept. 25.— The
Godard theatre was burglarized late Stmday
night by two Mexicans who had evidently
been hiding in the house for several hours.
Overpowering Ray Heaton, assistant manager,
they secured the keys to the safe and made
away with $200 in cash.
Saenger Votes Dividend
Of 50 Cents on Common
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 25.— Saengers The-
atres, Inc., has declared a quarterly dividend
of SO cents a share on both Class A and Class
B common stocks, out of the profits of the
company, payable October 1, 1928, to stock-
holders of record September 30, 1928.
All Houses in West Palm Beach Out of Commission —
Desolation Stops Business
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
ATLANTA, Sept. 25. — ^Theatre enterprises in Florida, dealt a crushing blow
by the hurricane that swept over the state from Porto Rico, are bea^inning
to dig their way out of the ruins. While business in general is still paralyzed in
the storm area, forces throughout the state are bending their energies toward
rescue and relief, and reconstruction has started.
From first reports which estimated the dead at 48 and property damage of
many millions, the death toll has grown to appalling figures. The most depend-
able estimate is that made by Howard Selby, chairman of the Palm Beach
County Red Cross Committee, who believes the number of dead may reach 800.
Menace of Pestilence Grows
The heaviest casualties are reported from the Everglades district around
Pahokee, South Bay and Canal Point. Bodies of victims drowned when Lake
Okeechobee broke through its dikes are still being- recovered.
West Palm Beach, the Oakley at Lake Worth,
and the Grand at Winterhaven were closed.
A telegram reported that the roof had been
blown off the Franklyn -theatre at Bushnell
and the house is closed ; the Delray theatre,
Delray, is badly damaged and closed ; the
Lyric at Daytona Beach was damaged and
first reported closed, but a later telegram asked
that film service continue. Meanwhile repairs
were being rushed.
Sparks Theatres Affected
Throughout Monday and Monday night
E. T. Brown, head of the E. J. Sparks en-
terprises' Atlanta headquarters, made unsuc-
cessful efforts to get telegrams through to
some of the Sparks houses in the path of the
storm. At the same time. Brown was trying
to get telephone connection with John L.
Crovo, manager of the Imperial Theatre, Jack-
sonville. But with wires down and service
out of commission it was Wednesday before
the connection was finally established. Crovo
reported that the. wind hit Jacksonville with
terrific force, sweeping signs and boards be-
fore it and breaking numerous plate glass
windows, but the city proper escaped any seri-
ous damage.
The Dreka theatre, a Sparks house at De-
land, was closed for one day, but after hur-
ried repairs it reopened Tuesday. The Sparks
house at Ft. Lauderdale was out of commis-
sion Monday.
West Palm Beach Houses Closed
It was not until Wednesday that Brown
received a report from M. C. Talley, of the
Sparks Lakeland office, saying that the desola-
tion at Palm Beach and West Palm Beach
was appalling. All theatres in West Palm
Beach are out of commission, and the Arcade,
the beautiful new Sparks house, was standing
a foot deep in water. It was impossible, Mr.
(Continued on next page)
The menace of pestilence is growing. In-
sanitary conditions may force an evacuation
of the region unless bodies scattered about
the region are recovered and buried within
48 hours. In reporting Thursday, Chairman
Selby said the situation was so acute that the
Red Cross might be compelled to ask federal
aid, declaring outside financial aid to the ex-
tent of $500,000 is badly needed.
Business Demoralized
The desolation in the stricken area is in-
describable, and the death toll continues to
rise. It is impossible to estimate the extent
of property damage, but it will run into stag-
gering totals.
Even in points where the actual damage to
theatre properties is comparatively slight, the
surrounding desolation has reached such pro-
portions as to demoralize and paralyze busi-
ness. There would be no patrons even if the
theatres were capable of operating.
In several instances where theatres tem-
porarily out of commission have resumed op-
eration' it is said that they might as well have
remained closed. However, it is thought that
the very fact that the houses have reopened
may contribute something toward bolstering
morale.
Film Service Held Up
Virtually no communications were received
in Atlanta from the storm area throughout
Monday and Tuesday of last week, although
local interests operating in the state made re-
peated and consistent efforts to establish com-
munications. Telegraph and telephone wires
were down and all messages were accepted
subject to ability to deliver.
Scattered reports began to arrive at film ex-
changes Wednesday, in several instances to
instruct that film service be held up until
further notice. One of the first came from
Publix, advising that the Stanley theatre at
300 Die, 500 Hundred Injured When Fire
Razes Madrid "Legit" House, Starts Panic
More than 300 are reported dead and 500 injured, chieHy women and children, in
a hre that destroyed the Novedades theatre, "legit" house, in Madrid Sunday night,
according to press dispatches. When a sheet of ffame shot across the stage of the
old structure, panic swept through the audience and many jumped from even the
sixth balcony into the terror-stricken mass in the orchestra circle.
The orchestra made an effort to calm the patrons by striking up a tune, but in
vain. When the walls of the theatre fell scores were buried in the debris.
99
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
FLORIDA STORAi WREAKS HAVOC ON THEATRES. On the le ft arc shown the ruins of the Pompano theatre at Pompano, Fla. Right:
The front of tlie Rialto theatre at West Palm Beach, demolished by the fury of the hurricane. (P. &L A. photos.)
Injured in Auto Crash
(Special to the Herald-Worid)
SEATTLE, Sept. 25.— Mayor Frank Ed-
wards, formerly a well known exhibitor here,
was severely injured in an automobile acci-
dent over the weekend. His machine ran into
some loose gravel, overturned and pinned the
ma\or and his party underneath.
Theatres Turn to "Refugee Centers;
Storms Strike House Twice
Glades at Moore Haven, Rebuilt After Hurricane Two Years Ago, Is
Damaged Again — Jacksonville Business Also Hurt
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald- World]
JACKSONVILLE, Sept. 25.— The West Indian storm that struck the lower
east coast of Florida between Fort Lauderdale and the Palm Beaches Sun-
day did widespread damage to theatres in the storm area, according to
reports coming in to the Jacksonville exchanges.
CANCELLATION of film service was Victor McLaglen as "The River Pirate" at the
ordered by houses as follows, the local Imperial coming chiefly for protective meas-
exchanges stated Wednesday: Lyric at Paho- ures.
kee. the town in the Lake Okeechobee area — — ■
probably hardest hit in loss of life; Lincoln
(colored) at Miami; Palace (colored). Fort
Lauderdale; all houses in the Palm Beaches;
Lyric at Daytona Beach; Delray at Delray;
Glades at Moore Haven ; Capitol at Pompano ;
Park at Okeechobee ; Grand at Winterhavcn ;
Oakley at Lake Worth.
Theatre Twice Hit by Storm
Reasons given included pov^'er being cut oft"
through failure of public utilities; roofs off
at other houses ; and other causes due to the
storm.
The Glades at Moore Haven was the theatre
rebuilt under great odds after the Miami hur-
ricane of two years ago, but it is believed to
have escaped less than nominal damage this
time.
All the principal houses in Miami and
Tampa, which cities escaped the storra, have
reported by telegraph that they have suffered
no damage.
Theatres Available for Refugees
The Florida, Imperial and Palace theatres in
Jacksonville were held available for refugees
Monday night in case Jacksonville had been
struck by the hurricane. For a time Monday
night, there was fear that Jack.s;onville would
get the backlash of the storm as it curved back
to the Atlantic from the West coast.
The storm played cotjsiderable havoc with
amusement concessions at the Jacksonville
beaches, the roller coaster which was installed
this season being damaged to an appreciable
extent. The fishing pier at Jacksonville Beach
was blown away, but will be rebuilt before the
new season opens.
Business at the Jacksonville houses was
practically paralyzed Monday afternoon and
evening, the few persons showing up to see
Jannings in "The Patriot" at the Florida and
Theatres Face Loss
Of Tourist Business
(Special to the Herald-World)
ATLANTA, Sept. 25.— Following
a personal visit to the desolated Lake
Okeechobee region. Governor John
W. Martin of Florida estimated the
total loss of life in the West Indian
hurricane at 1,500. He said he was
unprepared for the horror that met
his eyes in the devastated area.
Thousands are homeless, and the
food supply is limited. A vast area
has been laid waste; entire communi-
ties have been wiped out. For the
first time the state is asking outside
aid.
The influx of tourists during the
five winter months meant the whole
year's profit for many theatre enter-
prises. Now theatres within and near
the desolated area can entertain no
hope of tourists during the coming
season, nor is it reasonable to expect
normal attendance from their own
permanent residents. The region is
demoralized and recovery, at best,
will be slow.
Film Industry Digs Out
Of Ruins of Hurricane in
Florida and Porto Rico
(Continued from preceding page)
Talley said, to estimate the damage to the
house.
So great was the death and destruction in
the Palm Beaches that the citizens could not
cope with the situation alone. Hospital fa-
cilities were wholly inadequate, nor was it
possible to feed the homeless and hungry ref-
ugees who poured in from the surrounding
country without the greatest effort. Victims
were utterly demoralized by the tragedy.
Power Lines Down
While information is still lacking from
many theatres in the storm area, the fact that
power and light lines were down is sufficient
evidence that those theatres could not operate,
even if they escaped actual property damage.
Temporarily, at least, some exchange man-
agers plan to recall their Florida salesmen.
While the state is struggling to cope with the
problems of rescue, relief and rehabilitation
there is small hope of accomplishing anything
from sales efforts. Travel in some sections
will be impossible until debris and wreckage
is cleared from the highways.
Rayart Exchange for
la., Neb., Established
(Special to the Herald-World)
OMAHA, Sept. 25.— Rayart Pictures, Inc.,
is the name of a new exchange devoted ex-
clusively to the handling of Rayart pictures
in the Iowa and Nebraska territory, with
headquarters here. E. J. Drucker of the same
organization, operating in Denver and Salt
Lake, will have charge of the Omaha office.
The pictures to be released include the new
Rayart "Box Office Twenty," a series starring
Reed Howes, Billy Sullivan, Tack Perrin and
several serial productions.
Film Buying '^Lethargy"
Over, Exchanges Report
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Sept. 25. — Film exchanges here
report that sales now equal those of a year
ago at this time, and that exhibitors in both
cities and villages are now buying the new
product and dating it in. The lethargy that
marked man\- weeks has passed, exchange
men declare.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
Warner Plan to Obtain Control
Of F N Is Practically Completed
Would Spend $3,800,000 to Get
19,000 More Shares of Stock
Sapiro Association
Will Disband Dec. 1;
Fox Closing for 50
(Special to the Hcrald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— As predicted in
an exclusive interview with Aaron Sapiro
for the Hf,r.\lii- World several weeks ago, his'
Independent Alotion Picture Exhibitors As-
sociation is ready to disband. Its aims ap-
parently impossible of fulfillment at this
time, the organization was virtually
brought to an end at a meeting last Friday.
Disbanding Dec. 1 Probable
In all probability this independent organi-
zation, which seemed at its inception to be
packed with power, will disband December
1. The resistance of big companies and a
failure to win unified support from inde-
pendent exhibitors brought about the deci-
sion to break up.
In addressing the members of his organi-
zation before personally offering the reso-
lution which freed them of their obligations,
Sapiro said:
"We met with severe opposition, some
of it frank and open, some of it subtle and
concealed. The boycott of the association
by the three leading film producers was in
itself a tacit admission of your strength
as an organization and of fear that this
type of organization might some day be-
come a dominant factor in the industry.
Members Sought Relief
"Definite attempts were made to weaken
members of the association by selling away
to their competitors some of the most de-
sirable pictures of the year, and members
became fearful of the effect on them of such
action on the part of the producers."
Many of the members were faced with
difficult financial problems and therefore
felt that their investments were put in haz-
ard and they began to seek means of re-
lief, by the sale of their theatres or other-
wise. Various members of the Sapiro
organization are now negotiating for the
sale of their theatres. William Fox is un-
derstood to be closing a deal now for ap-
proximately .^0 theatres in the New York
district.
Sam Spring Opens Office
For Private Law Practice
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— Samuel Spring,
who resigned recently as vice president,
treasurer and general counsel of First Na-
tional Pictures, returned to the general
practice of law today with offices in the
Bar Building, 36 West 44th Street.
Seek New License Law
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Sept. 25.— Owners of small the-
atres in Watertown, N. Y., have petitioned the
common council of that city, asking for ;i
change in the ordinance governing the license
fee paid by the theatres. Each theatre now
pays $125 a year for a license, without regard
to size, admission prices or seating capacity.
The council is giving the matter its considera-
tion.
Keinell Writes Theme Songs
HOLLYWOOD. — William Kernell, who wrote the
theme song, "Sally of My Dreams," for "Mother
Knows Best," has moved his piano to the Fox studio
and is writing incidental music for Movietone produc-
tions.
Formal Announcement Expected Soon If No Hitch,
Says Albert Warner
By PETER VISCHER
NEW YORK, Sept. 25. — The plan of \V timer Brothers to acquire control of
First National Pictures has practically been accomplished. Neither of the
Warners was >villing- to discuss the status of their plans today, but Albert
Warner told me that papers are now being- examined and that a formal an-
nouncement may be expected soon if no hitch occurs.
Seeking 19,000 More Shares for Control
According to general information, Warner Brothers is planning to expend
approximately $3,800,000 for 19,000 shares of First National stock. This will
give the Warners cf)ntrol of First National with 42,000 of the 75,000 shares
outstanding". The 19,000 shares which are being sought are now in the control
of three of the six trustees brought into being some weeks ago to keep First
National intact.
The three other trustees represent indi- ized labor to synchronized pictures. Wages
\idual First National franchise holders includ- and working conditions were not involved
ing Balaban & Katz, Skouras Brothers, in the controversy, exhibitors said.
Saenger Enterprises, A. H. Blank, Finkelstein
& Ruben and Robert Lieber, holding a total
of 19,000 shares. Fox Film Corp., the largest
outside stockholders, own 21,000 shares while
the remaining 12,000 are scattered. Blocks
varying in size are in the possession of
Richard A. Rowland, Harry Schwalbe, Clifford
B. Ha\vlc^- and others.
FN Value Estimated $15,000,000
Having arranged to purchase the third larg-
est block, Warners now acquires 19,000 ad-
ditional shares, giving them a total of 42,000
of tine 75,000 shares issued. On the purchase
Iiasis of $200 each a share. First National is
worth $15,000,000.
The deal between Warners and First Na-
tional was verj' close to completion at the time
this issue went to press. It is confidently
expected to be closed within the next few
days. If successfully comnleted, it will, of
course, bring new prestige to the Warners,
whose progress since the rise in popularity
of sound pictures has been nothing short of
phenomenal.
Industry's Part in
Aviation s Advance
Honored at Dinner
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— The film indus-
try's prominent part in the advancement of
aeronautics was honored at a dinner given
by the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce
at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel last night.
Many members of both industries were
present and saw a film of Lindbergh's varir
ous spectacular flights, a film which is to
be presented to the American and several
foreign governments..
Electrical Workers of
Chicago End Strike in
Fight on Sound Films
The strike of electrical workers, that de-
layed installation of sound equipment in
several Chicago theatres for two months,
ended last week.
The walkout was believed to have been
a result of a general opposition of organ-
Bebe Denies Plans to Wed
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— Bebe Daniels is
back in Hollywood after a four weeks' vaca-
tion in New York Cit>'. Upon her arrival
at the Paramount studios'. Miss Daniels de-
nied reports of her engagement to Tommy
Hitchcock, noted polo player.
Navy Buys Subsea Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— The Navy De-
partment has purchased four prints of Co-
lumbia's "Submarine" for showing at shore
stations and aboard battleships.
Steffes and Pettijohn Patch Up Film
Board Break; Regular Body Resumes
(Special to the Herald-World)
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 25. — The Northwest Theatre Owners' Association went
into a two-day session here last Thursday and Friday in an effort to catch up on
the arbitration cases which have come up since the break between exhibitor and
distributor members last March. Al Steffes, president of the association, and
Charles C. Pettijohn, counsel for the ostracized distributors, came to terms during
the last week, enabling activities of the board to be resumed. The board managed
to dispose of all the cases that had accumulated since last winter.
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
wim
^NEW" YORK— Broadway was turned in-
j| to Mecca for the opening of "The Singing-
Fool." . . . Everybody in pictures, and 'most
even^body of any importance outside of pic-
tures, came to At Jolsoii's old shrine to see
his new picture. . . . They're still talking about
it, and AKs off to Europe to grab London by
the ears. . . . by its listening ears.
^Mike Siiniitons gave a neat little luncheon
in honor of Gotham's impresario from the
Coast, Harold Simulate, and wife. . . . Here
for about three weeks with a million ques-
tions about sound pictures. ... to say nothing
about a couple of answers'.
^Joe Skirboll has just been appointed gen-
eral sales manager for \\^orld Wide Pictures.
. . . Looks like things are going to hum.
^Charlie McCarthy spent a pleasant after-
noon entertaining one Jesse L. LMsky, newly
arrived from the Coast.
HThe dinner season has started for Will
Hays. . . . No rest for the hungry from now
on.
IfThe
guns
Motion Picture Club is going great
. . The dining room very pleasantly
filled every day. . . . Not much business done
there yet, though John Spargo reported thir-
teen table-cloths covered with the familiar
figures last week.
^Publix was the first to respond to the
call of the Red Cross! All hands are helping.
f,Don Hancock, of the Pathe Company, ex-
pects to undergo an operation for appendi-
citis Monday. Our best wishes for a speedy
recovery.
^Ernest Shipmaii, late of Canada, late of
South America, and still later of New Orleans,
is parking at the Canadian Club. Ernest has
a song which he rendered at the A. M. P. A.
It is "My Creole Sue" and he has dedicated
it to New Orleans and Mississippi.
^JVray Physioc, who made many of the
successful Oriental pictures for Universal, has
just contracted with the Fumess S. S. line to
do a series of pictures for the line in the
\\'est Indies. He expects to make twelve stops
in the islands of the yams and romance. Just
try and get some romance out of yams.
Wriice Gallup, of United Artists, is away on
vacation. And how!
Wivian Moses, of the Paramount scenario
department, is in New York for a week's
stay. Vivian looks fine and his appetite was
good at the luncheon on Thursday so there
is nothing to worry about.
^.Ray Johnston, president of Rayart Pictures
Corporation, has just passed through a hectic
week. Ray moved his home from one end of
the Bronx to the other and rehung the pic-
tures besides. But that's not all. When the
job was done Mrs. Johnston called for a
retake.
^Mrs. Edgar Lewis has secured the Edgar
Lewis productions from Pathe for reissue, or
sale. ^ The pictures include the "Sage Brush
Hen," "The Barrier," and other headliners of
a few years ago.
f.George Harvey, of Pathe, is the new pres-
ident of the -AMPA and he makes a good
one. George has some constructive ideas,
which, if they let him put them over, will make
the club of real service to the members.
HA'a/ Rolhslein writes from the "Paris"
that Europe is getting to him. . . . He's hav-
ing a \vell-carned vacation and apparently
doesn't miss New York a bit.
li-A. party of Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer officials
has arrived in New York: Al Leivin, in
search of play and story material, Joseph
Cohen, production manager, Fete Smith, stu-
dio publicity manager, and Joseph Rapf, man-
ager of wardrobes. Welcome !
PETER VISCHER.
Hear It — See It — hy Radio
These pictures submit the latest development of the second radio-cine-
matographic phenomenon of 1928. They zvere taken in the studio of the
General Electric station, IVGY, at Schenectady, and show how a one act
drama, "The Queen's Messenger," zvas broadcast recently by television.
The top photograph is of the apparatus, in the midst of vuhich is Dr. E.
F. W. Alexanderson, consulting engineer of General Electric and RCA.
The disc he is inspecting contains 48 lenses, producing an image on a
ground glass screen 12 inches square. Below the players are shown enact-
ing their parts. Mortimer Stetvart, the director, is at center, controlling
the three cameras. At left is Izetta Jewel before one camera, while before
another at right is Maurice Randall. The two people in the foreground are
managing the props, which are within range of the third camera. In the
left foreground is a television receiver, by ivhich the director is able to
check the image as it "appears in the air."
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
World Wide Pictures
Names Joseph Skirholl
General Sales Manager
(Sf'ccial to the Hcraid-lVorld)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— Joseph S. Skir-
boU has been named general sales manager
of World Wide Pictures, Inc. Skirboll has
been successively
western district
manager for First
National Pictures,
business and produc-
tion manager for
Frank Lloyd Pro-
ductions, and spent
a year as foreign rep-
resentative for First
National in Europe
during which time
he familiarized him-
self with production
matters there. His
past year as West
Coast sales manager
for Vitaphone with
contact with sound production especially
fits him to advise European producers on
sound pictures.
He will proceed at once with the organi-
zation of a national and Canadian sales
staff, the men to work out of Educational
exchanges which will physically distribute
World Wide product.
Joseph S. Skirboll
Fairbanks Wins India
Suit Over Film Sale
(Special to the Herald-World)
BOMBAY, Sept. 15.— The high court has
granted Douglas Fairbanks, United Artists
star, and the United Artists Corporation,
their plea for an injunction restraining In-
dian Pictures Distributors of this city, from
disposing of prints of the United Artist
Fairbanks pictures "Don Q, Son of Zorro"
and "Robin Hood". Decision was based on
the fact that both pictures were based on
stories copyrighted in India.
United Artists "Son of the Sheik," how-
ever, was not included in the restraining
order, Justice Norman Kemp, who handed
down the decision, holding that no copy-
right in India protected this work.
British Honor Bromhead
And Gaumont's 30 Years
Thirty years of activity and service to the
industry in Great Britain by Lieut. -Col. A. C.
Bromhead of the Gaumont Company was the
subject of a souvenir supplement issued re-
cently by the Film Renter in London.
"Today he is at the peak of his career," says
"Tatler" (Ernest W. Fredman, managing edi-
tor). "Chairman of the greatest group of the-
atres in the country controlling millions of
capital invested in the exhibiting, production,
sound, and distribution sides of the business;
a man admired and respected by all his com-
petitors', whose name stands high throughout
the Empire and in foreign countries."
Sophie Tucker Is Next
On Vitaphone Radio Hour
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— George Arliss
was the attraction on last night's Vitaphone
Jubilee Radio Hour of Warner Brothers
and Sophie Tucker will be the next star
to be heard on the 26 Monday night pro-
grams.
Albert S. Howson, scenario editor of
Warner Brothers, is master of ceremonies
for the programs.
Detroit Union Agent Kidnaped,
Then Freed, In Labor Mystery
Release Followed Pledge of Secrecy on Identity of Trio Arrested at
Toledo, Say Police — Abduction Believed Plot to Get
at Projectionists' $200,000 Strike Fund
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
DETROIT, Sept. 25.— Max Ruben, business agent of the Detroit Motion
Picture Operators Union, was abducted by an organized band of kidnapers
and then released when three of their number were arrested, police declared
here today. The releasing- of the union official only added to the mystery sur-
rounding his disappearance last Thursday afternoon when eight men raided
the union headquarters and kidnaped him, the move being made, according
to the police, to get at a $200,000 strike fund of the union.
Reported in Hiding Now
Ruben was set at liberty, police say, in a trade whereby his friends agreed
not to identify the three men held. No money was paid for his release, the
authorities declared. Although he was set free at 3 a. m. Sunday, the fact did
not become known to the police until late that night. He now is said to be
in hiding, the police not being able to locate him.
Police have definitely established that the ground and then walked him throiigh the
abduction was the work of an organized band.
During their investigation, they said, they had
found that the gang had obtained $14,000 last
week for the safe return of a man whose
brother is a bootlegger.
Three Held at Toledo
The three men arrested are in custody at
Toledo, Ohio, and the Detroit police say they
are certain the trio belongs to the gang. As
soon as news of the arrest became known
here, the men who witnessed Ruben's abduc-
tion disappeared. The police say they have
proof that the kidnapers got in touch with
Ray Gagnon, president of the union, and
agreed to free Ruben unharmed and without
ransom provided the witnesses against the
three held at Toledo disappeared and refused
to identify the trio.
Several weeks ago, when a strike appeared
imminent because of the inability of projec-
tionists and theatre owners to agree on a new
wage scale, union officials boasted of a $200,-
000 strike fund to tide them over. Police be-
lieve the kidnapers heard these boasts and
determined to make a raid on this fund.
To support their theory, police point out
that it was general knowledge that the union
regarded Ruben as a valuable leader and would,
perhaps, be prepared to pay a large sum to
get him back safely.
Eight Kidnapers Stage Move
The union offices are on the eighth floor
of the Hoffman Building, in the heart of the
downtown district. Ruben was kidnaped by
eight men who entered the offices at 6 p. m.
The men marched Ruben into an elevator,
surrounded him as the elevator dropped to the
Editorial Deplores
Anti-Strike Writ
Issuance of an anti-strike injunc-
tion by Federal Judge James A. Wil-
kerson in the recent difficulty be-
tween musicians and exhibitors in
Chicago brought the following ed-
itorial comment from the Daily Trib-
une at Davenport, Iowa:
"Even the suspicion that the music
makers are engaged in a conspiracy
to force the theatre owners to grant
them a higher wage does not warrant
the injunction in this case."
crowds of homeward bound pedestrians on
Woodward avenue to an automobile which
was waiting around the corner.
There were half a dozen persons in the
union offices. These were forced to stand
with their faces to the wall. So quietly was
the kidnaping carried out, however, that no
one except the visitors in Ruben's offices knew
of the kidnaping. The other occupants of the
elevator had no intimation that in their midst
were eight thugs covering a victim with pistols
held in their coat pockets.
Warned Life Was in Danger
Ruben had been warned his life was in
danger, police say. Not long ago, according
to detectives, he received a letter notifying
him an attempt would be made to kill him
and he confided to two friends that he feared
for his life.
About 4:30 p. m. the day of the kidnaping,
Ruben and Walter Lovell, a projectionist, vis-
ited the new Fox Theatre building to inspect
the equipment there. Lovell attempted to
leave Ruben after the inspection, police say,
but the latter asked him to remain.
"I'm afraid I'm going to be abducted and
if I have my friends around me all the time,
the kidnapers may not try it," he said.
Ruben's wife said she knew nothing of his
having received a threatening letter. She said
that in August, following a meeting of mo-
tion picture projectionists at which Ruben is
said to have opposed a demand for a raise
of pay, he was followed several blocks by
armed men in another car. The men, eventu-
ally, were frightened away.
First Laid to Factions
Police at first were inclined to believe the
kidnaping may have been engineered by fac-
tions who are seeking to control the projec-
tionists' and stagehands' union.
Gambling house proprietors here, about two
years ago, were the target of the gang. Sev-
eral owners, as well as valued employes, were
kidnaped and held for huge sums. While no
official report ever was made to police by the
gambling house operators, it was a matter of
common knowledge in the underworld that
the ransom total exceeded half a million.
Then the gambling houses closed, due to an
intensive police drive. Kidnapings lagged for
a while, but broke out again along the Cana-
dian border when officials of Canadian firms
engaged in exporting liquor were forced to
pay $35,000 on the threat that one of their
number would be abducted.
It Won't Be Long Now, Mr. Exhibitor!
26
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
1/ There Must Be Reviewer, Let
Him Review, Says Exhibitor
Public Loses Faith If Theatre Oivners Complaint Over Adverse Criticism
of Picture Makes 'Em All Praise, Declares O'Connell
[The newspaper reviewer of pictures, that perpetual question mark to the industry, is
the subject given a netv twist in the following interesting article by Jack O'Connell, man-
aging director of the Vita-Temple theatre at Toledo, Ohio. If there must be a reviewer,
let him review, is O'Connelt's solution in his letter to the "Herald-W' orld.'']
By JACK O'CONNELL
TOLEDO, OHIO, Sept. 25. — There is an ancient adage to the effect that
cutting oft" one's nose to spite one's face is silly surgery. The operation
is not, so far as I am aware, illegal — but it's patently illogical. Yet it
seems to me that a great man}- of the people most vitally concerned with
the motion picture industry are performing it daily.
there is, anj'where in the United States or
its island possessions, a sincere and gen-
uine exception I will gladly contribute out
of iny own pocket to decorate him with an
elegantly embossed medal and do all in
my power to have him elected grand past
exalted master of the Ananias club. The
honor and the glory are rightfully his.
But what happens if a discerning reviewer
agrees with your estimate of a bum show
and commits the capital offense of putting
his opinion in print? A squawk goes in
to the paper and unless the sheet is a darn
sight more independent than most of them
nowadays, you get results. Your reviewer
is told to grease up his soft pedal. You
might even have him sacked. That has hap-
pened. But who, actually, is benefited?
ex-
his
T THINK I use the phrase "most vitally"
-'■ with ample justification in applying it to
exhibitors. For producers can make movies
until perdition isn't bigger than a split
second, but that's all the good it will do
anyone unless the retail dealers in screen
entertainment can sell this product — and at
a profit long enough to go around. The
theatre manager is the keystone in the arch
that connects Hollywood with the ultimate
consumer. Remove him and the whole
structure will resemble London Bridge of
so ad infinitum.
Exhibitor Invites Reviews
Therefore, it does not seem to me de-
crepit logic to assume that one of the
hibitor's main obligations is to make
position as stable as possible. What meas-
ures can he take to that end? There are a
thousand answers; you can buy books
crammed full of them. There are such
rudimentary precautions as showing only
the best pictures obtainable, exploiting
them with all possible ingenuity, employ-
ing a courteous efficient house staff — and
so ad infinitum.
Then there are the newspapers to be
dealt with. It is there, in my humble opin-
ion, that the average exhibitor gets busy
amputating his proboscis. He does not
seem to realize that publicity is one thing
and reviews are another. He is entitled to
one because he is soaked plentv for his
advertising. He invites the other because
that is what theatres have been doing ever
since critics were invented — which is a
great deal longer ago than you'd imagine
unless you have dug rather deeply into the
history of literature.
Now yon know you've played some shows
you didn't think were so forte yourself. If
What About Reader's Faith?
I am assuming, of course, that the scrib-
bler is a man of sense, education and as
interested in the advancement of motion
pictures as you and I are. If, after you
have raised the devil about an adverse criti-
cism, he mends his ways and ecstatically
proclaims every picture he inspects to be
absolutely the best he ever saw, what in-
telligent reader is going to have any faith
in his judgment? Is it fantastic to sup-
pose that his reviews will be more widely
read and relied upon if he occasionally puts
3. rotten picture on the pan? And if re-
views are read by nobody but the theatre
manager, what good are they? If it gags
me to peruse this drivel it must also give
my customers a pain in the neck and I
can't blame them if they avoid reading it.
Everybody knows there are plenty of in-
competents reviewing pictures; any theatre
manager will be glad to wax voluble on the
subject — go into their ancestry, if you're a
Exhibitor Decided Liable for Expense
To Distributor After Delay of Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
PORTLAND. ORE.. Sept. 25.— United Artists has been granted $150 for ex-
penses incurred m driving from Seattle to Portland, and flying from Portland to
La Grande, to deliver a print of ^'The Circus" in time for sliowing tliere It v^as
clairned tliai the necessity for this expense was caused by negligence on the part
of the exhibitor. ^
The distributor, represented by Harold Harden, submitted a contract calling for
a hve-day run on a guarantee and percentage basis, at the Dalles, Ore Guv
Matthews, the exhibitor, testified that the print was pulled at the end of the fourth
day because of poor business, and that it was shipped to Seattle at once Matthews
splitting figure and U A was already paid in full, it was charged.
After considering the case for a half-hour, with the vote of the arbitration board
three to three, it was turned over to a seventh arbiter. Judge William Steinert of
the superior court, who declared that the exhibitor was at fault. His contention
was that the exhibitor owned the use of the him for the five full days contracted
for and that the exchange was right in supposing that the film would be in the
exhibitors possession during the entire five days.
This is the first time a seventh arbitrator has been called in over four years
willing listener. But who is primarily re-
sponsible for that state of affairs?
Favors Honest Criticism
Well, if nothing but bouquets are to be
heaped in profusion upon each and every
new photoplay that comes to town, why
should an editor waste the time of a good
man by sending him to catch your show?
Why not delegate the office boy? He can
clip all the superlative praise out of the
press sheet.
It should be obvious that the garbage
published in the guise of criticism, the
boloney that nobody reads, gets into print
simply because a lot of over-sensitive thea-
tre managers have been cutting off their
noses to spite their faces. It's a gosh aw-
ful waste of white paper, but that's what
exhibitors have insisted upon — so that's
what we're getting.
Would it not be beneficial to encourage
honest criticism for a change? Provided,
of course, it is written by competent re-
viewers? Or shall we go on hacking off
our bugles because we've a grudge against
our mugs?
Columbia Makes Tieup
For Newspaper Articles
In Towns of Middlewest
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— A tieup whereby
Columbia stories and pictures will appear in
metropolitan daily newspapers throughout
the Middlewest has been effected by Cecil
E. Maberr3r, general sales manager.
Preparation of the stories and the placing
of the material will be in the hands of a
publicity and advertising expert.
Film Board Plans Frolics
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Sept. 25.— The Albany Film
Board of Trade is now talking of holding a
clambake in the near future, and also a dance
during the early part of the winter. Harry
Seed was last week made chairman of the
entertainment committee. No exhibitors pres-
ent at last week's meeting of the Arbitration
Board, which indicates matters are probably
the most amicable in many months. Fire in-
spection of Albany exchanges last week .gave
many a 100 per cent report.
Get New Appointments
(Special to the Hcrald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 25.— Russell
Egner, formerly of Kansas City, has i)een
made manager of the local exchange of
United Artists, succeeding Kenneth Hodkin-
son. W. M. Bigford, formerly assistant man-
ager of Universal in San Francisco, has been
made booker for United Artists and in turn
has been succeeded by F. F. Nine, formerly
with W'arner Brothers, in Milwaukee.
Orman in 6th Radio Talk
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLY\A'OOD, Sept. 25.— How Hollywood
impresses an international film worker on his
first visit to the motion picture capital was
told by Felix Orman in a talk from KFI last
Thursday afternoon. This was the sixth of
Orman's weekly talks o\er KFI on motion
pictures.
Harry Campbell Dead
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 25.— Harry C.
Campbell, former manager of the Orpheum
theatre and also Western representative for
the Orpheum Circuit, died Sunday, following
a short illness. He was stricken while taking
a \-acation on the Russian River.
Warners Sign Juvenile
NEW YORK. — Grant Withers, new juvenile, has
Iieen signed by Warner Brothers and his first will
be with Monte Blue in "Greyhound Limited."
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
27
^e^
Film News
in Pictures
PICTORIAL SECTION ...It!:™
Off to the scenic Canadian Rockies — scenic
for these United Artists players, Camilla
Horn and Mona Rico, in more ways than
one, since "King of the Mountains," in
which they support John Barrymore, is being
made there.
\ CindercIIcan fantasie for which we
are indebted to Olive Borden (le-
cently in F B O's "Gang War")
and, of course, a slipper.
Betrothed. The engagement of Mary Phil-
bin, Universal star, and Paul Kohner was re-
cently admitted by Miss Philbin. This picture
of them was taken just before Kohner's de-
parture for Russia on a special mission for
Carl Laemmle, president of Universal.
And here again is M G M's "trackless train." The globe-trotting
automobilocomotive was being crowded out of our mind when
along came this reminder that it is still in the Far East exalting the
letters M G M. The governor general of Australia is shown (at
center) arriving to inspect the contraption.
They made what Paramount calls the best pictures at the Para-
mount theatre in New York in 1927. Josef von Sternberg (right)
won a gold medal and ^10,000 with "Underworld.'' Clarence Bad-
ger (left) won a silver medal and ^5,000 with "It." Jesse Lasky,
vice president, is shown making the awards.
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
Merl La Voy, who is back at Pathe
headquarters in New York after two
years in China "covering" the revo-
lution for Pathe News. But Peking
fell — and La Voy returned for a
new assignment. ..Wotta life, wotta
life!
^■^^^^H
. Sri--' <=^-*'**'*" »■' ■
1 .iJiii^ ^^^
f
1^'
K "'^VMB^^^I^^^^H
Above: The cowboys rid-
in' 'em, according to the
classic admonition. The
scene is Soldiers' Field,
Chicago, during the 1928
rodeo, and the Westerner
galloping at left is Hoot
Gibson, Universal star,
who made scenes like this
for his picture "King of
the Rodeo."
Left: Helen Hayes, star
of the legitimate produc-
tion, and Sam Taylor
United Artists director
who is to direct Mary
Pickford in the film ver-
sion, are shown going
over the manuscript of
"Coquette" on the stage
of the Maxine Elliot the-
atre in New York.
Kenneth Harlan and Marie Prevost (Mrs. Harlan)
ready to leave Hollywood on a motor trip East. Miss
Prevost, however, was scheduled to return West to
work in "The Exodus of the New World" for the
Pioneer Film Company.
How they shot it and what they shot. At left is
shown the Christie-MacLean technical staff of Para-
mount's "The Carnation Kid," preparing the set for
the scene 'above with Douglas MacLean and Frances
Lee, which was shot on the flat car while the train
was in motion.
September 29. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
• , • - . — - -
• • « '
Countrywoman of Aphrodite, pre-
serving, one is persuaded, much of
the glory that was Greece. Elene
Aristi brings a classic tradition to
the most modern of art-forms by
virtue of a long-term contract from
Universal.
What of Tony, you ask? Don't worry. No new-
fangled contraption wiH ever divorce Tom Mix from
his famous self-driving horse with four-leg brakes
Mix just recently completed his second F B O West-
em, "Drums of Araby."
Above: Broadcasting the
next scene, with Al Her-
man at the manuscript
of F B O's "Racing
Blood" series. Proceed-
ing to the right from Her-
man, those shown are
Lew Sargent, Alberta
Vaughn, who is starred;
Willie Gray, Al Cook
and Elinor Flynn.
Right: The three mus-
keteers, with one added,
are with us again, in
Douglas Fairbanks' forth-
coming United Artists
production, "The Iron
Mask.'' Shown here are
D'Artagnan (Fairbanks),
Porthos (Stanley Sand-
ford), Athos (Leon Bar-
ry) and Aramis (Gino
Corrado).
Two scenes ffom F B O's melodrama of the Argen-
tine, "Charge of the Gauchos," story based on the
rebellion against Spanish rule. At right Francis X.
Bushman, who is starred with Jacqueline Logan, is
shown at center, kneeling. Above are Olive Has-
brouck, Miss Logan and Mathilde Comont.
30
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
DESTRUCTION OF THE PASTIME THEATRE BY FIRE has left the little town of Wil-
liamstown, Mich., just east of Lansing, without a theatre. The old wooden building which
has been the town's only public auditorium for the last fifty years, was destroyed, with all
its contents, by a fire of unknown origin. When it was discovered, about 1 a. m., several
adjoining buildings, including the fire hall, were on fire and the entire village was threatened
with destruction before the flames were controlled. Adams Brothers of Mason, Mich., who
have owned and operated the theatre for the last four years, have disposed of the property
and will not rebuild.
Jolson's "Singing Fool" Makes
Spectacular Garden Opening
Huge Throng Delays Start — Warner Brothers Are Center of
Attention — Comedian's Singing and Acting Draw
-Picture Proves Success
Applause-
By PETER VISCHER
XEW YORK, Sept. 25.— It is doubtful if, in all the history of the films,
there has ever been so exciting- and spectacular an opening as came to the
Winter Garden last Wednesday when Al Jolson's "The Singing Fool" opened.
Attention Centers on Warners
Of course, the \\'arner Brothers were the center of attention, for Jolson has
been their great discovery, in many ways the cornerstone of the great edifice
they are now building. Jolson's first picture "The Jazz Singer," practically
single-handed started the great vogue for sound pictures that now exists.
The Winter Garden, for which Jolson has he ever had to make another hospital scene
he'd probably have to go to bed himself — it
had many very amusing moments. Jolson's
gift for comedy is almost as great as his gift
of voice and one wonders how great a picture
he would make if he were handled from the
poirit of view of a comedian rather than a
trasedian.
The picture was a smashing success.
Though the script is not quite worthy of the
star, he showed himself to be so extraordinary
that no can doubt but that it will take the
country by storm, as did "The Jazz Singer."
Jolson is a great asset to the films and the
films — ^particularly the new films — are a mir-
aculous medium of expression for an artist of
Jolson's capabilities.
a peculiar attachment, for there he made his
debut near)},- a score of years ago, was packed
to the doors. A
great crowd, compris-
ing a goodly percent-
age of the important
citizenry of the Me-
tropolis, was in the
hall. Hundreds stood
outside, watching the
lines of great and
near-great file in.
This was an event.
The show did not
start until after 9:1.\
for so great was the
crowd that it took
longer and longer to
get seated. When the
show finally- did start,
with few and simple preliminaries, an air of
hushed expectancy was in the vast barn thai
makes the Winter Garden.
The crriwfl was not kept long in suspense.
Before many moments had passed Jolson had
made an amusing entrance, received a burst of
applause, and started to sing. He played the
part of a songster, whose life was made un-
happy by unfaithfulness on the part of the
one he loved and by the death of his be-
loved child. Jolson acted well.
Though the story was not a particularly
happy one— Jolson himself said later that if
'.I JoNon
Kelsey Begins as Head
Of Pathe Story Division
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— Erwin Gelsey
has assumed his new duties as head of the
Pathe story department at Culver City, with
a staff including Helen Klumph, Don Gor-
don and others.
Special Roto Section
Heralds Jolson Premiere
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— A special
four-page section of the rotograv-
ure of the "Herald-Tribune" was ar-
ranged for Al Jolson's "The Singing
Fool," by A. P. Waxman, gen-
eral press representative of Warner
Brothers, the Sunday before the pre-
miere at the Winter Garden.
A cartoon of Jolson by William
Auerbach-Levy took the first page.
The second had stills from the pic-
ture. The third was on "The Ter-
ror," and the fourth showed Vita-
phone stars.
West Coast Denied Writ
To Prevent Bard from
Running Former Houses
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25.— West Coast
Theatres was denied a permanent injunction
sought to prevent Louis L. Bard, former
owner of houses now in the West Coast
chain, from retaining supervision of those
theatres, in a decision handed down by
Judge Walter S. Gates in superior court.
Far West Theatres, now a part of West
Coast, made the application. Bard set forth
that contracts according to which the trans-
fer of his theatres was made, gave him the
right to manage the houses.
In his decision Judge Gates said in sub-
stance that the rights of Bard had been im-
properly violated when West Coast re-
moved Bard from the management in 1927,
and that the court would not aid a party in
breaking its solemn engagements.
Small Downtown Houses
Hit Toboggan in Louisville
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOUISVILLE, Sept. 25.— The small down-
town theatres of Louisville are having a hard
time of it. The old Star was closed down a
few weeks ago, and is being remodeled by a
chain bakery concern. The Casino dropped
out a couple of years ago, leaving the Or-
pheum, and the Rex in control of the small
house field downtown. The Gayety is running
burlesque, and the Savoy is pecking along
with pictures, prize fights and what not. The
new Union Labor Temple theatre found the
going tough, and closed.
Greatly improved suburban housf^s, with bet-
ter programs, and sound pictures in one, are
resulting in a larger volume of business re-
maining in the suburban territory each night.
$2,200,000 Studio to Be
Built for Canadian Films
(Special lo the Herald-World)
OTTAWA, Sept. 25. — The Canadian gov-
ernment motion picture studio at Ottawa, will
ha\e a new home as a result of the decision of
the goxernment to proceed with the immediate
erection of a $2,200,000 federal building on a
site which includes the present studio.
The Government's own film bureau is the
largest film producing organization in the
country. There is little likelihood that the
studio will be moved from the capital because
of the film work which is carried on for nu-
merous Government departments.
Allan's Father Dead Kennedy Returning Home
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25. — Enoch
Hughes, father of Hugh Allan, Pathe lead
in "The Tiger's Shadow," is dead.
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— Joseph P. Ken-
nedy, president of F B O, is due home from
Europe Thursday with Mrs. Kennedy.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
AT THE A M P A ANNUAL DINNER the Sam Harris trophy, offered for the best contribution to furtherance of goodwill between Great
Britain and the United States, was placed at the disposal of the A M P A. Bruce Gallup, retiring president, handed the gavel to George W.
Harvey, president-elect.
Loew, KAO "Trade Off"
Theatres to End Deadly
Competition in Vaudeville
(Special to the Hcrald-lVorld)
COLUMBUS, Sept. 25. — Announcement was
made last week that the Loew chain will
withdraw vaudeville from the Loew Broad
theatre, October 1. This was followed by the
announcement that the Southern theatre,
Keith-Albee motion picture house, will close
having changed exclusively to sound.
These two announcements, made in the local
press, failed to include the "back-stage" mean-
ings. It seems that the Broad, which is lo-
cated opposite the Columbus Keith-Albee the-
atre, has been cutting in on the latter with
its vaudeville program. As a result, in return
for the closing of the Southern motion pic-
ture house, Loew's agreed to change the Broad
entirely to a sound picture house.
None of the local managers had any part
in the deal and were simply ordered to make
the changes. L. Lisbon of Cincmnati, was a
controlling factor in the Southern, while
Charles H. Weidner was manager. The pass-
ing of the Southern, styled at one time the
"most gorgeous theatre in Ohio," ends an in-
teresting career. Opened in 1896 by the
Valentine Company, stage shows found favor
there in the gay '90's. Later it was super-
seded by the Hartman as a legitimate house,
and in 1911 was taken over by W. J. and J. W.
Dusenburv.
Publix Students Hear
Simmons on Advertising
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— Mike Simmons,
director of advertising and publicity for
Gotham and Gotham Bristolphone, lectured
to a class of theatre managers at the Publix
Managers School Friday, on "Maximum
Advertising Value at Minimum Cost".
Manager Abrams Resigns
(Special to the Herald-World)
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 25.— Sam H. Abrams,
"branch manager for a number of years for
F B O, has resigned, due to illness in his
family. He has no definate plans for the
future though it is likely he will go to Los
Angeles.
Al Jolson Marries
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— Al Jolson and
Ruby Keeler, dancer, are on their way to
Europe on a honeymoon following their
marriage in Port Chester Friday.
Exhibitors and Musicians Sign
For Two Years at San Francisco
Wage Increase Compromised — Shorter Week Granted — Matinee
Prices Rise — Orchestra Personnel Reduced in Indian-
apolis— Two-Year Agreement Holds
[By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World]
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 25. — A working agreement has been reached by
the musicians' union and the Allied Amusement Industries of Northern Cali-
fornia after three weeks of meetings.
Agreement Made for Two Years
Announcement was made jointly by Albert A. Greenbaum, representing the
musicians, and A. M. Bowles, for the theatre interests, that "a final settlement
has been made on a basis entirely satisfactory to both parties for a period of
two years." Both Greenbaum and Bowles declined to state the exact terms
of the agreement, saying they were pledged to secrecy as far as a public state-
ment was concerned.
Most of the controversy has hinged on the
demand for increased wages and a six-day
week in neighborhood houses. The musicians
asked for a wage increase ranging from 12
to 14 per cent. This was settled by compromis-
ing on a lower figure, said to be 10 per cent.
Shorter Week Granted
The main issue was the shorter work-week
in neighborhood houses making use of orches-
tras only at night. Two years ago musicians
went on a strike and downtown orchestras won
the six-day week, musicians being permitted
to employ a substitute one day a week out of
their own salaries. It is understood that this
privilege will now he extended to the neigh-
borhood theatres. Houses using Vitaphone or
Movietone equipment will continue to employ
full-sized orchestras.
Paramount Station
To Have Clear Channels
(Special to the Herald-World)
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25.— The
Paramount-Los Angeles Evening Ex-
press radio station, KNX, will be one
of the four super-power broadcast
stations on the Paci£c Coast with
clear wave channels, as allotted un-
der the new ruling of the federal
radio commission, according to dis-
patches from Washington. The new
government radio regulations go into
effect November 11. There will be
forty in the United States with an
exclusive wave-length.
An indication of the way the wind was
blowing was given recently when West Coast
theatres on Market street advanced their ad-
mission prices for matinees from 35 to 50
cents.
Indianapolis Musicians
Bound by 2- Year Contract
(Special to the Herald-World)
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. IS.— With only one
first run motion picture house left in the city
combining the use of presentation acts and a
stage band, the local musicians' union is feel-
ing to a marked degree the advent of syn-
chronized pictures. Dozens of musicians have
been let out and there is no immediate prospect
of them being put back to work.
A year ago the musicians insisted on a two-
year contract with the theatre owners. Now
they are tied by their own contract.
In the last few weeks, the Apollo theatre,
which had an organist and a large orchestra,
went in for the talkies entirely, dismissing all
but the organist, who is working half time.
The Circle, with a large symphony orchestra,
one of the finest in the state, and an organist,
let all hands go. The Palace is contemplating
the same thing. The Ohio closed a few weeks
ago to install the new equipment.
The stagehands union at Terra Haute, Ind.,
has signed a contract with the theatre owners
for the ensuing year. The contract is a re-
newal of the past year's agreement.
The contract of the Terra Haute musicians
with the Indiana, Liberty and American thea-
tres there does not expire until August 31,
1929. The contract with the Grand expired
September 4 and was not renewed, the theatre
having changed exclusively to sound.
32
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
Pictures Do Not Harm Indians Public^
Commission Finds in Survey
Question Raised at Imperial Conference in England in 1926 Is Answered
by Proof Films Do Not Promote Crime
(Special to the Hcrald-Jl'orld)
NE\\' YORK, Sept. 25. — Crime is not promoted by motion pictures, nor
do the films, particularly the American-made variety, have any deleteri-
ous eft'ect of any other kind upon the Indian public, says a voluminous
report of the Indian Cinematograph Commission. A copy of the report has
just reached this countr}-, as well as a digest of the report as carried in a recent
issue of The Times in India, forwarded by William Scott, F B O's Far East-
ern representative, to Ambrose S. Dowling;, manager of F B O Export Corpo-
ration.
AMERICAN motion pictures constitute
78 per cent of the footage shown in In-
dia and Burma, and the commission, created
by act of the Indian Legislative Assembb',
was asked to report on the charge that
hhns from the western hemisphere were
undermining Indian culture and having a
harmful eftect on moral concepts.
Do Not Demoralize Public
"We are without exception satisfied," the
report states, "that the overwhelming ma-
jority of films certified for public exhibition
in no way tend to demoralize the Indian
public, or to bring western civilization into
contempt."
The question was first raised at the Im-
perial Conference in England in 1926.
Every province in India and Burma was
visited by the commission members.
"Every responsible police officer in every
province," these men say, "assured us that
in their judgment the cinema had had no
effect whatever on crime or its methods."
Adverse Report Refuted
Detailed refutation is given of an adverse
report by the Social Hygiene Council, an
unofficial body.
"We greatly regret that such an institu-
tion as the Social Hygiene Council should,
from whatever motives, have lent its au-
thority to support statements which one
witness, not without some justice, described
as preposterous," the commission stated.
Trade rivalry is bluntly suggested as the
leal basis of the criticisms that have been
made.
"The British film industry very naturally
wishes to recover the position which it
held in the film world prior to the war,"
the report reads, "but when it attempts to
show that the films produced in America
are in one way or another inferior or harm-
ful, the cautious man will bethink him of
the adage that all is fair in love and war.
Hypocritical Plea Charged
"Early in 1926 the Federation of British
Industries urged that American films are
'detrimental to British prestige and preju-
dicial to the interests of the Empire, espe-
cially in the Dominions which contain large
Colored populations.' The Times of India's
comment on this was: 'American films
should certainly be fought by business com-
petition, but to try to suppress them by a
hvpocritical plea for Imperial welfare is
nierely ridiculous.' . . . Much of this
ciiticism had its origin outside India. . . ."
'The London Times in its issue of the
2jrd August, 1923, actually stated that a
little earlier there had been 'definite proof
that the abduction by natives of an officers
wife was suggested by a serial film in which
scenes of violence occurred.' We have
sought in vain for any evidence to this
effect, and the responsible police authorities
of the Northwest Frontier Province, the
province no doubt alluded to, laughed the
tale to scorn. In fact every responsible
police officer in every province assured us
that in their judgment the cinema had had
no effect whatever on crime or its meth-
ods."
300 Theatres in India
In the issue of The Times of India, for-
warded by . the FBO representative, the
committee was quoted as finding there are
300 motion picture theatres in India, double
the number of 1921. The entertainment tax
was pronounced a burden on exhibitors
when applied on the cheaper seats. The
committee made the following recommen-
dations:
Creation of a central cinema department;
creation of a central board of censorship;
granting of loans on favorable terms by
government to producers; imposition of a
qualified quota system for Indian films (this
proposal was not approved by three mem-
bers).
It was not recommended that any special
preference or encouragement be given to
films produced within the Empire. Increase
of duty on imported films was not recom-
mended.
"Flu" Closes Theatres
An epidemic of influenza has closed all
theatres in Managua, Nicaragua, according
to newspaper dispatches.
Daylight Saving Goes Into Its Hole on
Sunday — Let the Wintry Blasts Blow!
Next Sunday, by virtue of its distinction as the day after the last Saturday in
September, will be the date for the resumption of standard time in New York state
cities, Chicago and probably most other places having daylight saving during the
summer. Reports from exhibitors throughout the country show the general attitude
to be such that the show business may he expected to "look up" from that day on.
Midwinter business prevailed at many of the first-run houses in Albany and Troy
the past week. Lobbies were filled with people awaiting the second evening show.
The end of daylight saving in most New York state cities on Sunday is being
awaited eagerly by theatre owners, who declare that it has cost them thousands of
dollars in lost business this summer.
At the New York
Theatres
NEW FILMS
PARAJIOUNT— "Beggars of Life," a Paramount
production, starring Wallace Beery, with Louise
Brooks and Richard Arlen, directed by William
Wellman.
CAPITOL — "Excess Baggage." a Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer filtn starring VVilliam Haines, directed by
James Cruze.
ROXY — "Plastered in Paris," a Fox comedy featuring
Sammy Cohen and Jack Pennick, directed by Ben-
jamin Stoloff.
HIPPODROME— "'Danger Street," an FBO pro-
duction, starring Warner Baxter, directed by
Ralph Ince.
55TH STREET PLAYHOUSE— "The Light of
Asia," based on the life of Buddha, filmed in
India.
HELD OVER AND REVIVED
CAMEO — "Q Ships," an English Document drama
held over for another week.
FIFTH AVENUE PLAYHOUSE— "Germany's Side
of the War," a Teutonic record with actual war
films held over for anotlier week.
STR.\ND — "The Lion and the Mouse," Warner Bros.,
revived for another week.
RIVOLI — "Two Lovers," Jletro-Goldwyn-Mayer, re-
vived for another week.
CRITERION — "Wings," Paramount, opened August
12, 1927.
ASTOR— "White Shadows in the South Seas," Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer, opened August 1.
CENTRAL — "Lilac Time," First National, opened
August 3.
WARNER— "The Terror," Warner Brothers all talk-
ing picture, opened August 15.
RIALTO — "The Patriot," Paramount, opened August
, 17.
EMBASSY — "Submarine." Columbia, opened August
30.
GAIETY — "The Air Circus," Fox Movietone, opened
September 1.
GLOBE — "Mother Knows Best," Fox, opened Sep-
tember 15.
WINTER GARDEN— "The Singing Fool," Warner
Bros. Vitaphone, opened September 19.
Foreign Groups Learn-
How to Boost "Better
Picture" Cause from Us
(Stecial to the Hcrald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— Propaganda for
better pictures is no longer restricted to the
United States. From China, New Zealand,
Novia Scotia, Peru, from India and Austra-
lia, word trickles home of the interest bein^^
taken by organized groups of women, by
church and civic leaders, in the work of
better films. - ;-
This is due partially to the zeal with
which workers in this country have gone
about the task of engendering support for
the best pictures. Publications, pamphlets,
and letters have carried accounts of the
work, and these have been utilized by groups
in other countries, according" to Mrs.
Thomas A. McGoldrick, Chairman of the
Motion Picture Bureau of the International
Federation of Catholic Alumnae, who has
assembled interesting evidence of the mo-
tion picture attitudes abroad.
Suburbs in Merry Tilt as
Wilmette Votes on Open
Theatres for Sundays
It seems that Wilmette's citizens want to
shake the dust of blue lawism off its heels.
It also seems that opponents of Sunday
shows, styling themselves the Committee of
100, inquired, "Do we want a wide open
town? Look at Desplaines". Thereupon
the fur began to fly and had not settled at
this writing.
Anyway, Wilmette went to the polls
Tuesday over the issue and preliminary esti-
mates were that the champions of Sunday
shows would win. And Desplaines, neigh-
boring suburb (they're both Chicago sub-
ubs), is inviting the Committee of 100 from
Wilmette to take another look.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
33
Y^
SYNCHRONIZED PICTURES
Small Towns Cry for
Sound, Says Grainger
(Stccial to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— "Sound
pictures are making big financial
showings everywhere, with exhibitors
in small towns crying for installa-
tions," says James R. Grainger, gen-
eral sales manager for Fox, who has
just returned from a seven weeks'
tour throughout the United States.
While on his sales tour Grainger
closed several big circuit deals for
Fox pictures.
8 Firms Formed in
New York State to
Film^ "Sound, Silent^^
(Special to the Herald-World)
ALBANY, Sept. 25. — Eight companies in-
corporated in the motion picture business
in New York state during the past week,
several of the number stating in their pa-
pers seeking charters, that they were form-
ing to produce pictures "with and without
sound," indicating that interest in the talk-
ing picture is increasing day by day.
The companies included the General
Sound Film Laboratories, Inc., capitaliza-
tion not stated, with Bertran Raff, Joseph
J. Grumet, Herman L. Meirowitz, New
York City; Reeltone Corporation, capitali-
zation not stated, Herman Machson, Lillian
Siskin, Ella Mortimer, New York City; Mo-
tion Picture Institute of American Indus-
tries, Inc., $50,000, Frances Carter, John K.
Holbrook, Lida Hafford, New York city;
Opera Pictures Corporation, $20,000, J. Geo.
Kaplan, Leo Byrnes, Robert Nadworny,
Brooklyn: Bronx Park Amusement Corpo-
ration, $20,000, Leon Samuels, Morris S.
Kaplan, Florinda Simeone, New York City;
Road Show Pictures, Inc., $20,000, Louis
Garsson, Marion Roth, Irving Garsson,
Brooklyn; Sound Studios, Inc., Robert
Kane, Colvin W. Brown, J. I. Schnitzer,
New York City; Han-A-Phone Fox Corpo-
ration, $10,000, Richard C. Fox, Evelyn E.
Fuhr, Charles Cohn, Buffalo.
Work Underway on
Paramount Stages
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— Each of four
Paramount sound stages now under con-
struction will be 70 feet wide and 100 feet
long and will be constructed of special
materials designed to prevent extraneous
sounds and noises and eliminate echoes and
resonance within the stages.
Plans for the buildings were originally
formulated by Roy J. Pomeroy, director of
sound effects, in collaboration with electri-
cal and acoustical engineers of Western
Electric and Bell Telephone Company.
Sound Studios^ Ine.^ Now in Work;
Zuro is Named Musical Director
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25. — With actual production underway at Sound Studios,
Inc., at 134th Street and Park Avenue, Robert Kane, president, has announced his
staff. It is also announced that Josiah Zuro has been named general musical
director for F B O and Pathe sound productions, made either at Sound Studios,
Inc., or in the F B O and Pathe plants in Hollywood.
On his staff, Kane has named S. E. Fitz-
gibbon, formerly sales promotion director at
F B O, as studio manager; Ben Burke as pro-
duction manager ; George Wilson, head elec-
trician ; Joseph Clement, art director ; Jack
Strieker, head carpenter, and J. E. W. Sey-
mour as assistant to Kane on stories and
material for short subjects.
Josiah Zuro is well known in musical circles
and for six years was director of presenta-
tions for the Rialto, Rivoli and Criterion the-
atres in New York. In addition to his or-
chestra of 35 pieces, Zuro's staff will consist
of Attilio Marchetti, assistant musical direc-
tor ; Edward Gould, assistant to Zuro ; Irving
Held, librarian, and Jacques Grunberg, pianist
and assistant scorer.
Sound Studios, Inc., has been completely
equipped for the production of talking pictures
with RCA Photophone. Sound proofing and
electrical installation have been completed, and
work on F B O's first all talking picture is
scheduled to commence in three weeks.
Synchronization of F B O and Pathe pro-
ductions has been progressing rapidly at
Sound Studios. Talking sequences, sound ef-
fects and musical synchronizations for F B O's
"Hit of the Show," "Gang War," "The Per-
fect Crime" and Pathe's "King of Kings" have
already been completed, with F B O's "Taxi
13" and Pathe's "Annapolis" now in progress
of being synchronized.
Edgar Allen Wolfe, playwright and novel-
ist, prepared the talking sequences, prologue
and epilogue for "Hit of the Show" and
"Gang War." George Lemaire, musical com-
edy star and producer and his original com-
pany, utilized his act "Joyriding," as a pro-
logue for "Taxi 13." "Joyriding" was
originally one of the skits in "Fads and
Fancies" a Broadway musical production and
was later part of the Ziegfeld Follies. Kane
signed Jack Conway to write gags and sound
effects for "Taxi 13," while Francis Weldon
will prepare the prologue for Pathe's "Ann-
apolis."
Wire 4 Canadian
Houses for Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
VANCOUVER, Sept. 25.— J. R. Muir of
Vancouver, district manager of Famous
Players Canadian Corp., for British Colum-
bia, has announced that the Capitol the-
atre at Vancouver would offer its first talk-
ing program October 1.
The Tivoli theatre, Toronto, also operated
by Famous Players, will have talking pic-
tures as a regular feature about the same
time, while the Capitol and Metropolitan
theatres at Winnipeg, Manitoba, are also
being wired. The Palace theatre, Montreal,
first Canadian house to be wired, has been
presenting synchronized programs since
September 1.
All -Talkie Breaks
Troy House Record;
Wire Many Houses
(Special to the Herald-World)
TROY, N. Y., Sept. 25.— The talkies again
proved their drawing power here last week
when "Lights of New York," the first 100
per cent talkie to play here, established a
new record for Saturday and Sunday at the
Troy theatre. Hundreds of persons were
unable to secure admission on Sunday, and
the picture running throughout the week,
proved one of the best business getters in
the five year or more history of the theatre.
Matinees ran fully as large as the evening
shows.
The installation of talking equipment is
proceeding at many theatres in central New
York. Equipment is being installed at the
Mark Ritz in Albany, and will become op-
erative on or about October 15. Robert
Pierce has equipped the Capitol in Ilion,
where it will become operative October 1.
Kornblite and Cohen are installing equip-
ment at the Strand in Binghamton. In
Oneida, Mike Kallet inaugurated Vitaphone
presentations at the Madison theatre this
past week. Equipment will be installed at
the new Kallet theatre in Rome, N. Y.,
scheduled to open on Thanksgiving day.
London Sees, Hears
''Lost in the Arctic ^^
(Special to the Herald-World)
LONDON, Sept. 25.— "Stella Polaris," a
Fox picture, will open a London engagement
Sunday, Sept. 23, at the Plaza theatre in
Piccadilly Circus. This is none other than
"Lost in the Arctic," which recently com-
pleted a Broadway run. While the title has
been changed for England the Movietone ac-
companiment remains the same.
Mobile House Wired
(Special to the Herald-World}
MOBILE, Sept. 25.— Backed by a far-reach-
ing'and unusually effective advance campaign,
sound pictures made a brilliant debut at the
palatial Saenger theater August 24.
The prime feature of the inaugural sound
picture program was "Warming up."
34
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
Pathe's first Sound Neivs truck hits the road in search af "see and hear" news. It makes use
of the RCA Photophone system of sound recording and has a camera range of two' and
one-fourth miles and a tonal range of 87 meters (almost 100 yards).
MGM Hits Production Stride
With Nine Companies in Filming
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25. — With eight companies working in the studios and one
busy on location, workmen rushing to completion the new sound stages for making
M G M Movietone eflFects, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is now having one of the most
active production booms in several months. Besides the nine companies at work
two directors are whipping new stories into shape for early filming and the
scenario department is preparing a half-dozen new scripts.
will return to the studio shortly from a loca-
tion trip for "Humming Wires."
Fred Niblo is developing the Balkan roman-
tic scenes of "Adrienne Lecouvreur" which
Clarence Brown, after a week of exteriors
made in various parts of Southern California,
for "A Woman of Affairs" has brought his
company into the studio. Greta Garbo and
John Gilbert are co-starred, and in their sup-
jiort are Lewis S. Stone, Hobart Bosworth,
Johnny Mack Brown, Dorothy Sebastian, Ger-
trude Astor, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and Cyril
Chadwick. Director George Hill has brought
the "Gold Braid" company into the studio fol-
lowing three weeks at the naval base at San
Diego. This naval story stars Ramon Novarro,
who is supported by Anita Page, Edward Nu-
gent, Ralph Graves, Gardner James, Carroll
Nye, Wade Boteler, Sumner Getchell and Clin-
ton Lyle.
Norma Shearer is at work on her first ve-
hicle since her return from Europe, "The
Little Angel." Sam Wood is directing, and
in the supporting cast are Johnny Mack
Brown, Gwen Lee, Lowell Sherman, Eugenia
Besserer and Buddy Messenger. Tim McCoy
Sound Films Will Not
Lessen "Extra" Demand
(Special to llir II crald-World)
HOLLYWOOD. Sept. 25.~Here
are good words for the extras in
Hollywood. "Motion picture extra
players will not suffer lack of em-
ployment at the studios as a result
of talking pictures," says B. P.
Schulherg, general manager of West
Coast production for Paramount.
We are now producing our first all-
talking picture, "Interference," which
even in its silent form, differs from
most of our productions in that very
few f-xtra players are used."
features Joan Crawford, Nils Asther, Aileen
Pringle, Warner Oland and Carmel Myers.
James Cruze has converted his stage into a
true picture of Hollywood Boulevard for
scenes for "A Man's Man" starring William
Haines. Director "Red" Golden has brought
"Honeymoon" into its final week of produc-
tion. Flash the wonder dog, Polly Moran,
Harry Gribbon and Bert Roach are the leads
in this merry marital mix-up.
Lucien Hubbard is directing "The Mysteri-
ous Island." Lloyd Hughes, Jane Daly, Lionel
Barrymore and Montague Love are early se-
lections for the cast with others to follow
shortly.
Hobart Henley is filming "Nize Baby"
which Alilt Gross, the author has personally
adapted. With "West of Zanzibar" being cut
and titled Lon Chaney has "gone fishin' " and
Marion Davies is taking a European vacation
before beginning her next Cosmopolitan story.
Colvin Brown Hears
Paths Voice Tests
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25. — Colvin W.
Brown, executive vice president, arrived at the
Palhe studios last week just in time to witness
the initial voice recordings of prominent Pathe
players, in the first extensive test of R C A
Photophone on the West Coast. Benjamin
Glazer, sound executive, conducted the tests
on the new sound proof stage number seven,
assisted by Horace Jackson and Scott Little-
ion, members of his staff who are writing the
talking continuities.
U Will Movietone
Story of Russia
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— Universal has
just purchased a story by Sir Philip Gibbs,
"The Bargain in the Kremlin," which will
go into Movietone production at an early
date. Joseph Schildkraut will play the lead-
ing role if production plans permit.
Voice tests are now underway in Uni-
versal studios for the cast of the "Col-
legians." It is planned to synchronize the
fourth series of "The Collegians," and this
will mark Universal's first important step
in the short talking picture field, it is said.
Prints of the company's first all-talkie,
"The Melody of Love," have already ar-
rived in New York. Early showings of the
picture are scheduled for Kenosha, Racine,
Wisconsin; Grand Island, Nebraska, and
other key points.
Music Has Big Part
In Paramount Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— Paramount has
just purchased the film rights to "The
Haunting Melody," a novel by John Far-
row, soon to be published by Putnam and
Sons. Fay Wray and Gary Cooper will be
co-starred in the film, which will have dia-
logue and sound. It is said that the recur-
rence of a "haunting melody" will play a
large part in the picture.
Lloyd Signs Two
For Sound Picture
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— The first two
players signed by Harold Lloyd for his
new picture, which will contain both sound
and dialogue, are Charles Middleton and
Noah Young. It is said that Lloyd is sur-
rounding himself with a cast of players who
have had stage experience. Production is in
charge of John L. Murphy with Ted Wilde
directing.
Lois Wilson Will Appear
In Four More Vitaphone
Films; More Stars Sign
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLY\yOOD, Sept. 25.— Lois Wilson
will appear in four more Vitaphone pictures
for Warner Brothers as a result of a con-
tract she has just signed with the company.
According to J. L. Warner, the new con-
tract comes as a result of her work in the
recently completed all-talkie, "One Trial."
Conrad Nagel is to have the leading role
in "Kid Gloves," the newest Warner special
to be started. Lois Wilson will appear op-
posite him. John Boles has ben signed for
the lead in Warner Brothers' first operetta,
"The Desert Song," which goes into pro-
duction soon. Work has now started on
"Madonna of Avenue A," Vitaphone talking
picture starring Dolores Costello.
Radio Helps Here
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 25.— William B.
Wagnon, owner of the Embassy theatre, local
home of the Vitaphone, has become so en-
thusiastic over the success of the radio ad-
vertising done during the past six months that
he has arranged for an extension of its air
programs over KFRC for a period of a year.
Entertainment is offered over the air three
times a week.
I September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
35
The powerful amplifying apparatus (at left) used on the sound proof stages at the Paramount studio in Hollywood for
synchronizing spoken dialogue with motion pictures. At right is seen the "monitor" man who sees and hears every-
thing that goes on during the filming of a scene in a sound picture. Albert W. DeSart, technical aide to Roy J.
Pomeroy, director of sound effects, is shown in the picture listening in on a dialogue sequence of a picture in the making.
By a system of controls he is able to keep in constant touch with the recording rooms.
Sam Fox Company
Employs S. M, Berg
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— S. M. Berg, has
returned to New York after an absence of
over six years in England, during which time
he has been associated with Keith-Prowse &
Co. Upon his arrival he was signed to a con-
tract by the Sam Fox Publishing Company of
America. The Fox company has now included
establishment of sound picture synchroniza-
tion and music score departments. The gen-
eral management of this new undertaking will
be under Mr. Berg's supervision. Associated
with Berg will be T. S. Zamecnik and Wil-
liam Frederick Peters, who are under exclus-
ive contract to the company.
Work Is Almost Ended
On MGM's First Talkie
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— "Alias Jimmy
Valentine" will be the first Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer picture to contain a talking sequence.
This famous stage play is now in production,
with William Haines in the starring role.
Finishing touches will be put on the film be-
fore the end of the month.
Jessel Sings for T S
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— George Jessel,
star in the Tiffany-Stahl special production
"The Ghetto," will be heard in several
songs which are drainatic incidents in the
production. The score for the picture is
being arranged by Dr. Hugo Riesenfeld,
who is also responsible for the musical scor-
ing of the same company's productions
"The Cavalier" and "The Toilers."
Vitaphone Opening Set at
Four Wisconsin Theatres
(Special to the Herald-World)
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 25.- Dates have
been set for the Vitaphone opening of four
theatres of the Milwaukee and Wisconsin
Theatre Circuit. The Alhambra opened
Sept. 19; Venetian, Dec. 1; Sheboygan thea-
tre, Sheboygan, Wis., Nov. 19, and Vene-
tian, Racine, Oct. 18. The Alhambra, after
other remodeling, was reopened Aug. 31.
Christies Increase Construction
Plans at Metropolitan Studios
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25. — Work on additional units of sound-stages, monitor
rooms and other buildings for the making of talking pictures not originally called
for when plans were recently announced has started by the Austin Company for
Christie Brothers at the Metropolitan studios; construction having been practically
completed on the first sound-stage units. Al and Charles Christie ordered the
extra construction shortly after the first units were begun and which are now
practically completed, as it was early realized that demand for facilities would
be much greater than the buildings in the original estimates which were made
several months ago.
An extra stage, 76x106 feet, and an addi-
tional monitor room, 50 by 60 feet, has been
started adjoining the first plant, and also there
will be another building to house special cut-
LOEWS CAMEO THEATRE
NEWS
AIX THt TRUTH
ALL THE TRUTH
Ballots and Bullets In Tense Screen Hit!
MISS IRENE RICH SPEAKS'
ting rooms and a projection room for the talk-
ing pictures.
It is announced that all of the Christies'
Western Electric equipment has arrived in
Hollywood and is now being placed and as-
sembled in the new stages and in the central
building of 11 rooms which houses all of the
recording devices and generating equipment.
Tests will be made within two weeks, after
which active production work will be started
by the Christie units and several other pro-
ducers who are making reservations for space
and time.
One of the first pictures to be filmed will
be the talking picture, "The Carnation Kid," a
Douglas MacLean feature for Paramount,
which E. Mason Hopper is directing. The
complete silent picture has already been filmed
at the Christie studios and all that remains to
be filmed is the dialogue of the talking nega-
tive. Other improvements at Metropolitan in
line with the progress on the sound stages is
another scene dock, 90 by 110 feet in dimen-
sions, for extra storage space required by in-
creasing production activities.
C LIPID REFEREES POLITICAL BATTLE!
A fake tabloid used by F. J. Cassin of
Loew's Cameo theatre, Cleveland, for the
Vitaphone picture, "Women They Talk
About" starring Irene Rich. I used
4,000 of them,," says Cassin, "and the
stunt clicked for me."
Solve Sound Needs
By Shooting Nights
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— One aspect of the
shooting of sound pictures has been solved,
at least in part, by General Manager Benny
Berk of the Manhattan Studios. Sound proof-
ing requirements are reduced to a minimum
by shooting between midnight and 5 a. m., the
studio being in a quiet part of the city. Hea-vy
carpets are laid all around the sets.
36
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
Four different styles of snipes prepared
by First National to be used for spotting
posters of First National pictures which
have been synchronized. These snipes
may be obtained from all F N exchanges.
They are printed in brilliant colors to
make them stand out on the poster.
Fox Casts Stars
for All -Talkie
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25. — Charles
Eaton, Helen Twelvetrees, Carmel Myers,
and Earle Foxe have been selected for the
cast of "Badges," Max Marcin's play, which
will be made into a Movietone feature at
the Fox West Coast studios. Lew Seiler
will direct this all-talking picture. It will
mark the debut of Helen Twelvetrees and
Eaton on Movietone. They recently left
Broadway for the Coast to work under the
Fox banner.
Fitzpatrick Sails to
Europe to Make Sound
Shorts for Paramount
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— James A. Fitz-
patrick, recently sailed for England to make
the first subjects in a music travelogue series
in sound for Paramount release and also to
produce Sir Walter Scott's "Lady of the Lake"
as a super-sound feature for a British film
company.
Twelve one-reel pictures will compose the
music travelogue series and sound will be re-
corded simultaneously with the photographing
of action at old world landmarks and locales
that inspired great masters to create musical
masterpieces. "Lady of the Lake" will be
staged in Scotland with an English cast.
1
Dialogue with No Meaning
Not Censorable in Germany !
(Washington Bureau of Herald-World)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25.— The
German Higher Censor's Committee
has passed an important decision
concerning talking Blms. It has de-
clared that talking him reproductions
ol dialogues or music which can be
understood by themselves and do not
replace captions or serve to interpret
the meaning of moving pictures do
not comeunderthe him laws, states
a report to the Department of Com-
merce from its Paris office.
FN Uses Special
Record for Novel
''Lilac Time ^^ Ballyhoo
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— Walter P. Lind-
lar, in charge of exploitation for First Na-
tional Pictures, has originated a new stunt
in the form of a special phonograph record
ballyhoo for "Lilac Time."
Victor Talking Machine Company made
the ballyhoo record. It consists of three
parts on the one record; the music of the
picture's theme song, "Jeannine, I Dream
of Lilac Time," played by the Shilkret Or-
chestra; a talk by a Victor official on the
theme song and on Colleen Moore's great-
est picture, "Lilac Time"; and the chorus
of "Jeannine, I Dream of Lilac Time" sung
by Gene Austin.
The record was first used in the exploita-
tion of "Lilac Time" at the Aldine theatre,
Philadelphia, where it attracted so much at-
tention that it was used in Boston when the
exploitation started for the "Lilac Time"
double first run engagement at the Wash-
ington Street Olympia and at the Fenway
theatres.
Two girls dressed in French peasant cos-
tume, modeled on that worn by Colleen
Moore as Jeannine in "Lilac Time," went
out on the street with a Victor portable
talking machine and the ballyhoo record.
They carried a stool on which the machine
was set up on any convenient corner where
the traiifTic was heavy. A record was put on
and played, after which the girls distributed
heralds and took the machine to another
corner and started the record again.
Three pairs of girls were used in the
Philadelphia exploitation campaign and an
equal number in Boston. So succesful has
the stunt proved that First National is ar-
ranging for it to be used in many of the
big city engagements.
Muskogee Gets Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
DALLAS, Sept. 25.— Two new R. & R.
theatres are scheduled for opening on October
1. Locations are McKinney and Big Spring.
The name Ritz has been chosen for both
houses by contest. Complete remodeling of
the Orpheum at Muskogee, with a change of
narne to Ritz, is another of the current R. & R.
activities. This will be the Class A house of
the town and which will be wired for Vita-
phone.
Round-Up at Pendleton
To Be Recorded by Fox
(Special to the Herald-World)
PENDLETON, ORE., Sept. 25. — The
Northwest's great epic drama, The Pendleton
Round-Up will be presented to the world in
talking films, it was made known by repre-
sentatives of the Fox Films. Complete equip-
rnent for the recording of Fox movietone
pictures will be in Pendleton during the four
days of the Round-Up.
Majestic at Milwaukee
Will Be Wired in January
(Special to the Herald-World)
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 25.— L. K. Brin,
manager of the Garden theatre, has just
returned from New York and announces
that the Majestic, which he purchased re-
cently, opened August 31 as a picture
house. Installation of sound devices will
come after January 1, when latest Vitaphone
improvements will be released. The Majes-
tic, which was a vaudeville house, is being
remodeled completely. It has 3,000 seats.
Evidently, Ruth Chatterton holds no fears
for his honor, the microphone, but why
should she, for .she has trod the boards of
the legitimate stage in many productions.
Now she is to speak her lines into the
microphone in her part as leading wom/in
in Emit Jannings' next picture for Para-
mount, "Sins of the Fathers."
Photophone Forms
Service Department
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— R C A Photophone,
Inc., has formed a new Commercial depart-
ment to meet the increasing requirements
upon the company for service and equipment,
according to announcement by E. E. Bucher,
vice-president of the company.
At a meeting of the Board of Directors,
Leroy P. Sawyer was eletced Commercial
vice-president and will assume the duties of
the new office on October I. E. O. Heyl has
just joined the executive stafT of the organiza-
tion and will be in charge of the develop-
ment of Photophone business in foreign fields.
First National Building
$500,000 Sound Stage
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25. — Two sound
stages and a recording room are under con-
struction at First National with construc-
tion running close to $500,000, exclusive of
equipment. The Electrical Research Prod-
ucts, Inc., are supplying equipment, which
is now enroute from the East. Al Rockett
announces that contractors will work 24 hours
a day until the stages are finished.
Fulton, Ohio, Has Sound
(Special to the Herald-World)
FULTON, OHIO, Sept. 25.— The Grand
theatre here has been wired for sound, and
began last week the showing of Vitaphone
short subjects.
Wanted: One Barking
Dog for Sound Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— Now
that sound pictures are in vogue, the
him director must even test out the
bark of a dog. A number of canines
are now showing their vocal prowess
to Mervyn LeRoy, who is seeking a
barking dog for "Ritzy Rosie," the
new First National picture in which
Alice White has the leading role.
To qualify the dog must be able to
bark, whine, growl, snarl, and yipe
in a manner to be affectively re-
corded by sound devices.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
Y^
THE STUDIO
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
"Hollywood:*
Another "Z>. W." Invention
Promised in Presentation
of "Love Song" for U, A,
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— Another unique
piece of photography will be seen in "The
Love Song," D. W. Griffith's present picture
for United Artists. It is said to rival the
close-up, the flash-back and soft-focus photog-
raphy— all Griffith discoveries.
First National Appoints
Hall Comedy Constructor
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— Al Hall, for-
merly at the head of First National's cutting
department, has been promoted to comedy
constructor on the Colleen Moore unit.
Hall has edited five of Colleen's pictures
since he has been at First National, most re-
cent of which is "Lilac Time." His next
assignment is to Miss Moore's new vehicle,
"Synthetic Sin," which will go into produc-
tion soon under the direction of William A.
Seiter.
GEORGE SIDNEY
Says
Back again
And sitting pretty
Cohens and Kellys
In Atlantic City
"Interference" to Be First All
Talking Picture for Paramount
To Be Ready for November Exhibition; William Seiter, Eddie
Cline, Al Ray, Clarence Brown, Tay Garnett and Lloyd
Bacon Complete Pictures; 50 in Production
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25. — Eight directors broug-ht their films to comple-
tion this week. A survey of production shows 50 pictures working.
Although Lothar Mendez has shot all the silent drama scenes for "Inter-
ference," Paramount suddenly announces that it will be a talking picture —
100 per cent — and that Roy J. Pomeroy has now begun shooting dialogue
sequences.
"Interference" is the first all talking film
to be made by P F L and, according to an-
nouncement, will be ready for exhibition the
latter part of November. It was adapted
from the play by Roland Pertwee and Harold
Dearden. Clive Brook, Evelyn Brent, William
Powell and Doris Kenyon share the histrionic
honors.
William Seiter completed work in "Outcast"
for First National. Much of the picture had
been shot on location in San Francisco. The
stars' are Corinne Griffith and Edmund Lowe,
supported by Kathryn Carver, Gwen Lee and
Huntly Gordon.
Tay Garnett's big ballyhoo and circus pic-
ture will soon be in the can on its way East.
The director completed shooting this week and
is now cutting. It is "The Spieler," and in it
is Alan Hale and Fred Kohler again. Pathe is
finding much use for the team. Renee Adoree
and Clyde Cook are in important roles.
Beranger in "Stark Mad"
Warner Brothers completed the Vitaphone
special "Stark Mad" during the past week.
Lloyd Bacon directed this thrilling mystery
drama, laid in the jungles of South Africa.
Most of the action takes place in a ruined
temple. The Vitaphone sequences supply many
weird effects. Harvey Gates wrote the scen-
ario from a story by Jerome Kingston. The
cast included Jacqueline Logan, H. B. Warner,
Louise Fazenda, Andre Beranger, Claude Gill-
ingwater and John Miljan.
Clarence Badger started the direction of
Clara Bow's next starring vehicle for Para-
mount last week. It is titled "Three Week
Ends."
Two other pictures went into production on
the Paramount lot during the week. One is
"The Canary Murder Case," under the direc-
tion of Malcolm St. Clair. It has an all-star
cast headed by William Powell. The other is
"The Four Feathers" with Richard Arlen and
an all-star cast under the direction of Merian
Cooper and Ernest Schoedsack.
Jacqueline Logan is making "Nothing to
Wear" for Columbia. Jane Winton, Theodore
von Eltz and Bryant Washburn are in the cast.
Erie C. Kenton is directing.
FBO began two. "The One Man Dog"
features Ranger with Virginia Bradford and
Sam Nelson under direction of Leon Dusseau.
"Hardboiled" is directed by Ralph Ince, with
Sally O'Neil and Donald Reed in the cast.
An untitled Harold Lloyd "picture went into
production at the Metropolitan Studio this
week. Ted Wilde is directing.
Henry King began the direction of "She
Goes to War" for Inspiration Eleanor Board-
man, Gertrude Aslor and Al St. John are the
principal actors. It is being made at the Tec
Art studios where all Inspiration films are
made.
Curtiz Starts Production
Michael Curtiz started a Warner Brothers
production titled "Madonna of Avenue A."
Dolores Costello is the star.
The only picture to go into production on
the Universal lot was a short Western directed
by Walter Fabian. It stars George Chandler.
Two pictures were completed by Tiffany-
Stahl during the week; "Queen of Burlesque,"
starring Belle Bennett under direction of Al
Ray, and "Applause" which Eddie Cline was
directing with Sally O'Neil and Roland Drew.
The Greta Garbo-John Gilbert picture, "A
Woman of Affairs" was finished at Metror
Goldwyn-Mayer studios. Clarence Brown
directed.
"Tropic Madness" was completed on the
FBO lot. Robert Vignola directed with
Leatrice Joy, Lena Malena and George Bar-
raud in the cast.
On the Universal lot, Walter Fabian com-
pleted the George Chandler picture "Two Gun
Alorgan."
CHARLES LAMONT
the Educational Director
Is Directing "Big Boy"
38
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
Hollywood Hears Movietone Talker;
It's Fox's "Mother Knows Best*'
Work of Madge Bellamy and Louise Dresser Excels Under Blystones Di-
rection— Billy Sevan's Comedy Scores
By DOUGLAS HODGES
HOLLYWOOD. Sept. 25.— Fox's "Mother Knows Best," which received
its Western premiere here Monday night, revealed an excellent cast of
players in dialogue as well as cinema roles. It was Hollywood's first
privilege o'f seeing Movietone applied to talking feature picture.
T^WO outstanding players, whose work Mae Murray's lawyer in the court corridor
-*- stands out head and shoulders above
that of the others, are Madge Bellamy and
Louise Dresser. They figured in the major
part of all talking sequences. They received
a tremendous ovation from the several thou-
sands of people who had made their way
to the colorful opening.
Short Movietone Numbers
Up to the time of intermission the pro-
gram consisted of an overture directed by
Carli Elinor and several short numbers
made by Movietone. Among them was
■"Marching Through," an ingenious comedy
skit featuring Chick Sale. The much her-
alded George Bernard Shaw feature was
given an excellent reception.
The feature picture was directed by J. G.
Blystone and shows the results of careful
study of methods which remain in experi-
mental stage. Blystone, however, scored a
great success according to practically every-
one who saw the picture. No report of the
picture can well be written without men-
tioning the comedy work enacted by Billy
Bevan in the early sequences.
* * *
"Molly's Fat Caused by
Success," Says Santell
Al Santell this week said; "self satisfaction
"bring on weight." He had been asked about
Molly O'Day's operation.
Alolly was operated on last week to remove
fatty tissues. Santell directed her in "The
Patent Leather Kid." She was later laid oft
because of excessive weight.
He says he believes motion picture stars
get fat after they become successful because
of the chemical changes accompanying a con-
tented, satisfied nature.
Cowboy Socked Him
Only Once at Trial
Jack Donovan is said
to have "socked"
last week.
Donovan is a cowboy star and has lost a
suit brought by Miss Murray which involved
a $50,000 home. He was in court ^ to ask for
a new trial of the case when he "connected"
with Attorney Gilbert. "I only hit him once,"
said Donovan.
"Write in Your Own
Salary, Mr. Schrock"
Dave Epstein sends this: "According to
well authenticated information Raymond L.
Schrock has been tendered a five year con-
tract with the proviso that he write in his
own salary figures'."
Schrock, it is understood, is being induced
to bring the staff of production people to
Europe on behalf of four prominent film pro-
ducers.
* * *
Prince George Visits
Us on Westward Tour
Prince George has gone. He brought down
a storm of military criticism upon himself
because he fell for the "wrong town." He
was brought to Los Angeles to meet social
leaders of this quaint metropolis.
He ran ofif to Hollywood when he laid
eyes on a few film players.
On of his visits was to the Fox lot where
he visited Ray Cannon's set. There he was
enchanted by the beautiful June Collyer.
* * *
Joe Doakes Tells
P F L About Likker
A reformed bootlegger is in town. His
name is only "Joe Doakes." Paramount is
using him in "Sins of the Father" which
Ludwig Berger directs. And P F L is using
him to provide technical data on a 1,200 gal-
lon still for the Jannings' picture.
Shucks ! I know plenty of guys which
could have loaned P F L bigger stills than
that !
Schertzinger's Outht
100 Miles from Gallup
Victor Schertzinger's company near Gallup,
N. M., numbers 110 persons. They are 100
miles "near" Gallup. The food is being hauled
over that stretch of 100 miles each day.
Hen eggs arrive hard boiled.
* * *
Sheehan Places Lazarus
In Production Staff of Fox
Harold B. Franklin announces that at the
request of Winfield R. Sheehan, he has re-
leased Jeff Lazarus, director of pubHcity and
advertising for West Coast Theatres, for pro-
motion of Sheehan's production staff at the
Fox studios. Lazarus has received a five year
contract and will work under Sol Wurtzel,
general superintendent.
Lazarus promotion comes after a year as
publicity and advertising chief for the entire
West Coast Theatres circuit.
* * *
Swanson to
Film "Clothes"
Gloria Swanson who became famous for
wearing them, will go into production on a
story called "Clothes" when she has finished
camera work on "Queen Kelly."
The story was purchased after it had ap-
peared in a national weekly magazine. It
was written by Lucy Stone Terrill.
t(
Braggart" Hersholt's
Next Universal Film
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— Jean Her-
sholt's next picture for Universal will be
"The Braggart," which it is said will be made
with sound. Hersholt recently completed
"The Girl on the Barge," and is now on a
\acation.
Maria Corda Gets New
First National Contract
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLY\\^OOD, Sept. 25.— Maria Corda
has signed a new contract with First National.
Her first picture under the new agreement will
be opposite Milton Sills in "The Comedy of
Life," a story of modern Venice. Alexander
Korda will direct.
Handles Publix Art Work
SAN ANTONIO.— Victor Boiietta, formerly with
the Brown Art Studio at Dallas, is now handling the
art work for Piihlix B houses in San Antonio, includ-
ing the Princess, Empire and Rivoli.
ALFRED E. GREEN
Now Preparing to Direct
Marion Davies' Next Picture
for
Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
ON A LOT OF THE LOTS
By FRAZIER
Regarding:
Paul Jones
Dorothy Arzner
Victor Schert2inger
Mai St. Clair
Louise Brooks
James Hall
Jean Arthur
Roy Kruger
Gustav von Seyffertitz
Dave Fawcett
Roy Pomeroy
Mary Pickford
Harold Lloyd
Norma Shearer
Lupe Velez
Buddy Rogers
F. Richard Jones
Dick Winslov?
Clara Bow
Clarence Badger
Daniel Roche
Ben Johnson
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— Paul Jones, as-
sistant director at Paramount studios, returned
from a short vacation in New York, while he
was "between pictures." Upon completion of
"Manhattan Cocktail" which was directed by
Dorothy Arzner, Jones who was assistant,
decided to hear and see what the "big city"
thought of some of Paramount's productions.
His first "review" was "Forgotten Faces,"
the latest directorial piece of Victor Schertz-
inger. Jones reported several of the comments
as "ace high," all around his chair, and pur-
posely walked in front of patrons leaving, to
get their views. He was more than pleased,
at the favorable remarks, and strutted off
to his hotel, highly pleased that he was an
employee of Paramount.
He is now with Mai St. Clair, who is di-
recting the "Canary Murder Case," starring
Louise Brooks, with James Hall and Jean
Arthur.
* * •
Roy Kruger, Paramount property department, is
now the proud owner of a home, near Universal
City. He has built a fence and a chicken house
and is planning on raising a rabbit. If he has as
much success in his attempts at home as he does
on the lot, his efforts virill be more than rewarded.
Mrs. Kruger bought a lavmmower, which she pre-
sented to Roy with her compliments.
* * *
After dickering several years with brokers and
real estate men in general, Gustav von Seyffertitz, at
last has bought a home that he can appreciate.
The deal was closed last week through Dave M. Faw-
cett of the HoUy^vood Brokerage company. Gustav,
has been on a shopping tour buying furniture for
his Hollywood home for several days and states
that the pleasure comes in finishing up a place to
abide vrithout the aid of a woman. He lives alone,
but has the company of his valet.
* * *
Roy J. Pomeroy, director of sound at the Lasky
studio, is now coming in for his share of the praise.
Mary Pickford, Harold Lloyd, Norma Shearer, Lupe
Velez and stars from numerous studios heard of
Pomeroy's system of sound recording and voice re-
production and arranged to have tests made. Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer executives recently sent their sound
staff to Pomeroy for a week's training, during which
time the dialogue sequences of "Alias Jimmy Valen-
H. B. WalthaU Starts
With Bintliff Firm
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— Start-
ing production this week, C. Addison
Bintliff is presenting Henry B. Wal-
thall in a short subject screen classic
entitled "The Little Colonel," an orig-
inal by Josephine Quirk. Percy
Knighton, former Los Angeles news-
paper man, with more than one success
to his credit, will direct. In "The Lit-
tle Colonel" Walthall enacts the part
of an ofBcer in the Confederate army,
commanding a group in a Virginia
camp the day before General Lee's
surrender. It is a role which Walthall
made famous in an earlier picture
and is designed to offer a strong ap-
peal to the public and exhibitor.
Ethel stone, considered a "find" by
the producer and director, plays the
feminine lead. Harry Forbes is the
cinematographer. "The Little Col-
onel" is the first of a series of pic-
tures in which Walthall will appear,
with C. Addison Bintliff as producer.
tine" and "The Bellamy Trial" were filmed and re-
corded with Paramount equipment.
Charles (Buddy) Rogers is having the time of his
life while he is making "The Charm School" under
the direction of F. Richard Jones, for Paramount.
He is a hard working clerk who is in love with the
daughter of the owner. His trials are worse than
the average and being ambitions, demonstrates several
of the instruments. His efforts are not faked. He
can really play the instrtitnents, and if he ever is
called upon to do his bit on the stage in the presence
of an orchestra he should be asked to play the drums.
He beats a mean drum and with perfect harmony. I
trust that this picture will be made in sound for
it will demonstrate Buddy's versatility, A regular
felloiv and a great actor.
Dick Winslow, a juvenile with personality plus,
is winning his way into the hearts of the stars of
Hollywood. This lad, besides being an excellent
little motion picture artist, is also a talented mu-
sician, and whenever he is called for a picture h;
takes his mainstay, the accordion. He is at present
working vyith Clara Bow in "Three Week Ends"
which Clarence Badger is directing for Paramount.
Daniel Roche, supervisor of the Fox lot and the
nemesis of gate crashers in general, got ar.other
gray hair this week, when he forgot to remove his
diamond stud from a tie which he sent to the
cleaners. He was worried for several hours before
he was reminded by Ben Johnson, one of his gate-
men, that perhaps he had sent it with his laundry.
Roche called them.
Joe Brown Films National
Air Races While Shooting
Howes Educational Short
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— During the re-
cent National Air Races held in Los Angeles,
Harry J. Brown, co-producer and director of
a series of featurettes for Educational Pic-
tures, had his camera plane at Mines Field
filming all the thrilling episodes and stunts
during actual flight.
These shots of the most prominent aviators
in the country including Colonel Lindbergh
and "The Three Musketeers" and the Navy's
"Sea Hawks," will eventually be worked into
this series of pictures which are taken from
the Russ Farrell Aviator stories by Thomson
Burtis.
Brown is now working on the third of the
group which will be known as "The Cloud-
buster."
Poland, U Supervisor,
Will Quit in November
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— Joseph Frank-
lin Poland definitely announces that he will,
resign from Universal when his present con-
tract expires in November. During the past
two years Poland has been at Universal as
supervisor and story constructor of many fea-
ture comedies, including starring vehicles of
Laura La Plante, Reginald Denny and Glenn
Tryon.
No statement is made by Poland regarding
his future plans but it is known that two
other big studios in Hollywood have made
overtures for his services.
Sax Hires 25-Y ear-Old
As Gotham Supervisor
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— Casey Robinson
has joined Sam Sax and Gotham as a super-
visor. Robinson is 25 years old and has only
18 months of motion picture experience behind
him.
Warners Signs Horton
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— Warner Brothers
have signed Edward Everett Horton to make
three sound pictures during the next year.
JOHN
STONE
Scenarist of
Vf
"The Play Girr
"Road House"
"Western Romance"
"Prep and Pep"
"Homesick"
"Nobody's Children"
Captain Lash'
n
.tf
AND NOW
"SUBWAY"
Fox Productions
40
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
Production Directory
' [Number immediately following title denotes production number]
STORY
DIRECTOR
CHIEF
PLAYERS
KIND
STARTING
DATE
Christie Studios
NO PRODUCTION
Columhia Studios
"The Power of
the Press"
"Nothing to
Wear"
Frank Capra
Ei-Ie C. Kenton
Douglas Fair-
banks, Jr.
Jobyna Ralston
Jacqueline Logan
Jane Winton
Theodore von Eltz
Bryant "Washbm-n
September 8
September 15
DeMille Studios
"Geraldine" Melville Brown
"The Shady Lady" E. H. Griffith
Eddie Quillan
Marion Nixon
Phyllis Haver
Rbbert Arm-
strong
Louis Wolheim
Russell Gleason
Pathe
Pathe
September 5
September 10
F B 0 Studio
"Outlawed"
"The One Man
Dob"
"Hardboiled"
Eugene Ford
Leon Dusseau
Ralph Ince
Western
September 7
September 15
Tom Mix
Sally Blaine
Ranger
Virginia Bradford
Sam Nelson 'J^^:^^^""'''''"^''^^'"'^^-'"^'
Sally O'Neil September 17
Donald Reed
Lilyan' Tashman
First National Studios
John Francis Richard Sound
Dillon Barthelmess
Betty Compson
Loretta Young
Geo. Fitzmaurice Dorothy Mackaill Sound
Milton' Sills
Billie Dove Sound
Antonio Moreno
Alice White
Jack Mulhall
Thelma Todd
Benny Rubin
"Scarlet Feas"
"Changeling"
"Adoration"
"Ritzy Rosle"
Frank Lloyd
Mervyu Leroy
August 25
August 24
September 4
September 11
Fox Studios
"Husbands Are
Liars"
"The VeUed
Lady"
"Our Daily
Bread"
"Taking a
Chance"
Ray Cannon Conrad Nagel Sound
June Collyer
Emmett Flynn Lia Tora Movietone
Paul Vinventi
Walter McGrail
Josef Swickard
Kenneth Thomson
F. W. Muman Charles Farrell Sound
Mary Duncan
David Torrence
Warren Burke
Norman McLeod Rex Bell Western
Lola Todd
August 27
August 28
August 30
September 5
Gotham
"Through th*
Breakers"
Joseph Boyle
Margaret Livingston
Holmes Herbert
Clyde Cook
Natalie Joyce
Augnist 13
Metropolitan Studios
"Hell's Anxeb" Howard Hughes
"Tbn Tiger*!
Shadow"
Untitled
Sp«ncer Bennett
Ted Wilde
Ben Lyon Caddo Pro- November 4
James Hall ductions
Greta Nissen
Hugh Allen Pathe Serial August 80
Gladys McConnell
Harold Lloyd September 17
"OoM Braid"
"Th» Uttle
Axir«l"
'^hraz Btood"
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
George Hill
Sam Wood
John Waters
Ramon Novarro
Anita Page
Norma Shearer
Johnny Mack
Brown
Tim McCoy
Dorothy Janis
Sound
Sound
Western
August 6
August 13
August 18
STORY
DIRECTOR
CHIEF
PLAYERS
KIND
STARTING
DATE
'Humming
Wires"
"A Man's Man"
"Dream of Love" Fred Niblo
John Waters
James Cruze
"The Mysterious
Island"
"Nize Baby"
Lucien Hubbard
Hobart Henley
Tim McCoy
Marion Douglas
William Haines
Josephine Dunn
Joan Crawford
Nils Asther
Carmel Meyers
Lionel Barrymore
James Murray
Jane Daly
Harold Waldridge
Alexander Carr
Vera Gordon
Western
Sound
Sound
Sound
August 18
August 27
August 27
September 4
September 4
Paramount Studios
"Avalanche"
"Sins of the
Fathers"
"Interference"
"His Private
Life"
"Red Skin"
"Shopworn
Angel"
Untitled
"Three Week
Ends"
"The Canary
Murder Case"
"The Four
Feathers"
Otto Brower
Ludwig Berger
Lothar Mendez
Frank Tuttle
Victor
Schertzineer
Richard Wallace
F. Richard Jones
Clarence Badger
Jack Holt
Doris Hill
Emil Jannings
Ruth Chatterton
Clive Brook
Evelyn Brent
William Powell
AHolph Menjou
Kathryn Carver
Richard Dbc
Louise Brooks
(iary Cooper
Nancy Carroll
Charles "Buddy"
Rogers
Mary Brian
Clara Bow
Sound
Sound
Underworld
Drama
Sound
Malcolm St. Clair William Powell
Merian Cooper
Ernest Schoed-
sack
All Star
Richard Arlen
August 10
July If
July 19
August 27
August 27
September 8
September 18
September 18
September 18
September 18
Tec Art Studios
'The Head of Harold Beaudine Virginia Lee
the Family"
"She Goes to Henry King
War"
Corbin
Mickey Bennett
William Russell
Aggie Herring
Eleanor Board-
man
Gertrude Astor
Al St. John
Gotham
Productions
September 7
Inspiration
Pictures
September 24
Tiffany-Stahl Studios
'The Devil's
Apple Tree"
Elmer Clifton
Dorothy Sebastian
Larry Kent
September 11
United Artists Studios
"The Love D. W. Griffith
Song"
"The Iron Mask" Allan Dwan
"King of the
Mountains"
(Working Title)
Ernst Lubitsch
Bill Boyd Sound
Jetta Goudal
Lupe Velez
Douglas Fairbanks Sound
William Bakewell
Marguerite De La Motte
Dorothy Revier
John Barrymore Sound
Camilla Horn
Mona Rico
Victor Varconl
Augusts
August 29
August 26
Universal Studios
"The Collegians" Nat Ross
"Show Boat"
Harry Pollard
"The Cohens and William Craft
Kellys
lantic City"
"The Riding
Romeo"
At-
Walter Fabian
George Lewis
Dorothy Gulliver
Laura La Plante
Joseph
Schildkraut
George Sidney
Mack Swain
Kate Price
Cornelius Keefe
George Chandler
Sound
Comedy
May 14
July 16
August 10
September 10
Warner Brothers Studio
"Madonna of
Avenue A"
"The Greyhound
Limited"
"Queen of the
Night Clubs"
'One Stolen
Night"
Michael Curtiz Dolores Costello
Louise Dresser
Howard Brother- Monte Blue
ton'
Bryan Foy
Scott Dunlap
Edna Murphy
Lucy Beaumont
Texas Guin'an
John Davidson
Lila Lee
Eddie Foy, Jr.
Betty Bronson
William Collier,
Jr.
Nina Quartero
Vitaphone
Vitaphone
Vitaphone
September 24
September 10
September 10
September 4
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
Y^
THE SHORT FEATURE
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald is the Moving Picture World department,
"Little Pictures with the Big Punch" which has presented news, reviews and exploitation on
short features and serials.
Releases
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 30
PARAMOUNT — "Oriental Hugs," Dooley, Christie,
two.
PATHE— "The Terrible People," Chapter 9, two;
"The Magnetic Bat," Aesop Fable, one; "A Grid-
iron Cocktail," Sportlight, one; "Motor Boat
Mamas," Sennett, two; "Soldier Man," Harry
Langdon, three (reissue) ; Pathe Review No. 40,
one; Topics of the Day, No. 40, one.
UNIVERSAL — "Panicky Pancakes," Oswald, Snappy,
one; "Tarzan the Mighty," Chapter 8, Adventure,
two; "Kicking Through," Collegians No. 3, two;
"Newlyweds' Unwelcome," two; "Romeo of the
Range," Western, Curwood, two.
WEEK OF OCTOBER T
EDUCATIONAL— "America's Pride," Our World To-
day, one; "Companionate Service," Dorothy Devore,
two; "The Lucky Duck," Billy Dale, Snappy, one.
PARAMOUNT— "Loose Change," Sandy MacDurt,
Christie, two.
PATHE — "The Terrible People," Chapt. 10, two;
"Cure or Kill," Aesop Fable, one; "No Picnic,"
Smitty, two; "The Defensive Half-Backs," Grant-
land Rice, one; Pathe Review No. 41, one; Topics
of the Day, No. 41.
UNIVERSAL — "Come On, Horace," Arthur Lake,
Snappy, one; "Tarzan the Mighty," No. 9, two;
"Look Pleasant," Let George Do It, Stern Brothers,
two; "Dead Game," Western, Acord, two.
WEEK OF OCTOBER 14
EDUCATIONAL — "Come to Papa," Big Boy — Ju-
venile, two; "Glorious Adventures," Hodge-Podge,
one.
PARAMOUNT — "Picture My Astonishment," Confes-
sions of a Chorus Girl series, two.
UNIVERSAL "The Fiery Fireman," Oswald, Snap-
py, one; "Tarzan the Mighty," No. 10, Adventure,
two; Collegians No. 4, Junior Jewel, two; "Buster
T.-;™.- TTT^ " fi,7r». "TVi^ Fiorhtincr Forester." Cobb,
Trims Up," two;
Western, two.
"The Fighting Forester,"
WEEK OF OCTOBER 21
EDUCATIONAI^"Stage Frights," George Davis,
Mermaid, two; "All in Fun," Jerry Mandy, Cameo,
one.
UNIVERSAL — "Wax Figures," Snappy, one; "Tar-
zan the Mighty" No. 11, two; "Shooting the Bull,"
Mike and Ike, Stern Bros., two; Untitled Western
with Bob Chandler, two.
Newspictures
KINOGRAMS NO. 5432— Lindbergh stars again in
thrilling air stunts at Los Angeles — Cochet beats
Hunter, France keeps title — Hoover arrives in New
Jersey to give his third campaign address.
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. 15— El Ouafi, winner of
Olympic race, arrives in New York for pro races
in U S — President Coolidge returns from vacation
— Lindbergh and 80,000 others see air circus at
Los Angeles.
PARAMOUNT NEWS NO. 16 — Hurricane hits Porto
Rico, hundreds killed and $100,000,000 damage done
— Bobby Jones wins fourth victory m five years —
Lindbergh takes place in air circus at Los Angeles.
INTERNATIONAL NEWSREEL NO. 75— France
again wins United States tennis title — Thousands
hail Hoover on arrival in New Jersey on campaign
— Bobby Jones conquers Perkins.
M-G-M NEWS NO. 11 — Bobby Jones routs British
golf star, wins title — Yale football squad reports for
practice— Hoover invades New Jersey in quest of
votes.
PATHE NEWS NO. 78 — Bobby Jones retains Na-
tional golf title — Enthusiastic crowd greets Hoover
on arrival in New Jersey — Jockey Sande ends
career as rider.
Three Planes Save Cameraman
From Hurricane 'Stalled Train
News reels again showed their initiative and enterprise last week in rushing
pictures of the havoc wrought by the West Indian hurricane to theatres all over
the United States. Three planes figured in the rescue of one company's pic-
tures from a stalled train. A steamer, special cutter and special laboratory crew
played a part in speeding another concern's pictures.
James Buchanan was the cameraman who
was transferred from train to plane to bring
Paramount's pictures through from Flor-
ida, while Fox's cameraman in Porto Rico,
Juan E. Viguie, made news history with
his pictorial record of the storm there.
Despite the gale he got the negative to the
steamer San Lorenzo. When the vessel
reached New York, a special cutter met it
and took the negative to the Fox laboratory
on Tenth avenue. Then the prints were
sent by air mail all over the country.
Makes 500-Mile Night Flight
Buchanan made a SOO-mile night flight
from North Carolina with the Paramount
pictures Avhen the storm tied up land trans-
portation. For two days the train that he
was on had been crawling north from Flor-
ida at an average speed of hardly more
than five miles an hour. By the time it
had reached Charleston, S. C, the storm
had subsided sufficiently to make flying a
possibility, and Buchanan, after three hours'
waiting there, wired his New York office
to try to send an airplane to his rescue.
Atlanta was the nearest point to the
stormbound seacoast that a plane could be
located in, and Sid Malloy, a veteran air-
mail pilot, was finally obtained to try to
fly the 300 miles into Charleston. How-
ever, with telephone lines down and tele-
graph wires jammed, it was found impos-
sible to communicate these arrangements to
Buchanan. Before Malloy could arrive with
the plane, Buchanan's train already had
started creeping north again. Buchanan
had not dared to take the chance of leaving
it, possibly his only way of getting through.
Here's New Wrinkle;
Serial Is Lengthened
Something new in short feature
production, and calling attention to
the fact that serials are in demand,
is the decision of Universal to
add three chapters to "Tarzan the
Mighty," making it a 15-episode se-
rial.
Insistent demands of exhibitors
who are hearing the welcome jingle
at the box office caused the decision
to increase the length of the chapter-
play, said Fred J. McConnell, short
subjects and serial sales manager.
The result was that Malloy, when he
reached Charleston late that night, found
that he was too late to catch Buchanan.
At daybreak Malloy started out to over-
take the train. No one in Charleston knew
exactly where the train was as it was being
routed by all manner of round about ways
because of washouts on the main line, nor
could anyone state exactly what progress
it was making. The best that could be
done was to estimate that it was creeping
along somewhere in the neighborhood of
the IPeedee river. It was over this flooded
section that Malloy started searching for
the train with his plane.
Tries to Overtake Train
As time was growing short, another plane
was obtained in Richmond piloted by
Lieutenant Elliott. It was ordered south
to head off the train in case Malloy failed
to overtake it. Then as word reached New
York that the train was stalled again in a
flooded area where it was impossible for
the planes to make a landing, a third plane
was obtained by telephone to Spartenburg
and sent east to try and land in a nearby
field, pick up Buchanan and carry him to
the nearest airfield. There he could be
transferred to one of the larger planes.
Within half an hour the three planes
working from different directions had come
together over Buchanan's train. For four
or five miles they circled above it as it
slowly crept through a flooded region.
Works Way North with Storm
Buchanan's troubles working his way
north with the pictures of the storm were
slight, however, as compared to those en-
countered while making them. The day
the hurricane struck Porto Rico, he had
started south from Atlanta and managed
to reach Palm Beach the day the storm
struck. For 24 hours he worked his way
up the coast, just behind the hurricane. At
one time the roof of a garage was blown
onto the car he was driving.
Boy, 13, Gets Film Role;
Won Model Plane Contest
John Berg, 13, is going to play in motion
pictures. Thereby hangs a tale. John won
the junior championship in the model air-
plane contest in Los Angeles, and that vic-
tory also won him the right to play a part
in the Russ Farrell, Aviator, series, of Edu-
cational.
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
Krueger, a Big Draw at Oriental
STAGE SHOWS
Chicago Senate
Week Ending September 21
Jack "Peacock" Kelly's "Icy Hot Jazz" has a
tinselly. froety setting that immediately cools the
audience, then heats it, cools again, etc. By means
of its performers, of course. The opening reveals
the Polar Prancers (by no means as bearish as the
name sounde) in pretty ice-skating costumes, ice-ekat-
ing-dancing to the good old tune of "Winter."
"Peacock" — who incidentally is still rather new at
the master of ceremonies business but certainly
seems very much at home ae a presentation director
— ^then comes out accompanied by Bob LaSalle, the
latter all dolled up in a seven-sizes-too-large fur coat
with a HOT cap, which matches in size. Bob only
stayed on the stage long enough to give the audience
a treat, then' ran off to give the orchestra a chance
to render "No Parking," evidently intended to warm
things up. which was just what it did as played by
the Novelty Syncopaters.
Jack Kelly then introduced "Bonnie," a pretty girl
who aims to please with her dancing, and does. She
was given an appreciable hand. The three Ormonde
Sisters were next, in a "wooden soldier" dance which
was considerably quickened toward the end. The
girls wore very colorful costumes of red and blue
satin. They then sang "Talking It Over Under a
Clover Moon," after which they went into another
dance. They were called back several times for an
encore, and finally "brogued" an old Irish ditty
which went over nicely.
Kelly next announced a symphonic arrangement of
"Just Like a Melody from Out of the Sky," one
chorus of which was sung in a haunting manner by
Lou Story, lately of the Ti-ianon Ballroom. Baroni,
another new addition to the band, who was recently
a member of the Chicago Grand Opera Company,
played "The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise," after
which the orchestra swerved back into the original
song. The whole was beautifully done and well
applauded.
The Polar Prancers then pranced on and off the
stage, for almost no reason at all. Roy Sheldon,
introduced as "a dancer of a different type" proved
not 60 very different, but he worked hard and won a
fair hand.
Kelly seemed to derive a great deal of pleasure in
introducing Bob LaSalle, an old favorite, who sang
the same old songs and the same old parodies, re-
peated the same old jokes, and got the same old
applause. There is something extremely likeable
about LaSalle and his clowning, and he certainly
does take well with his audience, but it might not be
a bad idea for him to hunt himself a new "line" —
although of course it is possible that it wouldn't be
Bob LaSalle without the old "Singa Lu" which
sounds like a tongue-twister and is always good for
a laugh.
The band then played "You're a Real Sweetheart,"
giving "Bonnie" another chance to dance, after
which the ballet girls, garbed in glittery costumes,
came out to form the setting for the finale.
Indianapolis Indiana
Week Ending September 22
The show this week is strong on eye and ear enter-
tainment. The stage presentation is of a high entei--
tainment caliber. It is timed nicely and the setting
'w. of boauty. reminding one of some of the scenic
e(Ie<Tt« of the Greenwich Village Follies in their era
of glory. The ahow is entitled "West Point Days,"
with the stage band dolled up in gorgeous uniforms.
(Continued on next paqe)
Ramon Berry
Folks, meet the Vice-President of the Chicago So-
ciety of Theatre Organists — Ramon Berry is his name
and he also features organ solos at the Alamo the-
atre, Chicago. — Ray has been at this house for three
years and in all probability can remain there a life-
time.— Before coming to Chicago, Berry studied
music and for this reason is well equipped to teach
4heatre organ music at the Ball Theatre Organ School
of Chicago of which he is an instructor. — By the
way, he uses a Robert Morton organ for advanced
pupils.
Chamberlin and Himes
Featured
Chamberlin and Himes, formerly of presentation
and lately of the Ziegfeld Follies, are being featured
this week with Emile Boreo, the international enter-
tainer, in the Mort Harris stage show at the Capitol
theatre, New York. The comedy team just recently
completed a Keith-Orpheum tour and now will repeat
picture house engagements.
Roxy Honors Holiday
In commemoration of the Jewish holiday that
started last Saturday, S. L. Rothafel has retained
for a second week the stage presentation entitled
"Rachem." The musical composition was written by
the young American composer, Mana-Zucca. The
spectacle was presented with a cast of 200 in an
elaborate setting.
Marcelli in New Post
Ulderico Marcelli formerly musical conductor of
the Uptown and Tivoli theatres, Chicago, will here-
after conduct the orchestral productions and over-
tures at the new Paradise theatre, the new Balaban
& Katz house of Chicago's west side. Mr. Marcelli
spent a number of years on' the West Coast as
musical director for Sid Grauman before joining the
Publix organization.
House Played to
80,000 People
The First Week
"Our Dancing Daughters" Film,
Helps Pack Theatre Five
Shows a Day
By A. RAYMOND GALLO
After being in Chicago for three
years as a featured attraction between
the Uptown and Tivoli theatres, Ben-
nie Krueger was finally brought into
the Oriental theatre for two weeks
fill-in until Paul Ash takes over the
master of ceremonies duties. Al-
though Krueger had been a good box
office attraction for Balaban & Katz
in the past three years, there was
little thought given to the possibility
that he would be a sensational draw
at the Oriental. However, this very
thing did happen when he made his
first appearance in the Loop on Sep-
tember 16. All that week, long lines
six abreast, clear around the corner of
the building were anxiously waiting
outside for an hour and more to see
Bennie and his sax.
It seems almost impossible to believe that
an artist that has been in one town as long
as Bennie Krueger still has the drawing
power that he had at the Oriental for two
weeks, but nevertheless it goes to prove that
a specialist of merit can always draw. And
anyone knowing Bennie, or at least is aware
of his work as a saxophone soloist, knows
that before the stage bandshow craze hit
the country he had already established him-
self nationally as an artist of his instrument.
Krueger's enlistment as a Balaban & Katz
band leader is a story of interest to anyone
in the business for it happened in a very
unusual way. Three years ago next January
Bennie appeared in the Chicago B & K
houses as a featured attraction doing a solo
with his saxophone and his success was so
great that the organization decided to put
him at the head of a band and retained him
as leader at the Uptown and Tivoli theatres.
Previous to that he had always been at
the head of his own orchestra touring the
country in leading cafe and hotel appear-
ances. Long before the master of ceremony
fad came into use Bennie had already made
himself a name as band leader through the
immense popularity of his phonograph
records, which found immediate sale all
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
over the country. In other words, as a mu-
sician and musical conductor Krueger is no
slouch and has the advantage of many other
band leaders in picture houses today for.
the simple reason that he has had several
years' training and possesses a great deal
of musical knowledge quite necessary to
hold up a position such as he now holds.
Although not very apt at the tricks as a
master of ceremonies when he first stepped
into that role, he easily and competently
worked himself into the role where today
he is recognized as a versatile musician of
national reputation.
Most Popular Sax Soloist in America
Musical critics as well as experts of the
presentation field claim that Krueger ex-
ecutes his selections on the saxophone bet-
ter than any other musician of that calibre.
In fact, he is reputed to be one of the best
saxophone soloists in the country. The
tonal quality of his work as well as the
technique and soul effects he puts into his
music is both human and humorous at
times.
Now that he has proven an instant suc-
cess in a Loop house, it is not at all doubted
that he will be one of the most popular
band leaders and most sought after soloist
in the motion picture theatre field.
Presentation
LETTERS
In this open fonim those interested in presen-
tation may discuss important matters bearing
upon this phase of theatre entertainment. Only
signed letters will be published^ ^
PRESENTATION ACTS— To the Editor: I enclose
form I am ufiing this year, which is self-explanatory.
Music publishers spending money to keep me in
music and elides, are worthy of some consideration
and courtesy I feel, and a word of thanks on my
part. And whether the postage is paid by me or the
theatre, I think it pays in mutual good feeling.
I also enclose article regardingi my playing the
picture, "The Cossacks." here at the Smoot theatre
this week. Some months ago, you used to have
similar articles in the "Better Theatres" section of
your magazine, and I always read them with interest,
and appUed same when possible. If you can use
this, well and good. If it goes in the waste basket.
no harm done.
It seems to me that for some months past, the
"Better Theatres" section has been lacking in good
articles for organists. Do you feel that the paper
is not read by organists,— only by managers, etc. ?
Can we not have more articles similar to those you
ran some time ago by Clark Fiers. Harold Lyon,
Irene Juno, Ted Meyn. A. Raymond Gallo (know
him?) et al. (No, I don't mean Al Smith.)
What do you suppose I keep a scrap book for,
"Better Theatres" section has not contributed to this
for a long time. Want to see my scrap book ? Well,
here's the table of contents.
Organs, Organ Repairs. Imitations. Chimes. Solos.
Slide Sets. Picture Accompaniment, Registration,
Comedy Effects, Improvisation. Short Subjects, Chil-
dren's Clubs, Musicales, Composition, American
Songs, Music Study, Birthdays, Broadcasting and
Composition. Rather diversified, eh, what?
Then there is my "Clipping" book. The only dif-
ference between this and the "Scrap" book, is that
it contains shorter items. In fact, most of them are
contributed by the "Organ Solos" column of the
Herald-World.
Book No. three also is a clipping book but is
labeled "Slides." This is kept up in the main by
clippings from Ransley's "Rumors." A page for each
publisher, and kept up to date.
Book No. four is labeled "Songs." Page 1 of this
book carries the "Best Sellers"— as "Sid Says."
Page 2 carries clippings of "Theme Songs" now com-
ing into vogue. The next 26 pages contain clippings
from Sid's column of new songs, arranged alpha-
betically. Each item dated and book kept up with
not too ou1>of-date songs left pasted in'. Last pages
carry, written in, the Best Sellers, as listed by Sid.
but keeping tab on how many weeks the songs run.
This last just for curiosity's sake, not of any sjiecial
benefit.
Showed these books to Lindsay Stephens of Villa
Moret's Chicago office, who was here a month or so
ago, and he seemed to think it was quite a system.
It is a lot of work, sometimes, but I have found that
it has all been quite a help.
While I think of it, will you please give me Bd
Meikel's address. I would like to know more about
starting an "Organ Club" than I have in my scrap
book before attempting the feat here. If you have
any information on the subject in your office, I would
be pleased to have this, too.
For all the comment from items read that organists
in Chicago and Des Moines using Berlin's "Straw
Vote" slides, that Al Smith is a sure winner, Park-
ersburg. West Virginia, is two to one for Hoover on
the same set of slides. Used this two weeks ago.
Just got through using "Organist's Stump Speech"
featuring "That's my weakness now," and now using
Feist's "You're a Real Sweetheart," hitting on all six.
Where in the Sam Hill or what have you, did
Berlin get "Yascha Michaeloffsky's Melody" ? Do
they expect patrons to ask for that number at a
music store? Did that melody come out of the sky?
(Find the pun!)
That's enough now. I'll read of you next Saturday.
Sincerely yours — William J. Cowdrey, Parkersburg,
West Virginia.
Eddie Hill Is Back
After eighteen months of consistant picture house
bookings mostly for the Publix circuit, Eddie Hill
returns to Chicago this week as the featured attrac-
tion in "Creations in Jazz," the new stage band
show starring Bennie Krueger at the Oriental the-
atre.
Contest Winner Wins
Contract
Ruth Haga, the young Minneapolis miss who won
the Tribune Publix personality contest a few weeks
ago, has just completed a four weeks engagement at
the Minnesota theatre. As a result of her success
at this Publix house she was awarded a six-weeks
contract to tour the Middle Western states for
Publix.
Wagner Does Solo
This week's orchestral production at the Uptown
theatre, Chicago, is entitled "Rigoletto Paraphrase"
with Rudolph Wagner offering a piano solo. Mr.
Wagner has been a member of the Uptown theatre
symphony orchestra for a number of years and is
considered one of the best pianist geniuses in the
country.
Small Theatres Get Bands
Several of the Class Six houses in Chicago operat-
ing a policy of pictures and week-end stage shows
are now featuring a small orchestra as an extra
added attraction. Among them are such well known
theatres as the Jackson Park, the Shore, the Mary-
land, and a number of other neighborhood picture
houses.
STAGE SHOWS
{Continued from preceding page)
The Gamby-Hale girls dance in a manner that is
bewitching and have one particularly fine number full
of grace. There also is a male chorus which sings
and gives the show a military and West Point back-
ground.
Joseph Griffin is one of the finest tenors yet to
appear at the Indiana and he has wonderful support
from Virginia Johnson, a prima donna of "Rose-
Marie" days. Bom and Lawrence, dancers, con-
tribute some comedy dancing and there is a parody
on political spell-binding that also is of merit.
Feist Has New Song
Dr. Hugo Riesenfeld has created a new theme song
for the photoplay called "The Two Lovers" starring
Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky. The song is the
outcome of the musical accompaniment scored by
Dr. Riesenfeld and will be called "Lenora." L.
Wolfe Gilbert, one of the writers of "Ramona" wrote
the lyrics and Leo Feist, Inc., will publish it.
Indianapolis Indiana
Week Ending September 15
An exceptionally large array of girl dancers with
numbers and specialties identical with the offerings
of high priced musical revues is the central theme
of the presentation, with added specialties by indi-
viduals and teams.
Moss and Frye offer a comedy dialogue similar to
that used by Moran and Mack with so much success.
The team gets over a lot of good comedy.
The Darling Twins, two girls, contribute dancing
routine and a song for two. Al Norman dances some
eccentric steps that really are eccentric.
Galvan to Go Abroad
Word reaches us that Don Galvan, the popular
band leader of the Texas theatre in San' Antonio,
leaves his post on October 20 for an extended tour
of Europe. Before leaving New York he will record
a Vitaphone film. At this time it is rumored that
Lindy Coons will replace Galvan.
Fossler at the Senate
Dean Fossler, i)opular Chicago organist, is now
being featured at the Senate theatre, Chicago. Fossler
was formerly assistant to Milton Charles.
Detroit Michigan
Week Ending September 14
A new idea in Publix stage shows was on view
at the Michigan this week, the title being "Babes on
Broadway." It was produced by Joseph Santley,
musical comedy star and producer, and it was his
first venture for the Publix organization.
"Babes" provided mainly a series of imitations
of famous actors. Helen Honan, Freddie Bernard, the
Collette Sisters and others did very creditable imper-
sonations of Al Jolson and Charlie Chaplin, Beatrice
Lillie and other artists.
Sally Starr as Ann Pennington was the featured
Dick Marjorie
MAXWELL and LEE
"The Most Versatile Dance Team of the Age'^
HELLO AMERICA!
We are now playing the best in Europe under the fine di-
rection of Arnaud & Lartique, of Paris, France, and the
Foster Agency, of London, England. With many thanks to
all members of the William Morris Agency.
JACK MARTIN
Featured Organist
MID-WES-CO'S UPTOWN THEATRE, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
Solo Presentations — — Photoplay Synchronizing
44
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
player. Ann. you know, is the little dancer with
the famous dimpled knees. Sally's knees are dimpled
too, and she is a cute little trick.
Comedians ? Yes, there was Dn Callion, that
loquacious lad on the tottering ladder. He was very,
very funny as he sat up there on that waving ladder,
and between gasps as the ladder teetered back and
forth, the audiences found ample opportunity to laugh
at his wheezes.
The Gamby-Hale Girls were the dancing unit for
the week, and fitted into the bill well with their
dancing routine as "Babes on Broadwar."
Boston Metropolitan
Week Ending September 14
Paul flTiiteman's orchestra was the feature of the
show. Appearing much slimmer than at his last
visit to Boston, Paul revealed his old pep in leading
his 6and, which treated the patrons to a varied pro-
gram of entertainment and musical numbers.
Whiteman's orchestra started off with a medley
of numbers which he recorded a few years ago. The
arrangements were clever and the execution was of
the highest type. Each instrument was allowed a
solo, revealing the talent and all-around ability of
his recording artists.
Agisting in the entertainment were the Gamby-
Hale girls dancing chorus. They presented two "ser-
pentine" dances portraying their usual cleverness in
uniformity of motion.
Marion Kennedy carried on a brief humorous con-
versation with Paul Whiteman, acting as master of
ceremonies, after which she gave a reading.
George Dewey Washington colored entertainer and
talented bai-itone, sang two numbers, receiving an
ovation from the patrons.
The remainder of the program was given' over to
individuals of Whiteman's orchestra. One of the
trombone players sang "Marcheta" which received
the biggest hand of the evening. One of the trumpet
players lead the orchestra for two numbers bringing
several clever burlesque tricks which were highly
amusing. A banjo player sang two baritone solos, and
the program closed with the alto saxophone player and
another trombone player ipresenting a funny skit,
each wearing big Dutchman shoes. Each played
their instrimient, carrying on a conversation, after
which they gave a clog dance together. The curtain
went down with Whiteman's orchestra playing one
of his specialties while the Garaby-Hale girls appeared
on the back stage dressed in rose color.
The feature picture was "The Mating Call" star-
ring Thomas Meighan.
Patrons Can Dance and
See Show Too at
One Price
Marks Bros., the Chicago independent mo-
tion picture theatre owners, are still forging
ahead with new ideas and novel exploitation
stunts. In spite of the fact that there seems
to be nothing new undetr the sun in show
business, these wise showmen are proving to
the motion picture iiidustry that many new,
twists can be put into the old adage and
under the expert direction of their publicity
chief, J. J. Hess, and his capable assistant,
William Adler, many novel and unique stunts
are being launched.
Only a few weeks ago they broke into the
daily newspapers in prominent space and type
with a clever tie-up on Eddie Cantor and the
Chicago Rapid Transit Co. who ran a special
Eddie Cantor "L" from the South Side to the
North Side to where the comedian was ap-
pearing in one of their de luxe theatres.
The latest publicity stunt arranged by these
two live wires is a Northwestern Night to be
held every Friday evening at the Granada
theatre, Chicago. Immediately after the last
performance both orchestras and band leaders
now rotating at their Granada and Marbro
theatres will gather in one group and furnish
musical arrangements to the students who
will be allowed to dance in the lobby and
foyer. The only admission price to this extra
entertainment will be the price of a ticket to
witness the theatre program.
high with her fast stepping and tuneful number.
Bums and Kissen proved good drawing cards with
their nonsense caprices.
Julia Dawn at the organ rendered a special novelty
number that was received well.
Atlanta Howard
Week Ending September 15
Placed in a setting of simplicity and richness and
given an ensemble with flashy treat for the eye,
"Gems" Publix stage presentation, went over -well
this week.
Ray Teal and his boys rendered two numbers, both
of which -were well liked, while Julia Dawn, Howalrd
guest organist and soloist drew a good hand for her
feature with Teal's orchestra.
Mazine Harris, petite singer and dancer scored
Portland Portland
Week Ending September 16
High lights in connection with the stage show out-
lined by Fanchon & Marco this week is their "Mars
Idea," a real jazzy affair and the trip to this hitherto
unknown planet was most enjoyable.
Among those who entertained the large audiences
were Don and Iris Wilkins, who spicied in a little
political harmony regarding the two presidential can-
didates ; next John and Harriet Griffith, a brother and
sister adagio team ; Huflf and Hunt, novelty dancers ;
the Three Musketeers, a male harmony trio ; Charlie
Meyers, comedian, Andy Rice, a real comic, and
another bevy of Sunkist Beauties.
Harry Linder directs the orchestra in his usual
masterful manner during the film "Steamboat
Bill, Jr."
(Continued on next page')
LASSITER BROS.
The ORIGINAL BOYS From
"OLD IRONSIDES"
Cleancut Comedy and
Acrobatic Dancing
Now Featured in "Take-A-Chance"
Touring PUBLIX THEATRES
Direction — Wm. Morris Agency
Franc & Warren
Max Turner
Chicago
Harry Lenetska
New York
McNEIL SMITH
Featured Organist
MARQUETTE Theatre, CHICAGO
Photoplay and Solo Specialties
PRE5ENT/n'ION
EDITOR^
lO SA\S
about
Every or? e
Greetings! . . . there will be a meeting of the
Royal Order of Our Friendly Chat Club, next Monday
night at the Oriental theatre, Chicago, after the last
performance. ... All members are requested to
be there as we have important business to discuss.
. . . Now that our former president Paul Ash is
returning to his Chicago abode we want to get
together and line up the new officers and directors
for the coming year. . . . Don't forget next
Monday, spread the news around. ... All present
oificers must be there in person or a heavy fine will
be imposed on them through the command of hie
Royal Highness, the Chief Ballyhoo. . . . Frankie
Masters received over 50 telegrams and several
baskets of flowers at the opening of his Tower
Theatre debut. . . . Eddie Hanson was on the
organ and received more than his share from Louis
Lipstonc who never misses a thing on anyone's open-
ing solo. . . . Bennie Krueger was 75 per cent
responsible for the huge lines at the Oriental theatre
last week. . . . Our friend Ulderico Marcelli is
now musical conductor of the new Paradise theatre.
. . . His place at the Uptown and Tivoli has been
filled by J. Walter Davidson. . . . Louis Adrian
is now conducting the Norshore Smphony Oi-chestra
and Rudolph Wagner is doing piano solos at the
Uptown and Tivoli theatres. . . . Marks Bros., have
found a way of making use of their large lobby at
the Granada theatre. . . . Hereafter every Friday
night the Northwestern students will dance in it
after the last show to the tune of Charles Kaley and
Benny Meroff's orchestras. . . . Eddie Hill is back
in town and on his fourth tour of B & K houses.
. . . Ernie Young staged the revue at the Food
Show this year. . . . Lend me your ears, folks,
here's a bit of good news that should tickle you.
. . . Herb Ellisberg of B & K's press department
has gone and got married. . . . Well, they all
do sooner or later. ... So ha& Ruth Mountjoy,
organist of the Liberty theatre in Oklahoma City
who took Harry Solomon, a business man, "for
better or for worse." . . . While we are speaking
of organists let us say that Balaban & Katz have
seen the real values in Dean Fossler and have made
him featured organist at the Senate. . . . Eddie
Hanson will replace Keates at the Paradise next week,
so we hear. . . . William Green, featured organist
of the new Olympic theatre in Albany, N. Y., is
forming an organ club. . . . Mrs. Gladys Brice
Hewitt, organist at the Shorewood theatre in Mil-
waukee, is playing over station WTMJ for the
popularity contest staged by a local newspaper. . . .
Don Isham is now doing organ solos at the Broad-
way-Strand theatre of Chicago. . . . Paul Zimm
is back at the Chicago Alamo theatre as musical
conductor. . . . Ramon Ben-y is still the featured
organist there. . . . When Ki-ueger returns to the
Tivoli Saturday, Lou Kosloff will resume his post
as master of ceremonies at the Chicago theatre.
. . . Eddie Perry is there now. . . . S. M. Berg
has been made general manager in charge of motion
picture synchronization of the Sam Fox Music Pub.
Co. . . . Henry Busse, formerly of Paul White-
man's band is now master of ceremonies at the
Metropolitan theatre in Los Angeles. . . . Jules
Buflano was there before the change. . . . Angelo
Vitale, formerly at the Allen theatre in Cleveland,
has been replaced by Maurice Spltalny as musical
director. . . . Don Galvan, for several months band
leader of the Texas theatre in San Antonio, is going
on an extended tour of the Continent. . . . Lindy
Coons of the Worth tlieatre in Fort Worth will take
his place. . . . Prince Ali of vaudeville is now
making personal appearances in Chicago picture
houses. ... So is ,Lone Eagle, the movie dog.
. . . Charles Mensing, manager of the Gateway
theatre in Kenosha, reports that the house will soon
be ready for talking pictures. . . . The Broadway
theatre in Tacoma has reopened with presentation
and Sam Wineland is the new band leader. . . .
Chamberlin & Himes are back in picture houses after
a tour of vaudeville and the Follies. . . . Roy
Dietrich is now celebrating his tenth month as master
of ceremonies at the Capitol and Avalon theatres,
Chicago. . . . Many stars are taking a fling at
picture house work this year. . . . Paul Small and
Ginger Rogers have made a Vitaphone and according
to reports it is a wow.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
45
STAGE SHOWS
(Continued from preceding page)
New York Paramount
Week Ending September 28
Paul Ash and the Paramount stage orchestra are
featured this week in "Oh, Teacher!" — another John
Murray Anderson revue.
Lncien La Rue and Laura Lee open the show sing-
ing "Playmates" before an exterior echool-house drop,
which after the number slides to one side, showing
the interior of a small class-room.
Paul Ash, as the "perfesser" enters on a bicycle,
opens the class with questions in sing-song fashion,
music accompaniment by the stage-band in the rear,
the pupils answering the questions in the same style.
This number is "Oh, Teacher." Paul Ash surprises the
audience by versatility hitherto unsuspected of the
band-leader. His dialect is very appropriate Dutch.
Andrew and Louise Carr, two of the pupils, offer a
very snappy tap dance routine which clicks favorably
with their teacher.
Helen Kennedy, Kay Bolger and Paul Ash with
the orchestra, supply the tune and lyric of "Ten
Little Miles from Town" — this number was pro-
grammed, but replaced by "Here's that Party in
Person." I i
La Ene and Lee, as two chalk figures on the black-
board, sing "Old Man Sunshine" and "Playmates."
Virginia Ray and Laura Lee officiate.
Mr. and Mrs. Carr, parents of the two dancers,
Andrew and Louise, offer their dance of 25 years
ago, and at the finish they are joined by their two
children, making a very good act.
Ray Bolger, previously reported, offers his inimit-
able dancing and origination of the Black Bottom.
Very clever boy, and always goes over big.
Paul Ash steps to the front as a finished dramatic
actor, the finish being a little story of the pupils
leaving school. The entire ensemble are enlisted for
the close, making a very excellent show.
Pittsburgh Penn
Week Ending September IS
The Publix Unit this week is something out of the
ordinary inasmuch as It is a miniature musical
comedy entitled "Wonderful Girl." The entire offer-
ing hae been beautifully staged and drilled by Joseph
Santley. There are four changes of scenery and the
company numbers twenty-five persons.
George Riley was responsible for practically all of
the funmaking. On the stage wise-cracking most of
the time he was well received. Also sang in good
voice.
Helene Heller is a pretty soprano, her solos mak-
ing a hit.
Williard Hall, soloist, also was well received. Mr.
Hall also appeared as a member of the Paragon
quartet, one of the best quartets to be heard here in
a long while.
Al and Ray Samuels, tap dancers, were a knockout
hit, and would have stopped the show time and again,
if Teddy Joyce, master of ceremonies, hadn't come to
the rescue so as not to interfere with the time sched-
ule of performances. These boys are crackerjacks.
The Gould chorus of twelve girls were cleverly
drilled and went over big. One offering was un-
usual, the girls being seated on little stools in a row,
and going through leg and arm movements which
was a pretty sight to see.
The symphony orchestra, conducted by Elias Brce-
skin, offered "The Merry Wives of Windsor," with
Sue Seiger as soloist.
Seattle Seattle
Week Ending September 16
Proving their great popularity, Eddie Peabody and
his pal Jimmie Maisel headed the Fanchon & Marco's
"Banjoy's" idea. This is Eddie's third appearance
and he went over big.
Other entertainers of merit were Robert Ziegler,
Dutch pianist ; Walter Bradbury, eccentric dancer,
and the dozen "Sunkist" beauties. This popular stage
show accompanied the screen production "The River
Pirate" from the prolific pen of Charles Francis Coe.
New Orleans Saenger
Week Ending September 14
Back after a week's enforced vacation. Jack Stanley,
personality leader, Castro Carzo and his orchestra,
assisted by John and Betty Hammond at the organ,
and the Publix show, Taka Chance, and welcomed
Three Famous Men
Attend Radio Fair
At the opening of the Radio Fair in Madi-
son Square Gardens, New York, the dedication
speech was offered by Thomas A. Edison, the
famous inventor. Other celebrities were on
the program for this occasion, among them
were Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone, both
lifelong friends of Edison.
S. L. Rothafel, better known as "Roxy,"
acted as master of ceremonies and selected a
number of artists in the crowd for extempo-
raneous entertainment. Harry Breuer, the
wizard of the xylophone, was one of the artists
selected who offered "Lady Fingers" as a
piano solo. This composition is a fantasy
written by Al Piantadosi.
The entire program was broadcasted over a
large net of rsidio stations that practically
covered the country.
like the Prodigal Son, the Saenger is again taking
on its old time popularity, which disappeared for one
week while the musicians played checkers in their
headquarters and the experiment of a hundred per
cent sound program floppd with a dull thud — and
then some.
Just why the producers selected "Taka Chance" as
a title for the Publix offering this week will forever
remain a mystery, as there was practically nothing
to take a chance on, unless the performers took it
on coming south — maybe we will get back, and maybe
we won't — we'll Taka Chance anyway.
The bill opened with the introduction of the Loomis
Twins, two pretty little girls evidently imbued with
the idea that some day they might become a second
Cissy Loftus, Vesta Tilly or even a Maggie Cline, in
a selection of dances, vocal selections and imitations.
However they received several hands from a matinee
crowd — and responded to the encores.
Bernard DePace, mandolinist, displays his wizardy
on the strings to many a generous round of applause.
Both to the accompaniment of the orchestra and
alone — a novelty in this city.
Charles Jolly, a tenor, was in good voice and be it
said to his credit, changed his selections several
times dui-ing the week to the delight of the "repeat-
ers" which are found in every house.
The Lassiter Brothers, acrobatic dancers, represent-
ing two tars fresh from the ship were clever and
received a little more than their share of the ap-
plause.
The Felicia Sorrel Dancers, the ballet, dressed from
the waist up executed a series of movements, foot of
course, which drew generous attention' from all sec-
tions of the house, even back of the first seven rows,
EDDIE HANSON
Solo Organist
Opened the Presentation Policy at the
TOWER THEATRE
CHICAGO
With
Frankie Masters
Next Week at the New B & K
PARADISE
CHICAGO
which are generally filled with tired business men
who slip away from the office in the middle of the
afternoon.
Castro Carazo, conductor of the Saenger orchestra,
plays a "Flower Fantasy," a medley of flower songs
which is accompanied by a technicolor picture of
flowers blending into the music. John and Betty
Hammond assists at the organ.
Jack Stanley, personality leader, on his violin in-
terpreted "An Indian Romance," a weird, catohy,
haunting melody that lingers in the memory of one
who has heard it.
Taken all in all the presentation was very satisfac-
tory.
Milwaukee Wisconsin
Week Ending September 22
The genial gang at the Wisconsin, headed by Monk
Watson, present "Varsity Varieties" this week.
Orchestra and chorus girls are all dressed up in
collegiate clothes to carry out the effect.
The scene opens with the Caria Tomey girls com-
ing out in collegiate costume and the orchestra and
girls give the yells of the high schools and universi-
ties in this section.
Fink and Ayres, skating stars, then come on and
do their stuff. Its fast, breath taking, short and
snappy. The crowd likes it and Monk gets roped in
on a special act where he is dumped rather hard on
the stage. Monk is no skater but a swell master of
ceremonies.
Orvillc Rennie, the new tenor, comes on and sings
"Down Where the Sun Goes Down." He gets a
good hand. Monk Watson then walks the wire rope
— it's imaginary of course. Reed and Dnthers, two
good dancers, are next and they step fast and get
plenty of applause.
Al and Gussie Blum do some Bowery dancing. It's
a little different and clever. Bobby Gilbert, violinist,
makes his violin do lots of tricks. He also cracks
some jokes which are fair.
The tenor, Orville Rennie, then sings "Sweetheart
of Sigma Chi." The finale is Fink and Ayres skat-
ing and holding a Torney girl between them. Reed
and Duthers dancing and Bobby Gilbert prancing
around. The program was full of snap. The best
in a month.
San Francisco Granada
Week Ending September 21
The stage show this week was billed as "Cameos"
and Frank Jenks, the funny master of ceremonies
and band leader, explained that this was because of
the fact that every act was a gem. That must have
been one of Frank's little jokes.
It opened in a lively manner, with the band in full
action as the curtain parted, and the sixteen' Foster
Girls making their appearance in a dance and drill
number. There is no question about the ability of
the Foster Girls. They can dance and they are good
looking, too.
Next came the Lett Sisters and Louise, harmony
MILTON SLOSSER
Solo Organist
Fifth Year at the
MISSOURI THEATRE, ST. LOUIS
UNIFORMS
FOR HOUSE
ATTACHES
COSTUMES
FOR STAGE
PRESEin'ATIONS
BROOKS
1437 B'way
N. Y. aty
46
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
trio, singing "Angel Eyes" and "Old Man Sunshine."
Their work was satisfactory for those in the front
roXTs. but they seemed to forget tiat those back of
the tenth row -svished to listen' too. A little more
volume would put them over great.
Tommy Wonder, a juvenile dancer, lived up to hie
name, but the name of one of his offerings, the
"Frisco" dance, did not set -well with the audience,
since the word "Frisco" is anathema to San Fran-
ciscans.
The band offered "She's Just My Flame, But She's
a Match for Me," with Frank Jenks obliging with
a trombone solo, and concluding by singing the song
to the accompaniment of sundry and diverse gyra-
tions.
The Foster Girls presented a spectacle called "The
Web," posing in many ways on a huge web made of
rope. Tommj- Wonder offered a Russian dance and
proved his versatility.
The hit of the show was the offering of Coscia and
Verdi, chamber music aces, who played a violin and
cello. In addition to being skilled musicians they
had a lot of comical tricks that kept the house in an
uproar.
New York Capitol
Week Ending September 28
The new Mort Harris stage presentation. "Dream
Garden" is one of the most sumptuous productions
ever offered at the Capitol. It opens -with a cast of
40 people, beautifully costumed in Colonial dresses,
dancing the minuet.
Walt Koesncr and his boys have spent a lot of time
composing one song out of six other songs, including
"Together" and five other popular songs, routined
into one band selection. "Odds and Ends" is the
title given to the number, and it is rewarded with a
tremendous applause. It is one of the best original
compositions ever presented here.
Helen Wehrle, late dancing star of "Gay Paree"
appears at this point in a unique and startling inter-
pretation dance, which is very well received.
The Chester Hale Girls appear in a new snappy
dance routine, which has every conceivable step in it,
from the Indian war dance, to the late Black Bottom.
Allan Prior, late tenor star of "The Student
Prince" and other Broadway successes, offers "Falling
in Love with Someone" and "Mascushla."
ChamberlLn and Him^ are the hit of the bill so
far, offering their acrobatic burlesque of "Mon
Homme." Their acrobatic work is all to the good.
Walt Roesncr and the Capitolians, with Helen
Wehrle and Frank Stcver, offer Irving Berlin's new
composition "Roses of Yesterday." The Chester Hale
girls dance the chorus.
Emile Boreo, recently returned from starring in
"Chauve' Sotiris" presents an entirely new repertory
of songs and comedy monologue. His outstanding
numbers are his dance of the wooden soldier, charac-
terizations with his flexible hat, and his dramatic
recitation finish.
Chicago Tower
Week Ending September 28
Balaban and Katz just took over the management
of this theatre from the Orpheum Circuit and this
week inaugurated a stage show policy with pictures.
Frankie Masters, one of their popular masters of
ceremonies, and Eddie Hanson, one of their featured
organists, took part in the opening program. The
stage show was called "All Aboard" and, due to
the fact that some of the acts were reported at an-
other theatre in this issue, the activities will be
centered around the band and the opening.
After the opening number Frankie Masters was
introduced and received quite a reception from this
crowd who have been frequent visitors of the Tivoli
SUNSHINE
SAMMY
Star of
"OUR GANG"
Signed for
Talking
Short M-G-M
Films
After
Completion of
LOEW TOUR
Direction — Abe I. Fclnbcrj
Talking Films Useful
for Overtures and
Organ Solos
Talking pictures are opening a brand new
field for soloists and operatic singers, and in
doing so they have also given the musical con-
ductors and solo organists a novel idea.
In the past few years H. Leopold Spitalny,
conductor of the Chicago theatre symphony
orchestra, has featured several soloists and
operatic singers in his original orchestral pro-
ductions. These musical creations have cre-
ated considerable interest among the music
lovers, but also a handicap for other orches-
tras who are not able to secure such high
priced talent. Now that it is possible to
present any artist of note in talking films the
Spitalny idea can easily be put into use by
any theatre equipped for sound and talking
pictures.
For instance, last week the Granada the-
atre, Chicago, offered Martinelli in "II Pa-
gliacci," on the Vitaphone with the pit orches-
tra lending musical accompaniment under the
direction of Maurice, and assisted by Jean
Anthony at the migrhty organ. Selections for
this overture were from the Opera "II Pa-
gliacci" called "An Opera Fantasy" and was
staged by Clarence Wheeler.
A similar arrangement was given at the
Michigan theatre, in Detroit last week be-
tween the organ and symphony orchestra with
selections from "William Tell" in the form of
a music memory contest. Both of these attrac-
tions were of considerable interest and won
the high favor of the audience.
shows where Master.s formerly presided.
The first band number was a very hot arrangement
of nautical tune.s after which the following acts
made their appearance : Gordon and King, male
dancers, Vera Van, blues singer, and Jimmy Lyons,
monologist. A fine arrangement of "Just Like a Mel-
ody From Out of the Sky" was next played by
the band and Frankie Masters favored with a vocal
chorus of same, then as an encore played on his
guitar "Keep Smiling" and was also compelled to sing
it to fine returns.
After the ballet followed the Ritz Brothers, who
were reported in this book before and who since
have cleaned up their routine somewhat. The finale
was next iri its tisual glory with everybody in the
audience giving Frankie and the show a great hand.
Observation — Inasmuch as Masters is well known
to the South Side for his singing voice and collegiate
capers there is no doubt that this house will flourish
with his presence. B & K made a wise move in
putting him into their theatre instead of a brand
new man.
Chicago Harding
Week Ending September 22
Al Morey, one of Publix's most popular band leader's,
made his Chicago debut this week in the stage show
called "All Aboard." It opened in part full stage
in front of setting representing a dock scene in a
European country. Most of the east made their
entrance from within the audience over a bridge-like
board representing a gangplank.
VITAPHONE and MOVIETONE
Will Not Eliminate
THE SPOTLIGHT ORGANIST
Xy\ TTP. The Average or Mediocre Organist's
ijyJ L I Future Is Not Assured
ARE YOU PREPARED?
A Master Theatre Coarse Under the
Supervision of
LEW WHITE
Will Prepare You for Future Demands
THREE MONSTER KIMBALL
ORGANS
Students have enrolled from all Beetions of the
country
AT THE
White Institute of Organ
1680 Broadway New York City
The Kosloff dancers opened the proceedings with
a native routine. After this specialty the ships-
mate made a short introductory speech that brought
Al Morey on the stage. At this point Morey came
down from first deck and gave a very fine line
of appreciation and introduced for the first specialty
act, Gordon and King, two boys who do some very
clever novelty steps intermingled with fast taps.
They went over very big here.
They were followed by Vera Van, a cut blonde
blues singer who offered "My Baby Don't Mean Maybe
Now," and another similar type of ballad. Her
clowning with Al and her babyish mannerisms put
her over in great style. The ballet came on again
in a Russian routine led by Kosloft's Flower.
Clifton and De Rex, two young ladies dressed in
extreme comic outfits, w^ere next in a routine of
comedy singing, talking and dancing, that seemed to
be the high light of this bill. In fact, they stopped
the show and proved themselves a very clever pair
of comediennes.
A very clever band arrangement of "Tiger Rag"
followed next directed by Al Morey and played by
the boys as a jazz band would have played it ten
years ago using pots, pans and other titensils with
their instruments. This number stopped the show
cold and was compelled to be repeated.
It was followed by the KosloS dancers again and
later by Jimmy Lyons, the monologist, who offered
his special talking act on soldiers, politics and topics
of the day. Lyons is well known in vaudeville and
would probably be a bigger hit in picture houses
were he to eliminate the patriotic trend of his
routine. The audience laughed at his jokes heartily
but were rather luke-warm on applause at this
show.
The finale was a pretty one with everybody on
decorating the setting with background representing
the harbor and the Statue of Liberty all illuminated.
Observation — Although Al Morey had very little to
do in this show, we believe he will soon find favor
with this crowd through his pleasing personality.
Chicago Oriental
Week Ending September 21
Benny Krueger and his stage show, "Melody Ala
Mode" combined with the picture, "Dancing Daugh-
ters," made it almost impossible to get into the
Oriental at any reasonable time of the day or night
during the week. It seemed like there was a huge
line stretching clear around to Pete's restaurant
the entire week, for every time you passed the the-
atre there was that line of patient patrons.
Mtisic from behind the curtain' opens the show
as Emllie and Romaine, adagio dancers pose and do
a few acrobatic stunts as the first curtain rises to
show a small orchestra, the members dressed in
colonial costumes. As the adagio team exit the
ballet enters to do a minuet, they are dressed in
beautiful colonial costumes. The set represents some
old colonial salon with huge oil paintings forming
the background. As the minuet ends trumpets out-
side are heard and a butler enters to announce
Bennie Krueger who enters as the band slides into
position from either side of the stage. The band
forthwith renders a hot arrangement of "Louisville
Blues."
Dora Damarella enters to sing "Somebody's Sweetie
is Sweet on Me," and "If You Don't Love Me," after
which she goes into a less than ordinary dance rou-
tine. Emllie and Romjaine follow with a dance which
is sort of a cross between' an adagio and acrobatic
dance. Yet is more than good and receives a big
hand.
Bennie follows with "You're a Real Sweetheart"
and "St. Louis Blues," on his sax and that is en-
tertainment good enough for anyone. Bennie ranks
with the best of the saxophonists. Big applause
follows his two numbers. The Abbotts follow with
one of those arm and leg routines which we see so
often.
Ben Blue comes on to dish out some of his foolish
monologue and goes into what he terms a dying
duck dance, imitating Anna Pavlova. Well, it's
funny as Blue always is which is considerable. He
encores with a crazy Charleston to a big hand.
The finale begins with Bennie playing his sax
and ends with two beautiful scrim scenes appearing
behind the two huge oil painting effects, a£ a male
voice is heard singing "A King for a Day." Judging
from this week's business, Bennie can always come
back here and make good.
COSTUMES
Rented for
Orchestras and Presentations
Send for Oreheatra Catalog and Prleat
NEW YORK COSTUME CO.
75 W. Lake St. Chicago, 111.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
Well, the fall seaeon ie almost in full sway and
there are quite a number of changes from last year,
insofar as orchestras are concerned:
« « «
Sam Lanin and his Ipana Troubadors are playing
a ten day special engagement at the Roseland Ball-
room, here in New York City. And playing opiposite
Lanin is Don Redman and his "Cotton Pickers."
This aggravation of colored musicians from the west
are creating quite a furore in New York and from a
reliable source I understand they are going to make
Victor Records.
« « <■
Arnold Johnson and his orchestra are doubling in
the George White "Scandals" and the Grill Room of
the new Paramount Hotel, which by the way, gives
promise of becoming one of the most popular grills
in the city this winter. They are doing a tremendous
business and Johnson's orchestra is credited with a
good deal of the draw.
» « «
Ben Pollock, another favorite son from the west is
opening the Grill Room of the Park Central Hotel
this week and should be a tremendous draw, as his
orchestra is very versatile and each and every man
is an honest-to-goodness musician.
* « «
A roaming Romeo in the form of Philip Spitalny
(brother of Maurice and H. Leopold) made his debut
last Monday night as maestro at the Pennsylvania
Hotel in New York City. Spitalny 's opening was a
tremendous success and a good many of his friends
were turned away at that time due to lack of accom-
modations. The Pennsylvania Hotel has been for
years a favorite spot for out of towners and New
Yorkers alike. With Spitalny and his crack orches-
tra supplying the music, this favoritism will cer-
tainly persist. I understand that Spitalny will also
double in vaudeville around the city, as he and his
orchestra are "peaches and cream" with this kind
of work.
« * «
A newcomer insofar as the hotels of New York
are concerned is Harold Veo and his orchestra, play-
ing at the McAlpin Grill. This hotel has just under-
gone a two million dollar expense in remodernization,
and this speaks very well for Veo. His orchestra is
decidedly different from any other I have heard in a
long time, consisting of two violins, cello, mandolin,
saxophone, string bass, piano and drums, and his
music is truly beautiful. I understand that a number
of mechanical companies are trying to secure the
exclusive services of Veo and his orchestra for re-
cording purposes. They should come over the wax
very good. Their broadcasting is also an outstanding
feature on WMCA and associated stations.
« « «
The "organist situation" in this city is practically
the same as last year, with Jesse Crawford at the
Paramount Theatre holding full sway insofar as fea-
tured organists are concerned, with Lew White ana
Emil Velazco being the outstanding radio organists
hereabouts.
Lopez' success during the summer at the St. Regis
Hotel has been tremendous, and it is understood that
he will give this beautiful room at the St. Regis his
personal attention throughout the winter season.
Lopez is also being featui'ed in the Earl Carroll
Vanities, and certainly has his hands full with a
million and one other things keeping him on the go
constantly.
* * *
B. A. Rolfc, after a summer's sojourn is once
more back at his "happy hunting grounds," the
Palais D'or Restaurant in New York City. His
magnetic i-adio personality and fine orchestra has
gained him a gi'eat many friends and his connection
with the Palais D'or is a very valuable one to them.
Rolfe also has two big radio features, the Coward
Comfort Hour and the Lucky Strike Hour, the latter
being on a network of stations larger than any other
commercial hour using this means of advertising, at
the present time.
ORGAN SOLOS
Eddie Hanson (Chicago, Tower) for the inaugural
program played a solo called "Bound for Hollywood"
with illustrated slides showing the organist on an
airplane tour. The songs used were "Rosette," "My
Darling," "You're a Real Sweetheart" and a parody
on "Maggie." The crowd here seemed to enjoy
Eddie's work and sang to his playing. Before com-
ing to this theatre he was a popular attraction at
the Tivoli, only a few blocks west of this house.
Harold Daniels (Chicago, Buckingham) presented
for his first anniversary week a solo called "A Trip
to Hollywood." This was a community stunt and
introduced "Rosette," "My Darling," "Will You
Always Call Me Sweetheart," and a number of other
popular tunes that were intermingled with parodies
and gag slides on some of our favorite movie stars.
The crowd gave him an unusual hand for this stunt.
Johnny Devine (Chicago, Patio) selected "Old Man
Sunshine" as the feature song for his audience to
sing this week. He used parodies, gag slides and
many interesting medlies that put over some hot
organ music. "Happy Go Lucky Lane," "Angela
Mia" and "Dolores" were the other songs on the
program. This is one of the best solos Devine ever
played and it well compensated his efforts and had to
play "You're a Real Sweetheart" as an encore.
L. Carlos Meier (Chicago, Terminal) played a
straight solo this week using one piece called "The
Hungarian Dance No. 5" by Brahms. The selec-
tion was well played and received one of the best
receptions ever given to Meier.
Eddie Meikel (CJhicago, Harding) offered a very
novel solo this week based on the various band
leaders on the Balaban & Katz circuit. Each slide
carried a photo reproduction of the leader and the
song that followed was a tribute. The numbers used
were "Down Where the Sun Goes Down," "Lilac
Time," "Ready for the River" and several other
popular tunes. As usual Eddie stopped the show and
was compelled to play "Just a Night for Meditation"
for encore.
Ted Meyn (Cleveland, O., Park) reports that he put
over a great solo last week called "That's What Puts
the Sweet in Home Sweet Home." The stunt took
form in this manner : He first played a verse then
a chorus and a patter, then he turned to the audience
saying "Folks, speaking about the 'sweet' in Home
Sweet Home, I want to show the 'sweet' in my
home." At this saying his three year old son sitting
in the audience was called to the organ and he played
a few things that represented animal noises. Then
Ted placed him on top of the console and played
several tunes appropriate for childi'en which seemed
to please his boy. This is an unusual stunt and may
go over very big in your town.
Eddie Dunstcder (Minneapolis, Minnesota) played
some of Victor Herbert's melodies from "Naughty
Marietta" last week in place of the usual solo. The
change seemed to please the crowd. It seems to be
Eddie's business to make the organ talk, sob or
wail and this week he comes through with many
of these features. One of the many reasons why
he plays classical more often than the jazz is the
fact that this crowd prefers the high class music
more.
Preston Sellers (Chicago Oriental) for his organ
presentation offered "The Voice of the Movie Critic,"
and tells about critics of Chicago and pictures seen
around the loop lately. It is a good idea well worked
out. His numbers are "Old Man Sunshine," "Down
Where the Sun Goes Down," "Get Out and Get
Under the Moon," "My Baby Don't Mean Maybe,"
"Just a Night for Meditation" and "Real Sweet-
heart." By making the boys and girls sing alternate
lines to several songs, a lot of extra fun and pep is
added to the presentation. Quite good, and Sellers
certainly knows how to get the music out of his
9tato 5918
OiBchlphSt
Ohioaio
Arc you qctting RUMORS
Moiaiy ncfcsoo fcr nt a^msi
atout
SQW6$
BEST SELLERS
"Girl of My Dreams" — (Jack Mills).
"Angela Mia" — (DeSylva Broim & Hender-
son).
"Jeannine, I dream of Lilac Time" — (Leo
Feist).
"Ramona" — (Leo Feist).
"Get Out and Get Under the Moon" — (Irv-
ing Berlin).
"Old Man Sunshine" — (Remick).
"That's My Weakness Noitf' — (Shapiro-
Bernstein)
"Down Where the Sun Goes Dozvn" — (Leo
Feist).
"Just a Night for Meditation" — (Shapiro-
Bernstein).
"King for a Day" — (Remick).
"Beloved" — (Irving Berlin).
"Laugh, Clown, Laugh" — (Remick).
"Chiquita" — (Leo Feist).
SOME NIGHT WHEN YOU'RE LONELY— (Joe
Morris Co.) — A fox trot ballad by two well knasm
writers. Looks very commercial. Words by Benny
Davis, music by Joe Burke.
* * *
LOVE LIT HOLLOW— (Harms, Inc.)— A Blue
Heaven type of song with its setting in the valley.
Beautiful both as to words and music. Words by
Morey Davidson, music by Carl Rupp.
REMEMBER ME TO MARY (If She StUl Remtnir
bers Me) — (Irving Berlin) — The Irving Berlin firm
just took this song over from the writers, who staitfid
it. A very good song and should sell. The eame
boys are responsible for writing and publishing TKafa
My Weaknes.s Now and turning same over to Shapdro-
Bernstein. Words and mTisic by Bud Green and Sam
H. Stept.
* * *
MAMMA'S GROWN YOUNG PAPA'S GROWN
OLD — (Leo Feist, Inc.) — This song is a great boost
for plastic surgery. Mother has her face lifted and
looks like Pa's daughter. Has some funny lyrics
and a very fine fox trot tune. Words by R. P.
Weston and Bert Lee, music by Harris Weston.
SONNY BOY— (DeSylva Brown & Henderson) —
The one and only, Al Jolson, is the star of this talk-
ing picture entitled The Singing Pool. The song is
Sonny Boy and is on the order of Dirty Hands and
Dirty Face which was a sensation' for Jolson several
years ago. The picture is slated to open in Chicago
in a few weeks. By Al Jolson', B. G. DeSylva, Lew
Brown, and Ray Henderson.
HAPPY— (Villa Moret, Inc.)~A cute song. His
baby just said "Yes" and he's all excited. What will
it be later? Well let him rave while he has the
chance. Words by Larry Yoell, music by Neil Moret.
SHOUT HALLELUJAH! CAUSE I'M HOME—
(Harold Dixon) — This is not The Bum Song. It is
merely a song of home and the boy is shouting his
joy at his home coming. By Harold Dixon.
JUST BECAUSE IT'S YOU— (Robbins Music
Corp.) — The theme song of the First National Pic-
ture The Whip. Is written as a waltz and will no
doubt sell as theme songs are still the i-age. Lyric by
Lou Kelin, melody by Franke Harling.
YOU WANTED SOMEONE TO PLAY WITH, I
WANTED SOMEONE TO LOVE— (Empire Music
Co.) — There are calls on this song through the radio
plug it has had in the East. Is a waltz ballad and
has merit. By George B. McConnell, Nat Osborne,
Frank Capano and Margie Morris.
YOU'RE IN LOVE AND I'M IN LOVE— (Donald-
son Douglas & Gumble, Inc.) — This is the theme song
of the picture now playing in town entitled The Hit
of the Show. It is written as a waltz and is very
pretty. Words and music by Walter Donaldson.
jt^ /3^
48
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
Just Closed a
TWO WEEKS^
ENGAGEMENT
as
GUEST CONDUCTOR
of the
Oriental Theatre
Chicago
Returning to the UPTOWN and TIVOLI
Theatres Chicago
on
SEPTEMBER 29
Where I have appeared for the past
THREE YEARS
I wish to take this opportunity to thank
BALABAN & KATZ
for their wonderful cooperation in mak-
ing my Chicago Engagement a Success.
Bennie Krueger
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
49
Y^
SERVICE TALKS
Incorporated in this department of Exhibitors Herald, which is a department containing news, in-
formation and gossip on current productions, is the Moving Picture World department, '^Through
the Box Office Window.*'
n
"THE NIGHT WATCH"
'EAR FOLKS:
I am happy to be able to begin this week's
letter (you knew these are letters, didn't you?)
with the pleasant statement that Billie Dove has
a good picture this time. I've sorrowed, as
you know, that so fair a lady should have been
wasted upon the practically pointless pictures
which have been given her at various times in
the past year or two. It's been a source, I am
sure, of widespread concern. Now something's
been done about it and "The Night Watch" is
that very good something.
"The Night Watch" is primarily unusual. I
recall no motion picture similarly localed or
perioded. Most of the action transpires aboard
the French warship Lafayette on the first night
of the big war. The rest of it occurs a little
later and consists of a court martial (if the
marine term is the same as the military) and
you know how colorfully the French conduct
these affairs. Structurally, the narration is per-
formed by the orderly presentation of evidence
pertaining to a charge of murder made against
the gallant captain of the vessel named. All of
this is accomplished in methodical, close-clipped
sequences linked together by well written and
wholly relevant captions. The manufacture of
the production is superbly workmanlike, a rare
thing in these gaudy days.
Miss Dove, whose casting permits her to wear
but two gowns, is all to the eye that she always
is, which is plenty. In addition, she is, in the
opportunities here given her for the first time
in months, an actress. When this lady's per-
sonality and talent are permitted to glow simul-
taneously through the after all quite simple
substance of a really good motion picture, I —
for one, and I know there are innumerable
others — ask no better entertainment.
The picture is equipped with a mechanical
accompaniment which sets off its strong points
without indulging absurdities. There is sound
of booming cannon, clanking machinery,
tinkling bells, but there is no attempt at vocal
backgrounding and that is pleasant. I think it
is one of the best scores I have heard.
I
"TWO LOVERS"
T seems to me that I have said something
recently about the direction of Fred Niblo. I
will add now that I did not say enough. I did
not realize, until last evening, how long it had
been since I had seen a Niblo production. Now
I have seen "Two Lovers" and anything I said
about Mr. Niblo goes double.
The story of "Two Lovers" has to do with
T. O. Service
the Spanish conquest of Flanders, a 16th
century event of considerable importance.
Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky are the lovers
concerned, the former a probably logical Flem-
ish type and the latter a less logical but of
course beautiful Spaniard. They are married
for reasons of politics and much blood runs
over the dam before they get around to realiz-
ing that it's quite all right with each of them
after all. So far as I'm concerned, however,
they are but two of a large cast employed by
Mr. Niblo to reproduce with his unfailing
veracity an extremely interesting and pleasantly
exciting chapter of continental history.
Mr. Niblo handles his history, his characters,
his masses and his details, perfectly. They are,
as the period guarantees, colorful. They are
sometimes swift, never dull, always realistic.
The picture is less an entertainment — 'though it
is that, too — than a document. The principals
do well the things they are supposed to do, but
these things are of secondary importance to the
production. So far as I'm concerned it is a
Fred Niblo picture, an extremely good one, and
if all pictures made were one-half so good I
would install projection equipment in my office
so that I could see every one of them. No
doubt I should become blind several years
before I shall do so under the present arrange-
ment, but I would welcome that risk.
I
"THE WHIP"
HAVE carried for a number of years the
somewhat vague impression that "The Whip"
was at some time or another a great production
emanating from the Drury Lane theatre, which
I have believed was a famous London play-
house. If I recall at all clearly, I had that
impression bulwarked a few years back when
someone made a picture of the play. I may be
in error on this latter point. Or on all points.
In fact, after seeing the present edition of "The
Whip," I'm not at all sure about anything per-
taining to it.
"The Whip" was shown at the Chicago theatre
last week and I went to see it as a matter of
course, I may almost say of duty. But neither
course nor duty seemed to me to be adequate
reason why I should see all of it. And so I am
able to report only on the last two-thirds of it,
which I saw first, and the first one-sixth, which
I saw last. This leaves, if my arithmetic is bet-
ter than my syntax, one-sixth of the picture un-
accounted for. It may be that in that one-sixth
great things are done, things great enough to
save the other five-sixths, but I hope I may be
pardoned for doubting it.
Perhaps there is a point in making an old
Drury Lane melodrama with the same crudities
that undoubtedly marked the original, but I
doubt that, too.
I
"THE PATRIOT"
HAVE thought a good deal about "The
Patriot" since writing, a week ago this morn-
ing, the promise to write more about it before
press time for this issue should come to hand.
In fact I have thought enough about it to reach
the decision that this was a bad idea. There is,
after all, no point in writing a great deal about
a pictiu-e so good that everyone ought to see it.
The thing to be written about such a picture,
obviously, is merely a strong plea for each and
every reader to see it for himself. Any further
discussion of such a picture, any lengthy de-
scription or explanation of its merits, tends to
dissipate the picture's power to impart enter-
tainment to the reader. I wish never to do a
thing like that.
And so I shall say but little more of "The
Patriot." I shall merely repeat that anyone who
believes that he is in the picture business — or
out of it, anyone who thinks he knows all there
is to know about pictures — or nothing, anyone
who lives by, of, for or because of motion pic-
tures— or anyone who does not, should see "The
Patriot" because it is the best picture that any-
one can go to see at this time.
In wholly incidental connection, I may as
well explain a development in censorship which
came with the Chicago showing of "The Pa-
triot." The censors didn't like two sections of
it. Yet the print could not be cut without throw-
ing the synchronized accompaniment out of
gear. And so, when these sections come along,
the screen is blacked out. No explanation is
made. The accompaniment goes on. The audi-
ence think the projector is jimmed and get a
little annoyed with the management. If they
were told what had occurred, as they should be
told, I doubt not that a good eloquent stump-
speaker could recruit a mob adequate to the
tearing down of the city hall and the massacre
of the meddlers. I regret that I am not an elo-
quent stump-speaker. Also that no exhibitor, so
far as I know, has ever had courage or sense
enough to tell his audiences just when, where
and why various pictures are censored. A little
such enlightenment of the audience seems to me
to be the one sure way to get censorship
scrapped for good and all.
50
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
W^
THE THEATRE
Incorporated in this department of practiced showmanship of Exhibitors Herald are the Moving
Picture World departments, "Selling the picture to the Public," and "Better Business Builders."
28,000 Crowd Four Theatres for
Brown 's ^^ Open House" Anniversary
"Ignore the box office, walk right in through the doors and take any seat in the
house today." Those were the words approximately 28,000 people obeyed when
Caldwell H. Brown, general manager of the Brown Theatrical Company of Zanes-
ville, Ohio, celebrated his tenth anniversary in the theatrical business in
Zanesville.
The company owns every theatre in the city.
Four of them were thrown open to the pubhc
(the other two were closed for repairs) for the
entire day. At 9 :30 p. m. when counting
ceased, 27,381 persons had passed into the thea-
tres, and crowds were still surging into them.
"DowTitown streets assumed the aspect of
Christmas shopping days," a local paper re-
ported. "From 1 o'clock in the afternoon until
11:13 last night, when the last performances
at the four playhouses ended and the crowds
poured out, the business district was somewhat
distracted from its usual quietude."
Such was the patron response to Brown's
"Open House Anniversary," but that was not
all. The morning paper gave the event a good
story on the first page of the paper, and the
following morning, the paper ran an eight
column streamer across the front page reading,
"More Than 27,000 Theatre-Goers of Zanes-
ville and Southeastern Ohio Attend Brown's
Free Entertainment." This was followed by a
half-column story about the event.
It's hard to place an estimate on the goodwill
value of such an event as this. Its like had
never been heard of before in theatre annals
of Zanesville or the entire state of Ohio. Nor
will those 28,000 people who took advantage of
the day's free shows soon forget it.
"It was a great day and proved one of the
happiest in my life," says Brown in comment-
ing on the event. It will also prove one of
the most profitable days for his theatres, for
such goodwill work as this has a far reaching
and lasting effect on the box ofiice. The ac-
tual cost to theatres holding an affair such as
this is small compared to the goodwill, free
advertising and publicity which are the inevi-
table result.
It would be a good thing, not only for the
individual theatre, but for the industry as a
whole, if more theatres followed Caldwell H.
Brown's example. The very fact that Brown's
management has increased the number of his
theatres from one to six in the short time of
10 years by employing a policy, of which this
event is an example, is proof enough of the
business value of such work.
remember what it
many remember it? It does
TODAY IS MY 10th ANNIVERSARY
IN THE THEATRICAL BUSINESS IN ZANESVILLE
Jiul ten years ago today I presented my first show in this city in the Schultz Theatre. Do you
was? Ju»t to refresh your memon' it was Metro's "To Hell With the Kaiser." How many r<
noli*em that ten years have passed, does it?
I AM CELEBRATING MY ANNIVERSARY TODAY
I WANT YOU TO CELEBRATE WITH ME
EVERYTHING IS FREE AT EVERY THEATRE TODAY !
I have ^rven our Mshiers and ticket takers a vacation today, jojust walk into any theatre tod,-iy as my suest. Don't
b/- backward, a-. I v.ant all my friends and patrons in Zanesville and southeastern Ohio to come ritjht in and enjoy
^ ortA chow on piC.
REMEMBER, IT IS FREE AT THE LIBERTY. QUIMBY, IMPERIAL, AND GRAND THEATRES TODAY
CALDWELL BROWN
mm intnitti,
iiy^ta^
AJorc Than 27,000 Theater-Goers of Zanesoitle and Southeastern Ohio Attend Bi
' Always First
THE TIMES RECORDER
DEMOCRATIC REVOLT PROMISES TO SPLIT "SOLID SOU
Newspaper ad used by Brown to announce his free anniversary shows, and the newspaper
stories resulting from the stunt. This was an excellent goodwill builder.
High School Hero
20 TICKETS FREE
II 12 U n 15
16 17 18 19 20
21 22 21 21 25
imbBni iLBd IS (HnpTj aqna
I mnzagt than >a they wi
rard* tbey mtul mM fii, I:
laj. Tnadajr "r WeAutaiMj dnrtof m of "Eoanr- kad "Hl(h 8
10 Prizes of 2 Complimentao Tickets Given to First 10
Correct Answen
Can you or your patrons solve this puz-
zle? W, A, Popham, manager of the Star-
land theatre, Winnipeg, used it in his
house organ, and sends it to ''The
Theatre'' The rules of the puzzle are
given here in the accompanying story.
Can You Solve This
65 Number Puzzle?
Now -we have another puzzle, and it threat-
ens to rival the famous "21" puzzle. This one
is called the "65" puzzle, and is sent in by
W. A. Popham, manager of the Starland
theatre, Winnipeg.
Look at the reproduction, herewith, of the
back page of Popham's house organ. You
see a square containing 25 squares. The
numbers to be juggled into these empty-
squares are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25.
The rules of the puzzle are as follows :
We have 25 numbers and 25 empty
squares. Can you mark one number
into each square and arrange them so
they will add 65 down, across and
diagonally.^ In other words, they
must add 65, 12 different ways. You
must use each number once.
Now this puzzle takes some tall juggling
of figures. Get out the old lead pencil and
start in. You may be still figuring this time
next year.
Popham used the puzzle in his program in
connection with the runs of "The High School
Hero" and "The Enemy." He offered 10
awards of two complimentary tickets to the
first 10 people to present the correct solution
to the box office.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
Put This in Your
Pipe and Smoke It!
"The day is past when we can use
meaningless adjectives. When you
advertise your theatre, you are
speaking to your public, and there-
fore must weigh every word that is
used in your advertising." — Harold
B. Franklin, president. West Coast
Theatres.
Personalities Galore;
Here^s Your Fondest
Dream Come True
(Special to the Herald-World)
SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 25.— A sure-fire
stunt, which is certain to result in a com-
plete sell out and hundreds of standees, is
being prepared by William C. O'Hare, man-
ager of the Texas theatre, here, for the
American Legion Convention week. O'Hare
has arranged with the officers of the Na-
tional Legion and local committees to pre-
sent General Pershing, Charles Lindbergh,
Sergeant Alvin York, Marshal Foch, and
four or five other international characters
from the Texas stage on Wednesday night
during the convention.
O'Hare grasped the opportunity for this
stunt when members of the entertainment
committee for the Legion approached him
and asked him to furnish a show for them
at a dinner for legion officers. O'Hare told
them that he would give them a show and
a number of seats at the theatre for their
officers if they would in turn guarantee the
presentation of these famous characters on
the Texas stage. Wires hummed for two
days and an agreement was finally made, so
the Texas is assured a record-breaking ca-
pacity audience on Wednesday night, Octo-
ber 10.
The theatre is planning a big campaign
for Legion Week, first among the stunts of
which is the dedication of each day's per-
formance to some personality attending the
convention.
"Uncle Tom's Cabin''
Is Seen in Airplane
One of the most thrilling exploitation tie-ups
in connection with "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was
efifected recently when the film was shown
on the screen at an altitude of 2,000 feet
above Omaha. The event, staged by Jack
Baker, Universal exploitation expert of Chi-
cago, during the run of the picture at the
World theatre, marked the first successful
showing of a picture in the skies over Omaha.
Clyde W. Ice piloted the tri-motored Ford
monoplane, Wamblee Ohanko, owned by the
Rapid Air Lines, Inc., of Rapid City, S. D.
The event received a large amount of news-
paper publicity.
Run Cop Popularity
Contest on "The Cop''
The Orpheum theatre, in conjunction with
the New Orleans Daily States, is staging a
"Cop Popularity" contest to boom "The Cop,"
Pathe picture starring William Boyd. Cou-
pons are published daily in the States which
when presented at the door of the Orpheum
with an admission ticket are good for IS
votes. Members of the local police force are
busy despite the fact that the only return is
the title of the most popular officer on the
force.
Do You Publish a House Organ?
It Pays^ Say These Live Wires
We have, in the past, written a great deal concerning the use of house organs,
and we intend to keep right on writing about them, for we believe that a good
house organ is one of the best advertising mediimas a theatre can employ. But
the real proof of the pudding is the experience of those who put out house
organs. Let's see what others say:
you see it is pretty hard sailing. One has to
spend just so much in advertising, so in my
opinion, one is as good as another if you
manage it right.
I tried feature stuff on the people here but
the only thing that ever got by big was that
puzzle using the six ways to find 21. I have
enjoyed putting out my house organ in the
past.
I never miss reading the Herald- World, so
keep up the good work.
Yours sincerely,
Ursula Mattecheck.
E. M. Boucher, manager of the Empire-
Colonial-Win Theatres, Winchester, Virginia,
reports that he has mailed several house or-
gans to other members of the House Organ
Exchange and that they have not mailed
theirs to him. Whoever these members are,
they have not been living up to the obliga-
tions of the Exchange. It might be that
Boucher did not request for an exchange.
However, we hope the members will in the
future fullfill their obligations.
Says E. M. Boucher —
Editor, "The Theatre,"
Dear Sir:
The House Organ Exchange is an excellent
idea, although I have not received any from
other theatres but I have mailed out several
of my own to the various theatres listed. As
far as the house organs are concerned I con-
sider this an excellent idea. It is carried
out by our entire circuit in the Shenandoah
Valley Theatres Corporation, each town hav-
ing its own organ.
I find that movie-goers over the entire
country are the same, that is, .they are anx-
ious for bits of news regarding pictures, the
stars or the studios. I have always managed
to keep matters of interest in my weekly
They like contests — contests of any kind and
each week, I endeavor to run one, which
more than pays for itself by additional name^
for our mailing list.
It is a well known fact in our particular
business that it pays to advertise and I per-
sonally know of no better way than a house
organ.
At the present tim6 we are distributing
5,000 copies of this weekly , .each week in a
town of only 10,000 population. Four thou-
sand of these are mailed to the homes and the
results are very apfjft'i'eiit.' '
Yours Very truly, '
E. M. Boucher..
Those of you who ai;e not members of the
House Organ Exchange may get a good idea
of how helpful it is by reading the following
letter which comes from Albert Sindlinger,
manager of the Palace theatre at Marion,
Ohio, and formerly with the Majestic theatre,
Athens, Ohio :
Says Albert Sindlinger —
Editor, "The Theatre,"
Dear Sir:
I think the House Organ Exchange is the.
best thing in your department and I have
derived a lot of good from it.
While in Athens 1 received^ I should say,
on the average of 20 or 25 house organs froni
various theatres in the United States and
England. ' ., ' ■
One can derive a good many ideas from
looking at the other house organs. However,
the best .idea I think that I received was the
feature puzzle and contest so many theatres
are running.
■Yours very truly,
Albert Sindlinger.
"I am sold on the value of a theatre pub-
lication when properly handled," says Archie
Baley, director of publicity for the Rialto and
Riviera theatres in Omaha. "I consider the
publishing of a house organ an excellent idea,"
says E. M. Boucher, resident manager of
Empire-Colonial-Win theatres in Winchester,
Virginia. "It's a well known fact that in
our particular business) it pays to advertise
and I personally know of no better way than
by using a house organ."
"I think that house organs pay if you haven't
too much competition," says Ursula Matte-
check, who pubhshes the Lark Tales for the
Lark theatre, McMinnville, Oregon. "One has
to spend just so much in advertising, either
with a house organ or newspaper layouts,
so in my opinion, one is as good as another
if you manage it right."
Says Archie Baley —
Editor, "The Theatre,"
Dear Sir :
I am sold on the value of a theatre pub-
lication when properly handled. We started
and published for seven weeks a 16-page
magazine called "Publix News," which took
care of interests of both the Riviera and
Rialto theatres. The only trouble with it was
that our "publishers" were not real advertis-
ing salesmen and that they threw up the
sponge just before success really was at hand.
They were selling just enough to make ex-
penses and when they quit we got so busy
it wasn't until now that we got ready to
publish again.
But the point is that it's a real asset if
done the way we did it, which was to make it
a "news-magazine" and not a theatre house
organ. There were many features not in
any way connected with the theatre, and that's
why people liked to read it.
I get a few exchanges through your House
Organ Exchange and I'd like to get a hun-
dred. We'll exchange with any who do with
us (as soon as we get started). I find that
many others reprint our stuff and I know
that I get suggestions from them. So it's
half and half.
Very truly yours,
Archie Baley,
Director of Publicity,
Riviera Theatre, Omaha.
* * *
Ursula Mattecheck, who publishes "The
Lark Tales," finds the House Organ Exchange
a great help. Here is her letter:
Says Ursula Mattecheck —
Editor, "The Theatre,"
Dear Sir:
I have been receiving eight house organs
a week from the various exchanges and find
that each and every one of them is a help
in some way or other. About the only idea
that I have used is the size of the present
"Lark Tales." I got the layout idea from
"The Theatre Guide," Athens, Ohio. I had
originally planned on this size but the cost
was too great for me to handle.
In addition to the "Lark Tales" I am send-
ing you a program which we now print every
month. These cost us only a cent apiece and
we hand them out on the first of every month.
They are handv and we have had the cry for
more continually.
I think that house organs pay if you haven't
too much competition. In this town there
is too much of this, I think. We have two
newspapers, a high school weekly, a college
weekly and a daily, the latter cutting ad-
vertising rates to beat all the others. So
52
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
Balaban and Katz
Open New Theatre
With Big Campaign
When Balaban and Katz recently opened
the Paradise theatre, the newest house in
their large chain of Chicago theatres, an un-
usually large and effective advertising and
exploitation campaign w^as put over.
One of the most effective stunts in the
campaign was the giving away of 10,000
roses. Ushers in uniform were stationed
along the street near the theatre two morn-
ings and afternoons prior to the opening
of the theatre. The roses were handed to
all women that passed in automobiles. A
card on each rose announced the opening of
the theatre.
* * *
A tieup was made with the Garfield Busi-
ness Men's club, a neighborhood organiza-
tion, and through this organization all
streets in the neighborhood were decorated
with flags and bunting. Stores operated by
every member of the organization were
decorated, and the theatre decorated every
lamp post in the neighborhood with flags
and special posters announcing the opening.
Descriptions of the theatre and details of
the opening were broadcast over a local
radio station. A contest was held to pick
Miss Paradise to serve as theatre hostess
the opening week. This contest was tied
up with a Chicago newspaper and a great
deal of publicity resulted. Two neighbor-
hood newspapers published special sections
on the day of the opening. Many other
stunts and tieups were also put over.
In the adjacent two columns may be
seen the ads used to announce the opening.
These ads, run in every paper beginning
on Sunday prior to the opening on Friday,
were carried separately from the regular
Balaban and Katz ads. Ads similar to the
ones shown here were carried for a number
of days following the opening.
The ads have been built along institutional
lines. Notice that the first ads do not carry
any announcement of the program. The
idea has been to sell the public on the
beauty and magnificence of the theatre
rather than on the program. The program
is not announced until one day prior to
the opening. The pen and ink drawings do
much to carry out the institutional lines of
the ad and to emphasize the architectural
beauty of the house.
Pays to Advertise
Vitaphone Shorts
Texas Houses Find
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— Realizing that
Vitaphone shorts are an important part
upon the program, de luxe Publix theatres
in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Houston and San
Antonio, presenting one of these attractions
each week, are devoting about one-fourth
of their newspaper advertising space to the
Vita subjects.
In addition to publicizing shorts through
newspaper ads, these houses use lobby dis-
play, feature stories, special trailers and out-
door billing on them. These have only been
included in the programs of the de luxe
houses, for about two months, but such is
their popularity that they instigated quite a
lot of additional revenue into the box-office
weekly.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
53
'^^
QUICK REFERENCE PICTURE CHART
Incorporated in this department of Moving Picture World is the Exhibitors Herald department,
"Available Attractions."
The key to abbreviations used in denoting the type of pictures
C— Comedy F^Farca
D^— Drama M-^^Melodrmma
R^Romance W^Western
My^— Mystery
Where the picture is a comedy-drama, comedy melodrama, etc.,
there is a combination of these abbreviations. Stars denote
reissues.
The dates prior to January 7 published under the "Comment"
column are those of the issues of Moving Picture World in which
the pictures were reported. The January 7 and subsequent dates
are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOV-
ING PICTURE WORLD in which "Service Talks" have been
published on pictures.
The dates prior to January 7 published under the "New Pic-
tures" column are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS HERALD
in which "New Pictures" information was printed. The January
7 and subsequent dates are those of the issues of EXHIBITORS
HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD in which this in-
formation will be printed.
Length Title and Playeri
Released New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
Chesterfield
1928
6400 Adorable Cheat, The. LiU Lee-Molntosb June 1
M50 Below the Deadline Feb. 28
6590 Campus Knights Aug. 15
8300 Circumstantial Evidenee Oct. 30
8000 House of Shame, The. June 30
8000 Roaring Forties, The Apr. 15
1928
June 9
6900 South of Panama
.Dec. 15
1927
6831
6843
6432
6828
6813
6645
6750
6624
6689
6892
1000
6996
6435
6064
6108
6S57
6428
8791
6762
1928
6469 After the Storm
Columbia
Alias the Lone Wolf (D), Iinell-WUscn Attn. ">"
Blood Ship, The (M). Bosnortb-Logan. Aiie. 10
By Whose Hand (MyD), Cortez-Qllbert S.«pt. 15
College Hero, The (CD), Agnew-Qaron Oct. 9
Fashion Madness, Windsor-Howes Dec. 8
Isle of Forgotten Women (D), Tearle-SebasUan..Sept. 27
Lone Wolf Returns (M), Lytell-Wllson
Opening Night, The (D), Windsor-J. B(ywers....Nov. 14
Pleasure Before Business (F), Davidson
Sally in Our Alley (M), Mason-Allen. _ „Sept. 3
Screen Snapshots
Siren, The, T. Moore-Rerter Dec. 20
Stage Kisses (D), Harlan-Cbadwlck _..Not. 2
Stolen Pleasures (CD), Revler
Sweet Resie O'Irady (CO), Mason _
Tigress, The (M), Holt-Revler
1927
Jan. 7
Deo. 8
Dec. 31
Jan. 14
Dec. 3
Oct. 1
July 23
Jan. 14
..July 31
.May 14
...Oct 21
Aug. 28
Jan. 21 Jan. 21
Jan. 7
....Oct. 2
....52.72%
Wandering Girls (CD), Revler- Agnew
Warning, The (M), Holt-Revler Nov. 26
Way of the Strong, The (MD), Alice Day-Lewis
Dec. 3
-July 21
OUbert-Bosworth-
1928
Beware of Blondes (MD), Revler-&Iatt Moore -July 21
Broadway Daddies, Jacqueline Logan Apr. 7
Desert Bride, The (MD), Betty Compson...- Mar. 26 Apr. 14
Golf Widows (CD), Beynoldfl-Ford .-May 26
Lady Raffles, Taylor-Drew..._ Jan. 25 Feb. 26
Matinee Idol, The (MD), Love-Walker ...Mar. 14 Apr. 7
Modern Mothers (CO). Helene Chadwlck...- June 9 —
Name the Woman (0), Stewart-Gordon -June 19
Say It With Sables (0), Bushman-Chadwlck. -Aug. 4
Scarlet Lady, The (0), Lya De Putti .Sept. 8
So This Is Love, Mason-CoUler Feb. 6 Feb. 25
Sporting Age, The. Bennett-Herbert Mar. 2
That Certain Thing, Dana-Qraves .Ian. 1 Jan. 28
Virgin Lips (0), OUve Borden _ _Aug. 18
Wife's Relations. The, Mason-Glass -Jan. 13 Feb. 11
Woman's Way, A, Baiter-Llvlngston Feb. 18 Mar. 31
6649
8637
6928
6692
6471
6926
6640
8644
6401
8440
8464
6047
6850
6472
1927
SOOO Angelus, The (D)
2000 Real Charleston. Lesson Novelty.-
Wooden Sbees, International
Cranfield & Clarke, Inc.
...May 15
..Jkpr. 24
...May 8
1927
1927
6X60 HaslKinds or Lovers, Jannlngs.
Emblem Films
1927
1927
8980
6805
8912
6648
CT92
faii
8S3T
6r60
6867
Excellent
Back to Liberty (D). Walsh-Hall Nov. 15
Biwery Cinderella. A (D). 0'MaUey-Hulett& May 1
Broadway Drifter (D), Walsh-Hall Nov. 1
Braadway Madness (D). De la Motto-Keltb
Hit RIst to Fame (D). WaUh-Shaw Feb. 15
Kldi-aff. The (D). Hyams-Amaan
Nett, Tko <D). Frederick-Herbert
Striving for Fartuno (D). Walsb-Roberta...-
Winnlng Oar, The (D). Walak-HalL
Yaur Wife and Mine (F). Havar-Holmes...
—Aug. 1
Jan. 15
June 1
.... Sept 1
1927
-Nov. 26
..Apr. 14 -.
.-Mar. 17
Mar. 3
Mar. 17
....
Length Title and Players
Released New
Pictures
Comment
Ticliei
1928
6860
6600
6305
6000
6400
4700
6536
6600
1927
1928
A Bit of Heaven (0). Washburn-Lee May 15
into No Man's Land, Tom Santscbi-J. Nonnan-June 16
Milking the Varsity, Bex Lease-Hulette- - July 15
Manhattan Knights, Barbara Bedford Aug. 27
Satan and the Woman (0), Windsor-Keefe Jan. 20
Speed Classic, The, Rex Lease-MUdred Harrl3....July 31
Stronger Will, The (W), Marmont-Carewe -Feb. 20
Women Who Dare (D), Chadwick-Delaney Mar. 30
FBO
4765
4858
4910
4837
5701
5093
4764
4913
6300
6507
7014
5240
5186
6481
6515
4924
6680
6140
4941
6004
4886
6388
4892
1928
5872
4893
5583
4869
5000
6267
6375
6320
5594
5611
5984
5063
4770
4804
4758
6148
5144
4769
5771
4801
6424
4785
4781
4884
6419
4729
6059
5907
4956
4793
4760
6329
4898
4805
1927
5400
5960
5600
5900
5800
5700
5750
6700
6706
5700
5601
5700
1928
5500
Aflame in the Sky (M), Luden-Lynn Dec. 18
Bandit's Son, The (W), Bob Steele -Nov. 20
Boy Rider, The (W), Buzz Barton. Oct 23
Breed of Courage (D), Ranger Aug. 7
Cherokee Kid, The (W), Tyler-Lynn Oct. 30
Clancy's Kosher Wedding (CD), Geo. Sidney. Sept. 17
Coward, The (D), Warner Baxter- -Aug. 21
Desert Pirate (W), Tom Tyler. Dec. 26
Flying U Ranch, The (W), Tom Tyler. Sept 4
Gingham Girl, The (C). Lois Wilson. - Oct. 2
Great Mail Robiiery, The (M). Von Eltz-Nelson-Aug. 16
Harvester, The (D), OrviUe Caldwell Nov. 23
Hook and Ladder No. 9 (D), Ed Heame -Nov. 13
Jake the Plumber (C), Jesse De Vorska^ Oct. 16
Judgment of the Hills (0), Darro-Valll Nov. 6
Little Mickey Grogan (D). Frankie Darro _Dec. 27
Mojave Kid, The (W), Bob Steele Sept 25
Moon of Israel (0). Maria Corda -
Not for Publication (M), Ralph Ince -Au^. 31
Racing Romeo (D), Red Grange ,. .
Ranger of the North (0). Raager. Oct 9
Shanghaied (M), Ralph Ince...- Oct 19
Slingshot Kid. The (M). Buzz Barton Dec. 4
South Sea Love (D). Patsy MlUer Dec. 10
Swift Shadow. The (0). Banger .Dec. 11
Alex the Great (M). Skeets Gallagher .May 13
Bantam Cowboy (W). Buzz Barton Aug. 12
Beyond London's Lights (M), Lee Shui»way....Mar. 18
Breed of the Sunsets (W), Bob Steele- Apr. 1
Captain Careless, Bob Steele Aug. 26
Charge of the Gauchos (MD), Francis X.
Bushman _ _
Chicago After Midnight (M), Ince-Mendez Mar. 4
Coney island (0), Lois Wilson -Jan. 13
Crooks Can't Win (D), Ralph Lewis. _May 11
Danger Street, Baxter-Sleeper Aug. 26
Dead Man's Curve (0). Fairbanks, Jr Jan. 15
Devil's Trademark, The (0). Belle Bennett Apr. 7
Dog Justice (M), Banger June 10
Driftin' Sands (W), Bob Steele . Jan. 1
Fangs of the Wild (D), Ranger- Feb. 5
Fightin' Redhead (W). Buzz Barton -Tuly 1
Freckles (D). Stratton-Fox. Jr _ :..-Mar. 21
Headin' for Danger (MD), Bob Steele. -
Her Summer Hero (CD). Blane-Trevor. Feb. 12
Hit of the Show. The (C), Joe Brown-Olmstead.
Law of Fear (D), Banger Apr. 8
Legionnaires in Paris (C), Cooke-Guard. .Tan. 31
Little Buckaroo, The (W), Buzz Barton. Mar. 11
Little Yellow House, The (D), Orvllle Caldwell-May 28
Man In the Rough (W), Bob Steele May 20
Perfect Crime, The, Clive Brook-Irene lUch. Aug. 19
Phantom of the Range (W). Tom Tyler Apr. 22
Pinto Kid, The (W), Buzz Barton -Apr. 29
Red Riders of Canada (M), P. B. Miller Apr. 15
Riding Renegade (W), Bob Steele Feb. 19
Sally of the Scandals (M), Bessie Love July 15
Skinner's Big idea (M). Bryant Washburn Apr.24
Stocks and Blondes (CD). Logan-Oallaglier.
Taxi 13 (C), Conklin-Sleeper...-
Terror Mountain. Tom Tyler— Aug. 19
Texas Tornado, The (W), Tom Tyler Feb. 26
Trail of Courage. The (W). Bob Steele July 8
Wallflowers (0), Trevor-Scott Feb. 16
When the Law Rides (W), Tom Tyler- Juno 24
Wizard of the Saddle (W), Buzz Barton. Jan. 22
First Division
Comrades. Costello-Hughes Jan. 1
Death Valley (W), Carroll Nye Sept. 1
Eager Lips, Garon Oct 1
Finnegan's Bali (C), Mack Swain .Sept. 16
Nov. 15
Ladies at Ease (CD), Garon-Short-
Ladybird, Compson
N aughty, Garon ...
Polly of the Movies. Short-Robards—
Ragtime (■). De La Motte-...
.Jlug. 1
JJOT. 1
.Oct. 18
Sept 1
Return of Boston Blackle (D), aienn-Palmer..._Aug. 1
Say It with Diamonds, Betty Compson- &ug. 16
Temptations of a Shop Girl. Compson Nov. 1
6390
6206
Pagan. Baymond Wells
Free Lips (MD), June Marlowe
Masked Angel, Betty Compson
Souls Aflame, Baymond Wells
-Apr. 1
Feb. 25
Feb 25
1927
Dec. 10
Deo. 3
Oat. 8
•.
Sept. 10
.-Sept. 10
Dec. 24
Nov. 26
July 30
-July 2
84.92%
Nov. 19
Dec. 3
Dec 3
Nov. 19
Nov. 26
Nov. 12
Dec. 17
Aug. 20
...Am- 6
46.20%
...July 9
July 23
Deo. 10
Dec 3
Dec. 3
Dec. 10
Aug. 20
Nov 12
Dec. 10
Feb 11
1928
Mays
Feb 11
Feb. 11
.Sept. 15
Jan. 21
Dec. 17
Feb 11
Veb. 18
Mar. 17
Deo 17
Mar 3
June 16
Dea 17
Jan. 21
Feb 11
Feb 4
Jan 21
-July 21
Feb. 11
Deo. 10
Jam. 14
Jane 2
Feb. 11
Sept. 1
Jaa 21
""
""
Feb. 4
Jan. 21
Apr. 28
Apr. 14
-July 14
-Sept. 22
Feb. 4
.-DtO. 24
.-Au. 20
1927
..Oct. 15
Jan. 7
Jan. 7
Nov 26
Bept 3
1928
.July 14
Apr. 7
Apr. 21
_...^ ....„.._
54
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
Length
Title and Players
New
Pictures
Tickei
1927
6300
6333
6433
6222
6765
6730
7724
63g6
65SS
6802
S2S2
7133
62SS
6118
6190
6624
6460
6720
57 IS
5550
5255
73SS
5521
5&12
S434
6520
6040
6431
6734
11414
5982
6897
.6400
6210
6477
5606
5800
6S48
7179
SOOO
7400
7419
5774
5668
r833
6336
6324
6409
1928
T404
6500
6800
5744
6374
8030
6172
6344
7100
7433
First National
All Aboard (C), mnes-Murphy -JUay 8
American Beauty (CD), Dove-Hughes. Oct. 9
An Affair of the Follies (D), Dove-Hughes. Feb. 13
Breakfast at Sunrise (CD), C. Talmadge Oct. 23
Broadway Nights (D), Wilson-Hardy -...May 15
Caroille (D), N. Tahnadge-Koland Sept. 4
Conv»y (D), Sherman- Hartal 11 -._A.pr. 24
Crystal Cup, The (D), MackaiU-ilulhalL Oct. 16
Dance Magic (D), Lyon-Starke June 12
Drop Kick, The (D), Barthelmess-Rerier Sept. 25
Framed (D), SUls-Kin^ton June 19
Gorilla. The (My), Murray-Kelsey Nov. 13
Gun Gospel (W). Maynard-Falre Nov. 6
Her Wild Oat (C), Moore-KenL Dec. 25
High Hat (CD). Lyon-Brian. Mar. 13
Home Made (C), Hines-Daw Nov. 20
Lady in Ermine, The (D), C. Grifflth-Bufihma.n Jan. 9
Life of Riley, The (C), Murray-Sidney Sept. 18
Lonesome Ladies (CD), NUsson-Stone July 3
Long Pants (C), Langdon-Boimer Apr. 10
Lost at the Front (C), Murray-Sidney. May 29
Love Mart, Thi (D). Dove-Eoland Dec. 18
Lunatic at Large, The (C), Errol-MackaiU Jan. 2
Man Crazy (CD), MackaiU-MulhaU Not. 27
Masked Women, The (D), NUsson-Bllnn-H'nsen-Jan. 23
Naughty But Nice (C), Moore-Reed June 2S
Notorious Lady, The (D), Bedford-Stone -Mar. 27
No Place to Go (C), Hughes-Astor. _Oct. 30
Orchids and Ermine, Moore-MuIh&U Mar. 6
Patent Leather Kid, The (D), Bart'lmess-O'Day.
Perfect Sap, The (CD), Lyon-Starke. Jan. 16
Poor Nut, The, (C), Murray-MulhaU Aug. 7
Prince of Head Waiters (D), Stone- Tashman.
Red Raiders, The (W), Maynard-Drew July 17
Rose of the Golden West (D), Astor-Koland Sept. 4
Sea Tiger, The (D), SiUs-Astor. Oct. 2
See You in Jail (C), Mulhail-Day Feb. 27
Smile, Brother, Smile (C), MulhaU-MackailL...Apr.
Stolen Bride, The (D), Hughes-Dove Sept.
Sunset Derby (D), Astor-(k)llier. Aug.
Tender Hour, The (D), Dove-Lyon June
Texas Steer, A (CD), Rogers-Fazenda. May
Thres Heurs (D), Grifflth-Bowers Deo.
Three's a Crowd (C), Langdon-McConneU Apr.
Twinkletoes, Moore-Harlan Aug.
Valley •f the Giants (D), Sills-Kenyon. Dec. 11
Venus of Venice (CD), Talmadge-Moreno Mar. 29
White Pants Willie (C), Hines-Hyams July 24
Barker, The (D), SiUs-MajokaiU-
_Apr. 2
Nov. 19 Oct. 22
-Mar. 5
Nov. 12 Nov. 26
-May 21
May 2
May 21
Nov. 12 Oct. 29
Aug. 13
1927
47.20%
56.10%
July 9
Jan. 7
Dec. 17
Dec. 3
Mar. 19
Nov. 26 Oct. 21)
Jan. 8
Oct. 1
-Sept. 24
-Apr. 9
-June 25
48.00%
66.81%
62.50%
53.58%
-Feb. 5
Nov.
J-eb. 12
-July 16
Nov. 12 May 14
-Dec. 10
.Apr. 9
Aug. 20
Jan. 22
Sept. 10
July 23
Oct. 15
Nov. 19 Oct. 8
May 14
Apr. 23
Sept. 17
Sept. 3
July 2
May 28
Dec. 3 Apr. 16
Jan. 1
Dec. 3
Dec. 24 Jan. 7
Aug. 6
Apr. 16
67.90%
70.47%
62.20%
61.88%
7511
6967
7694
6592
8967
7700
6625
7129
5485
tl88
Big Noise, The (CD), Conklin-Whlte Mar. 25
Burning Daylight (M), Sills-Kenyon. —Feb. 26
Butter and Egg Man, The, Jack MulhaU.
Canyon of Adventure (W), Maynard Apr. 29
Chaser, The (C), Langdon Feb. 12
Chinatswn Charlie (C), Hines-Lorraine. Apr. 15
Code of the Scarlet (W), Ken Maynard. _
Goodbye Kiss, The, Johnny Burke-Sally EUers
Flying Romeos (C), Murray-Sidney. Feb. 26
French Dressing (CO), Warner-Wilson. _Jan. 15
Garden of Eden, The (0), Corinne Griffith
Happiness Ahead (D), CoUeen Moore-Iowe June 30
Hawk's Nest, The (M), Milton SiUs '..'. May 6
Heart to Heart, Lloyd Hughes-Todd.
Heart Trouble (CD), Harry Langdon
Harold Teen (CD), Lake-Brian Apr. 29
Heart of a Follies Girl (D), Dove-Kent-
Sherman _ Mar. 18
Helen of Troy (CD), Stone-Corda-Cortez. Jan. 8
Ladies Night (CD), MackalU-MulhaU _Apr. 1
Lady Be Good (CD), MulhaU-MackaiU. —..May 12
Lilac Time (D), Moore-Cooper. _ Apr. 22
Littit Shepherd of Kingdom Come (D), Mar-
thelmess-O'Day _ ^p,, g
Mad Hour (D), O'Neil-Kent-Sherman- _ Mar. 4
Noose, The (D), Barthelmess-Joyce. -Jan. 29
Oh, Kay (CD), CoUeen Moore-Hale.-.._
Out of the Ruins, Richard Barthelmess. -.-
...July 14
47.00%
38.90%
47.72%
47.72%
1928
Mar. 10 Apr. 7
-July 28
Feb. 11
Feb. 18
..June 23
-July 7
Apr. 7
Dec. 10
Dec. 17
Aug. 4
May 26 _
May 26 June 16
-July 7
..July 21
Apr. 21
Aug. 4
Mar. 10
Dec. 24 Feb. 4
Sept. 1 Aug. 18
5827
6212
6^74
5087
7187
1927
4777
4556
5425
6«78
6333
4810
4300
6381
8154
6624
4S4S
an
S51S
4883
4851
6940
6112
MM
S807
85M
M16
5444
5S00
7T24
T«T7
ISA
Sailors' Wives (CD), Hughes-Astor. Jan. 22
Sherphcrd of the Hills (D), Francls-O'Day. Jan. 1
Show Girl (CD), Whlte-Beed-Moran...-
Strange Case of Captain Ramper, The (D)
Three Ring Marriage (M), Hughes-Astor May 27
Wagon Show, The (W), Maynard Mar. 11
Waterfront (CD), MackalU- MulhaU. -
Wheel of Chance, The (D), Richard Barthelmess
Whip. The (D), Forbes-MackadU -
Whip Woman, The (D), Taylor-Moreno.- Feb. 5
Wright Idea, The (CD), Johnny Hines
Yellow Lilly, The (D>, Dove-Brooks May 20
Apr. 7
Mar. 17
Dec. 10
...Sept. 8
..Sept. 15
Deo. 24
Dec. 8
-Sept. 15
.-July 21
Apr. 28
Mar. 17
,-Sept. 22
...June 2
...July 14
Feb. 11
..July 7
Apr. 28
May 12 „..
Sept. 8
Sept. 1
66.78 9
78.23%
July 21 _._
Fox
Arizona Wildcat. The (W), Tom Mir
Blackjack (W). Buck Jones
Blood Will Tell (W). Buck Jones
Bronsho Twister (W), Mix.
'Caaeo Kirby (D), John Gllbert..._ir.rZZI!"
Chain Lightning (W), Buck Jones
Circus Ace, The. Mli..._ _
Come to My House (CD), Olive Borden
Cradle Snatchcrs (FC), Fazenda
East Side, West Side (D), O'Brien-VaUl 1
Bay Retrsat. The (C), Cohen-MoNamara
Good as GId (W), Jones
Heart of Salome (My). Rubena
High 8«hool Hero (C), Phlppg-Stuart
Hills of Peril (W). Jones. _
•Honor Firtt (D). .John Gllbort
Is 2«t So? (CD); O'BrUn-LoweL
Joy Girl. The (CD). Olive Borden.
Laditt Muit Drws (CD). Virginia VaUL
Lov. Makes 'Em Wild (0), Harron.
Loves sf Cirmtn (D), MoI.«glen-DoI Elo
Madam Wants No Children, Corda
Man-laga (D). Yam
Moakery Talks (D). L«nier
Moilo Master (D). A. B. FranoU
One Increasing Purpos* (D). I>owe
OstUm of R«d River (W). Mix..: ..
..Nov. 20
..Sept. 25
-Nov. 13
-.Mar. 13
.-Aug. 28
_Aug. 14
...June 26
_Dec. 25
...June 5
_Oct. 9
...Sept. 25
...June 12
...May 8
..Oct. 16
...May 1
-Sept. 18
_May 15
...Sept. 18
...Nov. 20
...Mar. 6
...Sept. 4
-.Apr. 3
-Feb. 20
..Feb. 20
-Jan. 23
..Jan. 2
..Nov. 19
..JJov. 12
—Apr. 2
1927
03.00%
June 18
Jan. 7
June 4
Jan. 7 Oct. 22
..June 11
...May 9
...Oct. 29
...1S*7 14
56.00%
40.709?
iSay 21
Sept. 24
Not. 19 DiO. 17
.Oct. 8 .
Apr. 16
Feb. 26
- Mar. B
Jan. 22
Jan. 15
_&pr. 23
48.609J
61.58%
Length
Title and Players
Released New Commant
Pictures
Ticker
5446
6009
5792
5412
4943
4299
4675
6293
4612
.-Aug. 14
2
21
5
9
30
6898 Paid to Love (D), O'Brien-VaUi
6876 Pajamas (CD), Borden-diray. Oct. 23
6893 Publicity Madness (CD), Moran-Lowe Oct. 2
6484 Rich But Honest (CD), Beebe May 22
10726 7th Heaven, The (R), FarreU-Gaynor Oet. 30
5467 *Shame (M), John GUbert Nov. 27
Silk Legs (CD), Madge BeUamy Dec. 18
Silver Valley (W), Tom Mix : Oot.
Singed (D), Baxter-Sweet Aug.
Slaves of Beauty (D), Herbert-Tell -June
St. Elmo (M), John GUbert Oct.
Truxton King, Gilbert Oct.
Tumbling River (W), Tom Mix-Dawn Aug. 21
2 Girls Wanted (CD), Janet Gaynor. Sept. 11
11109 What Price Glory (CD), MoLaglen-I^owe Aug. 28
6783 Whispering Sage (W), Jones Mar. 20
6629 Wizard, The (MyD), Lowe-Hyams Deo. 11
5531 Wolf Fangs (D), Thunder (Dog)'. Nov. 27
1928
7177 Air Circus. The, Dresser-RoUlns-Lake. Sept 30
Branded Sombrero, The (W), Buck Jones Jan. 8
Case of Mary Brown, The, 0'Brien-Moran-Foxe..Deo. 23
Chicken a la King (CD), Carrol-Francis Lee
Cowboy Kid, The, Rex BelL -....July 15
Daredevil's Reward (W), Tom aTit Jan. 15
Don't Marry, Moran-Hamilton June 3
Dressed to Kill, Lowe-Astor. MaJ. 18
Deo. 19
-May 28
JJov. 26
Dec 31 .. .._
74.35%
Dec. 17 Oct. 29
July 16
June 11
61.63%
Aug. 27
"''
.. 71.009t
60.61%
-Apr. 9
Jan. 14 Deo. 3
1928
4293
4887
5708
6566
6109
Escape, The (D), Eussell-VaUl-
.AvT.
Jan. 21
June 23
June 30 _
Feb. 11
June 9
...
7217
4939
8962
6038
5882
4404
6430
4618
6188
4399
6782
6807
5071
5034
5260
Dry Martini, Astor-Moore-Gran Oct. 7
Farmer's Daughter, The (CD), Beebe-Stone-
Burke _ _
Fazil, FarreU-Nissen _ Sept. 9
FIcetwing, Norton-Janis-Bard June 24
Four Sons, Mann-CoUyer-HaU Sept. 2
Gateway of the Moon, The (D), Del Rio Jan. 1
Girl in Every Port, A (CD), Victor McLaglen....Jan. 29
Girl-Shy Cowboy, The, Rex BeU-0'Leary
Hangman's House, McLaglen-CoUyer. May 13
Hello Cheyenne, Tom Mix. May 13
Homesick, Cohen-Beebe .Dec. 20
Honor Bound, CBrien-Taylor May 13
Horseman of the Plains (W), Tom Mix. Mar. 11
Love Hungry (CD), Moran-Gray. Apr. 16
Apr. 14 Apr. 14
Apr. 14 Jan. 21
Making the Grade. Lowe-Moran..
Mother Machree. Beimett-McLaglen
..Oct 14
-Oct. 21
9260
6937
5380
S629
6355
8393
5937
5030
4921
5337
5480
1927
Mother Knows Best, BeUamy-Dresser-Norton. Oct. 28
News Parade, Stuart-PhilUps.
No Other Woman (D), Dolores Del Bio June 10
None But the Brave, Norton-Phlppa Aug. 5
Painted Post (W), Tom Mix
Play Girl, The, Madge Bellamy Apr. 22
Plastered in Paris, Cohen-Penniok-Linow. Sept. 23
Prep and Pep, RoUins-Drexel-Darrow. -Nov. 11
Red Dancer, The, Del Rlo-FarreU Deo. 2
River Pirate, The. MoLaglen-Moran iug. 26
Road House (MD), Barrymore-Burke _
Sharp Shooters (CD), O'Brien-Moran Jan. 15
Soft Living (CD), BeUamy-Brown. Jeb. 6
Square Crooks, Brown-Dwan Mar. 4
Street Angel, Gaynor. -
Sunrise (D), George O'Brien _ Nov. 4
Thief in the Dark, A. Meeker-HUl-Beebe May 20
Why Sailors Go Wrong, Phipps-McNamara. Mar. 25
Wildi West Romance (W), Rex King. __June 10
Win That Girl. RoUins-CaroL Sept. 16
Woman Wise (C), RusseU-CoUyer. Jan. 8
.Sept. 16
Jan. 28
Sept. 1
M.y 9A
May 12
Apr. 21
May 19
Apr. 7
Mar. 10
Ttb. 4
.May 26
June 23
I«IM 2!) .....
Sept. 22
.Aug. 4
Feb. 4 Feb. 18
Feb. 18
July 7
July 21
May 19 3wu 2
Aug. 18
Jan. 28
Gotham
1927
Catch as Catch Can, William Fairbanks Sept.
Down Grade, The. William Fairbanks Oct.
6500 Heroes of the Night, Marion Nixon-Landis June 1
Silent Avenger, The. "Thimder" Delaney Nov. 1
Sinews of Steel. Alberta Vaughn Oct. 1
When Danger Calls, WiUlam Fairbanks Not.
Woman Who Didn't Care, The, Tashman-Hankin.Dec. 1
1928
5268 Bare Knees, Virginia Lee Corbin Jtme
6987 Blondes by Choice, Claire Windsor. March
5800 Cheer Leader, The, Graves-Olmstead April
6000 Chorus Kid, The, Faire-Washbum June
6960 Girl from Rio, The, Myers-Pidgeon Feb.
Head of the Family, The, Virginia Lee C!orbin-Oct.
Hellship Bronson, Beery-Reid May
Midnight Life, Francis X. Bushman Aug.
6700 Rose of Kildare, The, Chadwick-O'Malley. Jan.
6200 San Francisco Nights, Percy Marmont May
6750 Satin Woman, The, Mrs. WaUace Reid Jan.
Through the Breakers, Livingston-Herbert Sept.
5900 Turn Back the Hours, Myma Loy .July
United States Smith, Gribbon-Lee jW
1929
Father and Son, Noah Beery-Noah Beery, Jr _
Knee High, Virginia Lee Corbin Oct.
Modern Sappho, A, Betty Bronson Sept.
River Woman, The, Logan-L. Barrymore iug.
Times Square, Alice Day-Lubln _ Sept
1928
1929
1927
6199 Broadway After Midnight, Betz
Krelbar Productions
...Oct. 29
1927
1927
62.0*%
"is! 52%
4i.es%
1927 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
6751 Adam and Evil (CD), Cody-Pringle Aug. 27 Aug. 13
4709 Adventurer, The (W), -Km McCoy Jan. 14
6306 After Midnight (D), Shearer-Gray. Aug. 20 _ Jknt 2T
8730 Annie Laurie (D), LiUian Glsh Sept. 17 May 21
6445 Becky (CD), Sally O'NelL Nov. 12 Nov. 26
10652 Ben Hur (M). Ramon Novarro _Oot. 8 Hot. U 94.93%
11375 Big Parade, The (M), GUbert-Adoree Sept. 19 M.JO?!
5836 Bugle Call. The (D), Jackie Coogan. Aug. 6 - B1.6T%
6868 Buttons (CD). Jackie Coogan Deo. 24 Dec. 31 SS.Otft
8126 Callahans and Murphys (CD), Dressl6r-Moran...June 18 July 16 ___.
Cameraman. The (CD), Buster Keaton Sept 15
7395 Captain Salvation (M), Hanson May 14 July 2 49.09%
6396 Fair Co-ed, The (CD), Marion Davies. Oct. 15 Not. 10 Oet 29 6l.r«%
4622 Foreign Devils (W), Tim McCoy Sept 3 (l.(0%
6909 Frisco Sally Levy (C), O'NelL - Apr. 2 Apr. 23 60.00%
8235 Garden of Allah, The (D), Terry-PetroTltch.....Nov. 5 Nov. 19 Swt 10 _____
6591 In Old Kentucky (D). H. CosteUo Cot. 29 Kor. 26 Dto. 8 48.83%
6683 London After Midnight (D), Lon C9ianey Dec. 3 Deo. 17 Dm, IT 68.81%
6017 Lovelorn. The, SaUy O'NelL Dea 17 Deo. 3: ......_
6291 Lovers (D). Novarro-Terry..... „.Apr. 9 May 2 W.Mi%
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
Length
Title and Players
New Comment
Piotures
7603
7599
6337
6561
6640
7865
4781
6705
6289
6252
6160
7899
6657
5517
1928
6908
6749
6132
Man. Wonan and Sin (D), Jolin Gilbert _Not. 19
Mockery (M), Lon Chaney Aug. 13
Mr. W« (M). Lon Chaney .Mar. 26
Our Dancing Daughters, Joan Crawford
Quality Street, Davies-NageL JDeo. 31
Red Mill (C), Davles Jan. 29
Road to Romanoe, The (D), Novarro-Day Sept. 24
Rookie* (C), Dane-Artlmr. Apr. 30
Slide, Kelly. Slide (CO), Haines-O'NelL.
_JHar. 12
683S
6344
6679
6653
6838
6070
7358
8436
4987
Spoileri of the West (W), McCoy-Daw Deo. 10
SJiring Fever (C). William Haines Oct. 22
Tea for Three (C), Cody-Prlngle Deo. 10
Thirteenth Hour, The (D), Lionel Barrymore....Nov. 26
Tillie the Toiler (C), Danes. May 21
Twelve Miles Out (M), Gilbert. July 9
Understanding Heart (D), Crawford Feb. 26
Unknown, The (M), Cbaney June 4
Actress, The, Norma Shearer-Forbes. Apr. 28
Across to Singapore (MD), Novarro-Crawford Apr. 7
Baby Mine, Arthur-Dane Ian. 21
Beyond the Sierras (W), Tim McCoy Sept. 15
Big City, The. Chaney-Compson-Day Feb. 18
Bringing Up Father, Farrell-Moran-Olmstead Mar. 17
Certain Young Man, A, Novarro-Day May 19
Circus Rookies (CD), Dane-Arthur Mar. 31
Cossacks, The, Adoree-GUbert-Torrence. May 12
Crowd, The. Boardman-Murray-Boaoh Mar. 3
Detectives, Dane-Arthur June 9
Diamond Handcuffs, Boardman-Nagel May 5
Divine Woman. Garbo-Hanson-Sherman Jan. 14
Enemy, The, Gish-Dane-Forbes Feb. 18
Excess Baggage (D), WUliam Haines. Sept. 1
Dec. 3 ■ Dec. 17
Sept. 10
June 4
.Sept. 22
Jan. 7
Feb. 19
Nov. 19
.May 9
_ 4j5r. 2
-Dec. 24
Nov. 12 Dec. 10
Deo. 24 Nov. 12
Dec 3 Dec. 3
-June 11
July 30
May 14
June 13
JVIay 26
39.50%
66.83%
64.91%
68.39%
67.31%
44.94%
68.15%
65.16%
56.93%
58.76%
1928
Apr. 28
Jan. 28
Feb. 25 Apr. 7
Mar. 31
June 2 June 23
July 7
Mar. 10 Apr. 28
Jime 9
_June 2
Jan. 21 Jan. 21
Fortiidden Hours (D), Norarro-Adoreo-
Four Walls (MD), Gilbert-Crawford
The Cardboard Lover, Marion Davles
7743
7045
5441
5801
5695
7352
June 16
Aug. 18
Aug. 18
Latest from Paris, The, Shearer-Forbes Feb. 4
Laugh. Clown, Laugh, Chaney-Murphy-Elsle Apr. 14
Mademoiselle from Armentieres, Estelle Brody-
John Stuart, June 2
Skirts, Syd Chaplin....
7289
5028
7732
6487
9560
5931
8090
Law of the Range, McCoy- Crawford Jan. 21
Love, Garbo-Qilbert Jan. 2
Mysterious Lady, The, Greta Garbo-Nagel
Patsy, The. Davies-Caldwell-Gray Mar. 10
Riders of the Dark Apr. 28
J-eb. 11
Mar. 10
June 23
Mar. 17
Sept. 8
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
May 26
-June 2
Feb. 4
Jan. 7
.Sept. 1
Apr. 7
May 5
Feb. 18
Mar. 10
Feb. 25
May 5
Sept. 8
July 28
Mar. 10
May 12
Rose Marie, Crawford-Murray-
Smart Set, Haines-Day-Holt-Bosworth Feb. 25
Student Prince, The (R), Novarro-Shearer. Jan. 30
Under the Black Eagle, Forbes-Dog Fladh Mar. 24
West Point (CD), Haines-Crawford Jan. 7 Jan. 21
White Shadows of the Soutti Sea (MO), Monte
Blue
Apr. 14
Feb. 18
Apr. 21
Mar. 3
Wickedness Preferred (CD), Cody-Prlngle —Jan. 28
Wyoming, McCoy- Sebastian Mar. 24
5011
4447
1927
6199 Afraid to Love (C). Vidor. Apr. 9
6961 Barbed Wire (0), Negri-Broot Sept. 10
9879 Beau Geste (M), Colman-N. Beery Aug. 1
5597 Blind Alleys (M), Meighan. Mar. 12
5878 Blonde or Brunette? (C), Menjon Jan. 24
7175 Cabaret (CO), Gilda Gray Mar. 26
July?
Feb. 11
Apr. 14
65.14%
Paramount
6040 C^asey at the Bat (C), W. Beeiy.
6536 Chang (0), Special oast..
Children of Divorce (0), Bow_
-Mar. 6
-Sept. 3
-Apr. 2
5408 City Gone Wild (M), Melghan-MUlner Nov. 12
7447 'Covered Wagon, The (M), Kerrlgan-YTOson — Aug. 6
Evening Clothes (C), Menjon Mar. 19
Fashions for Women (CO), Balstoa Max. 26
.Apr. 23
.Aug. 3
MuT. 5
Jan. 15
Jlay 9
„ J^r. 16
jaay 2
Jlay 2
.Dec. 10
1927
6287
6296
5399
6376
Fireman Save My Child (C), Beery-Hatton. Aug. 1
Gay Defender, The (CD), Richard Dli. Deo. 10
6017 Gentleman of Paris, A (CD), MenJou-0'Har»„..Oct. 15
5889 Get Your Man (CD), Clara Bow. Dec. 10
6415 Honeymoon Hate (CD), Florence Vldor Dec. 3
7091 Hotel Imperial (0), Negri Feb. 26
6862 Hula (CD), Bow-Brook. Aw. 27
6452 It (C), Clara Bow. Feb. 19
8656 Jesse James (D), Fred Thomson Oct. 22
7656 *Kid Brother (C), Lloyd Oct. 4
Kiss In a Taxi (C), Daniels. Feb. 26
6439
7080 Knockout Reilly (CD), Dii.
6940 Last Waltz, The (D), Special cast-
6052 Let It Rain (C), MacLean.-
Love's Greatest Mistake (CD), Brent —
Man Power (D), Dlx —
-Apr. 16 _.
.Not. 26 ..
.-Jan. 3
Feb. 12 ...
—July 9
-Aug. 13
6007
5617
8039 Metropolis (0), Special cast..
7180 Mme, Pompadour (0), Moreno-D. Gish. — Aug. 13
6258 Nevada (W), Cooper-Todd Sept. 10
6877 New York (M), Cortez- Wilson Feb. 6
5798 Now We're In the Air (C). Beery-Hatton. --Oct. 22
4551 One Woman to Another (CO), Vldor-ShotwelLSept. 24
5699 Open Range (W), Lane-Oiandler. Nov. 5
6187 Paradise for Two (C), Dir-Bronson. Jan. 17
6680 Potters (CD), W. C. Fields Jan. 31
5306 Ritzy (CD), Bronson ^ Apr. 9
June 18
.Apr. 9
_Apr. 9
J)ea 10
-. JJOT. 12
.Oct. 8
Jan. 7
Dec. 31 Dec. 17
-Jan. 8
Sept. 10
JFeb. 12
-.Oct. 22
-.Jan. 29
.Apr. 2
Apr. 23
..-JIov. 19
Mar. 12
Feb. 26
- Jlug. 6
Jlar. 12
Nov. 26 Aug. 6
..Feb. 5
JJec. 17
...Sept. 24
6247 Rolled Stockings (CO), Hall-Brook.
5952 Rough House Rosie (C). Bow. May 14
9443 Rough Riders, The (D), Astor-Fa,rrell Oct. 1
5614 Rubber Heels (FC), Ed. Wynn June 11
6368 Running Wild (C), Fields-Brian. Aug. 20
6634 Senorita (F), Daniels Aug. 30
5209 Serenade (0), Menjou-Wray Dec. 24
6170 Service for Ladies (C), Menjou-Carrer Aug. 6
5515 Shanghai Bound (D), Dlr-Brlan Oct. 15
6015 She's a Sbelk (C), Bebe Daniels Nov. 12
5179 Shootin' Irons (W), Luden-Blane. Oot. 8
6838 Soft Cushions (C), MacLean-CaroL Aug. 27
6524 Special Delivery (C), Eddie Cantor. — Apr. 16
4934 Spotlight, The (CD), Ralston-Hamllton. Nov. 19
6200 Stark Love (D), Special cast Sept. 17
6124 Swim, Girl, Swim (CM), Danlels-Haa Sept. 17
6006 Tell It to Sweeney (C), Conklln-BanOTOft Sept. 24
6497 Ten Modern Commandments (CD), Balston July 2
4926 Time to Love (FC), Raymond Griffith June 18
5319 Two Flaming Youths (C), Fields-Conklln — Dec. 17
7643 Underworld (M), Bancroft-Brent Oct. 29
8486 Way of All Flesh. The (0), Jannlngs-Bennett-Oct 1
B869 Wedding Bills (F), Raymond Qrifflth May T
5935 We're All Gamblers (0), Meighan-Mlllner. Sept. 3
6866 Whirlwind of Youth (D), Lois Moran Apr. 30
11764 Wings (M), Charles Rogers Oct. 29
.Jan. 29
Jan. 22
_ .June 25
July 30
Jtme 4
Jifar. 19
July 16
.Tune 18
JVtay 14
Jan. 14
- ..Sept. 3
Dec. 31 Nov. 12
Jan. 21 Nov. 26
Aug. 27
55.11%
62.04%
50.84%
41.30%
60.30%
61.86%
64.09%
49.60%
61.00%
72.16%
66.00%
66.77%
65.91%'
38.61%
63.57%
55.59%
50.82%
7L00%
70.25%
48.36%
66.75%
47.60%
"67.64%
May 9
Dec. 3
.Mar. 19
Sept. 17
Jan. 7 Oot. 22
July 23
July 9
44.08%
64.83%
66.27%
Length
Title and Players
...Sept. 3
July 2
..-July 23
...June 11
. iug. 20
52.83%
69.13%
57.46%
47.36%
46.90%
New
Pictures
Comment
Ticker
5960 Woman on Trial (0), Pola Negri. Oct.
1928
5897
6636
Dee. 24 Oct. 1
1928
5930
5665
7866
5364
5889
6134
6402
5852
7640
6871
6263
6528
6038
7464
6792
8234
7415
5837
7159
5741
7910
6600
5582
6118
7646
6631
5928
7194
7616
4720
7960
5951
6218
6763
7060
6733
5991
5834
5802
6319
6509
5435
6938
Adventure Mad (M), UFA Mar. 31
Beau Sabreur (M), Cooper-Brent Jan. 7
Beggars of Life (MO), Wallace Beery-Brooka-
Arlen Sept. 15
Big Killing (CD), Beery-Hatton. _ - May 19
Doomsday, Vidor-Cooper Feb. 18
Drag Net, The (MD), Bancrof t-Brent-PoweU... May 26
Easy Come, Easy Go, Richard Dix Apr. 21
Feel My Pulse, Daniels-Arlen Feb. 25
First Kiss, The (0), Wray-Cooper. _ Sept. 25
Fifty. Fifty Girl, The, Daniels-Hall May 12
Fleets In, The (CD), Bow-HaU
Fools for Luck (CO), Fields-Conklin. May 7
Forgotten Faces (MD), Brook-Brian Sept. 11
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (C), Taylor-White... Jan. 28
Half a Bride (0), Balston-Cooper June 16
Hot News, Bebe Daniels Aug. 14
His Tigers Lady, Menjou-Brent June 9
Just Married (CO), HaU-Taylor-Ford. Aug. 18
Kit Carson (MD), Fred Thomson -.Aug. 21
Ladies of the Mob, Clara Bow —Jime 30
Last Command, The (0), Emil Jannings Jan. 21
Legion of the Condemned, Wray-Cooper. —Mar. 10
Love and Learn, Ralston-Chandler Jan. 14
Loves of an Actress (D), Pola Negri Sept. 18
Mating Call, The (0), Thomas Meighan. -
Model From Montmatre (D), Nita Naldl _
Night of Mystery (0), Menjou. Apr. 7
Old Ironsides (0), Beery-Bancroft Mar. 3
Partners in Crime (C), Beery-Hatton. Max. 17
Patriot, The (0), Emil Jannings
Peaks of Destiny Jan. 23
Pioneer Scout, The (W), Fred Thomson. Jan. 21
Racket, The (0), Thomas Meighan June 30
Red Hair (CO), Bow-Chandler —Mar. 10
Sawdust Paradise, The, Esther Ralston Aug. 25
Secret Hour, The (0), Negri-Hersholt Feb. 4
Showdown^ The, Bancroft JTeb. 25
Something Always Happens, Ralstan-HamUton-Mar. 24
Speedy (C), Harold Uoyd Apr. 7
Sporting Goods, Dix-Clmstead Feb. 11
Street of Sin (0), Jaunlngs-Wray May 26
Sunset Legion (W), Fred Thomson -Apr. 21
Three Sinners (D), Negri-Baater Apr. 14
Time's Punctured Romance, Fields-Conklln. Feb. 18
Under the Tonto Rim, Arlen-Brian — Jeb. 4
Vanishing Pioneer, The (W), Jack Holt- June 23
Varsity (0), Rogers-Brian _
Water Hole, The (W), Jack Holt Aug. 26
Warming Up, Richard Dtx —Aug. 11
Jan. 14
Jan. 7
July 7
Jan. 21
May 26
May 19
Feb. 25
Aug. 4
Mar. 31
..Sept. 22
Apr. 7
Aug. 4
Dec. 10
June 16
Mar. io
Sept 1
Mar. 19
Sept. 15
Mar. 19
Aug. 4
Feb. 13
June 9
Mar. 31
June 23
May 26
Jan. 23
Jan. 21
June 23
..Sept. 8
..Sept. 15
Feb. 18
Feb. 25
..Sept 8
Jan. 7
Dec. 10
Mar. 3
June 9
Feb. 18
Mar. 3
Apr. 28
Feb. 18
Apr. 28
June 16
.-Sept 1
July 7
Feb. 4
..Apr. 21
Feb. 25
Feb. 18
Sept. 22
Mar. 17
Apr. 21
Feb. 18
May 26
73.09%
Apr. 7
Feb. 25
May 5
Wife Savers (C), Beery-Hatton Jan.
Woman From Moscow, The (0), Negri-Kerry
..Aug. 4
July 21
May 26
— June 19
Pathe
1927
5596 Almost Human (CD), Reynolds Dec.
6555 Angel of Broadway, The (D), Leatrice Joy. Oct.
4336 Avenging Fangs (M) June
5326 Border Blackbirds (WO), Moloney Aug.
4876 Born to Battle (W), BUI Cody Sept.
4512 Code of the Cow Country (W), Roosevelt June
5100 Combat (D), Walsh. Oct
7600 (Jountry Doctor, The (D), Schildkraut Aug.
4933 Desert of the Lost, The (W), WaUy Wales Dee.
5478 Devil's Twin, The (W), Leo Maloney. JDec.
8586 Discord (0), Dagover-Ekman. _..„Jfov.
6599 Dress Parade (D), Boyd I^ov.
8002 Fighting Eagle, The (M), La Rocaue-HaTer....-Aug.
6403 Flying Luck (C), Monty Banks-..- Dec.
6568 Forbidden Woman, The (M), Jetta GoudaL...JVoT.
6859 Getting Gertie's Garter (F), Prevost
3303 Girl from Everywhere (C), Pollard. Deo.
5867 Girl in the Pullman, The (C), Prevost -Oct
4968 Gold from Weepah (W). BiU Cody...._ -Nov.
7913 Golden Clown, The (0), Gosta-Ekman Deo.
4750 'Grandma's Boy (C), Harold Lloyd. Deo.
5990 Harp in Hock, A (0), SchUdkraut-Coghlan Oct.
6035 Heart Thief (0), Sohildkraut-De Puttl
4620 Hidden Aces (M), Hutchison.. Aug.
His Dog (D), Schildkraut July
His Foreign Wife (0), MacDonald-Murphy. J^ov.
Sept
15 '.
Feb.
18
1927
Dec. 24
Not. 19 Nor. 6
- June 4
..Sept. 10
26
3
5
28
11
19
23
22
18 Jan. 14
11 J)ec. 10
20 -
Nov. 19 Nov. 6
Sept 17
..June 17
...Oct. 15
72.70%
Nov. 12 Nov. 5
..- J"eb. 19
2^ov. 5
Nov. 19 Nov. 5
60.40%
Not. 12
..JJov.
6788
4890
4076 Hoof Marks (W), Jack Donovan
4864 Interferin' Gent, The (W), Buffalo BUI, Jr. Aug. 21
5324 Jim, the Conqueror (W), Boyd-Falre -
13500 King of Kings (D), All Star
4131 Land of the Lawless, The (W), Jack Padjan-Deo. 25
4752 Little Firebrand (C), Thornton. _July 3
6472 Main Event, The (D), Reynolds Nov. 21
4576 Meddlin' Stranger (W), Wales June 12
6750 My Friend from India (F), Pangbom-Falr. Dee. 19
5736 Night Bride (FC), Prevost.
6421 Nobody's Widow (FC), Joy-Ray-Haver.
6903 No Man's Law (W), Rex May 1
4575 Obligin' Buckaroo, The (W), Buffalo BiU, Jr.-.Oct. 16
4692 Pals in Peril (W), Buffalo BUI. Jr. June 26
4497 Phantom Buster, The (W), Roosevelt Aug. 14
6000 Pieces of China (Travel) Aug. 7
4828 Pirates of the Sky (M), Hutchison. -May 22
5844 Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary (C), Robson _.
4542 Ride 'Em High (W), Buddy Roosevelt Oct. 9
4375 Roarin' Bronos, Buffalo BiU, Jr Nov. 27
6303 Rubber Tires (C), Ford-Love.
6880 Rush Hour, The (C), Prevost.,
4562 Skedaddle Gold (W), Wales.
4546 Soda-water Cowboy, The (W), Wally Walea-.Sept
4338 Trunk Mystery (M), Hutchison June
5397 Turkish Delight, Schlldkraut-Faye Nov.
5670 Two-Gun of Tumbleweed (W), Leo Maloney. July
5921 Vanity (M), Joy -
6198 White Gold (0), GoudaL
4485 White Pebbles (WD), Wally Wales Aug.
5610 Wise Wife, The (C), Haver _.., Oct.
6447 Wreck of the Hesperus, The (M), Bradford. Oot.
7820 Yankee Clipper (M), Boyd
1928
3996 Alice Through a Looking Glass.
Not. B
..JiM,y 21
..StVt- 3
..July 24
...Aug. 27
....Jan. 1
..-Mar. 10
Jan. 14
Not. 19
..July 2
Not. 6
...June 12
Deo. 24
HUt 9
Jan. 16
May 2
Oct. 8
- June 25
Aug. 20
46.60%
3Iay 21
Aug. t
Oot. 8
..-Apr. 9
-Dea
-July
. kng. 6
.....Oot 1
.-.June 11
July 17
._ June 18
Apr. 9
Aug. 20
Not. 19 Not. 5
..-May 14
5755 Apache Raider, The, Leo Maloney. _
4805 Ballyhoo Buster (W), Buffalo BiU, Jr...
5927 Blonde for a Night, PreTOSt
6589 Blue Danube, Leatrice Joy
Feb.
Feb.
-Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
12
12 May 12
61.72%
1928
27 Mar. S
12 Feb. 18
56
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
Length Title and Player*
Released New
Pictures
Comment
4S33
MOS
4550
7896
4526
44S0
53SS
7056
4155
6650
5SSS
4600
5659
5954
5494
5626
6902
7040
5423
Boss of Rustlers Roost, The. Don Coleman. Jan. 22
Bronc' Stomper, The, Don Coleiuan Feb. 26
Bullet Mark. The. Jack Donovan Mar. 25
Chicago (M), PhylUs Harer Mar. 5
Cowboy Cavalier (W), Buddy Koosevalt Jan. 29
Craig's Wife (D) Irene Rich
Crashing Through. Jack Padjan....
Desperate Courage (W). Wales —
Hold 'Em Yale. Bed La RocQue_.
Laddie Be Good (W). Bill Cody Jan. 1
Leopard Lady. The (W). Logan Jan. 23
Let 'Er Go. Gallagher! (M). Junior Coghlan — Jan. 16
Love Over Night CCD). Bod La Bocaue _
Marlie, the Killer, Klondike..
Midnight Madness. Logan.
May 12
Mar. 17
May 19
Dec 24
Feb. 4
.-Sept. 22
Feb. 5
.Jan. 15
Jilay 15
May 19 May 26
Night Flyer. The, Wm. Boyd
On to Reno (D), Prerost-Landis
Perfect Gentleman, A (C). Monty Banks —
Red Mark. The (D). Glass. Quartoar
Ship Comes In, A, Rudolpb Schlldkraut —
Skyscraper. Boyd —
..ilay 26
-Jeb. 5
.Jan. 2
Jan. 28
Jan. 28
Mar. IT
Jan. 28
Stand and Deliver, Bod La Rocdue
Tenth Aveuue, Haver-Varconi
June 4
4pr. 9
Feb. 20
...July 14 _
June 16
-June 2
May 12 _.
..-July 14
1927
6035
60S 9
5076
5916
5960
5970
5502
4200
1928
80S9
6673
6076
4533
56S3
5976
5853
4797
5946
5262
454S
560S
4571
5906
Walking Back (M). Sue Carol..
Rayart
..Jlay 20 Jan. 28
Cruise of the Helion (D), All star
Heroes in Blue (M), Bowers-Rand Nov.
Law and the Man. The (D), Santschi-Eockwell.Dee.
Light in the Window. A (0). Walthall _
On the Stroke of Twelve (M), D. Torrence JJov.
Silent Hero (M), Bonaparte
Wanderer of the West, A (W), Tex Maynard..-Dec.
Branded Man. The (D), Chas. Delaney-Marlowe-May
Casey Jones (CD). Price-Lewis Jan.
City of Purple Dreams, The, Bedford-Frazer.-.Sept.
Danger Patrol, The (D), Russell-Fair Jan.
Devil's Tower, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt June
Divine Sinner. The (0) .Vera Reynolds-Hllllard-July
Gypsy of the North (D), Gordon-Hale ipr.
Heart of Broadway. The (D). Garon-Agnew— .Mar.
Lightning Shot, The (W), Buddy Roosevelt...lIay
Man From Headquarters, The (D), Cornelius
Keefe-E. Roberts Aug.
Midnight Adventure, A (D), Landis-E. Murpby-May
Mystery Valley (W). Buddy Roosevelt July
My Home Town (D). Broctwell-Glass Jan.
Painted Trail. The (W). Buddy Roosevelt Mar.
Phantom of the Turf. The (D). Costello-Lease-Feb.
Sisters of Eve (D), Mae Busch- Sept.
Sweet Sixteen (D). Helen Foster-Olstead Aug.
Trail Riders (W), Buddy Boosevelt April
Wild Born (W), Tex Maynard Mar.
You Can't Beat the Law, I/ee Keefe Jan.
..Sept. 24
1927
..-Nov. 12
..-Aug. 29
1928
4627
5490
5260
1927 Sterling
5563 Closed Gates (M), Harron-Novak -
5400 Outcast Souls (D), Lewis-Bonner Dec. 15
6500 Pretty Clothes (D), J. Ralston-Walker Oct. 15
Stranded (D), Mason Aug. 15
1928
Marry the Girl (CD).— _
1927
.-- Jiay 28
Nov. 12
Dec. 31
Jan. 7 Sept. 10
-Feb. 4
1927
5754
5669
7300
4887
6482
6233
4752
5800
6049
6235
5629
6100
5182
6276
Backstage (CD). Bedford
Beauty Shoppe (CD). Busch-
(^llege Days (CD), M. Day..
Enchanted Island (D).-
Tiffany-Stahl
1928
1927
Fools of Fashion (CD), Busch
Girl from Gay Paree. The (F). Sherman Sept. 15
Haunted Ship. The (M), Sebastian-M. Love.._Dec. 1
Josselyn's Wife (D). Frederick _
Lightning (W). J. Ralston Sept. 1
Night Life (CD), Day-Harron J^ov. 1
Once and Forever (D), Patsy Ruth MiUer. Oct. 15
Sin Cargo (D). Mason..
...-July 9
....July 16
...-Nov. 6
-.-June 25
-Oct. 9
...J^ov. 27
6448
5614
1928
6147
Snowbound (FC). BIythe. „
Streets of Shanghai (RD), Starke-Harlan Dec. 15
Tired Business Man (C) _
July 30
Mar. 10 „
Wild Geese (D). Belle Bennett
Women's Wares (D), Brent-LytelL-
Applause (D), SaUy O'NelL.
-Nov. 15
-Oct. 1
Dec. 24 Dee. 10
-Sept. 30
_Mar. 15
1928
tsio
5297
6653
6102
6735
5«52
6361
Bachelor's Paradise (R), SaUy O'NeU
Big Top. The (CD). Sally O'NeU Oct. 30
Cavalier. The (D), Talmadge-Bedford Sept.
Clothes Make the Woman (R), Southem-
Pldgeon , May 1
Devil's Apple Tree, The (D), Dorothy Sebaatian.Sept. 20
Devil's Skipper, The, Bennett Feb. 1
George Washington Cohen (CD), Jessel-Palmer-Aug. 20
Geraldlne Laird (D), BcUe Bennett .Nov. 10
Ghetto, The (CD), Jessel-Gwen Lee Aug. 1
Grain of Dust, The (0). Cortez-Windsor. ...July 10
Green Grass Widows (CD), Walter Hagen June 10
House of Scandal (D). Sebastlan-O'MaUey Apr. 1
Ladles of the Night Club (CD), Cortez-Moran.ilay 15
Lingerie (CD). Whltc-McGregor July 1
Nameless Men. Moreno Feb. 15
Naughty Duchess, The (D), H. B. Warner. Aug. 10
Power of Silence, The (D), Belle Bennett. Aug. 20
Prowlers of the Sea (D), Cortez-Myera .Ttme 20
Queen o1 Burlesque. The (CD). Belle Bennctt..-Sept. 10
Scarlet Dove. The (D). Margaret Llvlnitston. .Apr. 15
Stormy Waters (D), Southern-McGregor June 1
Squads Right (CD), Grlbbon-Stone Nov.
Their Hour (D). Sebastlan-Harron Mar. 1
Tragedy of Yoilttl. MlUer-CoUler Jan. 15
Twelve Pound Look, The (D). Eve Southern Oct. 20
Thrw Keys to a Door (MD), Rlcardo Cortez..-Oct. 10
Tollers, The, Fairbanks. Jr. -Ralston __Aug.
Woman Against the World. A Jan. 1
United Artists
1927
BOOH C«llc«e (C), Reaton-Comwall Sept. 10
7800 Senenl. The (C). KraWn
7811 Loves of Sonya (0). Rwanson
KTjfi Miflle Flame. The (M), Olman-EanlCT Sept. 24
JIM Ranirrectlcn (M), La IIocQue
—Sept. 17
...Fob. 12
...Mar. 19
...Sept. 24
..-Apr. 16
1927
43.07%
Length Title and Players
Released New Comment
Pictures
9000
7456
8250
8UU0
1928
6400
7000
0358
9100
8350
7300
-..Nov.
7650
8600
1928
0243
5311
4227
4179
5109
7828
6474
4194
0599
4868
0307
5591
6832
6674
10185
6030
5907
4472
5424
4616
10600
Sorrell and Son (D), Wamer-NUsson
Topsy and Eva (C). Duncan Sisters
Two Arabian Knight (CD), Boyd-Wolhelm
Winning of Barbara Worth (D), Banky-Colman
Circus, The (C). Charlie Cihaplin
Devil Dancer, The, Gilda Gray
Douglas Fairbanks as the Gaucho (M) June 1
Dove, The (M), Norma Talmadge Jan. 7
Drums of Love (D), Mary Philbin Mar. 31
Garden of Eden, The (D), C. Grifflth-Eay JFeb. 4
Two Lovers, Banky-Colman Aug.
Ramona (D), Del Rio Jeb. 1
Sadie Thompson (D), Gloria Swanson Jan. 7
Steamboat Bill, Jr., Buster Keaton
Tempest (M), John Barrymore Aug. 11
Universal
Anybody Here Seen Kelly, Bessie Love-Moore Sept. 9
Beauty and Bullets, Ted Wells Dec. 16
Clear the Decks, Reginald Denny Dec. 23
Clearing the Trail, Hoot Gibson Oct. 7
Cloud Dodger, The, Al Wilson Sept. 30
Crimson Canyon, The. Ted Wells. Oct. 14
Danger Rider, The, Hoot Gibson Not. 18
Flyin' Cowboy, The, Hoot Gibson July 1
Foreign Legion, The, Lewis Stone-Keny Sept. 23
Freedom of the Press, Lewis Stone Oct. 28
Give and Take, Sidney-Hersholt Dec. 2
Greased Lightning, Ted Wells. July 29
Grip of the Yukon, The, Marlowe-Bushman. Sept. 30
Guardians of the Wild, Rex-Perrin SepL 16
Home James, Laura LaPlante. Sept. 2
How to Handle Women, Tryon-Nixon Oct. 14
Jazz Mad, Hersholt-Nixon Nov. 11
Man, Woman and Wife, Kerry-Starke Deo. 30
Man Who Laughs, The, PhUbln-Veldt Nov. 4
Michigan Kid. The. Adoree-Nagel Oct. 21
Night Bird. The. Reginald Denny Sept. 16
One Rainy Night, Laura LaPlante. Dec. 9
Phillis of the Follies, Alice Day-M. Moor& Nov. 25
Price of Fear, BUI Cody Oct. 29
Quick Triggers. Fred Humes July 15
Riding tor Fame, Hoot Gibson Aug. 19
Two Outlaws, The, Jack Perrin-Rex Nov. 18
Uncle Tom's Cabin, All Star. Sept. 2
Wolves of the City, BUI <»dy. Dec. 2
Nov. 19
Aug. 13
Oct. 29
Dec. 4
-Mar. 3 -
72.03%
1928
- -Apr. 28
-. . Nov. 28
Jan. 7
July 21
Jiine Iff
Mayi!6
— July?
Sept. 1
Sept. 8
1928
Sept. 22
Apr. 28
Sept. 8
May 19
Aug. 18
JJar. 10
Jlay 26
1929
Blow for Blow, Hoot Gibson.
Border Wildcat. The. Ted WeUa.
Born to the Saddle. Ted WeUs...
Charlatan. The, All Star
Come Across. AU Star June 9
Dangerous Dimples. Laura LaPlante. Jl.pi. 21
Eyes of the Underworld, BlU Cody Apr. 28
Girl on the Barge, The, O'NeUl-HersholL Apr. 28
Harvest of Hate, The, Bex-Jack Perrin. Apr. 14
Hero of the Circus, Maclste Feb. 24
His Lucky Day, Reginald Denny Mar. 3
Hoofbeats of Vengeance, Rex-Perrin June 16
6057 Honeymoon Flats, Lewis-Gulllver Feb. 24
It Can't Be Done, Tryon-Sue CarroU.
Kid's Clever, The, Tryon..
1929
King of the Rodeo. Hoot Gibson
Lariat Kid. The, Hoot Gibson
Last Warning, The, LaPlante-Boles
Play Goes On, The, All Star.
Plunging Hoofs, Rex-Perrin _
Red Hot Speed, Reginald Denny.
Red Lips, Rogers-Nixon.
Ridin' Demon, The. Ted WeUs
Slim Fingers, BlU Cody
Smilin' Terror, The, Ted WeUs
Smilin' Guns, Hoot Gibson.
Stool Pigeon. The, BiU Cody..
.Mar. IT
__Mar. 31
.....Mxi. 4
May 12
Apr. 14
May 19
You Can't Buy Love, AU Star.._
June 30
Apr. T
June 2
Juno 2
1927
5803
6330
6281
5897
6408
5003
6767
6284
5978
6302
5613
6271
5200
6230
5397
5569
6352
6310
6485
7961
6357
5492
6295
5685
6124
6218
6412
7647
5813
1928
6052
5380
Warner Brothers
Black Diamond Express (M). Blue
Brass Knuckles (D), Blue-Bronson Dec. 3
Bush Leaguer, The (CD), Monte Blue Aug. 28
Dearest ( D ) , Rich
Desired Woman, The (M), Irene Rich... _ Aug. 27
Dog of the Regimen, A (M), Rln-Tln-Tin. Oct. 29
First Auto. The, Oldfleld-MiUer Sept. 18
Gay Old Bird (FC), Fazenda.
Girl from Chicago. The (M), Nagel-Loy _.Not. 5
Good Time Charley (D), Oland-H. CosteUo JJov. 12
Ham and Eggs at the Front (C), WUson-H.
Conklin X)ec. 24
Hills of Kentucky (M). Ein-Tin-Tin_ „
Husbands for Rent, AU Star Deo. 31
It I Were Single, McAvoy-Nagel JJec. 17
Irish Hearts (CD), McAvoy
Jaws of Steel (D), Bln-Tin-TlD Sept. 17
Matinee Ladles (C), McAroy-
Million Bid, A (M), D. CosteUo..
Missing Link. The (C), Syd CbapUn 4.ng. 7
Old San Francisco (M), D. CosteUo-Oland Sept. 4
One Round Hogan (M), Monte Blue Sept. IT
Reno Divorce, A (D), May McAvoy Oct. 22
Sailor Izzy Murphy (F). George JesseU Oct. 8
Sailor's Sweetheart, A (C). Fazend»-C. Cook....Sept. 24
Silver Slave, The (D), Rich-Ferris Nov. 9
Simple Sis (M), Fazenda ,
Slightly Used, McAvoy-Nagel Sept. 3
Third Degree (M), D. CosteUo
1927
July 23 60.20%
-June 18
Dec. 31
Dec. 31
-July 9
-Mar. 12
-Feb. 26
-Apr. 28
June 11
Oct. 1
Apr. 23
June 4
May 14
June 25
Oct. 8
Oct 29
Dec. 10
Oct. 16
68.94%
Tracked by the Police (M), Rin-Tin-Tin
-June 11
Jan. 8
May 21
5164
7077
6331
6185
4777
4820
6531
Across the Atlantic, Blue-Murphy Feb. 25
Beware of Married Men, Irene Rich Jan. 14 Feb. 11
City of Sin. The, Loy-MUJan-Wong
Domestic Trouble (CD), Cook-Fazendi Mar. 24
Jazz Singer, The. Al Jolson Feb. 4
Lion and the Mouse, The, L. Barrymore
Little Snob, The, May McAvoy Feb. 11 _.
Powder My Back (C). Rlch-Ferrls Mar. 10
Raoo for Life. Rln-Tin-Tln Jan. 28 Feb. 18
RInty of the Desert, Rin-Tln-Tin ...Apr. 21 May 19
Tenderloin, Dolores CosteUo -
57.58%
1928
_. Jeb. 18
.Apr. 14
May 19
..Apr. 28
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
CLASSIFIED
Advertising
Ten cents per word, payable in advance. Minimum charge,
$1.00. Copy and checks should be addressed Classified Ad
Dept. Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World, 407 So.
Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
The Recognized N ational Classified Advertising Medium
Position Wanted
THEATRE ORGANIST— Experienced on all makes,
hza a large library, will go ansrwhere. Address Box
219, Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
Attention, Theatre Managerit Are yon looking for
an organist, male or female? If you are, why not let
Exhibitori Herald- World find jtiat the kind you want?
Addrecs George Schmidt, Exhibitors Herald-World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
ORGANISTS thoroughly trained and experienced in
theatre work. Men and women now ready for good
poaitions. Write salary and other data. Address
Qiicago Musical College, 61 E. Van Buren, Chicago.
ORGANIST — Experts thoroughly trained in show-
manship arailable at all times for first-class positions.
Men and women. No senriee charge. Write full in-
formation concerning salary, organ, hours, etc. Ad-
dress Vermand Knauss School of Theatre Organ
Playing, 210 N. 7th St., Allentown, Pa.
Position wanted as theatre manager or assistant.
Prefer small town anywhere, Chicago if possible.
Young, married, reliable, three years managing two
houses in Michigan. References if necessary. Address
Box 314, Exhibitors Herald- World, 407 S. Dearborn
St., Chicago, 111.
MALE ORGANIST open for a position. Will go
anywhere. Can cue pictures accurately. Young, single,
Al references. Address Edward Schulis, 7329 S.
Marshfield Ave., Chicago, 111.
Help Wanted
HOUSE MANAGER wanted for suburban theatre
in Cincinnati. Young, single man with experience
and personality. Send full particulars and small
photo. Address Apartment No. 1, 341 Terrace Ave.,
Cincinnati, O.
Theatre Wanted
We are interested in acquiring; theatres of 900 seats
or oyer in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and
Ohio. Will buy or lease for long term. Address
Box 283, Exhibitors Herald-World, 407 S. Dearborn
St., Chicago, 111.
Theatre for sale
1200 Seat theatre fully equipped, newly decorated
from front to rear of house, large stage suitable for
any productions, can be leased for long term period
to reliable party. This theatre is located in a very
industrious 110,000 populated city in Indiana. For
further information communicate with Illinois Thea-
tre Equipment Co., 12-14 E. 9th St., Chicago, III.
FOR SALE — Theatre, no competition; town 1,000,
7 days; A-1 equipment. Address A. Muz-U, Scott-
ville, Mich.
THEATRE, WESTERN 350 seats factory town,
11,000, old establishment, good business, good lease.
Canton, III. Address Princess Theatre, Canton, III.
Theatre to Lease
PROPOSITIONS ARE NOW received for leasing
the new Plattsburgh theatre, located in a modern
fireproof office building. For particulars communicate
with Mr. William Mayette, 71 Clinton St., Platts-
burgh, N. Y.
Equipment for Sale
FOR S.\LE — 15 KW motor generator set, also amp.
meter, volt meter, ten 16 inch D. C. fans, two rheo-
stats, all in perfect condition. Now being used. Make
me a price. Address Brown Theatre, Stamps, Ark.
Two Peerless lamps, like new, $190.00 each. Address
Carol Fenyvessy, 62 St. Paul St., Rochester, N. Y.
POWERS AND SIMPLEX PARTS, 20% and 30%
discount. Two Powers 6 B with Peerless lamps. Will
sell separately. Bargains. Address Carol Fenyvessy,
62 St. Paul St., Rochester, N. Y.
FOR SALE — Motion Picture Projectors, parts and
supplies for all type machines. Address Guercio &
Bartbel, 1018 Wabash Ave., Chicago, III.
FOR SALE — Strong Reflector Arc Lamps and ac-
cessories, also guaranteed rebuilt Powers 6-A and 6-B
and Simplex Heads. Best Prices. Write Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
CHICAGO CLEARING HOUSE— Our bargain list
on rebuilt Projectors, Powers 6-A Motor driven ma-
chines, including 12 rebuilt Simplex motor driven
machines with latest Simplex type S lamp houses.
Prices ranging from $175.00 and up. Peerless arc
controls $35.00 per pair. Compensarcs all makes,
$20.00 and up. Rebuilt Generators at reasonable
prices. AC and DC Electric fans rebuilt, just like
new. Write for complete list of your needs and
prices. No obligation. Address Illinois Theatre
Equipment Co., 12-14 E. Ninth St., Chicago, 111.
FOR SALE — 400 Opera Chairs, 1 Film Cabinet,
1 Enclosed Motor Rewind, 2 Late Type Simplex Pro-
jectors with 2 Standeford Low Intensity Lamps, 1
Roth 25-25 3-Phase Generator, etc.. Curtain, Ticket
Chopper, 2 Imported Lenses. AH in perfect condition
and worth just double what we are asking. Our price
$3,000. Address Box 302, Exhibitors Herald-World,
407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
POWERS AND SIMPLEX PARTS at 20 per
cent and 30 per cent reduction. Reflector arc lamps
cheap. Address Carol Fenyvessy, 62 St. Paul St.,
Rochester, N. Y.
Chairs for Sale
Just received 4,000 highest grade spring constructe<t
upholstered Theatre Chairs, less than 2 years old, at
very reasonable prices. Also sereral other lots of of-
bolstered and veneered Theatre Chairs, as well as 50©
Portable Assembly Chairs. Write for complete list
and description of all equipment. You are under n*
obligation. Illinois Theatre Equipment Co., 12-14 K.
.Vinth St.. Chicago, 111.
200 — -20 inch newly upholstered opera chairs squab
seat panel inserted back. Original cost $6.50, will
sell for $3.00. Address C. G. Demel, 845 S. State
St., Chicago, III.
MANY VERY EXCEPTIONAL bargains on new
spring cushion and veneer chairs. Advise us your
need. We will guarantee you large savings. Ad-
• Iress C. G. Demel, 845 S. State St., Chicago 111.
Stationery
SPECIAL: 250 each business letterheads — enye-
lopes $3.75 (cash postpaid). "Neargravure" procras
printed. Samples, see difiFerence. Stamp appro-
ciated. Address Sollidays, KH 124, Knox, Ind.
For Sale
OPERA CHAIRS, seats and backs for all makes.
five ply, at prices that save you half. AddroM
Redington & Co., Scranton, Pa.
Chair backs and seats made to order, any shape,
big saving. Address Preddey, 188 Golden Gate Ave.,
San Francisco, Cal.
SPECIAL DATES, posters, cards, dating stamps.
Address Hurd of Harvey in Iowa,
Organs for Sale
FOR SALE: Bartola Pipe Organ. Used WnrUtscr
Pipe Organ, model U, very reasonable. CreiBesia
Pipe Organ, used or new Reproduce Pipe Oriaiia.
Address S. B. McFadden, Havana, 111.
Gift Night Souvenirs
GIFT NIGHT MERCHANDISE: Over 300 fine
novelties in our large free catalog at genuine whole-
sale prices. Write today. No obligation. Address
Fair Trading Co., Inc., 140 W. 21st St., New York.
Your Classified Ad Will Do the Work
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World has helped hundreds of Theatre owners in solving many a problem. The
classified advertising department has placed organists all over the country, has helped in obtaining equipment, in selling
equipment, and in solving many another problem that seemed difficult. The rates are but 10c per word payable with
order, 10% discount if run for 3 insertions. See this week's classified pages. Maybe you are in need of something that is
being advertised this week. The cost is small, the results are great.
58
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
Miscellaneous
BEAUTIFUL registered BuU Pups, $15. Bulldogs.
Address 501 Rockwood, Dallas, Texas.
Projector Repairing
BEST GRADE repair work. Prices right. Free
relief heads. Prompt service. Address Guercio &
Barthel, lOlS Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
Our Twentieth Century Repair Shop, with skilled
expert mechanics, specialized tools, precision machin-
ery, assure the very best REPAIR JOBS. Relief
Equipment furnished FREE. Prompt service. Rea-
sonable prices. Progressive Exhibitors over entire
country send their work to "THE OLD RELIABLE."
Monarch Theatre Supply Co., Memphis, Tenn. Estab-
lished 20 years.
SKILLED MECHANICS, specialized tools, and a
shop equipped for but one purpose can offer you
nothing but the best in repair work. That is what I
have, and I can offer you the best in the overhauling
of your motion picture machinery equipment. One
of tie oldest repair men in the territory, and serving
some of the largest houses. Relief equipment fur-
nished free. For results bring your work to Joseph
Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St, Chicago, 111.
Projector repairing by experts. Work guaranteed.
Largest shop in West, rebuilt projectors and equip-
ment. Low prices. Address Preddey, 188 Golden Gate
Ave., San Francisco, Cal.
Equipment Wanted
BEST PRICES paid for projection machines, all
types. Address Guercio & Barthel, 1018 Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, III.
WANT SEVERAL MERCURY RECTIFIERS,
good, bad or incomplete, cheap. Address Preddey,
1S8 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, Cal.
Professional Services
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT— Many years experience
as auditor in all branches of the motion picture indus-
try, including leading theatres, large exchanges, pro-
ducers' and distributors' home office, can give his
personal attention to several more clients. Consulta-
tion free. Address Auditor c/o Box 1,000, Exhibitors
Herald-World, 565 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y.
State Rights for Sale
LOOK! READ I ACT! — ROAD
Showmen, State rights for sale. The true life of
"The Younger Brothers," featuring Cole, Bob and Jim
Younger and the James Boys, in five reels, and
Younger's Historical Events, in one reel. This pic-
ture as a popular-priced road show is no experiment.
It has been tried and true, has played againgt all
kinds of competition under all conditions. Hag always
gotten the money. With each State or sale we fur-
nish free one new complete Lobby Display, consisting
of new Prints of Film, three new Wax Figures, stand-
ing, life size, of Cole, Bob and Jim Younger, true to
life, dressed in cowboy style, big boots, etc.; 500 One-
Sheets, 100 Slides, 10 Photo Lobby Boards, extra 100
small Photos, 6 Banners, lettered in flashy oil colors,
enough to fit any theatre front. Ever3rthing ready to
go. Hurry. It will pay you to buy the king of all
road shows. Address E. L. Humphrey, Miami, Okla.
Cameras for Rent
AKELEY; BELL-HOWELL (professional). Rent
anywhere. Address Wood, 124 E. Market, Indian-
apolis.
LETTERS
From Readers
A forum at which the exhibitor is
invited to express his opinion on
matters of current interest. Brevity
adds forcefulness to any statement.
Unsigned letters will not be printed.
No Hot Days in His Theatre
DURANT, MISS.— To the Editor: As an
exhibitor I am writing you my verdict on
"Soft Cushions," a seven reel Paramount pic-
ture. We had this picture booked for two
nights but, on account of a brother exhibitor
writing us a note saying this picture did not
take so well in his theatre, we ran it only
one night. Now this proves to me that we
all do not see pictures alike, as it pleased in
my house and proved profitable at the box
office.
I see in most all the writeups that opinions
differ in most all the pictures. But still I
think this publicity is very interesting to all
show people, at least I do enjoy it very much.
Lots of times you see some exhibitor writing
that the hot weather hurts his business. That
is his fault. Do like I do — give them breezes,
cool them down. In my theatre we have no
hot days or nights. It costs money, but money
spent for cool, fresh air is the best money
a showman could spend.
Now again on the booking of pictures. My
son, who has this honorable part to control,
catches the very devil from me sometimes,
so to speak. Well, he is good natured and
does not get mad at me for flying off the
handle, but says: "My dear father, don't you
know I have to buy just what Air. Producer
offers me; that is, all the good pictures and
also all the bad ones?' And so our verdicts
in the Exhibitors Herald-World lots of
times tell us in advance when we are going
to catch h 1 or a rotten picture.
Our patrons do not understand the combina-
tion in the booking of pictures. They think
it's all the showman's fault. But when we
think all this over, let's don't worry any
more, but smile, brother, smile. — WALTER
ODOM AND SONS, Dixie theatre, Durant,
Miss.
Fox Now Making Eight;
Two Are Being Prepared;
Five in Editing Stage
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— Eight long
features are now being made by Fox, two
are being prepared for early filming and
five are being cut and edited.
Janet Gaynor soon will start "Street Fair".
F. W. Murnau is making harvest scenes for
"Our Daily Bread"; Walsh is doing "In Old
Arizona". Lou Seiler starts soon on
"Badges". Raymond Cannon is making
"Husband Are Liars", Emmett J. Flynn
"The Veiled Woman", David Butler "Chas-
ing Through Europe". Victor McLaglen
starts soon on "Life's A Gamble" and John
Blystone is preparing "Through Different
Eyes."
Just completed are "Romance of the Un-
derworld" and "The Case of Mary Brown",
"The River", "Homesick" and "Riley the
Cop".
Dorothy Gish in Play by
Author of **Jazz Singer"
(Special to the Herald-World)
DETROIT, Sept. 25.— Dorothy Gish is to
come back to the footlights. She will appear
in a new play entitled "Young Love," which
will open here Monday night. It is by Samuel
Raphaelson, author of "The Jazz Singer."
Although her screen success and history,
along with those her sister Lillian, are known
to thousands of film fans, few are aware that
Dorothy Gish deserted the speaking stage for
the "movies" when she was a mere slip of a
girl. Dorothy's leading man will be James
Rennie, star of "The Great Gatsby" and
"Crime." Others in the cast include Tom
Douglas and Catherine Willard.
Frank Newman Honored
(Special to the Herald-World)
LONG BEACH, Gal., Sept. 25.— Frank
R. Newman was the subject of a parade and
an address by the mayor when he left to
take over management of West Coast's new
house at Oakland. Lester J. Fountain suc-
ceeds him at Long Beach.
Paramount Ad Sales
Creates New Display
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— James A.
Clark, manager of the Paramount ad
sales department, today announced an
innovation in ad sales material for
exhibitors. The new display, known
as color-paint, is the size of a one-
sheet, 28 by 42 inches, containing
hand colored photographic enlarge-
ments of scenes from particular pic-
tures. The principal feature of color-
paint is its appearance of oil painting
accomplished by the use of rich col-
ors in conjunction with a varnished
linen finish.
$30,000 Suits Result of
National Supply Merger
(Special to the Herald-World)
SEATTLE, Sept. 25.— Two suits have been
filed in U. S. district court by the National
Theatre Supply Company against B. F.
Shearer, Inc. These suits grow out of the
sale of the business of B. F. Shearer, Inc.,
two years ago to National, which claims dam-
ages of approximately $30,000. One suit is
against the Shearer concern alone and the
other is against that concern and its trustees,
including B. F. Shearer and A. M. Larson.
National, in these claims, contends that un-
listed liabilities exceeded those enumerated,
and that National was forced to pay such un-
listed claims against the former Shearer con-
cern to the extent of nearly $30,000. After
the sale of B. F. Shearer, Inc., to National in
1926, B. F. Shearer remained as general man-
ager of National until December 31, 1927, ter-
minating his services by mutual consent, in
order to open a new, independent concern
known as the B. F. Shearer Company.
Reicher Back with P F L
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— Frank Reich-
er, who directed 23 five-reel pictures for
Jesse L. Lasky in 1923, is back in pictures,
playing in Jannings' "Sins of the Fathers."
It Won*t Be Long Now, Mr, Exhibitor!
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
59
Y^
WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Verdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor
CopTrlght, 192B
Incorporated in this original exhibitors report department of Exhibitors Herald, which was estab-
lished October 14, 1916, is the Moving Picture World department, "Straight from the Shoulder
Reports.**
Columbia
BEWARE OF BLONDES: Dorsthy Revier— 35%.
September 12-13. Program offering only. Title
misleading although in reality it fits the picture
Title suggests a snappy comedy drama, but picture
has very little comedy in it. It is a girl detective
story with the usual complications and nobody gets
excited. Probably 30% appeal first night, second
night poor, so comments by first nighters evidently
weren't favorable. Six reels. — J. W. Crabtree, Joy-
land theatre. Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
THE SPORTING AGE: Belle Bemiett-^8%.
September 9. Didn't think much of this. Drew well
though. Six reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Greeri, Gem
theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
THE MATINEE IDOL: Special cast— Just a little
program. Better have good shorts or double bill
it. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — Gen-
eral patronage.
THE BLOOD SHIP: Hobart Bosworth— A real
thriller from Columbia. Undoubtedly the best pic-
ture I have ever shown. Bosworth excellent. — N.
T. Mudnaney, Jr., Crown' Cinema, Karachi, India. —
General patronage.
THE ISLE OF FORGOTTEN WOMEN: Dorothy
Sebastian — Splendid. Another picture from Colum-
bia that was well received. — N. T. Mudnaney, Jr.,
Crown Cinema, Karachi, India. — General patronage.
FBO
THE BOWERY CINDERELLA: Gladys Hulette—
August 11-12. Back stage drama which should
please those who like this type. Has a good cast
and is well directed. Seven' reels. — C. O. Peterson,
Royal theatre, Saxon, Wis. — Small town patronage.
CLANCY'S KOSHER WEDDING: George Sidney
— 60%. August 4. Very good picture of its type. —
W. L. Campbell, Alert theatre, Steuben, Wis. — Gen-
eral patronage.
CLANCY'S KOSHER WEDDING: George Sidney
— A good comedy drama which was enjoyed by all.
FBO pictures which ran so far this year are usually
Kood. Six reels. — F. A. Reiss, Strand theatre, Orrin,
N. Dak. — General patronage.
DRIFTIN' SANDS: Bob Steele— September 11-12.
Sorry, Bob Steele is not staying in Westerns. He
pleases 100 per cent and believe he could be as
great a drawing card as Hoot Gibson. Five reels. —
V. E. Sherman, Midget theatre, Hillsboro, Wis. —
General patronage.
THE OUTLAW DOG: Ranger— August 22. Best
Ranger we have had so far. Good cast ■with lots of
excitement. Helen Foster and Rex Lease good.
Five reels. — C. O. Peterson, Royal theatre, Saxon,
Wis. — Small town' patronage.
LADIES BEWARE: George O'Hara— August 25-
26. A short mystery drama which we found to be
very good. Five reels. — C. O. Peterson, Royal the-
atre, Saxon, Wis. — Small tcwn patronage.
FRECKLES: Special cast — Not up to expecta-
tions. FBO have mishandled Gene Stratton Por-
ter's plays in a manner that is criminal. A natural
drawing card due to popularity of book but ruined
by indifferent treatment and how true this is in
the pieturization of most of our popular novels.
Editor's Note
Percentage ratings given by ex-
hibitors in reports to this depart-
ment are obtained in the following
manner: Average daily gross of
picture reported is divided by
average daily gross of picture hold-
ing house record to determine
relative box office value in terms
of percentage.
EXAMPLE: $75 (average daily
gross of picture reported) divided
by $100 (average daily gross of
picture holding house record)
equals .75 (percentage rating given
picture in report) .
When a picture has received
percentage ratings in 10 reports it
is entered in THE BOX OFFICE
TICKER column of "Quick Ref-
erence Picture Chart."
Pictures ten years ago were better directed than
today. The art of directing is badly slipping. People
are getting tired of the movies and the i>oor direc-
tion is the cause. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Sal-
mon, Idaho. — General patronage.
CONEY ISLAND: Lois Wilson— August 21-22.
Good progi-am picture. Photography and print good.
Seven reels. — G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold,
Iowa. — General patronage.
SALLY OF THE SCANDALS: Bessie Love-
September 7. A fine little picture and pleasing. —
M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore. —
General patronage.
WIZARD OF THE SADDLE: Buzz Barton-
September 8. Good little Western for Satxirday
night. Buzz will pan out all right if they keep him
in good stories with plenty of action like this one.
Five reels. — -William E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre,
Neillsville, Wis. — Small town' patronage.
MOON OF ISRAEL:— This is one you can step
on as it is different and will please. Has water scene
similar to one in "The Ten Commandments." Pleased
here at advanced admission. — W. L. Crouse, Ideal
theatre. Bloomer, Wis. — General patronage.
THE HARVESTER: Special cast — September 2-3,
It drew us a nice business and pleased 100 per cent.
Eight reels. — V. E. Sherman, Midget theatre, Hills-
boro, Wis. — General patronage.
RED RIDERS OF CANADA: Special casT>— Au-
gust 29. Very good feature. Good acting, scenery
beautiful. — Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre, Euxeka,
Mont. — Small town patronage.
RED RIDERS OF CANADA: Patsy Ruth Miller-
September 15. Opened with this after a summer
shutdown. Exchange failed to give booking and
send advertising in time to let our folks know what
we had coming. We had a dinky little crowd, but
those who came enjoyed the show. It is a dandy
and Patsy Ruth is certainly charming. Seven reels. —
C. E. Hopkins, The Hopkins theatre. Cotter, Ark. —
Small town patronage.
THE GINGHAM GIRL: Arthur-Wilson— Septem-
ber 1. Very good little picture, not big but as a
program picture it will get by in fine shape. Arthur
is making a big hit with my patrons. — W. L.
Campbell, Alert theatre, Steuben, Wis. — General pat-
ronage.
First National
THE HEAD MAN: Charlie Murray— 50%. Septem-
ber 3-4. A good program picture. Lucien Little-
field almost stole the picture from Murray. Kne
hot weather entertainment. Six reels. — ^E. F. Ingram,
Ingram's theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town' pat-
ronage.
HAPPINESS AHEAD: Colleen Moore— 70%. Sep-
tember 11. Another good one, it is a pleasure to
have shows that they talk about and they liked it.
Eight reels. — W. T. Biggs, Adair theatre, Adair, la. —
General patronage.
HAPPINESS AHEAD: Colleen Moore— Good en-
tertainment. Colleen and the entire cast do good
work. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. —
General patronage.
THE STRANGE CASE OF CAPTAIN HAMPER:
Special cast — 35%. September 2. Very fine acting,
full of suspense and tense interest, but very heavy,
no comedy relief at all. Personally glad to see it. —
Dewey theatre. White Salmon, Wash. — General pat-
ronage.
HAROLD TEEN: Arthur Lake— 25%. September
14. School children and young people thought it waa
great. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville,
Mich. — General patronage.
THE NOOSE: Richard Barthelmess— 80%. Best
Barthelmess for months. FMll of tense scenes and
heart interest. Eight reels. — B. C. Brown, Temple
theatre, Viroqua, Wis. — General patronage.
THREE RING MARRIAGE: Hughes-Astor— 75%.
September 5. A good program picture of circus
life. Two midgets add much to this picture, which
pleased our patrons very much, and they told us
so. Six reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's theatre,
Ashland, Ala. — Small town patronage.
THE PATENT LEATHER KID: Richard Barthel-
mess— 55%. September 10-11. A fine production that
pleased at advanced prices. However, I find that
twelve reels is too much show for this town. Ten
reels would be an elegant sufficiency. Story good,
photography good. War scenes excellent in' every
respect. Twelve reels. — J. W. Crabtree, Joyland
theatre. Corning, Ark. — General patronage.
THE LITTLE SHEPHERD OF KINGDOM COME:
Richard Barthelmess — 90%. September 13-14. I
We Repeat: — It Won't Be Long Now!
60
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
cannot say anything more for this picture than
hae been said already. It is one of the best we have
played this year, and that is saying something.
Drew exceptional business two days with increase
second day. Eight reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's
theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town patronage.
THE HAWK'S NEST: Milton Sills— Good crook
drama. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. —
General patronage.
HER WILD OAT: Colleen Moore — Excellent
comedy drama with Colleen as proprietor of night
lunch wagon who goes to fashionable summer resort
and poses as a duchess. Would call it one of her
best, but not up to "Irene" or "Sally." Drew well
on a Tuesday and Wednesday. Colleen is still a
favorite here. — ^Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon,
Idaho. — General patronage.
LADY BE GOOD: Mackaill-Mulhall— September
6-7. Very good program picture. Seven reels. —
William E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville,
Wis. — Small town patronage.
THE YELLOW ULY: Billie Dove— September 2-3.
A fine picture. My people like Billie. The picture
would have been better had it not been a costume
picture. — M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinn-
\-ille. Ore. — General patronage.
ROSE OF THE GOLDEN WEST: Mary Actor—
September 9-10. A good picture of its kind with a
good story and cast. Seven reels.^William E Trags-
dorf, TragB theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town
patronage.
WHITE PANTS WILLIE: Johnny Hines—
Johnny Hines scored in this. Would call it a
real good funny play. We ran it Saturday night to
fair crowd. Made §4.00. Business sill off. Hot
August weather. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon,
Idaho. — General patronage.
MISS NOBODY: Special cast— Well, well if old
First National didn't give in a mighty good play!
What's going to happen ? Miss Nilsson joins a
gang of tramps and goes in for adventure. Funny,
interesting, different. Book it. — Philip Rand, Rex
theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
Fox
FLEETWING: Special cast^35%. Starts out
good and falls down hard. If you can get out of
playing this, do so. — Dewey theatre. White Salmon,
Wash. — General patronage.
SEVENTH HEAVEN: Gaynor-Farrell— 100%.
September 11-12-13. My choice of the best pictures of
the season. I sold this with a money back guarantee
and pleased a 100% crowd. — Dewey theatre. White
Salmon, Wash. — General patronage.
SEVENTH HEAVEN: Gaynor-Farrell— 85%. As
all have said, this is an extra good picture and a good
box office attraction. Eleven reels. — B. C. Brown,
Temple theatre, Viroqua, Wis. — General patronage.
SEVENTH HEAVEN: Gaynor-Farrell— September
6-7-8. Truly a wonderful piece of work and every-
body said so. Eleven reels. — V. E. Sherman, Midget
theatre, Hillsboro, Wis. — General patronage.
THE BRANDED SOMBRERO: Buck Jones— 96%.
September 8. Average Jones Western. They're all
alike. Pleased the Saturday crowd. Six reels. —
Small town patronage.
BLACK JACK: Buck Jones— Good Western for
Saturday^. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. —
General patronage.
BLOOD WILL TELL: Buck Jones— August 23.
Good Western, just the picture for Saturdays. Print
and photography fair. Five reels. — P. G. Held, Strand
theatre, Griswold, Iowa. — General patronage.
SILVER VALLEY: Tom Mix— August 31-Septem-
bcr 1. The best Mix picture I have played for a
long while. Print and photography good. Six reels.
—P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la.— Neigh-
borhood patronage.
SHARPSHOOTERS: George O'Brien— August 17-
18. A good program picture. Did a fair business
for me. — M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinn-
ville. Ore. — General patronage.
THREE BAD MEN: Special cast^Second time
I have run it. Not as big a crowd as I expected.-
Saturday night too. It's one peach of a big Western.
Be sure to run it once anyway. In class with "The
Covered Wagon." — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Sal-
mon, Idaho. — General patronage.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
DANCING DAUGHTERS: Joan Crawford— 80%.
September 4-5. Here is one that will stand advance
in price, and is worth It. The younger folks will
rave ^ut it, and it will please most everyone.
Crawford, Page and Sebastian are all good, three
good stars and they are not one bit bad to look
at, a story of the jazz age and a special. I received
my first sound print but did not have what else it
required so it did me no good, but step on this
feature as it is extra good. Nine reels. — W. T.
Biggs, Adair theatre, Adair, la. — General patronage.
THE CARDBOARD LOVER: Marion Da vies — ^
50%. September 16-17. This is a very satisfactory
program. Satisfied them all. The star is funny and
had good support. Clean and entertaining — the kind
we like to run. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre,
Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
FOUR WALLS: John Gilbert^60%. August 28.
A real good show with good acting and story, if this
one is a sample of M G M for the coming year,
they have real productions. Seven' reels. — W. T.
Briggs, Adair theatre, Adair, la. — ^General patronage.
ACROSS TO SINGAPORE: Ramon Novarro— 38%.
September 11-12. It drew a fair house the first night
but was a flop the second. It was a good feature and
should deserve better treatment. Even the women
liked this very well. Seven reels. — J. A. D. Enge-
sather. Movies, Brocket, N. D. — Rural patronage.
ACROSS TO SINGAPORE: Ramon Novarro—
This had a distinct draw. Didn't see it but reports
were "good!". — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon,
Idaho. — General patronage.
UNDER THE BLACK EAGLE: Flash— 75%.
September 8. This dog does remarkable work and
while the story is war it proved a good picture.
Had no kicks. Six reels. — B. C. Brown, Temple
theatre, Viroqua, Wis. — ^General patronage.
LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT: Lon Chaney—
92%. September 7-8. Clicked at the box office.
Very good mystery but we found about 50 per
cent of our patrons thought it fine, balance just as
much the other way. Nevertheless it got plenty of
advertising after the first night which filled our
house for the second night which doesn't offend any
manager. — Newman & Gordy, Ne-Go theatre, Toronto,
Kan. — General patronage.
LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT: Lon Chaney—
First money maker since last April and this run
off in the middle of hot August. People evidently
like Chaney. Play good, very good. The title did
not fit but pshaw ! Titles never do fit anymore
but if producers knew how people kick about this
very one thing they might sit up. But no, even
if producers did realize it they would blissfully keep
on doing things in a crazy way for such is the
nature of the present day producers. Some day
we'll have brains in the industry and then everyone
will enjoy good pictures and enjoy good box office
winnings. But the present system will have to be
junk heaped first. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Sal-
mon. Idaho. — General patronage.
SPOILERS OF THE WEST: Tim McCoy— 65%.
Good Saturday picture. Plenty of action. Good
settings. Six reels. — B. C Brown, Temple theatre,
Viroqua, Wis. — General patronage.
THE MYSTERIOUS LADY: Greta Garbo— Sep-
tember 4-5. Though we didn't do a big business it
pleased, especially the ladies. — V. E. Sherman, Mid-
get theatre, Hillsboro, Wis. — General patronage.
THE PATSY: Marion Davies — September 2-3.
Very good picture, just the kind suited for her. I
hope the producers will keep her in this class of
pictures. Print and photography good. Seven reels.
— ^P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — General
patronage.
THE PATSY: Marion Davies — September 11-12.
Very good picture. This one and "The Fair Co-ed"
are both good entertainment. Eight reels. — William
E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small
town patronage.
THE LATEST FROM PARIS: Norma Shearer-
Here is a peach of a comedy drama with Norma
Shearer at her best. Not a Parisian story at all.
Norma is a traveling saleslady for a Jew ready-to-
wear suit house and how she puts it over her
rival salesman' and how she wins him is a corking
good yarn. Entertainment plus. Book it! By the
way, Metro is a good bet. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre,
Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
THE BIG CITY: Lon Chaney— Chaney always
draws well here and did so with this one. Seven
reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone,
Ariz. — General patronage.
THE STUDENT PRINCE: Novarro-Shearer—
September 9-10. This picture pleased the greater
part of our patronage. Ten reels. — V. E. Sherman^
Midget theatre, Hillsboro, Wis. — General patronage.
THE SMART SET: Willian Haines— A good pic-
ture, but not a good box office attraction here.
Seven reels. — B. C. Brown, Temple theatre, Viroqua,
Wis. — General patronage.
LAW OF THE RANGE: Special cast^Fair. Bet-
ter than Universal Blue Streaks. — Philip Rand, Rex
theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
THE RED MILL: Marion Davies— Everyone likee
Marion Davies but even she cannot bring 'em out
in hot weather. Pleased all who came. — PhiUi>
Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General pat-
ronage.
WEST POINT: Willian Haines— Good play, but
not as good as Boyd's "Dress Parade" as the latter
wafi more dramatic and somehow had more incidents
and plot. However, Haines was good and play should
go well. We fell down at box office because people
thought they had already seen it. So would not
advise showing both pictures. Nine reels. — Philip
Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General pat-
ronage.
THE UNDERSTANDING HEART: Special caet^
A forest reserve forest fire picture in California
mountains with Joan Crawford and Francis X.
Bushman, Jr., and other good actors. Very fine
picture. Story by Peter B. Kyne. Too bad the
title is not more illustrative. However, the picture
is there. Book it ! — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Sal-
mon, Idaho. — General patronage.
LOVE: Gilbert-Garbo — August 26-27. The women
surely fell for it and we did a nice business. Eight
reels. — V. E. Sherman, Midget theatre, Hillsboro,
Wis. — General patronage.
BECKY : Sally O'Neil— Didn't see it. Reports were
"pretty good." — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon,
Idaho.— General patronage.
ROSE MARIE: — Good northern story that drew
some extra business. Photography very bad as pic-
ture is too dark. — W. L. Crouse, Ideal theatre.
Bloomer, Wis. — General patronage.
ADAM AND EVIL: Special cast— A sophisticated
comedy drama but a mighty good one of the kind.
Chuckles and laughs all evening. Surprised how
well it was received. If you play these married
life comedies book this. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre,
Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
Paramount
THE FLEET'S IN: Clara Bow— 58%. I just
don't know how to start the report on this picture
because of its many excellent angles. Here is a
story of our fleet tying up at Frisco with the gobs
given the air until midnight. James Hall leads
and I want to say to you, Jimmie, that we had an
old salt who has ridden everything that sails on the
ocean to check on you and he said if you're not a
sailor he doesn't know his iodine. As for Clara,
well you know her other pictures and with a rare
exception they were triple k. o's. With this pic-
ture she has set a doggone high mark and if she
beats it she should be pinched for not checking in
at the last Olympics. Clara not only has It, she
has everything and she uses it in this one. Take
her out of the flaps for just one picture and you
will find that she cripples the corner on clay. The
best way and the shortest way to describe this
picture short and sweet is to tell you in the par-
lance of the waterfront, that if you have played all
the Bows, you ain't seen nuthin until "The Fleet's
In." Even a blotch of red in your box office won't
still your enthusiasm and that's something in these
days when a nickel in the hand is a dime in the
pocket. Eight reels. — Pioneer Pete, The Pioneer
theatre, Amasa, Mich. — Small town patronage.
STREET OF SIN: Emil Jannings— 40%. Sep-
tember 6-7. A very fine picture which 'will not
please small town audiences. Did not draw and
only a few appreciated it. This is not what the
fans want, regardless of Herr Jannings' ability to
act. Seven reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's theatre,
Ashland, Ala. — Small town patronage.
HALF A BRIDE: Esther Ralston— 50%. Septem.
ber 10-11. A fine program picture that will please
all classes. Seven reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram's
theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town patronage.
GET YOUR MAN: Clara Bow— 52%. September
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
61
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
DEAR HERALD-WORLD:
MANHATTAN, KAN., Sept. 16, 1928.
You remember back when you were a boy on the farm that time when the hogs got out
of the pen and were rooting up the potatoes and turnips and your dad told you to go chase
them back in the pen and you chased 'em for about an hour in the hot sun and you had just
gotten 'em all back when that old spotted sow broke away from the flock and you ran her
down the field for forty or fifty rods before you could head her off, and after you had them
back in the pen and the bars up and was on your way back home, so hot and tired and your
tongue hanging out that you could hardly speak above a whisper, and you remember what
you said about hogs in general, and that old sow in particular, and then as you passed your
sweetie's house on your way home she called you in and gave you a seat in the cool shade
and brought you a big glass of ice-cold lemonade, and how refreshing it was, you remember
that don't you? Well, that's the way we felt the other night when we dropped into the
Empress at Osawatomie and saw "Doomsday."
« * *
Maybe you don't know what "Doomsday" is; we didn't. We supposed from the billing
out front we were going to see Clara Bow in "Red Hair" for the seventh or eighth time but
when the picture started we said to Frazier, the manager, what the ... is this? and he
replied, "Search me, this is the first night for it, and I haven't seen it yet." Then they
flashed the cast and we noted that Florence Vidor and Gary Cooper were in it and we sat
back in our seat and got set for a regular evening's entertainment.
We have been seeing pictures and pictures for so long that we couldn't get that bunch of
hogs and that old sow out of our mind, but we took a comfortable seat and got set to enjoy
that glass of ice-cold lemonade.
So that you may know what "Doomsday" is we will inform you that it is one of those
pictures that is different. Maybe you can't gather much intelligence from this statement,
but the writer of this column doesn't deal very largely in intelligence, as you no doubt have
already discovered, but to elucidate more minutely (as Joe Hewitt of Robinson, Illinois,
would say), "Doomsday" is what Thomas 0. Service might call a "semi-pastorial picture,"
that is, it deals somewhat in a rural atmosphere with a worn fence surrounding a lot of
Holsteins and Berkshires and a few haystacks and a watermelon patch, although we didn't
see any watermelons, and Gary Cooper as the skipper on the job. Gary wanted a wife that
could make biscuit and boil a kettle of soft soap and so he undertook to cuddle up to
Florence Vidor.
* * *
Florence was a nice girl and she wanted to do the right thing and she seemed to have
palpitation of the heart every time Gary brought her a sack of potatoes, but there was an
old Gazabo that showed up occasionally and tried to persuade her that her proper station in
life was presiding in drawing rooms with strings of pearls around her neck as big as a log-
chain and that she would shine like a nigger's heel in the Paris cafes if she would become
Mrs. Gazabo.
Florence thought it over, and in thinking it over she almost had hysterics. She had one
eye on those pearls and the other on Gary Cooper and those Holsteins and that kettle of
soft soap and she finally did what most girls do, she fell for the pearls, and like most girls
also do, she made a helluva mistake, for after being in Paris a while she became disgusted
with the life and she couldn't get Gary and those Holsteins out of her mind, so she adopted
the Hollywood system and told the old gazabo to go chase himself and came back to her old
home with the hope that Gary would bring over another sack of potatoes, which he did.
Gary was always long on potatoes.
* * *
As EUmer Gailey of Wayne, Nebraska, would say, "Gary wus a purty good feller" although
he was rather exacting in his demands, and when he took a sack of potatoes over to Florence
after she had requested it and found she already had an unused sack in the pantry, he
began to wonder. WTienever a man begins to wonder, look out, there is something going
to happen. Florence noted this so she tried to cuddle up to him but Gary bucked a little
on the start, he evidently had his mind on that old gazabo, but the way Florence warmed
up to him was enough to make a man forget there was such a thing as the Republican party
or the Volstead act, and he did just what he should have done or we would have been
mad about it the balance of our life. He took Florence in his arms and she told him how
she loved Holsteins and the smell of soft soiap, and by gosh it was a dam good ending to a
mighty good picture and that's about all there is to it, except that the tide is the bunk and
won't draw you a nickel at the box office, for nobody can guess what it means, but the
picture is THERE, as all the pictures are with Florence Vidor and Gary Cooper, at least
all we have ever seen, and Paramount has redeemed itself in this one.
After you have been chasing that old sow and you want your sweetie to give you a glass
of ice-cold lemonade, just book "Doomsday" and forget about the title, but step on the
merits of the picture and the cast and after the show you will dream that every hog on
the farm is on the way to the Union Stock Yards. Now Florence, are you and Gary going
to send us your pictures? Neligh, Nebraska, is our permanent address.
* • «
Al and Joe are kicking because they say the Republicans have adopted what they term
a "whispering campaign" and they are opposed to it. We are agin it ourself. What we like
(Continued on next page)
3-4. Another hit by Clara that went over in fine
shape for us. Many favorable comments on this
one. It is a mighty good little comedy that does
not get tiresome. Six reels. — C. Josi, Viking the-
atre, Deerfield, Wis. — ^Small town patronage.
WIFE SAVERS: Beery-Hatton— 58%. September
7-8. Played two days and the second was better
than the first. This is the best since "Behind the
Front." Almost a laugh from start to finish. This
pair is hard to beat. Six reels. — Paul B. Hoffman',
Legion theatre, Holyrood, Kan. — Small town pat-
ronage.
UNDER THE TONTO RIM: Richard Arlen— «1%.
September 8. Another Zane Grey story that drew
very good. Jack Luden in his part is much better
than Richard Arlen and will bear watching. Seven
reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre. Green-
river, Utah. — General patronage.
NOW WE'RE IN THE AIR: Beery-Hatton— 50%.
It is what you may expect from the stars. O. K.
to relieve sorrowness. — C. Josi, Viking theatre. Deer-
field, Wi£. — General patronage.
RED HAIR: Clara Bow — 43%. September 1.
A very good comedy drama. Seven reels. — Mrs.
Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. —
Gneral patronage.
RED HAIR: Clara Bow— August 28-28. Good
picture. Clara Bow always good. Print and photog-
raphy fair. Seven reels. — -P. G. Held, Strand theatre,
Griswold, la. — General patronage.
HULA: Clara Bow — 30%. There were not enough
Hawaiian characters, many did not like it. — C. Josi,
Viking theatre, Deerfield, Wis. — General patronage.
THE FIFTY-FIFTY GIRL: Bebe Daniels— 100%.
September 3. Greenriver has a Melon Day every
year on Labor Day and gives free melons away.
We ran this picture on that day to good crowds.
This would have drawn well on any other day also.
Sometime ago we nominated Bebe Daniels as our
candidate in a most Popular star contest and as there
have only been four enterics we move that nomina-
tions be closed unless some more nominations come
in soon. Seven reels. — Mrs Hulda J. Green, Gem
theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
BEAU GESTE: Special cast— 75%. It is O. K.
for the one who knows how to understand those
stories. Scenes were good. 10 reels. — C. Josi, Vik-
ing theatre, Deerfield, Wis. — General patronage.
THE CITY GONE WILD: Thomas Meighan— 65%.
Better than some. — C. Josi, Viking theatre, Deerfield,
Wis. — General patronage.
SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— 50%. September 4-5.
Lloyd does not draw for us any more and the
people holler when we have to raise our prices.
The laBt two Lloyds we have played failed to get
U6 the money. Eight reels. — J. A. D. Engesather,
Movies, Brocket, N. D. — Rural patronage.
SPORTING GOODS: Richard Dix— 48%. A
good Richard Dix picture. He has always drawn well
for us. Thanks very much for the photo. Seven'
reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Green-
river, Utah. — General patronage.
THE SECRET HOUR: Pola Negri— 28%. Au-
gust 30. Pola Negri is a great actress but the
people here don't appreciate her. Seven reels. — Mrs.
Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. —
General patronage.
THE SECRET HOUR: Pola Negri— August 31.
Fellow showmen : Please take the advice of your
brother showman and do not show this picture.
I do no see how it has "stood up" as long as it
has, in a civilized country with pictures under as
severe "Censorship" as we are supposed to have.
It's vulgar, rotten. I had much rather have a
"dark house" than to run it. Am sorry, indeed, I
did not see the first show, as I would have pulled
it out and lost box receipts. My patronage is
damaged for many days to come. The very idea
in "mail-order-marriages-sweethearts." A little
woman weighing about 90 pounds being examined by
the doctor and saying over and over in the sub-
titles "She is going to have a baby," then' she is tc>
have twins, then quadruplets, then sextettes, yet
her actual size not increasing. Never marrying.
Not a ten year old boy but that can see the ridicu-
lousness of such subtitles. As I see it, the censors
absolutely fell down on the job here. But, then,
what is an exhibitor going to do, after he buys a
picture ze a good one, then' gets this? — J. F.
Pruett, Liberty theatre, Roanoke, Ala. — General pat-
ronage.
CHILDREN OP DIVORCE: Clara Bow— 25%.
September 12-13. We played this picture old, but it is
a mighty fine program and satisfied them all. — Berfe
Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. —
General patronage.
MAN POWER: Richard Dix— 45%. September
7-8. The last of the 26 and about the only on&
that we made a little money on. Fairly well but.
they all complain that it was too old. — J. A. D.
Engesather, Movies, Brocket, N. D. — Rural patronage.
THE WATER HOLE: Jack Holt— September 7-8.
A swell Zane Grey story made into a swell picture-
by the fine acting of Jack Holt, and Nancy Carroll
and flawless direction of F. Richard Jones. Print
new and photography a little blury. Technicolor
beautiful. Seven reels. — G. O. Tunstall, Midway
theatre, Martinsville, Va. — Small town patronage.
THE RACKET: Thomas Meighan— August 29-30.
A splendid underworld story with a fine cast. Well:
directed and well acted and well liked. — M. W.
Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore. — General
patronage.
THE RACKET: Thomas Meighan— Good under-
world story. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma,
Cal. — General patronage.
THE RACKET: Thomas Meighan— Augmst 23-24.
Good underworld picture ■with good actingt by th©^
entire cast, but they don't appreciate Meighan
here and therefore business only fair. Print and
photography excellent. Eight reels. — G. O. Tun-
62
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
stall, Midway theatre, Martinsville, Va. — Small town
I>atronage.
THE DRAGNET: George Bancroft — Underworld
story with too much killing for small towns. — J. L.
Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
HOT NEWS: Bebe Daniels— August 20-21. One
of the best program pictures we have run this sum-
mer. Bebe Daniels and Neil Hamilton do good
work as rival newsreel cameraman and camera-
woman. Plenty comedy and snappy titles. Business
good. Print and photography excellent. Seven reels.
— G. 0. Tunstall, Midway theatre, Martinsville, Va. —
Small town patronage.
LADIES OF THE MOB : Clara Bow— CTara was in
a somewhat different part in this, but while it was
good, and she put over the part, the writer of the
Btory has her going to jail for the love of a crook,
in this case another crook — however, in real life
(not reel life) and they generally want to kill
the crook. Otherwise it was okay. Seven reels. —
Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. —
General patronage.
HOT NEWS: Bebe Daniels — Snappy comedy
drama. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma. Cal. —
General patronage.
HOT NEWS: Bebe Daniels— August 26-27. My
people liked thLs picture. I did fair on it. — M. W.
Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore. — Gen-
eral patronage.
LADIES OF THE MOB: Clara Bow — September
4-5-6. Did not do well for me. Clara has never
been a drawing card in this town and my patrons
did not like her in this kind of a thing. — M. W.
Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore. — Gen-
eral patronage.
THE BIG KILLING: Beery-Hatton— September 3-
4. The best these two birds have turned out. A
good comedy with a good plot and good acting by
both stars. Paramount had better keep these two
together and lay off such as "Gentlemen Prefer
Blondes," and "Tillie's Punctured Romance." Six
reels. — G. O. Tunstall, Midway theatre, Martins-
ville, Va. — Small town patronage.
ADVENTURE MAD: Special cast — September 5-6.
We haven't figured out what this was all about yet.
Another life picture, and a waste of celluloid. Print
and photography fair. Six reels. — G. O. Tunstall,
Midway theatre, Martinsville, Va. — Small town pat-
ronage.
SWIM, GIRL, SWIM: Bebe Daniels — Another good
one from this star. It went over okay. Seven reels.
— E. Holt, Legion theatre, Elmwood, Wis. — Small
town patronage.
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES: Ruth Taylor
— August 27-28. About as rotten as they ever
come. Absolutely nothing to this and the patrons
told US too. Paramount should be ashamed to put
their trademark on such a picture as this.
Print and photography good. Seven reels. — G. O.
Tunstall, Midway theatre, Martinsville, Va. — Small
town patronage.
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES: Ruth Taylor
— I am just beginning a new Paramout contract and
I have talked Paramount for a whole month. Well
this is the first on the list and of all the "teetotally"
rotten things that are called pictures, you should
be ashamed of this one Paramount. This is about
the limit. I don't see how Paramount could put
their name on it. If I even thought that they had
many of these I would go out of business. I
challenge anyone in the company that I can and
will write a better story and one with more kick
by a jug full. If anyone will show me anything
•clever about the story or picture I would like to
hear about it. As for the writer, how in the world
could she find any fool to make this go, I did not
know that such lived, much lees had money enough
to buy anything. I am signing off, but I am sore
on this one. As for buying it or showing it, take
it from me and let it alone and Paramount for
goodness' sake and the company's sake put it in
a can and let it rot forever. — Russell C. Dey, Reed-
ville Movies, Reedville, Va. — General patronage.
DRUMS OF THE DESERT:— Very good Saturday
night program. Good story, acting, and comedy.
What more could you want. Made to order for
the small towns.- W. L. Grouse, Ideal theatre.
Bloomer. Wis. — General patronage.
LEGION OF THE CONDEMMED: Wray-Cooper
— September 1-2. Very good air picture but drawing
power rather weak. Fine direction. Seven reels. —
E. Holt, Legion theatr, Elmwood, Wis. — Small town
patronage.
CHANG: Special cast — September 5-6. The best
picture of its kind we have played. Interesting and
educational, and pleases all classes. — W. L. Grouse,
Ideal theatre, Elrjomer, Wis.— General patronage.
J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum
(Continued from preceding page)
in a campaign is a lotta bass drums and plenty of red fire, it keeps the boys woke up and
don't give 'em time to think, for when they get to thinking it makes it dangerous for
our party.
Today the duck season opens in Nebraska and here we are down in Kansas with the hay
fever and a disposition that would make an alligator cuss his grandmother for splashing
water on him. Walt Bradley will be coming home with a bunch of mudhens and blue
cranes and try to prove that they are canvasbacks and Canadian geese. It's strange how
some fellows marry-into pretty good families.
At Olathe we met our old friend, S. C. Andrews, who recently sold his Gem theatre to
the Kohlhorst Bros. S. C. is now on the retired list so far as business is concerned but
thinks he will have to get back into the business somewhere for he don't see how he can
endure life without the HERALD- WORLD. We told him he couldn't. The Kohlhorst Bros.
look at it that way too.
* • *
At Topeka we met Maurice W. Jenks. We lost all track of Maurice when he left Sioux
City, Iowa, some years ago. Maurice used to book some shows for our house back in the
days when the barnstormers played the tallow candle circuits, the most of which were right
off "Broadway" and were only playing the tanks to get "Atmosphere." We gave some of
'em the "atmosphere" after the first act.
Jenks & Hooper are operating the Jayhawk and several other houses in Topeka and are
enstalling the Vitaphone in one of their houses. Their musicians, projectionists and stage-
hands are now out on strike and it looks like war in Topeka. The operators and musicians
s'igned up with the managers but walked out when they would not accede to the stagehands'
demands.
Our old friend John Pattee still jams 'em in at the Pattee theatre at Lawrence. Uncle
John took us around town and showed us many places of historical interest, one being the
spot where Quantrell and his band shot 35 unarmed soldier boys under a tree after they hud
enlisted for the Civil War. Can one think of anything more horrible than that? They tell
us that the world is getting better. Well, maybe it is if they will leave out Chicago and
Philadelphia. Lawrence has improved, that's a cinch.
* * *
A Ft. Worth paper is responsible for the statement that a prominent Texas Democrat
has come out openly and declared himself for Al Smith. Good. Now if some Omaha
Republican wiU line up for Hoover it would look like this campaign was beginning to show
symptoms of sanity.
We hear a lot about the glories of California. California is probably a great state, there
is no doubt about that, but when they have their state picnics out there three-fourths of the
population turn out and register from Iowa, Nebraska or Kansas. If it wasn't for the Com
Belt, California and Detroit would be wearing patches on the seat of their pants instead
of surcingles on the beaches.
Down in Ohio a farmer set a hen on a setting of turtle eggs and when they hatched out
she was so disgusted and mad that she jumped up and licked the tar out of the first black
Brahma rooster she came to. All of which reminds us of that old saying, "We should never
count our chickens before they are hatched." But this isn't jaet what we wanted to tell you.
What we really had in mind is that in a couple or three weeks we expect to invade Iowa.
We don't like to leave these Jayhawkers, for they are a pretty nice bimch of fellows, but
Iowa needs attention. Some of the boys over there have the notion that we are seven feet
tall and weigh 340 pounds and have black, curly hair, but that's a mistake.
Our height is 6 feet nine and we weigh 117 pounds in our pajamas, only we haven't any
pajamas, we sleep in our overalls. Our hair is what you would call a maroon yellow and we
wear it in long braids, like little Lord Fauntleroy. Our nationality is part Niles, Michigan,
but mostly Hubbard squash, and we are a lover of jazz music and garlic — they go so well
together.
From this description you Iowa boys ought to be able to recognize us at a glance, and the
only thing we will ask of you is not to mistake us for Will Rogers. Bill is a friend of ours
and we would dislike to have him think we had framed up on him. Should you be away
from home when we call, leave the key to the cellar somewhere handy.
* * *
We heard a Jayhawker say the other day that Kansas would give Hoover and Curtis
250,000 majority. That bird is woozy, he made a trip to the ice box once too often. We
will bet Marie against a brick watch that he has it twenty-five thousand too high. There's no
darn sense of their claiming everything. Just because Maine went Republican is no reason
why they should claim the earth. What else could be expected of a state that lives on
codfish, basswood hams and wooden nutmegs? Gosh, but they make us tired, trjdng to
claim everything.
All right, Iowa, get out the handbills and three sheets, you're next.
P. S. — Be considerate. Jay, be considerate, remember, we've got the hay fever, and are not
responsible.
J. C. JENKINS,
The HERALD-WORLD man.
Pathe-P D C
SKY SCRAPER: William Boyd— Very much dis-
appointed In this one. Ran it as a special but it
was not a special — far from it. Two roughnecks.
however humorous cannot sustain one hoiur's en-
joyment and be the whole plot. Poor plot, i)Oor
story, acting good. Boyd's poorest play. Run' it
if you must, run it on Friday-Saturday. — Philip Rand,
Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
THE CUNGING VINE: Leatrice Joy— Leatrice
Joy was made up so ridiculously that people were hor-
ribly disappointed. We expected a knockout on this
but found play only little above average. Cecil R.
DeMille is certainly a "has been." — Philip Rand,
Rex theatre, Salmon', Idaho. — General patronage.
THE NIGHT FLYER: William Boyd— William
Boyd and Jobyna Ralston put this oven in fine shai)e.
A real good railroad drama. Good plot. One fol-
lows through the story with keen interest. Frank
Spearman 'wrote the story and Spearman is a won-
derful short story wirter. Walter Lang did a good
jog directing and Jimmy Cruze put his okay on
it. People paid their mooney to see a good melo-
drama and for once they got their money's worth.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
63
Book it I — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. —
General patronage.
THE NIGHT FLYER: William Boyd— September
1. Only fair. The heavy overacted. He sure was a
bad man. Boyd okay. — Frank Sabin, Majestic the-
atre. Eureka, Mont. — Small town patronage.
BONANZA BUCKAROO: Special cast— Didn't see
it. Reports not bo good. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre,
Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
CORPORAL KATE: Vera Reynolds— Woman's
side of war. Too much weepy stuff. Hard to follow.
Parts of it fine, other parts slow. Rather disap-
pointing. It drew fairly well. Vera Reynolds not
at her best. Director had a day off. — Philip Rand,
Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
THE LEOPARD LADY: Special cast^-Not in
special cast. Fair play. Not as big as expected. —
Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General
patronage.
GRANDMA'S BOY: Harold Lloyd— Re-issne.
Drew fairly well in hot weather (July). This July
was the poorest July in history of the house. Chau-,
tauquas, tentshows, Sunday excursions, radio, auto
and what not come like a cloud of locusts to destroy
our box office harvest. However, producers do not
want to sell pictures only on S. R. O. ideas and prices,
consequently, we exhibitors work like h — for the
producer and get nothing in return. — Philip Rand,
Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
Tiffany
WILD GEESE: Special cast— 90%. September 9.
Extra good box office picture that pleased. Business
above average. Used "Memories" colored classic
with the picture. Very fine single reel. Seven reels.
— B. C. Brown, Temple theatre, Viroqua, Wis. —
General patronage.
LIGHTNING: Special cast— Good Western for
Saturdays. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. —
General patronage.
United Artists
RAMONA: Dolores Del Rio — 98%. September
12-13. A wonderful picture at the box office and
pleased everyone. Dandy cast. This picture brought
them from nearby towns as well as home. We
could stand running more like this one. Just had
to turn them away. No S. R. O. first night. —
Newman & Gordy, Ne-Go theatre, Toronto, Kan. —
General patronage.
RAMONA: Dolores Del Rio — August 19-20-21.
A splendid picture. Well directed and ably acted
by Dolores. Splendid comments. A pleasure to
run'. — ^M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinn-
ville. Ore. — General patronage.
MY BEST GIRL: Mary Pickford— 75%. Septem-
ber 4. This is one of Mary's best, and the best
box office for a long time. Nine reels. — B. C. Brown,
Temple theatre, Viroqua, Wis. — General patronage.
MY BEST GIRL: Mary Pickford— 60%. Good pic-
ture, but cannot stand the price necessary to play
her pictures. — W. L. Campbell, Alert theatre, Steu-
ben, Wis. — General patronage.
TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS: William Boyd— 75%.
A great war comedy. Everything new and different.
If you have It booked, get behind it. — ^W. L. Camp-
bell, Alert theatre, Steuben, Wis. — General patron-
age.
TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS: William Boyd.— Sep-
tember 8. No mistake when you play this one.
A wow all through. Don't miss it. — Frank Sabin,
Majestic theatre. Eureka, Mont. — Small town patron-
age.
TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS: Special cast— Darn
funny play with great variety of scenes, stunts and
plot. Book it. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon,
Idaho. — ^General patronage.
SORRELL AND SON: H. B. Warner— 80%. Best
picture of the summer. The biggest night the 300
say. Eleven reels. — B. C. Brown, Temple theatre,
Viroqua, Wis. — General patronage.
SORRELL AND SON: H. B. Warner— August
28-29-30. A perfectly wonderful picture and business
grew each night. They're still talking about it.
Nine reels. — V. E. Sherman, Midget theatre, Hills-
boro. Wis. — General patronage.
THE DEVIL DANCER: Gilda Gray— 50%. Au-
gust 21-22-23. United Artist stars haven't a chance
in the small town due to the rotten prints. With
high rentals and big savings from lack of film in-
spection and no upkeep of prints the outfit should
make money. — Dewey theatre. White Salmon, Wash. — ,
Small town patronage.
THE DEVIL DANCER: Gilda Gray— September
9-10. Just a fair picture. Gilda is a splendid
dancer and the picture and Btoryj^ being somewhat
different helped to put it over.- — M. W. Mattecheck,
Tripod Developed for
Any Make of Camera
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— The Ake-
ley Camera Company, manufacturers
of motion picture cameras for profes-
sional use, announces a new tripod,
which is said to be the result of some
15 years of study and experiment by
the late Carl Akeley and his asso-
ciates. It can be used with any make
of motion picture camera, instead of
with the Akeley camera only, as
formerly. It is now ready for dis-
tribution to the trade.
Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore. — General patron-
age.
TOPSY AND EVA: Duncan Sisters— A fair pic-
ture but the silly antics of Topsy rather overdone.
Not much of a story but some parts fairly interest-
ing.— W. L. Campbell, Alert theatre, Steuben, Wis.
— General patronage.
THE CIRCUS: Charles Chaplin— 20%. July 19.
Pulled this after first show of a three-day run due
to print having three hundred feet missing from tight
rope walking scene. United Artist prints from
Seattle are all very poor. What's more they act like
they are proud of it. Lay off this company till they
wake tip. — Dewey theatre. White Salmon, Wash. —
General patronage.
THE GAUCHO: Douglas Fairbanks— September 3.
Splendid picture. Step on it and you'll get the
crowds. Story was good. Don't fail to play it. —
Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre. Eureka, Mont. — Small
town' patronage.
THE BLACK PIRATE: Douglas Fairbanks— Drew
only fairly well. Pleased fairly well. Men liked
it, women did not. United Artists' prices are higher
than the Himalaya Mountains and selling forces as
cold and toplofty. But then we exhibitors can find
satisfaction iri the fact that we have built and paid
for a palace for Douglas to live in and we would
suggest that Doug put up a brass inscription plate
on his royal edifice "Erected by exhibitors of the
United States from funds from the masses."
— Philip Rand, R'ex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General
patronage.
POLLYANNA: Special cast— The day after we
lost $18.00 on Hoxie we made $1.50 on Mary, so it
seems Mary is holding her own'. This was the
second time run here. The book is so well known
that a fair crowd was expected. Popular books al-
ways draw. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon,
Idaho. — General patronage.
NO MORE WOMEN: Special cast— Cannot see
why United Artists sell such old pictures. This is
a good story all right, but the old costumes spoil
the picture. — W. L. Campbell, Alert theatre, Steu-
ben, Wis. — General patronage.
Universal
WE AMERICANS: Special cast— 90%. September
2. Best box office jewel this year. The picture was
very satisfying and hands a good moral. Will go
anywhere. Nine reels. — B. C. Brown, Temple theatre,
Viroqua, Wis. — General patronage.
SKY HIGH SAUNDERS: Al Wilson— 70%. June 7.
Seemed to please. Didn't like it very much myself.
Five reels. — ^H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath,
S. C. — General patronage.
SKY HIGH SAUNDERS: Al Wilson— 40%. Sep-
tember 14. Agreeably surprised. Played one of
these aviations before, but did not please. However,
this picture went over fine and had many favor-
able comments. Photography exceptionally good.
Low percentage due to storm clouds at show time.
Five reels. — J. W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Com-
ing, Ark. — General patronage.
SKY HIGH SAUNDERS: Special cast— Fair.—
Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General
patronage.
PAINTED PONIES: Hoot Gibson— 71%. June 28.
A screem from start to finish. Slim with his sling-
shot set a bad example for the kids, but gosh, wasn't
it funny. Slim and his slingshot was the feature
of the picture, I think. Six reels. — H. B. Grice,
Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C. — General patron-
age.
THE AIR PATROL: Al Wilson— 62%. June 21.
These air stunt pictures are the same over and
over, more or less, but there's plenty of action in
this one. Five reels. — H. B. Grice, Aiken 'MilU
theatre, Bath, S. C. — General patronage.
WON IN THE CLOUDS: a! Wilson— 50%. Sep-
tember 12. This series up to this one have been
very i)Oor, but they must have used a new director
or something, as this one seemed to please what
few came in to see it. The star has been a down-
right flop for me, but if they give him the type
of stories as the above subject, he may prove a
winner. Print new. Five reels. — Stephen G. Bren-
ner, New Eagle theatre, Baltimore, Md. — General
patronage.
THAT'S MY DADDY: Reginald Denny— 75%.
August 24-25. Goodl Every comment pleasing.
Sure to satisfy all classes of patrons. — Dewey theatre.
White Salmon, Wash. — General patronage.
THAT'S MY DADDY: Rteginald Denny— August
26-27. Only a fair Denny picture. His pictures do
not draw for me. Print and photography good.
Seven reels. — P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold,
la. — Neighborhood patronage.
ONE GLORIOUS SCRAP: Fred Humes— 63%.
June 14. A good Western. Five reels. — H. B. Grice,
Aiken' Mills theatre, Bath, S. C. — ^General patron-
age.
RAWHIDE KID: Hoot Gibson— 75%. Only fair
Western. Not enough knock 'em down, drag 'em
out in this to please my Saturday night unwashed,
long-haired Hoovererats from out in the woods. I
wouldn't wonder they hear Hoot was going to vote
for Al and got up a whispering campaign against
him. Ether that or else they saw Hoot play in
"Trick of Hearts" and decided he had become so
sissy they didn't care about seeing him any more.
Six reels. — J. W. Crabtree, Joyland theatre. Corning,
Ark. — General patronage.
QUICK TRIGGER: Fred Humes— 40%. Septem-
ber 15. A good action Western picture. Gave sat-
isfaction.— Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
A MAN'S PAST: Conrad Veidt— 73%. June 25.
A perfect picture. It seems to have everything.
Six reels. — H. B. Grice, Ailken Mills theatre, Bath,
S. C. — General patronage.
ON YOUR TOES: Reginald Denny— 74%. June 4.
An' exhibitor who wants a better picture than this
one should be shot at sunrise. Six reels. — H. B.
Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C— General
patronage.
A HERO FOR A NIGHT: Glenn Tryon— 62%.
June 18. An aviation comedy that should please
everyone, which includes Lindbergh, if he ever goes
to the movies. Six reels. — H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills
theatre, Bath, S. C. — General patronage.
THE THIRTEENTH JUROR: Special casf^^9%.
June 11. I didn't see this one but the operator
(projectionist — excuse me, Mr. Richardson) said it
was good. Six reels. — H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills
theatre, Bath, S. C. — General patronage.
FLYING COWBOY: Hoot Gibson— Will please if
your patrons like Westerns. Hoot does some good
riding in this one.— R. K. Lattin', Strand theatre,
Valparaiso, Neb. — General patronage.
FLYING COWBOY: Hoot Gibson— September
14-15. Hoot surely has pleanty followers here and
everyone thinks this picture one of his best. Six
reels.- V. E. Sherman, Midget theatre, Hillsboro,
Wis. — General patronage.
GOOD MORNING, JUDGE: Reginald Denny-
Good little picture that pleased our Saturday night
crowd.— R. K. Lattin, Strank theatre, Valparaiso,
Neb. — General patronage.
RED HOT LEATHER: Special cast— We lose
eighteen dollars one night on "rain-in-the-face"
Jack Hoxie which goes to show how popular that
sad faced gentleman is with our cowboys. Won't
someone please write a corking good Western drama
for Uncle Carl so that we can' have a real bet from
his film factory for once. "You Will Be Glad to Pay
More," like h 1.— Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Sal-
mon, Idaho. — General patronage.
TRICK OF HEARTS: Hoot Gibson— Hoot drew
them in for Saturday night. Saw it, but can't re-
member it. However, Hoot is a good bet and is only
one of Universal that means a dollar for me. What
would Carl do without Hoot I— Philip Rand, Tex
theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
TRICK OF HEARTS: August 24-25. About like
all the rest of Gibson's pictures. The Gibson pic-
tures do not draw for me like they used to, they are
too much the same. Hoot will have to do some-
thing different soon and get away from the same-
ness. Print and photography good. Six reels. — P. G.
Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — Neighborhood
patronage.
SPURS AND SADDLES: Art Acord— Blue Streak
Westerns hold our record for losses. This failed to
pull. Uncle Carl talks so big and gives so little.
Perhaps that is master^showmanship — but "it won't
be long now." Didn't see this play — very few didt
64
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
But who wants to see Art Acoid. — Philip Rand, Rex
theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
LES SnSERABLES: Special cast— Drew well and
interested. Much better than a previovis showing.
Nine reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre, Tomb-
stone, Ariz. — General patronage.
Warner Bros.
DOMESTIC TROUBLES: Special cast— 60%. Au-
gust 20. A fine show with a poor title. Promise
anything to fill the house. Everybody will go out
happy. It's very pleasing. — Dewey theatre. White
Salmon, Wash. — General patronage.
SUGHTLY USED: May McAvoy— 30%. Septem-
ber 11. This is an extra good program picture. Story
good and stars always good.— Bert Silver, Silver
Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patron-
age.
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC: Monte Blue— 25%.
September 10. Good program picture, but my bunch
are filled up to the neck with war pictures. I struck
a very hot night and between the weather and war
I don't know which caused a very poor attendance.
Print good. Seven reels. — Stephen G. Brenner, New
Eagle theatre, Baltimore, Md. — General patronage.
THE LITTLE SNOB: May McAvoy — September 5.
Only a program picture and will get by as such. —
Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre. Eureka, Mont.— Small
town patronage.
State Rights
ACCUSED: Dorothy Drew— 10%. September 13..
Very poor offering. Nothing to it. Print good.
Five reels. — Stephen G. Brenner, New Eagle theatre,
Baltimore, Md. — General patronage.
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLAR REWARD: Ken
Maynard — 60%. September 11. Not up to the
standard of the First National Maynards, but it is a
darn good Western and the bathing beauties sup-
porting star are sure easy to look at. Print new.
Five reels. — Stephen G. Brenner, New Eagle theatre,
Baltimore, Md. — General patronage.
WILFUL YOUTH: Kenneth Harlan— August 15.
Good, interesting drama of the California forests.
Very interesting and should please. Six reels. —
0. O. Peterson. Royal theatre, Saxon, Wis. — Small
town patronage.
Serials
LIGHTNING HUTCH: (State Rights) Charles
Hutchison — As good as the average serial. Photog-
raphy poor, but this serial is full of new things and
is interesting from start to finish. Ten chapters. —
Stephen G. Brenner, New Eagle theatre, Baltimore,
Md.— General patronage.
TRAIL OF THE TIGER: (Universal) Special cast
— ^We have just finished this serial and find that it
was a money getter for us. — E. S. Wright, Red-
wood theatre. Redwood, N. Y. — General patronage.
Short Subjects
EDUCATIONAL
JELLY FISH: A very fair comedy. Two reels.—
J. A. D. Engesather, Movies, Brocket, N. D. — Rural
patronage.
KINOGRAMS: Wish the editor of this news would
find something to use besides horse races. One reel.
— E. Holt, Legion theatre, Elmwood, Wis. — General
patronage.
LISTEN SISTER: Lupino Lane — Very good com-
edy. Has the laughs. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre,
Selma, Cal. — General patronage.
LIVE NEWS: A good comedy. Lots of action.
Two reels. — E. Holt, Legion theatre, Elmwood, Wis.
— General patronage.
MOVIELAND: Personally I did not care very
much for it, but it brought most of the a big bunch
of laughs, so why should I say that it was anything
but very good. Two reels. — J. A. D. Engesather,
Movies, Brocket, N. D. — Rural patronage.
SIMPLE SAP: Larry Semon — One of the greatest
food throwing comedies, "not pie" but the whole
grocery store. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre,
Greenville. Mich. — General patronage.
FBO
GONE AGAIN: Charley Bowers — Another novelty
comedy which pleased. — C. O. Peterson, Royal thea-
tre, Saxon, Wis. — Small town patronage.
HEAVY HIKERS: Three Pat Men— A "ton of
tun" in another good one. Two reels. — C. O. Peter-
■on. Royal theatre, Saxon, Wis. — Small town patron-
Mte.
MICKEY'S BATTLE: Acted entirely by a cast of
Yeah, It's a Long and
Hard Road to Justice!
(Special to the Herald-World)
. ALBANY, Sept. 25.— After driving
for nearly 150 miles, encountering
several detours and seeing a £ve-ton
truck topple over the bank in front
of him, B. J. MacCellan, exhibitor of
Millbrook, N. Y.. arrived in Albany
last week an hour after bis case bad
been up before the Albany £lm board
for consideration. Explaining the
reason for his tardy arrival, Mac-
Clellan had his case reconsidered.
children and is good for its type. Two reels.— C. O.
Peterson, Royal theatre, Saxon, Wis. — Small town
patronage.
BAH! RAH! RAH!: Al Cooke — Consider Al Cooke
a good comedian. As good as usual in this. Miss
Kit Guard, however. Two reels. — ^C. O. Peterson,
Royal theatre, Saxon', Wis. — Small town patronage.
SHOOSH: Charley Bowers— These get tiresome
after a while. Make these into a one reel novelty
and they would be good, but Charley Bowers is no
comedian. Two reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem
theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
THREE MISSING LINKS: Three Fat Men— "piese
three heavies are almost always good, and this is no
exception. Plenty of fun in these. Two reels. —
C. O. Peterson, Royal theatre, Saxon, Wis. — Small
town patronage.
WANDERING WAISTLINES: Three Fat Men—
The three fat men are good, but do not play
often. Two reels. — W. L. Campbell, Alert theatre,
Steuben, Wis. — General patronage.
FOX
A COW'S HUSBAND: First reel not so good, but
when they put the roller skates on' the cow it starts
rolling along. Two reels.— W. T. Biggs, Adair the-
atre, Adair, la. — ^General patronage.
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
ASSORTED BABIES: Oddity— Fair.— Philip Rand,
Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
BLOW BY BLOW: Max Davidson — You are the
best comedian in two reeelers today, bar none, and
it is a pleasure to see your facial studies on the
screen'. You can come as often as you like. This
comedy was good. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon,
Idaho. — General patronage.
THE CALL OF CUCKOO: Max Davidson— This is
the poorest comedy yet received from Metro and is
still up to most other film company's comedies.
There is not much to this one, although Davidson is
always good to look at as a comedian. Two reels.
— W. L. Campbell, Alert theatre, Steuben, Wis.-
General patronage.
FAIR AND MUDDY: A splendid comedy. Two
reels. — M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinn-
ville. Ore. — General patronage.
FIGHT FOR LIFE: Oddity — Terrible gruesome.
Sea monsters in survival of the fittest. Not at all
pleasant. Wonderful though! — Philip Rand, Rex
theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
HIDDEN DEATH TRAPS: Oddity— Extra fine.
Wonderful in fact. — .Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Sal-
mon, Idaho. — General patronage.
THE LION HUNT: Oddity— Fair.-Philip Rand,
Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
PLEASURE BEFORE BUSINESS: Max Davidson
— Only fair. Max Davidson pleasing. — N. T. Mud-
naney, Jr., CrovTn Cinema, Karachi, India. — ^General
patronage.
PUTTING PANTS ON PHIUP: Laurel-Hardy—
Very good comedy and gets the laughs, that's what
we buy comedies for. — W. L. Campbell, Alert the-
atre, Steuben, Wis. — General patronage.
SHOULD MARRIED MEN GO HOME?: Laurel-
Hardy — Very good comedy, will please the golf bugs.
Two reels. — W. T. Biggs, Adair theatre, Adair, la. —
General patronage.
WHAT EVERY ICEMAN SHOULD KNOW: An-
other good one. Metro comedies get more laughs
for me than any other comedies since the two reel
Harold Lloyds. Two reels. — W. L. Campbell, Alert
theatre, Steuben, Wis. — ^General patronage.
YOU'RE DARN TOOTIN': Laurel-Hardy- Good,
except finish, which took off the good flavor. Two
reels. — M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinn-
ville. Ore. — General patronage.
YOU'RE DARN TOOTIN': Laurel-Hardy— With-
out a doubt this team cannot be beat. A Laurel-
Hardy poster on your front means twenty minutes
of real entertainment in your theatre. Print very
good. Two reels. — Stephen G. Brenner, New Eagle
theatre, Baltimore, Md. — General patronage.
PARAMOUNT
NO PUBLICITY: Edward Horton— Good. Two
reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre. Green-
river, Utah. — General patronage.
WATER BUGS: Billy Dooley— Good comedy. Two
reels. — Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre. Green-
river, Utah. — General patronage.
PATHE
ALICE DAY COMEDIES: All of these are good.
Two reels. — ^Mrs. Hulda J. Green, Gem theatre,
Greenriver, Utah. — General patronage.
BUMPING INTO BROADWAY: Harold Lloyd— A
treat to any audience. They just don't make com-
edies these days with the pep they used to inject
into comedies a few years back. Print fair. Two
reels.^ — Stephen G. Brenner, New Eagle theatre, Bal-
timore, Md. — General patronage.
CURED IN EXCITEMENT: Just fair. Few
laughs. Two reels. — Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre.
Eureka, Mont. — Small town patronage.
HER SECOND HONEYMOON: Taylor Holmes—
This is good. Could not help it with this pair,
Holmes-Baird. Two reels.— Bert Silver, Silver Fam-
ily theatre, Greenville, Mich. — (General patronage.
LOVE MY DOG: Our Gang— Good Our Gang
comedy, but it is somewhat similar to "Barnum
Ringling, Inc.," another Gang comedy released
through Metro. Print good. Two reels. — Stephen G.
Brenner, New Eagle theatre, Baltimore, Md. — Gen-
eral patronage.
SMITH'S UNCLE: Good comedy. Plenty laughs.
Two reels. — Frank Sabin', Majestic theatre. Eureka,
Mont. — Small town patronage.
TIPFANY-STAHL
TREASURE ISLAND: Color Classic— These col-
ored one reelers of Tiffanys are all fine and will
highlight any program. — Bert Silver, Silver Family
theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
UNIVERSAL
THE COLLEGIANS: George Lewis— "Junior Year."
This is starting the new series, and if they hold up
to the opener they will be great. One of the beet
two reelers ever made to please a school crowd. Two
reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Green-
ville, Mich. — General patronage.
GEORGE MEETS GEORGE: A good funny com-
edy. Two reels. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre,
Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
A MAN OF LETTERS: "Let George Do It" series.
Just a fair two reel comedy. Print fair. — Stephen
G. Brenner, New Eagle theatre, Baltimore, Md. —
General patronage.
McGINNIS VS. JONES: Not for our people, who
do not understand the royal game of golf. Person-
ally, thought, it was the bunk, and also think all
these "Passing the Jones" are the bunk. Is Wool-
worth or Kresge putting them out? — Philip Rand,
Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage.
THE RING LEADER: Jack Perrin— These short
Westerns are all very good, and are great to use
when you have a short feature. Print fair. Two
reels. — Stephen G. Brenner, New Eagle theatre,
Baltimore, Md. — General patronage.
MISCELLANEOUS
LE'rS GO FISHING: Interesting scenic of Hol-
land. One reel. — C. O. Peterson, Royal theatre,
Saxon, Wis. — Small town patronage.
WHEN MATCHES STRUCK: Matches do the act-
ing in this novelty. One reel. — 'C. O. Peterson,
Royal theatre, Saxon, Wis. — Small town' patronage.
Afo Losses in the Box Office
TT" /SsE® Sim,
ICKET REGISrEI^
Automatic Ticket
RcGisircR Corp.
723 SbVENf H Av&New York
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
65
Y^
NEW PICTURES
In "New Pictures" the EXHIBITORS
HERALD AND MOVING PICTURE
WORLD presents in concise form infor-
mation on current and forthcoming attrac-
tions.
The facts as presented will serve exhib-
itors in booking and in the preparation of
their advertising campaign.
CRASH, THE: First National drama, with Milton
Sills, Thelma Todd. "Wade Boteler, William Demar-
est, Fred Warren, Sylvia Aehton and De Witt
Jennings. Directed by Eddie Cline. Released
. _. LengthL
TYPE AND THEME: Something hardboiled
for the ersttvhUe college professor. Dr. Sills. He's
Flannagan, boss of a railroad wrecking crew, in
this story laid along the mountain route of a
railway. Into the little town comes a burlesque
troupe, with Daisy McQueen as its most fetching
■member. Flannagan looks upon her, woos her
and wins. Both are pretty violent people and it
looks like a rough and fatal sea for their matri-
monial bark. Still, what happens cam not be
blamed on Daisy. The manager of the burlesque
troupe visits her one night when Flannaoan is
none. He wants her to go away with him. Flan-
nagan suddenly returns. A silhouette of a man
and a woman, as if kissing, darkens his curtain.
His mind needs no making up. He thrashes the
manager, casts out his wife. . . Daisy and her
child wander. Flannagan takes to drink, losing
his job. Then news comes of a tremendous wreck.
Flannagan learns that Daisy and his child are in
it. Inducing his former boss to rehire him, Flan-
nagan, through his wit and strength, saves them.
And the family is again united.
BELLAMY TRL4L, THE: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
melodrama, with Leatrice Joy, Betty Bionson, Ed-
ward Nugent. George Barraud. Margaret Living-
ston. Kenneth Thomi)eon, Margaret Deddon,
Charles B. Middleton and Charles Hill Mailes.
Directed by Monta Bell. Released.
Length 7,626.
TYPE AND THEME: This one is based on a
■novel by Frances Noyes Hart and is a mystery
surrounding the murder of one Mimi Bellamy.
She has been found stabbed to death in the
gardener's cottage on the Thome estate. Circum-
stances implicate her husband and Mrs. Stie Ives.
They are brought to trial and testimony discloses
that Mrs Ives' h-usband, Pat, was once engaged to
Mimi; that he was secretly meeting her ju^t prior
to her murder; that Mimi was blackmailing Pat
by demanding money for the return of a packet
of letters written ten years before. This evidence
seems conclusive proof of the guilt of the defend-
ants. But abruptly a young man comes forward,
testifying that he and his sweetheart, meeting
■near the cottage the night of the murder, saw that
the prisoners did not commit the murder. And
later, Pat's aged mother confesses that she killed
Mimi. She feared that her son and Mimi were
going to elope. The judge, pitying the old woman,
declares the present trial over.
The groom keeps a weather eye out for
trouble as his chorus girl-bride displays
perilous charm. This is a scene from,
First National's "The Crash" and shows
the star, Milton Sills, and his feminine
lead, Thelma Todd. Edward Cline di-
rected.
GANG WAR : F B O melodrama, with Olive Borden,
Jack Pickford, Eddie Gribbon, Walter Long and
Frank Chew. Directed by Bert Glennon. Released
Length _
TYPE AND THEME: The title_ says most
everything about the type of this picture. The
plot goes something like this: Blackjack is a gang
leader. Luego is another. Luego's gang is con-
tinv/illy hi-jacking Blackjack's beer trucks. In
the same district of Sam Francisco is a cheap dance
hall. Flowers is a pretty hostess. Clyde is a clever
saxophone player. She is just learning to love Clyde
when Blackjack lets her know that he wants her.
One night Clyde leaves the hall dejected. Flowers
follows him to cheer him up. He goes home with
her. At home, however, she fights to stop him,
telling him, she is afraid Blackjack ■will kill him.
Just then she sees the gang leader. Just come
from a big fight with Lmego, he seeks Flowers.
To save Clyde, Flowers tells him she loves him —
and she leawes to marry him. l/tiego's gang ar-
rives, seeking BUickjack. Thinking that he is
Flowers' ■man, Clyde conceals his whereabouts.
Learning of this. Flowers turns on Blackjack,
denies she loves him and teUs him of Clyde's
action. Blackjack goes to Luego's stronghold,
where Clyde is held prisoner, and gives himself up
for Clyde's safety. Flowers and Clyde walk into a
new life.
* * *
GLORIOUS TRAIL, THE: First National Western,
with Ken Maynard, Gladys McConnell, Frank Hag-
ney, Les Batee, James Bradbury, Jr., Billy Fransy
and Chief Yowlache. Directed by Albert Rogell.
Released _ Length 5,700.
TYPE AND THEME: Ken Maynard in a pic-
ture based upon actual historical incidents in the
development of the West. He is a scout whose
friend, a ■member of the camp stringing the first
telegraph wires connecting the East and West, is
killed by India/ns attacking the camp at the instiga-
tion of a villairwus trader who does not ■want the
telegraph to interfere with his business of selling
supplies to the settlers and then have the Indians
attack the supply wagons, kill the drivers and bring
the ■merchandise back to be re-sold. He has per-
suaded the Indians that the telegraph will mean
their extermination. Through the aid of a girl,
Pat O'Leary (Maynard) outtvits the renegade white
■man and gets supplies to the telegraph camp.
When it is besieged by Indians, he makes a con-
nection with the cut wires and summons the soldiers
from the nearest fort to the rescue. The IndioM
chief kills the renegade white ■man and Pat finds
himself engaged to the girl.
* * *
RIVER PIRATE, THE: Fox melodrama, with Victor
McLaglen, Lois Moran. Nick Stuart, Earle Foxe,
Donald Crisp and Robert Perry. Directed by
William K. Howard. Released Length
TYPE AND THEME: About the doings of
river rats along the waterfront of New York.
Sandy is a good kid, but tough. When a buUy
throws him out of Candler's shop, he hurls a ■marlin-
spike at him. Marjorie Caxton, daughter of a
detective, has seen the episode, and when Sa/ndy
is arrested, tries to get her father to intervene.
But Sandy is sent to a reform school. There he
is thro-wn in with Frink (McLaglen), and ■when
Frink is given parole, he enables Sandy to escape.
Both join with Shark to steal from ships. Cauxton
questions Shark on the case and gets the fellow's
promise that he'll Up him off when there's to be
a job. Shark does, blabbing in front of Marjorie,
who follows her father to the raid. Frink and
Sandy are caught, but the boy is released when
Frink offers to "take the rap" for him. Caxton
consents to Marjories ■ma^rriage to Sandy.
* * •
SHOW PEOPLE: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer comedy-
drama, with Marion Daviee, William Haines, Dell
Henderson, Paul Ralli, Ten'en Holtz, Harry Gribbon,
Sidney Bracy, Polly Moran and Albert Conti.
Directed by King Vidor. Released...-
Length 7,453.
TYPE AND THEME: This one is a yam about
the _ folks who entertain ■us, written by Agnes
Christine Johnston and lAitorence Stallings, co-au-
thor of "What Price Olory." Peggy, who hopes
to be a great star someday, arrives in Hollywood,
accompanied by her father. Colonel Pepper. They
are Southerners, which pa/rtly accounts for the
Colonel's dignity and his daughter's beauty. Peggy
is a rather upstage little gcU and gets some atten-
tion. On.e incliiied to look her over is Billy Boone,
a comedian,. Billy tells her to report to his studio
the following day. She does — and is ■no ■more in-
side the door than she is the accidental target of
custard pies, etc. The picture is a success. But
Peggy aspires to drama. She's given a chance
at it, but proving temperamental, loses it again.
Back in comedies again — and with Billy Boone.
This Week's Press Sheet
GLORIOUS TRAIL, THE (First National Western) : "The
Glorious Trail" offers you a natural for a tie-up with local tele-
phone companies. It is an epic of the route blazed through
the wilderness by the men who erected the first telegraph
poles and strung the first telegraph lines. Get your local
telegraph manager to display stills in his windows. In most
of the localities it will also be found possible to have the
telegraph company insert in every delivered telegram a small
notice somewhat along these lines, " 'The Glorious Trail' a
First National picture starring Ken Ma3mard, is the screen
epic of the transcontinental telegraph. See this great picture,
and learn how daring pioneers risked their lives in order that
you may send a wire across the country. The picture comes
to the theatre (date) and you can send a telegram
anytime."
Probably an interesting arresting ballyhoo you could use in
connection with "The Glorious Trail," would be an old fash-
ioned prairie schooner, such as was used by early settlers when
journeying across the plains. A little search through your
local livery stable might unearth one. Have the schooner
driven by a man and a woman dressed in pioneer fashion. On
the rear of the wagon, display cards and signs relative to the
showing of "The Glorious Trail." One such sign might
read, "We are following the trail to 'The Glorious Trail' at the
theatre on (date)."
You will find several angles in "The Glorious Trail"
through which you can get striking window displays. For
one thing, visit your leading art-store and arrange for a win-
dow display of paintings depicting scenes of Indian life or of
white settlers in the West. Include in this display several of
the most exciting stills from the picture and a special card
reading, "With the same fidelity as used by famous artists, you
will find Indian life in the far West depicted in 'The Glorious
Trail' showing at the theatre (date)."
66
EXfflBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
Y^
CHICAGO PERSONALITIES
By Whit
A PRICE cutting war among Chicago theatres is producing a rather dis-
astrous effect on theatre business, according to Jack Miller, who has re-
. cently sent out a letter to film exchanges and members of the Exhibi-
tors Association setting forth the effects of the price war. Miller's letter names
Lubliner and Trinz as the chief offender in the price cutting. It is under-
stood that Miller has asked for a meeting between the members of his associa-
tion and the Chicago Film Board of Trade to iron out the trouble. Joe Abram-
son, secretary of the board, denied all knowledge of the proposed meeting Fri-
day. However, it is believed that some action will be taken in the near future.
Yom Kippur surely did put a crimp in the off the Chief and on the Century, and Thurs-
show business Sunday. The loop looked more
deserted tlian it does on a very blue Monday.
* * *
But perhaps all the blame should not be
placed on the holiday, for that wind Sunday
had an Artie edge on it.
* * *
Dave Dubin, maestro of Educational sales
hereabouts, underwent a minor operation on
his nose Friday at the Michael Reese hospital.
He will be there until the latter part of this
week.
* * *
We received a card from our old friend
Joe Lyon the other day. Mr. and Mrs. Lyon
have been enjoying a summer of fishing and
camping in the woods of Canada and Wiscon-
sin. We'll bet Joe has accumulated enough
fish stories to last him the rest of his Hfe.
* * *
"Tempest," the United Artists picture star-
ing John Gilbert, which has just closed at the
United Artists theatre, broke the house record
for the first week. It was formerly held by
"The Gaucho."
^ ^ 4:
Dropping into the U A exchange Friday
we found M:essrs. Rosenthal and Fischer in a
happy frame of mind, which according to
them, was due to the splendid business of the
organization, and in proof of the statement,
Rosenthal informed us that the entire Finkel-
stein and Ruben circuit had just been closed
for the 100 per cent U A program.
* * *
The Admiral opens the first of the month
with pictures, seven changes a week, under the
management of G. & E., which happens to be
Goldberg and Evans. They also operate the
Lincoln Hippidrome.
* * *
Frank Flaherty has resigned from Fox.
Grohe and Loeb will split the territory for-
merly covered by him.
* * *
We met Charlie Ryan on the row Friday.
We always like to have a chat with Charlie
because he's always doing something in the
Buckmgham and Julian that's worth hearin?
about.
* * *
Bob Curwood, Universal he-man-of-the-
wide-open-spaces actor, was in town last week.
* * *
Fellows along the row Friday were asking
Jack Miller, "Whereyu getyu tips. Jack?" It
seems that jack had been out to the races and
— . Well, ask Jack about it.
* * if
Harvey Day, sales manager for Kinograms,
was in town last Friday.
* * *
Film stars were quite numerous in Chicago
last week. Wednesday Jack Gilbert hopped
day Alice Day did likewise. She was on her
way East to make talking sequences for
"Times Square," a Gotham-Bristolphone pic-
ture. Paluine Starke and her husband, Jack
White of Educational, also passed through as
did Mr. and Mrs. Louis Mayer and Marjorie
Daw.
^ ^ ^
If you happened to be at State and Madi-
son Sunday night you saw quite a jam of
pedestrians all craning their necks at a man
and woman going into the Castle theatre.
This particular couple happened to be Mrs.
Edith Rockefeller McCormick and Edward
Krenn. The picture at the Castle, if you must
know, was and is "The Scarlet Woman," a
Columbia picture, which is being given a
"sound" performance via Dramaphone, a new
musical device manufactured in Chicago.
* * *
Sam Abrams has taken over the Strand
theatre, formerly operated by I. Ettelson, Jr.
* * *
We heard Friday that Morrie Salkin has
taken over the Symphony theatre on Chicago
Avenue and is to begin operation quite soon.
^ ♦ ♦
Well, well, next Saturday at midnight we
catch up with that hour we lost last Spring.
Well, we can use it.
^ sf: ij;
The Oriental these days is proudly herald-
mg the news that Paul Ash, the long-haired
Rajah of Jazz, is due back at his old hangout
the last of the month. And the hearts of ten
thousand gum-chewers beat a little faster !
Frank Ishmael "slayed" us last week because
we erroneously recorded the success he has
had lately m signing new contracts. Well
weve sorta lost track of all the contracts
he has obtamed but a rough estimate would
be at about the rate of one a day for the last
two weeks or more.
Ah, Well! Man Musi Be
Satisfied With a Little
(Special to the Herald-World)
KANSAS CITY, Sept. 25.— Im-
agine the excitement here when word
was passed around that Antonio
Moreno was being married in the
chambers of a judge at the court
house! A crowd gathered hoping to
catch a glimpse of the Elm star.
Suddenly came a cry, "There he is!"
And there he was — Antonio Moreno
— blushing to the tips of his ears.
But he was not the motion picture
star. Only a cousin, he admitted.
Alice Day stops in Chicago on her
way to New York to make talking
sequences for the Gotham Bristol-
phone picture, "Times Square."
(Herald-World photo.)
B&K Stock Up 6 Points;
Credited to Sound Films
Balaban & Katz stock made a spurt of
more thata 6 points to a record high of 86J4
on Monday and held all its gain to the close.
Increased income since sound installations
was credited for the gain, and market re-
ports said earnings this year will approxi-
mate $10 a share, comparing with $6.89 last
year. Eastern buying swelled the turnover
above 6,000 shares.
^»
253 Broadcastings of
Song Aid ''Street Angel
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— A total of 253
broadcastings of "Angela Mia", theme song
of "Street Angel", Fox picture with Janet
Gaynor and Charles Farrell, has been made
through ten New York stations, with 109
chain broadcasts of six stations or more.
Pathe Names Mochrie
To Succeed Humphries
(Special to the Herald-World)
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.— R. Mochrie, who
has been Pathe branch manager at Pittsburgh,
has been assigned to the Philadelphia office to
succeed W. G. Humphries, who has resigned.
A. Goldsmith succeeds Mochrie as Pittsburgh
manager.
Winchell F&R Publicist
(Special to the Herald-World)
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 25.— Charles Win-
chell has been named publicity director for
Finkelstein & Rubin. Winchell, formerly pub-
licity director in St. Paul, succeeds E. V.
Seibel who has been transferred to the Strand
theatre publicity post, from which Al Allard
resigned in order to become art editor of a
Minneapolis screen publication.
Dickinson Opens Another
(Special to the Herald-World)
JUNCTION CITY, KAN., Sept. 25.— The
new Uptown theatre of the Glen W. Dick-
inson circuit will open next Monday with
"Four Walls" on the screen, Jerry Baker at
the organ, and Bratton Brothers, enter-
tainers.
Myrtle Valsted Dies
Myrtle Christine Valsted, winner of the
title of "Miss Chicago" in the 1927 contest,
died last week at Hollywood, where she was
appearing in motion pictures.
Titles 21st Picture
HOLLYWOOD. — Morton Blumenstock is titling
his first consecutive picture for Columbia. It is
"Driftwood."
Recognizing the fact that changes
in method come in the splendid
advancement of the motion picture
industry, the Eastman Kodak Com-
pany continues its own forward
march and maintains its supremacy
in presenting to the trade
Eastman Panchromatic
Negative
Type 2
— a perfected^ proven product
for the cinematographer
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
ireuits of Hundreds of Theatres
Build Business
with the Talking Ne^wsreel
Every theatre circuit in America,
practically, plays Movietone w^s.
Consider this impressive list:
Publix
Loeiv
Stanley
Saenger
Skouras
Interstate
' ■' iHohlitzel )
Libson
Sparks
Comerford
Ed Fay
West Coast *^m.
United Artists
Finkelstein & Rubin
Nathahson
Fred J. DoUe
From Coast to Coast Americans are
hearit^i; ;Uie world^s ne^vs just as it
fiappensT In London, Ontario or
London, England; in Paris, Illinois or
Paris, France-- thanks to the far-flung
cameras and microphones of Fox— the
ifirorld^s greatest ne^irsgathering
organization.
It speaks for itself!
>' ' ^^s^
dkiAiarih
-.»_»- >.«..... ...... ^ . - ^ m.^ -■-_^-»-^-»-»-»_-- ^^-m-j^»_M ■ ■ ■ gi
ExemiTOM
* * *i
.^-..--,....-,...-p — -.. .. ....
Paradise, Chicago, entirely equipped \
Balaban and Katz
John Eberson, Arch,
I
MAJOR
Chromium Plated
Reflector Equipment
OH
f ili iff I i £- '- '"^
,,.^<^^xj
Major Equipment Co.
4603 Fullerton Ave., Chicago
^■^rysp^^^e"*-^! Ill
^ft^^^^TP"
Originators of complete Chromium Plated
Theatre Reflector Design and Manufacture
Whole Vol 92, No. 13 (Vol. 35, No. 3)
September 29, 192S
nz
c-
'(:
m
f ',WJ
^i
^^- \
r"//
uilt up to
aa ideal and
not down to
a price
I
B^
REG U S PAT OFT
'-'tJ^
OJ^GANS
Factories, North Tonawanda, New York
BUFFALO
CHICAGO
CINCINNATI
CLEVELAND
DETROIT
KANSAS CITY
LOS ANGELES
NEW YORK
PHILADELPHLA
PITTSBURGH
SAN FRANCISCO
ST. LOUIS
' ' I n 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 II 1 1 r ij 1 1 1 ij I J 1 1 1 1 n 1 1 1 <
,j(«r|
WURLITZER FACTORY
■ N. Tonawanda, N. Y.
.1 September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
THE MAGIC DISC
New Record Service including special Sound Records now available for
Phototone Exhibitors — Write Us,
Yes Magic, when played on the Phototone, the sweetest, clearest
reproduction you have ever heard. All types of musical and vocal
renditions, as popular as the latest records, as classical as the
most famous. The Phototone is not cheap music
J~_ I . ^ — it is the finest possible to produce, yet the
You Buy This
The Phototone is furnished complete
with one amplifying console, with
double motors and turntables, two
electric pickups, powerful ampUrying
device, one large horn with extra
unit, a cabinet with cue rack of
eighty-four record capacity, and fifty
special selected records included.
Phototone is built for years of serv-
ice and will always l>e as up to date
as the newest records. Where condi-
tions require more than one horn,
they may be added at cost of twenty-
five doUars each up to sixty dollars.
The price Is f.o.b. factory and if in-
stallation is made by the factory en-
gineer, liis actual time and expense
is added to the price of the eqtiip-
ment. Complete blue prints and in-
structions are furnished where the
owner desires to install it himself.
For $500.00
"^Western Territory $50 Additional ^^
Nearly 300 Exhibitors
can testify to
success of Phototone
Send for Details
apparatus is so scientifically built that low cost
is a feature. The Phototone is all electric, with
instant control made possible with triple com-
bination, double motors, double turntables and
double electric pick-ups.
Write us for details giving us the inside dimen-
sions and seating capacity of your theatre audi-
torium. No obligation.
The Phototone Company
North Vernon, Indiana
Branch ofBces in all principal cities
r
The Phototone Co.
North Vernon, Ind.
I am interested in Phototone. Send me descriptive folder and
interesting data without obhgation.
Name _ _
Address..
City
_ State
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
NEW FOX THEATRE— DETROIT ]
fOx
i
HUB
The installation of a Hub Switchboard in the new Fox,
Detroit, puts Hub in the next to largest theatre in the
country. Included in the order is the stage and auditorium
lighting and control. We will be glad to estimate on your
theatre job without obligation.
DOWN TOWN CrflCAGO
SALES OFFICES
Sulla 323 — 155 N.Clark Si.
Phone Stato 7066
yEW YORK CITY
14S7 Broadway
Phone Wiiooniln 4843
Factory and General Offices
2219-25 West Grand Ave,
Chicago
TOLEDO, OHIO
1220 Madison Ave.
Phone Adams 5518
MILWAUKEE, WIS.
123 Second St.
Phone Grand 1533
HUB PRODUCTS FROM SERVICE TO SOCKET
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
The Turnover Per
Seat in Your House !
THE more often each seat is occupied in
your house, the bigger the profit to you.
Speed and protect that turnover by giving
your public seats that they will wanf to oc-
cupy— comfortable, luxurious "American"
chairs. They are a good investment in attract-
ing volume, and economical in serving vol-
ume, because of their enduring quality and
minimum up-keep cost. Add beauty of design
and workmanship to these vital points and
you have three reasons why "American"
seats are always best for you to specify!
/<£:
Illustrated ahve it chair No. 6116, of which iSt}
were installed recently in Kedmond s Majestic
Theatre, East St. Louis^ Illinois^ Boiler Brothers,
Architects. This chair was selected as best harmoniz-
ing with interior appointments and general atmos-
'sre of inviting beauty. With birch and maple
wood pests, finished in red mahogany , . . back
and seat upholstered in red moroccoline . . . and
noisekss ball bearing seat hinge . . . this chair is
as comfortable and durable as it is pleasing to the eye.
iSK
American Seating Company
Theatre Chair Builders to the American Public for Over 50 Years
12 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Illinois
121 W. 40th St., New York City 1211-H Chestnut St., Philadelphia
65-D Canal St., Boston
5J*
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928 j
"SOUND" Films
require MORE than good projection
•{a Photograph of Sound Waves taken by Johns-Manville Acoustical Experts^
Longitudinal section of a model of a theatre. Photograph of the direct sound WW and of the reflected waves Ci, Cz
and Ca from the ceiling and stage and reflected waves Fi and Fz from the floor and stage all originating from a short,
sharp sound produced at S. Note the lack of intensity in reflected waves from the floor. Acoustic felt was laid on the
floor of the model to simulate the absorbing power of the audience.
Johns-Manville can give your theatre
the CORRECT ACOUSTICS
without which talking pictures are worse than useless
T'HE finest possible equipment for sound
films is worthless in a theatre which
has poor acoustics. Many motion picture
theatres have poor acoustics. This is be-
cause many were planned with no great
thought of their use for spoken drama.
Johns-Manville engineers have been
acoustical experts for years. We can re-
duce echoes and reverberation in any the-
atre, and we can do it
without disturbing your
decorative effect. Half-
way measures are use-
less, and merely mean
money thrown away
Sound Film
Production
Sound films can only be suc-
cessful when made under pre-
cise acoustical conditions.
Johns-Manville specializes in
this field.
when dealing with theatre acoustics. By
Johns-Manville methods you can be certain
of comfortable aucition in your house.
Johns - Manville has the experience and
technical training necessary.
The control of sound is a science. Hap-
hazard selection and use of materials mean
money wasted and mediocre results. Before
you do anything about acoustics, consult a
Johns-Manville expert.
There is no obligation.
We welcome inquiries
from theatre owners, and
attach a coupon for your
convenience.
J1 MASTER Ik^f/W
ohns-M
SOUND CONTROL
°fM ASBESTOS
anviiie
TREATMENT
ill
Who Is Liable for Faulty Building?
SeU&jkalm
CHAItLES B. O'NEILL
Advmrliting ManagUT
HARRY E. BOLQUIST
Eattarm RaprmM^mtrnttum
A monthly supplement of Exhibiiurs Herald and Moving Picture World, pub-
lished for information and guidance of theatre owners in matters of theatre
construction, operation and equipment and to promote the ideal of finer theatres
BETTER THEATRES
EDITORIAL AND
ADVERTISING OFFICES
CHICAGO
407 So. Dearborn St. Telephone
Harrison 0036. Cable Address:
Quigpubco.
Jay M. Shreck, Managing B^tor
Charles B. O'Neill, Advertising
Manager
George Clifford, Business Manager
NEW YORK
565 Fifth Ave. Telephone Vander-
bilt 3612-3613
Harry E. Holquist
Eastern Representative
LOS ANGELES
5617 Hollywood Blvd. Telephone
Gladstone 3754
Douglas Hodges
West Coast Manager
LONDON
The Bioscope (J. Caboum, EMitor)
Faraday House, 8-10 Charing Cross
Rd., W. C. 2
The successful theatre today is the
one that pays strictest attention to
its physical features. Cinema pa-
trons demand more than pictures.
They must be given every degree of
comfort, convenience and atmos-
phere.
To the enterprising exhibitor Better
Theatres each issue presents numer-
ous ideas and suggestions for in-
creasing profit through better pub-
lic service and management.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
United State and possessions —
$3 per year
Canada — $4.50 per year
Other points of the world —
$9 per year
Single copies, 25 cents
Adverdsing rate cards and Audit
Bureaa of Circulations BtateiBents
furoiahed upon application.
In This Issue
GEORGE E. EICHENLAUB, designer of the standard theatre,
makes suggestions for new Pennsylvania building code — This
theatre architect believes that the designer and builder of a thea-
tre, and not the exhibitor, should be held responsible for faulty
construction which might entail loss of life.
WICHITA, KAN., is presented with a new 1,500 seat theatre, the
Uptown, which was designed by Boiler Brothers — "Better Thea-
tres,'' in this issue, presents a graphic description of this new house
— Floor plans by Boiler Brothers are presented in detail.
IN THIS issue, F. H. Richardson, in addition to his discussion of
projection problems, ofFers an informative surticle on the pick-up
in sound pictures — This is another of the constructive series of
articles on this subject by a man who has first-hand information.
AGAIN, THE new Fox theatre, Detroit, Mich., one of the world's
finest, is presented in illustration — Also in this issue is the new
Loew house in Louisville — Lighting in a modem theatre is pre-
sented in connection with the new Loew State theatre in Sjnracuse.
THE FALL BUYERS NUMBER
October 27
J
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
The
Ne. FOX THEATRE
jg Detroit
PETER CLARK
EQUIPPED
WITH
SPECIAL
EQUIPMENT
FOR
TALKING
PICTURE
PRESENTATION
New Fox Theatre
Detroit, Mich.
C. HOWARD CRANE
Architect
Peter Clark Leadership
is again demonstrated in the New Fox Theatre, Detroit.
In this splendid cinema are to be found the latest developments in stage equipment and the
newest ideas for the better presentation of talking pictures.
Peter Clark equipment in the new Fox theatre, Detroit, includes:
Telescoping elevator for handling Movietone horn — Orchestra pit elevator — Console
elevator — Stage elevator — Asbestos curtain — Counterweight system — Motor driven
cyclorama — Valance frame and rigging — Steel picture sheet frame and rigging — Light
bridges — Draw curtain track arid rigging — Act curtain track and rigging.
Peter Clark equipment is installed in practically every leading theatre in the country.
PETER CLARK, Inc.
534 West 30th Street
New York, N. Y.
September 29, 192i
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
MODERN ELECTRICS
♦ ♦ ♦
"Big house tonight."
''Not unusual since we put
up that new electric sign!'
ELECTRICAL advertising has proved itself
again and again to be the most productive and
most economical advertising for theatres. And
Flexlume Electrical Displays, combining unusual
brilliance with clearer readability, give advertising-
values much above the ordinar}-.
Flexlume Displays are available in a variety of
forms or combinations : exposed lamp, glass letter,
and neon tube; and interchangeable glass letter
signs to feature current attraction.
There are marquee signs that flood the ap-
proaches to your theatre with light. There are
projecting signs, "spectaculars", that dominate the night sky
and draw attention long distances away.
Let us tell you more about them and the specially trained
electric display men we have located in our offices in the chief
cities. Send for the free, helpful book (in colors) "Theatre
Electric Displays" and see how others are employing electrical
advertising to draw crowded house day and night.
Flexlume Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y.
Sales and Service
Offices in chief cities
of U. S. and Can.
Factories also at
Detroit, Los Angeles,
Oakland & Toronto
— CLIP THIS REMINDER TO WRITE TODAY i
Flexlume Corporation
1837 Military Road, Buffalo, N. Y.
Please send, without obligation, a copy of
the booklet, "Theatre Electric Displays" and
suggest how we can make our advertising
more effective.
Name
Theatre..
- I
! Address I
FLEXLUME ELECTRIC DISPLAYS
10
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928 |
OVER 90% OF YOUR PATRONS' TIME
IS SPENT IN YOUR SEATS!
Why make it hard for them? Why not give your patrons a soft, deep, roomy,
luxurious theatre chair that will make them so comfortable that they will
return with steady, profitable patronage?
Heywood- Wakefield Seating is an investment that brings returns at your
box office. It is not a "bargain" proposition that you have to repair and
keep paying for year after year.
Before buying, investigate Heywood- Wakefield Theatre Seating. Find out
for yourself why Publix, Roxy, Orpheum, Saxe, Schine, Pantages, Shubert,
and a host of others are steadily buying Heywood- Wakefield seats.
tfHEYWOOD«W\KEFIELDfe
L Theatre Seatfivg Div6lbnj
Baltimore, Md. Boston, Mass. BuiTalo, N. Y. Chicago, EI. Detroit, Mich. Kansas City, Mo.
I«s Angeles, Calif, Minneapolis, Minn. New York, N. Y. Philadelphia, Pa. Portland, Ore. St. Louis, Mo.
San Francisco, Calif. Seattle, Wash.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
11
y
V
Eichenlaub suggests:
•v
1. Architects and Engineers must be registered in your department;
2. Buildings must be built according to plans and specifications and under the supervi-
sion of such a registered man, who then is required to assume full responsibility for
the building, and he thereafter is to make inspection of the building from year to
year and report with affidavit to your department, with recommendations as to its
safety;
3. If failure then appears in the structure due to faulty plans, faulty supervision or
construction, or other cause traceable to the engineer, he shall stand the expense
incident to making good the deficiency;
4. If such failure should prove serious, then the designer is to pay the damages and
be deprived of his license for a year or two, during which he can learn this part
of his subject; and
5. If lives are lost through such deficiency, then THE DESIGNER shall be fined.
lose his license and be put in jail.
The Architect (NOT the Exhibitor)
Should Be Held Liable
for Loss of Life
Says GEORGE E. EICHENLAUB*
MAKE the theatre architect or engineer
responsible for safety constructioH and
safety maintenance, says George E.
Eichenlaub. C. P. A., R. E., of Erie, Pa.
This recommendation, made in a building
law proposed by the architect, marks an im-
portant departure in theory on the fixing of
responsibilities for damages and injuries due
to faulty conditions of theatre building and
operation. It is a fact well known to ex-
hibitors and others in the industry who have
been reading the articles by Leo T. Parker
in "Better Theatres" that the owner of a
theatre is in general liable for the acts of his
agents.
Making the architect responsible not only
would remove from the shoulders of the ex-
hibitor a burden which he unjustly has borne,
but also would protect him against ignorant
and unscrupulous individuals, says Eichen-
laub. Furthermore, those architects and en-
gineers who really are proficient would be
given proper recognition and needed protec-
tion against the incompetent as well as the
downright dishonest, the proponent of the
suggested law feels.
Architects and engineers would be registered
in the state departments concerned, under the
Eichenlaub plan. They would have the final
approval of plans and specifications and would
supervise the construction, would assume full
responsibility and furthermore would make
annual inspections and offer recommendations
as to the safety of the structure.
The engineer would stand the expense of
making good any deficiency which is trace-
able to him, the architect says. If the de-
ficiency is serious, then the designer would be
required to pay damages and also be deprived
of his license for a year. If lives are lost,
he would be fined, lose his license and serve
a jail term.
"This, at least, is short — an advantage in
any law," Enchenlaub goes on. "It is enf ore-
able at small expense to the state; it gives
the owner something for his money. As things
now stand, the owner is responsible for the
*Mr. Eichenlaub is a prominent theatre architect
of Erie, Pa. His standard theatre has been discussed
.ind described in "Better Theatres."
acts of his agent (architect) and when some-
thing happens, the owner is held liable. Read
up back files of the press and note how the
owner is the chap who is always sued.
"This kind of law would operate to restrain
the ignorant, be they architect, engineer,
builder, owner or speculator. It would oper-
ate to restrain the unscrupulous, because they
would not dare go too far, lest something
happen and their own head be lost.
"Finally : Those who are really skilled,
educated and experienced would not have to
hock their service all about the country to
secure a commission in competition with boys,
women, contractors, or almost anyone with
a set of correspondence books. Under this
condition the owner does not know the dif-
ference, and usually employs the chap who
promises the most — delivers the least (a basic
cause of this nation today being the most law-
ridden of all history), in a futile effort to
compensate for the technician's deficiencies,
and owner's ignorance, thus hoping to save
and guard 'Life, health and property.'
"Now answer this one: 'Does it?'"
Eichenlaub's suggestion was made in con-
nection with recommendations and criticisms
requested of him in connection with a revised
building code proposed for the state of Penn-
sylvania. While of course a law to fit the
conditions in any one state is not necessarily
applicable for another state, there are suf-
ficent lines of logical comparison in all states
to make valuable a review of the highlights
of the proposed changes for Philadelphia.
Here are some of the outstanding general re-
quirements as proposed in the revised code :
Steps and Courts
No steps allowed at entrance or exit open-
ings, other than one of 8-inch rise to provide
against weather conditions. Any other dif-
ference in elevation between floor and ground
level to be overcome by means of inclines
which shall not exceed one foot rise in 10
feet.
When side and rear courts are necessary
they shall be not less than 5 feet in width
in the clear, and shall lead directly to a street
or public alley and all doors opening into the
said courts shall be made to swing flush with
the wall of the building.
Exits
In all cases, exits shall be not less than 5
feet in width in the clear, nor more than 6
feet, and shall be outswinging double doors,
all to be equipped with approved panic locks,
except one door used as the principal en-
trance which may be locked with lock and
key.
At each exit there shall be an illuminated
sign of an approved color, with the word
"EXIT" in letters not less than 6 inches in
height thereon.
^: ^ ^
Aisles
Aisles having seats on both sides shall be
not less than 4 feet in width in the clear, and
wall aisles shall be not less than 3 feet 6
inches in width in the clear. Cross aisles
shall be not less than 5 feet in width in the
clear. There shall be not more than 6 seats
between any seat and an aisle, nor more than
14 seats between any two aisles.
"Aisles must contain no obstruction of any
sort,, and radiators in wall aisles must be
recessed to permit full width without obstruc-
tion.
"No person or persons other than regular
attendants shall be permitted to stand in any
aisle, nor shall any person be permitted to
sit in any aisle.
^ ^ =^
Seats
Seats shall be separated by arms and shall
be of a width not less than 18 inches between
arms, and rows shall be placed not less than
30 inches from back to back. All seats shalf
be securely fastened to the floor.
The front row of seats shall be not less than
12 feet from the screen, and the rear row of
seats shall be not less than 5 feet from the
foyer wall.
* * *
Special Exit Requirements
Buildings having a capacity of not less than
251 shall have not less than two 5-foot exits
at the front and two 5-foot exits in the rear.
Buildings having a capacity of more than
250 and less than 501 shall have not less than
(Continned on page 31)
12
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
(-
(
Left: A "close-up"
of an auditorium
exit, showing the
details of the de-
corative scheme.
The photograph
reveals most deli-
cate shading in the
zvall finish.
Right: One of the
"openings" in the
auditorium "gar-
den wall". The
landscape visible
beyond is a paint-
in g . Below is
shown the location
of these arches.
Panorama of the auditorium — atmos-
pheric— a gay garden — yet zvrought
with restraint.
The Uptown, Wichita^s First Suburban Theatre
This new atmospheric house by Boiler Brothers is described on the o^^osite ^age.
•■», K ,J«. A« '
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
13
The foyer of the Uptown in Wichita.
A Worthy Addition to the "Atmospheric"
Clan— and Built for $250,000
The U'ptown in Wichita Proves That a l^ilhon iVLay Not Always Be Necessary
Oh the opposite page arc presented viei^s of
this new house by Boiler Brothers, and on
the following two pages, plates of the floor
plans, showing the arrangements and specifi-
cations of the main floor and balcony, hori-
zontal and transverse sections of the theatre.
ANOTHER milestone has been passed in
the theatrical activities of Wichita,
t Kan. — the successful launching of the
city's first suburban theatre.
The Uptown theatre is located in the Col-
lege Hill neighborhood, in the rapidly grow-
ing shopping district at Hillside and Douglas
Avenues. Parking space is an important item
in the development of the suburban house.
Many theatregoers in the immediate neigh-
borhood walk to the show, which gives the
patron from across the city a better chance
to find parking space. The seating capacity
of 1,550 has been fully justified by the box
office receipts since the theatre was opened
in July.
The building, which also contains several
up-to-date shops built on either side of the
theatre entrance, is entirely fireproof, being
built of brick, steel and reinforced concrete.
The cost was approximately $250,000.
The atmospheric effect now so popular in
the larger cities has been carried out in the
auditorium of the theatre. Old stone walls,
beautifully textured in delicate shades, carry
out the illusion of sandstone. The proscenium
arch, built in keystoned fashion, and the as-
bestos curtain, painted to represent two huge
gates swung together, give a realistic effect
of an entrance to an old feudal castle. One
can almost imagine the drawbridge, the moat
and the clank of chargers' feet.
The main floor is fashioned in the manner
of a beautiful garden. Trailing vines and
flowers grace the walls, which are surmounted
by statuary, vases, snowy doves, and dark
owls with glowing eyes.
The auditorium is spacious, comfortable,
and complete. A small balcony, seating about
300, is entered by means of stairways at
either end of the main foyer. Lounges for
men and women, complete in appointment, are
accessible from the balcony. A small section
at one end of the balcony is reserved for
colored patrons.
The house has nine exits, which make it
possible to empty the theatre in three min-
utes, the management states.
The company operating the Up'tovyn is com-
posed of Harry J. Stockman, president; Chas.
H. Siedhoif, vice president; H. A. Hamilton,
secretary; Charles H. Smyth, treasurer; and
J. C. Hartman, prom6ter and general man-
ager.
Mr. Hartman, the promoter, has been con-
nected with the motion picture industry since
its infancy, and is thoroughly familiar with
all phases of the work.
The Uptown was designed by Boiler Broth-
ers, theatre architects of Kansas City and
Los Angeles, with Schmidt, Boucher & Over-
end of Wichita, as associate architects.
14
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
R
i4;^
I
: ^^.:
These Plates Show the Mezzanine and Balcony Plan (upper plate) and the First Floor Plan (lower plate)
of the Uptown Theatre in Wichita, as Drawn by Boiler Brothers of Kansas City, the Architects.
*^"-
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
15
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16
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
i
Published Every Fourth Week by
QUIGLEY PUBUSHING COMPANY
Publication office: 407 So. Dearborn St, CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Mabtin J. QuicLEY, President
Ebwih S. Cliffobd, Secretary George Clifford, Asst. Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company
All editorial and business correspondence
should be addressed to the Chicago office
Other publications: The Chicagoak and Polo, class journals; and the follow-
ing motion picture trade publication in addition to Better Theatres, published
as a supplement to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World: The
Buyers Index, Semiannual.
Whole Vol. 92, No. 13 (Vol. 35, No. 3) September 29, 1928
What "Better Theatres" Will Offer
In Its Future Issues
BETTER Theatres, during the next 12 months, will con-
tinue its position of predominance in the field of
equipment trade journalism. It has maintained,
since its inception, a policy of service. This policy will
be adhered to in forthcoming issues, with many construc-
tive articles to be prepared by leading architects, dec-
orators, designers, equipment men, lighting experts and
others.
Throughout the next 12 months Better Theatres will
emphasize music, and in this respect it will stress the play-
ing of the organ, with valuable articles on this subject
written by noted artists.
The next 12 months will give to the reader a valuable
librar)^ on theatre subjects.
The Fall Buyers Number to Be De Luxe
Edition of "Better Theatres"
TO better serve both the manufacturer and the dis-
tributor of theatre equipment and the exhibitor, a
de luxe edition of Better Theatres will be issued
October 27.
This edition will be known as THE FALL BUYERS
NUMBER and will have incorporated in it. The Buyers
Index.
Comprehensive plans for this de luxe edition have been
underway for some months. The subject matter will cover
all phases of theatre construction, equipment, operation
and maintenance. These topics will be discussed thor-
oughly by skilled men.
THE FALL BUYERS NUMBER will be an encyclo-
peadia of the theatre. In addition to the usual informative
material appearing in each issue of Better Theatres, the
de luxe edition will publiah statistical information bear-
ing upon all branches of this great field.
A special feature of inestimable value to the industry
will be announced soon through EXHIBITORS Herald-
WoRLD. This feature alone, far-reaching in its scope, will
lend to the volume a significance not heretofore attained
in this field.
THE FALL BUYERS NUMBER will be issued at a
propitious time in the purchasing season. It launches a
period which promises prosperity.
Developments in motion pictures are bringing new con-
struction and equipment problems. They are bringing
new problems to those phases of the theatre concerned
with operation and administration. And with these new-
factors every branch of the business is interested.
You will receive your FALL BUYERS NLTMBER of
Better Theatres just four weeks from today^
B
The Floor Plans of Your Theatre
OLLER BROTHERS, prominent theatre architects,
present in this issue the floor plans and photographic
reproductions of the new Uptown in Wichita.
These plans are drawn for a fifteen hundred seat house,
a size in keeping with the medium sized cities. Through
these plans, however, the exhibitor of the small town may
receive suggestions which he will want his architect to
incorporate in plans for remodeling or for a new theatre.
Boiler Brothers, through their activities in theatre de-
sign, have been accorded recognition by civic and national
organizations.
"Better Theatres" Welcomes
These New Advertisers
D. Appleton & Company, 35 West 32nd street, New York
City
Publishers of theatre music. They specialize in
collections of standard organ selections for theatre
organists.
Appreciation Films, Inc., 1029 South Wabash avenue, Chi-
cago, 111.
Producers of announcement trailers, animated
presentations and advertising films.
Major Equipment Company, 4603 FuUerton avenue, Chi-
cago, 111.
Manufacturers of the well known line of Major
lighting equipment.
Marcus Ruben, Inc., 625 South State street, Chicago, 111.
Makers of Ruben uniforms for all theatre em-
ployes.
Zero Valve & Brass Corporation, 634 Fourth street, Buffalo,
N. Y.
Manufacturers of brass, bronze and steel railings.
They also make grilles, wickets and ornamental
bronze ivork of many kinds.
Good-All Electric Manufacturing Company, Ogallala, Neb.
Manufacturers of the Good- All Orchestrola for
producing music for theatres.
The Fall Buyers Number, October 27
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
17
P.»--r EMTS
Side elevation of new film and disc synchronization mechanism
You HEAR as You SEE
New non-synchronous device has 'premiere in Chicago — will he
merchandise a on leasing plan
FIRST public demonstration of a new
device for the creation of sound effects
and musical accompaniment for motion
pictures was given in Chicago on Septem-
ber 22 at the Castle theatre in connection
with the run of the Columbia picture, "The
Scarlet Lady." The name of this new de-
vice is Dramaphone, manufactured by the
Musical Devices Company of Chicago.
Sitting through the performance of the
picture and the musical accompaniment by
Dramaphone one quite naturally thought
that the picture had a synchronized score.
In one scene where Russian revolutionists
are having a boisterous meeting, the cheer-
ing of the members is heard. The voice
of the leader is plainly heard above the
cheering. As he ends his speech thunderous
applause acclaims him.
Pistol shots, with a fidelity of sound not
always heard in sound pictures, and the
rattle of machine guns are heard in battle
scenes. The roar from the motors of many
trucks are heard, and there are other sound
effects lending their dramatic weight to the
picture, and throughout the entire picture
there is the musical accompaniment, smooth
and in tone with the dramatic sequences of
the picture.
Upon investigation, however, it was
By WILL WHITMORE
learned that the Dramaphone installation
which gave to this picture its sound effects
and musical score was a non-synchronous
device, but so expertly had the picture been
scored with music and effects, it was easy
to accept this performance as a "see and
hear" picture, which it was advertised to
be by the Castle theatre.
Musical Devices Company has been or-
ganized to produce both synchronous and
non-synchronous devices. Both types of
equipment will go into quantity production
at once, according to officials of the com-
pany. Delivery is promised on the non-
synchronous device in 30 days and on the
synchronous equipment within 60 days.
Both types of equipment are merchandised on
a 10 year lease plan. A plan for periodic
servicing by the company is being worked
out, but this service plan will be optional
with the purchaser.
The non-synchronous device is of the
phonographic type. It is housed in a cabi-
net of heavy gauge automobile steel, each
dimension measuring approximately 40
inches. It contains two phonograph record
turntables with two magnetic pickups sus-
pended on a ball bearing arrangement de-
signed to cut record wear to a minimum.
The modulating system permits the opera-
tor to change from one record to another
with no break in the music flow and to
regulate the volume from a whisper to
maximum volume. The cueing mechanism
is manualed mechanically and a scale on
each turntable enables the operator to stop
or start any record at any desired position
on the record.
Two units of amplification are contained
in the cabinet, which ordinarily supplies suf-
ficient volume for the average sized house.
Where more volume is necessary additions
amplification units are located in any con-
venient space in the theatre and operated by
remote control. The set is designed to op-
erate entirely on AC current, 110 volts.
When desired by the theatre, an addi-
tional device is supplied for the creation of
sound effects. This device is housed in a
small box and contains apparatus for the
production of many sound effects such as
airplanes, automobiles, glass crashes, pistol
and machine gun fire, locomotives, whistles,
door knocks, etc. Control of these sound
effects is had through a series of push
buttons located on the control panel of the
Cabinet. By pushing the right button any
of the sound effects can be created. The
sound effects box may be put in any place
(^Contimied on page 3$)
18
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
The Kenosha Theater, Kenosha, fVis.
— a recent addition to the Midwesco
Theater Circuit — is equipped with
C-H Simplicity Lighting Dimmers.
Architects— United Studios, Chicago.
A Mesco switchboard is used.
.'^^^}mxn^^,*^^:-m.u,^,,
i! fHittiiiiu^nn
r^nother
chain theater equipped with
C'H Simplicity Dimmers
I eiiide of arWnowl- low in maintenance costs — economical to
Wide experience is a guide of acknowl-
edged reliability in selecting equipment.
Thus it is significant that well known
theater chains equip their theaters
with C-H Simplicity Lighting Dim-
mers. Their experience has con-
vinced them that C-H Dimmers can
be depended on to give the smooth,
flickerless control and color blend-
ing essential for artistic presentations;
that C-H Dimmers are remarkably
low in miaintenance costs — economical to
operate — easy to install — and conveniently
adapted to all needs both present and future.
Ask your architect or electrical con-
tractor about the advantages of C-H
Dimmers — how easily your theater
can be equipped regardless of its seat-
ing capacity or decorative scheme.
In the meantime, write for a copy of
the instructive booklet "Illumination
Control for the Modern Theater".
The CUTLER-HAMMER Mfg, Co.
Pioneer Manufacturers of Electric Control Apparatus
1254 St. Paul Avenue
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
Perfect Illumination Control for the Modern Theater
"^ J (3188)
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
19
BETTER PROJECTION
mtm*
THIS article of my series on sound equip-
ment will be devoted to the pick-up. It
will probably prove more interesting than
the articles which have preceded it. In it I
shall explain just how the sound is "picked
up," both by the sound-on-the-film and the
record methods.
First, let us examine into the sound-on-the-
film, as exemplified by the Alovietone process.
It will prove to be a most interesting subject
to my readers.
As you all now know. Movietone utilizes a
strip of the film about one-tenth of an inch
wide, located on the right hand side of the
film as it is threaded into the projector, for
the recording of sound. This strip carries a
portion of the picture in silent pictures, hence
the sound-on-the-film picture has approx-
imately one tenth of an inch less width than
has the silent one, though its height remains
the same. The strip upon which the sound is
recorded is called the sound band.
Upon this band, running crosswise thereof,
appear the photographic impressions of any
and all sounds reaching the microphone to
which the camera taking the scene is attached.
The sounds are in the form of lines of various
width and photographic density, and in vari-
ous shadings of density between them. Broadly
speaking, the wider the lines the lower the
pitch of the sound. Conversely the more nar-
row the lines the higher the pitch. For ex-
ample, a trombone would make a series of
wide, dark lines, as also, in varying degree,
would a base singer. A tenor horn or a
soprano singer would make a record consist-
ing of narrow lines which because of their
narrowness would not appear to be so photo-
graphically dense as the wider ones. The
greater the contrast in density between the
light and dark lines, the louder the sound.
The problem of reproduction then is to
transform these photographic representations
of sound into electric current which will
operate the diaphragm of a loud speaker in
exactly the same manner that it was vibrated
by the sound which cause the photographic
record. I think you will all agree that the
man who tackled that proposition certainly
had a healthy nerve. It certainly was SOME
considerable job. Let us now take a look —
and see how it was — and is — done.
The motion picture projector pick-up optical
system consists of a straight coil filament light
source, a condenser, a "slit," a projection lens,
the sound band upon the film and a photo-
electric cell, the arrangement of which is
diagrammatically shown in Figure 1. The con-
denser, the slit and the projection lens are all
contained in a metallic casing, which I shall,
for the sake of convenience, refer to in this
article as the slit assembly.
This cell is sealed in fixed position so that
the projectionist cannot alter its position. This
is for good and sufficient reasons which will
be fully explained further on.
The exciting lamp is located in front of the
condenser, which latter is a piano convex con-
denser about 5^-inch in diameter. It is for
the purpose of concentrating the light in a
"spot" upon the "slit," and in the side of the
slit assembly is an opening so that the projec-
tionist can adjust the slit spot to cover the
slit properly.
The "slit" is a most important item — a most
By F. H. RICHARDSON
In this issue, Mr. Richardson, tech-
nical editor of Better Theatres,
presents the fourth of his series of ar-
ticles on sound equipment. This
month he discusses —
The
Pick-Up
important one indeed. Its office is to project
a straight, exceedingly thin, perfectly hori-
zontal line of light which will illuminte each
line of the sound band separately, without at
the same time illuminating any portion of any
other line or any space between lines, as they
pass through the light line at the rate of
eighteen inches of film per second. Let us
examine into this matter a bit.
As has been said, the lines of the sound
band run crosswise of the film and are exactly
at right angles to its length. For convenience
I shall hereinafter refer to this as "exactly
horizontal." It is readily seen that if the thin
line of light to which I have referred is to
only illuminate one line — no, I don't like that
for some of the lines are much wider than the
light line. Let's try again. It is readily seen
that if the light line is to meet the coming
edge of each sound line squarely, and thus
illuminate no portion of the space between
lines when it is on a line, it must be precisely
horizontal to, or square with the lines them-
selves.
* * *
All right ! Now let's look at the slit. It
is formed by two thin knife edges placed in
exactlj' horizontal position. Remember how I
use the word "horizontal" — to indicate its posi-
tion with relation to the sound line on the
film. The whole projector might be leaning
a bit to one side, and thus throw the slit out
of exact true horizontal, but that is not my
meaning. The slit is placed so that it will be
exactly square with the sound line. You know
what I mean, even if it be not very well put.
These knife edges are spaced one and one-half
(I5/2) thousandths of an inch apart. The slit
is of sufficient length so that its image when
focused at the sound band by the objective
lens is a little less than one-tenth of an inch
wide. I cannot recall, nor do I seem to have
any record of its exact length up here at
South Lyme.
You will see from this that we are project-
ing to the slit objective lens a horizontal line
of light which starts out at one and one-half
thousandths of an inch thick, increases in
width in proportion to the diameter of the
condenser and its distance from the slit (just
as the light beam does in regular projection
using piano convex condensers), passes
through the objective and is focused at the
film band with a reduction of one and a half
to one, so that at the film band it is actually
less than one and one-half thousandths of an
inch thick and somewhat less wide than the
film sound band.
When it is understood with what infinitesi-
mal measurements we are dealing, it is not
w^mmm
diflicult to also understand that this is _ no
"monkey-wrench-and-cold-chisel" proposition,
but one calling for great care and extreme
exactitude of adjustments.
I have told you that the slit assembly is
placed in position and sealed there so that
the projectionist cannot move it. From what
has already been said you can understand
that extreme accuracy is necessary in its place-
ment. Were it removed by the projectionist
and set with even the least bit of error, trouble
would certainly ensue. If it be rotated ever
so sHghtly from its former position, then the
image of the slit would no longer be exactly
square with the lines on the sound band, with
result that two or more tonal effects would
be set into action simultaneously, which of
course would mar the effect. If the displace-
ment be bad enough it would utterly ruin it.
I think you Avill all agree with me when I
say that the projectionist is not equipped to
effect such a microscopical adjustment, and
anyhow we would have no means of knowing
when it was made exactly right.
But that is only half the story. I have said
that the image of the slit projected forward
must be in sharp focus at the film band. If
the slit assembly be moved forward or back-
ward from its correct position it will of course
throw the slit image out of focus, cause it to
be larger, and to therefore cover more space
than it should, with result that the sound will
be blurred.
I think I have said quite sufficient to justify
the sealing of the lens assembly cell into place.
The slit is very well protected indeed — so well
that it seems impossible that dirt or oil can
get to it.: However, since even the finest watch
case ever made permits dirt to enter, we per-
haps have no right to assume it will not in
time also get into this cell. If you suspect
that to be the case, advise your service engi-
neer and let him attend to the matter.
We have now considered everything up to
the film. Let us go behind it and see what
is happening.
We have seen that the thin, brilliant line of
light projected forward strikes the film, or to
use correct optical terminology, is incident
upon the sound band, in such a way that the
rapidly passing lines upon the sound band are
illuminated one at a time. This is evenly and
exactly true, even though the action is almost
inconceivably rapid. We know that the vary-
ing density of the lines and spaces between
them represents the varying intensity, if I
may use the term, of the sounds which made
them.
We also know that the sound band will
absorb light in exact proportion to its density
at any point, hence it follows that in the beam
of light beyond the film we have light densities
precisely representing the sound densities
photographically impressed upon the film
sound band. The problem now is to transform
them into electric current of precisely equal
values.
We now arrive at the last element of thp
pick-up system, namely the photo-electric cell.
though just why that particular name was
tacked to it I am free to say I don't quit?
understand. It is a glass tube of peculiar
shape, illustrated in Figure 3. As nearly as
Correspondence for F. H. Richardson, editor of this depart-
ment, should he addressed to South Lyme, Conn., Box 100.
20
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
I
The Pick-Up, Illustrated
R-E.Ce:lu
Figure 2.
Figure 2. This is an unrelouched photo-
graph of a Movietone fil)n frame and
the accompanying sound band. The en-
largement is about tzvice. It appears to
be a series of white and black lines, but
upon closer inspection ive find not only
those, but also different shades of gray
lines of varying width. Some of the
wider lines are broken into smaller ones
which are so indistinct that they are
only seen, if at all, upon close inspection.
The different shades in gray correspond
ivith the changes in volume of music.
Figure 4. Diagrammatic representation
of the photo-electric cell.
i
Figure 1.
Figure I, is a diagram of optical system
for Movietone sound pick-up.
Resis-tor Condenser
2 megohms. .006 m£
A II to grid, and.
J. leak a? first
amplifier tube.
Battery H2 volts, or as s^
by engineer
Ground to box, thence
to negative filament of
first amplifier tube.
Figure 4.
Silver layer
Sensitive surface
Glass bulb
Light passing
thru film
Window
Anode
Gaseous -^^
Conduction ,
i
Figure 5.
Figure 3.
Figure 3. The photo-electric call.
Figure 5. Electrical connections of the
photo-electric cell in Movietone.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
21
any other one thing this cell is the \ cry heart
of the whole works.
Into it, through an air tight seal, enter two
Avires, one a positive, which connects to the
ring-shaped conductor in the center of the cell.
The other, the negative, connects to or with a
thin deposit of silver with which the interior
surface of the cell, save for an opening on the
side next the film, is coated. This coating also
is deposited over the end of the negative wire,
so that it is electrical contact with it.
On the interior surface of this silver deposit
is another deposit of material (a special form
of the metal potassium, usually light blue in
color) which is sensitive to light — in fact
extremely so.
The positive wire connects, as has lieen said,
to the ring-shaped conductor and to grid of
the first amplifier tube.
The negative wire connects to the silver
coating upon which is the light sensitive mate-
rial and to the filament of the first amplifier
tube.
In the circuit thus formed is a 100 volt
battery, so that that voltage is impressed upon
the two (negative and positive) elements of
the photo-electric cell.
.\nd now we arrive at the key of the whole
thing. The photo-electric cell is filled with a
rare gas which when no light enters the cell
is a very poor conductor of electricity — so
much so that it really is an insulator and
prevents any flow of current between ncgati\e
and positive.
However, when we start the jirojector and
light from the sound liand enters the cell, the
light sensitive material has forced out of it,
or throws oft' minute particles of negatively
charged electricity called "electrons," which
ionize the gas and cause it to become a con-
ductor of electricity in exact proportion to the
amount of ionization.
-And right there is Ijoth key and keyhole,
for the strength of ionization is entirely de-
pendent upon the amount of light incident
upon the light sensitive material at any split
fraction of an instant, and since the resistance
of the gas to current flow is in exact propor-
tion to the ionization, it follows that we have
an electric current set up or created which will
have precisely the same variations in values
that the light beam incident upon the light
sensitive material had. And we have thus
transformed light values into electrical values,
retaining all the infinite number of variations
which go to make up music and voice.
* * *
In studying this matter it is well to remem-
ber that we are dealing with action so enor-
mously rapid that the untrained mind has
difficulty in grasping it ; also that the current
emanating from the photo-electric cell is
enormously weak — so weak, in fact, that it
has to be built up (amplified) fully one hun-
dred million (100,000,000) times before it will
operate the horns acceptably.
What the recording system of Movietone
does is to receive sound vibrations traveling
through the medium of the air, transpose,
transform or change them into light vibrations
and impress these light vibrations upon a
motion picture film in photographic form.
This accomplished the pick-up system then
transforms or changes the photographic
record back into light vibrations, and the light
vibrations into electric vibrations, or energ}',
maintaining exactly the same relative strength
of vibration throughout the entire process.
Truly a wonderful — nay a marvelous thing,
when we consider the thousands of modula-
tions in sound that go to make up the thing
the ear hears when, for example, an orchestra
is playing.
Both the impression of sound upon a record
similar to the records used on phonographs
and the picking-up process are very similar
in effect to the one I have just described in
considerable detail. However, with the record
system the sound and motion are of course
not inherently synchronized, as they are on
the same film. With the record system syn-
chronism is dependent upon setting both at an
indicated starting point.
In disc record recording, the record, which
is somewhat thicker than the ordinary phono-
graph record, and about eighteen inches in
diameter, is made exactly the same as is any
[)honograph record.
However, there is a \'ery general misunder-
standing concerning the manner in which the
needle records sound upon the surface of a
record. It is popularly l)elieved that the
record consists in or of differences in depth
ol the bottom of the groove — that the needle
vibrates up and down, thus making a series of
indentations in 'the floor of the groove formed
by it, which same constitute the sound record.
This is not true. I£ it were, it is very un-
likely that any record would survive more
than a few playings. If you examine a phono-
graph record under a fairly powerful magni-
fying glass, you Avill disco\-er that the sides
of the groo\-es made by the needle are not
"straight" cur\es. They wiggle from side to
side slightly, and these "wiggles" constitute
the record of the sound, being nothing more
nor less than a profile, or outline of the re-
corded sound wave or sound vibration.
When you place the needle in a Vitaphone
record groove and start the projector, the
needle moves slightly from side to side
throughout the entire run of the record.
To tmderstand the operation of the Vita-
phone reproducer we must also understand
one of the fundamental laws of electrical
action, because it is upon this law that the
whole operation is I)ased. According to this
law, if a coil of wire be wound upon an iron
bar, and that bar (which then is a magnet
core) be magnetized, a voltage will be gen-
erated in the coil while and whenever the
magnetic strength of the bar or core is in
process of changing.
No voltage will be generated so long as the
magnetism remains at one fixed value. The
generation of voltage in the coil occurs ONLY
when and while a change is occurring in the
magnetic strength of the magnet core. This
principle is operative, as you know, in trans-
formers. It is in fact their operating princinle.
We thus see that in order to change the
voltage of the coil we must alter the magnetic
strength of the core. One method of doing
this is to place the bar, or core "across" the
poles of a U-shaped or horse-shoe magnet.
It must be so placed that each end of the core
is close to but not touching one tip of the U.
In this position most of the lines of mag-
netic force pass through the core, which is
then termed an "armature." The nearer the
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Patented Nov. 16, 1926, No. 1606830
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INCLUDING POWER'S —..PRICE $8.50
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armature is to the U, the greater the amount
of magnetism that will pass through it. Con-
versely the further away it is the less mag-
netism will pass.
With the latter fact in mind let us assume
the armature to be thus placed with relation
to a horse-shoe magnet, and the armature to
be pivoted and attached to a phonograph
needle. It then is evident that as the needle
moves from side to side in following the sound
record undulations, it will of necessity also
move the armature, thus altering its distance
from the U poles, and in so doing continually
alter the magnetic strength of the armature
in exact proportion to the distance the arma-
ture is moved.
* * *
Remembering that the armature is the core
of our coil of wire, we readily see that the
voltage of the coil will also be continuously
changing, and that it will always be in exact
proportion to the position of the needle in the
record groove at any given instant.
It therefore seems reasonable to assume that
the voltage, and since the coil is connected to
a circuit, then also the current generated in
the coil and circuit to which it attaches will
correspond exactly to the sound waves im-
pressed upon the record.
In fact that is exactly the case and, so far
as essentials be concerned, that is all there is
to the electro-magnetic reproducer — to give it
its full, official title.
The current thus generated goes directly to
the amplifiers. When I say "directly" I do
not of course mean just that. I am disregard-
ing the condensers, etc., which are used for
various purposes. All I am doing just now
is trying to give you a competent understand-
ing of just how the sound is "picked up" from
a disc record, so that it may be forwarded to
the horns, and that I hope and believe I
have done.
Having conveyed to you, I hope, an idea of
the operating principle, it may be well to add
that in the original design of the Vitaphone
reproducer the construction was quite similar
to that described, the armature being a piece
of soft iron about % in. long by ^ in. thick,
its center pivoted and the coil wound upon it.
This armature was laminated — made up of thin
plates instead of being solid. The pole pieces
also were laminated, which is in line with the
best transformer practice. The pivot was of
the knife-edge type, such as is used in the
manufacture of scales and other precision in-
struments. The armature was held in place
on the pivot by means of a spring, which pro-
vides against lost motion ; also it provides a
certain amount of necessary stiffness.
!!: -t *
The present design of Vitaphone reproducer
is oil damped, which means that the whole
unit is enclosed in a casing filled with oil.
This has the effect of dampening or smooth-
ing out undesirable vibrations.
In the side of the case, opposite the magnetic
poles, is a thin steel diaphragm to which the
needle holder is attached. The flexibility of
this diaphragm permits the needle to have suf-
ficient freedom of motion to follow the record
grove undulations. The diaphragm also serves
as the armature, one magnetic pole piece being
in the form of a circle running around the
edge of the diaphragm ; the other being placed
near the center, with the coil wound around it.
The movements of the diaphragm caused by
the needle position, change the magnetic in-
tensity of the center pole piece, thus generating
the reproducer currents in the coil, which
same, after amplification, operate the horns.
WARNING — Electrical reproducers require
verj', very delicate adjustments. The clearance
between the armature (diaphragm) and the
magnetic pole piece is only a few thousandths
of an inch. It therefore is merely inviting
trouble to tamper with them. The case of the
22
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
oi! damped type must under no circumstances
be opened.
British Columbia Demands
Film in Good Condition
Those of you who have followed my writ-
ings through the j^ears doubtless will remem-
ber that I have many times suggested official
action in the shape of laws which would pre-
vent exchanges from sending films in poor
mechanical condition to theatres. I have sug-
gested that this might be done on the grounds
that films in poor or bad mechanical condition
increase the fire hazard, which increase is
entirely unnecessary, because film CAN be
properly inspected and put into first class
condition, and with that done the added risk
would not exist.
But, of course, nothing of so trivial a nature
would or did receive attention from our
officials. Up in Canada, however, particularly
in its Western half, thei"- do things somewhat
differently. We have a notable example in
British Columbia, where Mr. W. A. Oswald
is assistant fire marshal in charge of theatres.
His headquarters are in Vancouver, B. C. Mr.
Oswald soon discovered that film in poor
mechanical condition might be responsible for
theatre film fires which set up an element of
danger for citizens of British Columbia.
Therefore, Fire Marshal Oswald got him-
self busy, with result that the fire hazard
caused by film in poor condition no longer
exists. The plan was simplicity itself.
He notified all film exchange managers that
on a certain date, about 60 days ahead,
(a) No exchange would be per-
mitted to send to any theatre in
British Columbia any film containing
mechanical defects (loose splices,
etc.), which would tend to increase
the fire hazard incident to projection,
and
(b) that after that date all British
Columbia projectionists were forbid-
den, on pain of suspension of license,
to project any film received contain-
ing mechanical defects which would
in any degree add to the fire hazard.
So far so good ! Next he , sent to every
theatre in British Columbia a book of blanks.
These blanks were in sets of three, each one
'the same, except that each was of different
color. A white, a blue and a pink blank
alternated. They were perforated on one side
to make their removal convenient.
Each film exchange was ordered to keep an
exact record of the condition of each reel of
each production at each inspection. Every
projectionist was ordered to make out three
duplicate blanks, presumably using carbon
paper between them, setting forth the exact
observed condition of each reel of film in
each production, after the first projection.
One of these blanks, the blue I think it was,
was to be retained in the book. One was to
be enclosed in the return shipment to the ex-
change, while the third was to be forwarded
to the office of the assistant fire marshal,
where a card was made out from it and placed
on file.
* ♦ *
Thus the assistant fire marshal has a per-
manent record in his office of the exact condi-
tion of each reel of each production each time
it is used in a theatre, and there can be no
side stepping, because the report is in triplicate,
and they must all agree. FROM THESE
REPORTS HE IS ABLE ALSO TO SOON
TELL WTilCH THEATRES ARE IN-
FLICTING UNUSUAL DAMAGE TO
FILM, which is in itself a valuable feature.
Upon several occasions projectionists have
refused to project films received in poor con-
dition, sending same to the assistant fire mar-
shal, whereupon the exchange manager was
called upon the carpet and had a very un-
pleasant experience, and believe you me
neither the exchange manager, nor the pro-
jectionist who abuses film, cares to be called
to the assistant fire marshal's office very often.
As a result of this enlightened action the
assistant fire marshal has, during the past
year ordered out of service 105,000 feet of
film, in addition of which 51,000 feet were
withdrawn voluntarily by exchanges and
88,000 feet were shipped out of the province,
never to be returned. This makes a total of
244,000 feet of film retired because it was
unfit for use.
A British Columbia projectionist says: "As
a result there is better projection, fewer stops
and a greater feeling of safety for all con-
cerned. We pre now getting film in such
condition that it is a pleasure to project it."
Another thing that may interest you. One
British Columbia exhibitor refused to order
projector repair parts requested by the pro-
jectionist, whereupon the assistant fire mar-
shal immediately ordered all exchanges to
refuse film .^.ervice to that theatre until the
1,679,399. FILM-FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRO-
JECTORS. Percy Douglas Brewster, East Orange,
N. J., assignor to Wyko Projector Corporation,
a Corporation of New York. Filed Mar. 2, 1925.
Serial No. 12,512. 2 Claims. (CI. 88—28.)
1. In a projector adapted to show a strip of
film frame by frame, a feed mechanism compris-
ing a suitable film gate, a sprocket adapted to
engage the perforations in the said film, a shaft
through the said sprocket, a feed ratchet carrying
teeth mounted on said shaft, a feed lever pivoted
on a fixed part of the machine carrying a pawl
adapted to engage the said teeth and feed the film,
a locking ratchet mounted on the said shaft car-
rying the same number of slots as the said feed
ratchet has teeth, a pawl mounted to engage in
the said slots and lock the sprocket, and a pin
mounted on the said feed lever adapted to disen-
gage the locking pawl at the beginning of the
feed stroke of the lever.
projectors were put into safe condition. They
only had to hold up one shipment. Friend
exhibitor changed his mind, nearly burned up
the phone wires ordering the projectors im-
mediately and thoroughly overhauled, where-
upon all was well. When a projectionist in
British Columbia orders projector repair parts
now HE GETS THEM. If the exhibitor
thinks the replacement unnecessary he has but
to call in the assistant fire marshal, or his
representative, show him the old parts, and if
it can be shown the replacement was not
necessary the projectionist will have some tall
explaining to do.
All honor to British Columbia and Assist-
ant Fire Marshal W. A. Oswald. I certainly
wish we had more officials like him down
here in our own land.
From
A Friend
In our last issue a chap from Pleasantville,
N. J., took a few pokes at me. I sent him a
carbon copy of my comments on his letter,
but it was returned by the Pleasantville post-
master with the notation : "Not found." His
letter, which was published, seems to have
stirred up quite a lot of indignation. I select
one from a big pile of letters dealing with
the matter. The selection is made at random.
Just pulled it out of the pile. It is from Jack
Levine, projectionist, Rialto theatre, Leomin-
ster, Mass. He says:
My dear friend: Just a few lines to express my
feelings concerning the "operators" who delight to pan
you. Where would some of them be if they couldn't
get hold of your Bluebook, sneak off in a corner and
hunt up answers to their projection troubles.
I have been in the motion picture projection game
for a long while. I wouldn't be without the Blue-
book, this department and the American Projectionist.
Yes, and now with Movietone and Vitaphone here I
am just praying that the good Lord spares you to
us who appreciate your work in helping us solve our
projection problems.
Brother Richardson, we need you now more than
ever. Your work in the Heeald-World, in the
Movietone Bulletin and in the American Projectionist
is great, to say nothing of your papers before the
S. M. P. E. So don't let any one discourage you,
though, I'm sure you are too big for that. So carrj-
on the good work!
* * *
Well, I don't know about the bigness, but
I weigh 230 perfectly good pounds, so I'm big
one way anyhow. Lord, no ! It would take a
whole lot more than that to even begin to
discourage me. I want, however, to cordially
thank Brother Levine, and all those others
who have written along the same lines. It is
pleasant to know when one has worked hard
and tried to be a true friend to men, that
they appreciate it. I'm not looking for thanks.
All I want is your friendship and cooperation.
I can look every man jack of you in the eye
and say I've done the best I knew to help
you and the profession of motion picture pro-
jection. I'll be 62 come the twenty-fifth day
of October, and when, in the not distant
future, I answer the last roll call, I can do it
with a clear conscience. I've done the best I
knew how. Thank you, Brother Levine, and
all the rest of you who wrote. It was nice
of you.
The
Answer
In August 4, issue I published a letter from
Frank Dudiak, in which he set forth the
proposition that because the projector shutter
rotated twice as fast at 120 feet of film per
minute as it did at 60 feet, the screen illumina-
tion would be greater at the higher speed —
doubled in fact.
I put that up to our readers to solve and
was just a bit astonished at the number and
variety of answers, which ranged from agree-
ing with Brother Dudiack's deduction to set-
ting the matter forth in its true Hght.
The fact of the matter is that there is no
difference at all in the screen illumination at
different speeds of projection. The reason is
simple enough when we reason it out. The
trouble is that Brother Dudiack didn't catch
the point, even as you and I sometimes get
balled up on something which seems absurdly
simple when we finally get the right answer.
It is true that at 120 the shutter openings
come before the lens just twice as often, BUT
also they remain open exactly half as long, so
you see no more light can get through. And
the same thing holds good relatively for any
increase in speed. That's all there is to it.
Something more than 600 correct answers
were received.
* * *
But here is one which, while correct, still is
amusing. It reads :
Dear Richardson: That fellow down in Kentucky
forgot that there are blades coming before the lens,
too, and at twice the projection speed they will cut
off just twice the amount of light they did at half
the projection speed, so the total amount of light pass-
ing through the bathing beauties legs (which usually
is all the beauty they've got, and sometimes that
ain't too) is just the same as it was before. And,
as you say, "that's that"!
Well, men, that's one way of putting it, but
as I said, it's correct enough. Well, anyhow
I agree that the legs won't be a bit brighter
at 120 than at 60, which is after all perhaps
as well 1
P. S. — Henry McNamara, Sault Ste. Marie,
Mich., brings out this point, which I person-
ally don't believe has value at anything over
80 feet per minute, though it might at lower
speeds and high screen illumination. He says :
At first glance it will seem that more light will
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
23
reach the screen as projection speed is increased, hut
there really isn't any difference at all. At the higher
speed (120) the shutter makes douhle the revolutions,
hence gives the light twice the opportunity to reach
the screen, but since each interval will be only half
as long — well, the answer is pretty obvious after all.
However, if the projector be slowed down to 70
feet per minute and the screen illumination be very
bright the light interruptions may become slightly
visible, which they would not be at the higher speed.
This may cause the eye to see less screen brilliance
at the lower speed, but there really is no difference
at all.
Very well put, Brother McNamara. What
do the rest of you chaps think about that
point? Assuming projection speed to be
slowed down to the point where there is no
real flicker, but nevertheless the light inter-
ruptions are beginning to show up, would the
effect be that of less screen brightness or
would it not?
Buckled
Film
VV. W. Gilreath, projectionist, Colonial thea-
tre. Bay City, Tex., leads off, in a letter, with
kind words for the sound synchronization
articles, laying stress upon the fact that he is
able to understand my "practical matter of
fact way of making explanations." Then he
says :
Now for my troubles, which believe you me are
adding gray hair to my bean. Every once in a while
I get a film which cannot possibly he focused perfectly
on the screen. Sometimes it is just parts and some-
times a whole feature program. Always the same
parts fail to focus when they pass through. On
nights when I have trouble with one film, one from
another exchange will run perfc-tlv. T^e nrints
giving most trouble are all one make. In fact I
have more or less trouble with all that make and
none with other makes.
Use Power Six B projectors, with Peerless reflector
type lamps, Cinephor No. 1 projection lenses, 4.75"
E. F,. asbestos cooling plates; projection distance
about 71 feet.
I have proven to my own satisfaction that the
trouble is not in the lenses. The only way I can do
away with it is to reduce the size of the picture and
substitute straight arcs for the Peerless lamps. Using
the Motiograph incandescent lamp does not help.
I wrote the film manufacturer (producer) regarding
the trouble, but they answered that 1 was the only
one who had made such complaint, which means just
nothing at all to me because I know of three theatres
in which the same trouble is experienced with their
prints. But what good does it do to complain
anyhow?
I have ordered a pair of new film gates and if
they don't help I am up against a bad proposition
and if you can help me I will be quite willing to pay
you any sum up to say $2.S0, because the matter is a
serious one to me. w'-o feels that my reputation as a
projectionist is at stake.
* * *
Brother Gilreath, there is no charge for any-
thing I can attend to through the medium of
this department. Anyhow I'd not charge a
projectionist any sum amounting to anything,
though I do charge theatres a fair price when
the management asks help which cannot be
given through this department, as many do.
Moreover, less than a week ago I had a letter
from a theatre manager enclosing a check for
$100 charge I made, with this comment : "You
surely are very welcome to the money, for we
feel what you did for us is easily worth 10
times that sum."
As to your trouble, first of all, it borders
upon the silly for a producer to make that
sort of answer, when said producer should
know and I think undoubtedly does know that
this trouble not only exists, but is rampant.
I cannot say just why you only have this
trouble with this one producer's films, but for
some reason they do seem to give more
trouble than those of other producers. Pos-
sibly you are using first run of them and
older films of other makes.
The trouble unquestionably is primarily due
to the intensely hot spot which all light sources
except the straight arc now produce. By that
I mean that while the straight arc is itself
plenty bad enough when used at high amper-
age, still the heavy condenser used with it
serves to absorb a large percentage of the
heat rays. Same condenser used with high
intensity, true, but the heat of that light source
is enormous. It could not be used at all, I
think, without a heat absorbing condenser.
The trouble? Oh yes. It is buckling of the
riu' CITY Of NEW YORK, flagship of Byrd Antarctic E.ypedilum. eijinpped ^ruh
Kohler Electric Plant for emergency lighting
Polar explorers
-and theatre owners-
put their trust in Kohler Electricity
The best-equipped expedition that ever
set out to solve the mysteries of the polar
wastes is taking five Kohler Electric
Plants along — for emergency lighting on
shipboard, for lighting the base camp on
the Great Ice Barrier, and for the vitally
important work of maintaining commu-
nication with the outside world, through
radio sending and receiving sets.
The same sturdy de-
pendability that caused
the Byrd Antarctic Expe-
dition to choose Kohler
Electric Plants is leading
more and more theatres to
put theh' trust in Kohler
Electricity as a sure pro-
tection against the emer-
gencies that arise when
storms, floods, fires, or
power-station accidents in-
terrupt the regular city
current.
KOHLER ELECTRIC PLANT
Model SAl—SK. W.; 110 Volt D. C.
Other models: IV2, 2, and 10 K. W.
City lights out — Kohler lights ON! The
Kohler Plant "cuts in" automatically,
takes care of projector, aisle, lobby and
exit lights — and saves the show. Loss of
revenue is prevented; panic is averted.
Kohler Electric Plants are quiet, de-
pendable, safe— approved by the National
Fire Underwriters' Laboratories. They en-
tirely eliminate the care and expense of
large storage batteries,
having only a small start-
ing battery for automatic
operation.
Would not your theatre
benefit by this modern,
effective protection? The
cost is moderate — and you
will get a big dividend on
your investment the very
first time the city lights
go out. Mail the coupon
below for detailed infor-
mation.
Also Manufacturers of Kohler of Kohler Plumbing Fixtures
Kohler Co., Founded 1873, Kohler, Wis. Shipping Point, Sheboygari, Wis.
BRANCHES IN PRINCIPAL CITIES
KOHLER OF KOHLER
Electric Plants
Automatic— 110 Volt D. C— No Storage Batteries
Kohler Co., Kohler, Wis. — Please send me information about the Kohler Electric Plant.
Name : Street
City, State _ Use in nvhich interested..
,^£S£>
24
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
way of a suggestion and you're NOT to
blame me if the experiment does not succeed.
Sound
Equipment
1,677,237. PROJECTING MACHINE. Egbert
C. Jenner, Independence, Mo. Filed May 12, 1926.
Serial No. 108,553. 2 Claims. (CI. 88—18.3.)
1. In a projector, means for advancing a filn»
comprising a motor, a motor support, reduction
gearing and shaft carried by said motor, a driving
member on each end of said shaft, a film-engaging
member, and a member rotating therewith and
engageable with either of said driving members,
whereby said motor may be inverted in its sup-
port to reverse the direction of movement of said
film.
film over the aperture because of the heat.
And now I'm going to suggest something
which I am sure will be effective, provided
the film be not already permanently buckled.
Next time you have trouble with a reel of
film, mark the portions which give the trouble
by slipping bits of paper into the edge of the
take-up reel dtiring projection and in rewind-
ing examine the film very carefully, but only
after it has ample time to cool off thoroughly.
If it shows signs of unevenness — permanent
buckling — then that's that and there is nothing
on earth you can do to help matters, except
take the reel down and show it to friend man-
ager, who in his turn should take the matter
up with the exchange supplying the damaged
film.
However, if the film seems perfectly fiat
and all right after it has cooled off, then you
will have to use your ingenuity to try to make
effective the following experiment. Visit your
garage, or the local soda dispenser, and see
if you can borrow a pressure gas tank. If
you can, then see what you can do toward
having your local tinner make a flat nozzle
which will shoot a very thin stream of high
pressure air right across, up, down or sidewise,
parallel with the film and as nearly as possible
in contact therewith, but exerting no pressure
against it. That will call for quite a bit of
ingenuity, but I think it can be done all right,
and if you succeed in the matter of the nozzle,
then secure your pressure tank and have it
charged with as much air as the local garage
can put in it. Connect it with your nozzle
and try the plan out on the reefs you have
trouble with.
I have tried to induce projector manufac-
turers to incorporate this feature in their pro-
jectors ever since the high intensity and other
exceedingly hot-spot light sources arrived, but
so far without success.
If you find this works all right (and if the
air blast can be and is rightly directed I am
very sure it will work — the plan is used in
Europe successfully), then you can secure an
ordinary high speed fan, say a 16 in. one,
build a suitable hood for it, enlarge the slit
in the nozzle somewhat and get it to work all
right that way at slight additional expense,
I believe.
However, I'm not positive the thing can
be done at all, except by a projector aperture
plate in which the nozzle is incorporated.
Anyhow that's the best I can do for you in the
I have had a great many inquiries from
managers of theatres in the smaller towns,
who want to know whether or not the small
town theatre will be financially able to support
the added burden of cost sound will entail,
and what the approximate cost of the initial
installation will be. Principally it seems to
be the latter item they are chiefly worried
about.
Such questions are difficult to answer with
any degree of accuracy, for several reasons,
not the least of which is the fact that equip-
ment cannot possibly be available for small
town theatres for quite some time to come,
and the matter of production cost now and
what it possibly will be then may be ^■ery
different.
^ ^ ^
It should be pretty plain to every one that
such apparatus cannot be produced by every
Tom, Dick and Harry. Aside from the patents
co\-ering the apparatus, and the fact that such
patents may be expected to be defended by a
combination of at least three great corpora-
tions, the apparatus is such that it cannot be
produced hurriedly, or produced at all by any
except those especially eciuipped for such
work ; all of which means that while produc-
tion is now very large, c\'erything considered,
still it will of necessity l)e limited to what may
lie termed the possibilities of production.
Remember, gentlemen, that there are many
thousands of theatres using a strictly motion
])icture liill in this country alone. Many more
which use a mixed bill. Probably in the
L'nited .States and Canada alone there are, say,
16,000 theatres into which sound must eventu-
ally find its wa>'.
With those figures in mind it is not difficult
to understand that it will require plenty of
time to produce the equipment, no matter how
liig the manufacturer may be. It is not like
assembling a Ford car. It is all precision
^vork, and some of it very precise too.
It is but natural that the larger theatres will
be served first. They in turn serve the great-
est number of people per theatre, and are best
able to stand the installation cost and addi-
tional operation cost. No one can criticize
that proposition. Also it is not unlikely that
some eff^ective but cheaper form of the ap-
paratus will have to be devised to meet the
needs of the small town theatre ; also were sets
available right now for all the small town
theatres, it must be remembered that some-
thing more than a school boy "machine
operator" will be required to successfully
handle the equipment acceptably. There are
not now nearly enough men with sufficient
knowledge of the technique of projection to
secure consistently good results from sound
equipment. It will take time to remedy that
condition, and it would be wise for theatre
managers to see that their projectionists are
using every possible avenue for the increase of
their knowledge in both silent and soimd pro-
jection.
Faulty
Needles
Projectionists using the disc record method
for projecting sound in synchronization with
motion pictures are likely to notice what
seems a queer and unaccountable variation
in both sound and volume and tone. The
variation may be slight or it may be consid-
erable. The source of the trouble may be
found very elusive to some of you. Traced
down you will find it to be in the needles used
upon the disc.
Have you never noted the vast difference in
sound tone and sound volume when long
slim needles having a very long fine point are
used and when short, thick needles with a
1,679,239. PHOTOGRAPHIC-FILM DRIER.
Henri Cassercau, Mexico City, Mexico. Filed Sept.
:j, 1927. Serial No. 217,380, and in Mexico Sept.
29, 1926. 15 Claims. (CI. 341—26.)
1. In a film drier, a reversely-rotatable film
carrier, gaseous pressure means for rotating said
carrier, means for directing such gas under pres-
sure over the films as a drying medium, and means
controlled by the rotation of the carrier for gov-
erning the direction of rotation.
Stubby point are employed on the Victrola .•'
Sure you have and the same thing holds just
as good with the disc record method in syn-
chronized sound projection. Never thought of
that? Well, brother, what is that thinker of
yours for, huh? Speed 'er up a bit. Step on
the mental gas.
When you get a new lot of needles I
strongly advise that you examine them very
carefully. One excellent way to do that is to
fasten a yard stick or something else which
will serve as a straight edge on a table and
lay all the needles out in a row, with their
buts against the said straight edge.
♦ * *
Having them properly laid out, having first
secured a good magnifying glass (a piano
convex condenser will do, but a good strong
reading glass will be better) examine them
for—
(a) length, rejecting all that are
over or under length, taking the gen-
eral run of their length as a guide;
(b) For size, rejecting all needles
appreciably over or under size;
(c) Examine the points carefully,
rejecting all that are not needle-sharp.
A dull point will not only fail to pick
up the finer overtones well, but will
be hard on the record.
Don't imagine you can make these ex-
aminations properly with the naked eye.
Fashionable as near-nakedness is nowadays,
the eye must be aided by a magnifying
glass to do its work well in detecting these
faults. The naked eye won't do.
Brother George Edwards, of Local Union
306, Motion Picture Projectionists I.A.T.S."
E. & M.P.M.O., New York City is re-
sponsible for having handed up this tip and
it's a good one In the name of our read-
ers I thank Brother Edwards.
Cleanliness Is Next
To Godliness
Well, anyhow, it is necessary to light los-;
reduction and e.xcellence in definition. Pro-
jection is very largely an optical proposi-
tion though of course, mixed with electrics
and mechanics. The really BIG thing is
optics, however, and the sooner you boys
come to realize, understand and act upon
that theory the better for you and for- the
profession.
Dirty lenses are an abomination. Thejr
represent loss. They evidence laziness.
(Continued on page 39)
wr0.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
25
Tlie main floor of the Fox in Detroit
The Magnificent Fox is Revealed to Detroit
DETROIT'S newest theatre, the Fox,
opened its doors last Friday evening to
a capacity crowd of more than 5,000
invited guests.
Seating slightly more than 5,000 persons,
the Fox is the largest theatre in Detroit and
the nation's second largest. The architects,
C. Howard Crane and his associates, Elmer
George Keiler and Ben Dore, designed the
huilding after Hindu styles of architecture.
Only one other house resembles it, the Fox
theatre in St. Louis. A complete description
of the Detroit edifice was presented in the last
issue of Better Theatres.
William Fox, who was in the city several
days supervising the arranging of furnishings,
and Mrs. Fox were among the notables from
out-of-town at the formal opening. Others
included the entire list of Fox officials from
the East Coast. Early in the evening, long
before 8:30 p. m., the hour set for the opening,
a large crowd commenced milling around the
three box offices, and before the inaugural
performance was under way, the police were
kept busy clearing a passageway for the
Woodward Avenue foot traffic.
Once inside, the first sight that greeted the
guests was' the spacious lobby, six stories high
and a half block long, containing what is said
to be the largest one-piece rug in the world.
Also in the lobby is an organ completely sepa-
rate from the organ in the auditorium. This
is used to entertain those waiting for seats.
The opening was a gay affair in every
respect. The program, carefully rehearsed for
a week in advance, was run off without any
of the untoward happenings that so often mar
an opening presentation. There were no miss-
ing drapes or fixtures, the stage curtains did
not stick and the film did not break. The
"generals" and "admirals" of the ushers
bowed extra low and swept through the aisles
and foyers with extra-military precision.
The inaugural was opened with the playing
of "The Star Spangled Banner" by the Fox
orchestra of some 60 pieces. The conductor,
.Adolph Kornspan, then led his musicians
through the thunderous notes of Richard
Wagner's "Rienzi." Next came "Waltz of
the Blue Danube Blues," listed on the program
as "a symphonic jazz arrangement of the
classic."
Fittingly enough, there was a stage produc-
tion "The Evolution of Transportation." This
was a pageant in eight scenes, depicting the
progress of Detroit from Indian days to the
present time. It entailed the use of an old
Indian drag, a covered wagon, a high-wheeled
bicycle, a passenger train and finally a modem
motor car.
The Fox ballet of 32 dancing girls, called
Tillerettes, and an ensemble of 50 voices, took
part in these proceedings. Another stage pro-
duction preceeded the feature film, "Street
Angel." It was entitled "Neapolitan Festival,"
and the entire stage ensemble united in this
colorful prologue for the Fox film starring
Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor. Among
the shorter subjects were some Movietone
films, chief among them a presentation of
George Bernard Shaw.
The only hitch in the opening performance
came in the talking films, it might be said.
The management had arranged for talking
pictures to be made of Mayor John C. Lodge,
it being decided that for Mayor Lodge to say
a few words via the talking pictures rather
than in the flesh w-ould be a distinct novelty.
Mayor Lodge failed to register well in the
films, however, and the idea was scrapped.
The entire ceremonies were broadcast by
local radio station.
26
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
Left: A view of the
lobby, looking back
across the "world's larg-
est rug," toward the lob-
by organ. The grilles are
on each side, above the
entrance doors.
Below: The grand stair-
case and approach to the
mezzanine floor. Here
more than elsewhere in
the theatre is a lavish
display of Hindu orna-
mentation and effects.
1
No part of the magnificent Fox
has been denied elegance.
Above is shown an elevator
lobby. The cabs themselves
are lined with red leather and
they serve all levels of the
house, to the sixth floor, where
boxes are located.
Detroit Views the Splendor of the New Fox
M.ore views are -presented of this luxurious theatre which was opened last week.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
27
Right: Decorative treat-
ment to the extreme right
of the proscenium arch.
The same type of orna-
mentation zvas used for
organ grilles and side
cohimns.
Below: The ornamenta-
tion at the balcony, of
the columns and wall
behind them. The col-
umns are deep red, zvhile
the walls are similarly
carved and colored a
jade green.
Detail of the massive orna-
mental scheme of the column
capitals and their extension,
reaching to the ceiling. These
carvings, based on Hindu prin-
ciples of decoration and in
colors, are throughout the
theatre.
Hindu Art Adapted to Make a Modem Temple
C. Howard Crane of Detroit designed this, the nation s second largest screen theatre.
28
I
I
I
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
l"\ ^ ^'^'OR
and now thejburth
TJ'VERYONE knows Sydney S. Cohen. Four times President of
*^ the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and two years
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the same organization, Mr.
Cohen is an outstanding figure in the world of exhibitors.
It is, therefore, with pride that we mention Mr. Cohen's remarkable
confidence in Page Unit Organs. He installed a Page in each of
these theatres in New York: Empire, Tremont and Mount Kisco.
And recently — he purchased a fourth Page Unit Organ for the
Bronx Strand Theatre. What better proof of Page ability to per-
form superbly! |
,.,« ST. . V.KTCHESTER »"
BRONX, N. ■*
June 28lh. ^"'28
faga organ Co,
lima, OHIO.
OenUemen:- „„,nt3 "Ith l"^ '^VL pace Snlt ti
..oar arrangeitisn" "I ^ nai Fago
ta mstalled^l^ ^^ ^^Srlan" "Itli f !!^S,° this T«akl^
..a. acter B--Lrr£-/,r/orsrco5n x^^;
o£ '"•S'^S^ page organ P^?ealura to have JM re j^^,
,l,e court). faS^^^, ^ . ?lr6renoes at anj ^/^f,i,uons.
--iria°".are Uaro^.e an. .nspec cur
possible 11a ^ _,,„„„ yours,
s/0.
SinoereW S°^=
Empire Theatre,
Morris Sussman,
(.«°Sil 'terser.
("Hi'j commanding position gives the weight of
authority to Mr. Cohen's approval. — Note also
the letter from Mr. Snsstnan of the Empire
Theatre.)
Page Unit Organs fulfill our every wish.
Have installed the fourth one in the
Bronx Strand. I recommend the Page
Unit Organ to anyone.
(Signed)
Page architects will he glad to con-
sult with you about your theatre
requirements.
THE PAGE ORGAN COMPANY
523 North Jackson St.
Lima, Ohio
Page
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
29
/ViL/IC IN THE THEATRE
»mmtmi0m
THE picture being Metro-Goldwyn's,
"The Cossacks," starring John Gilbert.
What an opportunity such a picture is
for an organist to use his "good" music.
And can we say that it is "wasted" on the
a,udience, when one lady comes up to us at
the close of a matinee, and says she enjoyed
very much the fitting of the music to the
picture? Really a pleasure to "cue" such
a picture.
You will note that to an extent I have
used the numbers suggested by the compiler
of the cue sheet for this particular picture,
Ernest Luz. In several instances, though,
I have substituted for the "stock inciden-
tals." I used as far as possible music by
Russian composers, and in most cases, I
felt the numbers "synchronized," to use a
word much in vogue nowadays.
Naturally, some numbers did not "quite"
fit, but were not too far ofif from what was
in mind. For instance, "Danse Polovet-
sienne" used for Cues 11 to 14, is more
barbaric than Russian. And again at Cue
21, "The Glory of War" by Thayer (a male
quartet number, by the way), although the
music may fit, the words to the number
were far from fitting the action on the
screen.
What better light numbers of Russian
character could be asked for than those in
Tschaikowsky's "Pique Dame," Fantasie by
Weninger, and Ofifenbach's "Grand
Duchess" selection?
We will not say the score was perfect.
But what "fun" to use such good numbers
that lay from week to week in our library
unused.
Subjoined is my complete cue sheet on
"The Cosra'-lis":
1. (Title) At Screening — March of the
Slavs (Mumma) - - 1 Mm.
2 (Title) For Centuries — Mazurka from
Ballet Russe (Luigini) - 2 Min.
3. (Action) Men ride up — Marche Russe
(Luigini) - --2 Mm.
4. (Action) Men ride through gate — Gopak
(Mussorgsky) - --1 Mm.
5. (Action) Church and Bells— Cathedral
Chi-nes (Brown) - 1 Mm.
6. (Action) Boss Cossack stands up —
Mazovia (Lack) - 2 Mm.
7. (Action) Gilbert at Home — Hymn to the
Sun (Rinisky-Korsakow) - 254 Mm.
8. (Action) After Fade-Out of Boss Cos-
sack—Over the Steppes (Schytte) 1^ Mm.
9. (Action) Gilbert Catches Girl — Cossack
Lullaby (Jiranek) - 1^ Mm.
10. (Title) Your Uncle's Son — Danse Des
Bouffons (Korsakow) 2^ Mm.
11. (Action) Gilbert takes off dress — Danse
Polovetsienne from Prince Igor (Boro-
din) at Letter O — Hawkes edition lYz Min.
12. (Action) Father starts toward Gilbert
with whip — Same number — start at Let-
ter O 1 Min.
13. (Action) End of whipping — Repeat Cue
No. 11 1 Mm.
14. (Action) Exterior — Repeat Cue No. 12..I14 Min.
15. (Action) Drums after title, "Old
Woman" and Fade-out — Russian March
(Bruhns) - - 1 Min.
16. (Action) Gilbert walks past girl to
horse — Cossack Lullaby (Jiranek) Yz Min.
17. (Action) Gilbert rides away from girl
Repeat Cue No. 15 Vz Min.
18. (Title) We'll slit— Echo Bells (Brewer)..l Min.
19. (Action) Girl crawling on ground —
Cossack Lullaby (Jiranek) }i Min.
HOW
I Played
the
PICTURE
By
W. J, COWDRY
Organist, Smoot Amusement Company,
Parkersburg, W. Va.
20. (Action) Men rise — Russian March
( Bruhns) - - 1 Mm.
21. (Title) And the men fought — Glory of
War (Thayer) - H Mm.
22 (Title) Your magnificence — Powder and
Patches (Miles) - 2 Min.
23. (Action) Prince follows' woman through
crowd — Mignonette (Levy) - IVi Min.
24. (Action) Princes sees girl — The Island
(Rachmaninoff) - -- 2 Mm.
25. (Action) Fade-out after girl leaves
room — Implorations (P'asternack) 2 Min.
26. (Action) Gilbert on guard — Dramatic
Tension No. 64 (Borch). yi Min.
27. (Action) Gilbert beats drum — Marche
Slave (Tschaikowsky) 2^4 Min.
28. (Action) Fade-out of Cossacks — Island
(Rachmaninoff) 1 Min.
29. (Action) Cossacks on road — Repeat last
strains of Cue No. 27 - ^ Min.
30. (Action) Prince and girl — Island (Rach-
maninoff) _ _ % Min.
31. (Action) Prince attempts to kiss girl
Agitato No. 12 (Lake) _ ^ Min.
32. (Action) After short struggle — Island
(Rachraaninofif) _ _...2 Min.
a. (Title) Cossacks never grow old — Tartar
Song and Dance (Dubensky) 2 Min.
34. (Title) Did you hear? — Danse Slave
(Hillemacher) _...! 14 Min.
35. • (Action) Gilbert looks at girl after title,
(A man with blue eyes," (Andante) — -
Incidental Symphony No. 13 (Casini) 54 Min.
36. (Title) I don't tmderstand women — (Al-
legretto)— Same Number % Min.
37. (Action) Girl walks from prince — Island
(Rachmaninoff) _ 54 Min.
38. (Title) Now was the three days — Rus-
sian Dance (Friml) _ 3 Min.
39. (Action) Fade-out of pyramid on horse-
back— Fantasie on Tschaikowsky's Pique
Dame (Weninger) Duet — "Es Dam-
mert" - 1 Min.
40. (Title) I have the honor to deliver — .
Entre-acte of Act 2 of Same Number...,l Min.
41. (Action) Prince reads paper — D major
portion or part 5 of Same Number segue
to Finale of Same Number 1 Min.
42. (Title) Who ever heard of such a thing
Rustic Revels (Axt) _ —2 Miii.
43. (Action) Prince bows and leaves — Selec-
tion from Grand Duchess (Offenbach).— 3^ Min.
44. (Title) Gipsy women — Gipsy dances —
Czardas and Play Gypsies Dance Gypsies
from Countess Maritza (Kalman) 1 Min.
45. (Action) Gilbert goes to dancer — Trepak
(Tschaikowsky) 1 Yz Min.
46. (Action) Fade-out to girl in dining room
— Affection (Berge) ..— _ 14 Min.
47. (Title) Unchanged since the days — Al-
legro Moderate of Legende (Wieniaw-
ski) _ ......lY^ Min.
48. (Action) Mother offers ceremonial rites
to couple — Andante of Same Number.... J^ Min.
49. (Action) Prince kisses bread — Circassian
Dance from Katinka (Friml) 1 Min.
50. (Action) Gilbert grabs girl — Tacet until
Gilbert Strikes Girl then — Insurrezione
(Becce) . _ _ Y Min.
51. (Action) Girl in room alone — Cossack
Lullaby (Jiranek) _ - \Y Min.
52. (Title) I am your man — Prelude, Op.
39, No. 1, (Kopylow) U4 Min.
53. (Action) Prince and mother enter room
— Evening Glow (Norman) — 154 Min.
54. (Action) Fade-out of couple in coach
Prelude, Op. 16, (Vodorinski) - IY2 Min.
$3.00: Cloth bound
all mudo (tore*
Ay IDEAL COLLECTION FOR MOTION PICTURE ORGANISTS
STANDARD ORGAN PIECES
Tho following condented content! will give a good idta of the tcope of thia work
20 Classic Pieces such as Kol Nidrei Hebrew
Air for the G String Bach Vision ,...Rheinberger
Gavotte in D Gossec Cantilene Nuptiale Dubois
Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 Chopin 20 Opera Pieces snch aa
Minuet in A _ Mozart Hymn to the Sun. J?. Korsakow
31 Modem Pieces such as Song of India. R. Korsakow
Chants Russes Lalo Dance of Hours Ponchielli
Largo Dvorak Barcarolle Offenbach
Playera — —Granados 20 Marches and Charaeterlstles
Poeme fibich Dervish CHiorus Sebek
Souvenir Drdla Russian Patrol _-__J7u&t>utfin
20 Sacred Pieces such as Boyards' March —Halvorttm
Angelus —Massenet Festival March Gounod
Andantino ^...Lemare Marche Nuptiale , ..Cann
DAPPI FTnN fi. Pn Send for eomplelo 35 w. 38nd St,
• HrrLtlUll « \i\J. Index of 111 Pieces New York City
30
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
\
Kemote control stage switchboard furnished
and installed by us for Universals new
"Venetian" Theatre at Racine, Wisconsin
^
s
o
Theatre
Lighting Equipment
MESCO Equipment
in your theatre means
added satisfaction in
your illuminating ef-
fects.
Our equipment covers
every possible phase
of modern and up-to-
date theatre lighting.
MESCO Products;
Switchboards
Panelboards
Powerboards
Cove Lighting
Border Lights
Spot Lights
Foot Lights
Flood Lights
Our No. 12 Catalogue upon request.
MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC
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160 Clinton Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wings
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Neapolitin Nights
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If II If
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Two new theme songs — "Neapolitan
Nights," published for "Fazil" (Fox) by
Sam Fox Publishing Company; and
"Wings," published for "Wings" (Para-
mount) by the same firm.
55. (Action) Coach on road — Concerto No.
2, Op. 40 (Mendelssohn) 2% Min.
56. (Title) Kneel — Grand Appassionato
(Becce) _ IJ^ Min.
57. (Action) Father and son tied to posts
—Finale of Cue No. S5 ._.2 Min.
58. (Title) This sun and moon — Facing
Death (Becce) H Min.
59. (Action) Exterior — Long shot of Cos-
sacks— ■Part 3 of Symphony No. 6
(Tschaikowsky) ._ .■'^ . _2 Min.
60. (Action) Close-up of Gilbert on 'iioor
— Andante movement of Part 4 of Same
Number _ _ 1 Min.
61. (Action) Fade-out of death scene —
Cujus Animan (Rossini) lyi Min,
Notes on Cue Sheet
For "THE COSSACKS"
Omit D fiat portion of Cue 2.
Play chime part of first hymn in Cue 5. /
Twice through for Cue 6.
Improvise "grotesque" just a little before begin-
ning Cue 19.
Improvise Trumpet triads just before Cue 22.
Play Cue 23 as a "Chatter" number, and break
abruptly at 24.
Begin Cue 27 at Letter D of Fischer edition
after short improvised "Misterioso," skip from G
to M and finish.
Begin at letter P for Cue 29.
Begin Cue ii at Andantino grazioso with no re-
peats.
No repeats on number used at Cue 42.
Change tempo of "To wed the fairest of princesses"
and "I placed o'er my heart" from 3/4 to 2/4 in
Cue 42, and omit "Say to him." Work up all
through this cue to Cues 44 and 45.
Play eight measures only, beginning at meas-
ure 41, for Cue 46.
Tremolo off on Cue 52.
Use only the minor agitato portions for Cues
55 and 57.
Begin at measure 19 for Cue 58.
For Cue 59, begin at Figure 8 in Hawkes edition,
skip from 13 to 23, also skip from 26 to 28.
For Cue 60, just a few measures, beginning at
Figure 4.
T^#nC55^^
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maintained in the new Orchestraphone Junior Model. Cueing
technique has been simplified through the adoption of a new
change-over device. Any person of average intelligence can
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Exclusive features of the Orchestraphone Junior Model are
housed in a beautifully finished, all-steel cabinet of the desk
type which allows the operator a comfortable sitting position
while she cues the picture.
The music of the world's greatest artists— perfectly reproduced
— is now yours at a moderate price hitherto unobtainable in
a theatre instrument of this class. Orchestraphone Junior
Model comes to you completely equipped for immediate
patronage-pulling use. See your nearest National branch for
particulars or address your inquiry to our General OlSices:
624 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
£\ational ^iOieatre SupplyiSompOfif
~ -Offices in all -
' <dPrincibal -Cities
'^incipal -eities
Ask for information on cueing services for all films ^
mme
sm
In the ^^Palace^^^at Qaryl
— as in so many other high grade Motion Picture Houses — the
Kilgen Wonder Organ gives realistic background to the play, and
entertains great audiences with its matchless music .... Here, as
everywhere else, the public has shown its desire to see the artist
perform, as well as to hear the music.
In choosing the organ for your theatre, remember this: musical
expression is one thing; permanence of physical and musical per"
faction, another. Kilgen Organs have them both.
Send for Catalog, or write National Theatre Supply Company, Distributors
GEO. KILGEN & SON, Inc., 40Xa N. Union Blvd., ST. LOUIS, U. S. A.
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UNIQ UE
SIGNIFICANT!
FOUR
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PROJECTORS
—TWO MOVIETONE
AND
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IN THE
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BROOKLYN, N. Y.
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International Projector Corporation
90 GOLD street, NEW YORK
BETTER THEATRES
Information and
Catalog Bureau
"Better Theatres" offers on this page an individaal service to
its readers. Detailed information and catalogs concerning any
product listed herewith will be sent to any theatre owner, man-
ager, architect or projectionist. Just fill in the conpon below
and mail to "Better Theatres" Division of Exhibitors Herald
and Moving Picture World. Many of the products listed by
this Bureau are advertised in this issue of "Better Theatres."
See Advertisers Index.
1 Accounting tyitems.
2 Acoustical installationt.
3 Adapters, carbon.
4 Adding, calculating machinet.
5 Admission signs.
6 Addressing mactiines.
7 Advertising novelties, materials.
8 Advertising projects.
9 Air conditioning equipment.
10 Air dome tents.
11 Aisle lights.
12 Aisle rope.
13 Alarm signals.
14 Arc lamps, reflecting.
15 Architectural service.
18 Arc regulators.
17 Artificial plants, flowers.
IS Art titles.
19 Automatic curtain control.
20 Automatic projection cutouts.
21 Automatic sprinklers.
B
22 Balloons, advertising.
23 Banners.
24 Baskets, decorative.
25 Bell-buzzer signal systems.
26 Blocks, pulleys, stage-rigging.
27 Blowers, hand.
28 Booking agencies for musicians.
29 Booking agencies (state kind).
30 Boilers.
31 Bolts, Chair anchor.
32 Booths, projection.
33 Booths, ticket.
34 Box, logo chair*.
35 Brass grills.
36 Brass rails.
37 Brokers-Theatre promotion.
38 Bulletin boards, changeable.
39 Cable.
40 Cabinets.
41 Calcium lights.
42 Cameras.
43 Canopies for fronts.
44 Carbons.
45 Carbon sharpener*.
46 Carbon wrenches.
47 Carpets.
48 Carpet cushion.
49 Carpet Cleaning oompound.
50 Carpet covering.
61 Cases, film shipping.
52 Cement, film.
53 Chair covers.
54 Chairs, wicker.
55 Chairs, theatre.
56 Change makers.
57 Changer overs.
58 Color hoods.
59 Color wheels.
60 Condensers.
D
61 Date strips.
62 Decorations (state kind).
63 Decorators, theatre.
64 Dimmers.
65 Disinfectants — perfumed.
66 Doors, flreproot.
67 Draperies.
68 Drinking fountains.
69 Duplicating machine*.
E
70 Electric circuit letting Instru-
ments.
71 Electric fans.
72 Electrical flowers.
73 Electric power generating
plants.
74 Electric signs.
75 Electric signal and control sys>
tems.
76 Emergency lighting plants.
77 Exit light sign*.
F
78 Film cleaners.
79 Fllmsplicing machine.
SO Film tools (state kind).
81 Film waxing machine.
82 Fire alarms.
83 Fire escapes.
84 Fire extinguisher*.
85 Fire hose.
86 Fire hose reels, cart*.
87 Fire proof curtains.
88 Fire proof doors.
89 Fire proofing materials.
90 Fixtures, lighting.
91 Flashlights.
92 Flashers. Electrle sign.
93 Flood lighting.
94 Flooriights.
95 Floor covering.
96 Floor runners.
97 Flowers, artificial.
98 Footlights.
99 Fountains, decorative.
100 Fountains, drinking.
101 Frames-poster, lobby display.
102 Fronts, metal theatre.
103 Furnaces, coal burning.
104 Furnaces, oil burning.
105 Furniture, theatre.
106 Fuses.
G
107 Generators.
108 Grilles, bras*.
109 Gummed labels.
110 Gypsum product*.
H
111 Hardware, itage.
112 Heating system, coal.
113 Heating system, oil.
114 Ink, pencils for slides.
115 Insurance, Fire.
116 Insurance, Rain.
117 Interior decorating servite.
118 Interior Illuminated signs.
J
119 Janitors' supplies.
120 Labels, film caution.
121 Lamps, decorative.
122 Lamp dip coloring.
123 Lamps, general lighting.
124 Lamps, incandescent projection.
125 Lamps, high Intensity.
126 Lamps, reflecting arc.
127 Lavatory equipment, furnish-
ings.
128 Lavatory fixtures.
129 Ledgers, theatre.
130 Lenses.
131 Lights, exit.
132 Lights, spot.
133 Lighting fixtures.
134 Lighting Installations.
135 Lighting systems, complete.
136 Linoleum.
137 Liquid soap.
138 Liquid soap containers.
139 Lithographers.
140 Lobby display frames.
141 Lobby gazing balls.
142 Lobby furniture.
143 Lobby decoration*.
144 Lubricants (state kind).
145 Luminous numbers.
146 Luminous signs. Interior,
exterior.
M
147 IVtachinet, ticket.
148 IHachinet, pop corn.
149 Machines, sanitary vending.
150 IHake up, boxes, theatrical.
151 Marble.
152 Marquise.
153 Mats, leather.
154 Mats and ninners.
155 Mazda projection adapters.
156 Metal lath.
157 Metal polish.
158 Mirror, shades.
159 Motor generators.
160 Motion picture cable.
161 Musical Instruments (state
kind).
162 Musi* publisher*.
163 Music rolls.
164 Music stands.
165 Napkins.
166 Novelties, advertising.
167 Nursery furnishings and
equipment.
0
168 Oil burners.
169 Orchestral pieces.
170 Orchestra pit fittings, furnish-
ings.
171 Organs.
172 Organ novelty slides.
173 Organ lifts.
174 Organ chamber heaters.
175 Ornamental fountains.
176 Ornamental metal work.
177 Ornamental metal theatre
front*.
P
178 Paint, tcreen.
179 Paper drinking cups.
180 Paper towels.
181 Perfumer*.
182 Photo frame*.
183 Pianos.
184 Picture set*.
185 Player pianos.
186 Plastic fixtures and decoration*.
187 Plumbing fixture*.
188 Positive film.
189 Posters.
190 Poster frames.
191 Poster lights.
192 Poster paste.
193 Portable projector*.
194 Pottery decorative.
195 Power generating plant*.
196 Printing, theatre.
197 Program*.
198 Program covers.
199 Program signs, lllumlnsted.
200 Projection lamps.
201 Projection machine*.
202 Projection machine parts.
203 Projection room equipment.
R
204 Radiators.
205 Radiator covers.
206 Rails, brass.
207 Rails, rope.
208 Rain insurance.
209 Rectifiers.
210 Reconstruction service.
211 Redecorating service.
212 Reflectors (state kind).
213 Refurnishing service.
214 Regulators, Mazda.
215 Reels.
216 Reel end signals.
217 Reel packing, carrying ease*.
218 Resonant orchestra platform.
219 Reseating service.
220 Rewinding film.
221 Rheostats.
222 Rigging, stage.
223 Roofing materials.
S
224 Safes, film.
225 Scenery, stage.
226 Scenic artists' servlae.
227 Screen*.
228 Screen paint.
229 Seat covers.
230 Seat Indlcatori, vacant
231 Seats, theatres.
232 Signs (state kind).
233 Signs, parking.
234 Signals, reel end.
235 Sign flashers.
236 Sign-cloth.
237 Sign lettering service.
238 Sidewalk machine*, corn pop-
pers.
239 Slides.
240 Slide Ink, pencils.
241 Slide lanterns.
242 Slide making outfits.
243 Slide mats.
244 Shutters, metal fir*.
245 Soap container*. liquid.
246 Speed Indicator*.
247 Spotlight*.
248 Stage doors-valance*, etc.
249 Stage lighting equipment.
250 Stage lighting system*.
251 Stage rigging-blocks, pulley*.
252 Stage ecenery.
253 Stair treads.
254 Statuary.
255 Steel locker*.
256 Stereoptlcon*.
257 Sweeping compound*.
258 Switchboards.
259 Switche*, automatic.
T
260 Talley counter*.
261 Tapestries.
262 Tax free music.
263 Telephones, inter-communicat-
ing.
264 Temperature regulation «y*t*m.
265 Terra Cotta.
266 Terminal*.
267 Theatre accounting •y*tem*.
268 Theatre dimmer*.
269 Theatre *eat«.
270 TickeU.
271 Ticket booth*.
272 Ticket chopper*.
273 Ticket holder*.
274 Ticket racks.
275 Ticket selling machine*.
276 Tile.
277 Tile stands.
278 Tool cases, operator's.
279 Towels, paper.
280 Towels, cloth.
281 Trailers.
282 Transformer*.
283 Tripods.
284 Turnstiles, registering.
285 Typewriter*.
286 Uniforms.
U
287 Valances, for boxes.
288 Vases, stone.
289 Vacuum cleaner*.
290 Ventilating fan*.
291 Ventilating, cooling »yttem.
292 Ventilating eyitem*, complete.
293 Vending machine*, *oap, tow-
el*, napkins, ete.
294 Vitrollte.
W
295 Wall burlap.
296 Wall leather.
297 Watch mail's clock*.
298 Water cooler*.
299 Wheels, color.
USE THIS COUPON
"BETTER THEATRES" DIVISION
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture Worl(J
407 South Dearborn Street, Chicago
Gentlemen :
I should like to receive reliable information on the following items :
(Refer to Items by Number)
Remarks :..
Name Theatre..
. City-
Seating Capacity..
¥ I .^i<fJ
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
31
Architect Should Be
Liable for Loss
of Life
Says GEORGE E. EICHENLAUB
(.Continued from page 11)
three 5-foot exits at the front and two 6-foot
exits in the rear.
Buildings having a capacity of more than
500 and less than 1,001 shall have three S-foot
exits at the front, plus 20 inches additional
for each 100 capacity or fraction thereof in
excess of 500; and two 6-foot exits in the
rear, and in addition not less than two 5-foot
exits placed on each side of the theatre.
Buildings having a capacity of more than
1,000 shall have not less than four 5-foot
exits at the front, and in addition one 5-foot
exit for each 500 capacity over 1,000; also
two 6-foot exits in the rear, and four 5-foot
exits located centrally, two on each side of
the auditorium.
* * *
In his comment on the revised code, Eichen-
laub takes exception to some of the proposed
changes while endorsine others. As there
obviously is not space here to print the entire
revised code, Eichenlaub's recommendations
are given independently of the code text.
Introducing his comment the architect warns
that it "is intended as an aid, but not offered
as a perfect nor final solution."
"The existing code has proven itself quite
workable," he says, "and to my mind has pro-
duced the best theatres in any of the states.
Especially do I feel that the requirements for
number of entrance doors for seating capac-
ity planned should not be reduced.
* * *
Entrance Doors
"According to the new schedule, it would
be possible and legal to seat 5,000 and not
have more than three pairs of entrance doors,
which would be a serious mistake.
"From the personal safety angle, it is quite
well established that in case of emergency, a
crowd of heterogeneous people on their first
impulse will seek to get out the way they
came in, and do not consider much beyond
that initial impulse, the prime cause of trouble
in time of panic for any reason."
He suggests that the sentence on steps at
entrance or exit openings be changed to read :
"No steps will be permitted at exit openings,
except one 'Down to Grade' not over 8 inches
'maximum' rise.
* * *
Panic-Bolts
"The use of panic-bolts of proper design
should be ideal, with one door equipped with
dead-lock and balance with latches only. Foot-
bolts, head-bolts, cremonne-bolts, hooks, etc.,
should be prohibited as locking devices except
for the purpose of holding the doors open.
"The point here is that owners will lock the
doors and forget to unlock same with avowed
intent. This practice is common on all semi-
public buildings, and yet, a means must be
permitted to lock up a building that belongs
to an individual.
"If the latch-bar of a panic-bolt sticks out
into the free opening of doorway, it seems as
though the ends of such bars could be easily
rounded and geared up to double the throw
of the latch and thus interfere with the free
opening hardly at all. In fact, such are made
and are available.
"Landinats at foot of stairs fronting door-
ways might better be a minimum of 3 feet
in place of 4 feet as required. Where such
doorways are not equipped with doors, _ it
might be well not to require a landing, which
in some cases would tend to increase the
hazard, rather than cure it in all cases.
* * *
Stairways
"In specif5nng a minimum width of 4 feet
for stairways — this should- be qualified to
apply to 'public use.' A private stair to a
Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.
In these days of strong com-
petition more than ever be-
fore Motion Picture Theatre
Owners reahze the necessity
of selecting the best equip-
ment possible.
Such products are manufac-
tured by the Da-Lite Screen
Company, and sold for the
past eighteen years under
the well known Da-Lite
trade mark. Progressing with
the forward march of indus-
try the Da-Lite Screen Com-
pany maintains its suprem-
acy in presenting to the trade
its latest development —
DA-TONE-THE NEW
TALKIE SCREEN
— A perfected proven
product for both sound
and picture.
DA LITE SCREEN COMPANY
920-924 West Monroe Street
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
32
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
A FEW RECENT EXPRESSIONS
from owners and users of
The TRANSVERTER
Proud to be owner of Hertner Hand Book.
Have been working with double 3S-35 for
twelve years and know what they will do.
ARCADIA THEATRE
Detroit, Mich.
Please let me congratulate you on your won-
derful Transverter. Have been a projectionist
for the past eleven years and have worked
with several generators but none the equal
of the Transverter. It ranks supreme. For
the past two years have used a M.A. 20-40
and have had no trouble at all.
OBRERO THEATRE
San An.onio, Texas
Have had Hertner Transverters in the projec-
tion departments where I have worked during
the past ten years. I know their reliability
and freedom from troubles common to other
equipment. I hope your hand book will help
me to care for Transverters better in the
future than in the past — for they deserve the
best of care.
H. C. JARMAIN
Projectionist
"Runnymede" Canada's Theatre Beautiful
Toronto, Canada
Am using one of your double 75 Transverters,
in fact have had it in use for over three years
now and can say that it is performing in as
good shape as the day it was installed.
ALADDIN THEATRE
Cocoa, Florida
There is a TRANSVERTER for every Motion Picture Need
The new Hertner Hand Book (sent free) will help you select, operate and maintain in
good condition your Transverter. Send for it today. "If you show pictures you need
the Transverter.''
Sold in the U. S. A. by
The National Theatre Supply Company
Canadian Dietributor
Perkins Electric, Ltd.
THE HERTNER ELECTRIC COMPANY
"^mf^mm^
1900 W. 114th Street
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^ppreciaiioi^ Films , Tnc.
V> I029 S.WABASH AVE. CHICAGO, ILL.
mcter-r(;()m is yood enough in some instances
at 2 feet width.
"Public stairs at maximum pitch of Zi de-
grees is a bit severe; I would raise this to
36 and permit other stairs to be 45 and I
would certainly prohibit the use of 'winders'
which you have ignored.
"You specify 7 inches maximum rise in a
step. We regularly use /'^ inches and think
we have devised the perfect stairway, con-
trary to book-rule and teaching. When we
see many people of all kinds, using these stairs
without feeling for a handrail and then hear
remarks about the ease of THAT stairway,
we feel that maybe we designed it right, not
considering our own reaction to the stair's
use, as we might be prejudiced.
Stair Tread
"I would also reduce the run of the tread
to 10 inches and require 1 inch or more of
nosing; I would also prohibit the use of metal
strips or other fasteners on the top of any
tread, past the line of the nosing of the next
tread above.
"You might better say 'Stair runs, between
landings, shall not exceed 10 feet measured
vertically,' and the landings in the straight
line of the runs connected might better be
3 feet to improve the safety factor. Four
feet in the line of travel on foot, is more
than one step and is not two steps, and so
may operate to throw a normal person out of
stride, which surely does not make for safety.
"You recognize this in saying 'All balcony
steps shall be equal to each other,' but the
condition here is different in use and in effect.
Sight-Lines
"Coming from the cross-aisle into the long-
aisles of a balcony, you inevitably must have
a change going up or down from the cross-
aisle — if the sight-lines are to be preserved,
which is important for a theatre. We see
many theatres where this sight-line was ig-
nored, but still think it deserves consideration.
"You require that corners of landings be
curved or angled. This only complicates the
situation and does little good from the safety
angle. (We use it for sanitary reasons.)
If used, you might require that it extend up
at least 6 feet above the line of the landing
floor, which would accomplish your evident
purpose.
"Hand rails 2 inches from all in place of
3 feet as you say. Minimum diameter of
same could be 1 inch or 1{4 inches in place of
2 inches minimum, which is really excessive,
especially for a child and many women as
well.
"Ramps sloping 1 in 10 are very easy; this
requirement could be increased easily to 1
in 8 without hazard, but I would surely re-
quire that such ramps shall not end in a stair
or step at their lower extremity. I might add
that steps would be permitted at the upper
end provided a flat landing 16 inches wide
occurred between bottom step and start of
incline.
* * *
Courts
"Define court : . . . 'and (or) a roofed-
over passage 9 feet high, with smooth walls
and ceiling, entirely fireproof, without sharp
turns and corners, properly illuminated, and
of minimum width as specified.'
"An open court is O. K. but I can easily
see a brick or coping-tile fall down into such
a court, dislodged by a fireman, and possibly
striking a person on his 'crock.'
"I can see a falling wall or parapet thereof,
blocking such an open court ; wind could blow
some roofing off and block such a court, too.
A covered court in such cases would have a
real advantage and is permitted in most states.
Width of courts as required is excessive.
Width
A 3,000 seat house now would require a
court on each side 15 feet wide and a 4,000
seat house would need 19 feet on each side,
which constitutes a heavy waste.
"If it were worded 'aggregate width,' the
A
September 29. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
33
.\000 seat house would have IOJ/2 feet and the
4,IK)0 seat house 12;,^ feet on each side, with
a privilege to use a narrower court on one
side if an alley or street occurred on the side
opposite.
"^klinimum width might be established at
3 feet for 500 seats; 6 feet for 1,000; 7 feet
for 2,000; 8 feet for 3,000; and 1 foot addi-
tional width for each 1,000 added seats.
"This appears reasonable, as the balcony is
SO per cent of the hazard and is mo^t likely
to empty direct to street anyway. It is only
occupied or in use a very small proportionate
part of the time any\\ay, in a well-designed
theatre.
"It seems a court should be -proportioned
more to handle the number of doors opening
into same and should increase in width as it
approaches- its end to alley or street, and if
open at both ends, a permissible reduction in
width should be allowed.
Seat Width
"To rctluce the seat width to 19 inches is
going backwards. Better to stick to 20 inches
c. to c. as beEore, which has worked out
very well. Make it 19 inches and all the
second hand seats in America will come to
Pennsylvania.
"The first row of seats should be kept Ijack
from screen at least \S feet. Better to make
this 20 feet as we do in our jiractice. Hazard
to life, health and propcrt\- includes eyesight
of youngsters without a doubt. This law is
designed to guide the ignorant and control the
unscrupulous and 20 feet here is not too much.
"Top of rail in balcony can be made 30
inches high in place of 26 inches; at aisles it
could be 36 inches in place of 30 inches.
"I would not permit an open rail at all. Use
the curb and an iron fence or perforated rail
and let that be styled "t.>pen." A babv can
easily fall through a pipe-rail.
"Better say: 'Standpipes on stage shall be
2 inches nominal pipe-size inside diameter.
Hose, racks and pipe-system to be kept in
good condition and subjected to water-test
nnce a year in the presence of the local fire-
chief or his assistant.'
"Why install an approved automatic sprink-
ler system back of proscenium in a motion
picture theatre? Why not make the same
retroactive for all existing theatres, lodge-halls
and assembly places? As a matter of busi-
ness, it is wise and right that this be done,
because it pays good dividends on the invest-
ment. But, if a man in a small town simplj-
cannot immediately make the installation, why
make it legally impossible for him to get a
new theatre infinitel)- better, safer and more
healthful than the old one, which is legally
permitted to live as a menace to the com-
munity?
"The larger houses will install the sprinkler
anyway and the smaller will, when they can
afford it — if the owners have any judgment.
Why not put a three year limit after opening,
on this feature and give your inspectors a little
more to do?
"Trap door shall not be used 'in floor' of
])rojection room and 'one exit' therefrom
should be sufficient.
"Two doors means two doors open when
it is hot, law or no law. And a man can
slip out and close one door — but hardly handle
two doors, in case of fire, if he wants to get
out QUICK. Not all are like the hero who
recently burnt himself, controlling a booth
fire, and subsequently died.
* * *
Toilet Facilities
"Why not say 'Chemical toilets will be per-
mitted where it is not practicable to supply
gravity sewer connections?' We favor a
suspended booth, where we get ideal projec-
tion, with a short throw saving power, inci-
dentally reducing the heat at the arc, thus
reducing fire-hazard, giving a much more
comfortable projection room and small chance,
if any, for a booth fire to communicate itself
to the auditorium, if the door be left open by
chance or design.
"This type of booth, however, does not lend
The New
FOX DETROIT THEATRE
RAVEN |-]y\M|^j^£ SCREEN
Because
"Better Projection Pays"
1476 Broadway Raven Screen Corporation New York, N. Y.
B'
Combination System
PATENTED
COOLING — HEATING
NOW any Theatre — New or Old — can have
advantages of Supreme Coohng and Heating.
the
I|- The SUPREME Cooling B!ou;-*i
er — a part of the combination
system. The most powerful and
effective unit of its type on
the mar\et. Jvjote the variable
speed feature.
tenance. These features are
Supreme System.
One moderate investment in a Supreme System
makes you independent of weather conditions — as-
sures positive summer cooHng and equally positive
Winter Heating and Ventilation.
Consider the advantages of having your Theatre de-
lightfuUy Cool in Summer and co^y and comfortable
m Winter — then get the full details on the Supreme
System.
Quick, uniform heating, no drafts, no aisle space
occupied, no dan-
ger of freeze-up,
perfect Winter
Ventilation, posi-
tive Summer
Cooling and econ-
omy in both oper-
ation and main-
found only in the
Use Your Present Cooling System
If you have a Cooling System, Supreme Heating
can be combined with your present Cooling
Blower easily and inexpensively. In writing for
details, specify make of your Cooling Blower and
send sketch showing location. State also, if your
present Cooling Blower has variable speed control.
The SUPREME Boiler Plate ^
Steel Heater — gas tight and un-
conditionally guaranteed. An
important part of the SU-
PREME combination system.
U Burns all fuels economically. •-I
(MAIL TODAY SURE)
SUPREME Heater & Ventilating Corp.
Saint Louis, Missouri
Send complete information about your heating and Cooling System.
(Name)
Size Theatre
(Address)
Capacity
(City)
Have you a cooling system
^;
(State)
What make
34
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 192&
SYNCHRONIZE
Your OWN Pictures, Musically
FOR ONLY
$495
Results Count
Why Pay More? Complete with 3 speak,
ers
A FREE TRIAL WILL CONVINCE YOU
The Orchestrola is the ONLY COMPLETELY enclosed,
Comfortable, Desk type, Electric 2 Disc Phonograph made,
especially designed for quick synchronizing of music to
pictures, by means of patented theatre index record sys-
tem (see No. 24).
3inl
It is the only instrument using 3 separate
speakers, for Low, Medium, and High notes,
placed at front and rear of theatre, giving
equal volume over entire theatre. Also features the
Good-All Echo Switch, enabling operator to produce
many beautiful Pipe Organ Echo effects.
Sent Anywhere on Approval
Dont buy until you hear the Orchestrola
Wire collect for
further information
Good-All Electric Mfg. Co.
Ogallala, Nebr.
j&S^:^
GUARANTEED—
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sound installation.
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Please send one Orchestrola on approval D
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NAME
ADDRESS..
itself readily to an inside toilet and the ad-
vantage gained does not nearly compensate for
the other and much greater safety from fire
dangers to the many.
"I would suggest that you say 'toilet and
wash facilities shall be provided on approxi-
mately the same level and not more than fifty
feet removed from the booth." The designer
will now provide the proper facilities of his
own accord, and the owner will feel inclined
to stand for the cost, as the said toilet can
now he brought close to some soil-stack, thus
making a practical and economical instedlation.
* * *
Adjoitiing Garages
"No garage, etc., shall connect with a theatre
or portion thereof . . ." If you qualified
this with the words 'direct communication' not
allowed, it would give us a chance to establish
communication by a covered way having at
least two fire-doors with say 10 feet of travel
between them. 'Direct communication' would
have to he defined as by a single doorway
in a wall separating the two functions of plant.
Direct ingress from one to the other would
surely he had.
"For instance: We now have a 4,000 seat
standard super-theatre in work, with a big
storage garage adjoining.
"Patrons will leave their cars in the garage
and rather than force them out into the cold
of a bad night, we want to hy-pass them into
the theatre lolihy direct. We realize full well
that smells, odors and noises would be fatal to
our object; that the fire hazard is something
to think about; and that people with nice
clothes and dainty wraps will not approach a
dark, evil passage nor even care to cross a
drafty, bald and snow-laden alley.
"So the passage we expect to provide will
be well-lit, attractive, have three sets of self-
closing doors and he in full accord with un-
derwriters' requirements, the best safety prac-
tice, and also merit public approval.
"The state would admit our layout to be
right — but with the law in efifect as written, it
would operate to defeat a worthy object, and
you would be compelled to say 'No.'
"In conclusion: It takes considerable prac-
tical experience to dash off a general code of
requirements to fit any or all conditions that
may arise in any part of a great state at any
time. In fact, it cannot be done.
"My experience with the New York State
Code, some few years ago, proved that no one
was interested, until we took a hand and
shouted out loud — and I would not be sur-
prised if this proved the only criticism at any
length you may have up to this time. After
it is enacted into law, however, is a poor time
to kick about it and again years must elapse
before a change, maybe for the worse."
RAILINGS
Ornamental Bronze Work
Grilles Wickets
ZERO VALVE &
BRASS CORP.
634 Fourth St. Buffalo, N. Y. ^3i>
Curtain Track of
Steel Designed by
Eastern Company
An announcement of interest to exhibi-
tors, architects, supply dealers and drapery-
houses has just been made by the Auto-
matic Devices Company of Allentown, Pa.,,
concerning a new "silent-steel" curtain
track.
Since the development of the hardwood
track, changes in stage design and equip-
ment have resulted in attempts to employ-
ing steel. As a result, the "silent-steel"
curtain track has been produced. It is
called "silent, strong and durable, simple to
install and easy to operate, whether by hand
or with A. D. C. automatic curtain machine,'"
according to the manufacturer.
"Its moderate price is made possible only
by the use of extremely accurate dies in
the manufacture of track and fittings, thus
assuring absolute precision and uniformity
in quality and dimensions with the conse-
quent savings in production cost," the an-
nouncement states.
"Complete information and data covering
the 'silent-steel' curtain track will be sent
upon request to the Automatic Devices
Company, Eighth and Hamilton Streets,
Allentown, Pa."
To Show Paramount
(Special to the Herald-World)
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 25.— Starting with
the week of October 15, only first-run Para-
mount pictures will be shown at the Palace
Orpheum, St. Paul, and at the Hennepin
Orpheum, Minneapolis.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
What Kind of a
Fellow Is —
Charles Caballero?
IN the first place Charles Caballero is
purchasing agent of West Coast Thea-
tres.
That's important!
In the next place, and in his own words,
"'not a prohibitionist; but don't drink; don't
smoke, don't golf."
That's important, too!
It reveals in Mr. Caballero a tolerance
which, after all, can claim kinship to suc-
cess.
Mr. Caballero is one of the younger pur-
chasing agents of the great chains, having
been born in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 24,
1890. Guess his nationality, and then again
we'll tell his story in his own words:
"American nationality. Mother and
father American. Name Spanish, grand-
father coming from Madrid, grandmother
from Dublin."
What a great combination for success!
Tolerance, with the blood of Spain and
Ireland merging in the veins of a true
American.
Now, what else do we know about Mr.
Caballero? Just listen.
He attended the Brooklyn public and
parochial schools, and was registered at
St. John's College of Brooklyn for one year.
Following his academic work, he became
associated with a liquor distillery in the
department of sales and collections.
In 1913, he migrated to California and
entered the citrus distributing industry, but
a disastrous frost made this job lo.ok like
no job at all, so he turned his attention to
power and for five years served one of the
large power companies on the Coast.
Next, we find him as the head of his own
brokerage business. He continued in this,
the buying and selling of hay and grain,
until over-production and deflation demoral-
ized the industry in 1920.
After the discontinuance of his own busi-
ness, he joined Gore Brothers, Inc. In 1922
he organized and has headed since the pur-
chasing branch of West Coast Theatres.
So much for business. No, he doesn't
play golf, BUT, he is an outdoor man, en-
joying swimming, boating, hiking, handball
and the like, and best of all he enjoys a
wonderful family — Mrs. Caballero and two
children.
Quiet Electric Ventilator
Good ventilation makes business good. Venti'
lators for all your fresh air requirements.
Write for catalog.
LsJceside Company 223 Main St.
Hermansville, Mich.
tage Equipment
Fire Curtains Counterweight System
Motor Driven Cycloramas
Hydraulic Chec\ Light Bridges
CONSOLE - ORCHESTRA
and STAGE ELEVATORS
RICHARD R. BRUCKNER
532-540 W. 22nd St.
New York
36
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
SeptemLer 29, 1928
Bernice and Emily, two of the
Loew State ballet, manipulating
the switches of the stage system
pilot board.
The photograph above shows a
detailed viezv of the remote con-
tactor board, which is located in
the basement.
Beloiv is a complete unit of one circuit — the pilot
szvitch, dimmer, etc.
r
•-
^m
fe" ®
■-^
:'~'i-
fc^mik- ^
IIIhIhIbIk£%
PT"; " , "^-^fl
Imyil
'
|fe ■' s
i
^^^■H^k^yl
1
i
wm- ^^
Below: Bernice and Emily at the
stage entrance, thus indicating the
relative position of the pilot board.
Features of Loew State Lighting Equipment
These pictures show sjgnyficant joints in the illumination control of this theatre.
September 29. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
37
The richly Oriental mezzanine floor of the Loezv State.
A Theatre That Demonstrates Modem
Efficiency in Lighting Control
And the Loew State in Syracuse Is Otherwise U -p-to-the-l^inute
THE opening this year of Loew's State
gives what has been described as "one of
the most beautiful theatres in the East,"
to Syracuse. This house provides for an
audience of 3,200 people, and has every feature
of the modern motion picture palace. It was
designed by Thomas W. Lamb, New York
architect.
In design the State is Oriental. Into its
intricately carved columns and doorways, and
its vivid tapestries and chandeliers, have been
l)lended the best art of Chma and India. The
newest type of equipment for presentations
im screen and stage has been installed. There
is an elevator for the entire orchestra and for
the organ. Two movable platforms are pro-
vided on the stage, electrically operated and
automatically controlled by push buttons.
Elaborate color effects are afforded by a scien-
tifically and artistically designed system of
lighting.
To change the lighting and gradually merge
the light from one color to another without
attracting the attention of the audience re-
quires a very flexible and up-to-date control,
and the multi-preset switchboard, which is in-
stalled in this theatre, is especially suitable for
By K. W. JOHANSSON*
this service. The arrangement of the controls,
the compactness and flexibility, permits the
operator to handle any kind of lighting effect
with dispatch and finesse.
The program changes' weekly and the light-
ing eft"ect can be set up at the beginning of
the week and left unchanged. The switch-
board is composed of a pilot board located on
the right hand side of the stage facing the
auditorium, while the magazine panel is lo-
cated on the back of the pilot board. The
remote electrically controlled contactor board
is located in the basement directly under the
pilot board. The pilot board is of the combi-
nation type, with ten-scene multipreset ar-
rangement on the stage section, and two-scene
preset arrangement on the house section.
Each scene is controlled by its own master
scene switch that, after the board has once
been set up, enables the operator to throw on
the desired lighting effect for any scene by
the operation of a single switch. The board is
arranged in three colors on both the stage and
*Switchboard Engineer, Westinghouse Electric and
Manufacturing Company.
auditorium sections. Each color group has
its own individual master switch and this is so
connected that a complete black-out can be
obtained by operating either the main switches
or the black-out push button specially pro-
vided for this purpose, for both the stage and
the house.
The dimmer bank is located directly behind
and is part of the pilot board making a com-
plete unit. The board is made up of indi-
vidual units and each dimmer control handle
is located directly under the circuit which it
controls.
Each color group has its own master con-
trol, which is cross-interlocked with the
ground master wheel drive. This enables the
operator to brighten or dim the lighting in any
color group for the effects desired.
All essential controls are so located that
they are within easy reach of the operator
from one position, and with the entire light-
ing for a production set-up, the operator can
devote his whole attention to the operation of
the dimmers. Thus there would seem no
haste in operation necessary, nor any possi-
bility of disturbing errors.
38
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
PREVENTS .
f I L M
FIRES
SENTRY
S A FETY
CONTROl
PREVENTS
FILM
FIRES
SENTRY
S A FETY
CONTROl
FKEN'ENTS
FILM
l>.<h.F I R E j
SAFETY FIRST!
From Film-Fires Especially
The more than 1500 installations of SENTRY SAFETY CON-
TROL that have been made in a little over a year, are in the-
atres of better than average success.
The reason being that the owner who puts emphasis on
SAFETY FIRST is usually the most successful.
Especially SAFETY FIRST from film-fires.
iHpri^v
The positive fire preventer Can he attached to any projector Costs only a feu/ cents a day.
Sentry Safety Control Corporation. 13th and Cherry Sts., Philadelphia. 1560 Broadway, New York
And All Branches of National Theatre Supply Company
0-'
You Hear as
You See
(^Continued from page 17)
in the theatre. It is operated by remote
control.
The chief advantage of this type of sound
effects device is that the effects are super-
imposed upon the music accompaniment.
That is any sound effect may be created
without effecting the music ffow. The ef-
fect is heard in addition to and simultaneous
with the music. Thus, a sound, such as a rifle
shot or machine gun fire may be heard
above the musical accompaniment. Two or
more sound effects may be created at the
same time in addition to the music. For in-
stance in the performance mentioned
above, the rattle of machine gun fire, and
the rumble of motor trucks were heard
simultaneously, with the music forming a
sound background.
As was demonstrated at the performance
at the Castle theatre, this non-synchronized
device will duplicate the performance of a
regular sound-effects picture where good
cueing and operation is made. In the per-
formance at the Castle, it happened that
a record was obtained that contained Rus-
sian dialogue. This was used in the se-
quence where the revolutionist speaks. Ob-
viously of course, true dialogue cannot be
obtained.
The synchronous device will be inter-
changeable with the prominent devices now
on the market. It will be adaptable to either
the film or disc method of reproduction.
The aperture for the film method is placed
at 80 mills which has been chosen as stand-
ard by Movietone and RCA photophone.
The disc apparatus may be attached to any
standard projection machine and is sup-
ported by two pedestals. The turntable is
connected mechanically with the projector
motor, thus producing synchronism between
film and record.
The amplification units of both systems
have a sound frequency ranging between 50
and 5,500 vibrations per second. This range
runs from the low vibrations of a pipe or-
gan to the high notes of a piccolo. At the
showing at the Castle, it was quite easy to
hear the high notes of the piccolo and the
low rattle of snare drums at the same time.
Magnavox dynamic speakers are used
throughout, either with baffle deflectors or
exponential horns. Where a wide band of
sound is needed to cover a large area of
a house, the baffle deflectors are used. The
exponential horns are used to throw sound
to particular parts of the house.
"IF WINTER COMES"
can you use your ventilating system?
you can if you will use the
Remote Control at your Finger Tips
by the turn of a dial
Blizzard Sales Co., Omaha, U. S. A.
In every installation the type of horns
and number that best suit tlie particular
acoustical demands of the house are used.
Before any installation is made a thorough
engineering survey is made of the house,
thus the installation is designed to meet the
particular acoustical conditions of the house.
Thus the cost of installation and the num-
ber of amplification units depends upon the
cubic dimension of the house, its interior
construction and surface material. As a
result of the scientific survey made of each
house and the use of the different types of
speakers to meet the varying acoustical con-
ditions the house, the company claims that
the best in tonal qualities, sound distribu-
tion and volume is obtained.
All amplification units for the systems
have been designed by the company's en-
gineer, L. J. Andres, after years of experi-
mentation, according to the company.
Andres is a graduate electrical engineer
from Lewis Institute and was formerly a
professor of electrical and radio engineer-
ing at this college. He is a member of
the Institute of Radio Engineers.
E. E. Rullman is president of Musical
Devices; Wilbur Robinson, formerly with
Warner Brothers exchange in Chicago,
sales manager; and A. C. Courshon, secre-
tary and treasurer.
t<
Gang" on Eastern Tour
(Special to the Herald-World)
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 25.— Robert Mc-
Gowan, director of Hal Roach's "Gang," is
in New York making a study of Vitaphone.
"The Gang" is also in New York breaking
house-records at the Capitol theatre. Upon
their return to the studio in October, Mc-
Gowan will resume production, using sound
in future "Gang" comedies.
,^.^
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
39
Marvellous New Effects for Screen and Stage with
^ _^ MASTER BRENOGRAPH
Wonders in effects never possible before. The
Master Brenograph opens up an entirely new
world of possibilities in entertainment. Unlim-
ited overture scenes, prelude scenes, feature
picture scenes, organ attractions, curtain de-
signs, action, illusions, color, high lighting,
decorations, all with one machine. Simply
and effectively executed.
The New Brenkert F-7 Master Brenograph
keeps you a step ahead of the changing trend.
Does to the eye what talking pictures are
doing to the ear. Makes it possible for you
to put your own ideas and those of master
artists into execution and change the very
atmosphere of your theatre every week of
the year.
Theatre owners and managrers: Write today for de-
scriptive folder on the New Brenlcert Master Breno-
graph. In writing, please state if you are owner,
manaKer or operator.
/'/,,,v"
"/'I'V^
BRENKERT LIGHT PROJECTION CO.
St. Aubin at East Grand Blvd., Detroit, Mich.
Better Projection
They speak of inefficiency. And are YOU
guilty in any degree? If you are, then
shame on you! There is no excuse under
the sun — none whatever.
Once every day all condenser lens sur-
faces, mirror surfaces and outer projection
lens surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned
and polished. If this is not done there will
be unnecessary loss of light and if they
are left too long there probably will be
injury to definition.
Especially is it necessary to examine the
rear surface of the projection lens daily,
to be sure there is no spot or spots of oil
on it. A very, very small spot of oil — so
small it may be invisible except upon very
close examination, will spread over consid-
erable space, and from an extremely thin
and almost invisible coative.
I would recommend that a roll of care-
fully selected toilet paper be kept on the
projection room wall for lens cleaning. If
you select the paper with good judgment
it supplies a cheap, efficient medium for
polishing lens surfaces. A soft cloth is also
excellent, but is apt to be used until it be-
comes too much soiled. Suitable toilet
paper — that with a soft surface — may be
used in liberal quantity and discarded.
For cleaning dirty or oily lenses, benzine
or half denatured or wood alcohol and half
water is excellent, but polish the surface
while it is still wet.
Warning: Don't merely wipe oil ofif a
lens and then polish. You cannot get it
all off that way, or at least you are ex-
tremely unlikely to. Wash the surface with
Continued from page 24
one of the above suggested me'diums and
then polish.
Every ninety days dis-assemble your pro-
jection lenses and clean all surfaces thor-
oughly. Examine the lens barrel interiors,
but do NOT rub or wipe them with any-
thing. If the coating is not perfect give
them a thin coating of coach painters black
thinned with turpentine. Make the mixture
quite thin. It will dry almost immediately,
but permit the barrel to remain in a warm
place and open for at least an hour after
coating.
It is especially important that mirror sur-
faces be kept scrupulously clean, but be
54VRandcJ[±a
Cliicaqo
vStXte 591(5 '
'°'''w^,TP%:5^I,^"'° r. RUMORS
Monthly 9licle,News Tor the- Or^ni6t
sure that in cleaning 'you do not mar or
dull the surface. It is easy to "dull" a
mirror surface without causing any visible
scratch marks. Be very careful. Also be
sure that in washing the surface you do not
get any of the solution on the mirror back.
It may or may not do damage, but prob-
ably will.
Most
Interesting
W. R. Gwynn, projectionist. Park the-
atre, Estes Park, Col., in a letter to the
editor says: "Long before the announce-
ment of the orchestraphone and other simi-
lar phonograph amplifiers we were amplify-
ing records here with a home made outfit.
In out-or-doors tests, announcements were
through a microphone which could be
heard distinctly for eight blocks."
Gwynn is a distinctly high grade, pro-
gressive motion picture projectionist and I
do not question the correctness of any
statement he may make. It is indeed inter-
esting to know that a projectionist per-
fected such excellent amplifying apparatus.
My compliments to him.
A Problem
To Solve
From Benjamin Shnitka, Royal Theatres,
Limited, Innisfail, Alberta, comes this let-
ter. I have answered it, since the answer
could not wait. Our readers are, however.
40
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
Compare the Results
then price, then profits
You can pay more or
you can pay less for
music, but if you will
honestly check what
people like, then its
cost and what profits
it will pay, you will
decide on the Selector
Duplex Organ.
Plays a ten tune
roll continuously
without rewind.
Classic on one
side, Jazz on the
other if desired.
Compact in size
— low in cost.
Get details now.
The
Famous
Selector-Duplex
Orga
n
Nelson-Wiggen Piano Co.
1731-45 Belmont Ave., Chicago
Reserved Seat Tickcls: (or Theatres and all amuse-
ment enterprises. Folded Machine Tickets: for all
machines. Roll and Book Strip Tickets: for every
purpose. We supply the leading theatres and amuse-
ment enterprises all over the country. Write for
samples and prices.
^WILLIANIS
& LICK.
FORT SMITH, ARK.
specialists in Numbered Printing; Since 1898
Ruben Uniforms
ADD SMARTNESS
TO YOUR STAFF!
That smart appear-
ance, so much desired,
is easily obtained with
Ruben Uniforms.
Your employees,
garbed in Ruben Uni-
forms, will lend an
identitj' of finest qual-
ity to your institution.
RUBEN, STYLE,
QUALITY and
ECONOMY are insep-
arable names.
We cater to style-
but hold to ECON-
OMY!
Wi-ffe Now
\ For' New Free
^Catalogue
^/^Ca^r^^i^^ ylfiiii'efi^
625 S. State St.,
Chicago, III.
1,673,120. SHUTTER FOR MOVING-PICTURE
MACHINES. Frank E. Oiler, Detroit, Mich., as-
signor to Mantor, Inc., New York, N. Y., a Cor-
poration of Delaware. Filed Jan. 4, 1924. Serial
No. 684.339. 8 Claims. (CL 88 — 19.3.)
1. An adjustable shutter for cameras and pro-
jectors comprising two blades each having dia-
metrically opposite sectors each extending over an
arc less than a quadrant and a third blade ha\~ing
a single sector of smaller arc than a quadrant,
means for mounting the several blades concen-
trically and contiguously', and nveans for adjust-
ably fastening them together to form alternatively
a single relatively small light opening or two
diametrically opposite spaced and relatively large
openings.
1,673,019. METHOD OF PRODUCING COM-
POSITE PHOTOGRAPHS. Roy J. Pomeroy, Los
Angeles, Calif., assignor of one-half to Famous
Players-Lasky Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a
Coporation of New York. Filed Dec 19, 1925.
Serial No. 76,423. 7 Claims. (CI. 88—16.)
1. The method of producing a composite photo-
graph, that includes making a transparent image
of one of the components in a suitable color, il-
luminating another component with light of su)>-
stantially the color of said transparent image,
illuminating the remainder of the transparent
image, excepting that part through which the
second component is being photographed, with
light of a substantially complementary color, and
exposing a fresh actinic surface to the second men-
tioned component through the transparent image
said actinic surface being sensitive to both said
colors.
cordially invited to submit an answer, the
best of which will be published. Here is
the letter:
I beg to request that you assist me in solving the
following problem in connection with a motion pic-
ture theatre I am erecting here. Am sending a sketch
of auditorium, which is 46 feet wide and 48 feet
from screen to front wall of the projection room
to screen. The stage opening is 24 feet wide by
15 high.
The projection lens, after allowing 48 inches for
its height from the projection room floor, is 13
feet higher than the stage floor. The auditorium
floor slopes. Its front end is 3 feet 9 inches below
the level of the stage floor and raises ^ of an inch
to every foot to the rear end. There are 15 rows
of seats in the center, 32 inches apart. Each row
is 2 inches higher than the one in front.
I intend using two Powers projectors equipped with
reflectors arc lamps. The question is, what size lens do
I require and what size picture would you recom-
mend.
The electric current is A C 110 volt, 60 cycle,
single or three phase. It costs about 10 cents per
kilowatt.
On page 307 of the Bluebook of Projection, Fifth
Edition, you recommend 36 inches between port holes.
Will this give me suiificient space? Beside two mo-
tion picture projectors I will use a spot. \yhat
objection, if any, would there be to a wider spacing?
It has been recommended to me that I install a
mercury arc rectifier or a Hertner Transverter. The
Transverter will cost about $300 more than the recti-
fier. Which do you think will be the more economi-
cal to operate? ."^Iso would you recommeiid Mazda
instead of reflector arc lamps, first cost being about
equal ?
Am considering using a mirror screen, while with
the arc lamp a plain screen is intended. The town
has about 1,000 population and only one show an
evening is given.
There, gentlemen, go to it! This prob-
lem is remarkably like one which came a bit
later from New Brunswick, which I have
asked a New Jersey machine operator to
solve. However, many of the same sort are
received, so that is nothing particularly
strange, except that the resemblance is not
often so close as to details.
H
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
41
Sound Pictures
Is General Topic
At SMPE Meet
Sound pictures, in their many phases, are
the general topic of discussion at the semi-
annual meeting of the Society of Motion
Picture Engineers at Lake Placid, N. Y.,
the week of September 24.
Subjoined are resumes of a number of
the papers to be read:
Acoustics of Auditoriums
By PAUL R. HEYL
Burcaic of Standards, Washington, D. C.
Any continued interfering sound in an
auditorium soon makes a condition which
is unbearable to an audience. The usual
defects of auditoriums are three: echo, dead
spots, and reverberation. Echo is defined
as a definite or articulate repetition of a
sound after an interval of time equal to
the duration of the sound. The defect is
usually prevented by correct room shape.
Dead spots occur in auditoriums where
sound waves come together from different
directions and neutralize each other making
it impossible for a person located at such
a point to hear much of anything. Dead
spots are avoided by suitable shape of 'the
walls and ceiling. Reverberation is a con-
tused prolongation of sound and is likely
to be excessive in rooms where the walls
are constructed of materials which reflect
sound stronglj' and absorb it only slightly.
* * *
A New Continuous Motion
Picture Projector
By A. J. HOLMAN
The usual methods of effecting optical
compensation by which a stationary image
may be projected from a continuously mov-
ing motion picture film involve the use of
a system of mirrors moved by an elaborate
cam, or a system of prisms.
A projector has been designed which
utilizes for compensation two overlapping
wheels which carry on the periphery a num-
ber of matched lens elements. The move-
ment of these lens wheels is one of
continuous rotation and the compensation
results from a change in refraction in the
lens system comprising these moving ele-
ments by reason of their moving toward
and away from the optical axis.
The machine can be operated very
slowly without flicker because each picture
gradually replaces the preceding without
any dark screen. A long curved aperture
is used and light is used efficiently by means
of a sphero-cylindrical condenser.
* * *
Sound Production in Theatres
By E. O. SCRIVEN
Bell Telephone Labs., Inc., New York, N. Y.
and
H. B. SANTEE
Electrical Research Products, Inc.,
Nezv York, N. Y.
Sound reproducing like sound recording
equipment must be designed to maintain a
linear relation between stimulus and re-
sponse. The solution of this problem re-
quires the elimination of the effects of both
mechanical and electrical resonance. This
result may be accomplished by making use
of apparatus in which the resonant point
is outside the frequency range one wishes
to reproduce or resonance at one point may
be balanced against resonance at another.
The reproducer used with disc sound rec-
ords is in part similar to the reproducer
for phonograph use, except that it produces
electric currents rather than sound waves.
A beam of light and a photoelectric cell
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42
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
ff'-^&^^k
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< I
Miction in
own^
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Regardless of your head liners,
their stars and their producers, the
projection of any feature picture de-
termines the size of the crowds at
your box office.
The Roth actodector supplies
cheap, reliable D. C. from your A. C.
supply and produces a steady course
of current for a perfect flickerless
projection.
Used by the best all over the
world.
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performs a similar function in the case of
the film record.
An engineering survey of a theatre for
which an installation is intended reveals
characteristics which determine the type
and size of such equipment. The installa-
tion progresses in logical order to permit
the operating personnel to become gradu-
ally familiar with its various portions. Dif-
ferent acoustic conditions in theatre audi-
toriums require that individual study be
given in each case.
* =}: *
Effect Lighting in Theatres
By J. H. KURLANDER
Brenkert Light Projection Company,
Detroit, Mich.
The first "effect" lightings in motion pic-
ture theatres were accomplished by the use
of lantern slide projectors. Later these
were modified somewhat to suit this new
use.
A special "effect" projector has been de- ■
signed for this purpose only. It has fittings
which allow all of the parts to be -rehearsed
beforehand. At later showings the per-
formance will be identical because of the
use of pre-set stops and the indicating dials.
This equipment is adapted to use for
spotting color blending, mask and silhouette
work, lantern slide projection, cloud and
water effects and other effects.
* * *
New Mechau Continuous Projector
E. LEITZ, Inc.
Germany
A number of improvements have been
made in the Mechau projector without
changing the outer appearance of the ma-
chine. The reflecting mechanism is some-
what different. The strongly light absorb-
ing prisms near the film have been replaced
with a three port optical system. The
change from an objective of one focal
length to another has been made simpler.
A quiet and steady operation is assured
by the use of helical driving gears and a
change in gear ratio by which greater
accuracy is obtained. An improved style of
safety shutter mechanism has been used on
the new model. The mercury air pump on
which its action depends has been designed
so that sufficient sensitiveness is given to
make the shutter close when a small tear
or crack in the film passes the aperture.
* * *
Non-Intermittent Optical Projector
By J. F. LEVENTHAL
New York, N. Y.
A number of optical devices have been
put to use to permit of continuous motion
of motion picture film through the pro-
jector. Obviously if the film moves con-
tinuously, the optical system must compen-
sate for this motion in order to keep the
picture stationary on the screen.
In a recently designed optical system the
compensation is effected by means of rota-
tion of pairs of glass elements having piano-
parallel sides. These elements are revolved
around a turret head. A quite satisfactor>-
compensation is effected by passing the
light through two of the elements with a
prism between by which means the com-
pensatory effect is limited to motion in one
direction.
* * *
Recent Developments in Dynamic
Loudspeakers
By JOHN. A. MINTON and I. G. MALOFF
Research Engineers, United Radio Corporation,
Rochester, N. Y.
The loudspeaker or the sound reproducer
is the "neck of the bottle" in the sound
movies. It must be free from frequency
distortion, volume distortion, and wave
shape distortion. Also it must be capable
of delivering large sound outputs; it must
be dependable and it must be economical
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
43
ai to initial cost, operation and mainte-
nance. This paper discusses various types
available from the viewpoint of these re-
quirements. Results of research in this
held are described in a paper on loudspeak-
ers and a new type of high efficiency
dynamic loudspeaker particularly adapted
to sound movie work is described in detail.
* * *
The Kerr Cell Method of
Recording Sound
By V. ZWORYKIN, L. B. LINN and
C. R. HANNA
IVestiiighouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa.
Two types of sound recording are in gen-
eral use, defined according to the sound
track produced, as variable area-constant
density, and constant area-variable density.
The Kerr Cell method is applicable to the
latter type of recording.
The Kerr Cell system provides a light
valve free from mechanically moving parts.
Wide latitude of adjustment is possible
which permits proper exposure and linear
light modulation on the film. The recorded
lends itself readily to portable equipment,
because of its small size and very small
power requirements.
A discussion and brief mathematical
treatment of the theory of operation are
given and experimental data to substantiate
these are shown. Mention is also made of
the photographic problems involved in vari-
able density recording.
* * *
Horizontal Tray Type of Continuous
Processing Madhine
By HUGH V. JAMIESON
Jamieson Film Company, Dallas, Texas
A continuous motion picture film pro-
cessing machine has been designed which
consists of a series of triangular horizontal
trays through which the film runs with its
flat surface in a vertical plane. The film
is propelled by friction against driving
rollers. The rollers are placed at the apexes
of triangles and the film takes its course
from one to the next as in a spiral from the
center to the outside of the tank. From
this point it passes upward out of one tank
and into the center of the next. The drying
cabinet is similar in design to the develop-
ing tanks but occupies a vertical plane so
that space is saved.
* * *
An Electrical Synchronizing and Resyn-
chronizlng System for Sound Motion
Picture Apparatus
By W. H. BRISTOL
Bristol Company, Waterbury, Conn.
When sounds accompanying the action in
a motion picture are reproduced it is essen-
tial that the sounds are heard at the right
moment in relation to the action; also that
the sound reproduction apparatus be oper-
ated at a uniform correct speed so that the
sound pitch will not be altered.
An electrical method of controlling the
speed of movement of the sound record and
of maintaining the desired time relation
between the picture being shown and the
sound being reproduced is described. This
method permits of adjusting the relative
positions of the picture and sound records
as found necessary.
* * *
Vottage Regulators
By F. A. BYLES
G£neral Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y.
Among the many exacting requirements
of the modern picture art, that of voltage
regulation plays a prominent part. When-
ever artificial light is used, either in the
studio or for printing or for projection,
constant light intensity must be maintained.
Owing to the fact that the luminous in-
tensity from a given incandescent lamp
^^ Sunbeams Want Into Your Theatre"
Why not open your projection booth to new methods? Aren't you
interested in the Reflecting Arc Lamp which produces the largest
quantity and the highest quality light with the lowest current and
carbon costs?
Sunbeam Reflecting Arc Lamp
You want equipment as new as the "Talkies" and yet as trustworthy
as the Sun. What could come nearer than SUNBEAMS? Many
requests for information about these lamps are being received daily.
Have you sent for yours? Write today. Guaranteed against replace-
ment costs for two years.
THE LIT-WAR COMPANY
200 W. Second St. Wellston, Ohio, U. S. A.
Your Theatre
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We originated the
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A combination you^ll like
Many, many theatre owners all over the country
have placed their confidence in this original
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ELECTRIC COMPANY
ST. LOUIS
Offices in thirty-oae cities
44
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
Th^ Palace Or-
pfaenm, Milwaukee,
the brightest spot
on "The White
Way."
Signs That Sell!
'^P HE brilliantly lighted Milne Made
-*- Electric Signs are the signs that sell.
They shout your show message to the
crowds that fill your theatre. They attract
attention for they are built by men who
know and understand "showmanship."
The best Theatres in the country are
using MILNE Signs because they are con-
vinced that this "showmanship" is built
right in.
Send us the name mf your theatre and let
us submit a colored sketch to you^—n0 oh'
ligation on your part.
MILNE ELECTRIC SIGN COMPANY
614-618 Cherry St. Milwaukee, Wis.
Long Distance Phone Grand 7666
Chicago Branch: 4352 Broadway
Graeeland 4289
MILNE
SIGNS
Changeable Letter Marquise or Canopies
NOT A BATTERY
CHARGER
Strong full wave rectifiers
Built solely for motion picture
arcs. Not adapted to the applica-
tion. The lasting results are
proven.
Over 500 in Daily Use
Made and guaranteed by
The Strong Electric Company
2501 Lagrange Street
Toledo, Ohio
tt
You can't go wrong with a Strong"
1,683,883. PHOTOGRAPHIC-PRINT-DRYING
APPARATUS. John S. Gre«ne, Rochester, N. Y.,
assignor to Photostat Corporation, a Corporation
of New York. Filed May 12, 1923. Serial No.
638,644. 5 Claims. (CI. 34 — 12.)
In a photographic print drier, the combina-
tion with a drying chamber having a plnrality of
slides therein arranged adjacent each other in
staggered relation, of endless conveying means co-
operating successively with each of said slides and
engaging the print at a definite point for convey-
ing the print progressively along first one slide
then the other in reverse directions.
varies by a greater amount than in direct
proportion to a given voltage change, a
source of current having the least possible
voltage variation is required. Film testing
and other instruments with motor speed
lequirements also augment for a constant
source of potential to assure accurate
results.
The question of whether direct or alter-
nating current is to be used and if direct
current is chosen, whether a storage battery
or regulated motor generator set is to be
used are problems which necessitate very
careful consideration of the individual plant
requirements.
In the majority of cases a regulator is
desirable and with this decision comes the
problem of selecting the proper one.
Hi ^ :};
Recent Advances in "Wax" Recording
By HALSEY A. FREDERICK
Bell Telcpltonc Laboratories, Inc.,
Nezv York, N. Y.
The frequency-response characteristics
and limitations of the lateral cut "wax"
record has been investigated. The con-
clusion is reached that the frequency range
from 30 to 8,000 cycles per second can be
recorded and reproduced from the record
with practically negligible deviation from
uniform frequency-response characteristic.
Wax records have the advantage that they
can be replayed immediately after recording
as an aid in assisting the artist to obtain
the best results. A brief description is given
bjr Mr. Frederick of commercial processing
methods including both plating and process-
ing. These methods give essentiallj- a
perfect copy of the original "wax." Morp-
over, the time required for this work has
been considerably reduced of late so that a
test pressing can be obtained within three
hours of the cutting of the original "wax."
The paper also brings out the fact that the
material on the "wax" record can, by re-
recording or "dubbing," be rearranged, por-
tions eliminated or new portions or new
sounds added, thus meeting the require-
ments imposed by editing, cutting or rear-
ranging of the motion picture film with
which the sounds are synchronized. It is
brought out that the "dubbing" of records
has been thoroughly established commer-
cially and is no longer on a purely experi-
mental basis. The "dubbed" record shows
negligible change in quality from the orig-
inal recording.
mW^
September 29. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
45
READ
READ
READ
Your Insurance Contract IF You
Wish to Avoid Qrief
AFTER making a caretui review of this
month's higher Court decisions I find
s;everal to be unusually important and
informative, and from these decisions the fol-
lowing discussion and analysis has been pre-
pared.
Theatre Owner Liable
for Ejecting Patron
From Premises
Generally speaking, special policemen and
other theatre employes should use discretion
and care before ejecting a disorderly patron.
This statement is particularly true, because the
owner is liable if a patron is wrongfully caused
to leave the theatre.
* * *
Kor illustration, in Planchard V Klaw &
Erlanger, New Orleans Theatres Company,
117 So. 132, it was disclosed that a theatre
patron purchased a ticket and had taken a
seat. Some little time before the perform-
ance began, a lady occupying a seat near
this patron fainted. The patron went to
her, gave her a glass of water and began
to fan her with a newspaper, when another
lady in the audience asked the patron to
open a window, which he attempted to do.
Soon afterward he returned to the fainting
lady and was standing fanning her when
an usher approached and said: "What were
you trying to do?" to which the patron
replied that he was trying to open a win-
dow for the lady. The usher then said,
"You have no right to open it, sit down, or
I'll put you out of this theatre." A police-
man stationed at the theatre was called,
and at the request of the usher, took the
patron from the theatre.
The usher of the theatre contended that
he had the patron put out because the lat-
ter was disturbing the audience by throw-
ing paper aeroplanes from the pit into the
orchestra below.
However, witnesses who were near the
patron testified that this was false as the
latter was only trying to help one who was
in distress and none saw him throwing any
paper.
The patron filed suit for damages. The
lower Court held the theatre owner liable
for $2,000 damages, but the higher Court
reduced this amount to $500, explaining
the law as follows:
"If Bretz (usher) and the policeman had
made any inquiry, or the least effort at in-
vestigation, they would have discovered wrhat
four other disinterested observers saw — that
is, that the plaintiff (patron) instead of throw-
ing paper aeroplanes, was engaged in assisting
the prostrate woman by giving her water and
fanning her with a newspaper. . . . There can
be no doubt that, as a legal proposition, it is
the duty of the managers of a theatre to
maintain proper order in and about the thea-
tre during the performance, and while the
people are assembling or leaving the theatre.
And whenever such managers or those charged
with the duty of maintaining order have rea-
son to believe one in the audience guilty of
improper conduct, calculated to alarm or dis-
turb the audience, they are justified in taking
such reasonable steps as will be necessary to
put an end to the disturbance, even to the ex-
tent of ejecting the offenders. On the other
hand, people who visit such places of amuse-
rrent and entertainment, and who are not
A review of higher court decisions
involving theatres and amusement
parks
By
LEO T. PARKER
guilty of any unseemly conduct, wrongdoing,
or disturbance, are entitled to full protection
at the hands of the managers of the theatre in
the enjoyment of the privilege tor which they
have paid their money. And where, as in this
case, a patron of a theatre is insulted, mal-
treated, and caused to leave the theatre by an
employe of such theatre without just, reason-
able, or probable cause, such theatre will be
held liable in damages."
Law of
Insurance
It is true indeed that many theatre owners
trustfully believe they are safely protected by
insurance against loss when in fact they have
no protection.
It is important to know that each policy
holder is expected by the law to read the
policy to know the exact insurance in effect.
For example, in Kansas Amusement Com-
pany V Maryland Casualty Company, 267 Pac.
968, it was disclosed that a theatre proprietor
believed he held an insurance policy against
loss by robbery. However, the policy issued
insured the theatre owner against loss for rob-
bery of an employe outside of the premises,
occurring during the hours heginning at 7 a.
VI. and ending at 7 p. in., of each day. One
night at about 9:30 p. m. a messenger of the
theatre while carrying the receipts of the day
from the theatre was held up and robbed of
a sum of money. The insurance company con-
tested its liability on the ground that the
robbery occurred after the hours for w-hich
insurance was agreed upon and written.
* * *
The theatre owner contended that the in-
surance company was liable because before
agreeing to take the policy he had informed
the agent of the insurance company that he
desired insurance to protect the receipts of his
two theatres, and that he had a policy which
protected the funds while in the safe in the
business office, but desired to obtain some
holdup insurance to protect the receipts of the
theatres while they were being carried from
the box office to the business office, and from
the business office to the bank. There was
no discussion with the insurance agent as to
the period of the day for which protection
was desired nor any mention made of the
time when the funds were to be taken from
the theatres to the business office or from the
business office to the bank, and the agent of
the insurance company did not know the times
of day or night in which money was trans-
ferred from one place to another. The in-
surance agent believed that a certain standard
combination messenger interior robbery policy
would furnish the protection which was de-
sired by the theatre owner, and prepared the
policy accordingly.
The insurance agent did not inform the
theatre owner of the decision to supply the
limited insurance and the latter failed to read
the policy. The Court held the insurance com-
pany not liable, and stated the law, as follows :
"The policies were delivered but were not
read by Schober (theatre owner) because he
thought the agent had comprehended what in-
surance he desired and had written such poli-
cies which would afford such protection. . . .
It is conceded that the insurance policy as
written did not cover the loss sustained by
plaintiff. The policy by its terms protected
only against robbery occurring during the
hours between 7 a. m. and 7 p. m. from a
custodian outside of the premises and also
against robbery occurring within the premises
between the hours of 7 a. m. and 12 o'clock
midnight. The robbery in question occurred
about 9:30 p. m., from a messenger who was
carrying the receipts of the Novelty theatre
from the box office of the theare to the office
of the plaintiff, to be placed in a burglar-proof
safe in that office. ... It is not enough to
show that there was a misconception or a mis-
take of one of the parties as to the contents
of the policy. . . . He (theatre owner) did not
examine the policy delivered to him as ordi-
nary care required."
Theatre Owner
Liable on Lease
The same rule applies to lease contracts.
Every theatre proprietor should thoroughly fa-
miliarize himself with the exact provisions of
his lease, otherwise he may suffer heavy finan-
cial losses.
For instance, in Cohen V Reif, 4 S. W. (2d)
388, a theater operator leased a theatre build-
ing for 10 years. By the terms of the lease, he
agreed to keep the property in good repair and
at the expiration of the 10 year term was to
deliver up the premises "in as' good order and
condition as they now are or may be put b}'
said lessors, reasonable use and ordinary wear
and tear thereof and damage by fire and other
unavoidable casualty excepted."
The proprietor conducted the theatre for six
years of the 10 year term and then closed it
for the remaining period because he believed
it to the best interest of his' other theatres in
the vicinity. * * *
When the lease expired the landlord sued
the theatre proprietor for several thousand
dollars damages contending that the theatre
building was in a deplorable state of disrepair.
Testimony disclosed that some marble wains-
coting was' broken and that the tile flooring in
the lobby had to be treated with acid in order
to be cleansed, that some plastering had been
knocked out; that a part of a cement floor
had been broken ; that plumbing fixtures had
been stolen from the premises, leaving the
plumbing in a very bad condition ; and that
some locks and other hardware had to be re-
placed. Also, when this building was delivered
to the tenant, the owner had painted and dec-
orated the walls with various figures' and other
devices. During the years the building lay idle
some windows at the top of the -walls were
allowed to remain open. The rain came in
these windows and ran down the walls, caus-
ing great streaks where dust had accumulated.
Children had also broken into the building, and
had squirted the contents of the fire extin-
guishers all over the walls and the seats in
the building. The lessors, on regaining posses-
sion of the property, had those walls cleaned
and revarnished.
After carefully considering all details of the
repairs needed to place the building in good
46
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
^^' Uniform
Column
Isn't this a distinctive
uniform for your ushers
Orpheum
Uses Maiet'Lavaty
Uniforms!
The Orpheum Circuit, after a complete
review of many luxurious, well tailored
model uniforms offered by the country's
uniform tailors, chose MAIER-LAV-
ATY Uniforms.
Refreshingly new styles, careful crafts-
manship, and substantially low price
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condition, ordinary wear excepted, the Court
held the theatre operator liable for $1,000
damages. Obviously, if this proprietor had re-
alized the provisions in the lease, he would
have taken greater care in preserving the
building.
* * *
Definition of Ordinary Care
and Latent Defects
The higher Court in the case of Knies V
Lang, 217 N. W. 615, decided January, 1928,
clearlj' explains the circumstances under which
a proprietor is not liable for injuries effected
by defective premises.
In this case a person was injured when a
board fell from its nailed position. In holding
the injured person not entitled to damages, the
Court explained the law, as follows:
"It was first ascertained that on the under
or inner side of this board, the one next to
the building, the nails which secured it to the
building, and which on its outer surface dis-
clO'Sed no defects, were, in fact, rusted off.
But the evidence also supports the inference
that immediately prior to the accident the out-
side of the construction, of which the board
formed a part, and, indeed, the board itself,
were in place, and appeared solid, substantial,
and sound. The defects which, developing with
passing time, caused the accident were at all
times hidden and latent, and not discernible
or discoverable, unless, in fact, the board had
been actually removed from the building for
the purpose of examinatioru In this view of
this situation, what were the demands of ordi-
nary care? Certainly, such demands should
not be in excess of the care that a prudent
man who was not an expert in mechanics or
in construction might be reasonably called
upon to exercise. Latent defects which are
concealed, and an incident to ordinary care,
are casualties which no man can avoid with-
out the exercise of extraordinary care and vig-
ilance which the law does not impose. The
defendant's (owner's) full duty extended no
further than to use reasonable care and prud-
ence in keeping his building safe for persons
rightfully entering it or passing by it."
* * *
Important Theatre
Tax Law Case
Generally speaking, a tax law is invalid
which is excessive or discriminatory. How-
ever, since it is not always possible to antici-
pate invalidity of such laws, the recent case of
Brunk V State, 6 S. W. (2d) 353, is unusually
important.
In this case, it was disclosed that an ordi-
nance was regularly passed by proper author-
ity making it unlawful to sponsor, or run a
traveling show in the city without first obtain-
ing a permit, for which a license fee of $50
was necessary, as well as $5 per day for each
extra police officer deemed needful during the
continuance and because of the presence of
said carnival or tentshow. A second provision
of the ordinance also forbade such show to
operate within 300 feet of any business house,
residence, etc., within the city limits. Another
provision of the ordinance provided that, if
any part of the entire ordinance be held in-
valid, the remainder should be valid.
A traveling show proprietor who was prose-
cuted for violating the ordinance defended the
in Youi'SiggM
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from a
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A lens can only produce on the
screen, that which is registered on
the film.
The following are the four qualities
■ — and the only four — that a pro-
jection lens can give to the pro-
jected image. They are identical
with the characteristics of the
CINEPHOR Lens.
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652 St. Paul St., Rochester, N. Y.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
47
case on the grounds that the law was excessive
and discriminator^'.
It is interesting, to observe that the higher
Court held the attempted levy of $50 a day tax
excessive and invalid, but held the provision
forbidding traveling shows to be conducted
within 300 feet of a residence valid, although,
regular theatres were regularly operated at less
than this distance from residence. This Court
said :
"We are inclined to the view that the city
of Memphis is without power to enact an or-
dinance fixing a fee of $50 for a permit to
pursue the occupation of operating a tentshow
or carnival within its limits. . . . As to the
other count, however, which seems based en-
tirely upon the ground that no one can operate
and run a tentshow in said city within 300
feet of a business house without being subject
to prosecution, we believe appellant (show
owner) properly held liable in this case. Fire
limiting ordinances and those of like purpose
and character seem well within the police
power of a city, and we believe in this case
the ordinance forbidding such carnival or tent-
show within the named distance from the busi-
ness houses, residences, etc., in Memphis, is
constitutional. . . . There were two regularly
established theatres showing in permanent
buildings within the corporate limits of the
city, occasionally exhibiting dramatic perform-
ances. Both were situated within 300 feet of
residences and business houses. These estab-
lishments were housed and regularly run, and
had been charged by complaint with no viola-
tion of the law. ... A tentshow, because of
fire hazard and of the noise attendant upon its
operation, is such as to make it the proper
subject of a regulatory ordinance like the one
in question. If it does not operate upon those
who conduct theatres in business houses, it is
plainly because the latter do not belong to the
same class as the former, and such a distinc-
tion does not appear to be unreasonable or
discriminatory."
* * *
Review of Recent Cases Involving
Amusement Parks
This month discloses settlement of several
unusually important higher Court cases in
which proprietors of amusement places have
been sued for damages.
* * *
Degree of Care Required
of Roller Coaster Operator
Generally speaking, theatre and amusement
park owners are liable for injuries sustained
by patrons only where stich injuries result
from negligence or lack of ordinary care on
the part of the proprietor.
However, it is important to observe that a
distinction is made where the injury is caused
by a device or thing knozvn to be unusually
dangerous. This point of the law was thor-
oughly discussed in the recent case of Bibeau
V Fred W. Pierce Corporation, 217 N. W. 374.
In this case it was disclosed that a woman
passenger, while riding on a roller coaster, was
seriously injured as a result of striking her
nose on a forward seat when the train of cars
reached the bottom of a "dip." The car was
of usual construction and had in front of it
at a convenient place for the passenger a hand-
hold consisting of a 1% inch iron pipe which
was supposed to stand the weight of the jar
or pull up to the extent of 1,000 to 1,500
pounds. The passenger was supposed to sit
erect, not lean forward, and brace himself
with his feet and by holding to the handle. At
the top of the first hill was a sign : "Don't
lean forward. Sit erect."
The lower Court held the proprietor not
liable, but the higher Court reversed this ver-
dict, explaining the law on this subject, as fol-
lows :
"In the maintenance of a place of amuse-
ment the proprietor is required to use due
care. . . . The operation of a roller coaster
carries additional dangers and risks. In pro-
portion to the degree of danger to others must
be the care and diligence to be exercised.
Where the danger is great, the utmost care
and diligence must be employed. The mere
fact that the passenger rides for pleasure
should not lessen the degree of care com-
manded by the risk involved. Many people
ride on railway trains on pleasure trips. The
roller coaster is operated for profit. The perils
to which the passenger is exposed, and not
the occasion of being a passenger, is the most
reliable criterion to determine the degree of
care to be exercised. . . . Patrons have a right
to assume that they are not to be exposed to
those risks which might have been reasonably
anticipated by the management. The duty in-
volves care commensurate to the risk involved.
~*-^o
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SHOWING INTERIOR
OUR STANDARD CHAIR TYPE
48
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
CONT-EL-ARC
MOTOR GENERATORS FOR SMOOTH PROJECTION
I
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DEALERS: A few
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Manufactured By
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THE ARCUS TICKET CO.
346 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, 111.
i
STEEL FIRE CURTAIN
IN
NEW PARADISE THEATRE
CHICAGO
ILLINOIS
BY
September 29, 1928
The rule is now quite well established that the
proprietor of a roller coaster must exercise the
highest degree of care and caution for the
safety of his passengers, and do all that human
foresight can reasonably require, consistent
with its practical operation, to prevent acci-
dents to them."
^ ^ ^
Pleasure Resort Owner
Held Liable
Since many theatre proprietors, as well as
amusement resort owners, sublease space to
concessioners who operate private enterprises
on the premises, it is important to know that
such proprietors are legally bound to know
that the concessioners exercise ordinary care
to prevent injury to patrons.
For instance, in the case of G. A. Boeckling
Company V Slattery, 160 N. E. 99, it was
shown that an amusement resort owner had
leased to a man named Forbes a space prac-
tically 12 feet in width and 20 feet in depth
for operation of a device whereby patrons
might pay a price and obtain two or three
balls, and then, standing in front of the coun-
ter, exercise the privilege of throwing them at
a special target. Except for a low fence, there
were no screens, nets, or protection of any
kind, along the sides to keep balls from strik-
ing onlookers.
While one of the onlooking patrons stood
observing the game, she was struck and seri-
ously injured by a ball which was thrown by
a player of the amusement device.
The injured patron sued the proprietor of
the amusement resort for damages contending
the latter was guilty of neghgence in failing to
protect invitees on the grounds by screens or
other proper device and in failing to afford
any warning or notice, of the danger.
The proprietor attempted to avoid liability
on the argument that the injured patron failed
to exercise care for his safety, because she
was struck while standing in a dangerous loca-
tion watching the game. However, the lower
Court held the injured patron entitled to $5,000
damages, and the higher Court sustained this
verdict, saying:
"The defendant (patron) came upon the
grounds of the plaintiff (proprietor) in error
by invitation, and was, at the time of her in-
jury, upon ground which was under the direc-
tion and control of the plaintiff (proprietor)
and the plaintiff owed to her the duty to exer-
cise ordinary care to render the premises reas-
onably safe for her as an ir.vitee."
Def^ree of Care Required
of Secret Amusement Device
Also, it is important to know that a higher
degree of care is required of an operator of a
secret device than where the thing causing an
injury is visible.
For illustration, in Dahna V Fun House
Company, 216 N. W. 262, it was disclosed that
a corporation owned and operated an inclos-
ure, or building, located in Riverview Park
in the city of Des Moines, la., under the des-
ignation of a "Fun House." The device caus-
ing the injury consisted of a platform a few
feet square, so arranged as to constitute a
part of the floor. It was inclosed on each side
by railings between which patrons passed in
entering the amusement place, and wa's oper-
ated by the use of a lever.
A patron entered the Fun House with two
companions. When she stepped upon the plat-
form, it began to descend, and in some way
fell in such a manner as to break the bones
of her left ankle. The Fun House had been
operated for several years, and but one acci-
dent had previously occurred, notwithstanding
thousands of people had come in contact with
the device.
However, in view of the fact that the patron
was unable to observe the device previous to
the injury, the proprietor was held liable for
$1,650 damages, notwithstanding he attempted
to avoid liability on the grounds that the pa-
tron assumed the risk when entering the Fun
House. This Court said:
"Appellee (patron) testified that she knew
nothing of the device or the character of the
entertainment provided in the Fun House at
the time she entered it. She could have as-
1
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
49
suraed no risk when she knew nothing of the
hazard of which she complains. The device
was carefully concealed, and she could not
have anticipated that a portion of the floor of
the building would sink when she attempted to
pass over it. The fact that the device had
been maintained and operative for years ; that
large numbers of people have been submitted
to similar experience and escaped, except in
the one instance, without serious injury, are
matters which the jury was bound to take into
consideration in weighing the testimony. Ap-
pellant (proprietor) was not required to anti-
cipate and guard against remote possibilities
of injury, but was bound to exercise ordinary
care in the equipment of the instrumentality
for the amusement of its patrons. . . . Many
devices are operated in amusement places and
parks that are more or less dangerous. Usu-
ally, however, the hazard is open and visible
to the patron. The device in question was
wholly concealed, and could not have been
discovered by the patron."
On the other hand, a device which caused
the injury for which damages were sought in
another case (120 Atl. 232) was what is known
as an "Ocean Wave." It was open and visible
to the injured girl, and she knew and under-
stood the manner in which it operated and
that some hazard was involved in going there-
on. In view of these facts the proprietor was
held not liable.
Also, in Nicoletti V Circuit, 287 S. W. 661,
a patron was injured when she was violently
thrown from a slide on which she attempted
to ride down to the ground. In making the
slide, she sat upon a canvas pad and was given
a push to start the descent. Since the device,
and the manner of its operation, in this in-
stance, was open and visible to the patron, the
Court held the patron not entitled to damages
for the injuries: sustained.
In still another leading case (2 F. (2d) 961)
it was shown that a patron was injured while
riding on an amusement device consisting of
a broad canvas belt operated over a series of
rollers. The patron sat upon the belt and at
the end of the ride, which brought her close
to the ground, she was supposed to land in
such a manner as to immediately rise to her
feet. The device had been in operation for a
long time, q.nd 60,(X)0 people had ridden on it
without injliry. This Court held the injured
patron not entitled to damages.
* * *
In other instances, the Courts have held
proprietors of amusement devices on which
persons ride bound to instruct the latter of
dangers, associated with the device, particu-
larly if the patrons are unfamiliar with the
operation of the mechanism.
For instance, in Saunders V Pierce, 139 Atl.
690, it was shown that a person unfamiliar
with operation and guiding of the electric
cusfter cars was injured while attempting to
drive the vehicle around the course. In hold-
ing the patron entitled to damages, this Court
said:
"The defendants (proprietor) were bound
to exercise reasonable care in seeing that this
de\dce was reasonably safe for th'Dse riding in
and operating the car, and also in giving all
of those not familiar with its operation ade-
quate instruction in the method of operating
and steering the car."
Complete Illumination
Line for Theatres Is
Offered by Lit-War
A complete line of theatre illumination
equipment is offered by the Lit-War Com-
pany of Wellston, O., which manufactures
everything in the illumination line, from
small library lamps to the large search
lights used on battleships. The new Sun-
beam theatre equipment is composed of
reflecting arc lamps, spot lights, baby spots,
top lights, foot lights, border lights and
olivettes.
The Lit-War Company has been in busi-
ness since July, 1926. W. A. Pennow, E. E.,
O. E., a member of the Society of Motion
Picture Engineers, is the engineer in charge
of the illumination division. The Sunbeam
illumination equipment was designed by
Pennow.
THE
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The latest and greatest step forward in the development of High Intensity
projection.
Snow White High Intensity Light. 60 Amperes equal in screen illiunination to
120 amperes with the older High Intensity Lamps. Gives more and better light for
current expended.
HALL & CONNOLLY, INC.
129 Grand Street New York City
Decoration and Equipment
To
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Must
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209 S. Third Street Main 2033
COLUMBUS, OHIO
50
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 192f
ORGAN Protectors
Evenheeters
'\T OUR organ draws crowds quite as
well as the feature presentation does,
Mr. Theatre Man. As a result you raust
care for that attraction as you do your
other features.
/^RGANS are delicate instruments, and
^'^ the perfect harmony of an organ
selection may easily be ruined by "foggy,"
off pitch notes, caused by cold and damp-
ness in the organ chamber, for which you
alone are responsible.
/'^OMBAT these two evils of perfect
^-' organ music by installing EVEN-
HEETERS, Organ Protectors, in your
organ chamber. They will ward off damp-
ness and keep the organ chamber at an
even temperature at all times. Then there
will be no "foggy," off pitch notes, your
organ selections will be perfect.
May we tell you further of EVENHEET-
ERS, Today?
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286 Milwaukee St., Milwaukee
ENERGY
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Mounting also is better. Gives quicker, eas-
ier, more flexible control of direction and
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All Belson Lights
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mate-
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BELSON MFG. CO.
804 So. Sibley St., Chicago
The new Orchestraphone Junior model
as it appears with the steel cabinet
closed, protecting the machinery.
Belozv, the Junior Model is shown with
the cabinet open and records on the two
turntables ready for playing.
New Smaller Model
Of Orchestraphone
Built for Low Cost
Orchestraphone Junior Model is a new re-
producing instrument designed for theatre and
intended to combine fine tone quality, volume,
and cueing precision with a price to fit the
pocketbook. Its basic principles are those of
the regular Orchestraphone models. The new
instrument, however, does not replace the
regular Orchestraphone, say the manufactur-
ers, for the features of the larger models
adapt them particularly to use in large houses.
The fields for the two models are thus called
distinct. But for all practical purposes, Or-
chestraphone Junior is said to be amply
equipped to efficiently care for the musical
September 29. 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
51
The Proper Control of Light
On Your Screen
Plemr* films vary as well aa currant conditions.
Your projastienlst can adjust his are eurrant to
always glva you a clear, bright pletnro If you
equip with PERFECTION. Current savlBc ■!•• U
a result of PERFECTION equipment, for ho ■••4
not use full current till the actual projaetion la
atarted.
PERFgCTIDN
REMOTE CONTROL RHEOSTATS
4n Ever Growing List of Satisfied Ciertt
Boxy Theatre — New York
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BiAlto Theatre — New York
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liOew's State Theatre — New
York City
Loew*! State Theatre — New-
ark. N. J.
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Astor Theatre — ^New York
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Keith's Theatre— Philadel-
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Contracting Electrical Engineers — Moving Pic-
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GRIFHN FILM
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For Studios, Film Exchanges and
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Patches made with this cement
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Especially suited for Vitaphone and
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Write for descriptive circular.
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needs of the smaller theatre.
Orchestraphone Junior is equipped with two
turntables, powered by synchronous motors.
The "fade-out" of one record and the "fade-
in" of the second is effected through a spe-
cial rheostat control— one turn button — regu-
lated by the operator. This control permits
cueing a picture by any person of average
intelligence.
The same pick-ups of the regular Orches-
traphone are employed in the Junior model.
They are set and controlled directly by the
operator. Amplifying units are compactly
housed in a console top.
Orchestraphone Junior is of all-steel con-
struction, finished in ripple maroon. It is
of the desk type, allowing the operator a com-
fortable sitting position as he or she cues the
picture. The instrument board, with its turn-
tables and control, is protected by a hinged
steel top.
A regular Orchestraphone air column horn
is a part of the Junior model standard equip-
ment. Nothing of the (original tone quality
or volume is lost or distorted through the use
of this horn, it is said. As to the music avail-
able for its use, any standard electrically pro-
duced record is effectively reproduced. Or-
chestras, pipe organ solos, ensembles — any type
or kind of recorded music may be used.
Orchestraphone Junior is on display at every
National Theatre Supply Company branch.
Much of Equipment
For New Fox Stage
Products of Clark
Peter Clark, Inc., contributed extensively
to the equipment of the new Fox theatre
in Detroit. Included '" the equipment in-
stalled by this firm are the following:
Telescoping elevator for hanaiing Movie-
tone horn, orchestra pit elevator, stage ele-
vator, console elevator, asbestos curtain,
counterweight system, motor driven cyclo-
rama, valance frame and rigging, steel pic-
ture sheet frame and rigging, light bridges,
draw curtain track and rigging and act cur-
tain track and rigging.
New equipment, designed to facilitate the
presentation of sound and talking pictures
has recently been developed by Peter Clark.
Three types of this equipment, which per-
mits clearing the stage of horns, are now
being made. They include horns on eleva-
tors, disappearing beneath the stage; horns
on tracks, suspended from gridiron; and
horns mounted on movable towers. A new
type of screen frame for talking pictures
has also been developed.
Hertner Develops
Generator to Cope
With Sound Films
Introduction of Vitaphone and the Movie-
tone has brought a change in not only ijro-
jection equipment as it is in the booth, but
also in the screens. The Movietone with
the Trans Vox screen makes necessary us-
ing considerable more light than is the case
with the usual reflecting type of screen.
This means a higher current in the arc at
the projector and in many cases a change
of the lamp equipment. As a result pro-
jector manufacturers are steadily improv-
ing the quality of their product.
Hertner Electric Company has developed
its Transverter to meet these conditions,
the company declares.
The type CP Transverter is the result
of a great deal of experimental work and
extremely careful design.
,,. ^fiiW-i
'«>«'^
When you find this emblem on
lighting fixtures you are immedi-
ately sure of three things: First,
that it is correctly designed for
theatre use. Second, that it is
practical as well as decorative.
Third, that it is priced lower than
the quality would indicate.
VOIGT fixtures soothe your patrons into re-
laxation. They bring to your theatre a subtle
charm that stimulates patronage. They encour-
age a more general appreciation of your house
and its programs. You should know more about
them. Write for the new book "Lighting Fix'
tures for Theatres."
VOIGT COMPANY
Designers and Manufacturers
Decorative Lighting Equipment
For Theatres
1743-49 NORTH 12th STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
j^utiour
where
he cant
^et it/
The inner door or
"hold up" partition
shown on the chest
illustrated below
will permit the
depositing of all
money, except
enough to make
change, thru the
slot where the thief
cannot get it.
As no one but the
manager has the
combination, the
hold-up man can-
not force any em-
ployee to give up
the cash.
YORK SAFE «S?
LOCK CO.
York, Pa.
^^'■°'»'*°^^^^^^^^^
52
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
They're Attractive! They're Different!
Painted on heavy poster paper.
Any size up to 36"xl0 ft., in 5 or more
flashy colors and beautifully Airbrushed.
There are no extra charges Workmanship
Guaranteed. Write for prices on other size on paper or muslin.
ONE DAY
SERVICE
GUARANTEED
A/. DRYFHOUT
736 SO.WABASH AVE .CHICAGO ILL.
PRICES DO
NOT INCLUDE
POSTAGE
The BETTER Popcorn Machine
For the BETTER Theatre
SIMPLE AND ATTRACTIVE
ELECTRIC POWER AND HEAT
70c of Every Dollar Is Profit
The "Heights theatre," Muskegon, Mich., say:
An attractive machine that certainly does the
work. Com is deUcious, building a splendid busi-
ness from former waste space.
C. CRETORS & CO.
Easy Terms-^Write for Catalog
612 W. 22nd St. CHICAGO, ILL.
Theatre Decorating
Specialists
New Theatres made More Beautiful
Old Theatres made More Profitable
Continental Studios, Inc.
100 East Ohio St. Chicago
Write for Details and Estimates without obligation.
I
PAINE EXPANSION SHELLS
For Anchoring Opera Chairs to Concrete Floors
-\ Will not come loose when properly set
Furnished with bolts and washers ready
to install. ]/^" size shell most gen-
erally used for repair ^vork as well as
original installations. The niost satis-
factory w^ay to permanently anchor a
chair to concrete.
Send for samples and prices
THE PAINE COMPANY
2951 Carroll Ave. 79 Barclay St.
IS,-..?y.^.-.v:-.-.r.i.-^.,--
Type No. 1
Chicago, lU.
New York, N. Y.
Type No. 2
^^^^^^^ i ilf*. ill
0. K. Mason signs a contract which ■mil
place Robert Morton Organs in his the-
atres at Newton, Wellington and Win-
field, Kan. "Sol" Rose (at left), Robert
Morton's representative in Chicago, wit-
nesses the signing. With ig years' ex-
perience in the film industry, Mason
now owns and operates seven theatres
in Kansas. He is also associated with
the L. M. Miller Theatrical Enterprises
of Wichita, Kan.
Kunsky Chain Plans
Big Detroit House;
News of Theatres
A lease was signed by the Kunsky circuit
in Detroit last week for theatre space in the
Fisher building now being erected. The
new house will seat 3,000 and be first-run,
according to George W. Trendle, vice-presi-
dent. Neither the rental nor the period of
the lease would be divulged.
The Palace, Troy, N. Y., was taken over by Gaspa
Battaglia last week. Gregory Melikean has taken over
the Auditorium, Kingston, N. Y., and will reopen it
October 1.
The Newman, Kansas City, reopened kst week un-
der Publix management, having large houses for the
first time since the Loew Midland was opened.
Preparations are being rushed for the opening of the
Uptown, Junction City, Kan., October 1. A $225,000
house will be built at Emporia, Kan., by the Strand
Theatre Corporation, subsidiary of Midwest Theatres.
The Isis, Topeka, will be reopened soon as a second-
run house. The Iris, Bonner Springs, Kan., which
was reopened a few weeks ago as a negro house, has
been closed.
The Lancaster Amusement Company, Lancaster, O.,
has been incorporated for the purpose of exhibiting
pictures. A $100,000 theatre will be built. The
Colonial, Bicknell, Ind., will be reopened. The
Charles-Vern Theatre Company has taken the lease
of a theatre being erected at Anderson, Ind. James
L. Barnes, hotel owner, will erect a theatre at Logans-
port, Ind. The Grand Theatre Operating Company,
Terra Haute, Ind., lias been dissolved.
Dent Theatres and Grover S. Campbell have opened
their new Arcadia, Ranger, Tex. The Samuel Lud-
wig Corporation has leased the Jacob, McComb, Miss.,
from the X. A. Kramer interests. S. T. Maughm
has acquired the Carolinian houses at Orangeburg, S.
C, from J. J. Powell, Toccoa, Ga. Sylvester Grove
expects to have his new Parkway, Louisville, ready
for opening in a month or two. Harry Switow states
his Kentucky, Louisville, will be ready the first of
the year. The Mary Anderson, Louisville, is putting
in sound equipment.
Principal Theatres will lease a theatre at Hender-
son, Ky. The Indiana, Marion, Ind., is being enlarged
from 800 to 1,400 seats. Col. Fred Levy, prominent
Kentucky business man, has purchased the B. F. Keith
lease on the Majestic, Louisville. Paul Tessier wiB
build a theatre at Bogalusa, La., for the Pine Tree
Amusement Company. Seven downtown houses in
New Orleans are still dark as the fall season opens.
The $3,000,000 Majestic theatre and office building in
San Antonio is rapidly going up.
The Rialto, seating 600, was opened last week in
San Francisco. George Roy has closed his Nevada,
Reno. Ralph Austin has bought the H. C. Oastler
house at Lovelock, Nev. The Palace, Fallon, Nev.,
has been bought by Percy Bailey from H. W. Sher-
burne. James Wood has been appointed manager of
the T. & D. Jr. houses at Red Bluff and Redding,
Cal. West Coast has reopened the Broadway, Ta-
coma. Wash., on a deluxe policy. The United Artists,
Portland, Ore., was opened last week.
Plans are complete for Famous Players' projected
$1,000,000 at Quebec City. Walter P. Wilson is now
in charge of the Pantages, Edmonton, Alta.
September 29. 1928
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
53
Panoramic view of the auditorium of the State in Louisville.
Spanish Splendor Transported to Louisville
in New State Theatre
Loew-Umtea Artists House Is Described as Finest in Kentucky
LOEWS and United Artists State theatre
in Louisville has been characterized by
■^ Col. E. A. Schiller, vice president and
general manager of Loew's, Inc., who has
never missed the opening of a theatre under
his direction, as the finest in the circuit. The
house has a seating capacity of 3,500, with
2,500 orchestra seats, 600 to the rear of the
balcony, and 400 forward or loge seats.
The cost of the theatre was originally ex-
pected to be considerably under $2,000,000,
but the investment now is said to run much
higher than that figure, considering land,
building and complete equipment, plus installa-
tion.
The lobby and foyer of the theatre are
three stories high, with a mazzanine balcony
encircling the two walls. Both lobby and
foyer are wainscoted in walnut, with goldleaf
elaboration. Broad mirrors rise to the domed
and vaulted "ceiling of celebrities." Chande-
liers of bronze and crystal in the lobby illumi-
nate the ornate polychrome colorings in the
ceiling, while the balcony is draped in red
and gold damask. The floor is covered with
a thick nap or red and gold carpeting.
The grand staircase soars from the lobby.
This staircase is 12 feet wide, with steps of
marble and a bronze balustrade. A duplicate
of the staircase is located on the South side
of the building connecting with the foyer
and mezzanine.
The entrance of the theatre is from Fourth
Street, in a block where frontages are among
the highest, if not the highest, in value in the
the city. Almost directly across the street is
the fine Keith Rialto theatre, and next to
that the Mary Anderson, another Keith house.
A half block north is the Keith Majestic,
and two blocks away is the Keith National.
At the same distance is the Alamo, a locally
owned sound house, and about a block from
the State is found the Strand. A few doors
south is the Kentucky theatre, and a block
south is the Brown, which features high
grade stage attractions. The State is thus
in the very heart of the theatrical, fashion-
able shopping and hotel district of Louisville.
Detail of a figurine decoration set
against a white wall panel.
Entering the lobby one is impressed with
the disregard for convention that has been
expressed by the architect, John Eberson, of
Chicago and New York. The motif expressed
in the inside foyer, reached after passing
through the spacious lobby, is distinctly Span-
ish. This style is carried out throughout the
theatre. On the right of the first foyer is
the massive pagoda type of stairway, leading
to the mezzanine promenade. The stairway
itself is notable in the way it combines utili-
tarian simplicity with beauty of line. The
walls of the thickly carpeted main foyer are
ornamented with tapestries. Imported period
furniture, purchased from the Vanderbilt
home in New York and from the house of the
late U. S. Senator William Clark, noted as
a connoisseur of art, line the walls.
The ceiling of the main foyer is a most
distinctive feature of the entrance, display-
ing as it does the heads of the great music
masters. The heads have been cast. They
are shown in soft, indirect light and repre-
sent Beethoven, Liszt, Wagner and Victor
Herbert and many others. It is said that this
ceiling is the only one of its kind in exist-
ence.
Entering the orchestra it is noted that the
indirect lighting in the rear is thrown from
huge marble shells, which deflect the light
in the ceiling under the rear part of the bal-
cony. There are four circuits of lights, which
are kept continually changing to provide color
effects during the presentation of programs.
There are twelve of these massive shells
(Continued on page 57)
irrf'l* 1^"^^^^'
54
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
Below: The front
exterior of the
new Loew-United
Artists Siate the-
atre in Louisville,
presenting an at-
tractive treatment
of this depart-
menl.
Below: View of
foyer, showing the
elegance of this
chamber in gener-
al, and especially
the fine treatment
of the ceiling. This
picture was taken
from the mezza-
nine.
Above: The audi-
torium, looking
toward the stage.
The atmospheric
treatment is Span-
ish, creating cas-
tles for walls and
an Andalusian sky
for ceiling.
The State, Louisville^s Newest Screen Theatre
Views of the $2,000,000 Loew-United Artists theatre in the Kentucky metropolis.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
55
Below: Italian
hanging, orna-
mental plaster
ivork of the pilas-
ters and figures
enriching the side
ivalls and ceiling
of the State's spa-
cious foyer.
Beloiv: A view of
the mezzanine
landing, where an
armored figure,
graceful grille-
work and luxuri-
ous hangings come
into the patron's
vision.
Above: A side
view of the foyer,
revealing pro-
nouncedly the
Spanish source of
the architect' s
motifs. The stair-
case is twelve feet
imde with balus-
trade of marble.
Spanish Ideas Adapted in Atmospheric Design
The State theatre is by John Eherson of Chicago, who originated this type.
tf't''^ 'I'l'Tir^rr**
56
BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF
September 29, 1928
i
Sketch shozving the decorative principle applied in attaching an exit
indication between arches, as pictured at right.
Sketch indicating the lines forming the basis of a decoration in a fresco above double
doors. The photograph shows the finished work.
Above is shown the wall line of the auditorium. The trees, contributing sec-
ondary lines are dotted. The actual wall appears below.
Shown here are pencil sketches of the basic lines in the decorative scheme at three parts of the Loew-United Artists
State theatre in Louisville. These sketches, presented with the photographs from which they were traced, reveal
fundamental factors in the aesthetic value of the decorations they represent.
September 29, 1928
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
57
HOUR
SERVICE
CIRCUS H(RDL05
0BT6 J P05T(eR5
EXHIBITORS
Printing Service
711 South Dearborn Street
CHICAGO, ILL.
EVERYTHING FOR
THE STAGE
cenicStudios
TU'pm.orao
BSTABUSELED 1902
Send for Catalogue
Motion Picture Patents My Specialty
PATENTS
William N. Moore
Patent Attorney
Loan and Trust Building
Washington, D. C.
The first important step is to learn
whether you can obtain a patent. Please
send sketch of your invention with
$5.00, and I will exannine the pertinent
U. S. patents and inform you whether
you are entitled to a patent, the cost
and manner of procedure. Personal at-
tention. Elstablished 35 years.
Copyright your play $5.00
Trade-Mark your goods or titles $30.00
Designing — Painting — Draperies
Creators of Scenic Effects
SCENIC
yyui^jsA/ ,<Ar
STUDIOS
Serving representative presentation
houses throughout the country
307 West 47th St.
New York City
(Continued from page 53)
and this light is all that's necessary to make
locating seats easy. Ahead of the unique
lighting device, and in the ceiling under the
front portion of the balcony, are nine large
ceiling "coves," also indirectly lighted, and
subject to the same changes in light colors
as are the huge shells in the rear.
Where in many theatres boxes are found,
in this house there are replicas of Spanish
castles, on the battlements of which are white
doves perched, as if ready to take wing. They
are in great profusion throughout the theatre.
There are also scarlet cocatoos in various
places throughout the playhouse.
The ceihng, of deep cerulean blue, is a
rather realistic design, the impression of space
being greatly increased by the indirect light-
ing and the twinkling of myriad stars. The
auditorium gives one the impression of being
in the open air, looking toward the heavens,
while clouds go drifting by. As the clouds
sweep across the sky, the doves, perched upon
the battlements of the castles, appear to take
wing and flutter.
Capacity was sacrificed somewhat to per-
mit the not desirable seating arrangement. An
unititerrupted view of the stage and screen
is possible from every seat as a result of
staggering the seats on the side aisles and
swinging them around in a broad curve. The
management is priding itself on the care given
to placement of seats, it being held that every
person ma}' see as well as his neighbor and
that there are no socalled blindspots or dis-
tortion areas.
The orchestra as well as the Wurlitzer
organ console, are on elevators, so that they
rise when needed, do the disappearing act in
a sort of fade out, seeming to carry the music
gradually away into the distance.
^ ^ 4^
Through the very efficient cooling system
the air is kept at a constant temperature of
70 degrees. It is claimed that in order that
patrons may be acclimated to the change of
temperature in the auditorium, the tempera-
ture is regulated in the lobby, first foyer,
main foyer and orchestra by means of ther-
mostatic control, which raises or lowers the
temperature by easy stages. The fresh air is
introduced into the theatre by means of grilles,
is circulated by huge suction fans, which are
so arranged that no draft is felt or sound
heard.
In the women's parlor the decorations are
of hand carved mahogany and curiously
wrought metals. The hand carved wood was
taken from the home of Senator Clark. It
is said to have required the services of
one man for three years to carve the de-
sign, which the Senator himself originated.
The huge mantle also came from the Clark
home and is worthy of more than a cursory
inspection because of the fine and painstaking
workmanship. Individual boudoir mirrors and
shelves are provided, the mirrors being
framed in hand wrought iron. Thick carpets
add to the luxury.
The State's projection room is of unusual
size. Instead of hot, oil-smelling air, these
rooms are well ventilated and cool. It is
hardly a mere room, as it occupies the entire
back of the auditorium above the balcony. It
is equipped with three machines of late type,
and two spot lights, each of which will cover
two persons at a time or illuminate the en-
tire stage. The two large motor generators
used are of 80 horsepower, developing 30
kilowatts. Another feature of the projection
room is an "effect" projector, which gives a
great many effects, such as snow, rain, sand-
storms, windstorms, ocean waves, etc. M. B.
O'Brien, who has been with Loew for several
years, came on as chief projectionist.
Keep your
Simplex
cool w^ith a
"BEST"
HEAT
Shield
Your dealer
has them
Price $3.00
Best Devices
Co.
Film Bldg.
Cleveland
Ohio
JHEATKI^U
^
(o/y^PLEt^
Send for
QWestPpic^^
Catalogue
^•^^^''^^^''"fsYRACUSEN.Y
LOU SAMMS
J
Radium Effects and Novelties
Samples *on Request
177 North State Street
CHICAGO, ILL.
Music is provided by synchronization as well
as by organ and orchestra. The sound syn-
chronizing equipment includes Movietone,
Vitaphone and also the non-synchronous re-
producers. The orchestra elevator is new to
Louisville, and has taken well, as it permits
the orchestra to move into full view, seated
and ready to play, or playing.
The contract for construction was awarded
the Fuller Construction Company, of Chi-
cago. This concern made all of the orna-
mental material on the site. The hundreds
of busts and heads used in the ornamenta-
tions were cast by Fuller workmen. There
are approximately 500 pieces of statuary.
TYPHOON rOOlINC QYSTEM
I TYPHOON FAN CO. •» ^4«i W 7q'-"«;T liJ NFW YOPK
NEW YORK
^
58
EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD
September 29, 1928
Advertised in This
BETTER THEATRES SECTION
(If you desire something not listed here, Exhibitors Information and Catalog
Bureau published in this issue will get it for you.)
Page
AISLE LIGHTS
Kausalite Mfg. Co 47
S129 Rhodes Ave., Chicago. III.
ANCHOR EXPANSION BOLTS
The Paine Co 52
2951 Carroll Ave., Chicago, III.
AUTOMATIC CURTAIN
CONTROL
Automatic Devices Co 41
17 N. 7th St., Allentown, Pa.
BANNERS, SIGNS
H. Dryfhout Company 52
736 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago, III.
DIMMERS
Cutler-Hammer Mfg. Company 18
Milwaukee, Wis .
ELECTRIC FLASHERS, COLOR
HOODS
Reynolds Electric Co 46
2651 W. Congress St., Chicago, III.
EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES
National Theatre Supply Co Insert
624 South Michigan Ave., Chicago, III.
FILM CEMENT
F. B. Griffin 51
Oshkosh, Wis.
HRE PREVENTION DEVICES
Sentry Safety Control Corp 38
1229 Vine St., Philadelphia, Pa.
FLOWERS, PLANTS — ARTIFICIAL
G. Reising & Co 41
227 W. Austin Ave., Chicago, III.
GENERATORS
Automatic Devices Co 41
Allentown, Pa.
Continental Electric Company 48
S2S Ferry St., Newark, N. J.
Hertner Electric Co 32
Cleveland, Ohio.
Roth Brothers & Co 42
1400 W. Adams' St., Chicago, III.
HEAT SHIELDS
Best Devices Company 57
Film Building, Cleveland, 0.
INTERIOR DECORATIONS
Continental Studios, Inc., 52
100 East Ohio St., Chicago, III.
LAMPS, HIGH INTENSITY
Hall & Connolly, Inc 49
129 Grand St., N. Y. C.
LAMPS. REFLECTING ARC
The Lit-War Company 43
Wellston, Ohio.
Strong Electric Co 44
2501 Lagrange St., Toledo, Ohio.
LENSES
Bausch & Lomb 46
Rochester, N. Y.
LIGHTING FIXTURES
The Voigt Company 51
1743 No. 12th St., Philadelphia, Pa.
LIGHTING PLANTS
Kohler Company
Kohler, Wis.
23
Page
ORGANS
George Kilgen & Son, Inc „ Insert
4016 N. Union Blvd.. St. Louis, Mo.
Nelson-Wiggen Piano Co 40
1731 Belmont Ave., Chicago, III.
The Page Organ Co 28
519 No. Jackson St., Lima, Ohio.
J. P. Seeburg Piano Co 35
1510 Dayton St., Chicago, III.
Rudolph Wurlitzer Co Second Cover
Cincinnati, 0.
ORGAN HEATERS
Cramblet Eng. Corp. 50
286 Milwaukee St., Milwaukee, Wis.
Kausalite Mfg. Co 47
S129 Rhodes Ave., Chicago, III.
The Prometheus Elec. Corp 42
356 W. 13th St., N. Y. C.
PATENT ATTORNEYS
William N. Moore 57
Loan &■ Trust Bldg., Washington, D. C.
POP CORN MACHINES
C. Cretores Co 52
612 W. 22nd St., Chicago, III.
PROJECTION TOOLS
Projection Improvement Co 21
Drifton, Pa.
PROJECTORS
Enterprise Optical Co 4th Cover
564 W Randolph St., Chicago, III.
International Proj. Corp _ Insert
90 Gold St.. N. Y. C.
RADIUM LIGHT
Louis E. Samms Studios 57
177 V State St.. Chicago, III.
RAILINGS, GRILLES
Zero Valve & Brass Corporation 34
634 Fourth St., Buffalo, N. Y.
RHEOSTATS
Hoffmann & Soons 51
387 First Avenue, New York City
SAFES, THEATRE
York Safe and Lock Company 51
York, Pa.
SCREENS
Da-Lite Screen Co 31
922 W. Monroe St., Chicago, III.
Raven Screen Co 33
1476 Broadway. N. Y. C.
SEATS
American Seating Co 5
14 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, III.
Heywood-Wakefield Company 10
209 Washington St., Boston, Mass.
SIGNS — ELECTRIC
Flexlume Corporation 9
Buffalo, N. Y.
Milne Elec. Co 44
614-18 Cherry St., Milwaukee, Wis.
SLIDES
J. F. Ransley 39
54 W. Randolph St., Chicago, III.
SOUND PROOF INSTALLATIONS
Johns-Manville Corporation 6
292 Madison Ave., New York City.
SOUND REPRODUCING DEVICES
Good-All Electric Manufacturing Co. 34
Ogallala, Neb.
The Phototone Company 3
North Vernon, Ind.
Page
STAGE AND ORCHESTRA UFTS
Richard R. Bruckner 35
532 West 22nd St., New York City.
Peter Clark, Inc 8
534 W. 30th St., N. Y. C.
STAGE LIGHTING EQUIPMENT
Frank Adam Elec. Co 43
3650 Windsor Ave., St. Louis, Mo.
Belson Mfg. Company 50
800 Sibley St., Chicago, III.
Brenkert Light Proj. Co 39
7348 St. Aubin Ave., Detroit, Mich.
Hub EUectric Company 4
2225 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, III.
Kliegl Brothers 47
156 Clinton St., Milwaukee, Wis.
Major Equipment Co Front Cover
4603 Fnllcrton Ave., Chicago, 111.
Milwaukee Electric Switchboard Co. 30
156 Clinton St., Milwaukee, Wis.
STAGE RIGGING HARDWARE
J. H. Channon Corp 48
223 W. Erie St., Chicago, III.
3. R. Clancy 57
Syracuse, N. Y,
Peter Clark, Inc 8
534 W. 30th St., N. Y. C.
STAGE SCENERY
Matney Studios 57
307 W. 47th Street, N. Y. C.
Tiffin Scenic Studios 57
Tiffin, Ohio.
THEATRE BUILDING SERVICE
Midwest Engrg. & Const. Corp 49
209 So. Third St., Columbus, Ohio.
THEATRE MUSIC
D. Appleton & Company 29
35 W. 32nd St., New York City.
THEATRE PRINTING, PROGRAMS
Exhibitors Printing Service 57
711 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
National Program & Printing Co 51
729 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.
TICKETS
Arcus Ticket Co 48
348 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, III.
Weldon, Williams & Link 40
Fort Smith, Ark.
TRAILERS
Appreciation Films, Inc 32
1029 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, III.
UNIFORMS
Maier-Lavaty Company 46
2141 Lincoln Ave., Chicago, III.
Marcus Ruben, Inc 40
625 S. State St., Chicago, III.
VENTILATING EQUIPMENT
Blizzard Fan Sales Co 38
1514 Davenport St., Omaha, Neb.
Lakeside Company 35
Hermansviile, Mtch.
Supreme Heat & Vent. Co 33
1915 Pine St., St. Louis, Mo.
Typhoon Fan- Co 57
345 W. 39th St., N. Y. C.
lSF77«iW'«v
s
VERY manufacturer and distributor desires a
direct contact with his market, for a direct contact
means maximum sales.
rHE FALL BUYERS NUMBER of "Better
Theatres" affords the manufacturer and distribu-
tor this direct contact with the greatest market
in the motion picture field.
/N THE FALL BUYERS NUMBER, which incor-
porates the Buyers Index in a de luxe edition of
"Better Theatres," the manufacturer and distributor
comes in direct contact with the theatre executive, the
architect, the construction engineer, the theatre owner,
the theatre manager, the purchasing agent, the projec-
tionist and all others in administrative capacities.
/
N this de luxe edition of "Better Theatres" the sub-
ject matter will be comprehensive. It will include:
(a) the usual constructive and informative material which
is published monthly.
(b) special features of value to every theatre owner —
large and small.
(c) a list of theatre architects and their accomplishments.
(d) a complete. list of dealers, manufacturers, and distribu-
tors of theatre supplies and equipment.
(e) personnel of every factor in the equipment field.
(f) informative stories on theatre products.
(g) and many other constructive features.
/-y~X IRECT contact means PERSONAL CON-
/ I TACT, and ni THE FALL BUYERS NUM-
..M^.^^ BER of "Better Theatres" this service is
extended to manufacturers and distributors.
Direct
Contact
With
Your
Market
The Fall Buyers Number
WILL BE ISSUED
October 27, 1928
Forms close
October 17. 1928
V A
I \i
I
61/4i Less Heat on the
fUni and Soiiml Track
r:j
r
i
a
Fn
]
1
□
Enterprise Optical Mfg. Co., 564 W. Randolph St., Chicago
LhtJalQ
f
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i
Ui:u.ttiiat^ijtiiiijai^
■ii-'Uii^